tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201228873919884582024-03-18T22:05:32.573-05:00Proverbs 31 LivingJoin me in my journey as I strive to be a Proverbs 31 Woman....Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.comBlogger2468125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-14088536370106034112024-01-24T10:11:00.004-06:002024-01-24T10:15:59.687-06:00Mustard Trees Blog<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBWQUd1XRjc5XS0PhkDnjq29ShSfOjILDG-xN8act-VPCAL9CK366TwfWgq49Mkf5WdPHa5DWqxPtN0eYVeDg340zQbJVn3TD-AL-KOT186jHN8VnrAjgGLX5OmhXB82RPWvxBVqUODlYnaoA1Z7OoB3tiv9uDUpQ6lO3xCk-JPzO5y-Z4y3ltCsO0XzI/s3968/002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2976" data-original-width="3968" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBWQUd1XRjc5XS0PhkDnjq29ShSfOjILDG-xN8act-VPCAL9CK366TwfWgq49Mkf5WdPHa5DWqxPtN0eYVeDg340zQbJVn3TD-AL-KOT186jHN8VnrAjgGLX5OmhXB82RPWvxBVqUODlYnaoA1Z7OoB3tiv9uDUpQ6lO3xCk-JPzO5y-Z4y3ltCsO0XzI/w400-h300/002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /> Good morning!<p></p><p>I just wanted to share with you another place that I and some friends of mine have been writing and we would love to have you join us there. We have started a group blog called <a href="https://mustardtrees.com/">Mustard Trees</a>. It is written by women (though we did have <a href="https://mustardtrees.com/2023/12/26/before-you-give-up/">one guest post by Katie's brother</a>) for the purpose of encouraging other women in their Christian walk.</p><p>My friend Katie just wrote a post entitled: <a href="https://mustardtrees.com/2024/01/23/hunky-dory/#comment-55">Hunky Dory</a>. I really, really appreciated her thoughts on where our safe place should be. She also has written one called <a href="https://mustardtrees.com/2023/12/12/separated-after-birth/">Separated After Birth</a> which shares some stories and lessons learned while she was a missionary in Ukraine. </p><p>Lisa, a friend of mine from out west who also homeschooled her 4 children (2 boys and 2 girls), recently wrote about <a href="https://mustardtrees.com/2024/01/02/4-things-i-learned-while-raising-my-4-kids/">4 Things I Learned While Raising My 4 Kids</a>. In all the things we worry about getting right as parents she speaks of some of the things that are truly important. I think you will find it encouraging. Lisa also wrote a good post on <a href="https://mustardtrees.com/2023/11/14/do-you-love-your-neighbor-as-yourself/">Do You Love Your Neighbor As Yourself?</a></p><p>I think you also will enjoy Marette's post on <a href="https://mustardtrees.com/2023/11/01/how-to-turn-the-corners-and-not-miss-the-curves/">How to Turn the Corners and Not Miss the Curves</a>. She has some good thoughts on living life even in hard times. She says: "<span face="Inter, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px;">Life is all about staying at the cross and loving people. Learning how to handle the corners in life gives us the credibility to tell another one coming behind us, “you can do this- I made the corner. Slow down, keep your eyes on the road and follow the lines and let the Holy Spirit direct your steps.”</span></p><p><span face="Inter, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px;">Bethany wrote a good post called <a href="https://mustardtrees.com/2023/11/21/to-worship-him/">To Worship Him</a> and another called <a href="https://mustardtrees.com/2023/12/19/the-joy-of-christmas/">"The Joy of Christmas</a>" which has a message that is good for far past Christmas time.</span></p><p>Tasha wrote on <a href="https://mustardtrees.com/2023/11/28/embracing-gods-truth-over-your-daily-to-do-list/">Embracing God's Truth Over Your Daily To-do List.</a> A needed reminder as we try to plan on our lives. I really enjoyed her thoughts in <a href="https://mustardtrees.com/2024/01/09/the-self-disciplined-woman-am-i-keeping-my-word/">The Self-Disciplined Woman: Am I Keeping My Word?</a></p><p>I wrote on being <a href="https://mustardtrees.com/2023/12/05/transformed-by-the-renewing-of-our-mind/">Transformed by the Renewing of Our Mind. </a> That is something I have been meditating on a lot and seeking God's truth on it. It was very helpful for me to write out my thoughts and I hope it is helpful to others as well. I also wrote about <a href="https://mustardtrees.com/2024/01/16/partners-in-prayer/">Partners in Prayer </a> sharing how this has been a life changing practice for me. I am so grateful to have people that I can get together with regularly to pray with. </p><p> I hope you will come on over to <a href="https://mustardtrees.com/">Mustard Trees</a> and be encouraged in your walk with Jesus!</p><p><br /></p><p><span face="Inter, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-14401059123300135532024-01-06T12:16:00.005-06:002024-01-06T12:16:58.331-06:00 Goal Setting with God <iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/Ar0jSWPzYpY?si=JbTcUIjeED1BMvr9" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>This video is one of my boys interviewing a good friend from church about goal setting. I found it encouraging and thought you all might as well.</div>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-39397706264997265442024-01-01T21:51:00.000-06:002024-01-01T21:51:04.355-06:00Happy New Year! 2023 in Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1XB9MGtOv3KJrKoeWDe2TDqFepNgb8AoiI7aKdme56obTqfpnRDqT6s6yfC_z4xHty4ys3a7VkFGkwzFfASR4ujRxNjOfPQaE0t78OuWFDRUFVD1oFxLTCcQRhLtEGgMatfhOMJVqWW3qgejXhxyGbhQpiHNeOLkuwIyi11Gmvw3oGAj_ALrfsWI_JAq/s3264/20230410_080607(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1XB9MGtOv3KJrKoeWDe2TDqFepNgb8AoiI7aKdme56obTqfpnRDqT6s6yfC_z4xHty4ys3a7VkFGkwzFfASR4ujRxNjOfPQaE0t78OuWFDRUFVD1oFxLTCcQRhLtEGgMatfhOMJVqWW3qgejXhxyGbhQpiHNeOLkuwIyi11Gmvw3oGAj_ALrfsWI_JAq/w400-h300/20230410_080607(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="text Lam-3-22" id="en-ESV-20377" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;">The steadfast love of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span> never ceases;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Lam-3-22" style="position: relative;">his mercies never come to an end;</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="text Lam-3-23" id="en-ESV-20378" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; position: relative; text-align: start;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>they are new every morning;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Lam-3-23" style="position: relative;">great is your faithfulness.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Lam-3-23" style="position: relative;">Lamentations 3:22 & 23</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Lam-3-23" style="position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="text Lam-3-23" style="position: relative;">2023 was a good year. Not one that didn't have any challenges or trials but one where we saw God at work over and over again. A year filled with God's Grace - gifts stacked one upon another. God's faithfulness showing up over and over again as we breathe each day, as we have more than enough to eat, as we get to spend time with the many beautiful people in our lives. I just get overwhelmed thinking about how good God has been to us!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are some highlights from 2023</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aPu6D08DBn9nI6uqnCsoYwbmVpDugHwVtI8IuiYJY2pCp1oAOW4oTi-HVKlS9yY40g60s96alco7ZqQTGfVmr8CBczULOfI36bDHqtkNg6r4_kQToVMMQ0yJ3rMmZPVSL_gqmJlpO4rVglDQnn_7Sw0Jza0kaanmcCWRV2U4Tk0W2LYiyYJILQZDfHIE/s3264/20230204_125257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aPu6D08DBn9nI6uqnCsoYwbmVpDugHwVtI8IuiYJY2pCp1oAOW4oTi-HVKlS9yY40g60s96alco7ZqQTGfVmr8CBczULOfI36bDHqtkNg6r4_kQToVMMQ0yJ3rMmZPVSL_gqmJlpO4rVglDQnn_7Sw0Jza0kaanmcCWRV2U4Tk0W2LYiyYJILQZDfHIE/w300-h400/20230204_125257.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>In February Megan and I were able to take a quick road trip to Ankeny/DesMoines, Iowa and spend a weekend with our friends James and Jessica (as well as getting to see other friends in the area). They took us on a fun tour of DesMoines and we were blessed by our time of fellowship. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEh9qwhBLT6cW9Wsm7S2KTtBfi49HcYYdAzh2YSbKV6WidEIRh6csAImrJxBEOWExrFpHtuVZ2o_K7KWo_Phv857O1eTOx6H5bzBE7vf9iNyNj70aDFVSYRRSMytEPYDEP3C14DJEfIZPoPKjpkC_LaCh2nUrp4eJ2W0naAp2M6sdG8hfw7cenYCIJhWog/s3264/20230204_125250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEh9qwhBLT6cW9Wsm7S2KTtBfi49HcYYdAzh2YSbKV6WidEIRh6csAImrJxBEOWExrFpHtuVZ2o_K7KWo_Phv857O1eTOx6H5bzBE7vf9iNyNj70aDFVSYRRSMytEPYDEP3C14DJEfIZPoPKjpkC_LaCh2nUrp4eJ2W0naAp2M6sdG8hfw7cenYCIJhWog/w300-h400/20230204_125250.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMILTf5YxdBTArxOfZj-_vPHzo5BZH4NB8H7cpNiQov9u6_MzXn6V7LTFWMdodQMoVQKmLmtCjWnxcAGSofToN8XwgiB-18ZPA7Pw3h9JjPuHOvWivFTQjWT4gxRflaVIbICZEJPGzBsBB0rBao4uuej4zCg72HEKI8hB66IAC3zUMjldLufWOFCHApk-/s3264/20230313_114730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMILTf5YxdBTArxOfZj-_vPHzo5BZH4NB8H7cpNiQov9u6_MzXn6V7LTFWMdodQMoVQKmLmtCjWnxcAGSofToN8XwgiB-18ZPA7Pw3h9JjPuHOvWivFTQjWT4gxRflaVIbICZEJPGzBsBB0rBao4uuej4zCg72HEKI8hB66IAC3zUMjldLufWOFCHApk-/w300-h400/20230313_114730.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>We had a lot of snow last winter which is a far different story than this winter where at this point we don't even have a complete covering of the ground. We all enjoyed the snow but Aaron definitely got the most skiing in. Last winter he even tried some back country skiing on some fun slopes around here. I had a lot of fun joining him one day and got some great exercise when we decided to cut through the woods to hike back to the car (rather than following a trail) wearing our heavy ski boots. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw65W6yqSottt22sTvAj8tLPDVUPRg2w0A2OQ2anBUl-iwzNxUHdv1Jj4J70j1eck2G88z46MQGnQa-lAb27Eq9Mef6B-irDyKGBKpTEU8VtDZvPDDu-MdcQdDhXvLdHCYaF9bmZwF9K_5JPFP-yVmT7nMIXRbkX5ab7j22fgiTOVWwqH48LHj88lEhT9/s3264/20230315_195348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw65W6yqSottt22sTvAj8tLPDVUPRg2w0A2OQ2anBUl-iwzNxUHdv1Jj4J70j1eck2G88z46MQGnQa-lAb27Eq9Mef6B-irDyKGBKpTEU8VtDZvPDDu-MdcQdDhXvLdHCYaF9bmZwF9K_5JPFP-yVmT7nMIXRbkX5ab7j22fgiTOVWwqH48LHj88lEhT9/w400-h300/20230315_195348.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Our church hosted a Retreat in March and a bunch of the kids put on a play for it. I got the ball rolling to have a play but was so incredibly blessed by the many that helped out to make it successful. Mara did a great job of totally re-writing a story and making it into a very nice script, others helped with directing and props and the kids worked really hard to do a great job at acting. The Retreat over all was a blessing and a great time of fellowship.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqU7OjnRRT3YkX9AJPDv8kkXzlZX_KsuY0LADvF4-v6lmnIlDsGawKr8cFO7_LRxQMOL3pavC3O7-0H8k8Zhl_hPrpL8psG2FnTVjfLCHdc7Y6JIaHkS0BE7VBuzyOjSuZuK7y_vOYiON32L6LI4ocnM2BKEd5Xodk1qRESlX2eXY4Q3q424X8EXeVhPE/s3264/20230412_043950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqU7OjnRRT3YkX9AJPDv8kkXzlZX_KsuY0LADvF4-v6lmnIlDsGawKr8cFO7_LRxQMOL3pavC3O7-0H8k8Zhl_hPrpL8psG2FnTVjfLCHdc7Y6JIaHkS0BE7VBuzyOjSuZuK7y_vOYiON32L6LI4ocnM2BKEd5Xodk1qRESlX2eXY4Q3q424X8EXeVhPE/w400-h300/20230412_043950.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>April found our family going to Ireland to visit some missionaries there and do some exploring. It was a wonderful trip that we will long remember.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmbu2sIaBWCpcum6wSpHp4DCN_bGwjfsJGcaNhM5U2-ocNCxBU_AK2Y4R-ItHE4wDWsfKtkfW__ncx2mLlA_tuNFhEZ9zpTUkOHWDZPyUG_qYZ5_LI0BXtu39ee61q4qz1iV87WN9UJRdY6Gh4VRETWSUmweXfz9yxhhKTPnIKbE1PFQD_SycsV-BGEtM/s3264/20230413_095655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmbu2sIaBWCpcum6wSpHp4DCN_bGwjfsJGcaNhM5U2-ocNCxBU_AK2Y4R-ItHE4wDWsfKtkfW__ncx2mLlA_tuNFhEZ9zpTUkOHWDZPyUG_qYZ5_LI0BXtu39ee61q4qz1iV87WN9UJRdY6Gh4VRETWSUmweXfz9yxhhKTPnIKbE1PFQD_SycsV-BGEtM/w400-h300/20230413_095655.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The gift of getting to see some more wonders of God's creation, to spend time together as family, to meet more of God's people clear across the ocean, to learn some history in truly fun and exciting ways was just incredible. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/En5HADI_j6A" width="320" youtube-src-id="En5HADI_j6A"></iframe></div>Jonathan filmed a documentary about the Tuttle family going to Ireland while we were there.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiCT5tg8HfCLp3UGcRlGxTDoSPRj8Ms9HJBvzM9MiW6-iBswbh72Xy_FnLT89UmhSG90KJ3seTtt_ituFlISSZg06bZKlbrhnnuYlnLWTdk5b8zWLc4o1WpxOlQQFS4hP71bvNE21wxArxh_wdC9UagTBrVE6K9cRrEknqgjXkdSMmS98XOSpCms5IC2y/s3264/20230413_133022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiCT5tg8HfCLp3UGcRlGxTDoSPRj8Ms9HJBvzM9MiW6-iBswbh72Xy_FnLT89UmhSG90KJ3seTtt_ituFlISSZg06bZKlbrhnnuYlnLWTdk5b8zWLc4o1WpxOlQQFS4hP71bvNE21wxArxh_wdC9UagTBrVE6K9cRrEknqgjXkdSMmS98XOSpCms5IC2y/w400-h300/20230413_133022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERIUKp_VWKUNeluEcDfhypVut2C-KvjEd35v8hmS3DbizLQ8YjtFHQqoN2TQqCXtOlzKrJPfAoHwPHJODi9GDAnc20Y9BFS40dAa3ID2ObH5pYhkpdmQ54rgwNZs2ONUQ8QfP5ENpWZ9ydXFljnk5r364Y_0-n_Sh9pepLPkP1jrq_wUJx-kLB2RpIC89/s3264/20230415_075822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERIUKp_VWKUNeluEcDfhypVut2C-KvjEd35v8hmS3DbizLQ8YjtFHQqoN2TQqCXtOlzKrJPfAoHwPHJODi9GDAnc20Y9BFS40dAa3ID2ObH5pYhkpdmQ54rgwNZs2ONUQ8QfP5ENpWZ9ydXFljnk5r364Y_0-n_Sh9pepLPkP1jrq_wUJx-kLB2RpIC89/w400-h300/20230415_075822.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The gift of being the Mom in this family of mine is such a blessing. I am so grateful for each one of them and that they desire to serve Jesus Christ.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In May (I am pretty sure) Jonathan moved down to the Twin Cities to try out new things. My nephew Harrison had bought a house and is renting out bedrooms to some other boys from church. Jonathan went to be part of that household. He has enjoyed getting involved at the Woodbury Church of Christ and meeting new people down there. He went down as an assistant manager at Caribou and it looks like he is about to become a general manager. He has been getting back into doing more filming again and He and Thomas work together on a Podcast called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@saltoftheearth8955">"Salt of the Earth".</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmditbLd_npZUvmc-dSrdiObJn7bb1Ce3ijW2qgk3h6Ffzr3KuiKk6pBn7pQXLi9tH0l2EvoEE7VMiP8CNUOikrxnVuCh8W2Csr0keQ6v0q7873lnF007sQuCc-NVELtoyXX7zDLlU3oYdFt4oxl5h1es-85HAl0DvQsm61EZcLoxSqVcXJ6I9Xvx3Umtr/s3264/IMG_2023-06-20-20-08-37-314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmditbLd_npZUvmc-dSrdiObJn7bb1Ce3ijW2qgk3h6Ffzr3KuiKk6pBn7pQXLi9tH0l2EvoEE7VMiP8CNUOikrxnVuCh8W2Csr0keQ6v0q7873lnF007sQuCc-NVELtoyXX7zDLlU3oYdFt4oxl5h1es-85HAl0DvQsm61EZcLoxSqVcXJ6I9Xvx3Umtr/w400-h300/IMG_2023-06-20-20-08-37-314.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>In June our family was pretty excited to welcome Ewan Peregrine Drake. He is a delightful addition to our family. After 3 or so somewhat challenging months of colic he has grown into a quite happy little boy. Mara and Thomas have their hands full with two very busy little boys but they are doing a great job with them. They are also very active in church, hosting and leading the youth group among other things. Thomas has started preaching fairly often and is part of a group that is being mentored to be elders some day. Mara raised a big garden. Malcolm is a very articulate 2 year old who keeps us laughing much of the time. Thomas was offered a job as a teacher in Cass Lake, MN this fall. He is teaching STEM to 5-7th graders.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In June Aaron left to spend much of the summer (9 weeks, I think) at Flaming Pines Camp. That is a nearly 2 hour drive away, North East of here. It is a Bible camp. Aaron was a camp councilor and that was a good learning and growing experience for him which I think ,for the most part, he enjoyed a lot. He also got pretty well acquainted with another councilor up there named Harper which has caused him to talk on the phone a lot more than he used to and take extra trips this fall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When Aaron wasn't at camp he worked construction, as an Arborist (I think his favorite job) and now working with machines at the same place his uncle Luke works. He is happy to have a steady inside job this winter but looks forward to working with trees with Andrew (a friend from church) again this next summer. Aaron also continues to learn a lot about Car Mechanics as the older cars/trucks that he likes to get always seem to need work. I think he has learned a ton through the process so that is a blessing. We are incredibly grateful for his good friend Sam Wolkoff who has worked with Aaron on his vehicles hours upon end. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Megan also spent several weeks at camp either as a worker or a camper.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKZ9FiLSoGbV8yieTKoqRZOW1pYAI479rR-jEuguLtUA5r6SoC9w2LWiFFXmhG3ghpne0H0Stv3sPWha0OzG7p8cpq_Bb-rKEPDGL-n9OeeXBtBHjx4tKnk65-G_b2ptViJ7Fl9zP2iqEh8g7gdU6hZNi2kXKJkff5Bd_R-izQ4_Rv-5ZlKCRZBva8HVu/s3264/IMG_2023-07-21-07-32-23-116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKZ9FiLSoGbV8yieTKoqRZOW1pYAI479rR-jEuguLtUA5r6SoC9w2LWiFFXmhG3ghpne0H0Stv3sPWha0OzG7p8cpq_Bb-rKEPDGL-n9OeeXBtBHjx4tKnk65-G_b2ptViJ7Fl9zP2iqEh8g7gdU6hZNi2kXKJkff5Bd_R-izQ4_Rv-5ZlKCRZBva8HVu/w400-h300/IMG_2023-07-21-07-32-23-116.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>All of us except Aaron (who was up at camp) headed out to Colorado at the end of July along with other youth from church and attended the Nationwide Youth Round-up. My sisters, Martha and Anna also went and I enjoyed getting to spend time with them. We also camped with a group from Plainview, MN. We had fun spending time with friends, listening to good Bible teaching and worshipping with a couple thousand others on the mountainside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With both my kids at camp much of the summer I thought I might get lonely but I ended up keeping my house pretty busy without them. We were pretty booked with AirBnB guests this summer and then when SuSan's (a special needs lady from church) apartment building got condemned she lived with me for a month and a half. My mother-in-law also sold her house across the road so that she could move near her youngest son and so she stayed at my house for a few weeks too and my brother-in-law was here for a week as well. I wasn't lonely and I am very grateful. There were some pretty good memories made during those times.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The kids all got to do some fun traveling this summer too. Their dad took each of them on a big trip. Megan went with him to Italy, Aaron to Alaska, Jonathan to Iceland and Mara and Ewan went with him to Maine and other states on the East coast. It is pretty fun that they were able to experience those things.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxnN5yETAnDbB-Ab1lXjLMX3mSa1Ygry30uNnjgbQ8z2-Qxv54eEa3Uqs8Ms3GR2QAJmHooKec_q72ypwsTsfIZOxtKgAPit-1FeCGridq5KuXl7UxxruYpX9rjk7ssr55Wr1FMexc-UK_uQLntMk1rl9OTa_7uEWnwJA6bgRWBoiUYKpgVe1bfW2uoWj/s3264/IMG_2023-09-04-12-22-33-274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxnN5yETAnDbB-Ab1lXjLMX3mSa1Ygry30uNnjgbQ8z2-Qxv54eEa3Uqs8Ms3GR2QAJmHooKec_q72ypwsTsfIZOxtKgAPit-1FeCGridq5KuXl7UxxruYpX9rjk7ssr55Wr1FMexc-UK_uQLntMk1rl9OTa_7uEWnwJA6bgRWBoiUYKpgVe1bfW2uoWj/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-04-12-22-33-274.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In late August my Sister-in-law, Holly went to be with Jesus after around a year of battling cancer. We grieve our loss but are so grateful that she doesn't have to be in pain any more. Peter and Holly (and their daughter Jaten) traveled all over the country working on log homes. Peter had last been working in Sisters, OR but they had gone to Boise, ID to try out a new treatment. Holly died while they were there. It was a blessing that their oldest son, Nic, and Holly's parents were able to be with them for the last couple of months. After Holly died Peter and Jaten decided that they would come back to Bemidji to be by family. My brother-in-law, Travis and I both flew out to be with them and to help Peter drive his two big rigs back. It was a blessing for me to get to spend that time with all of them.</div><br />Megan started her senior year of highschool (homeschool) and her Sophomore year of college this fall thanks to a program Minnesota has where Juniors and Seniors can go to college for free. Megan is wanting to graduate with her associates this spring so she took 17 credits this fall and has a lot for the semester coming up as well. She works really hard at her schoolwork and her grades show that. She took a public speaking class this last semester so we had a couple of parties at our house so that she could have an audience to give her speech to. For one of them we had a multi-course dinner party and asked everybody to dress elegantly. It has been some fun times. She also took a film appreciation class so we had a big film showing party as well. Good thing I like having company. It has been fun for Megan that not only did her cousin Jaten move back to Bemidji but her cousin Beatrice also moved to town. Megan has really been enjoying getting to hang out with cousins and friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv98mmBFg7xJIgYZyhnFtsFFDCiAmRpLOiFhRlWyNeDk5i1gl1VMuMFQR8333AemSfBQc22Ak2idAV29dRONSSvfMXYgqOlySe1X_1X9PUhFHl9UFSUPDzVwpfvo2ueL7D2-SBPOAW3b4BBbbrrru50pM1ZW1ulCvMiKtUfz9pDX_p_Iea3fP6lsoeZ4YY/s3264/IMG_2023-09-16-16-07-13-116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv98mmBFg7xJIgYZyhnFtsFFDCiAmRpLOiFhRlWyNeDk5i1gl1VMuMFQR8333AemSfBQc22Ak2idAV29dRONSSvfMXYgqOlySe1X_1X9PUhFHl9UFSUPDzVwpfvo2ueL7D2-SBPOAW3b4BBbbrrru50pM1ZW1ulCvMiKtUfz9pDX_p_Iea3fP6lsoeZ4YY/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-16-16-07-13-116.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Mid September found us as it usually does up North at Jackpine Retreat. Our whole family (except Nic who lives in California) was there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhrY0mxavlU3dMR4QEFDhwcN8Wj4xp6cFsDmBLiNEk8UVzURbAIU8zZBgRV5wcWVdVKT-OOFtqv7NpcFia4kPxkFnNqifzQeZgwXt7c2xuP0usVxaO6HCwliHKZz04hNVLvhXUYq6ztzeCoiCJ_DWspt86yoWk1YyQZ3WBnZP3x1NAju6A8OoF77UP1Sj/s3264/IMG_2023-10-15-14-56-28-826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhrY0mxavlU3dMR4QEFDhwcN8Wj4xp6cFsDmBLiNEk8UVzURbAIU8zZBgRV5wcWVdVKT-OOFtqv7NpcFia4kPxkFnNqifzQeZgwXt7c2xuP0usVxaO6HCwliHKZz04hNVLvhXUYq6ztzeCoiCJ_DWspt86yoWk1YyQZ3WBnZP3x1NAju6A8OoF77UP1Sj/w400-h300/IMG_2023-10-15-14-56-28-826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>In October my Uncle John and Aunt Donna came to visit. All of our family was able to get together to spend time with them. It can get pretty crowded and noisy when we are all together but it is pretty fun too. I thank God over and over again for Godly parents and all of my siblings, their spouses, and all the grandkids who love and serve the Lord.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWRhdACS8-9Y5YcFFaeuvAlde3ozyl-7fD_buYirLooRD_SiTnYglYcAu5JONW7J2FmZZuEhuD4MJHbXnSLpFK76AI9SPwgB17y6xuNdSE4mS_fnqIDoQhCaFwYfOvcl_uNV9jsKCnak8BmmOK-zdJ_6ZW6LAFh6bNsf_E3A-N5zQfSxOANgplpUl6dKz/s4032/IMG-20231209-WA0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWRhdACS8-9Y5YcFFaeuvAlde3ozyl-7fD_buYirLooRD_SiTnYglYcAu5JONW7J2FmZZuEhuD4MJHbXnSLpFK76AI9SPwgB17y6xuNdSE4mS_fnqIDoQhCaFwYfOvcl_uNV9jsKCnak8BmmOK-zdJ_6ZW6LAFh6bNsf_E3A-N5zQfSxOANgplpUl6dKz/w400-h300/IMG-20231209-WA0008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Our lives were enriched this fall by this group of kids (plus a couple more that aren't pictured) that came from various countries to go to school for a semester at the University here. They went camping with us in September, many came to our place for Thanksgiving and we enjoyed other times with them as well. I would love to travel the world but really what is most interesting about the world is the beautiful people in it. I really loved getting to know these kids a little bit and learn about their countries and cultures. And if I get to travel the world more they said I am always welcome to visit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some others that have added beauty our lives this year....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the fall of 2022 I started hosting monthly neighborhood potlucks. That has now been going on for over a year. I have loved getting to know my neighbors better. Of course not everyone from the neighborhood comes each month but there is a lovely group that pretty much does and then others come from time to time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am still working at Netzer's floral and am blessed by the fun environment with my boss and co-workers there. I also teach 20 plus music students a week, they can sometimes challenge me but they also bless me and I am so thankful for them. I was grateful for another good year of doing wedding flowers with Abbi's Bridal Design. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On Sunday evenings I lead a Ladies Bible study at a friends house in town. I love the time we get to dig into God's word together. We come from a lot of different religious backgrounds so the discussions can be really fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We are incredibly blessed by our church family at the Bemidji Church of Christ as well. I am so grateful that I don't have to try to do life alone or even with just my family. Having a group of believers that truly care about me and encourage me in my walk with Jesus is so wonderful. There are several women in the congregation that I meet with outside of our regular church time to study with and/or pray with and that has truly been life changing for me and my walk with Jesus. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLd5VbuyUWtPHXOhmtz8bEqvcjHYsLzGpazwL4lvvrzwb6mzE0qooCViUcXCW1jm_zhwtD8z3Qz7eCo69a58s7PSQL9tpeF0u2_DbVfuo3jqq1toNFSkB9MyTCYxO-tefiP_PIkhiEbNMwt5IQA25N2-45q_luxX2WNi3CZ_ZSC8a2IQilcVQj6WwSmGj/s3264/IMG_2023-12-09-11-45-50-655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLd5VbuyUWtPHXOhmtz8bEqvcjHYsLzGpazwL4lvvrzwb6mzE0qooCViUcXCW1jm_zhwtD8z3Qz7eCo69a58s7PSQL9tpeF0u2_DbVfuo3jqq1toNFSkB9MyTCYxO-tefiP_PIkhiEbNMwt5IQA25N2-45q_luxX2WNi3CZ_ZSC8a2IQilcVQj6WwSmGj/w300-h400/IMG_2023-12-09-11-45-50-655.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>In December we always like to go on a walk to gather greenery to decorate our home. It was perfect that it snowed that morning. It melted later but we enjoyed the snow for our walk.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYQ4xizjYEi-3rMemIjbd5h9nXZ-imV4jcE_E46x-0PnXG36Zv-IShXzZHa2pd24Eh8VyBWc5_zpPWPG0p6wLfN4HPmZCxZZh7ZoASNjWAmoIro4GotksangqZCd5_PUdUAm0sejtHxaplYJ00gN7kC3VNW3-K2_By7t3Boxv8MK8layPPwE6eG6peEmy/s3264/IMG_2023-12-25-09-10-22-080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYQ4xizjYEi-3rMemIjbd5h9nXZ-imV4jcE_E46x-0PnXG36Zv-IShXzZHa2pd24Eh8VyBWc5_zpPWPG0p6wLfN4HPmZCxZZh7ZoASNjWAmoIro4GotksangqZCd5_PUdUAm0sejtHxaplYJ00gN7kC3VNW3-K2_By7t3Boxv8MK8layPPwE6eG6peEmy/w300-h400/IMG_2023-12-25-09-10-22-080.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Ewan has become some a happy guy. We just love him!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrM9dpSaM86ld4nuvCn9FzzeoZOVKPEykZ60GqRzpsXhhL8r8uaQ24Vkp9vLdacOIMHNSvdgiUqt3V10msIpvXJlzfK4rDL_kXnJVFtvs9eHmgXrLCteYNw5CzCBDQi-5ahy02EjD7IaYnbzvpuEwLYgpvPZVuH_RyGq6_an9RryjKgoXEU6ryt5cyl8f/s3264/IMG_2023-12-25-10-29-11-570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNrM9dpSaM86ld4nuvCn9FzzeoZOVKPEykZ60GqRzpsXhhL8r8uaQ24Vkp9vLdacOIMHNSvdgiUqt3V10msIpvXJlzfK4rDL_kXnJVFtvs9eHmgXrLCteYNw5CzCBDQi-5ahy02EjD7IaYnbzvpuEwLYgpvPZVuH_RyGq6_an9RryjKgoXEU6ryt5cyl8f/w400-h300/IMG_2023-12-25-10-29-11-570.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Christmas found all the kids here at home which was wonderful. My parents, Peter and Jaten also joined us for lunch and then on that weekend we were able to spend time with our other in town family as well. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5OiGLU3SnvOQFR8o91jzepX-0yqmF5qM-jj4NFDsx3PgBQDZQDVTx1t0oA8znzdq21vldmYC30E0l5kDYPkKRbvmUxtJ9Bw3uqc4Y_ctZ_v8zQu03QEwDOSU1AZJCNsnjzuF0ns55zyqKqqgOEY6AoFwJSziBQsoMTtiPsgVuR1QXIQiOmK09UuXipdV/s3264/IMG_2023-12-31-19-15-10-022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5OiGLU3SnvOQFR8o91jzepX-0yqmF5qM-jj4NFDsx3PgBQDZQDVTx1t0oA8znzdq21vldmYC30E0l5kDYPkKRbvmUxtJ9Bw3uqc4Y_ctZ_v8zQu03QEwDOSU1AZJCNsnjzuF0ns55zyqKqqgOEY6AoFwJSziBQsoMTtiPsgVuR1QXIQiOmK09UuXipdV/w400-h300/IMG_2023-12-31-19-15-10-022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Last night, New Year's Eve, was our traditional game night party. We had a great turn-out (we ended up with 50 people at our house) and I enjoyed having everybody here. I think most of them had a good time too. :-) God has richly blessed us. I am looking forward to seeing what He has in store for us next year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I would love to hear about your year and areas you have seen God working.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-47750584398078563022023-12-02T17:07:00.004-06:002023-12-02T17:07:59.671-06:00Visiting Grand Marais MN- video by Jonathan and Thomas <iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/caLr1l5T5to?si=gKzc__cAyyvn8LEl" width="480"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>My son, Jonathan, and son-in-law, Thomas, have been doing a podcast together and they took a trip to Grand Marais to visit and plan and made this vlog. It has some beautiful videography and a few thoughts. I thought you all might enjoy it.</div>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-36527714922749518342023-11-25T22:31:00.001-06:002023-11-25T22:31:19.900-06:00So Many Things to be Thankful For<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkQyg58alp0CmNvG_6vPCErDYdSVbERRPzIyD07px-WDGTHfijEf7knre6OMBCokqBVaRmzTDT35HG1zI0I_hq3TPK0-Ka6AhRRQaru-NLhHKN5qncO-XUtyZNLwDcYJ7vlPqvn_6UorCkqh7bcWi31oWeAt4F-_rL4iGpY9EBS3Fyrv4NvVhZrDhI5bT/s3264/IMG_2023-11-24-10-48-54-961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkQyg58alp0CmNvG_6vPCErDYdSVbERRPzIyD07px-WDGTHfijEf7knre6OMBCokqBVaRmzTDT35HG1zI0I_hq3TPK0-Ka6AhRRQaru-NLhHKN5qncO-XUtyZNLwDcYJ7vlPqvn_6UorCkqh7bcWi31oWeAt4F-_rL4iGpY9EBS3Fyrv4NvVhZrDhI5bT/s320/IMG_2023-11-24-10-48-54-961.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> I thought I would share a few pictures from this last month and just a couple of thoughts. The picture above is Malcolm and I when our family went on a walk at the state park on Friday. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jEdq-9jjzqJ29VL2uxS3qSesUGUziLMBKDp_iu-OKRdIGsQFC7CdFLOUEFifBwr9yIPF-0zRMm719JsrtIJcsK3iQlLnXnGIgHPJwahZJpJC8NBlHleW-hsrxhuhLDqvKwhwmxjYTL4d_azYJdVRGq_x-FnpccRzj02EvahJUquZt_4rFFFCPoF7OqQU/s3264/IMG_2023-11-24-10-48-35-094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jEdq-9jjzqJ29VL2uxS3qSesUGUziLMBKDp_iu-OKRdIGsQFC7CdFLOUEFifBwr9yIPF-0zRMm719JsrtIJcsK3iQlLnXnGIgHPJwahZJpJC8NBlHleW-hsrxhuhLDqvKwhwmxjYTL4d_azYJdVRGq_x-FnpccRzj02EvahJUquZt_4rFFFCPoF7OqQU/s320/IMG_2023-11-24-10-48-35-094.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The other walkers: Aaron, Mara (with Ewan on her front), Thomas and Megan)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYU03wHY2BsSfMcGQCQLqhBbTbmwxpDUaYPNRL_nXEPciuzZCLLxptr3QpOlIRWPCKcO588FZC44C62fOatIPChFk7dsvUYfNiW2uhTiF29SECY0vZS_8OB0c_GY24c1D_2cYOHSW-KB2Z5qMqfV-EVnfe-p5BGKYsGWJBvm73VkFA2o4JXKldtJDtdmXf/s3264/IMG_2023-11-23-15-26-59-071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYU03wHY2BsSfMcGQCQLqhBbTbmwxpDUaYPNRL_nXEPciuzZCLLxptr3QpOlIRWPCKcO588FZC44C62fOatIPChFk7dsvUYfNiW2uhTiF29SECY0vZS_8OB0c_GY24c1D_2cYOHSW-KB2Z5qMqfV-EVnfe-p5BGKYsGWJBvm73VkFA2o4JXKldtJDtdmXf/s320/IMG_2023-11-23-15-26-59-071.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I didn't get any good pictures from Thanksgiving day but we were blessed with family and friends joining us at our place. 5 international students from the university joined us and that was a blessing. It was fun to introduce them to Thanksgiving as it is an American holiday.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwGiILGZVqcYwOBrg2k6KPR7g78RgUmdhWjwSowc16OSqd7edxPSlwB5Hl4q1VT91CWBG-YKzifsx3A0e3YogmpqF-kRbAwpmIlArBOjqAcdmBDeZgrQP2vmGbs07FN1wrCv-ge8oQT2krlIw_nbOW_l41Kph8YHYjoZK9ocASw8qq7mi2KsONsVoUnOg/s3264/IMG_2023-11-23-15-35-49-097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwGiILGZVqcYwOBrg2k6KPR7g78RgUmdhWjwSowc16OSqd7edxPSlwB5Hl4q1VT91CWBG-YKzifsx3A0e3YogmpqF-kRbAwpmIlArBOjqAcdmBDeZgrQP2vmGbs07FN1wrCv-ge8oQT2krlIw_nbOW_l41Kph8YHYjoZK9ocASw8qq7mi2KsONsVoUnOg/s320/IMG_2023-11-23-15-35-49-097.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My seatmates. Some pretty fun ones that had lots of requests and questions. :-)<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06EXnTPNASAkx87fcNkErT5cpBisgOM84mDH7FYDfTM2wmCLgmgVDJjQhnbSUkNlX5wP2jD6diPhvy8FaFx9w_ByT3BS6KGi6V_njKShlrawwShyphenhypheno9KBQrNpNiPRVrSK6B4RuFKxzZVCcM_Z5EZUEAQ3xE5WPy3CYCcliIgdFfqSR8-WDbJ9B_zqe83_N/s3264/IMG_2023-11-23-15-43-42-942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06EXnTPNASAkx87fcNkErT5cpBisgOM84mDH7FYDfTM2wmCLgmgVDJjQhnbSUkNlX5wP2jD6diPhvy8FaFx9w_ByT3BS6KGi6V_njKShlrawwShyphenhypheno9KBQrNpNiPRVrSK6B4RuFKxzZVCcM_Z5EZUEAQ3xE5WPy3CYCcliIgdFfqSR8-WDbJ9B_zqe83_N/s320/IMG_2023-11-23-15-43-42-942.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>As usual we had plenty of pie.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZ1zEl4qNDqOkSNBvWrFdDBs5sSGwoIbP2nn9Mu1ar6GHqqLI2-8G9GpGzqW2kgZFtIZNGpiba-fUGcM4U4vBocvDnKSwSpAOnQRG7EhZDs2V02TAY-WpyG7gkGC7cyoZhIj3KrSSE6Lr6YXdWIMXDcgm5p2LJuMihay-lZ0eMjCON6FeAIL8msdA5wIz/s3264/IMG_2023-11-23-17-25-07-495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZ1zEl4qNDqOkSNBvWrFdDBs5sSGwoIbP2nn9Mu1ar6GHqqLI2-8G9GpGzqW2kgZFtIZNGpiba-fUGcM4U4vBocvDnKSwSpAOnQRG7EhZDs2V02TAY-WpyG7gkGC7cyoZhIj3KrSSE6Lr6YXdWIMXDcgm5p2LJuMihay-lZ0eMjCON6FeAIL8msdA5wIz/s320/IMG_2023-11-23-17-25-07-495.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Mom, Dad and I. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAIU70M8fF-1SCM2cR_zlbSjAzOS6WukwOGqPpXhbXSjRwKWUmTyeQoUw1q4krevjQlt4fAsdVtQRWiB0-xDPPieZ_5OeJgPLKJqLrK6lNKsLwpQWByciR3CwQaCoS_j6xdEjPHbEAEl-mQITYrCrrdCDCkfZv6adJI_aNPjVn1YnGNW_0WijVU_LlyfZ/s3264/IMG_2023-11-21-12-20-05-264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAIU70M8fF-1SCM2cR_zlbSjAzOS6WukwOGqPpXhbXSjRwKWUmTyeQoUw1q4krevjQlt4fAsdVtQRWiB0-xDPPieZ_5OeJgPLKJqLrK6lNKsLwpQWByciR3CwQaCoS_j6xdEjPHbEAEl-mQITYrCrrdCDCkfZv6adJI_aNPjVn1YnGNW_0WijVU_LlyfZ/s320/IMG_2023-11-21-12-20-05-264.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>We have a couple of kitties (that hopefully we can find a home for at least one of them). This one is so incredibly friendly and purrs away even when Malcolm picks him up like this.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcwYnaMDlDHYQ8p9-j1H7J2zoiEtK1zwYBizlVGhYcmmEoc_8o43ieKk2FjzPWQ6TJx7V28iqnnVCJ40Y6iYua4wZavoxCarsVMCzPEqVTFJxovHDFmGbjP0ti9nuEGFse6f7njYoNz5PP7IG8yuSMczH2RT3FThrAgyfcf1btxfXR7uvS_6p_fzov6Qu/s3264/IMG_2023-11-12-12-17-22-357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcwYnaMDlDHYQ8p9-j1H7J2zoiEtK1zwYBizlVGhYcmmEoc_8o43ieKk2FjzPWQ6TJx7V28iqnnVCJ40Y6iYua4wZavoxCarsVMCzPEqVTFJxovHDFmGbjP0ti9nuEGFse6f7njYoNz5PP7IG8yuSMczH2RT3FThrAgyfcf1btxfXR7uvS_6p_fzov6Qu/s320/IMG_2023-11-12-12-17-22-357.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A couple of weeks ago we had a Thanksgiving meal at church. That was fun. At it we were challenged to work together as a congregation to come of with 10,000 reasons that we are thankful (praising God). I normally write a list of things that I am thankful for everyday and have done that for 15 years or so. It has truly changed my life to do that. If you struggle with discontent or unhappiness in any way I highly recommend it. This challenge at church has caused me to put a lot more thought and effort into it -more than my normal 10 or so things per day. It has been such a blessing!<p></p><p> I don't believe that it is just for God's sake that He tells us over and over again to be thankful. It is so incredibly healing for us! Even if it did nothing for us, He deserves all the thanks we can give but I think when we start obeying Him and begin praying with thanksgiving the way He tells us to we will be blessed far beyond what we can imagine.</p><p> God gives us hundreds (thousands? millions?) of gifts every day and many of them we don't even notice. Instead we are busy thinking about our struggles, the hard things we face, the loneliness in our lives. When we start looking for those gifts instead and writing them down it fills you with such a great sense of overwhelming love - realizing just how much God cares for you. Taking the time to write them down can retrain your thinking. Romans 12:2 tells us to be transformed by the renewing of your mind" and I think obeying God in giving thanks is part of the way to do that.</p><p> Go beyond just being thankful for family, friends, a home, a job, enough to eat and a vehicle to drive. Start thinking about all the people in your life and then think about what about them makes you thankful for them. Start noticing the beautiful things God puts in your life whether it be a mushroom you chance upon out walking, a frozen puddle that has pretty ice designs, the bark on a tree. Start noticing and get specific in your thankfulness. Give thanks for specific interactions/conversations you are able to have. Notice the sounds around you and give thanks for the ears that can hear and the beauty of music, nature, breathing, etc. Think through the things in your life that have molded you into who you are today. Give thanks - even for those hard things. Once you get started writing down what you are thankful for and truly noticing things you will find it is pretty hard to stop. </p><p> I would love to hear if you practice this already and if you do what affect it has had on you. If you don't do it would you please, please try? I know you will be blessed.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3WWcIA_6QCP4jUXfrQ9xZpADpO52kQyseIVL-aD4vNiv_jSVF_e3jB_r0p4VTRSfgUwnEECUG6yi9oOlaM-RRoK6TDEi3MZEGplo8uSoSwVDjuNxuAD8NKacVzoNOd21bVG0nQcY6HZD3AKEifROuiyTl63MExXOzaYcRkdwTOMrjLJokCVvZHecVnRC/s3264/IMG_2023-11-03-20-56-26-473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3WWcIA_6QCP4jUXfrQ9xZpADpO52kQyseIVL-aD4vNiv_jSVF_e3jB_r0p4VTRSfgUwnEECUG6yi9oOlaM-RRoK6TDEi3MZEGplo8uSoSwVDjuNxuAD8NKacVzoNOd21bVG0nQcY6HZD3AKEifROuiyTl63MExXOzaYcRkdwTOMrjLJokCVvZHecVnRC/s320/IMG_2023-11-03-20-56-26-473.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> Two huge blessings in my life are my Grandsons. I have started watching them once a week while their parents have a date. Ewan is normally breastfed but he gets to drink a bottle while with me. He doesn't seem to mind at all. A couple of weeks ago while Ewan was napping I asked Malcolm what he wanted to do and he said he wanted to paint. So Malcolm and I were having a great time painting away. Then Ewan woke up. We decided that he probably needed a bottle. Malcolm helped me to fix it and wanted to carry it over to the living room. Once there he also wanted to feed Ewan. So I got them set up and then Malcolm tells me " Grandma, you go paint!" He had everything under control and thought I might as well get back to painting. I love these guys so much!