tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14115810298254045662024-03-12T18:14:45.229-07:00Come What MayVeni Quid VeniatKaty Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-38745732389752880092022-12-24T10:43:00.000-08:002022-12-24T10:43:43.464-08:00<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Christy Christmas 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">2022 was a
big year for our family. I’m pretty sure that every year since 1993 has been a
big year for us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Nick (29) and
Audriana have been been married for 4 years now and moved into a new home in
Lee’s Summit. Nick got a job at DH Pace. Since Covid, they each get to work
from home much more often. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I took Mary
Kate (28) out of her program for adults with special needs so she has been home
every day. It is nice to have a chaotic and loving home for her to fall back on
if things are not working out where she is. She continues with Special
Olympics. She still has the same boyfriend she has had since she was 5 but has
not been able to visit him since he moved to a hospice location in Warrensburg.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Samantha
(23) got married to Charles on Aug. 6th</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. It was the biggest and best
wedding I have ever attended and I have been to nearly 100 in the past 6 years.
They had around 350 guests because they have both been active in the Catholic
community with missions and youth and young adult groups. Charles and his
family are from Kenya and their wedding traditions made everything
exponentially more exciting.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Max (22) and
Lucy were scheduled to get married on January 1, 2022 but due to the ice and
snow storm predicted for that day, they were able to move it to Dec. 31, 2021.
I’ve never heard of a wedding getting moved with 2 days notice but they did it.
Max started as a fireman at the Belton Fire Station just after his honeymoon.
In June, Max participated in a boxing match at the KC Convention Center against
the metro police officers. He boxed against a big man named Jose. I had little
hope that my skinny white boy could beat anyone named Jose but the joke was on
me. Max barely won in a tie breaker. He cried for an hour from his beating but
he got to take that big belt home. His family was screaming like lunatics in
the crowd. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Theresa (19)
and Jordan got married on November 26</span><sup>th</sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. Yes, that is 3 weddings.
Prior to that, her and Jordan began renovating our rec room downstairs into an
apartment. My boys removed the spiral staircase. Now we have a much bigger
living room and they have a very spacy living area. They have their own kitchen
and laundry room, and driveway. Roy and I extended this offer to all the other
kids but Theresa was the only one to take us up on it. Everyone questioned
whether these newly weds would want to be so close to us but it turned out to
be a blessing beyond what any of us expected. Whenever they open their doors,
the kids pile in. If you come over, you may find Jordan and Matthew playing
hockey on the floor or Theresa painting Juliana’s fingernails while having girl
talk with Josie. Or maybe everyone will be piled on their couch watching another
family movie.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Ben (17) got
is a gas explosion accident in August of 2021 and it forever changed his life
for the better. He got 2<sup>nd</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> degree burns on 33% of
his body, had 3 surgeries, spent 4 days in the trauma center, and several
months in continuous pain. The only thing that soothed him was having his feet
rubbed and massaged. Lucy and Max came every day to visit and rub his feet. He
was worried about getting addicted to pain killers so he suffered through the
pain. I knew this would change his life. He has forever been a difficult child.
I’m not sure if I said anything nice about him in previous Christmas letters
because he was in trouble every day from conception until his gas explosion.
Now, I get sad at the thought that he will get married and move out one day. We
work together at Jack Stack and I light up whenever we pass each other in the
halls. As a matter of fact, everyone loves his company – except maybe one
manager that would like to throw him in a shredder. There is still some old-Ben
left. Lol. He has been dating the perfect girl (red hair even!). She is Max’s
sister-in-law and Lucy’s sister, Camille. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Josie (15)
has worked at Chick-Fil-A since she turned 14. She plays volleyball for the
local homeschool league called the Kansas City Lions. The homeschool community
is so large that she is able to play against other homeschool leagues and
attend a 4-state tournament just for homeschoolers with well over 100 teams.
Even though she spends too much time in her room and hisses at me when she
comes out for food, she still spends a lot of time helping the kids with school
work and chores. Her best friends are her sister-in-law, Audriana, Ben’s
girlfriend, Camille and Theresa. She is keeping it in the family.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Matthew (12)
got an 85-Kawasaki dirt bike this year. We turned our pasture into a dirt bike
track with jumps and turns. Between homework assignments, he can get on his
bike and jump on the track. He once asked me and Roy, “Do you know any dirt
bike tracks that are open right now?” We both said in unison, “Yours!” He is a
blessed and grateful boy. He grew out a hideous mullet. After all my boys found
out how much I hated mullets, they all grew one out. No respect. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Andrew (9)
is still my sweet and quiet boy. He is always thinking about other people and
wants to make everyone happy. I think he is God’s gift (or apology) for dealing
with Ben. He loves his momma so much. He wants to have mommy/Andrew time as
much as he can. He and Juliana have been spending entirely too much time
playing Roblox together while they have their little friend, Terese (also Max’s
sister-in-law) or Phillip (Max’s Brother-in-law) on Facetime while they all 3
or 4 play together. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Juliana (6)
is my baby. I haven’t changed a diaper in over 3 years. Sometimes I wander around
in circles over here, wondering what to do with all my time. Not having babies
is weird and freeing and boring! It doesn’t matter that I have 11 people living
here, it is still quiet without a baby. Juliana is brave, bossy, confident, and
fun. We love her personality and faces she makes. She fits right in. She is
bullied by all of us and handles it well. She is tough and raised tough. She
takes ballet, jujitsu and dirt biking. She is pretty well-rounded. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Beth (19),
is my niece and has been living with us since Aug. 4<sup>th</sup>, 2021. Ben’s
explosion was Aug. 5<sup>th</sup>. Welcome to our family Beth where it’s an
adventure every day. It has been a blessing having her here. She is so simple
and pius. She loved her little corner we made for her in the rec room. She
graduated to a real room that she shares with Juliana but I’m sure she feels
like its her own room. We never really know the exact location of Juliana but
if CPS comes, we can point to a bed that belongs to her. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Beth, Ben,
and Samantha work with me at Fiorella’s Event Center. Ben sets up events while
Beth works and sometimes lead the events.
Samantha and I work in the catering where we pack up our vans with the
best BBQ in KC and drop off lunch and dinner for parties. Sometimes, we work
the events in the building. We all love the job so much more when we get to
work together. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Roy is still
in the Army and is one of the very very few that made it unvaccinated. Whew!
That has been a thorn in our lives. For a while, we were wondering when he
would be fired and kicked out of the Army but so far, I think the higher-ups
are tryng to forget that it was ever a mandate. Besides that, Roy has been
working and fixing and working and fixing all year. He built a volleyball court
that he is proud of. He has a few more odds and ends to finish with it but its
ready for family volleyball. People liked to make jokes – “You are going to
have enough kids to make your own volleyball team!”. Jokes on them – we have
enough to make 2 volleyball teams with subs to boot. Lol. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I hope you
had a great 2022 and that 2023 is even better. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">God Bless!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg841LqZLUiPGJt0QrIvMDKW7O8XjxghQnhYbHVwym31dU_kpxsaj3mk-FgQt8MYyIAU_are9r8zAh0piBRIEZ_B2xmzNoT7qS3XIjY5Vimh77xKs1_c0eV695VVpoDJFjP7mSeOTB_DsqP5fYM96AMB3OZLUzDX2SC4x_WiBL3-zC6eajeVDHgsBZ9/s2048/311143489_10228722016460890_3932638303686970495_n%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg841LqZLUiPGJt0QrIvMDKW7O8XjxghQnhYbHVwym31dU_kpxsaj3mk-FgQt8MYyIAU_are9r8zAh0piBRIEZ_B2xmzNoT7qS3XIjY5Vimh77xKs1_c0eV695VVpoDJFjP7mSeOTB_DsqP5fYM96AMB3OZLUzDX2SC4x_WiBL3-zC6eajeVDHgsBZ9/s320/311143489_10228722016460890_3932638303686970495_n%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Christy
Family</span><p></p>
<span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Roy, Katy, Nick, Audriana, Mary Kate, Samantha,
Charles, Max, Lucy, Theresa, Jordan, Beth, Ben, Josie, Matthew, Andrew and
Juliana</span></div></span></div>Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-79235826167841400192020-12-27T22:19:00.001-08:002020-12-27T22:19:30.090-08:00Christy Family Christmas Letter 2020<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What a year!
It began with an exciting Superbowl win. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I feel like
ending the letter now. Lol. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Let’s skip,
hop, and jump over the elephant/s of 2020 and just talk about all the changes
in our family this year. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Roy was
deployed for Kuwait in March and will be back in mid-January. I have to say
that the timing was perfect as there was really nothing else to do this year. Our
family’s biggest fear when he gets deployed is not his safety (sorry!). It’s
knowing that he will be alone with his thoughts. We have no idea what grand
ideas he will be daydreaming about. One deployment, he insisted on our family
starting a shrimp farm. A shrimp farm!! In the mid-west. With a family that
hates shrimp. I had to crush those dreams real quick. This time, he is dreaming
up plans for our family to live completely self-sufficient. That is at least
better than a shrimp farm. He is divvying up jobs among all the big kids in the
hopes that no one really notices how many jobs he has out in the field. Well, I
NOTICE! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After losing
my job due to one of the elephants, Matthew and I started doing Instacart and
Doordashing to make money for all the kids’ activities……that all got canceled.
SO, I spent my money on redecorating the house – new counters, painting, new
bathroom, new carpet, updated pictures, happy sh*t on the walls, etc. I took up
drinking this year. I’ve been trying to be a habitual drinker for years but
failed repeatedly. I’m better now. I knew I got to a good point when I was
trying to break up a fight-to-the-death brawl between 2 of my boys and Mary
Kate yells, “MOM!”. I look over and she is handing me a glass of wine. I
stopped cold, grabbed the wine and drank it while the boys continued their
carnage. My homeschool moms would be proud.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Nick lost
one job but quickly found another. Audrianna has been able to work from home
all year. I hope home jobs are going to be a new norm after this experience. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mary Kate
lost her Camp Barnabas, Special Olympics, and T-Ball. She talks about missing
it all the time but I tell her she is fine and she is happy. All I have to do
is tell her how she is feeling and then she agrees and feels how I told her to
feel. Lol. Why can’t that trick work on all my kids? What a gift. You should be
jealous. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Samantha
lost her job and moved back in until she left again for NET in August. She
travels the country, putting on Catholic retreats for High Schoolers. She’s
been to 22 states so far. She loves it even with the challenge of plans
changing unexpectedly. She is meeting great people and having independence from
her family has really helped her gain confidence and grow spiritually. She
snagged herself the finest young man I have EVER met a week before she left for
NET. I pray that relationship stays strong during her missions. She will be
back permanently in May. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">People still
needed their lawns mowed so Max was able to continue earning money. He graduated
from the Fire Academy and just has his EMT test to pass before applying for
jobs. He is so excited and my impatience to get that done is wearing him out. I
feel like my job as a parent is complete after he passes that test! He is dating
a girl that we’ve known for several years in the homeschool community. She is
one of 11 children so I’ve already been one-upped. Literally. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Theresa lost
her job (can you see a trend?) so she stole her brother’s identity and started
Doordashing with Josie. We will have fond memories of passing each other on the
road and having Doordash competitions. I kept her home from St. Michael’s for
her senior year because I didn’t want to waste money where I foresaw most days
on zoom calls in her bed. It was replaced with homework and stupid YouTube
videos in her bed with a bag of Cheetos nearby but at least its free. She also
snagged herself a boyfriend that she can surprise Daddy with when he comes
home. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ben made the
lead role as Tom Sawyer in his Theater program but it got canceled. He took it
well but that may have been because I sobbed for days to make up for the both
of us. He got a job at Chick-Fil-A and he was only 14. Impressive. It’s good to
know people. It is very good for him. He says “my pleasure” ALL THE TIME and he
can’t stop. He finally gave up trying to not say it so much and embraces the
habit. He has to walk a lot outside with a basket of food in whatever the
weather is – cold, rain, etc. But that’s ok. It’s all for the good of our
health, right? <insert eyeroll> Ben began an all boys academy for High
School. He goes twice a week and “does his homework” on the other days. We are
working on that homework issue. Saying, “wait till your dad gets home” didn’t
do the trick the first semester. Now he is scared out of him mind because he
WILL be home 2<sup>nd</sup> semester. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Josie is 13
and has been such a blessing. She cleans, plays with the kids, does her
homework – sometimes she finishes while I’m still in my PJs and eating
breakfast. She pays attention when I teach no matter how boring it is. She is
always happy. Never sad. She is an amazing friend to her friends. We all tell
her to stay exactly how she is. Don’t change! Her volleyball team came back
together and went from a season that couldn’t win a game to winning 1<sup>st</sup>
place in their pre-season tournament – with the same team!! Is that even
statistically possible? Her teammates loved each other just as much as the year
before. No drama. Just sweet girls that wanted to be together win or lose. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Matthew had
a big year. He knows all the restaurant employees in Raymore because he in the
face of Doordashing. He keeps them all up-to-date on his progress with saving a
buying his first dirt bike (& 2<sup>nd</sup> & 3<sup>rd</sup>). He
started going to different dirt bike tracks in the area. He wiggles and
giggles and speaks incoherent nonsense as we drive to another track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After disappearing on the track for long
periods of time, he comes back for a quick 30 second rest and we lock eyes and
smile. We don’t have to say anything. We both know - he is having the time of
his life. He says, “I love you” more times than I can count when we are at the
track. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I converted our 12 passenger van
into our camper for volleyball tournaments and dirt bike track days and
overnights. It doesn’t matter if we are sandwiched between $50K toy
haulers/RVs, we both are perfectly happy with my make-shift, 1999 Ford
12-passenger camper. We watch a movie together and fall asleep in our warm
sleeping bags and propane heat lamp nearby. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Andrew made
3 new friends this year – one we picked up at a garage sale. Lol. He’s a
popular kid. He’s just as loveable and sweet as he has always been. He and
Juliana are nearly inseparable. Juliana is sad when Andrew is gone. They are
little buddies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Overall, our
family has gotten closer whether we wanted to or not. We maneuvered around the
crap that surrounded us, like shopping in a county without a mask mandate and
finding a church that snubbed their noses at the mandates. We tried to turn
lemons into lemonade as much as we could. It was difficult but at the end of
the day, we all had each other. I physically hurt for people that are lonely.
Being broke can and does hurt but nothing is more painful than loneliness. Our
family does not have that. We can each have alone time by force – hiding in a
closet or a car. But a lonely person can’t force the household of loved ones. I
pray fervently for the 99.7ish% of the people that were ignored this year. God
bless them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God bless you
all. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God bless
our country. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Love, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Christys
– Nick, Mary Kate, Samantha, Max, Theresa, Ben, Josie, Matthew, Andrew, Juliana
and Mom & Dad<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-50956700983463814892018-01-25T10:26:00.002-08:002018-01-25T10:26:36.037-08:00Circle
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I remember hearing about this thing called the “Internet”
back in 1995. I didn’t understand what my friend was trying to tell me but I
distinctly remember him telling me that I could “buy things on there” and that
was it. We bought our first computer and hooked up to this internet and got my
very first e-mail account with AOL in 1996. It was fascinating but still a
relatively boring new thing. There were only a handful of websites and only my
Aunt Mae had an e-mail account. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Now it is 2018 and look where we have come. There is
nothing I cannot find and order and have it within a couple days. My goodness,
I can even order groceries from my phone and have a magical fairy put them in
my car at Wal-Mart now. My husband has used YouTube to build 2 different types
of stoves to heat our barn – to tear down and rebuild our bathroom – to cut and
apoxy a new countertop, etc. etc. I can fill this blog with 10,000 examples
with how the internet has improved our life – one of which is how I can find
anything I am looking for within 5 seconds flat.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">But here lies the problem. Let me rephrase. Here lies one
of the many, many problems with having such easy access to anything on Earth. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Pornography</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The pornography industry has grabbed hold of the internet
and is out to grab the body and souls of whoever they can get their hands on.
