tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23189053398165558492024-03-24T00:11:30.036-07:00The Archer's ApprenticeA blog about generational re-birth and our heaven-ward journey through life and parenthood..Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-2879027709681554162023-07-27T04:53:00.000-07:002023-07-27T04:53:01.768-07:00Kentucky: a memorable and multifaceted experience!<p> Greetings dear friends! Continuing on down south we go to the land of
Daniel Boone! We left <a href="https://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2023/07/inching-our-way-back-home.html">Ohio</a>
early in the morning and arrived safe and sound to Kentucky, the land
that houses dear friends and one of our most enjoyed attractions: <a href="https://arkencounter.com/about/"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">Ark
Encounter</span><span style="text-decoration-line: none;"> </span></a>&
the <a href="https://creationmuseum.org/">Creation Museum.</a></p>
<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/AVvXsEiDi5dRI90e_MT1nx0xh5879S2XN7a8KS8VHOIuP8VfTqt59__frZ2X1gDJT3actRHoChJ9I8d6ScWpW7g4vS0okabGR7tlLlPJkRxAW88ITCT8HM7kPnQRO-7hNpGu4ZVmFZo0MWWeZZx3uK6Z8RYUG1Dex_IDGqaqFCO65eNl2OwxGFdJOcdsfZ-qVb5w/s2016/IMG_4069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDi5dRI90e_MT1nx0xh5879S2XN7a8KS8VHOIuP8VfTqt59__frZ2X1gDJT3actRHoChJ9I8d6ScWpW7g4vS0okabGR7tlLlPJkRxAW88ITCT8HM7kPnQRO-7hNpGu4ZVmFZo0MWWeZZx3uK6Z8RYUG1Dex_IDGqaqFCO65eNl2OwxGFdJOcdsfZ-qVb5w/w316-h237/IMG_4069.jpg" width="316" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPr8OvUXF35puHBSm9UZ0MAZS0JMeiAj7XNSeZorStMPvTqdPqp9kvb21Ira3KGdbiyryGuapqjeSOxGQiRT99uGtlvb8auBavzT9skxf_GhBm9P0R_px1qzQg2eH0Fl4n47cQaq1cMCF3n4e6MTn2zLj0oWpE9RBjbPXD8_Fp2hAE6ogRIAxsvhC3YfS7/s2016/IMG_7800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPr8OvUXF35puHBSm9UZ0MAZS0JMeiAj7XNSeZorStMPvTqdPqp9kvb21Ira3KGdbiyryGuapqjeSOxGQiRT99uGtlvb8auBavzT9skxf_GhBm9P0R_px1qzQg2eH0Fl4n47cQaq1cMCF3n4e6MTn2zLj0oWpE9RBjbPXD8_Fp2hAE6ogRIAxsvhC3YfS7/w179-h239/IMG_7800.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The campground we
stayed at this time</span><a href="https://www.northernkyrv.com/" style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">
Northern Kentucky </span></a><span style="text-align: left;">gets the award for the best, most
memorable playground..according to the kids. I think it was mostly
because they hit it off with the many little ones that were camping
there during our stay. There was a family with kids, always playing
outside. And the grandma would stay out making crafts with the little
ones. Michaela was delighted to be able to partake on that! As I
always say, it’s not so much the place or the activity, but the
company which makes the memories the more enjoyable.</span></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRykDHq2HE25Iv1OQLwGSqUD-nA18eXnLnlxiX-CkF2s1S_WgyHRNGnubmdTUDmDUYfFzSM2lBK-5LEX4wE3uzVJFasm0hkPvmWtsnaa6WWM4ks9Wofqt7AQpuHdkVtrJCjQD5M3RfV9Wrapmw1RaMyWYWdeBp6FtgtUH3gheul921qPwb74LifgDXGooD/s2016/IMG_7837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRykDHq2HE25Iv1OQLwGSqUD-nA18eXnLnlxiX-CkF2s1S_WgyHRNGnubmdTUDmDUYfFzSM2lBK-5LEX4wE3uzVJFasm0hkPvmWtsnaa6WWM4ks9Wofqt7AQpuHdkVtrJCjQD5M3RfV9Wrapmw1RaMyWYWdeBp6FtgtUH3gheul921qPwb74LifgDXGooD/w266-h199/IMG_7837.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">With that said,
let’s start our recount of events with the brightest of all of our
stay in Kentucky. Meeting up our dear friends Matt and Katie. We’ve
been friends since before our progeny came, and now it was so much
fun to see all the kiddos together. Their five and our four, from a
two to all the way to a thirteen year old, certainly made a quiver
full! We were delighted to spend a full day together.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1saOwMtzTYVuFn8IQQUMgtUQZywq_8LLwv-Ul1N8ZpfDq_v_t3LDhn7P3Ej7AOIR9eUAkEgWmaDudXiNRoyrOduvNimZrF2Ofla1WJ4LUU5unBHrni8zdtD6BZpfXnzLl3odlxgTJkD5v_e3qKidJNQjfARyJEgeoFrLfuF6L_gIjvE_j29ljuD181BSm/s2016/IMG_7790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1saOwMtzTYVuFn8IQQUMgtUQZywq_8LLwv-Ul1N8ZpfDq_v_t3LDhn7P3Ej7AOIR9eUAkEgWmaDudXiNRoyrOduvNimZrF2Ofla1WJ4LUU5unBHrni8zdtD6BZpfXnzLl3odlxgTJkD5v_e3qKidJNQjfARyJEgeoFrLfuF6L_gIjvE_j29ljuD181BSm/s320/IMG_7790.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">We met with the
Parris at the Ark Encounter. Making the most of the cool morning, we
decided to let the kids explore the zoo together before hitting the
main attraction: The Ark. We have visited before and totally
recommend it. However we have to admit that it was a little more
crowded that we expected. It was a little challenging to navigate it
with all the little ones. We did as much as we could, but certainly
not with as much detail as we have before. It was fun nonetheless.
Putting crowd management aside (Blame this guy Summer) They have done
an excellent job putting this attraction together. We love letting
our kids explore the exhibits and learning about God’s creation in
such clever, realistic and fun way.
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKuGtyNsyy7OyE7iGglB5ORHBXdB2TinFwL_pQwvYKg7Yj6XjJ2BkuuXC7WNEYGmhstFZHKE1AAqksiKfOK1AYx5RBnRC3R8fVwmeN_jffISsehGQ9ihekCgzqicnI_Wm8f9tm48-gVhT7ZkZ5edN1zZ6UpPn7_43X3WrU3GxAHnyaqJ92gXzB9P6bzoY/s2016/IMG_7815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKuGtyNsyy7OyE7iGglB5ORHBXdB2TinFwL_pQwvYKg7Yj6XjJ2BkuuXC7WNEYGmhstFZHKE1AAqksiKfOK1AYx5RBnRC3R8fVwmeN_jffISsehGQ9ihekCgzqicnI_Wm8f9tm48-gVhT7ZkZ5edN1zZ6UpPn7_43X3WrU3GxAHnyaqJ92gXzB9P6bzoY/s320/IMG_7815.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT94dgFvNJ7pK3Gqy4DkPcPZsSGhGaWcz-y4TxyTdjd0nN6MFFZZutpWC1JcBxx4lg1MDxpwkSRNUNPE8XxBId2Z0ytP7rdE8ZVFUVEXOHoLX7M1DgOp2qjgygcqH0ExHjT4z0Sd4_PB7raeZTHxYzHZnzcHI5xGbwfTJxBV7qLsjhoKDIQwSpp6e75IwG/s2016/IMG_7822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT94dgFvNJ7pK3Gqy4DkPcPZsSGhGaWcz-y4TxyTdjd0nN6MFFZZutpWC1JcBxx4lg1MDxpwkSRNUNPE8XxBId2Z0ytP7rdE8ZVFUVEXOHoLX7M1DgOp2qjgygcqH0ExHjT4z0Sd4_PB7raeZTHxYzHZnzcHI5xGbwfTJxBV7qLsjhoKDIQwSpp6e75IwG/s320/IMG_7822.jpg" width="240" /></a>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">We spent a good time
in the playground letting the kids play while we satisfied our
craving for catching up with the family happenings of both
households. So grateful for friendship. Specially for friendships
that encourage you to stay the course in the path the Lord has set
before you. We all need friends that encourage us to walk in God’s
ways as we endeavor on bringing up these wonderful little people He
has entrusted us with to carry on His purposes..so we spent lots our
our day just talking and encouraging one another other. What a
delight. After enjoying dinner together we parted ways with our
friends, wishing each other well and hoping for future visits.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OMVYxbMXNaEcnPNvClck4gj3N_9eY03oniBJRX1A3n7gnRB2M1A7LCg-zN6bjNbLtosxAWPM9pI0kq4eU5BCgvY6lQXpFvamf2jwVRvgxxcvdMtURqLeQpr8jbl7S7pgeXHWC_vZ7VB6hm5oaXjVFE-69PvTxOHXPD3LJD5Q-76i7q843LIK5Kvyg-_-/s2016/IMG_7830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OMVYxbMXNaEcnPNvClck4gj3N_9eY03oniBJRX1A3n7gnRB2M1A7LCg-zN6bjNbLtosxAWPM9pI0kq4eU5BCgvY6lQXpFvamf2jwVRvgxxcvdMtURqLeQpr8jbl7S7pgeXHWC_vZ7VB6hm5oaXjVFE-69PvTxOHXPD3LJD5Q-76i7q843LIK5Kvyg-_-/s320/IMG_7830.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEddgMGINU4UnLmnscxaT7GTaBbYWxSz7dthyyjNo_1_vXyl6gTGHWE9KZo9wj_IER7lPu8R5kC-9SB7yagfnL1CWHNqD_PO0yeauBgOcgheyCyfSFP42byIQ5dG0-EVtRVUhl0pFcoN2hL8Ouha5SGawR6aSwHNC0Wggvx8nA1-ft9-vQb6Yqn6P-xKmO/s2016/IMG_7817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEddgMGINU4UnLmnscxaT7GTaBbYWxSz7dthyyjNo_1_vXyl6gTGHWE9KZo9wj_IER7lPu8R5kC-9SB7yagfnL1CWHNqD_PO0yeauBgOcgheyCyfSFP42byIQ5dG0-EVtRVUhl0pFcoN2hL8Ouha5SGawR6aSwHNC0Wggvx8nA1-ft9-vQb6Yqn6P-xKmO/w177-h237/IMG_7817.jpg" width="177" /></a></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The next day we went
to the Creation Museum. What a learning camp! So fun..for a family of
“Geek wanna be’s” like us. I am not sure it this was a new
feature, but we hit the lottery by going on a day when they had a
complete day of seminars to attend. We were stoked! Some of the
fascinating subjects we learned about were “Creation and Race
Theory”, “How to be good stewards of God’s Creation”, “The
Golden Ratio”, “Color, Light and Beauty Theory”..This is an
amazing museum. It has so much to learn from every corner, and
inspiration for a myriad of stimulating, insightful conversations.
We’d love to talk to you about what we learned. Ask us! Dave, our Math and science enthusiast, actually takes the kids to a local
monthly creation club. He loves talking about these things! We also
enjoyed strolling through their outstanding gardens before we said
goodbye.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU7MW8nZs9n0twh_VyHgwjA3rd-y7QUOtOrQB-CU-y30sO08DdA0tA-loLzta8LLg2NjtbynBghLH37bd4b8dfi9B7BF0RzbWQVegL32_LWllUeCmFtxi7_SfFpjE82BJI6e8efan6OheoNlzIffw5QX9zEmnWx4H17efRFpX3hfSDmAbItnEPgFfGbav/s1789/IMG_2418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1789" data-original-width="1343" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU7MW8nZs9n0twh_VyHgwjA3rd-y7QUOtOrQB-CU-y30sO08DdA0tA-loLzta8LLg2NjtbynBghLH37bd4b8dfi9B7BF0RzbWQVegL32_LWllUeCmFtxi7_SfFpjE82BJI6e8efan6OheoNlzIffw5QX9zEmnWx4H17efRFpX3hfSDmAbItnEPgFfGbav/s320/IMG_2418.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YDAqxkbz27Gbw1-ZUWPZMDw1f2kodHGCWJ3-GhC0dYUceV2yJruIOxL7xs3IE4GEhoVXb3ymOZzHndwczTsRcxZySgmutWqwa0Dxr4OXq1lQDQu_hJb0_Ks47hRGjrQjAAAdJGyb-suFrz5iA-uKNMilf1LDBLPcqWry8NvaIDx6iT1-rSAkKAQqliPv/s2016/IMG_7853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YDAqxkbz27Gbw1-ZUWPZMDw1f2kodHGCWJ3-GhC0dYUceV2yJruIOxL7xs3IE4GEhoVXb3ymOZzHndwczTsRcxZySgmutWqwa0Dxr4OXq1lQDQu_hJb0_Ks47hRGjrQjAAAdJGyb-suFrz5iA-uKNMilf1LDBLPcqWry8NvaIDx6iT1-rSAkKAQqliPv/s320/IMG_7853.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7J4YNOo8RY1NsxbgWiozbU0rdo-a2Ljr5VmvclngWrOS9IwAGHu8S2Z22cITWugswoQq5sBC56sB-GnCir1aLvUaz0UO5bekpIrxsmVhr1oS_lZM4yEcB6hBhNMZRTf8CLCZ4eBdHEfzMZIWWm5zTmg3IZ-hYOKXa7zNC4qqNL9etCHsjI3zf0ZCqXzK/s2016/IMG_7862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7J4YNOo8RY1NsxbgWiozbU0rdo-a2Ljr5VmvclngWrOS9IwAGHu8S2Z22cITWugswoQq5sBC56sB-GnCir1aLvUaz0UO5bekpIrxsmVhr1oS_lZM4yEcB6hBhNMZRTf8CLCZ4eBdHEfzMZIWWm5zTmg3IZ-hYOKXa7zNC4qqNL9etCHsjI3zf0ZCqXzK/s320/IMG_7862.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bsgwjJQ__sJXwZkQ9kf-Yn8EzHWpjILBHyWabYkR7gtgD5YHxK7SBTEMA6Igqo-1uTwXfqHiTk3N9MN8rSxDmNYUXQNmcpG-rJ1lOTviM4JWG4fLYyJw6MaJR7RCU0YbNc1Xi6UDPWsw81k_MuELTIswKnZ0r1V2U6Zu2zx6DuOQLLgoiLbVoekrpNxK/s2016/IMG_7872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bsgwjJQ__sJXwZkQ9kf-Yn8EzHWpjILBHyWabYkR7gtgD5YHxK7SBTEMA6Igqo-1uTwXfqHiTk3N9MN8rSxDmNYUXQNmcpG-rJ1lOTviM4JWG4fLYyJw6MaJR7RCU0YbNc1Xi6UDPWsw81k_MuELTIswKnZ0r1V2U6Zu2zx6DuOQLLgoiLbVoekrpNxK/w282-h212/IMG_7872.jpg" width="282" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LG9mcXIrENLXc1CKqIyiTOkDeEzpgextPRpHvjQRfLI7IuKVKVfV2WVc86hF_gVhSy4QI6U5C4KixaGAk6TdgZ7W4EZpWgo0MCmhQ3opCAO-yYdu_2xqYRKTaXAUciV5YsCiXnwE9a11SSxQViRHaYi8X2KR-ZPO6yOByurMXp164UwtVGJaFFi_krzq/s2016/IMG_7884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LG9mcXIrENLXc1CKqIyiTOkDeEzpgextPRpHvjQRfLI7IuKVKVfV2WVc86hF_gVhSy4QI6U5C4KixaGAk6TdgZ7W4EZpWgo0MCmhQ3opCAO-yYdu_2xqYRKTaXAUciV5YsCiXnwE9a11SSxQViRHaYi8X2KR-ZPO6yOByurMXp164UwtVGJaFFi_krzq/s320/IMG_7884.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDqziIohcVu8AiS-5Si5xH1494q2F9tY6ciwLx8pDEbao9dMdMnR24LabdepqVKEghDnOBFUfk818lqzl_ClwulJR0fusaIQ6RSdVPQMPKHYS2g__Zx-tu1WiGd0ochMZS01V7BAN3VzV8tOifGGJeRxjtvAslR32TSAeLFJToVhtjDtLdGVnxUGqpQgP/s2016/IMG_7882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDqziIohcVu8AiS-5Si5xH1494q2F9tY6ciwLx8pDEbao9dMdMnR24LabdepqVKEghDnOBFUfk818lqzl_ClwulJR0fusaIQ6RSdVPQMPKHYS2g__Zx-tu1WiGd0ochMZS01V7BAN3VzV8tOifGGJeRxjtvAslR32TSAeLFJToVhtjDtLdGVnxUGqpQgP/w168-h224/IMG_7882.jpg" width="168" /></a></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">We departed the
following day and on our way south we made a fun, quick stop at the
<a href="https://www.sbts.edu/"><u>Southern Baptist </u><u>Theological
</u><u>Seminar</u><u>y</u></a> in Louisville. We were blessed by
friends arranging a campus tour for us. So grateful. It was
fascinating to learn about one of the biggest seminaries of the
world! Their campus was certainly beautiful. We got to hear about its
rich history and legacy, which included Billy Graham’s endorsement
and founding on one of their main faculties. This school was founded
in 1859 and has been providing robust Bible training for men and
women interested in a lifetime of service and engaging the culture
with the gospel. It turns out they don’t only have pastoral
degrees, but a wide variety, from Business to Media, teaching,
counseling, etc. Which is great, because spreading the gospel in all
spheres of society is the only way to bring transformative healing to
our decaying world. I’m definitely keeping a mental note for the
time when we need to start thinking college training for our kids.
That sounded like a plug right? Ha! Surprisingly enough, they are
competitively priced and offer a flexible format..Worth to look into.
“Ok, but for now, let’s enjoy this season and let’s move on to
our next stop” said the staring eyes of my kids..Who would've thought that Evelyn would be running on their lawn one day. Sigh.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7OL7CJMeCZqXWI6rj2IoX_Wcpb_k1SrlLg6jRwA31dOn6KvABkGPwD1Pfk-fvyoEKTQcM-Usrh5swO_PiIhFO0VIrIU3P1MJfgUrb3k1EXIuDHSveWAECbfCxTDwbALF_9rtJntoXSeAgGA-C_GhTUGkg4zjFus-onCt_2N_AxDeEFhUgX7pyO-E80ec/s2016/IMG_7886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7OL7CJMeCZqXWI6rj2IoX_Wcpb_k1SrlLg6jRwA31dOn6KvABkGPwD1Pfk-fvyoEKTQcM-Usrh5swO_PiIhFO0VIrIU3P1MJfgUrb3k1EXIuDHSveWAECbfCxTDwbALF_9rtJntoXSeAgGA-C_GhTUGkg4zjFus-onCt_2N_AxDeEFhUgX7pyO-E80ec/w299-h224/IMG_7886.jpg" width="299" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDaENAL1M6UEW1MSgg286e8a1gVMZamC_hCD74d_7Y5NE59Ce6QPyVIm1jjO--EITa1oWhaz1aowl79b3BgvLc3IP_Qhjo0syJv5mDOFKwre-waoIuGJ4riRBegyPibUUHG6Q2-eFK3yRTHOkNkgGsHelQ59hggFif9-Z_5JXkOvl71iXwO7fRFb8-whP/s2016/IMG_7900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDaENAL1M6UEW1MSgg286e8a1gVMZamC_hCD74d_7Y5NE59Ce6QPyVIm1jjO--EITa1oWhaz1aowl79b3BgvLc3IP_Qhjo0syJv5mDOFKwre-waoIuGJ4riRBegyPibUUHG6Q2-eFK3yRTHOkNkgGsHelQ59hggFif9-Z_5JXkOvl71iXwO7fRFb8-whP/w298-h224/IMG_7900.jpg" width="298" /></a>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">We arrived to
Mammoth Cave National Park on the same day. Ready for a chuckle?
Here’s another one of those tales we are bringing with us to laugh
about..later. It was not very fun at the moment. Turns out we decided
to book inside of a Nat’l park at least once. We knew the site
wouldn’t have sewer, which is quite normal for such campgrounds.
What we didn’t know about was the missing dumping station! In RV
life no dumping station means limited access to water. That, with the
aggravation of the absence of bathhouses, the state of the poorly
maintained owl-house and a very sketchy internet signal made the
whole experience feel pretty much like primitive camping. And friends
in all honesty, if we were to plan such experiment, we wouldn’t
have planned it towards the end of our trip. It took a lot of work to
run our days. We had to drive & pay to take showers, embrace the
bug..ehem, owlhouse for emergency potty..or take long walks, wash
dishes outside, etc. We reminisce our tent-camping days, except we
don’t remember staying in such primitive facilities, even then.
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-j5ZYj_wypmENKkgE8oxU30NPopeCheX3y_3ZMFzhwduW7xiMlQjnO3UJz6hiYMQlGgUSdbwflAODR5o2ngge_vFgIpLtfcC13ozJ_3EAGa1A_XBQlnc4NVTiwFRkbNj9IQYDSgdzBf-G7TkkXMYTWGLVJ_-x3bDtD3-BvZWOQGAUC98sHEll9c6By2W/s2016/IMG_7963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-j5ZYj_wypmENKkgE8oxU30NPopeCheX3y_3ZMFzhwduW7xiMlQjnO3UJz6hiYMQlGgUSdbwflAODR5o2ngge_vFgIpLtfcC13ozJ_3EAGa1A_XBQlnc4NVTiwFRkbNj9IQYDSgdzBf-G7TkkXMYTWGLVJ_-x3bDtD3-BvZWOQGAUC98sHEll9c6By2W/s320/IMG_7963.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">OK, enough of lows. Let’s go to the highs. The Cave system at Mammoth Cave was just fascinating! Driving there everyday took getting our truck in a ferry, which was an experience on its own. Once there, we took the family on an initial exploratory hike the second day. It was nice to learn about all the legends surrounding the discovery of the site. A few interesting facts are that this is the longest cave system in the world! There are they are new passage ways and features still being discovered today. Another interesting fact was that Mammoth Cave was used to mine for something called “Saltpeter” which was the raw material to produce bullets during the civil war. The park transitioned into a touristic destination shortly after the end of the war.</p><div><br /></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyWVyKrC2wUF7awxS0Gg92v45nDQ75EFqX6NkM8TLtaM-ekF6SvdLLmpr1xgcVYhoLbGDdfFbfpY4IaauqmScIfxoMikh4G1V_-ednDuj8V5dJmubpKplp_i1s8k9d23fmRd_HgBZglohlvEdMYEO8YqAAN5zj69xs3Fl7WvxxGSLTR79WdbGWIJNFUec/s2016/IMG_7954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyWVyKrC2wUF7awxS0Gg92v45nDQ75EFqX6NkM8TLtaM-ekF6SvdLLmpr1xgcVYhoLbGDdfFbfpY4IaauqmScIfxoMikh4G1V_-ednDuj8V5dJmubpKplp_i1s8k9d23fmRd_HgBZglohlvEdMYEO8YqAAN5zj69xs3Fl7WvxxGSLTR79WdbGWIJNFUec/w299-h224/IMG_7954.jpg" width="299" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VCaTxMKxn54YvWaED1SvP9isBvzhuo7DJeJWh75tdfw9a0vaznoUQmQ53eSGWSD0bEIYuS89nNMGcOkmtsRnVHOCo5Jk9l6PnvuSQQefDAPmUknd-65AzXlnpVib1TojH1FpoFYMtAaZqHPqGt106x6VQb3i4pIaDxzs4zAZxxnw2a9e4Vzt8MHEjBxw/s2016/IMG_7917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VCaTxMKxn54YvWaED1SvP9isBvzhuo7DJeJWh75tdfw9a0vaznoUQmQ53eSGWSD0bEIYuS89nNMGcOkmtsRnVHOCo5Jk9l6PnvuSQQefDAPmUknd-65AzXlnpVib1TojH1FpoFYMtAaZqHPqGt106x6VQb3i4pIaDxzs4zAZxxnw2a9e4Vzt8MHEjBxw/w302-h227/IMG_7917.jpg" width="302" /></a></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMTDHGAXPyQ1ESez41hZNEZGTwJV_DdAp9A6G71qpUR3aPYKx1CxbieNzUaBS8gq1B8doelmFNtOiRLsfgcLvDKQvuEbasbu9EGRryHo9cBt4x2Z8nqDzZGt1hQRMJGwRLqPbW4Tl_H5WS1YX9H_mLw8wm5lwHMieLJ35FZD_gXmI6vu1tqqN5-kHfm78/s2016/IMG_7922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMTDHGAXPyQ1ESez41hZNEZGTwJV_DdAp9A6G71qpUR3aPYKx1CxbieNzUaBS8gq1B8doelmFNtOiRLsfgcLvDKQvuEbasbu9EGRryHo9cBt4x2Z8nqDzZGt1hQRMJGwRLqPbW4Tl_H5WS1YX9H_mLw8wm5lwHMieLJ35FZD_gXmI6vu1tqqN5-kHfm78/w312-h234/IMG_7922.jpg" width="312" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAd3EXkHpLC77_XT1Jla4ToOMchEmsJnGe71aK8XTwfllfMWqnxfFmOBfTyvipjLBuc8V4iQS4d4BOf-A4VI8dJLubIpLYawpZuBp52RmFyE2PURXiAIhncrF92Xy6SjcSJhjeY010-hBUVpwChsu1TCMbGv68Ez2wS_0eBTzRA-rRWaLktC9-u_1MNLGb/s2016/IMG_7933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAd3EXkHpLC77_XT1Jla4ToOMchEmsJnGe71aK8XTwfllfMWqnxfFmOBfTyvipjLBuc8V4iQS4d4BOf-A4VI8dJLubIpLYawpZuBp52RmFyE2PURXiAIhncrF92Xy6SjcSJhjeY010-hBUVpwChsu1TCMbGv68Ez2wS_0eBTzRA-rRWaLktC9-u_1MNLGb/w300-h225/IMG_7933.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">We got to go on some hikes over the cave system, which was quite interesting as well. The topography of the area is made out of bunches of sinkholes which cover the plains resembling the outside of a golf ball. That makes sense, given the fact of the cave system right underneath. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJMBA0id5sNPuFJT1jOSgxau_VtbjC6U7lWTyjOCwJ54qUkAJJuDsYwHxGKy1BOjHrooIk-Xgtmp-2WvcvP3-XJ9h1t3b0XAOPmm7SPWXgSpXmb3mDBIUhGbZuyMnt4L3MHPiUxTy4nHk5vPcW_aIOQQ7IiUCiCRyuQMJsBtHOd-3OdcSn4TV7z2V-wa1/s2016/IMG_7937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJMBA0id5sNPuFJT1jOSgxau_VtbjC6U7lWTyjOCwJ54qUkAJJuDsYwHxGKy1BOjHrooIk-Xgtmp-2WvcvP3-XJ9h1t3b0XAOPmm7SPWXgSpXmb3mDBIUhGbZuyMnt4L3MHPiUxTy4nHk5vPcW_aIOQQ7IiUCiCRyuQMJsBtHOd-3OdcSn4TV7z2V-wa1/w294-h221/IMG_7937.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Mq7zbeb8o3PQ-C4n-U1LLXRW7lTDi1yc8FJFGFNx-z7BgBNbiUPD9CnnsptKD0X83DNqVVo-bkmQYcnPt53GEpGz671TtzYmzDMIVODoX8XPDTYcFzMO4TlmHIe-2xHmbSBfG2ZAFREemAehivtQNzCQIK88Px_FWulf6KLLjuauWWjLItxRJtmO0d9z/s2016/IMG_7940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Mq7zbeb8o3PQ-C4n-U1LLXRW7lTDi1yc8FJFGFNx-z7BgBNbiUPD9CnnsptKD0X83DNqVVo-bkmQYcnPt53GEpGz671TtzYmzDMIVODoX8XPDTYcFzMO4TlmHIe-2xHmbSBfG2ZAFREemAehivtQNzCQIK88Px_FWulf6KLLjuauWWjLItxRJtmO0d9z/w168-h224/IMG_7940.jpg" width="168" /></a><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/AVvXsEhyk17s-mzF0SrIVbxtgzFLM9jtQAGh1OyCtIwH3eAQ-fLUYZc6kagOvQk_cEKy_OOizCGKi2LwW0bLdvxitBSJ5_QGvq7yiHqis9f91blzv9d6zPQdvrqFfqmluBNBykWzkPvPVnONtt5V-PHueuJx87Vm4KYTiDzj_b9k4hvgYOTl1337F0x6zmoZ10wU/s2016/IMG_7946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyk17s-mzF0SrIVbxtgzFLM9jtQAGh1OyCtIwH3eAQ-fLUYZc6kagOvQk_cEKy_OOizCGKi2LwW0bLdvxitBSJ5_QGvq7yiHqis9f91blzv9d6zPQdvrqFfqmluBNBykWzkPvPVnONtt5V-PHueuJx87Vm4KYTiDzj_b9k4hvgYOTl1337F0x6zmoZ10wU/w145-h193/IMG_7946.jpg" width="145" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0icofZJaz-fc4bINwfo5E-li2YTjOac9HCN7t2PISjZc0Uq6ImsA5lLnV_0Ug23MdPJihFY16Ohj2tQ8Z6uGUnKhzGVjCbinPyInlTPosq5ujcWgN_Fk9kkuOK81NFMGUsM4Mj2ftz7yVufEAPZ4ldAm8KoBNKQhg-JWpUjltuMlUBDAhkWqgiEB0OEa0/s2016/IMG_7949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0icofZJaz-fc4bINwfo5E-li2YTjOac9HCN7t2PISjZc0Uq6ImsA5lLnV_0Ug23MdPJihFY16Ohj2tQ8Z6uGUnKhzGVjCbinPyInlTPosq5ujcWgN_Fk9kkuOK81NFMGUsM4Mj2ftz7yVufEAPZ4ldAm8KoBNKQhg-JWpUjltuMlUBDAhkWqgiEB0OEa0/w260-h195/IMG_7949.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">The third
day the kids went on a “Children’s Trog tour”. Trog stands for
“Troglabite” which is a creature who spends its life in a cave.
They learned about “spolonking” which is a fancy word for
exploring caves. They climbed through small holes, used ropes,
explored with a group of kids, saw bats, etc. they visited special
features inside the caves with interesting names matching their
shapes. One of their favorite spots inside of the cave was the “Hot
dog roll” where they crawled through a stretch where ground and
ceiling were close together. Other interesting names they mentioned
were the ‘Ball Room”, ‘The Spaceship”, “The Dark Room”,
etc. This was one of their favorite activities in the whole trip.</span></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/AVvXsEhyvLU638eRUW0e8Y__7MIOazXVQySkt4ujlKrlK7R51jG7Muq8d-BQssnr-8lbbtnXIijm-HJX_kZWAV_tj3Da9ZPbLNb1icayfqv6sWanv7tzwMRcrXffoUDVt9cv8QbfmBc0hE5XjoFkynAvZU7ju1FYJ5sPcMZofBr2Q_sZDRLV279trxmbhqznDchL/s2016/IMG_2462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvLU638eRUW0e8Y__7MIOazXVQySkt4ujlKrlK7R51jG7Muq8d-BQssnr-8lbbtnXIijm-HJX_kZWAV_tj3Da9ZPbLNb1icayfqv6sWanv7tzwMRcrXffoUDVt9cv8QbfmBc0hE5XjoFkynAvZU7ju1FYJ5sPcMZofBr2Q_sZDRLV279trxmbhqznDchL/w202-h270/IMG_2462.JPG" width="202" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglT-fc8ue_SusFcAUIIqmXa7qTUsgOSBTbZJDYWAzYyG0JMSm9o7V9WpTfOawke6h4QHHWUbPbU2iOKka23sw2NbRAf4ljwIP2wr7kSQNyWgukz-eqoBqSOBTT8CW8fhFir9QPY6hm1q90DlEaQq8g7kukXtymMMMhBTHQ962GXP46MfSbMkmCZ2BfmBnf/s2016/IMG_2465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglT-fc8ue_SusFcAUIIqmXa7qTUsgOSBTbZJDYWAzYyG0JMSm9o7V9WpTfOawke6h4QHHWUbPbU2iOKka23sw2NbRAf4ljwIP2wr7kSQNyWgukz-eqoBqSOBTT8CW8fhFir9QPY6hm1q90DlEaQq8g7kukXtymMMMhBTHQ962GXP46MfSbMkmCZ2BfmBnf/w306-h230/IMG_2465.JPG" width="306" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Dave also went on a Cave tour called: “History tour”. It was a true highlight for him too. We couldn’t go along with him, because the tour is so sought after that tickets were sold out. We are grateful he got one. He told us about his adventures wearing a headlight, going through many passage ways, hopping over really deep pits and climbing over very large vertical shafts. I guess he got his own “Indiana Jones” experience. His favorite exploring spots were the “Fat Man’s Misery” and the “Tall Man’s Agony”. I’m laughing as I type this, but these are his words, verbatim. These places get their names from describing the experience of what it takes to go through these small sections of the cave. It takes serious squatting, so you are out luck if you are fat or tall I guess. However, the views are so worthy and fascinating, that there were about 100 people on this tour, which sells out daily. Isn’t that something?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_MZQoWD9rGKQ1GAOkBufyeVCa_EBcjv6G5Ip5EzwLR1YBShOy7xuNO8hvaAxELsuI3LVdLsP67R2VVr4phm6zhdCWVA6HyKtGcAnpdmmaY3Iq-SJ9cjdwM6hBQg3ayAZij4K8dhXAfUZQAKUL-Tg3eyQDMeqvI2g1nKvITpK5Msl8MruxgmDtNeXkFoa/s2016/IMG_2479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_MZQoWD9rGKQ1GAOkBufyeVCa_EBcjv6G5Ip5EzwLR1YBShOy7xuNO8hvaAxELsuI3LVdLsP67R2VVr4phm6zhdCWVA6HyKtGcAnpdmmaY3Iq-SJ9cjdwM6hBQg3ayAZij4K8dhXAfUZQAKUL-Tg3eyQDMeqvI2g1nKvITpK5Msl8MruxgmDtNeXkFoa/w283-h212/IMG_2479.JPG" width="283" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlY3OO-YDJDpJmW_weBw366QsFUtXyXxvz5cHwev98pWxlajsCzypmIHibp7S36wnwC8lU938c2PeOtkC07g7uhbSgWQDemJvndCe9Npw_mW8SextaB_iurYSV23S2bm80evqe28SZk3UFjHxjBY5Xv79FiFBJPHCdb0fbniukvfirtvGntQLerRX2K7u/s2016/IMG_2492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlY3OO-YDJDpJmW_weBw366QsFUtXyXxvz5cHwev98pWxlajsCzypmIHibp7S36wnwC8lU938c2PeOtkC07g7uhbSgWQDemJvndCe9Npw_mW8SextaB_iurYSV23S2bm80evqe28SZk3UFjHxjBY5Xv79FiFBJPHCdb0fbniukvfirtvGntQLerRX2K7u/w280-h210/IMG_2492.JPG" width="280" /></a><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/AVvXsEjJ3IOL4hrMvLYP9ZqewQJtsVAfmLp9c9zx7TcSquXDnJoQFUAK8lLli-ikOPZ5sobrW6pSEAIaxf6myScy_SLfNXU1dPWPcAY8k0vUr9KpR-ctbNJfpCXDcW8upbJgLCFuYeYpNKvWPUCs-sjeb24viWnWmRROuETs5Vnrhzj7b7fSGFayvOeyCkYbsUe8/s2016/IMG_2506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3IOL4hrMvLYP9ZqewQJtsVAfmLp9c9zx7TcSquXDnJoQFUAK8lLli-ikOPZ5sobrW6pSEAIaxf6myScy_SLfNXU1dPWPcAY8k0vUr9KpR-ctbNJfpCXDcW8upbJgLCFuYeYpNKvWPUCs-sjeb24viWnWmRROuETs5Vnrhzj7b7fSGFayvOeyCkYbsUe8/w264-h198/IMG_2506.JPG" width="264" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnCWp_pDEf_gZUiU8-cGCyULlcVgZ9sijhFPlaYc5wIv8k_Td4hKSks1G_g6dOI8xIdxdEKsejxC9TEFgfaz_mWNwaYIf6XxUnrTjfYNukuVtGoXVxpQz_-5wud_UfydmEtC7YGRT0vQQfNAJwktggNCISqaX7rshgRSR5DMtD9WRmNRZS4iZRB137aaF/s2016/IMG_2525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnCWp_pDEf_gZUiU8-cGCyULlcVgZ9sijhFPlaYc5wIv8k_Td4hKSks1G_g6dOI8xIdxdEKsejxC9TEFgfaz_mWNwaYIf6XxUnrTjfYNukuVtGoXVxpQz_-5wud_UfydmEtC7YGRT0vQQfNAJwktggNCISqaX7rshgRSR5DMtD9WRmNRZS4iZRB137aaF/w152-h202/IMG_2525.JPG" width="152" /></a><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Amazingly enough, we
closed the chapter of Kentucky with a smile on our face. We passed the
test of primitive camping in spite of our weaning energy, everybody
is bringing lots of great memories from visiting the caves and from
spending quality time with old friends. I say it was a winning stop
in spite of the challenges. So grateful for your prayers. We have
just two more stops before arriving home. Yay! Atlanta is next, so
we’ll post our next update from there!</p>Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-37713395740403627632023-07-24T04:36:00.005-07:002023-07-24T04:36:55.492-07:00Inching our Way Back Home<p>Inch by inch friends, we are moving south inch by inch! We arrived to "Ohian" lands safe and sound, taking an overnight break at Geneva, Ohio, just
about 4 hrs away from <a href="https://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2023/07/greetings-from-niagara-falls.html">Niagara</a>.