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3MdiU0bjes8TrSEq6tHEUPZYD85OP_iLVb3FyfRaTXwdwmYHDV-ayp36Sx4U9OuYPgg3WWY1wjB5hJrj76_fVp21Ax6m8NUr3ywLQUeA1h56jEb7zOn_hEGBudPEIzCYHEBETy7fr6eLe9YsEkQBLI1F2LZ2AeeUxPFm2xjVGtmHyZGu8e0ntzfju0jC/s3264/IMG_2023-10-29-11-34-17-276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3MdiU0bjes8TrSEq6tHEUPZYD85OP_iLVb3FyfRaTXwdwmYHDV-ayp36Sx4U9OuYPgg3WWY1wjB5hJrj76_fVp21Ax6m8NUr3ywLQUeA1h56jEb7zOn_hEGBudPEIzCYHEBETy7fr6eLe9YsEkQBLI1F2LZ2AeeUxPFm2xjVGtmHyZGu8e0ntzfju0jC/s320/IMG_2023-10-29-11-34-17-276.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Ewan isn't the only baby at church. We have been blessed with many new ones lately. Juliette was born the end of March and Juniper was born around a month ago and the rest in between. We are so blessed!<p></p><p><br /> </p>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-86912439191572927462023-11-18T23:12:00.000-06:002023-11-18T23:12:00.051-06:00Living Frugally 2023 version<p> Anybody that has been a reader of my blog for very long or knows me very well, knows that I am fairly passionate about living frugally. I admit I find it a pretty fun hobby - so possibly most people will find me strange but oh well. :-)</p><p> I think one of the biggest helps for me financially (after simply trusting God that He is going to provide - I will work and do my best and God will take care of the details) is to really get my mind wrapped around the fact to pretty much all of us have money and we MAKE A CHOICE what we do with it. Many are caught in some sort of debt trap and they don't feel like they have any choices, but pretty much everybody does at some time and we make many, many financial choices every single day. So live intentionally, prepare for the hard times (trouble with health, with cars, home repairs, etc) and make a priority to spend on the things that actually matter to you (after taking care of your financial commitments).</p><p> The things that matter to you - that is different for everybody. So the things I save money on totally may not work for you as perhaps your biggest joy in life is going to a coffee shop every single day. In my viewpoint that is a huge waste of money but I also am happier not drinking something ridiculously expensive out of a cup destined for the landfill and drinking something that isn't very good for me either. I will enjoy it on a very rare occasion - as I admit they do taste pretty good (well not the coffee actually - I am not a fan - but I love a good Chai) but not something regularly. It simply would not bring me joy. But I do love to travel. Our family went to Ireland in April, Colorado in July and other smaller trips as well. I also recently bought a ticket to go to Brazil in January, Lord Willing. That brings me joy. I am willing to make all sorts of other financial sacrifices to make that happen and I do that gladly. I also am very passionate about being debt free and so I have been attacking my mortgage and paying off just as much as I can early. That brings me joy (and I know, I'm weird).</p><p> Anyway, I have been talking with a bunch of people that have a little less money to work with just now and so I thought I would share some of the ways that I spend less money. I am going to divide them into categories and I will try to link to more information just as much as possible.</p><p><u>Cleaning</u></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I use a <a href="https://proverbs31living.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-dont-buy-window-cleaner.html">vinegar water solution</a> to clean instead of glass cleaner.</li><li>I mop using just water and sometimes a drop of essential oil.</li><li>I don't use paper towels or any one use items for cleaning, instead I have a large collection of rags made from old t-shirts and towels.<br /></li><li><br /></li></ul><p></p><p><u>Clothing</u></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I don't shop very often (less than once a month- at times far less).</li><li>When I do shop I almost only shop at a consignment store that I bring things to whenever we have things we don't need and then I earn store credit. So usually I shop for free.</li><li>I say "yes" to hand-me-downs. If we aren't able to use them I can generally take them into the consignment store or pass them on to someone else.</li><li>I challenge myself to be creative in my clothing combinations every so often and sometimes old clothes can feel very new when you combine them in a fun way.</li><li>When I do play clothing my goal is to buy quality items that will last well. This is especially important to me in shoes. I generally just buy leather shoes and they can last for years and years. </li><li>For tennis/hiking shoes (what I wear most days) I like Keens. They last time I needed a pair I bought some used ones in good condition off of Ebay for a pretty good price.</li><li>I am really working to have clothes that are truly my style (I like ones in natural fabrics, often feminine, rustic or woodsy) - so no matter what fads come and go I can just stick with ones that I like how they look and feel. </li></ul><p></p><p><u>Decorating</u></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I enjoy having artwork on my walls that was created by family or friends.</li><li>Much decoration in our home often is foraged from the woods or garden.</li><li>Houseplants make pretty and healthy decorations. I have rarely bought one but I have a huge collection. That is largely because I work at a flower shop and can bring home ones that aren't looking healthy enough to sell and then work to bring them back to health. That plant doctoring actually consists of watering them occasionally and putting them by a window, nothing to fancy. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. If you have friends that love plants you can often get plant starts from them. That is another great way to have a houseful of plants cheaply.</li><li>I like to make quilts from fabric scraps.</li><li>Throw pillows are another thing that has been easy for me to make from things that I had on hand (old bed pillows can supply stuffing).</li><li>I have found curtains very easy to make and if you look for fabric on sale you can do it pretty cheaply too.</li><li>I like to have basket for gathering produce from the garden. They also make nice decor. I have found them cheaply at thrift stores or garage sales.</li></ul><p></p><p><u>Education</u></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>This year and last year Megan has been going to college for free with something called PSEO (post secondary education opportunity) that is offered to Juniors and Seniors in Minnesota. She has been able to do it online through a Christian college in St. Paul. Lord willing, she will graduate with her associates degree this coming Spring at the same time she graduates from high school. We will have to pay about $1000 for her to take a couple of Bible classes this next semester as the college requires it for graduation and the state won't pay for that. I have heard of similar programs in some other states. If your child is interested in college this is a great way to do it.</li><li>When homeschooling we stayed pretty frugal by using a lot of reusable books and using the library extensively. </li><li>I try to do "Continuing Education" for my floral business by watching videos on Youtube. There are a lot on there that are well done and helpful. I am guessing this is true of many industries. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8TIUyU34ZyZIlQwZolIAnOmsGTcTmF9zUaoP4FbVxIsNdQYIDuJkYxzQy9jlybXH1XQp4T7nrqiq7oRUk_c31trB75AmtgblLJJ0NXA8FjErASgt0ngGV7cpbFsaW0E_F-CSk7eWI-9bteXQLBrbqdmHjT8ZJYv-8o6CYR8kH0fjMR0jnnoxqUbYArma/s3264/IMG_2023-08-19-12-40-14-784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8TIUyU34ZyZIlQwZolIAnOmsGTcTmF9zUaoP4FbVxIsNdQYIDuJkYxzQy9jlybXH1XQp4T7nrqiq7oRUk_c31trB75AmtgblLJJ0NXA8FjErASgt0ngGV7cpbFsaW0E_F-CSk7eWI-9bteXQLBrbqdmHjT8ZJYv-8o6CYR8kH0fjMR0jnnoxqUbYArma/s320/IMG_2023-08-19-12-40-14-784.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></li></ul><p></p><p><u>Entertainment</u></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We pretty much never go to the movie theater.</li><li>I have watched some local plays by volunteering to be an usher and then you get to watch for free. We also sometimes pay for tickets at our community theater - that is worth it to me. And community theater is far less than ticket prices I have seen elsewhere and they do a fantastic job.</li><li>We don't have cable or Netflix (or anything else that I pay for except internet). A lot of what we watch is off YouTube. </li><li>For fun we enjoy making music together, playing games, ping-pong, reading, biking, camping and canoeing. </li></ul><p></p><p><u>Food</u></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Use what you have in abundance. Are you getting a lot of something from the garden? Where you gifted from somebody else's abundance? Did you find a great deal on something? Especially if it is something that will go bad - build your menu around it. </li><li>Don't let food go to waste. Eat up those leftovers the next day for lunch. If it is more than you can eat before it goes bad - freeze some or share it with others if you can.</li><li>I don't shop very often. I love to see how long we can eat from the pantry. This has been very helpful in keeping our grocery budget low.</li><li>When you find good deals of something that will last for a while (in the freezer or on the shelf) stock up on it. Try to get enough that it will last until the next good sale. How much to get varies according to how much you eat it, how long it lasts and how good the deal is. A month or so ago a local store had Mac and Cheese boxes four for a dollar. I hadn't seen that sort of deal on that for a long time. I ended up getting 2 boxes of boxes (48 in all). It is a cheap quick meal that the kids like to make once and a while. Today we went to an Amish store in our area and they had jars of natural peanut butter marked at a dollar and then I looked and saw that you could get a flat of 12 for $9. That is a steal of a deal and so I now have 24 jars of peanut butter. It doesn't outdate for over a year and we should use that much in that time. I also found butter cheaper today than I had for a while ($2.99 a lb) so I got 24 pounds.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASCi_bZmSaD8qwbRPGJB6lWRUPGWXwSYNXohNPBqsTB5BWe_2jmJWtlRWEEBWbB4Qp_sZRlhGULialeZDxVX-ryYzmuTk0LksWaMef5rbMwysyRceWjEKcxTnKH3QEglf5cxjBMCVhua2iCEtQdMP7I5DhiDO3QgXpCDTkjetiOXM35nu0upqzKGaLu3E/s3264/IMG_2023-10-07-18-06-19-262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASCi_bZmSaD8qwbRPGJB6lWRUPGWXwSYNXohNPBqsTB5BWe_2jmJWtlRWEEBWbB4Qp_sZRlhGULialeZDxVX-ryYzmuTk0LksWaMef5rbMwysyRceWjEKcxTnKH3QEglf5cxjBMCVhua2iCEtQdMP7I5DhiDO3QgXpCDTkjetiOXM35nu0upqzKGaLu3E/s320/IMG_2023-10-07-18-06-19-262.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></li><li>I grow a garden (which I do not spend much money at all on (around $35 a year for seeds and that is pretty much it) and then we eat from the garden just as much as we can in the summer and fall. I also <a href="https://proverbs31living.blogspot.com/2023/10/a-good-harvest.html">put up as much food as I can</a>.</li><li>I rarely got out to eat or buy premade food or drink.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9Hwf3iV2quHidnHVCCaQiOPt73Uoqcv-KxTKV9Hhluj8r7DasMT9jnxe1BNY8Mey3EhfClLbiajmIzWvdj32sS6cuXi5PtyroDC6uhxud_A77L0XIIMW6CnMm4jjUtXLklaH6XC3xzvw5s8Ns0WWKbrjkNv5PQFWp7I1SVl2g0F1q_S78QTzKx5V7ibx/s3264/IMG_2023-09-12-09-23-40-973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9Hwf3iV2quHidnHVCCaQiOPt73Uoqcv-KxTKV9Hhluj8r7DasMT9jnxe1BNY8Mey3EhfClLbiajmIzWvdj32sS6cuXi5PtyroDC6uhxud_A77L0XIIMW6CnMm4jjUtXLklaH6XC3xzvw5s8Ns0WWKbrjkNv5PQFWp7I1SVl2g0F1q_S78QTzKx5V7ibx/w320-h240/IMG_2023-09-12-09-23-40-973.jpg" title="A Miniature Tea party gift for Lilly was enjoyed" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BScWfzMh68XYaAh9JjTPNB5KiIa0Hqxz6_aOhuVNreB1Die73yLOisB-__dEDflrBHKgbAgndn0MJqoX9Zpjbkg71HjQ1YW3vGX3vA8DgmoWov5E2XbXyZ3Au_fPiQwMgWzMovWJ0VLUEX3uM5zBu7BijYuxcscyQAPVpRNJnPQifNmDndqx-iJDSPP-/s3264/IMG_2023-09-12-09-37-27-753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BScWfzMh68XYaAh9JjTPNB5KiIa0Hqxz6_aOhuVNreB1Die73yLOisB-__dEDflrBHKgbAgndn0MJqoX9Zpjbkg71HjQ1YW3vGX3vA8DgmoWov5E2XbXyZ3Au_fPiQwMgWzMovWJ0VLUEX3uM5zBu7BijYuxcscyQAPVpRNJnPQifNmDndqx-iJDSPP-/s320/IMG_2023-09-12-09-37-27-753.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><p></p><p><u>Gifts</u></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I make quite a few handmade gifts. Not as many at this season of life as I have done in the past but still quite a few. I pretty much always make them from things we have on hand whether it be from my craft/sewing closet or our kitchen cupboards. I have been blessed to be on the receiving end of many people cleaning out their craft supplies however so I have an abundance to work from. Pictured above is a miniature picnic that Megan and I put together for my niece, Lilly. Below is a wreath I made for my sister Keren.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqdVV9gRLRYcTwD6Z1Dr5v5u0LclXd4-J-bUB2kVF0RHzg3OUJY6KTnNU3PAsoULziIWI-xl6RNTPxMOWsFI4rDoznZ1OWA89kK0E4_TcO___jMPeEK1JzSydR-ks1mFmExLf87ORQJHBqpihTqhewcwOPXajPi140JI1-uNbcq8pQFFcObz9rSRIRNGG/s3264/IMG_2023-09-12-09-21-35-878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqdVV9gRLRYcTwD6Z1Dr5v5u0LclXd4-J-bUB2kVF0RHzg3OUJY6KTnNU3PAsoULziIWI-xl6RNTPxMOWsFI4rDoznZ1OWA89kK0E4_TcO___jMPeEK1JzSydR-ks1mFmExLf87ORQJHBqpihTqhewcwOPXajPi140JI1-uNbcq8pQFFcObz9rSRIRNGG/s320/IMG_2023-09-12-09-21-35-878.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></li><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I do sometimes find things at second hand stores or garage sales that are new or basically look new and I will gift them at times. </div></li><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I <a href="https://proverbs31living.blogspot.com/2011/03/saving-money-of-gifts.html">wrote a post</a> a while back on saving money on gifts that has more thoughts, ideas and details.</div></li><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our Christian radio station in town has something called "Shopping on the radio" that offers gift cards to local businesses at a discount. I will sometimes buy those and either just use them as gifts or use them to buy gifts. It also supports the radio station in the process.</div></li></ul><p></p><p><u>Health</u></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I make it a habit to <a href="https://proverbs31living.blogspot.com/2015/01/goals-for-good-health-drink-plenty-of.html">drink plenty of water</a> each day. It is tap water (when at home that means well water) so it is free.</li><li>I do a <a href="https://youtu.be/cyOKODs47JA?si=xuSqg7OHwEwM3gV2">lymph massage</a> every morning.</li><li>I drink warm vinegar water every morning. (2 tablespoons raw organic apple cider vinegar in 16 ounces of warm water).</li><li>I try to do some activity/exercising outside at least 5 days a week.</li><li>I eat a lot of whole grains, vegetables and unprocessed natural foods. I limit my use of sugar.</li><li>I rarely have caffeine.</li><li>I try to get at least 7 hours of sleep a day.</li><li>I don't have a gym membership instead I enjoy working hard, biking, walking, etc that I can do for free.</li><li>I try to spend time stretching at least 5 times a week.</li></ul><p></p><p><u>Insurance</u></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A couple of years ago we switched from having a partially government subsidized health insurance to instead using <a href="https://samaritanministries.org/">Samaritan's Ministries</a> which is a Christian Health Care Sharing program. That ended up saving me over $200 a month and my deductible went from $6,000 to $450 which is quite significant. Though none of us have needed to go to the doctor during the time we have been using it (praise God!) and so I can't give you first hand account of how well it actually works I have heard from others that it does work well when you have a need. I know that personally I really, really enjoy getting to send my monthly checks (11 months of the year I send them directly to another believer who has a medical expense) to someone whom I can learn a little about and pray for as well. If you should decide to check them out and join would you please say that Abbi Cobb referred you? That will take a little off my expense for the next month if you do.</li><li>Really sit down and talk with your insurance agent and make sure that you have the coverage you actually need and want. I was able to get rid of some redundant coverage this year that saved me $34 a month. Not a lot but over time it adds up.</li></ul><p></p><p><u>Laundry</u></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I make our own laundry soap</li><li>I don't use either fabric softener or dryer sheets. (This not only saves me money but has made it so I have less headaches as well - I used to love the smell but after removing most unnatural scents from my life I have less headaches - I never knew that they were associated before.)</li></ul><p></p><p><u>Personal Products</u></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I only use shampoo about once a week (I do shower daily but I have found it is better for my scalp, hair and pocketbook to shampoo less). I did have to get to that gradually but your body will stop producing so much grease if you don't strip the oils so often.</li><li>I use a menstrual cup.</li><li>I buy toilet paper in bulk from a local paper supply company.</li><li>I <a href="https://proverbs31living.blogspot.com/2017/10/making-my-own-toothpaste-deodorant-and.html">make my own deodorant </a>most of the time (and I like it better than what I have bought when I run out of time to make it).</li><li>I make my own <a href="https://proverbs31living.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-dont-buy-lip-balm-or-chapstick-or.html">lotion bars</a>. </li></ul><p></p><p><u>Phone</u></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I use a tracphone instead of having a plan I have to pay for every month. That has worked pretty well for me. I spend around $150 a year for having a smart phone.</li></ul><div><br /></div><div>Those are a few of the things that I do to save money. I would love to hear what you do to live frugally!</div><p></p><p><u><br /></u></p>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-89489396782807672842023-11-07T21:23:00.003-06:002023-11-07T21:23:34.396-06:00The Fruit of the Spirit is.......Faithfulness<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJb7CNSJ1j86Rljouk7MYWnYMD0dMHG1urvYX-3fwAxMjn6EA4RAVvFrl-8AlRUvYdzc-cfdWo_b8x__uertmJZqPeUePHAJP4XvFaT5oANuga04VRcxUWXaJj_wx3QqjOOMKjoGs46Ir7w9OzS2JtdwNgPLwYDOZ7HIHmIaQVBaMNx3KzLizDntVTa8s/s3264/IMG_2023-06-30-20-26-27-101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJb7CNSJ1j86Rljouk7MYWnYMD0dMHG1urvYX-3fwAxMjn6EA4RAVvFrl-8AlRUvYdzc-cfdWo_b8x__uertmJZqPeUePHAJP4XvFaT5oANuga04VRcxUWXaJj_wx3QqjOOMKjoGs46Ir7w9OzS2JtdwNgPLwYDOZ7HIHmIaQVBaMNx3KzLizDntVTa8s/s320/IMG_2023-06-30-20-26-27-101.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Faithfulness is a trait that has long been very important to me. It is one of God's characteristics that I find myself most often thanking Him for. Though I love adventure and trying new things, having stability and knowing there are things that I can rely on give me incredible peace. Though I have found that people aren't always faithful - God is. <div> To be faithful you are committed to someone or something. You are honest and trustworthy. A faithful person doesn't leave when something gets hard. I have been blessed to have many faithful people in my life as well as a faithful God. As humans we are never perfectly faithful like God is but with the Holy Spirit working in us we can do our best. <div><div style="text-align: center;"> "It is a trustworthy statement:</div><div style="text-align: center;">For if we died with Him,</div><div style="text-align: center;">we will also live with Him;</div><div style="text-align: center;">If we endure</div><div style="text-align: center;">we will also reign with Him;</div><div style="text-align: center;">If we deny Him,</div><div style="text-align: center;">He also will deny us;</div><div style="text-align: center;">If we are faithless,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>He remains faithful,</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>for He cannot deny Himself."</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">2 Timothy 2:11-13</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>I remember years ago (before adulthood I am pretty sure) this scripture just stopping me in my tracks. Today it makes me emotional just reading it. God cannot be unfaithful, to do so would be to deny who He is and He won't/can't do that. So no matter what happens in life - I have a faithful, unchanging God who loves me! I really think we need to grasp hold of that so that we can realize what the Holy Spirit can do in us as well if we let Him. By the gift of the Holy Spirit we can be faithful - committed - not wavering.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>We are called to be faithful to the Lord. Revelation 2:10 says "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. <b>Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life</b>." This being faithful is not something to be taken lightly. God calls us to be faithful even through extreme trials and suffering.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>We are called to be faithful in our work for God. Though this verse doesn't use the word "faithful" it describes it pretty well: <b>"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58. </b>In 2 Timothy 2:2 & 3 we see Paul telling Timothy "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, <b>entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also</b>. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." Faithful men (and women) are the ones that are needed to teach others the good news. In that faithfulness we will at times be asked to suffer hardship. Are you willing? Do you remember the parable of the Talents in Matthew 25? Both men who did something with the talents given to them and gained more were commended because of their faithfulness. Do you want to hear " Well done, good and faithful servant!" someday? I do. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> We should also be faithful in our marriages, our friendships and our jobs - truly whatever we have committed to doing. Proverbs 28:20 says "<b>A faithful man will abound with blessings</b>, but he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished". <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;">" I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;">To all generations I will make known your</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;">faithfulness with my mouth."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;">Psalms 89:1</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: #800180;"> </span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> </span><br /></span></div> <p></p></div></div>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-84773088510364242572023-10-28T22:35:00.001-05:002023-10-30T09:26:09.644-05:00A Good Harvest<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo1Z-j4NB1FUyLeh03rbnkseNPwK0_CqSA1NyXvD17ObAsB6YdIOd4rvVppJG8BQ_bYQcIzzZLtGE8Kq28J-gPjgYwA9NxrabIMxkiesZaEnZfRhwmqm2CxN_YvYdg8Fi4lRIXn2jJJuphQ-ojnhgonTrFUrS9axrcDQJwMNkZDplEW86s_qRaVc7PL3u/s3264/IMG_2023-08-12-17-19-25-062.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo1Z-j4NB1FUyLeh03rbnkseNPwK0_CqSA1NyXvD17ObAsB6YdIOd4rvVppJG8BQ_bYQcIzzZLtGE8Kq28J-gPjgYwA9NxrabIMxkiesZaEnZfRhwmqm2CxN_YvYdg8Fi4lRIXn2jJJuphQ-ojnhgonTrFUrS9axrcDQJwMNkZDplEW86s_qRaVc7PL3u/w480-h640/IMG_2023-08-12-17-19-25-062.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>There is something very wonderful about harvest time. It just might be my favorite time of year. (But then again Spring gives it some pretty strong competition and there are other fun and wonderful things to do other times of year as well so I just don't know....) It is also a wearying time of year as food doesn't just sit around in perfect condition waiting for you to have time to harvest or process. The canning sometimes takes longer than you think and you are up late waiting for the prescribed time to be done so that you can turn the burner off and take things out. But it is so fun to find the treasures in the garden and hive and a blessing to get meat from the pasture or woods as well. Whether we get our food from the grocery store or the garden it is a gift from God but I think it is often easier to remember that it is God who gives us all things richly to enjoy when we are out in nature harvesting things He has caused to grow. <p></p><p> After a two year break I had bees again this year. I had taken a break for a few reasons: 1. I still had enough honey from previous years. 2. My life got a lot busier when I had to go to work following Ken leaving and this was something I could skip. 3. In 2020 when I last kept bees I got stung near the end of the season and reacted to it much more strongly than I ever had before. I was stung on the ear (through the netting that had gotten to close to my ear) and both ears immediately started throbbing, my neck (but not my throat) and arms swelled up and I broke out into hives. It was a little scary. Since then I have taken a homeopathic treatment that is supposed to have cured my honey bee allergy but it hasn't been tested to I don't know if it worked or not. I also have a lot less stress in my life then I did that Fall (as my marriage was falling apart at the time) and I think that my body was quite possibly simply overloaded when the sting happened. Anyway I decided to try again but I have been careful and I didn't work with them unless I had somebody around that could drive me to the emergency room if necessary. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJ_rVggkdlducB_qRbHLxmrXAkgKThXfU4vwWeooKwj0S5IazFIVapNB1y56Vze7JBf4Qgd3CmD1a-hX_9uocxTeQsFSh4K4cuAEeHnnd9ceFm5rMqmwRaeIWan_UX2x0ao_FZm80lHmOR6rgARBRKNGMCHbfCfHmGDWBo2gJkJhwuEBOgARoJFSpyxfD/s3264/IMG_2023-08-15-16-24-36-190.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJ_rVggkdlducB_qRbHLxmrXAkgKThXfU4vwWeooKwj0S5IazFIVapNB1y56Vze7JBf4Qgd3CmD1a-hX_9uocxTeQsFSh4K4cuAEeHnnd9ceFm5rMqmwRaeIWan_UX2x0ao_FZm80lHmOR6rgARBRKNGMCHbfCfHmGDWBo2gJkJhwuEBOgARoJFSpyxfD/w400-h300/IMG_2023-08-15-16-24-36-190.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The bees did well and I had fun watching the miracle that a bee hive is and sharing it with others (as I had nephews and nieces come to learn about it with me). I did learn a lesson this year about not putting off harvesting honey. I had extracted some honey in August (as they had pretty much filled the boxes and I needed more space) and then some in September and I got a nice amount from those times but I knew there was a lot more still in the hives. I needed to extract before it got to cold but it seemed like things were going fine that way. We didn't get a killing harvest at our place until this week. There were rainy, chilly days but for the most part it still seemed pretty nice. And I was hoping for a whole day to work on it and Saturday is the only day for me that is a possibility and I had been busy with weddings, working, traveling and company and it didn't happen. I finally got out to finish getting the honey out a week ago and discovered that the bees and all the honey (except for about a dozen bees and 20 pounds of honey in one hive) had completely disappeared. I honestly don't know what happened but I think in the future I had better not let it go so late. I had figured there was about 150 pounds of honey out there so it was a disappointment but in my learning to trust God in all things I was able to have complete peace about it. He knows what we need. He knows everything in the future all the could-have-beens and He knows what is best - Always. And I had perfectly cleaned out hives to put away and NO stings this year! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xjvrIQpV1movjOiZdnQaKPyoFwYm7_Ryz0n1WdRoxVwzUAjpvn7Z1xR5QW0_ZsGPo7K4ebCf9_w9wTUaDVGex_ihNwg737W1aK-Y-1z42nJafv0vnwhROHv7SEyomcjeT0w_hTylEcIZjprAjI3FAqFHu2MN7Uk0QCzBUJZXrN0N0cXhlhyXvpEESGfA/s3264/IMG_2023-08-27-19-18-35-195.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xjvrIQpV1movjOiZdnQaKPyoFwYm7_Ryz0n1WdRoxVwzUAjpvn7Z1xR5QW0_ZsGPo7K4ebCf9_w9wTUaDVGex_ihNwg737W1aK-Y-1z42nJafv0vnwhROHv7SEyomcjeT0w_hTylEcIZjprAjI3FAqFHu2MN7Uk0QCzBUJZXrN0N0cXhlhyXvpEESGfA/w480-h640/IMG_2023-08-27-19-18-35-195.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Flowers are an important part of my gardening (and my life). I don't actually harvest these to store away for winter except in pictures. :-) Someone said once that being able to have flowers in every room of their house was a sign of wealth. I totally agree. I feel like I have "arrived" when I can enjoy flowers all over my home. I love being able to get them out of the garden to decorate. I am also super blessed because with my business I end up with extra flowers and with working part time at the flower shop I also can bring old (no longer sellable) flowers home and decorate my home with them. It gives me joy and I feel incredibly blessed. By the way I am curious about that- I have come to realize that not all people have the obsession with flowers that I have, some people will even say "No Thank You" when you offer them a bouquet - are you the type the loves them and find they give you joy or are they something that don't really stir any emotion in you?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzxvzxU5-VZsTdHKrM4keYWicldgw8uz3yVXukzhiL5DrrBUQzMDzPqROrI25bSc43W5T2HlbVqF5UIQ-ZHAW0zzccVaXia5GeNGiJx-anke3OqDxwwQR3IHq4JPSWZQjgjcWxxefI0duplj_2-IizHlDBxpdDG_3_1FVfXt6JxvSRB8yiyglTSPlFfZr/s3264/IMG_2023-08-27-19-20-33-476.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzxvzxU5-VZsTdHKrM4keYWicldgw8uz3yVXukzhiL5DrrBUQzMDzPqROrI25bSc43W5T2HlbVqF5UIQ-ZHAW0zzccVaXia5GeNGiJx-anke3OqDxwwQR3IHq4JPSWZQjgjcWxxefI0duplj_2-IizHlDBxpdDG_3_1FVfXt6JxvSRB8yiyglTSPlFfZr/w400-h300/IMG_2023-08-27-19-20-33-476.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZuI_MgwmoTQy_FWcmdBNMjv3lAlVdYoO2zx7a9kuA8pLzZVgaDZ0JyiTHtpPH7IK2Qm9_jc1L6TLyDJv2ByjJ2yEMWGGP66tagD0Ch9BHgEBkFD3HGHksCNI44rh1cDla1mMhKzsqpmJ3GRyr1o9uKbClKr3WeB4mL5CaLfvnIjVQ4bMyV4F0XuxMaWC/s3264/IMG_2023-09-19-21-00-06-028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZuI_MgwmoTQy_FWcmdBNMjv3lAlVdYoO2zx7a9kuA8pLzZVgaDZ0JyiTHtpPH7IK2Qm9_jc1L6TLyDJv2ByjJ2yEMWGGP66tagD0Ch9BHgEBkFD3HGHksCNI44rh1cDla1mMhKzsqpmJ3GRyr1o9uKbClKr3WeB4mL5CaLfvnIjVQ4bMyV4F0XuxMaWC/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-19-21-00-06-028.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I love canning tomatoes - they are so quick and easy. I canned quite a bit from my garden and then a neighbor also shared these lovely ones with me. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyWZhnuj-1i5UzuOqcZjgsvh4N1pV6dzl9NJB970vcHbVvXXnMf5ge5AeAu20NiZhaKXojRNB6qc3wfRsMQlTRCPXgNcZ0MKPzgNVWc0kPt6ipOZzaF6wUibS-wC3CTowh749ASFVABWv40VCyrTXLkibih3P-Je6VBziwX6AiA5qPhxOQyAsZHA_ornP/s3264/IMG_2023-10-02-12-06-27-249.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyWZhnuj-1i5UzuOqcZjgsvh4N1pV6dzl9NJB970vcHbVvXXnMf5ge5AeAu20NiZhaKXojRNB6qc3wfRsMQlTRCPXgNcZ0MKPzgNVWc0kPt6ipOZzaF6wUibS-wC3CTowh749ASFVABWv40VCyrTXLkibih3P-Je6VBziwX6AiA5qPhxOQyAsZHA_ornP/w400-h300/IMG_2023-10-02-12-06-27-249.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Carrots that I got to dig from a friends garden. I love getting to dig carrots and potatoes and things like that! It feels like looking for treasure.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirh7Vk6LfqeLZbFt6mT3VDAOLchvvnE84fGXzQ5bcskO9lQWpZ2gN4yyBcJj1nZ-w9ox6Fb9Zn39Ugaiwl5xTmomDZo5n7fyMzMjXtXFZvdXWElpzIPFjFYJB_8mIZyAWYHHmhzw6MQF3_495vnEjoxAFCGI98H49vnsXPQ1CRk0S1BsMNXPJuBLiuqX1R/s3264/IMG_2023-10-07-19-52-36-662.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirh7Vk6LfqeLZbFt6mT3VDAOLchvvnE84fGXzQ5bcskO9lQWpZ2gN4yyBcJj1nZ-w9ox6Fb9Zn39Ugaiwl5xTmomDZo5n7fyMzMjXtXFZvdXWElpzIPFjFYJB_8mIZyAWYHHmhzw6MQF3_495vnEjoxAFCGI98H49vnsXPQ1CRk0S1BsMNXPJuBLiuqX1R/w400-h300/IMG_2023-10-07-19-52-36-662.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I have enjoyed harvesting wild mushrooms from our yard this year - such as this gemmed puffball.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuDoYxjS22ulU6hCZgcD10885dbf1n7ROc4cUyYcprbKK0EePwZCjWSchn6v5scecomLyOCg-ovv09xPFUyk7IMmuML8xNulyxW-vrCu6YHDAZyqrUzk0cV0aMul98rNkokiBlB_UKSdFNVmSM_jsPsi8YG_8b5bfB6A7C3VLJ-0zeggFT-jcJkfHSQ4v/s3264/IMG_2023-10-07-18-06-19-262.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuDoYxjS22ulU6hCZgcD10885dbf1n7ROc4cUyYcprbKK0EePwZCjWSchn6v5scecomLyOCg-ovv09xPFUyk7IMmuML8xNulyxW-vrCu6YHDAZyqrUzk0cV0aMul98rNkokiBlB_UKSdFNVmSM_jsPsi8YG_8b5bfB6A7C3VLJ-0zeggFT-jcJkfHSQ4v/w400-h300/IMG_2023-10-07-18-06-19-262.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>One evening every burner was busy as I canned applesauce, cooked down goat bones, made tomato jam and salsa and blanched broccoli. I ended up canning quite a bit of broth and some soup too. I helped my parents with butchering a little and they blessed me with some meat. This year is a little sad as my parents got rid of all their goats. They have had goats since before I was born so this is a real change for them.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJRv2ADLBG-2081oxcRHg4RwVay4UQaQwkRmJCecizVp-glDAv-CsmAJrqlFiMdSFjVF39apZRVdWeinXBpJuIpLWWdDSZF8zeP2eKDl9jsv0KKK2MB5fobIzRRTprcNK6z47ZyG2-auK08g7OLn4TLfHv140v-qMad-94r1MfK5pEfjmlZGtb9Zx5Y-J/s3264/IMG_2023-10-07-18-16-02-132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJRv2ADLBG-2081oxcRHg4RwVay4UQaQwkRmJCecizVp-glDAv-CsmAJrqlFiMdSFjVF39apZRVdWeinXBpJuIpLWWdDSZF8zeP2eKDl9jsv0KKK2MB5fobIzRRTprcNK6z47ZyG2-auK08g7OLn4TLfHv140v-qMad-94r1MfK5pEfjmlZGtb9Zx5Y-J/w400-h300/IMG_2023-10-07-18-16-02-132.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Thanks to my parents prolific apple trees I was able to dehydrate a lot of apples. They are a yummy snack. I love how efficient my current dehydrator is. I also canned apple pie filling and applesauce.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HzRlartJwHtEZd39zXA_45bBkpoprYl78zqf2VZEoZ0vppCxbkf_qTVPqJcs0pyg6Je3OEtPAC1F0Og0kYWvlsn3YIzimP2CKGHo2whh5V0aETG9ae7aGhxlvPgMIUZOy0YWV2aQLzZkHUK1Ll7R0ScOnYhwg9xDAX7ehyphenhyphenBWXmVdxH4fDp6dE1OhH8lL/s3264/IMG_2023-10-28-10-11-57-087.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HzRlartJwHtEZd39zXA_45bBkpoprYl78zqf2VZEoZ0vppCxbkf_qTVPqJcs0pyg6Je3OEtPAC1F0Og0kYWvlsn3YIzimP2CKGHo2whh5V0aETG9ae7aGhxlvPgMIUZOy0YWV2aQLzZkHUK1Ll7R0ScOnYhwg9xDAX7ehyphenhyphenBWXmVdxH4fDp6dE1OhH8lL/w480-h640/IMG_2023-10-28-10-11-57-087.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Today I made Kimchee. I think it is going to be a yummy (and good for you) batch and I am excited about it. I am thinking maybe I should make another batch.<p></p><p> The freezers are full and the pantry shelves look lovely too. I am so thankful for God's many blessings. We got our first hard freeze last night so it is time to move on to the next season. I am looking forward to some sewing/crafting.</p><p> Did you harvest anything at your house? What is a favorite thing for you to harvest?<br /> </p>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-9069543439827714732023-10-21T20:55:00.002-05:002023-10-21T20:55:34.926-05:00Jackpine Retreat 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The middle of September found us, as normal, heading north to go camping along with a bunch of others at a place we call Jackpine Retreat. This was my 44th time to attend and I love it every year!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGV6NEglLFaNmF2qzl0aQ1Z87OCxu1Jr0eZntETmrKE3KQ9bvVjg2R-DxGDJO-NOYqUeDpdGg38W7NlH5t-OpV1jtQoMpxjZoTM2WZSxbZNcth1Lr_9HKw1yaL_UR1luB0h_Gaf_2U-P51Mq0WzEdqYRYx4SdhCKXe5yk3o22-VfO5N4BDkE3L2oc4TGX5/s3264/IMG_2023-09-15-16-02-47-120.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGV6NEglLFaNmF2qzl0aQ1Z87OCxu1Jr0eZntETmrKE3KQ9bvVjg2R-DxGDJO-NOYqUeDpdGg38W7NlH5t-OpV1jtQoMpxjZoTM2WZSxbZNcth1Lr_9HKw1yaL_UR1luB0h_Gaf_2U-P51Mq0WzEdqYRYx4SdhCKXe5yk3o22-VfO5N4BDkE3L2oc4TGX5/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-15-16-02-47-120.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few weeks before we went I had met a bunch of international students that are attending our local university. I told them about our plan to go camping and invited them to come along. Nine of them ended up coming. I had 4 ride up with me on Friday and my parents brought the rest up on Saturday. We stopped at the town of Baudette along the way where we could get a view of Canada. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOfbCcWq7V2tpYw0UjPJcpbjZ9Na_Hqmx5pEDocwsnBH-INZ42OfajkskxvqQWbK41kjMyx5et7z2oqMWlxseKUhlWtQYOQw0EyxcTQZzuf1gjzqNX9HKTUgf3-DvNkBKDGaJZkUz4LSQ_dXjOc8YCYCQoZjLR1MnvHpn2R5QrBoC2Jly6gEAYECdRVvL/s3264/IMG_2023-09-15-18-27-02-734.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOfbCcWq7V2tpYw0UjPJcpbjZ9Na_Hqmx5pEDocwsnBH-INZ42OfajkskxvqQWbK41kjMyx5et7z2oqMWlxseKUhlWtQYOQw0EyxcTQZzuf1gjzqNX9HKTUgf3-DvNkBKDGaJZkUz4LSQ_dXjOc8YCYCQoZjLR1MnvHpn2R5QrBoC2Jly6gEAYECdRVvL/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-15-18-27-02-734.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cooking over the campfire is an important part of our time at Jackpine. Aaron and Jason were working to get their brats just right. Jason, Michelle and McKayla came all the way from Louisiana, I always get excited when they are able to come. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIAqhUpNVcNTek0v5UChuyeYCUuX-H2ESJPuUTG7DIHiot8mGEgHx50DXPxgWouHL2p5T5vGn1uVjFIBi9Yo2oNFLA0nl7GvMXLphPL28XCDYayjsKfVjpdl5Zy7Ouwu2jnd_MhS9yZxrejwQ1Jra3-eUbsRSAVhP1tdIl7w3ICUzN8o9XiMke0zN3zvT/s3264/IMG_2023-09-15-18-27-14-129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIAqhUpNVcNTek0v5UChuyeYCUuX-H2ESJPuUTG7DIHiot8mGEgHx50DXPxgWouHL2p5T5vGn1uVjFIBi9Yo2oNFLA0nl7GvMXLphPL28XCDYayjsKfVjpdl5Zy7Ouwu2jnd_MhS9yZxrejwQ1Jra3-eUbsRSAVhP1tdIl7w3ICUzN8o9XiMke0zN3zvT/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-15-18-27-14-129.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>These pictures look like we had a sparsely populated campsite but actually we fed around 30 people at our campsite. There was a total of around 130 at Jackpine.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwE4q-PnGXJ5YSgzaobpbKxPkOQL6RhidYQLI93Y8o1C8Gjp8-yyRSc9BBtaueDNVcqyZbyKrCfgXAhVqA32TLo5m_n7jK50KG_Vvyh9SK3jIE-SOjRnS3zP-LsITLZeSKAh-JhfIpug9m7wRfsf7DkdaULC2n3i7xmaVoz6yL5g56GIJd2xhxEb2EXH7R/s3264/IMG_2023-09-16-10-26-43-495.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwE4q-PnGXJ5YSgzaobpbKxPkOQL6RhidYQLI93Y8o1C8Gjp8-yyRSc9BBtaueDNVcqyZbyKrCfgXAhVqA32TLo5m_n7jK50KG_Vvyh9SK3jIE-SOjRnS3zP-LsITLZeSKAh-JhfIpug9m7wRfsf7DkdaULC2n3i7xmaVoz6yL5g56GIJd2xhxEb2EXH7R/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-16-10-26-43-495.