When our country fell into a recession back in 2008, every business and person
suffered. Everything except the porn industry. It remained recession free. It
is a multi-billion dollar industry that won’t quit. What is more sad is that no one just read this paragraph and said, "Really? Wow. I didn't know that." EVERYONE KNOWS THIS ALREADY!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">In our family, we have several ways of trying to stay
ahead of the evil arms reaching to clutch my kids, myself, and my husband. One
of these is to have a good filter for our computers and electronic devices. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I had struggled to find a good filter for years. Covenanteyes.com
was always recommended and I know that several of my friends use it and are
happy with the results. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Here, I want to give you my reviews about the device I
was introduced to several months ago. Its called, The Circle by Disney. I
know….its Disney. Just stop. Let’s give credit where credit is due. Disney did
good this time. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXaTQ39fEp6NDcoRYWwyBJJcfqG6kSkUmI5J4P01NDketwdMLyqLM6OfMyJK8HCm686Vf2DEIt7Zp2euGaIpxD1U25qJqgREwWHPu_bDsSnphAlPN10jBLWB7dp3Ebl4XQPZe2k1Z8S4/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXaTQ39fEp6NDcoRYWwyBJJcfqG6kSkUmI5J4P01NDketwdMLyqLM6OfMyJK8HCm686Vf2DEIt7Zp2euGaIpxD1U25qJqgREwWHPu_bDsSnphAlPN10jBLWB7dp3Ebl4XQPZe2k1Z8S4/s200/6.jpg" width="112" /></a><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> This is my home page. As soon as I plugged in this little cube, I had so many devices connecting to our network that I thought they were only listing every device that had ever been in existence. But no. Each device actually belonged to us and connected to our network. I don't know what dream world I had been living in that thought only 5 devices would appear but that was a wake up call. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Each colored circle represents what filter they have. Purple stands for no filter at all (Mine & my husband's phone and our personal laptops).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Each laptop, tablet, phone, ipod, TV, and Kindle now is identified and controlled at my fingertips. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJY9AYnX7GpV4MgNwhOFey38Lyi6kcqrt_Gs0EkCU8doPqAqrPWnW2c_16znqk0NlKxqE-UFwN99SluN1CAC9kjajIhAewgfzvKn5YaWzvgwhOpmP9o4bsw-Ov9fKtGvOYXVBf1bIZAvo/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJY9AYnX7GpV4MgNwhOFey38Lyi6kcqrt_Gs0EkCU8doPqAqrPWnW2c_16znqk0NlKxqE-UFwN99SluN1CAC9kjajIhAewgfzvKn5YaWzvgwhOpmP9o4bsw-Ov9fKtGvOYXVBf1bIZAvo/s200/7.jpg" width="112" /></a><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I am able to put time limits on specific web sites and social media sites. There are bedtimes where the device loses its internet and wake-up times that I make in the afternoon so the kids get their homework done without any distractions. Or, at least, no device distractions. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7opeGUJA4VMjTt_fgehEcQBnmxLWC1oFAwxns-djUsx8Jf0OvFNxDfsDVrbQrMihljeY0TLvYcSwOVU8doQ87xTvN6fqof5SGzfmAKmCqrLbGR1nT-fklQdlzXPKOP32N2jn4RVtpY4/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7opeGUJA4VMjTt_fgehEcQBnmxLWC1oFAwxns-djUsx8Jf0OvFNxDfsDVrbQrMihljeY0TLvYcSwOVU8doQ87xTvN6fqof5SGzfmAKmCqrLbGR1nT-fklQdlzXPKOP32N2jn4RVtpY4/s200/8.jpg" width="112" /></a><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I can add and subtract or add time limits at will and wherever I am. If my daughter needs more laptop time to finish an essay, I can add it quickly from my phone. I put time limits on particular applications and websites. So, even though Theresa is given a 3 hour time limit on her laptop, she may only be allowed no more than 30 minutes on YouTube or Facebook. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH03pggFtux3HhZRmvcWbw4Mnw0IlBglt89-ekZojoRa2PzLPUqNhpExSGNGpCtcNizswd39-8YhGeuPkt35KlLfw6Wa8IYSJVlaVJMRRimxJRKekcX5bFQWAp5r36Ec7zDzz9jRATF1A/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH03pggFtux3HhZRmvcWbw4Mnw0IlBglt89-ekZojoRa2PzLPUqNhpExSGNGpCtcNizswd39-8YhGeuPkt35KlLfw6Wa8IYSJVlaVJMRRimxJRKekcX5bFQWAp5r36Ec7zDzz9jRATF1A/s200/1.jpg" width="112" /></a><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">One of my favorite features is when anyone drives up my driveway with a smartphone, it connects to the Circle and I am notified. Wherever I am, I can see when someone has just arrived at my house when I get the notification that "Joel's iPhone has just connected to your network". And yes, I can control all of those devices too. I am counting on my Circle to send me a message in the middle of the night if a bad guy wants to break into my home. He will connect to my network right there in the driveway and I'll have my gun in hand before he makes it to the front door!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">What I don't like.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">#1 Any of my kids can simply unplug the device. It sits on the open computer desk for anyone to see and touch. BUT, my phone is also immediately notified that that just happened so heads will roll if I see that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">#2 I want to see exact websites my kids have been on but it only tells me the main home page. I can't see the specific YouTube videos. I only see "youtube.com" or "netlix.com". I have to literally look at the YouTube and Netflix history to get those answers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">#3 I have to pay $5.99 a month to include controlling data. My oldest 3 kids have data so if I want to control their data, I do it from my Sprint account. Not Circle. I'm cheap. I paid the one time fee of $100 and do not pay any more after that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">A question that I often get asked is probably the same
question that you have been asked too. What do you do to keep your kids safe?
What social media outlets do you allow and don’t allow and what restrictions do
you put on them? Let me answer this for you because it has been so heavy on my
heart lately……</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">YOU, as a parent, need to set your own boundaries and
decide what is best for your family. YOU. Not me. What I do is different than
what my neighbor or friend or fellow homeschool mom does. </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Let me tell you a fact that a lot of moms need to hear…..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The mom with the most limits with their kids is not your goal!!
You don’t get Mom of the Year because you have the strictest and tightest
boundaries. YOU have to do what you know is best for your kids. Only you live
with each of your kids day in and day out. You know what they have on their
heart and what their strengths and weaknesses are. You know how open and close
they are to you which will effect the boundaries you set. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">In this competitive mommy world, we can easily feel inferior
to each other which, in turn, leads us to do what other mommas do rather than
what we know is best for each individual child. There will be parents out there
that will murmur about the mistakes they think you are making with your
children. It will happen and you can’t stop it. We long for acceptance. As
homeschool moms, we long for that approval from others that we are doing things
right. We run the risk of our child falling into sin with something we allowed
them to have that other moms don’t allow. It happens. We get back up, dust off
the murmurs, and try again. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">On the long litany of ways that a momma can fail, one is
with that nasty sin of pride. Pride is what makes us feel like no one can do
anything better to help our kids than our self. I disagree. Sometimes, I have
to turn the reigns over to someone else to help out my children, such as – Dad,
a spiritual director, an accountability partner/s, a big brother, a teacher,
pastor, or an uncle. We may joke that we would like to be a fly on the wall but
only <i>you</i> decide when you need to be that fly. No one else should decide that
for you. No one else should make you feel guilty for deciding one way or the another.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Do you want to know what I do with this Circle for each
child? I will only tell you this. My end goal is for them each to leave this
house with their OWN set of boundaries. Not mine. My end goal is that purple
circle around their picture. I can’t tell you if that will happen or not. There
are several husbands out their that still need outside help and restrictions. The desire to have their own set of boundaries has to be in their own heart. That has to be our goal and the sooner the better. I want this desire to be in their heart before they become adults and leave the nest. This is just like what the kids learned in the Theology of the Body class last night - Freedom from the Law. You do not need the law if you have no desire to break it. If you love someone, you will freely choose to not hurt them by flirting with other people or commit adultery with your eyes, imagination or lust. A dad who loves his children will freely choose not to neglect his children by acting like a bachelor. M<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 18.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">y end goal is to have grown, disciplined, mature, holy
adults that understand the dignity of the human body and relish a deep love for
the human person. </span></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-21167372919027328962017-12-24T13:51:00.001-08:002018-01-01T06:46:13.977-08:00Christmas 2017<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Merry
Christmas from the Christy Family!! It’s unbelievable how much can happen in
just 12 months. But here we go…..</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Roy got home
from Kuwait 12 months ago and didn’t miss a beat. He was home for maybe an hour
before taking off to buy me cars – A gas guzzling SUV and a more economical
Toyota Camry. Roy has not stopped moving since – building and fixing everything
I broke. He is currently tearing up my bathroom in the hopes that YouTube will
help him rebuild it. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Our huge
project of 2017 was building our pole barn. On the very day that it was
complete and just a few minutes after the last panel went up, we had our first
Theology of the Body class of the year. God had different plans for our barn
than we had. We are so blessed that He has been watching over us. Besides
having a weekly class of 30+ students, we also had 2 barn dances back to back.
We had 156 guests swing dancing over Halloween weekend while taking turns going
through our spook trail on our property. We had a special guest, Pennywise, on
the tour. (That’s the spooky clown from the movie IT). </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM-8FBLMDtgnhiWWOOmymWOr2cxovoC0w8gK4I4VbsO9GJ4pRQhYAbjwDZMGp4sduoy6zXGONYJy4F8-SLoZVE3z2Y37vU_ZcvJyNpgtgCa86jJ9FgbkqZ2JFGgr7yU4zv_XeIBCmcBY/s1600/Nick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM-8FBLMDtgnhiWWOOmymWOr2cxovoC0w8gK4I4VbsO9GJ4pRQhYAbjwDZMGp4sduoy6zXGONYJy4F8-SLoZVE3z2Y37vU_ZcvJyNpgtgCa86jJ9FgbkqZ2JFGgr7yU4zv_XeIBCmcBY/s200/Nick.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The greatest
gift of the year was the engagement of Nick and Audrianna!! I don’t really know
why but she said YES!! I’ll take it. They met when Nick was 11 and Audrianna was
9 at a Bible Study we had attended every week. They have been friends ever
since. We officially add Audrianna to this crazy family on September 1<sup>st</sup>,
2018.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZaLwETxq9VCeZyE6jVaNQrS52hpxX5AsFXA9y4HEbd8rZGvENCqFjr0eumhedHMGBLG6psipTU6LTAVIVlN-8amLzTS4aSp17tVJE5E4MdpHJ4Gazy9HNE0S1O0gWqjknZiX13uNkS4/s1600/Mary+Kate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZaLwETxq9VCeZyE6jVaNQrS52hpxX5AsFXA9y4HEbd8rZGvENCqFjr0eumhedHMGBLG6psipTU6LTAVIVlN-8amLzTS4aSp17tVJE5E4MdpHJ4Gazy9HNE0S1O0gWqjknZiX13uNkS4/s200/Mary+Kate.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZaLwETxq9VCeZyE6jVaNQrS52hpxX5AsFXA9y4HEbd8rZGvENCqFjr0eumhedHMGBLG6psipTU6LTAVIVlN-8amLzTS4aSp17tVJE5E4MdpHJ4Gazy9HNE0S1O0gWqjknZiX13uNkS4/s1600/Mary+Kate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Mary Kate
won the Personal Success of the Year Award through Eitas. She successfully lost
25 pounds through her own discipline and exercise. I would love to take credit
but she did this all on her own and she was recognized in a big way – in front
of a thousand people in a banquet hall with a long and beautiful biography
recognizing her hard work this year. She continues to drink and visit the casinos
every week with Grandma.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TOiWuo5mxM0ez2pFQ5799NHC781sO0VI_Ns_UgwzF0YzQBQ5FK7oSfGUnDAhsVcu9mAUSB_P0T9n3z6Jejuqo9SDC-Y_yYjlPabAr6tZLy5eLXE9GsPH2W45O486RR_HGcnISevx8rE/s1600/Samantha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="712" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TOiWuo5mxM0ez2pFQ5799NHC781sO0VI_Ns_UgwzF0YzQBQ5FK7oSfGUnDAhsVcu9mAUSB_P0T9n3z6Jejuqo9SDC-Y_yYjlPabAr6tZLy5eLXE9GsPH2W45O486RR_HGcnISevx8rE/s200/Samantha.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Samantha
graduated High School and began taking EMT classes at Johnson County Community
College. She keeps up with her faith and social life with St. Paul’s Outreach.
She still works part time as a server around the metropolitan area. You can
find her in places like the WW1 Museum, the Ritz Charles, Federal Reserve,
other event spaces, and occasionally in private homes. She recently got
accepted to move in the Women’s House with SPO next year. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9QNCCdanKSUkp-oPT8y1qUjJereTdC-0ntEDJuwjYicchwm45yf3HfgUoIS2GGeIjTkdywwERMuv8CCWRxlefvw90tLLfZ2OPynXprx-024p4Oj_CHZz01rltXUwg5Zq6mNk3drZDJs/s1600/Max.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="1068" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9QNCCdanKSUkp-oPT8y1qUjJereTdC-0ntEDJuwjYicchwm45yf3HfgUoIS2GGeIjTkdywwERMuv8CCWRxlefvw90tLLfZ2OPynXprx-024p4Oj_CHZz01rltXUwg5Zq6mNk3drZDJs/s200/Max.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Max has been
working hard with his lawn business. He has so many customers that he doesn’t
even need to advertise. When he isn’t working, he is “urban exploring” – a fancy
name for illegally trespassing abandoned properties and pretending he is a
special force’s badass as he kicks open doors with his scary airsoft pistol. He
promises that he will be finished with this hobby before he turns 18 and
replace it with something legal – buying a motorcycle:/ </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQt0oa3XVXaGjnF5tle2mN1pDhZDUyFvWyrWQ2rYo4PICeBM9EynaQpUVl8b7HDp9rhk2CWRkx8_UJJGDZ3d7xxzjnpSH9syEI5xfAJaDhuIWLJmMo82YOI61GiNT3vpDXWNkk34tQxdU/s1600/Theresa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="712" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQt0oa3XVXaGjnF5tle2mN1pDhZDUyFvWyrWQ2rYo4PICeBM9EynaQpUVl8b7HDp9rhk2CWRkx8_UJJGDZ3d7xxzjnpSH9syEI5xfAJaDhuIWLJmMo82YOI61GiNT3vpDXWNkk34tQxdU/s200/Theresa.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Theresa has
done something I never thought her, or anyone else in my family would ever do
–she played her guitar and sang a solo in front of an audience. She has blossomed
into a confident and bold young lady. To nurture these gifts, she began taking
speech & debate with a local homeschool group where she is encouraged to
speak boldly about virtues and God. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgld2iYoqVGLFDlA74oKkwCTRVEIA9UiSKTOR8oq0BuL1KjbOQ3KeowM6dVKxSZQfpjbyUWs6I2yNmZjjS0fMxNozVRB21roYi4loShdHz5gpO0XSG4hyphenhyphenkmOuWcaN08PDqM3x1xUp44lLg/s1600/Ben.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="1068" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgld2iYoqVGLFDlA74oKkwCTRVEIA9UiSKTOR8oq0BuL1KjbOQ3KeowM6dVKxSZQfpjbyUWs6I2yNmZjjS0fMxNozVRB21roYi4loShdHz5gpO0XSG4hyphenhyphenkmOuWcaN08PDqM3x1xUp44lLg/s200/Ben.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Ben has
matured this year by leaps and bounds. He hasn’t beaten up anyone (outside the
family) in over a year</span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui emoji" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">😊</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> He is making AND KEEPING friends </span>–
even after he sends them to the ER! This is a big deal! He is well liked by all
of his peers and smart as a whip. If he kept up with his homework, there is no
telling how bright his future will be. Without Ben, our family would be so
bored and quiet. </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqVd5J3QAxjHVGn2GdHE1jXRZI1vuy1JWsUSL-XoJ0sGg7EiL0PrV9H5yruRl4HSQah5FiZKsGiE4mQXdV9v01Qk1_dHTJ5IxbTfLycwp2ESloK3KFLlMVEhyphenhyphenY3YKS80MOTygyaYvXdY/s1600/Matthew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUUFTW3o-s-uS7Kex0i5KoLHbjHvY0clFZWHoGuKMlcFWvKFtrzovIRjQpkrKrYm6lfYwbTcTC6psHZuElLs86zxa49MWlQtO1_vuGi04gMNAudbB6vFSqA7aD5fDFsa-uxVuB7sU3UI/s1600/Josie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUUFTW3o-s-uS7Kex0i5KoLHbjHvY0clFZWHoGuKMlcFWvKFtrzovIRjQpkrKrYm6lfYwbTcTC6psHZuElLs86zxa49MWlQtO1_vuGi04gMNAudbB6vFSqA7aD5fDFsa-uxVuB7sU3UI/s200/Josie.jpg" width="150" /></a>Josie is
just as adorable as she has always been. All she does is giggle and smile and
brighten everyone’s day. She began playing the ukulele and had 2 performances
this year. She is an active member of AHG (American Heritage Girls). She attends weekly meetings where she earns badges and life skills and develops a closer relationship with God.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">
</span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUUFTW3o-s-uS7Kex0i5KoLHbjHvY0clFZWHoGuKMlcFWvKFtrzovIRjQpkrKrYm6lfYwbTcTC6psHZuElLs86zxa49MWlQtO1_vuGi04gMNAudbB6vFSqA7aD5fDFsa-uxVuB7sU3UI/s1600/Josie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUUFTW3o-s-uS7Kex0i5KoLHbjHvY0clFZWHoGuKMlcFWvKFtrzovIRjQpkrKrYm6lfYwbTcTC6psHZuElLs86zxa49MWlQtO1_vuGi04gMNAudbB6vFSqA7aD5fDFsa-uxVuB7sU3UI/s1600/Josie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></a></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqVd5J3QAxjHVGn2GdHE1jXRZI1vuy1JWsUSL-XoJ0sGg7EiL0PrV9H5yruRl4HSQah5FiZKsGiE4mQXdV9v01Qk1_dHTJ5IxbTfLycwp2ESloK3KFLlMVEhyphenhyphenY3YKS80MOTygyaYvXdY/s1600/Matthew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1072" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqVd5J3QAxjHVGn2GdHE1jXRZI1vuy1JWsUSL-XoJ0sGg7EiL0PrV9H5yruRl4HSQah5FiZKsGiE4mQXdV9v01Qk1_dHTJ5IxbTfLycwp2ESloK3KFLlMVEhyphenhyphenY3YKS80MOTygyaYvXdY/s200/Matthew.jpg" width="148" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Matthew is
in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade at the local public school. Besides getting himself
suspended for bringing a pocket knife to school, he has done well in his class.
