tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137264162024-03-13T19:28:23.035-04:00 Pleasant PlacesLORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. Psalm 16:5,6Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.comBlogger499125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-61560458977470112672018-12-01T10:27:00.000-05:002018-12-01T10:27:07.989-05:00Go Slow, Let it Go, Anticipate<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love mantras, intentions, a focus. Each month, I spend some time going through the prompts provided by my <a href="https://cultivatewhatmatters.com/" target="_blank">Cultivate Planner</a> and chose a word or a phrase that will serve to guide me intentionally through the month.<br />I ask God to set words apart for me that will provide a visual reminder of how He wants me to cooperate with His Spirit and His work in my life for that month. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Obviously, I cannot know what the month ahead will hold, but I can look at my calendar, think about the season of life I am in and decide how to make the most of it all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For this December, I chose the phrase, "Go slow, Let it go, Anticipate."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Christmas can be such a time of frenzy. It can come and go so fast that by January 1st, we wonder what just happened. It can also be heavy with expectations that are hard to meet, demands we place on ourselves and others. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've spent too many years getting to December 25 and feeling like I wasted a month. I have stood at Christmas Eve service with my candle lit, unable to truly enter in the solemn anticipation of what we are about to receive in recognizing the coming of Christ because I cannot stop obsessively going through the mental checklist of all I wanted to do, had to do, forgot to do, and still need to do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, for several years now, I have sought to approach December differently than I have in the past, intentionally, purposefully. I want to come to January 1st knowing that I was not whisked through the whirlwind of shopping, decorating, baking, and all the other typical trappings of Christmas and missed the wonder of it all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">Go slow</u><br />I am task oriented by nature and love efficiency, probably to an idolatrous level. Just this morning, I found myself stirring my emergen-c drink while trying to fill my K-cup with coffee grounds at the same time. I mean, I do have two hands. Might as well make both of them work at the same time?! Ah...this is my default setting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />And, then I remembered how I actually want to go through my days: walking not sprinting. I want to <b>go slow.</b><br />For me, it means</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">doing ONE thing at a time</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">walking through my house at a reasonable pace (I am known to move rather quickly from task to task)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">not allowing my brain to shift into its default setting of frenetically thinking through all that needs to be done but rather purposing to be fully present with what is right in front of me.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, guess what happens when I slow down, am fully present and not rushing through my days? I don't get to everything I want to get to. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Laundry piles up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Floors remain crumby. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Leaves continue to blanket my yard. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I miss a lot of deals on stuff we might want to buy for ourselves or others. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is not a ubiquitous supply of cookies and fudge in my house throughout December and so on and so on. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Hence, the second part of my guiding mantra for December, "</span><b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Let it go."</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let go of my endless expectations to make it all perfect.<br />Let go of the expectations others may have of me to show up, give the best gift, give a gift at all.<br />Let go of the expectations the culture around me that tells me there is a specific and comprehensive way to "do Christmas right." It just ain't so. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let go of the fear of letting my kids down. (Maybe the hardest one for me. Am I right, mommas?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I go slow and let it go, it makes room for me to <b>anticipate</b>, and this, for me is what December is really all about. Or, at least for me, this is what <b>I </b>want the month of December to be all about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A few ways I anticipate the coming of Christ.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Choose an advent book or plan to go through by myself and one I go through with my family. This year, I am using a book I found at a used bookstore, a total gamble of a purchase and a departure in style and content from many of the advent books I have used in the past, but one I am excited about nonetheless. It's called, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Simply-Wait-Cultivating-Stillness-Season/dp/0835899179/ref=sr_1_1_twi_per_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1543675453&sr=8-1&keywords=simply+wait+cultivating+stillness+in+the+season+of+advent" target="_blank">Simply Wait: Cultivating Stillness in the Season of Advent" by Pamela C. Hawkins.</a><br /><br />For my family, I am using a free online study I received in my inbox from <a href="https://www.studygateway.com/" target="_blank">Study Gateway.</a> It is a "<a href="https://www.studygateway.com/watch/case-for-christmas-evidence-for-identity-of-jesus" target="_blank">Case for Christmas" written by Lee Strobel. </a> This was a timely study for our family this year, so we are jumping in each week watching the videos and spending just a brief time in discussion.<br /></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A plethora of advent material exists. Do just a quick search on Amazon, and you will find a host of products, books and materials to choose from.<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A few of my favorite over the years are:<br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=ann+voskamp+the+greatest+gift&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=241924005257&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13744429771162108845&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007839&hvtargid=kwd-60192187466&ref=pd_sl_4lxop80wxi_e" target="_blank">Ann Voskamp's, "The Greatest Gift." </a> She has a book for adults and separate ones for you to use with your children. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Behold-Lamb-God-Advent-Narrative-ebook/dp/B0068LBOYG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1543675950&sr=8-5&keywords=russ+ramsey" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Russ Ramsey's "Behold the Lamb of God: An Advent Narrative."</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.faithgateway.com/jesus-storybook-bible-advent-calendar-printable/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sally Lloyd Jones's "Jesus Storybook Bible" and advent plan.</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />When my children were preschoolers, I simply looked up "Free printable advent coloring pages," found something I loved and printed them. I had the kids color them, and we hung them on a long piece of twine in our basement as a fun visual for them to add up the days to Christ's coming.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Light it up! My husband and I are big fans of light: natural light, candlelight, LED light, etc. Christmas is the perfect time of year to confront the ever-darkening days of winter with lights of every kind. We light our Christmas tree, wrap stringed lights around our floor lamp poles, weave lights through our pine garland, and set candles wherever there may be any shadows. <br /><br />Each morning, I amble down the dark hallway with the glee of knowing I get to turn on all the lights. I used to wait until the evening came, but I am finding this year, I want to enjoy the lights all day long. <br /><br />I try to pass on the spirit of anticipation and glee by giving special permission to my youngest to light the candles. Kids love playing with fire, and this builds an atmosphere that something special is happening.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over the years, there have been other ways I have built anticipation into our daily December rhythms such as putting an empty manger (think shoe box with straw inside) under the Christmas tree. On Christmas morning, "baby Jesus" shows up in the manger (think whatever baby doll I can find lying around the house, usually one that had no clothing on it...which, come to think of it, is probably rather accurate.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have a nativity set with a manger and baby Jesus that is separate. So, I hide that baby Jesus as well; He comes out on Christmas morning to take His place of 'honor.' </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have visual "cues" around the house to foster a spirit of anticipation such as scrabble pieces that spell out "We Wait" on my kitchen window sill above where I wash dishes daily, the word, "Adore" decoratively hanging from a birch peg log my parents gifted me years ago, nativity sets from all around the world providing the bulk of our Christmas decor in the main living areas of our home, and framed Christmas cards that speak of the Christ to come. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These are just a few ways I have sought to cultivate a spirit of anticipation in my home. I know many of you could come up with many more and creative ways to do similar. And, I would love to hear about them in the comments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you love the hustle and bustle, and the frenetic pace most people get caught up in this time of year gives you a buzz, then go for it. It's your jam and your way of making the most of this season. For me, however, I will choose to <b>go slow, let it go and anticipate. </b></span></div>
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Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-3738151806419747012018-11-15T20:17:00.001-05:002018-11-15T20:40:33.005-05:00Make Your Purchases CountA quick google search will take one to several sites where she can find people and/or companies doing business in a way that leaves the consumer with greater confidence that her purchase is making a positive impact on other humans and/or the environment.<br />
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In fact, here is a site with a hefty list of what is known as "fair trade" or "ethical" shopping: </div>
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<a href="https://redemptionmarket.com/blogs/news/2018-guide-for-ethical-fair-trade-shopping" target="blank">https://redemptionmarket.com/blogs/news/2018-guide-for-ethical-fair-trade-shopping</a><br />
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I want to provide for you a list of companies that are not on the above list because they may be a little smaller but are nevertheless close to my heart for the products they sell, the people they empower, the ministries they support, and the causes they trumpet.</div>
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Consider what they might offer you and yours this Christmas and in turn, how you can make your purchases count.</div>
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<b><u>Jewelry, Accessories, Art, Prints, notecards, journals, T-shirts, apparel (including kids' clothes!), Home Decor (including christmas ornaments!):</u></b></div>
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1.<a href="https://www.noondaycollection.com/" target="blank"><span style="color: blue;">Noonday Collection</span></a></div>
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(I have a friend, Amy, who is an ambassador if you'd like me to connect you for your purchase!)</div>
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https://www.noondaycollection.com/shop/vida-bracelet,-assorted/ (my birthday gift to myself this year!)</div>
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2. <a href="https://mytradesofhope.com/membertoolsdotnet/shoppingcartv4/MainCartv4.aspx" target="blank"><span style="color: blue;">Trades of Hope</span></a></div>
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I have participated with home shows and adore my local compassionate entrepreneur, also named Amy. :) The stories behind each product go from heartbreaking to heartwarming because of the impact of Trades of Hope. I'm so grateful for this organization. </div>
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3. <a href="https://gracecraftedhome.com/" target="blank"><span style="color: blue;">The Grace Crafted Home</span></a>, supported by one of my favorite authors and board members of The Mercy House, Ann Voskamp. 1<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "montserrat";">00% of all funds not only empowers artisans around the </span>world,<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "montserrat";"> but partners with Mercy House Global to support several homes for young women and their babies in crisis pregnancies in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "montserrat";"><span style="color: #222222;">4. </span><a href="https://elorainspired.com/" target="blank"><span style="color: blue;">Elora Inspired</span></a><span style="color: #222222;">, </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">faith-based children’s tees, hoodies, and other clothing items. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">With each order you help us support many kids through <a href="https://www.compassion.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Compassion International</span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">5. <a href="https://theshineproject.com/" target="blank"><span style="color: blue;">The Shine Project.</span></a> Her tagline is "Wear Change. Ignite Hope." Founder, Ashley LeMieux, is a radiating ball of energy and hope. I love her vision to empower teens, encourage women, and connect the two demographics through her business.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">6.<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="https://betterlifebags.com/pages/our-mission" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Better Life Bags</span></a> </span>founder, Rebecca Smith, is making a better life for a number of women in her local community of Detroit, Michigan, while simultaneously making beautiful, custom made bags that you are bound to love. She also makes stockings (as in the ones hung from the chimney with care), earrings, luggage tags, and prayer card sets specific for adoption, pregnancy, children, and grief. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">7. Be a <a href="https://shop.wellwateredwomen.com/" target="blank"><span style="color: blue;">Well Watered </span><span style="color: blue;">Woman</span> </a> by investing in the various Bible saturated products sold in their shop from bible studies to memory verse card sets, mugs, T-shirt's, journals, stickers, and jewelry.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">8. Grab all the good things at <a href="https://allgoodthingscollective.com/collections/all" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">All Good Things</span></a> Co-owner, Jess Connelly is one of my top five favorite women to follow on instagram. She daily encourages me in my walk and witness of Christ. Check out the unique art prints, t-shirts, hats, bible study helps, and one of my favorite products, "victory cards" (meant to inspire and equip you to get in daily physical fitness).</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">9. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://ornaments4orphans.org/pages/ornament-collections" target="blank"><span style="color: blue;">Ornaments 4 Orphans</span></a> is a fair trade social enterprise dedicated to providing critical support for orphans and vulnerable children in Africa</span><span style="background-color: white;">. I have ordered ornaments for my kids from this company for the last several years, but they also sell jewelry, nativity sets, and stocking stuffers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">10. It is an effort with which I am most passionate to participate: the resettling and empowering of refugees around the world. I love the work of <a href="https://preemptivelove.shop/" target="blank"><span style="color: blue;">Preemptive Love</span></a>, have gifted their soaps and supported their efforts to "love anyway" all around the world. On their site, they provide the opportunity not just to purchase products, but also to gift hope and a future to some of the world's people most in need.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">That is my "Top Ten" places to purchase this year; I'd love to hear if you do!</span></span></div>
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Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-23628037428651609222018-05-18T11:28:00.000-04:002018-05-18T11:28:08.012-04:00Bitter or Better, Our Choice<div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I rounded the corner at the end of the hallway and realized I knew where I was. This was a familiar place. When it dawned on me, I looked to my boys, now 13, and with a smile, pointed to these two chairs and said, “Boys, I nursed you in those chairs and on the floor of one of the exam rooms in the back. Initially, I recounted this to them as a fond memory, filling them in on a time they were very much a part of but would have no remembrance because they were just babies, days old as a matter of fact. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then, as I took a seat to wait once again for an ultrasound to be taken of my oldest’s (by two minutes) eyes, the tears welled up in my own eyes. Surprised by this rush of emotion, I tried to quell the sobs that were building, to no avail. There in the pediatric division of Wilmer Institute at Johns Hopkins, I sat and sobbed. My sons inquired; a nurse walked by observing and offered us dum dums, the quintessential, “This will make everything better” offering to all children in every hospital or medical clinic worldwide, I am convinced. The external stimuli jolted me out of that traumatic place the sight of those two chairs took me, and I was able to compose myself enough to decline the sweet nurse’s offer of comfort in lollipop form. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s been 13 years walking a road I never could have anticipated traveling. When we were first told about our son’s diagnosis of </span><a href="http://sturge-weber.org/new-to-swf/understanding-sturge-weber.html" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sturge Weber Syndrome</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and all the potential havoc it could wreak on his, and subsequently our lives, we were shell shocked. Entering Hopkins’ clinics just days after my twins were born introduced us to a world of specialists, medical jargon, tests, procedures and surgeries we would not know anything about should God have spared us from this lot. But 13 years later, I can see how much we have all grown through what God chose for us. I can see we have learned so much; we have grown in empathy and informed compassion for a whole segment of this world that we may have otherwise overlooked or even ignored. I can see our endurance for life’s challenges, curve balls, unexpecteds and unknowns has been strengthened. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I want to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who’s been thrust upon a life path you never would have chosen and can’t get off of. Or maybe you did run after & welcome a certain life trajectory, but it’s all new and proving to be harder than you thought it would be, with costs you aren’t sure you’re prepared to pay. Time really is an important player that you will either thank or regret depending on what you cultivate with that time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It may be cliche, but the truth nevertheless remains. Circumstances can make you bitter or better, and it’s time that will deepen what you chose to cultivate. Let me be a voice in your life today urging you to fight to be shaped for the better by whatever it is that is pressing down hard on you right now. Be vigilant about uprooting those bitter seeds that want to grow deep in your soul. They often sound like, “This isn’t fair. I deserve better than this. I hate my life. Why do things go well for everyone else but me? What have I done to deserve this? How will anything good come from this?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m not saying that there won’t be struggle or that I never thought these things or still don’t sometimes think these things. But, let’s together remember we have a choice in what we’re going to do when these thoughts come. We can choose to nurture these embittering thoughts or reject them and replace them with God’s truth. He has promised to work all things together for the good of those who love Him. He has promised to fulfill His purposes for our lives, and as those who love Jesus and have given our lives to Him, we can trust His purpose is to prosper us and not to harm us. It might look oh so different than we could ever have imagined, but He is wise. He is good. And He will sustain us even through the darkest of times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We received another diagnosis yesterday for my son, one that likely has been there since he was born. And despite the numerous eye specialists who have spent hours, that could likely amount to days if added up, looking into the depths of my son’s eyes, this anomaly was not discovered until yesterday. It’s likely the cause of his extremely poor vision in his one eye, at least according to the doctor we saw yesterday. Honestly, who really knows? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could be tempted to anger over this, but for 13 years, I have sought to cultivate a firm belief that God is my son’s Creator, Sustainer and his ultimate Physician. And He reveals what He wants and keeps hidden what He wants hidden even to the “<a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/usnews/index.html">Best of the Best.</a>” And because I’ve cultivated that truth over a long period of time, I do not have to get angry about this potentially missed diagnosis. I do not have to wonder if we could have preserved better vision in that eye had this been discovered earlier in his journey. I can fully trust that we have sought God throughout my son’s whole life for help with his needs. We have followed through on what God led us to do, the doctors to whom He led us. And we can have confidence that though we undoubtedly have not walked this out perfectly, we have a God who is perfect in all His ways even when His ways seem to run counter to our finite wisdom. For 13 years, I have imperfectly but genuinely cultivated trust in God, and I’m not going to stop trusting Him now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, I’m beckoning you to do the same.</span></div>
Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-18379042901237315022017-08-26T20:47:00.000-04:002017-08-26T20:47:06.665-04:00Thoughts from the funeral home. In memory of my Uncle DickBrokenness and beauty<br />
Pride and humility<br />
Confusion and clarity<br />
Grief and celebration<br />
Despair and hope<br />
Doubt and confidence <br />
Turmoil and peace<br />
Merit and mercy<br />
Shadow and sunlight<br />
Toil and rest<br />
Fear and courage<br />
In these we live and die.<br />
All is grace.Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-81363415992761066092017-07-31T21:27:00.000-04:002017-07-31T21:33:15.612-04:00Summer Break from Social MediaOn June 12, I went quiet. What some might call a radical decision, I decided to go off social media for the summer. For me, this meant instagram and facebook.<br />
<br />
As stated in my instagram post from that day, I sensed some things were coming to a head in my life, and I needed the space to process it all.<br />
<br />
The break did indeed offer that space, and I'm jumping on my blog to journal some of the observations I made during the last two months I have *mostly* been off of social media.<br />
<br />
I say "mostly" because I did hop onto facebook and instagram to check my notifications. Like it or not, if one has had, in particular, a facebook account for any length of time, it can actually be logistically challenging to pull the plug entirely. For some people, facebook and/or instagram is their only point of contact for me. I receive a number of invitations via facebook and learn quite a lot of community happenings via this medium as well. It makes a complete removal from fb not impossible but unattractive for sure.<br />
<br />
Also, about a month into my break, I started to go onto instagram just to look up specific people and "catch up" on their life...well, their instagram life anyway. :) So, a cheater I am for sure. But, this actually worked well in helping me make some observations about myself which will in turn help me to set individual boundaries that will serve me in the long run in my social media use.<br />
<br />
So, here are a few things I observed during my break.<br />
<br />
1. Less cluttered mind<br />
The first two weeks I was off social media, I found my mind less cluttered with both the joyful and mournful events of others' lives and more fully engaged in my reality. Sometimes, this actually felt selfish and self absorbed. I am an incredibly relationally-oriented person, and oddly enough it felt self centered at times to not be in touch with others' lives.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, the break was absolutely needful because this summer has not been the relaxed, carefree season that most associate with summer. It's been hectic and full of unexpected emergencies, mild disasters and ongoing health issues. I really needed to be fully engaged--mind, body and spirit--with my small, little life here on Montford.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">I was more attentive to the needs of my home and family because I wasn't also simultaneously cataloging the needs of others. </span></b>If you're not an empath, you may not understand this. If you are an empath, you are totally nodding your head, and may want to consider a social media break yourself.<br />
<br />
<br />
2. Timing of checking others' accounts is crucial<br />
My "cheating" ended up revealing to me how important it is for me to be intentional about when I check social media. <b><span style="font-size: large;">Do I have the emotional capacity and the physical time to process through and respond to something I may see or read in a way that is honoring to God and to those I follow on these accounts?</span></b><br />
<br />
If I'm at the end of a stressful day with my children or in the middle of a conflict with my husband, it may not be the best time to check instagram where I may stumble upon someone else's well dressed, smiling children being rewarded for their hard work at school that day or a couple's anniversary smooch shared in front of the Grand Floridian hotel.<br />
<br />
If I am waiting on hold with a doctor's office, is that really a good time to scroll facebook where I could learn that someone's loved one has suddenly passed away? Do I really have the time to respond well to that information at that time?<br />
<br />
For me, this is important. There are real people on the other end of our social media feeds. Many of them are people I know in real life and who I have a deep affection for or at least respect. To quickly "like" someone's post or write, "praying" on a post where someone has just shared heavy news does not set well for me.<br />
<br />
<br />
3. I benefit from those I follow on social media, and I missed that.<br />
Over the several years I have been on social media, instagram especially, I have curated a specific group of mostly women who really do minister hope and inspiration to my soul through their feeds. While away, I missed their input.<br />
<br />
4. I love to communicate via this medium.<br />
In addition to being a highly relational person, I am also a highly communicative one. I missed the outlet social media provides for me to communicate not only the events of my life but moreso my thoughts and feelings. <br />
<br />
Stepping away allowed me to evaluate my own feed. Of all the noise in this sphere, I want to set myself apart by providing a feed that will be encouraging, uplifting, soaked in solidarity for those in similar seasons or stages of life and always, always pointing people to Jesus.<br />
<br />
With all this in mind, I am ending my break from social media. But, I'm doing it with some clearer and more helpful boundaries in place to make it beneficial rather than the bane of my online presence.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-2916804350212835112017-04-04T00:30:00.000-04:002017-08-08T21:41:35.813-04:00Still WaitingI'm 40 years old and still waiting.<br />
Waiting for my children to apprehend all I am trying to teach them, all the ways I have laid out before them how it is to live a godly life, full of meaning, purpose and joy.<br />
<br />
I'm 40 years old and still waiting.<br />
Waiting for my time to come, my time to shine in the fullness of what I believe God has put so clearly and passionately on my heart to do.<br />
<br />
I'm 40 years old and still waiting.<br />
Waiting for a complete healing of chronic health issues for which I have tried many remedies and interventions, all of which have brought some relief, some comfort but not full healing.<br />
<br />
I'm 40 years old and still waiting.<br />
Waiting for prayers I have prayed for many years to be answered.<br />
Waiting for dreams I have dreamed for many years to see their fulfillment.<br />
Waiting. Sometimes I don't even know all I am waiting for; I just know I'm still waiting.<br />
<br />
In <a href="http://www.annswindell.com/book/" target="_blank">her book</a>, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1496410769/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=balmengor-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1496410769&linkId=77fc3add6c9b27e5bac26df626acbc4d" target="_blank">Still Waiting</a><span id="goog_1639160563"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1639160564"></span>," <a href="http://www.annswindell.com/book/" target="_blank">Ann Swindell</a> talks a lot about waiting, and shares a message of hope for all of us who are in the waiting room of life.<br />
And, frankly, I don't know anyone who isn't waiting for something.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.annswindell.com/book/" target="_blank">Ann</a> beautifully weaves her personal story of waiting with the biblical account of the Bleeding Woman (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt%209:20-Matt%209:22,%20Mark%205:25-Mark%205:34,%20Luke%208:43-Luke%208:48" target="_blank">Matthew 9:20-22</a>), both women knowing the ache of waiting on God for healing.<br />
<br />
What I appreciate most about <a href="http://www.annswindell.com/book/" target="_blank">Ann</a>'s <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1496410769/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=balmengor-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1496410769&linkId=77fc3add6c9b27e5bac26df626acbc4d" target="_blank">book</a> is that she did not wait to write it until she experienced full healing, until her wait came to an end. No. You see, <a href="http://www.annswindell.com/book/" target="_blank">Ann</a> is still waiting. And, there is something so incredibly God-glorifying, hope-giving, and satisfying to my own heart to read words of hope and to be pointed rightly to the Source and Giver of both hope and healing from one who is still waiting herself.<br />
<br />
This lends such credibility to the strong, sure message <a href="http://www.annswindell.com/book/" target="_blank">Ann </a>conveys in "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1496410769/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=balmengor-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1496410769&linkId=77fc3add6c9b27e5bac26df626acbc4d" target="_blank">Still Waiting</a>."<br />
<br />
In her <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I5J0OQM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">book's chapters</a>, <a href="http://www.annswindell.com/book/" target="_blank">Ann </a>breaks down the effects waiting has on one's soul, mind, body, and relationships with others and with God. She discusses how waiting makes one weak, broken, is costly, claims one's identity, feels offensive, brings shame, feels like suffering, and is risky. <i> </i>She concludes her book with a chapter entitled, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I5J0OQM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">Hope for the Waiting Ones,</a>" but <a href="http://www.annswindell.com/book/" target="_blank">Ann</a> does an effective job at sprinkling hope ALL throughout the book. You don't have to wait until the end for a strong dose of hope.<br />
<br />
If you are waiting for anything or anyone and want to wait with hope, I strongly urge you to get your hands on <a href="http://www.annswindell.com/book/" target="_blank">Ann Swindell's</a>, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1496410769/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=balmengor-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1496410769&linkId=77fc3add6c9b27e5bac26df626acbc4d" target="_blank">Still Waiting.</a>"<br />
<br />
*I wrote this endorsement to help spread the word about <a href="http://www.annswindell.com/book/" target="_blank">Ann'</a>s book, not solely or even primarily because I was chosen to be a part of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1496410769/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=balmengor-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1496410769&linkId=77fc3add6c9b27e5bac26df626acbc4d" target="_blank">her book</a> launch team, but because I have been encouraged deeply by her words, believe strongly in the message of hope about which she writes, and appreciate greatly the skillful, artful way in which she presents that message. I did receive a copy of "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1496410769/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=balmengor-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1496410769&linkId=77fc3add6c9b27e5bac26df626acbc4d" target="_blank">Still Waiting</a>" at no charge in order to read it before its official launch.<br />
<br />
<br />Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-34361462471201628862017-02-28T20:51:00.000-05:002017-02-28T20:51:21.863-05:00To honor Rare Disease Day, 2017Initially, the OB said he was bruised from the birthing process which I found odd because he was pulled out along with his twin, via emergency C-section.<br />
<br />
The next day, however, we met our pediatrician who proceeded to clarify for us that our son, Judah, was not bruised but born with a permanent birthmark called a Port Wine Stain (PWS) covering 40% of his body, most of his face and skull, and carried with it the possibility of an accompanying rare syndrome known as Sturge-Weber Syndrome (SWS).<br />
<br />
Five days after Judah was born, we drove to Johns Hopkins where skin, eye, and neurological evaluations confirmed Judah had two of the three markers for SWS: skin and eye. Neurological involvement was then unknown and since has been ruled out as much as medical knowledge can provide that assurance.<br />
<br />
It is still essentially unknown if Judah will remain free of neurological involvement, but to date we are grateful God has not asked us to walk through those particular hardships.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, the challenges we have faced these past twelve and a half years have all drawn us closer to God, to each other, to our community of friends and fellow Christians who have more than done their part in shouldering this burden with us.<br />
<br />
And by burden, I mean the surgeries, the procedures, the endless quest for a cure, the countless crossroads we have come to where decisions have had to be made on Judah's behalf--something that has at times evoked significant anxiety, self doubt and near paralysis as a mother.<br />
<br />
But, never, never do I or have I seen or felt Judah a burden. He is such a delight to our family and all who know him.<br />
<br />
He is a joyful, outgoing, intelligent, creative, opinionated, strong, compassionate little man who feels deeply, loves sincerely, sings sweetly, perseveres, has so many dreams for his future, is ambitious, and a conqueror.<br />
<br />
I love this kid whose rarity exceeds his diagnosis of SWS and extends into his person-hood, his infectious smile and warm hugs.<br /><br />I look at his red face everyday, left side more full with hypertrophy from the genetically mutated proliferation of blood vessels, and see nothing but a handsome gift from God.<br />
<br />Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-10658870326883582962017-01-27T19:03:00.000-05:002017-01-28T00:50:29.516-05:00 I am not an evergreen All throughout my yard, evergreens are planted next to flowering shrubs or trees that lose their leaves and stand bare through the winter months. While the evergreens have the same, stately fullness of needle or leaf, same depth of the color green, the flowering bushes and trees look naked, fruitless.<br />
<br />
I love peering out to my yard in the dead of winter, amidst its cold, sometimes gray, low cloud hanging days to see streaks of green, round orbs of color.<br />
Something lives!<br />
Something thrives when all else appears lifeless.<br />
I love these evergreens because they are ever green.<br />
<br />
I am not an evergreen.<br />
<br />
Like my flowering bushes and trees, I languish during the winter. The cold, the lack of sunshine, illnesses that relentlessly creep all converges at once. It wears me down physically and wears on me spiritually.<br />
<br />
I have long despised my frailty. I have wondered why I am so easily undone. I've analyzed and evaluated how to grow more stout, more steady, more stately – poised – like some of my evergreen friends.<br />
<br />
Without fail, I fail. I fall prey to external circumstances that weaken my resolve, steal my smile, and drain my liveliness.<br />
<br />
I am learning to wait. I am learning to live fruitless and bare. I'm learning to not feel shame in my nakedness and nothing-to-offer seasons. These are the seasons of simply standing still, staying rooted, bearing the cold wind.<br />
<br />
Fruitfulness and color will come. <br />
For me, it's not the season.<br />
It's my winter, and I'm not an evergreen<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-91304051523523462772017-01-21T17:25:00.000-05:002017-01-21T17:25:42.259-05:00Januarygloomy, gray days<br />
when will the fog lift?<br />
for an ice storm?<br />
into a bank one drifts<br />
<br />
illness after illness<br />
squeeze life and laundry<br />
into the cracks<br />
between runs for antibiotics<br />
<br />
fill the diffusers<br />
pump the fluids<br />
wash hands<br />
daily probiotics<br />
<br />
make bone broth<br />
take immune boosters<br />
lots of vitamin C<br />
and hand sanitizer<br />
<br />
cover your mouth<br />
don't share food<br />
wonder why one well sibling<br />
is in school<br />
<br />
wafts of lysol<br />
drinks of ACV or hard liqor<br />
to tighten up<br />
a loose stomach<br />
<br />
postponed plans with friends<br />
finally cancelled 'til spring<br />
sickness circulates<br />
keeping track of meds<br />
<br />
rest<br />
hot tea<br />
blankets<br />
lots of TV<br />
<br />
This is January.Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-61699185128613811022017-01-03T19:54:00.000-05:002017-01-03T19:54:32.806-05:00Why #adifferentway is going to be the Almengor way through 2017<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We Almengors are a family of mantras. It is mostly my
husband’s doing, but I am agreeable to it because I love having a focus or
goal, and I love words yet am less concise with them than my husband. Verbosity
is my game which does not work so well when trying to convey the heart of a
matter quickly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When in the midst of our everyday, sometimes frantic life,
communicating the goal quickly is necessary, skipping the lecture, preferred. So, for 2017, Lawrence and I have chosen a mantra of
<b>#adifferentway </b>because we are now living in the era of the hashtag, and we have
fully embraced it at our house. I unashamedly love the hashtag movement.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A different way. What does that mean for us? Let me try to
flesh that out here. <br />
<br />
Lawrence and I read a book last year that influenced the two of us greatly called, “Emotionally
Healthy Spirituality” by Peter Scazarro. We were impressed with how much of an
impact our families of origin, culture and the experiences of our childhood
have had upon our marriage, parenting, friendships, and relationships within
our extended family. And, we realized
there are now patterns of behaving, speaking, and reacting to situations that
just are not in keeping with what we see exemplified in the Bible by Christ and
other followers of Jesus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are passing these sins and habits onto our children. They
are now 12, 12 and 9 and giving full expression to some of the sinful ways of
their parents. Oh, how difficult that is to see sometimes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In some of these behaviors, we are simply stuck after years
of wearing down a nice, deep rut. We know love is patient and kind, but the
tone of our voices still sounds so sharp and even cruel at times. We know we want to embrace a godly sorrow
when faced with our sin, repent and ask for forgiveness from God and from each
other, but goodness, that stubborn pride of ours just doesn’t want to hear it
in the moment especially. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, we came up with a prompt of sorts: #adifferentway. We learned that in the heat of a “moment,”
it’s harder to hear, “You are wrong and need to repent,” and easier to hear,
“There is a different way through this. You can choose a different way.” <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we say #adifferentway, we mean that <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">You are not enslaved to this all too familiar way
of responding</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">You are not defined by this pattern of speech or
way of behaving</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">You are able to choose in this moment the godly
way through</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">You are able to ask for wisdom and grace and
receive it right in this moment</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">You are able to change</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like a flick of a rubber band around one’s wrist,
#adifferentway will become for us a jolt out of some ruts we have laid over the
years. Or at least we hope so. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">#Adifferentway also makes room for us to keep exploring and
trying on new ideas and routines. Where we, for years, have enjoyed family
night on Fridays with pizza and a movie, we are going to try using some of
those Friday nights to play games together.