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Times of singing together are one of my favorite things. Kate, a student from Russia, commented that it sounded like many of the people had been professionally trained. They aren't but most of us love to sing praises to God and I guess that shows.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2NCXXwgVDNKOk0Iwvc7Rn2qprOYJ4tTCydUEkHLx7A2C4HCFbvu471dCEZbKxXcN2WIiIh7r33PECWTYzhr6H8MCjA1znyiBXFMU9ldaD1D8Bha65h9MXztFKyMchK3mzi7dKuYQzuagJEvX2aM35kMtAS9JLE2gSqj_5Yx05mQI9hdYBjZKg85qy-VP/s3264/IMG_2023-09-16-10-59-13-745.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2NCXXwgVDNKOk0Iwvc7Rn2qprOYJ4tTCydUEkHLx7A2C4HCFbvu471dCEZbKxXcN2WIiIh7r33PECWTYzhr6H8MCjA1znyiBXFMU9ldaD1D8Bha65h9MXztFKyMchK3mzi7dKuYQzuagJEvX2aM35kMtAS9JLE2gSqj_5Yx05mQI9hdYBjZKg85qy-VP/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-16-10-59-13-745.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I got to teach the kids class on Saturday morning. Billy who was doing the messages was talking about Loving God and others (among other things) so I decided to tell the story of the Good Samaritan. We decided to "take" the journey from Jerusalem to Jericho. The 30+ kids lined up to go on the road. I had arranged with a couple of older kids to hide along the route and then jump out and "attack" another of the older kids that I had positioned to be first in line and then run off with her stuff. That was a very effective story telling aid except Malcolm burst into tears and went running after "the robbers" trying to defend Nettie. Overall we had a lot of fun with the class and I was very grateful for the moms that were willing to come along and help out. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6Y81bSIoxRKttmG9EvsuKdjZjIiGBRFRra26YnTiucvGuH10iPqPVDSllShPmhUyPrJXnR781Hbk6W0LAxqzNOddrMoOIHruxyYBdUdnK_F0yg8Od__59PJDekywoawZumY4CsDdcr77AnsFQNCADQwDxWQ7xm5TZrvFnFbQQmh-vU4TSDy9aaCG58iI/s3264/IMG_2023-09-16-13-39-30-444.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6Y81bSIoxRKttmG9EvsuKdjZjIiGBRFRra26YnTiucvGuH10iPqPVDSllShPmhUyPrJXnR781Hbk6W0LAxqzNOddrMoOIHruxyYBdUdnK_F0yg8Od__59PJDekywoawZumY4CsDdcr77AnsFQNCADQwDxWQ7xm5TZrvFnFbQQmh-vU4TSDy9aaCG58iI/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-16-13-39-30-444.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Planning for next year...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTIPXMYBWxw9jtWjhUfbaOCbs5BJOeU90vlG3vgw_6dl01NqmoTnsMMZqEklbdlSh_D_HeeWO_QDmwS4ujKktb98tWvnmqKLNU_96Uy3mrkZtVhmGPiKt4_g3RR9qKcg_sdqQgOEnJljCKn98K1_T8wi6dLgTFKkXKdlQ22LvrJ0AnrYae7uXXsL37nyk/s3264/IMG_2023-09-16-13-39-35-734.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTIPXMYBWxw9jtWjhUfbaOCbs5BJOeU90vlG3vgw_6dl01NqmoTnsMMZqEklbdlSh_D_HeeWO_QDmwS4ujKktb98tWvnmqKLNU_96Uy3mrkZtVhmGPiKt4_g3RR9qKcg_sdqQgOEnJljCKn98K1_T8wi6dLgTFKkXKdlQ22LvrJ0AnrYae7uXXsL37nyk/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-16-13-39-35-734.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEbkW3hhyDhR45pPgDdraQdwO1bfGkFmbC90D5yb3xVLzh94V1kJSfasARASXhRL45zASnTTRHl9_HKnOv9dApMv-pgInKW37RssMcHUs8Ymlu_EqVXZJcJbnG1dQHmk32i6VJ3zSc6IL9eK1qbkAlpxUBrjPdsk4FOsYKxPTk1EDmkB2Ticfiep-cWg7/s3264/IMG_2023-09-16-14-24-05-052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEbkW3hhyDhR45pPgDdraQdwO1bfGkFmbC90D5yb3xVLzh94V1kJSfasARASXhRL45zASnTTRHl9_HKnOv9dApMv-pgInKW37RssMcHUs8Ymlu_EqVXZJcJbnG1dQHmk32i6VJ3zSc6IL9eK1qbkAlpxUBrjPdsk4FOsYKxPTk1EDmkB2Ticfiep-cWg7/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-16-14-24-05-052.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Ewan at 3 months was camping for the 2nd time. The students helped out with holding him.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnu6MyBxWYigWjnxKigaNkwx2-Jy7il05OoMqCSG6PfT_3-w_MhBdXLvnuR7l_d5BFvKpIejeDgYk2ELMj5q4c3_UXckuYbi9Lss6h1zOBl7OivnXugxEVs9d-0L9vBKDEgN18KllRnSsnoMYK1ExmBrvcFdPYozYY9rWIZwB3yTzdojOeJyw-5XW08Q_/s3264/IMG_2023-09-16-14-47-53-877.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnu6MyBxWYigWjnxKigaNkwx2-Jy7il05OoMqCSG6PfT_3-w_MhBdXLvnuR7l_d5BFvKpIejeDgYk2ELMj5q4c3_UXckuYbi9Lss6h1zOBl7OivnXugxEVs9d-0L9vBKDEgN18KllRnSsnoMYK1ExmBrvcFdPYozYY9rWIZwB3yTzdojOeJyw-5XW08Q_/w480-h640/IMG_2023-09-16-14-47-53-877.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Ricardo from Columbia tried out spool walking and did a good job.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivma-0xmTKu2-CYML8JO02wAxdBfC4Hr6JKBUORd2-YYRhF01FvkvzmYw29ePKVTafD0bwQSwbZbO-SFGk7xP1YC2iLF1lctUmSZN-ssfk5CXazKGcgx_KmK7jpgVbyzjVwV8NE0Eq7N0WU-5GR32DCYCdOza63gGbAzxCBMVbirjryF1bB-WUMPpqXsa-/s3264/IMG_2023-09-16-14-58-46-390.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivma-0xmTKu2-CYML8JO02wAxdBfC4Hr6JKBUORd2-YYRhF01FvkvzmYw29ePKVTafD0bwQSwbZbO-SFGk7xP1YC2iLF1lctUmSZN-ssfk5CXazKGcgx_KmK7jpgVbyzjVwV8NE0Eq7N0WU-5GR32DCYCdOza63gGbAzxCBMVbirjryF1bB-WUMPpqXsa-/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-16-14-58-46-390.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Jackpine is a place we like to go to spend time with old friends and make new ones as well. It is the time each year when the highest percentage of my closest friends get together. It is such a blessing to spend time with others who passionately serve Jesus Christ and follow His word to the best of their ability. It is not a group of perfect individuals but imperfect ones who know and seek to be like the One who is perfect.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb78gvVvyFBL3cggFF9opGdoK7bfkjo81Cm4KeWTNgL0EK7NYKCYBb7AprJAmYODSeZdnFZMnozwIXr_dAi6IHjwxauBCaUnfH-2KDuXFkZhzd-p2sCjN1lSMVpYaINECAbmSgpSRza87-4yhC9uk80Y_yDTpSfZQmxmDfai_f6reiS1ygpFsA4gpHiWbz/s3264/IMG_2023-09-16-16-07-13-116.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb78gvVvyFBL3cggFF9opGdoK7bfkjo81Cm4KeWTNgL0EK7NYKCYBb7AprJAmYODSeZdnFZMnozwIXr_dAi6IHjwxauBCaUnfH-2KDuXFkZhzd-p2sCjN1lSMVpYaINECAbmSgpSRza87-4yhC9uk80Y_yDTpSfZQmxmDfai_f6reiS1ygpFsA4gpHiWbz/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-16-16-07-13-116.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>My whole family was able to be there for at least part of the time (my parents don't camp anymore but they come up for part of Saturday). 37 in all.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLrJJ4jNYi8iL4IBnJY4mvjauctJ5GxMbeqfPE9gDOzmHaLe-vn9_rAT_OM3embtxK3W2vJEq7VAk2GSAU4h85tfiy2nr6nKbGfp1y-HkS_eV1TxqlnJox4qRBXdMeZIO8SwCkz8Yu9plUKuIGtAL84k3goG82Kq4yXAmAv8WBefRGF3Qih7rGpBqBYzW4/s3264/IMG_2023-09-16-16-20-48-686.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLrJJ4jNYi8iL4IBnJY4mvjauctJ5GxMbeqfPE9gDOzmHaLe-vn9_rAT_OM3embtxK3W2vJEq7VAk2GSAU4h85tfiy2nr6nKbGfp1y-HkS_eV1TxqlnJox4qRBXdMeZIO8SwCkz8Yu9plUKuIGtAL84k3goG82Kq4yXAmAv8WBefRGF3Qih7rGpBqBYzW4/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-16-16-20-48-686.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Introducing the students to the rocker. <div> I really enjoyed having this group from other countries join us. Among them were a Buddhist, Muslims, non-religious and more. They were a fun group and I really enjoyed the conversations we were able to have about life, God and religion. They didn't mind that we spent a lot of time singing praise to Jesus. They commented on how they enjoyed seeing this part of America - it was very different than what they had thought America was like. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNu4Nac_oJ69N9hQ19Llalz0rb1WMnRqdA6-rN0dLb-eEsO7lLSXMn0y2AJcWttOGqK8Xu4XJVf5oNwh1dxiT5eq6npZDdJDL1JzIyVzg9aJa88N0Z2DQqKWF6_JkF6zmE71cGxkDPhiZlwS6KgE2LE90bwQ-LtyfwKJZ1vN7Jg8BDOj0XNaX-2ADOy6A5/s3264/IMG_2023-09-16-16-18-49-731.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNu4Nac_oJ69N9hQ19Llalz0rb1WMnRqdA6-rN0dLb-eEsO7lLSXMn0y2AJcWttOGqK8Xu4XJVf5oNwh1dxiT5eq6npZDdJDL1JzIyVzg9aJa88N0Z2DQqKWF6_JkF6zmE71cGxkDPhiZlwS6KgE2LE90bwQ-LtyfwKJZ1vN7Jg8BDOj0XNaX-2ADOy6A5/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-16-16-18-49-731.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Game playing is a fun part of Jackpine too.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVXjDirHRDCtx3H-YcSWW8R2SYhk-15nBMaCZerXGfYOVLBMZwxYPpKffvdD395D6uUEj68ErU40EjQ8CXmdjvX4zTe4qPydUs6D73zPAD3cl9awipzn2tV0clekcNN4Ot_WAjnaCOftSFwRbtQft-fmb7PUyvE9M1H5xsuY10-nGmCE49UjCIi34EdTy/s3264/IMG_2023-09-16-17-06-08-518.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVXjDirHRDCtx3H-YcSWW8R2SYhk-15nBMaCZerXGfYOVLBMZwxYPpKffvdD395D6uUEj68ErU40EjQ8CXmdjvX4zTe4qPydUs6D73zPAD3cl9awipzn2tV0clekcNN4Ot_WAjnaCOftSFwRbtQft-fmb7PUyvE9M1H5xsuY10-nGmCE49UjCIi34EdTy/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-16-17-06-08-518.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiTwX5o66nxgj1rkRkwQ2gtn1TAB3pb-v2h8UfqfZbuecP_G9-ZVtdHtw1i-UUDvIksima4IA6WN14vg-zQHPQYHVzu41A47UTYtlGdlGPDjx1nES4HAHe_mgE1WQf7NJVeciJ71E1glvNRg2RVyrC9XMJ1aWOHNh8GsH4cO5K66oRm2q9am8l2xXxbKx/s3264/IMG_2023-09-16-17-05-26-366.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiTwX5o66nxgj1rkRkwQ2gtn1TAB3pb-v2h8UfqfZbuecP_G9-ZVtdHtw1i-UUDvIksima4IA6WN14vg-zQHPQYHVzu41A47UTYtlGdlGPDjx1nES4HAHe_mgE1WQf7NJVeciJ71E1glvNRg2RVyrC9XMJ1aWOHNh8GsH4cO5K66oRm2q9am8l2xXxbKx/w480-h640/IMG_2023-09-16-17-05-26-366.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>I was excited to meet Dj's new wife, Talia. Speaking of DJ (one of my boys longtime friends) one of my fun memories of Jackpine this year was seeing him with a bunch of boys in the 5-8 year old range walking around. I asked "What are you guys doing?" and I don't remember exactly how it was worded but they told me that they were just walking around and talking about God and the Bible and stuff. From conversations that I have had in the past with DJ I know that he follows God passionately and I just think it is so cool that he would take the time to walk and talk with a bunch of little boys and encourage them to follow God passionately too.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgm65QdR4NvHPK06Icx9LoHdfUmKmSCzokAyo0Hxj_N1HR5xnx_HFKXb6lgfkXmG6VAOnx8cuwcrszyPaydGjjSHkQE0UzCst49cJTaMltg9LP3mgcAtsk1qhuwb3u_VY2ppR_P7-MMHDQXJmxkl2XjDxY4mGOa2ys-9RPqTDtfCqldtNYrC7xltL60E4b/s3264/IMG_2023-09-16-17-00-42-837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgm65QdR4NvHPK06Icx9LoHdfUmKmSCzokAyo0Hxj_N1HR5xnx_HFKXb6lgfkXmG6VAOnx8cuwcrszyPaydGjjSHkQE0UzCst49cJTaMltg9LP3mgcAtsk1qhuwb3u_VY2ppR_P7-MMHDQXJmxkl2XjDxY4mGOa2ys-9RPqTDtfCqldtNYrC7xltL60E4b/w480-h640/IMG_2023-09-16-17-00-42-837.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>This boy loves Jackpine and the freedom to roam from camp to camp and have lots of friends to play with. And even though it is chilly, run barefoot if you so desire.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizD3ZVJh4FTD1FjstDTLg9b6UlbNHhDlP1tP0jp9F7F1FS9GbgpalTV6EFyYh4yHBZHT76rcM_KUOm2XntE1jFiPUohazkPCXcT6hWAZUVTp26JJ8t5tqhFtY7PE6ky51Rhclb7far4hSMj08gXbrHmGbXDeaXEvy_W_FLQmNqNtWHVPHUIfe9ZrJ_BROe/s3264/IMG_2023-09-16-17-37-09-809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizD3ZVJh4FTD1FjstDTLg9b6UlbNHhDlP1tP0jp9F7F1FS9GbgpalTV6EFyYh4yHBZHT76rcM_KUOm2XntE1jFiPUohazkPCXcT6hWAZUVTp26JJ8t5tqhFtY7PE6ky51Rhclb7far4hSMj08gXbrHmGbXDeaXEvy_W_FLQmNqNtWHVPHUIfe9ZrJ_BROe/w480-h640/IMG_2023-09-16-17-37-09-809.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Megan and Ewan.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RtoiKdpZb6uRZCetaxJoqZYTtq-UGVYOYj3YxhwK8U4BeMo__ipl7ccVacZbodcSAe-SSETDi9JzHCf_WjglLSsjRDwJ11lNYhU5vyCYzP07UqxvOefAAEhtJadtqSfeB6lxGSmSBRoCGA1wACzglLKYloPd-2AeMgFd8EPRgmZSUBXcC6BUNXguqPlN/s3264/IMG_2023-09-16-19-25-43-896.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RtoiKdpZb6uRZCetaxJoqZYTtq-UGVYOYj3YxhwK8U4BeMo__ipl7ccVacZbodcSAe-SSETDi9JzHCf_WjglLSsjRDwJ11lNYhU5vyCYzP07UqxvOefAAEhtJadtqSfeB6lxGSmSBRoCGA1wACzglLKYloPd-2AeMgFd8EPRgmZSUBXcC6BUNXguqPlN/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-16-19-25-43-896.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Aaron's girlfriend, Harper, drove up all the way from college in Nebraska to come. I enjoyed getting to know her a little better. Travis asked her and Aaron to sing a special and they sounded beautiful together.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaR2TTaYwGqSGvbNIvq6N6rdLXbmId-3pYm-6vwA6yeD4Zu8q-sDGfMVEel4tVFjEdQ4nnGpp0xoc_Jvd8wOKrGthymvtRPTBQ42UJSbpwF5WmwCGXnDoj4AbVENxy5mjl_E8JZR5NXDf5LEShY6nMc6mUXgl89382IqAS5oQ7tVYOMPguTxd6-V65iotl/s3264/IMG_2023-09-17-08-08-00-288.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaR2TTaYwGqSGvbNIvq6N6rdLXbmId-3pYm-6vwA6yeD4Zu8q-sDGfMVEel4tVFjEdQ4nnGpp0xoc_Jvd8wOKrGthymvtRPTBQ42UJSbpwF5WmwCGXnDoj4AbVENxy5mjl_E8JZR5NXDf5LEShY6nMc6mUXgl89382IqAS5oQ7tVYOMPguTxd6-V65iotl/w480-h640/IMG_2023-09-17-08-08-00-288.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Ewan and I. Ewan is wearing a hat made by his mom and a sweater that I made for Malcolm but that fit Ewan for Jackpine this year. I look like I didn't get enough sleep and that is true. Saturday night was a pretty chilly one. I think many of us didn't sleep the best.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE54VS_akgMnk1aLI_xb_QJ3T4wYoP54_RVNh_07Vay0rFYm2C1BJ2C2kMp5eisku8ONOcPl4bDBcbRtsEbvz9i_DFv3O5ylBxe2qzKlrt-L2wYo7M0j4eyf3QDQVFpIq63e7sTk0A10kKp70Pfn3YP3QSrfK-fjDxDZypgv12MTmNXNSJ46peSLVaszgY/s3264/IMG_2023-09-17-10-05-11-520.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE54VS_akgMnk1aLI_xb_QJ3T4wYoP54_RVNh_07Vay0rFYm2C1BJ2C2kMp5eisku8ONOcPl4bDBcbRtsEbvz9i_DFv3O5ylBxe2qzKlrt-L2wYo7M0j4eyf3QDQVFpIq63e7sTk0A10kKp70Pfn3YP3QSrfK-fjDxDZypgv12MTmNXNSJ46peSLVaszgY/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-17-10-05-11-520.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Travis amused me by not only holding Ewan all through leading songs but also doing the actions for at least a couple of songs. I don't think I know anybody else that loves babies quite as much as Travis. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuV0dIQzWRGePJil28yUrxp65Bdm9U2PJKxVGy2dIiIBaikA68k8df4IsMsudO0CyoaUEvHlnw4Ve_FOZrmwH2yYhYC6GSKEOpmmDdcQwsT6FsrvKNgaTlw1eXLR1OFEfQSkBhc-FFbTti02m8R8XGzfQWuK0lctfstp6TOwWb-XENZS0UV3XyamNaX5HS/s3264/IMG_2023-09-17-10-32-16-830.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuV0dIQzWRGePJil28yUrxp65Bdm9U2PJKxVGy2dIiIBaikA68k8df4IsMsudO0CyoaUEvHlnw4Ve_FOZrmwH2yYhYC6GSKEOpmmDdcQwsT6FsrvKNgaTlw1eXLR1OFEfQSkBhc-FFbTti02m8R8XGzfQWuK0lctfstp6TOwWb-XENZS0UV3XyamNaX5HS/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-17-10-32-16-830.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Billy Wallace shared the messages and they were encouraging and had a lot of food for thought.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQ8hE4PF1kwBZLdl2QZFZXwj_fMaP_U20v42a660FekK3PrmFAuNkLVL0BRFyM8KBrp_1VsZ8I5zdW8bFDObZsaI2YKh9dWS_kq6Z85alPlrdNHUzZiBQRCmqSPVshoQsk15nkW-Wkf73GlWkQ0yiPDflB539K-6rHWG_1sI_b0vXpfF_Ogb5T6fZDE9E/s3264/IMG_2023-09-17-10-05-25-251.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQ8hE4PF1kwBZLdl2QZFZXwj_fMaP_U20v42a660FekK3PrmFAuNkLVL0BRFyM8KBrp_1VsZ8I5zdW8bFDObZsaI2YKh9dWS_kq6Z85alPlrdNHUzZiBQRCmqSPVshoQsk15nkW-Wkf73GlWkQ0yiPDflB539K-6rHWG_1sI_b0vXpfF_Ogb5T6fZDE9E/w400-h300/IMG_2023-09-17-10-05-25-251.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Church is generally held around a big campfire. The younger ones are usually closer to the middle. :-) In all my years of going I don't know of any bad burns that have happened. </div><div><br /></div><div> A couple more memories of Jackpine this year that stood out to me were on Saturday night my niece Margaret and I were looking at the stars with the international students. We could see the milky way so well and it was incredibly beautiful. First just a few of us went out to the field where we could see them really well and then when the others found out all of the students wanted to go. We enjoyed the wonder of God's creation so much. Katy (from Panama) came to me and shared that see the stars like that really reminded her of the grace of God. I so agree! Every day He gives us countless gifts for us to enjoy and some of them, like the stars, are incredibly gorgeous. We just need to wake up and start noticing this grace that He pours out on us day after day.</div><div><br /></div><div> While up on the field there was a group of teenagers (primarily boys) sitting around a campfire. They were visiting a little but mostly they were singing. Angela (from Columbia - and she was actually a visiting professor, not a student- who said she wasn't religious) came and asked me if they were singing about Jesus. Why yes they are. She thought is was very neat. We never know who is watching and just how we might be able to plant a seed or share about Jesus. </div><div><br /></div><div> Jackpine Retreat 2023 is over but many good memories remain. I'm looking forward to next year.<br /> <p></p></div>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-55946238437179258572023-10-07T22:44:00.000-05:002023-10-07T22:44:07.465-05:00Beautiful and Fun Things to See in Ireland<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have been a little unsure of how to truly go about sharing our pictures and about our time in Ireland. There is just so much to cover. This post is picture heavy with some of the fun and beautiful places we saw.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the first day on our trip from the Airport in Dublin to our AirBnB in Oughterard we did a little extra side trip to see Dunsandle Castle. I had read about in online and was very intrigued because this was owned by the Burke Family and I had read a book series that was set in County Galway (By Brock and Bodie Theone) and the main characters were the Burke family. So though the book was historical fiction it was based on a lot of truth and it was super fun to to visit this castle and imagine how things would have been nearly 200 years ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAC69G9v9Sp-7G-44WwdS0tZHi5S6-8GCacp5CBqOCpVtZOIubNqEiUAzaZPNQvMz0LC9NrIJLKUMwxB9yHh0OsJfmOLN6LP_VyCZ0nW0e4Pf6LNS3xBbmaufsTfF6dxlhgXxYoofHu5ASwOVKhVkDVSkJtzfyR8zIVDEp81ckpkL2j0EuAD3tdczkIq7T/s3264/20230408_110427.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAC69G9v9Sp-7G-44WwdS0tZHi5S6-8GCacp5CBqOCpVtZOIubNqEiUAzaZPNQvMz0LC9NrIJLKUMwxB9yHh0OsJfmOLN6LP_VyCZ0nW0e4Pf6LNS3xBbmaufsTfF6dxlhgXxYoofHu5ASwOVKhVkDVSkJtzfyR8zIVDEp81ckpkL2j0EuAD3tdczkIq7T/s3264/20230408_110427.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_-JSX_7Ctl9y2nVLr2Bbyc0taxEjlIKPz7AnCiWQKISbiSCQ-jj0GpO9wvxzPy5VMjHm1ZXhABC_5GmiBqr-BHB7CxxVNH7u7O9NJYg5pqn68z0rqFJmSKrS5KoKSHgeHkF20ftZFilZbopmdndovXXUiDuQ1iV72Uxgywf6AGSIUhfhTyw_X_S-k9D0/s3264/20230408_110820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_-JSX_7Ctl9y2nVLr2Bbyc0taxEjlIKPz7AnCiWQKISbiSCQ-jj0GpO9wvxzPy5VMjHm1ZXhABC_5GmiBqr-BHB7CxxVNH7u7O9NJYg5pqn68z0rqFJmSKrS5KoKSHgeHkF20ftZFilZbopmdndovXXUiDuQ1iV72Uxgywf6AGSIUhfhTyw_X_S-k9D0/w480-h640/20230408_110820.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAC69G9v9Sp-7G-44WwdS0tZHi5S6-8GCacp5CBqOCpVtZOIubNqEiUAzaZPNQvMz0LC9NrIJLKUMwxB9yHh0OsJfmOLN6LP_VyCZ0nW0e4Pf6LNS3xBbmaufsTfF6dxlhgXxYoofHu5ASwOVKhVkDVSkJtzfyR8zIVDEp81ckpkL2j0EuAD3tdczkIq7T/w400-h300/20230408_110427.jpg" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIf9fQEMT1UK0mCt81JHMFDQHZ5ey75Qb9O47sY7kYmjHEN2r3J1qMOHgAMUZPdgHgKRrIf-meKItdnfcW0cID4_5DWkY5CYb3TnYb5XcHlCHAssyK6ywwqLkdBNtCve9jsthMFIz0UlCHaOshBon9O7uoLxhTpW8Nx4zrXZU8k5lExm_g7uSy1fg6L_bf/s3264/20230408_110502.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIf9fQEMT1UK0mCt81JHMFDQHZ5ey75Qb9O47sY7kYmjHEN2r3J1qMOHgAMUZPdgHgKRrIf-meKItdnfcW0cID4_5DWkY5CYb3TnYb5XcHlCHAssyK6ywwqLkdBNtCve9jsthMFIz0UlCHaOshBon9O7uoLxhTpW8Nx4zrXZU8k5lExm_g7uSy1fg6L_bf/w480-h640/20230408_110502.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbJTxP2-ovgc_-l3Yh24oDdVzDqRkw4M7bqj0bTDl2H20mqCUvUiK56hkeqqeM2YZgpfFP_8a9ouW-Xww854Meu9cZHV-K2fkr4f7-R1xdEmLunHJ7tYFsGjBnMSB1mbSvGbr8Wz7PSGbLj6Hvc5E3hH34_RW2bTnMxIvC4Y1-2ES-PHecho3Fc4bSici/s3264/20230408_111718.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbJTxP2-ovgc_-l3Yh24oDdVzDqRkw4M7bqj0bTDl2H20mqCUvUiK56hkeqqeM2YZgpfFP_8a9ouW-Xww854Meu9cZHV-K2fkr4f7-R1xdEmLunHJ7tYFsGjBnMSB1mbSvGbr8Wz7PSGbLj6Hvc5E3hH34_RW2bTnMxIvC4Y1-2ES-PHecho3Fc4bSici/w480-h640/20230408_111718.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY50FnwtGjLrFNOHOLyguuOim89Ep5iHIR9IfHYOcAqjnJm-6hFMguGqXbxv6KNTDcGJkVKmkezW9fdk8IJNaBKQ0vzHYGB4i_mXtzXHfG2zFmHUPAE6U086UKyNUjUSXHJ6g6oUvS5J1D-ic2UFyogr7CJhL1BKLpT2E_oQmcX68umrvpgTdeNumVEOhD/s3264/20230408_111857.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY50FnwtGjLrFNOHOLyguuOim89Ep5iHIR9IfHYOcAqjnJm-6hFMguGqXbxv6KNTDcGJkVKmkezW9fdk8IJNaBKQ0vzHYGB4i_mXtzXHfG2zFmHUPAE6U086UKyNUjUSXHJ6g6oUvS5J1D-ic2UFyogr7CJhL1BKLpT2E_oQmcX68umrvpgTdeNumVEOhD/w400-h300/20230408_111857.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_-uGd1zxGp6OndCdSHa5wTdW2elN_8XOWkvibCTlUaD2Ufc5AS3K5ALQSxSHInex_iDzFenVwnwpj5bTD2syIgOgt2gd1PaxzwA6aFOnKqG2RvL7r2L7CiT5KQ8LJgwmVy82cJ6IMXaSTcCcN8bd5QY5pMBH_CLdpeGS_-h7kn3OSZh471NQOpH2yCNN/s3264/20230408_111920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_-uGd1zxGp6OndCdSHa5wTdW2elN_8XOWkvibCTlUaD2Ufc5AS3K5ALQSxSHInex_iDzFenVwnwpj5bTD2syIgOgt2gd1PaxzwA6aFOnKqG2RvL7r2L7CiT5KQ8LJgwmVy82cJ6IMXaSTcCcN8bd5QY5pMBH_CLdpeGS_-h7kn3OSZh471NQOpH2yCNN/w480-h640/20230408_111920.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38u_I9z7LTdwTYSqlD0gMkD2_ZHzMZQ13WsdEVB3HoAo8iT7_-7b1nmQxNTQl1frQV_TVltUJ02deLM8SxtE4bWqACIq2KckkYe0VY8v5cqdiSv9vmml5SByW2JdB_zN9rkKmrXwqXkHvOjW7qVx1k8Fg74_e2wADNBZKUVv0XswIAij25KyVz5Gu0Klx/s3264/20230408_111841.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38u_I9z7LTdwTYSqlD0gMkD2_ZHzMZQ13WsdEVB3HoAo8iT7_-7b1nmQxNTQl1frQV_TVltUJ02deLM8SxtE4bWqACIq2KckkYe0VY8v5cqdiSv9vmml5SByW2JdB_zN9rkKmrXwqXkHvOjW7qVx1k8Fg74_e2wADNBZKUVv0XswIAij25KyVz5Gu0Klx/w300-h400/20230408_111841.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhvys_92aqB4QRbjK8WmqxlmsISaqXsBnX6SqM1JgcwHOGConCJCXHNHRt3DGkM8Es97T9PK5xtn0axpeRnIbAOGLvB2AxnytEFP_fnfw8WHKRmBPH6_7J92PtZXZskmqtrrln12r_nwwQCB13oX1KQ_cwoc32IOD5Z-9X88ankL7FcTivkP7kMItY4d_/s3264/20230408_111633.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhvys_92aqB4QRbjK8WmqxlmsISaqXsBnX6SqM1JgcwHOGConCJCXHNHRt3DGkM8Es97T9PK5xtn0axpeRnIbAOGLvB2AxnytEFP_fnfw8WHKRmBPH6_7J92PtZXZskmqtrrln12r_nwwQCB13oX1KQ_cwoc32IOD5Z-9X88ankL7FcTivkP7kMItY4d_/w480-h640/20230408_111633.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>We were very blessed to be able to hang out at the Tuttles (the missionary family) home many times while we were there. It is a beautiful home on the banks of the Owenriff River in Oughterard. They are renting it and are very thankful to have found that home as it is very hard to find places to live there. The photo below is from one of their balconies. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HkjRZ4TMW_au-j4sg0rGf6SefFsGzi_mZhBP_KMbd1d08TgGuUvT3GtA89zKySNcEzA4v5SrbXCvXotxdT0cj91C4GTPaN4GOYKzox6gNrRonuIaeOeHLm5pQJZhbcMQxpyKGA6fw41MHk-avir7mGVMNmggswAphYp2R_9_hIszb0coXT9-jPdNAQ9L/s3264/20230409_113033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HkjRZ4TMW_au-j4sg0rGf6SefFsGzi_mZhBP_KMbd1d08TgGuUvT3GtA89zKySNcEzA4v5SrbXCvXotxdT0cj91C4GTPaN4GOYKzox6gNrRonuIaeOeHLm5pQJZhbcMQxpyKGA6fw41MHk-avir7mGVMNmggswAphYp2R_9_hIszb0coXT9-jPdNAQ9L/w400-h300/20230409_113033.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7rAXIEPrAz3LECZCcQVhQliwmUqzFEtv9dnJBr2I2Km3gox7BiQUUD84YO3KWgao5E8Ejs6zjG0i9LIKdQHMclV_86r1gRDcrOUxWab_2qhg3o08KOFQz36m02efQ74_1et3PP5C3sifInGQJmUMSyEBBR9cQiNKwM2fBo5Q9JwYp_j8hUTjPIuKHzBt/s3264/20230409_133733.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7rAXIEPrAz3LECZCcQVhQliwmUqzFEtv9dnJBr2I2Km3gox7BiQUUD84YO3KWgao5E8Ejs6zjG0i9LIKdQHMclV_86r1gRDcrOUxWab_2qhg3o08KOFQz36m02efQ74_1et3PP5C3sifInGQJmUMSyEBBR9cQiNKwM2fBo5Q9JwYp_j8hUTjPIuKHzBt/w400-h300/20230409_133733.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Mara and Malcolm walking near the Tuttle's.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYsw2Tu0QDzNl9Pe18--HnJxso1Ezu6hi-xO2heK9DAW3tg6vJ47rsDy0ru77IgvIZ5Sd2aD-v9rNcrX-xnQXgWIOo15lDXWAm0s4Jv8VgB_t-J6OXO4BUyCxQHMQJ3nYCRK-7a65pyYYSDJe1yneBQKzAiur3Rfdf3PuuB1uorYpKED5r75IpaGDRmZz/s3264/20230409_134327.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYsw2Tu0QDzNl9Pe18--HnJxso1Ezu6hi-xO2heK9DAW3tg6vJ47rsDy0ru77IgvIZ5Sd2aD-v9rNcrX-xnQXgWIOo15lDXWAm0s4Jv8VgB_t-J6OXO4BUyCxQHMQJ3nYCRK-7a65pyYYSDJe1yneBQKzAiur3Rfdf3PuuB1uorYpKED5r75IpaGDRmZz/w400-h300/20230409_134327.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>A bunch of us actually went out on a walk in their neighborhood. We crossed over the river on a little footbridge and then came back on a bridge that cars drive on as well.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfBWsQmPEcCfY_TkZK3K49PzK8mjcjB7kmsD9plqVEvil6t7kQOy0Ak3-Xy0f0C7zuH2uqo-XhX7H-CeqoeOD08qTLJ-4HAtJklU5WX1zyR5lkSi14QJGP7Xi6d1u9yu9cOKw8duRlBaulNGzBmNQlpCGQ4Cmi0vaEZ9qepJUHN00frEQQKkQBPHZmXp5/s3264/20230409_134323.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfBWsQmPEcCfY_TkZK3K49PzK8mjcjB7kmsD9plqVEvil6t7kQOy0Ak3-Xy0f0C7zuH2uqo-XhX7H-CeqoeOD08qTLJ-4HAtJklU5WX1zyR5lkSi14QJGP7Xi6d1u9yu9cOKw8duRlBaulNGzBmNQlpCGQ4Cmi0vaEZ9qepJUHN00frEQQKkQBPHZmXp5/w480-h640/20230409_134323.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPG27DfT8NDROSntSc3d7Jtv5G_MSG5uv0vZBzFrS0pKXT5nOvNeI5mYr_ZLPIfUrtRPnZ0qa9YAMI0O3niQaHLstc4jd4CHqoM2s93DTzNjhir8A62rbDQtL2HMkeWg-BIW3Nxkc98aetbs3fj1qfyW6SdHXTGosIQuY9w41cnSPuMzoAt9ZO6SkDGh2/s3264/20230409_134315.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPG27DfT8NDROSntSc3d7Jtv5G_MSG5uv0vZBzFrS0pKXT5nOvNeI5mYr_ZLPIfUrtRPnZ0qa9YAMI0O3niQaHLstc4jd4CHqoM2s93DTzNjhir8A62rbDQtL2HMkeWg-BIW3Nxkc98aetbs3fj1qfyW6SdHXTGosIQuY9w41cnSPuMzoAt9ZO6SkDGh2/w480-h640/20230409_134315.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadGROlyO9AFwQ_QDJ1wQiAVTP2xk_JYLQ1QK_IQrZIGsXQ9txPkbzml8ZhBHpysuvctcWWBSvu0svOHguZ-b_-UC8sdWhoV_ALKj__xWq6lQMjt9EQ_Ajhb1CE51ISd-_1uXpZmuVyqlD1uQcp5S0d_T0ka5Dkcr-q-DD58XJrbkm72IZ8vH3j9h9OxMQ/s3264/20230409_134229.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadGROlyO9AFwQ_QDJ1wQiAVTP2xk_JYLQ1QK_IQrZIGsXQ9txPkbzml8ZhBHpysuvctcWWBSvu0svOHguZ-b_-UC8sdWhoV_ALKj__xWq6lQMjt9EQ_Ajhb1CE51ISd-_1uXpZmuVyqlD1uQcp5S0d_T0ka5Dkcr-q-DD58XJrbkm72IZ8vH3j9h9OxMQ/w400-h300/20230409_134229.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NALdFmaeOtqsvv8wskvL4lPEbWSn38w3sYlBUdAKGCD1UGPHLR__f5uGz_qTa7N2BjnPAnp0GX_SusJRXNJfItucQyotdX0JRS4G4F34UKyoJpDFADGyVL06s-bvJ9hM5pb4Mn9cJ-XjOE3JZWuNKGmWtsPRfMUAfO8C-TwH4FwTSr7F-AJcs7CcoVM-/s3264/20230409_134425.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NALdFmaeOtqsvv8wskvL4lPEbWSn38w3sYlBUdAKGCD1UGPHLR__f5uGz_qTa7N2BjnPAnp0GX_SusJRXNJfItucQyotdX0JRS4G4F34UKyoJpDFADGyVL06s-bvJ9hM5pb4Mn9cJ-XjOE3JZWuNKGmWtsPRfMUAfO8C-TwH4FwTSr7F-AJcs7CcoVM-/w480-h640/20230409_134425.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYTsJ62dYB5uZDyTxFUBYntItlVKAr10gUxzemrCcmmKHaISEibkWAfIrepZk3z2sN0rvTUps96JadL-qJWRzYDzr_0a6rkosDVEl8JKMI7tz8kj-bvIFV28m0pokYzYaRzLxDgr8ncGV5Vxsrem4TrIxVi4OPD_k9kzK8Gr9u6fUBF-lKnfdf0kNcpNw/s3264/20230409_135340.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYTsJ62dYB5uZDyTxFUBYntItlVKAr10gUxzemrCcmmKHaISEibkWAfIrepZk3z2sN0rvTUps96JadL-qJWRzYDzr_0a6rkosDVEl8JKMI7tz8kj-bvIFV28m0pokYzYaRzLxDgr8ncGV5Vxsrem4TrIxVi4OPD_k9kzK8Gr9u6fUBF-lKnfdf0kNcpNw/w400-h300/20230409_135340.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPB8HAvc1vzz7voIa9g9g0-Q39J7h7GZDN-XvL7t0-v3TR3Chtv_aDq4BQawHxRMu4uOqB9sUFntwpnp-BMGTN_4nF-kcEpPAdHKvYnFmFvlKxsi2LyBk7Mgq1imjsKXfBWZ97kIMb1VXbMDcdSddwn4sBvmmUa1ioZZf8esS5N3cEpFuPMeAsfWcDkAty/s3264/20230409_134528.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPB8HAvc1vzz7voIa9g9g0-Q39J7h7GZDN-XvL7t0-v3TR3Chtv_aDq4BQawHxRMu4uOqB9sUFntwpnp-BMGTN_4nF-kcEpPAdHKvYnFmFvlKxsi2LyBk7Mgq1imjsKXfBWZ97kIMb1VXbMDcdSddwn4sBvmmUa1ioZZf8esS5N3cEpFuPMeAsfWcDkAty/w480-h640/20230409_134528.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BHSmZmLLdIDXUg4nrf6ovcCaeG9hJ4Pi5u8SFsDuYoN0ViwKCK949R3JQ1TaRcOPJfYu_snjhxV5J8zHcs_XVUb-obAjUZQ-fEM44LNX65cZIAZK7gZVgxe_n1iD8jSPNarGvmFvwhnuLcvqqwuL8p0jr_mdOoVxp9lOfp61ou-xcFKoqOVNT0pdCNW8/s3264/20230409_135328.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BHSmZmLLdIDXUg4nrf6ovcCaeG9hJ4Pi5u8SFsDuYoN0ViwKCK949R3JQ1TaRcOPJfYu_snjhxV5J8zHcs_XVUb-obAjUZQ-fEM44LNX65cZIAZK7gZVgxe_n1iD8jSPNarGvmFvwhnuLcvqqwuL8p0jr_mdOoVxp9lOfp61ou-xcFKoqOVNT0pdCNW8/w400-h300/20230409_135328.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This bridge is in a little park that we stopped at on our walk. It actually is directly across the river from their house.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnml_8zA2yL_c1tkvU32Zpjx7etvOxRIRuoPrR5u4FNk1sLHLCAXjyMDh-1Bzf5MX2XhbuaZ5s-juqPeL5Do7GAVpFKNVDOHaVPHpEzJY5Ti5_B8ddu_jqC0hs3vjOcqlZwAITqnfko1Tj60K3jglLPWvu3vQrvlN8TdYVkho5SUZJj5GqcuuZcKtr5b8/s3264/20230409_135520.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnml_8zA2yL_c1tkvU32Zpjx7etvOxRIRuoPrR5u4FNk1sLHLCAXjyMDh-1Bzf5MX2XhbuaZ5s-juqPeL5Do7GAVpFKNVDOHaVPHpEzJY5Ti5_B8ddu_jqC0hs3vjOcqlZwAITqnfko1Tj60K3jglLPWvu3vQrvlN8TdYVkho5SUZJj5GqcuuZcKtr5b8/w400-h300/20230409_135520.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div>Their home, up on the hillside.<br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1htEPhifI0Qfh-eTF4MzFViu3RHLoV9wc1w7YOGbAcfVaFS5z1W5Zyw6rw3AaNWl7FuW3PQ8k3lgkzJWYZfKUvlGeDz0KSs_sK-y5MJrt_UAcKNYn512lenXemVFrUKOS2D7kp8PN_oxf9CxtMx4BGwSidFXEPhxLHtB4n_s_n8vgDOBQZ4G5AWOy94T/s3264/20230409_135530.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1htEPhifI0Qfh-eTF4MzFViu3RHLoV9wc1w7YOGbAcfVaFS5z1W5Zyw6rw3AaNWl7FuW3PQ8k3lgkzJWYZfKUvlGeDz0KSs_sK-y5MJrt_UAcKNYn512lenXemVFrUKOS2D7kp8PN_oxf9CxtMx4BGwSidFXEPhxLHtB4n_s_n8vgDOBQZ4G5AWOy94T/w480-h640/20230409_135530.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUDCuH2Eq7dxN070uvx3SefxEcQWeqWdRXZuNTJTu5RCXo_EIafLXjHro2xv27tesZLctwYZPaZfdGDdrc2t-zImUvFPxwm9EMYpK2PBFe0-t5-aGvuTA6RuRQiPyGzHJtJjOrs8PlqdleSYohdYYEMv2Zq19vFoqmTScTZyDCO3d8plzwbKXd2csH_9_/s3264/20230409_140327.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUDCuH2Eq7dxN070uvx3SefxEcQWeqWdRXZuNTJTu5RCXo_EIafLXjHro2xv27tesZLctwYZPaZfdGDdrc2t-zImUvFPxwm9EMYpK2PBFe0-t5-aGvuTA6RuRQiPyGzHJtJjOrs8PlqdleSYohdYYEMv2Zq19vFoqmTScTZyDCO3d8plzwbKXd2csH_9_/w400-h300/20230409_140327.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The bridge we drove on every time we came into Oughterard from our AirBnB.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwS9tbVkKuwNXXOWfoYgAd7qWg4_jRMCqKpoMfngg-jVb_ETDjb9yeOd0CNI24Y6izXDSq8SqRAJqipIyYoyMnr4dYZqHg8HL5mNnch9WRmydQQnPAsp_m9x0eSOkCSJl1iy_AJ5R5Bp1FIJjNPYNXilpTzqcfnK05Z1hMOwlZndSq9HOg3jGWmegzKmc/s3264/20230409_141304.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwS9tbVkKuwNXXOWfoYgAd7qWg4_jRMCqKpoMfngg-jVb_ETDjb9yeOd0CNI24Y6izXDSq8SqRAJqipIyYoyMnr4dYZqHg8HL5mNnch9WRmydQQnPAsp_m9x0eSOkCSJl1iy_AJ5R5Bp1FIJjNPYNXilpTzqcfnK05Z1hMOwlZndSq9HOg3jGWmegzKmc/w480-h640/20230409_141304.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div>A cool place behind the Catholic church building.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAcinQDN5HiSVJ6RFGJmlbyViSegg8kWFz32OviRqJ9zwybBqAuhjvxAxD8ekza1ohm3dnTNVWmOVEXsUZED2_Pbd0ZtDbvfsoeoamkJR7qO9Uhaz3y3jHN3d9a3VafwfSWhovCRdFbIWTjWD_jlej0TnFDkMPnBwLIZ7kHU_SbylfGaM5UhK7XvvYV9E/s3264/20230409_142307.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAcinQDN5HiSVJ6RFGJmlbyViSegg8kWFz32OviRqJ9zwybBqAuhjvxAxD8ekza1ohm3dnTNVWmOVEXsUZED2_Pbd0ZtDbvfsoeoamkJR7qO9Uhaz3y3jHN3d9a3VafwfSWhovCRdFbIWTjWD_jlej0TnFDkMPnBwLIZ7kHU_SbylfGaM5UhK7XvvYV9E/w480-h640/20230409_142307.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Mara and Jess out behind their house.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV02CEXii5C7dCfGQNJ74f74BoApv8uskCKcFQmSCslQImzuQ7NJrV_80KssUN_qnxiO5RRqVze1kqECWSzXrAxGibGQSc2dsuXIxWWgXuiqgzbPNsM_kuvcWyLaiIES5pkeVQeGidm5NxvzmEdPSci_QlVU6I2YqqS-EmT7-Wi7cGfHWwkqYIj13kebu7/s3264/20230409_141336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV02CEXii5C7dCfGQNJ74f74BoApv8uskCKcFQmSCslQImzuQ7NJrV_80KssUN_qnxiO5RRqVze1kqECWSzXrAxGibGQSc2dsuXIxWWgXuiqgzbPNsM_kuvcWyLaiIES5pkeVQeGidm5NxvzmEdPSci_QlVU6I2YqqS-EmT7-Wi7cGfHWwkqYIj13kebu7/s320/20230409_141336.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Primroses grew wild. So pretty!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodDhzuY537G7MszaeYiIp8t8NCbicmCBISzWn_SHAadfeRthdmC5QT1A9Ii5JCscXyvjQ3w9dWiV7w_2sMWz7k4fxhw6k2aYujlGNVMnbr_QBJdJAKF8QnXtG8iUATlonXqCV2Kg3-AX-Ymb3IBsaMyORMTKqF4VXdy4R3o3VfhZLQXZjuMy27U_fuKFV/s3264/20230409_142313.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodDhzuY537G7MszaeYiIp8t8NCbicmCBISzWn_SHAadfeRthdmC5QT1A9Ii5JCscXyvjQ3w9dWiV7w_2sMWz7k4fxhw6k2aYujlGNVMnbr_QBJdJAKF8QnXtG8iUATlonXqCV2Kg3-AX-Ymb3IBsaMyORMTKqF4VXdy4R3o3VfhZLQXZjuMy27U_fuKFV/w480-h640/20230409_142313.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Thomas in their backyard.<br />We went on a hike to see Galway Wind Park and the views that we could get up on the hills.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaWPwvoJpBco8hLKXFtDV6B3gPEg8sGDMBbLEKdZV-usH05Je4F0ref4Irb55zz1sM771g_08UKmb0-A5XAVa1CSXZpyXoWsqgpRpIRIvyXUysaj_bnAWJh6PYHmAfIbFlubqKprZ9_b07Y2MBirdsW5nFbO7-4tiCPXoO3YFpRBYWtCarGtuG_WrLPVV/s3264/20230410_075259.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaWPwvoJpBco8hLKXFtDV6B3gPEg8sGDMBbLEKdZV-usH05Je4F0ref4Irb55zz1sM771g_08UKmb0-A5XAVa1CSXZpyXoWsqgpRpIRIvyXUysaj_bnAWJh6PYHmAfIbFlubqKprZ9_b07Y2MBirdsW5nFbO7-4tiCPXoO3YFpRBYWtCarGtuG_WrLPVV/w400-h300/20230410_075259.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKo8qMzngGXFu3FTXpSVpBmAqptdFYuecEP27Nh--NVKJR8AMOIO6UnS99JSsxKK5Yn2Y-3tdMaFcGlBuBaWDuAIh781O_rGrZnlsG0lT1nooDlC8bc3XySOtt3Eon24q4IV2S-PC8q7-p0tj04d5SlklJaLwdKIt7KKUrIYRuQN0zBoovYuNMdQeZPIfx/s3264/20230410_074625.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKo8qMzngGXFu3FTXpSVpBmAqptdFYuecEP27Nh--NVKJR8AMOIO6UnS99JSsxKK5Yn2Y-3tdMaFcGlBuBaWDuAIh781O_rGrZnlsG0lT1nooDlC8bc3XySOtt3Eon24q4IV2S-PC8q7-p0tj04d5SlklJaLwdKIt7KKUrIYRuQN0zBoovYuNMdQeZPIfx/w480-h640/20230410_074625.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div>The forest was so cool and super soft with moss.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AMSZk7svxp_BNyTUEhz_3YNYVpnTqvzpCQsY1Q3XVibMl3L_gMSEdhQUbT-yxetEQ83_eEAJUQksWaC4RoGx2u1jDc6pWJdiPvqdP3weSuIAmzTEuacfwwVBiw4dGBzjiwbxcyY-l_zykL4oljUeg48zdk5SrCERCdHAMBJcZgHEZ9kCwQg370hySqPJ/s3264/20230410_080608.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AMSZk7svxp_BNyTUEhz_3YNYVpnTqvzpCQsY1Q3XVibMl3L_gMSEdhQUbT-yxetEQ83_eEAJUQksWaC4RoGx2u1jDc6pWJdiPvqdP3weSuIAmzTEuacfwwVBiw4dGBzjiwbxcyY-l_zykL4oljUeg48zdk5SrCERCdHAMBJcZgHEZ9kCwQg370hySqPJ/w400-h300/20230410_080608.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The view (and us) from up top.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YRJDlls12C7bqsU7KREyarBKK8hMJ5nqWf-ed8Jx7CrGuoTQ6iDwCXwrBiyub2wGk5SrbAetlI3aCNQ2oU-8y_pcPoItsSx3aDcJq9o-saLhtmGcTuuNwkAUvn_-rJUOtn6_0ycRjKwBTIBR3l89ve82xROuNkEcnOIydMSvbmRQMm9irfHLvjGneaqy/s3264/20230410_080534.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YRJDlls12C7bqsU7KREyarBKK8hMJ5nqWf-ed8Jx7CrGuoTQ6iDwCXwrBiyub2wGk5SrbAetlI3aCNQ2oU-8y_pcPoItsSx3aDcJq9o-saLhtmGcTuuNwkAUvn_-rJUOtn6_0ycRjKwBTIBR3l89ve82xROuNkEcnOIydMSvbmRQMm9irfHLvjGneaqy/w400-h300/20230410_080534.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Jonathan and the wind farm.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-k2v7oMl0cODvdVARgxl4cJAV024iw8bw1bz4eW9_pxGc53_mA3u0vGezpm2iE_wZ5F9zGoUSash22I-zyaE2NTee-0Jzgkhl4h9UEgZvrT_zqFxr4KG6wPC9DdhqAjebiTSlaA-PO-KeKhvDiM6EBNQh3orGkgYDo-SSg2sNE6Zx_AQglcohtgallci/s3264/20230410_084822.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-k2v7oMl0cODvdVARgxl4cJAV024iw8bw1bz4eW9_pxGc53_mA3u0vGezpm2iE_wZ5F9zGoUSash22I-zyaE2NTee-0Jzgkhl4h9UEgZvrT_zqFxr4KG6wPC9DdhqAjebiTSlaA-PO-KeKhvDiM6EBNQh3orGkgYDo-SSg2sNE6Zx_AQglcohtgallci/w480-h640/20230410_084822.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>This was what a lot of the landscape looked like when we were there in April. Very rugged and rocky.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAS5heQqiVwsgqPJmSYTSjX5X5wKUtRT3OniD5zbu5rm5eJnp1wXMuf3X2iL2xanmGrYBTWwTjY3eC5k3k_QPg79S8L-cGsFIUhRYRCNFtug6wcu__WYU-C9cqURU6I-_Q2yMGAmkgN0Uh-Eh3WqL53wjO_d5_S0ITfFRQtl0LeT_N67bSVhM-IYaYEHIS/s3264/20230410_084834.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAS5heQqiVwsgqPJmSYTSjX5X5wKUtRT3OniD5zbu5rm5eJnp1wXMuf3X2iL2xanmGrYBTWwTjY3eC5k3k_QPg79S8L-cGsFIUhRYRCNFtug6wcu__WYU-C9cqURU6I-_Q2yMGAmkgN0Uh-Eh3WqL53wjO_d5_S0ITfFRQtl0LeT_N67bSVhM-IYaYEHIS/w400-h300/20230410_084834.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrSYe1c0NY-JWnLNdQloX6lO9IKVeSkvO1qS3LM30vNled65qzVK5nZxBfaRP_XXaIsKjsykfcaeqqaTdGjlB_I4H70O7H838RIuTAxcvpBhGICtoAO_Euh4SmpzBH2SS2tY_Plhioeo6qArowBX4YIBgOf4tfk9ELdfXzy0OGAnBr4vGGybgqRTyd-EC/s3264/20230410_085107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrSYe1c0NY-JWnLNdQloX6lO9IKVeSkvO1qS3LM30vNled65qzVK5nZxBfaRP_XXaIsKjsykfcaeqqaTdGjlB_I4H70O7H838RIuTAxcvpBhGICtoAO_Euh4SmpzBH2SS2tY_Plhioeo6qArowBX4YIBgOf4tfk9ELdfXzy0OGAnBr4vGGybgqRTyd-EC/w400-h300/20230410_085107.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PrHEgdufnrgfkwMI0934Qy2eH27RZo90lnJUZFAcxgOTgjc2b30KMA6e0mkGWfHtxkLItAye_Bjb3t45DzBtjhVSMV7A4T5xbIGpMOwu-LiHdDOcCFs8_3zPLNpYULcPX9u4mqJ4v5GC3z2VYtVfkvsUX9frf9dZ89VmgH-Uqo7DWXVsj0a0v_F4G51l/s3264/20230410_084907.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PrHEgdufnrgfkwMI0934Qy2eH27RZo90lnJUZFAcxgOTgjc2b30KMA6e0mkGWfHtxkLItAye_Bjb3t45DzBtjhVSMV7A4T5xbIGpMOwu-LiHdDOcCFs8_3zPLNpYULcPX9u4mqJ4v5GC3z2VYtVfkvsUX9frf9dZ89VmgH-Uqo7DWXVsj0a0v_F4G51l/w400-h300/20230410_084907.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOW5CzJaky7hbFBg6_OhO-DlfnXaBzg5X_goNPmQRDuFsxBmf6U8eL9aUN2B70qhdZLCbNg3tAHQCn2P2pGIvozEYfUtc-2uDsEr-Ec7PkrtHmD2_G6MMFXcuP6lzMLaZH7hoDIlpbNZ0a1DTpm3zGi9dqc7bHA7G8Hnqo3xXPLlHMyL0gNG7V4cw_WKE/s3264/20230410_085946.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOW5CzJaky7hbFBg6_OhO-DlfnXaBzg5X_goNPmQRDuFsxBmf6U8eL9aUN2B70qhdZLCbNg3tAHQCn2P2pGIvozEYfUtc-2uDsEr-Ec7PkrtHmD2_G6MMFXcuP6lzMLaZH7hoDIlpbNZ0a1DTpm3zGi9dqc7bHA7G8Hnqo3xXPLlHMyL0gNG7V4cw_WKE/w400-h300/20230410_085946.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMFmSvGiBqAfyw9_cXVVg6VkQmsK2GSQnhzKb_xommIIuDkvS95XZ77kXAfBSTCR9AJDI3T95pe9uQ2ZVSOXGHUuHTkTzOap0op4zzCk9hEk8vVFuA9G_CjPvYrS_1-0kSUorX2ALRI8Uc_LcFn-gXBwOdXrRM_ZsTYexyIEs8DqZt6VNchWbslvhejnW/s3264/20230410_085007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMFmSvGiBqAfyw9_cXVVg6VkQmsK2GSQnhzKb_xommIIuDkvS95XZ77kXAfBSTCR9AJDI3T95pe9uQ2ZVSOXGHUuHTkTzOap0op4zzCk9hEk8vVFuA9G_CjPvYrS_1-0kSUorX2ALRI8Uc_LcFn-gXBwOdXrRM_ZsTYexyIEs8DqZt6VNchWbslvhejnW/w480-h640/20230410_085007.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhgcN5-v1jNOpTFzjNuKhXTeCqf9IKVPO9_7KaTo7XKIha957vnRS25NUnntDfnjv7nkTOoNQLuzSzAYazZIBUIerLpYtPCakPuB6zs0aveffWIIJ6lHHIruchvdL5dsZ-EQnDngdraTbwErMDzNfvtOzIR3T4FQliekuFUFEQ6sISH1p-5eJw_-BvrBi/s3264/20230410_131609.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhgcN5-v1jNOpTFzjNuKhXTeCqf9IKVPO9_7KaTo7XKIha957vnRS25NUnntDfnjv7nkTOoNQLuzSzAYazZIBUIerLpYtPCakPuB6zs0aveffWIIJ6lHHIruchvdL5dsZ-EQnDngdraTbwErMDzNfvtOzIR3T4FQliekuFUFEQ6sISH1p-5eJw_-BvrBi/w480-h640/20230410_131609.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>We explored around Lough Corrib some one day. It was a very pretty lake. Super windy too.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpW9LGYoSlWWNciiRKeFB8LbJ4nl0qtK1OSfDMeQZYF0TMtUrljpMAZpx0b_YYIDfqHwbk3JZOKapdlC7D6bAd9C7uFI4j_i509dfZ2S6eJxktjWTNZqyq66BszCriFYeN5StropXE_w7qe6JJ0GBp4iS4GlR168NBAu2VFH1_V_sJzftDE2yyHyvYY2M/s3264/20230410_131636.