If he behaves and gets his chores and homework finished, Max lets him run
really fast through our land while he tries to shoot him with an airsoft sniper
rifle. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAN9NBHVryjhV5Un0Cj2lI78JwjHQrU6CYy70_jgdXfofIik1dXh0ORZQEvYcXxOn_efptqGYPTUQtzTotznjrpNbmGoQsvCid7Gi9RPTjdIMoFQYdtMLrsI4WnjeEpy4ZWSy4LyQl_w/s1600/Andrew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAN9NBHVryjhV5Un0Cj2lI78JwjHQrU6CYy70_jgdXfofIik1dXh0ORZQEvYcXxOn_efptqGYPTUQtzTotznjrpNbmGoQsvCid7Gi9RPTjdIMoFQYdtMLrsI4WnjeEpy4ZWSy4LyQl_w/s200/Andrew.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Andrew is by
far the cutest and most adorable child I have ever had and everyone agrees. He
is just as adorable on the inside too. He is always happy and smiling and so
patient and calm for being only 4 years old. He loves to color-code, line up and organize everything. He will do that with a package of M&Ms before eating them. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_5YcCXxNqi__q8nog1WqcP7OLcv5eFM-M9XjXdZCAyeLIIk_GVt6d7oavZEyac-lTb2a5MJG56XnwvgqluTMeJoF-1-rWOKL4BW-ZE6H6CAEfOV_RCXi8G8XygsKDbBe01UkehT1I78/s1600/Juliana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="1068" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_5YcCXxNqi__q8nog1WqcP7OLcv5eFM-M9XjXdZCAyeLIIk_GVt6d7oavZEyac-lTb2a5MJG56XnwvgqluTMeJoF-1-rWOKL4BW-ZE6H6CAEfOV_RCXi8G8XygsKDbBe01UkehT1I78/s200/Juliana.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Juliana has
long, curly red locks and big brown eyes. This is exactly what I ordered when I
was pregnant. God is too good to me. She has an extensive vocabulary that
include “No…..get away from me….go away….stop hitting me….I don’t want that….I
don’t like you….”etc. She will fit in just fine around here. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Our family
has finally got to the point where we all need to accept that many
conversations will be going on and you may never get undivided attention by
everyone at the same time. You have to wait for a guitar performance to get
that kind of attention. I cannot put into words the joy and exhilaration there
is to having a big family who enjoy each other’s company. Everything we do
(dinner, prayer time) takes twice as long to get through because of ongoing
conversations, stories about our day, laughing, kids doing and saying silly
things, etc. I told our engagement retreat class that the reason we can’t put
this feeling into words is because God wants us to trust Him first before we
reap the benefits of this trust. My words can never express this joy. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I pray that
2018 brings greater virtues and spiritual growth to our family and yours. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Love, The Christy Family</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Nick,
Mary Kate, Samantha, Max, Theresa, </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"> Ben, Josie, Matthew, Andrew, Juliana</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6mB2T9qA4jgbMg_eH4Smg3YXn40o6SHU3keRF2x41t4WP14lfYHblB8cjvus9B0TH50YdzTWbg9Gr0QHOZGQ_unwYlXSIzUMETdFEwnll2DM66xAp8HsySwes4L7dU-NFTqd7bbrxwg/s1600/IMG_5562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6mB2T9qA4jgbMg_eH4Smg3YXn40o6SHU3keRF2x41t4WP14lfYHblB8cjvus9B0TH50YdzTWbg9Gr0QHOZGQ_unwYlXSIzUMETdFEwnll2DM66xAp8HsySwes4L7dU-NFTqd7bbrxwg/s640/IMG_5562.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-36514548186266788112017-05-09T21:37:00.002-07:002017-05-11T21:59:44.508-07:0013 REASONS WHY<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica";"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">
<br />
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">There is a hot topic going around that I can’t
get away from. After several weeks of being forced to talk about this with
various people, I thought I would stop and put all my thoughts on a page. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">I, and my kids, have been hearing rants and
raves about the Netflix series of 13 Reasons Why. In the beginning I simply
read trusted Catholic blogs, such as Lifeteen.com, and shared them on my
Facebook. From a distance, it looked as if this was a dangerous show for
teenagers to watch. Because this subject wouldn’t die among my kid’s peers, I
decided to watch the show myself. I figured #1 I was old and mature enough to
handle a teenage show in spite of whatever sins they wanted to pollute my mind
with and #2 It is difficult to be taken seriously when I haven’t seen the show
at all. There are some movies/shows that don’t need your full attention to know
they are bad (50 Shades of Gray), but where there is a gray area (no pun
intended there), sometimes we have to go the extra mile. So, I watched most of
the show....</span>
<br />
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">My kids were having a hard time defending the
position that this was a dangerous show to watch because they hadn’t seen it
themselves. I also learned that there were parents who did not know their child
was watching the series or did not know the content. So here I am!! </span>
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">I am going to be graphic so if you are under
18, don’t read this unless your mom or dad reads it first! I need to be graphic
because I am learning the hard way that there are still good parents out there
that believe a little bit of pornography is ok under certain circumstances.
(btw...this isn't a "litte bit" of porn). Sigh….. So, if you are that
parent, the graphics are especially for you so you can determine whether it
qualifies as something you would let your child see. Over here, it is a no.
Pornography is a BIG NO even if <u>(fill in the blank). </u></span>
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Here is what you will see if you watch 13
Reasons Why. Take notes….</span>
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">*
Masturbation scene. I went my ENTIRE life not seeing a masturbation scene until
last year when I saw about 4 of them in various movies. Guess this is something
new that is considered “acceptable” </span>
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">*
2 girls making out (which is what instigated the masturbation scene as a 17
year old boy was looking at a picture of this). One of the girls was struggling
with lesbian thoughts and the other girl was just going along because they were
having fun getting drunk. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">*
Full blown sex scene between 2 seventeen year olds.(disclaimer: this is
graphic) Both were completely naked and he is clearly humping her
repeatedly. I thought sex between kids was considered child porn? Am I just old
school or something? They were juniors in HS. This is porn guys. </span>
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">*
A detailed rape scene. (graphic) A girl is in a hot tub with the boy. He
approaches her and makes a move which she refuses. She tries to escape by
turning around to climb out. He uses that opportunity to hold her in that
position while he takes off the bottom of her bathing suit with one hand and
holding her down by the neck with the other hand. He enters and humps her maybe
20 times or so while the girl narrates her feelings. You watch her go from
fighting to giving up. Yeah....</span>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">* Another rape scene (graphic). A
boy takes advantage of a drunk girl at a party while an observer hides in the
closet. You see him take off her underwear and he takes off her underpants. He
humps away, holding down her hands while she whimpers and cries. After this
terrible scene is over, it is replayed in the mind of the victim and the
observer repeatedly so you get to see this over and over again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri Light;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">*
The star of the show takes a picture of a naked boy through his window and
posts it to all the kids at his HS in response to what he did to hurt the girl
who had committed suicide. This was portrayed as a GOOD response. So, if you
think this show sends a message that you shouldn't bully someone, think again.
It actually shows that bullying someone 100x worse is a heroic response. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">*
Hollywood used another opportunity AGAIN to push their gay agenda by saying
this girl with 2 dads had "the perfect family"</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">*
A sexual encounter between the 2 stars was made to look appetizing because they
both cared about each other. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">*
God's name repeatedly used in vain</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Those
are the facts. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Here
are my opinions…..</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">One
of the criticisms I had read was about how graphic the suicide was. I actually
see that as a pro. Yes it was graphic but it SHOULD be! Life is a BIG DEAL! I’m
of the opinion that those on death row shouldn’t die quietly with a few
witnesses. Even though I’m against capital punishment, I think that if you are
going to do it, do it in a public street for all to see. That is a LIFE. That
is a human being made in the image and likeness of God. We need to see a life
lost when it is lost. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">This
show glorifies suicide and this is why. The girl who took her own life, Hannah,
had recorded 13 reasons why she had taken her own life. She blamed each of her
friends and acquaintances for something they did to hurt her. She got the
ultimate revenge instantly – forcing them all to live with the guilt that their
mistake killed a girl. This payback for what all these people had done to her
easily looked like it was well deserved and everyone learned a valuable lesson
BECAUSE she killed herself. Nowhere in the show did it show that
she had hope. WE know that she had hope but the show only portrayed her
downward spiral into a pit of depression to where there was no escape. I have
no doubt that suicides will be on the rise if it hasn’t already since this show
came out. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">This
show gives no weight to mental illness. MANY people suffer the type of bullying
this girl endured without committing suicide. The entire blame for her life was
all put on a group of kids that were already struggling through the tortures of
adolescence. It is ironic that I am making this point because I am known for
complaining that no weight is ever put on circumstances and bad choices and
unhealthy relationships that lead to depression. Everyone always wants
medication to solve depression and don’t realize that if they stop rebelling
from their Father in Heaven and start making better choices, that might be the
medication a person really needs. But the tides have turned and here I am on
the other end of the spectrum. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Is there a good
message through all of this sin? If you dig hard enough, maybe. The one “pro” I
can put my finger on is this…..Every encounter with another human being has an
impact. We can't think that every bad joke, every rumor, gossip, or bad prank
is no big deal because you were "just kidding". </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">We
are at war. We are at war with the lies society give us. We are at war with
Satan, who slithers in our lives like a thief in the night. He plays around in
our minds like a kid on a playground by simply taking something good and holy
and throwing in his lies. The devil doesn’t have his own clay. He can’t create
anything. All he can do is take something good and twist it into something
sinful. I want to normalize purity!! Don’t we all want to normalize purity with
our kids? Wouldn’t spiritual reading and saint movies be more inspiring to our
vulnerable teens than bombarding them with sadness and pornography from
Hollywood? </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">“But Katy,
suicide is a real thing” </span><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Yeah…..my
kids still can’t watch porn</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">“You can have
good and productive talks with your kids.” </span><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">I don't need
Hollywood's help with this</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">“You can’t
shelter your kids from everything” </span><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">They still
can’t watch people having sex…..or masturbations scenes, or rape scenes. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Try as you
might, my kids can’t watch porn, sex, masturbation or rape scenes, even if
_______________. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">I am positive that there is a better way to send your child a message on how we
are to treat one another without filling their minds with disordered sexual
content. You do not need this show to have productive talks with your child
about these issues. You don’t need Hollywood at all. I had productive talks
with my kids about sex, masturbation, rape, homosexual lifestyle, etc. long
before this show came out. God will provide. HE will provide these opportunities
for productive talks, not Hollywood. Finding the good-ish message in this show
is like buying Playboy for the good articles or supporting Planned Parenthood
for......something good they might do. I can't think of anything good they do
so maybe that's a bad analogy. Maybe they give free mints at the front desk. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Let’s ask ourselves, what is the
BEST answer to getting people to truly empathize with the struggles teenagers
are going through. The endorsers of this TV show have said that we need to open
our eyes and not shelter ourselves to their reality. We need to watch and see
real bullying. We need to share in their pain by watching their experiences and
talking about what each person could have done different. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Let me share with you an
alternative. Imagine a family suffering the death of a child (for whatever reason
– accident, suicide, cancer….). Who are these people coming out of the woodwork
to console the family? Who are these people that come over every day to check
up on mom and dad, help them with chores, keep them company, cry with them,
etc.? Are these people those that “observed” other parents who lost a
child? Did all of these people lose a child themselves? </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">I’ll tell you who these people
are. They are people that have kids of their own and who have experienced that
DEEP love for a child that no one else can truly understand. Childless couples
are left to only imagine and desire to experience this kind of love. It is
powerful and deep. To lose this is an unimaginable pain that I can’t begin to
ever understand unless it happens to me. But, BECAUSE I have this unique love
for my own children, THEN I am in the position of offering unconditional love
and support for another parent that has lost a child. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">So, your answer to how to treat
other people does not lie in watching their pain. It lies in loving every human
being as a unique and unrepeatable child of God. Every teenager, every
stranger, every rapist, every thief – everyone, is God’s baby. If our goal can
be to see people in this manner – always being imperfect just as it will always
be imperfect for a childless couple to understand the heart a parent has for a
child – than THAT is when we can be the very BEST brother& sister to our
neighbors at school, work, grocery store, etc. THIS is how we can be
considerate and kind NATURALLY. Our actions will be out of love and not out of
fear of a person's hurt feelings. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri light" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Turn off the TV. Let us challenge
ourselves and learn how to love each other instead. </span></div>
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<i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike><br /></strike>Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-57394132003079806162016-11-27T20:56:00.001-08:002016-11-27T21:06:34.723-08:00Pre-Roy Christmas 2016<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">How can so much happen in one year? How can it fly by so
fast but be full of 5 years’ worth of changes? It all began with me planting my
bottom in my recliner every day and watching one Netflix movie after the other
as I moan that I never want to be pregnant again. Then our year truly began on
March 7</span><sup><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">. I put my order in for a red-headed, brown-eyed little
girl and that is exactly what I got. God is too good to me. As if laboring for
hours wasn’t exciting enough, Roy got a call that he was going to be deployed
for 9 months beginning April 1</span><sup><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">st</span></sup><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">. My stunned reaction had to be
delayed since I was about ready to push a 9 pounder out of my body. Samantha
and Theresa were there to witness the birth of baby #10, Juliana Maria Christy.
</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">As per tradition, we partied all year of Roy’s deployment –
signing the kids up for everything, incubating, hatching, and raising 100 ducks
and chickens, getting myself a job and dragging Samantha and Max in with me,
buying a motorcycle, losing 40 pounds (yay me!), taking over Roy’s truck, his
bed, closet and garage, took up the hobby of drinking alcohol, popcorn for
Thanksgiving, swiping the debit card 30 times a week, and buying more stuff we
didn’t need. Ceiling collapsing, cars breaking down, ducks pooping everywhere,
chickens roaming the house, naked babies, messy house, stopped up toilets, etc.
</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">It has been a whirlwind of a year. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Roy is scheduled to come back in January to put a stop to
the madness with 40 days off to fix everything we broke, lay down the law, take
the wine out of my hands, and try to corral the chickens back into the coop. In
no time, he will miss his quiet home in Kuwait.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">But I know there is nowhere else he would rather be than right here with
his family. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Roy made sure his presence remained in this house while he
was gone. He ordered all the junk food that I refuse to buy for the kids and
had it shipped to the house. Theresa always had Dad on her mind and heart with
each box of macaroni noodles she poured into her boiling water. He bought all
of the kids’ Christmas presents online and had them shipped to his mom’s house
so I didn’t have to do anything but make cookies all season. He called
mechanics and computer people for me so they wouldn’t have to deal with my
tears. He was here whether we saw him or not. Sounds like a great analogy for
the hand God has in our lives. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">We know the time is near when I start ignoring the warning
lights on the dashboard and Roy gets transferred to the 90-man bay so his replacements
can take over his home. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Stay tuned for Christmas letter #2 – Post-Roy Christmas 2016
and see all the changes that took place while he was deployed. It has been an
interesting year to say the least.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvzAdtaO6MhEAm9-94gRkrbXd1aY45FgDL_kGfAMMrU3WXnsqCEg3qRAroSPxLK3mPGvf5ZrQo5DdGpcWmzBxx3RiOoB9B2WrQoezNA5C8qrzbDn3sX6fG_AP2tK6nv1Z4Rwtd8e5nT8/s1600/13585141_10209711554971234_4357315439848823803_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvzAdtaO6MhEAm9-94gRkrbXd1aY45FgDL_kGfAMMrU3WXnsqCEg3qRAroSPxLK3mPGvf5ZrQo5DdGpcWmzBxx3RiOoB9B2WrQoezNA5C8qrzbDn3sX6fG_AP2tK6nv1Z4Rwtd8e5nT8/s320/13585141_10209711554971234_4357315439848823803_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-43389183866850917662016-10-23T20:05:00.002-07:002016-10-23T20:05:09.516-07:00Girls.....Be the Bell
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Today, I got to serve at Cerner, a
large company that helps young adults get experience in the field of computers
and technology. They had a 3-hour event outside full of games and food and
fellowship. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">There were plenty of servers
working this event. So many, that my only job was “pop and water”. Since there
was free beer there, my job was really only to watch the ice melt on top of the
pop and then put more ice on top of it. 3 hours of watching ice melt! </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">While I was working hard at
watching Coke and Mountain Dew get cold, I also found time to people-watch. Out
of the 500 employees that came out to this everything-free event, about 490 of
them were between 21-25 years old. There were so many young men that were tall,
bearded, and wearing plaid shirts. Then, there were the women with colored hair
and skinny jeans. No matter how much effort we put in to try to be different,
we all really end up alike. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There were groups of young men playing catch
with a football that flew my way a couple times. I got my chance to shine as I
spiraled the ball back to them and did my victory touchdown sign. That took
about 20 seconds off my 3-hour shift. Then, there were those huge balls you
jump in and run inside like a hamster. I want those so bad for my property but
my dream-squashing kids would pop them - $500 down the drain in 5 seconds flat.