Watching a movie every Friday night was good for us as a family for many
years. It was easy for us as parents who, by the end of the week, were bone tired from raising and home educating young children. And, it also built within our family a cache of common stories to refer back
to, inside jokes, and one-liners. And we will continue to watch good movies for
this purpose. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, our children are entering a new season of growth and
development, and it seems a good time to step up our game in pursuing them
relationally. We *think* we are ready to take on the potential mire of playing
games together for the new level of growth that might afford us as a family and
as human beings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another area we are exploring #adifferentway is in how we
educate our children. We are currently in our 7<sup>th</sup> year of
homeschooling, and aside from one year for the boys in Kindergarten at a
private school, my children have never known anything but home education. We may continue down this road, but we are
going to at least explore what it might look like to educate
#adifferentway. I am working on a few
shadow days for my kids to experience at a handful of local schools. I don’t know what will come of this, but we
are stepping out and choosing to investiage #adifferentway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On a personal note, I want to grow in communicating God’s
story in my story by way of writing and public speaking. To do this, I know I
need to be a voracious reader except that I am not. L I kicked around the familiar plan of upping
my reading intake but #adifferentway occurred to me, and I am choosing that instead. This different way is in keeping with the doer God created me to be versus the sit and read volumes of material person I am not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead of doubling the amount of books I read in a year, I
picked five influential, time tested authors of whose material I will ingest
this next year. Curious? Comment and
I’ll let you know who made my list. J
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, 2017, whatever you may hold for us Almengors, we are
choosing #adifferentway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where we have worn down ruts of reacting, we are resolved to
forge new paths, ones that will honor God and each other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
Where familiar routines no longer serve us, we are resolved to do the hard work
of beginning and reinforcing new routines that will further our growth and joy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
Where common held practices do not line up with who you have made us to be, we
will not try to fit our square self into a round hold but are resolved to
conjure up #adifferentway that will accomplish the same goal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How might you choose #adifferentway for your 2017?<br />
If you think of any ways, I would love to hear about it and cheer you on in
your pursuit of #adifferentway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-17560387043275310272016-12-03T10:30:00.000-05:002017-06-08T19:32:09.179-04:00Unlikely Candidate Talk<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="400" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbriana.almengor.7%2Fvideos%2F10212115442988335%2F&show_text=0&width=225" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="225"></iframe>Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-22413892430584089742016-11-29T08:40:00.000-05:002016-11-29T08:40:39.215-05:00 He is near, a post in memory of Uncle Marlin<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is near. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My Jesus is near. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I lost my Father to brain cancer when I was only 12 years old, I felt abandoned by God. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my estimation of reality, He was nowhere near. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was far, far away, handling other business, leaving me all alone, turning me over to my own resources and my own ability (or inability) to grieve and bear the weight of the emptiness left behind by my dad’s passing. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now I know. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know He was closer than ever in that moment I looked upon the shell of my father’s body and said my last earthly goodbye. He was close, so very near to me then and near to me now. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yesterday, I woke to a text message to pray for my uncle who was undergoing emergency surgery. This uncle--from whom I always felt love and respect--needed prayer, needed God to be near. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Less than six hours later, I received the shocking, unexpected news that he had passed away. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And, in that moment, while I stirred the taco meat on my stove-top and nearly stumbled to the floor after reading the text, GOD was NEAR. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was near and is near. And I know this now without a doubt. I know because, though my feelings have oft belied the truth, God’s Word, the Truth, tells me <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+34:18&version=NIV" target="_blank">He is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.</a> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And not only is He near now, but <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A5&version=TLB;MSG" target="_blank">He was near then</a> when my uncle passed from this earth into eternity. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have spent many of my earthly days in lament. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps, the mixture of my melancholy personality and having experienced a significant loss at an early age inclines me toward a sorrowful disposition. I feel comfortable among the brokenhearted, burned, busted up and barren. These are my people. This is my tribe. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are also Jesus’s people, His tribe. He was a <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+53&version=ESV" target="_blank">man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. </a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh, how I breathe more deeply and settle down into my seat when I read these words. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am not alone. I am known, and Jesus is not afraid of my sorrow. He is not put off and does not try to put a positive spin on it all. He just settles in beside me, wraps His arms around me and says, “This is not how I wanted it all to be for you, for my creation. And, this is not all there is. Take heart. I have overcome. There is more for you than saying goodbye again and again and again.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And He sends my fellow sojourners to incarnate His love and comfort to me through promised prayers, a phone call, an offer for me to come and talk it all out on a friend’s couch. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many of those fellow travelers are on the last leg of their journey here on earth, ones that, too, have spent a number of their earthly days lamenting. How meaningful is their comfort, how weighty are their words of hope to me. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They have lived long. They have said many goodbyes. They are not afraid of sorrow. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, I am afflicted but not crushed; perplexed but not despairing; struck down but not destroyed. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Death is all around, but life is mine. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I do not lose heart for <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+4%3A16%2C+17&version=NIV" target="_blank">though my outer self is wasting away, my inner self is being renewed day by day. </a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My uncle has never been more alive. He is dead to this world, but alive unto Jesus, seeing Him face to face, standing with the One who willingly became a man of sorrows to rescue us from all of our earthly ones. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The grief is painful and heavy but <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+4%3A16%2C+17&version=NIV" target="_blank">momentary and preparing me for an eternal rest and rejoicing </a>at the feet of my Jesus, who is very near. </span></div>
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Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-43611717782478979412016-07-14T14:19:00.000-04:002016-07-14T14:19:56.965-04:00The Poor, Plundered and Needy<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Psalm 12:5, 7 </span></span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Because the poor are plundered</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-14072A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14072A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">and the needy groan,</span></i><br />
<i><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-12-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">I will now arise,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-14072C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14072C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>” says the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-12-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">I will protect them<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-14072D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14072D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> from those who malign them.</span></span></i><div>
<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Ps-12-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><i><span class="text Ps-12-7" id="en-NIV-14074" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">You, <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, will keep the needy safe<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-14074A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14074A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-12-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and will protect us forever from the wicked.</span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="text Ps-12-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><i><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Ps-12-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">As I read this passage the other morning, I thought about who I seek to align myself with. Is it of those with means, status, power?<br /><br />Here in the Psalm it says that it is the poor, the plundered and the needy for whom the Lord will rise. It is the needy the Lord will keep safe and protect. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">If this is the demographic for whom God says He will rise, would it not BEST behoove me to align myself in keeping with this?<br /><br />Matthew 5 tells us it is the poor in spirit,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> those who mourn, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> the meek, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> the merciful, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> pure in heart, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> peacemakers, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> those who are persecuted.... who are blessed!<br /><br />Essentially all of humanity is poor, plundered and need, really. It just looks different for each person. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">There are those who are poor financially and by lack of resources, yes, but there are also the poor in character; poor in spiritual health, poor relationally--a scarcity of intimate, human connection.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">There are those plundered of acceptance not just of their stuff, plundered emotionally not just physically.<br /><br />There are needs of every kind amidst the breadth of humanity. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">It is easiest to see the physical, material needs of others, but what of the spiritual, emotional, mental, and relational needs?<br /><br />Am I willing to see these in the humanity around me and then not just see it but draw near to it because THIS is what draws God near. And do I really want to be nearer the heart and presence of God?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Oh that my felt comfort, safety and provision would not keep me from drawing close to the poverty and need in others' lives.<br /><br />Thank you, God, that you come near to me in MY poverty and lack. There truly is none like you. </span></span></div>
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Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-33931159479811224452016-03-31T19:48:00.000-04:002017-06-08T19:49:50.680-04:00Teaching on I Corinthians 13 <iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="400" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbriana.almengor.7%2Fvideos%2F10209863608293875%2F&show_text=0&width=400" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="400"></iframe>Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-68349542820154583152015-11-26T18:41:00.002-05:002015-11-26T18:41:59.251-05:00Observations from my sick bed on Thanksgiving<span style="font-size: large;">No one chooses when illness comes nor trials of any kind. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But they come nevertheless. Unannounced, unwelcomed, inconvenient.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Expectations are rearranged, reshaped, sometimes bending us out of shape. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Illness came for me this year over a holiday, Thanksgiving. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After delivering what I hope to be an "inaugural teaching" called, "Giving Thanks in the Thick of It," I found my very self in the thick of it with achy muscles and joints, low-grade fever, chills and general malaise. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I lay in bed that first night of fighting the chills thinking, "<i>It must just be the crash after the build up of giving this talk." </i>I didn't think I had built up this talk in my mind or heart. I was not giving it my normal obsessive attention. I was not nervous, more than I thought was reasonable at least. I asked for input and prayer from others, and had committed the results to God a part from how I "performed." Perhaps my body was telling a different tale.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Seven days later, today, Thanksgiving day, I can say my body was not crashing from some mentally frenzied build up of anticipation to fulfilling a dream of mine. No, I just simply got sick. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Some virus. Four days in, I went to my doctor who said, "Gone are the days of the 24-hour bug. Viruses are stronger now and last longer. There is nothing to do but wait it out."<br /><br />So, I am waiting it out. and waiting. and waiting. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And, there are all kinds of observations to be made in the waiting rooms of life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Once one gets past the obvious observation that she doesn't like to wait, there is a lot more to see. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">1. A husband who goes after life with all the tools I find completely useless. But, he utilizes them and gets things done after all. Different tools, different strategies. But, the man gets things done.<br /><br />I spend far too much time criticizing him for the "tools" he chooses to use and how he chooses to use them...spreadsheets, clipboards, hours of planning, researching. I am often busy blazing a trail with whatever stick I found on the path, working really hard but not smart, and criticizing him for wasting time looking up "the best tools to blaze a trail" on google.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Father, thanks for giving me this time to do nothing but watch him, watch my husband do what he does so well. He does it his way which is not my way, but it is A way and sometimes the better way if I'm humble enough to admit it. He is good at doing things his way. Things get done. People are served and loved. And, he is a gift to me. Help me to stop criticizing and trying to convince him that he's wasting time but rather to cheer him on and to give thanks for giving me a man who is so completely my opposite and yet loves me fiercely and so, so well. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-size: large;">2. My children can be rather self sufficient when they need to be. I love and hate that at the same time. For forever, it felt like, I just wanted my children to grow up so they could cut their own food, buckle themselves into their seats, dress and wipe themselves in the bathroom. And now they can do all of that and more. But from the vantage point of laying on the couch, all of them helping themselves and then moving on, I was sad to not be able to serve them. I realized what a gift it is to serve others. </span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Father, thank you for giving me this undeserved role of "mom." I complain about it so often, and I feel so ill-suited for the role, but you gave it to me anyway. And, I actually love it. I love being my kids' mom. I love serving them. I love helping them learn how to live life. It is an incredibly undeserved gift You've given me, motherhood. Thank you. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-size: large;">3. There is far less to do in life than what I think needs to be done. <br />I make lots of lists. I have a lot of things to do. always. Illness has this way of distilling down to the bare necessities on those lists I love. Day after day has passed of me accomplishing very little but simply putting in another day, fighting to be healthy again. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />I L O V E productivity. I A D O R E getting things done. I derive immense satisfaction at coming to the end of a day, looking back on that day having done many, many things. I may even find a bit of my self worth wrapped up in being a productive person. I know in my mind that my worth is not in what I accomplish, but I still function and respond to life as though it were at times. I do not find great joy in simply "being." No, "Doing" has always been my jam. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But, I have had to figure this out because God has laid me out time and time again. I have had to come face to face with what and in Whom I am going to find value and worth, not just for myself but for everyone else, too.<br /><br />Am I lovely because I am? Are you lovely because you are? Am I worthy because Jesus calls me worthy, or is it because I crossed ten things off the list today?</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Father, this is a hard thank you, but a thank you nonetheless, for taking me out of the game of life from time to time. You do this far more often than I would prefer, but apparently I am a very slow learner. Thank you for loving me simply because you made me to be loved. Thank you for making me work hard to find my value and worth in YOUR greatness rather than my own, in YOUR ability rather than my own. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-size: large;">4. In my own suffering, I am so much more aware of others suffering this year. Friends who are battling chronic illnesses of various kinds, friends who are mourning loss or fretful about impending loss of some kind--you are all so close to my heart right now and in my thoughts.<br /><br />If this is how acutely aware I am of those suffering, how much more so is God not only aware but so very near. Psalm 34:18 says, <i>The Lord is <span style="font-weight: bold;">close </span>to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Father, thank you that you are a God who sees and knows, who cares for us and carries our sorrows. Thank you that you are a God who sympathizes with us in all our frailty because you took on human flesh yourself. You came down to our earth and experienced it in all its brokenness and mess, in its illness and grief. And, now Jesus, you stand to the right of God,the Father, who sits on the throne of grace, and you pray for us by name to our Father who is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness. Thank you that though my home be without human companions at the moment, I keep the company of Christ with me always.