We’ve learned that breaking the driving distances makes it more
manageable for a family trip this long. Dipping into Lake Erie for a
little bit was fun and refreshing before getting a restful evening in
preparation for our drive to our main stop in Ohio: <a href="https://www.explorehockinghills.com/">Hocking
Hills</a>. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilDZQFqTNP_a_36hduZG2iW6WqpwG56YVasQ1Wd_H8FuIP7ETla6gukl8FV1VNZYNufk7Pl359nMGDJgEwAbaBFn0ySXiZC_ELjqzEqY1h3Hw34wRyD1VCXkpxDtcHAmcBYfh9-Iu864I_at-w1ayz3zX9UXwnbWJW1XFyLefZmwL5S1KWgmJAP25WY4G/s2016/IMG_7550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilDZQFqTNP_a_36hduZG2iW6WqpwG56YVasQ1Wd_H8FuIP7ETla6gukl8FV1VNZYNufk7Pl359nMGDJgEwAbaBFn0ySXiZC_ELjqzEqY1h3Hw34wRyD1VCXkpxDtcHAmcBYfh9-Iu864I_at-w1ayz3zX9UXwnbWJW1XFyLefZmwL5S1KWgmJAP25WY4G/w284-h213/IMG_7550.jpg" width="284" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaP2L96O2G6GI8ChjiK5MzhZ1ddt-4vie0858uOLykVXe_qCIE16w-TLGDzjdovZKsI0Fhq9p-NzjYgCg803bmtlxWdZoE9-5cc7VmILJl-PHjTxA3CCVyQGvoeLKUqlgtfsjkmtCo02sZNW2KG40sgKgHtcM5bUDPcsaLyNPnL8-dgHfcHvcRA_m5s-g/s1280/IMG_7544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaP2L96O2G6GI8ChjiK5MzhZ1ddt-4vie0858uOLykVXe_qCIE16w-TLGDzjdovZKsI0Fhq9p-NzjYgCg803bmtlxWdZoE9-5cc7VmILJl-PHjTxA3CCVyQGvoeLKUqlgtfsjkmtCo02sZNW2KG40sgKgHtcM5bUDPcsaLyNPnL8-dgHfcHvcRA_m5s-g/w284-h213/IMG_7544.jpg" width="284" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1bm97Ralzuwd0enAm0YeY_J_fwZOzweJMlWbdJO2y78L80bVrn3AYCjGVG7xfklQs__el7F4kRJIZ9j8XfguoXzqzdbNImV3Ar8zLq4Uv1n3zLlxzO3iDoWjkdo8yY-6Vph5z7Y6wnXHwjDfz4QLAYctWI9A6uqIqk21VyjcDytuDBwoyxzOvhGQqTtq/s1280/IMG_7542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1bm97Ralzuwd0enAm0YeY_J_fwZOzweJMlWbdJO2y78L80bVrn3AYCjGVG7xfklQs__el7F4kRJIZ9j8XfguoXzqzdbNImV3Ar8zLq4Uv1n3zLlxzO3iDoWjkdo8yY-6Vph5z7Y6wnXHwjDfz4QLAYctWI9A6uqIqk21VyjcDytuDBwoyxzOvhGQqTtq/s320/IMG_7542.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Dave loves this State Park. We stayed at </span><a href="https://www.campbellcovecampgrounds.com/" style="text-align: left;">Campbell’s Cove RV park</a><span style="text-align: left;">, which was great. Beautifully maintained, stuffed and designed. They get our “Best bath house family award”. Their swimming hole and beach were also fantastic! The site was located in Logan, not far from the State Park. We chose it because the full hook ups and the nearby restaurant, including the Olde Dutch Restaurant which is a family buffet our family loves, our pig out place in Ohio. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMIJAWUd506Y4u6Am5hzgIUCxVFw7Yc3NxUAKd3FGHhMddkzBnAkSj6hcm-oxF-EZ1PJeRhnBVLlvTbiGJ2Q6M_y2nkwHg3L0d6DCpnUacjbtIbSf4bZrtXvpg-9A0oB3ORBwcAl01a6UopljPV_l5HZQMvISwBkr0OMtjiPZ0pHZ7ltGMbkLayznkD7V/s2016/IMG_7592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtBm4py4AcjpNsiJO5c1qpAo6UiVZ51kDOauNe8q81BsjTk5X_9F5akJHnnkCdlXnZx0qSDtHDau1AunnoDFWydr_NKY8w-P_L1OP_L4mQgODYQriJYa9YWTtec3ZVKpycKqaHSsV7gQv1A9xVLeMWlyc7j7PZS5TKYVYVaTgZJHUfLnOyDXAH4nT_MNx/s1544/IMG_2175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1544" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtBm4py4AcjpNsiJO5c1qpAo6UiVZ51kDOauNe8q81BsjTk5X_9F5akJHnnkCdlXnZx0qSDtHDau1AunnoDFWydr_NKY8w-P_L1OP_L4mQgODYQriJYa9YWTtec3ZVKpycKqaHSsV7gQv1A9xVLeMWlyc7j7PZS5TKYVYVaTgZJHUfLnOyDXAH4nT_MNx/w291-h218/IMG_2175.JPG" width="291" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMIJAWUd506Y4u6Am5hzgIUCxVFw7Yc3NxUAKd3FGHhMddkzBnAkSj6hcm-oxF-EZ1PJeRhnBVLlvTbiGJ2Q6M_y2nkwHg3L0d6DCpnUacjbtIbSf4bZrtXvpg-9A0oB3ORBwcAl01a6UopljPV_l5HZQMvISwBkr0OMtjiPZ0pHZ7ltGMbkLayznkD7V/s2016/IMG_7592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMIJAWUd506Y4u6Am5hzgIUCxVFw7Yc3NxUAKd3FGHhMddkzBnAkSj6hcm-oxF-EZ1PJeRhnBVLlvTbiGJ2Q6M_y2nkwHg3L0d6DCpnUacjbtIbSf4bZrtXvpg-9A0oB3ORBwcAl01a6UopljPV_l5HZQMvISwBkr0OMtjiPZ0pHZ7ltGMbkLayznkD7V/w300-h225/IMG_7592.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Visiting Hocking Hills was great. The first day we went on to check out some of its main attractions: The Canyons. The biggest and most popular being Old Man’s cave. It is a beautiful hike down the canyon. You get to enjoy incredible views in this hike. Trees growing out of rocky cliffs and defying gravity, water trickling down from many different corners, the zigzagging river at the bottom, scenic bridges and staircases. It was quite an experience!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9PkhfZYp7bYQIhRGjpkuiH7Z894HLwQyTJJOgczzxPrEynyqB7Gv_-n65p4ZVtXzwRiGwW5h5SB13RXOHtJTt2TcDHogbANqsDREUOk-2djRjUxdnBDKgoKzi-yK6S-Jmn4In77xcw9Hri9dOgDNCSkpGzBWCdE0vCG8RMA1hZVCbOl5mf5RWA2iYXbz/s2016/IMG_7604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9PkhfZYp7bYQIhRGjpkuiH7Z894HLwQyTJJOgczzxPrEynyqB7Gv_-n65p4ZVtXzwRiGwW5h5SB13RXOHtJTt2TcDHogbANqsDREUOk-2djRjUxdnBDKgoKzi-yK6S-Jmn4In77xcw9Hri9dOgDNCSkpGzBWCdE0vCG8RMA1hZVCbOl5mf5RWA2iYXbz/w300-h225/IMG_7604.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKroJA0yJSnMFYaP-UbZq8LVdUljXBTeEv5M-hcAu92XXA1IraQ-AiXyUYU9EY8Hlfir_jUQqxZwyAt-ToH-C8LDcThUdEm38X7lUn3A-xIUvoJFFIi18RIVosI0YlDf5mRHNaWChibwjicrp35uLw0fKVsAQTLmjG76P7Q6vTHZ5DTlXuYfjE827XlyUw/s2016/IMG_7623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKroJA0yJSnMFYaP-UbZq8LVdUljXBTeEv5M-hcAu92XXA1IraQ-AiXyUYU9EY8Hlfir_jUQqxZwyAt-ToH-C8LDcThUdEm38X7lUn3A-xIUvoJFFIi18RIVosI0YlDf5mRHNaWChibwjicrp35uLw0fKVsAQTLmjG76P7Q6vTHZ5DTlXuYfjE827XlyUw/w301-h226/IMG_7623.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3s2B7tPW7RGPKnrFYjYKdKhLYjYrboZ4XUawmbwnHwdIAjC6i7hnGC6zMBEHgXL4hOLdIBmHbJI9cRc19ld9jenoS_1W2adCFwPPkLBS97S83BlXLxvyuK4USVR-ZnxUDpep0C9tFP5Mhu4p7NTcVtM1tUN8NjLbXHtJZPccLXmmJEoOwpuQBSFLvdMZ/s2016/IMG_7654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh3s2B7tPW7RGPKnrFYjYKdKhLYjYrboZ4XUawmbwnHwdIAjC6i7hnGC6zMBEHgXL4hOLdIBmHbJI9cRc19ld9jenoS_1W2adCFwPPkLBS97S83BlXLxvyuK4USVR-ZnxUDpep0C9tFP5Mhu4p7NTcVtM1tUN8NjLbXHtJZPccLXmmJEoOwpuQBSFLvdMZ/w180-h240/IMG_7654.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2TndUIj9VDGLWk-WFgqVTfLwaZXb6PHzX4P2D_T4Zgc_TmAbkY778S9VQK3ct2UpfAa5aQ6ivsLlYgxyyWl3zBKk2VUT2Itlv2MSKPFHcoooW4luVL9mAbbRjR4vNl7T4bd3OFbT1WyAsTTswdjf_h3iMQ0zvihVxlQZ1bDuIBo5sc6ptv0bfL7XUUgI/s2016/IMG_7647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2TndUIj9VDGLWk-WFgqVTfLwaZXb6PHzX4P2D_T4Zgc_TmAbkY778S9VQK3ct2UpfAa5aQ6ivsLlYgxyyWl3zBKk2VUT2Itlv2MSKPFHcoooW4luVL9mAbbRjR4vNl7T4bd3OFbT1WyAsTTswdjf_h3iMQ0zvihVxlQZ1bDuIBo5sc6ptv0bfL7XUUgI/s320/IMG_7647.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">We also got explored "Whispering Cave" which was the longest hike we went on this park, It was quite scenic, but moderately strenuous. So we called that a day.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGKksspLVqTeH78cswLxY98Cv8Xk9QmsWf4_B-8DAVG97mw8l-AU3mPt9i4SgovG3g1RGhYprJ_sBxun-8h8zuvx809DFF6a266BIJ3TdpkY_MPKrQ-zNpZiRALCMj0gCqT4HQwBauNTCQbGbnTya18GfNLXgNMwMguFnkUZkvOrftzuwBSWoXJx5blO3/s2016/IMG_2232%20(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGKksspLVqTeH78cswLxY98Cv8Xk9QmsWf4_B-8DAVG97mw8l-AU3mPt9i4SgovG3g1RGhYprJ_sBxun-8h8zuvx809DFF6a266BIJ3TdpkY_MPKrQ-zNpZiRALCMj0gCqT4HQwBauNTCQbGbnTya18GfNLXgNMwMguFnkUZkvOrftzuwBSWoXJx5blO3/s320/IMG_2232%20(1).JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneqhlF2SNwhwrXgynds_Nh3FBx4MWj_Of3CmyTErHmG7itWxQVOVVYVSb18K5h7ILD9ranO9MK7Dk0DA55VzfNYOx3o4eathTJ9CqV2rMD6iFjPO3W0WWoq3sqcMv6o2GOXO81t-zid9YwK16H6wiOPWZ_SlQDOQtBLfdvdoOuY-0NnBIrzwvggvwFghu/s1280/IMG_2201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneqhlF2SNwhwrXgynds_Nh3FBx4MWj_Of3CmyTErHmG7itWxQVOVVYVSb18K5h7ILD9ranO9MK7Dk0DA55VzfNYOx3o4eathTJ9CqV2rMD6iFjPO3W0WWoq3sqcMv6o2GOXO81t-zid9YwK16H6wiOPWZ_SlQDOQtBLfdvdoOuY-0NnBIrzwvggvwFghu/w276-h207/IMG_2201.JPG" width="276" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg584XTyuI316g-X1DzG9FFz_VZ2r8QfKTsvnFnClpK3baUq-9Ct6vK_GYR37Oc1ahyEl6tK5GJqCWsMO_7fha6TAKiyyTSmB69Qgk0zgt5djbY0tBLm2FdiQ2bp25PB5gDfzVuO-tMyvbLIYanf_tGYiTXEHP760PdbEm75jgDO92hQhHjEHUgIBZW-wmY/s2016/IMG_7649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg584XTyuI316g-X1DzG9FFz_VZ2r8QfKTsvnFnClpK3baUq-9Ct6vK_GYR37Oc1ahyEl6tK5GJqCWsMO_7fha6TAKiyyTSmB69Qgk0zgt5djbY0tBLm2FdiQ2bp25PB5gDfzVuO-tMyvbLIYanf_tGYiTXEHP760PdbEm75jgDO92hQhHjEHUgIBZW-wmY/w185-h247/IMG_7649.jpg" width="185" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFhgQafC9JwPbSjVYy8H9PUJxaQZU3OHHo90blU489qmvK3bqMwMbIqa97dmL15BpJRBaBziuuVSVkaPXM0TPqB0UcOPUBvkr84CwyF5jUrrsMQGH3457onZuzPJXGnU9ldo5OugCacl2oIvFWMhiMoGQd9JpTdzZtt7nkuL2a1y8x0g52T7QbIQXS9jA/s1793/IMG_2229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1793" data-original-width="1345" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFhgQafC9JwPbSjVYy8H9PUJxaQZU3OHHo90blU489qmvK3bqMwMbIqa97dmL15BpJRBaBziuuVSVkaPXM0TPqB0UcOPUBvkr84CwyF5jUrrsMQGH3457onZuzPJXGnU9ldo5OugCacl2oIvFWMhiMoGQd9JpTdzZtt7nkuL2a1y8x0g52T7QbIQXS9jA/w176-h235/IMG_2229.JPG" width="176" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">One of the brightest highlights of this stop is that we actually got
to meet Dave’s extended relatives who live in the area for an
impromptu family reunion. Most of them we had not seen in many years,
so it was lovely to reconnect, catch up a little and make memories
pigging out together. Ha!</span></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMQ6aYFUxi0CcHZewW6F9r-fgIGrNMjkAxSYZ4hwhiYEWZt64WDi0fWk9KHmau7FtFMh0zs8Ydy240MOM_UD1yQArG3sDm8Lh9kp7p094sq7G7w1PQN3KYrPbbn4zdv7MPp-ZeMs0iCLWn4UxEbp6AOme6965Gzuu95WlSHjHxVKnrB1gYO3W4yODy5_E/s1735/IMG_2253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1327" data-original-width="1735" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMQ6aYFUxi0CcHZewW6F9r-fgIGrNMjkAxSYZ4hwhiYEWZt64WDi0fWk9KHmau7FtFMh0zs8Ydy240MOM_UD1yQArG3sDm8Lh9kp7p094sq7G7w1PQN3KYrPbbn4zdv7MPp-ZeMs0iCLWn4UxEbp6AOme6965Gzuu95WlSHjHxVKnrB1gYO3W4yODy5_E/w286-h219/IMG_2253.JPG" width="286" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5tDAzm9yzb333QKSxYUjgkd_TPLx07G1NPFI3nQBZBXAfzfNBQMxjgY8dq1tsYKvDW0XWFlMQ07ENUxknbXYHpiXYkenQVeRLrF8GIliKk8NPLBJF9dqAulfHKI226E7n3sDl5VMwuvraS-sk6j54ws5G19YVtcJBR62R41YHbziaDTW7eiwS8HVsy5a/s2016/IMG_2244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5tDAzm9yzb333QKSxYUjgkd_TPLx07G1NPFI3nQBZBXAfzfNBQMxjgY8dq1tsYKvDW0XWFlMQ07ENUxknbXYHpiXYkenQVeRLrF8GIliKk8NPLBJF9dqAulfHKI226E7n3sDl5VMwuvraS-sk6j54ws5G19YVtcJBR62R41YHbziaDTW7eiwS8HVsy5a/w285-h214/IMG_2244.JPG" width="285" /></a></p><p>The next day we went
to Cypress Falls where we enjoyed the waterfalls and reminiscing our
visit about 5 years before. It’s amazing to look at the pictures
and see how much the kids have grown. Look for yourselves! It was
quite heartwarming to bring Evelyn with us now. She enjoyed this stop
very much, because there were butterflies flying around. I guess they
were part of the welcome committee!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9mrTEu0bD-26SAxJmIlvxR0wK6O2NpfhlNl9ojrEh7lHiqcPrbL0FcGuugUm7HbGW6V5uQ8CYGFNB6Jt0BAg170FjH4hP1Wj32iI_PZyAOYZNPZDTl7bgoZvkLjx6RaWN01wIUSwqo18VyGqcaZYWzZgrxk2Sq64uVYPIt2WodDO1T_kaFaRUpeTUnQe/s1280/IMG_2183.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9mrTEu0bD-26SAxJmIlvxR0wK6O2NpfhlNl9ojrEh7lHiqcPrbL0FcGuugUm7HbGW6V5uQ8CYGFNB6Jt0BAg170FjH4hP1Wj32iI_PZyAOYZNPZDTl7bgoZvkLjx6RaWN01wIUSwqo18VyGqcaZYWzZgrxk2Sq64uVYPIt2WodDO1T_kaFaRUpeTUnQe/s320/IMG_2183.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2018</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadvNjb2z5X1mjh8RDM8P2vFI2QiYCJrLnz7klcT1hWFwW0qFmorPfatMSxuUq7wYVQT_flqvfOSw2F6fyM9R8U8Q-ObJMQtZTlfSqTQTHeOD0bERUaC5OEyWlpsj5UllgeUBGQTrGR147KDkb9dKLHSVVxWZnAWUkrON3sR13X5d_QMVIcwMmbuf_Nzam/s1280/IMG_2240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadvNjb2z5X1mjh8RDM8P2vFI2QiYCJrLnz7klcT1hWFwW0qFmorPfatMSxuUq7wYVQT_flqvfOSw2F6fyM9R8U8Q-ObJMQtZTlfSqTQTHeOD0bERUaC5OEyWlpsj5UllgeUBGQTrGR147KDkb9dKLHSVVxWZnAWUkrON3sR13X5d_QMVIcwMmbuf_Nzam/w297-h223/IMG_2240.JPG" width="297" /></a></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJUmYWj0MlkCV1u7orACLA3SjJsWgj2hVvve6dIA6t2XLVRjh46ttwJz1HbOdbmQxY8WySrLwDREo3ZdDpCo_BcbST398H5eMZcK5Ww2ShXh4ohNHhh26slRRz8_l2EN3h-QzxGohA5nHe-nLAj9T26UojZI8M076X3jkMWMeDiwhPx8r8PTP8d_MWPDQ/s1280/IMG_2184.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJUmYWj0MlkCV1u7orACLA3SjJsWgj2hVvve6dIA6t2XLVRjh46ttwJz1HbOdbmQxY8WySrLwDREo3ZdDpCo_BcbST398H5eMZcK5Ww2ShXh4ohNHhh26slRRz8_l2EN3h-QzxGohA5nHe-nLAj9T26UojZI8M076X3jkMWMeDiwhPx8r8PTP8d_MWPDQ/w194-h244/IMG_2184.PNG" width="194" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2018</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSplR8xvhfNJrjEqRDUvbKl3seNGuA75eEKXncIsBJct0wO2kSJwneR-FH9Gy4U9aSBZdD9qAGuAGCrnsJFn6cJ6d-VOezY4MQ_6pvt_AjEUa1GTmIyJy0YG34sVOUduFmcJBTwj5sDtCGcNkrY6ttnldVPfDD-8VCiberN6hklf6jUHntcIQ3O4gJpWbY/s2016/IMG_2269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSplR8xvhfNJrjEqRDUvbKl3seNGuA75eEKXncIsBJct0wO2kSJwneR-FH9Gy4U9aSBZdD9qAGuAGCrnsJFn6cJ6d-VOezY4MQ_6pvt_AjEUa1GTmIyJy0YG34sVOUduFmcJBTwj5sDtCGcNkrY6ttnldVPfDD-8VCiberN6hklf6jUHntcIQ3O4gJpWbY/w223-h297/IMG_2269.JPG" width="223" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2023</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWNAL8mGB50d-TVwrPxI2fSQESz1INW6fvG8XACyyllyDRwfhl9Fx6AmF5hmK2Ue8adl_DAhnrnpLpq5MPnDO299nPMZjY-usA67YAPQCNiQ2j3qE4PR5PQznnmTI54w0qpEgX4E2bubTfILDk8exB4ars4xtrrPeFUlJriMUqmfDcM8AeYUHDK6FIzgu/s1280/IMG_7635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWNAL8mGB50d-TVwrPxI2fSQESz1INW6fvG8XACyyllyDRwfhl9Fx6AmF5hmK2Ue8adl_DAhnrnpLpq5MPnDO299nPMZjY-usA67YAPQCNiQ2j3qE4PR5PQznnmTI54w0qpEgX4E2bubTfILDk8exB4ars4xtrrPeFUlJriMUqmfDcM8AeYUHDK6FIzgu/w226-h249/IMG_7635.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4tsZQ3XodNrv0N6gAU5qDIzZ9j6wzoptvgdilD4Z1WAIs7FH-PhjfjKMxp-9ZOG9ImFc2ivNBiPo1Ta-7b3fVs7TPMEwyiX10yPMZjQO1tvvigh7UcHefDy0XX-3lR4VihjR6iypIAwnT7vMbOtxLXX1LEA9bC1IJQwtYW_EWV9BgHaHmtCq9XmctrwX/s2016/IMG_2293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4tsZQ3XodNrv0N6gAU5qDIzZ9j6wzoptvgdilD4Z1WAIs7FH-PhjfjKMxp-9ZOG9ImFc2ivNBiPo1Ta-7b3fVs7TPMEwyiX10yPMZjQO1tvvigh7UcHefDy0XX-3lR4VihjR6iypIAwnT7vMbOtxLXX1LEA9bC1IJQwtYW_EWV9BgHaHmtCq9XmctrwX/w329-h247/IMG_2293.JPG" width="329" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">One of our favorite attractions in Hocking Hills is the disc golf courses. The one we chose was nestled among hilly terrain, so it’s beautiful for us to spend a
day enjoying the beauty of nature while working on perfecting our aim
and hitting the chains. It feels like a hike with entertainment built
in. Plus I already mentioned that everybody except me is quite
competitive in the family. I am the cheerleader.</span></div><p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-IRwtY4LSLM_M5mOB_T0HFtO-3h06qwlV7NuG-mxl3G6gMlqMl5PE_3xMQ3NyL_YKhVuGREBnSuPqQ_zRrlUbg4uv4AOmNOWo1hyZRxCEBcXoaq3qXYb74xWVSx-OWt_zkDfAphwu3jHEnBZDtrHwLNunLlUOqdSuLlNzG1KPJRi46yvGIQtuqwTFZha/s2016/IMG_7736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-IRwtY4LSLM_M5mOB_T0HFtO-3h06qwlV7NuG-mxl3G6gMlqMl5PE_3xMQ3NyL_YKhVuGREBnSuPqQ_zRrlUbg4uv4AOmNOWo1hyZRxCEBcXoaq3qXYb74xWVSx-OWt_zkDfAphwu3jHEnBZDtrHwLNunLlUOqdSuLlNzG1KPJRi46yvGIQtuqwTFZha/s320/IMG_7736.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The last day we went
to explore the local Amish market, the craft and the hardware shops.
We also got introduced to the game of “Wormburner”, which Dave
described as Croquette in steroids. We are grateful for the memories
we’re taking home with us. We are starting to feel the exhaustion
of being for such a long time on the road though. We appreciate
prayers for continued safe travels and stamina as we move on to our
next stop in KY! Thank you for reading friends!</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQ56q1GdDNmhU98WzB6it8ye_w_P5iEf9OMNpZ20QiXB2FP_Pp6WNRf1W4cfZayBdvL3w_MJ9khVP1D-NvXQtljbaAvWrstFbA8nUb8PKpj3S0Le2fzxiVtHXNJdz2hRb094icZ6sLEEqAqAVGk4fhcicNLoM4OBG-p940Ro0tSxQOWAbwyW_MXzkiEfC/s1544/IMG_2393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1544" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQ56q1GdDNmhU98WzB6it8ye_w_P5iEf9OMNpZ20QiXB2FP_Pp6WNRf1W4cfZayBdvL3w_MJ9khVP1D-NvXQtljbaAvWrstFbA8nUb8PKpj3S0Le2fzxiVtHXNJdz2hRb094icZ6sLEEqAqAVGk4fhcicNLoM4OBG-p940Ro0tSxQOWAbwyW_MXzkiEfC/s320/IMG_2393.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmVennWkQ_uvERa7rOnUJ8kpPJXri2Tkc3UuOHxEBOG9t09idUgOZZlQNab8pTtTez0b8trRNh0IGRyenylSyg3TbuvA4d2SHcwqJsLoji387JZZYYADTXJxA1M_2XgM1WH4-wqsTz_coYigwJiCGHuEN1Hk5GQzF--7kGpx6ET2lDNOwka4j4zhkMvLE/s2016/IMG_2389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmVennWkQ_uvERa7rOnUJ8kpPJXri2Tkc3UuOHxEBOG9t09idUgOZZlQNab8pTtTez0b8trRNh0IGRyenylSyg3TbuvA4d2SHcwqJsLoji387JZZYYADTXJxA1M_2XgM1WH4-wqsTz_coYigwJiCGHuEN1Hk5GQzF--7kGpx6ET2lDNOwka4j4zhkMvLE/w184-h245/IMG_2389.JPG" width="184" /></a></p></div>Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-7983410428678721832023-07-18T05:36:00.005-07:002023-07-19T03:43:24.042-07:00Impossible To Not Fall In Love With This!<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Greetings from the Niagara Falls friends! We
had a pleasant trip from <a href="https://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-stop-with-refreshing-evergreen.html">Vermont</a> and arrived safe and sound to
<a href="https://www.niagarashorescampground.com/">Niagara Shores</a>, a campground set by the vast waters of Lake Ontario.
We got a really nice waterfront spot with a wonderful view to the sun
setting and rising every day. The facilities can use some updating,
but the location was prime. We got to see a wedding happening over
there during our stay, so sweet.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vKuqliSw9QWdCY-R9GyK4vSVjuk3p4GOAAXSoaZxJZft8UKroL-GiIbmnJ8jVC0A7zd7GT5Fw0_fua2S-U3GVmHBpxoCpPzMasuOBLPFlk5PYhzi8WhcMO0fmhhH1f_3MifVWCkX5m4jasoE0ZGW9ACBUJJ3PlRpmAsfUaK11dH9Nl-0tP1opuD_OZ1r/s2016/IMG_7282.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vKuqliSw9QWdCY-R9GyK4vSVjuk3p4GOAAXSoaZxJZft8UKroL-GiIbmnJ8jVC0A7zd7GT5Fw0_fua2S-U3GVmHBpxoCpPzMasuOBLPFlk5PYhzi8WhcMO0fmhhH1f_3MifVWCkX5m4jasoE0ZGW9ACBUJJ3PlRpmAsfUaK11dH9Nl-0tP1opuD_OZ1r/s320/IMG_7282.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><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/AVvXsEgQOsm9U0xVHi5JlyNT121gUDFaeB27xTGjKGz1ETmY6joBzLZjI_jHhVaXXqbCESr4FJtfyFMneGpWfxYpK5kbsuRVcww6CwK-hSbkrPF2pMb9w_CiGSzqCMcVPx0oENqbcHldduylQX84J2ktql5tlUITBoa-hskvrLCMRSWr51D3AgjIrvw3j8yJ1ijg/s2016/IMG_7350.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOsm9U0xVHi5JlyNT121gUDFaeB27xTGjKGz1ETmY6joBzLZjI_jHhVaXXqbCESr4FJtfyFMneGpWfxYpK5kbsuRVcww6CwK-hSbkrPF2pMb9w_CiGSzqCMcVPx0oENqbcHldduylQX84J2ktql5tlUITBoa-hskvrLCMRSWr51D3AgjIrvw3j8yJ1ijg/w295-h221/IMG_7350.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see Toronto's Silhouette right underneath the sun?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6vu2Rw0ITJI0vC-aHxQmewOcquLQJ7ADJmm09z6IDbsNQ0lbuajTaOaj37QdYgkoIrwCzhD0fJCwRZd_3hIsv0a7e_QjWCeknpmK9dE_XVkmJgmN-avcFaOnID634a7sTjb1_3hqurX113QVq6doWNGSF0mMF1toofLNATDCYbPnvtV1ExHQfln_4STJ/s2016/IMG_7338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6vu2Rw0ITJI0vC-aHxQmewOcquLQJ7ADJmm09z6IDbsNQ0lbuajTaOaj37QdYgkoIrwCzhD0fJCwRZd_3hIsv0a7e_QjWCeknpmK9dE_XVkmJgmN-avcFaOnID634a7sTjb1_3hqurX113QVq6doWNGSF0mMF1toofLNATDCYbPnvtV1ExHQfln_4STJ/w292-h219/IMG_7338.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Ready for one of our most memorable take-aways from this stop? Well, out we went Cherry picking the day right after we arrived. We thought ourselves veterans at fruit picking and went for the bucketfuls we normally go while blueberry picking in Florida. Turns out Cherries are more plentiful and much heavier, a fact unbeknownst to us, so we ended up with 35 pounds to take home! Cherries for breakfast, lunch, s<span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">nacks & dinner it has been people! </span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We learned that cherries need to be pitted before freezing..so we had a “pitted-ful party!” Ha! </span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Silver lining? We are getting better at Cherry cobbler making! And, we have a story to tell now, so it is all good!</span></span></span></p></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxTCwDKn0mZIb2lm96XoqXPDe2matWs5_NSC3JHmXgqxmYU3wVvMCOaBUoDksATK14lt93f15ZNJ2c6TXxLsm0ZIM7FDv9IHa03eW38iwNC-U1LEZymP1P6dSyw_xzUuvEsmslcz3osImSI8wFqC7rSa4HZAYgvmc6DocLzEKDI8dnFt_LQzQLWgQX6Ws/s2016/IMG_7246.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxTCwDKn0mZIb2lm96XoqXPDe2matWs5_NSC3JHmXgqxmYU3wVvMCOaBUoDksATK14lt93f15ZNJ2c6TXxLsm0ZIM7FDv9IHa03eW38iwNC-U1LEZymP1P6dSyw_xzUuvEsmslcz3osImSI8wFqC7rSa4HZAYgvmc6DocLzEKDI8dnFt_LQzQLWgQX6Ws/w252-h189/IMG_7246.jpg" width="252" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqHHel1mA-iMYndYhHCm-d_uhO3xBU_oxrOdjS83uWkcvo8xNTVymUNdaEzcrAsC3qU5l2N1rB0xkNDOg5Z68VxAeACzH4mKA-cNC44J4STJlHg60DWmnNmRmfQk1d0ghKuBmx1k7fOjPm178ugDoPec5sd0no8z1wPaCiZCae4JWZAGDc2QnCZJcji-n/s2016/IMG_7261.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqHHel1mA-iMYndYhHCm-d_uhO3xBU_oxrOdjS83uWkcvo8xNTVymUNdaEzcrAsC3qU5l2N1rB0xkNDOg5Z68VxAeACzH4mKA-cNC44J4STJlHg60DWmnNmRmfQk1d0ghKuBmx1k7fOjPm178ugDoPec5sd0no8z1wPaCiZCae4JWZAGDc2QnCZJcji-n/w253-h191/IMG_7261.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8oe9cjIzV7_UUl7cBGDCELJgNP-SBz5MSSvmP69toi3zgrFNp29PkmcUdcd2O-V6yBjUXR_BoQxqn5L6s6BB0HONyuh-lShPnXDdO68Q_XGZW_4bVr5u11c-aInBKE6ic7w1ZZralhEh813VAxVtIuWKISaXzjs-Ju2m6E4iKkjEyJPV1j4Q82NsGiEw/s2016/IMG_7258.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi8oe9cjIzV7_UUl7cBGDCELJgNP-SBz5MSSvmP69toi3zgrFNp29PkmcUdcd2O-V6yBjUXR_BoQxqn5L6s6BB0HONyuh-lShPnXDdO68Q_XGZW_4bVr5u11c-aInBKE6ic7w1ZZralhEh813VAxVtIuWKISaXzjs-Ju2m6E4iKkjEyJPV1j4Q82NsGiEw/w254-h191/IMG_7258.jpg" width="254" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozgccKic4MBo9knM69ZFONvM5bnqlIRdP2xMNCy9W0aH2kFkAXQQuGx3z_TlzwL5tG63LWqn9h6jrpiL7yjRyiDeVl97ITP-B4atqPotzkpQGbar0apc3OuAOCwPLUXZoDEKV-RvJU_OI5bAO2S-rkiN7y3mr-br82G5Z3eK7daQxjW2JP9Fam4ftfA9r/s2016/IMG_7330.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozgccKic4MBo9knM69ZFONvM5bnqlIRdP2xMNCy9W0aH2kFkAXQQuGx3z_TlzwL5tG63LWqn9h6jrpiL7yjRyiDeVl97ITP-B4atqPotzkpQGbar0apc3OuAOCwPLUXZoDEKV-RvJU_OI5bAO2S-rkiN7y3mr-br82G5Z3eK7daQxjW2JP9Fam4ftfA9r/w253-h189/IMG_7330.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxX3JIymCWSsEGW_YJpKhpHC7GbJIeBmJyahE79zxVtux1LAKT-W29tNGBYRxVbEijLojFaiZwx3S3eN5H0qjtM_tbFkxkC5bIOmGLDxT9JubzliOxJUztTyDVqppByiiASYUJaDjAvCar-B8TKZp7X1XrbjYqchvwkaDI6hmRDGRxlJ_3kCnkVMSZGqS/s2016/IMG_7268.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxX3JIymCWSsEGW_YJpKhpHC7GbJIeBmJyahE79zxVtux1LAKT-W29tNGBYRxVbEijLojFaiZwx3S3eN5H0qjtM_tbFkxkC5bIOmGLDxT9JubzliOxJUztTyDVqppByiiASYUJaDjAvCar-B8TKZp7X1XrbjYqchvwkaDI6hmRDGRxlJ_3kCnkVMSZGqS/w258-h194/IMG_7268.jpg" width="258" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYePVrEHBmh9BNBXSe6RQ02Rs_Q08wS4UKOlxupZZQBb_op7X92Bql6wafEdTKlr2tRmJZbV7KaWuHULfPv5KFT33ilP7e2s7Ly8BYzXCzPeYbU4qGZCrJ-wFVyKZMeRZrCbrAotcyTfVUqnIvyplX_YUHIYuD2L4ltPZHIKONE-5A1vrZbJTKiELFJlw/s2016/IMG_7326.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYePVrEHBmh9BNBXSe6RQ02Rs_Q08wS4UKOlxupZZQBb_op7X92Bql6wafEdTKlr2tRmJZbV7KaWuHULfPv5KFT33ilP7e2s7Ly8BYzXCzPeYbU4qGZCrJ-wFVyKZMeRZrCbrAotcyTfVUqnIvyplX_YUHIYuD2L4ltPZHIKONE-5A1vrZbJTKiELFJlw/w266-h192/IMG_7326.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The third day our friend Amanda came from Toronto to visit with us for a couple of days. We hadn’t seen her in person for 5 years! She’s an art teacher to all ages from kids to adults, so she connects very well with our children. She’s very good at “playing </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">s</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">illy” with them. We also enjoyed recalling a little of our Chinese lessons from the past, which is quite timely as </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">we are re-starting our Chinese </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">school </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">start day approaches. She’s also quite the artist. </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You can actually peruse over her creations in Facebook right <a href="https://www.facebook.com/enjoyyourmetime">here</a>. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfu5pvrDLBmal5sj4gt4gBS9YTDXRiUZQ7lx-DdAG5gprcTMNa70F5zJjW3U7GY_x3u4jXXPUbCZ5MwSZQ8pHZurb4vtbVGUMQqQwO5wF2fwzi-ThhPfw5WDxsCJypmwYI7lxCurQxb0LYsOSN_cYBXt6cV0kBB_3PPuECnURz9rHTtBYPNSk2aVlWWij1/s960/image0%20(6).jpeg" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfu5pvrDLBmal5sj4gt4gBS9YTDXRiUZQ7lx-DdAG5gprcTMNa70F5zJjW3U7GY_x3u4jXXPUbCZ5MwSZQ8pHZurb4vtbVGUMQqQwO5wF2fwzi-ThhPfw5WDxsCJypmwYI7lxCurQxb0LYsOSN_cYBXt6cV0kBB_3PPuECnURz9rHTtBYPNSk2aVlWWij1/s320/image0%20(6).jpeg" width="240" /></a> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVbaPR4qqjUGRtFPQt6bKcaC3mIVUJhxyl8wVyerT3JIJjYcIP3nGZrEe3NbcXGnSZbbvMIXePUX6TB3wPzx4sWuNfVnauvesmP-uwAy9RdE-7BFNbAkSmwNZp2da_PKpPZzO60Uv93fijRbUwUUBMVoAnXaMfHYMqmHgNVNAuIbw0EPq9D4MPyTOahoE/s1544/IMG_3245.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="1160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVbaPR4qqjUGRtFPQt6bKcaC3mIVUJhxyl8wVyerT3JIJjYcIP3nGZrEe3NbcXGnSZbbvMIXePUX6TB3wPzx4sWuNfVnauvesmP-uwAy9RdE-7BFNbAkSmwNZp2da_PKpPZzO60Uv93fijRbUwUUBMVoAnXaMfHYMqmHgNVNAuIbw0EPq9D4MPyTOahoE/s320/IMG_3245.jpg" width="240" /></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">We meet Amanda at the downtown of Niagara. That’s right next to the starting point of the trail taking you to the Falls. So happily we trailed on together to delight our eyes on the view of this gem of God’s creation. And we were delighted alright! 3500 tons of water PER SECOND falling down the Niagara River. It was quite a sight. This river serves as the border with Canada and its blueish hues make it more impressive. Four out of the five Great Lakes which make a fifth of the world’s fresh water supply, drain in this river before emptying into Lake Ontario. Look at this grandeur yourselves:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxst5ld0nK4x7Eq2wM3HOVEw_YR74sBYfcAozUL6JVPHMAdHW535wQ7fm7eFcXk5rcVaEwOQEwHN4NiHI0VHg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div 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/AVvXsEieQm9bpssHsg7SvYr5HIrH9zXxyDKnzw1R4KHYx2RJH9PbYRg1FyUdXBAhh9TWYpz6xHqhODs-xoyZlUIQptMC-Uj8Hj4OVeNU9tt6RhekRXhB8uhBRm4sUIteD2Kike3p-j_oGtGhsScx65SQkOAHvXEiC_Ooenqwbl_O2TbZFXAUwpkamBj-pYp5yyxa/s2016/IMG_7284.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQm9bpssHsg7SvYr5HIrH9zXxyDKnzw1R4KHYx2RJH9PbYRg1FyUdXBAhh9TWYpz6xHqhODs-xoyZlUIQptMC-Uj8Hj4OVeNU9tt6RhekRXhB8uhBRm4sUIteD2Kike3p-j_oGtGhsScx65SQkOAHvXEiC_Ooenqwbl_O2TbZFXAUwpkamBj-pYp5yyxa/s320/IMG_7284.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">After
our first round of exploration from the top. We got into the elevator
to go down to get in the waters. We rode on the “Maid of the Midst”
which is the boat that takes you within yards of the Falls. Once you
get that close you can hardly see anything, but you hear and feel the
loud crashing of the waters. We were somewhat holding on tightly to
our raincoats, but even as we did, our kids were enjoying the
refreshing feel of getting wrenched by the misty waters. What an
adrenaline rushed experience! For a few minutes, the boat got rocked
to a personally uncomfortable point. All I was doing was holding on
to Evelyn and to our rain coats. No wonder the government harness the
power of those falls to generate electricity to provide for almost
half of the state of NY. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj88sevuotPUBmEseZptw4oVo1GuzDt2csQlX-5QKdEz6sPms7DHdNWMW2G8tJoqk9M9Z7UFBevbgeBfzzlFSTEnz8JjXnLuHJ4sRgVMD0OjDTqbdykHs-YbpNzmnA2zCs79YUd6__IQ3a59-9LgIi1E7doSKtu_NEGtoxQJijGDroMPPohwY1T1LfBfBH/s1760/IMG_2080.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1760" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj88sevuotPUBmEseZptw4oVo1GuzDt2csQlX-5QKdEz6sPms7DHdNWMW2G8tJoqk9M9Z7UFBevbgeBfzzlFSTEnz8JjXnLuHJ4sRgVMD0OjDTqbdykHs-YbpNzmnA2zCs79YUd6__IQ3a59-9LgIi1E7doSKtu_NEGtoxQJijGDroMPPohwY1T1LfBfBH/w324-h182/IMG_2080.JPG" width="324" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYIWNy4IiEiipA2ziSNs9wiNqc3k_J-ED-tJzRqpyNXu3mufqemP9LgGSy_VuYHuqFBqvcbSszoX_sg1xfnEOw5v0Wtpof27Obcbd_TZh9pal4UQTnb18Ls5NysFZbJ_TjWF0mcZB-vXk0ZGzDVeIOBxNgP3AlEnfIdiNM3IMa8EtEoPo2BhttGaz0S7W/s2016/IMG_2095.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYIWNy4IiEiipA2ziSNs9wiNqc3k_J-ED-tJzRqpyNXu3mufqemP9LgGSy_VuYHuqFBqvcbSszoX_sg1xfnEOw5v0Wtpof27Obcbd_TZh9pal4UQTnb18Ls5NysFZbJ_TjWF0mcZB-vXk0ZGzDVeIOBxNgP3AlEnfIdiNM3IMa8EtEoPo2BhttGaz0S7W/w277-h208/IMG_2095.JPG" width="277" /></a></div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3Cr54zzcCCYcnLmpsgjDXCj6CbXnNp6--HpFjs6xC-V1nKaj5uVI1oXY2mZ-n10nVw3YArNAKUHmDFddTEaKw4jrahVwcBt0wJktgRoLF-BQtH039RA3agiAr5-PX_e2dIemSAylH1SFV1dabzKirbOj2QQUBG4eqhjPvK6dA348I-bFC_vhpSH3I31M/s2016/IMG_2090.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3Cr54zzcCCYcnLmpsgjDXCj6CbXnNp6--HpFjs6xC-V1nKaj5uVI1oXY2mZ-n10nVw3YArNAKUHmDFddTEaKw4jrahVwcBt0wJktgRoLF-BQtH039RA3agiAr5-PX_e2dIemSAylH1SFV1dabzKirbOj2QQUBG4eqhjPvK6dA348I-bFC_vhpSH3I31M/w289-h217/IMG_2090.JPG" width="289" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiCVCx5ZAlt8oqvha8t92l9Qy2K9-s-HqK6S3o7S97jbmY7SaGaTrE0ch8FKJ5gHGuiXKp2NLgmpp7wvd5ZToVBqSDHIyW2yDIihMtttfHVNQVJ2FkQS6icISfgQxNLoWCjOTzeXILh8Fy8O62VIqoEvvvs1MnKRpK2PNOJuVMaOiPAW__hUu8mIxWk0l/s1724/IMG_2100.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1292" data-original-width="1724" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiCVCx5ZAlt8oqvha8t92l9Qy2K9-s-HqK6S3o7S97jbmY7SaGaTrE0ch8FKJ5gHGuiXKp2NLgmpp7wvd5ZToVBqSDHIyW2yDIihMtttfHVNQVJ2FkQS6icISfgQxNLoWCjOTzeXILh8Fy8O62VIqoEvvvs1MnKRpK2PNOJuVMaOiPAW__hUu8mIxWk0l/w292-h219/IMG_2100.JPG" width="292" /></a></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Personally, being so close to the Niagara
Falls was not only a fascinating, but also quite a sobering
experience for me. I got to reminisce the </span><a href="https://youtu.be/jTlSvuuYEPw" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">scene</a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">
from the Chronicles of Narnia where the Pevensies along with
Reepicheep got to the border of Narnia. A huge mountain of water is
the dividing wall to enter the Land of Aslan. It is supposed to point
us to the necessary passage all of us have to take one day, a reality
all of us have to reckon with, and be ready for: Death. (</span><a href="https://biblehub.com/hebrews/9-27.htm" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hebrews
9:27</a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">). I hope to see you all on the right side of eternity
friends. C.S Lewis also rightly said that we humans all are either
eternal splendors or nightmares in the making. (</span><a href="https://www.biblehub.com/john/3-3.htm" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">John
3:3</a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">). If you are not sure, I invite you to learn about the good
news of the gospel </span><a href="https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/core-christian-beliefs/what-is-gospel.html#experiencing" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">here</a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">.
Our dear God has provided a way to escape Hell though His Son Jesus,
if only we turn away from our sin and put our faith and trust in Him. (</span><a href="https://biblehub.com/john/3-16.htm" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">John
3:16</a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">). You can always ask me about it too. Here’s a good short
explanation of it:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEttz7i5qvFmzPePMA9Tcd1tXDkf-E6bTUtW-OSGMmwNXomXcI3e5fv-47J0XxxdC0ba8lSGMfquGopXeLq2gJTsK5jvCj6ee_Hrj6iXhtAeGzBxGB7TH7dwsE8yuswnBpoipcza52zUIvNmYfnH8M6FVICM1pMFGXTVDlvBmcqBwN52kMRDoRW1XclID/s2016/image2%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEttz7i5qvFmzPePMA9Tcd1tXDkf-E6bTUtW-OSGMmwNXomXcI3e5fv-47J0XxxdC0ba8lSGMfquGopXeLq2gJTsK5jvCj6ee_Hrj6iXhtAeGzBxGB7TH7dwsE8yuswnBpoipcza52zUIvNmYfnH8M6FVICM1pMFGXTVDlvBmcqBwN52kMRDoRW1XclID/s320/image2%20(1).jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Once
we went back to a safe distance to the falls we were able to enjoy
their breathtaking views. It was also fun to wave hi to Canadian boat
packed with tourists. They looked like a colony of ants on a floating
leaf. So did we. They only difference was the coat colors. Our
raincoats were blue, theirs were red.</span></span></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZewiWsFXRNQoT0qs9a6Yx93IbF1jOdcED6fRzUOhbXM--E2W8j6Hl2wH1kt1OcHqN_v1pBsJZsUx7cnZ4dIuhsjZyjRi68ah_vuaGgocxYorRMiyoHoYr-xbJI2Lto5DrR4TZgmLr2L2TQmJ-Mh9xoJ2J0CyrhEUG6UQ97Z3QnK_6alI0A2VRGXAOItP/s2016/IMG_7297.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZewiWsFXRNQoT0qs9a6Yx93IbF1jOdcED6fRzUOhbXM--E2W8j6Hl2wH1kt1OcHqN_v1pBsJZsUx7cnZ4dIuhsjZyjRi68ah_vuaGgocxYorRMiyoHoYr-xbJI2Lto5DrR4TZgmLr2L2TQmJ-Mh9xoJ2J0CyrhEUG6UQ97Z3QnK_6alI0A2VRGXAOItP/w181-h241/IMG_7297.jpg" width="181" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mJJkGPZKYhG1JSuwx-BGMZwRGNCcxAWb-qmH9aPQy0J7B3Pdip228nPEYz5fnR9nwcsiurKrF7_qDgt5RhNBd9xxR4YJnEYuNjv6T7xwHpKRr6KEoDIrMCs2M6-Cjxqsa1k_hCqA8qht33WAfA3njNtx9Owy82sHBJaSwRUZVyH-CzOt6aXpbHWn5rb3/s2016/IMG_7278.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mJJkGPZKYhG1JSuwx-BGMZwRGNCcxAWb-qmH9aPQy0J7B3Pdip228nPEYz5fnR9nwcsiurKrF7_qDgt5RhNBd9xxR4YJnEYuNjv6T7xwHpKRr6KEoDIrMCs2M6-Cjxqsa1k_hCqA8qht33WAfA3njNtx9Owy82sHBJaSwRUZVyH-CzOt6aXpbHWn5rb3/s320/IMG_7278.jpg" width="320" /></a></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">We
spent some time hiking down to the river after getting out of the
boat. The kids spotted a beaver trailing along as we said bye to the
river. From there we went to grab a bite from the “Old Fare” food
quarters which was a touristic attraction featuring a road lined up
with picturesque food trucks offering delicious ethnic food. We
noticed the dramatic increase of Middle Eastern immigrants in the
area. It may have been because of the proximity to Canada, which
population has been purposely growing as a result of immigration. It
was super cool seeing the diversity!</span></span></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZR8cBuHxIzB1L-VfnUK1ocXG2RTdVbcgb4qyv3vfk3a-S3vCAKRbC7vM_Qju9cHbQLAJpYwsxQks-w6IIm41YuPTji5TrsaO4izbOiS6ZvEO0zqCgR71GnEL17rhBXzTC5lz8rXtguR3Q1l0vqIuq35pw9ZZamhV80JNrbec342V6Cfa2ZsHfQIsIbeyQ/s2016/IMG_7319.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZR8cBuHxIzB1L-VfnUK1ocXG2RTdVbcgb4qyv3vfk3a-S3vCAKRbC7vM_Qju9cHbQLAJpYwsxQks-w6IIm41YuPTji5TrsaO4izbOiS6ZvEO0zqCgR71GnEL17rhBXzTC5lz8rXtguR3Q1l0vqIuq35pw9ZZamhV80JNrbec342V6Cfa2ZsHfQIsIbeyQ/s320/IMG_7319.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoM1ceTOLn2ApSNuTmrQNQNCYijKFSP9j4Zmo4FPD8KaQWZvXlRKLvIsXCAQYYwg0yCvwjJlfj1mYjrdsodEVJ5sFBw2ncm7F-0_9yY9seOO6qDjSTYjsA4di6Cbu7lRHbYMGwuLc1OsOHYKCGLjL_YZEVV1-Al6Q_5L7TB3DRrBLeyWcnMNwo9ab2fZpj/s2016/IMG_7308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoM1ceTOLn2ApSNuTmrQNQNCYijKFSP9j4Zmo4FPD8KaQWZvXlRKLvIsXCAQYYwg0yCvwjJlfj1mYjrdsodEVJ5sFBw2ncm7F-0_9yY9seOO6qDjSTYjsA4di6Cbu7lRHbYMGwuLc1OsOHYKCGLjL_YZEVV1-Al6Q_5L7TB3DRrBLeyWcnMNwo9ab2fZpj/w179-h239/IMG_7308.jpg" width="179" /></a></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhun8FNKNTt6que46WhshaTdOKzoQLKgT9Qv16FUXiqyt32dWDb6-15OyKvPG-Ep04vj3NOcghSwJ9tYyBU-Bg28oY-yXMA9KYNIYUSFuDbEFE21DBzpO-GtWd3BXzIJ-IUW5iCEeXh2rNWTeZ-hekH7pYSMZL-U6ZatJO1xlyPrcfF9GsNHR1DivIdwYvW/s2016/IMG_7276.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhun8FNKNTt6que46WhshaTdOKzoQLKgT9Qv16FUXiqyt32dWDb6-15OyKvPG-Ep04vj3NOcghSwJ9tYyBU-Bg28oY-yXMA9KYNIYUSFuDbEFE21DBzpO-GtWd3BXzIJ-IUW5iCEeXh2rNWTeZ-hekH7pYSMZL-U6ZatJO1xlyPrcfF9GsNHR1DivIdwYvW/s320/IMG_7276.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Our
last day in Niagara we went to play disc-golf, one of our family
favorites, at Wilson-Tuscarora State Park. We love sports we can play
altogether as a family, and this one just fits the spot. We love
enjoying nature, getting a little exercise and playing together. Our
kids are good at it, and so competitive. I play too, but I am better
at cheer-leading. Amanda loved it as well. It was a nice way to say
goodbye to her,Niagara Falls and Lake Ontario.</span></span></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil85IdaVGhrRuknW7CykqP9QOuSPXTrIgZVCNWsWPu4kYdx_z0RSBnNewwtzF61whr0Sqq26AnR9rFRdYhfwf_i5WyNoTwd3YnG2sjpUx9tsBiy7faSpCfNTdTjQdARzUO0C24Oi_H9FJ46pq_yhN9q8dHW82EktigtmNXDaMfFnHMueMSjb7Dm0Hze10u/s960/image1%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil85IdaVGhrRuknW7CykqP9QOuSPXTrIgZVCNWsWPu4kYdx_z0RSBnNewwtzF61whr0Sqq26AnR9rFRdYhfwf_i5WyNoTwd3YnG2sjpUx9tsBiy7faSpCfNTdTjQdARzUO0C24Oi_H9FJ46pq_yhN9q8dHW82EktigtmNXDaMfFnHMueMSjb7Dm0Hze10u/s320/image1%20(2).jpeg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RE2iq8OKLwaKL9GDOriPEMnSBURg5jD6OZ7_9ojXL9c23RqPoEkUHvQisQcbLAkvxB44fvCy54iT9ZbAbBzwAZyp-MYwG-bA85-y8rZWmQWqiVgrekvdwpgNXSKWQWt5cNazG00YS07io-m904iGqHZNrjliR7e5-kBw6Fy0diIczZPB5-OWbxsmy8sa/s2016/IMG_7400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RE2iq8OKLwaKL9GDOriPEMnSBURg5jD6OZ7_9ojXL9c23RqPoEkUHvQisQcbLAkvxB44fvCy54iT9ZbAbBzwAZyp-MYwG-bA85-y8rZWmQWqiVgrekvdwpgNXSKWQWt5cNazG00YS07io-m904iGqHZNrjliR7e5-kBw6Fy0diIczZPB5-OWbxsmy8sa/s320/IMG_7400.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuWYpi4CT8zZ9KD_RiuQVWEaP0e0duVpDcd4dwlE1Lno0E5LDqkQNyshuv-nCRC0YgaELNk6qau56rvpVgosiAf16KLWkBCVdoE88J5x-uIOv6c7xwLR81rqPCEzE8sj3HfwIe-mJbj2zpPdhjOeE9JzabF_1JzOcstQj1YAI6tZsbEUem862fpekatBy/s2016/IMG_7383.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuWYpi4CT8zZ9KD_RiuQVWEaP0e0duVpDcd4dwlE1Lno0E5LDqkQNyshuv-nCRC0YgaELNk6qau56rvpVgosiAf16KLWkBCVdoE88J5x-uIOv6c7xwLR81rqPCEzE8sj3HfwIe-mJbj2zpPdhjOeE9JzabF_1JzOcstQj1YAI6tZsbEUem862fpekatBy/w292-h219/IMG_7383.jpg" width="292" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxr04X_1CMd6C22-PIqjKE2DGZxtmi2kCghtts_cXmv6iAqlWPXCZGwYyhXSl7AuRZ4QUP5W1aAeYAoeO2rb_L5IR2v3TpNt1GxTpDthIUhvhLMRki564ple5oJuSLxT9rzp6XdsV7KQ15IGvQDjzx4lbNb8X_vw6r0jMnGBDLcMXfjqmto0XK0yoX_vru/s2016/IMG_7402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxr04X_1CMd6C22-PIqjKE2DGZxtmi2kCghtts_cXmv6iAqlWPXCZGwYyhXSl7AuRZ4QUP5W1aAeYAoeO2rb_L5IR2v3TpNt1GxTpDthIUhvhLMRki564ple5oJuSLxT9rzp6XdsV7KQ15IGvQDjzx4lbNb8X_vw6r0jMnGBDLcMXfjqmto0XK0yoX_vru/w296-h222/IMG_7402.jpg" width="296" /></a></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">We
departed the next day towards our next destination: Ohio. Dave’s
family is from that area and it always so nice to connect with them.