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">But then I spotted this little
gem....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGxG8lNitTBKNjZMhXobnMwKB2v4Y2HQsFnL4cEHR7CaP3xFhU_gDwlsmIgJ4m5WF2Hl1ePto6zUTxNXUL4oG1HintC0nG_A8ijKOXriebr0LsUafs9g1dmU3Eo6wqjcqSpEOobC_5fg/s1600/Strong+mans+game.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGxG8lNitTBKNjZMhXobnMwKB2v4Y2HQsFnL4cEHR7CaP3xFhU_gDwlsmIgJ4m5WF2Hl1ePto6zUTxNXUL4oG1HintC0nG_A8ijKOXriebr0LsUafs9g1dmU3Eo6wqjcqSpEOobC_5fg/s320/Strong+mans+game.png" width="180" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">You know this game. I didn’t
google how old it is but it at least dates back to the Grease movie, right? It
is nicknamed the Strong man’s Game. The player hits the lever and a puck flies
up with the goal being to hit the bell at the top. The harder you hit the
lever, the higher the puck goes. After making sure my pop was safe, cold, and
lonely, I watched the men and women play this “game”. The only reward is to
hear the bell ring at the top of the tower but there is something very
intriguing about this game that keeps people coming back to it and has kept it
popular among carnivals for decades. On the surface, it looks rather boring and
useless. What exactly is accomplished here? The only goal is to hit it hard
enough to hear the bell. So?? </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Here is what I observed and
learned during my people/pop-watching. The men and women were consistent. One
by one, a woman would hit the lever with the mallet and the number would go up
to a certain number. She would hit it again and again but only got weaker with
lower numbers. Even with cheering and encouragement, they never pounded the
hammer more than 3 times. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Then, there were the men. One by
one, they each went up. Their first slam of the mallet never hit the bell but
here is where they differed from the women. They never gave up. Each man stayed
and kept hitting the lever over and over while the puck ascended higher and
higher until it hit the bell. No man gave up. Not one. Once the bell was hit,
he swung the hammer with a smile and pride. There was no need to keep hitting
it anymore because the goal was accomplished. He had reached as high as he
could go. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">This was totally a Theology of the
Body lesson for my teens!! I repeat over and over again to the girls….”Raise
your bar and the man will rise to the challenge.” Too many women lower the bar
so every man can hit the bar with the first try. But the woman who has her bar
set high attracts the men to her. That is where the challenge is. How many men
would find the game fun if anyone who hit that lever were able to ring the
bell? Once the word got out about how easy that game is, no one would play it.
It would be boring and unrewarding. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I ran this blog through my head as
I people-watched this game. Girls need to be that bell. Girls need to raise
their standards and men will start lining up to try to reach that bell. Sure,
some men might give up but none of them did who chose to play that game today.
If a young man didn’t think or want or care to ring that bell, they just didn’t
play at all. The type of young men interested in my daughter are the type that
see the high bar and don’t walk away. They stay and rise to the challenge. They
stay until they hear the bell – the wedding bells. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">And as I ran this analogy through
my head, someone else was pouring ice over my pop. I only had one job……..</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-10958458323306882812015-12-18T09:33:00.004-08:002015-12-18T11:25:57.539-08:00Christmas 2015<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">It boggles my mind how much can change in just a year. The
only thing that has stayed consistent for 3 years is how deliriously happy the
family is about living in our home that still seems so new to us. I still smile
when I turn down my street and see the Dead End sign. Even the No Dumping sign
brings a smile to my face. I still turn my head in all directions as I cruise
down our street – looking for deer, checking the river level, observing the
wildlife and trying to spot the blue pelican that periodically graces us with
her presence. Just outside our front door, we have a turtle habitat on the left
with guarded turtle eggs that the kids anticipate will be hatching any day now.
There is a duck habitat under our bay window and a ramp that leads in and out
of one of our 3 koi ponds that Roy built over the summer for all of our baby
ducks. We hatched ducks and chickens all year long and watch a momma hen take
care of her little chicks. Bridges have been built, 4-wheelers fixed, new
trails blazed, a sniper stand and walls added to the air soft war, etc. We look
for every excuse to bring people over and share our blessings with them. God
has blessed us beyond measure but he has blessed us infinitely more with the
people He has brought into our lives – our own family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9V1kAMNIx0JZ7m18Jy6MTpsGk6dDNq2V2HqU1Q2SzqkOtRCjGm4tpDkBkiQXctOm3t8pw1nBcefPkklAyznrIk3mwEXWLfWKFrKXD9r-9LE31VVRs4zcg25KOO6_HNz610ynFsKMjFuY/s1600/12186732_10208073337656879_7397894759084980322_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9V1kAMNIx0JZ7m18Jy6MTpsGk6dDNq2V2HqU1Q2SzqkOtRCjGm4tpDkBkiQXctOm3t8pw1nBcefPkklAyznrIk3mwEXWLfWKFrKXD9r-9LE31VVRs4zcg25KOO6_HNz610ynFsKMjFuY/s320/12186732_10208073337656879_7397894759084980322_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Nick has temporarily moved into a house just across the state
line with 4 other young men to be a missionary with the St. Paul’s Outreach. It
is a Catholic young adult program that ministers to the students at the local
community college as they struggle with faith and relationships. Nick doesn’t
talk much but he does make visits here and there to pick up props for
inspirational talks he gives to the students, takes some time to play Frisbee
with the kids, and get his monthly haircut from Samantha. He’s happy, safe and
faithful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNKnvFGwg_O_HpvOX17GFpHj0c3iLZL7Xm4fRVSna1GOGO4XUcJPot6oBVUpnshjNtei7zG8DdsNNl47ptgIcLbOuabEMuBp6ngl8wSGSSGEoE606-BfzGanaHshBpwT8SJu0qSG0PKk/s1600/11255483_10206621440440302_8127111374541534652_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNKnvFGwg_O_HpvOX17GFpHj0c3iLZL7Xm4fRVSna1GOGO4XUcJPot6oBVUpnshjNtei7zG8DdsNNl47ptgIcLbOuabEMuBp6ngl8wSGSSGEoE606-BfzGanaHshBpwT8SJu0qSG0PKk/s320/11255483_10206621440440302_8127111374541534652_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Mary Kate is still attending Developing Potential – a program
for adults with special needs so she can continue her education and stay busy
with activities and field trips. The whole family loves to call her boyfriend
“her spoochy-spoochy” so we can see her go nuts. She is still the kindest and
most generous person you will EVER EVER meet. She is always happy, even in the
wee hours of the morning when no one wants to hear it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bE3MR03jXYaWb8izOfcjZSktzJhtmwIs7b7GrBWR3MMxPwlWXwCQWi-EA9gGjUhZ3bdf8UNvAyCul0YK8FWXX5LEJA-lgnmECcMEbeCrz4lR57uT4W7NNDNwLZuh19tIrrRx0OQ9Vd4/s1600/12244512_10208051719836393_3828257032732750522_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bE3MR03jXYaWb8izOfcjZSktzJhtmwIs7b7GrBWR3MMxPwlWXwCQWi-EA9gGjUhZ3bdf8UNvAyCul0YK8FWXX5LEJA-lgnmECcMEbeCrz4lR57uT4W7NNDNwLZuh19tIrrRx0OQ9Vd4/s320/12244512_10208051719836393_3828257032732750522_o.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Samantha had a summer that changed her life forever. She spent
4 weeks at two different Catholic retreats. She came home a new young,
confident woman. She read the stack of books about her faith and purity, goes
to daily Mass, helps me without me having to say a word, cares for the kids, is
joyful all the time, studies hard and has very high expectations for her life
in matters of faith, modesty and chastity – the only components of life that
really matter. And even though the boys seem to be lining up on our doorstep,
she is perfectly content having her daddy be the only man in her life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Max is 15 and has a permit! He grew quite a bit over the
summer and was constantly asking me for new clothes at the thrift store. I
couldn’t keep up! He is a freshman in High School now which stressed him and
inspired him to try harder with his school work. He spent a week at Camp Savio
where he was the popular man on campus. When I arrived to pick him up, I heard
so much murmuring from boys, girls and staff about Max and what joy he brought
to the camp. One of the leaders told me about a girl that Max sat down with to
talk about her dignity and worth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6euYFMJz5wAoOdPjiq7aTXKJ7SJLgB8U7KhZ8k5_QKjDBhkJ2O9baShvb3AfI6zEcWLy0ivy_QTf_YMxJ_ryARyypWqd90wKeoMMcsMqlahly39zibHj9jzUT09pwzK0jmsET3LYNGI/s1600/IMG_3081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6euYFMJz5wAoOdPjiq7aTXKJ7SJLgB8U7KhZ8k5_QKjDBhkJ2O9baShvb3AfI6zEcWLy0ivy_QTf_YMxJ_ryARyypWqd90wKeoMMcsMqlahly39zibHj9jzUT09pwzK0jmsET3LYNGI/s320/IMG_3081.JPG" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Theresa is 13 years old. She also attended the same camp as
Max and had the time of her life. She wants so bad to do everything that
Samantha and Max do and gets so frustrated when she can’t. She loves her
friends and tries to love her enemies even more. She is always reaching out to
people, especially if these people are challenging (quiet, unsociable, or
simple don’t work well with others). She is there to bring them around. She is
not scared of anyone no matter how big or old they are. She could back a grown
man into a corner if she needed to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxoGDIfbJqsbvK-TP1YSiWLp_CEffp-Bfbw9pmSV9FUaOk2qPUYRooSNhASAbPZt5Vl7GEBRLi_mmJ51PNxVLMjEChkACjXj2VYuQHC4G0jEAToUrDiQdk8lqJ6NzkOQJ-bkj1PQNG5c/s1600/11041899_10206385257255870_201823614693691649_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxoGDIfbJqsbvK-TP1YSiWLp_CEffp-Bfbw9pmSV9FUaOk2qPUYRooSNhASAbPZt5Vl7GEBRLi_mmJ51PNxVLMjEChkACjXj2VYuQHC4G0jEAToUrDiQdk8lqJ6NzkOQJ-bkj1PQNG5c/s320/11041899_10206385257255870_201823614693691649_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Benjamin is 10 years old and still a handful. There is always
a lesson or 2 or 20 to be learned by him every day. He has inspired us to make
a list of grueling punishments taped on our refrigerator. #1 is to listen to
Mary Kate for 15 minutes lecture him on doing the right thing. Yeah. He lasts
for about 2 seconds and is ready to pull his hair out. In March, Ben played
Michael Banks in Mary Poppins with Calvary Bible College. Ben was the perfect
choice. Michael is a noisy, mischievous boy – just like Ben. There was not much
acting on Ben’s part. He made me the happiest mom on the planet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh50r1jZCuo65RjXRog3gd2eBmIOxaArLIwUB-ZgyPVFJFLegvFP-LDGXHr1cue7SM5-hWabsKN0Ov6Iiu0CscBah7SaIB83nNkghBV3yZN6j1stVBsUgSNX8xHfueP8SylgnL2RYjQT8/s1600/12033193_10207614510426431_1798764228701371015_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh50r1jZCuo65RjXRog3gd2eBmIOxaArLIwUB-ZgyPVFJFLegvFP-LDGXHr1cue7SM5-hWabsKN0Ov6Iiu0CscBah7SaIB83nNkghBV3yZN6j1stVBsUgSNX8xHfueP8SylgnL2RYjQT8/s320/12033193_10207614510426431_1798764228701371015_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Josie is 8 years old and still cute as a button. She loves the
attention we give her about her cute chubby cheeks. She is at our local public
school for her last year before coming home for 3<sup>rd</sup> grade. She is a
confident girl that never gets her feelings hurt and always happy. She is easily
pleased, playful and helpful. She got the traditional “8 year old ‘talk’” and
feels more grown up and part of the older kids ‘club’ now. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5f2eCGME2qTECtaFx37OMYFFd-YZSDlTVcSS5nlZ2B18UGrxTOyoBfx4Od2eyem-cjIwckwO7F27-JqpiMLcoidmuFSnMd2u-G0k35hGBbS-UZ0CF5M93yP9ePFYK73gOg4GT7vsTYo/s1600/12308602_10207957632324264_6408222966856332557_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5f2eCGME2qTECtaFx37OMYFFd-YZSDlTVcSS5nlZ2B18UGrxTOyoBfx4Od2eyem-cjIwckwO7F27-JqpiMLcoidmuFSnMd2u-G0k35hGBbS-UZ0CF5M93yP9ePFYK73gOg4GT7vsTYo/s320/12308602_10207957632324264_6408222966856332557_n.jpg" width="176" /></a><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Matthew is trying to keep up with 7 older brothers and
sisters. He fights and wrestles all the time! One time he went to school with 4
black eyes and he only has two eyes! Yes, I got a call. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The public school is not well educated on big
family dynamics. He sneaks up to any one of his siblings, whacks them with
something and then runs like hell in the hopes a wrestling match will ensue. He
gets his wish 100% of the time. We have added glasses and a nifty looking
pirate’s eye patch to help fix his vision. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w-QMqCOkVOS5Je99vIBCwmyRYNziNvR-yakc5eENWflP2bYto70yiwlMBZiU0M_ci79pCSVjQ_PNfSpwIy3hkmS4bO5nQySRctkZ53mwQqBwcwt5rrVQIefwJgYWVdZu8bhtG0hyuUs/s1600/IMG_20151216_223201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w-QMqCOkVOS5Je99vIBCwmyRYNziNvR-yakc5eENWflP2bYto70yiwlMBZiU0M_ci79pCSVjQ_PNfSpwIy3hkmS4bO5nQySRctkZ53mwQqBwcwt5rrVQIefwJgYWVdZu8bhtG0hyuUs/s320/IMG_20151216_223201.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Andrew is 2 and being so dang cute! He is talking more and
more and we all surround him to watch the new thing he has learned. He loves
looking at his large audience and then shy’s away with a big grin on his face.
He isn’t throwing tantrums yet. I’ve been pretty blessed to not have any
terrible two year olds since Max. Max made up for everybody though. I deserved
a long break. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Roy got to have an amazing summer at Camp Savio with his kids,
Boy Scout camp, and a high adventure 70 mile hiking trip with Max in Philmont,
New Mexico. He escaped another year from being deployed but we know another
deployment is in his future. He still works his tail off every day and night.
He can’t stand to rest or even play with the family if he knows there is work
to be done. He always ropes in the kids to work too so there is plenty of time
to bond. Whenever a boy comes to visit Samantha, he is dragged off by Roy to
split wood for hours while Samantha puts up her feet and eats a bowl of ice
cream. If a boy is ever able to get close to one of his daughters, it will only
be after years of blood, sweat and tears. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz8EHSa2kymuI2126YQyjSYx7exRkXDK1ujZ-G6DnhTbJ9B0Jt2V-l_2ITV4ILU71Jdd6o61mEhygR031heUTAZl8mWd3LCm2TCbS0CH7xFO6xydG67QmBU24D1y9sGSmR4SRrgfY8SI/s1600/11026084_10207623904261271_2924282207350718852_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz8EHSa2kymuI2126YQyjSYx7exRkXDK1ujZ-G6DnhTbJ9B0Jt2V-l_2ITV4ILU71Jdd6o61mEhygR031heUTAZl8mWd3LCm2TCbS0CH7xFO6xydG67QmBU24D1y9sGSmR4SRrgfY8SI/s320/11026084_10207623904261271_2924282207350718852_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I am very blessed to be 43 and carrying another baby in my
womb. I don’t deserve all of these kids. I fail as a mother and a wife daily
but God still gifts me with everything I have ever asked for and still gives me
exceedingly more than my imagination has ever ventured to imagine for myself –
house, land, fertility, faith, health, husband who spoils me, kids who bring
everyone joy, etc. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roy and I are very
busy with teaching our chastity class every week for our 8<sup>th</sup> year.
It is so much fun and the kids really enjoy it. I can’t imagine ever giving
that up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I pray you had a fabulous 2015 and an even more blessed 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt;">Love,
The Christy’s<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Nick, Mary Kate, Samantha, Max, Theresa, Ben, Josie, Matthew,
Andrew and baby #10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<img height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6euYFMJz5wAoOdPjiq7aTXKJ7SJLgB8U7KhZ8k5_QKjDBhkJ2O9baShvb3AfI6zEcWLy0ivy_QTf_YMxJ_ryARyypWqd90wKeoMMcsMqlahly39zibHj9jzUT09pwzK0jmsET3LYNGI/s320/IMG_3081.JPG" style="left: 527.19px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 1841.79px;" width="96" />Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-30630018232591371202015-06-06T20:43:00.000-07:002015-06-06T20:43:27.569-07:00Dog Update
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6 months
ago, our family gave away our beloved black Labrador to a wonderful family just
a few blocks away. We had got Jake 3 years ago. He was Max’s dog and he loved and cared for him every day. He trained him well but nothing could squash his inherent
instinct to be curious and wander about. He came when he was called, obeyed our
every command but when things got quiet and attention wasn’t fully on him, he
would sniff and explore until he found himself on our nearby jogging trail –
visiting, licking and jogging along with whoever came by. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After paying
out the nose to Grandview’s animal control to release Jake repeatedly (they gave up on calling the # on his tag), we
finally decided that he had to go. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jake
met his new owner on our walking trail and now it was time for her to meet us.