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There seem always more words to write and say, but my frailty allows me no more strength to peck it out. It is time to rest. again. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A truly, "Happy Thanksgiving" to all no matter what state or circumstance you find yourself in.</span>Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-39654188629675356442015-11-12T06:51:00.001-05:002015-11-12T06:51:13.747-05:00Held<span style="font-size: large;">On recent episodes of my hubby and my favorite TV series, The Amazing Race, racers had to complete a bungee jump challenge over Victoria Falls in Zambia, Africa. The falls appeared breath taking, and I wished I could have jumped through the screen to be physically present rather than merely virtually present. However, when it came time for the racers to be harnessed and take the leap off the bungee platform, I was very grateful to be sitting in the comfort of my home, under blankets, holding my husband's hand. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Each contestant wore fit bits and had to track their heart rates before and after the jump. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I wondered what my heart rate would have read had I been wearing a fit bit as it was definitely beating faster while watching the contestants jump, then plunge to the river valley below, the bungee quickly unraveling until it sprung fully taut.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The GoPro cameras provided a close up look of the players' faces as they fell, seemingly without any restraint. Some faces showed fear; others exhilaration. But every face showed the same thing right as the rope reached its fullest distance: relief.<br />The rope held.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It held. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And, I thought, "Isn't that what we all want to know when we're in some free fall of life? That the rope is going to hold, that we're going to be kept safe and secure."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What free fall are you experiencing in life?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Is it something you willingly signed up for, or were you pushed off the platform?<br />Either way, don't you just want to know at the end of the fall, the rope will hold?<br /><br />If you are in Christ, the rope will hold. If you trust Him for the forgiveness of your sins, your redemption and eternity in Heaven, He offers some rather sweet promises to you that He will indeed hold you and keep you. He will not fail you. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Isa-42-6" id="en-NIV-18487" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">I, the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, have called<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18487T" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-18487T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> you in righteousness;<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18487U" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-18487U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-42-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">I will take hold of your hand.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18487V" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-18487V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;" /><span class="text Isa-42-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">I will keep<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18487W" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-18487W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> you... Isaiah 42:6</span></span><br />
<span class="text Isa-42-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text Isa-42-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: large;">He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28372A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28372A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 1:24</span></span><br />
<span class="text Isa-42-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text Isa-42-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Isa-26-3" id="en-NIV-18134" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">You will keep in perfect peace<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18134A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-18134A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-26-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">those whose minds are steadfast,</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-26-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">because they trust<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-18134B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-18134B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> in you. Isaiah 26:3</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Isa-42-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Isa-26-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span class="text Isa-42-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Isa-26-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Ps-139-5" id="en-NIV-16245" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">You hem me in<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-16245H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16245H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> behind and before,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-139-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and you lay your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">God may not keep you from a hard going. You may be jolted around a bit. You may even get hurt, but His promises stand true. He will keep your soul safe in Him. He will carry you through this season, this life with His mighty, steadying Hand upon you, not allowing your foot to slip into denying unbelief. He who bought you with His blood will keep you.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One of my sons is a cuddle bug, very affectionate yet feisty at the same time. He and I tussle throughout the day quite a bit, probably because he is my mini-me. This morning, he woke distraught over the condition of our home. He scurried room to room tidying up, all while crying and bemoaning how he wished everyone would pick up their stuff! Yes, my mini-me. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Later in the kitchen, that same boy walked up to me and wrapped his arms around me and just stood there wanting to be held. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And, I held him.<br /><br />Run to God. Wrap your arms around Him, and know that you will be held. </span><br />
<br />Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-66088789395873624562015-10-16T08:07:00.000-04:002015-10-16T08:07:37.036-04:00My 39th<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"It's my party and I'll cry if I want to." And cry I did. A thousand tears today, my birthday. 39th to be exact.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It wasn't because I'm 39, and I don't think I'm having a mid-life crisis, but maybe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't really know entirely why I started crying today and couldn't seem to stop.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have these days every once in a while. You know, the days where all you need is a good cry?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had the sweetest friend text me last night asking what I was doing for my birthday today. When my reply was, "Nothing out of the ordinary," she made plans for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lunch at Italian Sensation, 12:45.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She brought flowers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She started to sing "Happy Birthday" loudly in the parking lot as I exited my car, and then she saw my swollen, red eyes and stopped.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"What's wrong?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nothing and everything is wrong on these days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am sucker punched by the overwhelming feeling that I have wasted my life, that I have made a very bad decision to keep my children home for school as many years as I have, that I am an annoying friend who has to find new friends every several years because the old friends grow very tired of my neediness, that I have a hard marriage that will always be hard, and that I missed my window of making a difference in this world back in my 20's, and it's all irreversible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh regret and self-loathing, how I hate thee.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As for reaching out with these revelations about myself on my birthday, well that wasn't going to happen because who wants to drum up a pity party for her birthday?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I did not want pity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I just wanted to feel like my life has purpose.<br />And when so much of one's life is taken up in roles that leave her feeling like a big, fat failure, it is very hard to remember her value is not in the roles she plays but in the fact that she was given roles to play at all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have said it before so many times, you're probably sick of hearing it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Parenting is hard. It is freaking hard. It is like the hardest thing I've ever tried to <strike>do</strike> manage emotionally.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I want the best for my kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't want to tie my identity up in their behavior. When they have a meltdown, are socially inappropriate, disrespectful, unkind, selfish and even hateful, I do not need to interpret that as a reflection on who I am, what kind of parent I am, whether or not I've been successful or even decent as a parent. But I do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don't want them to walk on egg shells when I'm having a meltdown of my own. But they do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I want to protect them from so much but not shelter so much that I keep them from their potential to live a purposeful, impactful life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I want my children to look back on their childhood and have fond memories and to be grateful. I know there will be memories of things I did or said, ways I did or said them that will not be fond, but hopefully won't be so damaging that we can't laugh at them further down the road.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, at this juncture, I'm just not sure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I fear I am royally messing them up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I counter that fear with the truth that God gave these, three children THE exact mom He knew they needed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I fear they will have to spend hundreds upon thousands of dollars in counseling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I counter that fear by telling myself that I have spent hundreds of dollars on counseling, but I still love my mom and dad. And, it's actually not their fault.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And, here is what I conclude:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our parents, most of them anyway, tried really hard to do the best they knew to do by us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am doing that for my children and even while I'm doing it, I KNOW I'm not getting it all right. I KNOW I am making mistakes, screwing up and screwing them up in the process.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I know; I put too much pressure on myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, as children don't we put a lot of pressure on our parents? We have expectations of them, and many of those expectations are linked to our needs. We need love. We need physical care and comfort. We need to be cherished and esteemed. We need promises kept, boundaries made clear and discipline consistent when we've gone outside of those boundaries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some parents provide all these things in stellar ways. And, some children's needs are more readily met and satisfied by their parents.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But there is a whole lot of us (and there is, because read the headlines any given day. We are all a bit of a mess.) whose needs either weren't met or were too high for any parent, no matter how good, to meet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And here is where I turn first to God and say, "Help! YOU be to my children what I have not been or could not be."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You be ever present. And He is.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You have unconditional love. And He does.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You never grow tired or weary. And He doesn't.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You provide all that we need. And He provides.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I then turn inward and stop allowing myself to be beat up on days like today because my parenting absolutely falls short.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last, I turn to my children and ask them to never stop counting on God because He will never let them down, unlike their momma who has days like my 39th birthday.</span>Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-42696671969417535052015-09-20T23:41:00.003-04:002015-09-20T23:41:48.061-04:00Sunday Night Summary, September 20, 2015<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Reading: </b>I took a break from book reading this week, and read a few blog posts covering quite a variety of topics.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First up and probably the most controversial, I read this article, and think it would be worth your while to read as well, due to my ever growing interest in understanding our nation's racial tensions.<a href="http://www.vice.com/read/white-people-told-me-why-they-feel-they-oppressed-456" target="_blank"> http://www.vice.com/read/white-people-told-me-why-they-feel-they-oppressed-456</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maybe it's because I married a man with "minority" status; he's Guatemalan, and a handsome one at that if I do say so myself. Being Lawrence's wife has <strike>forced</strike> allowed me the opportunity to have challenging, awkward and sometimes gut wrenching conversations about prejudice, racism, and white privilege. He has been so patient with me as I have said stupid things, mostly out of ignorance vs. hate, drawn false conclusions and just plain out not been able, or maybe willing?, to see the truth.<br /><br />I appreciate this quote from the above linked article: "<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.2px;"><i>Erikka Knuti, a political strategist, said, 'Part of white privilege has been the ability to not know that your privilege exists. If you benefit from racism, do you really want to know that?'"</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.2px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My big take away from the article is to talk more candidly and often about race, mostly with my children in the safety of our home. But I also want to bravely, yet sensitively, engage in more conversations outside my home as well, with friends around a bonfire, with my family around Thanksgiving dinner (this is your forewarning, by the way.) and with my church and homeschool communities. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.2px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.2px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://wendyspeake.com/writing-motherhood-sacrifice/" target="_blank">The next article</a> was from a blogger/speaker I recently began to follow, <a href="http://wendyspeake.com/meet-wendy/" target="_blank">Wendy Speake</a>, and I found it to be personally encouraging given the many constraints on my time in this season of my life. I just don't have the time I want to have to write consistently, privately or publicly. I loved the concluding quote from Mindy Rogers,<br /></span></span><br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #7d7c84; font-family: Raleway, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 23.8px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m a collector of journals.</span></em><br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #7d7c84; font-family: Raleway, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 23.8px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></em>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I keep them stashed in the console of my car,</em></span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #7d7c84; font-family: Raleway, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 23.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23.8px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">tucked into the folds of my purse,</em></span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #7d7c84; font-family: Raleway, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 23.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23.8px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23.8px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">laid on the shelf in my entryway </em></span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #7d7c84; font-family: Raleway, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 23.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23.8px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23.8px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">stacked by the jewelry box on my dresser,</em></span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #7d7c84; font-family: Raleway, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 23.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23.8px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23.8px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and sometimes pushed deep into the back pocket of my worn out jeans.</em></span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #7d7c84; font-family: Raleway, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 23.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23.8px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23.8px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My husband makes jokes but the truth is that they are everywhere.</em></span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #7d7c84; font-family: Raleway, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 23.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23.8px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em><em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 23.8px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Every day I spill my heart out in ink on the paper of these journals.”</em></span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #7d7c84; font-family: Raleway, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 23.8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(Mindy Rogers, 2014)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because the refugee crisis continues to weigh heavily on my heart and is only growing worse instead of better, I want to provide a link to information on how one can practically help, particularly in the <a href="http://www.rescue.org/us-program/us-baltimore-md/how-you-can-help-refugees-baltimore" target="_blank">Baltimore area.</a> One size does not fit all of us, but I do believe we can all help in some way. <a href="http://www.rescue.org/us-program/us-baltimore-md/how-you-can-help-refugees-baltimore" target="_blank">Check it out.</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mental-wealth/201508/screentime-is-making-kids-moody-crazy-and-lazy" target="_blank">Here is the article I was in the process of reading</a> when I was pulled over, ironcially enough, for reading on my phone at a stop light among two other offenses---tag light was out (I did not even know what a tag light was let alone that it was out) and not presenting registration at the time of the stop (I was so flustered that I absolutely could not find my registration. And, I still haven't found it. Ugh!