We also love the Hocking Hills State Park over there. We are looking
forward to play some disc gold in its hilly terrain! We’ll post our
next entry from there. Thank you for visiting friends!</span></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-3022154522679133482023-07-14T04:46:00.003-07:002023-07-19T03:41:53.352-07:00The Stop with Refreshing Evergreen Shades<p> </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Welcome back friends! This is the post about our turning around as we
start on our way back home. After visiting <a href="https://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2023/07/rv-there-yet.html">Maine</a>,
we headed towards the frontier of New England, to the States of New
Hampshire and Vermont. Driving through the mountainous region of NH
was a feast for the eyes. The continuous broadcast of evergreen mountain ranges through our windows was just majestic. We stayed in the White Mountain National Forest area, in a campground called T<a href="https://www.twinmountaincampground.com/">win Mountains</a>. It was a property set on a wooded setting right by the Ammonoosuc river, which was such a source of entertainment during this stop. We spent lots of time wading and building forts in the river. The facilities were quite rustic and simple, but the beauty of its surroundings certainly made up for it. They didn’t have the cleanest bathrooms, however they had a few fully hook sites available, a clean, refreshing pool and a fairly well stock store with a pizzeria on site.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeEULBwvqV8RD6BpekptiECh60d6A3dFNRDlTWl539DVcHAyGiGX3Fxo3mhnJyCZuNHgHj6H2nMCtr6nP6rK7NeoYRqb7Z3D3YLvwW0CWjmfj2y0rptIEBl8SbU_tX2iDDnqduQemYK3R4kanXoPffbbFG2NhyHmYq0zcOQSu7VGwJ5VnGA0C00Yz3a6U/s640/IMG_6902.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="640" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeEULBwvqV8RD6BpekptiECh60d6A3dFNRDlTWl539DVcHAyGiGX3Fxo3mhnJyCZuNHgHj6H2nMCtr6nP6rK7NeoYRqb7Z3D3YLvwW0CWjmfj2y0rptIEBl8SbU_tX2iDDnqduQemYK3R4kanXoPffbbFG2NhyHmYq0zcOQSu7VGwJ5VnGA0C00Yz3a6U/w272-h205/IMG_6902.jpg" width="272" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFs9J_G077ZKtqfVGHhGSKWQNSstluBHuFcY6vF84x5BCcGFyHw0BrSadAW03M-MkQBr9d5fej1lqC6tNbb6E-MQEJfrgbIPsf_SdiA3T-jBVXoma1eiU_o2a_3a2Hm7JPBRDT-8T_As7ld8gn1bq0a0YIn9J0L9FjMX8ZyzGTVB4Up6Sy5HSF31DQ4fIG/s640/IMG_7149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFs9J_G077ZKtqfVGHhGSKWQNSstluBHuFcY6vF84x5BCcGFyHw0BrSadAW03M-MkQBr9d5fej1lqC6tNbb6E-MQEJfrgbIPsf_SdiA3T-jBVXoma1eiU_o2a_3a2Hm7JPBRDT-8T_As7ld8gn1bq0a0YIn9J0L9FjMX8ZyzGTVB4Up6Sy5HSF31DQ4fIG/w155-h207/IMG_7149.jpg" width="155" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMgQueo86h0LgLgUUK3PZRh8CDTjfyMNpmZhlO40oG4dgRo42-o02y8bDmhp9ne73UD3fHxn7PEfkzBfdw8Y_Qm8-6KwtBxomHGTcgYQBg8yeOlWawbK8JPecVps4ZurNDheZyWZYCRklf7Qxsts874OMvlHvc6WFkBzoOBxmjUR2vHrdLAeKvn6C2iIa/s640/IMG_6950.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMgQueo86h0LgLgUUK3PZRh8CDTjfyMNpmZhlO40oG4dgRo42-o02y8bDmhp9ne73UD3fHxn7PEfkzBfdw8Y_Qm8-6KwtBxomHGTcgYQBg8yeOlWawbK8JPecVps4ZurNDheZyWZYCRklf7Qxsts874OMvlHvc6WFkBzoOBxmjUR2vHrdLAeKvn6C2iIa/s320/IMG_6950.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifn5IFR29WfHoAZLR7EboJ-aBQKNiJ8h_AV-aP1AlbQKod0DBXfzdiUgyPDE_UKakiAh8iFVjHSwPb2lBeaxFLOatrr_kwgSMKrO2n2j9gx3-dC6eOXhJA-IYU60Q4L-_pV70mS-3BYKR-E0GUG2ovZfdfxXfaKcRavghXCndZiUE8OvcFYJqpumihT3uD/s640/IMG_6924.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifn5IFR29WfHoAZLR7EboJ-aBQKNiJ8h_AV-aP1AlbQKod0DBXfzdiUgyPDE_UKakiAh8iFVjHSwPb2lBeaxFLOatrr_kwgSMKrO2n2j9gx3-dC6eOXhJA-IYU60Q4L-_pV70mS-3BYKR-E0GUG2ovZfdfxXfaKcRavghXCndZiUE8OvcFYJqpumihT3uD/s320/IMG_6924.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vRCJohSkzHOdMM0puN3OoRcrPhRzYu5k9HXiwiERsKlBkHaqbRhBXgAHYo4mmqXteK5xK-SVSYm_1v9PlRF_ctkQifBN3fqXp-5uO1X3x6bAUmSomS9hDWYO9AZ34OJ02v91wiAzY4AE8w3MzKyuaSpgzUAXsDQS_h7Lqoe223cGB4o8Yqb1umMU4cy7/s640/IMG_7167.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vRCJohSkzHOdMM0puN3OoRcrPhRzYu5k9HXiwiERsKlBkHaqbRhBXgAHYo4mmqXteK5xK-SVSYm_1v9PlRF_ctkQifBN3fqXp-5uO1X3x6bAUmSomS9hDWYO9AZ34OJ02v91wiAzY4AE8w3MzKyuaSpgzUAXsDQS_h7Lqoe223cGB4o8Yqb1umMU4cy7/s320/IMG_7167.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The first place we
visited in the area was one of the “Twin Mountains” which gives
the area its name. The hike we choose was called “Sugar Loaf”.
The sightings as we went up the mountain were beautiful. There were
pines lining the trail, so it was quite a fragrant hike. It was a
moderately strenuous hike, and the morning rain before our arrival didn’t
make it easier. it was quite enjoyable nonetheless, making it
together to the Summit is always super rewarding after the arduous
ascend! Hopefully our kids will remember this for a lifetime,
especially when life gets tough! The reward of persistence
and resolve is always quite satisfying.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7_YftUEd-dTm-3K9480bjYYxTOwPZ_3Fy3pY8MeZNo2rdUZHYnMyOd1Plng2C90vaROWDFjWaLCSuMQ-eem26kqopEwDkDA5JwD-1W_RodgcOvajyhUhN1DGH9IIUo3vlRfzxfyr4qlhmRvrJLcZnEYoS73ErJFsn32gQvKKljpADGvOU8RJuXlZC3Y4/s640/IMG_1920.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7_YftUEd-dTm-3K9480bjYYxTOwPZ_3Fy3pY8MeZNo2rdUZHYnMyOd1Plng2C90vaROWDFjWaLCSuMQ-eem26kqopEwDkDA5JwD-1W_RodgcOvajyhUhN1DGH9IIUo3vlRfzxfyr4qlhmRvrJLcZnEYoS73ErJFsn32gQvKKljpADGvOU8RJuXlZC3Y4/s320/IMG_1920.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07ljZxWd-0QHh7Q5_TnR_iXAcPPRIpZAjS0RlFJzESC173z1mPWU0ft2XjvbGiXrhr9drVhUZQodlyNvWi-GVDn1begKJotrhbFX5-AulBR0y9FyDw8L200Y9LEYzc13u8ghML45wk7Y4HSTijMx0y49Y5EoEsPmKd_cXVa-0n2ZHAlNbyuNsS-VN3G7b/s640/IMG_1923.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07ljZxWd-0QHh7Q5_TnR_iXAcPPRIpZAjS0RlFJzESC173z1mPWU0ft2XjvbGiXrhr9drVhUZQodlyNvWi-GVDn1begKJotrhbFX5-AulBR0y9FyDw8L200Y9LEYzc13u8ghML45wk7Y4HSTijMx0y49Y5EoEsPmKd_cXVa-0n2ZHAlNbyuNsS-VN3G7b/w177-h236/IMG_1923.JPG" width="177" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbXnIaKcBiU3nFvyYfg-OjDho-GVNRr8kwcdh-oTm4BBl41fN_ZmJsTXmh9PRr_ZmFeL5OR6tpdSNLuklAaLOTgGsa4X_vqvrJlXsInvNdI-1pFY3yBPwqIP3WYKoDrKRnd0JdA20YX_jqj_q3ROqmov2aoY003OwL6W_xH1zPEoGlDCA12YlvqmBECsl/s640/IMG_1894.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbXnIaKcBiU3nFvyYfg-OjDho-GVNRr8kwcdh-oTm4BBl41fN_ZmJsTXmh9PRr_ZmFeL5OR6tpdSNLuklAaLOTgGsa4X_vqvrJlXsInvNdI-1pFY3yBPwqIP3WYKoDrKRnd0JdA20YX_jqj_q3ROqmov2aoY003OwL6W_xH1zPEoGlDCA12YlvqmBECsl/w187-h238/IMG_1894.JPG" width="187" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxeZKMeeAT-Hha2pix6obxdFM6f_OeoAcMO0gJGU3PPYUMcmBVLo7aqDpxeUNnsFf-Io-vtcJ00lH_00CV35EXYyLFR4K0u5U_zteLj8RG82q_9JIWaKFoXbqlxE9CkyOMEbkD-4y850bWK33Ja188uHjbUVTZdtYhPuu5ZFQTR07GHAolkAFC48WPIGJ/s640/IMG_1902.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxeZKMeeAT-Hha2pix6obxdFM6f_OeoAcMO0gJGU3PPYUMcmBVLo7aqDpxeUNnsFf-Io-vtcJ00lH_00CV35EXYyLFR4K0u5U_zteLj8RG82q_9JIWaKFoXbqlxE9CkyOMEbkD-4y850bWK33Ja188uHjbUVTZdtYhPuu5ZFQTR07GHAolkAFC48WPIGJ/s320/IMG_1902.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePglC6g-XceHBGuM-t6lpblgvtlr5GXhHUKLKXB26nfj_rl2hU0WpXq5y9xHDLvpFUcVHy-exXKzIBUTTkJpZ4o9Ys5MT2475Ui4J4T6GtVSvyrpoWbq1EVLcv_AqYTU-JwtUay9HkdNo_99Zl-ZZVjR-A9SEGB9khCOxn0P8PJZAmhht9wVW-aS4AOOl/s640/IMG_1909.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePglC6g-XceHBGuM-t6lpblgvtlr5GXhHUKLKXB26nfj_rl2hU0WpXq5y9xHDLvpFUcVHy-exXKzIBUTTkJpZ4o9Ys5MT2475Ui4J4T6GtVSvyrpoWbq1EVLcv_AqYTU-JwtUay9HkdNo_99Zl-ZZVjR-A9SEGB9khCOxn0P8PJZAmhht9wVW-aS4AOOl/s320/IMG_1909.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">The second day we
went to “climb up” Mt. Washington, which at 6,288 feet, sits as
the tallest mountain in the New England area. This spot in the White
Mountain Nat’l forest also earned its reputation as being “Home
of the World’s Worst Weather” due to its persistent combination
of fog, wind and snow and also its location at the confluence of
three major storm tracks. Isn’t that something? We cheated though,
we went up riding the Cog Railway, during Summer! What a fun
experience! The train was built by an entrepreneur in 1800’s, for
the purpose of bringing tourists like us to enjoy these majestic
mountains. The views were spectacular. It was awesome to go up as we
were passing the presidential range which were peaks called after
previous presidents. We even got to see some snow patches. It was
also fun to see the hikers going up as they transverse this stretch
of the Appalachian trail. Our tour guide said some of them use this
climb to train for the Everest! In the meanwhile, we were cozily
going up on the Cog railway, sometimes standing at a 45 degree
angle!</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvi0VFrRkIgMg4hJiS7eShXZwynrNXkTMg2kYO0K5edbjmwtbaG2hT6_iLp5lGL4RMHCPaHc-WcQ8w-A4aExV7rqAdKVq2rIXj0ki5VZ2fhIYL6b7HWqEa80xuAJzc53VVVlDR33Ltkscz-1gyWfFw4Zjbhc34-63AmPwdeuZP6STBWbtPzWAYsg0isEp/s640/IMG_1980.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvi0VFrRkIgMg4hJiS7eShXZwynrNXkTMg2kYO0K5edbjmwtbaG2hT6_iLp5lGL4RMHCPaHc-WcQ8w-A4aExV7rqAdKVq2rIXj0ki5VZ2fhIYL6b7HWqEa80xuAJzc53VVVlDR33Ltkscz-1gyWfFw4Zjbhc34-63AmPwdeuZP6STBWbtPzWAYsg0isEp/w184-h245/IMG_1980.JPG" width="184" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KoeiYK3c90l8umTyvAcS77Wn9bq1fdpRLEQxNUGxhHU1eokJZU-XgIyFMlJAP1z2vUX6xBn6KCr55HVH2QZGnhYTCq_CUNQs2RvqGYew90JacXNL597dK2Ek2epDSDAmf_kBclw2m4hASnc8u74NaL1GyaQ1f5sAX_ZsSoNojDewW4zMQlQ0E7Kr00NH/s640/IMG_2005.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KoeiYK3c90l8umTyvAcS77Wn9bq1fdpRLEQxNUGxhHU1eokJZU-XgIyFMlJAP1z2vUX6xBn6KCr55HVH2QZGnhYTCq_CUNQs2RvqGYew90JacXNL597dK2Ek2epDSDAmf_kBclw2m4hASnc8u74NaL1GyaQ1f5sAX_ZsSoNojDewW4zMQlQ0E7Kr00NH/s320/IMG_2005.JPG" width="320" /></a></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifW9D7QEI7nsnbFI-zetTysOCoiqXt0ki53eQLbGbu3RU9S0OwJrkPIwGDvYeOu7UdUKHr2RPo17F4yFhR-AmccJ8E3jx2Rpr5RQ4VLGbrniLR4TbkWtZJDH7E8hFn-5U7Bm6RYnUZUF0V0GxFegGGlA7AXulH_PTrB589lLdqS1_S6bPMIOp9JAv7nfPb/s640/IMG_7121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifW9D7QEI7nsnbFI-zetTysOCoiqXt0ki53eQLbGbu3RU9S0OwJrkPIwGDvYeOu7UdUKHr2RPo17F4yFhR-AmccJ8E3jx2Rpr5RQ4VLGbrniLR4TbkWtZJDH7E8hFn-5U7Bm6RYnUZUF0V0GxFegGGlA7AXulH_PTrB589lLdqS1_S6bPMIOp9JAv7nfPb/w291-h218/IMG_7121.jpg" width="291" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZofbQDV0-7M-N2-3PL8XDAzMdhWZmQsn8TlEJmICMLKNvBCMHXY4QEKhe8t1LSbdL7rHi9LU6eVPMLBGyp1Uc3jslNjCGPvrL_tXqn1HQZhizg7MTnFTf28cUlr_zdSrYMX5bMCCCBRAAO7XkelOHiXnhWbhnf5pBNXV99_ZPHrHY3Vk8AqSSMvwbJT9z/s640/IMG_2030.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="640" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZofbQDV0-7M-N2-3PL8XDAzMdhWZmQsn8TlEJmICMLKNvBCMHXY4QEKhe8t1LSbdL7rHi9LU6eVPMLBGyp1Uc3jslNjCGPvrL_tXqn1HQZhizg7MTnFTf28cUlr_zdSrYMX5bMCCCBRAAO7XkelOHiXnhWbhnf5pBNXV99_ZPHrHY3Vk8AqSSMvwbJT9z/w295-h222/IMG_2030.JPG" width="295" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_3QCdbXMaP31oRKOVtx51NLyl9TMWrG01D1rciQDh3yyGqyJa2oaJ9zmo6K7fX9pBqo7XMHg4gQmcnNdOJeGuEz03F-HTjvNgUSEZj3TifaptvTEcEnW1xxNc4hMJtmM68vccAo-YF5T571h6BafDrjTas26eBQSYID6lB0VcVqN1BTJsR2d7ijDE0gu/s640/IMG_2010.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_3QCdbXMaP31oRKOVtx51NLyl9TMWrG01D1rciQDh3yyGqyJa2oaJ9zmo6K7fX9pBqo7XMHg4gQmcnNdOJeGuEz03F-HTjvNgUSEZj3TifaptvTEcEnW1xxNc4hMJtmM68vccAo-YF5T571h6BafDrjTas26eBQSYID6lB0VcVqN1BTJsR2d7ijDE0gu/w292-h219/IMG_2010.JPG" width="292" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlPQTHGkVg_HdkxCcCYyEv5-sUG0iMXSi95EP6u17Y2PM_3NINRNqvDeNKjcsZKwx6xp1bQASgObH2QBkT3F6LkuKqMOYV986cTBgo5hS6vYcS06AXM-X9_WBA_awvx5pjKyrVdPk8zzE0QUYQKG9mbfwxOAFHTC9aUQsOxIe4nlHup0FIMWO4_4a8t8O/s640/IMG_1970.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="640" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlPQTHGkVg_HdkxCcCYyEv5-sUG0iMXSi95EP6u17Y2PM_3NINRNqvDeNKjcsZKwx6xp1bQASgObH2QBkT3F6LkuKqMOYV986cTBgo5hS6vYcS06AXM-X9_WBA_awvx5pjKyrVdPk8zzE0QUYQKG9mbfwxOAFHTC9aUQsOxIe4nlHup0FIMWO4_4a8t8O/w291-h119/IMG_1970.JPG" width="291" /></a></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">We wished we had
more time to stay and explore this State. I would say though that one of the brightest highlights of stopping by twins mountains was
connecting with our next door neighbors Zach & Lauren. Our kids
enjoyed seeing their golden retriever “Teeto” playing around. They
also took over their ladder ball game. Ha, ha! They were so nice
to us. It was so heartwarming when they surprised us with a freshly
baked sourdough loaf as a farewell! Yum! So grateful for them to bring the flavor and feel of home to us. Quite inspiring! We look forward to have them
visit when they come to visit in Florida.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_h7JFb9zQus2TbB48JX59xTJKerHqUi6pDaRjA5rwXrARDyflOnt7Ee7zCbnaBNrQwWbOOh2pJBC5lroIZSIIdJRJATuXyuY7k397CM741quIyayOkB_oOn_f6udbh8XAJRqbqCMD1EaduOgjiNMSEpdnKr1azw_jOJG1KCskwWWRKLirqOm0hMCyXwz4/s640/IMG_8835.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_h7JFb9zQus2TbB48JX59xTJKerHqUi6pDaRjA5rwXrARDyflOnt7Ee7zCbnaBNrQwWbOOh2pJBC5lroIZSIIdJRJATuXyuY7k397CM741quIyayOkB_oOn_f6udbh8XAJRqbqCMD1EaduOgjiNMSEpdnKr1azw_jOJG1KCskwWWRKLirqOm0hMCyXwz4/s320/IMG_8835.JPEG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeJGVM3RU6w8ka1QFK_XIh8hkiweTI1p1RQdx0v8pkusEvg0R9rpAszk2GyFzmIVEuQQrLmkIBq8fpweykFav-cP0zYMC10R1xVWL8Xe3SNnVWXpsrn2xqT57TLoG8qJ360RexaM_59FKK8QuGpE_FFwCt6hL8P3_kZ1bhuP7eRCHBM60AtzDYGWh_1m8/s2016/IMG_7204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeJGVM3RU6w8ka1QFK_XIh8hkiweTI1p1RQdx0v8pkusEvg0R9rpAszk2GyFzmIVEuQQrLmkIBq8fpweykFav-cP0zYMC10R1xVWL8Xe3SNnVWXpsrn2xqT57TLoG8qJ360RexaM_59FKK8QuGpE_FFwCt6hL8P3_kZ1bhuP7eRCHBM60AtzDYGWh_1m8/w177-h235/IMG_7204.jpg" width="177" /></a><br /><br /></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">On our way to Ohio,
we overnighted in Vermont. The scenic drive again was beautiful! It’s
hard to believe that the flush green mountains we passed by are
mostly covered in snow most of the year. Hopefully we’ll come back
to see that one day. For now we got to enjoy this beautiful place in
the prime of Summer. We stayed at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreenwoodLodgeCampsites/">Greenwood lodge</a>, a family owned
place which we highly recommend. It’s actually located right next
to a ski resort called “Prospect”. How convenient right? The
family owners were very friendly. The place was very cozy, stock and
so well maintained. We got the treat to go for a short canoe ride and
walk around the trails in the property, which were lined with
wildflowers and soothing creeks and ponds. I thought you just get to
see this intense green hills in pictures! Vermont is a great place to
let the eye feast on nature.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJKsKNcR-Dvj7QMVI7el9wRiRSxJDKminVQH9fttNErlo_evKrRAVeGFDnDZkSRooUFFx5RILRC7qhyYkBk25u6GJTkaba5cWTTPn7IkI6NO--8D3t1Ec0o78nqxoJNCsVl1oP2kG19995VE3xeilfYMz8DD2umsG-rvqGCqx-nwBv2yFI1XgzNvRyukS/s640/IMG_7198.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJKsKNcR-Dvj7QMVI7el9wRiRSxJDKminVQH9fttNErlo_evKrRAVeGFDnDZkSRooUFFx5RILRC7qhyYkBk25u6GJTkaba5cWTTPn7IkI6NO--8D3t1Ec0o78nqxoJNCsVl1oP2kG19995VE3xeilfYMz8DD2umsG-rvqGCqx-nwBv2yFI1XgzNvRyukS/w289-h217/IMG_7198.jpg" width="289" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiDJYC49XigPlk-97ljqxBPjaPQpXajzzyoCre6EQ3HR0BV40gqXHTtLeKp0tBCnV_BmM1BZGhN0QaZftoSVGVRAXz1jc5KZAaAezL93rtxU55EVDS2gA-3jQv9f305EM-rwsI-goB8suX5WUY8xTiqstziQb5UcReyqCUDpKEkcCsMhkPtZE9N5eBfP-/s640/IMG_2047.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiDJYC49XigPlk-97ljqxBPjaPQpXajzzyoCre6EQ3HR0BV40gqXHTtLeKp0tBCnV_BmM1BZGhN0QaZftoSVGVRAXz1jc5KZAaAezL93rtxU55EVDS2gA-3jQv9f305EM-rwsI-goB8suX5WUY8xTiqstziQb5UcReyqCUDpKEkcCsMhkPtZE9N5eBfP-/w292-h219/IMG_2047.JPG" width="292" /></a></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04-5-duldT7yi6oDcqpcXhoqy8cfomDc_cyN0BsoBYCqd4LP8iZD-1HP7Jv1gxfcPWxO7s2jYKk8wYMTTYKkAW5cd_oIw6NoIcDHWA1WjD56_Dl2sP59E3PyZDURdsdlYPK-hvhv8lIDEgjK472jh0yeHUj4GC626Od2yfzmzJvQDCeMywWjoUjtIIaqb/s640/IMG_7183.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04-5-duldT7yi6oDcqpcXhoqy8cfomDc_cyN0BsoBYCqd4LP8iZD-1HP7Jv1gxfcPWxO7s2jYKk8wYMTTYKkAW5cd_oIw6NoIcDHWA1WjD56_Dl2sP59E3PyZDURdsdlYPK-hvhv8lIDEgjK472jh0yeHUj4GC626Od2yfzmzJvQDCeMywWjoUjtIIaqb/s320/IMG_7183.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwliJhZCJmTNmhyeb5q5CJTkRl-FydQdYsL0o7bWkSZjaU3ooHfuZv1r8KasaKE8Z4BaPrtkm2JOzgv_p8Yx9ASUKJMHHnw8lmeXvjzGeDqT-wjIBxg6LcwqhfTt1YNyuv_WuB37y9uh8tfidHdguvQD8ygURgirvjqrLn6mITULElgMj678qw3pPsxK3d/s640/IMG_7137.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwliJhZCJmTNmhyeb5q5CJTkRl-FydQdYsL0o7bWkSZjaU3ooHfuZv1r8KasaKE8Z4BaPrtkm2JOzgv_p8Yx9ASUKJMHHnw8lmeXvjzGeDqT-wjIBxg6LcwqhfTt1YNyuv_WuB37y9uh8tfidHdguvQD8ygURgirvjqrLn6mITULElgMj678qw3pPsxK3d/w179-h238/IMG_7137.jpg" width="179" /></a></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Straight to <a href="https://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2023/07/greetings-from-niagara-falls.html">NiagaraFalls</a> from there we go. We will send our next update from there.
Thanks for trailing with us vicariously. We hope you get inspired to
go on an exploration yourselves! The Lord has certainly blessed the
United States with beautiful places to visit. We are so grateful.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-52760294290577650602023-07-07T04:00:00.002-07:002023-07-07T04:06:16.294-07:00RV There Yet?<p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">Yes we are! We RV’d there! We made it to Maine people! We are officially done with the first leg of our trip! What a fun adventure it has been. This time around we arrived at our destination from </span><a href="https://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-bushs-are-comingto-boston.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Boston</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;"> without any delays and were able to set up camp really easily. We stayed at "</span><a href="https://thousandtrails.com/maine/patten-pond-camping-resort/?utm_source=yext&utm_medium=directory&utm_campaign=Yext%20Directory%20Listing" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Patton Pond</a><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">", a camp resort in the vicinity of Acadia National Park. We chose not to stay inside of the Park because this time we preferred full hook ups which means sites with access to sewer. We figure this requirement will make our long shot of a trip more doable. The place was great. One of its highlights was that it was loaded with other children to play with! Our site was right across from the playground, so our kids enjoyed the social outlet every time they could. We love it when they stay outside! It minimizes the quarrels which exponentially increase by every minute they stay inside..So the first day of our arrival was spent at camp!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxIRFoPTNjdfNvJSKGATOMiCO5yVQ3V4CV5_h2_UJxVxmn6HN3srnpODbWJKUM1D-PEJx4pGegvRMwiYSXFaBxYs-PFgmgDcBp-XDcNk3BprrO-B1SNL5MeUkKdYWi5E7h08oc7dZ2IYv15b1VTiBguI6O1mUJC3ZA-mg_aOAOny3z4dEPaE8Zg0ihBRB/s640/IMG_1664.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/AVvXsEjAxIRFoPTNjdfNvJSKGATOMiCO5yVQ3V4CV5_h2_UJxVxmn6HN3srnpODbWJKUM1D-PEJx4pGegvRMwiYSXFaBxYs-PFgmgDcBp-XDcNk3BprrO-B1SNL5MeUkKdYWi5E7h08oc7dZ2IYv15b1VTiBguI6O1mUJC3ZA-mg_aOAOny3z4dEPaE8Zg0ihBRB/s640/IMG_1664.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeOBuK4oaLlOtYuEe7I1rjqMw0cirkuIfmeUvXGxWwjTH_j981-_fVE19Dn0OZ3W0OcATrIRsVZXhzwx1BhQnzpGJTR5yfrqkpT9dtAhyaF4JzmjDCoolNd4amIqEMug8-IMKU-l6Ekh5ikYZFv0uW6Z_RkHpcfKKY1pK8AfDb8RtBQPJbZQ2n5HVjTHk/s640/IMG_1668.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeOBuK4oaLlOtYuEe7I1rjqMw0cirkuIfmeUvXGxWwjTH_j981-_fVE19Dn0OZ3W0OcATrIRsVZXhzwx1BhQnzpGJTR5yfrqkpT9dtAhyaF4JzmjDCoolNd4amIqEMug8-IMKU-l6Ekh5ikYZFv0uW6Z_RkHpcfKKY1pK8AfDb8RtBQPJbZQ2n5HVjTHk/w278-h208/IMG_1668.JPG" width="278" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small; text-align: left;">The second day we hit Acadia. What a gorgeous place! For starters, it was so big with so much to do and see, so we had to pick and choose. After getting over the challenge of finding parking, we headed to our first stop: Sand Beach. The rare, only sand beach you will encounter in the park. It was so breathtaking! The kids thoroughly enjoyed exploring, rock hopping and enjoying the views. It looked so different from our beaches in Florida. The landscape was cold and misty, and the unique backdrop created by the rocks, the crashing waves, the oversized birds and the deep yellow grainy sand made it all quite surreal.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxIRFoPTNjdfNvJSKGATOMiCO5yVQ3V4CV5_h2_UJxVxmn6HN3srnpODbWJKUM1D-PEJx4pGegvRMwiYSXFaBxYs-PFgmgDcBp-XDcNk3BprrO-B1SNL5MeUkKdYWi5E7h08oc7dZ2IYv15b1VTiBguI6O1mUJC3ZA-mg_aOAOny3z4dEPaE8Zg0ihBRB/s640/IMG_1664.JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxIRFoPTNjdfNvJSKGATOMiCO5yVQ3V4CV5_h2_UJxVxmn6HN3srnpODbWJKUM1D-PEJx4pGegvRMwiYSXFaBxYs-PFgmgDcBp-XDcNk3BprrO-B1SNL5MeUkKdYWi5E7h08oc7dZ2IYv15b1VTiBguI6O1mUJC3ZA-mg_aOAOny3z4dEPaE8Zg0ihBRB/w277-h208/IMG_1664.JPG" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBFulCqD4WJj8FQzvKxa_6AkQTYbJFOeZEeVfQ7-dPTHleOSpDUDeYglEv6skTEqqtDObOlTV7pTazVuUewHwmOYAIscb-xxGuMBGcRec0H2z8DxmzujrLnIrnapeBiI7sGRJK8KeIHIYo0HctIPhsS08Z7NVt3RkOjgQ6T1LjA3V44uUfLCsHybe8iU6/s640/IMG_6693.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBFulCqD4WJj8FQzvKxa_6AkQTYbJFOeZEeVfQ7-dPTHleOSpDUDeYglEv6skTEqqtDObOlTV7pTazVuUewHwmOYAIscb-xxGuMBGcRec0H2z8DxmzujrLnIrnapeBiI7sGRJK8KeIHIYo0HctIPhsS08Z7NVt3RkOjgQ6T1LjA3V44uUfLCsHybe8iU6/w226-h301/IMG_6693.jpg" width="226" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBt7j-bftLZ_eLbp9Pk-qArjeHOvxpJ9aoSASzbzAio3rnjA1iR9Wo-fS-XNv7c1oJOnMYyronsInHA-Gtaj-ga-tps9kEjfDAsUgiX4NLpz3rYCku_VmclSA-qg9xyofRUoLYPd70zVJc_DQle3rGqcgzrLrpgdePwx532Xvp5DfS3IMB56qlA8xBdGx1/s640/IMG_6588.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBt7j-bftLZ_eLbp9Pk-qArjeHOvxpJ9aoSASzbzAio3rnjA1iR9Wo-fS-XNv7c1oJOnMYyronsInHA-Gtaj-ga-tps9kEjfDAsUgiX4NLpz3rYCku_VmclSA-qg9xyofRUoLYPd70zVJc_DQle3rGqcgzrLrpgdePwx532Xvp5DfS3IMB56qlA8xBdGx1/w297-h223/IMG_6588.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small; text-align: left;">From there we headed on a hike along the coastal trail towards “Thunder hole”. It was about a 30 minute scenic hike along the coastal trail, which is a patho going atop the shoreline. It was fantastic to see the panoramic views of boulders making up the coastline. The fauna and flora all looked so unique too. For a moment, when we went down to check out a glacially sculpted granite area, which we thought was "Otter Point", I felt as If we were walking down the beginning slope of the Subway, in Zion Nat’l Park. The spot had a shy resemblance to the canyons that you see there, only with the dramatic effect of the huge waves breaking against them and the view of the outlying islands. What a memorable hike!</span></div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9O_Ke16f2_x8HI7TfY4lEKTr1_CRpp4pM1PtE0LxbKDlp_2YwRwfll63WpJfqmI2jK5C1huZcIFPuIur9OLD0pHG6FRN-oTIsT9WABLxuN17tCw_RR67xp0zPrBPvXY1zGuhtHFau4hTQmn3DkUezH45fm-04h-W7wmM_UDTtJGtM_8EO6ZdDLnTCaszs/s640/IMG_1674.JPG" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9O_Ke16f2_x8HI7TfY4lEKTr1_CRpp4pM1PtE0LxbKDlp_2YwRwfll63WpJfqmI2jK5C1huZcIFPuIur9OLD0pHG6FRN-oTIsT9WABLxuN17tCw_RR67xp0zPrBPvXY1zGuhtHFau4hTQmn3DkUezH45fm-04h-W7wmM_UDTtJGtM_8EO6ZdDLnTCaszs/w305-h229/IMG_1674.JPG" width="305" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxDKLUnSi4WOywzFP5OZueEn1SKW-MH4G3VakjZK2-3rw02aZx0yDJKS2tNbQJnO58FSZOw_6-Pc5n_NlNZswfVZ0IiYCEuTOa1ZShqp6QmDH3wgAnceXk-ppjOPZ1vIUpBu_YgZlHbXIYg9U2P_DkOAcLOwYVDMuybILZoh2jQQipiWSKRduEKE2OTsB/s640/IMG_6613.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxDKLUnSi4WOywzFP5OZueEn1SKW-MH4G3VakjZK2-3rw02aZx0yDJKS2tNbQJnO58FSZOw_6-Pc5n_NlNZswfVZ0IiYCEuTOa1ZShqp6QmDH3wgAnceXk-ppjOPZ1vIUpBu_YgZlHbXIYg9U2P_DkOAcLOwYVDMuybILZoh2jQQipiWSKRduEKE2OTsB/w303-h227/IMG_6613.jpg" width="303" /></a></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1cMb-1wnNbPMIbqZW-bo97fDLksVSyWVdZ6uVCNnBR2X37lQckve5Bw1AofLKdDYVFzbyoqVAKwIJy8r4PRFLfi0h-ggtUTBGLIOFnylZl2amdXHmaae49o-8vkeLU1tQUs8aF4JkbF7QDig3w7WZXP47lnitrWmYTR-AlYjdIUd3mxqyTk4QOzm50qi2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1cMb-1wnNbPMIbqZW-bo97fDLksVSyWVdZ6uVCNnBR2X37lQckve5Bw1AofLKdDYVFzbyoqVAKwIJy8r4PRFLfi0h-ggtUTBGLIOFnylZl2amdXHmaae49o-8vkeLU1tQUs8aF4JkbF7QDig3w7WZXP47lnitrWmYTR-AlYjdIUd3mxqyTk4QOzm50qi2" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;">It didn’t take us long to understand why “Thunder Hole” had such a name. Shortly after we arrived we heard the thunder sound of the waves breaking at the end of a tunnel formed by the rocks. Dave and the kids run down with the crowds to get as close as possible to the epicenter of the phenomena. They were so mesmerized and enthralled with the show and with taking pictures that on two occasions, when oversized roaring waves showed up, they got soaked! They kept on giggling and wanted to stay there. So fun! (For the record, Dave is adamant in stating that he doesn’t giggle).</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-bThWlMOfkkHnf1SlO9TjN9srDTQ56kX4_sz0LzfR1WCwh9Y71k2UF8dNqr_ELP73ReMVifrxTkeDJAurV_IxU4KMpZRUHZvnjx3L4t0lTY7j27sXGVeZ-PKq5EJJc0V65l-fjgp6stSAGk9ISS5rRPZhM7rQH3OgJsN818R6F7a-q1PuD_45RBu7_5O/s640/IMG_6627.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-bThWlMOfkkHnf1SlO9TjN9srDTQ56kX4_sz0LzfR1WCwh9Y71k2UF8dNqr_ELP73ReMVifrxTkeDJAurV_IxU4KMpZRUHZvnjx3L4t0lTY7j27sXGVeZ-PKq5EJJc0V65l-fjgp6stSAGk9ISS5rRPZhM7rQH3OgJsN818R6F7a-q1PuD_45RBu7_5O/w304-h228/IMG_6627.jpg" width="304" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTQeMOh8A1puLOg-bJnnIYQEUM9elAtR7i8zPjFGWowhM3w7S0dJUkzee_SyssWe9oU2iFtuefvYrwgnDu2sBzTjPMrafVtTrIqonQKCa-hzvt36ysoyM3ecdm74GEhsAbmFAXpWxR-sZq4h6zfyhkd3YXMqPlEDtG5lCaCp4wpdjwr37utv8Gxh-Jsrw/s640/IMG_1700.JPG" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTQeMOh8A1puLOg-bJnnIYQEUM9elAtR7i8zPjFGWowhM3w7S0dJUkzee_SyssWe9oU2iFtuefvYrwgnDu2sBzTjPMrafVtTrIqonQKCa-hzvt36ysoyM3ecdm74GEhsAbmFAXpWxR-sZq4h6zfyhkd3YXMqPlEDtG5lCaCp4wpdjwr37utv8Gxh-Jsrw/w297-h223/IMG_1700.JPG" width="297" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gXmTIiPykK1Z9VYS9MfvrBXfuiI8Ut36r-lgPcrHuuKWDTm3jVgLX_XpADxuv0d9Oy70dXaQoNdXjDGU0uGGru-309sbrnU2kslZmKMwAlWYRm9tfFF0upzzqd6G0AgVPKm9tCMgmQgI_50nNO2SO4gTalqic8FjPtBA9W_SNu1862pvHli4or2QRXKG/s640/IMG_1709.JPG" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gXmTIiPykK1Z9VYS9MfvrBXfuiI8Ut36r-lgPcrHuuKWDTm3jVgLX_XpADxuv0d9Oy70dXaQoNdXjDGU0uGGru-309sbrnU2kslZmKMwAlWYRm9tfFF0upzzqd6G0AgVPKm9tCMgmQgI_50nNO2SO4gTalqic8FjPtBA9W_SNu1862pvHli4or2QRXKG/s320/IMG_1709.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;">From there, we went on and tried a different way back. It was called “Gorham trail”. It was supposed to be a scenic route on our way back. There was only one oversight, way into the hike, we realized the trail was taking us up on a mountain, and the path was made out of boulders and mud! It was a superfun hike just for a while..the views continued being stunning, and we felt at the peak of our family adventures, however, a third into it, the kids' enthusiasm was a victim of their exhaustion. Also, it was extremely challenging to do it with sweet toddler Evelyn in tow. Again, she was a complete trooper, and kept on going on a hike that felt like 3 times as long as the first one. Momma and baby were glad we made it back with ankles and feet intact. Another win under our belt! We are the Bush’s and we do hard things! Or so we kept on saying..we all went to sleep with a very tired body..but a very happy heart.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2MGxt90fKQHa4cLmWv1uqD5xyj3sbVwXpGwfa4qFHSKtKAOPRxzGFhHzOqrud4tWRcLHkOQa3_Der-3tSc5tbjcEt1tli45aWRYwllNK5lXxl6XSVngnFrd5J2AHA6TApLqkiJs6QgdiXGZ6PoJY2hHqC1uPX600-gmCYxWSbgwU8TwEqnXKMx24jwp1/s640/IMG_6644.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2MGxt90fKQHa4cLmWv1uqD5xyj3sbVwXpGwfa4qFHSKtKAOPRxzGFhHzOqrud4tWRcLHkOQa3_Der-3tSc5tbjcEt1tli45aWRYwllNK5lXxl6XSVngnFrd5J2AHA6TApLqkiJs6QgdiXGZ6PoJY2hHqC1uPX600-gmCYxWSbgwU8TwEqnXKMx24jwp1/s320/IMG_6644.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg0DuLZpzCV6bJFZmCS4YxnStwZ52ytrZo7QaoZexvx9MmOAIMJbZUYOc76xOFNMKT1Ehx4L9J2Shl1Qqdl6GtoUhJZr_0myzkAWz73-UrBbUeUlP7f3Qwhxd4eB7hpqkyVfH7e5vfLbkc3Gv6vZ03baKGl6cb8BU5d62m_EKCbwcoFWW03KOAUxsbJET/s640/IMG_6683.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg0DuLZpzCV6bJFZmCS4YxnStwZ52ytrZo7QaoZexvx9MmOAIMJbZUYOc76xOFNMKT1Ehx4L9J2Shl1Qqdl6GtoUhJZr_0myzkAWz73-UrBbUeUlP7f3Qwhxd4eB7hpqkyVfH7e5vfLbkc3Gv6vZ03baKGl6cb8BU5d62m_EKCbwcoFWW03KOAUxsbJET/s320/IMG_6683.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVohHysxB3PwCmaAk2YDUsn7N-m-36ErfznopuU66z7dsHFeBwmoypp42BRPWpjV59KK1MPTyN3aYQUzg1ULoZQ1tf5Pv-0O49X9I7sPFi2MSRgWGxPxDc5iba5ktr4UmDHIRKoDIgNDdbpM3DdtEtr1v79lR1JHF5hQTUO3wqMRtHnWBJ4JwWJCbDwIPn/s640/IMG_6692.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVohHysxB3PwCmaAk2YDUsn7N-m-36ErfznopuU66z7dsHFeBwmoypp42BRPWpjV59KK1MPTyN3aYQUzg1ULoZQ1tf5Pv-0O49X9I7sPFi2MSRgWGxPxDc5iba5ktr4UmDHIRKoDIgNDdbpM3DdtEtr1v79lR1JHF5hQTUO3wqMRtHnWBJ4JwWJCbDwIPn/w183-h244/IMG_6692.jpg" width="183" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLs36LV6kGHYcTG60D7vtNcGnYUps89NpwqRxKdlnXndGty-BDTWWdOncF-kCv4tKUQMRMKwIBSb_7N5miAVn746s3K-lfX1SGylNEsjuRS-4nlMxi3vnscsBFp85i4scXy-2CfvCp7Z6JUlnZQlAnFf_Y9yeUKi5qlGjhr20wh3mCHWuiyXO_3wCD5X91/s640/IMG_1732.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="640" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLs36LV6kGHYcTG60D7vtNcGnYUps89NpwqRxKdlnXndGty-BDTWWdOncF-kCv4tKUQMRMKwIBSb_7N5miAVn746s3K-lfX1SGylNEsjuRS-4nlMxi3vnscsBFp85i4scXy-2CfvCp7Z6JUlnZQlAnFf_Y9yeUKi5qlGjhr20wh3mCHWuiyXO_3wCD5X91/s320/IMG_1732.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;">The following day we were still recovering, so I stayed home with the girls catching up with homework, laundry and letting the girls rest and play at camp. Michaela made a special friend called Nora. It was super warming to see them crafting and playing girly games with Evelyn. Nora’s family invited us to church on Sunday and it was fantastic to make plans to worship together. More on that later. While the Bush girls were home, the boys went to climb ‘The Beehive”, which is a very popular attraction in Acadia. Dave said it was scary. They also visited the Tidal Pool and the "Bowl Lake". We ended up making the obligatory stop at a lobster restaurant on that day. Most everybody enjoyed it, though some characters whose names should remain undisclosed were not very happy about how labor intensive it was to eat the animal, plus most of us were not very convinced about the server describing the lobster’s liver as a delicacy called “the green tamale”. Call us gastronomic simpletons, we all, including this Colombian raised on liver & onions, left most of “the tamale '' on the plate..ha, ha!</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjl11YhaCkM82NQyg317-cLFflRlZXdguwde59-ua2mwHPabEHCxestuEQgfzPioIg_Yx27wt4aG_4WzGGLIHSsbfSxGNM-WflTL9XOu41E3pZKo9eX_GTVkW9EmPbPONOALBBMW3Hh9pcs9gVB9pfPRY7n3ja5U_wKe_q3bLLNPzCGGpV5yquArazPrdLG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjl11YhaCkM82NQyg317-cLFflRlZXdguwde59-ua2mwHPabEHCxestuEQgfzPioIg_Yx27wt4aG_4WzGGLIHSsbfSxGNM-WflTL9XOu41E3pZKo9eX_GTVkW9EmPbPONOALBBMW3Hh9pcs9gVB9pfPRY7n3ja5U_wKe_q3bLLNPzCGGpV5yquArazPrdLG" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbsLgRJ7JQnP5p72D8vFUmTqKdvwkIQqluHVCtYPuonV6iEEZ0u5R4DIMPu1MnvBOBDkKsoAyZVYVKpJd7gEiH5t1NHwXXcoMLRtOPawECG1vypY9PU2je-RA8qLFo68Q7oq8aHZ75peBZgUky-VheW2_UTn5dnT-DWeacFKvlOHfu0XoMXgqGvreG6x6S" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1544" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbsLgRJ7JQnP5p72D8vFUmTqKdvwkIQqluHVCtYPuonV6iEEZ0u5R4DIMPu1MnvBOBDkKsoAyZVYVKpJd7gEiH5t1NHwXXcoMLRtOPawECG1vypY9PU2je-RA8qLFo68Q7oq8aHZ75peBZgUky-VheW2_UTn5dnT-DWeacFKvlOHfu0XoMXgqGvreG6x6S" width="319" /></a></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5qWPxSodym-RjzRuriIk1kZrEX_ddU0CdtofDYXRU8iTCzwLsPMgS-bnCidvG5c9I4RMOkDJjiPRLrthj7snsdFNGuS_5CpHKmDV5y3_8Vird8Rqg3rOvVsQObjahmOIDbmVeVODsej_GFSt6Io1PWNog76z-rAHDZmDZAT2oTYMcoXLihiwm0uDj7tZ8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1544" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5qWPxSodym-RjzRuriIk1kZrEX_ddU0CdtofDYXRU8iTCzwLsPMgS-bnCidvG5c9I4RMOkDJjiPRLrthj7snsdFNGuS_5CpHKmDV5y3_8Vird8Rqg3rOvVsQObjahmOIDbmVeVODsej_GFSt6Io1PWNog76z-rAHDZmDZAT2oTYMcoXLihiwm0uDj7tZ8=w267-h200" width="267" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4epFlfQt143CI4AriVZhoPjg70FyfpR3HbVCvzvc-7HWzfPTjAq6lHXq7C3vOtjvcF5J3racX3urqxUobPlNI0mc8xVhLyeglnyOZoItvWMrdOUWXrd_hLVPlRKDTb2BArhmgOdb4Gb4Y99GwpaCfLZpXURz35WdbIJrB4Af_7BlUl0JIFZCXCSLMET9y" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4epFlfQt143CI4AriVZhoPjg70FyfpR3HbVCvzvc-7HWzfPTjAq6lHXq7C3vOtjvcF5J3racX3urqxUobPlNI0mc8xVhLyeglnyOZoItvWMrdOUWXrd_hLVPlRKDTb2BArhmgOdb4Gb4Y99GwpaCfLZpXURz35WdbIJrB4Af_7BlUl0JIFZCXCSLMET9y" width="320" /></a></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsqcYYdcd9u_ZyBUnczbEmxXelcD691TDI40V2l-SASzioLyseIOX4opBlXg7DRkPkU7qdywM126a1zwx5EhXLMbgieLr7veGvQtgXg6Nt7PZ3qmK0sJNNnj9XVkcaZSGT-9SU8DVCigx6WpVjGowE81A-C5rb68XHCdUrPscc-91Kl13CgiUai9mHl54f" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1544" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsqcYYdcd9u_ZyBUnczbEmxXelcD691TDI40V2l-SASzioLyseIOX4opBlXg7DRkPkU7qdywM126a1zwx5EhXLMbgieLr7veGvQtgXg6Nt7PZ3qmK0sJNNnj9XVkcaZSGT-9SU8DVCigx6WpVjGowE81A-C5rb68XHCdUrPscc-91Kl13CgiUai9mHl54f=w295-h222" width="295" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PxMJgyiBZYQnpV3j9jFF3J2MCH9fXDKNcS9wt1kTyPabHjvMY8tafNAoK6DAAbuT_llr20-LH8hs6kkUSKnZIOmVbvLM5Yy_79QtpKN6N2pJK5WWXg9QZyenGPB3CfBY9r_sIGQ2dgAbcxpq7923TqmeFhuVeaz-8GrFESteHB_-lkSM4ZFS8dcnwap6/s640/IMG_1748.JPG" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PxMJgyiBZYQnpV3j9jFF3J2MCH9fXDKNcS9wt1kTyPabHjvMY8tafNAoK6DAAbuT_llr20-LH8hs6kkUSKnZIOmVbvLM5Yy_79QtpKN6N2pJK5WWXg9QZyenGPB3CfBY9r_sIGQ2dgAbcxpq7923TqmeFhuVeaz-8GrFESteHB_-lkSM4ZFS8dcnwap6/w301-h226/IMG_1748.JPG" width="301" /></a></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;">We spent our last day in Acadia exploring the “Jordan Pond”. What a memorable hike! It was about 5 miles of trail around a scenic lake that provides potable water to part of Maine. We were rained on when we first tried, so we decided to go for lunch first at "The Jordan Pond House". The highlight of the meal was getting “popovers” for rolls. So yummy! Visiting the store was also a fun stop for souvenirs. After that, we hit the hike again. It was delightful. The weather was perfect. We all enjoyed the iconic views while walking along the shore of clear waters surrounded by mountains covered with coniferous forests. We encountered the challenge of stretches of the trail mainly made out of boulders, and muddy patches, but I guess Evelyn and I are in sync and getting better at teaming up to tackle that. Plus I have lots of helpers! The experience was marvelous. We highly recommend this family friendly hike.</p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiH-4NvIyqc0xxst7uyOlPwCEhHH9qMY02Tr4CIEdZ0QdYRAnULjqJLFxfhW81soJ3Ue1aHUeplK1tV151E1_QSGyKMopU7Jiy-Ms-u6XaUguANA_4Jp03KxO1CrP8tQ-RmZMazrgcSjbgc_RGOL5ML3WLiN1AERZqBmsJfqc7lS1c42UZCMcMzjIWj0nv3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiH-4NvIyqc0xxst7uyOlPwCEhHH9qMY02Tr4CIEdZ0QdYRAnULjqJLFxfhW81soJ3Ue1aHUeplK1tV151E1_QSGyKMopU7Jiy-Ms-u6XaUguANA_4Jp03KxO1CrP8tQ-RmZMazrgcSjbgc_RGOL5ML3WLiN1AERZqBmsJfqc7lS1c42UZCMcMzjIWj0nv3" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDBYo3-PyOCVHZt_QRU-8yE3IrBxPObb-T5El6QGPxpGXEnL3RbfDWnW4MCLEWltiO9PnYSA-1QKqL2jefIch3t5X-0BJQfEcKuhX-1WPQ4XUGXRSKWPB_omCOz4-CxSS_G89IpnF6o2x66zlyUURWl4ZZ-Yr67Js_aD4YhbgiGDKwlYHa5vZvVT2TfvP0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDBYo3-PyOCVHZt_QRU-8yE3IrBxPObb-T5El6QGPxpGXEnL3RbfDWnW4MCLEWltiO9PnYSA-1QKqL2jefIch3t5X-0BJQfEcKuhX-1WPQ4XUGXRSKWPB_omCOz4-CxSS_G89IpnF6o2x66zlyUURWl4ZZ-Yr67Js_aD4YhbgiGDKwlYHa5vZvVT2TfvP0" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVjnJnuFzkkam3UgvOGGxzC-EvbFx7eH__f0z9m03w9vXkg4-yz4XwPzLo4nCjY7re_4Vzj6TXCYR3XjguRRFmtIG3rnvEVtrouuyF6v6ag3IAOgiWktG334nVb53iW8WxojOXaCCnIdAHrm5qT3i0pxVS2lURFK9Wh_tz1pLNN_jvJaYWFZL67MIiTFH9" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVjnJnuFzkkam3UgvOGGxzC-EvbFx7eH__f0z9m03w9vXkg4-yz4XwPzLo4nCjY7re_4Vzj6TXCYR3XjguRRFmtIG3rnvEVtrouuyF6v6ag3IAOgiWktG334nVb53iW8WxojOXaCCnIdAHrm5qT3i0pxVS2lURFK9Wh_tz1pLNN_jvJaYWFZL67MIiTFH9" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6bYDsTDhOcq2nKoRYOxx1GpBV1FePBvsS2dkT0_k2RNJ2bEfqD331OISiPZgtpwvpr7JScxu4-IOHoqBEVvF0DCmTlQRTR3zZ_2q-9Ihlyi9pMOCCJeeuqmcLVMJutGgdWab_kd8kT_ATlc2EusYWi_rdeytLlyTutenro8gieKFdf9TrNVDsf5wjbXkv" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6bYDsTDhOcq2nKoRYOxx1GpBV1FePBvsS2dkT0_k2RNJ2bEfqD331OISiPZgtpwvpr7JScxu4-IOHoqBEVvF0DCmTlQRTR3zZ_2q-9Ihlyi9pMOCCJeeuqmcLVMJutGgdWab_kd8kT_ATlc2EusYWi_rdeytLlyTutenro8gieKFdf9TrNVDsf5wjbXkv" width="320" /></a></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWKoWWUJE9KuYceRtOHBOebahhQC3HwAd_MGOi3HlOUOsBEPF1Z2hylRl5B0hbABcUD-lh7tzUdiTOrY2tb6hnYMLsdoxdliqWnf1w1UgKklBV9IOHPYV-zthB9sNChjwHXUQAajsNaBXGoZ_VdtSsxgZIQ3ECqH4AyX8vDDwBmgzqeSEHQNnE7WRiarE/s2016/IMG_1863.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWKoWWUJE9KuYceRtOHBOebahhQC3HwAd_MGOi3HlOUOsBEPF1Z2hylRl5B0hbABcUD-lh7tzUdiTOrY2tb6hnYMLsdoxdliqWnf1w1UgKklBV9IOHPYV-zthB9sNChjwHXUQAajsNaBXGoZ_VdtSsxgZIQ3ECqH4AyX8vDDwBmgzqeSEHQNnE7WRiarE/s320/IMG_1863.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYmQxBQefqAO2Y4rua09BtC07tTLzu0Ds1-sv0smiltx_TPKmhB3D-o8f1c_-QEk37zUnbfHDKS5mAvv0o_MT8_8MDSo581ML4QkzySk7kb8g73gDykLl6Wy9wMSDs9I9EuJYBkc2CPA9w1wH4rhTi9xUV4rvCopsUT9Whgxt-DO2ZMvGZL2oAZtoMhr81" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYmQxBQefqAO2Y4rua09BtC07tTLzu0Ds1-sv0smiltx_TPKmhB3D-o8f1c_-QEk37zUnbfHDKS5mAvv0o_MT8_8MDSo581ML4QkzySk7kb8g73gDykLl6Wy9wMSDs9I9EuJYBkc2CPA9w1wH4rhTi9xUV4rvCopsUT9Whgxt-DO2ZMvGZL2oAZtoMhr81=w239-h318" width="239" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small; text-align: left;">Our last day in Maine, we decided to rest and go to church with our new friends. It was very refreshing to worship with other brother’s and sisters in Christ. We felt very welcomed and enjoyed a message that encouraged us in our walk with the Lord. We used the time in the afternoon to rest and prepare for departure the next morning. All in all, it was an amazing visit to Maine. This is officially the longest that we’ve been on the road. We’re not only making lots of memories, but also growing in so many ways. Most of the time it is happy growth, but sometimes it is painful growth. Excess of togetherness has its way to push us into practicing to be a good neighbor with one another. We continue building up our family one moment at a time. What a gift! We are ready to start trailing our way back to FL as we head west to the New England frontier: New Hampshire & Vermont. We’ll be sending an update from there next. Thank you for reading, friends! May God continue blessing your Summer!</span></div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPbf3athF9ZloqccWe_DEJ0cT25OWrauq0TMy_zT_HVdHtVYfAfD8VMODe0-eXgZuWTxEQZMIP3qsaYX2wNmhFbiraGMrNlDopjMvfQ-tEkD8XiAqZ2irmHMxpH1DOkDzeVIut_gWjEQghUeTWH2LbmZnETJxn27Qn39HsHjTvBwvDYbIVi7-wLc9oeP-/s2016/IMG_1888.JPG" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPbf3athF9ZloqccWe_DEJ0cT25OWrauq0TMy_zT_HVdHtVYfAfD8VMODe0-eXgZuWTxEQZMIP3qsaYX2wNmhFbiraGMrNlDopjMvfQ-tEkD8XiAqZ2irmHMxpH1DOkDzeVIut_gWjEQghUeTWH2LbmZnETJxn27Qn39HsHjTvBwvDYbIVi7-wLc9oeP-/s320/IMG_1888.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-13835476632597640342023-07-02T19:38:00.004-07:002023-07-03T18:53:59.523-07:00The Bush's are coming!..to Boston. <p><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Welcome back friends! We arrived to