She stood in my driveway with a gentle smile and a distinct emotional pain in
her eyes. She had only been separated from her husband for a couple of weeks
and in a new town she knew little about. We knew it was God’s will that Jake go
with this family. He has a fenced in yard and is providing much needed comfort
to this single mom and her 2 kids. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I was
doing my spiritual reading from Interior Freedom by Jacques Philippe, it says
that we must consent to situations that we did not choose. We must allow ourselves
to be used as God sees fit. We were supposed to have Jake for a short time even
though Max thought it would be forever. Max unknowingly prepared and trained him
for a new family. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We had
visited Jake several times and established a relationship with the new owner.
She says that Jake is the best thing that could have happened during this
difficult time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Max hasn’t
shed one tear knowing that he opened himself up to be used by God and
experienced the rewards. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now we have
a territorial dog that follows Max everywhere. Instead of wandering off with
curious instincts, her instincts are to work, protect and serve. Her name is
Rosie, a full bred German shepherd. Her job consists of scouting the property –
looking for anything that could threaten her family. She frequently checks on
each member of the family. She is content when everyone is safe and accounted
for. Max is just now beginning to fall in love with Rosie. It has taken a while
since his heart was given to Jake the instant they met. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLsz6tAXDCHZjMpOwkHfWGLcMmxsY-Nkp_TDPiz72PPu7C0v0mKK01yD38DMq5s5uhVP0oEjhoILpoXyHsjj5H7BAqWiVWpHIooMhac92cuuwEyNH3At-ofg5l7Rvkqh10QFTyJD2N7Y/s1600/ATT_1433647931127_20150603_102654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLsz6tAXDCHZjMpOwkHfWGLcMmxsY-Nkp_TDPiz72PPu7C0v0mKK01yD38DMq5s5uhVP0oEjhoILpoXyHsjj5H7BAqWiVWpHIooMhac92cuuwEyNH3At-ofg5l7Rvkqh10QFTyJD2N7Y/s320/ATT_1433647931127_20150603_102654.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since Rosie
is a working dog, Max trained her to run and drag him up a steep hill. It blew
me away! Max stands at the bottom of our hill that only young energetic boys
can climb, and yells, “Help me Rosie!” Rosie stands next to Max. He grabs her
collar and she drags him up this hill with all her might. I can’t believe it.
It is like something out of a movie. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">NOW we have
the dog that God had planned for us </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">…… I think! I hope! We need to always
be open to God’s will and not our own. Thy Will Be Done! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-27492050854099144112015-06-06T00:16:00.002-07:002015-06-06T00:32:40.897-07:00Twilight Zone<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I feel like
I am living in the Twilight Zone!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">#1<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is after midnight and I’m on the internet.
That always puts me in some other dimension far, far away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">#2<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world has gone completely upside down! In
the media right now, there is a former Olympic star grandfather that is
mutilating himself and attempting to turn himself into a woman. I can’t believe
that there is even one person on this planet that thinks this is a wonderful
thing to do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t believe that there
is one person that doesn’t think this man is mentally deranged. I think America
is still on board in thinking that a girl who cuts her wrists needs counseling,
right? Maybe? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Britany Spears cut off all
of her hair only 8 years ago and the world reached out to her to seek
professional help. 8 years later, a man castrates himself and he is labeled as
a hero. What the hell happened in 8 years? – Except that we got a new president….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also in the
media, the Duggar family from 19 kids and Counting has been in the spotlight
because the police chief in Arkansas gave a tabloid the sealed records of their
14 year old son and the victims of his molestation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave it to a tabloid! And you would think
that America would be up in arms at this injustice. How dare this system
promise these children privacy so they could feel free to pour out their hearts
and then give this report to a sleezy tabloid 12 years later?! But nope! No one
seems to care. In this twilight zone of a country we live in, everyone wants to
tar and feather the repentant child and ignore the victims. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have
Ferguson, Baltimore, Cleveland, New York and (insert the next towns in the next
few months) that are rioting, killing, stealing and destroying their towns.
People MADE UP stories of the poor humungous young black, unarmed thief that
had his hands up demanding that he not be shot. People wanted to believe this
story so bad. Why? They WANT racial tension? They WANT the rioting and
violence? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then we have
our local Catholic bishop. He wrote a letter to everyone in the diocese about
the dangers of pornography. He instituted the God’s Protecting Children program
that every blessed person 14 and up have to take if you think about being in
the same vicinity of a child. We had a bishop that did more than any other
bishop in America to protect children and guess who is the first bishop forced
out of his position because one of his sheep was caught (caught because of
God’s Protecting Children program) with child pornography? You guessed it. Sin
is alive and well in this country folks. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">WHY are
people desiring and thirsting for sin? Why do people grab on to bad news and
HOPE that it is true? Who are these people? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know that God made
everyone in His image and likeness. I also know that this fact makes everyone
desire Him whether they know it or not. The people that believe they can do a
better job than God Himself still desire Him and that results in a raging fight
between good and evil. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is like a
rebel child fighting against his good father. The good father never gives up.
He is always trying to win his son’s heart. The son who wants nothing to do
with him fights and then turns ugly and vicious as his daddy continues to
search for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is just what is
going on with the people that thirst for evil and call it good and at the same
time thirst for evil from a Christian and smile. It is the same smile Satan
gives when a Christian sins. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjx6HBgSvjRGdyDjtkWNxtWsY_SC_yWXO1RykBgPeDhFp1lXGwkE_HK2Y4jAG38amOx-9UkCtFS7ubilWphkh9QH3j9AD5ZmtByzyeH4qy_-lp3lVmLn9G9dww0pAICus-iinZfZeq5g/s1600/20150606_022034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjx6HBgSvjRGdyDjtkWNxtWsY_SC_yWXO1RykBgPeDhFp1lXGwkE_HK2Y4jAG38amOx-9UkCtFS7ubilWphkh9QH3j9AD5ZmtByzyeH4qy_-lp3lVmLn9G9dww0pAICus-iinZfZeq5g/s320/20150606_022034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>I have this sign hanging on my wall. (My dear friends had this hanging over every door way in their home before they moved but forgot one. Now its mine:) They had put this up to have a constant reminder about Who they are truly thirsting for. When I am frustrated or desiring something big or trivial, I will pass this sign and remember that my authentic thirst is for God. I am going to hang this over every one of my doorways too!</o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know that
Christians are losing battle after battle but I know who will reign in the end.
I know that God is a good God that allows us to choose Him or not to choose
Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God would not be a good God if we
couldn’t choose Hell. If only Heaven existed, then all of the suffering on this
earth would be for nothing and that makes God a tyrant. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do I have
hope for our future? Well, I have hope for the eschatological man. We will each
get what we choose. Who do we love more? God?......or our sin? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We each get
to choose and a good God will give us what we have chosen. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-44834206934194802492015-03-30T21:20:00.002-07:002015-03-30T21:32:13.432-07:00Mary Poppins<div abp="697">
</div>
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<div abp="1452">
<span abp="699" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="700" style="font-family: Calibri;">How many
activities have I signed my kids up for in the past 20 years? I should have
kept a tally. Fall Soccer, Winter Soccer, Spring Soccer –times 1000, Baseball,
Basketball, Dance, Dance and more Dance – Parkour, piano, Special Olympics,
Football, Karate…..OK, I’m just going to stop. This will take forever. <o:p abp="701"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="702">
</div>
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<div abp="1458">
<span abp="704" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="705" style="font-family: Calibri;">As I look
back at everything we have ever done, there is something they all had in common…
<o:p abp="706"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="707">
</div>
<div abp="708" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1464">
<span abp="709" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="710" style="font-family: Calibri;">I was always
thrilled when a practice or game was cancelled!<span abp="711" style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That always meant that I had a free day or night at home where I could
do whatever I wanted! Well, I mean – I got to do the laundry or wash those
stains out of my carpet:/ How sad that I get excited about that! <o:p abp="712"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="713">
</div>
<div abp="714" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1471">
<span abp="715" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="716" style="font-family: Calibri;">There is one
activity that I didn’t put in that list. This activity didn’t have that common
denominator. This activity took up every single evening, Monday thru Friday.
Eventually, it even took up our days and Saturdays too. You would think that
eventually, any one of us would grow weary and look forward to the day that
this would end. <o:p abp="717"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="718">
</div>
<div abp="719" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1477">
<span abp="720" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="721" style="font-family: Calibri;">We never got
to that point. No one wanted this to end. This was –</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div abp="1481">
<span abp="723" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="724" style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p abp="725"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
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<div abp="1487">
<span abp="728" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="729" style="font-family: Calibri;">MARY POPPINS<o:p abp="730"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="731">
</div>
<div abp="732" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="733" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVr2fyuxbgTxA5GeX7MlSt7ID8J6pNV71AiNYeH26MvNezgcbNdi29GL1znR0AJlJyqkvCfbLmWLLvN8u6vPs5hm2ZPvD9T4fcPbhcorU_93ZWq09BrRnElpfuxp3uQIhWcVyBz7xGVHo/s1600/10644615_1154370907923795_1520947646972881025_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="734" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVr2fyuxbgTxA5GeX7MlSt7ID8J6pNV71AiNYeH26MvNezgcbNdi29GL1znR0AJlJyqkvCfbLmWLLvN8u6vPs5hm2ZPvD9T4fcPbhcorU_93ZWq09BrRnElpfuxp3uQIhWcVyBz7xGVHo/s1600/10644615_1154370907923795_1520947646972881025_o.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="735" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1496">
<span abp="736" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="737" style="font-family: Calibri;">In November,
4 of my kids, Samantha, Max, Theresa, and Ben all auditioned for Mary Poppins
that would be performed through Calvary Bible College. We LOVE the director
whom we affectionately call, Ms. Bobbie. She was the director for the
homeschool theater several years ago until she cut her schedule down to one
directing job at Calvary. Now, whenever she needs younger people for her
performances, the Christys are on that golden e-mail list. <o:p abp="738"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div abp="740" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1502">
<span abp="741" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="742" style="font-family: Calibri;">I had high
hopes that Samantha, Max and Theresa would make the cast list. I was unsure
about Ben. He was called back for the lead role of Michael Banks and nothing
else. If he didn’t get this role, he may not be in the play at all. When the
kids went to the 2<sup abp="743">nd</sup> audition (the call backs), Samantha, Max and
Theresa circled Ms. Bobbie to tell her of their reservations about Ben. They
warned her that he was obnoxious, couldn’t focus, disobedient, goofed off too
much – the normal complaints anyone has toward their little brother. <o:p abp="744"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div abp="1509">
<span abp="747" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="748" style="font-family: Calibri;">Apparently,
Ms. Bobbie saw something in Ben that appealed to her. Little Michael Banks was
an obnoxious, disobedient goof ball. Hmmmm. Jackpot! </span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="749">
</div>
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<div abp="1514">
<span abp="751" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="752" style="font-family: Calibri;">The cast
list was sent out that Ben got the part of Michael Banks! I was jumping and
screaming in excitement while Samantha, Max and Theresa were moaning and
sighing and pleading their case that Ben could never last in this role. Truth-be-told,
I had my reservations too. OK, they were more than reservations. I was pretty
confident that he would be booted from the play within the first week. Two
weeks tops! Fortunately, there were 2 roles for Jane and 2 roles for Michael.
If Ben couldn’t step up to the plate, there was another Michael to take his
place. <o:p abp="753"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="754">
</div>
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<div abp="1520">
<span abp="756" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="757" style="font-family: Calibri;">Days and
weeks of rehearsals were going by. Each time the kids stepped inside the door,
I asked, “How was rehearsal?” accompanied very quickly with, “How was Ben???!” <o:p abp="758"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div abp="1526">
<a abp="761" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXX1VCl7sph3_mR8txv8t7PfyvRXu9gwW_PkXfWLnGf0mrLjZGmza7luXh7RV-g02RMs3zBsPCiQtVMCo_p6EOI904zZGWgBURcbu14JXWcIcopOiDLAJgXcaCAwPK2XsiyGIOLB0Mvg/s1600/11054762_10206010910897445_2084611913_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img abp="762" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXX1VCl7sph3_mR8txv8t7PfyvRXu9gwW_PkXfWLnGf0mrLjZGmza7luXh7RV-g02RMs3zBsPCiQtVMCo_p6EOI904zZGWgBURcbu14JXWcIcopOiDLAJgXcaCAwPK2XsiyGIOLB0Mvg/s1600/11054762_10206010910897445_2084611913_o.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a><span abp="763" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="764" style="font-family: Calibri;">Night after
night, I heard, “Ben was fine.” Then the answers turned to, “Ben is really
good.” Then, “I can’t believe how good Ben is at acting.” – <span abp="765" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ben is really funny and cute.” – <span abp="766" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Everyone loves Ben.” – “Ben likes girls now.”</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div abp="1534">
<span abp="768" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="769" style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p abp="770"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="771">
</div>
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<div abp="1540">
<span abp="773" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="774" style="font-family: Calibri;">WHAT?! These
are words that have never been spoken in this house. Things were changing
around here. Everyone was seeing Ben in a different light. I had been telling
him for years that he has what it takes to make the greatest saint or the
greatest sinner. God gave him the qualities to be exceptional at whatever he
desires. These are the same qualities that can drive a multitude of people into
utter despair and emotional turmoil. My job is to steer him to use these
qualities for what is good and holy. It’s a slow process. <o:p abp="775"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
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<div abp="1546">
<span abp="778" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="779" style="font-family: Calibri;"><span abp="780" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My entire household is turning upside down. The
complaints were turning into compliments. It had been several weeks and I
haven’t gotten that expected e-mail about his behavior. How long will this
last? I was having proud mommy moments that I didn’t want to end. <o:p abp="781"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="782">
</div>
<div abp="783" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1553">
<span abp="784" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="785" style="font-family: Calibri;">The
rehearsals were coming close to the end and Ben never showed any signs that he
was in Mary Poppins at home. He didn’t come home laughing and giggling like the
other kids. He didn’t tell me every detail about rehearsal. This is Ben…….</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="786" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="787" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigC2K4FX6rZnDc8MEIV4vDMFJRhPdeiu-WtRuTVL_c-qyrX8iYYx2Ld3H_SSmVTSLJoicnkU92MqBoqNT8rKfcAMYPql8QyU5g072hpuZcY-Fr5TTcsr6NAg1oewkMWY6gEGHBoG0Tp0o/s1600/IMG_2963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="788" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigC2K4FX6rZnDc8MEIV4vDMFJRhPdeiu-WtRuTVL_c-qyrX8iYYx2Ld3H_SSmVTSLJoicnkU92MqBoqNT8rKfcAMYPql8QyU5g072hpuZcY-Fr5TTcsr6NAg1oewkMWY6gEGHBoG0Tp0o/s1600/IMG_2963.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="789" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1560">
<span abp="790" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="791" style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p abp="792"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="793">
</div>
<div abp="794" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1566">
<span abp="795" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="796" style="font-family: Calibri;">This is Ben
while everyone talks and laughs and tells me how wonderful he is. Stop. Wait…..I
am having a de-ja-vu moment right now. He is just like his brother, Nick. This
is Nick……<o:p abp="797"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="798" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="799" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCezKI5WC4AxPjtfS5WxnG1TkNx0iTFG-DuNrkgIJk6Z6o1foot6hNajuWs_WP0qftiOfXH4FPIm5dvwLx7czqAV5VhKn8wkY_8H1cI3d8YcinE8cu00PFpJR9ZxVz-6r-r-OvsbjPKrU/s1600/IMG_2950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="800" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCezKI5WC4AxPjtfS5WxnG1TkNx0iTFG-DuNrkgIJk6Z6o1foot6hNajuWs_WP0qftiOfXH4FPIm5dvwLx7czqAV5VhKn8wkY_8H1cI3d8YcinE8cu00PFpJR9ZxVz-6r-r-OvsbjPKrU/s1600/IMG_2950.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="801">
</div>
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<div abp="1575">
<span abp="803" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="804" style="font-family: Calibri;">This is Nick
while everyone tells me how social and wonderful, kind, and mature he is. <o:p abp="805"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="806">
</div>
<div abp="807" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1581">
<b abp="808" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span abp="809" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="810" style="font-family: Calibri;">I’M SO CONFUSED!! <o:p abp="811"></o:p></span></span></b></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div abp="813" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1588">
<span abp="814" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="815" style="font-family: Calibri;">Shake it off
Katy! God will explain this to me later. <o:p abp="816"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="817">
</div>
<div abp="818" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1594">
<a abp="819" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaU7_kQ6rkhVig0pAotAEvg8m3D8ExmxCQB-qot4Iad2IrxroK6eMBKm0BwJDhZXogvP0cGQW5uCL0fGPPSokOxodxLD0R3NIppN4SwYEIhk2_PeHpib-geO7aUCf0plKELDpvTFwojhQ/s1600/11007_889579061089582_1012951103154581859_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img abp="820" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaU7_kQ6rkhVig0pAotAEvg8m3D8ExmxCQB-qot4Iad2IrxroK6eMBKm0BwJDhZXogvP0cGQW5uCL0fGPPSokOxodxLD0R3NIppN4SwYEIhk2_PeHpib-geO7aUCf0plKELDpvTFwojhQ/s1600/11007_889579061089582_1012951103154581859_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><span abp="821" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="822" style="font-family: Calibri;">It is time
for the very first Mary Poppins debut! 15 minutes before we leave the house and
head off for the play, I get an e-mail saying that the lead character for
Nelius (the talking, singing statue) was out of the play and Max will be taking
his role. Max’s eyes light up. He is shocked. Then scared and nervous. He had
been the understudy for only a couple weeks and was convinced that nothing
would come of it. He had never even worn the costume or make up. Would he even
be able to do his back flip while dressed up like a stone?! I’m so glad he
didn’t tell me how nervous and stressed he was until after the play was over. <o:p abp="823"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="824">
</div>
<div abp="825" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1602">
<span abp="826" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="827" style="font-family: Calibri;">Friday night
arrives. It is night #2 for the kids but #1 for Ben. I was more excited than I
had ever been in my life. I got there an hour early but it easily could have
been 2 or 3 hours. All I did is wait for time to pass so I could get to this
play. Every person I made eye contact with made me want to shout, “I’m Michael
Banks mom!!” I held back though. What if he totally bombed his part and
embarrassed himself on stage. OH. MY. GOSH! ……What if he passes gas on stage??!