<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">By the way, you cannot be on your "hand held device" while operating a motorized vehicle, not even at a stop light, folks. Learn from me. Just keep your hands off of your phone. And, don't use those hands to wag a finger or two at me. Lesson learned, thankfully with just a warning and not by killing anyone, though I'm not sure how that could have happened while reading at a stop light. But, whatever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As an aside, I never did finish the above article. Let me know if it's worth my time, and maybe I will get back to it when I can overcome my PTS. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last but not least is an <a href="http://www.howdoesshe.com/the-one-question-you-should-never-ask-again/" target="_blank">article posted</a> on the wall of a FB friend of mine, hopefully to become an "in real life" friend over the next year(s) as my family tarries at our current homeschool co op. It pairs well with a post my cousin-in-law (is that such a thing?) and friend, <a href="http://www.jessicaclemmer.com/about/" target="_blank">Jessica Clemmer</a>, wrote on<a href="http://www.jessicaclemmer.com/2015/09/18/4797/" target="_blank"> navigating the ups and downs of social media</a>.<br /><br />Both articles provide food for thought on how we are pursuing friendship and community in the current digital age. It is something that as a parent, I think a lot about, knowing I am setting the example for my children. As much as I want to get this right, I know I am not doing it perfectly. Nevertheless, I want to strive to try to figure out how to best use social media, avoid its pitfalls and then help my own children as they will inevitably have to figure it out for themselves as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Eating: </b>I'm wondering how many recipes you have pinned to Pinterest that you have never tried. If you're anything like me, it's quite a few. <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/camping-hacks-you-must-try-this-summer" target="_blank">Here</a> is one I have had pinned for years and finally got around to trying it this week, thanks to my neighbor-friend, Amy, who came over, sat around my fire, dunked <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/camping-hacks-you-must-try-this-summer" target="_blank">roasted marshmallows in Bailey's</a> and chatted it up on a Wednesday night. The Bailey's soaked, roasted marshmallow was a treat, but the time to get to know a friend was even better. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lawrence and I had the rare pleasure of a night out to ourselves. We checked out a local place that several friends have recommended and were not disappointed. If you are local to us and are looking for good food disguised as a dive of a place, check out <a href="http://www.thehickorylodge.com/" target="_blank">The Lodge</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #7d7c84; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 23.8px;">I ate the "Treehugger," so fitting for me. It was a wrap filled with mushrooms, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato and creamy horseradish sauce. I subbed veggie skewers for the fries, and they were equally as delicious. Lawrence and I shared the rockfish bites appetizer which apparently they are known for. Given I obnoxiously peeled as much as the fried breading off as I could, I found the remaining fish to be so-so. But, I'd say that has more to do with how I ate it than how the restaurant prepared it. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #7d7c84; font-size: large;"><b style="line-height: 23.8px;">Doing: </b><span style="line-height: 23.8px;">We trekked up to Lancaster to take a tour of the </span><a href="http://www.lcswma.org/lcswma_facilities_wte.cfm" style="line-height: 23.8px;" target="_blank">Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Facility</a><span style="line-height: 23.8px;"> as a part of the boys' preparation for their involvement with <a href="http://www.firstlegoleague.org/" target="_blank">First Lego League</a> this year. This year the challenge focus is trash. I found the facility tour to be fascinating, enlightening and educational. Bella just thought it was stinky and wasn't too keen on the gear we had to wear to walk the facility.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://hcplonline.org/fallston.php" target="_blank">Our fabulous library</a> celebrated Constitution Day, September 17th, and hosted a presentation of Betsy Ross by "Betsy Ross." Since we are studying American History this year, we made the time to go. I have long said that we have the best library system ever, and once again, they exceeded my expectations with this program. My kids were unsure for a few seconds if the impersonator was the real Betsy Ross, and then they did the math. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> During the presentation, Betsy explained many things about how our American flag came to look like it does. In that explanation, Bella was crowned Queen Elizabeth of England.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> And, Judah was crowned King James of England.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am a very proud mother. I only need a country for Tucker to rule, and then I believe my work as homeschool educator is complete. ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The kids had lots of play time with friends this weekend with four girls spending the night here on Friday night and a bonfire and s'mores on Saturday night. Lawrence's parents ate lunch with us today and then Abuela (Lawrence's mom) stayed with the kids for a couple hours so that Lawrence, his dad and I could help his brother and wife prepare their new home for their move this upcoming week. We are very excited about all that God has brought into their lives in the last several years. It is a joy to be a part of it all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Looking Ahead:</b> It's a busy week, and I must say the novelty of a new school year has worn off already. Man, I didn't even make it to October. I think our weekend was so full and a bit taxing for me personally that I am really not looking forward to doing it all over again this week.<br />We also have a </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 23.8px;">concluding </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 23.8px;">summer activity overlapping with a fall activity beginning, making it a packed-more-than-usual kind of week.<br />But, I am scheduled to have my hair cut and colored, so all will be right with the world by Tuesday night. ;)</span></span></div>
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Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-24927886056027508912015-09-13T23:17:00.001-04:002017-08-08T21:45:14.519-04:00Sunday Night Summary, September 13, 2015<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reading: </b>I started "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802408141/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=balmengor-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0802408141&linkId=7c17f16b50c3e3af8cfb43f353436bdb">In the Land of the Blue Burqas</a><span id="goog_1639160591"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1639160592"></span>" by Kate McCord after <a href="http://danielleayersjones.com/about/" target="_blank">a friend</a> gave it to me to borrow. As one eager to understand the cultures and religious expressions of others, I am enjoying this book. As one who values the well being and honor of women, I am not enjoying this book at all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is a very difficult read for me as it exposes the treatment of women within this particular religious and geographical culture goes beyond being unappreciated to being devalued and even dehumanized. This is hard to slog through. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />But because the author is a Christian and shares how she weaves the truth of God's grace, love and mercy for all humankind, including women, into the conversations she has with the Afghans, I keep flipping the pages to find hope upon hope for a people deluded and estranged from the true and Living God. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Eating: </b>I've got two fabulous recipes for you this week. At this point in the summer, most people have had enough of the garden ripe tomato. You've either canned tomato-based everything until the skin of your fingertips peeled off from all the acid, or you have given tomatoes away to everyone you know and some strangers, too. Maybe, like me, you learned this wonderful tip of freezing whole tomatoes but now you don't actually know what you're going to do with all of those frozen tomatoes.<br /><br />I have at least one, very good solution for you and it comes by way of Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa. When I discovered her fresh tomato soup, I knew I would never be able to consume canned tomato soup again. (*unless you graciously serve it to me at your table, and then I will spoon up every bit of it and kiss you for making food for me)<br /><br />And, guys, it's not hard to make. It might seem intimidating, but just try it one time. But whatever you do, do NOT try the whole "you can make soup in your Vitamix thing." Ask me why later. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here's the link to this delicious and nutritious soup:<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/cream-of-fresh-tomato-soup-recipe.html" target="_blank"> http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/cream-of-fresh-tomato-soup-recipe.html</a><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/cream-of-fresh-tomato-soup-recipe.html" target="_blank"> </a><br /><br />Serve it up with grilled cheese made with garlic bread, and you have got yourself an awesome, autumnal meal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I cranked out quite a few homemade desserts this week, and I'm not even entirely sure I know why I did that when I have six, yes 6, packages of Neumann-O's (like Oreos) in my pantry. Nevertheless, we had friends over on Saturday night, and my folks visited this afternoon and this dessert was a winner with both: <a href="http://www.jocooks.com/bakery/cakes/chocolate-magic-cake/">http://www.jocooks.com/bakery/cakes/chocolate-magic-cake/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Doing: </b>We had a low key Labor Day weekend last weekend because the recovery from my tooth extraction <strike>was</strike> is taking way longer than I anticipated. I was still taking ibuprofen around the clock, icing my jaw and avoiding talking five days post procedure. Avoiding talking? You gotta know it was bad if I was asking to NOT talk.<br />Regardless, we were able to host two sets of friends on Sunday night for a small fire on our stone patio and s'mores while I iced my jaw. And, Monday, I felt well enough to make and take dinner to another friend's house where we enjoyed a small fire and s'mores again because, hey, it's almost fall and 'tis the season for fires and s'mores. Anyone with me?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We dealt with a recall on our Pilot and learned that we are apparently still not done with repairs. What is up, Honda? Lawrence told me we have three things yet to take care of on this vehicle, but they can wait. Like until we have money again, maybe?! Anyway, truly, I am grateful to have the resources to be able to take care of our vehicles and teeth even if it's not the most fun way to spend one's money. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On Friday, the kids and I had our first day of homeschool co-op called Crossroads. A part from some nervous jitters and a bee sting during gym, we all thoroughly enjoyed our time and are looking forward to our year learning with this community of fellow homeschoolers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Friday night, I was able to attend a volunteer orientation with World Relief to learn more about how my family and I can serve the needs of refugees coming to our area. It was an enlightening time, learning from my friend, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/nan-ross/a/391/694" target="_blank">Nan Ross</a>, the volunteer and church coordinator for World Relief. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Saturday was filled with cooking, baking, cleaning and hanging with friends. One of our friends spent the majority of the summer in Russia, where my girlfriend is from, and we were grateful to have some time to catch up on Saturday night over coconut pie and chocolate magic cake. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today we thoroughly enjoyed a visit from my folks who made the two hour trek to see us. We haven't been able to travel up to Pennsylvania much this summer with the various car repairs and medical needs we needed to attend to. So, it was really nice to have a visit from them, eat fresh tomato soup that I made and vegetable beef soup that my mom made and catch up on all things family, house and health related along with a few games of Quirkle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Looking Ahead: </b>The fall schedule is about to commence in full force this week... a field trip, summer and fall extra curriculars overlapping and some really fun social gatherings for me and the kids. And, I am really hoping and praying I can hit the pavement again running. It's been two weeks! I miss it like crazy, but even the walks I've done (it has sadly, only been two) have left my tooth throbbing afterward. So, we'll see what my body says "yes" to this week. </span>Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-48820490047271103192015-09-06T15:58:00.000-04:002017-08-08T21:47:05.953-04:00Sunday Night Summary, September 06, 2015<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reading: </b>Much of what I read this week had to do with the refugee crisis. I am slain by the overwhelming need and fighting my cynicism to believe God's people in particular will not turn away in apathy or complacency but will do one.small.thing, as Ann Voskamp so eloquently encourages in <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2015/09/5-ways-to-stand-up-be-the-church-in-the-worlds-worst-refugee-crisis-since-world-war-ii/" target="_blank">this, her one of several posts on the call to the Church to be the hands and feet and mouthpiece of Christ</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Please take some time to read some of the links she provides, to NOT TURN AWAY but to absorb and feel and then ACT. Though not in the same way as these refugees, I have nevertheless been a person in need. I have been a person who has grieved loss again and again. Life's circumstances could have broken me and made me bitter, but by God's mercy, they have not. They have shaped me, though, forging empathy into the fiber of my being. But, I am only one person. I have limited resources, but God has given me a heart that feels things so very deeply and a voice that I am not afraid to use to solicit others to action. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Honestly, in light of what I have learned this week about refugees, I found it difficult to give emotional focus to anything else I read. Though, I finished "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0718031822/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=balmengor-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0718031822&linkId=00d00ac0bfd07e3aeb5219f99b0b4e1b" target="_blank">For the Love" by Jen Hatmaker</a> and will say it was the most enjoyable and resonating book I have read in a long time.<br /><br />She is beginning a <a href="http://www.faithgateway.com/for-the-love-book-club-registration/" target="_blank">book club </a>of sorts for her book, and I am hoping to not only participate but include a few of my fellow "For the Love" local friends. I would much rather discuss the ins and outs of living out our faith sitting face to face with you, a glass of wine and piece of chocolate in hand, than online staring at a computer screen. Anyone in? I'll provide the wine and chocolate. :)<br /><br /><b>Eating: </b>This week it was a lot of smoothies and pureed food for me. I had my first tooth extracted. First, yes, of hopefully only two teeth that will ever be pulled from my mouth. The extraction itself wasn't so awful, but the recovery has been more painful and lengthy than I anticipated. By day 3, I fully expected to be back to normal. Instead, on day 4 I am still drinking smoothies, slurping soup, popping ibuprofen every 4 hours and icing the side of my face.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The upside to this is that I was able to pre-maturely prepare one of my fall favorites, <a href="http://www.kimscravings.com/2013/10/copycat-panera-breads-autumn-squash-soup-vegan-paleo-and-gluten-free/" target="_blank">Butternut Squash Soup</a>. Of the plethora of recipes available, <a href="http://www.kimscravings.com/2013/10/copycat-panera-breads-autumn-squash-soup-vegan-paleo-and-gluten-free/" target="_blank">this is my current favorite. </a> Don't let the "vegan, paleo, gluten free" labels scare you. It's absolutely scrumptious.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't know about you, but I am eagerly anticipating the cooler temperatures of fall for the simple joy of making soup again. I am rather fond of soup despite my family's mere tolerance of it. I suppose it is too close to a casserole concept for my family's liking. I am one of those odd ducks that just loves casseroles, soups and salads. Everything is in or on one pot, plate or bowl. Minimalist to the core. What's not to love?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For whatever reason (and that reason NOT being that I am pregnant) I was craving an <a href="http://zitzmanfam.blogspot.com/2012/01/italian-wedding-soup.html" target="_blank">Italian Wedding Soup</a> and so took a stab at making it for the first time this week. While the appearance of it was rather odd due to a technical error incorporating the eggs, the taste was outstanding. Even my hubby liked it enough to eat leftovers!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What soups are among your fall favorites? Leave a link in the comments.<br /><br /><b>Doing:</b> Well, this wasn't one of my favorite weeks ever. But, hey, "<a href="http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/onefineday/mamasaid.htm" target="_blank">Momma said there'd be days like this</a>." And, I've had weeks like this past one before. I know they are inevitable. And, I know we get through them. That's what we did. We got through this week as best as we could. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I mentioned, I had my first tooth extraction. It went better than I anticipated. The surgeon and his assistant are wonderful--patient, thorough, sympathetic and skilled. I was grateful to find an oral surgeon with whom I was comfortable.<br /><br />Two days after my extraction, Judah had a laser treatment. For whatever reason, he experienced more pain with this treatment than he ever has before. He screamed all throughout the treatment and cried for about an hour afterward. </span><span style="font-size: large;">He was in so much distress after his treatment that he felt he was going to pass out at one point. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The doctor brought an ice pack for his face, and Judah sat with his face directly in the air conditioning fans of my hubby's car the entire ride home, moaning and asking God why He was torturing him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was not one of the more fun "mom moments" but one in which I was very grateful Judah has a mom and a dad to be with him in these dark hours, to hold his hand, remind him to breathe, assure him the pain won't last forever. And, it didn't. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">By the time we were within 15 minutes of home and passing a local ice cream shop, Judah was feeling better enough to accept our offer for ice cream. Chocolate and Cookies-N-Cream with rainbow sprinkles and gummy worms for the win!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Medical" and "Mechanical" are two budget categories that are absolutely bleeding us currently. Since the end of May, we have had near non-stop medical needs along with issues with our vehicles. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This past week, our Pilot was at the mechanic again. Lo and behold as Lawrence pulled out of the mechanic's parking lot after having a sensor replaced, a part that we had fixed just a month ago broke AGAIN! No kidding. He literally turned out of the parking lot only to turn right back in and leave the Pilot with the mechanic for another day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thankfully, the mechanic did not charge us for this second fix, but we are researching Honda recalls to find out if this is something the manufacturer can be held responsible for. We have had the same mechanic for years and trust his reliability and skill. We will be taking it to the Honda dealer this upcoming week for a recall on another part that has been needing fixed for a while. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am grateful it will be covered financially and that I have friends who live relatively near enough to provide shuttle service or run errands for us as needed. Community is a beautiful thing. And, while we often try to arrange our lives so as to not need anything from anyone else, I have found God force me into this place of need time and time again to remind me that He comes near to those who humble themselves, ask for help and are willing to receive it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For some of us, the self sufficient, pick-yourselves-up-by-the-bootstraps, American ideal of "I can do it by myself" is the very thing that keeps us from enjoying the rich benefits of intimate relationships within community. Being a giver as well as a receiver is necessary for robust and well rounded relationships. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Looking ahead:</b> It is looking like a quieter week of plodding away at school and needs at home, of rest and healing and gearing up for the fullness of a fall schedule, which for us here at Montford includes A LOT of leaf blowing! <br /><br />The kids and I have the first day of our new homeschool co op, Crossroads, on Friday. I am looking forward to jumping in headlong to this new community of fellow home educators and learners. </span>Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-68856882694552199282015-08-31T00:07:00.000-04:002015-08-31T00:07:36.342-04:00Sunday Night Summary, August 30, 2015<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Reading:</b> A friend (thank you, Jen Fisher) allowed me to borrow her copy of <a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/" target="_blank">Jen Hatmaker's</a> "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/For-Love-Fighting-Impossible-Standards/dp/0718031822" target="_blank">For the Love</a>," and I am so glad she did. This book. This woman. I love it and her. I love the journey God has taken her on in discovering how to truly love Him and people well. I love that she is not only willing but also incredibly gifted in telling the story of her journey and all that she has learned along the way. In her early 40's, <a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/" target="_blank">Jen Hatmaker</a> has a wealth of wisdom mixed with a lot of humor to offer in her latest release, "For the Love."<br /><br />From blog world this week, I read <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2015/08/you-know-theyre-laughing-at-us-right-on-the-trivialization-monetization-humiliation-of-the-gospel/" target="_blank">this post</a> by <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/ann-voskamp/" target="_blank">Ann Voskamp </a>at <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/" target="_blank">A Holy Experience</a>, the heart of which has been challenging me significantly, causing me to ask myself, "How am I really living out the good news that Jesus is and declared through His life, death and resurrection to ALL people, those inside and outside the church?"<br /><br />Make time to read this all important, incredibly relevant post of Ann Voskamp's. Let this paragraph whet your appetite for the entire post:<br /></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/?p=142935" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #54aab6; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s;" target="_blank">When we are against abortion</a> but are for the cutting of social safety nets, when our political agendas are loud but our daily schedules are pretty quiet about serving people different than us, when we get up on our soapboxes about morality <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/?p=140563" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #54aab6; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s;" target="_blank">but don’t get out of our comfortable boxes to make real friends with those who live a different lifestyle</a> —— <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/?p=142935" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #54aab6; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s;" target="_blank">we look like we’re more about pro-birth than we are pro-life,</a> we look like we’re more about self-preservation than community transformation, we look like we’re more about judgement than Jesus.</em></div>
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The life of Jesus would radically suggest: <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">The most conservative in theology, should be the most liberal in loving.</strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The life of Jesus would radically suggest: <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Don’t advertise your beautiful faith without advertising your broken-down faults</strong> — <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">because those broken-down faults are the exact reason why you need your beautiful faith.</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Both Jen Hatmaker and Ann Voskamp, in their vastly different yet uniquely beautiful writing and speaking, articulate so many things for which my heart beats loud and hard. These women use strong words and better words than I seem to be able to put together to communicate so much that rings true for me in the walking out of my faith. I am grateful for their diligent pursuit of the gifts God's deposited in them and sacrifices they have made to see those gifts enjoyed and benefited from by others, far and wide. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="color: #444444; line-height: 30px;">Eating: </b><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">I scored a glut of re-fried black beans at BB's several weeks ago, and have been making a layered taco dip with them that has been a huge hit at several summer gatherings we've had to bring a food dish to.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">Here is the ever so easy to put together layered dip, a spin on the traditional taco dip.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">1 can re-fried black beans </span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt (your choice; I use greek yogurt)</span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">Guacamole (homemade or store bought, your choice)</span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">Salsa (same as above)</span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">Shredded Cheddar or mozzarella cheese </span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">Simply layer the above ingredients and serve with your favorite tortilla chips. It's delicious!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">Running out of quick breakfast options this past week, I had to resort to making an overnight french toast. Pioneer Woman's recipes never fail me. I looked up an overnight french toast recipe from her, and I was again pleased. Try it. You won't regret it. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 30px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/cinnamon-baked-french-toast/">http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/cinnamon-baked-french-toast/</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="line-height: 30px;">Doing</b><span style="line-height: 30px;">: Many returned to school this past week, and so did we. Though, I have learned over the last 5 years of doing this home school gig that a gentle easing back into school goes much better for us than jumping into a full schedule from Day 1. As such, I begin a little earlier than some of my com padres and affectionately call it our "Soft start."<br /><br />We only took on about half our subjects this week and even then, only completed four school days out of the five. Midweek we took the day off for one final girls' day for Bella at a friend's house who lives right on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. <br /><br />My friend, Jill, has gathered Bella along with a handful of other girls Bella's age at her house several times this summer and throughout last spring to spend time with the girls and teach them all things domestic arts related. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 30px;">I have to say these are the kinds of opportunities that absolutely make me feel so alive and purpose driven. I love talking about my relationship with God. I love teaching others, especially girls and women, about spiritual things. It was by far one of the highlights of my week, especially the time we had with the girls, talking about what they did and/or learned after they practiced some of the things I taught them. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 30px;">We had several doctors' appointments this week. Do I say that a lot? I feel like I say that a lot. sigh. The kids and I all had dental appointments. The kids managed no cavities for which I gave much thanks. I, however, did not fare so well. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 30px;">I am telling you, I am the most ardent brusher/flosser in this family, and I always end up the one having the most dental procedures. sigh again. In the midst of scheduling two different teeth extractions, I now have to get a filling to boot. Seriously? I am ready to have them yank all my teeth and fill my mouth with dentures. I'd have a new party trick at least. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">We enjoyed a more fall-ish feeling week weather wise, and are beginning to see other signs of fall like dried, brown leaves already coating our yard and spiders spinning some rather impressive webs right outside our windows at night. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">The kids and I enjoyed one final "Fun Friday," with some of our home school buds again at our friend, Jill's house. Jumping off her pier, playing "King of the Inter-tube," and eating take out pizza was a great way to celebrate the end of summer and our first week of school simultaneously.</span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 30px;">I had my own unintended celebration, winning at my neighborhood Bunco that night. Woot!</span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 30px;">I put in just under 10 miles this week running, less than I want but more than nothing. And all my runs were under a 9 minute/mile pace for which I am thrilled. I am just grateful to be out there. </span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 30px;">Oddly enough, one of my favorite things to do all month is my big grocery shop at a discount store 50 minutes from my house. I wake up at 6:30 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month typically, am on the road by 7 a.m. and arrive to BB's as they are opening their doors at 8 a.m. I spend 4 hours grocery shopping and love every second of it, except for maybe the 120 seconds I spend in the deep freezer. That's not as much fun. But, this grocery store fills my freezers, fridge and pantry for about a quarter of the cost of shopping at any of my local grocery stores. It is so worth the time and trip in this season of my life. And, I get a solid 6 hours all by myself. I catch up on podcasts I want to listen to. I sit in sheer silence and breathe a little deeper. I pray. I love it. </span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 30px;">Saturday afternoon, I attended a baby shower my church hosted for the </span><a href="http://www.cpcforhelp.org/home" style="line-height: 30px;" target="_blank">Greater Baltimore Center for Pregnancy Concerns.</a><span style="line-height: 30px;"> I had never been to a baby shower like it, and was so grateful for the ways in which my church seeks to play a role in a number of ministries reaching out to and meeting the needs of communities outside its own reach.</span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 30px;">Along those lines, as a family we attended a special evening potluck and service at our church tonight that gave attention to the various international missions folks from our church have been on and/or are still a part of. My soul was lifted and enlarged to hear about the activity of God and the unity of His Spirit across the world, specifically in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Scotland, Sudan and Russia.</span><br /><br /><b style="line-height: 30px;">Looking Ahead: </b><span style="line-height: 30px;">I gotta say that I am fighting to look at the week ahead with a cheerful outlook. The heavy circumstances of various friends and family are weighing on my heart tonight in addition to my own little family's needs for this week ahead.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">I am scheduled for my first tooth extraction on Wednesday. I cannot tell you how much I am not looking forward to this. The thing I keep consoling myself with is the thought that maybe, just maybe, I might lose a pound or two due to not being able to eat solids for some time while I heal.<br /><br />And, hey, because this is how we roll around here...why don't we just end this banner week with a laser treatment for Judah. Friday afternoon, we would love your thoughts and prayers. </span></span></span></div>
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Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-11363145707940834552015-08-24T00:09:00.000-04:002015-08-24T00:09:24.899-04:00Sunday Night Summary, August 23, 2015<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Reading:</b> My reading comes this week via blogs. I love reading blogs because they are short and to the point, kind of like me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />My favorite types of blogs to read are spiritual growth in nature. I will definitely peruse food blogs as well, but honestly, food bloggers, I skip all your words and head straight to the recipe. Occasionally I'll read your comments because I will find the truth about your recipe there or any tweaks I may need to make.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This week, I want to highlight two posts I read, both guest writers ironically. The first is a blog I have long read, and adored, and I would even say have been mentored by. It is called, "<a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/" target="_blank">A Holy Experience</a>," authored by <a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/ann-voskamp/" target="_blank">Ann Voskamp</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Thousand-Gifts-Fully-Right/dp/0310321913/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">NYTimes best seller of "One Thousand Gifts."</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />This week, <a href="http://emilypfreeman.com/" target="_blank">Emily Freeman</a>, wrote a beautiful piece over at A Holy Experience taken from her most recent book release, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Simply-Tuesday-Small-Moment-Living-Fast-Moving/dp/0800722450" target="_blank">Simply Tuesday</a>." The post entitled, "<a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2015/08/hope-for-your-soul-when-you-feel-small/" target="_blank">Hope For Your Soul When You Feel Small</a>" spoke to me so profoundly as one who is living a much smaller life in many ways than I ever thought I would.<br /><br />In the post, Emily compares stairwells and stages, literally and metaphorically. As one who longs for and even feels a bit at home on stages, in the spotlight, I live most of my life in stairwells (many of which are scattered throughout Johns Hopkins). I love these lines from Emily's post:<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>And while important things <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">do</span> happen on stages, while influence <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">does </span>come from spotlights, <span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b>I never want to forget important things happen in stairwells too.</b></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Christ spent His life on the stage of earth but He lived His moments in the stairwells of small towns.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Christ ascended to the stage of heaven but He lives His moments now within the stairwell of the human heart.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Neve</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><i>r forsake the stairwell for the stage.</i><br /><br />It's well worth a complete read.<br /><br />My second blog post recommendation comes from another author, <a href="http://amberchaines.com/" target="_blank">Amber Haines</a>, who recently released her book entitled, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Hollow-Chasing-Desire-Finding/dp/0800724070" target="_blank">Wild in the Hollow</a>." On <a href="http://amberchaines.com/therunamuck/" target="_blank">Amber's blog</a>, she featured guest writer, <a href="http://www.anamcara.com/" target="_blank">Tara Owens</a>, who wrote a poetic narrative reflecting truths of the gospel in the most accessible and beautiful of ways as she retells the unthinkable choice of saving her baby's life or saving her own.<br /><br />The most divinely gripping of paragraphs for me was the following: </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #5d5d5d; letter-spacing: 0.100000001490116px; line-height: 24px;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wanted this child because I had been wanted first. The desire of God for me was a forest fire compared to the spark this girl baby ignited in me. The sacrificial choice made for me made me want to make that same choice. The desire for this life hidden within made me giving up my outward life possible.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Read more <a href="http://amberchaines.com/2015/08/19/what-i-knew-in-my-dying-day-a-wild-in-the-hollow-guest-post-by-tara-owens/" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 30px;"><b>Eating: </b>I was able to find Toffee Bits last trip to BB's (discount grocery store) and decided to make a dessert using them for the book club I hosted this past Wednesday. The girls coming preferred a chocolate trifle over brownies, so I made one up. And, I have to say it was pretty amazing.<br /><br />Bri's Made Up Chocolate Trifle:<br /><br />Make a chocolate cake; my favorite recipe for chocolate cake is what some people call "<a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/wacky-chocolate-cake-106041" target="_blank">Wacky Cake</a>" because it has no eggs or milk in it.<br /><br />I also made my new go-to, from-scratch chocolate pudding. It is so easy to make, it is shameful to buy boxed pudding ever again once you know <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/chocolate-ricotta-mousse" target="_blank">this recipe.</a> (I have played with this recipe quite a bit, sometimes leaving out the confectioner's sugar, buying a variety of kinds of chocolate including chocolate chips, and also using full fat and low fat ricotta cheese. All variations have turned out a little different, but all really yummy.)<br /><br />I made homemade whipped cream. Is there any other kind?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">Once all the components of the trifle are made, all that's left to do is layer in a glass trifle dish.<br />Cake, pudding, whipped cream, toffee, repeat. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 30px;">Try it for your next get together. You won't regret it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Doing:</b> We crammed it in this week, seeing that it was our last week of summer vacation. I wanted the kids to have as many social engagements as I could muster this week.<br /><br />There were sleep overs for all the kids, visits with friends, sometimes several a day, a day trip to <a href="http://www.cascadelake.com/" target="_blank">Cascade Lake</a> with our new homeschool co op, Crossroads, birthday parties, and plenty of swimming, one of those swims at an old favorite spot of ours, <a href="http://alltrails.com/trail/us/maryland/gunpowder-falls-state-park-jerusalem-village-trail-with-jericho" target="_blank">Jerusalem Mill</a>. The calendar was so booked this week that my boys actually asked not to go to a monthly boys' night they typically attend because they were so zonked.