Boston where we reached a milestone in our trip: 2000 miles & 55 hours
driving! We arrived late at night because of the delays from <a href="https://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2023/06/our-unexpected-visit-to-nyc.html">NY</a>. However, I have to brag about how fast our family have
gotten in setting up camp. This was the time w</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">here
with all hands on deck we got it done in no time! </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We
stayed at <a href="https://circlecgfarm.com/">Circle CG Farm
campground</a> right outside of the city. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We
liked the place. It was family owned and rustic, but i</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">t
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">was generally well maintained
and staffed. The property was beautiful with nice trails to walk </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">around and </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">lots
of trees. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">T</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">he
kids enjoyed playing mini golf, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">basketball</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
and visiting the petting zoo. Dave didn’t like the narrow, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">bumpy
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">road</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">s</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
and </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">he said </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">all
the trees around made it hard to drive around and park the rig though.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6Ry3ydLsdqBVBdV0y-GArGEEqn_rTihG-W9EI5npvpzQszW9JGzWEycI0umTv-UDFt1agj-mvFXR6H5Q-6RvxPuI6FWiemCPu9CyjAeOcq0wpqIspDnyRPEC9pKEPl33VmQcPM-41A_0edKhs88SBCxZhzkVWDDzsaIkn4ybmiN1IQh7zXPVScC2KdPV/s2016/IMG_1586.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6Ry3ydLsdqBVBdV0y-GArGEEqn_rTihG-W9EI5npvpzQszW9JGzWEycI0umTv-UDFt1agj-mvFXR6H5Q-6RvxPuI6FWiemCPu9CyjAeOcq0wpqIspDnyRPEC9pKEPl33VmQcPM-41A_0edKhs88SBCxZhzkVWDDzsaIkn4ybmiN1IQh7zXPVScC2KdPV/s320/IMG_1586.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32IGq2QsZ5spRGFH9Jt52fzyj3Cxi1t4xF6awflHzT2khhupd9ayVzeGzJ91L5vaTCr4hgd--3ats3jnjmSQL0AqXcCh48BFPXNeJZ7ewgxw-9flMjroQSAYDLVM9cDdCSbzwgFkmRTkDDZxs3HijPD3Q5VO7WeCH-exGE2IQuYyL4FDbMqWxziXjqsER/s2016/IMG_6376.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32IGq2QsZ5spRGFH9Jt52fzyj3Cxi1t4xF6awflHzT2khhupd9ayVzeGzJ91L5vaTCr4hgd--3ats3jnjmSQL0AqXcCh48BFPXNeJZ7ewgxw-9flMjroQSAYDLVM9cDdCSbzwgFkmRTkDDZxs3HijPD3Q5VO7WeCH-exGE2IQuYyL4FDbMqWxziXjqsER/s320/IMG_6376.jpg" width="240" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CcV4qWbovG5cC_q2JRl4KrCdliitRZ1qhci_LqELSrsZEQszgShU0bnxOXDfFd7xcEB05ZKX_DJBK3rh_mYuy-y0MJnv6nwOMtnnIfvRseraYxSsvaf3ok1YK8fYzdG56k0lDQ33kLcthezAqWUIbQoVJ8Cv9evjIXdleck9Wka9-LvDCPIaNLgeTNCY/s2016/IMG_6555.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CcV4qWbovG5cC_q2JRl4KrCdliitRZ1qhci_LqELSrsZEQszgShU0bnxOXDfFd7xcEB05ZKX_DJBK3rh_mYuy-y0MJnv6nwOMtnnIfvRseraYxSsvaf3ok1YK8fYzdG56k0lDQ33kLcthezAqWUIbQoVJ8Cv9evjIXdleck9Wka9-LvDCPIaNLgeTNCY/w287-h216/IMG_6555.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Boston
has definitely has been one of our favorite destinations even though
we didn’t get to do all we wanted to do. What can we say..we are
history enthusiasts! We learned the hard way that many of the most
popular places of interest are closed on Mondays. So take note! With
that said, we were still able to cover a lot of historical spots and
enjoy traveling through history as we stroll the city following the
Freedom Trail.</span></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLKwiNe2-6SkskYNdy8DPzPP0LY-ChUxsmpEktGWGzTv2KeL0Toek8aMb6jKZMjGE07LiFr7JgqGuFVohC5frFqIw6Sys4UtsARdSWSiVMfiqqjHtZHRQnfOvsVu_VCgXGxmTb6AUAl2KamgcLLdcbbLUXJRPg8Uomzm8-kx8OfaFC1RQqfLKHvYYqe57/s2016/IMG_1571.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLKwiNe2-6SkskYNdy8DPzPP0LY-ChUxsmpEktGWGzTv2KeL0Toek8aMb6jKZMjGE07LiFr7JgqGuFVohC5frFqIw6Sys4UtsARdSWSiVMfiqqjHtZHRQnfOvsVu_VCgXGxmTb6AUAl2KamgcLLdcbbLUXJRPg8Uomzm8-kx8OfaFC1RQqfLKHvYYqe57/s320/IMG_1571.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWlkMwGw-TViaWUrFcY5PlmZGtW6iArFHpddexv5z1q_1jpGygUt9QnwtLTawMgriKdeBHwd0AgexWIi2uV8Zh_F4UZM4lXd83dz-Qi2K99h9Z3gjJh6JtxHmKkwhw4ekhVL3oThAcubijUXL9faIZOqPoKkvHZyvu5ot6R3FArm-BWgAFlfwJEXlv3lX/s2016/IMG_1529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWlkMwGw-TViaWUrFcY5PlmZGtW6iArFHpddexv5z1q_1jpGygUt9QnwtLTawMgriKdeBHwd0AgexWIi2uV8Zh_F4UZM4lXd83dz-Qi2K99h9Z3gjJh6JtxHmKkwhw4ekhVL3oThAcubijUXL9faIZOqPoKkvHZyvu5ot6R3FArm-BWgAFlfwJEXlv3lX/w212-h283/IMG_1529.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The
first day we started at the Boston Commons Park. It was nice to
explore the park which is a central place for people to gather and
walk about sightseeing. Among interesting characters and beautiful
trees, statues and fountains there were also sculptures of cows
everywhere. Apparently, this location was devoted to raising cattle
during the revolution. The Freedom Trail took us to our first stop,
the Massachusetts State House. We got to walk around it and admired
its architecture. From there, we went on to walk by the Granary Burying
ground, which is the cemetery where many of the sons of the
revolution and signers of the Declaration of Independence were
buried. Paul Revere, John Hancock, Samuel Adams’ remains were there
among others. It was very interesting to stroll the place and
sometimes tag along with tour guides who were enthusiastically
sharing facts about all such characters. We took particular interest
in Phillis Wheatley, a famous African-American slave and poet who
bought her freedom. She even got books published. She was an advocate
for the emancipation and was buried there too. </span>
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITN2B0TGMrkEjqjtOZYbPEnA2i-CfLbSDDmXOrXPVc3WoEulB30nK34txeQ9OJZdB5yT98eO2gIk0pIkW5DZhUGcbQ6M1VrGETvGwszTC3fjns-Ozsv1tmA4COPiV0MUe5kXrdvpKTO4jGeZ1dSiXTF4xg2auoEqRUZbfl2zumW9LYaZ-U0asgRAkh661/s2016/IMG_6393.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITN2B0TGMrkEjqjtOZYbPEnA2i-CfLbSDDmXOrXPVc3WoEulB30nK34txeQ9OJZdB5yT98eO2gIk0pIkW5DZhUGcbQ6M1VrGETvGwszTC3fjns-Ozsv1tmA4COPiV0MUe5kXrdvpKTO4jGeZ1dSiXTF4xg2auoEqRUZbfl2zumW9LYaZ-U0asgRAkh661/w277-h208/IMG_6393.jpg" width="277" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGTlH-qd5DyDoJBj8y5merdc-o4d5LCFI0PWBef4fuQQgs7q4phmUpGaP3ZUvh-pg37F9KTQ_LiCwe1jLAWWMsFr982T2X9MHr1VQEhrOm_DGXl1FyJg6pA_ImaZtH77A1Bs58VztmygMkwi3YnRrm5n6-rP2COKwkJUT7meOR2XOsEBHGh07xsJmEyvJ/s2016/IMG_1526%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGTlH-qd5DyDoJBj8y5merdc-o4d5LCFI0PWBef4fuQQgs7q4phmUpGaP3ZUvh-pg37F9KTQ_LiCwe1jLAWWMsFr982T2X9MHr1VQEhrOm_DGXl1FyJg6pA_ImaZtH77A1Bs58VztmygMkwi3YnRrm5n6-rP2COKwkJUT7meOR2XOsEBHGh07xsJmEyvJ/w204-h271/IMG_1526%20(1).JPG" width="204" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">From
there we went on following the picturesque trail punctuated with
beautiful buildings, sculptures and all sort of interesting sights.
Our next stop was the former “Latin School”, where many of the
patriots were educated, the most popular being Benjamin Franklin.
Latin was the language of the intellectuals back then. I am actually having fun
finding all the influence of Latin in all these places, especially
since Garrick and I will be diving deeper in it together next year. It’s so
cool to be able to use it to translate what we see in the wild! We
also stopped by the Faneuil Hall and the Old south meeting which were
places where patriots used for clandestine meetings back then. The last stop
of that day was the Old State House, the site where the
Boston Massacre occurred. </span>
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkBxPAh1vK4rEMvmm9ZV51T6yMC0vMaoGrLJR624czMVQV9D-js_celBVlv7JzNe9_alGFDBQTJwBQugLxTzGRRP6EYWJUqr8hUI_xe5tZWPJF740mMG7J3GY3iUXP_ZsARNinZHt121qP9aCLOreCCAtx-_KhEySozBGl9jJ732eMLqrp2Ia2tB95UJS/s2016/IMG_6427.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkBxPAh1vK4rEMvmm9ZV51T6yMC0vMaoGrLJR624czMVQV9D-js_celBVlv7JzNe9_alGFDBQTJwBQugLxTzGRRP6EYWJUqr8hUI_xe5tZWPJF740mMG7J3GY3iUXP_ZsARNinZHt121qP9aCLOreCCAtx-_KhEySozBGl9jJ732eMLqrp2Ia2tB95UJS/s320/IMG_6427.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsCw51A0CpgsuVD7r1H-ZwAkDW8EZslUrbgJ0Ns4h7hsievaUtjzr8rIIxnsSh5RjbKKLB3yXTx53LE28K8Ih_4uVkzvfE0C-4WmLOrEZlDEd5IYaV5gUmMhgxKQd9bAQcMFUxWrWTAN7ZFnXz2XVlsaVe0ooVfWIrZzmtcjZaEbec5yHG8wa63jxtdnX/s2016/IMG_6440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsCw51A0CpgsuVD7r1H-ZwAkDW8EZslUrbgJ0Ns4h7hsievaUtjzr8rIIxnsSh5RjbKKLB3yXTx53LE28K8Ih_4uVkzvfE0C-4WmLOrEZlDEd5IYaV5gUmMhgxKQd9bAQcMFUxWrWTAN7ZFnXz2XVlsaVe0ooVfWIrZzmtcjZaEbec5yHG8wa63jxtdnX/s320/IMG_6440.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The
second day we were deflated when we found out that the tickets to get
into </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">John Adam</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">’s
house were sold out. So we </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">decided
to spend a little time in the Children’</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">s</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
museum </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">making Evelyn happy. She
has been such a trooper playing the “intellectual adult spectator”
than we thought it was about time that she played to her heart
content</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">. Over there, w</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">e also met the daughter of our dear friends Carlos & Maria who are CRU
missionaries to Colombia. It was a joy to see our kids playing
together. She’s currently pursuing a major in Chemistry </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">at</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
Harvard. Isn’t that </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">cool?</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
She’s super fun and easy to hang out with. Click <a href="https://give.cru.org/2863411?_ga=2.13143735.1247750858.1688348400-851998054.1688348400">here</a>
if you want to learn about what Carlos & Maria are doing in
Colombia. The Lord is using them mightily to make disciples in
college campuses </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">there.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
</span>
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOdSYzLtIeG8XznAOuAp3rkQlTHln92da__s27WQ6luAvCrgnFWwGl0rtnTbsHpFfVXUQsnV2fgvMXhgp7fCbRgv31MwyH9-Bdc3TUVkj5wolOLhBO21S91x6I3LwZHPiJvT5T6wBkdUwqSnXuFAuGnwG63AONxn6SqVhQfiDIL9WrA-t45nLHy4LY9H7/s1544/IMG_6481.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1544" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOdSYzLtIeG8XznAOuAp3rkQlTHln92da__s27WQ6luAvCrgnFWwGl0rtnTbsHpFfVXUQsnV2fgvMXhgp7fCbRgv31MwyH9-Bdc3TUVkj5wolOLhBO21S91x6I3LwZHPiJvT5T6wBkdUwqSnXuFAuGnwG63AONxn6SqVhQfiDIL9WrA-t45nLHy4LY9H7/w280-h210/IMG_6481.jpg" width="280" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtmkYkqum0jYGmS2WyLUK0otHIGlf9TZ0L0PlEdyB8oysCYhvVhiii2sHy7BPQjewf854yjLR-g1FPvKAddf2au6xOv924OilsMF_Xxks_B8Clh54e6h-SfVu8y4eEA_SP4C2sK95Tc3CRsEQTDIxBRj9qoctocy_q-NKrcg073Pi-Wq05dq5fm-Dfs0X/s2016/IMG_6465.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtmkYkqum0jYGmS2WyLUK0otHIGlf9TZ0L0PlEdyB8oysCYhvVhiii2sHy7BPQjewf854yjLR-g1FPvKAddf2au6xOv924OilsMF_Xxks_B8Clh54e6h-SfVu8y4eEA_SP4C2sK95Tc3CRsEQTDIxBRj9qoctocy_q-NKrcg073Pi-Wq05dq5fm-Dfs0X/s320/IMG_6465.jpg" width="320" /></a></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLpIqyO_mNfnCfiOwDrsiHgZ7S3yHiHFBO2h2ECjNJrrt64YKw1fZKwfBPPDDTYv_DQU7ry7fP5YSjF2Pa0fbuW3ng2XLadnWNO8sGnqRyP_HH8j8MlgzFpH1TVrPhkNTqd5-8lVD6ooRAbmU_eLqtkgKlsPMKWMPxJGDIg9W_9mvTnkG8OI2u3VXR9Vk/s2016/IMG_6461.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLpIqyO_mNfnCfiOwDrsiHgZ7S3yHiHFBO2h2ECjNJrrt64YKw1fZKwfBPPDDTYv_DQU7ry7fP5YSjF2Pa0fbuW3ng2XLadnWNO8sGnqRyP_HH8j8MlgzFpH1TVrPhkNTqd5-8lVD6ooRAbmU_eLqtkgKlsPMKWMPxJGDIg9W_9mvTnkG8OI2u3VXR9Vk/s320/IMG_6461.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHgvjhgadPSaYcp0xzq0SDurp2PDyX7vVpnVMST6oU8XLBgSd1uh9oQwyw3NnuxLQaDplfN6DuYZIFw8A8Kq2ArTdUhTWZa2fhOJXHclsQx1sar2IecZ7SsE4ugRza3H3Fa1DOX7bO9xG-XTlnnai0xVshy3tM1Fii5XQuKlHzeISNSt-VBF0b_GWtde9/s2016/IMG_1555.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHgvjhgadPSaYcp0xzq0SDurp2PDyX7vVpnVMST6oU8XLBgSd1uh9oQwyw3NnuxLQaDplfN6DuYZIFw8A8Kq2ArTdUhTWZa2fhOJXHclsQx1sar2IecZ7SsE4ugRza3H3Fa1DOX7bO9xG-XTlnnai0xVshy3tM1Fii5XQuKlHzeISNSt-VBF0b_GWtde9/s320/IMG_1555.JPG" width="240" /></a></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Ok,
from there we went to visit Paul Revere’s house. One of our
favorite characters. He’s most remembered by his “Paul Revere’s
ride” where he warned the American rebels about an incoming attack by British soldiers. That allowed time for them to get their arms
ready for battle and it was the starting point of the actual American
Revolution fight. We learned that he had 16 children! He also had a
visionary, entrepreneurial spirit which led him to much success in
life. He was a silversmith and the best “copper-smith” the
world knew at that time. He built the copper dome of the Capitol, copper sheeting for navy vessels, famous bells, cannon
balls, etc. Of course he experience lots of setbacks, but he left
behind a great legacy. Lastly we strolled the Italian district where
we enjoyed an overpriced Italian meal, but then cheer ourselves up by
getting Italian Cannolis at Mike’s Bakery..so yummy.</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSMyzj5qXMQM86y9xLJHd--6IFaoWYICJMaC_WFkU5qGkp7BI9Ujrsp_G57XxrAkkadjWdSOQDQdasm9wBy7jmV1Igyd3v3yfK72iO3FkV3chCbQ4NiEuDL0rsvDQ_aqKTgEg7-0In1daMv3uEpFbU6VEPAtAurvUcA4DuyQyol_1YlDVm23gla_UIKQy/s2016/IMG_6483.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSMyzj5qXMQM86y9xLJHd--6IFaoWYICJMaC_WFkU5qGkp7BI9Ujrsp_G57XxrAkkadjWdSOQDQdasm9wBy7jmV1Igyd3v3yfK72iO3FkV3chCbQ4NiEuDL0rsvDQ_aqKTgEg7-0In1daMv3uEpFbU6VEPAtAurvUcA4DuyQyol_1YlDVm23gla_UIKQy/s320/IMG_6483.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">following</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
day we went to visit the </span><a href="https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">USS
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Constitution museum</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif">.
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">What a fun stop! Incredibly
educational and entertaining. The Constitution, AKA “Old Iron
Sides” was the first vessel built for the service of the U.S Navy.
It is credited with winning against a crucial naval engagement against
the British in the 1812 war. It’s said that British cannonball</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">s</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
used to bounced off its sides, and that’s how it got its nickname.
It does sounds like a life-lesson right? A little bit of thicker skin
is necessary to succeed in life, or so we believe..but with a softer heart
inside. Always. </span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXEfN_LPBIHGQuUxjo8rH28kmCYP7JCbPcxiUlvl1aUhF2_-AD1VQecg8ujc6Z8krzolUP7OWyZ_rqlrtaf5nBRFSvif8uaoIooz0uaGz2WhbuZplgOXlIkLkgrzVjEiMzWA5tedH1_EufsiycQ6ogSPBefp2H4XfYISHSg3oyn884spkJ9gwen2gjaV3/s2016/IMG_6518.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXEfN_LPBIHGQuUxjo8rH28kmCYP7JCbPcxiUlvl1aUhF2_-AD1VQecg8ujc6Z8krzolUP7OWyZ_rqlrtaf5nBRFSvif8uaoIooz0uaGz2WhbuZplgOXlIkLkgrzVjEiMzWA5tedH1_EufsiycQ6ogSPBefp2H4XfYISHSg3oyn884spkJ9gwen2gjaV3/s320/IMG_6518.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rC3xH4JLpVXUfvxklDu07ymtyotGnY5ZHUkS18kkCO12hBut2NVeLpIv6HvA6GwXfvRekTlCJqGqoW4d_W3CW1LcKqyptVCaAB1YKumcSqHgW-MjrXmnH_fiE5Y4Rtjl863nxKkxjnAuZiwdycjrHDH2v1EC6gWzgP4D7Zg76Ams6MJdjFJ144eAbmcj/s2016/IMG_6502.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rC3xH4JLpVXUfvxklDu07ymtyotGnY5ZHUkS18kkCO12hBut2NVeLpIv6HvA6GwXfvRekTlCJqGqoW4d_W3CW1LcKqyptVCaAB1YKumcSqHgW-MjrXmnH_fiE5Y4Rtjl863nxKkxjnAuZiwdycjrHDH2v1EC6gWzgP4D7Zg76Ams6MJdjFJ144eAbmcj/w184-h245/IMG_6502.jpg" width="184" /></a>
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">From there the Freedom trail took us to </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Park Street Church which is the house where the lantern w</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">as</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> lit to </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">warn </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">the rebels </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">about the upcoming</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> regular</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">s. It was a nice sight, even though we couldn’t get in. Remember it was Monday? Sight..From there we took our last hike. -Poor Evelyn, she kept on going on foot like a trooper. I am telling you she will be our future marathoner! </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We ended our quest at B</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">u</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">nker Hill. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">This is Garrick’s depiction: A “pyrrhic victory” of the British. The British were trying to get to this point on water to invade Boston. The Americans were able to repel them twice before they were able to make any advance, proving that they were able to stand up to the mightiest army known to the world at the time.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju05lsIpe-1EAfOA5PQBsVhMzhm-WegI6aJssXKS6ANLblyG5pWdusjWy5_CBQz0XvKAXOTMJa_Uyc-w6PF625mp6Gwkl4E91AIZLgd3zdHwtT727-Ku0aq-ocSr3hHavSolXzROeo3ilqVfBNNMIf1TO8hthnGTTsRpCuUdfOKtmLLZrTcDovNb6kw-s-/s2016/IMG_6545.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju05lsIpe-1EAfOA5PQBsVhMzhm-WegI6aJssXKS6ANLblyG5pWdusjWy5_CBQz0XvKAXOTMJa_Uyc-w6PF625mp6Gwkl4E91AIZLgd3zdHwtT727-Ku0aq-ocSr3hHavSolXzROeo3ilqVfBNNMIf1TO8hthnGTTsRpCuUdfOKtmLLZrTcDovNb6kw-s-/s320/IMG_6545.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"></span></p><p style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Our last day in Boston was for recovery and to get ready for our departure. I had an all day long online training to attend. It was a great day, except with the terrible incident of a sewer overflow. Well, we are here to tell the story that as a family we have overcome the worst nightmare of an RV’er, such overflow in the master’s bedroom! In the middle of my class people! I have to give most credit to my husband for tirelessly coming to the rescue and taking care of it. It was a huge undertaking. My hat goes off to him for his serving heart..it wasn’t a very happy heart; mine wasn’t either..who would have such under the circumstances? But we did it, we overcame, and we did it together and we are stronger because of it. I think the bathroom and floors hadn’t been that clean and sanitized in a while. God is good friends!</span></p><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Ok,
to Maine we go next time. We’ll be journaling from there then. Best
to you as always! Thank you for reading!</span></p>Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-74064839618379906842023-06-30T16:24:00.003-07:002023-06-30T18:03:39.563-07:00Our Unexpected Visit to NYC<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Hello again friends. So,this post is going to be a little different. The links to previous
journal entries are below if you are visiting for first time. I’ll
be talking about our visit to New York State this time. But also I will share a
little about some of the challenges we’ve faced so far. “Rving”
as it’s called is a lovely hobby, but there’s certainly a
learning curve and it comes with its setbacks. I also talk a little
about one of the most important parts of our trip: Family dynamics.
Ok let’s talk about the NY tale first.</span></p><p style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
</p><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/AVvXsEhdiv0iNtauPQ54wnlX2a1ShymImHHEUwAMDanaAyZj6H3F68Ocllobjh9mDpapxWkoEprPUxEMM202t2LjooYLTOBc4Otd4hJszWuFJG8oKYGrX2bQifPFtNXeKPSsJxC_eAYubEslfGVexZ4eQkSaozNL0CAUy85WLJgggD7l4wp5ALxMwhSrJLsB2qhB/s1544/IMG_1398.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1544" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiv0iNtauPQ54wnlX2a1ShymImHHEUwAMDanaAyZj6H3F68Ocllobjh9mDpapxWkoEprPUxEMM202t2LjooYLTOBc4Otd4hJszWuFJG8oKYGrX2bQifPFtNXeKPSsJxC_eAYubEslfGVexZ4eQkSaozNL0CAUy85WLJgggD7l4wp5ALxMwhSrJLsB2qhB/s320/IMG_1398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<p style="font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">We
had our heart set on not visiting the city. Dave has </span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">an
</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">aversion
to crowded cities, a phobia he shares with some other family members.
So you can imagined the frustration when upon arrival to the skirts
of NYC we were routed out of the highway due to h</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">ei</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">gh</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">t</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
restrictions. We got to get a</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> forced </span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">taste
of big city while we toured the district of Brooklyn h</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">au</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">ling
our camper. It was a short </span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">one
</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">hour
</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">tour,
</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">which
felt </span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">much
longer</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">..due to, you guess it, traffic. Thank goodness we were able to get out of the maze swiftly and head
to ou</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">r</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
destination: Long Beach, on Long Island, NY.</span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIjCDvj-quAcSaBNaTIHIiKGjPuQLbSOGTxnEI5Z1I5ZPAH-IXCxyqDmZcvTinfVgZjOLvoUaDi8HW1t0S1L0pqRFOBbbs3quumnuC2I3ZP1YIGqnGu2WIUU8LsDOmWulKv_DgI6OAsvBlogKIFTBb50HHzAO6OIPAXcvRmmsMrjWHGN8wLYUfxOr0HMi/s1655/IMG_6327.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1655" data-original-width="1114" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIjCDvj-quAcSaBNaTIHIiKGjPuQLbSOGTxnEI5Z1I5ZPAH-IXCxyqDmZcvTinfVgZjOLvoUaDi8HW1t0S1L0pqRFOBbbs3quumnuC2I3ZP1YIGqnGu2WIUU8LsDOmWulKv_DgI6OAsvBlogKIFTBb50HHzAO6OIPAXcvRmmsMrjWHGN8wLYUfxOr0HMi/s320/IMG_6327.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><p style="font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">The
campground facilities </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">we
stayed at “</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><a href="https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/2802/Nickerson-Beach-Park">Nickersonbeach</a>” </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">were
very nice, </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">s</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">uper
clean, well staffed and with plenty of amenities. The staff was also surprisingly friendly. </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">A
h</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">ighly
recommend again. </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">We
spent two nights there. It was nice to experience a day of solace and
relaxation by the beach. </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">We
mostly hang out at the camper. We went out just a little bit to stroll the town and enjoy a meal out. If you ever go, check out "<a href="https://greekcove.com/">Greek Cove</a>". They have the tastiest, biggest, best priced gyro platters we've seen. I guess one o fthe highlights of visiting NY is the abundance of food choices available. There were all sort of interesting ethnic eateries on every corner. It would be very fascinating to learn about how immigration was a catalyst for the make up of this area. I really appreciate diversity. I find it heartwarming.</span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2QDd3wlH5TzUODrsrbzReDOIeqWnYB20oCjtObkJg0rojxecfj-7pcM6sGfCxjGmDOcOLq51VLwlAN3rkdc3NLF1yqoUmgkZ2HjHR649mB3pzdlhZBz4-BF5is94xAqBAxhN81p7Hk__1_lcvzDHA5u5uIWQuBzZOtxO9U7cK8a8YtuDO9YN9WlVhD3M/s2016/IMG_6373.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2QDd3wlH5TzUODrsrbzReDOIeqWnYB20oCjtObkJg0rojxecfj-7pcM6sGfCxjGmDOcOLq51VLwlAN3rkdc3NLF1yqoUmgkZ2HjHR649mB3pzdlhZBz4-BF5is94xAqBAxhN81p7Hk__1_lcvzDHA5u5uIWQuBzZOtxO9U7cK8a8YtuDO9YN9WlVhD3M/s320/IMG_6373.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"></span></span></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">After going back to our fort, we also le</span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">t
the kids enjoy the playgrounds and check out the beach. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">The
water was too cold for swimming but we enjoyed walking by the ocean
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">and</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
playing with the waves as they broke at shore..one almost </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">got
us soaked!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
It was so funny.</span></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhy3Zh5O2-mKU6C3HELfDAgue2szixIVXF7B6BTP_RyQlbCqKMWYCh4QzXShpdy-8qeWoSt5YxrVwLh4zS_Dy8eqY3wwIq3aW9D1Msw31-nuBE2ZdW19gk7iL7KAPVtrrZgSQKaaybqIF5gt7SF12B-QoRMLXLAtynlh1x-547zGCiRQRdziTzV4VjWaqN/s2016/IMG_1380.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhy3Zh5O2-mKU6C3HELfDAgue2szixIVXF7B6BTP_RyQlbCqKMWYCh4QzXShpdy-8qeWoSt5YxrVwLh4zS_Dy8eqY3wwIq3aW9D1Msw31-nuBE2ZdW19gk7iL7KAPVtrrZgSQKaaybqIF5gt7SF12B-QoRMLXLAtynlh1x-547zGCiRQRdziTzV4VjWaqN/s320/IMG_1380.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rrKC6wL8JBPPZDmVOw82IZlKO4HYi6zWYpILS8ekvA741B6IUUx2E58VvhSXchlo0HDXawaxtIya4Vjic5KNlH0nMND42fRKeE_PbfsoYqQbra6atdn_AF66FrSivz13OPUT6n5kO4Ci7VqB6DDgjKLHfHuUfjzbnj9LHUlFDHN5YL1IK4ABhWa5l4dY/s2016/IMG_1419.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rrKC6wL8JBPPZDmVOw82IZlKO4HYi6zWYpILS8ekvA741B6IUUx2E58VvhSXchlo0HDXawaxtIya4Vjic5KNlH0nMND42fRKeE_PbfsoYqQbra6atdn_AF66FrSivz13OPUT6n5kO4Ci7VqB6DDgjKLHfHuUfjzbnj9LHUlFDHN5YL1IK4ABhWa5l4dY/s320/IMG_1419.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p style="font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjX9VpGM2LTrie41aOCMYGIybpOVg-MHQEpOz3wRIs-UeV7BzsGUYct_waIdMMIat7hrefvv8HjCy7Ic4iY9BVoTFi3rRC1EqaHPXONW3nrF7sbH8_ilhEwVjE1Yn4SLGVohewgc4i9N-m85N1FeHdA7S8QGxP_9vnB6t_aDfF5qyKQGOTw2Wxo6tU3zJ/s1520/IMG_1413.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1520" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjX9VpGM2LTrie41aOCMYGIybpOVg-MHQEpOz3wRIs-UeV7BzsGUYct_waIdMMIat7hrefvv8HjCy7Ic4iY9BVoTFi3rRC1EqaHPXONW3nrF7sbH8_ilhEwVjE1Yn4SLGVohewgc4i9N-m85N1FeHdA7S8QGxP_9vnB6t_aDfF5qyKQGOTw2Wxo6tU3zJ/s320/IMG_1413.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTb78BpdHtPjgfclTtaCan9I9jHpBFIVW4_DcXU9A8xIXlsVYyBauI9L-LQgRM8Pr6bQIOsbjX-sEjLSBDwjNSBHb9G5G0Tv0O_WXHCjZ4-WX_iONyEJZVLddIm1yrEB6T4yvMIJP1pRH7TpM_dKBx3NZZao6lUctTcOZ6XxUX6W-N8Kg-TS665umVlSs/s2016/IMG_6096.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTb78BpdHtPjgfclTtaCan9I9jHpBFIVW4_DcXU9A8xIXlsVYyBauI9L-LQgRM8Pr6bQIOsbjX-sEjLSBDwjNSBHb9G5G0Tv0O_WXHCjZ4-WX_iONyEJZVLddIm1yrEB6T4yvMIJP1pRH7TpM_dKBx3NZZao6lUctTcOZ6XxUX6W-N8Kg-TS665umVlSs/w273-h205/IMG_6096.jpg" width="273" /></a>
</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">It
was nesting season for local endangered birds, so it was also a treat
to look at the birds protecting their territory and nesting on the
sand. Some of them were quite aggressive. We even got to see a few baby birds. </span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWRR1Pb1zLK7J4Gl2B8JyYVymU6P2PpiqloeXAyeUkwkHznOJ0iHNMmiLvmJIkUewnTVVzxGhEk9hbNti0rA0oT1hdiO-YG5kFITD-zKfuJqaD91Z3E7NeQvyIvoEqnITy7lm1H18MB-bsCKipXHEwgguQa0UPQR3hoZVqWAnf7sqa2VHhiBBt8MhkOFH/s2016/IMG_1472.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWRR1Pb1zLK7J4Gl2B8JyYVymU6P2PpiqloeXAyeUkwkHznOJ0iHNMmiLvmJIkUewnTVVzxGhEk9hbNti0rA0oT1hdiO-YG5kFITD-zKfuJqaD91Z3E7NeQvyIvoEqnITy7lm1H18MB-bsCKipXHEwgguQa0UPQR3hoZVqWAnf7sqa2VHhiBBt8MhkOFH/w282-h211/IMG_1472.JPG" width="282" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB08GiFP2wxm52CvORLDstemP84HcloJIEspJ4VG7y0sUBqIlW-1XljSQWklVoJThXYKMx_YszXdErMp2qfFk3TWz3XwRDsEm0OhC-fz9kpkPMwJtrRYeBM7NMI3VFn3uTV7Pk8t6BfayS233O91I_9jij1vIZU5sxQBdyoYy8ZeTQ9WHub2ZB__xmR89T/s2016/IMG_1433.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB08GiFP2wxm52CvORLDstemP84HcloJIEspJ4VG7y0sUBqIlW-1XljSQWklVoJThXYKMx_YszXdErMp2qfFk3TWz3XwRDsEm0OhC-fz9kpkPMwJtrRYeBM7NMI3VFn3uTV7Pk8t6BfayS233O91I_9jij1vIZU5sxQBdyoYy8ZeTQ9WHub2ZB__xmR89T/w250-h188/IMG_1433.JPG" width="250" /></a></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbjYAc0zb29Of_8eUD6HcMdgx4BCIDLVpJ09YFann6zQqM69ggMbG7Hz5kw2jBPtT8ZtU7zjdiRNGN7kgF83cUMgmopuHoC9jjEz8CgdxeeoOjZQADb4xX8LcozPwCXypaZ3qBvYrW3wqzLaICY328-4ySVu7uf4mgua5cq_1ZXbhNBXrKaQoa_n7O76m/s2016/IMG_6354.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbjYAc0zb29Of_8eUD6HcMdgx4BCIDLVpJ09YFann6zQqM69ggMbG7Hz5kw2jBPtT8ZtU7zjdiRNGN7kgF83cUMgmopuHoC9jjEz8CgdxeeoOjZQADb4xX8LcozPwCXypaZ3qBvYrW3wqzLaICY328-4ySVu7uf4mgua5cq_1ZXbhNBXrKaQoa_n7O76m/w203-h271/IMG_6354.jpg" width="203" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNZ7AR7g0_Qc0DpPloyZhAfV9HUt2Fh5cX3a6ka1o-z4JmmMsw8MR91KMZp320wyWmd4GXn-t7TV_Q8fgrG_xNwmhLFJwpHJUtJds12YfecGJpqA9OS3Dj3y_IFoBsCr7XX26DxGFX1YxwvzCBgi9lXXBSG8r-sP-mjbII52KuXRHMLu4vGWtXge1eBEy/s2016/IMG_1420.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNZ7AR7g0_Qc0DpPloyZhAfV9HUt2Fh5cX3a6ka1o-z4JmmMsw8MR91KMZp320wyWmd4GXn-t7TV_Q8fgrG_xNwmhLFJwpHJUtJds12YfecGJpqA9OS3Dj3y_IFoBsCr7XX26DxGFX1YxwvzCBgi9lXXBSG8r-sP-mjbII52KuXRHMLu4vGWtXge1eBEy/w216-h273/IMG_1420.JPG" width="216" /></a></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">We
hit the road early the next morning and took off on our way to
Boston. The expected driving time was about 6 hours..everything was
going hunky dory til</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">l</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
we got to a fork on the road where </span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">were
routed out of the highway again, </span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">this
time </span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">because
of road construction. </span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The
GPS went bunkers, and t</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">his
time we were forced into the concrete jungle of the Bronx..and not
the nicer, but the rougher part of it </span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">with
the aggravation of rush hour.</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
Seeing a huge truck pulling a 37’ camper through those small
congested streets was a sight to behold </span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">by
all the bystanders and local people gazing at us in disbelief</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">.