That will totally RUIN the next 3 scenes as the stage managers try to get him
to stop laughing! I would have to leave with a bag on my head. Better not
announce that I’m related until the end of the play. <o:p abp="828"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="829">
</div>
<div abp="830" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1608">
<a abp="831" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIR8ibpWYYn85haoung-FPFHjr9vTRtZrUL7suuEpmV9bNCrk6UFkGza4bSU5EozvZbmWQO-rwJWGkvJ0Tjhg1QNHelX_gg9XlI8f5hRYCREmuzLrOe2f1cpO1yvxVSavl6N-HsJTJC0/s1600/10710394_1154320584595494_3280206794819060344_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="832" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIR8ibpWYYn85haoung-FPFHjr9vTRtZrUL7suuEpmV9bNCrk6UFkGza4bSU5EozvZbmWQO-rwJWGkvJ0Tjhg1QNHelX_gg9XlI8f5hRYCREmuzLrOe2f1cpO1yvxVSavl6N-HsJTJC0/s1600/10710394_1154320584595494_3280206794819060344_o.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span abp="833" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="834" style="font-family: Calibri;">The play was
FAN-TAS-TIC! Ben worked the crowd (probably more than he was allowed to) but
was able to make them laugh and “awe”. I even caught him winking at an old lady
in the front row and I watched her heart melt for him. You don’t know him lady!
</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="835" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1614">
<span abp="836" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="837" style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p abp="838"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="839">
</div>
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<div abp="1620">
<span abp="841" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="842" style="font-family: Calibri;">All of the
plays were great! I know that Ben had to have made the director nervous. He was
a little unpredictable. The other actors were never sure what to expect from
him. Ben acted like an ornery boy even when it wasn’t in the script. I’m quite
sure Ms. Bobbie was not biting her nails when the other Michael Banks was on
stage. He was professional and obedient. Ben wanted to venture outside the box
and test how far he could go. It was VERY clear to the audience that he was
having fun on stage. <o:p abp="843"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="844">
</div>
<div abp="845" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1626">
<span abp="846" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="847" style="font-family: Calibri;">We can’t
forget that I had 3 other kids in the play! Max played a triple role. He was a
banker, a chimney sweep and Nelius. He told me that it was absolutely crazy
back stage. Two people were trying to dress him while a third was painting his
face or cleaning it off…..or painting it again. He said the only time he got to
relax was on stage. That is the story of our life anyway. Roy can only really
relax at work – or in Iraq or Afghanistan. Max is just taking after his dad.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="848" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1630">
<span abp="849" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="850" style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p abp="851"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="852">
</div>
<div abp="853" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1636">
<a abp="854" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEg4i5ulSk6wrY9AIkZVD09LBBtFtDygMHJpNqD__jiuGOZW6XI_dUk_KiY66KgY6tkXBVs0QyeGkGJZewRfVrm1kfSy5YXLUGGZ4tegBf7ChovN4ppS3p8oNFc87UWcR2eDffR0Khmo8/s1600/10873432_1154344024593150_7794201811489351471_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img abp="855" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEg4i5ulSk6wrY9AIkZVD09LBBtFtDygMHJpNqD__jiuGOZW6XI_dUk_KiY66KgY6tkXBVs0QyeGkGJZewRfVrm1kfSy5YXLUGGZ4tegBf7ChovN4ppS3p8oNFc87UWcR2eDffR0Khmo8/s1600/10873432_1154344024593150_7794201811489351471_o.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span abp="856" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="857" style="font-family: Calibri;">Theresa
played 2 adorable parts besides her main role as a chimney sweep. She got to
poke her head out of Mary Poppins purse & she got to be a shooting star, if
you can imagine that.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="858" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1642">
<span abp="859" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="860" style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p abp="861"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="862">
</div>
<div abp="863" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1648">
<span abp="864" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="865" style="font-family: Calibri;">Samantha was
a chimney sweep which seemed like the climactic scene in the entire play – the
scene that puts the audience on the edge of their seat. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="866" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1652">
<a abp="867" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WP0nsx6kaobQBxap48XM4oO21eVoZdb8oZNTQjreE2FGxZG7-kIIwXHMGoqqdqNAVraCCjd2YCDQ9DHR1mkavyyRaJPOKT5cAuQYK4Nfw34LqfaoEa9nd2Xrn7MF9Gf_IpVed2BvRoE/s1600/11073943_10206089140733142_459901002_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="868" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WP0nsx6kaobQBxap48XM4oO21eVoZdb8oZNTQjreE2FGxZG7-kIIwXHMGoqqdqNAVraCCjd2YCDQ9DHR1mkavyyRaJPOKT5cAuQYK4Nfw34LqfaoEa9nd2Xrn7MF9Gf_IpVed2BvRoE/s1600/11073943_10206089140733142_459901002_o.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a><span abp="869" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="870" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1657">
<span abp="871" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="872" style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p abp="873"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="874">
</div>
<div abp="875" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1663">
<span abp="876" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="877" style="font-family: Calibri;">The magical
experience of the performances was not why we didn’t want the play to end. That
was just a bonus. Roy & I got to hear 3 little chatterboxes (Ben just
played CandyCrush) after every rehearsal. My kids were talking and laughing and
sharing stories. Even unpleasant stories were enjoyable to talk about. <o:p abp="878"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="879">
</div>
<div abp="880" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1669">
<a abp="881" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMAXwHjrtd9X24MuqxR_6z4A4CI5JVu4Vo4C6ypUqgamDt_hz8oWiCSMCEnAOb8JBpf8X-Y1eQbyMRzoQYkqRI8w28AgosgXBmenaO6iJzR_MctfWBM_873sjtj43Qm5cshhPa7VBe-E/s1600/11033605_10206010933698015_1614367715_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img abp="882" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMAXwHjrtd9X24MuqxR_6z4A4CI5JVu4Vo4C6ypUqgamDt_hz8oWiCSMCEnAOb8JBpf8X-Y1eQbyMRzoQYkqRI8w28AgosgXBmenaO6iJzR_MctfWBM_873sjtj43Qm5cshhPa7VBe-E/s1600/11033605_10206010933698015_1614367715_o.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a><span abp="883" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="884" style="font-family: Calibri;">Calvary
Bible College is a non-denominational Christian college. The Christy’s were the
only Catholics in the bunch. What I enjoyed the most about this experience is
all the conversations my kids had about their Catholic faith. If they couldn’t
answer a question, they asked me, but THIS TIME, they cared about the answer!
It makes this momma’s heart happy when my kids care about their faith and share
it with others. My kids weren’t questioned just here and there. Every night,
they came home with more topics of discussion. Even during the day, they were
texting apologetics to their fellow cast mates. It was AWESOME! I wouldn’t be
as strong in my faith if it wasn’t for my Protestant brothers and sisters
questioning me. I had no choice but to read and learn. Mary Poppins has made my
kids learn and love their faith. <o:p abp="885"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="886">
</div>
<div abp="887" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1677">
<span abp="888" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="889" style="font-family: Calibri;">God was a
visible reality in this show. I couldn’t step into that building without
feeling God’s presence all around. His grace was showered upon the students and
staff. All of the students were filled with the love of Christ and would shine
through to each other. That makes for a building full of blissfully happy
people. Who would want that to end? </span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="890" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1681">
<span abp="891" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="892" style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p abp="893"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="894">
</div>
<div abp="895" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1687">
<a abp="896" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1g1MGAzFAVSrrW7rVc2IAcYOqk7h7t8-WVCi77cGgV132fQVPWnyKdgdS3T71Yl64DA-WtwErrIPGHiAXY7A8Mne9ok36WLx3IigD4JuOoJl4RAbY1BrweuCv9tFk9Eew6HhsvLbJZc/s1600/10943559_10205710050096113_950195820_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img abp="897" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1g1MGAzFAVSrrW7rVc2IAcYOqk7h7t8-WVCi77cGgV132fQVPWnyKdgdS3T71Yl64DA-WtwErrIPGHiAXY7A8Mne9ok36WLx3IigD4JuOoJl4RAbY1BrweuCv9tFk9Eew6HhsvLbJZc/s1600/10943559_10205710050096113_950195820_o.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><span abp="898" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="899" style="font-family: Calibri;">I rushed. I
left the house frequently. I misunderstood the schedule a couple times which
got me in trouble</span></span><span abp="900" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span abp="901" style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span abp="902" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="903" style="font-family: Calibri;"> I packed loads of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Roy
spent his weekends building the set. I signed too many papers to count. I
sprinted out of co-op – screaming for Ben to get in the van because we were
late for a scene show I forgot about and yelling at the closest teenage to take
over my Science class lab. I had to stay home with only little kids every
evening with no older kids to help me. We didn’t eat dinner as a family more
than once a week. We didn’t do this – or that – or the other thing. We were
late for everything outside of rehearsals from January to March. And guess
what? We still did not want it to end! De-ja-vue moment again…..This is a lot
like being open to life. God’s presence and graces, trusting Him, and letting
Him work HIS “magic” makes all the sacrifices joyful. Joyful sacrifices! <o:p abp="904"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="905">
</div>
<div abp="906" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1699">
<span abp="907" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="908" style="font-family: Calibri;">The only
thing that kept me from weeping like a baby when the final performance was over
is when I thought about the few students that had their final performance after
spending 4 years at this wonderful college. While my kids played in 3 musicals
in 5 years, these seniors participated in every play throughout the school
year, lived in the dorms with their cast mates, and took acting and other
classes with the same people – for FOUR years! They ended the best years of
their life with a bang and the tears were flowing. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div abp="909" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a abp="910" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhwoC1pha8ecYhLmyPy8ECL2ovT0JU268jRhRJfu7mf5SxC6TuEg9oG8SXPIG0nGuhFa7j3si0KQdX1mP-4305J1rh48T3sOGFSnGsvE5OUGbqIz0a_beyifl9bgO_wiGnIlNPrutYL8/s1600/1779753_10152875856907381_6469953041538880767_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="911" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhwoC1pha8ecYhLmyPy8ECL2ovT0JU268jRhRJfu7mf5SxC6TuEg9oG8SXPIG0nGuhFa7j3si0KQdX1mP-4305J1rh48T3sOGFSnGsvE5OUGbqIz0a_beyifl9bgO_wiGnIlNPrutYL8/s1600/1779753_10152875856907381_6469953041538880767_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div abp="912" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1706">
<span abp="913" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="914" style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p abp="915"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="916">
</div>
<div abp="917" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1712">
<span abp="918" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="919" style="font-family: Calibri;">These are 3
of the seniors. Inseparable twins, Luke and Paul and their good friend, Moriah.
They are awesome people. They have already had an amazing youth. I can only
imagine what God has in store for them as adults. God has a unique plan for
everyone but only a few are open, ready and excited to dive right in and find
out what it is – and these are 3 of them. What a blessing to have known them as
long as I have. </span></span></div>
</div>
<table abp="963" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody abp="964">
<tr abp="965"><td abp="966" style="text-align: center;"><div abp="1719">
<a abp="967" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nc7EexfwhG7DZACUVi2JNf93siDsOsJFpWxuAzWFEUjwJD2TWy4l3nJR9By_ums_7A0TM5NxBwMREDKJTQKuz2viZ2Uah4WoLroptQa56dzVEl5pMLTlN7G7IrJGpYDcn-BwdHR4wGc/s1600/10321089_1154319791262240_227217651068201499_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img abp="968" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nc7EexfwhG7DZACUVi2JNf93siDsOsJFpWxuAzWFEUjwJD2TWy4l3nJR9By_ums_7A0TM5NxBwMREDKJTQKuz2viZ2Uah4WoLroptQa56dzVEl5pMLTlN7G7IrJGpYDcn-BwdHR4wGc/s1600/10321089_1154319791262240_227217651068201499_o.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr abp="969"><td abp="970" class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div abp="1724">
Ms. Andrew tries to give Michael Banks cod liver oil but for a brief moment, Winifred thought it was for her. LOL</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table abp="993" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody abp="994">
<tr abp="995"><td abp="996" style="text-align: center;"><div abp="1729">
<a abp="997" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUizIkXBZLCNHWapUM3P5jUlidOVdFaGF0HA_91IozWawRv0DQDVcnBV0h8TYYUUAPiv6fflKnuvEAlJSeURFPQ7HmLwwqLVAFUhfg1TDM3umVWoqiHiheTPdVauBuYzi-r9Qr-RvaJ4/s1600/10547896_1154317574595795_8845603459968206417_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img abp="998" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUizIkXBZLCNHWapUM3P5jUlidOVdFaGF0HA_91IozWawRv0DQDVcnBV0h8TYYUUAPiv6fflKnuvEAlJSeURFPQ7HmLwwqLVAFUhfg1TDM3umVWoqiHiheTPdVauBuYzi-r9Qr-RvaJ4/s1600/10547896_1154317574595795_8845603459968206417_o.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr abp="999"><td abp="1000" class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div abp="1734">
Mary Poppins was played by Ben's Mama Kangaroo in Seussical </div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table abp="1023" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody abp="1024">
<tr abp="1025"><td abp="1026" style="text-align: center;"><div abp="1739">
<a abp="1027" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88djNSEpPwwWpsJmORQhhC4CAXll8OGPDJhjxl-RwhCcRU7b1FTk-8fwrS0txEpk-qqwbKxx_IvQI46yF84YrfYnTI0hFl08BeybakzjW_X0RoEkgpmJnOT47C8oGxK8KY19NUPxc44Y/s1600/11109717_10206218827735236_5097980399976532564_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img abp="1028" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88djNSEpPwwWpsJmORQhhC4CAXll8OGPDJhjxl-RwhCcRU7b1FTk-8fwrS0txEpk-qqwbKxx_IvQI46yF84YrfYnTI0hFl08BeybakzjW_X0RoEkgpmJnOT47C8oGxK8KY19NUPxc44Y/s1600/11109717_10206218827735236_5097980399976532564_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr abp="1029"><td abp="1030" class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div abp="1744">
A lot changes in just 2 years</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div abp="920" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1746">
<span abp="921" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="922" style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p abp="925"></o:p></span></span> </div>
</div>
<div abp="926">
</div>
<div abp="927" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="1752">
<span abp="928" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="929" style="font-family: Calibri;">By the way –
I DID get that behavior e-mail about Ben just a week before the play was to
debut. But look how long it took! He had a good run and had an extraordinary
ending. </span></span></div>
</div>
<table abp="1755" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody abp="1756">
<tr abp="1757"><td abp="1758" style="text-align: center;"><div abp="1759">
<a abp="1032" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4AsiZq9y7RYjJaEan5AENfwhRLZuDWwmfPVSu7cR7ZhLiKKXpPWOBAKso59kQ3MXPzmbFCYA2Cg0U38Ies5zlICw99FLR95ovcpv2wdfUMFiDSiTeSbwVr9Fov4rIxCFXadop5alXqk/s1600/11035284_10206010952538486_909127885_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img abp="1033" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4AsiZq9y7RYjJaEan5AENfwhRLZuDWwmfPVSu7cR7ZhLiKKXpPWOBAKso59kQ3MXPzmbFCYA2Cg0U38Ies5zlICw99FLR95ovcpv2wdfUMFiDSiTeSbwVr9Fov4rIxCFXadop5alXqk/s1600/11035284_10206010952538486_909127885_o.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr abp="1762"><td abp="1763" class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div abp="1764">
This is Ben as the audience was trying to tell him how wonderful he was. </div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span abp="928" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span abp="929" style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p abp="930"></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<div abp="1772">
<span abp="933" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p abp="934"><span abp="935" style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div abp="1778">
<span abp="938" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p abp="939"><span abp="940" style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-41983902701654786462014-12-18T21:01:00.001-08:002014-12-18T21:24:24.560-08:00Christmas 2014<div abp="911">
</div>
<div abp="602">
<span abp="912" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span abp="914" style="color: red; font-family: "Kunstler Script"; font-size: 48pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span><br /></div>
<div abp="605">
<span abp="912" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span><div abp="917" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div abp="608">
<span abp="912" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span abp="918" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span abp="920" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dear Friends & Family,<o:p abp="921"></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span abp="925" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are closing in on the 2<sup abp="926">nd</sup>
year of being in our new house and land. I am still just as deliriously happy
today as the first day we moved in. Every single day I am smiling and giggling
and asking the kids, “Aren’t you SO happy to be living here?!” – just so I can
hear their answer…….again…….and again. That question might get old one day but
NOT YET. <o:p abp="927"></o:p></span></div>
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<span abp="931" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have never in my life imagined that I
could have so much. I guess that keeping my expectations low can be a real
blessing</span><span abp="932" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Bodoni MT"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Bodoni MT"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span abp="933" style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span abp="934" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Seriously though, this was another amazing year that is unique to our family.