<br /><br />In the midst of all the running around, I managed to clean and re-organize the school room, finish ordering school materials and/or books, type out daily school schedules for each of the kids and myself for this upcoming year, take cookies to a friend whose stepdad just came home from the hospital, host book club, attend our final Trust Based Parenting session, run Judah to the library for his last two shifts as a summer volunteer, mow our entire lawn and run about 8 miles this week (less than my weekly goal, but something is better than nothing.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A friend turned me on to some new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXpK3bF9UlA" target="_blank">strength training videos</a> that I have been implementing into my workouts throughout the week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have had trouble with my <a href="http://www.runnersworld.com/tag/itbs" target="_blank">IT band</a> for a couple years, and am hoping that doing a better job at strength training and stretching will heal it and keep me on the road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We ended the week in the best way I can think of, celebrating the lives of our boys and dear friends of our's little girl, who just turned one. All three of these children are answers to prayer and bring great joy to all of us.<br /><br /><b>Looking Ahead</b>:<br />Well, it's time. We will start school tomorrow. Like a middle aged momma entering a pool, we ease in slowly. We will have three days of devoted school time this week, and only do some of our subjects. We repeat this plan next week as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most of my focus and effort this week and next is just re-acclimating all of us to the schedule, pace and focus that school requires. I need as much of a slow ease into all of that as much, if not more than the kids do. I am going to sorely miss taking two hours in the morning to "wake up."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We also have three separate doctor's appointments, all routine visits.<br /><br />However, I am going to have to call our pediatrician because Judah has been having pain in his knee joint for several days, and this is something we have seen in him a handful of times in the past. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It has come and gone and even been located in different joints. We have consulted once already with the pediatrician about it, but nothing emergent revealed itself at the time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, I am calling again this week to find out if we need to consider blood work or some further scans. I am not thrilled about this at all, but Judah's pediatrician told us at the first visit about his joint pain that we would probably need to take this route if his joint pain continued to show up.<br /><br />I am praying it is simply growth pains. While I hate to see any of my kids in pain, I think it would be a good sign if Judah was experiencing growth pains given he has growth hormone deficiency and is "not supposed" to be growing all that much if at all according to many years of pituitary testing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now past midnight, it is time to hit the hay.</span></div>
Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-31054869049629054542015-08-16T22:16:00.001-04:002017-08-08T21:50:49.604-04:00Sunday Night Summary, August 16, 2015<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reading: </b>This wasn't a super exciting reading week. What little time I took to read, I spent it in a book entitled, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Seizures-Epilepsy-Childhood-Hopkins-Health/dp/0801870518" target="_blank">Seizures and Epilepsy in Childhood, A Guide,</a>" by John Freeman, Eileen Vining, and Diana Pillas. Published by Johns Hopkins Press, it was a book recommended by Bella's neurologist. Admittedly, I did not get very far into this book before wanting to put it down. Not exactly a page turner, but something I feel I need to read to best understand what is happening in my daughter's brain. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The definition of absence seizures, the type of seizure Bella has is thus, <i>An absence seizure, formerly called petit mal, is a very special and uncommon type of seizure. It starts suddenly and without warning. The child displays a glazed look and stares. She doesn't know what is happening and usually cannot later recall things that occurred during the seizure. Occasionally, there is a little eye-blinking or head-bobbing. The episode usually lasts seconds, occasionally as long as fifteen seconds, and ends as abruptly as it started. When the seizure ends, the child is immediately alert. There is no confusion afterward. These seizures may occur many times a day and are often mistaken for day dreaming."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thankfully, Bella has never been hurt during one of her seizures, and they do not last longer than a few seconds. Nevertheless, we are still trying to work on controlling them through medication and other means. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another book I continued this week was a Bible study on the prophets of the Old Testament by Nancy Guthrie, entitled, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1433536609/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=balmengor-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1433536609&linkId=14a315e8f8706588f6c3bc3b872c7f76" target="_blank">The Word of the Lord: Seeing Jesus in the Prophets.</a>" I read to the end of Jeremiah this week and started reading the book of Daniel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Watching: </b>More exciting than reading about seizures, LA and I started a new Netflix series called, "<a href="http://www.netflix.com/title/80007945" target="_blank">Chef's Table.</a>" This series ropes me in on many levels: the food, the psychology of each chef featured and the journey they have taken to arrive at the status of a world renown chef. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have only watched two of the six episodes in this series,but I wonder if I already watched my favorite episode, the 2nd, which highlighted Chef Dan Barber. Aside from his near constant, foul language, his passion for flavor and as a result for the ways in which food is grown and soil is cared for really resonated with me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lawrence had a meeting one evening this week, so the kids and I watched "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GOVLNK/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=balmengor-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B000GOVLNK&linkId=f0db3a892865cf03111c260d29604d39">Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire</a>." The boys have <strike>read</strike> devoured the entire Harry Potter series over this past year. It has provided much fodder for imaginative play and thoughtful discussion with our kids about good vs. evil, what the spells in Harry Potter mean (I am totally counting this as a Latin credit for my boys!), about magic and the way it can appropriately be viewed as entertainment but also inappropriately applied when one tries to gain control over someone or something over which only God Himself has control. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On family night, we brought out a classic to watch with the kids, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I14XLS/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=balmengor-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B000I14XLS&linkId=c981bc55ebaeacdce421a78822f1263b" target="_blank">Chariots of Fire</a>." </span><span style="font-size: large;">Competitive running for the glory of God versus one's self glory is one of the themes of this film and why I love it so much. "When I run, I feel God's pleasure," a statement made by one of the film's main characters, Eric Liddell, is a sentiment I share. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My children did not share my appreciation. Sigh. They were bored and respectfully bit their tongues throughout the movie so that I alone could enjoy it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Eating</b>: We enjoyed one of my summer favorites this week: Tomato Pie. You don't have to love tomatoes to love this savory pie. It seems I was the last of <a href="http://danielleayersjones.com/" target="_blank">my friends</a> who I know <a href="http://www.amykannel.com/" target="_blank">also love </a>this dish to make and enjoy it. Here is the recipe link: http://www.home-ec101.com/tomato-pie/</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Doing: </b>We continued with musical practice with the performance scheduled for September 27th. J and T are both working on speaking parts, and B is working on a special dance the 7 and 8 year old girls will be doing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Judah had his annual follow up with his eye surgeon. After many tests, pictures, dilation and bright lights shone in his eyes, Judah was sent off with the great report of stable eyes. We are so grateful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Providentially, we were at Hopkins the same day a friend of ours' step father was admitted for brain surgery. Judah and I had the opportunity to take some small snacks to them and spend a few minutes talking and praying for God's peace and healing.<br /><br />Hopkins is a "home away from home" for us, an oddly comfortable place for us to bring a familiar face and hopefully the presence of God and His goodness to those who might find themselves there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This past weekend, we had three different sets of friends who were there for one reason or another. It's not a place of ministry I would have ever chosen for myself or my kids, but it has become a place where God has shown me so much of Himself, His provision and many mercies. It is a place in which I am grateful our family can serve and bless others in ways we have so richly been blessed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We enjoyed lunch dates, play dates, and more swimming this week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bella had the opportunity to have her hair cut with a friend which was so fun for both girls. My only regret is not getting this done at the BEGINNING of the summer rather than at the end. Duh!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We continued with our Trust Based Parenting class, the third of four sessions we will have. I am grateful to be exposed to another way of thinking through and responding to my (and others') children's behavioral challenges. If nothing else, it is growing in me more empathy, compassion and understanding that people, like books, cannot be judged by their "covers." </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was so refreshing to be at church this morning; I needed to hear truth and laud truth after the day I had yesterday. A conflict between LA and me spiraled me into a web of lies that I pondered and perseverated on until it literally wore me out physically. By the end of the day, when we were scheduled to have a family over for dessert, I was "stuck" in bed. I crawled in bed at 6 and slept heavy for 2.5 hours. When I woke, I was postured so differently, level headed and reasonable, patient and willing to be entreated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am not much different from a child, I suppose. I need to have proper rest, exercise, good eating and my meds. all on board to function anything close to normal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And, here's the thing. The conflict remains unresolved. Honestly, I don't know how it is going to be resolved. I don't even really know what needs to happen, who needs to move on his position. But, LA and I are united again to persevere in grace with one another. We are committed afresh to keep fighting for peace and further unity, and that alone is a huge victory or at least a huge victory for us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This morning, we listened to a <a href="http://www.longgreenbc.org/10246/blogentry/entry_id/448960/Saul-Self-Deception" target="_blank">message our pastor boldly delivered on self deception.</a> It happened to Saul. It happens to all of us. His big idea was that self deception is not in itself evil, but rather the means by which many evils are done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I topped off the week running a <a href="http://www.charmcityrun.com/calendar/2015/8/16/charm-city-run-5k-trail-run-at-boordy-vineyards" target="_blank">5K at a local vineyard</a>. It's a race I did with a group of girlfriends last year and had so much fun. This year for a variety of reasons, all the girls who registered to run with me couldn't make it. So, my hubby and kids came with me to cheer me on and watch me run. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was a hot run and not the time I was hoping for, but an opportunity to run nonetheless. And, I am always grateful for each time I complete another run; I know I am not owed any of those paces. But, boy do I love running!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Looking ahead:</b> This is the last week of summer vacation for us. We will have our "soft start" to school on the 24th of August. So, I am sure I will pack in as much fun as I can possibly muster amidst the ordinary needs of life.</span>Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-29923161498411905002015-08-09T22:50:00.001-04:002017-08-08T21:53:12.073-04:00Sunday Night Summary, August 9, 2015<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Reading: </b>I'm nearing the end of "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400204666/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=balmengor-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1400204666&linkId=9fde66110f4e57d21745f498c5f0531d" target="_blank">Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe</a>," and am convinced I would be well served to read other books written by the co-authors of this one--the newly released book, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1414372612/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=balmengor-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1414372612&linkId=c8c4e9b180b9f5cf34ba0e415b86ef4c" target="_blank">Longing for Paris" by Sarah Mae</a> along with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1414391285/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=balmengor-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1414391285&linkId=5586120a3d409518d5c5269633300e92" target="_blank">Sally Clarkson's "Own Your Life."</a><br /><br />My biggest take away from "Desperate" has been to see the details of my life as unique and moreso, the "formula" needed to thrive as a wife and mother as unique as well. I have a tendency to look at the lives of others who I esteem or judge as thriving in their roles of wife and mother and try to imitate aspects of what I see them doing, thinking that doing so will make me thrive. Only, it doesn't work, and then I become frustrated, defeated, confused and can even despair. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What this book is helping me to see and embrace, with the help of the Holy Spirit, is that who I am, who my husband is, who each of my children are all add up to a unique situation here with a unique mixture of temperaments and needs, preferences, desires, goals and ways of achieving those goals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It requires me to slow down long enough to observe MY family, to listen and pray, to try things that may seem counter intuitive, to release my expectations on how to parent and what the outcomes may be of such parenting, and to adjust routines, priorities, and expectations in order to achieve the right mix of activity, rest, productivity and consumption our family needs to thrive to the best of its ability. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Specifically, I am seeing increasingly how little I can actually give of my time, attention and resources to things and people outside my little family. When I say "little," I have to clarify that my idea of "little" is probably someone else's "a lot." By nature, I am an ambitious person who all too often wants to be the answer to all the problems, meet all the needs of all the people everywhere, world round. I want to participate in all the ministries and start some new ones. I want to read all the books, watch all the documentaries, sign all the petitions, march in all the crusades...You get the idea. I kind of can't do that and serve my family well.<br />I know. I shouldn't have to read a book and be 11 years into this mothering thing before I figured that out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Nevertheless, there has been some grieving involved in this for me, but as I am cutting things out and saying no to opportunities, I am experiencing greater peace in my own heart, mind and soul which translates to a more peaceful home in general. This is good. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Eating: </b>The kids were at something called "Action Camp" which is similar to VBS, only it's in the evening, and they are served dinner. Win for me on dinner prep. this week! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />I made a 7 layer salad at the start of the week and ate that pretty much all week long. Lawrence and I were able to catch dinner out, sans kids, Monday evening with a gift card to Friday's. Yay for gift cards. But, I gotta say; I'm sick of Friday's.<br /><br />We typically have family pizza/movie night on Friday night each week. This week, it happened on Saturday, however, as Action Camp had their own family night to end the week. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have made a pizza twice now that LA and I have so enjoyed, he told me I should name it after he found out I made it up. So, here it is if you care to try it yourself.<br /><br />Pizza Crust (I love the Earth's Pride brand I can buy at BJ's)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jalapeno and Cilantro Monterey Jack Cheese (not something that is easy to find, but well worth it if you can find it!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cream Cheese or Greek Yogurt (your pick; both work well)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">red onion</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">colored peppers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">zucchini (optional)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">mushrooms (optional)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">bacon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">mozzarella cheese, shredded</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I like to pre-bake the crust at 475 for a few minutes to allow it to get a bit crusty, not crisp, just crusty. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I mix the jalapeno/cilantro cheese with cream cheese or greek yogurt, equal parts, to make like a cheese 'paste.' This will be the "sauce" for your pizza. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can pan fry or oven bake your bacon, whichever method you prefer. I used both regular bacon and turkey bacon for this, and both tasted great. So, do what is right for you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I sauteed the red onion, peppers, zukes and shrooms, adding them to the saute pan in that order. The onions need a little more time to saute to the point of caramelizing. I also prefer my zukes and shrooms to not get too mushy. So, I throw them in later in the sauteing process.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To assemble pizza, spread the cheese 'paste' onto the crust. Pile on the sauteed veggies. Break up bacon pieces on top of veggies. Finally, sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top to bind all that veggie/bacon goodness together. Yum!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Doing: </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It felt like a slower paced week for us.