I had to get out a few times to make sure we didn’t hit anything
</span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">while
Dave’s pressure went up as he worried that we wouldn’t be able to
get out of there neither in one piece nor without a fine or a crash.
I am happy to report that although it took almost five hours to be
cleared from that ordeal, we didn’t even hit a trash can! We are so
grateful for God’s protection! Now, do not ever forget for those
aspiring Rv’ers, do not ever get off on the parkways of New York
State! </span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsAl9WO9_T1MKXChpQ_KLWhWDLInqfGaV0ussC2RvVMBGdiC-DyJn9_pB5OBSb-t4AVnubV9Y8g6GEyfQbl_ewR43gRnGg8IBZ9PPtZH5lvMRVgdopAQaVLhU_eVYsCyPfYlDOMcv9-cA8YZiM7r8C8SgNulvBLTbx0UTwzExq2axFJBSXHOoX3NxVzBr/s2016/IMG_6360.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsAl9WO9_T1MKXChpQ_KLWhWDLInqfGaV0ussC2RvVMBGdiC-DyJn9_pB5OBSb-t4AVnubV9Y8g6GEyfQbl_ewR43gRnGg8IBZ9PPtZH5lvMRVgdopAQaVLhU_eVYsCyPfYlDOMcv9-cA8YZiM7r8C8SgNulvBLTbx0UTwzExq2axFJBSXHOoX3NxVzBr/w294-h220/IMG_6360.jpg" width="294" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir431bRLrcsAWehIqDV2fg9VXfGTCKFxR72ui-WEsT32u5UZmS-MPMUJi3DCt9g05pzZq99mlABl0uKuVYSDuzvFaam31uPqIljtwbQQKkrhqX7MaxhVE2LG3E_sd-ZBgLqdJAcwp1wNVFaenva7sJNzqK9NbqKlBWdB16NzzpXIPHL1VB0CkxIlNm33_u/s2016/IMG_6365.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir431bRLrcsAWehIqDV2fg9VXfGTCKFxR72ui-WEsT32u5UZmS-MPMUJi3DCt9g05pzZq99mlABl0uKuVYSDuzvFaam31uPqIljtwbQQKkrhqX7MaxhVE2LG3E_sd-ZBgLqdJAcwp1wNVFaenva7sJNzqK9NbqKlBWdB16NzzpXIPHL1VB0CkxIlNm33_u/w288-h216/IMG_6365.jpg" width="288" /></a></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br />
<br />
</p>
<p style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Ok,
now let me briefly talk about one of the favorite aspects of this
Summer to remember. Rving is a unique </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">fun</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
experience for families that not only </span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">lend
itself to built life lasting memories, but also allows you to build
up your family through overcoming stressing situations. For example,
when facing the snafu described above, we were forced to be together
in very close quarters for a long time. Honestly quite often, not the
best facets of our personalities come out when facing stressors, yet,
facing similar situations allow us to learn effective ways to handle
it and the practice is good for us. I think road trips in general
facilitate this opportunity to strengthen relationships within the
family. Of course is not the only way. However, I am happy that the
Lord is giving us this opportunity to focus on getting to know, enjoy
and support one another better by the enforced togetherness Rving
provides. I am very grateful to see some glimpses of growth in the
lifetime bond that we are trying to </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">instil</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> in our kids. The current
pull of media and society on our kids to get disengaged from family
ties and lonely dissapear into screens is heavy and one that we also
battle ourselves. We are by no means yet the family we want to be.
However we are grateful for this Summer </span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">to
remember that we worked on building our family up! May the Lord
prosper our </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">endeavours</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">..and yours too! Family is God's idea. Doesn't he have the best ideas?</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTZgc4QD5BGDkw7X1HldZXXeZXOQsCAC2nq_2PiNhPUT4UK3Y7yfMZEbz80jFW4sgAcsj5zStMJIessrGccXR17juG7nKuu3j3mliy2EwZG3-EUih0aeagWY5S0DYfwr90xAXPqsJD8STMyR-sw-vZOcdbMGJ-p7CemizHLNCrliynV49Mz35v5djXhyo/s2016/IMG_6358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTZgc4QD5BGDkw7X1HldZXXeZXOQsCAC2nq_2PiNhPUT4UK3Y7yfMZEbz80jFW4sgAcsj5zStMJIessrGccXR17juG7nKuu3j3mliy2EwZG3-EUih0aeagWY5S0DYfwr90xAXPqsJD8STMyR-sw-vZOcdbMGJ-p7CemizHLNCrliynV49Mz35v5djXhyo/s320/IMG_6358.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLicGszOuypKpwyIkr0esladxgTSs1yL9U72ctvCPhLkF2XyAwgj0ZpkpvNCoB3FhpCyxRCZTIslWjLlartyq9bgiC072FhModbo0XFdfX4kFh-EqT6Hc9DbAPPGfZhnMPTJTPMTxnrYPsl0CGH3ALOJu2MTC9rGa3sHNdsZRawkg9sAykKVkxvlHVxPB/s2016/IMG_6336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLicGszOuypKpwyIkr0esladxgTSs1yL9U72ctvCPhLkF2XyAwgj0ZpkpvNCoB3FhpCyxRCZTIslWjLlartyq9bgiC072FhModbo0XFdfX4kFh-EqT6Hc9DbAPPGfZhnMPTJTPMTxnrYPsl0CGH3ALOJu2MTC9rGa3sHNdsZRawkg9sAykKVkxvlHVxPB/s320/IMG_6336.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Next
stop, is Boston! Stay tune! </span></span></span><span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Click
here if you want to check our previous Summer trip posts. <a href="https://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2023/06/bushs-summer-to-remember.html">SC</a>, <a href="https://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2023/06/summer-to-remember-welcome-to-virginia.html">VA</a>,
<a href="http://D.C">D.C</a>. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></p><p></p>Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-37186204383459708072023-06-27T03:38:00.003-07:002023-06-27T14:17:10.098-07:00Washington D.C: A Living Classroom<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Hi
friends! Thanks for stopping by. Here are the links to our previous
Summer trip posts if this is your first time here: </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2023/06/bushs-summer-to-remember.html">South
Carolina</a> & <a href="https://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2023/06/summer-to-remember-welcome-to-virginia.html">Virginia</a>.
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Even as we faced a few hiccups
on our way to the Northeast, we are piling up</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> so m</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">any</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> good memories than even
the inconvenient gets categorized as an adventure once is </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">conquered!</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">
More on that later, but for now let us highlight our stay at D.C, one
of our favorite stops for sure!</span></p><p></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_fRJX1r1yqeIgvKHVCHsy3-goG-1PhCqEFK4No5auknvEaqtCKbvWOwhFQYlpnts3Yfi28P9US3Jzts6lP23hCvEbfasn5slOwjblw9kTxchNgsewmRKUgtkJmGbRx00yB4_S1zy9q8tVzxO3XQBR73McNX0sIYUygOguzav2ohcSbdQiMk1hePToLXI/s1544/IMG_1305.JPG" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="1160" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_fRJX1r1yqeIgvKHVCHsy3-goG-1PhCqEFK4No5auknvEaqtCKbvWOwhFQYlpnts3Yfi28P9US3Jzts6lP23hCvEbfasn5slOwjblw9kTxchNgsewmRKUgtkJmGbRx00yB4_S1zy9q8tVzxO3XQBR73McNX0sIYUygOguzav2ohcSbdQiMk1hePToLXI/w181-h242/IMG_1305.JPG" width="181" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkqDtOaRe-9iANxeNvpzXFSwTZM-5miHCFH8Qp5cQ8cnx7A0vMd4QiDYnbMglepZz1jTK8rI6x3yyMYwzKhumDNB_ye6fqwQZoR2mZmQaoRs_lvDhQ-K08RulvT7uDeN0EvN72P8qHUipFtSYh7RHv1syvyNM3Nxld2goaQ9PL6-980uCFrgltEDAM9UZ/s2016/IMG_6240.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkqDtOaRe-9iANxeNvpzXFSwTZM-5miHCFH8Qp5cQ8cnx7A0vMd4QiDYnbMglepZz1jTK8rI6x3yyMYwzKhumDNB_ye6fqwQZoR2mZmQaoRs_lvDhQ-K08RulvT7uDeN0EvN72P8qHUipFtSYh7RHv1syvyNM3Nxld2goaQ9PL6-980uCFrgltEDAM9UZ/s320/IMG_6240.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For
those tracking the places we lodged in for future reference, we
stayed at <a href="https://www.cherryhillpark.com/">Cherry Hill
Campground</a>. This has been the kid’s favorite campground so far.
The place is huge! We highly recommend it. Very well maintained,
staffed and family/</span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">kid friendly.</span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
There were local and out of state visitors coming just to spend time
there, without even leaving the park!</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> The</span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">re
were</span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
pools, mini-golf, daily events, tractor rides, etc. We enjoyed
meeting </span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">&
socializing with </span></span></span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">fellow
campers during our walks and visits to the playground.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzuDjU1tvRf5HmIVS5esKVDhyCnnIB8iNSu1kj-2I7C_0VRQ-AlsXoZmpmw3Ktv0FePHaOpzwiT9Y9emMiZvGpqL3bpJdIXUjjZc38yD0BRcNjN3zBO1it_n9n1ob092VCarVI59lB7UyNMUjhTn5SD9BJAt5aWjtEO-uqlXpiO6I5q9p60DUbQ8SPsNf/s2016/IMG_1342.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzuDjU1tvRf5HmIVS5esKVDhyCnnIB8iNSu1kj-2I7C_0VRQ-AlsXoZmpmw3Ktv0FePHaOpzwiT9Y9emMiZvGpqL3bpJdIXUjjZc38yD0BRcNjN3zBO1it_n9n1ob092VCarVI59lB7UyNMUjhTn5SD9BJAt5aWjtEO-uqlXpiO6I5q9p60DUbQ8SPsNf/s320/IMG_1342.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdgJ4IppttxSG055NfSs4r8HwsPcxfxrVdFMv3Q-mpgCz_UyNXUuAcOimMvvoSo4euO12sdijUHQmVrrYldYQg9G-HVuSi3vz7xlNko9U5H2FAHIYMT7uANzxNC-SJJb4rUX_gXDDDymZsF3ubYLMzoaJ6NTFLVfgTGfrDE0flUv2xiJPoPKDQL4_aOgH/s2016/IMG_6289.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdgJ4IppttxSG055NfSs4r8HwsPcxfxrVdFMv3Q-mpgCz_UyNXUuAcOimMvvoSo4euO12sdijUHQmVrrYldYQg9G-HVuSi3vz7xlNko9U5H2FAHIYMT7uANzxNC-SJJb4rUX_gXDDDymZsF3ubYLMzoaJ6NTFLVfgTGfrDE0flUv2xiJPoPKDQL4_aOgH/s320/IMG_6289.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Once
settled and ready to explore the city, we went first to visit the
Museum of the Bible. This has been my absolute favorite stop so far.
What a fantastic place to get inspired and to realize the impact the Bible has had in humanity. I loved the way the
exhibits are organized. They have so many different perspectives to look, learn and
appreciate the Bible from. Whether historically, from different
disciplines, or diverse walks of lives, everybody could find a place
to resonate and appreciate the instrumental role of the Bible. Even
the non-Christian would enjoy visiting this museum. It really sheds
insight and understanding on how the Bible has shaped the history of
mankind. </span></span>
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyoXPEtYzi_Xijo_ZXTTqjqkua0Bv30xzZkySKATdm3AQzsc_nh3CCBOIWC_Uuvmn9GZwc6C7OKAaHBsC7DhaU5Un3hpQ5GdYvzwvQOmPJXgZd1d3kaoWM7lkbDnZnGKubqneqtbnQh8ov4GE_itggOmA_fllBFDItEAqANQP_xhK52eXTnNC2F5P5P8Q/s2016/IMG_1273.JPG" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyoXPEtYzi_Xijo_ZXTTqjqkua0Bv30xzZkySKATdm3AQzsc_nh3CCBOIWC_Uuvmn9GZwc6C7OKAaHBsC7DhaU5Un3hpQ5GdYvzwvQOmPJXgZd1d3kaoWM7lkbDnZnGKubqneqtbnQh8ov4GE_itggOmA_fllBFDItEAqANQP_xhK52eXTnNC2F5P5P8Q/w289-h217/IMG_1273.JPG" width="289" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKoOeit1OF12M22w7X1ihqlVJAlW4J8gu6twLCf6fKEC8_FkSt0zoHmMTjiCizeoA6WdRyCnZz2XBgaXACL6B0Jf9ozuZ_yBlQ6ju0r7Cid2yDbrdUny2WlMLusDjj97gKJ72A-TXGzP_YxXiehvTssjo8WM5EohR7xtKccpXG2Bqtmx_ZsJPbJ4DYyXx/s2016/IMG_6176.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKoOeit1OF12M22w7X1ihqlVJAlW4J8gu6twLCf6fKEC8_FkSt0zoHmMTjiCizeoA6WdRyCnZz2XBgaXACL6B0Jf9ozuZ_yBlQ6ju0r7Cid2yDbrdUny2WlMLusDjj97gKJ72A-TXGzP_YxXiehvTssjo8WM5EohR7xtKccpXG2Bqtmx_ZsJPbJ4DYyXx/w293-h220/IMG_6176.jpg" width="293" /></a><br />
<br />
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">For
example, Michaela’s favorite exhibit was Gutenberg's printing
press, it turns out the very first printed document was the Bible.
This invention revolutionized humanity at the time, because it made
information and knowledge more readily available to everybody, not to
just the nobility. The printing and difusing of the Bible across socio-economical classes was an unprecedented driver for the increase of literacy and education. Garrick really enjoyed the exhibit about how the
Bible has impacted United States and world’s history, even in ways
that are almost unnoticed to the modern eye. For example, there were
booths about the development of music throughout history, and it was
very neat to see the influence of the Bible, providing rich ideas for
composers and song writers throughout millennia. There are jingles
that are unconsciously sung by people today that are rooted in
scripture. </span></span>
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPFzWHIzLU7jJecoSuh1e3sImBA0Z6uc-VdAG1DIz_VLXoCR5V8BrR40uzmms2hIk6u1Jvma025E41TV0dh2Z2VhXO0YUi_kOOcIe2Rs5GxX1lA_QaunjZXbUb59rMRQCYEyekiWbcN8kssQBrVihvHzSVgGC9aDO8zO7yjw5g_bvPQRbX1Lds6wRF0o4/s1558/IMG_1265.JPG" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1558" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPFzWHIzLU7jJecoSuh1e3sImBA0Z6uc-VdAG1DIz_VLXoCR5V8BrR40uzmms2hIk6u1Jvma025E41TV0dh2Z2VhXO0YUi_kOOcIe2Rs5GxX1lA_QaunjZXbUb59rMRQCYEyekiWbcN8kssQBrVihvHzSVgGC9aDO8zO7yjw5g_bvPQRbX1Lds6wRF0o4/s320/IMG_1265.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPTagny6Ke3hhqE55LVJGHGqjE11-SzgJhn4MmPPGVM5FUh-Q-jGWMWGeQcMsihbChNocXcVI0ouqvgJ_WvN-Q8w1AKQnI8Ryhi8tLjVFCV3jy2QKJXMEXPqsZDmFKCa7GJhi7ca9nTvdrvU3gGFwiXjMRMI8hbKsPrnQEsGqLZfMLaJlnXqN-jsQEhzk/s2016/IMG_6116.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPTagny6Ke3hhqE55LVJGHGqjE11-SzgJhn4MmPPGVM5FUh-Q-jGWMWGeQcMsihbChNocXcVI0ouqvgJ_WvN-Q8w1AKQnI8Ryhi8tLjVFCV3jy2QKJXMEXPqsZDmFKCa7GJhi7ca9nTvdrvU3gGFwiXjMRMI8hbKsPrnQEsGqLZfMLaJlnXqN-jsQEhzk/w187-h249/IMG_6116.jpg" width="187" /></a> </p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpf-fmk7rRXNIEiOtzSzeFTG003dI1JJSva4XLC79f8LJwgH-AguNDgq9rCVpuNYn_CVsWaU1TTG5rEVuhXruhUK3JT8tAONvPoJPbnZ1XObw6STKGyoiCNd-ZzIFgoHvCq0XWk2exN_teljESQmuvJL--bfOZALGZdC2hD39xZGAx4AjqtozZ-NHDPuQ/s2016/IMG_6171.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpf-fmk7rRXNIEiOtzSzeFTG003dI1JJSva4XLC79f8LJwgH-AguNDgq9rCVpuNYn_CVsWaU1TTG5rEVuhXruhUK3JT8tAONvPoJPbnZ1XObw6STKGyoiCNd-ZzIFgoHvCq0XWk2exN_teljESQmuvJL--bfOZALGZdC2hD39xZGAx4AjqtozZ-NHDPuQ/w225-h300/IMG_6171.jpg" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_egATEHNzorL6XJbpMO8DlKwCumjtY3HBnNCERiUFSqRi9dMo6YpUGX6YwxBsCMyH6HkA7zaWxcnsM_XWgcapc7qnYDMpQmsUf_2S_Gq8xT6qjTmYJnTwV4rZ-n_6g8HZbxR9dKw447tghtU3nfwPfMCGSFr5SyTiRVtjppKyCuOEmc1Wh4qyCV5ZfqV/s2016/IMG_6148.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_egATEHNzorL6XJbpMO8DlKwCumjtY3HBnNCERiUFSqRi9dMo6YpUGX6YwxBsCMyH6HkA7zaWxcnsM_XWgcapc7qnYDMpQmsUf_2S_Gq8xT6qjTmYJnTwV4rZ-n_6g8HZbxR9dKw447tghtU3nfwPfMCGSFr5SyTiRVtjppKyCuOEmc1Wh4qyCV5ZfqV/s320/IMG_6148.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">David-Elliot
enjoyed their show about creation and God’s choosing of His people.
It was a fascinating show on the origin of humanity in parallel with
God’s redemption plan for humanity. So good. Evelyn, of course,
loved the kid’s section. She got to catch a few fish from Noah’s
ark. Ha! Dave enjoyed the exhibits of testimonies from common people.
It was very refreshing to find places to resonate with the tangible
ways God’s word has transformed lives, communities and empires. I
enjoyed learning about the way God has protected the Bible through
history. The story of how we obtained the Biblical cannon, and the
role of Biblical translation was also fascinating! We totally recommend to
visit this museum, check it out! </span></span>
</p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrByObmgoc7VL4mFMNUKuJ5rKC76CoZ6-3NPHpjjLmv25Hjp7xwKatZcpnGmU82qFICdwOI5a4dkenYcwkqOjoA9dhyjPftHDAO9x-Jc1n-TOXBjxt4FqDYWSn7x6Np0P2bUwzhhW_SGKRI7r990mROjRUvwgvqlcoJNYY3pGpaAB1WNIIpmyEabAtkbQI/s2016/IMG_6169.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrByObmgoc7VL4mFMNUKuJ5rKC76CoZ6-3NPHpjjLmv25Hjp7xwKatZcpnGmU82qFICdwOI5a4dkenYcwkqOjoA9dhyjPftHDAO9x-Jc1n-TOXBjxt4FqDYWSn7x6Np0P2bUwzhhW_SGKRI7r990mROjRUvwgvqlcoJNYY3pGpaAB1WNIIpmyEabAtkbQI/w284-h213/IMG_6169.jpg" width="284" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyV9eBeOrWpq5EgMw2R1JouTEd9vtXzpJNgZzDWzJAr7n2uJVLWnm9CVZgHcJ_un_tWS-zXNVCqrSWCQgv3F-OOZ6OJsuGzCGlSTlvdUEpdzDoVzU0566RpXF7cfUJyMsZ4oN3zpUZ_frZjv0Gn3a9QN3N7JMiJEDbdinryk11aFnxlnrEzMOoyZjfB0OX/s2016/IMG_6108.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyV9eBeOrWpq5EgMw2R1JouTEd9vtXzpJNgZzDWzJAr7n2uJVLWnm9CVZgHcJ_un_tWS-zXNVCqrSWCQgv3F-OOZ6OJsuGzCGlSTlvdUEpdzDoVzU0566RpXF7cfUJyMsZ4oN3zpUZ_frZjv0Gn3a9QN3N7JMiJEDbdinryk11aFnxlnrEzMOoyZjfB0OX/w283-h213/IMG_6108.jpg" width="283" /></a></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFzoE1J92FgCeBLY8zmrHM3e7b4Ex3pOdsLj7yBntupBEJL4cCMQPetDbenr8IAkShCVsHZYA6WtZIIKS-GmIYjQea1kE7z3kRJKbspBVB0ocQl6_6wtEyAwxeKuCTJCXsXqBIk1l9ZlFyoAAs0GRKEb2aLLi-43jvcl5EE2f_DXQrTZd7Vg1akGdJK0K/s2016/IMG_1263.JPG" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFzoE1J92FgCeBLY8zmrHM3e7b4Ex3pOdsLj7yBntupBEJL4cCMQPetDbenr8IAkShCVsHZYA6WtZIIKS-GmIYjQea1kE7z3kRJKbspBVB0ocQl6_6wtEyAwxeKuCTJCXsXqBIk1l9ZlFyoAAs0GRKEb2aLLi-43jvcl5EE2f_DXQrTZd7Vg1akGdJK0K/s320/IMG_1263.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTKSl-rfIXkqgAdi17B3lTueuzRKcfeLF8cJaSmW9zmEHQt5U6rmCUi6b4HFVdx0n1tpuD0bOKzvWp8rgEp10iQpUE8G58pR9Idr7i30dfTYN3xXk12EWDeTJh0dtyFH_srcrlL92AKS1MGNyXxSyhYwnU3nFTzjatcGQHA5fsuV34xL2yuxinEUVpF81/s2016/IMG_1254.JPG" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTKSl-rfIXkqgAdi17B3lTueuzRKcfeLF8cJaSmW9zmEHQt5U6rmCUi6b4HFVdx0n1tpuD0bOKzvWp8rgEp10iQpUE8G58pR9Idr7i30dfTYN3xXk12EWDeTJh0dtyFH_srcrlL92AKS1MGNyXxSyhYwnU3nFTzjatcGQHA5fsuV34xL2yuxinEUVpF81/s320/IMG_1254.JPG" width="240" /></a>
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">After
filling our minds to our heart’s content here, we went for a stroll
near the museum scouting for food. Most everything was closed because
it was Sunday and later in the day. However, we found a dining joint
were we ran into an old friend of mine from my nursing club when I
first became a mom. What an unlikely, yet heartwarming encounter! It
was like a nice ribbon to put on the gift of our day. </span></span>
</p>
<p style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlznJJS9XmAzRFpDK0GMvFkgxobQM0KiZkWOjzlOHF85jspHnhSSHK1JLZ7apXnnuIj8PpBs7ZnHJOe3yIIIRfxo3LRbu3Ddxi5NaMFI0Zf5433A8u9iBrv7zJYKjQKbVH22J__BecHmbXqM4ld6CBIDu7sgvAK27uIo57wmmWstt9i25AtVO7QE2u3Q3y/s2016/IMG_6238.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlznJJS9XmAzRFpDK0GMvFkgxobQM0KiZkWOjzlOHF85jspHnhSSHK1JLZ7apXnnuIj8PpBs7ZnHJOe3yIIIRfxo3LRbu3Ddxi5NaMFI0Zf5433A8u9iBrv7zJYKjQKbVH22J__BecHmbXqM4ld6CBIDu7sgvAK27uIo57wmmWstt9i25AtVO7QE2u3Q3y/w180-h240/IMG_6238.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd04J8OvJozRPG82sbgKWBzYapoDcu3zYqEsd9Ege9uycQMY-HcDXKzvgCBbRqygwLkqceSpGhPZKf-ajAAXfe6tirFlsSGhHN-_okzFPcBBIG1scl5a3YNDkHjXSxpjSeOBtG4QeJk-C_B7skNMjeAalYXaya7Y_xEUfwJUsIfrXpuGF-ZGtL-ixs2UYC/s2016/IMG_6181.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd04J8OvJozRPG82sbgKWBzYapoDcu3zYqEsd9Ege9uycQMY-HcDXKzvgCBbRqygwLkqceSpGhPZKf-ajAAXfe6tirFlsSGhHN-_okzFPcBBIG1scl5a3YNDkHjXSxpjSeOBtG4QeJk-C_B7skNMjeAalYXaya7Y_xEUfwJUsIfrXpuGF-ZGtL-ixs2UYC/s320/IMG_6181.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">The
second day of our stay we went to visit the Smithsonian Museum of
American History. It was fantastic. Quite often people take multiple
days to explore the richness of this place. We devoted just half of
our day. We didn’t get to walk it all, but we covered a good
portion of it. I’ll highlight the favorites again. </span></span>
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0d9Lh5SBNhMeoU-1kFf3G3XYEoZPDSdS6GZgK0GuhlZdWOS7LA69INkzeJJjS-iuSqWnbKaAQ0pKSH337DbuTvtqqlw8Ck9ki2b-RMCqjvYlbsDEBUjRSesGW4a4vets5NU7apnNE85Szgr-W11YHcEX_-rYV1BoVXSKZhkWDQpXLtVbFtvfxnjqPwmGh/s1544/IMG_1283.JPG" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1544" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0d9Lh5SBNhMeoU-1kFf3G3XYEoZPDSdS6GZgK0GuhlZdWOS7LA69INkzeJJjS-iuSqWnbKaAQ0pKSH337DbuTvtqqlw8Ck9ki2b-RMCqjvYlbsDEBUjRSesGW4a4vets5NU7apnNE85Szgr-W11YHcEX_-rYV1BoVXSKZhkWDQpXLtVbFtvfxnjqPwmGh/w292-h219/IMG_1283.JPG" width="292" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZN4US_DNRs01OkZQnKVOBvEw6F6-7i2Xrec4uGqUzz95m1H-fdj-JPiiPk9nqfDrfCEP3U6w_lNK_dD_w2FbZ5hCb5NXm9Fl9niCFPU7t8zF2rtg8fERJbhPVw-OL0-FVpVRYT3YfFPq8w5ml3l4a_i87fCAh-7m-1YWXQk9yUNmma_DEba4Ane8QKL4/s2016/IMG_6208.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZN4US_DNRs01OkZQnKVOBvEw6F6-7i2Xrec4uGqUzz95m1H-fdj-JPiiPk9nqfDrfCEP3U6w_lNK_dD_w2FbZ5hCb5NXm9Fl9niCFPU7t8zF2rtg8fERJbhPVw-OL0-FVpVRYT3YfFPq8w5ml3l4a_i87fCAh-7m-1YWXQk9yUNmma_DEba4Ane8QKL4/w165-h220/IMG_6208.jpg" width="165" /></a><br />
<br />
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Garrick
enjoyed the Spangled Banner exhibit. Seeing the original flag there
and learning about its story was really neat. They featured the real
flag in there! The one that saw the cannons blasting in the air!
Quite an amazing sight. He also enjoyed all the ways American culture
was described throughout the exhibits. He really grew in appreciation
of the richness of it. David Elliot enjoyed an exhibit called
“American on the Go”, which featured the story of transportation
in America. We all enjoyed following the evolution of the engine and
the the means of transportation in the States. From steam engines to
rockets, we learned how this part of American history has been so
influential in the creation of cities, industries and new ways of
life. </span></span>
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMyhbIdwRr31y7feWvUkQ98FGg4oYBtQUBrfcQ8bNkGK6QTTHn5kHHmWXn3Uk_SCf0w_BilgjLXtrqPGZaXl7qL1zbKjSGvSfeCi19VsJv8j1ZIVFlBERMkckT_eZ4ZNsDgikf_IAteEahUOYoAja2b446G6LCTzn51GeM5RxVwQcKff9vDzG_IPwlSUk/s2016/IMG_6225.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMyhbIdwRr31y7feWvUkQ98FGg4oYBtQUBrfcQ8bNkGK6QTTHn5kHHmWXn3Uk_SCf0w_BilgjLXtrqPGZaXl7qL1zbKjSGvSfeCi19VsJv8j1ZIVFlBERMkckT_eZ4ZNsDgikf_IAteEahUOYoAja2b446G6LCTzn51GeM5RxVwQcKff9vDzG_IPwlSUk/s320/IMG_6225.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUMMepgnjP3vgvzW6LIFYpzrCN7DQ9A8K4OoiiTO5YzHECx4dwPkfOmSDQMlyGuCHiw4zjrQfuYG9Lge8YMAry8Rin_Ea_TmDnRuJNvOTJJEsZn4eVKPH8eSn4N54hFsWV9JQwTiLRolwYTa59CQAbLddjMwat72Y6aAfbBslJASpRw40EbAoB5ebmNMW/s2016/IMG_6218.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUMMepgnjP3vgvzW6LIFYpzrCN7DQ9A8K4OoiiTO5YzHECx4dwPkfOmSDQMlyGuCHiw4zjrQfuYG9Lge8YMAry8Rin_Ea_TmDnRuJNvOTJJEsZn4eVKPH8eSn4N54hFsWV9JQwTiLRolwYTa59CQAbLddjMwat72Y6aAfbBslJASpRw40EbAoB5ebmNMW/s320/IMG_6218.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Michaela’s
favorite was the food exhibit. She loved to see the portrayed
diversity..of course it made us so hungry! Dave’s favorite exhibit
was “the Story of Democracy.” It highlighted the development of
this type of government, the development of human rights, the
conception and practice of voting and elections, along with all the
issues our founding fathers had to struggle with at the inception of
this new-to-the-world idea. All the world knew back then was
monarchy, so democracy was quite revolutionary in terms of the
establishment of a new country fully founded on the concept of being
governed “By the people” and “for the people”. It was
interesting to see the deep Christian roots of this new ideology and
the main concern back then about the sustainability of such
government by people that didn’t adhere to the Christian tenants.
Democracy they thought, was only viable for a highly moral and
religious people. Otherwise the deeply rooted human desire for money
and power would bring it down as it has done to countless empires in
the past.</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">They
also had an area devoted to the role of immigration in the story of
America. It was special to share with my kids how some of the stories
portrayed there resonated with my own story as an immigrant myself.</span></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54tj92tYOrNvoKJ2Nxx9__yZVyuWi6kW9veuMBodh6fYSA_eYy4-tJ06R43YlKyPCsDSK__2ybRO_Zv8lCgMWcjlszQLsugwK6eyoxJUosAozD6NTxS1eKVwLYFViQDI3GcDW7V2XI153aK1Pgg3SYlefyjH_V30OpXsH2Q3Tg0yp-izwf88bF_iZNkiW/s2016/IMG_6213.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54tj92tYOrNvoKJ2Nxx9__yZVyuWi6kW9veuMBodh6fYSA_eYy4-tJ06R43YlKyPCsDSK__2ybRO_Zv8lCgMWcjlszQLsugwK6eyoxJUosAozD6NTxS1eKVwLYFViQDI3GcDW7V2XI153aK1Pgg3SYlefyjH_V30OpXsH2Q3Tg0yp-izwf88bF_iZNkiW/w288-h216/IMG_6213.jpg" width="288" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCqs_CWFfIqsprwkDYw3UIxX0YEN-1xI8lgjdzqT1htAMee-cF2wrrH0yxLTsb9uLNyCnO5FviccDwwBUfzfIy_2X0QylVhlTS_cDlsUGrlizIvcfc_CpYivd4BNMpLTebCgcAbfhDIS48ydwM8j95PCvKT02b3KtK8SRcJzedUNKL9sK2NhLu3k-9ZDL/s2016/IMG_1285.JPG" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCqs_CWFfIqsprwkDYw3UIxX0YEN-1xI8lgjdzqT1htAMee-cF2wrrH0yxLTsb9uLNyCnO5FviccDwwBUfzfIy_2X0QylVhlTS_cDlsUGrlizIvcfc_CpYivd4BNMpLTebCgcAbfhDIS48ydwM8j95PCvKT02b3KtK8SRcJzedUNKL9sK2NhLu3k-9ZDL/w166-h221/IMG_1285.JPG" width="166" /></a></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">We
also got to visit the National Mall on that day. The miles long walk
around the monuments was great. However I have to confess that it was
challenging to haul a toddler after a museum visit. I have to give
much credit to Evelyn though. I think she walked double if not triple
the mileage we did on that day. I would not be surprised if she grows
up to be a marathoner! So proud of my girl!</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMg6N-cm-ocFRUV9J7soe6oiyh1Ml6IG3IWRLtzr1CYme1APxtN9iDV5FWKe4luJcjNUY_ws7isB68ah1-a_eNBHRjejPDtmBH97bnROguXizfuru7JnuBIOafeUN5WAZpWGmlvZVeJLaIGc9aW1VdvEapILDSatj3SfXAr7H-ylucIs_h4xs2gqT9nrim/s2016/IMG_1296.JPG" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMg6N-cm-ocFRUV9J7soe6oiyh1Ml6IG3IWRLtzr1CYme1APxtN9iDV5FWKe4luJcjNUY_ws7isB68ah1-a_eNBHRjejPDtmBH97bnROguXizfuru7JnuBIOafeUN5WAZpWGmlvZVeJLaIGc9aW1VdvEapILDSatj3SfXAr7H-ylucIs_h4xs2gqT9nrim/s320/IMG_1296.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBGuzhEKvlk6Xy3sVureftae5Ew_zh0-QmJyNZ3y70MYJpKmepqSMtsRQRz9m8tCqFLljr_FDFEYDNCpvf19trXy90VH3mEJCc4TjfhekvmRIGcYfkAqilvrV9ip6A8ufld6UXeh3dSoZ6VWsj6liEJbMh3AiIvJLM2XM2zzVUxMG6_TBk6wTjzEFmrQr/s2016/IMG_1298.JPG" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBGuzhEKvlk6Xy3sVureftae5Ew_zh0-QmJyNZ3y70MYJpKmepqSMtsRQRz9m8tCqFLljr_FDFEYDNCpvf19trXy90VH3mEJCc4TjfhekvmRIGcYfkAqilvrV9ip6A8ufld6UXeh3dSoZ6VWsj6liEJbMh3AiIvJLM2XM2zzVUxMG6_TBk6wTjzEFmrQr/s320/IMG_1298.JPG" width="240" /></a>
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">The
last day of our stay we mostly relaxed and enjoyed the campground. I
took the morning to visit my dear friend from youth group Maralee. It
was super heartwarming to reconnect with her after over a decade and
see the fantastic adventure she’s up to these days. She started a one of a kind Non-for-profit called “<a href="https://www.comunidadva.org/">Comunidad</a>”,
which empowers vulnerable communities in the D.C area. It was pretty
neat to tour the facilities and see goals accomplished and get to know some of the staff and
even some of the community residents. I was incredibly inspired and
encouraged by seeing her faithfulness and vision bearing so much
fruit. I also got to ride the City metro on my own..for the very
first time in my life! (Dave stayed home with the kiddos letting them
enjoy the park). It was quite daunting for this navigationally
challenged Colombian-Floridian, but I did it! The little blessings
people! </span></span>
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANMsQUg5tPh6w7ErliFwxQMAzDKUHFcGnRUqrTgPWMGt1OAhnxrPOfyk4RqeLbBvgTKNsyvnnABj8o7FgXe6rH0sAFcQxRvFrxVgFmS_4GRkfJSeZ7wHSJEF2vFi_UXq8Mx1qeTKSwW5f_sVWUNnclllQDV6YYTzfqsp1qbGRRJ8LBDghYyv88eMMxawq/s1131/image000004.JPG" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="848" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANMsQUg5tPh6w7ErliFwxQMAzDKUHFcGnRUqrTgPWMGt1OAhnxrPOfyk4RqeLbBvgTKNsyvnnABj8o7FgXe6rH0sAFcQxRvFrxVgFmS_4GRkfJSeZ7wHSJEF2vFi_UXq8Mx1qeTKSwW5f_sVWUNnclllQDV6YYTzfqsp1qbGRRJ8LBDghYyv88eMMxawq/s320/image000004.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYKq1Rmzyxdab6qtxH5UtReXrNuxmhJpqomQJjxqGAXtxwmEk1e4dO2pit9yKVKHbMXcUPhmmpPvXociEMmA9Eq1AwZGrLlac7wvB_VidVtVZuLOSiYc1z19CZR1fWMUnNahZX_5UM9BdOzkGzVS1cuDfI6zYryw_a4H1gZb2hqhPfmUxptiSQFXdlGdG/s2016/IMG_1311.jpg" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYKq1Rmzyxdab6qtxH5UtReXrNuxmhJpqomQJjxqGAXtxwmEk1e4dO2pit9yKVKHbMXcUPhmmpPvXociEMmA9Eq1AwZGrLlac7wvB_VidVtVZuLOSiYc1z19CZR1fWMUnNahZX_5UM9BdOzkGzVS1cuDfI6zYryw_a4H1gZb2hqhPfmUxptiSQFXdlGdG/s320/IMG_1311.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">We
wrapped up our visit and headed Northeast for our next adventure. Oh,
well, and an adventure it was. So grateful we survived..because if
you are in Christ you will never get lost, no matter what! That’s
why I am here telling the story. Stay tuned!</span></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-28430263252390839252023-06-22T05:26:00.003-07:002023-06-30T17:55:31.360-07:00Summer to Remember - Welcome to Virginia!<div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator"><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">First
week down </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">friends</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">!
Here's our 2nd round of highlights, now</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> from the land of VA! </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">This
time we stayed at </span></span></span><a href="https://anvilcampground.com/" style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Anvil
Campground</a><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">.
We truly enjoyed this site. It’s well maintained, with wonderful
amenities and close to the area we wanted to explore.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c9211e;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6c-pWXVa5li1APdVPc4SSeV6_fsmfD4adgYPhh2FE_GIX0owpP-l4LkgvARZV_eHxd4pmY1qEMfYzSxYk3x-KK-11FBTTFbQ7Kh2SZK5byWHIKzh9zmRql70A7_QA0VYWm7V2ftZ-D2XMPjZFpzKgquva6jdtSXQFghWM4Jl0QlXYu_Cfe-AEPkgM14C/s2016/IMG_6083.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6c-pWXVa5li1APdVPc4SSeV6_fsmfD4adgYPhh2FE_GIX0owpP-l4LkgvARZV_eHxd4pmY1qEMfYzSxYk3x-KK-11FBTTFbQ7Kh2SZK5byWHIKzh9zmRql70A7_QA0VYWm7V2ftZ-D2XMPjZFpzKgquva6jdtSXQFghWM4Jl0QlXYu_Cfe-AEPkgM14C/s320/IMG_6083.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c9211e;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c9211e;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="color: #c9211e;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dycdwSgczye2BOXwcPIJKK3d0dDKwAQm2OqsNzbb6zn3qSNpIXS51_kC2l2r5HVwyqudx3rbAsmhBECrjIAAQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /></span></span></span><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">After setting up the camper we went to our first destination: <a href="https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/explore/seasons/Summer/?gclid=a895a415564b1e9a3d82c0816fadac5e&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=a895a415564b1e9a3d82c0816fadac5e&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=CW_214928_Brand_Search_EN_CWF%20Tickets%20Exact&utm_term=colonial%20williamsburg&utm_content=CW_Brand_Exact_Search_CWF%20Tickets">Col</a></span><a href="https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/explore/seasons/Summer/?gclid=a895a415564b1e9a3d82c0816fadac5e&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=a895a415564b1e9a3d82c0816fadac5e&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=CW_214928_Brand_Search_EN_CWF%20Tickets%20Exact&utm_term=colonial%20williamsburg&utm_content=CW_Brand_Exact_Search_CWF%20Tickets"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">onial </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Williamsburg</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">”. This is a </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px;">preserved </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">reenactment town themed after the</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">American Revolution </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">era</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">. It turns out that this place was the </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">former </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">capital of </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">the state.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">We</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"> enjoyed every minute of it, even as we walked </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">miles perusing the town. So much to see, smell, touch </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">and learn!!</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwQvZml5Gv2PG2IFEkNWxmI9JWBy9CYuw3wNTS_QwFWDQ2T3mlnzJ7XHz4C8oJpCJvDsKjF2NVYyeO8GgHXkExN6_v5hter1Vk0KA6eZP-6QA6mlYEVXDT058v32Kmda9DT-bpkPDVUTFRD4VOjNwzje0akw2d3z7D6n2bgq9mduOIn8hHl6rZnqN05QB/s2016/IMG_1162.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/AVvXsEhtwQvZml5Gv2PG2IFEkNWxmI9JWBy9CYuw3wNTS_QwFWDQ2T3mlnzJ7XHz4C8oJpCJvDsKjF2NVYyeO8GgHXkExN6_v5hter1Vk0KA6eZP-6QA6mlYEVXDT058v32Kmda9DT-bpkPDVUTFRD4VOjNwzje0akw2d3z7D6n2bgq9mduOIn8hHl6rZnqN05QB/s2016/IMG_1162.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjJXaenjgS-gpcpGJRi1PtV74jz8RDlXMMUJO-F67naTy8O42bQpo6rfrzT3H021zj0VMTvfC9Jhs3y81nRzDRwfTu3qna5WipyWmY-bmtcG8OTH8wgqbct8FUnpBwvyCM5ho31EZcq9j-YnfLHhMyACeidzYkccibUKMuWDQ_qp49JPyMq59aPTxZcc9/s1826/IMG_1169.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1826" data-original-width="1154" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjJXaenjgS-gpcpGJRi1PtV74jz8RDlXMMUJO-F67naTy8O42bQpo6rfrzT3H021zj0VMTvfC9Jhs3y81nRzDRwfTu3qna5WipyWmY-bmtcG8OTH8wgqbct8FUnpBwvyCM5ho31EZcq9j-YnfLHhMyACeidzYkccibUKMuWDQ_qp49JPyMq59aPTxZcc9/s320/IMG_1169.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlc6fwV-MBqupQudnwg2AImaVE5FA7_mppQ8Pv8YS5qrOJlXGvS_JT_PIMd1G8HF876aLviVXhpF5c8TcsyXJ2IonXr9ag2PcgIwAZzPK9j_XYwGVzyD8U-7OVCF-9LHipLyPxGh6vrTpWUOCOqentJ6biCevQViGmy-AMjsJ9Hm-aeI58KtI7DghMyiz/s2016/IMG_6030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlc6fwV-MBqupQudnwg2AImaVE5FA7_mppQ8Pv8YS5qrOJlXGvS_JT_PIMd1G8HF876aLviVXhpF5c8TcsyXJ2IonXr9ag2PcgIwAZzPK9j_XYwGVzyD8U-7OVCF-9LHipLyPxGh6vrTpWUOCOqentJ6biCevQViGmy-AMjsJ9Hm-aeI58KtI7DghMyiz/s320/IMG_6030.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Picture going back 250 years in history. The</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">re</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> were re-enactors everywhere, ready to tell </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">us</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> about their li</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">festyles & </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">trades back in the day.</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Some of our favorites were having Garrick picked to be part of the justice league in a </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">local </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">mock trial. </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We were especially made aware of how people were so immersed in the political affairs of their localities. We were inspired to do the same. We can’</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">t </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">wait for Garrick to go to his second round of </span></span></span><a href="https://teenpact.com/" style="font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: left;">Teenpact</a><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">!...I digress.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 18.6667px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekY5qFFNr23d9vfIgAAtDzfkwVn7U4dlobHuyEsUXLb_0yQ3DRjKdTDGbEkthUsgG99x5FvAOkB-lfE6LRnYjXTQzsikxJrJ2ANWQtQ3C2X2K8R-pwX48NXgIrH1sr5LyguVSatpAapRYNHG1fP7XSkpkfxzLza5VCf2A19qElqBPjkOlSNuCm7cPlDNj/s2016/IMG_6045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekY5qFFNr23d9vfIgAAtDzfkwVn7U4dlobHuyEsUXLb_0yQ3DRjKdTDGbEkthUsgG99x5FvAOkB-lfE6LRnYjXTQzsikxJrJ2ANWQtQ3C2X2K8R-pwX48NXgIrH1sr5LyguVSatpAapRYNHG1fP7XSkpkfxzLza5VCf2A19qElqBPjkOlSNuCm7cPlDNj/s320/IMG_6045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykI4N0JtZHGqfJGMlIkE1zpvMTOQBKTd4ocpr90lcAvKATOhoyQ8FywTcmEOMZGyKf2XuZ3WeRXGNAo5fVYbOlFOGzy41Mtqrh8cowILcgmYclaQpYJT1TwQeSP-I7YGvySq1hv8TxEvbEtQzaMi3lHsbHTifsceDwcpgXgozrNHF_9KXnA46c9qb5Iwe/s2016/IMG_6040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykI4N0JtZHGqfJGMlIkE1zpvMTOQBKTd4ocpr90lcAvKATOhoyQ8FywTcmEOMZGyKf2XuZ3WeRXGNAo5fVYbOlFOGzy41Mtqrh8cowILcgmYclaQpYJT1TwQeSP-I7YGvySq1hv8TxEvbEtQzaMi3lHsbHTifsceDwcpgXgozrNHF_9KXnA46c9qb5Iwe/s320/IMG_6040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We
also got to talk to “young </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">George
</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Washington
and his wife”. So </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">amusing!