We don’t have sports stats to share with you or how amazing the kids are doing
in school. We have haunted trails, air soft wars, parties, a Gaga Ball pit, and
Tee-Pee stories. My kids are going to have the greatest childhood memories that
I hope will continue when they move on to build their own families. <o:p abp="935"></o:p></span></div>
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<a abp="939" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKx0TAvRrR6C9-mM4AiXL9uZEfPY0ly4S4W5qg1kTAFC7xo6pQHtN0cH8Qx6seayfd6kr3A6US9m1Ld6e76izYtMAb9QTYdb7ejfP5FFQquMW_UtgpTNjghritKI46vRa9PAmZkei8gnw/s1600/DSC_0416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="940" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKx0TAvRrR6C9-mM4AiXL9uZEfPY0ly4S4W5qg1kTAFC7xo6pQHtN0cH8Qx6seayfd6kr3A6US9m1Ld6e76izYtMAb9QTYdb7ejfP5FFQquMW_UtgpTNjghritKI46vRa9PAmZkei8gnw/s1600/DSC_0416.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a><span abp="941" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nick, 21, returned from Basic Training
and his AIT in May and does his weekend drills just a few miles away. He works
with landscaping while he finishes up his Associates Degree at Longview
College. During his free time, he plays volleyball and soccer. He volunteers as
a Catholic youth leader in North Kansas City and has found a home with the
young adult Catholics in the Kansas diocese.<span abp="942" style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He still does not know what God is calling him to do but he’s at least
decided that he wants to learn more about his faith, go on as many retreats as financially possible, and work with teenagers in
the church. As long as he gets to heaven, he can pick tulips for the rest of
his life. I don’t care!<o:p abp="943"></o:p></span></div>
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<a abp="947" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvIkJvf2zXFuy2BNguUOgmegJdDBCRvztFwc05Zek5G1p_5FZVCxHR0Kmzgv-8P3QG4M_Ocjj9dZqVlEyVhSQgd1EP9H-muL3SPvhklP81hr_67cDhK2RkDUtqLQWOi1hdjHhmRxTklk/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img abp="948" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvIkJvf2zXFuy2BNguUOgmegJdDBCRvztFwc05Zek5G1p_5FZVCxHR0Kmzgv-8P3QG4M_Ocjj9dZqVlEyVhSQgd1EP9H-muL3SPvhklP81hr_67cDhK2RkDUtqLQWOi1hdjHhmRxTklk/s1600/011.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a><span abp="949" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mary Kate, 20, was finally at the top
of the waiting list for a waiver that would allow her to attend a program for
adults with special needs. She now attends Developing Potential – a very nice
program that keeps her busy with art, field trips, cooking, exercise, life
skills and continue her education with reading and writing. She is photographed with all of her Special
Olympics medals that she’s earned in the last 12 years.<span abp="950" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is still just as kind and loving as ever.
She's perfectly happy to pick tulips for the rest of her life AND she is going straight to heaven. See? There's my proof that I don't care! </span></div>
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<span abp="968" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Samantha, 15, got her drivers permit
this year. Since I don’t have too many positive experiences to share with you about
that, let’s jump to something else. She has blossomed into a beautiful young
lady. She spends entirely too much time studying because she wants her work to
be perfect. When she wants to read or study quietly, she drives the 4 wheeler
up to her “throne” that overlooks hundreds of acres of rolling hills and trees. I take everyone that still has use of their 2 legs up to see it. This was
carved out by our awesome neighbor and even has her named carved/burnt into it - just in case there is any question:)</span></div>
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<span abp="982" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Max, 14, is still the outdoorsman.
Everything he gets for his birthday or Christmas </span></div>
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has to do with his adventures
outside. He has been making YouTube videos with his new GoPro that he will be
posting for the world to see very soon. He played Charlie in Marvin’s Room that
was put on by Calvary Bible College and will be entertaining us all in Mary
Poppins this spring. Max may hate doing his homework but he can tolerate it if
we are outside, on the porch, or in the Tee-Pee. Our neighbor also built the
tee-pee that he furnished and decorated with nature’s resources and Indian
artifacts.<span abp="986" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two or three days a week, you
will find us in there reading History as Max builds a fire. <o:p abp="987"></o:p></div>
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<span abp="991" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a abp="993" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgum6GdQXvAQB_z5z-k8ShNW6rENXe1A21bYcnydq_Pku0KTrJGSAo75oT7LIoHIPhjVLsRXB4znWJcB-soqgDQoKm1kmBEKbijpyB8nq_5oZwKU31eKXvpckfYhxYCfDkIoJ8FYIbgy8I/s1600/IMG_2031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="994" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgum6GdQXvAQB_z5z-k8ShNW6rENXe1A21bYcnydq_Pku0KTrJGSAo75oT7LIoHIPhjVLsRXB4znWJcB-soqgDQoKm1kmBEKbijpyB8nq_5oZwKU31eKXvpckfYhxYCfDkIoJ8FYIbgy8I/s1600/IMG_2031.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><span abp="995" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Theresa is 12 years old. God has
positioned her just perfectly in the line of children. She negotiates, settles
disputes, and compromises. She is best friends with the older kids and younger
kids because she can identify and adjust to their likes and dislikes.<span abp="996" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I forget how young she is. I am
ready and comfortable to share and talk to her like an adult – like she is
already my best friend. She is the child that fills in the gaps. <o:p abp="997"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a abp="1004" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAz4lOqpw3qsDY8iM8CdVcVA1Ktvdu92r9bqWQZMuIUTGVRMcub3SGmW-AV54NWf7K09O6ZWH0p6cudUCnnO_3r3PdMuCRGADLGFiBJgyqQmDC-mkonXeHY3NNP8QdORxl_CriGWA6F4U/s1600/DSC_0079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img abp="1005" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAz4lOqpw3qsDY8iM8CdVcVA1Ktvdu92r9bqWQZMuIUTGVRMcub3SGmW-AV54NWf7K09O6ZWH0p6cudUCnnO_3r3PdMuCRGADLGFiBJgyqQmDC-mkonXeHY3NNP8QdORxl_CriGWA6F4U/s1600/DSC_0079.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a><span abp="1006" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Benjamin, 9, is still a rambunctious
boy that drives the family crazy. This is his first year homeschooling. I SO
wanted him to do one more year at our local public school but he was feeling
left out of the family. I couldn’t let him feel that loneliness any more, even
if it meant losing the freedom I had when he was in school.<span abp="1007" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Self-control, good sportsmanship, being a
good friend, patience, solving disputes non-violently – these are all virtues
we have been working on all year.<span abp="1008" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
could scale buildings, fly, fight, conquer a small country, and become one of
our greatest saints with his God-given gifts if he would just channel his
aggressive personality & character in that direction. <span abp="1009" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parents of many children have a reputation of
slacking off in their duties with the younger kids. Ben brings us back to
reality. He is our “shot in the arm” for parenting. <o:p abp="1010"></o:p></span></div>
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<span abp="1013" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a abp="1015" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpQN0oS1DdGCjAtPIxo3Rp-fCVdC7KLPiCvBiejJ-StiRowvwW1oWPkNjFz9G4tsLcbgfln4obr5iHLz9u6azknbBmXDqTdvi7xgBbn-DfMkWf6Oxo4y9AivEVIB2Rzpqty5bHs9BLMQ/s1600/DSC_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1016" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpQN0oS1DdGCjAtPIxo3Rp-fCVdC7KLPiCvBiejJ-StiRowvwW1oWPkNjFz9G4tsLcbgfln4obr5iHLz9u6azknbBmXDqTdvi7xgBbn-DfMkWf6Oxo4y9AivEVIB2Rzpqty5bHs9BLMQ/s1600/DSC_0005.jpg" height="320" width="204" /></a></span></div>
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<span abp="1013" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span abp="1013" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span abp="1018" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Josie, 7, is still my cute little
red-head. She LOVES attention. When I notice her in a new outfit or hairdo, or
call her by some silly nickname, she smiles and giggles. I broke my rule about
putting the younger kids in public school to learn their reading and writing. I
couldn’t bear seeing her cute little cheeks and oversized backpack walking away
from me every morning – hence, she is home with me.<span abp="1019" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is an excellent student and is reading
and writing like a pro. For her 7<sup abp="1020">th</sup> birthday, Roy took her out to
shoot her first guns. She even made her own bullets. <o:p abp="1021"></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a abp="1026" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUCkSje_ZCYj3z-d3s583miLVH0GetR2l1YZZuyDAJUQZDnduNwkxl2YsgE2B8c3jc88tHULDe4wXdO97aqHsTe2MeUjGbiujwhgJpXEE5dIFVecnKPxSbw1vPIM4M5IZBpeYdWJaL-w/s1600/DSC_0132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img abp="1027" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUCkSje_ZCYj3z-d3s583miLVH0GetR2l1YZZuyDAJUQZDnduNwkxl2YsgE2B8c3jc88tHULDe4wXdO97aqHsTe2MeUjGbiujwhgJpXEE5dIFVecnKPxSbw1vPIM4M5IZBpeYdWJaL-w/s1600/DSC_0132.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a><span abp="1028" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew, 4,<span abp="1029" style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span>is everyone’s favorite little boy. He isn’t scared of anything and
wants to participate in every activity that his brothers and sisters are doing.
Rarely will you see one of the kids on a 4-wheeler without him.<span abp="1030" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has his own bed but has never slept in it.
He sleeps wherever he wants – the toy box, my laundry basket, the closet, with
a sibling, the trampoline, etc.<span abp="1031" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has
to be with the action – ok, there’s no action in my laundry basket but rest
assured, the action is close by! <o:p abp="1032"></o:p></span></div>
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<a abp="1036" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5z7gadCep2iP7zLDAN5fLsxMpCacaIA4fl-OzODWpqT949dJttGvob0s27K8qaZvw0cSYKoiPBOI_y237l2-Uc3lLeOKSKCn4DaRUsS6jkZBeTPJyzc1fuxOzW-vaU6oELtojClmdISY/s1600/IMG_1028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1037" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5z7gadCep2iP7zLDAN5fLsxMpCacaIA4fl-OzODWpqT949dJttGvob0s27K8qaZvw0cSYKoiPBOI_y237l2-Uc3lLeOKSKCn4DaRUsS6jkZBeTPJyzc1fuxOzW-vaU6oELtojClmdISY/s1600/IMG_1028.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span abp="1039" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Andrew just turned one and has started
walking. Oh my does this kid get attention! Everyone loves this little guy. We
chase him, tickle him, play, love and squeeze on him all day long.<span abp="1040" style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have his playpen outside in the driveway.
Whenever it is over 55degrees, I stick him in there so he can enjoy the wind
and chickens. This kid will have the greatest memories! <o:p abp="1041"></o:p></span></div>
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<span abp="1045" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Roy has been working his tail off all
year. He is building and fixing something every single day. He loves it though.