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpW9LGYoSlWWNciiRKeFB8LbJ4nl0qtK1OSfDMeQZYF0TMtUrljpMAZpx0b_YYIDfqHwbk3JZOKapdlC7D6bAd9C7uFI4j_i509dfZ2S6eJxktjWTNZqyq66BszCriFYeN5StropXE_w7qe6JJ0GBp4iS4GlR168NBAu2VFH1_V_sJzftDE2yyHyvYY2M/w480-h640/20230410_131636.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8H86xDlWkq0XBB3thE9zgOE9jcI4J1xtAxYjC8Ex5ErgqWbBCQh4aWTWh7bK0xyKYOKGg4z3ftOvfODiGhA3zk3TuIG2eEiRZ73UQC_ArVXmKZG0FfElBaVZaPgTieSB8hsYKzSMAotVFLaqtL_ZezL00u3TjUqfh_KrRvYxGLzOa9pwnTpa6zdiA-4Ze/s3264/20230410_124335.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8H86xDlWkq0XBB3thE9zgOE9jcI4J1xtAxYjC8Ex5ErgqWbBCQh4aWTWh7bK0xyKYOKGg4z3ftOvfODiGhA3zk3TuIG2eEiRZ73UQC_ArVXmKZG0FfElBaVZaPgTieSB8hsYKzSMAotVFLaqtL_ZezL00u3TjUqfh_KrRvYxGLzOa9pwnTpa6zdiA-4Ze/w400-h300/20230410_124335.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1okjiBAIKNu51GI79Y-JjqKny7EmdoVYqXBS7LUN9UBWktKITtd9vJo1Sc3lbomxBCG8L5MJflhxedvMviY4Eq8kcqPDJkVm2YQD6DioDFil_HlL_wQFb1NLpZqGYByXwguAnJguiRt7rLQD_Fws3cL_ICvESyW2XJuXRBXlSjxY_pRP1Z8RAPezb0vtM/s3264/20230410_124229.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1okjiBAIKNu51GI79Y-JjqKny7EmdoVYqXBS7LUN9UBWktKITtd9vJo1Sc3lbomxBCG8L5MJflhxedvMviY4Eq8kcqPDJkVm2YQD6DioDFil_HlL_wQFb1NLpZqGYByXwguAnJguiRt7rLQD_Fws3cL_ICvESyW2XJuXRBXlSjxY_pRP1Z8RAPezb0vtM/w400-h300/20230410_124229.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxrVsWA5PvDXrUAFoASgYqmdsW1riHWNrxQTNjmDxHdFxeCRmaHIUgF6WWzbinRos9YjIVS5ewe9FiQPUiXQ1PZalI-6CEVg_1dMnYQZFGfoRuhXz5cr5R_e5k-YGmEVnreRGZYvIeLvpFFGhas68LC-ldNHhEF9mYaHn-ZhH_6f-M-z80_nnyo9Pyw_w/s3264/20230410_124225.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxrVsWA5PvDXrUAFoASgYqmdsW1riHWNrxQTNjmDxHdFxeCRmaHIUgF6WWzbinRos9YjIVS5ewe9FiQPUiXQ1PZalI-6CEVg_1dMnYQZFGfoRuhXz5cr5R_e5k-YGmEVnreRGZYvIeLvpFFGhas68LC-ldNHhEF9mYaHn-ZhH_6f-M-z80_nnyo9Pyw_w/w480-h640/20230410_124225.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFdwZcFMd9yoe1C2cUvke-o28wZoEyKrZP_Mqb3W0vxirHYziGMqg6sozDGXrJDDkzYvAyyVtBb3DKl5RtPKL-SKqIT8U9ikrYEz-3SDjUVITQpxepFgQlhZwexwTJbB0rwrCdRTxdjRdbiz31vl5ar5LXjvUe9iRXU7L2noP2fmuf-v0j-qmNOzBrICy/s3264/20230410_131526.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFdwZcFMd9yoe1C2cUvke-o28wZoEyKrZP_Mqb3W0vxirHYziGMqg6sozDGXrJDDkzYvAyyVtBb3DKl5RtPKL-SKqIT8U9ikrYEz-3SDjUVITQpxepFgQlhZwexwTJbB0rwrCdRTxdjRdbiz31vl5ar5LXjvUe9iRXU7L2noP2fmuf-v0j-qmNOzBrICy/w480-h640/20230410_131526.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Nick and Jess Tuttle<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pwlK1qGpfMhbLYRM2PiaSRotx9Qfjoydk27Xa4m7PTZSZNAS6trQRDv38JnuKaNborXPGEHElA_v2nsO_z-MtPydxJQq8VaMLqow3SJwQW2Csw3PJ67EG24_HUOHko6deZhRSGYDMwNLsfP0TqmivPiCicJa6NOW_5V3zGEIymV3bmvvxJpc4rlqU8WA/s3264/20230410_132837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pwlK1qGpfMhbLYRM2PiaSRotx9Qfjoydk27Xa4m7PTZSZNAS6trQRDv38JnuKaNborXPGEHElA_v2nsO_z-MtPydxJQq8VaMLqow3SJwQW2Csw3PJ67EG24_HUOHko6deZhRSGYDMwNLsfP0TqmivPiCicJa6NOW_5V3zGEIymV3bmvvxJpc4rlqU8WA/w400-h300/20230410_132837.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs1bG0vq6qTAeZxLA4Jwb_bHvsd9tI6ipXY2TyZaREAXYIaQOvnNRtL_81ciutAK12s18PSFkSyEF-WXtpRRmLWP-2jn-S8eE6Qob662kIN669Gkm8YTOJ-q6kEiUVeQRP1EJ3si2SPiNqeUpH5eziCLrkG4SogTFQxYntTgO2LGOqawWNlWedoCXt7uU/s3264/20230410_132905.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs1bG0vq6qTAeZxLA4Jwb_bHvsd9tI6ipXY2TyZaREAXYIaQOvnNRtL_81ciutAK12s18PSFkSyEF-WXtpRRmLWP-2jn-S8eE6Qob662kIN669Gkm8YTOJ-q6kEiUVeQRP1EJ3si2SPiNqeUpH5eziCLrkG4SogTFQxYntTgO2LGOqawWNlWedoCXt7uU/w400-h300/20230410_132905.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6A0dgwraU_ON2rtTQ71GYNVDpEPIxz9ENrNvuHARMQ_byXFpxwdhaXI39GlnJztfp0XtTMkYOV27oEsuALzbjbBoYZ7hsdIUm5TNpltTet6XsTXs7tFGlxR3zI6LptFFmYYSTCjIWkx_ExHWnD2WlDC6I6qmXMni2BDj_ijwvJjpErtvjxIsTpcgvGgf/s3264/20230411_080230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6A0dgwraU_ON2rtTQ71GYNVDpEPIxz9ENrNvuHARMQ_byXFpxwdhaXI39GlnJztfp0XtTMkYOV27oEsuALzbjbBoYZ7hsdIUm5TNpltTet6XsTXs7tFGlxR3zI6LptFFmYYSTCjIWkx_ExHWnD2WlDC6I6qmXMni2BDj_ijwvJjpErtvjxIsTpcgvGgf/w400-h300/20230411_080230.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The cemetery behind the Anglican Church in Oughterard was very pretty and interesting. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_YPk8vhj4Nr7KE7w6EgKsrNbzkZ5bgQ1LMJZHwNUWzDXDc5XHt-M0q_jYseuxMEu8WAFyMZwuh2386k78rXvbksita7_kzsWhMW6weQGTWkyAfw2u4WK1viUEeVfwY_XrELmlEfZ7IuIsFqduLgtdcAoqK1_7BQDpkG4tBZT2f36hcdCKJtflkC8lMqv/s3264/20230411_080411.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_YPk8vhj4Nr7KE7w6EgKsrNbzkZ5bgQ1LMJZHwNUWzDXDc5XHt-M0q_jYseuxMEu8WAFyMZwuh2386k78rXvbksita7_kzsWhMW6weQGTWkyAfw2u4WK1viUEeVfwY_XrELmlEfZ7IuIsFqduLgtdcAoqK1_7BQDpkG4tBZT2f36hcdCKJtflkC8lMqv/w480-h640/20230411_080411.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfm150cPZSU1CYFnGLzfaxcQKMYUgNVcyEYgLaZ_3dltOFLl_NZ_xIBY-X4zLg9tANTr8kkEYVk0t03A-Ri1vvR5buTpm7jaJ-PhRqLtqeaHw_HyD1jK6rZxSArBD1vk63uX6yDWxAFDoodJSmp53hOHE5YHneEuOdBKk1x64Ou4i0p1IBFKU3Z3Yx6VQ/s3264/20230411_080421.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfm150cPZSU1CYFnGLzfaxcQKMYUgNVcyEYgLaZ_3dltOFLl_NZ_xIBY-X4zLg9tANTr8kkEYVk0t03A-Ri1vvR5buTpm7jaJ-PhRqLtqeaHw_HyD1jK6rZxSArBD1vk63uX6yDWxAFDoodJSmp53hOHE5YHneEuOdBKk1x64Ou4i0p1IBFKU3Z3Yx6VQ/w480-h640/20230411_080421.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qO3K6okFHm_0NNimeMBjaJQTCa5WFc4ukOYlzyDbdHMWWbI3LLqYLRtQhGSIydtD4rhjzZuibt5jzoB-zvcF_Vrk8g9EffB_VoYNzRxMj3JUkCaCnLFUN48W0VuHTJ080vnEmK3_rvU3ja9Rjep2FLN239ZX1eOeFJd2VbF8yqHFo99_oQrKr5SBZEOM/s3264/20230411_080903.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qO3K6okFHm_0NNimeMBjaJQTCa5WFc4ukOYlzyDbdHMWWbI3LLqYLRtQhGSIydtD4rhjzZuibt5jzoB-zvcF_Vrk8g9EffB_VoYNzRxMj3JUkCaCnLFUN48W0VuHTJ080vnEmK3_rvU3ja9Rjep2FLN239ZX1eOeFJd2VbF8yqHFo99_oQrKr5SBZEOM/w480-h640/20230411_080903.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>The boys were trying to stay dry.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeL1PTLP7gZBzLPVWh7GUQvxH1zwZ6TbTA88EoVZK3AMlKqS9FN-FEDjcIpV54CPDy5JBb85xvgqN6jb0Wc--4Bd7OzpCNhx06hNRDmwFafX9lyLF9FPDizSUDMhHwwgooJTE9VlcRBSL-TCz-XmRvEUs6NVwPFm-Ttbb5QD4ZePxnZQ3XBDdhUweR1iA/s3264/20230411_093616.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheeL1PTLP7gZBzLPVWh7GUQvxH1zwZ6TbTA88EoVZK3AMlKqS9FN-FEDjcIpV54CPDy5JBb85xvgqN6jb0Wc--4Bd7OzpCNhx06hNRDmwFafX9lyLF9FPDizSUDMhHwwgooJTE9VlcRBSL-TCz-XmRvEUs6NVwPFm-Ttbb5QD4ZePxnZQ3XBDdhUweR1iA/w480-h640/20230411_093616.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Aughnanure Castle in Oughterard. This was a very lovely place!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGEYRxCq3rrEl_Z0TcVPUfmfeabKbkc0khbVI1884Ry0OelspgeXJggWsPwSHya5XIkjifXVnfE6aqs6FWF9c_-ioeSRWYFRCjxdyd-_pyWDlHQ5exjN_Ekxe84sE8PK8FifvTMWpK3FWoGU7I6YoNRKXE6O4b4aZaJ3m3ozr1MMQtazWv6x3c77y98LN/s3264/20230411_094425.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGEYRxCq3rrEl_Z0TcVPUfmfeabKbkc0khbVI1884Ry0OelspgeXJggWsPwSHya5XIkjifXVnfE6aqs6FWF9c_-ioeSRWYFRCjxdyd-_pyWDlHQ5exjN_Ekxe84sE8PK8FifvTMWpK3FWoGU7I6YoNRKXE6O4b4aZaJ3m3ozr1MMQtazWv6x3c77y98LN/w480-h640/20230411_094425.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>The toilet.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqfQZWzyeI1iHWnwLvsCjUNBED5l69-hjvAsuHFqIPwnYkRD-v6taDq0c4fuzkKmGP8c_vu5hISdjdBQScjDpDhRaWsHUeRutrmlzapxwP7dCjYuGBL2kyTDeSeUQT6Swj8eEAzrHsqgPTm8LrPdijEl4qfD6x4pJ67rxqCjlgx787g6ZkPDhX9RPkFE5/s3264/20230411_093753.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqfQZWzyeI1iHWnwLvsCjUNBED5l69-hjvAsuHFqIPwnYkRD-v6taDq0c4fuzkKmGP8c_vu5hISdjdBQScjDpDhRaWsHUeRutrmlzapxwP7dCjYuGBL2kyTDeSeUQT6Swj8eEAzrHsqgPTm8LrPdijEl4qfD6x4pJ67rxqCjlgx787g6ZkPDhX9RPkFE5/w480-h640/20230411_093753.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYIPjG6OPy62A3oap6sFN2z9k-2Z9aRfZtAOhk4jH8pn72qpVfSOVOmxW5F-DwWG34sMDd-3tHqdkvodXLT_BoWlJCMaCWNCtuaprslpu-fTHIAnfGGddH3k3QzmCR43WDtiThLrPZTm3ddH0ND4UdOwLEKywRxU39Jhloc7xXAXYrZVyncBrzDhh0JRO/s3264/20230411_094756.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYIPjG6OPy62A3oap6sFN2z9k-2Z9aRfZtAOhk4jH8pn72qpVfSOVOmxW5F-DwWG34sMDd-3tHqdkvodXLT_BoWlJCMaCWNCtuaprslpu-fTHIAnfGGddH3k3QzmCR43WDtiThLrPZTm3ddH0ND4UdOwLEKywRxU39Jhloc7xXAXYrZVyncBrzDhh0JRO/w480-h640/20230411_094756.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Malcolm and I by one of the fireplaces.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtzyw2fYSN_3wnI60Ui16m2R2AzcuWe2yBJGnpEbY3r462AbXcnmg3x5xsF8FBwoTA9inzzV3_I7GcMfT6REUY91VqlAMbo9GAX9XEkXuApHjP-R1js-lUC9XDeTXvYPLZYhfXjX9_B0cy8-ubODGcxG0q3vy5rWqQavS7P338TVQ8AXb318Z0ne0DfDl/s3264/20230411_094537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtzyw2fYSN_3wnI60Ui16m2R2AzcuWe2yBJGnpEbY3r462AbXcnmg3x5xsF8FBwoTA9inzzV3_I7GcMfT6REUY91VqlAMbo9GAX9XEkXuApHjP-R1js-lUC9XDeTXvYPLZYhfXjX9_B0cy8-ubODGcxG0q3vy5rWqQavS7P338TVQ8AXb318Z0ne0DfDl/w480-h640/20230411_094537.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MkknnuD0RPH1HjbNQs6TZqJZMVr9o8wCaDez-aIXn8UzZoZiXIzYOXQk0pVuEyxQjvR8NYikdhcoOVKTX000TG4g_XNSlTgRjBE4Uz0fpoSoXIu09lcMfEqRr5yfSPwl17yDjRKHbddYhMj76Xtj4Xh7yzWzBPVAytsG0zR9uxbmDEBlPzOV06NJjcvz/s3264/20230411_095634.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MkknnuD0RPH1HjbNQs6TZqJZMVr9o8wCaDez-aIXn8UzZoZiXIzYOXQk0pVuEyxQjvR8NYikdhcoOVKTX000TG4g_XNSlTgRjBE4Uz0fpoSoXIu09lcMfEqRr5yfSPwl17yDjRKHbddYhMj76Xtj4Xh7yzWzBPVAytsG0zR9uxbmDEBlPzOV06NJjcvz/w480-h640/20230411_095634.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>A more private toilet and a place where prisoners were kept down below the grating.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSj36_INOvd-IWa-GlcWAi67T5P03m9N6mO5dL9jKrHJ-1VmXknzrrkXe-wsrLxjzjnLg0lZD955Hi0qjL5FjWo9YXApyG5beZvn9m5RcRXCzrmRPYOa7l9bPhQLh3xDhaiN7M3_Iz4ei0NrpYLfcTKyTIOSBtdn0AKYMWte3hTWtpcx5mEsd-m07AmvHY/s3264/20230411_095650.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSj36_INOvd-IWa-GlcWAi67T5P03m9N6mO5dL9jKrHJ-1VmXknzrrkXe-wsrLxjzjnLg0lZD955Hi0qjL5FjWo9YXApyG5beZvn9m5RcRXCzrmRPYOa7l9bPhQLh3xDhaiN7M3_Iz4ei0NrpYLfcTKyTIOSBtdn0AKYMWte3hTWtpcx5mEsd-m07AmvHY/w480-h640/20230411_095650.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdVW18AtJJEqyjta0qw-wmyjE5kKSMSRfonZ0H6V69mxZx16qH3EAdNNO31jpOvbnn3wpodjjdQrKKD6DJT8EqBLlBiNYNdVAI05Lqn1lTjqTA-aikDwARYtpWoUPIfTFSi5tB-VwCQIaivU3k1zcN87hHrbvOuoj8WSsnhfTAlArBvWGe9Xlx2nAZmbZ/s3264/20230411_095913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdVW18AtJJEqyjta0qw-wmyjE5kKSMSRfonZ0H6V69mxZx16qH3EAdNNO31jpOvbnn3wpodjjdQrKKD6DJT8EqBLlBiNYNdVAI05Lqn1lTjqTA-aikDwARYtpWoUPIfTFSi5tB-VwCQIaivU3k1zcN87hHrbvOuoj8WSsnhfTAlArBvWGe9Xlx2nAZmbZ/w480-h640/20230411_095913.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Aaron, prepared to defend the castle.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75AOA2W1kTr6LjBwG_FZNgthTLiCqgeBkPurlFmyfRpQZJBaokP0lZLMfSO9MTiuhsUB0WlDwYFderDNKFfPbkFpy2lCPa_ASli6zVEoukPk-LG2oLHvbaExgCemd2VtQs3lczoUc_4r6qJHP5TNy5d_LDdccf5uHUShLxLUPHUdR0A40PJpB-sNhVurv/s3264/20230411_100732.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75AOA2W1kTr6LjBwG_FZNgthTLiCqgeBkPurlFmyfRpQZJBaokP0lZLMfSO9MTiuhsUB0WlDwYFderDNKFfPbkFpy2lCPa_ASli6zVEoukPk-LG2oLHvbaExgCemd2VtQs3lczoUc_4r6qJHP5TNy5d_LDdccf5uHUShLxLUPHUdR0A40PJpB-sNhVurv/w480-h640/20230411_100732.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9mriohDomqEtkk9oTwJMYNVDkSPveODY79I-jPHms855LZRU0t1oII26cQxY6jEHWEI39mO1hvvA3dsBCuBsr9QKaPeqz6KYRTyUu6JyvG6EYB25YCIfDR6xhgp5wvbT2EYnn4JsnHuF4LL3sj-LusUmDuufyBxO9IkSuhaX8Xvr7OzH3f7MWf8yhOXQ/s3264/20230411_101202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9mriohDomqEtkk9oTwJMYNVDkSPveODY79I-jPHms855LZRU0t1oII26cQxY6jEHWEI39mO1hvvA3dsBCuBsr9QKaPeqz6KYRTyUu6JyvG6EYB25YCIfDR6xhgp5wvbT2EYnn4JsnHuF4LL3sj-LusUmDuufyBxO9IkSuhaX8Xvr7OzH3f7MWf8yhOXQ/w480-h640/20230411_101202.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUfedZNPTD2WmUtFA0Ir47z0_gEEYc-zaD-p_-oGE-sWoyptSy6X8t2s4_tr1ehD6YhOTZx3zKJZBxlyWDJuO848naWvPjZusb1nFiBEXifHBpoeqczlwX-cyFcc9gM9y_Q2QrUvjwNRk4ppwC9T-OolSjAamGL1Y_82w-9wTv3-GytlmRKqlwgoz2l7U/s3264/20230411_101240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUfedZNPTD2WmUtFA0Ir47z0_gEEYc-zaD-p_-oGE-sWoyptSy6X8t2s4_tr1ehD6YhOTZx3zKJZBxlyWDJuO848naWvPjZusb1nFiBEXifHBpoeqczlwX-cyFcc9gM9y_Q2QrUvjwNRk4ppwC9T-OolSjAamGL1Y_82w-9wTv3-GytlmRKqlwgoz2l7U/w480-h640/20230411_101240.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BxFzgzrhC0yJMghFv3QZHooPQxiYKBHo2TawpfvQZwM6RJlw_mRZqPtO9iN72yeoMBNJarYZ2gyIkUPb4wwbZwVSykE2hCv7yzRHGTBVoYISDMmyyKHo54FLkoRT9xJIJ4eZl1X-LVqFKZOZ_Oo7cVh2bVrpyAIw8zAgQ7nB74ZjkrBxY18sBa2w9iY7/s3264/20230411_101957.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BxFzgzrhC0yJMghFv3QZHooPQxiYKBHo2TawpfvQZwM6RJlw_mRZqPtO9iN72yeoMBNJarYZ2gyIkUPb4wwbZwVSykE2hCv7yzRHGTBVoYISDMmyyKHo54FLkoRT9xJIJ4eZl1X-LVqFKZOZ_Oo7cVh2bVrpyAIw8zAgQ7nB74ZjkrBxY18sBa2w9iY7/w480-h640/20230411_101957.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>There were some fancy details on the stone work.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeUAkkVpSOgx_a2ew2taN6KMg-TxFIkPSEXwhKTY7b0cl_qyQoa25LvSR7y-Y0q8YgXnk9YDcCk0YsA265JqffQN9NpYGXKE-VjN19sx2G8ujlN6szKn6GaR3S6skx8D_nKXaNWj0J8uhnG_r3rAZxWvzm_45wcQ2nRnrn1Ob3nzN4ZxICzVruk6mBS-M/s3264/20230411_102933.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVeUAkkVpSOgx_a2ew2taN6KMg-TxFIkPSEXwhKTY7b0cl_qyQoa25LvSR7y-Y0q8YgXnk9YDcCk0YsA265JqffQN9NpYGXKE-VjN19sx2G8ujlN6szKn6GaR3S6skx8D_nKXaNWj0J8uhnG_r3rAZxWvzm_45wcQ2nRnrn1Ob3nzN4ZxICzVruk6mBS-M/w480-h640/20230411_102933.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>I loved this place!</div><div><br /></div><div>One day we drove along the North Atlantic coast.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2TAonByvfhp4BpAv3ANikXP1WAbgup0gHk-4plqtRF4CUWOHdWQrLnQrDhQNTr3mrUVEWW1_MnT-pAUPYqp0aLRFR9KHlPIQujoVtg5e9-7dH76uYZm-k0AKRsoqEmOid4kZOZCqttwkBAQ6ZO42pN1Ma_1j2OpWVo4FUsM5Pt8k594CRTFu1ZnFH6xo/s3264/20230412_065047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2TAonByvfhp4BpAv3ANikXP1WAbgup0gHk-4plqtRF4CUWOHdWQrLnQrDhQNTr3mrUVEWW1_MnT-pAUPYqp0aLRFR9KHlPIQujoVtg5e9-7dH76uYZm-k0AKRsoqEmOid4kZOZCqttwkBAQ6ZO42pN1Ma_1j2OpWVo4FUsM5Pt8k594CRTFu1ZnFH6xo/w400-h300/20230412_065047.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9OL8wJAGEX65Nk366tHt1-07Af_DXnbbyxh7H6_9TgVIBAeGxVx2XVipyFe6YILzQsJc0mbPHJ80gDYacj6NQhvas6mgNJKQs5oLaOCOSAfcdD_iUMasnEfGm2XU9U5rlvl1d6GIdUd3U-zg6wJ7ZQT8mrOqVXlcReaiJuDXSJ45_jy0H4XcOY3Ns6hr/s3264/20230412_061754.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9OL8wJAGEX65Nk366tHt1-07Af_DXnbbyxh7H6_9TgVIBAeGxVx2XVipyFe6YILzQsJc0mbPHJ80gDYacj6NQhvas6mgNJKQs5oLaOCOSAfcdD_iUMasnEfGm2XU9U5rlvl1d6GIdUd3U-zg6wJ7ZQT8mrOqVXlcReaiJuDXSJ45_jy0H4XcOY3Ns6hr/w400-h300/20230412_061754.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We saw wild horses.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyOJnIj31bjA4xs3mJC1dbv5ZPdUDtbIJtE3OmQb8y_2NilFSmBqBpl-05haS7qX0ZY-Q3O8xqJTyE2oHMoOuGdWTb0kgjA4SZQXrblc1RdjfDCUM7ih8gGJ3cr83F-84TGIpteyj84VfwwnwwUPqYJP6qC0xuYaFBbBxl9FcPXYfwgSyG7hAU_xgWAqm/s3264/20230412_061233.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyOJnIj31bjA4xs3mJC1dbv5ZPdUDtbIJtE3OmQb8y_2NilFSmBqBpl-05haS7qX0ZY-Q3O8xqJTyE2oHMoOuGdWTb0kgjA4SZQXrblc1RdjfDCUM7ih8gGJ3cr83F-84TGIpteyj84VfwwnwwUPqYJP6qC0xuYaFBbBxl9FcPXYfwgSyG7hAU_xgWAqm/w400-h300/20230412_061233.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUrU1F5YCh73m4qTfThz8Exz8h0ktzi5vPNp0G41-hRDfWu28IIw245Evg6k1Xoc8RnIhoxiyNtXqhWq7oYkD58u_gIWGUJMpXL1-1mq3Rg4HXLvfWh1yRudMrjSTcLMlqVgn0z4LZbMKUk8RvOGcTge2Go9MLqPBYUjN-ZUDeS24v_zx7XXbnQIRbf9F/s3264/20230410_090106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUrU1F5YCh73m4qTfThz8Exz8h0ktzi5vPNp0G41-hRDfWu28IIw245Evg6k1Xoc8RnIhoxiyNtXqhWq7oYkD58u_gIWGUJMpXL1-1mq3Rg4HXLvfWh1yRudMrjSTcLMlqVgn0z4LZbMKUk8RvOGcTge2Go9MLqPBYUjN-ZUDeS24v_zx7XXbnQIRbf9F/w400-h300/20230410_090106.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Sheep are everywhere in Ireland. Most of them have some sort of paint on them.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATecsOPohNanJCG80O2KDMFckcJdLCJrK7Z_WthLA7JWILcBIuEMDllIL2eEFVVEyaVvusM9zsHMRvekyUtBWDeAQfIAJXy9d1hb1vBCBhDsLS_Hd-rjMkO4Q5hJpyez7cetTLD6LD8FGTrgO_6llKgWqeqZ2YRPaYpthk6IVcywIYAcS2OrDiwhwe-3h/s3264/20230412_071942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATecsOPohNanJCG80O2KDMFckcJdLCJrK7Z_WthLA7JWILcBIuEMDllIL2eEFVVEyaVvusM9zsHMRvekyUtBWDeAQfIAJXy9d1hb1vBCBhDsLS_Hd-rjMkO4Q5hJpyez7cetTLD6LD8FGTrgO_6llKgWqeqZ2YRPaYpthk6IVcywIYAcS2OrDiwhwe-3h/w400-h300/20230412_071942.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>In Spiddel we went to a group of shops with lots of handmade things. That was really fun.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeDzQt-HK-UsVCtYHNooHe9QRUXzn4HqRZaIgFH3K2z3Yv2MV3HZiqsxDl549pVdD9XrxxvLr_rYT2FA3VLl92oM23hjxp8Fq4eyHMUCKBWL_YZGoWwOt9qscgixwgQK9b40-dsKpv7cP70WfCyF2IU7suTQ8KCvkCvXTzb086KnWPTe9saKsiAH0c5KF/s3264/20230412_065439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeDzQt-HK-UsVCtYHNooHe9QRUXzn4HqRZaIgFH3K2z3Yv2MV3HZiqsxDl549pVdD9XrxxvLr_rYT2FA3VLl92oM23hjxp8Fq4eyHMUCKBWL_YZGoWwOt9qscgixwgQK9b40-dsKpv7cP70WfCyF2IU7suTQ8KCvkCvXTzb086KnWPTe9saKsiAH0c5KF/w400-h300/20230412_065439.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The basket making place was super cool.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9Ae3a4jntHrNhcq9oXDLZ4-JNqSqx1YmpaFNS18JcYrr6phUGOBxPNWO_6Y0sIGWyhPzUimWOw7sJzBq0nxfGj8CsSXHUKF656zkgckz-0qWtjgoYprCy1FuPaEqE_qkhyvKtyhFRfxUiktAYjFVoAAIKFLSZvmu_XcaNCK6gou2SiX3MihDsqYfVXgL/s3264/20230412_065625.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9Ae3a4jntHrNhcq9oXDLZ4-JNqSqx1YmpaFNS18JcYrr6phUGOBxPNWO_6Y0sIGWyhPzUimWOw7sJzBq0nxfGj8CsSXHUKF656zkgckz-0qWtjgoYprCy1FuPaEqE_qkhyvKtyhFRfxUiktAYjFVoAAIKFLSZvmu_XcaNCK6gou2SiX3MihDsqYfVXgL/w400-h300/20230412_065625.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5W_gbBTcCpY9BFYeYEHtvj8EknTKDL9hYWTw9DBZCStJoGztREYFfNNyEqskxtkxE3vJK4liQL48xWsRRXa8rn-bDjKRl3tTgwg8bTYMJYy0uvstOd_gtoI9h92ngkGfIzCpCkmrZADNG_SaCqAxRc1W2GE4kat70vgZMkBszOHld2sekHJIZlfzyAZvi/s3264/20230412_070451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5W_gbBTcCpY9BFYeYEHtvj8EknTKDL9hYWTw9DBZCStJoGztREYFfNNyEqskxtkxE3vJK4liQL48xWsRRXa8rn-bDjKRl3tTgwg8bTYMJYy0uvstOd_gtoI9h92ngkGfIzCpCkmrZADNG_SaCqAxRc1W2GE4kat70vgZMkBszOHld2sekHJIZlfzyAZvi/w400-h300/20230412_070451.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I always love pottery too. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Joi2xZGFGp59tx9WHAmFVyCHNmAeTHnnRNkhethmz1_Hym_Feb173OtxoEhV8o4IrOFAea1CKDEz2Rq3eDGixN-CYmcluQpDlAxeSJuT0jsyiv6sVTzkz8tTYXINncwYOAFDF-4WyWloIS4OS9KiD1MRr6Uj8iJAQEUvA2ssjahoWxDxkMty6yN6EOkR/s3264/20230412_083644.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Joi2xZGFGp59tx9WHAmFVyCHNmAeTHnnRNkhethmz1_Hym_Feb173OtxoEhV8o4IrOFAea1CKDEz2Rq3eDGixN-CYmcluQpDlAxeSJuT0jsyiv6sVTzkz8tTYXINncwYOAFDF-4WyWloIS4OS9KiD1MRr6Uj8iJAQEUvA2ssjahoWxDxkMty6yN6EOkR/w480-h640/20230412_083644.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>In Galway City we checked out a bunch of Thrift stores. That was interesting. Jonathan wasn't a huge fan but he is a good sport.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPy_CEtgf90yRDGXathOYMhTnejwmqNXesLLs9zzEtY_bA9o-D-hY00Pz4uio9Gz0AbmjyEDTxM2b8xSH2mL6E9C5C25eTYRc4WTDmOyC_9XeQaPhCHsfnmYPUYj6Nf8a24E8C5UBmF2XxvTukCdwqgf94-iz34PKMAqxmySK-C_OmfamDGOdZq_J0xrC/s3264/20230412_084251.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPy_CEtgf90yRDGXathOYMhTnejwmqNXesLLs9zzEtY_bA9o-D-hY00Pz4uio9Gz0AbmjyEDTxM2b8xSH2mL6E9C5C25eTYRc4WTDmOyC_9XeQaPhCHsfnmYPUYj6Nf8a24E8C5UBmF2XxvTukCdwqgf94-iz34PKMAqxmySK-C_OmfamDGOdZq_J0xrC/w480-h640/20230412_084251.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>This thrift store was selling by weight on this day. Malcolm really wanted the balloon.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-5fj_wTgb96QWSUjKp_ALQjliuLeuTpjI2fp3uU8SHodLURRb0HtMifNnDma-euQ8t_SMEV3WGSr3wvjFz7Md17bIo8unkRY8ofc74XXLWvnirhz5Jed369RSMDuZr2hBkrDsVIS-79SYvrF1_OwCLkmSDDvVZBpipi6oogy_wXt22o9MLoUAZjT-mp2/s3264/20230412_100534.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-5fj_wTgb96QWSUjKp_ALQjliuLeuTpjI2fp3uU8SHodLURRb0HtMifNnDma-euQ8t_SMEV3WGSr3wvjFz7Md17bIo8unkRY8ofc74XXLWvnirhz5Jed369RSMDuZr2hBkrDsVIS-79SYvrF1_OwCLkmSDDvVZBpipi6oogy_wXt22o9MLoUAZjT-mp2/w480-h640/20230412_100534.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>We saw entrances like this at several shops. I thought it was very pretty.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRy60fmwYLDgRHjSbV4-L2OqD0rZ6JLtg0emPAosMem5FmWiKKcyz1r9zpv7U68zubj8BNCzjh2aRLKadPQVS1cdSTZy63P7fBOWtJwyuzqxZE95FxtPxNDa4I-RW4DQ_poLWpl_1dS29gS6mSVl4svxDfnTm4hukyHoZXxO1E3wEkcz1vOLXikxZmJrj/s3264/20230412_101025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRy60fmwYLDgRHjSbV4-L2OqD0rZ6JLtg0emPAosMem5FmWiKKcyz1r9zpv7U68zubj8BNCzjh2aRLKadPQVS1cdSTZy63P7fBOWtJwyuzqxZE95FxtPxNDa4I-RW4DQ_poLWpl_1dS29gS6mSVl4svxDfnTm4hukyHoZXxO1E3wEkcz1vOLXikxZmJrj/w400-h300/20230412_101025.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>A music and art store was fun to explore.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQYSraDSsdDtaH27-cChrRRG1fy5SHrHAjkiQEMl3_ABinRUHSl9LxysL-URPicpl8xxciKZJcdUaRKJ6oLiRj1HaXXp1CWw8_vqdug0cI_S4aVECGJGBYZ_-aLnKlSTbph2bc6R56xeYimpzU58wYIqRy8-kWl38lgxLqmtBU6vD3vLsjz4_jHR59xJM/s3264/20230412_101408.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQYSraDSsdDtaH27-cChrRRG1fy5SHrHAjkiQEMl3_ABinRUHSl9LxysL-URPicpl8xxciKZJcdUaRKJ6oLiRj1HaXXp1CWw8_vqdug0cI_S4aVECGJGBYZ_-aLnKlSTbph2bc6R56xeYimpzU58wYIqRy8-kWl38lgxLqmtBU6vD3vLsjz4_jHR59xJM/w400-h300/20230412_101408.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oBVg4J2vVXQ1nz1-73jxny62lToasA350urK7mYh08So7F-QzkV3eztZ-h0gVqgXx_OvtRSTvXhJAtbUZJWBYDg9BfV_3F4vFwbI0fk304hBBKH9zfDV6AYxnWm6kpzafE7UdcL4EB-4KzFeDbUGK9rFM1PdbsKWnyv7WSrtBAoohgaB0DBRrC2p3tQu/s3264/20230412_102339.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oBVg4J2vVXQ1nz1-73jxny62lToasA350urK7mYh08So7F-QzkV3eztZ-h0gVqgXx_OvtRSTvXhJAtbUZJWBYDg9BfV_3F4vFwbI0fk304hBBKH9zfDV6AYxnWm6kpzafE7UdcL4EB-4KzFeDbUGK9rFM1PdbsKWnyv7WSrtBAoohgaB0DBRrC2p3tQu/w480-h640/20230412_102339.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>This is a fun shopping area in Galway City.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWAvnc-q7IXdJeQzIWp4JFo0lihmoKw6RM1uyRhNVDxLddC_AY1ipWHRltNyVYvaplYij8ZSgW0lrg9cKyIBnNpTXTuoMvOXxaYdPwiCCL6NMcB-3ruPUtI1TpqVsUBOUDtapB0ge3aSr6Mm4Kqt7zS0_57KDIqY32c92UEt-BtbBG764NEjv2nrN2mGB/s3264/20230412_102409.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWAvnc-q7IXdJeQzIWp4JFo0lihmoKw6RM1uyRhNVDxLddC_AY1ipWHRltNyVYvaplYij8ZSgW0lrg9cKyIBnNpTXTuoMvOXxaYdPwiCCL6NMcB-3ruPUtI1TpqVsUBOUDtapB0ge3aSr6Mm4Kqt7zS0_57KDIqY32c92UEt-BtbBG764NEjv2nrN2mGB/w480-h640/20230412_102409.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Kings Head Pub - this building is over 800 years old.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlmpeBwwdzl5ve8rrsGEY7zkeqANQlg8wFMSlNSQDmdTf6pDg8DJLxxi5s_cn7lKjJ2hSx5hMY8XKjpnLYc4uEIj0oIg0ISUtKibrIwKyyZUP3_r2i6mZwLmZGbFq41WpDy-bdu-6PiYrCg1UYCYjjjcTRNGf3OlF7tqWoHx9OGzCSSS4frbUcCBD1ssw/s3264/20230412_102416.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlmpeBwwdzl5ve8rrsGEY7zkeqANQlg8wFMSlNSQDmdTf6pDg8DJLxxi5s_cn7lKjJ2hSx5hMY8XKjpnLYc4uEIj0oIg0ISUtKibrIwKyyZUP3_r2i6mZwLmZGbFq41WpDy-bdu-6PiYrCg1UYCYjjjcTRNGf3OlF7tqWoHx9OGzCSSS4frbUcCBD1ssw/w480-h640/20230412_102416.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>The icecream shop and Megan!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfnyauo5hbU3u889NCJDSL-u0PMV7rpRwFBeNmAce1Blx4SfM4dZB0Wzkr-_Dv4WXz4NdGdMzsYFMq6lEHzrXYB3WlRNjSwoji7nRMO4R6nyfyCv0lN_peC4cGUpPXR54sFQs2WAX0738ECrMRiaMu6gKBK14FydFj0UufT23_u00x0vbra1h9A0L2ozz/s3264/20230412_104114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfnyauo5hbU3u889NCJDSL-u0PMV7rpRwFBeNmAce1Blx4SfM4dZB0Wzkr-_Dv4WXz4NdGdMzsYFMq6lEHzrXYB3WlRNjSwoji7nRMO4R6nyfyCv0lN_peC4cGUpPXR54sFQs2WAX0738ECrMRiaMu6gKBK14FydFj0UufT23_u00x0vbra1h9A0L2ozz/w400-h300/20230412_104114.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>All the wool sweaters were beautiful!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgld7Bp9FPMUH0wxx9_mgtDDRIpkXDbbMq_7zmfyU6wKQ9RbjDzTieH1V1IUCbBUhXN1lVMCBhBfEtBALajT1NxK1IaE_WaYUlBB1Tgv5n5mFy2KtdMd56bpW7l9dHIFP6Q-wlIo0-rGPj-xSr-Su5g9agsgHy8kT6TpdqS-XfHuH7SNxkcZmgF1QElX0PY/s3264/20230412_105234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgld7Bp9FPMUH0wxx9_mgtDDRIpkXDbbMq_7zmfyU6wKQ9RbjDzTieH1V1IUCbBUhXN1lVMCBhBfEtBALajT1NxK1IaE_WaYUlBB1Tgv5n5mFy2KtdMd56bpW7l9dHIFP6Q-wlIo0-rGPj-xSr-Su5g9agsgHy8kT6TpdqS-XfHuH7SNxkcZmgF1QElX0PY/w400-h300/20230412_105234.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Spanish Arches in Galway City.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAYKtezVS_pKIl9_dPLAwL3FXl6mse4tw1sMTdPwgUIUH2ntHzPXldwh3pYOHPljG6NXGEW7CsCrQzH7D3zxjLD3xFkAzDKSjR5rhQclw9ytypU0fxJ27mYp43FIJK8QRdRlfnXP2-29cGwDmr9yyS7s-Mp_lhLcqZrPG_LNCIzEGQAz5kc9lUWpqf8T2/s3264/20230412_105651.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAYKtezVS_pKIl9_dPLAwL3FXl6mse4tw1sMTdPwgUIUH2ntHzPXldwh3pYOHPljG6NXGEW7CsCrQzH7D3zxjLD3xFkAzDKSjR5rhQclw9ytypU0fxJ27mYp43FIJK8QRdRlfnXP2-29cGwDmr9yyS7s-Mp_lhLcqZrPG_LNCIzEGQAz5kc9lUWpqf8T2/w400-h300/20230412_105651.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAHKRbGemcTB-jdo5bOl8kRSnge3lQqj5hHXSWGKmhfoRjRbOXF_yjvT6eloWtoXE6sGMKxHYUcu1aacN55kz6z9c9Y_Rmt0NbHb9CptkD3GPB6FLvn4BPnR8bWVxrAR63vyv6LZXlYClXtLc3ojxaQzPo_E3p1y3IaPreR65ZL8LSB1-aEGreSQ-V9iP/s3264/20230412_111352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAHKRbGemcTB-jdo5bOl8kRSnge3lQqj5hHXSWGKmhfoRjRbOXF_yjvT6eloWtoXE6sGMKxHYUcu1aacN55kz6z9c9Y_Rmt0NbHb9CptkD3GPB6FLvn4BPnR8bWVxrAR63vyv6LZXlYClXtLc3ojxaQzPo_E3p1y3IaPreR65ZL8LSB1-aEGreSQ-V9iP/w480-h640/20230412_111352.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Heather was growing many places.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VjAIfDjKSdAYXO8qdILtoEiT4X7YEJZT3Uv6PHg0Ey-ceMLbCGkc7DaAaeUQ_9BuaimAOx5_3LfzDmfqsyJCz1eGISWgazMYU5JK3HFmfOEFLV-EJLvW4l-gR5N3l-3Z0UNv1vjEQ9EJJW6sSjvqxtTKZU9SDvuhl3TqxTJvOT5fmzcyydUiUfszT3ss/s3264/20230412_111558.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VjAIfDjKSdAYXO8qdILtoEiT4X7YEJZT3Uv6PHg0Ey-ceMLbCGkc7DaAaeUQ_9BuaimAOx5_3LfzDmfqsyJCz1eGISWgazMYU5JK3HFmfOEFLV-EJLvW4l-gR5N3l-3Z0UNv1vjEQ9EJJW6sSjvqxtTKZU9SDvuhl3TqxTJvOT5fmzcyydUiUfszT3ss/w480-h640/20230412_111558.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Blake took us to explore the University in Galway City where he is attending. It was a beautiful campus.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEZYiH7GK_1xxonqXmHtz6BQKFIoyt2W3emXsWk792Y1VvxsrOTA_gMOyw55poiKhixBgDHGvCUmoTFUnwJKyeQ6GLBnSr_rA4l3VCUGqd05fy7_Brm1dOWRyTA-IB6z0OvID6mGM_dcQI3_61oY5UOnGN66BvIz4P_77TVh-Ahxa0GYbfo6qbKnDkhAC/s2560/20230412_111623.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1920" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEZYiH7GK_1xxonqXmHtz6BQKFIoyt2W3emXsWk792Y1VvxsrOTA_gMOyw55poiKhixBgDHGvCUmoTFUnwJKyeQ6GLBnSr_rA4l3VCUGqd05fy7_Brm1dOWRyTA-IB6z0OvID6mGM_dcQI3_61oY5UOnGN66BvIz4P_77TVh-Ahxa0GYbfo6qbKnDkhAC/w480-h640/20230412_111623.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eeCMt3sO5m9q4vQIwTkqI219UD55CZmu6Rj_vvPgFgJyZ9HzdUgoHLLtaQxcrii_8bWyPFEPCBCbQMVDBq9QlWawkL0ZZJHMf7ChuHiYMv9TYkkVlE8jt7m6790BHazEwaKD2LN6Op4FVD5rztYuM3ukUOawAs5xtdSozUNORqeQadCOoR9daCbarcAs/s3264/20230412_111639.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eeCMt3sO5m9q4vQIwTkqI219UD55CZmu6Rj_vvPgFgJyZ9HzdUgoHLLtaQxcrii_8bWyPFEPCBCbQMVDBq9QlWawkL0ZZJHMf7ChuHiYMv9TYkkVlE8jt7m6790BHazEwaKD2LN6Op4FVD5rztYuM3ukUOawAs5xtdSozUNORqeQadCOoR9daCbarcAs/w480-h640/20230412_111639.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEfPc0jd_DjN3vf8ykcikOeiyZCgFDfGqEJwWfw7D2e1lEJSjNFCGz4RfWGr74fukoVIH0vIwq9tkVBvQHzRAiHsSdWCc3jvQeaNmIxKOKiLE7GCTYJ14QV1Mn440e3HJeYwBXUFPOKc5VeWpxC4wJNf1rmURwAixRp7GpPfjEKw8Yuc6_jbz0tnmTLJN/s3264/20230412_111844.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEfPc0jd_DjN3vf8ykcikOeiyZCgFDfGqEJwWfw7D2e1lEJSjNFCGz4RfWGr74fukoVIH0vIwq9tkVBvQHzRAiHsSdWCc3jvQeaNmIxKOKiLE7GCTYJ14QV1Mn440e3HJeYwBXUFPOKc5VeWpxC4wJNf1rmURwAixRp7GpPfjEKw8Yuc6_jbz0tnmTLJN/w480-h640/20230412_111844.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNj6rDVTULxMS5gs4lMxuwRgSaXkZtvhcMh-YgwDWEfgOhRKPtIe0OAfcMO5UhZEA7VvOFJYuebdpM6iyjChgBKAIlZO1-yI3njxsqlKjpy9rFeg6har2fA5M6WdzktymvpQLZjQEL1EvS1ExquIoikBpU289xsZqP2sOoaLe61_L7Cu8CVoVqm0ipmr6d/s3264/20230412_121526.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNj6rDVTULxMS5gs4lMxuwRgSaXkZtvhcMh-YgwDWEfgOhRKPtIe0OAfcMO5UhZEA7VvOFJYuebdpM6iyjChgBKAIlZO1-yI3njxsqlKjpy9rFeg6har2fA5M6WdzktymvpQLZjQEL1EvS1ExquIoikBpU289xsZqP2sOoaLe61_L7Cu8CVoVqm0ipmr6d/w480-h640/20230412_121526.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7G6YkK4nboswY05ZJjLbq5VEYZZaH4gXx_tpHvRSIJjhZia_KtKhysAiAgzvFmxysrlLdF3dDilrBAIY-1XzMSlLSrMMM-vX6NTeHmGNjdj9Yi_wbhOQkIoUxVFHWlbSUwoqKz8oeLlWmf8jB7xLYrGjyXhSZKaWldGiyzoj3oJWeyPS5a4GQbNf1yOp/s3264/20230412_121819.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7G6YkK4nboswY05ZJjLbq5VEYZZaH4gXx_tpHvRSIJjhZia_KtKhysAiAgzvFmxysrlLdF3dDilrBAIY-1XzMSlLSrMMM-vX6NTeHmGNjdj9Yi_wbhOQkIoUxVFHWlbSUwoqKz8oeLlWmf8jB7xLYrGjyXhSZKaWldGiyzoj3oJWeyPS5a4GQbNf1yOp/w400-h300/20230412_121819.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNmk3M8maA6fDV9Q3DPg0-Fh69zPvOrXBxnZ1ujmEBI0GaaF-b4MHTSvkzXtBjyd-Pk5STDMcrVV_uLcKyMnOYuchRzYT6XLERt9Ng-VWf65exERvKSF-T9R1mXRvHILX27Fdjo7hE6Q45dbE_RQ8CGh4601ddY4leGgicpRf71jXYg2ZcJGIvYkNVyFn/s3264/20230412_122437.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNmk3M8maA6fDV9Q3DPg0-Fh69zPvOrXBxnZ1ujmEBI0GaaF-b4MHTSvkzXtBjyd-Pk5STDMcrVV_uLcKyMnOYuchRzYT6XLERt9Ng-VWf65exERvKSF-T9R1mXRvHILX27Fdjo7hE6Q45dbE_RQ8CGh4601ddY4leGgicpRf71jXYg2ZcJGIvYkNVyFn/w480-h640/20230412_122437.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>The Galway Cathedral is quite beautiful. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikmdh2C_N_Tppe9wZdLT32Wr9s7KsPEjw9h8WVB5y0-ZqfMDt6a9JBx3A7_0tr6FdARCoMQ6rAp1-wKdtdXMAI0mIboNpmnDPSPY3LLW70lbSWuq3DQXxSkg8wEtfiOT6XHK7g79ckEmzVaFMp6nKSkNTXPpUa3eZKTFaZz8ksWAhu7cmpezEEoQp7WMH/s3264/20230412_122831.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikmdh2C_N_Tppe9wZdLT32Wr9s7KsPEjw9h8WVB5y0-ZqfMDt6a9JBx3A7_0tr6FdARCoMQ6rAp1-wKdtdXMAI0mIboNpmnDPSPY3LLW70lbSWuq3DQXxSkg8wEtfiOT6XHK7g79ckEmzVaFMp6nKSkNTXPpUa3eZKTFaZz8ksWAhu7cmpezEEoQp7WMH/w480-h640/20230412_122831.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVP3uthRT4EHDEdimM-QHXUrS85bjzfci_2y5woqOHRxcfLhlEDUVNOhpwnjKU24Rxbf-0aEPuPjjdF-M9CvV4fKlWqOIx-rnyYOEJmrBrp5J-hzF9FVylymiO3sJVYdsiqpGf3V_EAIEj6fjnJPWCpkHLfkUeqh8F8AlPt0QjO-jIXlOImfb5bxm7prX/s3264/20230412_122413.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVP3uthRT4EHDEdimM-QHXUrS85bjzfci_2y5woqOHRxcfLhlEDUVNOhpwnjKU24Rxbf-0aEPuPjjdF-M9CvV4fKlWqOIx-rnyYOEJmrBrp5J-hzF9FVylymiO3sJVYdsiqpGf3V_EAIEj6fjnJPWCpkHLfkUeqh8F8AlPt0QjO-jIXlOImfb5bxm7prX/w400-h300/20230412_122413.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkJ8jCGiEjl6tHbGYyi_fm1DJrJMv5t_HzW2uXDFNf5Uuk5QAzrYlEKr0GCozXacOQAIEirv6GLjzV6g82HagC4dglv8mcPKZPyWvAVV6ydJcvwTxcnDOEoBFQPM_wzWUxXdMKjp9cVkwX_ZXQBZX1JI2hymWFC4K7tWGq16GVL_0BjU2La5uBnXb8zvb/s3264/20230412_132919.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkJ8jCGiEjl6tHbGYyi_fm1DJrJMv5t_HzW2uXDFNf5Uuk5QAzrYlEKr0GCozXacOQAIEirv6GLjzV6g82HagC4dglv8mcPKZPyWvAVV6ydJcvwTxcnDOEoBFQPM_wzWUxXdMKjp9cVkwX_ZXQBZX1JI2hymWFC4K7tWGq16GVL_0BjU2La5uBnXb8zvb/w400-h300/20230412_132919.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Malcolm loved the pigeons in Galway.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhGsCchMOZB_FcG_I1qBTELNvxtiRM2a6EHhcL96pP0bTfbXGTU2nwAr0WUEG60nZ4VjkoC4NKH91Z6fSFYJWr6lJGuZ7-94Te3jT2rbDmzeflpJfYAMm3uydA5U3Kju_-yaZMDE0UXJOQ2eD7IvIDygDITMr3hv_Ud81fLR33GmK9eblTWP5vr_n0cty/s3264/20230412_133002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhGsCchMOZB_FcG_I1qBTELNvxtiRM2a6EHhcL96pP0bTfbXGTU2nwAr0WUEG60nZ4VjkoC4NKH91Z6fSFYJWr6lJGuZ7-94Te3jT2rbDmzeflpJfYAMm3uydA5U3Kju_-yaZMDE0UXJOQ2eD7IvIDygDITMr3hv_Ud81fLR33GmK9eblTWP5vr_n0cty/w400-h300/20230412_133002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iS94W4TZPvOQ7J7e5X6Wpug5N9IaYGsQm9kaI-Q4RG-7c-V3Zk4OEAOrKb0MvuPWgLEsKILenj6U11g0XWygZ7Yw2QgFJZ-A-T4ZUsOIpOWLHG9zdT_mHpikG26JUaKbpFupwcc1raV973GqJxiDyURZJeG4rbeuiQRNqPKjHFmwurtHaPMdGKjrKs6T/s3264/20230413_075119.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iS94W4TZPvOQ7J7e5X6Wpug5N9IaYGsQm9kaI-Q4RG-7c-V3Zk4OEAOrKb0MvuPWgLEsKILenj6U11g0XWygZ7Yw2QgFJZ-A-T4ZUsOIpOWLHG9zdT_mHpikG26JUaKbpFupwcc1raV973GqJxiDyURZJeG4rbeuiQRNqPKjHFmwurtHaPMdGKjrKs6T/w400-h300/20230413_075119.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We went to see the Cliffs of Moher. There were pretty views on the way too.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYXNVMs6VThVR7gt31cc1-jnLYSAYRHzpI8zfX1VWHeVw_Hq-WvTAMUp9WBG0pYzmMw2buCDOa676P_R1hCYg8GNFu3D2UkabAJABJdXN-2aEbbuZwyf_GPAiRPOfzLLnXilNdU11blLFTKmcliFzhGTOQM5Gt7LPW8VGU4QuXgoKB3kfF82KOW8gMPNg/s3264/20230413_072646.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYXNVMs6VThVR7gt31cc1-jnLYSAYRHzpI8zfX1VWHeVw_Hq-WvTAMUp9WBG0pYzmMw2buCDOa676P_R1hCYg8GNFu3D2UkabAJABJdXN-2aEbbuZwyf_GPAiRPOfzLLnXilNdU11blLFTKmcliFzhGTOQM5Gt7LPW8VGU4QuXgoKB3kfF82KOW8gMPNg/w400-h300/20230413_072646.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Jonathan heading off to take more videos.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOUsI6iLCTqQ0jzwkvxxrf0Z2JUhg5XpQHjMR4OYF_tuju9W5TJFKlctD9f26fXeVA3EJlUfg-T-jBbQQKDjatPVyTQbPnCbDOJRhUXNVPLbuigAgVM8LNDfgHw6CfW78jLSBao-LOh9PPGFLEAh8-gHB60ZWP-9Ci01tCSMLq_GRHW1yAgNUticfGT4p/s3264/20230413_081513.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOUsI6iLCTqQ0jzwkvxxrf0Z2JUhg5XpQHjMR4OYF_tuju9W5TJFKlctD9f26fXeVA3EJlUfg-T-jBbQQKDjatPVyTQbPnCbDOJRhUXNVPLbuigAgVM8LNDfgHw6CfW78jLSBao-LOh9PPGFLEAh8-gHB60ZWP-9Ci01tCSMLq_GRHW1yAgNUticfGT4p/w400-h300/20230413_081513.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Malcolm and Thomas.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKAnQOuoHw-R4bh6l6KtsIaW18hWe-qo8IyfF6lsXYeEvCxd5utU_YMvG2Le8PJdkxe96sQ-bNo-LmLjdPqkQZJh4RcQBQm_I_bzlWcwMxHw08354j8J3o5qT8onh4YEvTAYfBccaGihGmeKWUfBChy4YUZDZvnT4ufzhek-8WxNYhqZe5KwM9R31QhfQ/s3264/20230413_085325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKAnQOuoHw-R4bh6l6KtsIaW18hWe-qo8IyfF6lsXYeEvCxd5utU_YMvG2Le8PJdkxe96sQ-bNo-LmLjdPqkQZJh4RcQBQm_I_bzlWcwMxHw08354j8J3o5qT8onh4YEvTAYfBccaGihGmeKWUfBChy4YUZDZvnT4ufzhek-8WxNYhqZe5KwM9R31QhfQ/w400-h300/20230413_085325.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIC9xZrRZSdsnkiePp5vIFe4IFDaa6fq9dS0AtgMBgtqXMdiZXWZ1P1Cma9BrKmoP_SXh1EqpEAisRsmovU9QssUcvjoxmMxg1Z1VGIo19FBZUE_GxfMk5yT0mnmbIpQQko5fX4RNcEgRkfNs43H9saCq1Z2xmUL8CoNHsbdHf4KwZV2hf5I-aKGBrGOa/s3264/20230413_085440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIC9xZrRZSdsnkiePp5vIFe4IFDaa6fq9dS0AtgMBgtqXMdiZXWZ1P1Cma9BrKmoP_SXh1EqpEAisRsmovU9QssUcvjoxmMxg1Z1VGIo19FBZUE_GxfMk5yT0mnmbIpQQko5fX4RNcEgRkfNs43H9saCq1Z2xmUL8CoNHsbdHf4KwZV2hf5I-aKGBrGOa/w400-h300/20230413_085440.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Hiking up to see the Cliffs of Moher. We were really grateful that Blake told us about an alternative parking area to see the cliffs. The main parking area charged 12 euros per adult. Where we went it was 5-7 euros per car for parking. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7sn-deUOfnll4GWN5yfnwYM_n5ojxa5kq3DsfuDJTFKcvXkbFBdtKql6m7rW0vo-eXOgcmkBeH_Is2LOk6KXEhC0JjVj8Zga_HyVFsR8Ids0j1sLMUAG6ZdlyuTT2DYUsfDh214gpDuyh6eXbx2NpjR74cxcEYNDBcoFvo8UkTOCLxYivYJuAkHALmTd/s3264/20230413_091132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7sn-deUOfnll4GWN5yfnwYM_n5ojxa5kq3DsfuDJTFKcvXkbFBdtKql6m7rW0vo-eXOgcmkBeH_Is2LOk6KXEhC0JjVj8Zga_HyVFsR8Ids0j1sLMUAG6ZdlyuTT2DYUsfDh214gpDuyh6eXbx2NpjR74cxcEYNDBcoFvo8UkTOCLxYivYJuAkHALmTd/w400-h300/20230413_091132.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We went on a great day that was sunny and not to windy. It was beautiful!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgqeubQ90aandMi-wMsEIYJ2OxG9xkn5KX1Rf0ekRCzpkKYr46Ki9TRnX4aineCnjMTsyOvZM9p3hKZiXpDKA_3hglWgbk5psc8ATvNE-VFbKlmHCpFRHaClcHdg4jSoWEbbbRV96dUtep6UVBXoy_b8ryB_gHnmyjQASrDgU45XgLUrR2HVtWThhuUm7/s3264/20230413_091149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgqeubQ90aandMi-wMsEIYJ2OxG9xkn5KX1Rf0ekRCzpkKYr46Ki9TRnX4aineCnjMTsyOvZM9p3hKZiXpDKA_3hglWgbk5psc8ATvNE-VFbKlmHCpFRHaClcHdg4jSoWEbbbRV96dUtep6UVBXoy_b8ryB_gHnmyjQASrDgU45XgLUrR2HVtWThhuUm7/w480-h640/20230413_091149.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirByIMAUk-7hjJYokf4P6W8uOtLvndTphpFpQQuSsVbDpPBifG-mZtt3TuX6jy_NeNE6tg-SwDO_r5ngRAkmp75YjJlnATIkHP0d8g8b1JZBdgOEvh8l31wHW5sCYmqVh7ga_I8OsdtIfeemYnIB1udtjHKhQNHF02YxXyUDNVuoVXcH-PsaP_004p9q_w/s3264/20230413_091242.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirByIMAUk-7hjJYokf4P6W8uOtLvndTphpFpQQuSsVbDpPBifG-mZtt3TuX6jy_NeNE6tg-SwDO_r5ngRAkmp75YjJlnATIkHP0d8g8b1JZBdgOEvh8l31wHW5sCYmqVh7ga_I8OsdtIfeemYnIB1udtjHKhQNHF02YxXyUDNVuoVXcH-PsaP_004p9q_w/w480-h640/20230413_091242.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBkpmPLmddwDFdozvSfacXV2VoVtlSTwGACbtIOuAPFX07b4m9LhcbCxyjZ2xNXpphr7Ymnq_DISNDVUd44reD9z0hqRe7rA5NAR2h7iT3O-RSGTEWFC7_QH77sFCpt3EFpVEVUnPd3JttZWWSJ4m0OSw1_b0W5pvHopcbl8R0Z9gFFxq4banpWpgXB96/s3264/20230413_091351.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBkpmPLmddwDFdozvSfacXV2VoVtlSTwGACbtIOuAPFX07b4m9LhcbCxyjZ2xNXpphr7Ymnq_DISNDVUd44reD9z0hqRe7rA5NAR2h7iT3O-RSGTEWFC7_QH77sFCpt3EFpVEVUnPd3JttZWWSJ4m0OSw1_b0W5pvHopcbl8R0Z9gFFxq4banpWpgXB96/w400-h300/20230413_091351.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15G8EtNUBy9JJi8m1kTlHEi_mU4UjehjfBXMm3pcq0giTjQ3kx35yNVoiNKWCR5TFS7EXdKwdohrdyCsR7jbzb-2l5AXUaZc8oUBwmQ_ZBSx7iKyJFMG9v50COpDMLeQ4arCEwJuZoc14XmtpwKKi0YxiSlyRD6bzPMsnxzpguemh9wTeSKmq7teEObf0/s3264/20230413_091434.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15G8EtNUBy9JJi8m1kTlHEi_mU4UjehjfBXMm3pcq0giTjQ3kx35yNVoiNKWCR5TFS7EXdKwdohrdyCsR7jbzb-2l5AXUaZc8oUBwmQ_ZBSx7iKyJFMG9v50COpDMLeQ4arCEwJuZoc14XmtpwKKi0YxiSlyRD6bzPMsnxzpguemh9wTeSKmq7teEObf0/w400-h300/20230413_091434.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuL6A3snZjTzPdzGbvbBPrgEvnIgs9-3Wg4Vk3Yasyv5v4lBmPLiG8CF0QjLiDmP_vd_u9EZ5pMOhiUtaiauRF9UWXxNFi-Eo0YPgzIv2gzFUau2HOXHogrXou2uimw3gFt1NoocLP2cQgmmu-gm1VqNr9t2gTVWui_-ToRSi3ijTiAxbRnbpxIo70Ckq5/s3264/20230413_091838.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuL6A3snZjTzPdzGbvbBPrgEvnIgs9-3Wg4Vk3Yasyv5v4lBmPLiG8CF0QjLiDmP_vd_u9EZ5pMOhiUtaiauRF9UWXxNFi-Eo0YPgzIv2gzFUau2HOXHogrXou2uimw3gFt1NoocLP2cQgmmu-gm1VqNr9t2gTVWui_-ToRSi3ijTiAxbRnbpxIo70Ckq5/w400-h300/20230413_091838.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLsR7b9OxiP-0PxtX6J7Ec9jPdT7U8LgqGY1g6g2gVY1mCQARtpUEdFMW_H5Z6lc2jnGrxJfqZvGMADQS8rQK7giryu6kN0pbeQob4j9Bp81pvQrDdBwYGhjpM_-oJtkXaydlil4zwJh09qBfIJBI3_r2T-GDU9lX6CKsJxlhw6Frpu5CJ_BD5m_tMNJX/s3264/20230413_093059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLsR7b9OxiP-0PxtX6J7Ec9jPdT7U8LgqGY1g6g2gVY1mCQARtpUEdFMW_H5Z6lc2jnGrxJfqZvGMADQS8rQK7giryu6kN0pbeQob4j9Bp81pvQrDdBwYGhjpM_-oJtkXaydlil4zwJh09qBfIJBI3_r2T-GDU9lX6CKsJxlhw6Frpu5CJ_BD5m_tMNJX/w400-h300/20230413_093059.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpez6bCUrSgoEWmLcz4LowUwGTnZSDCWRVFTGeym8UyKKpGKMfke4UEnhX4DfERrMmNa2W3RfrpktiUT9yPOZV6iUDb4zhWpoEONWn-Mxsu8isqy2NecXh3rjMmrl1Ia5kEk9mfqG0Wy3WcVtPXF56H51X9a2iQyto6L7i9TRf2EFJuUyE8P-SPUzdKYM/s3264/20230413_092849.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpez6bCUrSgoEWmLcz4LowUwGTnZSDCWRVFTGeym8UyKKpGKMfke4UEnhX4DfERrMmNa2W3RfrpktiUT9yPOZV6iUDb4zhWpoEONWn-Mxsu8isqy2NecXh3rjMmrl1Ia5kEk9mfqG0Wy3WcVtPXF56H51X9a2iQyto6L7i9TRf2EFJuUyE8P-SPUzdKYM/w480-h640/20230413_092849.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>We totally just enjoyed exploring, checking out each new view from a different vantage point and truly enjoying God's creation!