These re-enactors really get into character! Did you know that George
Washington had obscure beginnings? He actually got ushered into the
public arena by m</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">arrying
up! Who would’ve thought? </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Well,
God’s sovereignty works in so many ways! We also learned that</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
his military experience in the French-Indian war of 1700’s was
quite an agony for him. He battled dysentery </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">among
other ailments </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">for
almost 9 months and almost die</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">d</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">.
No wonder his character grew so strong! </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Let
us not forget that there is not such thing as a wasted battle. </span></span></span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%201:2-4&version=NIV">(James
1:2-4)</a><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">.
It turns out t</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">his
war was much bigger than we knew. It was virtually the first Global
war in history. </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Every
single country and empire was at war </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">at
the time</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">.
</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">It
was interesting to hear him pointing to </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">the
same old </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">fight</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
for money and power </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">as</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
the real </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">combustible</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
behind it all.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QQI9hT9Zq2ZFxonyAdO7-HQBgjATy3b6Q_s-xao05Wb4v0gVBvvg5hJrhjE50Tbif2rl8_sW4lWX39r2ia7nr-u_QHRB4-keG8XrUbhtgk8LPGnYcX8EQ57OXv0Xwrvx0nmkxqZdk5667xL16IBptAcrF4WNCfRJrKUUTSc-QjY5W5YQYWc3EwaLYJuk/s2016/IMG_6047.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QQI9hT9Zq2ZFxonyAdO7-HQBgjATy3b6Q_s-xao05Wb4v0gVBvvg5hJrhjE50Tbif2rl8_sW4lWX39r2ia7nr-u_QHRB4-keG8XrUbhtgk8LPGnYcX8EQ57OXv0Xwrvx0nmkxqZdk5667xL16IBptAcrF4WNCfRJrKUUTSc-QjY5W5YQYWc3EwaLYJuk/s320/IMG_6047.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7vpUzdVgG_YOlShvtXWqr1Az8vojUf5SP7p-tFJTxMYSGkW3w9U0UggJ0amaszot33TQ_OgEE9bAC54eDXDBPuaqOLloB-tSidaNSU6WvXCwr9VOanmEGshNmyJqBNb_7Edw9Gw7lfyvVp5Z390HRQv6RIxcW-dlayK1DThPTHxTs03iieO8geiOUSlZ/s2016/IMG_6056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7vpUzdVgG_YOlShvtXWqr1Az8vojUf5SP7p-tFJTxMYSGkW3w9U0UggJ0amaszot33TQ_OgEE9bAC54eDXDBPuaqOLloB-tSidaNSU6WvXCwr9VOanmEGshNmyJqBNb_7Edw9Gw7lfyvVp5Z390HRQv6RIxcW-dlayK1DThPTHxTs03iieO8geiOUSlZ/s320/IMG_6056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">And
did you know that back </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">then
</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">non-Anglican
</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">preachers
were not allowed to preach with an open Bible? It was considered a
threat to the English crown. </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">They
were able to proselytize and teach, but with strict restrictions. </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">It
does </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">ring
a bell</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">,
doesn’t it? Those who do not know history are bound to repeat it
goes the old saying.</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Ok,
enough of that. The kids also enjoyed playing old fashion games, were
inspired by a play </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">about
about</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
the roots of the emancipation, visited with the print master, the
apothecary shop owner, and the blacksmith </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">shop
</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">among
others. Such a lovely visit. </span></span></span></span>
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-dH5ZuWKORy5LhJGA4ckXpxJeMdsMhpRkg8JTYdj_OaZO09Zjxu-99-vCMdOpatJ7qzTIQvBpkqukx-RIFWzey6AdiayPzOgXfXJKtEDW4VoHe65e9fc-g_G4pbaKQ8RAvgF5IgdmfCYHF5zpj85dZ_OXoL2ZkNsnyZv2pUseQ1dm83pIgXkEErsx6PR/s2016/IMG_6075.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-dH5ZuWKORy5LhJGA4ckXpxJeMdsMhpRkg8JTYdj_OaZO09Zjxu-99-vCMdOpatJ7qzTIQvBpkqukx-RIFWzey6AdiayPzOgXfXJKtEDW4VoHe65e9fc-g_G4pbaKQ8RAvgF5IgdmfCYHF5zpj85dZ_OXoL2ZkNsnyZv2pUseQ1dm83pIgXkEErsx6PR/s320/IMG_6075.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU91HA9lLK9e39opsTGFtimi0xp_TQMlFRtOiooON3ZCN-Zr36SR3CP7S-hSd_buK7aCaBadEA7E5E4xVUrE11POfWthyKmVXjXeBHau9yDpeyD_qa2rHCA8TCqSf5R6fUWwBb8YzKycQ_Tpx28p3G6234frPYaOSNBCZYf0gyM6oxFdK6HcBG1nmfMOg3/s2016/IMG_6065.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU91HA9lLK9e39opsTGFtimi0xp_TQMlFRtOiooON3ZCN-Zr36SR3CP7S-hSd_buK7aCaBadEA7E5E4xVUrE11POfWthyKmVXjXeBHau9yDpeyD_qa2rHCA8TCqSf5R6fUWwBb8YzKycQ_Tpx28p3G6234frPYaOSNBCZYf0gyM6oxFdK6HcBG1nmfMOg3/s320/IMG_6065.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The
next day, while I stayed home </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">working
on</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
homework for the next school year, Dave took the kids to “the
Berkeley Plantation</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">".
</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">This
was a mansion built back in the 1600’s. </span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">What
a</span></span></span><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
fantastic day exploring its beautiful gardens and historical
richness! </span></span></span></p><p style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIbKm2xKq0w9OdljSRNrUqvCfSYROzEHgQPExnUUVYumHo9kc_VI_CzfevBBEvGeQUJq2jjHhXLeAJGVTbcsxF4NQHmgI3BUEPkEXF2jJd1B0SlCFPk7ylTVyNK77rcltZJHFLDZK_7YD6W74VAUCtY3nwN4whsfiTnw1B1cIH4qde9s-nqYpEAPNqgC6/s2016/IMG_1197.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIbKm2xKq0w9OdljSRNrUqvCfSYROzEHgQPExnUUVYumHo9kc_VI_CzfevBBEvGeQUJq2jjHhXLeAJGVTbcsxF4NQHmgI3BUEPkEXF2jJd1B0SlCFPk7ylTVyNK77rcltZJHFLDZK_7YD6W74VAUCtY3nwN4whsfiTnw1B1cIH4qde9s-nqYpEAPNqgC6/s320/IMG_1197.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="color: black;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-kaSuRLRIul_BXncIiucGiEQR_AwbqSU7nwwSl_Y1qG1U8AaDe_--QfWecuYAKQd3CjoNdpn4cshnKMuqbQMZIzu5DYGfY9yIk0cqiVMtVLLIsglBnjIyAf35sVukN9SkJjCFpl3WuzHH5IilkDVbVtl-LfZA0Ran-T5fikjAm_wYsdVwlP2YAIWrod9/s2016/IMG_1200.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-kaSuRLRIul_BXncIiucGiEQR_AwbqSU7nwwSl_Y1qG1U8AaDe_--QfWecuYAKQd3CjoNdpn4cshnKMuqbQMZIzu5DYGfY9yIk0cqiVMtVLLIsglBnjIyAf35sVukN9SkJjCFpl3WuzHH5IilkDVbVtl-LfZA0Ran-T5fikjAm_wYsdVwlP2YAIWrod9/s320/IMG_1200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQENYWwPs5rKc3r1q0kFDFdnk_s_i5F-Z1EvVrMxi6DLimxaA3fahpWRaForDgIXa1egCRDA-Pr6vwPRQh10md1lwlKrLhN7KcxWlm45UAOTgi6UHetUAkY-GMebFvXWFqCapCTOcZkSM8UTJsHIDeBBrJLmwsF6xTCN2BzCAugSJzfBoSq-ZUoz17s5f7/s2016/IMG_1225.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQENYWwPs5rKc3r1q0kFDFdnk_s_i5F-Z1EvVrMxi6DLimxaA3fahpWRaForDgIXa1egCRDA-Pr6vwPRQh10md1lwlKrLhN7KcxWlm45UAOTgi6UHetUAkY-GMebFvXWFqCapCTOcZkSM8UTJsHIDeBBrJLmwsF6xTCN2BzCAugSJzfBoSq-ZUoz17s5f7/s320/IMG_1225.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><p style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></span></span></p>This mansion was the original settlement of the community who hosted
the true first “Thanksgiving” celebration before the Pilgrims’
arrival. Isn’t that interesting? You can read more about it </span></span></span><a href="http://berkeleyplantation.com/" style="font-size: 14pt;">here</a><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">.
The mansion has hosted over a dozen American presidents </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">since
its construction, </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">even
contemporary ones like George W. Bush.</span></span></span><p></p><p style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #c9211e; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZ_lP8PNxjymQjboZeo4NEptT5X5vnwrwryyZDKqGdA_5X72WX3-CxKRcbU_k6zLJDJ-0Moq7VgDvc9_EWWPXhdHtRJRSWdGwhPFpJGlQMvZDoexQjE6nbooAGyEc-ymPGA8Bnkh3LXgYLmXEE0P6ucfcTsA9AOBpJaMxoyZu4mhot2atdDkLplsnlUuj/s2016/IMG_1245.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZ_lP8PNxjymQjboZeo4NEptT5X5vnwrwryyZDKqGdA_5X72WX3-CxKRcbU_k6zLJDJ-0Moq7VgDvc9_EWWPXhdHtRJRSWdGwhPFpJGlQMvZDoexQjE6nbooAGyEc-ymPGA8Bnkh3LXgYLmXEE0P6ucfcTsA9AOBpJaMxoyZu4mhot2atdDkLplsnlUuj/s320/IMG_1245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DV2o145Pb4zsvcOI9FJhYMzzstIZ-lLmjNW9mnQwjC8BTlnrJcRZ8XJcxO0WtECN34oRhKDWZRM9bs4FV63zcKEShNwRkJFB0TU_pKvQgqp5P7t3WBLpdJkNBf39NhAxcsi5e6PW37vzi6-PhoNxM_nO9Mk2LJjSBQNNSLBecdwCCDXBWdlbDQdVrCRf/s2016/IMG_1192.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DV2o145Pb4zsvcOI9FJhYMzzstIZ-lLmjNW9mnQwjC8BTlnrJcRZ8XJcxO0WtECN34oRhKDWZRM9bs4FV63zcKEShNwRkJFB0TU_pKvQgqp5P7t3WBLpdJkNBf39NhAxcsi5e6PW37vzi6-PhoNxM_nO9Mk2LJjSBQNNSLBecdwCCDXBWdlbDQdVrCRf/s320/IMG_1192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCNoRG7rjaiioHOgn9E6kOLjyPAPp0yL1qat-zc_cib8DHK5PhIRgVz-4i2y8uuUecs9BjZPmXYxVwc3gLGySVHbYNSe-w9rlCNuP3ORei8AafUfIoAOFPJeY8AX8SpC-zIXoHRE2yPBSRb8Caipjh0csHZVY1yPhcmtURSGDFmBQ_pURR4ejO4bzSP9c/s1544/IMG_1240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1544" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCNoRG7rjaiioHOgn9E6kOLjyPAPp0yL1qat-zc_cib8DHK5PhIRgVz-4i2y8uuUecs9BjZPmXYxVwc3gLGySVHbYNSe-w9rlCNuP3ORei8AafUfIoAOFPJeY8AX8SpC-zIXoHRE2yPBSRb8Caipjh0csHZVY1yPhcmtURSGDFmBQ_pURR4ejO4bzSP9c/s320/IMG_1240.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;">Our
kids</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;">al</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;">s</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;">o
got to experience a pretty neat first time over there: S</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;">eeing
the golden ripe wheat fields around it. They got to glean from </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;">them.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;">
Dave said he reminisced Jesus doing that with the disciples and got 2
big mouthfuls himself! Well, what can I say..a men’s heart is close
to his belly, b</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;">y</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;">
God’s design! What a beautiful picture of discipleship right? I am
truly enjoying seeing my husband operating on his God’s given gift.
He’s such an amazing tour guide! He loves visiting interesting
places and co-learning and teaching along with a group of people.
Perhaps that’s one of the reasons he remembers Space Camp so
fondly. I am so grateful we get to enjoy </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;">him
in</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;">
our very own party! </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left;">Just
let’s wait to see him in action when we get to D.C. That’s the
next step people! It’s going to be great! We’ll come back to let
you know.</span></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3pr9xSYjmoVd6s1BTNQeYcKX8UcdjuXwqvoPuX1CewtnbaiIcwmXXfKebhLGCVWuajrEvlAlb8LGvWunXtAMMX_IuvBn2_elS8Jc6qPlu0UuWG8C7_ucI0dxx0ZK61nEQ5pH15A8AkQorW0as15p2l-ZR91oPy_Eom_NzacqCnfcpJedKupTls3Bmz68/s2016/IMG_1214.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3pr9xSYjmoVd6s1BTNQeYcKX8UcdjuXwqvoPuX1CewtnbaiIcwmXXfKebhLGCVWuajrEvlAlb8LGvWunXtAMMX_IuvBn2_elS8Jc6qPlu0UuWG8C7_ucI0dxx0ZK61nEQ5pH15A8AkQorW0as15p2l-ZR91oPy_Eom_NzacqCnfcpJedKupTls3Bmz68/s320/IMG_1214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqal9CQQjJCJXoH3X_cebjgLeWzQMLhQlAhPfOLdDQIeTDcayyfuJsCg29PkTnNnElfYwCIfXXfxDiy0GQwCvb2AXXq-IDIaNP8uwetC3m3TJcFczYrp47mkuQ--_Op2T8jyMBqm1z7RRUGaGq7Nax_-SYnaX9akvKsqp7HjIsSsILtqx0XCYvKtID8nh/s2016/IMG_1217.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqal9CQQjJCJXoH3X_cebjgLeWzQMLhQlAhPfOLdDQIeTDcayyfuJsCg29PkTnNnElfYwCIfXXfxDiy0GQwCvb2AXXq-IDIaNP8uwetC3m3TJcFczYrp47mkuQ--_Op2T8jyMBqm1z7RRUGaGq7Nax_-SYnaX9akvKsqp7HjIsSsILtqx0XCYvKtID8nh/s320/IMG_1217.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #c9211e;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKv6KAWw5b2Tq3hl4oanrZzOEVm6dQN4Euqiz_m5cCIwcP_rq7roIlb2D_Jsi8uU9WRSlFdGU6O2tbdA9kNqnolLx_2rBai5YlFqZ6Qit9wknhs0GuotJzrCYiomuucs1ypwOZqSNlJl4zyNxhJJfRE2dFxfbbwPfPCM2YwL-w4rxHVJq1NjtyNFk4DFTu/s2016/IMG_1216.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKv6KAWw5b2Tq3hl4oanrZzOEVm6dQN4Euqiz_m5cCIwcP_rq7roIlb2D_Jsi8uU9WRSlFdGU6O2tbdA9kNqnolLx_2rBai5YlFqZ6Qit9wknhs0GuotJzrCYiomuucs1ypwOZqSNlJl4zyNxhJJfRE2dFxfbbwPfPCM2YwL-w4rxHVJq1NjtyNFk4DFTu/s320/IMG_1216.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #c9211e;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Thanks
for reading friends! Here’s the </span></span></span><a href="https://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2023/06/bushs-summer-to-remember.html">link</a><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">
to our first update if you didn’t get to read it. Or here to the next one: </span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://D.C" style="font-size: large;">D.C</a><span style="font-size: large;">.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Peace in Christ!</span></p><p></p><p></p>Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-47555774917044297962023-06-16T04:09:00.004-07:002023-06-30T17:53:42.758-07:00Bush's Summer to Remember<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After many years of absence we are making a soft come back to the Blogsphere friends! This will be an amateur attempt to journal a little of the first time taking our RV out of state. Though the blog doesn’t lend itself to post many pictures as Facebook, still we figure the blog format allows for a little more descriptive remarks of our memories. Let’s see how it goes! We are still figuring how to factor in down time on our trip for relaxing and recovering as we travel up the East coast. We are calling this trip a “Bush’s Summer to Remember”. We are on our way to Maine by the end of the June, and back to Florida by the end of July.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGfy5NkzF7qi10ieMMLxTBJZgtUxA7ZBZxLhlV9BoMLIypk3uUcr4RPea9zmcB1og0D8noedtmxQY_HXyYfO1dZu_mON2TrpLGUsjeNS9NSJTqayZdTt5L28w6JeJc0yrEJGN6N0igvsEb8bqe5D882pv_7LP01OhKlYExac2bi8LhGKs3Wn88NKoJw/s3088/image0%20(5).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Happy Together!" border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGfy5NkzF7qi10ieMMLxTBJZgtUxA7ZBZxLhlV9BoMLIypk3uUcr4RPea9zmcB1og0D8noedtmxQY_HXyYfO1dZu_mON2TrpLGUsjeNS9NSJTqayZdTt5L28w6JeJc0yrEJGN6N0igvsEb8bqe5D882pv_7LP01OhKlYExac2bi8LhGKs3Wn88NKoJw/w320-h240/image0%20(5).jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We left the Carolina’s yesterday and arrived to VA safely. While in the Carolina’s we stayed at “Givhans State Park” Such a beautiful park! The name makes one think of a short for “Give Thanks”..doesn’t it? We enjoyed the beautiful natural views and took several walks and bike rides around the Edisto River. A sight to remember were the plentiful cardinals flying and chirping throughout the park. We love cardinals in our family. We have a faithful couple of them living in our backyard. I guess they’re making us feel at home. Not only do they look pretty, but also their crimson plumage, swift flight and faithfulness to their lifelong partner makes me think of Jesus. Want to know why? Check this Bible <a href="https://biblehub.com/isaiah/1-18.htm">verse</a> out. So fun to see them along the East Coast! We also saw bunnies and fireflies. Michaela even caught one and it was so amazed by seeing them sparkle in the dark. Another noble creature that points to our awesome creator huh? </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GBNPSzJkYt3XHXUDK5ujmuddidWh8X2KIDTZHYt_kril2A3ILWR06X10kPII0WyDNqFWVwT9_GclU7AlPm8__CZiXXdMqVbbLSUEdyKh06vXF5uitT21W3sTdfyBf0v8LUav3EVgJCOAeWO_-vmLDcY3BHptbc6_Pp89nwVTSm6TTmrO4Y_10mu1eg/s4032/image0%20(4)%20-%20Copy.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GBNPSzJkYt3XHXUDK5ujmuddidWh8X2KIDTZHYt_kril2A3ILWR06X10kPII0WyDNqFWVwT9_GclU7AlPm8__CZiXXdMqVbbLSUEdyKh06vXF5uitT21W3sTdfyBf0v8LUav3EVgJCOAeWO_-vmLDcY3BHptbc6_Pp89nwVTSm6TTmrO4Y_10mu1eg/s320/image0%20(4)%20-%20Copy.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrAiMYx1dUUaZAbXb9C_aYHsxijMI9xpV0wU9SOa0qCaz1FvfLLvkBpr0Q_N41UN3wjYdNpz5myQjYLtPTE6Q5pynHlyGjTpDup6NcHA3NEkePTHyqiFYQph9RXm0sUoXexh8oO1VyMkMgMFXskStPPC2owtNcAKvtZ4P3vmVVsRzoxLKrnz06t80WQ/s4032/image6%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrAiMYx1dUUaZAbXb9C_aYHsxijMI9xpV0wU9SOa0qCaz1FvfLLvkBpr0Q_N41UN3wjYdNpz5myQjYLtPTE6Q5pynHlyGjTpDup6NcHA3NEkePTHyqiFYQph9RXm0sUoXexh8oO1VyMkMgMFXskStPPC2owtNcAKvtZ4P3vmVVsRzoxLKrnz06t80WQ/s320/image6%20(1).jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">The day after arriving to SC, Michaela was a tad under the weather. So the girls and I stayed at the campground to give her some rest and recover. We enjoyed a lovely time of praise and worship with God's creation as our sanctuary. So sweet! It was also wonderful to be able to connect with church and listen to the sermon online.</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE77VK44TSeexn9w3fViCXS7m8GeYtQeDE4xu4kALIfmMAp8nDehQL8tr7fDUBP4tKOBEJLmNvU11y19IWpcrdneWmI_D3QkIU6Vzh9hgUOnuoPuUVLfreoTV8Dr8kvfKVoqLshyA_4e3dUHtDNp4SaO7Khc-a_tMKx-7KSpIdR6VrlRba285FX3wEZQ/s4032/image2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE77VK44TSeexn9w3fViCXS7m8GeYtQeDE4xu4kALIfmMAp8nDehQL8tr7fDUBP4tKOBEJLmNvU11y19IWpcrdneWmI_D3QkIU6Vzh9hgUOnuoPuUVLfreoTV8Dr8kvfKVoqLshyA_4e3dUHtDNp4SaO7Khc-a_tMKx-7KSpIdR6VrlRba285FX3wEZQ/s320/image2.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">In the meanwhile Dave took the boys to town to explore the “<a href="https://www.hunley.org/">Hunley museum</a>”. This was a Confederate submarine commanded by Lieutenant Dixon in the Civil war. Dave says it was a fascinating visit. It turns out this submarine successfully carried its mission of sinking the Husatonic, an union ship blockading the Charleston harbour. However, it sunk on its return for unknown reasons which are still a mystery to this day. The Hunley was found in the late 1990’s. Isn’t that wild!?</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9hbv7S_9D2aqursoLSlgaEntoc0KhU6WfVzcBwGr5v3L4aVMxoUXR5cvmhTFj4mwVChaIBWlLB9O2n03ZITLQPyK_kiTS8gbmfe9Zf56A8UYoG9yD4ffUZEhv5UFMk-_2eqKorMAMLPsZRyVZ4_-s9Fo36r0MfsU0FcxqolhEhdDQCkPLoSMnFNykw/s2048/image7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9hbv7S_9D2aqursoLSlgaEntoc0KhU6WfVzcBwGr5v3L4aVMxoUXR5cvmhTFj4mwVChaIBWlLB9O2n03ZITLQPyK_kiTS8gbmfe9Zf56A8UYoG9yD4ffUZEhv5UFMk-_2eqKorMAMLPsZRyVZ4_-s9Fo36r0MfsU0FcxqolhEhdDQCkPLoSMnFNykw/s320/image7.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0NSrWRdojEDFFcMOaV0E1m5HEldc_IDGob_Ug0xTkSt4JzrNDyCZIQYY4JeREe_BIPVvTE-rc22UDNmCNT1EXtRzy6K48X95EtEJlyneywUoymIF5t04GGQSxmQ_as7b9Q9l-CwwF1-ZDKiPqCWxZxRWWNBR7Hss5CPUHAsAhsNxEMNKFDhNuCRPOw/s2048/image8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0NSrWRdojEDFFcMOaV0E1m5HEldc_IDGob_Ug0xTkSt4JzrNDyCZIQYY4JeREe_BIPVvTE-rc22UDNmCNT1EXtRzy6K48X95EtEJlyneywUoymIF5t04GGQSxmQ_as7b9Q9l-CwwF1-ZDKiPqCWxZxRWWNBR7Hss5CPUHAsAhsNxEMNKFDhNuCRPOw/s320/image8.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">Another place we visited in Charleston, SC was the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/uss-yorktown.htm">USS Yorktown aircraft carrier</a>. This ship was built by the Navy and was an instrumental fighting vessel in the pacific theatre retaliating the Japanese Pearl Harbor attack in World War 2. This carrier is so huge & with such educational load on American history, aeronautics, engineering, etc! It took us 4 tours, all day and we still didn't cover it all. we learned a lot together and everybody had a blast. Also both Dave and Garrick got over their 10,000 steps in!</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYZzXAj5ZBvWW8YniczP7kWNrGglTSnPS0sQUAtnS4YdwZbC9f3wMTVOI2RSBZw1kvG6bCP8ug8N4G3IIHFnQvDd_ewoRJevBpdEo2Rp0SGWYWKDZi5td5rWu1j9QoFGx42AI3_68OrEzzBYF5GXLo27SwWCOXmghdo5ahpATUePTL0CDBbZgaI2nMw/s2048/image4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYZzXAj5ZBvWW8YniczP7kWNrGglTSnPS0sQUAtnS4YdwZbC9f3wMTVOI2RSBZw1kvG6bCP8ug8N4G3IIHFnQvDd_ewoRJevBpdEo2Rp0SGWYWKDZi5td5rWu1j9QoFGx42AI3_68OrEzzBYF5GXLo27SwWCOXmghdo5ahpATUePTL0CDBbZgaI2nMw/s320/image4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XQh2fD-NAuAl-zi4vq-PoQgdt0Kj2Z-ll03vIrycOQTmD-fPYH3uGVkmuRSHaH0rvuqo-HWPognSFfmsS9Sk-RBZHkpuPkfIxiwaNhfrpY7iDb3qPBwqIZClwVeNK3AAnbJhzCLsaxszfPyq7NU1NWBYkgUfYSPOTa6yrm1gCwRtsr2qbw2GQre9zQ/s2048/IMG_6015.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XQh2fD-NAuAl-zi4vq-PoQgdt0Kj2Z-ll03vIrycOQTmD-fPYH3uGVkmuRSHaH0rvuqo-HWPognSFfmsS9Sk-RBZHkpuPkfIxiwaNhfrpY7iDb3qPBwqIZClwVeNK3AAnbJhzCLsaxszfPyq7NU1NWBYkgUfYSPOTa6yrm1gCwRtsr2qbw2GQre9zQ/s320/IMG_6015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Downtown Charleston, SC was also a quaint and refreshing quick stop. Strolling through the colonial roads and pathways was quite relaxing. Most of the 18th century architecture has been preserved and updated in a very sensible way to keep the colonial feeling. There were beautiful flowers everywhere..ah, and the Hydrangeas! I wish I could take their flower baskets & gardens home with me!</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOzoX-yvBEA0b09fmbj5QhhmU7cLlgYs34Chp3sesRIqYqTQ4yYcAExDw-UeOpRqUtMbWtAR4RkWQHfs9lwsQTTKOzcv19iJZiqRy5A2qwm7rlhzjDPylyDRtCDJ7oMBIGyXchhto7XpG92MqYYvYOQ_dU9_YGwqObDcDAtwJfcXl1HMA5FwpO3GwHg/s2048/image3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOzoX-yvBEA0b09fmbj5QhhmU7cLlgYs34Chp3sesRIqYqTQ4yYcAExDw-UeOpRqUtMbWtAR4RkWQHfs9lwsQTTKOzcv19iJZiqRy5A2qwm7rlhzjDPylyDRtCDJ7oMBIGyXchhto7XpG92MqYYvYOQ_dU9_YGwqObDcDAtwJfcXl1HMA5FwpO3GwHg/s320/image3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;">After leaving SC we overnighted at a RV resort in North Carolina where we decided to stay put and recoup before heading to Virginia. That’s where we are now. More to come! So grateful to have this extended time to take this time away to make memories and build our family up. We normally don’t leave for such a long time, but Dave gets the perk of “adoption leave” this year, remember?! Such a blessing! We are having such a blast. God is good friends. I hope your Summer is drenched with His blessing too! Jump here to the next journal entry if you wish: </span><a href="https://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2023/06/summer-to-remember-welcome-to-virginia.html" style="font-size: large;">VA</a><span style="font-size: medium;">.</span></div></div>Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-68610233276210425462023-03-15T17:17:00.003-07:002023-06-16T10:07:11.844-07:00Gotta see this movie: The Phantom Tollbooth<div><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather,Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px;">Oh my goodness! Another highly recommended movie. I can't wait to dive into the study of this book with Garrick next year. In his own words with a grinning face-Garrick: "Mom, this movie is hurting my brain!"..But in my house 'we read the book first' you might say. Well, I do most of the time. But sometimes there's nothing wrong with tantalizing your senses first to get motivated. After all, motivation is the first step to open the door to learn..and we are gearing up to flex our brain muscles in a new way to help us get better at learning anything! So there we go 8th grade, we are coming. Let's learn together about argumentation & logic to understand the world! Let's join Milo in going through the Tollbooth to learn how the kingdoms of Dictionopolis & Digitopolis are a gift from the Lord to help us know the Giver of all things and all He has created. After all, knowledge is a gift from the Lord to point us back to Him. And eternal life is to get to know Him..that's right, eternally. <a href="https://biblehub.com/commentaries/john/17-3.htm" target="_blank">(John 17:3)</a></span></div><p><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></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/AVvXsEjh9J8LS9ZdHS_SSjFRv2la_xdiKey4tCQWKSi2X_m0pCfAg1MJDpGdxCteNZvOhua6457tUsphb-XTC9h1M4ppuVC1xe7ZGpm-mAFqukHpieP75BnFobfosStjt5XOzLYgGO4pECdtpJq-hyrFqQDn7AdpyPLoXID-xVP62E7CpIZ5pOitMivNeQPaog/s640/image0%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9J8LS9ZdHS_SSjFRv2la_xdiKey4tCQWKSi2X_m0pCfAg1MJDpGdxCteNZvOhua6457tUsphb-XTC9h1M4ppuVC1xe7ZGpm-mAFqukHpieP75BnFobfosStjt5XOzLYgGO4pECdtpJq-hyrFqQDn7AdpyPLoXID-xVP62E7CpIZ5pOitMivNeQPaog/s320/image0%20(1).jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p><div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">You better check it out from the library soon. That may increase its circulation and give it more chances to stay there. Not sure how much longer though. They're clearing the shelves from the good stuff you all, and just filling it up with brain sleep aids. People out there don't want you to use your brain properly..Here some quotes from the book to amuse you:</span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1e1915; font-family: Copernicus, "Libre Baskerville", Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">"You can swim all day in the Sea of Knowledge and still come out completely dry."</span><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: Copernicus, "Libre Baskerville", Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: Copernicus, "Libre Baskerville", Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">“You must never feel badly about making mistakes ... as long as you take the trouble to learn from them. For you often learn more by being wrong for the right reasons than you do by being right for the wrong reasons.”</span></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">"Rescuing children [and adults] from boredom and the dark fate of the lazy mind."</span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: Copernicus, "Libre Baskerville", Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">“Whether or not you find your own way, you're bound to find some way. If you happen to find my way, please return it, as it was lost years ago. I imagine by now it's quite rusty.” </span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">― </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Norton Juster, </span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"></span><span id="m_5050887799038852636gmail-quote_book_link_378" style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1782584&source=gmail&ust=1679023959758000&usg=AOvVaw36IKcG5DrWXy8HSIfAEB5m" href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1782584" style="color: #333333; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The Phantom Tollbooth</a></span></span></span></div></div>Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-62459105002722145712019-03-23T12:25:00.003-07:002023-06-16T10:07:50.133-07:00Anne of Green Gables #1 - Review<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
What a delightful read. I had watched the movies, but had
skipped the books. I will definitely
come back to this book just to enjoy the ride of reading through the sentences
and getting my eyes refreshed to appreciate nature, and beauty and life with al
that comes with it. I can’t wait to get to the second one in the series and to
read it with my daughter. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75"
coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe"
filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)" style='width:214.5pt;
height:356.25pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/paola/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNl372hB2ExzLguCRUBiRK1zcvLHoagQboUAVFQRgKxhvshbZkrCCeU-mRKun7gx-Z94qv_7Kwznv5BcLkTfYhMaX0RC5Gm5goz_QSpzRESV7i01pBQQG7mIN5KqrIp0ABw0kcWC91WPQY/s1600/delete+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="286" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNl372hB2ExzLguCRUBiRK1zcvLHoagQboUAVFQRgKxhvshbZkrCCeU-mRKun7gx-Z94qv_7Kwznv5BcLkTfYhMaX0RC5Gm5goz_QSpzRESV7i01pBQQG7mIN5KqrIp0ABw0kcWC91WPQY/s320/delete+me.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think this is a great character-building story in so, so
many ways. One I’d like to highlight is the great illustration of “Beauty being
on the eye of the beholder”. We all need a little more “Scope for imagination”
to color our everyday realities and grow in contentment and gratefulness. I
think this book is a good place to stir some of that scope. I totally recommend
it for women of all ages. These are a couple of my favorites lines I wish not
to forget: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Wouldn’t you just
love to be rich, girls?”…”We are rich,” said Anne staunchly. “Why, we have 16
years to our credit, and we are happy as queens, and we’ve all got
imaginations, more or less. Look at the
sea, girls -all silver and shadow and vision of things not seen. We couldn’t enjoy its loveliness any more if
we had millions of dollars and ropes and diamonds…”Well, I don’t want to be
anyone but myself, even if I go uncomforted by diamonds all my life,” declared
Anne. “I’m quite content to be Anne of
Green Gables, with my string of pearl beads.