<br />The kids attended Action Camp in the evenings, though Tucker had to miss two days for running random, low grade fevers for a day and a half. They were so out of the blue with no other symptoms, but I have my own theory about this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were two days without the Pilot again this week which meant hitching a ride to musical practice on Monday and otherwise being home bound for Monday and Tuesday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Plans I had for the boys to participate in a Minecraft Mania event at one of our local libraries on Tuesday were cancelled, and a swimming get together scheduled for Wednesday was also cancelled for a variety of reasons. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Tucker's fever prevented us from getting together with friends who wanted to drop in on Thursday and also a scheduled creek play day at our house with friends on Friday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />A lot of cancelled plans for the boys' "Week of Birthday," which is typically hugely disappointing for all of us, but I wonder if my kids, along with me, have been needing some down time, some space, quiet, rest, even boredom to get a grip on our relating with each other and seeing how much having no plans can afford us within our home and with each other. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />The boys and I pulled out a game they received for Christmas and finally learned how to play, Settlers of Catan. We set the board up on Monday and played a little each day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was on top of my laundry, even managing to fold it and put it away all week long! I spoke with my sister, sister-in-law and mom on the phone, something I just do not make time to do typically. I read. We swam. I napped. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />I even managed to log close to 14 miles this week in my running shoes. My goal has been 13. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Surprisingly, I enjoyed the semi-secluded life this week, aspects of it anyway. With the increased focus and peace, however, came some unsettling temptations for me personally. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Having to cancel plans or just not have many in place this week, I realized that I often initiate with others for the fear that I will be forgotten otherwise.<br />Hard to admit that, but it's true.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />God has definitely been putting His finger on that in my life lately--this fear of being forgotten or left out. I know I am not alone. FOMO is a "thing" I didn't create but apparently "suffer" from. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thursday night, I attended a parenting course, called "Trust Based Parenting," LA and I are going through with some friends of ours. The sessions we watched and discussed this week were immediately applied and benefited from in our home and parenting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Though not always easy to implement, they are simple changes really. Get down on eye level with your child. Give eye contact and request eye contact from your child. Use a soft tone of voice and gentle touches. It may not sound all that profound, but the affects have been profound!<br /><br />Too often, I am barking orders from another room in the house. I am breaking up fights happening in the basement while I continue to cook in the kitchen. I am "listening" to my son tell me all about his Lego creation while I scroll my Instagram feed. This can work for some kids and even my kids some of the time. But, what I am communicating to my children through my body language is that they are not enough of a priority in that moment to go to them, to give them eye contact and my full attention and patience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today, I tried another way, this method of parenting, with one of my children who absolutely lost control of herself in the car ride home from church. She (I guess you can tell who I'm talking about, huh, using "she"?) screamed at the top of her lungs over and over and banged on the window because she missed seeing a roadside attraction we occasionally drive by on our way to and from church.<br />Totally inappropriate behavior for a 8.5 year old. Absolutely disproportionate response for the circumstance.<br /><br />Typically, I may have yelled, or tried to yell over top of my daughter to tell her to NOT SCREAM at something like that. Or, I would let her know that she would be receiving some form of discipline at home for the way she just over reacted.<br /><br />Today, I remained quiet and calm. I asked LA to pull the car over. When he did, I calmly unbuckled my seat belt, turned around in my seat to look directly at my daughter. She covered her mouth as though I was about to flick her for screaming, another thing I have sadly done in the past. In a calm tone of voice, I simply told her that I understood it was disappointing to not have seen "the lady" but that her screaming was not appropriate, and she was not demonstrating the self control she should for that circumstance.<br />That's it.<br /><br />She acknowledged and affirmed what I said.<br />I asked her to apologize to everyone in the car for screaming and ask for forgiveness for not having self control.<br />She did. And, that was that. Done.<br />No screaming match, no escalating behaviors from any of us. No further correction or punishment needed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If I allow pride to reign in my heart, I can be embarrassed to admit that I am applying these kinds of good parenting procedures as a result of watching this course's videos when in reality so much of what I am doing is just obeying what God has told us to do all along...Love is PATIENT, KIND, GENTLE, NOT RUDE OR SELFISH. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yeah, apparently that makes for good parenting, too.<br /><br />Friday night, we all enjoyed the end of Action Camp Family Night at <a href="http://www.christfc.org/" target="_blank">Christ Fellowship Church.</a> Free Chic Fil-A dinner, Kona Ices, inflatable bouncy and water Slides, face painting and tug of war. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Saturday is typically a work day for us here at Montford. We mowed, weeded, had some intensive bathroom cleaning training and prepared our home to host LA's family today for our monthly Sunday Family lunch. We ended our work day with a dip at our friends' pool who so generously allow us use of their glorious pool and property. It is a little taste of Heaven at MistyGlen Farm, and we are always so blessed to spend some time there. Lucky for us, they are just five minutes' drive from our house.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Today, we celebrated the boys' 11th birthday with LA's family. I can really, hardly believe they are 11. I am loving, though, watching them grow independent, more responsible and articulate. We enjoyed one of their favorites, macaroni and cheese, along with meatball sandwiches, sauteed green beans, and black bean taco dip. For dessert, Judah had a chocolate ice cream cake, and Tucker savored one of his favorites, lemon meringue pie. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking ahead: </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We will be working on Bella taking her new medication. It's a capsule, and she wasn't having it. We tried tonight very unsuccessfully. We are taking a step back and practicing with smaller pieces of candy. Hopefully, she'll be taking her new medicine like a champ this time next week.<br />Also on the health front, Judah will have a follow up with his eye surgeon.<br />I am looking forward to running a 5K at a local vineyard next Sunday night, <a href="http://www.boordy.com/" target="_blank">Boordy Vineyard</a>. Running and wine--two of my favorites together. Awesome!</span><br />
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<br />Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13726416.post-74205998154268193762015-08-02T23:20:00.001-04:002017-08-08T21:54:11.060-04:00Sunday Night Summary<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It occurred to me recently as I spoke with a friend that I often need to "mind dump" in order to feel situated mentally. Same holds true of my emotions. I just need to get it out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I journal quite a bit, but not as much as I like. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think about my family all the time but don't communicate with any of them consistently, even my mom. Sorry, mom.<br />I also have not been writing consistently in this space, and I think it is partly due to me over thinking it. Listening to a podcast today with Maria Popova, author of famed blog, "<a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/" target="_blank">Brain Pickings,</a>" which I admit I have never read, something she said struck a cord with me. She said that in order for a person's writing to be sustainable over the long haul, one should always write, in whatever medium, for one's self.<br /><br />For these reasons and more, I thought I would start and hopefully, sustain, a "Sunday Night Summary" series here on my blog. I know myself well enough to know I will not write every Sunday night. I just won't. The only thing I am consistent with is inconsistency. I lie. I brush my teeth every day. Without fail. A part from that, there is just little else I do consistently that isn't necessary for my survival of course. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But, I am hoping to tap out a *brief* (if this is possible for me) summary of my week</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">to serve as a mind dump, a type of mental closure on my week. This is for me more than anyone who might read my blog. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">to send to my family so they can at least have heard something from me on what's going on in my world.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">to write something here on the blog consistently.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Onto the inaugural Sunday Night Summary!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We'll go with categories for brevity's sake. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Reading: </b>"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400204666/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=balmengor-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1400204666&linkId=1f5bcd97fdd6a91a267229e4aa13e77c" target="_blank">Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe" by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson.</a> In the chapter entitled, "Taming the Beast of Housework," Sally points out that, " a happy mom is a real gift for her children." I am not the picture of a happy mom. I am grumpy a lot as I carry out my duties as a wife, mom and home maker. I become particularly grumpy about messes.<br /><br />I know I am not alone in this struggle. But just because it is a common temptation for many a momma does not mean that I want to remain in this place. I want to find that gentle balance of having an orderly home environment while maintaining joy and peace in our hearts and relationships with one another. What good is an outwardly, orderly home when inwardly, we are all striving and embittered toward one another?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I appreciated her last thoughts of the chapter on creating a haven. No need to ditch my desire for order and cleanliness. I just have to learn how to motivate myself and my children in life giving ways. She suggests listening to an audio book , playing loud music, or setting timers with a promised reward at the conclusion of that time. I often do this for myself, but it has not often occurred to me to do this for my children.<br /><br />I love how Sally motivates her reader to try a mentality and approach toward housework that will lighten everyone's mood by saying, "Adding color and interest into the tasks of life significantly diminishes that weight of stress and refills my soul to keep going."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Eating: </b>For this category, I'll say that I was able to make my monthly trip to BB's on Saturday with a friend this time. This is an activity I look forward to each month. I love the thrill of finding great food at amazing prices and walking out with the immense satisfaction that I am saving my family a lot of money. This is good because I cost my family a lot of money in other areas of life, like car repairs....and oh boy, have we had a lot going on in that department lately. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The deal I was most excited about this month? Organic Almond Butter for $2.00 and Neumann-O's (like Oreos but organic) for $1.49. Woo Hoo!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Doing:</b><br />We had a very full week, having opportunities to hang out with many friends.<br />The kids had musical practice on Monday afternoon. I love when they sing the songs from the musical in the car and practice them at home. I love that my boys still have young boy voices. They are still "my babies" for a little while longer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tuesday, we headed down to the Annapolis area to hang with some buds from Speech Club, the Logan's. We met another family there who is thinking about joining speech, the husband of which is a race horse trainer. That was quite fascinating to hear about his work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />The kids swam all afternoon while I had the opportunity to hear more about Rachael's life in South Africa (this is where she grew up and lived until just several years ago). She told me about foods and other parts of her culture she misses along with the story of how God revealed Himself and the truth about Jesus to her when she was a college student. She actually came to know Christ through an event that Campus Crusade held on her campus. Oh, it made me miss my days on staff with Cru and long for another season of ministry like that. Maybe one day again. Maybe. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That evening, our family joined a few other families to begin a four week course on "<a href="http://empoweredtoconnect.org/new-dvd-trust-based-parenting/" target="_blank">Trust Based Parentin</a>g." We are seeking to support friends of ours who are preparing to become foster parents, and we are also looking for some parenting help for ourselves with some of the issues we face here with our own three who qualify as "kids from hard places" given the way they all experienced "trauma" at birth in their own individual ways. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wednesday, our Pilot was taken to the mechanic for some maintenance and to look at a tire and steering, both of which we have noticed some problems. I thought I was going to be getting the Pilot back at the end of the day, but lo and behold our mechanic didn't even look at it that day. Ugh!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />That evening, I hosted "Gather" for the 2nd month. I have invited a few of my neighbors who I have come to know over the last year or two to join me in my home once a month for a few bites to eat, sips to drink and thoughtful conversation about family and faith. This month, two friends were able to come, and we had a great time chatting it up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thursday, my plans were totally rearranged for the day given I had no car again. My friend, Meghan, kindly invited us to swim at her in-laws' pool and picked us up to boot. The kids had a fantastic time swimming in what we counted was the 6th pool they have swam in this summer, until we heard thunder. Then it was a scramble to get out of the pool, dried off and into Meghan's car before it dumped on us. Dump it did. We pulled up to my house with the rain coming down hard. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Because it was raining so hard, Meghan ended up hanging out at our house with her kids, and I had Judah call the library to let them know he wouldn't make it to "work" that afternoon. I love that he is volunteering at the library this summer. What a great life experience this has been for him, and I have loved catching a glimpse at the independence, responsibilities and growth that is coming down the road for my three. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Friday, we were supposed to check out a local swimming hole with some friends, but because I still didn't have the Pilot back, those friends came to us, and we all swam at Mr. Harry's (my neighbor) pool. Mid afternoon, we all loaded up into Tiffany's van and headed to our local library for a program put on by the Franklin Institute about space. It was so well done, and I even learned a few new things like how astronauts shower in space. Do you know? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Friday night, after Lawrence retrieved our Pilot from the mechanic, we had our family pizza/movie night. This week we watched "Star Wars."<br /><br />Saturday, I went to BB's with a friend which took up a large chunk of my day. On my way home, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">the Pilot's steering went awry and dash lights came on. I pulled over, put my hazards on and called LA. Long story short, we are looking at another repair, and I am without my car for another four days. Grr..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With the unexpected curve ball of dealing w/ the car, we weren't sure if we were going to have time to pull off having three families to our home that evening for a fire/cookout we had planned. But, our friends were gracious, helped us get things together and helped by bringing food and drinks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />We had 14 kiddos, 8 adults and a lot of fun sitting around the fire, making smores, cracking jokes and talking about all things from the best Netflix murder mystery series to really weird church experiences to how in the world we are going to parent our children who are growing up too fast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I haven't enjoyed hosting this many people at one time this much in a long time, which was rather surprising given how busy my week had already been and all the craziness with our car. Maybe Lawrence and I are finding a groove with hosting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One thing I am learning to do to make hosting large groups not only possible but also enjoyable for me is to ask for help both in bringing food/drink and getting it all ready and dispensed to everyone. I am also learning to Keep It Simple, Silly. Hot dogs, salsa, chips, watermelon, and smores was all we needed. Easy Peezy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today, I stayed home from church because LA only has the capacity for four people to ride in his car. I opted to stay home and rest. I decided with a quiet house for a few hours, I would finally start in on some of the painting projects I wanted to devote my summer to doing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I spray painted four chairs that will go around our dining table. They are four different colors, fall-ish colors that coordinate with the colors in our curtains for that room. I also painted a trunk we have had for years and years. We bought it at a thrift store. It was hunter green with $19.99 written in sharpie on top of the lid. It is now orange and will sit in our school room at the foot of our leather chair in there to house the kids' games and allow for feet to be plopped on top.<br /><br />We ended our week playing a card games with the kids, LA reading an article to the kids about redemption in suffering, and I read the next chapter from our current read aloud, "The Green Ember." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And, now the house is entirely quiet except for the hum of fans and the sound machine and the clickety-clack of me typing. Ah, this is my favorite hour of all. And, it's not even midnight yet. Hoorah!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Looking Ahead</b>: It's WEEK OF BIRTHDAY here for the boys. They will wake up 11 year olds tomorrow!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am not the best at celebrating with pomp and circumstance, but I am praying that I will put the perpetually running, mental to-do list on "pause" and focus on really entering into the celebration of my boys' lives and the gift they are to me, our family and others. </span></div>
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Briana Almengorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02293491814957933904noreply@blogger.com1