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafC8arbMt5CoSb-tWp0Ow5kLU5m_HewhOyXdyCqTTYvQliKDSRVp8x3bLZH8hdgFbV4WxKV4HrXRcIzAtxR-Ydc4gs4LyQ_qSm4M2jKXpllpFu3-NaqA3PIy9Hi_tR0kvjnODtqJq5SjD_61LN2keQg4eab4ChJnVBp8G7lmSG6G8SXWIzocwPOgQ73Ck/s2560/20230413_093259.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafC8arbMt5CoSb-tWp0Ow5kLU5m_HewhOyXdyCqTTYvQliKDSRVp8x3bLZH8hdgFbV4WxKV4HrXRcIzAtxR-Ydc4gs4LyQ_qSm4M2jKXpllpFu3-NaqA3PIy9Hi_tR0kvjnODtqJq5SjD_61LN2keQg4eab4ChJnVBp8G7lmSG6G8SXWIzocwPOgQ73Ck/w400-h300/20230413_093259.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2wlRndYdx4kjFdpWRqHv-1SDK7I84r05sxqf0G7AaG2Ot9y33H8qSoDlE9MbkzEFwP-aDY0Js127abBNNMXoCU2RgDE6OY02qNnympGNm-r0WtWuUCc8Vni0G14py07EZuV-k79ItQthfBEPM2dr9Z-Faiv6l9_xm1sU48HzL86OsOMV7Y9lGhlQ0BrP/s3264/20230413_093930.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2wlRndYdx4kjFdpWRqHv-1SDK7I84r05sxqf0G7AaG2Ot9y33H8qSoDlE9MbkzEFwP-aDY0Js127abBNNMXoCU2RgDE6OY02qNnympGNm-r0WtWuUCc8Vni0G14py07EZuV-k79ItQthfBEPM2dr9Z-Faiv6l9_xm1sU48HzL86OsOMV7Y9lGhlQ0BrP/w480-h640/20230413_093930.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Naturally there would be part of a castle here too. :-)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfOC_6I-ro1NnPPOusfloxF2AZNqDdGpmLNJE6QX6No9xnr5fEIzd-3GiefsMfyJ1F_6FUearsu91kL6MUElp69ZC-yVDXkKqmjCJBqZIOTfa_-gySzGvD8WLroRcVpf4jIK19t00qrsgzqGELy2A1MWhLhIHkJGBxwRt7vAmdGlL9-k1L-56I6epXMBG/s3264/20230413_094120.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfOC_6I-ro1NnPPOusfloxF2AZNqDdGpmLNJE6QX6No9xnr5fEIzd-3GiefsMfyJ1F_6FUearsu91kL6MUElp69ZC-yVDXkKqmjCJBqZIOTfa_-gySzGvD8WLroRcVpf4jIK19t00qrsgzqGELy2A1MWhLhIHkJGBxwRt7vAmdGlL9-k1L-56I6epXMBG/w400-h300/20230413_094120.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8F6cE4SoXs1BX-FZ4CqmLjCIxsIUEsQt_QIWB7TwsLNG_LTsM-UYZIPRd9-CcCno267nnPBsPRfWFOzyi6Z7gpqXMgKnhXaPqtr9q3OOKsSKEbh-WJMoamqnmYcQPVdYMVe1NPwlteKpx7CbaY882x--Jgm362VOCcaJ5YSZm6-006V5MNb6h5Q-LDhq/s3264/20230413_094421.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8F6cE4SoXs1BX-FZ4CqmLjCIxsIUEsQt_QIWB7TwsLNG_LTsM-UYZIPRd9-CcCno267nnPBsPRfWFOzyi6Z7gpqXMgKnhXaPqtr9q3OOKsSKEbh-WJMoamqnmYcQPVdYMVe1NPwlteKpx7CbaY882x--Jgm362VOCcaJ5YSZm6-006V5MNb6h5Q-LDhq/w480-h640/20230413_094421.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JAKlQAYubimVFldCMG7ahid6KQVtSiwT0k1g8B0Q5SqfUomdOD5DnX9WEmPV06g2kgoEaszEUmBIAU7R8bjy9G9xv4hptXBKJdNBTMlForxK8j5ZIsjXmUUfdIQKaUY6kfvS0EfCxwdJ6lbIZ467lpVM0dPtePLtuVWCeSzrl1dBOYxQpnmZ-iJcZ-su/s3264/20230413_094511.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JAKlQAYubimVFldCMG7ahid6KQVtSiwT0k1g8B0Q5SqfUomdOD5DnX9WEmPV06g2kgoEaszEUmBIAU7R8bjy9G9xv4hptXBKJdNBTMlForxK8j5ZIsjXmUUfdIQKaUY6kfvS0EfCxwdJ6lbIZ467lpVM0dPtePLtuVWCeSzrl1dBOYxQpnmZ-iJcZ-su/w400-h300/20230413_094511.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MrNPoAZnYyqilLrJAoz5x_hT8uF4uq5x3vVidyTitkerRq_Y783Sgig0gHX3kwmwLxKeOIIzp_hp-7KclDG32oq1YUdw0qkanCWDCOMYz21qrYEucm5ntq6SApJiNx-etfQWK2held1lbtHYCkieewxdCekaYDK9ayKCtOPXmnBGuIQY4cW1bu0idgZZ/s3264/20230413_094704.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MrNPoAZnYyqilLrJAoz5x_hT8uF4uq5x3vVidyTitkerRq_Y783Sgig0gHX3kwmwLxKeOIIzp_hp-7KclDG32oq1YUdw0qkanCWDCOMYz21qrYEucm5ntq6SApJiNx-etfQWK2held1lbtHYCkieewxdCekaYDK9ayKCtOPXmnBGuIQY4cW1bu0idgZZ/w400-h300/20230413_094704.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycU8fp2jxYt4WRKdE7vYCF7euUptBpKXEz6fVn9qnbLadRFSfJQR1aO1RjYmQeseUpcPUbNuKCJTVA4UAtjnLrgXW3D7b6V9p9j7dtzk__EvLbJj10cKo2HWAIPmvyuUBTAJsGaMmEofuaeAYngp80ncK5Qju9BoISq2EFfNJsQa_AMeeFyK_EAVhwq1U/s3264/20230413_095230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycU8fp2jxYt4WRKdE7vYCF7euUptBpKXEz6fVn9qnbLadRFSfJQR1aO1RjYmQeseUpcPUbNuKCJTVA4UAtjnLrgXW3D7b6V9p9j7dtzk__EvLbJj10cKo2HWAIPmvyuUBTAJsGaMmEofuaeAYngp80ncK5Qju9BoISq2EFfNJsQa_AMeeFyK_EAVhwq1U/w400-h300/20230413_095230.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIwjlfxdn4QGfcgfuLeJne0KOjx9MQoyfU6E4euk3x9mDORGuFNjSdZeGR2RV4Rq24Xyq1V5APHGa2f8vPUz24VnJLIUC5fiLjWyXTL3RzOo_NpRs2B2GbK91chwK18xKMke7OC1gjSJzSZO4XN0kSjArDN1YwS4To7VHdNfSiMRuKn-Y1b7qGol2k9Rt/s3264/20230413_095826.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIwjlfxdn4QGfcgfuLeJne0KOjx9MQoyfU6E4euk3x9mDORGuFNjSdZeGR2RV4Rq24Xyq1V5APHGa2f8vPUz24VnJLIUC5fiLjWyXTL3RzOo_NpRs2B2GbK91chwK18xKMke7OC1gjSJzSZO4XN0kSjArDN1YwS4To7VHdNfSiMRuKn-Y1b7qGol2k9Rt/w400-h300/20230413_095826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA22vXZycsDIVokEeY3eNRTVFmsTLA--4hn2l0NUyd-Egwll3-3cSLYzmVDL1BaJ6NLulNDCA7gvCc1T-FwNH-wRi4dgQqzz7Ie7zXTWG6YvVbKNNwtBzds7_uDxWx7ZKPjZlYOtJ2G5gpwOsHZ5LOAYYNpPlSvlTNkv4D6wYMu2fN9VDZLLkG0-cF0ca4/s3264/20230413_095655.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA22vXZycsDIVokEeY3eNRTVFmsTLA--4hn2l0NUyd-Egwll3-3cSLYzmVDL1BaJ6NLulNDCA7gvCc1T-FwNH-wRi4dgQqzz7Ie7zXTWG6YvVbKNNwtBzds7_uDxWx7ZKPjZlYOtJ2G5gpwOsHZ5LOAYYNpPlSvlTNkv4D6wYMu2fN9VDZLLkG0-cF0ca4/w400-h300/20230413_095655.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimp8JvsS36y586DVgBX24ALdYvv60SmIMdkraK4VzbZVTJnJqsK3HRWdjv4M4jAPbVi3jlh9SDitjFkaEc-TUp5_THo1EDJOfuwqZvcDVC0SIkRez0MjRhWuElp8omYnB-03RQ0M-IToICgiBzuWohA_-FFJhUnwyQ71rAY7TvnNWQgTxu1edfv86ZQzW4/s3264/20230413_100050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimp8JvsS36y586DVgBX24ALdYvv60SmIMdkraK4VzbZVTJnJqsK3HRWdjv4M4jAPbVi3jlh9SDitjFkaEc-TUp5_THo1EDJOfuwqZvcDVC0SIkRez0MjRhWuElp8omYnB-03RQ0M-IToICgiBzuWohA_-FFJhUnwyQ71rAY7TvnNWQgTxu1edfv86ZQzW4/w400-h300/20230413_100050.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8VK1VYFq-NFg-Lu5Nf7FDO3BbRPC0sbTrpVZHQrhzxgYg9p5V36BgNCcc8LtP-yYc4zNp1AYJTgnbY0yFVxasIvIL1vL_DkBwPftbs0qPEa9T5N1e2IvttWa4I_3-bW6tRD4C5oH4BlZuIQL3Ep0mUdaYhHMuC237v4Z8Vj6H1HaPhUZKMjBeUrqJpGH/s3264/20230413_103107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8VK1VYFq-NFg-Lu5Nf7FDO3BbRPC0sbTrpVZHQrhzxgYg9p5V36BgNCcc8LtP-yYc4zNp1AYJTgnbY0yFVxasIvIL1vL_DkBwPftbs0qPEa9T5N1e2IvttWa4I_3-bW6tRD4C5oH4BlZuIQL3Ep0mUdaYhHMuC237v4Z8Vj6H1HaPhUZKMjBeUrqJpGH/w480-h640/20230413_103107.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Malcolm and I took the hike back to the care together. We were ahead of the others and had plenty of time to stop and pick up rocks and throw them in every puddle we passed.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5ZIKCpWs2pWgLo5K5JZLWJr1f3CEs1SSkyamd0HmvCAeXE67QuKX9llXd1VJ8AZ5aOFiOGUwSOFcmsPwaptcnPknNVVQ_-Y_vYO0Rh8_ssTWWXPGjebH2ptHd2FgbME3rsZTR3koYzOvyuKCrI0RttAWFA1JFYyrrtZqCPpg7wdrT0fDHO5hal2gBV8O/s3264/20230413_113922.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5ZIKCpWs2pWgLo5K5JZLWJr1f3CEs1SSkyamd0HmvCAeXE67QuKX9llXd1VJ8AZ5aOFiOGUwSOFcmsPwaptcnPknNVVQ_-Y_vYO0Rh8_ssTWWXPGjebH2ptHd2FgbME3rsZTR3koYzOvyuKCrI0RttAWFA1JFYyrrtZqCPpg7wdrT0fDHO5hal2gBV8O/w400-h300/20230413_113922.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We took the long way "home" and went down to see the town of Lahinch which was on the coast.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJPq7q790j6kteNPyhQcGlmUdW6N8_Lu4J38q75O4kwM-J4Ohj5UrO4EYaE1QbMSySPeDKI-4sUi2O1JGFbLJ0rY3g0JnhV7VPDKFCIAB4r1TEsysHT2kE-o2Ahck4vVoAGrYzEgqq54lQafDI6MpzYiH5KyV8KOUmrD6uVuaj_r4SxVbKEoq6hF6i7NB/s3264/20230413_114014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJPq7q790j6kteNPyhQcGlmUdW6N8_Lu4J38q75O4kwM-J4Ohj5UrO4EYaE1QbMSySPeDKI-4sUi2O1JGFbLJ0rY3g0JnhV7VPDKFCIAB4r1TEsysHT2kE-o2Ahck4vVoAGrYzEgqq54lQafDI6MpzYiH5KyV8KOUmrD6uVuaj_r4SxVbKEoq6hF6i7NB/w400-h300/20230413_114014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdZEL56Tk4d2qX3mf9eWDxJLN4S3BnrSbq_n_JYbNrygK4RZsfJ699fvYfTTHQbvF3BoaqC1PjDJknSN8iEC2L_kVvbbAU_TAoaAUJ5VHwaOjV0T04xsvY3dBGfOD1scVlLtj30kwCPAOhvXOcRnjOHpqNUQ6AUPo-j894BEKVLQMujjRlWJw9Ah99PY3/s3264/20230413_133020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdZEL56Tk4d2qX3mf9eWDxJLN4S3BnrSbq_n_JYbNrygK4RZsfJ699fvYfTTHQbvF3BoaqC1PjDJknSN8iEC2L_kVvbbAU_TAoaAUJ5VHwaOjV0T04xsvY3dBGfOD1scVlLtj30kwCPAOhvXOcRnjOHpqNUQ6AUPo-j894BEKVLQMujjRlWJw9Ah99PY3/w400-h300/20230413_133020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>And then we drove back up to Kinvarra and saw Dunguaire castle on the outside. I found it very beautiful.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHMQnedv8kVnOnZr07WMU6LYk-hynQmfF_AsSJIX2_LwiiSuO-ic_jMJWh1zqWnGRR9XUsOTfeTKaK3JG2jYhhXPyiER17ADeifihaYe4IgUmjuOKeKDvQhSC_oJkUMS002zpwyeroY9aFgQckmqF3NikUM11GRwiZaK9Fd9v-ZTib9IWUzN9ILCLPDni/s3264/20230413_133600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHMQnedv8kVnOnZr07WMU6LYk-hynQmfF_AsSJIX2_LwiiSuO-ic_jMJWh1zqWnGRR9XUsOTfeTKaK3JG2jYhhXPyiER17ADeifihaYe4IgUmjuOKeKDvQhSC_oJkUMS002zpwyeroY9aFgQckmqF3NikUM11GRwiZaK9Fd9v-ZTib9IWUzN9ILCLPDni/w480-h640/20230413_133600.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>We were able to walk around the castle.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomQB72s8csTJrcQAuxhaLxSgrjq4zuwl9CDnqzHlWpCWEUdMV541vGe_L7OlgkbVm6XpqIEZWD6sBL42zxoi4kp41RbdqjwVoIOPzeX7NbgUGSQCvHcL6yr7v-ao7vDOZ5ixkSS0jgQdyGrDsyV5I9DgUyS0-QD3SZRAwNaqgS4R7mgcY5Es_9uNerRrQ/s3264/20230413_133657.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomQB72s8csTJrcQAuxhaLxSgrjq4zuwl9CDnqzHlWpCWEUdMV541vGe_L7OlgkbVm6XpqIEZWD6sBL42zxoi4kp41RbdqjwVoIOPzeX7NbgUGSQCvHcL6yr7v-ao7vDOZ5ixkSS0jgQdyGrDsyV5I9DgUyS0-QD3SZRAwNaqgS4R7mgcY5Es_9uNerRrQ/w480-h640/20230413_133657.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI3FNS1SFjVwKoswCQRY4yVdLdLySLaZzVPV6XZ4ANf2_0zI6wjGwiq3NvF1rtsw9k1Zoo0eplKHa8vSl25uFNv511wqwt8ue5wbaqKOo4PjOJTRaS3vrHBww6ecYCxOF_UG_Gx7oPqF5e175iWqZqhxwrQy4sTJXBRdKA9x_FqKpjsk4kJzR_7FAoEJs/s3264/20230413_133408.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI3FNS1SFjVwKoswCQRY4yVdLdLySLaZzVPV6XZ4ANf2_0zI6wjGwiq3NvF1rtsw9k1Zoo0eplKHa8vSl25uFNv511wqwt8ue5wbaqKOo4PjOJTRaS3vrHBww6ecYCxOF_UG_Gx7oPqF5e175iWqZqhxwrQy4sTJXBRdKA9x_FqKpjsk4kJzR_7FAoEJs/w400-h300/20230413_133408.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98f1qPwMwQgFA2jKW3x8__Y_FulMLDgmlU1FgoF1sYK_C4Td6Tp2mSaI6JWB7XwuiVLb2JOY6qYab8ezT9JpHsDigLp6FVoiWH_0E9Ky28dYl48rMKSKppC6IcvRG86xkIks8Eq12Tn6TTXpNTWEYlsMCZJiglC88iluIJJzt_60fIZET_qnSBDrpl9h5/s3264/20230413_140233.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98f1qPwMwQgFA2jKW3x8__Y_FulMLDgmlU1FgoF1sYK_C4Td6Tp2mSaI6JWB7XwuiVLb2JOY6qYab8ezT9JpHsDigLp6FVoiWH_0E9Ky28dYl48rMKSKppC6IcvRG86xkIks8Eq12Tn6TTXpNTWEYlsMCZJiglC88iluIJJzt_60fIZET_qnSBDrpl9h5/w400-h300/20230413_140233.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>There was a very large and cool Thatched roof hotel in Kinvarra.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9yeRPE1BKYiKxDNg24NDFC6sD-gWS7x-kO2N-JGyLWQgG79HVeazBKa6waJ0WKw2GfSfud3Z4noNWpowCILwCvCG3wMbfAeJ9ysmvQyZSlN33sahFGlmRmmo1LBVw_FvaaJyegUIrAn_hjfjfCqCwjpO1qwWomNxb9Kr38NQm_KCKScXww7YUT7qn7Bi/s3264/20230414_050039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9yeRPE1BKYiKxDNg24NDFC6sD-gWS7x-kO2N-JGyLWQgG79HVeazBKa6waJ0WKw2GfSfud3Z4noNWpowCILwCvCG3wMbfAeJ9ysmvQyZSlN33sahFGlmRmmo1LBVw_FvaaJyegUIrAn_hjfjfCqCwjpO1qwWomNxb9Kr38NQm_KCKScXww7YUT7qn7Bi/s320/20230414_050039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I found these unique little signs all over and was puzzled by them. I think from my attempt at research that the SV stands for "stop valve" but unfortunately I am still puzzled.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUs8nQICcIChZK-369mv3frRi5FpTG_Gv8Toz3v-Xm55eI8pt8vX_A1QT_klN7EKPbFIhyx7keif0eafXoVAILMWGr7Jkzjc6_5FOUqpZltsNWacz7NMePz_seKUHx-1YSZtvmH98XORLp_9wYJVh1ud37-ada7SwBHA0p23z87cn81QHzl7M6_VG85WyO/s3264/20230414_051129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUs8nQICcIChZK-369mv3frRi5FpTG_Gv8Toz3v-Xm55eI8pt8vX_A1QT_klN7EKPbFIhyx7keif0eafXoVAILMWGr7Jkzjc6_5FOUqpZltsNWacz7NMePz_seKUHx-1YSZtvmH98XORLp_9wYJVh1ud37-ada7SwBHA0p23z87cn81QHzl7M6_VG85WyO/w400-h300/20230414_051129.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Some of the sheep very near our cottage.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpbZZbCxqt3w2wFSF3kAVgRa7GNyl0qp8UchITsfiyGm3E3IAZe8BytrJVwGef4SpJ8E-m-b5aFcTcboVMcfAULMEY2PGJBNj-te1A5kYWoSVw2yBNxZlEiAclz8nhDztufuhpKtnVgZRo-Iw5C-bWnzBR_zj79S52LXeKwNE_QizZe1snxIbymUP-fwl/s3264/20230414_065057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpbZZbCxqt3w2wFSF3kAVgRa7GNyl0qp8UchITsfiyGm3E3IAZe8BytrJVwGef4SpJ8E-m-b5aFcTcboVMcfAULMEY2PGJBNj-te1A5kYWoSVw2yBNxZlEiAclz8nhDztufuhpKtnVgZRo-Iw5C-bWnzBR_zj79S52LXeKwNE_QizZe1snxIbymUP-fwl/w400-h300/20230414_065057.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Aaron, Malcolm and I went on an adventure one morning near our cottage. We found a mountain bike trail and explored it. I loved the look of the little farm above.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRsu9n9V5nlmEaC0ZEFh_kJeMAaZtBTJiafSpqjDEUXDC5f2UJbLU8Nv_v3-JbAfV-JpiR2L4r2uGjhFT96avJeXscnsY3T2C-NU_KKIx-Bx8ITG6ZeWp33CvNGsCIJCgpvIhEl9itPUuGDslxqCvn7jkuZ7F5lOFmJVyIAl9G18oRAfiRgOJgFB9Wb1L/s3264/20230414_065433.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRsu9n9V5nlmEaC0ZEFh_kJeMAaZtBTJiafSpqjDEUXDC5f2UJbLU8Nv_v3-JbAfV-JpiR2L4r2uGjhFT96avJeXscnsY3T2C-NU_KKIx-Bx8ITG6ZeWp33CvNGsCIJCgpvIhEl9itPUuGDslxqCvn7jkuZ7F5lOFmJVyIAl9G18oRAfiRgOJgFB9Wb1L/w400-h300/20230414_065433.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCIMwahXr2fGYG2WDTTvemCd7Wy_WPHjZnwD5-VLR3Lbx4iyy7pRdFP05IomUtvTKJSsYiwNoAAhle-Im88h5UM9I5dvQSduIa0VWfoCX_IiBSmhrM1PiBNe1DbebciXUANgKdsl3Kl39RLazj6kUbvEpwI3df7SmiJgbmrWp-ih0aKGWBRnVt87QKpLb/s3264/20230414_073307.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCIMwahXr2fGYG2WDTTvemCd7Wy_WPHjZnwD5-VLR3Lbx4iyy7pRdFP05IomUtvTKJSsYiwNoAAhle-Im88h5UM9I5dvQSduIa0VWfoCX_IiBSmhrM1PiBNe1DbebciXUANgKdsl3Kl39RLazj6kUbvEpwI3df7SmiJgbmrWp-ih0aKGWBRnVt87QKpLb/w480-h640/20230414_073307.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VQcK_IPdKq2N79q55XcT7-z6iFzS6cdZo-LBgCCCb33SSHcktV7fEOFkPn_ryyBb5soBkgjePMZzS2dEClT7iHvGmCCZ9l29TjlqU_fUMNxSoQyKAqg7I_7Ttp2ZA8nCoQVmcquXn-DdCt11HpYNaLzN-3gNzUXjOYigtVo6zxpWMR2sXFNewa2o3oqe/s3264/20230414_072410.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VQcK_IPdKq2N79q55XcT7-z6iFzS6cdZo-LBgCCCb33SSHcktV7fEOFkPn_ryyBb5soBkgjePMZzS2dEClT7iHvGmCCZ9l29TjlqU_fUMNxSoQyKAqg7I_7Ttp2ZA8nCoQVmcquXn-DdCt11HpYNaLzN-3gNzUXjOYigtVo6zxpWMR2sXFNewa2o3oqe/w400-h300/20230414_072410.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Views from our hike.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplO14pnKvzY5cawXnCfWjAbwOVTRtpHH-r5PZCMEeTnAs1Z_io-r3TaaJ0eAZL5h3_pfVbuYDNFQ1V6F3lC8OgyISia43wZQKQcLVH2FiF5KodGdrIo_7fcFWGawxGt6N_eAu_il_mrQzX69sEPhAx5ECyFqcHhKSf2u78hM8I8VRorqfWiKJAI4X5l2J/s3264/20230414_071917.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplO14pnKvzY5cawXnCfWjAbwOVTRtpHH-r5PZCMEeTnAs1Z_io-r3TaaJ0eAZL5h3_pfVbuYDNFQ1V6F3lC8OgyISia43wZQKQcLVH2FiF5KodGdrIo_7fcFWGawxGt6N_eAu_il_mrQzX69sEPhAx5ECyFqcHhKSf2u78hM8I8VRorqfWiKJAI4X5l2J/w400-h300/20230414_071917.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFxW-ot3lDdSb0JKwvR_7ZYJEsXfJrJzKRBESan7TpgiNlhrprzsDn9vY3-lS0Kz0M0Oh7yYIJH8RN6zB6qCjnTawsYL729Z6tTotyyM17DZq8Rd6Vl52rJLL-oB8RwAqT0pcGLPbmln9y87nTDjIh82wFntYFH-CVkAlErgsQ190TtMWMzeqT4pmBxdM/s3264/20230414_074146.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFxW-ot3lDdSb0JKwvR_7ZYJEsXfJrJzKRBESan7TpgiNlhrprzsDn9vY3-lS0Kz0M0Oh7yYIJH8RN6zB6qCjnTawsYL729Z6tTotyyM17DZq8Rd6Vl52rJLL-oB8RwAqT0pcGLPbmln9y87nTDjIh82wFntYFH-CVkAlErgsQ190TtMWMzeqT4pmBxdM/w480-h640/20230414_074146.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Aaron and Malcolm decided to slide through a culvert.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtr4fuxKIdMRHCprTKlSlD4r98zsFBEzl5wJQgdP5Rsuy1TZLL15k0joLj_Sbs_4esSsmCZbh3wSrLjua7ZIFov5eHTEYSyxwNbblLJwfIlnPLA8NFAK7fiN756qV7uBkkJiWP-cvnvY_jFWZ11GnYxO38m46v9CUuzP8AbZ-xUNgwFUItA3nx9M__Zv2M/s2560/20230414_074740.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1920" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtr4fuxKIdMRHCprTKlSlD4r98zsFBEzl5wJQgdP5Rsuy1TZLL15k0joLj_Sbs_4esSsmCZbh3wSrLjua7ZIFov5eHTEYSyxwNbblLJwfIlnPLA8NFAK7fiN756qV7uBkkJiWP-cvnvY_jFWZ11GnYxO38m46v9CUuzP8AbZ-xUNgwFUItA3nx9M__Zv2M/w480-h640/20230414_074740.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoxE4Chxzwq-CQ5v2a-0F1O1X0sfrmJSS1FAV_i0GljJeV_D6P3sfmmmsHYsKKydFIFg-HMMGat0At2zknfzdHreRL1QHC8ZGi7hhpQDMOWToaGPo0eymfh1_dDZfaUK3__XH694qxcuTuFxtINJY9iwqhxU_OdRWNF-BXNmWwZgfe5AKq4PpuhrdwKvP/s3264/20230414_080224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoxE4Chxzwq-CQ5v2a-0F1O1X0sfrmJSS1FAV_i0GljJeV_D6P3sfmmmsHYsKKydFIFg-HMMGat0At2zknfzdHreRL1QHC8ZGi7hhpQDMOWToaGPo0eymfh1_dDZfaUK3__XH694qxcuTuFxtINJY9iwqhxU_OdRWNF-BXNmWwZgfe5AKq4PpuhrdwKvP/w400-h300/20230414_080224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The "Quiet Man" bridge. It was made famous in the movie "The Quiet Man". We had to cross it every time we came and went from our AirBnB as it was part of the little road that it was on.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoztY5coR5sH4v2V-bTJR6DEZsKxrYbimPw_9LFjWHb64bDURx0_H3MIuFUslFEWl59m1H1TOzoz0hLvnhm84DM1LELMM6DCkNtYasGI2b0Rno387HjZ0bFT13oFtOTaWnMD7iVKutbFlkLtafmCsjVRbmsddoyCAtYwhl0-QrWqzrVuWOL-Hf1yDSrPz/s3264/20230414_080304.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoztY5coR5sH4v2V-bTJR6DEZsKxrYbimPw_9LFjWHb64bDURx0_H3MIuFUslFEWl59m1H1TOzoz0hLvnhm84DM1LELMM6DCkNtYasGI2b0Rno387HjZ0bFT13oFtOTaWnMD7iVKutbFlkLtafmCsjVRbmsddoyCAtYwhl0-QrWqzrVuWOL-Hf1yDSrPz/w400-h300/20230414_080304.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1ZQdU5yt9Bdc9Qb67Cz0udw9geHS2zsi0teaigIN1uApLNlskaROvfqFNk61_4UZWZZqepH_t2y3p5PsQY54_lwlmQcJObfro6iaHeCyNI9Qrm2drUztKothYLo0tA-U1lCJ5wpf1-xV3-JaLHlhy7Xc3mHm2BulcKuSvjsSq3D4mFjRRkNU5dTfeV3D/s3264/20230414_080240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1ZQdU5yt9Bdc9Qb67Cz0udw9geHS2zsi0teaigIN1uApLNlskaROvfqFNk61_4UZWZZqepH_t2y3p5PsQY54_lwlmQcJObfro6iaHeCyNI9Qrm2drUztKothYLo0tA-U1lCJ5wpf1-xV3-JaLHlhy7Xc3mHm2BulcKuSvjsSq3D4mFjRRkNU5dTfeV3D/w400-h300/20230414_080240.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhdfz7qqFY7y2B9zq0rWnkXZDXkelQpJlnMp_pcIG9MAe0T74aCEQLLtitpfIHI_EHmrMr665Q6VZ4hYhHNYQUR51BTyspzUELr7TVRMqtqWp18XR5mXO34uqX0zjFa9cLn2PXQtfkqBPPr284t9BrMja74Js_OfXOXnJCeYg0ZeAQKMYdIpc1MJPCHb2/s3264/20230415_071112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhdfz7qqFY7y2B9zq0rWnkXZDXkelQpJlnMp_pcIG9MAe0T74aCEQLLtitpfIHI_EHmrMr665Q6VZ4hYhHNYQUR51BTyspzUELr7TVRMqtqWp18XR5mXO34uqX0zjFa9cLn2PXQtfkqBPPr284t9BrMja74Js_OfXOXnJCeYg0ZeAQKMYdIpc1MJPCHb2/w400-h300/20230415_071112.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We went exploring in the Connemara region and it was gorgeous. I guess we were staying in that area to basically. The picture above is Hillary Fjord.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJek3QlGiSGc2tTQLKEBua7YNRDaIS0a5IzyKGrz8GB3zeYZJZlkTjnHBfTfgyn2WYdQIC3jMrsFL_qiiSF6wN0gjtblCG_Y513PvQUDDFMxXCNC9XDRNBJN4VyQgIvcTKy6XsZyVu3v1uz6hGRLHBrq7ush2fLoBvaYinkpCFKrSGF3W9rXpi8ziichE/s3264/20230415_073213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJek3QlGiSGc2tTQLKEBua7YNRDaIS0a5IzyKGrz8GB3zeYZJZlkTjnHBfTfgyn2WYdQIC3jMrsFL_qiiSF6wN0gjtblCG_Y513PvQUDDFMxXCNC9XDRNBJN4VyQgIvcTKy6XsZyVu3v1uz6hGRLHBrq7ush2fLoBvaYinkpCFKrSGF3W9rXpi8ziichE/w400-h300/20230415_073213.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>In this picture you can see mounds of peat that area being harvested.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5N3xxsM7MLU5VlZdOD3NLEvofumd60p4awRsEA5S6m4chR-wmdwlKMedKyUNxqDi8XEnW7COhjg22Vi-p9P78OItCchaVTmmkctJx_JZnyvWSXhbAuCMGWYe7q2_EayzufhocKnEgzWZ_OyvyCpPxPJ8bc9a9Nx9LYp7cgj1Faf3hh1FkoZLor4n44Sy/s3264/20230415_075141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5N3xxsM7MLU5VlZdOD3NLEvofumd60p4awRsEA5S6m4chR-wmdwlKMedKyUNxqDi8XEnW7COhjg22Vi-p9P78OItCchaVTmmkctJx_JZnyvWSXhbAuCMGWYe7q2_EayzufhocKnEgzWZ_OyvyCpPxPJ8bc9a9Nx9LYp7cgj1Faf3hh1FkoZLor4n44Sy/w400-h300/20230415_075141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjME2emWLsoEo7dgJIDbzBpKvbGoJtvKB5CdoZt8LptwiEV8xNJ2VPIgljD27RjdVVQsHBcYMO8sw1bbayDTCGN0AE-8aEBtyjho00sw05pr7PWDFsWcLLJkxEy6f48V7ARAN1x67-pNCSEutV5yk0QXn-zMF86oaO3RaIkPsEZ_LRAQoJxnSOj9k2qe-/s3264/20230415_075818.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjME2emWLsoEo7dgJIDbzBpKvbGoJtvKB5CdoZt8LptwiEV8xNJ2VPIgljD27RjdVVQsHBcYMO8sw1bbayDTCGN0AE-8aEBtyjho00sw05pr7PWDFsWcLLJkxEy6f48V7ARAN1x67-pNCSEutV5yk0QXn-zMF86oaO3RaIkPsEZ_LRAQoJxnSOj9k2qe-/w400-h300/20230415_075818.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Family pictures by the Fjord. It was a little chilly but pretty!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfR2mFqF70ZkEuCrP4sebaqXx9xsblzVI-y-aM3ttv27r0cn6TIo0SfP9OZXGyuJoYHPsnqGTwkn5rnBSrbHKWZtRsIN06P78pqd49ehTxUvRntB7CnHWW8EmUaeJLjYV7s9cYIzImjK0NVlM6zZ7QUyeYkUYl8TLL_ROMWCmMg2mMU5kp-_axqrLnnb-x/s3264/20230415_075823.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfR2mFqF70ZkEuCrP4sebaqXx9xsblzVI-y-aM3ttv27r0cn6TIo0SfP9OZXGyuJoYHPsnqGTwkn5rnBSrbHKWZtRsIN06P78pqd49ehTxUvRntB7CnHWW8EmUaeJLjYV7s9cYIzImjK0NVlM6zZ7QUyeYkUYl8TLL_ROMWCmMg2mMU5kp-_axqrLnnb-x/w400-h300/20230415_075823.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-NSSjIV2k4JocUQKvlsOJQKts_LEY4UHhJXAiTU-pUN8zmL9pePmxNNTyl7RMqjXK-HT-6-XNiQZktPtGjpB7fMTUTwUfcgFF88PxSEt8dqbt145CUd-wvFUwwMZXQSUAJ5OqlrY0PITRh_YiblCDQIOVUiBbgtmz246Zrzj2bli58IzPJwynip0dJA8/s3264/20230415_075906.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-NSSjIV2k4JocUQKvlsOJQKts_LEY4UHhJXAiTU-pUN8zmL9pePmxNNTyl7RMqjXK-HT-6-XNiQZktPtGjpB7fMTUTwUfcgFF88PxSEt8dqbt145CUd-wvFUwwMZXQSUAJ5OqlrY0PITRh_YiblCDQIOVUiBbgtmz246Zrzj2bli58IzPJwynip0dJA8/w400-h300/20230415_075906.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The Tuttles there too.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6N6-BV6AUmRqVtAwx5_j6wVRY7nD4OZFgmAoO0jBhqkZKUSkjBDWTQ2RMfAVoNHrPQF3TEcoxRfKbylM0MR_Dr1NQKhWHTujNXV_K9q6kx85W2Iy3j1-eGcyXCaOIHfF53tg2rRuIOiVtGEGwYgVXMaJj7uyi1ksuadRIPUSaZKdb7Y8B5G8sTWiPe08I/s3264/20230415_082212.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6N6-BV6AUmRqVtAwx5_j6wVRY7nD4OZFgmAoO0jBhqkZKUSkjBDWTQ2RMfAVoNHrPQF3TEcoxRfKbylM0MR_Dr1NQKhWHTujNXV_K9q6kx85W2Iy3j1-eGcyXCaOIHfF53tg2rRuIOiVtGEGwYgVXMaJj7uyi1ksuadRIPUSaZKdb7Y8B5G8sTWiPe08I/w480-h640/20230415_082212.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>We had a picnic there. We were going to do it on the beach but decided it was just too windy down there so we had a tailgate party instead. Malcolm was happy to have his own bag of chips.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLmsJcfg6kadIECO9WwP86cvDt1Og-25o2URsWnbTgfLrRF4GH_8qUkw1aQGCXFkwBxZNT_k1nqRin-ds_PHxHl0ZPefGFyxS71PzHB-BR2cBbxeeKH_8-BLE0wR8oh-3K4lvHdiziXl8VM9NGx3LQq5JqGH537wZwI_5mQGw9Qang3aV2l2OhAqzyRR9/s3264/20230415_085606.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLmsJcfg6kadIECO9WwP86cvDt1Og-25o2URsWnbTgfLrRF4GH_8qUkw1aQGCXFkwBxZNT_k1nqRin-ds_PHxHl0ZPefGFyxS71PzHB-BR2cBbxeeKH_8-BLE0wR8oh-3K4lvHdiziXl8VM9NGx3LQq5JqGH537wZwI_5mQGw9Qang3aV2l2OhAqzyRR9/w400-h300/20230415_085606.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Kylemore Abbey<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUEYNURPJ4_tR3Ee-NIhcNU4yjN9LkzIqhjTXETF_NPt_Oui6D4byuuq303aQQKjY38eoBhxf3nDQJ_lj_SkpZTdgrqxUcvt3jxbn2-WSER45ln0dsAYSqD_u5kmGMIJLOwMArXrMUyPS9qSZ7t9CHEmePH4gpLGr9wuiOvSZm19h8pCcatsS8zJK6TQK/s3264/20230415_090954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUEYNURPJ4_tR3Ee-NIhcNU4yjN9LkzIqhjTXETF_NPt_Oui6D4byuuq303aQQKjY38eoBhxf3nDQJ_lj_SkpZTdgrqxUcvt3jxbn2-WSER45ln0dsAYSqD_u5kmGMIJLOwMArXrMUyPS9qSZ7t9CHEmePH4gpLGr9wuiOvSZm19h8pCcatsS8zJK6TQK/w400-h300/20230415_090954.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I thought I should have a picture of Abbi in front of an Abbey.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvLc-75BGXH3R4905MsYXPKA4PSso9dVixNFIpKWI3itUsgoEimNlXMChLgnR5mUQzRNlex_vq87jOaxucWqrSB9-537U3FhtuyTXw4UuEmmYFYn7uo-JcXesIo9Y0F5w-cNIDUHI3_LfPOf25GoRh0EIsOaknErk4ASYWzaGmSPqWZlJKb2romOaTV0z/s3264/20230415_085530.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvLc-75BGXH3R4905MsYXPKA4PSso9dVixNFIpKWI3itUsgoEimNlXMChLgnR5mUQzRNlex_vq87jOaxucWqrSB9-537U3FhtuyTXw4UuEmmYFYn7uo-JcXesIo9Y0F5w-cNIDUHI3_LfPOf25GoRh0EIsOaknErk4ASYWzaGmSPqWZlJKb2romOaTV0z/w400-h300/20230415_085530.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iW98rzIjHUQSnDvusnoODUpdnVMNKAAe05-ZHU5irVI_hVau3YI04ehLEG5b82JAWxt4I1BVAo9ang0JjWoBiTvpbnXmXLPlzmu8j9ppMBc9RJFOThNTIn9HQFi2JiFNdxOUpTQmHw13G8V5XSGu7GwfxPHAe7sX-6OnS6A513q_x5vJ09_9kUP-HC3S/s3264/20230415_103159.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iW98rzIjHUQSnDvusnoODUpdnVMNKAAe05-ZHU5irVI_hVau3YI04ehLEG5b82JAWxt4I1BVAo9ang0JjWoBiTvpbnXmXLPlzmu8j9ppMBc9RJFOThNTIn9HQFi2JiFNdxOUpTQmHw13G8V5XSGu7GwfxPHAe7sX-6OnS6A513q_x5vJ09_9kUP-HC3S/w400-h300/20230415_103159.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>In Clifden I was very excited to find out there was a music festival going on. I totally enjoyed listening to the traditional Irish music. It is so fun!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FO3oaBclMbVs4WcRfMwanDSHyLFqh-ABV_p9FnTJQF84cLyNJ3jvbZlqeLkcIY3QAdwtOlZI4qgmgzn8vR8YgFs-bhxhElDajlkfgz_ALyF6JCmbSfhtjSRcOfpejfgsj98aCFlsrVHGR7vhV0ajZbLoiNJpZWLK0axv4aqB_2AucBUuL6E1bJc1_VR6/s3264/20230415_102533.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FO3oaBclMbVs4WcRfMwanDSHyLFqh-ABV_p9FnTJQF84cLyNJ3jvbZlqeLkcIY3QAdwtOlZI4qgmgzn8vR8YgFs-bhxhElDajlkfgz_ALyF6JCmbSfhtjSRcOfpejfgsj98aCFlsrVHGR7vhV0ajZbLoiNJpZWLK0axv4aqB_2AucBUuL6E1bJc1_VR6/w480-h640/20230415_102533.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Jonathan and Malcolm listening to music.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbjGHs1EyK6IWEz9hwb8U5T2vyU7cTwQBCsvbaTN8ZFaWgSvfkVwDjLVLJJO33OvsJSq4Mvv_koIjZxrgKnWYsnZN-6sFFWJjj-n9mdpcgsLvC9uAeyZIKpAwVzWa2erFI1-h6eWZBvQUip49FUTA3gcTo_dH_g572QJGOzRDSLzvl89KdZezi6QBriCW/s3264/20230415_114454.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbjGHs1EyK6IWEz9hwb8U5T2vyU7cTwQBCsvbaTN8ZFaWgSvfkVwDjLVLJJO33OvsJSq4Mvv_koIjZxrgKnWYsnZN-6sFFWJjj-n9mdpcgsLvC9uAeyZIKpAwVzWa2erFI1-h6eWZBvQUip49FUTA3gcTo_dH_g572QJGOzRDSLzvl89KdZezi6QBriCW/w400-h300/20230415_114454.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I don't know the name of this castle but it is pretty cool looking. We saw it from Sky Drive in between Clifden and Recess.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1b-61fVKQcD4x1mX60J57f8j3fA-LwnMLWc9Jl9FjAks-pO5V3FgEQWXc3EjVv12ry9lf40YYxgEbrLXkGNP1bD7jsrUc-x5vloMvcOSurVb-Q2LMeYPl15uHQ0p1LHSmouNriUASZVdggjySoecaQiMsQFVRibpymhYTllhjUZSvLMK9QDhHv3s66V4/s3264/20230416_120759.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1b-61fVKQcD4x1mX60J57f8j3fA-LwnMLWc9Jl9FjAks-pO5V3FgEQWXc3EjVv12ry9lf40YYxgEbrLXkGNP1bD7jsrUc-x5vloMvcOSurVb-Q2LMeYPl15uHQ0p1LHSmouNriUASZVdggjySoecaQiMsQFVRibpymhYTllhjUZSvLMK9QDhHv3s66V4/w480-h640/20230416_120759.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>On Sunday afternoon when we were headed to Dublin we stopped in a little town and had Megan's Birthday cake in the green (a place were they used to have markets and sell there stuff many years ago). I think it may have been Kilbeggan or Kinnegad.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSonaTquY29IHcSfpOMQLSLzAk5CduNJ2wg2_NufD3Kv2BLECUVkG_G2fJ7NUZkb3Nvp6vI0x6MXFMuokOvkZRgg6e4nK-EieC7cRQ7PL6iAwBaiKbs6Ks-IKgnBf0iw6ZkSCNWtAkKrM0awpW0aTiaou8emlyXOFN3JyTVd7NHb9XwOHTsd_lO7B-nAkH/s3264/20230416_121023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSonaTquY29IHcSfpOMQLSLzAk5CduNJ2wg2_NufD3Kv2BLECUVkG_G2fJ7NUZkb3Nvp6vI0x6MXFMuokOvkZRgg6e4nK-EieC7cRQ7PL6iAwBaiKbs6Ks-IKgnBf0iw6ZkSCNWtAkKrM0awpW0aTiaou8emlyXOFN3JyTVd7NHb9XwOHTsd_lO7B-nAkH/w480-h640/20230416_121023.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>We explore a neat cemetery surrounding a church building that was next to the green.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGwg3eIJlmLVoe4jQpfgUSAZqMZkQ9aKibEQniCxBZEdn9bJkPDH-QlO9IGs2HZvwZffUAk-f0Uvn66DuKxu5gAaOwcj-viY7-luaTWeYqwm73wAeqhBigiTuaghzr2XpEKJsbxlC8bwAiuuvFQrDKVjWrYwo96LEp4yUifBfzj_u-65DTthUu-02tWs2/s3264/20230417_060151.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGwg3eIJlmLVoe4jQpfgUSAZqMZkQ9aKibEQniCxBZEdn9bJkPDH-QlO9IGs2HZvwZffUAk-f0Uvn66DuKxu5gAaOwcj-viY7-luaTWeYqwm73wAeqhBigiTuaghzr2XpEKJsbxlC8bwAiuuvFQrDKVjWrYwo96LEp4yUifBfzj_u-65DTthUu-02tWs2/w480-h640/20230417_060151.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>At the Harcourt Hotel on Sunday night.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmXplNkdS0kr3prQHBg-nxNmpd6d4hrOGzlIJ0OvD2Ul416IdcVSCkhokuZV5UgXlkiYdnX8RDI1QhGkE3Udc8Uaw_wxVcVzyCncMLAUCTfTNT4cVlwlvlYkJIJrkHUEGkwfzYcHjLt2FvjP5g7LF4NStAd5Wce1bRMEmFtV3kg-DLR5BdDv7L0bGTqqO/s3264/20230417_060345.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmXplNkdS0kr3prQHBg-nxNmpd6d4hrOGzlIJ0OvD2Ul416IdcVSCkhokuZV5UgXlkiYdnX8RDI1QhGkE3Udc8Uaw_wxVcVzyCncMLAUCTfTNT4cVlwlvlYkJIJrkHUEGkwfzYcHjLt2FvjP5g7LF4NStAd5Wce1bRMEmFtV3kg-DLR5BdDv7L0bGTqqO/w400-h300/20230417_060345.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLLAzcS3fyO8CoPhfK6H1-gDCYYCB5mtg9UtZKpHlnTlKLphrh1WlTQlEjln2nRgY1LQoz3c2XBMrtn-1-Jd6sG6Cpx1bR_veYkHrAx9_fEaN4TEJ5bNhPzDPO0j9c1swd0_bw0YcDD6q8ReSFY5l-RXTpME81R7aiuUqyhZl93DYf7odgUgDZM-2ibd1/s3264/20230417_061805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLLAzcS3fyO8CoPhfK6H1-gDCYYCB5mtg9UtZKpHlnTlKLphrh1WlTQlEjln2nRgY1LQoz3c2XBMrtn-1-Jd6sG6Cpx1bR_veYkHrAx9_fEaN4TEJ5bNhPzDPO0j9c1swd0_bw0YcDD6q8ReSFY5l-RXTpME81R7aiuUqyhZl93DYf7odgUgDZM-2ibd1/w480-h640/20230417_061805.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>The caretakers cottage in St. Stephen's Green in Dublin.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBniAg4_R6dVd682NQZzHnON8GKKP6R_TD8aeQYVf7ZEMjHZZstL3EsEEryEvG-0VyoknKZLCseCNXzXFsN3SSLfsbO-Q-6ghQznUKsN9ElJ03T_GSDd7FkbfSeXYaePQiZPhkMeYqyH5TswlEtTaeA_hXAHFPQN6uNjf8EoW75dH_0gVChlUiZVR61kEZ/s3264/20230417_062612.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBniAg4_R6dVd682NQZzHnON8GKKP6R_TD8aeQYVf7ZEMjHZZstL3EsEEryEvG-0VyoknKZLCseCNXzXFsN3SSLfsbO-Q-6ghQznUKsN9ElJ03T_GSDd7FkbfSeXYaePQiZPhkMeYqyH5TswlEtTaeA_hXAHFPQN6uNjf8EoW75dH_0gVChlUiZVR61kEZ/w400-h300/20230417_062612.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>St. Stephen's Green was a beautiful place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBdBccuW7AxBBflh7fc6aiy0GJbheFFBoEelhi4UW1c_7b4qqinD3OJdUiDKsFEG-FR07lnXNKmk8R5jjXchA9cpz9QSXgqm1n9TI7bhGHeVTZ3jupLQjHuLx3vijBgUb1fk3RKhKIfKVmnKdQeN6Htno7iXNwCj58poNu8Z2c2xsNKeahneRBi6sZs9j/s3264/20230417_063628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBdBccuW7AxBBflh7fc6aiy0GJbheFFBoEelhi4UW1c_7b4qqinD3OJdUiDKsFEG-FR07lnXNKmk8R5jjXchA9cpz9QSXgqm1n9TI7bhGHeVTZ3jupLQjHuLx3vijBgUb1fk3RKhKIfKVmnKdQeN6Htno7iXNwCj58poNu8Z2c2xsNKeahneRBi6sZs9j/w400-h300/20230417_063628.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwkvJPVzb-t7HD8wTu7kR1k6d44sIb9duo6v5udw-5pS78mf2qSEioR4Qc2YVBopYO3d-82lWV38hruhspRrdOS37UYTS02oLvvSGqqamsN-u702MoH_gl57dMqsAkw51XNGKNSqfxTRApIRr5zQgU1ZUzd7nW8TkQqWRfDNGE_RNNh6_VEjzMZq-d_ha/s3264/20230417_063656.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwkvJPVzb-t7HD8wTu7kR1k6d44sIb9duo6v5udw-5pS78mf2qSEioR4Qc2YVBopYO3d-82lWV38hruhspRrdOS37UYTS02oLvvSGqqamsN-u702MoH_gl57dMqsAkw51XNGKNSqfxTRApIRr5zQgU1ZUzd7nW8TkQqWRfDNGE_RNNh6_VEjzMZq-d_ha/w400-h300/20230417_063656.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAvFMyV6-BaxRaOjlDDjDABMFsa5i-zFluq2c-Qi5VqOL8o8TH9GVIdcSVTI1hiBxVbwiHiuvcvr2tzkvMXaT39FUU4PKmix0PZvsp3Us6rTmqbRNWZRY04COPL1pBwqBcKBHZ9v7maf6ALf_RUtqNjh7uGU8kg2uw1x7I_U0CIRrtY4sl0CTbQqoaScO/s3264/20230417_063855.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAvFMyV6-BaxRaOjlDDjDABMFsa5i-zFluq2c-Qi5VqOL8o8TH9GVIdcSVTI1hiBxVbwiHiuvcvr2tzkvMXaT39FUU4PKmix0PZvsp3Us6rTmqbRNWZRY04COPL1pBwqBcKBHZ9v7maf6ALf_RUtqNjh7uGU8kg2uw1x7I_U0CIRrtY4sl0CTbQqoaScO/w480-h640/20230417_063855.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNqNmvGAcwUbZmfDQELUU1xYw-Y3_DmxLI9_w-oCcLLnqiztpE3BPQdtcMqBlc1hFgJEV4EzmpVW4lGVvNHMfldW1k4rhNAIUsi5clqJTPM0l4mvF3azGJelGTCi4qMiI3emzF3865_ZtYutq0J20iTkbPtOR8LsKM-Aq4avNzFGI2RjDErmpnPe8RYTD/s3264/20230417_063740.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNqNmvGAcwUbZmfDQELUU1xYw-Y3_DmxLI9_w-oCcLLnqiztpE3BPQdtcMqBlc1hFgJEV4EzmpVW4lGVvNHMfldW1k4rhNAIUsi5clqJTPM0l4mvF3azGJelGTCi4qMiI3emzF3865_ZtYutq0J20iTkbPtOR8LsKM-Aq4avNzFGI2RjDErmpnPe8RYTD/w480-h640/20230417_063740.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9sDXU7eW_N4obzicoPMaJO0KBeJWvKGp7rleM_TidYfPCTB8MDJbd6gK8o8XBDshzkTSOfWGT67VUp1m8gP3O9a8twjnD0By90R4fMmP5sac6D3Kx8NMrtMPn3stxlzGIlAwe4PAUrgAM0pRX2qUZAu_JDICV9l5PRGr9iN2_XssGna-KjA5AHHzmyqf/s3264/20230417_065749.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9sDXU7eW_N4obzicoPMaJO0KBeJWvKGp7rleM_TidYfPCTB8MDJbd6gK8o8XBDshzkTSOfWGT67VUp1m8gP3O9a8twjnD0By90R4fMmP5sac6D3Kx8NMrtMPn3stxlzGIlAwe4PAUrgAM0pRX2qUZAu_JDICV9l5PRGr9iN2_XssGna-KjA5AHHzmyqf/w480-h640/20230417_065749.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Walking around in Dublin.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2uX0eGWlgZmbvf-sSjSEo2h5_wlIfw5XbX41SywWtYYdqErpjZgsc2kHFuJrsruuYBm22rTLjdQgLd2qi1W-3Xi2Yyz1e6L6VYKkwp_I2csajsym74fettMcDgNBQsMuUAqUU9s6R5oKVPg6lpFv63h_hdGefsfqhY_xR07aCpm6rLD1zM-rDjiaJhgl/s3264/20230417_070720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2uX0eGWlgZmbvf-sSjSEo2h5_wlIfw5XbX41SywWtYYdqErpjZgsc2kHFuJrsruuYBm22rTLjdQgLd2qi1W-3Xi2Yyz1e6L6VYKkwp_I2csajsym74fettMcDgNBQsMuUAqUU9s6R5oKVPg6lpFv63h_hdGefsfqhY_xR07aCpm6rLD1zM-rDjiaJhgl/w480-h640/20230417_070720.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWilBoTRt9fZcf-MFkJvzxbm_uU7u5VI7GGqp4brSWi_i7EbWTAKlXDNiwLJ4BVCYjOzoQEoRwlv8tohV1YyswIHyF-5ehwJnzfogrD6hYmUq0BWpjVWqTOwdcFmh-Bny1GdVx9ZnXmI7vC4pcu1hJhPgWcSI9zcTcnKl6adb50KCAGmMm_XAn3hRkeHej/s3264/20230417_074952.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWilBoTRt9fZcf-MFkJvzxbm_uU7u5VI7GGqp4brSWi_i7EbWTAKlXDNiwLJ4BVCYjOzoQEoRwlv8tohV1YyswIHyF-5ehwJnzfogrD6hYmUq0BWpjVWqTOwdcFmh-Bny1GdVx9ZnXmI7vC4pcu1hJhPgWcSI9zcTcnKl6adb50KCAGmMm_XAn3hRkeHej/w400-h300/20230417_074952.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Dublin Castle.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Rr_DhVgbDWnp8pinwDRxYq80RVGElDCX_hJFyW-XVh9zdXCo6fg1JLqhZ2q6CUatha29h4LKdU1uojATDTtvZ_naNbn1xKTBED7qV2uVfbaV-dYMYUYktPRfDVH72ogZB6lW2hsbaKbE2wJWzkNLOhpEsczXFFfvqVZ7g0PaYRPkm6dFxsdp45GEbAp9/s3264/20230417_073608.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Rr_DhVgbDWnp8pinwDRxYq80RVGElDCX_hJFyW-XVh9zdXCo6fg1JLqhZ2q6CUatha29h4LKdU1uojATDTtvZ_naNbn1xKTBED7qV2uVfbaV-dYMYUYktPRfDVH72ogZB6lW2hsbaKbE2wJWzkNLOhpEsczXFFfvqVZ7g0PaYRPkm6dFxsdp45GEbAp9/w400-h300/20230417_073608.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>At the Chester Beatty Museum (which was free). Some 3rd century parchments from the Bible. Super cool!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8_-MlA5tkFxQIyz3k5uIGPiYsMd03xkc8LnaMTKsIMRFIizEctOiTmWIYtQcjGOglRQctfe7VgojtKqZ84YcvPtgpVO7sF6-BRvWVgilgpvT4TOskzuQPRRav1V95kTSzp4OozmzddcarIPyRmhXYH-sviEflfL2_8F7ULFuLQ20Xl2o3zV4bFgGRF6E/s3264/20230417_073833.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8_-MlA5tkFxQIyz3k5uIGPiYsMd03xkc8LnaMTKsIMRFIizEctOiTmWIYtQcjGOglRQctfe7VgojtKqZ84YcvPtgpVO7sF6-BRvWVgilgpvT4TOskzuQPRRav1V95kTSzp4OozmzddcarIPyRmhXYH-sviEflfL2_8F7ULFuLQ20Xl2o3zV4bFgGRF6E/w300-h400/20230417_073833.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEb4nwkhW-fopYmIL5wTfc0rlYZNH_BAyd0DGfvSk2PRAb2xi8Wb0Xmj6KvWhpXpAQ7JkcFKCb_60oeNzjSIB5coTrZd2Zp0Z2JGqqPAB9vCdO5uhc2gjArX8vyGIwBiQQ5UJSLWI2KSl0shlflbyAsjs4SKFf3NzJgZe1SKPa1n3_d_zz-sKVAZuFMxgF/s3264/20230417_075858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEb4nwkhW-fopYmIL5wTfc0rlYZNH_BAyd0DGfvSk2PRAb2xi8Wb0Xmj6KvWhpXpAQ7JkcFKCb_60oeNzjSIB5coTrZd2Zp0Z2JGqqPAB9vCdO5uhc2gjArX8vyGIwBiQQ5UJSLWI2KSl0shlflbyAsjs4SKFf3NzJgZe1SKPa1n3_d_zz-sKVAZuFMxgF/w400-h300/20230417_075858.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>At the Chester Beatty<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE82q2AsoVt7vp9MPREqtjnWzOWCEhXW9QwjS1KUguiDmkqquX3dUQ4XdK0rSao9CFCm6tNTRs80r4NBpJfbU194VcAQyjDpnoLLEYj8FwFFRlLbl2Tpx9N1oBBCgif3E--ZzTKPqsq5NTf-7gT2a5qRmQEBimbJaDLrVPiiVbROU8Hij_xPDTo1i9e48f/s3264/20230417_081355.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE82q2AsoVt7vp9MPREqtjnWzOWCEhXW9QwjS1KUguiDmkqquX3dUQ4XdK0rSao9CFCm6tNTRs80r4NBpJfbU194VcAQyjDpnoLLEYj8FwFFRlLbl2Tpx9N1oBBCgif3E--ZzTKPqsq5NTf-7gT2a5qRmQEBimbJaDLrVPiiVbROU8Hij_xPDTo1i9e48f/w400-h300/20230417_081355.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I think this was Dublin Castle again.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-6wx9FtLM1qWhTTD4yxubH84JxdcFOmaH_7nkEX8e8bNwCGAx1hOnQYR54Q9yShX-6s89oavrCdIY_3WHTcje9heAtWv33cCrEZOhhcLs41YJXex-E645xEpfwWBlTSvU5S1MM3gvc6K1gzTt-_e39DIoLpLnMd2jaXJiIarVpbAZLfeR-BHLdy2GPgw/s3264/20230417_082249.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-6wx9FtLM1qWhTTD4yxubH84JxdcFOmaH_7nkEX8e8bNwCGAx1hOnQYR54Q9yShX-6s89oavrCdIY_3WHTcje9heAtWv33cCrEZOhhcLs41YJXex-E645xEpfwWBlTSvU5S1MM3gvc6K1gzTt-_e39DIoLpLnMd2jaXJiIarVpbAZLfeR-BHLdy2GPgw/w400-h300/20230417_082249.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Christ Church Cathedral.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQiEp2fl3lzCs3mGLh6jTHhxl42mrR0Ek3H8Kswj2lcJfso_w4V84wNacSdn0rAr1wUYS_XydVggqbiYx0Cs2veaMBFln_YYqGXlsibRxZvwUqMQng_mg_jmvV0gr5GbOw9SYm-f4KJePHWG96N85sC1rC2ztrn2SorjrqpXkUW-1Fa3CgmF0rlljMNo_/s3264/20230417_083343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQiEp2fl3lzCs3mGLh6jTHhxl42mrR0Ek3H8Kswj2lcJfso_w4V84wNacSdn0rAr1wUYS_XydVggqbiYx0Cs2veaMBFln_YYqGXlsibRxZvwUqMQng_mg_jmvV0gr5GbOw9SYm-f4KJePHWG96N85sC1rC2ztrn2SorjrqpXkUW-1Fa3CgmF0rlljMNo_/w400-h300/20230417_083343.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It was huge - it even went over a main road.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_cvBruWKVmmVuQAPMClZJP5er3DdShyEjTrtIzCulgPTdQB7W12sH2_mcZYzk39cjPsVWyhmLWze6QQ92XBt9HrGRvOqic7sscU6MU2keqX785rCvUL_EGayiMNmP0X2NayDWhQ4JRjjAmvGOKFnyC0S21uFJs2u8q_k2AB_-ih90RVTuaRU_RAefTzY/s3264/20230417_083551.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_cvBruWKVmmVuQAPMClZJP5er3DdShyEjTrtIzCulgPTdQB7W12sH2_mcZYzk39cjPsVWyhmLWze6QQ92XBt9HrGRvOqic7sscU6MU2keqX785rCvUL_EGayiMNmP0X2NayDWhQ4JRjjAmvGOKFnyC0S21uFJs2u8q_k2AB_-ih90RVTuaRU_RAefTzY/w400-h300/20230417_083551.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqgIkYnpe1Q0wElqGxkD-iVXQ-NzHACtHnYuV8IO76SHdGSo1gGLui62tQ7vDKcp587o4RCmD_fjSaOM4ZhtvQ4PV4Eb489YYFVrfMZDdANbL4CR-bbd3xXY93wa_kdLWd0eVY0w8prZIVucyxLc3aAJY7N7AkCZKUomNInsOliCiDBmvwJhO54Vsm_vr/s2560/20230417_084200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqgIkYnpe1Q0wElqGxkD-iVXQ-NzHACtHnYuV8IO76SHdGSo1gGLui62tQ7vDKcp587o4RCmD_fjSaOM4ZhtvQ4PV4Eb489YYFVrfMZDdANbL4CR-bbd3xXY93wa_kdLWd0eVY0w8prZIVucyxLc3aAJY7N7AkCZKUomNInsOliCiDBmvwJhO54Vsm_vr/w400-h300/20230417_084200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>River Liffey and Mara.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpKRppCqk_OJDaQY7QrFotgOIUkvxWBxDjklA7d-yFphaIpMu0VdwjAUzSCvXOaH2YtV3FaQlqlm3nZURjtQFTo_PgSB7DDk30NsbJigpmHyotyh7NjTzM8kk3KordN59CCG6i4CqTtvWz3TaC2SU07fEsJ50_FqfZgMgWxuxd7RgPPE51CLTQcJPTxkF/s2560/20230417_084624.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1920" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpKRppCqk_OJDaQY7QrFotgOIUkvxWBxDjklA7d-yFphaIpMu0VdwjAUzSCvXOaH2YtV3FaQlqlm3nZURjtQFTo_PgSB7DDk30NsbJigpmHyotyh7NjTzM8kk3KordN59CCG6i4CqTtvWz3TaC2SU07fEsJ50_FqfZgMgWxuxd7RgPPE51CLTQcJPTxkF/w480-h640/20230417_084624.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4jFjqPL1YqzPyQckaf1a_pJCSqjj7PzhNZK8R4-iEsWaK8vBvrKbrWgUvzmyro2WW_m0_MS8hv1IhMqzc3MgB1Ae3WwxJzta7SD9EEd31tdQcxz1aoWXKv4l4SRk6gcOnl6OgAvgIiiF5pprt1zV2Nea8Yey3VM35aQVon4MBB88nY2VBJfJ8s6nXoAG/s3264/20230417_103647.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4jFjqPL1YqzPyQckaf1a_pJCSqjj7PzhNZK8R4-iEsWaK8vBvrKbrWgUvzmyro2WW_m0_MS8hv1IhMqzc3MgB1Ae3WwxJzta7SD9EEd31tdQcxz1aoWXKv4l4SRk6gcOnl6OgAvgIiiF5pprt1zV2Nea8Yey3VM35aQVon4MBB88nY2VBJfJ8s6nXoAG/w480-h640/20230417_103647.