I know Matthew gave me as much love with them as ever went with Madame
the Pink Lady’s jewels.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ever since I came to Green Gables, I’ve been making
mistakes, and each mistake has helped to cure me of some great
shortcoming. The affair of the amethyst
brooch cured me of meddling with things that didn’t belong to me. The haunted wood mistake cured me of letting
my imagination run away with me. The
liniment cake mistake cured me of carelessness in cooking. Dyeing my hair cured me of vanity..and
today’s mistake is going to cure me of being too romantic.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-44842392890262073332019-03-01T04:18:00.001-08:002020-07-11T09:07:15.684-07:00Beloved Bride: The Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His wife - My book review:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
Wow, what a nice surprise of a read. I picked this book just out of curiosity from the title thinking it was an inspirational book about marriage. How much more did I get! It definitely had plenty of word pictures of the dynamics of a Christian marriage and piles of wisdom about God’s intend for it as a portrait of the gospel to the world, however, I encountered far more than just that. I was introduced to the life of a hero and an American legend which I was not aware enough of.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRsE0EhwQZ7AM3MbsXMaP4sZCA9U_gH2qROpxcbf0QfvlpUVy4DvCaOo9CRecWwtD2ZmYp-AP3daOO2oj76J3X_xQim70ndYIKfLp-OK46Kl0MGnv58nFbCALgraDPer4cjGzw1PUaQ9b/s1600/Beloved+Bride+-+Letter+from+Stonewall+Jackson+to+his+wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="251" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRsE0EhwQZ7AM3MbsXMaP4sZCA9U_gH2qROpxcbf0QfvlpUVy4DvCaOo9CRecWwtD2ZmYp-AP3daOO2oj76J3X_xQim70ndYIKfLp-OK46Kl0MGnv58nFbCALgraDPer4cjGzw1PUaQ9b/s320/Beloved+Bride+-+Letter+from+Stonewall+Jackson+to+his+wife.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
One of the greatest insights I got from this book is God’s providence in placing a Christian leader like Jackson in the midst of the bloodiest war in American History. One of my favorite take-aways from this book, it’s Anna, Jackson’s wife’s recount of his campaigns: “Within forty days he had marched 400 miles, fought 4 pitched battles, defeated 4 separate armies, with numerous combats and skirmishes, sent to the rear 3,000, 500 prisoners, killed and wounded a still larger number of the enemy, and defeated or neutralized forces 3 times as numerous as his own upon his proper theater of war.” Further I like to take away his regard to this as he replies to Robert E. Lee’s remarks while Jackson laid of is death bed after a mortal wound: -Lee: “I should have chosen for the good of our country to have been disabled in your stead… I congratulate you upon the victory which is due to your skill and energy.”…To which Jackson replied: “General Lee is very kind, but he should give praise to God”.<br />
<br />
There is actually an account of a revival in the midst of the civil war. I am grateful that God strategically used Jackson’s influential life along that of many others in his church during that time to bring the gospel to the hundreds of thousands of men facing death in the battlefields. These quotes from Jackson give a little glimpse on his heart for the advance of God’s kingdom in the middle of war. This he said after the ordered destruction of property to help neutralize the enemy: “-If the cost of the property may have been expended in disseminating the gospel of the prince of peace. How much greater good might have been expected.” And here’s Anna’s recount of the last service attended by Jackson: ” -In front of the tent, under the canopy of heaven, were spread out in dense masses the soldiers, sitting upon benches or standing. The preaching was earnest and edifying, the singing one grand volume of song, and the attention and good behavior of the assembly remarkable.”<br />
<br />
I do really recommend this book and any other books on the subject of the life of Stonewall Jackson for your own personal enrichment and for the inspiration of children, specially boys in their endeavor to become men of character, valor and eternal perspective.<br />
<br />
Here some more of my take-aways from this book to wet your appetite for wisdom. Stonewall Jackson’s large collection of maxims and quotes are highly regarded and sought after:<br />
<br />
-“L.t. Jackson cast aside all his former reluctance and excuses and devoted his life to seeking the glory of God and obedience to biblical precepts."<br />
<br />
-“How delightful it is to feel that we have such a friend, who changes not! The Christian recognition of God in all his works greatly enhances his enjoyment.”<br />
<br />
-“You must not be discouraged at the slowness of recovery. Look up to him who giveth liberally for faith to be resigned to his divide will, and trust Him for that measure of health which will most glorify Him and advance to the greatest extend your own real happiness.”<br />
<br />
-“See if you cannot spend a short time looking out your window into space, and meditating upon heaven, with all its joys unspeakable and full of glory and think of what the savior relinquished in glory when he came to earth.”<br />
<br />
-“He showed that in Adam’s fall we had been raised from the position of servants to that of children of God. He represented man as redeemed being at the day of judgement, standing nearest to the throne, the angels being farther removed. And why? Because is sitting upon the throne he is a nearer relation to Christ than the angels. And his being the righteousness of God himself”.<br />
<br />
-“Try to live near Jesus and secure that peace which flows like a river.”<br />
<br />
-“Look, men, there is Jackson standing like a stone wall. Let us determine to die here, and we will conquer!”<br />
<br />
-“I know that the first brigade was the first to meet and pass our retreating forces – to push on with no other aid than the smiles of God..”<br />
<br />
-“Was not such a heavenly vision enough to make him forgetful of his sufferings? He beautifully and forcibly described the death of the righteous, and as forcibly that of the wicked”.<br />
<br />
-“What I need is a more grateful heart to the “Giver of every good and perfect gift.”<br />
<br />
-“Over the next 2 months Jackson would rewrite the military history books in an audacious and brilliant campaign that is still studied in the military schools around de world.”<br />
<br />
-“Your sickness give me great concern, but so live that it, and all your trials, may be sanctified to you, remembering that our light afflictions which are but for a moment, work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”<br />
<br />
-“There was something very striking in his prayers. He did not pray to men, but to God. His tones were deep, solemn, tremulous. He seemed to realize that he was speaking to Heaven’s King.”<br />
<br />
-“Make our nation that people whose God is the Lord, is my earnest and oft-repeated prayer. While we attach so much importance to being free from temporal bondage, we must attach far more to being free from the bondage of sin.”<br />
<br />
-“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth: a stranger, and not thine own lips.”<br />
<br />
-“We can sympathize with her, and I wish I could comfort her, but not human comfort can fully meet her case; only the Redeemer can, and I trust that she finds Jesus precious, most precious, in this her sad hour of trial.”<br />
<br />
-“How kind is God to us! Oh that I were more grateful!”<br />
<br />
-“How delightful will be our heavenly home, where everything is sanctified!”<br />
<br />
-“He also rejoiced that the Sabbath days could now be kept regularly and deeply appreciated the preaching and prayer meetings of the army.”<br />
<br />
-“Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees.”<br />
<br />
I'm enjoying going over this review again. Grateful for this book.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-77738806411894819952019-02-20T22:41:00.002-08:002023-06-16T10:08:39.627-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Persuasion by Jane Austen. My book review:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Well, this was the first time I read a Jane Austen’s book. I have to confess that "Romantic novels" are not my favorite genre, so I am not sure if this spoils my review. And I am not a book critic by any measure.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7ta9YU2ZO3zBrDNU_F9gl53W8GvvMl0LoWKcUDFTOdFioZZwJNjy0VACpDamyru2zHSmL9-SgmPr6WeRx44qxeauiCMMSh_79IGY8vL7_vbt5xrfRTpMW91Zl9Vw_K-BRq4KKJ0bcaII/s1600/Persuasion+-+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="296" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh7ta9YU2ZO3zBrDNU_F9gl53W8GvvMl0LoWKcUDFTOdFioZZwJNjy0VACpDamyru2zHSmL9-SgmPr6WeRx44qxeauiCMMSh_79IGY8vL7_vbt5xrfRTpMW91Zl9Vw_K-BRq4KKJ0bcaII/s320/Persuasion+-+cover.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Ok. I will start with some the positives. For the most part, (With the exception of the extremely wordy descriptions placed mercilessly right on the tension points along the plot) I enjoyed the richness of the language. Sometimes even as you have to plod through really long sentences, the wording itself is quite interesting. I also liked very much the highlight on the importance of quality relationships over the empty exchange of aristocratic circles. What a great reminder to our present world which propelled in part by social media and crowded schedules frequently feels as spiraling downwards towards shallow relationships.<br />
<br />
I also enjoyed the contrast in character between the female roles in the story. I think Jane Austeen, and I assume many other 19th century female writers used their novel characters as voices to enlighten the culture of the time about the value of women, and their transcending role in society. I think this may have had a significant catalytic role in the civil rights movement, opening the door for a much-needed holistic appreciation of women. I enjoyed how Austen made Anne Elliot a truly “heroine” by embodying among many other things the tenderness required to engage and truly care for children, the respect and compassion required to appreciate the unfortunate, the wisdom and patience to highly regard the views and needs of the elderly, the curiosity and mental rigor to cultivate an educated mind, the sensibility to appreciate beauty, and the prudence and selflessness to care for the fate of others as much as her own.<br />
<br />
With that said, I will point now to some of the things that I didn’t love as much. First, I think the plot was not as robust as I expected. I was frequently distracted by turns in the events that didn’t feel as natural. (I came to this novel, with the expectations of “Little women” which to me has a much stronger plot). Also, even as persuasion was a strong force applied to the decision making of the main characters, I was often frustrated on the over-reliance of perception and third-party opinions instead of plain open communication. I guess that it’s a malady that we all have to get over with. And I guess the older one gets the more aware of it. Thus, I call that a life lesson, and probably another plus instead.<br />
<br />
I was also a little bothered by the frequent borderline “self-deprecating” assessments of Anne. I sure wouldn’t like my daughter to employ that self-talk pattern at all. However, I think it’s fair to say that we all struggle with that sometimes. Finally, I was not happy with the resolution of the story. Even as they end up together and living happily ever after, the turns of events that brought them together felt somewhat abrupt, rushed and unnatural. Also, I missed the fervent and sensible confessions of mutual affection which I truly enjoyed in “Great Expectations” or “Jane Eyre”. I think “Persuasion” was a good piece of literature, very timely for its era, with a significant entertainment value and a few good life lessons. However, it didn’t make it to the shelve of the books that I look up for inspiration and character building. Now will I read "Pride and Prejudice" even as I had already watched the movie? Many people say it's much better. So we'll see.<br />
<br />Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-27253348690477364482015-04-07T12:18:00.003-07:002020-07-11T09:41:00.503-07:00Michaela's Prayer Countdown!<pre style="background: white;"><pre style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">Here we are friends, just a few hours away from boarding the plane that will take us to fulfill the </span></pre>
<pre style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">dream we've cherished for so many years. After arriving to China, it will be just a few more days </span></pre>
<pre style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">to get to know our sweet little girl Michaela Tsai-Ann. We are so, so very excited!</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">! </span></pre>
<pre style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Once in China </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">we will have very little access to the Internet. :/ </span></pre>
<pre style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></pre>
<pre style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">We will do our very best to send updates if we are able,so you can share in our joy. </span></pre>
<pre style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">However we would love to stay connected with you via </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">prayer while </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">we are away, regardless! </span></pre>
<pre style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">We are so glad that internet connection is not needed to be "online" with our Heavenly Father! =)</span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">T</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">his is the way you can pray for us until we come back home in about 18 days. </span></pre>
<pre style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Especially on April 12<sup>th</sup>, (April 13<sup>th</sup> in China) which is the day we’ll be meeting Michaela for first time. </span></pre>
<pre style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">We can’t be anymore grateful to all the many, many, many ways you all have supported us</span></pre>
<pre style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">during this long and life changing journey! </span></pre>
<pre style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></pre>
<pre style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Click here if you are new to this blog and want to read previous posts about our journey: </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px; white-space: normal;"> (Part </span><a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2013/03/our-journey-to-becoming-forever-family.html" style="color: #0a4ade; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">1</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px; white-space: normal;">, </span><a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2013/04/our-adoption-journey-2nd-update-talking.html" style="color: #0a4ade; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">2</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px; white-space: normal;">, </span><a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2013/08/our-adoption-journey-august-update.html" style="color: #195eff; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px; white-space: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">3</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px; white-space: normal;">, </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px; white-space: normal;"><a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2014/01/our-adoption-journey-new-update.html" style="color: #0a4ade; line-height: 18.4px; text-decoration-line: none;">4</a>, <a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2014/03/adoption-update-entering-2nd-trimester.html" target="_blank">5</a>, </span><a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2015/02/ok-dear-friends-we-cannot-be-more.html" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">6</a>).</pre>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7S4wbBN9s4eF6GDgCHTqxc7A1wNBtCqBf6ZcCM9exMYszyIvamhXcMf0qkPl9DGJE7IBhsTjX185NuXDDTLb9q2sgjldnCBc6Q0KljLAt1ev0AtdLGf1bxntKAEf3u-r_Zka74up4L_P/s1600/About+to+deliver+family+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7S4wbBN9s4eF6GDgCHTqxc7A1wNBtCqBf6ZcCM9exMYszyIvamhXcMf0qkPl9DGJE7IBhsTjX185NuXDDTLb9q2sgjldnCBc6Q0KljLAt1ev0AtdLGf1bxntKAEf3u-r_Zka74up4L_P/s1600/About+to+deliver+family+picture.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Michaela’s Prayer Countdown:</span></pre>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Day 7: Please pray that God would prepare Michaela's heart to meet us. That He guides us through </span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">the bonding process with her. That He gives us favor before her so that she learns quickly to trust us,</span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">obey us and know we are Mommy & Daddy.</span></pre>
<pre style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></pre>
<pre style="background: white;"><pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Day 6: Pray that her feeling of loss and brokenness would be minimal as she leaves the only people, </span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">culture & language she's known so far. That we have a very positive experience with the </span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Orphanage nannies, kids, staff, volunteers & all the people involved with our farewell</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">to their place of birth. That God would use David & I to help her experience complete healing.</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Day 5: Pray that God protects Michaela from any virus or diseases while we are with her in China. </span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">That she aces her medical examinations so that she can be granted a visa to leave the country </span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">without any delay. That God would granted her miraculous healing. </span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">That her health & brain development catches up quickly after we start caring and loving on her. </span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">And for God's favor and direction in case any therapies or medical treatments are needed.</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Day 4: Pray that God would give us favor as we go though all the official steps & requirements</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">to finalize our adoption in China and come back home together as a family: </span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">An expedite adoption registration, medical appointments, passport and visa application.</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Day 3: Pray that God would keep our boys and family safe & healthy in the States </span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">as they state home with Grandma and my sister. </span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">That God would prepare their hearts to meet their sister and they bond quickly & joyfully </span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">after we come back home.</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Day 2: Pray for safe travels for Dave & I. That we are able to soak in and enjoy the culture of our </span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Daughter's country of birth. That this trip would be a joyful & memorable experience for both us and </span>her. </pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">That God would protect us from sickness and would strengthen our bodies for all the walking </span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">ahead and the carrying luggage while traveling through 5 cities to complete official appointments. </span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">That God would providentially heal my upper back problems so that they don't become an issue </span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">during our trip.</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Day 1: Pray that God uses us powerfully to communicate the love & grace of Jesus to all the people</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">we come in contact with during our stay in China. especially to our daughter. That we can model </span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus to her, that He touches her heart, that she would come to know Him and be saved at an early</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">young age!</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"></pre>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 14.7pt; margin-bottom: 3pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GuqsbsQG423Cc2FmhfLQVJsRchGtXmRkmx9WziVX8CenLEzjqFIgJG6LdLeK48f-rVjFJZa6GWkIgGHT9b3IBDtWkiV0-M2whp15Egp0dyr7SUeD23CcJ2E3wQ1_r2bP5LoL3npPAMak/s1600/IMG_7131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GuqsbsQG423Cc2FmhfLQVJsRchGtXmRkmx9WziVX8CenLEzjqFIgJG6LdLeK48f-rVjFJZa6GWkIgGHT9b3IBDtWkiV0-M2whp15Egp0dyr7SUeD23CcJ2E3wQ1_r2bP5LoL3npPAMak/s1600/IMG_7131.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Looking forward to see you soon as a family of 5! =) </span></div>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Zàijiàn!! =)</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Dave, Paola, Garrick, David-Elliot & Michaela Bush</span></pre>
<pre style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"></pre>
</pre>
</div>
</pre>
Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-44739976737909642562015-02-10T18:10:00.002-08:002015-02-17T04:06:43.399-08:00Introducing our new daughter: Michaela Tsai-Ann Bush!<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok dear friends, we cannot be more delighted about introducing our new daughter: Michaela Tsai-Ann Bush!! Yes, you can scream a big YAY with us!!! <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">What a difficult last 19 months it's been! But how worth the wait was. Everything is beautiful in God's time. It certainly is. We are so in love with our new little sweet pea, that we don't think about the long wait anymore. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Here are the links to our previous updates for those of you who are new to our journey: Part </span><a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2013/03/our-journey-to-becoming-forever-family.html" style="background-color: white; color: #0a4ade; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue;">1</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">, </span><a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2013/04/our-adoption-journey-2nd-update-talking.html" style="background-color: white; color: #0a4ade; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue;">2</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">, </span><a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2013/08/our-adoption-journey-august-update.html" style="background-color: white; color: #195eff; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="color: blue;">3</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2014/01/our-adoption-journey-new-update.html" style="background-color: white; color: #0a4ade; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px; text-decoration: none;">4</a>, <a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2014/03/adoption-update-entering-2nd-trimester.html" target="_blank">5</a>.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUL8XcrIOGQZgGMys1qv1_KmYliPxinmsmaDcGF_pw_veDEkw203VhibO6EuIG0qhnXLJlY7IBtGHc6wPNUxPtd5uHnIuzN6vzhAfucGcDigw_bEywmBdJuBQa2BN6mP4nVgJxib4x6T9/s1600/Dang+Cai+Wei+01.29.2015+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUL8XcrIOGQZgGMys1qv1_KmYliPxinmsmaDcGF_pw_veDEkw203VhibO6EuIG0qhnXLJlY7IBtGHc6wPNUxPtd5uHnIuzN6vzhAfucGcDigw_bEywmBdJuBQa2BN6mP4nVgJxib4x6T9/s1600/Dang+Cai+Wei+01.29.2015+(3).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Bush girl! =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Isn't she supercute?!! The best compliment we got was from a friend who said: "Eekkkk, but of course! She just looks like a Bush; who else could have she been matched with?!!"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7r4ZDUmIgbBdE4F8yx0BCIB8b4_Gq2NVK9QrS9x__2PkXMx-5a9F01gbXBVU4B5LKoyuN3KYa3S5a38x6_XPbBzho2lhCqZDEVjXAN_y8LvFeWqbVSGOYrwkAA3lcQGIVVxB2yyS27oZb/s1600/Dang+Cai+Wei+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7r4ZDUmIgbBdE4F8yx0BCIB8b4_Gq2NVK9QrS9x__2PkXMx-5a9F01gbXBVU4B5LKoyuN3KYa3S5a38x6_XPbBzho2lhCqZDEVjXAN_y8LvFeWqbVSGOYrwkAA3lcQGIVVxB2yyS27oZb/s1600/Dang+Cai+Wei+1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mommy I think can hear your kisses all the way here! =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As many of you know we received our
child referral back in early January, and have ever since working really
diligently in getting all the paperwork in order to be able to travel to China
in about two months to meet her and bring her home!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YLxhBlDDN-ey_qQqNbKX3zHbrHZs2886CJItJ1Qu3Yl4BvhdM5IuD0exGZ7nRbSp0DD0yLkPwXILpac8I2rFSg8mbrOENrY7cmneRFHDAc8BssSClGY0TBnPcfcWHkdMiNknLg9ZNGGv/s1600/IMG_6790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YLxhBlDDN-ey_qQqNbKX3zHbrHZs2886CJItJ1Qu3Yl4BvhdM5IuD0exGZ7nRbSp0DD0yLkPwXILpac8I2rFSg8mbrOENrY7cmneRFHDAc8BssSClGY0TBnPcfcWHkdMiNknLg9ZNGGv/s1600/IMG_6790.JPG" height="208" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is when I was 18 months old..awhh!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Michaela Tsai-Ann is currently 27 months (11 days younger
than our youngest son at home) and was found abandoned at a park in the city of
Kaifeng when she was 1 month old. She has been living in the Kaifeng City
Social Welfare Institute ever since. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Wb4Ltg_jyXkbmqqWpXZz849hJGCFj3pLYXSaLG2xNxSzHLMNIM6im6IaOufOc41MD1FqzGR_9JpbX0XvxVv0p6v6H5FBUZ_yXZtQi-asVGKwz8GChCaTK-B1frcyDuWR4nEkxENaioSz/s1600/Dang+Cai+Wei+01.29.2015+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Wb4Ltg_jyXkbmqqWpXZz849hJGCFj3pLYXSaLG2xNxSzHLMNIM6im6IaOufOc41MD1FqzGR_9JpbX0XvxVv0p6v6H5FBUZ_yXZtQi-asVGKwz8GChCaTK-B1frcyDuWR4nEkxENaioSz/s1600/Dang+Cai+Wei+01.29.2015+(2).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love riding my little red ox! =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She
currently has some developmental delays probably due to negligent care after a
premature birth. She has done great progress at the orphanage though, and the
care and love she has received while in the orphanage has been a great response
to prayer. However, she will probably
need continued therapy once we bring her home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Co8wZY0VFdf-d9HxzI4EkMxs9S73Tb_RlGO8HxxATsGVb6VxrO4I0IOeHFkJ3rcIHPwEAkrgtbL8qg7AiTCqGmdlHFJ4fNSq4bOpRAnrYz-ULZKoLYvhe007NDO96I7NB_38X-2nRiFb/s1600/IMG_6791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Co8wZY0VFdf-d9HxzI4EkMxs9S73Tb_RlGO8HxxATsGVb6VxrO4I0IOeHFkJ3rcIHPwEAkrgtbL8qg7AiTCqGmdlHFJ4fNSq4bOpRAnrYz-ULZKoLYvhe007NDO96I7NB_38X-2nRiFb/s1600/IMG_6791.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mommy, I can't wait until you are the one holding me!..I'm grateful for my loving nannies though..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once more God has super exceeded our expectations and has pleased our hearts in orchestrating this match. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">We are also very grateful for all the support we have received from friends and family as we go through this journey. We can't wait to be able to introduce her personally to you really soon. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqAsCIr5osgseFatt-GrP6lVGqjqx3iDES6ZUM0x0yMXzJIaDuQ0SbfwksNhMV41rbZp7IxWHVdwVqX2mKRplUsvqb0u3ml50s40HzjiLfT9_Gg3QRKbynltPudwDSi5W_OxOJvRnvH7L/s1600/Dang+Cai+Wei+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqAsCIr5osgseFatt-GrP6lVGqjqx3iDES6ZUM0x0yMXzJIaDuQ0SbfwksNhMV41rbZp7IxWHVdwVqX2mKRplUsvqb0u3ml50s40HzjiLfT9_Gg3QRKbynltPudwDSi5W_OxOJvRnvH7L/s1600/Dang+Cai+Wei+2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I'm ready to let my brothers take a ride too! =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">Following are our current prayers requests. Thanks again for your support!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">*Please pray for the expedite processing of our visa applications</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">*Please pray for God's favor so that we get the invitation by the Orphanage (Travel Approval) really soon. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">*Please pray for God's to provide the finances to cover the last part of our adoption process.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: MarkerFelt-Thin;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">*Please pray for God's favor as we start making travel arrangements</span></span></div>
Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-47383552490594916142014-03-26T09:20:00.000-07:002014-03-27T18:12:20.442-07:00Adoption Update: Entering the 2nd trimester of our pregnancy, A.K.A: "The Waiting"<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hello dear friends!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We are so glad to be able to
finally sit down to give you an update.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t be more grateful for all those prayers and questions we are constantly getting about our adoption. Your interest and support is so encouraging! Here are the links to our
previous updates for those of you who are new to our journey: Part <a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2013/03/our-journey-to-becoming-forever-family.html"><span style="color: blue;">1</span></a>,
<a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2013/04/our-adoption-journey-2nd-update-talking.html"><span style="color: blue;">2</span></a>,
<a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2013/08/our-adoption-journey-august-update.html"><span style="color: blue;">3</span></a>,
<a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2014/01/our-adoption-journey-new-update.html"><span style="color: blue;">4</span></a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2brcasbCuR4yzHuzchhYABD7g_2zR2PniTQ1uvL_5mNUeQeQY5t3le8OwbM1rf_wtnWo02U0smcM5D4FSH_iXCjmge3IY9_jNRkIb1MxlS8dNwsYhjRUBOX7ykWo8UZFDFWIKjnq3y8QF/s1600/IMG_2684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2brcasbCuR4yzHuzchhYABD7g_2zR2PniTQ1uvL_5mNUeQeQY5t3le8OwbM1rf_wtnWo02U0smcM5D4FSH_iXCjmge3IY9_jNRkIb1MxlS8dNwsYhjRUBOX7ykWo8UZFDFWIKjnq3y8QF/s1600/IMG_2684.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As always we will entertain you along with our pictures! Join us as we dream of how our little daughter would look like monkeying around with our family!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There will be more a few more technical words on
this update than the usual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hope this helps you
understand where we are at in our process. We also hope this is helpful to those of
you asking as you are starting to ponder about adoption as a choice to expand
your own family in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
the best compliment and encouragement that we can get: Inspiring some of you to
embark on this wonderful journey yourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However we also love to see how everybody can be involved to help these
children in so many different ways. We are so grateful for all of you!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAC6_t7JGDoa65bhhdWH8_g4uX4Ku5_9uFuA3q6aJZgsnTjDDeRVeQezA96yeL6NA-xn3HEjgNDkQ-luOosWiXbWsAcq3QlkpCataKYQiBZbEEYw2V0dSvr64AKc0g_JMJ5L37OmNNByNR/s1600/IMG_2714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAC6_t7JGDoa65bhhdWH8_g4uX4Ku5_9uFuA3q6aJZgsnTjDDeRVeQezA96yeL6NA-xn3HEjgNDkQ-luOosWiXbWsAcq3QlkpCataKYQiBZbEEYw2V0dSvr64AKc0g_JMJ5L37OmNNByNR/s1600/IMG_2714.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I bet she would love to visit the old Sugar mill with her family!<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDKYEBBnCp-RQvfS6TVGmwxJy38mmTbMkoKcvIlNSAfObNoDXi-ux7i6JiQB3HgoK2bV-xo-lYh3MnEQnukWZBI-Jm-VmZ3AXR9PuQL_aFLJolKSLRp9dOUg9xijKdnWLNX9TpDD3tLE1/s1600/IMG_2707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDKYEBBnCp-RQvfS6TVGmwxJy38mmTbMkoKcvIlNSAfObNoDXi-ux7i6JiQB3HgoK2bV-xo-lYh3MnEQnukWZBI-Jm-VmZ3AXR9PuQL_aFLJolKSLRp9dOUg9xijKdnWLNX9TpDD3tLE1/s1600/IMG_2707.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And would love to make her very own pancake at the table! I wonder what flavor would be her favorite?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ok, let’s jump right in! As of March 5<sup>th</sup>
of this year we became what is called “LID” which stands for “Logged In date”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a great milestone in the process.
What this basically means is that our Dossier, (Or tons of paperwork) was
logged in on the books of the <span style="color: #333333;">China Center for
Children’s Welfare & Adoption (CCCWA) which is the ultimate Chinese
authority for international adoption affairs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>China has legally acknowledged us as a
potential adoptive family now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Super
yay! So now, we have officially entered the “waiting” stage of our journey, where
we can be matched with a child that could potentially be a good fit for our family. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point, we roughly estimate this
wait can range anything from 3 to 9 more months from now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a long pregnancy, right? We’ve been
carrying this baby for a long time! But we know it’s so worthy!</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF13G_-qbTP89lqIuRi9C6psyf8SQtPHWmvOkPeutFs5B4_AfzMNThVL4uqdLqJpxXCJcS9S-Pjrk05c5wHUg_1iQSxWteNyBUYKO5LhPVurp2uWff_HIuLMJ-E18y6ccq-pT0tjSVu9jo/s1600/IMG_2789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF13G_-qbTP89lqIuRi9C6psyf8SQtPHWmvOkPeutFs5B4_AfzMNThVL4uqdLqJpxXCJcS9S-Pjrk05c5wHUg_1iQSxWteNyBUYKO5LhPVurp2uWff_HIuLMJ-E18y6ccq-pT0tjSVu9jo/s1600/IMG_2789.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I bet she would get a kick of petting this pony along with big brother!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_E0SFMJ-0NqxRqV7MZWmR6WBnYsLyXn27Hz0zFslcoINJQxrF7n1Hza36RxoldZmrkkePBUFtzmBrrazDJy32P5jN0It6hNjSDwBEr0_4IvRU3HKzKdYUJmJeNIMfpYrdeHHG0cuPQom/s1600/IMG_2798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_E0SFMJ-0NqxRqV7MZWmR6WBnYsLyXn27Hz0zFslcoINJQxrF7n1Hza36RxoldZmrkkePBUFtzmBrrazDJy32P5jN0It6hNjSDwBEr0_4IvRU3HKzKdYUJmJeNIMfpYrdeHHG0cuPQom/s1600/IMG_2798.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And she for sure would dress up to visit the local "Medieval Festival". =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Since we are adopting through the “Waiting Child
Program” –Another way to refer to adopting a “special need child from China”,
the criteria leading to the matching process is based on what we submitted in our
Medical Condition List or “MCC”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This a
comprehensive list that is used by the adoptive family to lay out the
characteristics of the child we are open to adopt in terms of age, gender and
the medical conditions that we feel able and comfortable to manage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEx3l1q0EVxGJWSO3KoN2aWBdWFNi4L9MtgwXVa6Mn3JyElmqv9dZ5i-FJsPQxtQsYfb4ryCUukVf-khZen21hhcERKow_ZrNVu4POgBe6dXZhP6gMHZE5vrCL1EfowWo90gwLgHIslmEQ/s1600/IMG_2812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEx3l1q0EVxGJWSO3KoN2aWBdWFNi4L9MtgwXVa6Mn3JyElmqv9dZ5i-FJsPQxtQsYfb4ryCUukVf-khZen21hhcERKow_ZrNVu4POgBe6dXZhP6gMHZE5vrCL1EfowWo90gwLgHIslmEQ/s1600/IMG_2812.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh sister, I'm ready to sing along with you in the mornings while mum cooks us breakfast!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMkaLLE6jPdqg-pHoPQU-YOY5bOvaT2ItGBdZMSqyQ7cn4tDXBWoN2apSUVS8obEqaHgSNSKo4TgAUTYUSr1H7pnnxb4u7D6_LSNnkSJqFJPttUWdXlV_k7EWfnX0EnypVRVErHqwPKTL/s1600/IMG_2873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMkaLLE6jPdqg-pHoPQU-YOY5bOvaT2ItGBdZMSqyQ7cn4tDXBWoN2apSUVS8obEqaHgSNSKo4TgAUTYUSr1H7pnnxb4u7D6_LSNnkSJqFJPttUWdXlV_k7EWfnX0EnypVRVErHqwPKTL/s1600/IMG_2873.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And have fun making paramount messes!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There are dozens of different conditions listed
ranging from minor/major heart diseases, limb differences, vision/hearing
impairments, digestive conditions, to nervous/developmental, skin, blood or
facial conditions like cleft lip and palate among others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know at first sight this may scare the
bejeebers out of some of you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to
keep it real, once you become familiar with all these conditions you become
much more at peace with the idea of adopting a special need child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the medical treatments available now days
are making prognosis more and more optimistic and all type of diagnoses much
more manageable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually learning about
this has made us more aware of all the friends we have around who have different
type of physical limitations, and can just live perfectly normal and fulfilling lives.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of these conditions are correctable
with surgery and special therapy, so what many of this children need is just
that opportunity to become all they were created to be. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We so want to be givers of that opportunity!
There are SO MANY stories of children that were adopted with what may have seem scary at
first sight, but who are thriving and living healthy and fulfilling lives after
proper treatment has been provided. And again, we are so excited to be
part of one of those stories! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33age3VYIfZIhfcBkxwJs5pe_57tRtTajV_u3N8Pud_w9EB1mBmz_ofWfn0r5B8Y11nwG_7CGmU2Xf0KJWDq-giXAh9MQvk6mBBB2ZzCAgyLfbcW-Vu3X8eFi19ryXYXdjTY-mUNZi8no/s1600/IMG_3158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33age3VYIfZIhfcBkxwJs5pe_57tRtTajV_u3N8Pud_w9EB1mBmz_ofWfn0r5B8Y11nwG_7CGmU2Xf0KJWDq-giXAh9MQvk6mBBB2ZzCAgyLfbcW-Vu3X8eFi19ryXYXdjTY-mUNZi8no/s1600/IMG_3158.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I bet she'd enjoy helping daddy to practice for his "Bull run"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xWOqHiHI3M7iGId89P9yjpR92VMo2oxVCVm4Q1XthbP9oaIlwV_OakLso-FMcKeiyAHL3kcsMhagraJKOYHlNbyNG04c74lJtooxxqvF6ES6giN7dva0qrc7wSGndysCWtfKe6cdLLbB/s1600/IMG_3229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xWOqHiHI3M7iGId89P9yjpR92VMo2oxVCVm4Q1XthbP9oaIlwV_OakLso-FMcKeiyAHL3kcsMhagraJKOYHlNbyNG04c74lJtooxxqvF6ES6giN7dva0qrc7wSGndysCWtfKe6cdLLbB/s1600/IMG_3229.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And throwing tomatoes at him just for fun at the "Tomato Festival"!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So with that said, you can imagine how much we have
been reading and learning about the conditions that we are open to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are very glad with all the resources that
our agency <a href="https://www.ccaifamily.org/"><span style="color: blue;">CCAI</span></a> has made available to
learn more about many of the different conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a link to a bunch of very <a href="https://www.ccaifamily.org/MedicalConference/MedicalConference.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">educational
videos</span></a> on doctor’s perspectives on different medical conditions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this one is another link to some of the <a href="https://www.ccaifamily.org/WaitingChild/MedicalResource.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">many
organizations</span></a> that specialize on specific conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFOarvf5KLzKVh8FDUpK_wFp7BklZ46VYUI_jtigTGwZNF0HlWHviDtnIu4yh8ucCZhYWuni3n29rCzWYR37Nw51ogo7qbt6dsxbbdEvQQuwwZzN1joCKqE00ZQFNr5cnNtdLnmNDj-3s/s1600/IMG_2865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFOarvf5KLzKVh8FDUpK_wFp7BklZ46VYUI_jtigTGwZNF0HlWHviDtnIu4yh8ucCZhYWuni3n29rCzWYR37Nw51ogo7qbt6dsxbbdEvQQuwwZzN1joCKqE00ZQFNr5cnNtdLnmNDj-3s/s1600/IMG_2865.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She would love building sand castles with little brother...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gB7mET3_a6tvNqDR9Z72GNNI39wcd63BVa4jA6CPVYunTAe0neYXYA3S2nlzNdx51QGjF2shhmQojpG6_Lge9cSFrF28VpimTmH_QnXm59-9iEWKKlNVWtJvynqgvvPz4LtIGON8XX_z/s1600/IMG_3040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gB7mET3_a6tvNqDR9Z72GNNI39wcd63BVa4jA6CPVYunTAe0neYXYA3S2nlzNdx51QGjF2shhmQojpG6_Lge9cSFrF28VpimTmH_QnXm59-9iEWKKlNVWtJvynqgvvPz4LtIGON8XX_z/s1600/IMG_3040.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And beating big brother on a homemade bowling match!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We are so grateful to be part of this time and
era.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The information and support are
definitely out there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we know
that we don’t have complete control over our story, and only God knows all the details,
challenges and victories that lay ahead. So for that reason we covet your
prayers! T</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">he way our agency works “the match” with our family is through
sending us the medical file of a child or a couple of children they think could
be a good fit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon receiving a potential
match, we are to diligently <span style="color: #333333;">work with our
pediatrician, specialist, insurance company, and even our social worker to research
the file so that we ensure that we are physically, financially, emotionally,
and practically prepared to parent this specific child. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxhPVUWxl5P0z2j144NaAe_wrHV0uo_S8xjiW2XlpZHRWVztrBkY4W6SsUyuKWmOFHmY5UqYsJJhZT_jy461sPzJXUXiZ7RYyh9bj2khtMf3FH3JMJyDM1sNlEW7NulUJjfHnm-uSH-Xx/s1600/IMG_3277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxhPVUWxl5P0z2j144NaAe_wrHV0uo_S8xjiW2XlpZHRWVztrBkY4W6SsUyuKWmOFHmY5UqYsJJhZT_jy461sPzJXUXiZ7RYyh9bj2khtMf3FH3JMJyDM1sNlEW7NulUJjfHnm-uSH-Xx/s1600/IMG_3277.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, won't she look cute being part of our geeky family? I bet she will be super cute cheering up daddy's robotics team! We want you home Bush girl! The team needs you! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #333333;">So as you can imagine,
this is a great deal! One that can be very emotionally involved. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we know that God will never lead us
to take more than what we can handle, as it would never be fair neither for us
nor for our future daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the
designer of our family, so we really need you to continue lifting us in your
prayers so that this would be a matching made in heaven! And that we continue
trusting God and following His leading through this waiting stage. As I’ve
heard a while ago: “The waiting is not arbitrary”, everything is beautiful on
His time. Thank you again friends for helping us bring our little Bush girl home!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Xie, xie!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Paola<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Don’t forget that we are still soaping
ourselves with our homemade soap fundraiser “Bubbles for Hope! =) We are super
grateful to those of you that have kept those orders coming! Help us spread the
word. Check us out in facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/bubblesforhope"><span style="color: blue;">www.facebook.com/bubblesforhope</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
</div>
Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-42835140055637579492014-03-04T03:40:00.001-08:002014-03-11T04:19:49.895-07:00Some Resources for your Personal Bible Study: Desiring God-The website<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is a post for those of you that are starting your journey on studying the bible and are looking for resources online. I think we are such a blessed generation by having so much resources readily available to the tip of our fingertips. We should not forget though that there is nor replacement to our personal and individual Holy Spirit led bible study. A continuous and solid diet of reading and studying the scripture is vital to grow, mature and to face the complexities of life and be successful according to God's standards. It's like seating by our perfect mentor and teacher, God, to learn, to be comforted, filled and encouraged.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With that in mind, one of the resources that I love to tap on when doing
research on doctrine is the website: </span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">DesiringGod.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know probably many of you are aware of this
treasure chest of <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/books" target="_blank">free books</a>, articles and free podcast among other things.
They have over 10,000 free resources to look at! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than what you can read on a lifetime! I
have found it very helpful on my quest to grow my faith, my understanding and my
passion for God's word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’m glad
that it's a website so readily accessible to so many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re reaching out to millions of people worldwide
through their engaging, creative and biblically sound content.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZVEwSdEBsighm2hxiWUsf0rZm0Y2ZUdgrAbd_MtayjLbj3TftC7EXhnKDeZllP9FH1Fq8tBzVFHIrE0VsL12iMm2X9FMzWa01Y3VjAqTK7102eyPiS7VbNW4_muM9N9O0i697r6Fl6FC/s1600/DG+logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZVEwSdEBsighm2hxiWUsf0rZm0Y2ZUdgrAbd_MtayjLbj3TftC7EXhnKDeZllP9FH1Fq8tBzVFHIrE0VsL12iMm2X9FMzWa01Y3VjAqTK7102eyPiS7VbNW4_muM9N9O0i697r6Fl6FC/s1600/DG+logo.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Their resources come from many different sources; however John
Piper is the main author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I highly
regard most of his ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All his books
and sermons are available in PDF format on this website. I specially enjoy listening to his
daily podcast called: “</span><a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/ask-pastor-john-podcast-relaunch"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Ask
Pastor John</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He receives questions
from all over the world regarding all type of issues, from tattoos to
suffering, from fighting porn, to C.S Lewis: All kind of issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He normally gives very insightful, biblically
based answers, which are usually very helpful. You can listen to it directly
from their website or via their App, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DesiringGod"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, or </span><a href="https://twitter.com/desiringgod"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> if you’re on the go or if
you are a busy mommy like me and just have available ears while doing
not-mentally-engaging activities like folding laundry. There, I gave you a
great idea to start looking forward to fold your laundry! =)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb-rqMB9QY47mGggTz6fSESGWjBgaEOMhYPjAZvjW728oXBnxLWBRPadPR5Ku-lEKpaW3tKMBbrN1zw3_mGOi4GYiElXvQd_jNDBDf6GA_JdpYasksVZH3s6XIedLZD200eknxlIgaNk5/s1600/God+is+most+glorified+in+us.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb-rqMB9QY47mGggTz6fSESGWjBgaEOMhYPjAZvjW728oXBnxLWBRPadPR5Ku-lEKpaW3tKMBbrN1zw3_mGOi4GYiElXvQd_jNDBDf6GA_JdpYasksVZH3s6XIedLZD200eknxlIgaNk5/s1600/God+is+most+glorified+in+us.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I like this podcasts so much that I will be transcribing
some quotes from some of my favorite ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This will help me get a bird’s eye view on ideas I don’t
want to forget, and I hope it blesses you by giving you instant view to some
neat concepts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, I love
how generously this website makes material available and encourage others to
share it as long as the authorship is recognized. It says a lot of their
commitment to make God known to as many people and ways as possible. I heard
this before, but I can’t imagine what the Apostol Paul would have done if
Internet would have been available on his time. We are so blessed by having
this medium to help us spread the gospel! Let all these resources empower us under the leadership of the Holy Spirit to make His glory known right on and from the place He has planted you!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What about you, what type of resources online have you found useful for your personal bible study? </span></div>
Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-40446275228231441492014-02-24T20:42:00.000-08:002014-02-25T12:16:36.753-08:00On Parenting with The Mirror<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-“I want you to share your toys with your brother, GJ”,
-Me, on an authoritative, yet loving tone of voice. –“No!! it’s mine!”, -GJ,
snatching it away from his brother’s hands, taking off and igniting a tantrum which I have
come to realize makes my mommy’s lower back pain worse. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds familiar? I know this happens a thousand
times in a house with little ones. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
been trying to correct this behavior and teach the value of sharing and
generosity for a while now, and yes! It can be frustrating, and double yes! It is exhausting! <strong>However I recently learned something that makes my efforts and exhaustion purposeful. A silverlining that I very much needed: that moments like these are not only
prime opportunities to instruct our children’s behaviors, or to instill Godly characters
in them, but actually to preach the gospel to them: To get to the “heart of the
matter” –Their heart, and show them their need fo God.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjn0CZ-93UZMHjgJAXJoaBUm19ZHPz6JHmqZoqYKVk6XuveSxYDE5DruCPlRc2511A8i3t7cBHs3iacDvHlMCO-UFTrIvxACbj22wf6y_1GFwGqyM6xKv0ZiPcjKJSOpiPhJdeyFdeHiS/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjn0CZ-93UZMHjgJAXJoaBUm19ZHPz6JHmqZoqYKVk6XuveSxYDE5DruCPlRc2511A8i3t7cBHs3iacDvHlMCO-UFTrIvxACbj22wf6y_1GFwGqyM6xKv0ZiPcjKJSOpiPhJdeyFdeHiS/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the meanwhile I will also entertain you with our pictures from our "Weeding project" ..Yes, it looked really sad, hadn't been back there for a while!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is not originally my idea. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It actually comes from the bible. (See </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A4&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Ephesians
6:4</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the powerful way that a
couple of books that I’m reading expand on the matter: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shepherding-Childs-Heart-Tedd-Tripp-ebook/dp/B005GG6BYC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389873417&sr=8-1&keywords=shepherding+a+child%27s+heart"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">“Shepherding
a Child’s Heart”</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> by Ted Tripp, and “</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Faithful-Parent-Biblical-Raising/dp/1596382015/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389873465&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Faithful+Parent"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">The
Faithful Parent</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">” by Stuart Scott. These two are superb resources which I
highly recommend to parents of kids of all ages. These two books expand in much
more than this, however, they make special emphasis on our sharing the gospel
to our children as our main goal as parents. Such a special task, yet so
humbling. No wonder they say that our children are our first mission
field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it’s totally true, who
else in the world has such intimately access to somebody’s world at such tender
and impressionable age? I know we don’t have the power to make them be born
again. God does. But <strong>we definitely have the power and the responsibility to
diligently and faithfully teach them the truth of who God is and also who they
are, and how the gospel connects those two facts. </strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How else can we assure that our children will have
fruitful, meaningful and productive lives, but by ensuring that their hearts are
surrendered to God? “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (</span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A34&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Matthew
12:34b</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">).</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7Zm5lydK8tdLx_zn6-8331eN2l0i9jWAG2KrRdkzJtoVctSY7jr51aingAwN1WLPs2_E8nKCL1wc2nqabSLIinWV6BpBcXiiXuxjPO1f-3dQrC_U2AU0v1LYi6wxIYnjYwrRgbdJ_OJa/s1600/photo+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7Zm5lydK8tdLx_zn6-8331eN2l0i9jWAG2KrRdkzJtoVctSY7jr51aingAwN1WLPs2_E8nKCL1wc2nqabSLIinWV6BpBcXiiXuxjPO1f-3dQrC_U2AU0v1LYi6wxIYnjYwrRgbdJ_OJa/s1600/photo+8.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But I had new recruits!<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am focusing today on one of the best ways to teach our
children about who they are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know this
may not sound very appealing, but that doesn’t make it less truth:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <strong> </strong></span><strong>Our children are fallen sinners, desperately
in need of God’s salvation and grace.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><strong> </strong> </span>I
remember not long time ago, when brand new to parenting, I use to wonder about
the “age of accountability”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know
there are different positions on the subject.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I don't think I can state any specific age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually believe this may change from child
to child depending on their maturity level and development pace. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am one that believes that newborn children
and babies that die go straight back to God in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(See </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+12%3A22&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">2
Samuel 11:22</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">), thus our hope to see our </span><a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2011/12/in-loving-memory-of-jesse-bush.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">son</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
again when we get there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I don’t
wonder about this age of accountability anymore. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can just plainly see the answer with my
eyes as they start to get older.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those stinking cute little ones of
mine, who melt my heart a thousand times every day,
are starting to show the buds of the decaying seed implanted in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>The selfish, self-glorifying, God-rejecting,
sinful nature is there, and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just know
with my big loving mother’s heart that I have the pressing responsibility to
teach my children that there is a change of heart, a change of seed that needs
to take place. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong>And that they will be held
accountable for it. That is the most loving thing to do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After. Praying. A. Lot. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lest they face the unfortunate challenge which
makes sharing the gospel very hard in our day and age, the fact that most people
don’t understand the concept of sin or even conceive they’re sinners. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dAQA3ZhooMZbPq_pSf8fxADXbv9fw02d8z33zhMMMrbGm1kZm74XtdpXbE70Z-zNjDHD6MCnvfI2bCYRedyETXcfZikLg6vAu71bWo-QBPcwhhOSQKKbkdOpRPlS1d2a9rfQCG2Rpy4i/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dAQA3ZhooMZbPq_pSf8fxADXbv9fw02d8z33zhMMMrbGm1kZm74XtdpXbE70Z-zNjDHD6MCnvfI2bCYRedyETXcfZikLg6vAu71bWo-QBPcwhhOSQKKbkdOpRPlS1d2a9rfQCG2Rpy4i/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kind that loves playing with dirt!! =p</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So going back to my example, <strong>simple acts of disobedience are
wonderful windows of opportunity to lovingly, patiently and consistently teach
our children about their sinful nature, and how this is one of the influencing
factors of their behavior</strong>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know there
is a lot more behind a child’s behavior than this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t pretend to simplify child psychology
to just this area. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to do a lot
of training, helping our children understand their emotions and how they can
develop effective character tools like self-control and obedience, among many
other things to cope with the upsetting or frustrating situations they will encounter
every day. But the primary root of the problem, their sinful nature, needs to be addressed if we want to really help them grow to be all God wants them to be. So I don't think that just teaching them to behave, or to be self-aware or self-controlled, or to be good is enough. They just can't do it on their own, they need God to give them a new nature.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUKDnjI1utiVv0Iqyi2_bLdFFGCKOa_yi0wAUUIFMtKJ0Eaym0vVbli5C1xaJTYxdjH2S9hssi_RFIfYNDcyqDWUUmLwzydm79kOMOwEMJ_NeV5g5yAKumBmMwpLotDClYfTBa2eMGvmr/s1600/photo+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUKDnjI1utiVv0Iqyi2_bLdFFGCKOa_yi0wAUUIFMtKJ0Eaym0vVbli5C1xaJTYxdjH2S9hssi_RFIfYNDcyqDWUUmLwzydm79kOMOwEMJ_NeV5g5yAKumBmMwpLotDClYfTBa2eMGvmr/s1600/photo+10.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They actually really earned their keep! =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Of course any of this will be literally impossible if we don't spend some good "quality AND quantity" time with them. How else are we then going to catch those windows of opportunity?</strong></span> A good illustration for this is the process of "potty training". You can't potty train a child if you don't spend time with him catching her accidents and teaching her why, and what to do when she feels the urge to go. You need to be close to them continuously to accomplish this. However, even though this is a good illustration, we need to remember that we can't "outsource" our parenting role to preach the gospel to our children, in the same way we sometimes can let others, a childcare giver for example, potty train our child. We the parents, are ideally the ones that are given this responsibility and opportunity. I know this probably is an unlikely proposition for non-Christian families, and there is when we are called to be salt and light to them. But for a family of believers, we the parents are to be the number ones sharing the gospel with our children.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJsrjYXT3h-QeyB44gKF0OqK436wFbrBTFz7IFkP8cqUWRLI1qTad4Vg_vhNsSs3zy1t2_URRZe6VIIRXxt5jF63de0L0Lz6Rum3kErUPgjS-QbfWfWoBnsa8-5FoVONEdrzQv91P0ga8/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJsrjYXT3h-QeyB44gKF0OqK436wFbrBTFz7IFkP8cqUWRLI1qTad4Vg_vhNsSs3zy1t2_URRZe6VIIRXxt5jF63de0L0Lz6Rum3kErUPgjS-QbfWfWoBnsa8-5FoVONEdrzQv91P0ga8/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys will be boys!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>One of the greatest tools God put in our hands to facilitate
this child training process is His Word. Sometime ago I had the realization that if I learn to use the Bible as a mirror it will help me show
them and lovingly tell them how dirty they really are, and how much they need a deep-inside-out cleansing
by the gospel.</strong> Otherwise they just will not know. It works just in the same way as when we are told that we have a little bit of food on the side of our mouth in a social situation. It is the kind and loving thing to do, and even though it makes us feel awkward at first , it makes us feel thankful as we can take care of it. <strong>As parents we need to learn to lovingly hold this mirror in front
of them, every chance we see them “covered in dirt”.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5chxUZ9cfWrYBWtgxg_177q6n4ehSglWvTf_11YWQ_iqiIFKkIKLx6HTDE3uU2SOZ5jdAXXWSWaQpjFTPHz2j38ogQkIF4FP34zLJhX_LFE6QiaAMTtnLeT-Sj1qaqpbatDd8jXgP2Cp/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5chxUZ9cfWrYBWtgxg_177q6n4ehSglWvTf_11YWQ_iqiIFKkIKLx6HTDE3uU2SOZ5jdAXXWSWaQpjFTPHz2j38ogQkIF4FP34zLJhX_LFE6QiaAMTtnLeT-Sj1qaqpbatDd8jXgP2Cp/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Noise with dirt on it! =p</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVqa4zC406-9qgORPnj022fdIXWUkDAxijFoFAE9hXtIeK328KzoabAVIeExN0FFdT3IAV66dTjbRniemQ780cN2nYNb7PJVcRPc0eWj6K_Mrbm5E36_DPLEAZW-DyR9ORTssuvivy4WT/s1600/photo+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVqa4zC406-9qgORPnj022fdIXWUkDAxijFoFAE9hXtIeK328KzoabAVIeExN0FFdT3IAV66dTjbRniemQ780cN2nYNb7PJVcRPc0eWj6K_Mrbm5E36_DPLEAZW-DyR9ORTssuvivy4WT/s1600/photo+6.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you like my "bull dog" face? =P</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So it seems to me that disobedience at an
early age is not that bad after all. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
not claiming to be mastering the use of this “mirror” yet, I am at the very
beginning of the process, but I’m very intentionally trying to memorize some
passages that I can translate down into their level to use when needed. Some of
the passages that I’d like to start using are: (</span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+7%3A19&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Romans
7:19</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+3%3A23&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Romans
3:23</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A16&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">John
3:16</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, & </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+119%3A11&version=NIV"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Psalm
119:11</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">). <a href="http://www.parentingwithscripture.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/pws_15_fab_verses_outlines1.pdf" target="_blank">Here</a> it is a very good resource I found with short, handy bible passages to memorize with our children to help us on this training process. The name of the website is <a href="http://www.parentingwithscripture.com/" target="_blank">"Parenting with Scripture".</a> It is really good.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yf5hFdC2JKdQkerfHPcSt67SKKsiv_kKrq1nnyndMsmhIVVyYPQp9raFVDpE9SD4GtQFS2MdQJ4YPvXX1mldJPmQfhfXwwJ4i98fhBhePeK6sF8cMy6fNxEQ1j1klLWquC1eqXW142xW/s1600/photo+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yf5hFdC2JKdQkerfHPcSt67SKKsiv_kKrq1nnyndMsmhIVVyYPQp9raFVDpE9SD4GtQFS2MdQJ4YPvXX1mldJPmQfhfXwwJ4i98fhBhePeK6sF8cMy6fNxEQ1j1klLWquC1eqXW142xW/s1600/photo+7.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We even had the chance to pick up some calamondin oranges from our tree! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6oQKZFQkdspvIQ-J8ghpmdVdRnLxPU1OyxubNW6MkOl5KfxsusKd2-0tKzoSHNDWSGY-41HHG3n2YCGwRMGTTACMXK9coVxFvQpWjPXYcnp4NWj-nySFCznWBlL5iovMmkcRzpJtEtXQ/s1600/photo+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6oQKZFQkdspvIQ-J8ghpmdVdRnLxPU1OyxubNW6MkOl5KfxsusKd2-0tKzoSHNDWSGY-41HHG3n2YCGwRMGTTACMXK9coVxFvQpWjPXYcnp4NWj-nySFCznWBlL5iovMmkcRzpJtEtXQ/s1600/photo+9.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby brother couldn't resist, I guess what better lesson on "Sourness" than just to try it yourself huh!..But they're awesome for marmalades and baking goods! =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know some of you may be thinking as I wondered myself at
some point: Aren’t these way too abstract concepts for a child to understand? The
idea of conceiving the Word as a seed that you plant and water every day has
given me much peace about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>Sharing
the gospel with our children so they can grasp the concept to express
saving faith later on is a process that takes time</strong>. And our faithful labor on
it as parents day in and day out should give us the opportunity to plant as
many seeds as possible specially during the highly fertile season of the early years, and any other seasons for those with older kids. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvLXyHbyPSD9okResa1EuXTP5aRBTazoB59hKkNpBe2y7QknRLBjvqYWS8y2KZdgbcftlzfVDS283ok8VM9umEKAqCp_SIW_4PJWwcCivg6O3hxfqrWUFlXEGnzvnyiPhDhrFubX0INOT/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvLXyHbyPSD9okResa1EuXTP5aRBTazoB59hKkNpBe2y7QknRLBjvqYWS8y2KZdgbcftlzfVDS283ok8VM9umEKAqCp_SIW_4PJWwcCivg6O3hxfqrWUFlXEGnzvnyiPhDhrFubX0INOT/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We actually did a good job, didn't we?..well, this is a good start! Thanks for cheering us up! =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>The timing is not completely on our hands. <strong>We</strong> <strong>must remember after all, that the harvest doesn’t depend uniquely on our labor, or on our children’s choices, but primarily on God</strong> who is the one who calls each one by name and produces the growth. He does it on His perfect time and way, and wants us to trust Him for the results and of course to enjoy those little ones to the rims of our hearts! They are a gift to treasure, to teach and to grow old with!</o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-15751686388189893322014-01-14T04:01:00.002-08:002014-01-14T04:01:25.136-08:00My Personal Quest into "Predestination" vs "Freedom of Will", a letter to my children. (Part 2)<br />
<br />
This is the second part of my series on this quest. If you didn’t get to
read the first part, <a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2014/01/my-personal-quest-into-predestination_6.html" target="_blank">here it is</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
a letter to my children; however I thought that making it public will benefit
some that may want to embark on the same quest:<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
My dear children, <br />
<br />
This debate is not new to me. I actually have been hearing
about it in messages, books and articles through the years. It’s quite popular.
However, it wasn’t until I read this passage the other day that the thought of
finally organizing my thoughts about it through the exercise of writing things
down came to mind. It was interesting to me that it wasn't <a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2014/01/my-personal-quest-into-predestination_6.html" target="_blank">Romans 8:29-30</a>, which is classically the passage that most people addressing this debate quotes. I hope to be able to get to many other places in the bible that shed light on this issue. So this won't be a short process.<br />
<br />
So today I want to address some insights on the few parables that I am using as springboards to launch me into this study.<br />
<br />
-For first time in my Christian
life understanding the parable of the Sower, the parable of the Weeds, and the
parable of the Net has been a challenge to me. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013&version=NIV" target="_blank">Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, 24-30,36-42, 47-52</a>)*<o:p></o:p><br />
<u1:p></u1:p>
<br />
-Jesus explained the first 2
parables, however at first sight when I looked at them from the lenses of the
age time debate of Predestination vs Free-will (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism" target="_blank">Calvinism</a> vs <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arminianism" target="_blank">Arminianism</a>), it
seems to me these parables may or not present potential facts regarding the validation
of one or the other. <br />
<br />
<o:p>-Some of the questions that came to mind when I read this passage today were: How are God's sovereignty and freedom of will represented in the types of soil Jesus is referring to? And also, how can we explain the concept of freedom of will, if both the "Weed seed", and the "Bad fish" where bad from the beginning?</o:p><br />
<u1:p></u1:p>
<br />
-I believe that regardless of
whether this text is indeed related to this debate, a Holy Spirit
led inquiring into it is very important to the mature Christian for
the sake of allowing one’s heart to take stances regarding our confidence to
preach the gospel, and also to contribute to our view of God and our trust in Him. Do we really view Him as a God that is all powerful and who is really in control of all things? Do we trust God's sovereignty when facing evil or trials?<br />
<u1:p></u1:p>
<br />
-If God is the one who does the
choosing, then when praying for unsaved dear ones, we should primarily focus on
praying that God would choose to open their spiritual eyes, and make the
transformational work in their heart which is prerequisite for a person to even
start being responsive to the Gospel, instead of praying that that person would
just willfully decide to start listening to it. I hope that getting a
better understanding on this subject would give me more peace when facing the
way others respond to the gospel, knowing that God is ultimately sovereign over
who gets saved, and why.<o:p></o:p><br />
<u1:p></u1:p>
<br />
-I believe that taking either
position should not affect the believer’s assurance of salvation, or his
willingness to readily preach the gospel and make disciples, as only God, and
not us merely humans, knows who are the citizens of heaven regardless of who
did the choosing. I believe we are still called to preach the gospel and spread
the “seed” as frequently and widely as we can, and allow God to take care of
the outcome.<o:p></o:p><br />
<u1:p></u1:p>
<br />
-With this in mind I am going to
try to embark on a personal quest to try to sort out my understanding on
whether we are predestined to be God’s children or not. I pray that some
of my findings embolden my witness for Christ and my passion to delight in and
live for Him. And to trust Him completely.<br />
<u1:p></u1:p>
<br />
-On trying to avoid any
presumption, I have to understand that this may very well be a quest to last a
lifetime. However I pray that God rewards my desire to understand His will, and
lead me to fruitful study. I also pray that some of my answers help my children
embark in their own quest with God to grow in him and savor His eternal
pleasures, after all we were created to get to know Him: “And this is eternal
life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have
sent.” -John 17:3<br />
<br />
<br />
To be Continued..<o:p></o:p><br />
<u1:p></u1:p><u1:p></u1:p><br />Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-43240011974918467392014-01-10T18:28:00.001-08:002014-03-03T12:04:39.897-08:00Our Adoption Journey - New Update: Steadely Moving Forward to Go Across that Ocean...of Paperwork!<br />
Hello friends! <br />
<br />
As promised, here's a super overdue update regarding where we are on our
adoption process. Thank you so much to all of you who haven't stopped praying,
asking us questions or showing interest in our adoption journey! We have been
specially blessed to know that some of you have even been encouraged to become
a forever family yourselves. Yes! For those of you that have recently joined
our supporting group and haven't read our previous updates, here they are: <a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2013/03/our-journey-to-becoming-forever-family.html" target="_blank">Update # 1</a>, <a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2013/04/our-adoption-journey-2nd-update-talking.html" target="_blank">#2</a>, and <a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2013/08/our-adoption-journey-august-update.html" target="_blank">#3</a>. Also, to those that
want to know how can you specifically pray for us at this point, there is an
updated prayer request list at the bottom of this post. We covet your prayers!<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPKzFFgQNWUtkUNrhti8knTvlttPbFMHzKGIiIY1zIcxPr6Iol9Rvp10DiEky1ywkFqcQwjW_NV8JWuwQcPoDY8cgwbhFx42s0_lIMcoS1mV4bVMocDvupjG8FEs-XA1yx4WFuI73pcM/s1600/IMG_1658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPKzFFgQNWUtkUNrhti8knTvlttPbFMHzKGIiIY1zIcxPr6Iol9Rvp10DiEky1ywkFqcQwjW_NV8JWuwQcPoDY8cgwbhFx42s0_lIMcoS1mV4bVMocDvupjG8FEs-XA1yx4WFuI73pcM/s1600/IMG_1658.JPG" height="281" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As always we'll spice up your reading with some of our latest family pictures</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqrBNMFSLysc0i7tNtkm8UwETj30iA1tVgx8UGYXP5QPv21ttV7j2SBBPNQ7YqSmIzqeGZfHVm3iFReevzokmYEZGIUPL6GZNaWoChYLtixVPv451j6UylyLyQQ-gjBM8AoT_o4-zxwQ/s1600/IMG_2072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqrBNMFSLysc0i7tNtkm8UwETj30iA1tVgx8UGYXP5QPv21ttV7j2SBBPNQ7YqSmIzqeGZfHVm3iFReevzokmYEZGIUPL6GZNaWoChYLtixVPv451j6UylyLyQQ-gjBM8AoT_o4-zxwQ/s1600/IMG_2072.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And invite you to join our wishful thinking as we imagine our daughter being part of them!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ok, so without further ado, let us share where we are at the
moment. We hope this is informative specially for those looking to adopt in the
future:<br />
<br />
At this point we believe to be at the tail end of the 2nd step of
our "Paperwork pregnancy". Just as a reminder, and at a very
high level, the five major steps of an Chinese adoption are: <!--[endif]-->Applying
and Obtaining the Agency Approval, <!--[endif]-->Compiling
the Dossier (Documentation to get approved by China and the U.S), <!--[endif]-->Being
matched with our child, <!--[endif]-->Traveling
to China to bring our child home and last <!--[endif]-->Bonding
and Post-placement.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_EqxxoXPYmzl4t8Ljici9cytIGj8uWQZrN0iZYOy_BG2zNUeLxcMSx4rszgScjBJQfqy5z3GiXs5vBLKAsD94-k51R7eNjgvf5MynWomI-DLhwMEi4i-byzgi8GqjklWWWAPqPgLAj8/s1600/IMG_2122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_EqxxoXPYmzl4t8Ljici9cytIGj8uWQZrN0iZYOy_BG2zNUeLxcMSx4rszgScjBJQfqy5z3GiXs5vBLKAsD94-k51R7eNjgvf5MynWomI-DLhwMEi4i-byzgi8GqjklWWWAPqPgLAj8/s1600/IMG_2122.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We would love her to try the best Sweet potato casserole of the world, Daddy's!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1Jd1cCFA3Ouj1Pb8LaqRLM2iiG1b5Sf0PNDrzynCnuHket9j9hi09hB0YDA9B9hpS_RUNTxuLRQKpZwfjR5mK-QPe_WIWpsw4bjvLyQdNqkAois3vcX1kAxc4a_C1tG3N5bsENjO46E/s1600/IMG_2182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1Jd1cCFA3Ouj1Pb8LaqRLM2iiG1b5Sf0PNDrzynCnuHket9j9hi09hB0YDA9B9hpS_RUNTxuLRQKpZwfjR5mK-QPe_WIWpsw4bjvLyQdNqkAois3vcX1kAxc4a_C1tG3N5bsENjO46E/s1600/IMG_2182.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or just join our joyful noise as we sang carols after dinner during Christmas!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Every step mentioned above involves lots of action items. We don't want to
bore you with details, but please free to ask us if you like to know. It
is true, adopting a child requires lots of diligence in the way of
legalities that need to be taken care of. And now being in the middle of the
process we understand why. In the case of international adoption, making sure
that you are dealing with a legitimate organization prevents fraud and abuse.
Human trafficking is rampant worldwide, including the U.S, but is even more
rampant and less restrained in underdeveloped countries. Therefore the need for
inter-country treaties like "<a href="http://adoption.state.gov/hague_convention.php" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The Hague
Convention</span></a>" which establishes parameters for international adoptions.
If you are interested in becoming a forever family, one of the first things you
have to make sure when choosing your agency, is that it is a "Hague
accredited agency". <a href="http://adoption.state.gov/adoption_process.php" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The
Official Intercountry adoption website</span></a> is a good place to
educate yourself about many of the details of international adoption. You can
read about the status and requirements to complete an adoption from virtually
any place in the world.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgeWNpHrRaCvZL0mLrgx8Ub8kVaKZjryP5pqJheHZ1lGWElajoY0k4sCrvAfFH2sbHHJnkDIgRcmQLH-8obT6CljeQf3r4FjNnRhfcZBZTD7msVT9pZIIjnYcfXnuMbpMwiAGAqsKmW0/s1600/IMG_4162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgeWNpHrRaCvZL0mLrgx8Ub8kVaKZjryP5pqJheHZ1lGWElajoY0k4sCrvAfFH2sbHHJnkDIgRcmQLH-8obT6CljeQf3r4FjNnRhfcZBZTD7msVT9pZIIjnYcfXnuMbpMwiAGAqsKmW0/s1600/IMG_4162.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We dream with getting her 'Thing 3" family t-shirt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dJAGpFcIaobt1sm_tRG09QcYZe0Kh5ORhiy_gZkqwe4uTVgsWf6Gbv-sgwkI_syQRD1_qfXaZ6lrg42iBF703deban2xApYBGYJDP38eRM1QTi8Hzb53GcR7wHNSnRcABP0Bre50f08/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dJAGpFcIaobt1sm_tRG09QcYZe0Kh5ORhiy_gZkqwe4uTVgsWf6Gbv-sgwkI_syQRD1_qfXaZ6lrg42iBF703deban2xApYBGYJDP38eRM1QTi8Hzb53GcR7wHNSnRcABP0Bre50f08/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And watching her devour her Birthday cake! =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
At this point we have completed most of our "Dossier", which is
the compilation of all the documents required to be approved by the Chinese
government. This is a list of roughly about 15 documents (Birth-marriage
certificates, employment-income verification, financial statements, social workers interview, etc.)
that need to be notarized, and certified by different local, state
and federal officials, before they are sent for final approval by the
Chinese government. That is how the expression
"paperwork-pregnancy" was coined. Capiche?! No joke, dealing with
so much red tape has felt a bit like morning sickness at some times. But
do not be discouraged, it's is doable. Our agency has been of great help to
keep ourselves organized and going at a good steady pace at this stage of the
process. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ewhWGqcHJPtwNIPHC9Lfu3FXtVrL_v0NU3JR1cXLSDOt7-HnJeY-EFw3mQ8eD8ATl0Q5FyH9dpfqtP0JsYleH3M7I8CT0Qg27N0zgCgTaHfOI_j2K1GYPVg-9FJ4Wt8T9KdbXM60YOo/s1600/IMG_1916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ewhWGqcHJPtwNIPHC9Lfu3FXtVrL_v0NU3JR1cXLSDOt7-HnJeY-EFw3mQ8eD8ATl0Q5FyH9dpfqtP0JsYleH3M7I8CT0Qg27N0zgCgTaHfOI_j2K1GYPVg-9FJ4Wt8T9KdbXM60YOo/s1600/IMG_1916.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and to play and read silly stories with mommy and brother!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwm3AcqUZQnNFv1CKZtIQK7UAh5TG7a9KobAkAQs9M3VxC9vSdLKza1YZIDeNYGXwvIO6G-_FZtTt75GZBtHeOXvJZeV8cDqv5A9YsdZtPlmXbE_Tdw9927pMm_YUOYawtC1qUatl8Sc/s1600/IMG_2075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwm3AcqUZQnNFv1CKZtIQK7UAh5TG7a9KobAkAQs9M3VxC9vSdLKza1YZIDeNYGXwvIO6G-_FZtTt75GZBtHeOXvJZeV8cDqv5A9YsdZtPlmXbE_Tdw9927pMm_YUOYawtC1qUatl8Sc/s1600/IMG_2075.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And to grab Daddy's other leg...wouldn't that be fun!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
At this point we are specifically waiting for the last piece of document to
add to our pile which is the approval by the Department of U.S immigration.
Once this is received, the whole stack will be translated into Chinese and
shipped to the CCCWA or the China Centre for Children's Welfare and
Adoption, which is the office that finally approves our family to bring our
daughter home.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonqOChVQUBtb5b952Owpis67wavWCeOmym1F3T1jgcR7zj8KP0JmonfHcyuEE4IrvIfT6JzQwfiCjuklmMbYV1tKswjkqpAQlqlpMW8KvGSAglABdRmisXibiBoKuBz-AHtoi8KFsNhc/s1600/IMG_2042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonqOChVQUBtb5b952Owpis67wavWCeOmym1F3T1jgcR7zj8KP0JmonfHcyuEE4IrvIfT6JzQwfiCjuklmMbYV1tKswjkqpAQlqlpMW8KvGSAglABdRmisXibiBoKuBz-AHtoi8KFsNhc/s1600/IMG_2042.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are eagerly waiting for you sister! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcD9eZON-0RS2PL9C5mjgUcyyLw_HR3cZpURpRXTvdS6GyHWLm3LtGDr6v2sOvSbV_hx-2FJtc0e9BrxyB9fo7lom-Gou20DqzajaVJE7pCR5ue9ht8Bm1nsjRk5prgotdFk0OT7hgjnM/s1600/IMG_2378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcD9eZON-0RS2PL9C5mjgUcyyLw_HR3cZpURpRXTvdS6GyHWLm3LtGDr6v2sOvSbV_hx-2FJtc0e9BrxyB9fo7lom-Gou20DqzajaVJE7pCR5ue9ht8Bm1nsjRk5prgotdFk0OT7hgjnM/s1600/IMG_2378.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have a lifetime of love & adventures to share with you!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Ok friends I think this gives you an idea of where we are at now. The next
time we will be sharing about our Adoption agency <a href="http://www.ccaifamily.org/">CCIA</a> and why we chose to work
with them. Again thank you very much for your continuing support and
prayers. We are overly ecstatic for the success of our fundraiser <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BubblesForHope" target="_blank">"Bubbles for Hope".</a> We have for sure been super busy making soap, but what a
difference when you are exhausted for a purpose! =)<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimu1mbeImVQuaeHXZhgi7_BNATsDh1sOCaveo36stXEqHRfchmUwn8z_dRxOIpNrwO58iw-TLZv1CaK8srjHhpsKbqTyCA3umx3s6jFrhtwk1OOmFishUzIGub3YIKdnl-4AGsQyyBerc/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimu1mbeImVQuaeHXZhgi7_BNATsDh1sOCaveo36stXEqHRfchmUwn8z_dRxOIpNrwO58iw-TLZv1CaK8srjHhpsKbqTyCA3umx3s6jFrhtwk1OOmFishUzIGub3YIKdnl-4AGsQyyBerc/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We can't wait 'til the moment where we can hold your hand too! =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<em><b>Here is the list of specific ways you can pray for us now:</b></em><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Pray for God's protection over our daughter's life. That the Lord
surround her with angels and compassionate people that would protect her thru
whatever circumstances are leading her family to abandon her or giving her
away.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Pray for her health. (I'm tearing up here, this is hard to type) Please pray
that God would touch her body with the power of His healing. That He would be
her doctor and her main care taker. That He would provide compassionate people,
physical and financial means to care for whatever physical challenges she's
facing, whether these may be congenital, or any diseases coming from the
orphanage setting. Please pray that God would supernaturally strengthen her
immune system.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Please ask God that she will be given favor and be assigned a foster mother
that provide the care and love that she needs at her early age. If this is not
possible, that she be surrounded by loving caretakers in her orphanage that
would be passionate about caring for these little children.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Please pray for protection against any abuse or any harsh circumstances
that may cause her to be psychologically, emotionally or physically wounded.
And please pray for us as we try to learn about compassionate healing
parenting. That the Lord give us the wisdom, stamina, patience and means that
we need to love her to health, thriving and to Him.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Please pray that God's favor be upon us as we work on the tail end of
our paperwork. Please pray specifically that the Secretary of State and the
Chinese embassy would expedite the certification of documents and that
immigration would give us our approval soon.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Please pray that God would orchestrate the timing of our matching with her.
That He gives us peace knowing that the waiting is not arbitrary, and that He's
the author of our story.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Xie, Xie,<br />
<br />
Paola<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-90246387560365695942014-01-06T23:06:00.001-08:002014-01-10T18:40:08.543-08:00My Personal Quest into "Predestination" vs "Freedom of Will", a letter to my children. (Part 1)<br />
Dear readers, this is a letter to my children. However I thought that making
it public may benefit some that perhaps have faced the same questions at some point. Here it is.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
My dear child,<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Since day one, when we first open our lives to treasure God above everything
else and start our pilgrimage towards that special heavenly home, questions will be knocking on our doors. Some questions will be perplexing;
others discouraging, yet others may even feel hurtful. <strong>Whichever
the nature of questions or doubts you have, I want you to remember that we can always
ask God</strong>. <strong>He wants us to ask him. Otherwise He would not have left the Holy
Spirit to teach us all things</strong>. (See <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014:26&version=NIV">John 14:26</a>)*.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we humbly approach God for answers, He
actually uses them to strengthen our faith and make our experience with Him
the more enjoyable and our lives for His sake even the more fruitful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong>Picture a father that sits down with his son
to teach him with undivided attention and zealous devotion. This is how God
likes to teach us. </strong>And everything, including the stuff that makes both the
questions and the answers has its origins in Him. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%202:2-3&version=NIV" target="_blank">Colossians 2:2-3</a>)*. <strong>So rest
assured that you will get more than you ask for, in God, you will always get
not the answer that you’re looking for, but the answer that you really need.<o:p></o:p></strong><br />
<br />
So with this in mind, let me share with you, one of my current quests on documenting
some of my personal understanding regarding the age old debate <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on whether God chooses us to be his children,
or we choose Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many call this debate
the debate between “Predestination” vs “Free Will”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or “The Calvinistic Debate". <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Some questions like: “Why should I bother preaching the gospel if people are
going to come to God if He wills anyway?” or, “Why should we make people
accountable for their sin, if God doesn’t predestine everyone to go to heaven?”,
or "why does God choose to withhold His truth from some people?", or “Why did God allow evil anyway?” steam from this debate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s why I think that every Christian
should tackle these questions at some point of their pilgrimage. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I want you to know that being on either side of this debate doesn’t affect
your salvation, you can be confident on your faith if you are standing on
either side. However, a clearer understanding on this issue will definitely
embolden your faith, especially when facing life trails.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1.5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">
<div style="border: currentColor; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
Finally, I want you to remember that I am
not theologian, but just a honest believer wanting to know and experience God.
I will never get to all there is out there to read by doctors and theologians
on the subject.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just need to get
enough answers trusting that God in His grace will provide them. After all he said that if we lack wisdom, we can confidently ask Him. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%201:5&version=NIV" target="_blank">James 1:5</a>). However, I hope that some of my
findings, or even more, some of my questions, encourage you to dig deeper,
bring your own questions, and even your own doubts to a God who is eager to teach you. He
really is.</div>
<div style="border: currentColor; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="border: currentColor; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<br />
To be continued..<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="border: currentColor; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
</div>
</div>
Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-53604116641595576542014-01-01T17:56:00.000-08:002014-01-10T18:37:32.403-08:00“We are Called to Treasure Him Because He Treasured us first” - A few thoughts on the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></o:p></span><br />
In my efforts to write more this year I have decided to post some of the
lessons and insights I will be getting from my study of the Bible this year. I
had some sort of epiphany this morning -At least, I like to believe it was, which sparked my desire to sit down a write. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Even
though I believe the best journal, message and even book one can write with the
lessons got from scripture should be “life itself”, “spoken words” and “daily
choices”, I think there is a value to write things down…and share them</b>. Not
only to use it as a reminder for later on, but because others can be edified by
it. When I was thinking about others this morning, the first ones that came to
mind were my children. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And even though I
seriously doubt they will be interested in reading my notes on hardcopies many
years from now, which will probably be a rarity, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I certainly think, they
may be interested in checking their momma’s blog. -Again, I like to think they
will..I pray they do! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So anyway, since I am already
doing some writing while I work on my BSF homework, I am as might as well, going to try compile my insights and post them in my blog. It’s not a super deep and
exhaustive study, (I’m not using any commentaries at this point) but going a
little deeper than a quick casual reading on short passages has proved to be of
great help to me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope to get better at succinctness with time
and practice. So here it goes. Today the lesson was on the Parables of the
Hidden Treasure and the Pearl from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matthew
13: 45-46</b>:<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.
When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he
had and bought that field.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for
fine pearls. <sup>46 </sup>When he found one of great value, he went away
and sold everything he had and bought it.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
My dear children, this is some of what I believe this passage is saying:<br />
<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<ul>
<li>The treasure represents God and His kingdom. We are to treasure Him
above anything else in our lives because we were created for Him, and nothing
else in the universe can give us more Joy than this. <strong>When He is in
the first place in our minds and affections, everything else falls into
place. </strong><o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Even though cross-referencing other passages against this one may raise
some questions about the right interpretation of “Treasure”. The meaning at
first could be perceived as ambiguous as it refers to “God” in some places, (See
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2073:25-26&version=NIV">Psalm 73:25-26</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Col%202:2-3&version=NIV">Col 2:2-3</a>)* and to us in some others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(See <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%207:6&version=NIV">Deuteronomy 7:6</a>)* I favor both
interpretations. I don't think they're mutually exclusive in the sense, that <strong>we
treasure God because He treasured us first. We are intended to love God because
He loved us first. </strong><o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>In the same way “the Pearl” can mean "us" as the lost treasure
that God came to rescue. He found it and bought it for a really hefty price:
Jesus' blood. It can also mean "Jesus" as the treasure that God made
available for us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">He’s the treasure that we must get to make sense of it all, and to have
a real perspective on value. To find joy, meaning, and hope. To learn and experience what
delight really is!</b>!<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>The “Merchant” in this passage refers to both "us" and
"God" in the sense that He will never ask us to do anything that He
hasn't already done. He doesn't only show us what to do, but also produces in
us to will it and to do it: (See <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philipians%202:13&version=NIV">Phill 2:13</a>)*. He actually modeled it and then
wants to do it in and thru me. <strong>He is the ultimate mentor</strong>.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>“Selling everything" to buy the pearl from God's perspective may refer
to leave His throne to become a man and die for our sins. From our perspective:
To let Him have priority over absolutely everything else in our lives: Letting Him
have precedence in our affections, and thoughts, and energy, and time, and
money, etc.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
I think Jesus didn’t interpret these parables because He left the Holy
Spirit to teach us and explain to us all things. It is a joy to sit at the feet
of the Holy Spirit and have Him explaining to you what Jesus meant thru these words.
But most importantly <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">to help you give
them full meaning when they become a reality in your own walk with God </b>(See
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014:26&version=NIV">John 14:26</a>)*<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1.5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">
<div style="border: currentColor; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-60853637637077782682013-08-26T19:49:00.004-07:002014-03-02T18:21:07.055-08:00Our Adoption Journey: "Our Paperwork Pregnancy & Hoping for a Future Birth Overseas"<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok, here I am,
finally able to sit down for a little while to give you an update on what’s
going on with our adoption. </span></span>For those of you that have recently joined our supporting group and haven't read our previous updates, here they are: <a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2013/03/our-journey-to-becoming-forever-family.html" target="_blank">Update # 1</a>, and <a href="http://thearchersapprentice.blogspot.com/2013/04/our-adoption-journey-2nd-update-talking.html" target="_blank">#2</a>.<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">What a ride friends!</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Even though we are thrilled at
the prospect of enlarging our family; handling the day to day of family life, our little ones, our
fundraiser and the adoption process all at the same time keeps us quite busy. But
we trust that if God called us to it, He’ll see us through it. This is certainly
an experience that is making us grow in stewardship of our resources.
Especially time!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdkSEBroY3-x1vqKswYasYO93wEQmcoREW-Z3GG2PEqUeZbnxOZ_hjEOntjlpYHBHwGx7Y-p3L1HaWtbvF9cZngzacbGPY8iZiMyewoLVM1gHm1Ay-V1e_HvaQEofKWkz09PV66VpFsBB/s1600/IMG_0796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdkSEBroY3-x1vqKswYasYO93wEQmcoREW-Z3GG2PEqUeZbnxOZ_hjEOntjlpYHBHwGx7Y-p3L1HaWtbvF9cZngzacbGPY8iZiMyewoLVM1gHm1Ay-V1e_HvaQEofKWkz09PV66VpFsBB/s320/IMG_0796.JPG" height="88" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As always we'll entertain you with our pictures as you read thru! This is from a got together with my family that came to visit from Colombia a few weeks ago. Wouldn't our future child look super-cute on these pictures?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok, as many
of you know, we decided to pursue an international adoption from the country of
China. We are specifically attempting to bring home a special need child from
the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henan"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">province of Henan</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, located in Central Asia. We are slowly moving
forward through the milestones of the journey, which at a high level consist
of:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Applying and Obtaining the Agency
Approval<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Compiling the Dossier (Documentation
to get approved by the Chinese & the U.S Gov't)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being matched with our child<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Traveling to China to bring our child
home<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bonding and post-placement<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbKAp6gB6ChmcYeJMJfEjXzRGCyA0b3coLmS1gGUbxttyXLZ7mzyc_NsQ9rVHZubQmdPpF9PlfvqEDc67hdoN8B1G8LXURG5RPIq1T1raNypyLsOb5eBvTpQcXlMQLNypdmWa4599DyqZ/s1600/IMG_0628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbKAp6gB6ChmcYeJMJfEjXzRGCyA0b3coLmS1gGUbxttyXLZ7mzyc_NsQ9rVHZubQmdPpF9PlfvqEDc67hdoN8B1G8LXURG5RPIq1T1raNypyLsOb5eBvTpQcXlMQLNypdmWa4599DyqZ/s320/IMG_0628.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, I bet he/she would love to enjoy a family pool party!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every step
is quite involved, and we are experiencing the morning sickness of a “paperwork
pregnancy” as we diligently work on the paper-chasing of step #2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far we are very pleased with the service
and professionalism we have experienced by the agency we chose: </span></span><a href="http://www.ccaifamily.org/"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">CCIA</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
(Chinese<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children Adoption
International). </span></span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We will try
to expand on the process of how we selected them in a future post, where we
will also share a little more on the cost and financials of adoption. For now,
we want to share a bit about the different types of adoption and why we decided
to adopt internationally. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtHwAaMrugU3uBES9V1U_sDqE0NYWQLBH2r6RcxRtOaV97aBKc41Y5EvZkzLhTZK-xCt5p9DxXtd4-pfPwPvak2ogyq9cimFN5FBcog5LYaGj1GlwXhoTwXpY7qVjsSWmhyKZYhpap3Ru/s1600/IMG_0643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtHwAaMrugU3uBES9V1U_sDqE0NYWQLBH2r6RcxRtOaV97aBKc41Y5EvZkzLhTZK-xCt5p9DxXtd4-pfPwPvak2ogyq9cimFN5FBcog5LYaGj1GlwXhoTwXpY7qVjsSWmhyKZYhpap3Ru/s320/IMG_0643.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And throw water balloons at daddy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4y-hv54DXbj9CTeD6fr2zJ5J8h_5gDsWVPKSahkKI_ggu7vDxoVVIvnedSsTlMgkMU6KvOMy4iDos7LL4o4uodg6YJCJci_BmubFsPM8OhcxbkFN42np6zVLuD3xpRaCVp_JAQMbOmuC/s1600/IMG_0686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4y-hv54DXbj9CTeD6fr2zJ5J8h_5gDsWVPKSahkKI_ggu7vDxoVVIvnedSsTlMgkMU6KvOMy4iDos7LL4o4uodg6YJCJci_BmubFsPM8OhcxbkFN42np6zVLuD3xpRaCVp_JAQMbOmuC/s320/IMG_0686.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And bake a birthday pizza with brother!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvILMAG3VTSH-JStYGDTrpwM1KestdbLYBotuQbVSoCfQdtvqr5mmJdHOipXL1SdD6zLhD6Eye6nUpifTG32IjkuT24VX_n-QXrkWxINvX5XwKpnr01mOYfu7Gy9UiHHayrAKxyEeJ8Ex4/s1600/IMG_0673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvILMAG3VTSH-JStYGDTrpwM1KestdbLYBotuQbVSoCfQdtvqr5mmJdHOipXL1SdD6zLhD6Eye6nUpifTG32IjkuT24VX_n-QXrkWxINvX5XwKpnr01mOYfu7Gy9UiHHayrAKxyEeJ8Ex4/s320/IMG_0673.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And steal daddy's chef hat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For families
interested in adopting in the United States, there are three types of adoption:
Adoption of a new born, adoption of waiting children through the foster care
system, and international adoption. Even though the online resources to learn
about adoption are plentiful we highly recommend 2 books that helped us
tremendously to get a better understanding on the subject.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first one: </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591454123/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1591454123&linkCode=as2&tag=davbus-20"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Succesful Adoption, a guide for
Christian Families</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
is a great resource to get answers to most of the questions regarding the
adoption process. From adoption types, costs, the process, samples documents,
to the post-adoption considerations, this book was really worth to read before
jumping into our journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second
book that was greatly helpful and inspiring was: </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581349114/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1581349114&linkCode=as2&tag=davbus-20"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Adopted for Life</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> by Russell Moore. This book was very
insightful regarding the “why” of adoption. We highly recommend it to learn
about the meaning of adoption for a Christian believer and what are the many different
ways the bible points us to respond to the fate of the orphans and the less
privileged. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not every family is called
to become an adoptive family, but we are all called to get involved. We believe
that each family responding to the calling to adopt is led to approach a
special type of adoption according to what they consider is a best fit for
them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdEAbNr7BDYsak2_rys8WnIwN0t6oa6ooYcsIAFsterdwfVFbCAKYaCekURIYtMJxNYDWV804KVAC6ubtH8YLCM5aOtt9YOgtBj3liUzotErOcLXx2Gs1t0KyQ9H5sfD0N_rkccICttps/s1600/IMG_0758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdEAbNr7BDYsak2_rys8WnIwN0t6oa6ooYcsIAFsterdwfVFbCAKYaCekURIYtMJxNYDWV804KVAC6ubtH8YLCM5aOtt9YOgtBj3liUzotErOcLXx2Gs1t0KyQ9H5sfD0N_rkccICttps/s320/IMG_0758.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And jump his wiggles out!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In our case
we arrived to our decision as a combination of many factors. We’ll name a few:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’ve had a lifelong
interest and involvement with global missions which has increased our
responsiveness towards needs in other parts of the world. We believe that
adopting internationally is a great way to live out a missional lifestyle,
which is something we want to be purposeful about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, we have close friends that have adopted
special need children, and we’ve witnessed how much more manageable this is
than what we initially thought. We have been blessed by seeing these families
blossom and reap the rewards of investing themselves into these children. Educating
ourselves on the subject has helped to evaporate a bunch of myths on the
subject plus we consider ourselves tremendously blessed by living in a country
with much more medical resources to help a special need child.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUnhRVtjlRHlQdKUhfemNg1H0Pzx2OcdPucEdqmBR82siqMVu_sklqXUdEl0uQ8RDP_oaeyE2tgY_UcHtJJPXxKhSXwFNAtSrsyMKsfCTwyBAQ7JRlros9WLuF24FHeljmxDx7xqF5bKa/s1600/IMG_0807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUnhRVtjlRHlQdKUhfemNg1H0Pzx2OcdPucEdqmBR82siqMVu_sklqXUdEl0uQ8RDP_oaeyE2tgY_UcHtJJPXxKhSXwFNAtSrsyMKsfCTwyBAQ7JRlros9WLuF24FHeljmxDx7xqF5bKa/s320/IMG_0807.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And get to know many places with all of us!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why China
right? Well, probably the response to this question deserves a post on its
own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to keep it short for now, we
will share that even though in the last few decades China has experienced an
exponential growth in many areas the need on vast areas which haven’t seen this
progress remains mind-boggling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
especially truth in rural areas of central and west China. We also learned that
the worldwide adoption landscape changes continuously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Countries open, close and alter their
adoption policies, making adoptions more or less difficult and costly. So, as
we screened the different possibilities, reliability and affordability were way
high on our choosing criteria, which led us to consider an adoption from Asia. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Dc4r8Mgu3GkEPQsXe4KxH_MdquV3rgQX8phSBAb1Rs14hjFSR6W9G_SA4k_gJ4LDPrbAxuFsve6PtJacpvopvoeQyVVlRwbWJTrxOQj2QcOqshKcVmylkUxE-x5NwNjcE8E9G_BZ0z9i/s1600/IMG_0847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Dc4r8Mgu3GkEPQsXe4KxH_MdquV3rgQX8phSBAb1Rs14hjFSR6W9G_SA4k_gJ4LDPrbAxuFsve6PtJacpvopvoeQyVVlRwbWJTrxOQj2QcOqshKcVmylkUxE-x5NwNjcE8E9G_BZ0z9i/s320/IMG_0847.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And bury herself in sand with brother!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">China has
been very consistent on their adoption policies which have paved the path for
many families to complete successful adoptions during this season. Therefore we
feel led to enter this window of opportunity to make our dream adoption come
true. And we haven’t even mentioned our interest in Asian culture! We hope that
somehow this experience boosts our endeavors to help our children learn
Mandarin. =)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjCcRER8lcTlsp5jzyoVWaGqQgben4oBTV6SV7lw7sf5voOl-A3LssbG869X8XC29zeO3JfoIhB7OrHEu6EqsSCpvc6suRrfVo76aJ8D3P88rf8U52NeoCZInyUN-uXmcc36NeM-ZCRuw/s1600/IMG_0858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjCcRER8lcTlsp5jzyoVWaGqQgben4oBTV6SV7lw7sf5voOl-A3LssbG869X8XC29zeO3JfoIhB7OrHEu6EqsSCpvc6suRrfVo76aJ8D3P88rf8U52NeoCZInyUN-uXmcc36NeM-ZCRuw/s320/IMG_0858.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And participate in family feasts!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok, this is
enough information for now. Again we appreciate so much all the support we have
received from all of you! From your encouraging words, questions, prayers, to
your interest on our </span></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BubblesForHope"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Bubbles for Hope</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> fundraiser. Please keep them coming!
We are really humble to belong to this wonderful community and group of
friends! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbYrxAJAFzCtcBWv2_9evsxnzj6ogT95C8JKCSVZj3c-71Lib8LjlVKFcwA0Iab3-iiPdmh0R_WTGbyWwgKukbSsDbxluxsogjrYvfxG56QKtwzwLscBb6OxM2uiHa-S3HCVepcRpqwCG/s1600/IMG_0893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbYrxAJAFzCtcBWv2_9evsxnzj6ogT95C8JKCSVZj3c-71Lib8LjlVKFcwA0Iab3-iiPdmh0R_WTGbyWwgKukbSsDbxluxsogjrYvfxG56QKtwzwLscBb6OxM2uiHa-S3HCVepcRpqwCG/s320/IMG_0893.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes dear sister, we are waiting for you to come home!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDHTLMEuLMqRkplAh1cyKLLUi2qNcSz4EtI956SUeWU0av9l-X7DrPOUg9YLYWk7Ld4QBGx5nysUWUPohgHU7e8zZ4LLZEgsepqIwTUJUISM9AgJkqIRJwcOAYYddgXcWgj9FFA1Lg0-U/s1600/IMG_0909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDHTLMEuLMqRkplAh1cyKLLUi2qNcSz4EtI956SUeWU0av9l-X7DrPOUg9YLYWk7Ld4QBGx5nysUWUPohgHU7e8zZ4LLZEgsepqIwTUJUISM9AgJkqIRJwcOAYYddgXcWgj9FFA1Lg0-U/s320/IMG_0909.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes dear brother, we even have many birthday gifts for you too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For those of
you prayer warriors, we covet your prayers! So here are our specific
prayer requests at this point:</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>*For
positive and timely outcomes on all the documents and processes that we have
initiated/requested from governmental offices. And for us to remain on task and encouraged through this tedious process.</em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>*For God’s
favor and leading of the multitude of people that has an input on our adoption
journey. </em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><em></em></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>*For God’s
protection, provision over our child in the orphanage. And for all the orphans
that are waiting for a matching family there too.</em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><em></em></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>*For God’s
guidance and provision as we continue working on our fundraiser and look into
financial aid programs.<o:p></o:p></em></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Xie, Xie! =)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paola<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2318905339816555849.post-91517274255359738102013-05-28T18:14:00.000-07:002013-05-28T18:38:26.466-07:00Florida Homeschooling Convention 2013: The 80 One-liners We Took Home<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
Here it go, finally we can say that we got our first convention under our belt! We really had a blast and were greatly inspired, encouraged and challenged as we get ready to start this family journey. We put together some of the highlights of the convention with the hope that this will be a blessing for some of you. We firmly believe that these are good lessons for any type of family not just for homeschoolers. So fasten your belts and enjoy the ride with us! =)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
1. Home is
best</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
2. Parents
are best<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
3.
Learning happens 365 days a yr<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
4. Every
child is a master piece<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
5. When
facing feelings of inadequacy: God didn't say to Moses: My curriculum will make
you "talk", he said: I made the deaf<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
6. Relationship
with child is most important<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
7. Don't
lose the relationship with your child over "algebra"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
8. Strong
marriages, strong families, make strong homeschools<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
9. Education
is discipleship & discipleship starts at home<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
10. Don’t
compare your children with other children</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqJlT_g4ZlDY_0ozC0PjS6oxRejcLCxWFUxLF-njgIkOyEIqz1OHbwcwoiaGuTT_qUnq8umKvi1lbbiODKJQIn-cxB9OvQr7yRlwHBPsdOj-X_yqSOWjx7tE0rZnnoznmVV_vX6o-uMBh/s1600/photo+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqJlT_g4ZlDY_0ozC0PjS6oxRejcLCxWFUxLF-njgIkOyEIqz1OHbwcwoiaGuTT_qUnq8umKvi1lbbiODKJQIn-cxB9OvQr7yRlwHBPsdOj-X_yqSOWjx7tE0rZnnoznmVV_vX6o-uMBh/s320/photo+8.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
11. Don't pressure
your children, fruit will eventually grow<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
12. Successful homeschoolers are flexible<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
13. Spirit led homeschooling is not bound by legalism<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
14. Keep your focus on eternal significance<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
15. Homeschooling doesn't save you<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
16. Do not sacrifice your marriage in the altar of homeschooling<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
16. Discipling your children: leading by example<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
17. Arrows: Our goal is to train our children to have the greatest impact
in the world for His kingdom<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
18. Days feel long but years pass fast<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
19. Follow the leader: Jesus<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
20. Being yoked with Christ<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQhuvHq160QTf208c8AP-meYJu2-VxIOcZM9SpLBoXb8n9JE8_GjqLEZaI7OHrAbkUOyXzD0T-LVX-t1xwiiIf0UDiax8-rU1PS_omvem1MDuDKS7xUlZ7GHX0QFnZ4Bsbe3FLjdxNtIU/s1600/photo+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQhuvHq160QTf208c8AP-meYJu2-VxIOcZM9SpLBoXb8n9JE8_GjqLEZaI7OHrAbkUOyXzD0T-LVX-t1xwiiIf0UDiax8-rU1PS_omvem1MDuDKS7xUlZ7GHX0QFnZ4Bsbe3FLjdxNtIU/s320/photo+7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
21. Enjoy the journey<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
22. Choose to enjoy the journey God has chosen for you<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
23. Don’t let your curriculum interfere with your relationship with your
child<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
24. Your children won’t remember you as the perfect mom, but will
remember that you loved them<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
25. For a successful homeschooling, make it a quest, "an intentional
commitment" to pursue a relationship with Jesus<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
26. We cannot change the hearts of our children, but the Holy Spirit can<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
27. Your children don't need a perfect parent, they need a parent that would
point them to a perfect God<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
28. Are you seeking success
in a "program, a curriculum, a solution, or are you seeking "God's
face" as the word says? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
29. God doesn't want
you to try so hard to live a life that is pleasing to him, as much as allowing
your relationship with him to produce a life that's pleasing to him<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
30. We control to the level of our fear and we serve to the level of our
trust</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbNWdnxeCefntYpMEDXgdcQFXwiGEqIGZtANKQx4r55tva-imeGfIfPD-ebmFxROuVSzo5P9mTB_3q-8TbP5bbWNzr90dATfWGQhqamL6cU4xjlY-fCkrXYDAHeTTaH4fO13-GBnu33tb/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbNWdnxeCefntYpMEDXgdcQFXwiGEqIGZtANKQx4r55tva-imeGfIfPD-ebmFxROuVSzo5P9mTB_3q-8TbP5bbWNzr90dATfWGQhqamL6cU4xjlY-fCkrXYDAHeTTaH4fO13-GBnu33tb/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
31. Humanism: You are able to accomplish it if you try hard enough vs Christianity: Do you trust enough?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
32. Prayer for
yourself and your family:: "Dear Lord help me to love you well, and to
love people well"<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
33. We are weary because
we don't know how loved we are<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
34. You are the keeper
of the keys, the keys to unlock your child's learning style.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
35. For the
Kinesthetic-active learner, quiet movement -Mindless & repetitive- while
learning is a plus<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
36. Break out of the box of our public schools and realize that the strengths
of the kinesthetic learner are needed to fulfill very important roles in our
community<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
37. Giggles and wiggles are gifts in your children’s personality <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
38. TED videos are a useful tool for homeschoolers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
39. Make sure that your children get enough exercise to help them focus,
for some children that means “Hours” a day!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
40. it’s my job as a
parent not to focus on their weaknesses, but to identify their strengths and
use them to help them become the
person they're meant to be</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfFJpz9iQ7mO92yxWm6RGuN55-cclg_k7DsI8EqY0Gc8utp9COA1wxTEbMVPrJnCSVlOYzmGWHVfs0hGcwZr7mjsd8WNAV111iunK_KCKf9Xu1Xmdu41W9jVAYxAAesFrhklE80jnEbx5/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfFJpz9iQ7mO92yxWm6RGuN55-cclg_k7DsI8EqY0Gc8utp9COA1wxTEbMVPrJnCSVlOYzmGWHVfs0hGcwZr7mjsd8WNAV111iunK_KCKf9Xu1Xmdu41W9jVAYxAAesFrhklE80jnEbx5/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
41. Multisensory education: using the areas of strength
of your brain while strengthening your areas of weaknesses<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
42. Learning is a process of learning and forgetting<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
43. A multisensory learning experience requires multiple senses involved<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
44. We can’t assume that we understand our children; we have to go to God
and ask for help to be able to figure out their world<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
46. Learn to wait and rest!!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
47. Wanting to serve can also hinder your relationship with God<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
48. Are there stillness in your calendar?!!!!!!!!!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
49. God’s love for you is louder than any pile of laundry, baby crying,
or any messy house<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
50. All the things that you need for Godliness, living your life and
homeschooling are contained in knowing Christ!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUY6A_Qzu4iK6N8EH9CQOXcmuzSFMY9cGntIMhEwimmd-CGy97DMzeBYeB7TzT64NBrBYva-yKWGt0CW_Pxb6Wo8JNS_y107JD7LQO1OLLI9I4vfgELsb7cIru1YaXOGAJYyT8eEfJtkR_/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUY6A_Qzu4iK6N8EH9CQOXcmuzSFMY9cGntIMhEwimmd-CGy97DMzeBYeB7TzT64NBrBYva-yKWGt0CW_Pxb6Wo8JNS_y107JD7LQO1OLLI9I4vfgELsb7cIru1YaXOGAJYyT8eEfJtkR_/s320/photo+5.JPG" width="277" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
51. God is relentless when it comes to show you his love and shaping you
into Jesus' image<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
52. God is not impressed with what you have to offer, your very best is a
mess<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
53. The Lord wants you to be dialysis dependent
on Him<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
54. Make sure that academia-knowledge is not where your children find their
security<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
55. Another big source of distraction is recreation<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
56. Are we teaching our children that they have to be busy and
entertained to be fulfilled?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
57. We are constantly
homeschooling our children by modeling our daily behavior<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
58. Are we teaching our children to live a rushed, over-busy lives by the
way our days look like?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
59. About socialization: The exact reason to homeschool, so children get
the opportunity to receive a much broader and carefully planned exposure to
society<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
60. Teach your children to forgive: it is easy to teach them when they're
4 than when they are 40</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepNYMgGCQLAeVic5ZoRmJKlpS9nOIfyuQY4CzO5C7Q0ihitEMhA2Gn6u6BjqUn9z5K6CQ5tuNdtibDJ-Ws2nOjQ-oAErFSglZX6C23b1-5uLQqm-fRPgd2OVLh251iMIVF5g_Xa8SPtKl/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepNYMgGCQLAeVic5ZoRmJKlpS9nOIfyuQY4CzO5C7Q0ihitEMhA2Gn6u6BjqUn9z5K6CQ5tuNdtibDJ-Ws2nOjQ-oAErFSglZX6C23b1-5uLQqm-fRPgd2OVLh251iMIVF5g_Xa8SPtKl/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
61. Know God is jealous for your children, know that only God can change
and quicken their hearts, nobody and nothing else can<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
62. Three questions when choosing a curriculum: Does
it overwhelm me? Does it fit my learning
style? And Am I choosing out of fear?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
63. Curriculum doesn’t have to be expensive; most of the good stuff is
free!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
64. It may not work; and if it doesn't work shelve it<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
65. Curriculum is the assistant not the educator<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
66. Education can easily become an idol<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
67. Focus on the relationship<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
68. Stressed is desserts
spelled backwards<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
69. Be real with
others, don't try to be the Super homeschooler mom, it doesn’t exist anyway<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
70. Children
need quiet, and you also need to be quiet as well sometimes, so they can listen
to God.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="background: white; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTLeQoqocRZ9YnTOgqV1MbZ3_I6y4sO6wO-evs0NKyZ3XIdjtZ6zF-hacWRL-i77aqM-GdtFqRSX48dpAjVBq-GitBb-Ti2gm9qhGc902-VA3JbjmEOl7eGc-naPA7FQ3MxVdCMdEFPje/s1600/photo+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTLeQoqocRZ9YnTOgqV1MbZ3_I6y4sO6wO-evs0NKyZ3XIdjtZ6zF-hacWRL-i77aqM-GdtFqRSX48dpAjVBq-GitBb-Ti2gm9qhGc902-VA3JbjmEOl7eGc-naPA7FQ3MxVdCMdEFPje/s320/photo+6.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
71. Don't let school interfere with your education</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
72. Put on your oxygen mask first</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
73. Influencing your child's heart is more important than obedience</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
74.Children are like cookies, you always burn the first batch</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
75. Seek to motivate by respectful affection not just by fear of authority</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
76. Lies Homeschoolers believe: Everybody's children are smarter, they have a cleaner house, they cook better meals, they're more spiritual than you and have a better marriage than yours</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
77. Marriage is the stem; everything else is a leaf that will grow back</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
78. Keep your priorities straight, Homeschooling can be a black hole that sucks everything in!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
79. You're the best momma of the world for your children!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
80. You're the best Daddy of the world for your children!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
Now, what about you? Do you have any that you would like to add? Feel free to chime in and share your wisdom!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
Paolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16052094277664809403noreply@blogger.com0