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>The Round Tower and the museum (also free) next to it.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8esxYt2gYkKj5OEWXfACIbJY5BA-ONLeR1teMf8ZZlaOexgC612qKSNJDTPDlPi2tX-o3l1LDQMi3q1sCYJxJ64iCGdgNbnRpCY4h_O2PcBv0bW1pKrGv0xhOfAuGN6jkDT7SYkTgZ5DXBQl6FVVKMaanXjCcHKY7AVaqjIS4qEG7w68nzqB26RLMj2tw/s3264/20230417_104118.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8esxYt2gYkKj5OEWXfACIbJY5BA-ONLeR1teMf8ZZlaOexgC612qKSNJDTPDlPi2tX-o3l1LDQMi3q1sCYJxJ64iCGdgNbnRpCY4h_O2PcBv0bW1pKrGv0xhOfAuGN6jkDT7SYkTgZ5DXBQl6FVVKMaanXjCcHKY7AVaqjIS4qEG7w68nzqB26RLMj2tw/w480-h640/20230417_104118.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Some poor Irish peasents.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMXp_rq3dndEFO2TaWPlV4JYTpq6GfV8X_r3idjxo-jqC2gGWo443Id2E0UP3jkZbi9zghEWqAMOHXX3Ox3e-HUyp0SEiyL-mz32jucF0O4oCTyVrYDnT2-hN0_XLYeiCBygytmwVl_U_lrlWXELNV4PdmaBIrOSo9elTqP5w1z7KNzwe_KgdmhT0p9Af/s3264/20230417_104403.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMXp_rq3dndEFO2TaWPlV4JYTpq6GfV8X_r3idjxo-jqC2gGWo443Id2E0UP3jkZbi9zghEWqAMOHXX3Ox3e-HUyp0SEiyL-mz32jucF0O4oCTyVrYDnT2-hN0_XLYeiCBygytmwVl_U_lrlWXELNV4PdmaBIrOSo9elTqP5w1z7KNzwe_KgdmhT0p9Af/w480-h640/20230417_104403.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>A cute Malcolm.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5s1vK05FItNjgXc377AADBymmGvr4IWEhl1vIpcA2Y-VelEOdBXp514eSb8gslauDpyXOIkyxlOGX6DN2eHBb-SBv5T0y1XBtxpC6O7my_JLvFTukM5GncfPwBy4murvXO-PXeanBLWG_IXIZtC8lNo_WgUwu5zBSIK6weIR61jbLKpx_2IdGzHU4QkI/s3264/20230417_104608.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5s1vK05FItNjgXc377AADBymmGvr4IWEhl1vIpcA2Y-VelEOdBXp514eSb8gslauDpyXOIkyxlOGX6DN2eHBb-SBv5T0y1XBtxpC6O7my_JLvFTukM5GncfPwBy4murvXO-PXeanBLWG_IXIZtC8lNo_WgUwu5zBSIK6weIR61jbLKpx_2IdGzHU4QkI/w400-h300/20230417_104608.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Building a tower.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBT7KszcG6X0QAnuyg0Lf_IpMMyrBT5KR2kvJnlFmZKeIMykmY7GiNIUNbBnf472I6VedQYlx6RRXsjBfPwwXARK3pmwbY5Ql0ntSt0NiKlzE6Jj0H2pQz-2F_A6EFORA4PaGuBsy1HiFGsGzdPJKwRD6vz1TLLgAm0QZjicwrH5lcsyrlWG48p9gzA97/s3264/20230417_105640.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBT7KszcG6X0QAnuyg0Lf_IpMMyrBT5KR2kvJnlFmZKeIMykmY7GiNIUNbBnf472I6VedQYlx6RRXsjBfPwwXARK3pmwbY5Ql0ntSt0NiKlzE6Jj0H2pQz-2F_A6EFORA4PaGuBsy1HiFGsGzdPJKwRD6vz1TLLgAm0QZjicwrH5lcsyrlWG48p9gzA97/w480-h640/20230417_105640.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Enjoying the garden by the tower.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhty-vQJDqo9OEGX_tCrPnJKXFC2S85tzAyteFvp8rBJDvrYMqhzbrB4UYTENbqN6ZlBu_8Cb3zWVbvRR26fhTzSM5aeWbKMwueAiGsmdsBleUvIdfE9rSSQ7MClzC7IN21nQJy5Uus_Ekfll6sY9HJE3DchrW8IRz68zR6I89jeYSjH9JlHUPI_8TmUXKj/s3264/20230417_105737.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhty-vQJDqo9OEGX_tCrPnJKXFC2S85tzAyteFvp8rBJDvrYMqhzbrB4UYTENbqN6ZlBu_8Cb3zWVbvRR26fhTzSM5aeWbKMwueAiGsmdsBleUvIdfE9rSSQ7MClzC7IN21nQJy5Uus_Ekfll6sY9HJE3DchrW8IRz68zR6I89jeYSjH9JlHUPI_8TmUXKj/w480-h640/20230417_105737.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> After that we headed to the Airport, then to Holland (just the airport) and home again.<p></p></div></div>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-33081899235188422192023-06-20T22:18:00.003-05:002023-06-20T22:18:52.691-05:00Enjoying the Generations of Family<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have felt so very blessed lately with getting to enjoy spending time with the different generations in our family lately. I thought I would share a few pictures....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcIBg_Hsui-lSAYSSX2-yGxVGLQs-ReZH-J-jnCY_SzvquBUshhvdRfTfiRT4JZVve42SNfALXQ21OlSONm1nwZhyF8Kv03_cGEUQ56wWnrAc_oS24psNrLfZ_lkFlX3AfGDAaSOxCRS19j2eEPJj63CUlhxPJOw9fxAmwsEWuzgc4-9opOLo2wTPym-x/s3264/IMG_2023-06-18-14-53-22-946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcIBg_Hsui-lSAYSSX2-yGxVGLQs-ReZH-J-jnCY_SzvquBUshhvdRfTfiRT4JZVve42SNfALXQ21OlSONm1nwZhyF8Kv03_cGEUQ56wWnrAc_oS24psNrLfZ_lkFlX3AfGDAaSOxCRS19j2eEPJj63CUlhxPJOw9fxAmwsEWuzgc4-9opOLo2wTPym-x/w400-h300/IMG_2023-06-18-14-53-22-946.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On Father's Day we had a big family meal at our place and then Mom, Dad and I went out fishing. None of us had fished in sometime (and Mom wasn't truly fishing but she did help me land mine) and it was just fun to get to do that together. I also was able to take a trip to the cities with them a few weeks back and then today we went to see some friends in Fargo together (including June Blanshan who was a good friend of my Grandma and has been like another Grandma to me). I treasure getting to hear their childhood stories and just to live life with them. I am incredibly grateful to have 2 wonderful, godly parents.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTVS0g9ezcnaeGYqPOXACi5GaMYnSyRVNUNefqnblGj3G_zp9opZVeydfwsGfrtY-2Ty3NEaQMamRp_UO65pWnq1YUgCq6_44pEo8vmvsaWUXSN1Rj2QYlYKJe7WI4iBecEljoNYZJUNYz24st_x8uhiYwo1BTr57_TfdV9GYPhCXo7hRqIfDhv1l82ig/s3264/IMG_2023-06-19-10-26-49-608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTVS0g9ezcnaeGYqPOXACi5GaMYnSyRVNUNefqnblGj3G_zp9opZVeydfwsGfrtY-2Ty3NEaQMamRp_UO65pWnq1YUgCq6_44pEo8vmvsaWUXSN1Rj2QYlYKJe7WI4iBecEljoNYZJUNYz24st_x8uhiYwo1BTr57_TfdV9GYPhCXo7hRqIfDhv1l82ig/w480-h640/IMG_2023-06-19-10-26-49-608.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>This little guy has my heart. He also sometimes wears me out. I have gotten to spend the last 2 days and one night with him (including a trip to Fargo) where he enjoyed many a ride on the scooter and bike, helped me with lawn mowing, wept tears over my eating your lunch policies, outsmarted Grandmama and fed his supper to Kitchi while I wasn't looking, and kept me on my toes.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8lsUrvRwm6M1mNJVSI4q9p3hta7l1F-mEgni2Q62sQIngCmjcwmkqwC3HKMdCxYNWGiTt2nE0eq4Nq82Dohvhbz7FLQOiMVBdzlR1jreA-2Y1SgJWrLGV9cAQhBovep7acGV0hXe5BjzOqZfU1gW7neO1DG08gPNjJB8JC35r5hKW83wpkqbKaavWMxH/s3264/IMG_2023-06-19-10-15-56-401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8lsUrvRwm6M1mNJVSI4q9p3hta7l1F-mEgni2Q62sQIngCmjcwmkqwC3HKMdCxYNWGiTt2nE0eq4Nq82Dohvhbz7FLQOiMVBdzlR1jreA-2Y1SgJWrLGV9cAQhBovep7acGV0hXe5BjzOqZfU1gW7neO1DG08gPNjJB8JC35r5hKW83wpkqbKaavWMxH/w480-h640/IMG_2023-06-19-10-15-56-401.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>He was with me because something else pretty exciting was happening....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBjLisN4VNaBQrOBFL9JMnF3wBa82u5hTw4rkoUgxDz40BPiChuaLUUSNMmDBjTyJUoudeOi-fGpXLwgNuHspk_PKBd8ThDyqfjcVWUcnB2xnDg-YTiKqidRyWM9At-xryz-bNVTYzKoWmjCg66ST1vpBzIkVrn8AMrZJIzAPHUTVy6VX_QCQnsSZG1V-/s3264/IMG_2023-06-20-20-08-37-314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBjLisN4VNaBQrOBFL9JMnF3wBa82u5hTw4rkoUgxDz40BPiChuaLUUSNMmDBjTyJUoudeOi-fGpXLwgNuHspk_PKBd8ThDyqfjcVWUcnB2xnDg-YTiKqidRyWM9At-xryz-bNVTYzKoWmjCg66ST1vpBzIkVrn8AMrZJIzAPHUTVy6VX_QCQnsSZG1V-/w400-h300/IMG_2023-06-20-20-08-37-314.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Mr. Ewan Perigrine Drake (I am not sure I spelled all the right - we failed to talk about that) came out to join the family yesterday. He is home tonight and he is absolutely precious. He is a wonderful addition to our family.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6QxWe6LSEUwXIvf-82eo6b9l0aj-zS4PUkqEdc6yGD03zv4nsWV-QT-2CVIZbInlUnd7vrLiXurnTdcQAnufMB7GFvvOlEZx3LIKFEKh5Q8D1eMr73cjR0YA0jDHg2LKUSFqCIMlQWWFcBmmV1UPY64qisF1UOPyTdINWayG0TcIyVCkIjZqscMFjUq3/s3264/IMG_2023-06-20-19-41-46-389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6QxWe6LSEUwXIvf-82eo6b9l0aj-zS4PUkqEdc6yGD03zv4nsWV-QT-2CVIZbInlUnd7vrLiXurnTdcQAnufMB7GFvvOlEZx3LIKFEKh5Q8D1eMr73cjR0YA0jDHg2LKUSFqCIMlQWWFcBmmV1UPY64qisF1UOPyTdINWayG0TcIyVCkIjZqscMFjUq3/w300-h400/IMG_2023-06-20-19-41-46-389.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Ewan and Auntie Megan<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3k9HtX6keQBrom2pHk2Zto0WEkaZxdztkJGVqrsoJRlWWc2F1N43j704uJoiO_UxMzjFvk2RvGiCPkk0pagZCDthp48JtiOSbPl3gJChK5z74-PrCEeYAxQ9zleg_GopBSOVdNFZ3CQJnhguQo-ojG4McXwA45aXMLOP1ZbKjS2PjpeksvKYaUNovArem/s3264/IMG_2023-06-20-20-06-07-181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3k9HtX6keQBrom2pHk2Zto0WEkaZxdztkJGVqrsoJRlWWc2F1N43j704uJoiO_UxMzjFvk2RvGiCPkk0pagZCDthp48JtiOSbPl3gJChK5z74-PrCEeYAxQ9zleg_GopBSOVdNFZ3CQJnhguQo-ojG4McXwA45aXMLOP1ZbKjS2PjpeksvKYaUNovArem/w400-h300/IMG_2023-06-20-20-06-07-181.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I was trying to get a picture with both grandsons but Malcolm wasn't really in the mood.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKi1C0m4XhJFEc7oUZKYVGZZY50a2LIDddLk0tRmMXCvs2TcpFykl821w8pDSCyZR2s3V5uKHOTEcDLcsej6y3Gvi6HmfFL6pCNm4J1xjB01nPFZL1NoueegZWp21mVo9ejRn_-IyCySLrcvhAKFhB-Bj2DQtwTJMAUdClTsdTo9MsRQO1vroqQ1XR3ryl/s3264/IMG_2023-06-20-20-05-47-293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKi1C0m4XhJFEc7oUZKYVGZZY50a2LIDddLk0tRmMXCvs2TcpFykl821w8pDSCyZR2s3V5uKHOTEcDLcsej6y3Gvi6HmfFL6pCNm4J1xjB01nPFZL1NoueegZWp21mVo9ejRn_-IyCySLrcvhAKFhB-Bj2DQtwTJMAUdClTsdTo9MsRQO1vroqQ1XR3ryl/w480-h640/IMG_2023-06-20-20-05-47-293.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Megan wasn't in the mood for standing up to take a picture either. She assure me she had some great ones from this angle. :-)<p></p><p> I do surely love this family of mine. I didn't even share about some fun times lately with siblings and nieces and nephews. I am pretty grateful for all of them and happy that we live close to many.<br /> </p>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-82906907851016449052023-06-20T22:02:00.001-05:002023-06-20T22:02:13.928-05:00The Fruit of the Spirit is.... Goodness<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EcedjaypKNGgnAea21ZBxCrgfAKzRm6cxyIa-sI5vM0INJBTnf-5pm8nq6ufU4lcEberaJNEx78IMp1yuM0MRCRaACezjOO6lngr2p7gNb29wzz_KWLHFwE06J7SFXg7YKLaJQJD9L5ZiKIFQ2RCzalz1Cudj4OXBSJ_mM2_5F635uVhi1vFXQEY4Q/s3264/IMG_2023-06-03-11-45-54-649.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EcedjaypKNGgnAea21ZBxCrgfAKzRm6cxyIa-sI5vM0INJBTnf-5pm8nq6ufU4lcEberaJNEx78IMp1yuM0MRCRaACezjOO6lngr2p7gNb29wzz_KWLHFwE06J7SFXg7YKLaJQJD9L5ZiKIFQ2RCzalz1Cudj4OXBSJ_mM2_5F635uVhi1vFXQEY4Q/w400-h300/IMG_2023-06-03-11-45-54-649.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Ladyslippers</td></tr></tbody></table>Goodness is part of the fruit that the Holy Spirit will produce in our life (if we let Him). This makes sense as we know that God is good. Nahum 1:7 says " The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him." Psalms 31:19 says "How great is Your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear You, which you have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men!" I think us seeing the goodness of God helps us to know how to be good ourselves (which to me even includes all the beautiful flowers that He gives for me to enjoy - all the photos in the post were ones I took in the past week around my house - I am so thankful!).<p></p><p> What does "Goodness" mean? The Greek word for goodness "Agathosune" means "An uprightness of heart and life". Another definition I found was this: "<span face="ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"" style="background-color: white;">in man is not a mere passive quality, but the deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, and the choosing and following of all moral good."</span><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa1zSWU9IiH3TsDWE0_aJtmT_Bn8tozYBHfAW3txc1E2QscUwL7VYpIx8LhG8jbTbaIH4mavjUpUg5VRjOHQ7EtYAWmklj_rRqr_DBbF-bd43jXL424xNTETefvyN9W0Ny9Z593SUS7lm5P3nQWlvW9Nog7QuedQD_No6gXWL7h_dO37R9TdNWieMSw/s3264/IMG_2023-06-05-08-43-27-452.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa1zSWU9IiH3TsDWE0_aJtmT_Bn8tozYBHfAW3txc1E2QscUwL7VYpIx8LhG8jbTbaIH4mavjUpUg5VRjOHQ7EtYAWmklj_rRqr_DBbF-bd43jXL424xNTETefvyN9W0Ny9Z593SUS7lm5P3nQWlvW9Nog7QuedQD_No6gXWL7h_dO37R9TdNWieMSw/w480-h640/IMG_2023-06-05-08-43-27-452.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comfrey</td></tr></tbody></table> Goodness is also often related to the idea of doing good - being kind, helping others, showing love with actions.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_CRX0ThHL5qI1BUdjZ0Wi8a1C8KD0ZacfuTMoIjOK_yAcMhk1OIqhFGBt4EMB5UMWx7Go0o7x-kbA7Eldz9i-ahTUzOPL0bNQdlyARO92OL4HfMLYR3J-5mi_sF05M72s_vEgG6NDCgDKo-c3NxOb17Esajj6Aq11YiWVFO9PdPJAk3BeBPadTM0Ug/s3264/IMG_2023-06-03-11-39-36-850.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_CRX0ThHL5qI1BUdjZ0Wi8a1C8KD0ZacfuTMoIjOK_yAcMhk1OIqhFGBt4EMB5UMWx7Go0o7x-kbA7Eldz9i-ahTUzOPL0bNQdlyARO92OL4HfMLYR3J-5mi_sF05M72s_vEgG6NDCgDKo-c3NxOb17Esajj6Aq11YiWVFO9PdPJAk3BeBPadTM0Ug/w480-h640/IMG_2023-06-03-11-39-36-850.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Columbine or "Honeysuckle"</td></tr></tbody></table>Ephesians 5:6-10 says "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (<b>for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth</b>), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord."<p></p><p>If we are walking as children of light we are going to have goodness, righteousness and truth as things that are displayed in our life.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMALgtWV2RKHngr8tcVV85UHIFT01T34F1YEhTw5pAw3L1U6v7eV51H-bgKLka2kzQPvEUZNp_s_Dfl0dPhHZGrtfkX5AVjfe_DsK4wleS3mlSvg0Y0C6ubh9FBB9Us05IE70pUHOAEiduhh40V5LEeKNSxaXXyMoyHtcruXbMQeQyLEU0Tq7g1uEYPw/s3264/IMG_2023-06-03-11-39-25-303.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMALgtWV2RKHngr8tcVV85UHIFT01T34F1YEhTw5pAw3L1U6v7eV51H-bgKLka2kzQPvEUZNp_s_Dfl0dPhHZGrtfkX5AVjfe_DsK4wleS3mlSvg0Y0C6ubh9FBB9Us05IE70pUHOAEiduhh40V5LEeKNSxaXXyMoyHtcruXbMQeQyLEU0Tq7g1uEYPw/w400-h300/IMG_2023-06-03-11-39-25-303.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Violas</td></tr></tbody></table>"To this end also we pray for you always, that <b>our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him,</b> according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 1:11 &12<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaXyf8271QgZZ7zGggXqgd-du4ruK3HnLn_78jsVr0CExeig0aR3Gbmu8LmYqfikbFGLUdCuu2sz65JKCCNMzTMLSinp1qdmU87oHTCVhXM4p7L3tpaMtY3NOenTRZZJkVsEoppnKdgBWPjxQwb6trZVMYl0CfZyZMMrNDm-tV9Q46QSwP_4eXi_g5A/s3264/IMG_2023-06-03-11-39-18-175.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaXyf8271QgZZ7zGggXqgd-du4ruK3HnLn_78jsVr0CExeig0aR3Gbmu8LmYqfikbFGLUdCuu2sz65JKCCNMzTMLSinp1qdmU87oHTCVhXM4p7L3tpaMtY3NOenTRZZJkVsEoppnKdgBWPjxQwb6trZVMYl0CfZyZMMrNDm-tV9Q46QSwP_4eXi_g5A/w480-h640/IMG_2023-06-03-11-39-18-175.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forget-me-not</td></tr></tbody></table>"Love must be sincere, hate what is evil; cling to what is good." Romans 12:9 It makes sense that if we are going to have goodness in our life we will do some hating of evil and turning to Good (and clinging to it) instead. How can we do that a little more today?<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWy6X-kywxgJ8WbWvvRXakXs38JZPQwhgQrMFCGl32F-OABN1B1TnsAFZeSmBaemaqORcTkUkiMYfaceAxuEoKRaer0l2ygX4Ai2tEq9tdtuyMkAylfny0Fzj8pQdbwGieB0qRxrpKMoIxo4mSm3cIAy0WB0Z9vtUmcl30BqCne-WScLyjmIQnsJt8A/s3264/IMG_2023-06-03-11-39-55-297.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWy6X-kywxgJ8WbWvvRXakXs38JZPQwhgQrMFCGl32F-OABN1B1TnsAFZeSmBaemaqORcTkUkiMYfaceAxuEoKRaer0l2ygX4Ai2tEq9tdtuyMkAylfny0Fzj8pQdbwGieB0qRxrpKMoIxo4mSm3cIAy0WB0Z9vtUmcl30BqCne-WScLyjmIQnsJt8A/w300-h400/IMG_2023-06-03-11-39-55-297.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geranium</td></tr></tbody></table>2 Peter 1:5-7 " <span style="background-color: white; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">For this very reason, <b>make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge</b>; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love." </span><div><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">With all the different gifts of the Spirit that are character traits it seems there is also some effort and diligence needed on our part to truly grow in them. So make every effort!</span></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuLw7c9IvvFlgM5MjqHa_3KF7q1y0P2ycuGuH_xIkkzawjKWWJxMHgC1xrFTYSu0Pvo1JmqXJdEDeIeUg_O9WbuER8jgekpZuWC3brI_FgQLMSZuNedpygBCVjQ76Yq_c3emJ4pi2iU-q2pYcmeeaiZdwMyznoVmCq9902VI7alW3cjRoGcpr9jWk-A/s3264/IMG_2023-06-03-11-38-38-188.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuLw7c9IvvFlgM5MjqHa_3KF7q1y0P2ycuGuH_xIkkzawjKWWJxMHgC1xrFTYSu0Pvo1JmqXJdEDeIeUg_O9WbuER8jgekpZuWC3brI_FgQLMSZuNedpygBCVjQ76Yq_c3emJ4pi2iU-q2pYcmeeaiZdwMyznoVmCq9902VI7alW3cjRoGcpr9jWk-A/w400-h300/IMG_2023-06-03-11-38-38-188.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viola</td></tr></tbody></table>" To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and <b>fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him</b>, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 1:11 & 12</div><div><br /></div><div>Why do we want to have goodness in us? So that Jesus will be glorified in us (and then us in Him). May it be!!!</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhlCk9f2ejR0pMPMi8FtzAqLNCnRDzrhsw3PPjI1XDStU_ZOLMnly0ZTkKr6hrFm6MPC3epzyCgOvRZ5oHcAB__yODPLXPH3BHisFJNKadqQQsi2mT8OiQa66lwKC8W0r1rUUUjXbm1grhZjxulnX1Ukui_I5uZhWFRz8SVf1lKBCp-Ir5BhvMQ1xBQ/s3264/IMG_2023-06-03-11-38-53-640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhlCk9f2ejR0pMPMi8FtzAqLNCnRDzrhsw3PPjI1XDStU_ZOLMnly0ZTkKr6hrFm6MPC3epzyCgOvRZ5oHcAB__yODPLXPH3BHisFJNKadqQQsi2mT8OiQa66lwKC8W0r1rUUUjXbm1grhZjxulnX1Ukui_I5uZhWFRz8SVf1lKBCp-Ir5BhvMQ1xBQ/w480-h640/IMG_2023-06-03-11-38-53-640.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hosta</td></tr></tbody></table>So let us pray for the Holy Spirit to truly fill us with goodness. Let us make every effort to have it in our lives. Let's be steadfast and faithful to make decisions that line up with God's will found in his word. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSccHhN9gflXjfDcrc3L0iSc5XpU5GxehixtYHRam7k21t3XiyM-OEqVt2RSXOn1cQdQBI1YyhSSWi-Dw892RyvdBDyxWlG6wr4VS5v6OAbUx5VLFKbkzseg0ZAnmQQi0GP2GFsb5TG0vQlpz4K3AnIcJZnwZrHRZQd2n0BPufU3X1nfAhhu30HwR6SA/s3264/IMG_2023-06-03-11-38-14-954.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSccHhN9gflXjfDcrc3L0iSc5XpU5GxehixtYHRam7k21t3XiyM-OEqVt2RSXOn1cQdQBI1YyhSSWi-Dw892RyvdBDyxWlG6wr4VS5v6OAbUx5VLFKbkzseg0ZAnmQQi0GP2GFsb5TG0vQlpz4K3AnIcJZnwZrHRZQd2n0BPufU3X1nfAhhu30HwR6SA/w480-h640/IMG_2023-06-03-11-38-14-954.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iris</td></tr></tbody></table>May God bless you as you seek Him!<br /> <p></p></div>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-16788943486612705242023-05-26T23:03:00.002-05:002023-05-26T23:03:31.053-05:00Ireland (Part 1) Why Ireland?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDGTOKwTc4yeCVPSI8swvZopmsTHKG1QQTr7ymhAQt4fStUFabN9I4gjGrl0yj5dXcNJgn-6GEoCKb_WjdWp10X9SJYz61mowrIfvuW_5nYEWYRrT8RqP_J9WF4SLqwDCbN0tDm2rgfVhEbLvtNqUutyzB0KJPxW3EybtSwjRPyyIpThcVkA5k9Rkew/s1280/travel%20to%20ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDGTOKwTc4yeCVPSI8swvZopmsTHKG1QQTr7ymhAQt4fStUFabN9I4gjGrl0yj5dXcNJgn-6GEoCKb_WjdWp10X9SJYz61mowrIfvuW_5nYEWYRrT8RqP_J9WF4SLqwDCbN0tDm2rgfVhEbLvtNqUutyzB0KJPxW3EybtSwjRPyyIpThcVkA5k9Rkew/w400-h300/travel%20to%20ireland.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> For a long time I have wanted to go on a family mission trip. I had been on one as a teen (to the Dominican Republic) and it had been super eye opening and has affected the rest of my life in a positive way and I really wanted my family to experience that too and I really thought it would be fun to be with them (Mara did go on a couple on her own which I was pretty excited about). For various reasons it hadn't happened in years past but recently whenever I was able, I put money aside in hopes that it would work out to go. On New Years Day of 2022 we had a family gathering where we talked about goals and dreams and that was one of mine that we decided to work towards. I wanted to do it soon before the family got much larger (through spouses or grandkids) as that would make it more complicated and before people got busier and perhaps moved away.<p></p><p> I had always kind of assumed that we would go to a 3rd world country on a mission trip but in the summer of 2021 we were out at a camp in Colorado and we met the Tuttle Family (or part of them anyway) and heard about there goal to go to Ireland as Missionaries. Mara and I thought that sounded really neat and we had fun visiting with them about it. I said "If you make it there it sure would be fun to come over and visit for a mission trip." </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_xhu0Vw-q2zzgfnT5gNSMW3x4jmBOomajJKRVHpO9oCcoDwtQhNIU9oNGqQd7OSjixKjB5cJm7yTkGyakR4gyFHwdvLiT6PvH-wR3duk7vwazKZhKpOnerwjAh8dZ91n-BtdltV7jFRDclZdchnzcEe4yOsdFao55aQJ7sIcaE9EfgEMxtryfhqFaA/s3264/20230409_090313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_xhu0Vw-q2zzgfnT5gNSMW3x4jmBOomajJKRVHpO9oCcoDwtQhNIU9oNGqQd7OSjixKjB5cJm7yTkGyakR4gyFHwdvLiT6PvH-wR3duk7vwazKZhKpOnerwjAh8dZ91n-BtdltV7jFRDclZdchnzcEe4yOsdFao55aQJ7sIcaE9EfgEMxtryfhqFaA/w400-h300/20230409_090313.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> It took a little while for all their paper work to get figured out but they made it over to Ireland in August of 2022. This winter I started e-mailing with them about the idea of coming on a mission trip. We knew that Ireland is majorly different from a 3rd world country but we hoped there might be something that we could do to help out. <p></p><p> Ireland does need Jesus badly. The amount of Christians there is a super small percentage. A large majority do not go to church anywhere. But it is not a 3rd world country. You don't go over there and help build homes or church buildings and then share the gospel. They are skeptical of the Gospel and so you need to build relationships and things can move slowly. Also you aren't allowed to work with kids (with some sort of program) unless you have passed a background check or something like that. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEGkOC_Wl56v7qolAwdnq5Fw_pBaWRPkyPnYyJiffEk0oA_VmZYOhBdvQtJgEyim5Yv-hhdusLSNIbX23FeQ8tOsIoXMhNrvc8rechnD59lghM65zsUHNmwnSB6dyACi9Cq1I8OoNK7hQg-RBbRrhsyJKSj5tet65BkhRljnhxrFTJSMl8-z7q0UQ5Q/s3264/20230409_090443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEGkOC_Wl56v7qolAwdnq5Fw_pBaWRPkyPnYyJiffEk0oA_VmZYOhBdvQtJgEyim5Yv-hhdusLSNIbX23FeQ8tOsIoXMhNrvc8rechnD59lghM65zsUHNmwnSB6dyACi9Cq1I8OoNK7hQg-RBbRrhsyJKSj5tet65BkhRljnhxrFTJSMl8-z7q0UQ5Q/w480-h640/20230409_090443.jpg" width="480" /></a></div> So as we discussed things the Tuttles said they didn't know what "Mission work" that we could do but they thought our coming would be an encouragement. So that thinking behind our trip changed a little. We would go with the hopes of encouraging the Tuttles and the other Christians there, Jonathan would do some filming to make a video for the Tuttles that they could use to send to supporters back in the states (He did do that but hasn't been able to get it edited yet as he moved recently), we would learn more about what was going on there so that we could pray more effectively and we just prayed that the Holy Spirit would work in us and use us however He wanted. <p></p><p> We were all pretty excited to be going to Europe in general and Ireland specifically. Jonathan was happy we were going somewhere that they spoke English, I love Irish music and I think the others do to. The girls have been very interested in Ireland at various times and so it was just pretty neat to get to go there. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5K7aO8uqkqUBWHO-NWw-e7f_rAAb2WZ8Z9zZnImKJWgsjcXEzCEJkAri2RL6wtqxJmYgkmk_31TSG5JT-562VQanghE49xOMUxWqlyTORTERRCEn5zQGD8BjzE4wtV4TVrCMBqwBg8G6yl6EuKx9wmxQXR9euEZQ_aA8QUb_7QM1al4S4bhHYyzpVw/s3264/20230412_105234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5K7aO8uqkqUBWHO-NWw-e7f_rAAb2WZ8Z9zZnImKJWgsjcXEzCEJkAri2RL6wtqxJmYgkmk_31TSG5JT-562VQanghE49xOMUxWqlyTORTERRCEn5zQGD8BjzE4wtV4TVrCMBqwBg8G6yl6EuKx9wmxQXR9euEZQ_aA8QUb_7QM1al4S4bhHYyzpVw/w400-h300/20230412_105234.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We really enjoyed our time with the people there. We spend a lot of time with the Tuttles and were so blessed by that. We also enjoyed visiting with others at the small congregation there. We hung out the most with Blake who is actually an American university student there. I believe he may have become a Christian while in Ireland but I am not sure. We had some great visits about spiritual things. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh7Zbp0JqRVeL2p1fm7aTiGNul9aOd8o8BduK3rp3NzQRL3BRklUqi0o8x9O3lB38rEZ9_JE8gbV9bdkaEH6rWD2VeNG3tcFW9fLpddSwLrtrgJHxSy0ltpS2Yoz-aHzW3wFNcBRmkuKoGq76xussD-nfwZU6rRZQlKExLK_ydDhDX-tHz52_GAGmeQ/s3264/20230412_100513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsh7Zbp0JqRVeL2p1fm7aTiGNul9aOd8o8BduK3rp3NzQRL3BRklUqi0o8x9O3lB38rEZ9_JE8gbV9bdkaEH6rWD2VeNG3tcFW9fLpddSwLrtrgJHxSy0ltpS2Yoz-aHzW3wFNcBRmkuKoGq76xussD-nfwZU6rRZQlKExLK_ydDhDX-tHz52_GAGmeQ/w400-h300/20230412_100513.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> We were able to attend church two Sundays while we were there and it was just a blessing to be worshipping with Christians on the other side of the world from where we live. That was something else that I wanted my kids to be aware of and I wanted to understand more fully myself - the church as being a body of Christ world wide. We together make up the Bride of Christ. It is pretty fun to think about people in every place who love the Lord and seek to follow Him.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrm2glsZbNqVGdUvz5FuWeGmpFoJrUQCU4j5bFaeCUxlEu16PEFFtAbQCN03NXvQlVI-KsPIjM3dZDsCe18T8EzxgAKmqd9-m1WLRwr90g7YSnl2V9RfaskSpca44h2v3qpIoKFlNWE2k774tc7UEVhLDr4y4304HryQ1wJH0MXoLF7MjohUQSzSqgQ/s3264/20230416_054406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrm2glsZbNqVGdUvz5FuWeGmpFoJrUQCU4j5bFaeCUxlEu16PEFFtAbQCN03NXvQlVI-KsPIjM3dZDsCe18T8EzxgAKmqd9-m1WLRwr90g7YSnl2V9RfaskSpca44h2v3qpIoKFlNWE2k774tc7UEVhLDr4y4304HryQ1wJH0MXoLF7MjohUQSzSqgQ/s320/20230416_054406.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div>I am afraid this only whetted my appetite for spending time with Christians in other places. I would love to go back to Ireland again and I want to go more places too!! All in God's time. And any that I can't meet and spend time with here I will look forward to meeting in heaven!<div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p></div>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-83814301365211419512023-05-17T22:10:00.003-05:002023-05-17T22:10:30.829-05:00Please Pray<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDPwR7fK2H7NTZh-8yH01AM-PJlmlKcSfI5dDS1qNJM4T1PhNfkz1oX8O1Chc75P7-_P5UH3yiXxjvh9LGzkcZl4-8MkTLRdzIq4aFCRUilac8Wp9wShwn8lNjfd3FP2HkA6AZedHsDJJYdWU3bt3QTv6gGSk5rCOaT9zByVBswPdji9x58soDJtsjw/s1285/Peter,%20Holly%20and%20Jaten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="1284" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDPwR7fK2H7NTZh-8yH01AM-PJlmlKcSfI5dDS1qNJM4T1PhNfkz1oX8O1Chc75P7-_P5UH3yiXxjvh9LGzkcZl4-8MkTLRdzIq4aFCRUilac8Wp9wShwn8lNjfd3FP2HkA6AZedHsDJJYdWU3bt3QTv6gGSk5rCOaT9zByVBswPdji9x58soDJtsjw/s320/Peter,%20Holly%20and%20Jaten.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For those of you that pray - would you please pray for my Sister-in-law, Holly? She was diagnosed last fall with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, a rare breast cancer. She had surgery and they said they removed it all. It doesn't respond well to Chemo or Radiation so they thought the surgery was the best course. They didn't actually get it all and it has spread a lot. She has tumors on her backbone, sternum, hip and also has it growing in her liver. It is not looking very good and she is in a lot of pain. She is pictured above with my brother Peter and their daughter Jaten. They also have an adult son, Nick. Please pray for them all as they go through this challenging time. We would love to see God work a miracle in her body- may God's will be done! Pray for wisdom for them as they consider various options in treatment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I thought this song below was appropriate. We may go through the night sometimes but there is still hope!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/oGXptHQHGq8" width="480"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-33723773848164181472023-05-06T22:12:00.003-05:002023-05-06T22:12:57.233-05:00The Fruit of the Spirit is.... Patience<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSahUhhH1iT_6rlwce7ZyC7kk1HvjIO00IJhjuE_BLOlgymCRKXdUkskbtKhQITUYgcs0pzWCTgHNUvilXmH2eH4KF4osLb483AJDHE323u78ncmu-nvjRqb8oYcq_xPhKTy-Hk2Jycu2N8f1afr1GkH7dGFc7dEdspgm9xTxB_WWEPfXgOKW4GvCrw/s3264/20230410_080607(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSahUhhH1iT_6rlwce7ZyC7kk1HvjIO00IJhjuE_BLOlgymCRKXdUkskbtKhQITUYgcs0pzWCTgHNUvilXmH2eH4KF4osLb483AJDHE323u78ncmu-nvjRqb8oYcq_xPhKTy-Hk2Jycu2N8f1afr1GkH7dGFc7dEdspgm9xTxB_WWEPfXgOKW4GvCrw/w400-h300/20230410_080607(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A recent family picture in Ireland. I love this family of mine<br />but the honest truth is that wherever people are in your life - <br />some patience is needed too.<br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>What is the definition of patience? "1.The bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain without complaint, loss of temper or anger. 2. An ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay. 3. Quiet, steady, perseverance; even tempered care; diligence."</p><p> We understand that patience is a part of the fruit of having the Holy Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22 & 23). With this trait especially it seems that I see the need for the other fruits as well if we are truly going to be patient. It is pretty hard to show patience without love or kindness. Gentleness is needed as well and peace can play a big role too. Just a reminder that we want to truly be living by the Spirit (Gal. 5:25) so that all of those fruits can work together in our life.</p><p> I want to share first this verse in <u>1 Thessalonians 5:14 "We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone."</u> As I was meditating on this verse one day earlier this week starting thinking through how I could personalize this. This was written to the Christians in Thessalonica many, many years ago but it is still applicable to us today. This is something that we as Christians should do. So, is there any unruly people in my life that I should be admonishing? I was easily able to come up with some fainthearted people that I could work to encourage. I also could easily think of some weak (and I think either weak physically or weak in faith could apply here) that I could help. Then we go to the last section of the verse: "<b>Be patient with everyone". </b> So, no need to wrack my brain on who should get patience from me - it is everyone! We all need patience from others because we all mess up, are at times annoying and we cause others to wait. When we are faced with being patient with others remember that they are also having to be patient with us.</p><p> 1 Corinthians 13:4 & 5 says<u> "Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered."</u> I think I need to meditate on this one for a while. </p><p> We that are Christians are called to tell others about Jesus. That isn't always an easy task. In 2 Timothy 4:1 & 2 we are told to do that with patience: <u>"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom; preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."</u> Don't give up on this! Have patience with people!</p><p>This verse in 1 Peter 3:8 & 9 does not actually mention the word patience but in my opinion it kind of defines it for us: <u>"To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing." </u> </p><p>We (me anyway) so often struggle with waiting on God's timing. James 5:7-11 addresses that: <u>"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful."</u> What a good reminder to spend time reading the stories in the Bible and see how God was working in the lives of people in the past, how over time He worked things out and how they had to patiently wait. Hopefully we can learn to do that too!</p><p> I have heard many times people saying "Don't pray for patience!" but I would disagree. I think we should pray for God to give us patience and help us to learn it and I think we should pray for that often.</p><p><u><br /></u></p>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-3072659661365703392023-05-01T10:23:00.000-05:002023-05-01T10:23:01.249-05:00Decluttering Challenge<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBrTQTj5HC95iqcIE2Qun891TCyWn6wMGtyYlykHgZ-dADDP_epVGpGWOkjZTtpbwmyh3FHOkszqhhEJFn5VHEHslS156P94CmUYOtUyBLPolbbNXAmHCeci1dp5jRH5_RgrRglKWsLCqitKh_8i7zUeAZ92DqIKvVi9KGyDC5pGoOvNedQgykFPsMw/s3264/20230428_195502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBrTQTj5HC95iqcIE2Qun891TCyWn6wMGtyYlykHgZ-dADDP_epVGpGWOkjZTtpbwmyh3FHOkszqhhEJFn5VHEHslS156P94CmUYOtUyBLPolbbNXAmHCeci1dp5jRH5_RgrRglKWsLCqitKh_8i7zUeAZ92DqIKvVi9KGyDC5pGoOvNedQgykFPsMw/w400-h300/20230428_195502.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Good morning!!</p><p> I decided to challenge myself this month to the decluttering challenge where you get rid of as many things as the number of the day. So on May 1st you get rid of 1 item, on May 15th you get rid of 15 things and on the 31st you get rid of 31. It gets progressively harder. </p><p> Knowing that life gets busy and there are some days I just don't have an extra minute or two to spend on decluttering I do allow myself to work ahead. I keep track of it by tally marks on my wall calendar. So this morning I have already decluttered 5 items. I marked 1 in today, 2 in tomorrow and 2 on the 3rd (which I obviously need to do one more for that day).</p><p> It is pretty simple and shouldn't be that hard. It doesn't have to be a "Big" item to count (such as a piece of furniture or a pair of pants). This is a great time to go through any piles of paper/mail, magazines, craft supplies. I don't know what builds up in your house but you do. </p><p> I just wanted to touch quickly on the motivation for decluttering. Here are some reasons that I do it:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>It saves me time in the long run. Having less stuff means I don't have trouble finding stuff so much and I don't have as much work when I clean.</li><li>It helps me to have more mental peace and clarity. Getting rid of clutter really helps to reduce the feelings of stress in our household.</li><li>It is easier to have company on short notice.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhX6Hxt9hF-RMZF1pJcE_BkOanxhYvq1D8fK_qjjsyQ4PCgvuZyZ2RvtJ1zNnpsn0DIoJDq0po30e3DbAiOjECmo76etosw4zjgjXnM2xKZuhEP0BWgAHIE6kDmaMS4r-PeUo8pzc0dzivJDGq-LVeVS0vjiY3gbELO8WgrvBvnKvx-PpYkoQI7K4fLw/s3264/20230501_095902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhX6Hxt9hF-RMZF1pJcE_BkOanxhYvq1D8fK_qjjsyQ4PCgvuZyZ2RvtJ1zNnpsn0DIoJDq0po30e3DbAiOjECmo76etosw4zjgjXnM2xKZuhEP0BWgAHIE6kDmaMS4r-PeUo8pzc0dzivJDGq-LVeVS0vjiY3gbELO8WgrvBvnKvx-PpYkoQI7K4fLw/w300-h400/20230501_095902.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>This is embarrassing to share but this is my big motivator this month. My office closet is in desperate need of some TLC. Especially with wedding season starting. My flower fridge is in this closet (to the right) and a lot of flower supplies are too. I had my first wedding of the year (see top photo) this past weekend and it was really frustrating to have to deal with this mess while I worked. Craft supplies are probably the thing that I have the most trouble decluttering so I am hoping and praying this goes well. :-)<p></p><p>I will try to post some updates this month on the challenge but I also have a lot of other things that I would like to blog on -including a recent family trip to Ireland ! - so we will see what time allows.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HswvPd9upsaZ4iRWnRhvNfF3KOYu8aCzW31CTUus-G-zS_A5lZBYRq6Fb5Mdw0Iw8BgqCET7oJ9wjtnVyZbYUlBbXQnmYaO9NXcNcDThbNGBXkMZAEZ7wh0zT74pDhP_iQZsILyLl-N94Sri9KzraJkTV_FEERViPxRW5Z8PUhTHFXRcm13zKI8YGA/s3264/20230413_094655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HswvPd9upsaZ4iRWnRhvNfF3KOYu8aCzW31CTUus-G-zS_A5lZBYRq6Fb5Mdw0Iw8BgqCET7oJ9wjtnVyZbYUlBbXQnmYaO9NXcNcDThbNGBXkMZAEZ7wh0zT74pDhP_iQZsILyLl-N94Sri9KzraJkTV_FEERViPxRW5Z8PUhTHFXRcm13zKI8YGA/w400-h300/20230413_094655.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Happy decluttering!</p><p></p><div><br /></div><p></p><p> </p>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-78646850199821528022023-04-01T22:51:00.003-05:002023-04-01T22:51:55.240-05:00The Fruit of the Spirit is...PEACE<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMh3Gb7qI_PjhiImUAQZ5A6xRMdN0-NOht_wwyWJ4yWJecgAxm16p7Ec54CtQrJFiPuqBZeH-q916QIlPaWbI5UYKDykFuTIlYNJ2lJiOAiZ3j8vNCQR_W9dVxSinBgkyPHWkIwBKXQBIOAsnfutCQ68icdXFGAfaB-bxybbGwLI2vga_aCMDDpl84Q/s3264/20230314_125616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMh3Gb7qI_PjhiImUAQZ5A6xRMdN0-NOht_wwyWJ4yWJecgAxm16p7Ec54CtQrJFiPuqBZeH-q916QIlPaWbI5UYKDykFuTIlYNJ2lJiOAiZ3j8vNCQR_W9dVxSinBgkyPHWkIwBKXQBIOAsnfutCQ68icdXFGAfaB-bxybbGwLI2vga_aCMDDpl84Q/w400-h300/20230314_125616.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A toddler and a dog - they could bring peace or chaos I suppose. <br />We are happy to have both of them in our lives. :-) And though there<br />is sometimes some physical chaos that doesn't need to change our peace that is on the inside.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> Peace.... the Greek word "eirene" means prosperity, one, peace, quietness, rest, set at one again. I think this is something that we all crave but something many in this world are missing. I believe that the peace that God gives by His Spirit inside us could be one of the biggest attractions of Christianity. We live in a world full of anxiety and strife and we have a God who offers us peace. This peace doesn't mean we won't face hard times or angry people or other troubling circumstances but it does allow us to have inner peace in the midst of the struggles.</p><p> One of my biggest prayers for the people in Ukraine this past year has been that they would find peace. I would love for the peace to be obvious to the world by the fighting to stop but I have also been praying that they would find the inner peace that comes from Jesus Christ even in the midst of their war torn country. It has been so very exciting to me to hear many stories of just that happening - of so many turning their lives over to Jesus Christ. God is at work in Ukraine and that is so very exciting to me.</p><p> Anyway, I want to share some verses that I have been meditating on for the month of March....</p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span class="text Ps-34-14" id="en-NIV-14403" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">"Turn from evil and do good;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-34-14" style="position: relative;">seek peace and pursue it." Psalm 34:14</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial;">We know that peace is a fruit of the Spirit - it is also something that we should pursue. How do we do that? I think part of it is mentally making the choice to be someone who is not easily angered or offended. Also to daily (hourly!)make the choice to trust God with everything that is going on in our life. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T0dIWJ4t4Jg" width="320" youtube-src-id="T0dIWJ4t4Jg"></iframe></div>This song reminds me to do that in a beautiful way.<p></p><p class="chapter-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span class="text Rom-5-1" style="font-size: 16px;">Romans 5:1-11 "<b>Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,</b></span> <span class="text Rom-5-2" id="en-NIV-28050" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.</span> <span class="text Rom-5-3" id="en-NIV-28051" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;</span><span class="text Rom-5-4" id="en-NIV-28052" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>perseverance, character; and character, hope.</span> <span class="text Rom-5-5" id="en-NIV-28053"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.<br /></span></span><span class="text Rom-5-6" id="en-NIV-28054" style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.</span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Rom-5-7" id="en-NIV-28055" style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.</span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Rom-5-8" id="en-NIV-28056" style="color: #2b00fe;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.<br /></span><span class="text Rom-5-9" id="en-NIV-28057" style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!</span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Rom-5-10" id="en-NIV-28058" style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!</span><span class="text Rom-5-11" id="en-NIV-28059" style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial;">The only peace that truly matters in life is having peace with God. We gain access to that through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross to pay the price for our sins.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial;">This scripture explains it more...</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span class="text Eph-2-11" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">Eph 2:11-22 </span>Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—</span><span class="text Eph-2-12" id="en-NIV-29242" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.</span> <span class="text Eph-2-13" id="en-NIV-29243">But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.<br /></span><span class="text Eph-2-14" id="en-NIV-29244"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><b><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>For he himself is our peace,</b> who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,</span><span class="text Eph-2-15" id="en-NIV-29245" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, <b>thus making peace,</b></span><b><span class="text Eph-2-16" id="en-NIV-29246" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.</span><span class="text Eph-2-17" id="en-NIV-29247" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.</span></b><span class="text Eph-2-18" id="en-NIV-29248"><b><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.</b><br /></span><span class="text Eph-2-19" id="en-NIV-29249" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,</span><span class="text Eph-2-20" id="en-NIV-29250" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.</span><span class="text Eph-2-21" id="en-NIV-29251" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.</span><span class="text Eph-2-22" id="en-NIV-29252" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text Eph-2-22" style="font-size: 16px;">How thankful I am to Jesus Christ who has given us peace with God and peace with others!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text Eph-2-22" style="font-size: 16px;">Here is one of my favorite verses on the subject of peace. I challenge you to follow this to the <br />very best of your ability and see how God will transform your life. I have experienced this sort of peace in my life and I am incredibly grateful!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span class="text Phil-4-4">Philippians 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!</span><span class="text Phil-4-5" id="en-NIV-29448"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.</span><span class="text Phil-4-6" id="en-NIV-29449"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.</span><span class="text Phil-4-7" id="en-NIV-29450"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><b>And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</b><br /></span><span class="text Phil-4-8" id="en-NIV-29451">Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.</span> <span class="text Phil-4-9" id="en-NIV-29452"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. <b>And the God of peace will be with you.</b></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text Rom-8-5" id="en-NIV-28122"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Romans 8:5 & 6 </span></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.</span></span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> <span class="text Rom-8-6" id="en-NIV-28123">The mind governed by the flesh is death, but <b>the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial;"> I find that it needs to be a daily effort to keep my mind focused on the Spirit. Some practical things that help with that is to spend time in God's word (by reading, meditating, memorizing), Pray through your day, pray with others, be intentionally grateful and spend time listening to (and singing) songs of worship to God. <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4V3L3JyooIzPsJB04yYYZXOa3WzlZtLNL7DUgDdCphBINsV7l7R-6boRXbbrvc1H80whwnJDY8Wt9fS1-Grfpg6paYIkK68xEsrY5Mf6lmna4WOKky63izc1WlZfXs4xWilV-0rWBSaPduf4_F-fMiPVLNQDYbl4wThFjCExpTxG2qZqpoUfjipS7Sw/s3264/20230313_114730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4V3L3JyooIzPsJB04yYYZXOa3WzlZtLNL7DUgDdCphBINsV7l7R-6boRXbbrvc1H80whwnJDY8Wt9fS1-Grfpg6paYIkK68xEsrY5Mf6lmna4WOKky63izc1WlZfXs4xWilV-0rWBSaPduf4_F-fMiPVLNQDYbl4wThFjCExpTxG2qZqpoUfjipS7Sw/w300-h400/20230313_114730.jpg" width="300" /></a></div> I included this picture that I took a week or so ago after I had shoveled out the front walks following a snowstorm. It hasn't changed a lot since - we have gotten a little more snow but some has also melted. It is a very peaceful sort of setting but most people don't find it so when it is Spring and they are really hoping for some grass instead of snow. People can get a little testy up here when another snowstorm gets predicted at this time of year. I think weather is one of the easiest ways for me to sit back and realize that God has this all in control. There isn't anything that I can do to change it anyway - I might as well enjoy whatever comes and live in peace. That area is easy for me to pursue peace in but I do have my own struggles. This picture also shows some ice dams that our roof has collected this winter. I have had a few anxious thoughts about those and the potential damage that they could do to our house. I have taken it to God though and researched things to do to solve the problem and I have been working at getting them to melt in a good way and I do have peace in this situation. It isn't solved completely yet but I know God is with me in it. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92o1udn77UgOGmi9MAmQmMtklvEOW-jy6S8UylXNLo6pdTkMsK6ndQML_eQxo27BJBoe8Wedx7CQelnE45j1rgMMlkEpIcXo8LJ3kM0qyl4F3soZljseqOQ-1L0gM4UkEztYFkBClajHIYXV21ClCYVTv7hOqpcpZ74gM_M54J_Av_JbYkPbF3qOExg/s3264/20230401_181259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg92o1udn77UgOGmi9MAmQmMtklvEOW-jy6S8UylXNLo6pdTkMsK6ndQML_eQxo27BJBoe8Wedx7CQelnE45j1rgMMlkEpIcXo8LJ3kM0qyl4F3soZljseqOQ-1L0gM4UkEztYFkBClajHIYXV21ClCYVTv7hOqpcpZ74gM_M54J_Av_JbYkPbF3qOExg/w300-h400/20230401_181259.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just had to share also this picture of my pretty baby sister and her newest baby (along with the 2nd youngest). Juliette came out into the world to join our big family in the wee hours of the morning yesterday. We are so happy that she is here!</div></div><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"> as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.</span></span><p></p>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-91925325880894461072023-03-27T09:21:00.000-05:002023-03-27T09:21:23.347-05:00Healthy Living (without spending a lot of money)<div> Taking care of our health is so important. Why? Our bodies are a gift from God that He blessed us with to use to glorify Him. We can't control everything that happens to our bodies (not by a long shot!) nor do I think we should be so paranoid that living healthy consumes our thoughts in a big way and we don't do or eat anything that we think might possibly be dangerous for our body. We need to have balance. If we gradually develop healthy habits however we can live a pretty healthy lifestyle and it will just be easy and normal for us rather than all consuming. </div><div><br /></div><div> Health has been on my mind lately because a friend invited to join her (and others) in a 12 week challenge to live more healthfully. Here is what we are working on:</div><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">THE CHALLENGE</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<br />
Each item is worth 1 point, with a possible 10 points per day <br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">1. 7 hrs. of sleep
(not necessarily consecutive - naps count too!) </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">2. 48 oz. of water </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">3. 30 minutes of
exercise (not necessarily consecutive) </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">4. 2 servings of
veggies, 2 servings of fruit </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">5. No soda, beer,
wine, unhealthy snacks (ex: potato chips), or bad fast food (anything fried!)</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">6. No sweets.
(Desserts, pastries, sugary snacks & cereals) * Sugar-Free alternatives are
OK. (But be careful with sugar free!! Moderation...)</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">7. No eating after
dinner/8pm </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">8. 15 min. of
scripture reading (or spiritual text if you don't do scripture)</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">9. One journal entry
(any length) </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">10. Express sincere
appreciation, love or praise to your spouse (if single, to another person)</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Note:</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">
You have one free point, PER CATEGORY, PER WEEK. One free point for exercise,
one free point for soda/fast food/unhealthy snacks, one free point for sweets,
etc. You do not have 10 free points to use however you choose -they are NOT
interchangeable and if you choose not to use a free point in a category, it is
gone at weeks end. You could also just choose to have one "free" day
where all points are free (which is less confusing), but we are allowing for
flexibility and success! <br />
<br />
<strong>Exceptions: **</strong>You
are excused from the sweet rule on YOUR BIRTHDAY. **You are allowed three sick
days where you are excused (only) from exercising and eating veg/fruit/water
[if you can’t eat/drink] This is ONLY to be used if you are indeed sick.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<!--[endif]--></span></div><div>Many of the items are pretty easy for me as they were already habits (such as the water, Bible reading, prayer journaling, saying "I love you"/praise and getting enough sleep) which was good because 10 new habits would be pretty insane to try to start all at once. </div><div> The 30 minutes of exercise has been the most challenging but I have (mostly!) found it pretty fun too. I did have a habit of trying to stretch/exercise at least 5 days a week but if I stretched for 1 minute, did 10 sit-ups and 25 to 50 jumping jacks all of which I could easily get done in less than 5 minutes then I felt like I was good to go. I'm not saying that idea is wrong but it has been fun to stretch myself to do more and to do it at least 6 days a week. My exercise routine has been pretty eclectic and I haven't found a certain time in the day that always works to do it. Often I will be pushing in some time of it at the very last bit of the day before bed. Things I have been doing for exercise are: Walking, jumping jacks, planking, sit-ups, very vigorous cleaning (running up and down the stairs putting stuff away, sweeping or mopping fast - I only use this for minutes if I am getting my heart rate up), shoveling, hauling in wood and following various exercise videos on Youtube such as figure eight and this one below that I have really enjoyed:</div><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/IT94xC35u6k" width="480"></iframe><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I have also been using several that really promote pelvic floor health. Some of these are much easier so if I am really tired after a busy day of work I will do one of these that aren't so exhausting:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vr1jGD16IoI" width="320" youtube-src-id="vr1jGD16IoI"></iframe><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another item that has been a bit of a challenge for me that I didn't expect was making sure that I was eating 4 servings of fruits and veggies. I have had to make a conscious effort to eat more fruit but I am really enjoying that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> For the most part number 5 is no big deal as most of those I don't use ever and none were daily habits but avoiding junk food when it is easily available such as at a potluck (and we have been having 2 of those a week lately) can be a challenge for me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No sweets was the second biggest challenge after the exercising. It hasn't been as hard as I thought (even with the 2 potlucks a week) but it is still something I crave from time to time. I did already have practice using honey instead of sugar some and I don't make or buy a lot of sweets so it wasn't a daily habit to have them anyway but I would pretty much always eat dessert (and sometimes several) if it was offered so that is something I have had to change.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not eating after 8 pm is also a change for me as I tend to be a snacker but that hasn't been very hard so I am thankful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6 weeks in, I haven't noticed any great changes in my body but it has been fun. I am curious how much of the changes I will keep up with after the 12 weeks are over.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some other healthy habits that I practice are....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1. Spending time in prayer (by myself and with others) and giving my troubles and worries to God.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. Oil Pulling every morning. <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/oil-pulling-coconut-oil#bottom-line">Here is an article that shows reasons why and how to do it. </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. Drinking warm water with Raw Apple Cider Vinegar in it each morning. <a href="https://www.healthshots.com/healthy-eating/nutrition/i-drank-apple-cider-vinegar-every-morning-for-a-month-heres-what-happened/">Here is an interesting article about that.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. Eating primarily whole grains.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. Growing as much of our own food as possible.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6. I do take vitamin D and C, Magnesium and Iron every day (though sometimes D and C only in the winter)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A couple of new ones that I have been working to start are:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1. Dry brushing (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YnVb9Ie-r0">Here is a video that explains it</a> )</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. Here is another video that I ran across that I thought looked like a good idea so I have been doing this lately as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cyOKODs47JA" width="320" youtube-src-id="cyOKODs47JA"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>None of these things are expensive to do and most of them are free. I would love to hear what things you do to try to stay healthy.<div><br /></div><div>Also I did think this would be an appropriate place to share about Medical insurance. Once Ken left the home and I was having to finance things on my own paying for normal medical insurance was very cost prohibitive and I didn't want to deal with all the paperwork of using state medical assistance. So instead we use <a href="https://samaritanministries.org/sign-in">Samaritan Ministries</a>. It is much cheaper than the state subsidized insurance we had before, it has a much lower deductible and it is super simple. I love getting to send a check and letter and pray for the people that we get to help each month. It is health cost sharing instead of insurance. I have not had to use it to get money for myself yet (Thanks be to God!) but a friend has and she said it worked quite smoothly. If you sign up please tell them that Abbi Cobb referred you (I think I may be benefited by that a little). Anyway - I have been thankful for this option and just thought that I would share it with you too.<a href="https://samaritanministries.org/sign-in"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-30436765143844261712023-02-28T22:41:00.004-06:002023-02-28T22:41:42.860-06:00Change Your Mindset to Truly Live Frugally<iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/nQbImqgZ-Iw" width="480"></iframe><div>I decided to try out Vlogging. I would love to hear your ideas on how you can have a mindset that helps you with frugal living.</div>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-19130057865812292262023-02-28T21:59:00.002-06:002023-02-28T21:59:54.846-06:00The Fruit of the Spirit is.... Joy!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="chapter-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text John-15-1"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QTcO_MQdh1RUdzPtpVx_iWU0sU-2Bm7IEEOED7fJMa0tUiD64YPZCrQr3Cf8TRU2-_BTvFI2QER-RtUermZrSb4wt3cc8r4WToRu3Frz3fpmwjEw3iA434XKQjVWpKa67QntreopNdqCNTh1ovHV7ewqxj4kNckHBU2QkAH-2tbDYRTwUGllkJMkXw/s3264/20220918_135039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QTcO_MQdh1RUdzPtpVx_iWU0sU-2Bm7IEEOED7fJMa0tUiD64YPZCrQr3Cf8TRU2-_BTvFI2QER-RtUermZrSb4wt3cc8r4WToRu3Frz3fpmwjEw3iA434XKQjVWpKa67QntreopNdqCNTh1ovHV7ewqxj4kNckHBU2QkAH-2tbDYRTwUGllkJMkXw/w400-h300/20220918_135039.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just thought I would include this picture of my siblings and I. Being with them gives me a lot of joy<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial;"> </span>Joy has been an important characteristic to me. I grew up understanding that my name, Abbigail, meant "Source of Joy". I realize now that I will never be the source of Joy - that duty belongs to God. I think a more accurate meaning for my name is "She brings joy to her Father" and that I hope is true. Both to my earthly father and to my heavenly Father.<div><br /></div><div>What is the definition of joy? Here is a combination of different ones that I found: <span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">a feeling of extreme gladness, delight, or exultation of the spirit arising from a sense of well-being or satisfaction</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. </span><span style="background-color: #fdfdfc; font-family: Alegreya, serif; font-size: 17px;">The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Alegreya, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Alegreya, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">This year I am talking about the fruits of the Spirit - in other words characteristics that come because the Spirit is working in our lives. I find this passage in John 15 to be very fitting. We need to abide in Christ. He is the vine that we are growing off of. We need to be completely connected to Him - getting our nourishment from Him. This will lead us to a joyful life.<br /></span></span><div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial;">John 15:1-11“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.</span><span style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial;"> </span><span class="text John-15-2" id="en-NIV-26702" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">2 </span>He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.</span><span style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial;"> </span><span class="text John-15-3" id="en-NIV-26703" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">3 </span>You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.</span><span style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial;"> </span><span class="text John-15-4" id="en-NIV-26704" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">4 </span>Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #990000;"><span class="text John-15-5" id="en-NIV-26705"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">5 </span>“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.</span> <span class="text John-15-6" id="en-NIV-26706"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">6 </span>If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.</span> <span class="text John-15-7" id="en-NIV-26707"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">7 </span>If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.</span> <span class="text John-15-8" id="en-NIV-26708"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">8 </span>This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #990000;"><span class="text John-15-9" id="en-NIV-26709"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">9 </span>“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.</span> <span class="text John-15-10" id="en-NIV-26710"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span>If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.</span> <span class="text John-15-11" id="en-NIV-26711"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">11 </span>I<b> have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.</b></span></span></p><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">One of the very interesting things about Joy that comes from God (in my opinion) is that it doesn't depend on us being in a good situation or getting the things we want. Consider these passages....</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">James 1:2-4 "<b>Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials</b>, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">2 Corinthians 7:4 "Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort;<b> I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.</b>"</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial;">2 Corinthians 8:1-5 "Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction<b> their abundance of joy </b>and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God."</span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial;">Isn't that one above convicting? I pray that they Holy Spirit will work in me to help me have that kind of joy and generosity and devotion to Jesus Christ! Here is another convicting one...</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial;">Hebrews 10:32-34 "But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and <b>accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one."</b></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">The beatitudes touch on joy as well...</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Matthew 5:11 & 12 "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of My. Rejoice and by glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">I think this passage really helps us to understand why we can have joy even in the midst of persecution or other hard times. By the help of the Holy Spirit we understand that this life is not our focus - heaven is. So we can have that happiness, that exultation of spirit, that sense of well-being, that expectation of good - all a part of joy - because we are looking beyond just what we see any feel in this life.</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"> I was so inspired reading these different accounts in scripture about joy in the midst of troubles. I want to share one more of those with you...</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Acts 5:40-42 "They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way form the presence of the Council, <b>rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name</b>. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." Acts 5:40-42</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">This is my prayer for you....</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Romans 15:13 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Colossians 1:9-12 "For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; <b>joyously giving thanks to the Father</b>, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light."</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;">That last passage hits on another important aspect of living a joy filled life. Be thankful!!! There is nothing quite like Thankfulness (in my opinion) to turn our attitude to one of joy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibK8oTBSWExbIWhDDQAoExaEtIaPazZKpDQ94V-BeCwVtReawurZcdlP0kNic_EkwO3eGE26gc_bX8RWqLwBWgJmJtEvKtkU5aMha7NcHifGi1JMnKIN7XZKYG-rfLt-FzyRbhhVs-gjXpaZY61b4u0RNRu2NA-qT5S3ZaE3_RXhth6kfYNJKvBY9jsg/s3264/20230220_175106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibK8oTBSWExbIWhDDQAoExaEtIaPazZKpDQ94V-BeCwVtReawurZcdlP0kNic_EkwO3eGE26gc_bX8RWqLwBWgJmJtEvKtkU5aMha7NcHifGi1JMnKIN7XZKYG-rfLt-FzyRbhhVs-gjXpaZY61b4u0RNRu2NA-qT5S3ZaE3_RXhth6kfYNJKvBY9jsg/w400-h300/20230220_175106.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another picture that brings me joy. An old one of enjoying music with my buddy boy.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p></div></div>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-55040331082677795382023-02-25T22:10:00.000-06:002023-02-25T22:10:25.395-06:00Cleaning and Decluttering - A Fun Saturday Activity<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YfspkgkSyZXyEpD-mDDNUN0x5L1-iLgkTVm9_YpEO9jLM-lzvtrf6tFgxqbwnx9_SGvrlQkf8xwsCc9t5j0KRXamzX7nAZqD1LW155A1aL4b2qZJPnKFrh8YL3rBSBp5tCFDt0BmLqXSEqgOrmziy6jTXHN2PokV1T9XjlZXDKvx75WPFy2AJboTrg/s3264/20230225_132236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YfspkgkSyZXyEpD-mDDNUN0x5L1-iLgkTVm9_YpEO9jLM-lzvtrf6tFgxqbwnx9_SGvrlQkf8xwsCc9t5j0KRXamzX7nAZqD1LW155A1aL4b2qZJPnKFrh8YL3rBSBp5tCFDt0BmLqXSEqgOrmziy6jTXHN2PokV1T9XjlZXDKvx75WPFy2AJboTrg/s320/20230225_132236.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> I was blessed to get to stay home all day today! A friend came over for a little while this morning which was really fun but after that I had nothing scheduled for the day. I really enjoy having days like that once in a while. It doesn't mean that I don't have plenty to do but I am not on a tight time frame and I enjoy that luxury to kind of randomly work through my to-do list as I feel motivated. Today's main project was to work on going through, cleaning and organizing our storage room. It had gotten a bit disheveled and cluttered. Also there were boxes that I wasn't exactly sure what was in them. I was able to get a handle on exactly what was in there and I am really happy about that. I was also able to get rid of quite a few things that we didn't need and that always makes me happy. <p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHl71kGeqdEylMR5aWuNRVvQY19zDu9QnisO9Ee41HPm8KDxYv4EAKOsGoHNW6I7CCyRL_UKh280_Vm5Ddi8DT0G9tzlwEtAKloSZAVvoc_WsoO2tf8qJlH27il3IP6VRFcP8pIkRd5sbVzC7CbQ4NNNmZx04wutyGnOnUuS5MKn8-i1F9uvkTkgssA/s3264/20230225_213149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHl71kGeqdEylMR5aWuNRVvQY19zDu9QnisO9Ee41HPm8KDxYv4EAKOsGoHNW6I7CCyRL_UKh280_Vm5Ddi8DT0G9tzlwEtAKloSZAVvoc_WsoO2tf8qJlH27il3IP6VRFcP8pIkRd5sbVzC7CbQ4NNNmZx04wutyGnOnUuS5MKn8-i1F9uvkTkgssA/s320/20230225_213149.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> We no longer have anything sitting in the middle of things. We have extra space on the shelves, things are grouped together better according to how I use them (Ice skating, my wedding business, camping, skiing, etc) and we were able to clean out another cupboard in the main room where we are going to only put things that we are fine with our AirBnB guests using. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrhd_gAzXT8NJ9MplrOmLzoHguCAXruYsATzqHeY0JQvl_QBejhg1YLCop0zt1Mfp3TFKx4Uym01Rsj8MSGE3Wg4yPUI3x5UESeiv-pO4rA3avhp0Hh5xvvEQRMCVRhuV9MEneNEUG-xuGCh0u6B7cCJTzrs7qe1pl81Ug3GZ9OF_RWWg78tO7MFWjA/s3264/20230225_213201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrhd_gAzXT8NJ9MplrOmLzoHguCAXruYsATzqHeY0JQvl_QBejhg1YLCop0zt1Mfp3TFKx4Uym01Rsj8MSGE3Wg4yPUI3x5UESeiv-pO4rA3avhp0Hh5xvvEQRMCVRhuV9MEneNEUG-xuGCh0u6B7cCJTzrs7qe1pl81Ug3GZ9OF_RWWg78tO7MFWjA/s320/20230225_213201.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>All in all it was a very satisfying Saturday project.<p></p><p> One of my life goals is to only have things that we find beautiful or useful and to be aware of what we do have so that we can use it or give it to others to use. Things just left in storage somewhere do not generally improve with storage. The majority of them decay in some way over time. I think if God has blessed us in some way with things we should do our best to use them well or give them to others. Being aware of what you do have can really help in preventing of buying new things and henceforth wasting money.</p><p> Obviously looking at my storage room you can tell that I am not a minimalist but I really like a lot of the concepts that they talk about. I firmly believe that having too much stuff will cause you to waste money - between buying it in the first place and then having so much that you can't find what you do have when you need it and then you just buy it (or something like it) again.</p><p> When I clean out a place like this the other take-away I have is to feel extremely grateful. God has blessed us with so very, very much which is evidenced by all the things in my storage room. Not only do I have enough things for me but I have enough to share with others. </p><p> How do you like to use a Saturday at home?<br /> </p>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-58514784407883868992023-02-18T22:45:00.000-06:002023-02-18T22:45:00.099-06:00More Wintertime Fun<p>I feel so abundantly blessed to get to live the life I do. We live in a beautiful area surrounded by family and friends and many other beautiful people that I haven't even met yet. God provides for us so abundantly and I have work that I truly enjoy. There are opportunities to serve God and use the different talents He has given me and I truly am grateful. </p><p>Here are just a few of the beautiful times from my life lately....<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2x6tCQ_10gajxbzDu17AX5f7Id4mecW2AeBXdjZNoD1GhAmTj4KNXm4V10BiUpl5m6HXpB-Maq-xDR8bMV64NppQWm3nJD0VqeHaV6zqJQsTgLxhzNg28yV9IYBxiEGPiblJttUXLh8aDkg8mhRsuD42g48eNbcJEfzhOYdJBIT6cTMA8MPGnborJQ/s3264/20230114_142726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2x6tCQ_10gajxbzDu17AX5f7Id4mecW2AeBXdjZNoD1GhAmTj4KNXm4V10BiUpl5m6HXpB-Maq-xDR8bMV64NppQWm3nJD0VqeHaV6zqJQsTgLxhzNg28yV9IYBxiEGPiblJttUXLh8aDkg8mhRsuD42g48eNbcJEfzhOYdJBIT6cTMA8MPGnborJQ/w300-h400/20230114_142726.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p>In January a bunch of us from church got together to go skating. It was a fun time! Keren and Lilly stood on the edge and watched. Keren has a baby due in April and didn't think skating would be good right now.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBIeBMUqq_2uqD3LCd5HJKTMcGnEbMhF49i-OnWGg3zaMrUpnV8s0nO2SHpR6-JY3bZqOwbca7RvTyVl8SCmsQdtricdFvfYrNRU5LRMNcGCf3FtaRT8Wbe_FG1jYkEcBY9gDbXUUalbzEZXAAyuhRg667pZ9LdmJrhYFoU9-a7lzBsdXoPqmbKLGkQ/s3264/20230114_142932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBIeBMUqq_2uqD3LCd5HJKTMcGnEbMhF49i-OnWGg3zaMrUpnV8s0nO2SHpR6-JY3bZqOwbca7RvTyVl8SCmsQdtricdFvfYrNRU5LRMNcGCf3FtaRT8Wbe_FG1jYkEcBY9gDbXUUalbzEZXAAyuhRg667pZ9LdmJrhYFoU9-a7lzBsdXoPqmbKLGkQ/w300-h400/20230114_142932.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>But Martha and I had fun skating.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwH56-d0MaoEOxZWXO9XU_83KYHcb4fK15sZL9uxgJiocSYb9y7PVT7_tOcMEyBVcZtdLqlQtCgqorIyLhIIRrHWA6LUbxM0oJxAtQaV1qFYBG20ySrJ7zZNuKoYCWiPg4WM2swIX7LKsEhSvoUHEO8tfuEJl_zjm7SPhITD3GsOPqkIW4NOWd99Sffw/s3264/20230114_142948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwH56-d0MaoEOxZWXO9XU_83KYHcb4fK15sZL9uxgJiocSYb9y7PVT7_tOcMEyBVcZtdLqlQtCgqorIyLhIIRrHWA6LUbxM0oJxAtQaV1qFYBG20ySrJ7zZNuKoYCWiPg4WM2swIX7LKsEhSvoUHEO8tfuEJl_zjm7SPhITD3GsOPqkIW4NOWd99Sffw/w300-h400/20230114_142948.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>And Gracie and Heidi (dressed as something... I don't remember what) did.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4qwAiVJ9Coeyx71TCikQfe73I2wzStvBcAa0RPhgrk3yO6aAhFpXd5wLe4wRvFFd9ZXGMhPV9-p8cWl26CBozsv2dDJoi0TT6UmuWkvHrB7N9tjltKo6lCnwxK2n7Yf2VACCpoIRy2NOEzVZH0lpx0VVCbo-AF2ZjI48IiI0k58nkOlZKaX2Ix9jJA/s3264/20230114_142952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4qwAiVJ9Coeyx71TCikQfe73I2wzStvBcAa0RPhgrk3yO6aAhFpXd5wLe4wRvFFd9ZXGMhPV9-p8cWl26CBozsv2dDJoi0TT6UmuWkvHrB7N9tjltKo6lCnwxK2n7Yf2VACCpoIRy2NOEzVZH0lpx0VVCbo-AF2ZjI48IiI0k58nkOlZKaX2Ix9jJA/w300-h400/20230114_142952.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Ephraim and some of the other younger ones tried pushing a chair to help stand up.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93klCxpklMVnMoCf0HccGHp9Z8gFD1fKozaROLALriLYLynANO0K7QlxNtoClW2lZyeJ_26Ibl-UyVh5yiiJ6cOSAxbejI71yXEZAkYne_fpnIaaaco07t5alHVa71bmlxZYF9mOob8Sss_xL8pagzBKkrU5OAkx2sDy5ucXh79f1uoEmrrFj5hzLcg/s3264/20230114_143446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93klCxpklMVnMoCf0HccGHp9Z8gFD1fKozaROLALriLYLynANO0K7QlxNtoClW2lZyeJ_26Ibl-UyVh5yiiJ6cOSAxbejI71yXEZAkYne_fpnIaaaco07t5alHVa71bmlxZYF9mOob8Sss_xL8pagzBKkrU5OAkx2sDy5ucXh79f1uoEmrrFj5hzLcg/w300-h400/20230114_143446.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Beatrix found it easier to just ride on the chair while Bella pushed.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZ9d3kOo5_pMUYeGFoUgm6R81RMj1BZW7AWtMsgnV3WUxedM1RnQgiN53uXuS2FW0ZI1FUM0PeTiDS3HXj0zE4_jEyFseok3Dh5v9TDyIGGAZs4bRUKvuSD9wK-sHZN2AOboZ60jDyUKaxMbOXCPLTIRzWqYIAuaMzogF6R3k3y3rYNUcCUFloLQEQQ/s3264/20230114_142632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZ9d3kOo5_pMUYeGFoUgm6R81RMj1BZW7AWtMsgnV3WUxedM1RnQgiN53uXuS2FW0ZI1FUM0PeTiDS3HXj0zE4_jEyFseok3Dh5v9TDyIGGAZs4bRUKvuSD9wK-sHZN2AOboZ60jDyUKaxMbOXCPLTIRzWqYIAuaMzogF6R3k3y3rYNUcCUFloLQEQQ/w300-h400/20230114_142632.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Hold on to Dad if you are feeling unsteady!!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxvYp2XHyXR8dzyzfRLZt08lnF9uqoyvDCjq6DCVgS3LOwxbW3lb9R3us5eJqPiFsH-hM-a6VeMPWtXzre_em4oVkqUUwHBlFxSZKGmaN17kRnCsYigCZHweNjixlY11AbzbVfWF1p_zr8KOOFuSySffXLbrl6-lS_k-xPKpcWny3TYKdtVnmvhBtXw/s3264/20230114_142651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxvYp2XHyXR8dzyzfRLZt08lnF9uqoyvDCjq6DCVgS3LOwxbW3lb9R3us5eJqPiFsH-hM-a6VeMPWtXzre_em4oVkqUUwHBlFxSZKGmaN17kRnCsYigCZHweNjixlY11AbzbVfWF1p_zr8KOOFuSySffXLbrl6-lS_k-xPKpcWny3TYKdtVnmvhBtXw/w300-h400/20230114_142651.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Miss Megan!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnZb0etHq0FJbcqqFNLYYFiswJUNE9EcJ50intbn75o05hsa1K9iKr_gqhPt5fQ-LoQ6_md_Hh3sI5H4CHM-_bjIK61uQ9oynR2X2KZnKDdgguaeWOT0bNBKgSqFT8KlVrPlrAD9a6Su6Xyirbs07LpFZ3UDpoHcTHZOVQmbWg7yM2UqGCeSa0sJV_w/s3264/20230114_142644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnZb0etHq0FJbcqqFNLYYFiswJUNE9EcJ50intbn75o05hsa1K9iKr_gqhPt5fQ-LoQ6_md_Hh3sI5H4CHM-_bjIK61uQ9oynR2X2KZnKDdgguaeWOT0bNBKgSqFT8KlVrPlrAD9a6Su6Xyirbs07LpFZ3UDpoHcTHZOVQmbWg7yM2UqGCeSa0sJV_w/w300-h400/20230114_142644.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Aaron enjoyed practicing his hockey skills.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftEnr7wjAE7uVkfaYxMu9nwruzNA_5DcRjK3NnvHj0WGl37fTUs5j7DnnCNMAUl8tDM1uwIUlYd51GLHE2DN7SxZjA7S9zQbubVbiKqNrnu11jxGqblwO68MWDVuCrpFYmfLNn8IJkoBg3tmA5NrQH0fOEo7bMxGHoP3VgBZSaUmf3Gejw2oqaCgGGw/s3264/20230127_150444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftEnr7wjAE7uVkfaYxMu9nwruzNA_5DcRjK3NnvHj0WGl37fTUs5j7DnnCNMAUl8tDM1uwIUlYd51GLHE2DN7SxZjA7S9zQbubVbiKqNrnu11jxGqblwO68MWDVuCrpFYmfLNn8IJkoBg3tmA5NrQH0fOEo7bMxGHoP3VgBZSaUmf3Gejw2oqaCgGGw/w300-h400/20230127_150444.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>This was an arrangement that I had fun creating recently at the flower shop. The couple that ordered this arrangement for a funeral had requested something very colorful and with some unique flowers and butterflies to go to a young woman's funeral. I guess she had a fun and colorful personality so they wanted something to match that. I love getting to work with flowers all the time and I enjoy the interaction with customers and created just want they want as well.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyg-xb2uwtRcu-hAifVm_T27ZxxIxEMCk6roS-Kd4iEgV1gI_dszgup4V2w_RPnur6endPy5TO2zN4ASTZtRjcJ1jV4MmOPQ9688bA3296mwZiMryw4jXoQJpTlzQZjJswERTDcphmf4ipj4CMBSd6rT6xG4igLRJZzCQAPTjKraJgwsg08SGJzHKQug/s3264/20230204_125250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyg-xb2uwtRcu-hAifVm_T27ZxxIxEMCk6roS-Kd4iEgV1gI_dszgup4V2w_RPnur6endPy5TO2zN4ASTZtRjcJ1jV4MmOPQ9688bA3296mwZiMryw4jXoQJpTlzQZjJswERTDcphmf4ipj4CMBSd6rT6xG4igLRJZzCQAPTjKraJgwsg08SGJzHKQug/w480-h640/20230204_125250.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Two weeks ago Megan and I took a trip to Des Moines, Iowa to visit some friends. The weather was warm down there that weekend (in the 40's) which was so lovely but we also were able to visit the botanical garden there and that was so much fun. It felt like summer or visiting the tropics. I loved seeing all the different plants and just basking in the warmth and sunshine.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5GoR7H1FOtEcRsUZ4eo8N4sxc4wJNN2SGpKcYTaPeTgi0_m7XcqBUrei-drdq3bf5BKPN-Bk51lMJS0h_PT6FiFDAeUa5isVyYvzz5RxHZ56F3p_Bla7wqQRIP1v4FvIF3GBT1T6FChFL_HTRRCjQIT4YgvaBX9bcbmXhONTy2zKtE1wB8LfRwz4Kw/s3264/20230204_125257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5GoR7H1FOtEcRsUZ4eo8N4sxc4wJNN2SGpKcYTaPeTgi0_m7XcqBUrei-drdq3bf5BKPN-Bk51lMJS0h_PT6FiFDAeUa5isVyYvzz5RxHZ56F3p_Bla7wqQRIP1v4FvIF3GBT1T6FChFL_HTRRCjQIT4YgvaBX9bcbmXhONTy2zKtE1wB8LfRwz4Kw/w480-h640/20230204_125257.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>I really enjoyed getting to spend time with my friend (from babyhood) Jessica and her husband, James. I am so grateful for good friends. It was so fun to be able to catch up and to visit about spiritual things and share testimonies of how God has been working in our lives. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0mb4VxlRsa8ALwzOYPXOM7IJXQpuQBgUebJfVD1Po9L6tagGcx1hBB7cJU5stybBrCZxrpbvmG4ZnCAvhkSVuf5XGjJ0mnRbootjNSD2nOPA79rBOq2vQwkYCA0zlTjhQf4LGjT53ZborvdSa1zZucgiwxLRNj4clGCEBvstSwgOmbnJvXNRQEz77w/s3264/20230204_115839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0mb4VxlRsa8ALwzOYPXOM7IJXQpuQBgUebJfVD1Po9L6tagGcx1hBB7cJU5stybBrCZxrpbvmG4ZnCAvhkSVuf5XGjJ0mnRbootjNSD2nOPA79rBOq2vQwkYCA0zlTjhQf4LGjT53ZborvdSa1zZucgiwxLRNj4clGCEBvstSwgOmbnJvXNRQEz77w/w300-h400/20230204_115839.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We walked around a sculpture garden on that lovely day.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWcaqxUV09EpPN3AFOuIDg6OZNRJSWtZ5a9IYS5WX69Tepw2VVfHNnmDQDKyRPZ88jCdDuAcDMUbC87QbTX9nu1shnGOyB0sp7ag0OnPKr5Ev8Dch6c8aohCaXQLFjWZmtaADsx3vK4WOtCW-GxPCtT-FPY_m_pl3Z1EHmMZqe67gTOqRwIYgqGjmXQ/s3264/20230206_080918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWcaqxUV09EpPN3AFOuIDg6OZNRJSWtZ5a9IYS5WX69Tepw2VVfHNnmDQDKyRPZ88jCdDuAcDMUbC87QbTX9nu1shnGOyB0sp7ag0OnPKr5Ev8Dch6c8aohCaXQLFjWZmtaADsx3vK4WOtCW-GxPCtT-FPY_m_pl3Z1EHmMZqe67gTOqRwIYgqGjmXQ/w400-h300/20230206_080918.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On our way back from Des Moines we stayed with my sister and her family in the cities. It was fun to catch up with them as well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This past Wednesday night we had a pancakes supper where the kids did the cooking, decorating, serving and entertaining for the adults. (A couple of other adults worked with me to help that happen). I didn't get any good pictures but it was a fun (and slightly chaotic) evening.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCTrBxhRPq6kN64boSftsn2PQcrI_En1W6DBJGFfz66PJYThK1x8ddxDwrW31ol_x45K1G2T-QhPZiSP2fTq8sUEyLZdN5rE5fh8yy-fSX5SNj9AfaZrAOVi6xxCrkWjKyeuB10x-hJUVZGHgBiYi5owHyagFOGeY1f4w_FB47wPpqPr2_7fLoxkDkA/s3264/20230215_184616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCTrBxhRPq6kN64boSftsn2PQcrI_En1W6DBJGFfz66PJYThK1x8ddxDwrW31ol_x45K1G2T-QhPZiSP2fTq8sUEyLZdN5rE5fh8yy-fSX5SNj9AfaZrAOVi6xxCrkWjKyeuB10x-hJUVZGHgBiYi5owHyagFOGeY1f4w_FB47wPpqPr2_7fLoxkDkA/w400-h300/20230215_184616.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>My niece Molly (who is nearly 20) headed up the cooking of the food. I had made pancake mixes ahead of time but they had to mix things up the rest of the way and fry them, fry sausages, prepared beverages, prepare toppings and fruit. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYoukpGAicKOmQrP8tFAvCNLfRL6VxNcyOvujkwHgKV4E6FloMVbu1e4Lg_QokkGxt9x8Z7o9gASpAjX1PNuNe6a2HLTycwxGNdFaIssdkm4Q_V6EHcwOAcGwXOqiDG_vgh-j_nYgfGDzYiziGJpgwbkT8IP_PKDLTuebMxGa0wnZfDUf8SupudGcIw/s3264/20230215_184624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYoukpGAicKOmQrP8tFAvCNLfRL6VxNcyOvujkwHgKV4E6FloMVbu1e4Lg_QokkGxt9x8Z7o9gASpAjX1PNuNe6a2HLTycwxGNdFaIssdkm4Q_V6EHcwOAcGwXOqiDG_vgh-j_nYgfGDzYiziGJpgwbkT8IP_PKDLTuebMxGa0wnZfDUf8SupudGcIw/w400-h300/20230215_184624.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We also had a decorating and serving group. This is a portion of them. It was an eager and excited group of kids. My voice was gone by the end of the night as I had been giving them instructions all evening. They did a great job and I am proud of them.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnG5RoGfQ26xG71HMkZz1N2oHPlVowTDpFNQaW4JVOI7MdnnPRFUBHOEsHFCnp-iODcr8IzLMZINVtcLEuaP7dsdW7GyKOy1vpZlvm0IlxbRNYlaL6jKOaHaWdxt8lYKIFgoxkX12l9ghTzDQijRNdSn3XbgPsemPoAqHIAJ-SGd4Qwfymn0eYGuvb8g/s3264/20230215_192545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnG5RoGfQ26xG71HMkZz1N2oHPlVowTDpFNQaW4JVOI7MdnnPRFUBHOEsHFCnp-iODcr8IzLMZINVtcLEuaP7dsdW7GyKOy1vpZlvm0IlxbRNYlaL6jKOaHaWdxt8lYKIFgoxkX12l9ghTzDQijRNdSn3XbgPsemPoAqHIAJ-SGd4Qwfymn0eYGuvb8g/w400-h300/20230215_192545.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>These girls were singing a special number. We had a couple of those and some readings.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjwhsdNkilEFytU2fJVyZKwqnWEjhXW6-8-aoqEkXDYUr7uXSaDJNvBk3RupK151PS2Gh-j6AAbzzajrWuXALQAyy7fHih8fUIkff7605wsEME-5Xzig0uZGXbrGKoPdtg5fREUhHNXfnEvpWCC-lBVhNt58cxjYMMNP7Q07O34VbVdgVhjqz-495Ow/s3264/20230218_134037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjwhsdNkilEFytU2fJVyZKwqnWEjhXW6-8-aoqEkXDYUr7uXSaDJNvBk3RupK151PS2Gh-j6AAbzzajrWuXALQAyy7fHih8fUIkff7605wsEME-5Xzig0uZGXbrGKoPdtg5fREUhHNXfnEvpWCC-lBVhNt58cxjYMMNP7Q07O34VbVdgVhjqz-495Ow/w400-h300/20230218_134037.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This weekend my sister Anna and part of her family came up to visit and so our family all got together at my parents. We had a fun time together. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1v23gnfgIpRxxccXP-esCrV38MJ-FnqMwluiv6JBLnUyEre3Ud8-mT5rIE6J8KB4xLUMMRw9nsR84fVdxswsL0O3nVphKUeKEBBei-CgTVmnSUD32Eu0FfCwASG-FtdpHBYjVMKGAEusB0PGB3FDrOkSdBPiZDWgvFOiJ09N2twdSfoxfrimjgCxuQ/s3264/20230218_152303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1v23gnfgIpRxxccXP-esCrV38MJ-FnqMwluiv6JBLnUyEre3Ud8-mT5rIE6J8KB4xLUMMRw9nsR84fVdxswsL0O3nVphKUeKEBBei-CgTVmnSUD32Eu0FfCwASG-FtdpHBYjVMKGAEusB0PGB3FDrOkSdBPiZDWgvFOiJ09N2twdSfoxfrimjgCxuQ/w480-h640/20230218_152303.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Mara was tired today so I brought Malcolm out with me. We had a fun time hanging out. Here he was having fun taking care of a baby doll. I guess he is practicing up for being a big brother.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr84-52OSnPn5wKZ65p2Wa7SWMOzPIYfJ6ygxa8Sg9tEivo_6ny4Q4LlSa38jb_w8JIC6C7teGo0J5c63PmmgiyGRpEwPA9fKr22JAzNyjBUet4UVie3CtK93c3FuowO43F5y4jIw9ek3MPevRQk4MugH3SUjHl19FLdIhGFKZn_tT_dxMd_BQDSrS-Q/s3264/20230218_160907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr84-52OSnPn5wKZ65p2Wa7SWMOzPIYfJ6ygxa8Sg9tEivo_6ny4Q4LlSa38jb_w8JIC6C7teGo0J5c63PmmgiyGRpEwPA9fKr22JAzNyjBUet4UVie3CtK93c3FuowO43F5y4jIw9ek3MPevRQk4MugH3SUjHl19FLdIhGFKZn_tT_dxMd_BQDSrS-Q/w300-h400/20230218_160907.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>We went on a long walk which we thoroughly enjoyed for the fresh air and fun companionship. We a;sp were wanting to get some exercise and I think we succeeded.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZ9ZZw6JmR31SPRN8lV3Zi__FA-OJhA0R-H4HUwL_dmjHZDcMtHagO-gb1B8FB5Slni8vaB0Ti920Kn-eYwaQg4NnVmXfpy3P7KmTekfwVS_RIgOPa-nmUkSuLlCCe4AdKgxr1f6ruYZ8CfeY2FDNhjSCPylJfxbbBlyNTf0WW-WQsKVvfkv7Z_AfuQ/s3264/20230218_163532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZ9ZZw6JmR31SPRN8lV3Zi__FA-OJhA0R-H4HUwL_dmjHZDcMtHagO-gb1B8FB5Slni8vaB0Ti920Kn-eYwaQg4NnVmXfpy3P7KmTekfwVS_RIgOPa-nmUkSuLlCCe4AdKgxr1f6ruYZ8CfeY2FDNhjSCPylJfxbbBlyNTf0WW-WQsKVvfkv7Z_AfuQ/w400-h300/20230218_163532.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rzc3A9Q_2BFlTfb6VTByM8ftDvg5C6IRs7RmGU-1tlPn5mwEVS08WprUWLUGV5VyhlvvDSKgQCSAFu3LpR3f-xXNgjHw8bvs0lIWGy3EvyL9xycNeIZPKYWdmydbV7PXFTy9ERuMtSzDhUPYke4qlKgcX6LQMk-uXEfq3HT5lV06mnkTElDGMXpeKQ/s3264/20230218_163528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rzc3A9Q_2BFlTfb6VTByM8ftDvg5C6IRs7RmGU-1tlPn5mwEVS08WprUWLUGV5VyhlvvDSKgQCSAFu3LpR3f-xXNgjHw8bvs0lIWGy3EvyL9xycNeIZPKYWdmydbV7PXFTy9ERuMtSzDhUPYke4qlKgcX6LQMk-uXEfq3HT5lV06mnkTElDGMXpeKQ/w300-h400/20230218_163528.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>The kids found the train tracks very interesting.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisY3vflUuzUsyxLYyO0bIqQ53DnE7N2xRLQ80SwKTYmhK__IbLIih97ag4wDKtBrxUOK5CiqKEz4ds0tkRJ_-lo-TaSq0NEKrC8-msC6JXtWC2EKEdDJe_byARz158uWSgBOwsRZVLq6mVBXtxWZCYakiy8uAxPcZy8RG2mw77wKzFX4AeHszs-tc3Lw/s3264/20230218_163549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisY3vflUuzUsyxLYyO0bIqQ53DnE7N2xRLQ80SwKTYmhK__IbLIih97ag4wDKtBrxUOK5CiqKEz4ds0tkRJ_-lo-TaSq0NEKrC8-msC6JXtWC2EKEdDJe_byARz158uWSgBOwsRZVLq6mVBXtxWZCYakiy8uAxPcZy8RG2mw77wKzFX4AeHszs-tc3Lw/w400-h300/20230218_163549.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1PUkRc3KcxdS332KuRdzSMmw_gT21l2qJlW-WYov49i4A65yPxZQLwbD5R28m7_EQXbwWB034GqzZgZK6BdZs95Tewo9-rIcj59KgI-OE8ISAv-u8ThMapZGv7EiDMz9ue5EKGyFvvg7bqy_gbTyraTaZuE_Kt7qYcEeqeX_12s7dTIhOeH80d6r0g/s3264/20230218_152306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1PUkRc3KcxdS332KuRdzSMmw_gT21l2qJlW-WYov49i4A65yPxZQLwbD5R28m7_EQXbwWB034GqzZgZK6BdZs95Tewo9-rIcj59KgI-OE8ISAv-u8ThMapZGv7EiDMz9ue5EKGyFvvg7bqy_gbTyraTaZuE_Kt7qYcEeqeX_12s7dTIhOeH80d6r0g/w300-h400/20230218_152306.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Grandma's Matryoshka dolls were also enjoyed today. The kids and I also had a great game of hide and seek. By the way it is quite fun to hide and listen to them talk about you as they look for you. They decided I was such a good hider because I had grown up in that house and I knew it really well. I had my 2 year old niece hiding with me and she was remarkably quiet. I love that I have lots of nieces and nephews. God made each one of them so different for the others. He is an amazing Creator!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, that is just a bit of the fun that I have been having lately. Sometimes I struggle with contentedness as my dream for life was/is to be happily married with a husband to serve God with. But that is not God's plan for me right now and that is okay. He absolutely knows what is best for me and He has placed me in a place where I can serve and love on others and be very fulfilled by the relationships that I have with others and with Him. This time of a little more aloneness (it isn't a lot as I am still blessed to have 2 kids at home and I do have a lot going on with others as well) has prompted me to spend more time just visiting with God as I go about my day. That is so wonderful. I wish I would have made that a bigger part of my life a long, long time ago. God is always there listening. He wants to hear from you about everything - every struggle, every excitement, every sorrow and every joy. He wants our praise and He deserves it. We are blessed with things that we can be thankful for every moment of our day. I highly recommend praying through your day and just really sharing it all with Him! </div><br /><br /> <p></p>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-6752286680584021672023-01-31T21:55:00.002-06:002023-01-31T21:55:21.999-06:00The Fruit of the Spirit is... LOVE<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqBoiJEWKdC9J7vRVBvwmm3hKFdHFlWS2fXYYqDY49MBpv5O6Gr5OUaCTQSTAXFUV3r_yRsr1zD8ICxGoMpvPTiL14q2QUadXm47KxfTlX-M63mtdIMUoprOg6cQo2bdl9HoMob77suNt8Hj65n91gPdjbii7r0dU9C55v9kSBtI0ZcgzPMwIlUVF7Q/s3264/20220925_164706.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqBoiJEWKdC9J7vRVBvwmm3hKFdHFlWS2fXYYqDY49MBpv5O6Gr5OUaCTQSTAXFUV3r_yRsr1zD8ICxGoMpvPTiL14q2QUadXm47KxfTlX-M63mtdIMUoprOg6cQo2bdl9HoMob77suNt8Hj65n91gPdjbii7r0dU9C55v9kSBtI0ZcgzPMwIlUVF7Q/s320/20220925_164706.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> <span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><span class="text Gal-5-22" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESV-29168" style="background-color: white;">But <b>the fruit of the Spirit is love</b>, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Gal-5-23" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESV-29169" style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.<br />Galatians 5:22 and 23</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="text Gal-5-23" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;">The last few years I have really grown in my understanding of the Holy Spirit and his work. Studying the Bible with a goal of understanding the Holy Spirit has really helped me to see Galatians 5:22 and 23 in a different light. My understanding earlier was that love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control were character traits that I needed to work at having in my life. My understanding of how the Holy Spirit worked in that was pretty foggy. I am struggling to fully explain what I mean but basically I knew that I had received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit because in Acts 2:38 it says "Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." and I had done that. But I treated the Holy Spirit as this "little helper" instead of seeing the power that He had to truly change my life. I still felt like I had to do all the hard work and the Holy Spirit would do little things like prick my conscience when I was doing something that I shouldn't, He might help bring things to memory, He might comfort me with His presence when I was sad but I wasn't looking to Him to radically work in me by His power. To grow in me - like beans grow on a bean plant or apples on a tree - the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="text Gal-5-23" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"> It isn't that I believe that after we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit that we don't have to put any effort in on our own, that we just sit back and wait for the fruit of the Spirit to develop in us. But I think we need to be aware of His power to work in us and to let him work. But I guess a full discourse on the Holy Spirit will be for another day. I still have much more studying that I want to do. I would love to hear your thoughts on the work of the Spirit - even if you don't agree with me. :-)</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"> Meanwhile, lets talk about love.....</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQ3GC8nmo8eA9e-4iymNGJUcW6csnZACdpwCZ76UrfR9a0Ni7Hjo9-yrmUBcJG2FKy5qsX-Lem69s_j1U5xDhU_SkR7hNj8hZVy2Hj6qlfWKR8yQrOQ8WR4XY7-sf5_IomBXutPrZa5ifkHtO7gp8vric-L7qBXd5DxweTRooPTpYIIzKktuu_Ypg1Q/s3264/20220925_164531.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQ3GC8nmo8eA9e-4iymNGJUcW6csnZACdpwCZ76UrfR9a0Ni7Hjo9-yrmUBcJG2FKy5qsX-Lem69s_j1U5xDhU_SkR7hNj8hZVy2Hj6qlfWKR8yQrOQ8WR4XY7-sf5_IomBXutPrZa5ifkHtO7gp8vric-L7qBXd5DxweTRooPTpYIIzKktuu_Ypg1Q/s320/20220925_164531.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><span class="text Gal-5-23" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text Rom-5-1" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.</span><span class="text Rom-5-2" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESV-28034" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text Rom-5-3" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESV-28035" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,</span><span class="text Rom-5-4" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESV-28036" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,</span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text Rom-5-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" id="en-ESV-28037" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">and hope does not put us to shame, because <b>God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us</b>. Romans 5:1-5</span></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Part of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is that we will love God and others. We see above that God's love is first poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. He continues to do that. Agape love (which is what God gives to us) is a sacrificial love. It is a love of choice, not of attraction or obligation. Agape love is unconcerned with self but is concerned with the greatest good of another. Agape love requires faithfulness, commitment and sacrifice without expecting anything in return. 1 Corinthians 13 has a pretty good definition of that love. Here is a portion of that:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium; text-align: start;">"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7"</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium; text-align: start;">As I read more on what it really means to love others with agape love I admit I had a little feeling of overwhelm because there is not way that I can consistently love others like that on my own. And that is just the point. We cannot! We can only truly love like that by the power of the Holy Spirit. And we will still mess up! We are human and it shows pretty regularly.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Rom-5-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span face=""Segoe UI", -apple-system, Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="text Rom-5-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span face=""Segoe UI", -apple-system, Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVvFCkAEs_Ak_xy9--A2-NeVJxOJlBlwht6bTpqs-_VvE-9DrQW14eHn8K429P598-SMpec8QxG-tzn-u4QrsaF2ZhKBeVu_H3o_yVzpe9kCnaVhPtFWBMR9pqpRNebTsq86bta3lI7VGhZN_hZ7Sg53b4yl7OMFiLZiHmESj1EYkrhqwpihEBi5U7Q/s3264/20220925_164333.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVvFCkAEs_Ak_xy9--A2-NeVJxOJlBlwht6bTpqs-_VvE-9DrQW14eHn8K429P598-SMpec8QxG-tzn-u4QrsaF2ZhKBeVu_H3o_yVzpe9kCnaVhPtFWBMR9pqpRNebTsq86bta3lI7VGhZN_hZ7Sg53b4yl7OMFiLZiHmESj1EYkrhqwpihEBi5U7Q/s320/20220925_164333.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="text Rom-5-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span face=""Segoe UI", -apple-system, Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text Rom-5-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span face=""Segoe UI", -apple-system, Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:7 and 8</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text Rom-5-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span face=""Segoe UI", -apple-system, Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;">Love is an integral part of our walk with God/our life as a Christ follower. God is love so unless we are living in love we are saying that we don't even know God! The love we have for each other is our message to the world -"I am a disciple of Jesus!"</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text Rom-5-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span face=""Segoe UI", -apple-system, Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;">"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. <b>By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.</b>” John 13:34-35</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large; text-align: start;">"For </span><b style="background-color: white; font-size: large; text-align: start;">God gave us a spirit </b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large; text-align: start;">not of fear but of power and </span><b style="background-color: white; font-size: large; text-align: start;">love</b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large; text-align: start;"> and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text Rom-5-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span face=""Segoe UI", -apple-system, Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let's pray that we and others will be strengthened with power through His Spirit so we can abound in love and the other fruits of the Spirit. Can you imagine how beautiful this world could be if all those that profess to follow Jesus Christ would love others with agape love?</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text Rom-5-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span face=""Segoe UI", -apple-system, Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;">"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory <b>He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith - that you, being rooted and grounded in love,</b> may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text Rom-5-5" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span face=""Segoe UI", -apple-system, Verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px;"><br /></p>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-41713853435726405732023-01-28T21:56:00.003-06:002023-01-28T21:56:59.377-06:00December Goals Accomplished<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLo_udU0XBpzs4krjNfdqM1ls-ErW0JhaMsiHCBtyOmQAjbZ7ZfEPEcKD20ceRgyMH_gM4ALXqKNzMWdTrLUHtskxDuyuJ1uaTvuBBFGBmt3j_mRXA9I9GMJhm0MMkrgXpzT7UUeuAvA0GyVm3eFja2CHCmgmC9mM0L9LNplbqAJ7aDwWxg8upRMarZA/s2560/20230128_180034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLo_udU0XBpzs4krjNfdqM1ls-ErW0JhaMsiHCBtyOmQAjbZ7ZfEPEcKD20ceRgyMH_gM4ALXqKNzMWdTrLUHtskxDuyuJ1uaTvuBBFGBmt3j_mRXA9I9GMJhm0MMkrgXpzT7UUeuAvA0GyVm3eFja2CHCmgmC9mM0L9LNplbqAJ7aDwWxg8upRMarZA/w400-h300/20230128_180034.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>In December<a href="http://proverbs31living.blogspot.com/2022/12/december-goalschallenges.html"> I shared with you </a>a few different goals that I was working on. It is now almost the end of January but I thought I would share with you how those goals went...<div><br /></div><div> First off, I had made the goal at the beginning of 2022 to spend time practicing on/learning to play a different instrument each month and then record it and share it on Youtube. Following that as planned lasted maybe 2 months but I did work on different instruments more throughout the year and I put in some heavier practice in on a couple of different instruments but over all I did struggle with this goal. In December I decided I did truly want to see if I could still accomplish it. That was finally completed today. So I went a month over in the goal but I did get it done.</div><div><br /></div><div> In my dreams I was going to be super proficient in each of the instruments that I played. That did not happen. I simply didn't have the time (or choose not to sacrifice in other areas in order to make the time) to practice enough to make that happen. So some of these videos I was rather embarrassed to post. But over all (other than sharing my imperfections!) it was a fun goal for me. I had fun with working on each of the instruments. Here is a video of each instrument (with two for violin - actually 3 as it is in the Church musicians concert as well).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8crmOROx86A" width="320" youtube-src-id="8crmOROx86A"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y3xCs1WXFGs" width="320" youtube-src-id="Y3xCs1WXFGs"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XdkkTNeaYdY" width="320" youtube-src-id="XdkkTNeaYdY"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bw66IiFfuqc" width="320" youtube-src-id="bw66IiFfuqc"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IMP5O8DzsAg" width="320" youtube-src-id="IMP5O8DzsAg"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zkDTVzABflk" width="320" youtube-src-id="zkDTVzABflk"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y13ZF7JI1x0" width="320" youtube-src-id="Y13ZF7JI1x0"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bftJLUN6kE4" width="320" youtube-src-id="bftJLUN6kE4"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8scfNracFSI" width="320" youtube-src-id="8scfNracFSI"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hUWYpBrdAzE" width="320" youtube-src-id="hUWYpBrdAzE"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VDqphH4jYP4" width="320" youtube-src-id="VDqphH4jYP4"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hCQ4Lp7lwlw" width="320" youtube-src-id="hCQ4Lp7lwlw"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/es66XPOOwNk" width="320" youtube-src-id="es66XPOOwNk"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another December goal was to clean out (declutter) 2 spaces each week. That went well. This year I am working to do 3 a week which has been going well this month. Hopefully I can keep up in the busy summertime. It always does feel good to go through things, clean and get rid of things that we don't need.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Making handmade Christmas gifts was another goal. That went pretty well and was fun. You can see my post that includes <a href="http://proverbs31living.blogspot.com/2023/01/christmas-time.html">the results to that here.</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7alVNe1DfOYBz68B1ebgKmTl4Eu0YeqJ5VABwk5uxON-nl6Bq5A3rM-u6AIY1NhzWJ3qUOyaTvlvhx-x12VlODSYIr2o19DFT_8YOYCDeRKjGefxe6LXw8MI2h_AUv01CU2UlHMYUkrUM-LCE0OqIgyxNJeQVV4NrptlNfVQx68nlGioszktsVX0ffg/s3264/20221201_204724.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7alVNe1DfOYBz68B1ebgKmTl4Eu0YeqJ5VABwk5uxON-nl6Bq5A3rM-u6AIY1NhzWJ3qUOyaTvlvhx-x12VlODSYIr2o19DFT_8YOYCDeRKjGefxe6LXw8MI2h_AUv01CU2UlHMYUkrUM-LCE0OqIgyxNJeQVV4NrptlNfVQx68nlGioszktsVX0ffg/w400-h300/20221201_204724.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can imagine I had a lot of fun with my financial goal. It went well. In the end their was $290 worth of gas stamps so we didn't really have that hard of a challenge. I used that for gas and all of our groceries. I see that I forgot to mention in the first post that I was also giving myself $12 cash to pay for overages when I didn't hit it on the dot exactly (as that would be pretty hard to do and they don't allow you to use a gas stamp card for say 93 cents. It has to be a dollar or more. I did also use the gas stamps to buy salt for our softener and our softener was having issues that month so we had to buy salt quite a few times. Thankfully it seems to be doing better now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> This ended up being just a fun challenge for me and Megan got in on the fun some too. I would come home from work and report on what I managed to get for $10 that day. Several times we splurged on truly unnecessary items. One time she was wanting candy for making a gingerbread house so we went shopping after church on Wednesday night. We went to Menards and used my rebate there to buy a couple of bags of salt for the softener. At Marketplace I gave Megan 10 filled cards of stamps and she was able to get what she wanted with that and meanwhile I got some things that we needed/wanted with another 10. Then I got $10 worth of gas. Then we looked on the back of our receipts and there were coupons to get a free hot chocolate at the gas station next door. So we went and got that. We came home with gas, groceries, candy, salt and hot chocolate in our tummies and we had enjoyed our shopping spree. I think I spent 37 cents in overage that night and Megan spent around 25 cents. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Anyway that is the scoop on our December challenges. We had fun, saved money and according to Megan's college classes I improved my brain with playing all the instruments. So life is good!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p></div>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-720122887391988458.post-8975127532643497652023-01-21T22:10:00.003-06:002023-01-21T22:12:28.842-06:00Christmas Time<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hadn't gotten around to sharing pictures from Christmas time yet, I just wanted to record some of the fun and blessings from Christmas time 2022....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvjnIkpWjUfCQ0m74kYGSptRQ2g5dXnYNX2oHg4532FkSanDomM1XlNF13MFpjByr2qnDrrr2UVE1CpiOSXga8ph1yFgjJyNto0L4LoY23kGEKkIJtFJMMHI3CDaX73bpa68bhL-ugRRCLsehX9ep6usJP9cUSxTCMSRd5DR_PTRl0oDNJX4m-8GuDw/s3264/20221221_190144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvjnIkpWjUfCQ0m74kYGSptRQ2g5dXnYNX2oHg4532FkSanDomM1XlNF13MFpjByr2qnDrrr2UVE1CpiOSXga8ph1yFgjJyNto0L4LoY23kGEKkIJtFJMMHI3CDaX73bpa68bhL-ugRRCLsehX9ep6usJP9cUSxTCMSRd5DR_PTRl0oDNJX4m-8GuDw/w400-h300/20221221_190144.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Wednesday night before Christmas we enjoyed a time of singing carols by candlelight. I really enjoy using candles and it is fun and special to do something different from the ordinary. We enjoyed it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34okuh50f_yWBLpt1blCei8UstXS9VMCj56-I7hdjXB6iDVEGGtpJ7uN1-O-bHbDL152ImgBeNvdvguBwvZvGyrW3oghq1jvfMiNbXQvu64ClJ4qLb0T2vbFv1GL5tw2FfOwtr9m1-3-wFBp94QHh1KOMY6EkMXcbDLdJ-qqz4_oPkFytHas3iyw7Gw/s3264/20221221_185336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34okuh50f_yWBLpt1blCei8UstXS9VMCj56-I7hdjXB6iDVEGGtpJ7uN1-O-bHbDL152ImgBeNvdvguBwvZvGyrW3oghq1jvfMiNbXQvu64ClJ4qLb0T2vbFv1GL5tw2FfOwtr9m1-3-wFBp94QHh1KOMY6EkMXcbDLdJ-qqz4_oPkFytHas3iyw7Gw/w400-h300/20221221_185336.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0PL4T0DfFKO52d2GLHbwktLSZjsODkveX2Ld5R-9I-Xe1jlS19M4Ao0EYgp5OvOI_6eLZOUmvfxSOboxi_ZMcCTAIAhHqI6IqlrXx92DvAjxg9QDnBw4g6MMdZm7P3cOlAdg6e7GWw1IOJ3LPAX5YDptEjulrtw3P7lKs_MxIrQEuNB2mF7rTWKVmQ/s3264/20221221_175224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0PL4T0DfFKO52d2GLHbwktLSZjsODkveX2Ld5R-9I-Xe1jlS19M4Ao0EYgp5OvOI_6eLZOUmvfxSOboxi_ZMcCTAIAhHqI6IqlrXx92DvAjxg9QDnBw4g6MMdZm7P3cOlAdg6e7GWw1IOJ3LPAX5YDptEjulrtw3P7lKs_MxIrQEuNB2mF7rTWKVmQ/w480-h640/20221221_175224.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Before the carol sing we had a "Shepherd's Supper": with Lentil stew and other stews, charcuterie boards with bread, crackers, cheese, dates, olives and things like that. It was yummy and fun to do something a little different there too.<p></p><p> Megan and I had fun (and a few late nights and pushing ourselves too) making handmade gifts for everybody this year. We only do a gift exchange amongst me and the kids (not our whole extended family) so it wasn't quite as big of a project as it could have been.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrQrUelgTdwGVg2hXhw7pvd68FPr6az5goDAXGAgQs8oL-La0pUQLrMoZ_D3ln0x43eleEjORj__yipUrXJLQ_pQHj8H18uez8_h0EDprynVeMYxlRK2q_ZFiV6i5ncQYgbiyiSw1snYpMw0hx-jIFSwj9hsMJLjkToPgUhppFzOwzY-TVqrBoLS2PQ/s3264/20221212_202421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrQrUelgTdwGVg2hXhw7pvd68FPr6az5goDAXGAgQs8oL-La0pUQLrMoZ_D3ln0x43eleEjORj__yipUrXJLQ_pQHj8H18uez8_h0EDprynVeMYxlRK2q_ZFiV6i5ncQYgbiyiSw1snYpMw0hx-jIFSwj9hsMJLjkToPgUhppFzOwzY-TVqrBoLS2PQ/s320/20221212_202421.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p> The first thing that we made was a bunch of candy. Our friends the Kleinsassers (or the females in the family anyway) came over one day and we worked together at it. We made peanut butter pretzel truffles (which were very yummy!), Christmas Crack, Rootbeer cream cheese candies, Eggnog truffles and Turtles. We made far more candy than we needed and I am working to take off some extra pounds that landed on my body now. :-) We did give candy away to people outside our family so that was a good thing!!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixo_T_3TyB479AN0vea2XZtcidm-2TUOyo8DSzINTXfqUDHe81oENqg9-aWFtQVcWbt-JX781jqCeQTIg0-rWauSBDA7EqK780eDmglDQ6oTeJDIoB19wfBZPiiE4laNI1saRY8VLydU9tuuWCV9ujNoLogXuBB4ToC5XBVxx1UPhY6gZsJmlw1Ilxvg/s3264/20221224_155837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixo_T_3TyB479AN0vea2XZtcidm-2TUOyo8DSzINTXfqUDHe81oENqg9-aWFtQVcWbt-JX781jqCeQTIg0-rWauSBDA7EqK780eDmglDQ6oTeJDIoB19wfBZPiiE4laNI1saRY8VLydU9tuuWCV9ujNoLogXuBB4ToC5XBVxx1UPhY6gZsJmlw1Ilxvg/w300-h400/20221224_155837.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>I had fun make these little forest friend magnets for Malcolm to play with.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQMYyR_MLjUoNQ-9CgJxaREAzW3yNN9RH1d3ASZip4YCWG_uspJ26MDvA_9IgEsm_Zy0Ax_RCtdAGfM7s90IOvMMZZpSrC6q3RDPWFQFP2YIlhQQ1FTtPuXLA3ffWQKLWRRLZo4lgfL-EevcYDjvTcbdb8IcavCeAP3B2Yru8DfeYTg1QAwpESurZNQ/s3264/20221224_140649.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQMYyR_MLjUoNQ-9CgJxaREAzW3yNN9RH1d3ASZip4YCWG_uspJ26MDvA_9IgEsm_Zy0Ax_RCtdAGfM7s90IOvMMZZpSrC6q3RDPWFQFP2YIlhQQ1FTtPuXLA3ffWQKLWRRLZo4lgfL-EevcYDjvTcbdb8IcavCeAP3B2Yru8DfeYTg1QAwpESurZNQ/w300-h400/20221224_140649.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>I made this teddy bear/rice heating pack for him as well.<p></p><p>Megan bought an unpainted set of nesting dolls and painted it for him. It is super cute but the best picture I have is this one where they are on his and Aaron's laps and you can't see any of the fun details.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPxQvk6iCjCTztPpMblXoxivhnSmIUOpg1Rv28nGNaaGYFc8QLhSK_4-gG00afDNG20WLBN30yB9XnH6cN-KFSwZRwP3c1_pUI8PjzDjYF0L_T-1cHcrHAMjpO5Yr7GsFy3XARMFRWd1OZp4LTlKFzVoqJnhiImg8p1b7q46y45q7ON_EM_gUMIelmQ/s3264/20221225_082131.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPxQvk6iCjCTztPpMblXoxivhnSmIUOpg1Rv28nGNaaGYFc8QLhSK_4-gG00afDNG20WLBN30yB9XnH6cN-KFSwZRwP3c1_pUI8PjzDjYF0L_T-1cHcrHAMjpO5Yr7GsFy3XARMFRWd1OZp4LTlKFzVoqJnhiImg8p1b7q46y45q7ON_EM_gUMIelmQ/w480-h640/20221225_082131.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipv-T0AcbDAJfIVkZMu32d_2cmbceyDJPAWzd51pW40cmJktZg1mItzdDWHLhF0B8RNg2SgBrLtJZTTG1C8I8bGv3Qg2zJf_3qc6F3Ych7atzj23EoM0obnD0hj5N-aN5LseES_mRu-aPGqRk4CGo4PFyg7TSY9ReFDVZyoh85zmkaYPbGZ9qgR0M1PQ/s3264/20221225_063246.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipv-T0AcbDAJfIVkZMu32d_2cmbceyDJPAWzd51pW40cmJktZg1mItzdDWHLhF0B8RNg2SgBrLtJZTTG1C8I8bGv3Qg2zJf_3qc6F3Ych7atzj23EoM0obnD0hj5N-aN5LseES_mRu-aPGqRk4CGo4PFyg7TSY9ReFDVZyoh85zmkaYPbGZ9qgR0M1PQ/w400-h300/20221225_063246.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Malcolm didn't mind getting up early for exchanging presents before breakfast and church. He loves reading books now so Megan was reading him one at like 6:30 in the morning.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJcAG5XFJnCA9nFN2nqdJMoV0umNoVCrFLpfTa2WrDj_zJtXDVMprucusQQQglcO6fY5_to9V4ENH6UDZaUvaXoX4X39VB0A2LP6UQiTaUadj53_zk_gurO0ChVDq8Yc-366hS90NxFQSFm1aecPFWV8YH9EshU2AKYjsDv3KiluQIh_aQX8-qnplBA/s3264/20221225_065956.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJcAG5XFJnCA9nFN2nqdJMoV0umNoVCrFLpfTa2WrDj_zJtXDVMprucusQQQglcO6fY5_to9V4ENH6UDZaUvaXoX4X39VB0A2LP6UQiTaUadj53_zk_gurO0ChVDq8Yc-366hS90NxFQSFm1aecPFWV8YH9EshU2AKYjsDv3KiluQIh_aQX8-qnplBA/w480-h640/20221225_065956.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Megan had made cute little personal pies for all of us which we enjoyed at breakfast along with our traditional Vanocka braid, sausage, eggs and hot chocolate.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9tBJn4QO0hJK1_fgByMH8WP0tE4WFcFqjdGsuhbkfcTwVtnRGHl2q569iwPs7vsI15yOXECJum-6eqxqe22umezoMZ2U0NRL721CEuy_S7eiCm37ft7KsDzgPNTj-7SRrP9_D9RYVY3KZLWhILiYq94yuoEIuAYODGpRF4Af_s8vIVr6JjFQineQag/s3264/20221225_070006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9tBJn4QO0hJK1_fgByMH8WP0tE4WFcFqjdGsuhbkfcTwVtnRGHl2q569iwPs7vsI15yOXECJum-6eqxqe22umezoMZ2U0NRL721CEuy_S7eiCm37ft7KsDzgPNTj-7SRrP9_D9RYVY3KZLWhILiYq94yuoEIuAYODGpRF4Af_s8vIVr6JjFQineQag/w400-h300/20221225_070006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsT2LXEyGUf_ua695_wYfO7eOPN7cbB3ZBGAzCZMHg3b4AuWejIPNpnoQnx_zVuA3hGjC0mvLa4sRrnIIgq1jZ9oHUPmJN4mw7IqUnszEK5FRR5XrYZyufB9dJmppv-bSR8_T4EpMEDNVH3sqS17SGtNj3ryxMHUsvtP4CumPg9WWBWBvEUSFrDK64zw/s3264/20221225_074035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsT2LXEyGUf_ua695_wYfO7eOPN7cbB3ZBGAzCZMHg3b4AuWejIPNpnoQnx_zVuA3hGjC0mvLa4sRrnIIgq1jZ9oHUPmJN4mw7IqUnszEK5FRR5XrYZyufB9dJmppv-bSR8_T4EpMEDNVH3sqS17SGtNj3ryxMHUsvtP4CumPg9WWBWBvEUSFrDK64zw/w480-h640/20221225_074035.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Thomas and Mara camped at a rendezvous this past summer and hope to go again. Thomas had borrowed a shirt to wear last year so I made him one of his own. Megan knit him a wool hat.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAntX-3Lg92e272jYC5GcMzbfLFB9XQUy5vulnJumJ7GwneXqfl0iWMx3vf9E6Zt9pW11dPQuwauHRt-1iSTSGeXKfn_ejIVHZnGlBYqESU9wwt5C2fjigqBUBXKavNpeiRSeZypK-Iwjw06nPJrkB1VRyp7ktxzgQ3BU5P0l_eKzyB1V3sXKRo_zqA/s3264/20221225_074302.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAntX-3Lg92e272jYC5GcMzbfLFB9XQUy5vulnJumJ7GwneXqfl0iWMx3vf9E6Zt9pW11dPQuwauHRt-1iSTSGeXKfn_ejIVHZnGlBYqESU9wwt5C2fjigqBUBXKavNpeiRSeZypK-Iwjw06nPJrkB1VRyp7ktxzgQ3BU5P0l_eKzyB1V3sXKRo_zqA/w480-h640/20221225_074302.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>I didn't get any good pictures of Jonathan. I knit him a black hat for a present which he said he liked but he didn't try on because his hair was already in place for church. I also made some flavored syrups for coffee or other things for him, Thomas, Aaron and Megan. Megan made cookie dough (to be frozen and then cooked) for Jonathan.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7W4ADe8Hpqv0cW3wJ7rQZQcNhkUw4iZ14BZoPJdbwH0l56DkYwCVh277wG5ZQoJQy5ojYKu9Z_-pKJbMCa295N8oim2gE79tAUz5DWKNeYqmQnuZAaYGzbI4Yk8wvFYB9lDPbvfUd8PG_ZnVTKY30hcYUczLRHbUFyKJOQAtJmsYa_6Q_jFWgVpj1Ew/s3264/20221225_080943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7W4ADe8Hpqv0cW3wJ7rQZQcNhkUw4iZ14BZoPJdbwH0l56DkYwCVh277wG5ZQoJQy5ojYKu9Z_-pKJbMCa295N8oim2gE79tAUz5DWKNeYqmQnuZAaYGzbI4Yk8wvFYB9lDPbvfUd8PG_ZnVTKY30hcYUczLRHbUFyKJOQAtJmsYa_6Q_jFWgVpj1Ew/w480-h640/20221225_080943.jpg" width="480" /></a></div> I made a harvesting Apron for Mara. It has a really big and adjustable pocket on it for gathering produce. I also made her a miniature journal necklace. Megan knit her a neat bag which she filled with cookie dough and other treats.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQchz51jIF6aN7CpPs5wSCTMBp9tq18ASI_K73wLI2nMR5cn9TRW6vMI_SIfNbsUgVTuqKCJ_U_00YBLQayUs1BWz44P9lRuFO4oDveEjavY9F4egWfbOOCUPFaozGu1YlhwR6A9UyMtF8jwrA4gCjoadjj64Bh1qQBb-tF437iybjiF551l9k5_4Y0w/s3264/20221225_082456.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQchz51jIF6aN7CpPs5wSCTMBp9tq18ASI_K73wLI2nMR5cn9TRW6vMI_SIfNbsUgVTuqKCJ_U_00YBLQayUs1BWz44P9lRuFO4oDveEjavY9F4egWfbOOCUPFaozGu1YlhwR6A9UyMtF8jwrA4gCjoadjj64Bh1qQBb-tF437iybjiF551l9k5_4Y0w/w480-h640/20221225_082456.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>I knit this vest for Megan. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrk7ejdtTIsfjgs6TFajhHkHV42HTwFQiENibxY0tHTnW5C-pEYVhFaVsb7GqkmzkZ7bZeaMWKkI-QhlAYLV6fEfVUUbTvnnMsp18AEG4F8jYh4ZNLeYWFwUpnHK3EqowcEIQEJDMfBrhn4upOt5HT2ZHWOZDX_rymru_J2p9yYWYALlNs4vkqs6EokQ/s3264/20221225_090546.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrk7ejdtTIsfjgs6TFajhHkHV42HTwFQiENibxY0tHTnW5C-pEYVhFaVsb7GqkmzkZ7bZeaMWKkI-QhlAYLV6fEfVUUbTvnnMsp18AEG4F8jYh4ZNLeYWFwUpnHK3EqowcEIQEJDMfBrhn4upOt5HT2ZHWOZDX_rymru_J2p9yYWYALlNs4vkqs6EokQ/w480-h640/20221225_090546.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>I made (with help from Megan-in cutting out squares and my friend Amy -in sewing) this quilt for Aaron. Megan made him a wool green beret.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7ESW1Z7LM83BNtr1l4zbKuAVlXZ9LTXj3lNQMGykV0yunK_L0uya0X6sHc2IOyHx6GyhD1yE5jg0q6GMWqDn7wiEEuPOTPMBxfASAfoOrv1W-suFOQiCJRplRyTkNlGIXtdEOm4zgNrEKyF0vgS47gWTuQh4-GDKK8YwqnvrLYhMIFB3szwnLemKfw/s3264/20230121_214708.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7ESW1Z7LM83BNtr1l4zbKuAVlXZ9LTXj3lNQMGykV0yunK_L0uya0X6sHc2IOyHx6GyhD1yE5jg0q6GMWqDn7wiEEuPOTPMBxfASAfoOrv1W-suFOQiCJRplRyTkNlGIXtdEOm4zgNrEKyF0vgS47gWTuQh4-GDKK8YwqnvrLYhMIFB3szwnLemKfw/w480-h640/20230121_214708.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Megan made me this beautiful scarf.</p><p>Others gave very nice gifts as well but those were the handmade ones. Compared to many our Christmases I am sure are very simple. I am thankful for that. I like it that way. </p><p> One highlight of the time for me was all of us working together to make supper on Christmas Eve. We made hamburgers (with homemade buns), fried potatoes, onion rings, deep fried pickles and jalapeños and milk shakes. It was just fun to have all of my kids here and work together to make a yummy supper. After supper we played games and then everybody stayed here overnight. Having all my kids here together is such a blessing. I treasure it when it happens.</p><p> One Sunday after church my parents and my brother Luke and his family joined us for lunch and that was fun too. Holidays are fun in that they prompt us to get together with family a little more and that is wonderful.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /> </p>Abbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01842277589160618685noreply@blogger.com1