He has, long ago, completely died to himself and just serves his family. Our
happiness is his greatest reward. He doesn’t need to be on the ATVs, in the
treehouse, the tee-pee or the gaga ball pit. He only needs to know that we are
in there and that brings him his joy. He took Samantha and Max on a mission
trip to Guatemala this summer to build stoves, chicken coops and pig pens for
families. <o:p abp="1046"></o:p></span></div>
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<span abp="1050" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><a abp="1051" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVve1GG8IvD4ViLZxojPA2MPDFYmvUP9APnOG105GGD56EG_w72W8TjEzwFn_VfpKCsNxY8TKZ0jPtismG8NU6T7NrpwnW8nZqn0vP6AQ0y1-fkiXf2UkoBwUKTZhhbSk15Kyrd-8u5wM/s1600/DSC_0209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="1052" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVve1GG8IvD4ViLZxojPA2MPDFYmvUP9APnOG105GGD56EG_w72W8TjEzwFn_VfpKCsNxY8TKZ0jPtismG8NU6T7NrpwnW8nZqn0vP6AQ0y1-fkiXf2UkoBwUKTZhhbSk15Kyrd-8u5wM/s1600/DSC_0209.jpg" height="320" width="241" /></a></span></div>
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<span abp="1055" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am having a crazy busy homeschool
year. I jumped from homeschooling 3 kids to homeschooling 5. You can quadruple
that number since Ben is one of them! I jumped from teaching 2 classes at our
co-op to teaching 4 with Trigonometry & Geometry as one of the grueling
subjects. I have added a mobile toddler and 3 days of traveling to and from
Mary Kate’s new school. I am tired.<span abp="1056" style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Following the example of my husband, I receive my greatest reward when I
see the love and happiness from my kids – as long as I don’t sit still and
start feeling sorry for myself. Every day, I get to do 2 of my favorite chores
– take the eggs out of the chicken coop & burn trash. Yes, I LOVE burning
stuff! Thanks to having such a large family, we get overloaded with burnable
trash twice a day. I love the smell of a good fire and anything else that is
unique to living on land. <o:p abp="1057"></o:p></span></div>
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<span abp="1061" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Roy and I are in our 7<sup abp="1062">th</sup>
year teaching a chastity class for teenagers every week for 2 hours – all
school year. We LOVE it and can’t imagine ever giving this up. We started
facilitating a retreat for engaged couples that average 4-5 retreats a year. We
love teaching anyone and everyone who will listen about God’s plan for our
bodies in the single, religious, or married life. <o:p abp="1063"></o:p></span></div>
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<span abp="1067" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I pray you had a great 2014 and an even
better 2015!! <o:p abp="1068"></o:p></span></div>
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The Christy’s – </span></div>
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<span abp="1083" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Roy & Katy</span></div>
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<span abp="1085" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Nick, Mary Kate, Samantha</span></div>
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<span abp="1087" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Max, Theresa, Benjamin, </span></div>
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<span abp="1089" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Josie, Matthew, & Andrew</span></div>
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<span abp="1093" style="font-family: "Bodoni MT",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some of our favorite pictures!!</span></div>
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<a abp="1098" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP5Rh09Ei7a8lWs9pxfNe7BUBWRnw2JHLXWK0TPDoIAncjXt8lI90DeMF0cimGWhfouquV9G5OgNDRHwx8Zep3E68BG_Vj8-2TT0NVGJ0a_hbod87tYue8dro1-zEUarqR-7zOZTl800/s1600/10393753_10204548021966136_3753703144848520328_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img abp="1099" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP5Rh09Ei7a8lWs9pxfNe7BUBWRnw2JHLXWK0TPDoIAncjXt8lI90DeMF0cimGWhfouquV9G5OgNDRHwx8Zep3E68BG_Vj8-2TT0NVGJ0a_hbod87tYue8dro1-zEUarqR-7zOZTl800/s1600/10393753_10204548021966136_3753703144848520328_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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The best investment we ever made -- a Gaga Ball Pit! Right in our own back yard!</div>
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<a abp="1110" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9605efcUB8FXFf7Vj2hJPMeypM8dlGtuU1v7txsVBBTQ3jorLoUHwY_5k5GMGb8mIvdK9mB3jhUwSpCNqAo8vnGI7zZzRrJUs3MCJWr2NR0UynEjMWu-ApXDN8MZNHV-22hrfXN5wGqo/s1600/03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img abp="1111" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9605efcUB8FXFf7Vj2hJPMeypM8dlGtuU1v7txsVBBTQ3jorLoUHwY_5k5GMGb8mIvdK9mB3jhUwSpCNqAo8vnGI7zZzRrJUs3MCJWr2NR0UynEjMWu-ApXDN8MZNHV-22hrfXN5wGqo/s1600/03.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Samantha gets a kiss from a special needs girl in Guatemala</div>
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<a abp="1119" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxxXMPGl0dIuAa1DbxQjEl29YImCEkgqnesO_1QjmVHm2Yhu4rIDh7aYNUDMqc8V1Y1DWDgFCj94E3yACV_lh6wChcekF5sojHrMA_l75axU97zZxbRPqLxsDhJQfbOfNnhyphenhyphen6NGJ-sp8/s1600/04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img abp="1120" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxxXMPGl0dIuAa1DbxQjEl29YImCEkgqnesO_1QjmVHm2Yhu4rIDh7aYNUDMqc8V1Y1DWDgFCj94E3yACV_lh6wChcekF5sojHrMA_l75axU97zZxbRPqLxsDhJQfbOfNnhyphenhyphen6NGJ-sp8/s1600/04.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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My kids are around special needs children & adults all the time anyway. There were no new experiences on this visit.</div>
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<a abp="1128" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZjIsTfB8yhqOH120dysKeQwy08kqbmf8dQ9W_oyzs_6lZdbVbVg0Dj8Sex3mUl1FVVwwGX_QUTy1I5QIbuKQSfvjXJV0ixdOFo0BFtoDqlUeZpLqSbzD2oSP6ElZ00-W6aipyQlNgK4/s1600/18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img abp="1129" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZjIsTfB8yhqOH120dysKeQwy08kqbmf8dQ9W_oyzs_6lZdbVbVg0Dj8Sex3mUl1FVVwwGX_QUTy1I5QIbuKQSfvjXJV0ixdOFo0BFtoDqlUeZpLqSbzD2oSP6ElZ00-W6aipyQlNgK4/s1600/18.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Ben made his first Holy Communion this year and promptly began serving with Max a week later. He sits still for this!</div>
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<a abp="1137" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoU8cQI5ACDToF3btzRgcvtXEJk7xb4frrA_pqMZaJD6d6cPRlv11roYzPKvF9b1FXrSfBeHacoTTPHe7hXfWI4GoK0XfC6ARfS1jJYrqjyynVYjQP_alDsL7LL7q2dEAJJdjdDzLBNDE/s1600/20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img abp="1138" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoU8cQI5ACDToF3btzRgcvtXEJk7xb4frrA_pqMZaJD6d6cPRlv11roYzPKvF9b1FXrSfBeHacoTTPHe7hXfWI4GoK0XfC6ARfS1jJYrqjyynVYjQP_alDsL7LL7q2dEAJJdjdDzLBNDE/s1600/20.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our amazing waterslide in the Summer/Suicide Hill in the Winter</div>
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<a abp="1150" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_qm3TkqoJGuo_Qtm2k5sxKa_JG7XHnXk207KTp3-hvMFd1snTLAn1Jy7rpqKDq79h8oFl9BdPlPb_k71uUa-NHmKaO_ome3m-_zLbB_AL_bM8iOra9yAu7ZoYNwXr6yVt4FL-G28Ohk/s1600/24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img abp="1151" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_qm3TkqoJGuo_Qtm2k5sxKa_JG7XHnXk207KTp3-hvMFd1snTLAn1Jy7rpqKDq79h8oFl9BdPlPb_k71uUa-NHmKaO_ome3m-_zLbB_AL_bM8iOra9yAu7ZoYNwXr6yVt4FL-G28Ohk/s1600/24.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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They meet for the first time in 5 months!!</div>
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It SO wouldn't be right to leave out the neighbor. (Yes, he's married:)</div>
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Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-12611983599098106292014-10-06T22:57:00.002-07:002014-10-06T22:57:10.658-07:00My Baby Turns ONE
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My baby boy
turned one today. It is so strange to feel like he is still my new baby and, at
the same time, feel like it has been years since I was waddling around the
house and hyperventilating after I walked from my van to the front door. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRehsxyKpSt1O5KRduC9A9vShobXX8zQ9CRlKsFeyQVWOBJ436uCfuAE6gjebd9TUc-bmpMaGuks5mpDJjDq1ODsBQPjDZlTAi5qhYRZUYxH-weQcxx4XxOJIQXHVJb59KnkBz9tJlW8k/s1600/IMG_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRehsxyKpSt1O5KRduC9A9vShobXX8zQ9CRlKsFeyQVWOBJ436uCfuAE6gjebd9TUc-bmpMaGuks5mpDJjDq1ODsBQPjDZlTAi5qhYRZUYxH-weQcxx4XxOJIQXHVJb59KnkBz9tJlW8k/s1600/IMG_0067.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Time is
flying by. I am so happy that I learned how quick my life was flashing by early
enough to take advantage of my fertile years. I managed to give birth to 9
babies in a 20 year spam. Every once in a while, one of my kids will comment on
their disappointment that I only have 9 when I easily could have squeezed in 2
or 3 more. They mean every word too. All of my kids experience day in and day
out the indescribable joy of having a large family. Whenever they become
complacent, they spend quiet time at a friend’s house and begin to miss the chaos
of their home. The silence may be a much needed break for a little bit but
soon, the homesickness begins to weigh them down. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have only
experienced this one time in my married life. I went to Branson with Roy for
the weekend. It was just the 2 of us. I have never looked forward to a vacation
more in my life. I counted down the months, weeks, days and hours like a child
going to Disney World. We drove 3 hours, stopped at Walmart and bought all the
bad food that we knew we wouldn’t have to hide, picked up a couple bad movies
(OK. Stop it. They were PG-13!), and planted ourselves on the couch in our
beautiful and QUIET condo. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And we just
sat there. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And sat
there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We looked at
all our “sugar” cereal on the counter – right out in the open – and started
missing the kids. They needed to be there with us! What were we doing?! I
wanted to hide all the junk food and pull out my ninja-matrix-stealth moves to
get to it. THAT is what makes life so exciting!! Having what I want, when I
want it is SO boring! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I could totally
put in a plug for Natural Family Planning here but I won’t) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Roy and I
muddled through the next day and came home early. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From now on,
our alone time vacations will be sneaking ice cream after the kids go to bed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t want
this part of my life to end. I want to go straight from having my own children
to having grandchildren. Life is priceless. Each child is priceless. I wouldn’t
trade any of my kids in for anything – Not for a cleaner house, more money, a
career, a newer car, a college degree, more free time, sugar cereal out in the
open – Nothing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAi7__ocrY0HTuuWiKaTBaESukg49xqoMJMlO1sfk7AQmiRclXVdB58TG3AUjR6zUO9lia4UMNxdQ5ua8WOEWJQHu1Mntcf9E31al_ZTjTtr7ia6s599X5QS21WNYj7SGu5qjgi11FAHc/s1600/DSC_0252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAi7__ocrY0HTuuWiKaTBaESukg49xqoMJMlO1sfk7AQmiRclXVdB58TG3AUjR6zUO9lia4UMNxdQ5ua8WOEWJQHu1Mntcf9E31al_ZTjTtr7ia6s599X5QS21WNYj7SGu5qjgi11FAHc/s1600/DSC_0252.jpg" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREW!!</td></tr>
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Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-85494628150653002652014-09-20T20:36:00.000-07:002014-09-20T22:08:18.633-07:00Created for Love - Chapter 1<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our Theology
of the Body for Teens began in the beginning of September and we didn’t waste
any time jumping right into the hot topics. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first
class began with introductions and then we watched a chastity talk by Jason and
Crystalina Evert that they give to High Schoolers all across the country. It
was and hour ½ that covered subjects like sex, dating, STDs, how Jesus suffered
and died for his beloved (the Church), chastity, the dangers of contraception,
etc. etc. We broke in the middle of the video to spend 10 minutes in adoration
and benediction. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now the
students are hooked and bringing their friends!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This week,
we covered Chapter 1. The title is Created for Love. This chapter explains in
detail about how and why we were created. Why are we here? Why do we have
bodies? What is our purpose? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This would
be a never-ending blog if I attempted to answer these questions but, in
reality, these need to be answered if we want to have eternal happiness. <em>Eternal</em>
happiness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are
created by Love and for love. Each one of us has a God-given desire to yearn
for communion with one another. The purpose of our bodies is to be a visible
sign of the invisible God – much like watching a ball fall to the ground being
the visible sign of gravity – or trees swaying as a visible sign of wind. When
Adam & Eve looked upon each other before the Fall, they saw God in each
other. After the Fall, there was a fog that made it difficult to have that same
vision. Now there was a real danger of being looked at lustfully rather than
with love. But as long as we know what we are looking for – as long as we know
that our desires for one another are signs for our desire for God, we are on
the right track to having eternal happiness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That is about
all the wisdom I can share on the subject for a blog! For richer teachings, I
recommend reading Love and Responsibility by Saint Pope John Paul II while
having the companion Men, Women and the Mystery of Love by Ted Sri, sitting
close by. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the activities
for chapter 1 was to mold something out of play dough that represents their
current relationship with God or a relationship they hope to have with Him in
the future. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I cannot
believe how quick and creative all of the kids were with this project! Everyone
had a different idea. Everyone had a different piece of art.....<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">God has me safe in His hands</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0wcK6jt52TUuGGbnzvYYA6lt9iMIxjHJmYJarkB5ZUuJR5inWajySJUSmxsOsICG7QS_Y1ZDze_AeHKeDWYesJA3k4nI1WZeISLtLYCCk5mqKAASAhSQcaGlcwcIAVdAwBC8iw3JQF8/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0wcK6jt52TUuGGbnzvYYA6lt9iMIxjHJmYJarkB5ZUuJR5inWajySJUSmxsOsICG7QS_Y1ZDze_AeHKeDWYesJA3k4nI1WZeISLtLYCCk5mqKAASAhSQcaGlcwcIAVdAwBC8iw3JQF8/s1600/2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">God is still working on me. Ok, maybe a little creepy but it's pretty ingenious right? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGPf_D5_DwTbUruFYkMJpBO1xOJfrqGSP9WIxuBUOTJK1EueVCD-DFbc4J7gxh-MXTxTv-7aXm1uk8xAbs79KmG7Jl9KCqXqir3t5CgbaPC6Kz11mGV-SLu7hSuI1DXUlfwsp3QQhoi8/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGPf_D5_DwTbUruFYkMJpBO1xOJfrqGSP9WIxuBUOTJK1EueVCD-DFbc4J7gxh-MXTxTv-7aXm1uk8xAbs79KmG7Jl9KCqXqir3t5CgbaPC6Kz11mGV-SLu7hSuI1DXUlfwsp3QQhoi8/s1600/3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My own daughter & I forgot what she said...:/</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnl9tf_YxqSUGx7PkfafYbWLCFAswcrgA8usXP3BBMhsN7vnK1rIJZn3BoIJH0QjUGJflY93ZV-GMUVHIFJKh7ITer6TL1O3JYKssHUHZPB1XA7vkCXpnhFB8k51ifsGdTibSRyXVo0Q/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnl9tf_YxqSUGx7PkfafYbWLCFAswcrgA8usXP3BBMhsN7vnK1rIJZn3BoIJH0QjUGJflY93ZV-GMUVHIFJKh7ITer6TL1O3JYKssHUHZPB1XA7vkCXpnhFB8k51ifsGdTibSRyXVo0Q/s1600/4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old St. Patrick's Latin Mass brings her ultimate fulfillment in her faith.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHOMM3HjOhV3QXBTzjzzu9fH49e9F7zxMEVjybzXjxuj_M_K8FiKIl0Ju6fxvFsjpyImGTPat6GiC2NiQE3cz59J0qi4L1abICI8bNdzomAxeleQXFAnZabfzX6lwI23YTHUsYI7gQPs/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHOMM3HjOhV3QXBTzjzzu9fH49e9F7zxMEVjybzXjxuj_M_K8FiKIl0Ju6fxvFsjpyImGTPat6GiC2NiQE3cz59J0qi4L1abICI8bNdzomAxeleQXFAnZabfzX6lwI23YTHUsYI7gQPs/s1600/5.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Max mold is looking at the world as a symbol of materialism as God waits for him on the other side of the wall. Max only needs to look away from the world and toward Him. Yes....that's my son:)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPAwxI3d-iSfMzVGHlgs2ApEX3SMOrjluXDe8HH9UAuzdzBC4YXSjQJ42MCHmDlyh4srbpdMB1_c9DSXkBIVBw9QOt8zDd9n9ygLaymZ36a9NA-sd0NfnKIRtNN_R5UKcg82ErWgFSE4/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPAwxI3d-iSfMzVGHlgs2ApEX3SMOrjluXDe8HH9UAuzdzBC4YXSjQJ42MCHmDlyh4srbpdMB1_c9DSXkBIVBw9QOt8zDd9n9ygLaymZ36a9NA-sd0NfnKIRtNN_R5UKcg82ErWgFSE4/s1600/6.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good grief. He made a Minecraft. LOL. It symbolizes distractions he has with his relationship with God. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8VmF-D_pkaejGXeOqUKGMBhi25bLE09zNztziaAO1mPoUOCKOEfuPBIEJvp3r1ve9bYRNkhit4TXlFs6QMmGTzseunOzhxKVHx0SUYX0G8PFWn35kdF4JjOT9nIuTDw2ObyYEYaaMUU/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8VmF-D_pkaejGXeOqUKGMBhi25bLE09zNztziaAO1mPoUOCKOEfuPBIEJvp3r1ve9bYRNkhit4TXlFs6QMmGTzseunOzhxKVHx0SUYX0G8PFWn35kdF4JjOT9nIuTDw2ObyYEYaaMUU/s1600/7.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lumpy stairsteps that symbolize his fumbling in the right direction.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfyU_71Nw-9JzW_pJU6k8aZaIXN2CDNoxpcv-pElqbTcwerjkKBkkb4QiN-bAqYuy9xJ3nkdYuee4I4DaQ20Hva3TKBkkv-SZsE487m_iiar4LSUGm0sb8BbpeV2SAPxWLgMrUTzmoIE/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfyU_71Nw-9JzW_pJU6k8aZaIXN2CDNoxpcv-pElqbTcwerjkKBkkb4QiN-bAqYuy9xJ3nkdYuee4I4DaQ20Hva3TKBkkv-SZsE487m_iiar4LSUGm0sb8BbpeV2SAPxWLgMrUTzmoIE/s1600/8.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A skull and cross bones that symbolize death to himself as he surrenders his life to God</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHY3JPgCy20l7h38fnRav6X3kCYTkzFePVThwn2FmU9osU8L-PPtFwECZsjPazCTMbUltLCbbjTd_ll4JL2so_EUdiWQ62muEUYNenmsCxvUM68XRirAkTPEAv38YJgFknIiB9t8fZZE/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHY3JPgCy20l7h38fnRav6X3kCYTkzFePVThwn2FmU9osU8L-PPtFwECZsjPazCTMbUltLCbbjTd_ll4JL2so_EUdiWQ62muEUYNenmsCxvUM68XRirAkTPEAv38YJgFknIiB9t8fZZE/s1600/9.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"F, crucifix, ?" Symbols of Faith, what Christ did for me, and questions why God could ever love a guy like him. It brought "awww's" across the room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyVIb1fgGb6A3UYfc984Yl5xF_Aqp083kfW8G8_fn4QolIOP-oNni5fqFKHrP8xmbXHBNy-wnrjEA24JcEANtUz7s3UqSPp6M-_Mz54JdPAt5cOQbLizRzCmF-hI3EmXbfj5NA2XVa5Y/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyVIb1fgGb6A3UYfc984Yl5xF_Aqp083kfW8G8_fn4QolIOP-oNni5fqFKHrP8xmbXHBNy-wnrjEA24JcEANtUz7s3UqSPp6M-_Mz54JdPAt5cOQbLizRzCmF-hI3EmXbfj5NA2XVa5Y/s1600/10.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She had a complicated and lengthy project & story. I expect nothing less from this remarkable girl. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbTreas291a8vcQeQES_UMyHxg2s2ZzqPXT9jgmWISXCfyUjoXaD7Yh0-1gB4OUevWybOxROsv_jmj6J64ANBb2jD7xCEPRw_uS3o54SrTlnaLT-IlP8ycnODSQ2ioVWItq8rtXXEt1o/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbTreas291a8vcQeQES_UMyHxg2s2ZzqPXT9jgmWISXCfyUjoXaD7Yh0-1gB4OUevWybOxROsv_jmj6J64ANBb2jD7xCEPRw_uS3o54SrTlnaLT-IlP8ycnODSQ2ioVWItq8rtXXEt1o/s1600/11.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">God is trying to yank this boy back as he tries to run away from him. He resists but still allows God to pull him back from the world. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7BEZQ1AUPMNWpiawhoVcxvgW3c-6HO84t4hTZYj3gN9DcPtPZUBlR8_h00Far-FLRHZQ9SCZktdBwlRZiD6TI5U0wRDYFqgvhnfG455t3plD13aUloKR6PRGMZnDdadfDau7EK2rMgM/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7BEZQ1AUPMNWpiawhoVcxvgW3c-6HO84t4hTZYj3gN9DcPtPZUBlR8_h00Far-FLRHZQ9SCZktdBwlRZiD6TI5U0wRDYFqgvhnfG455t3plD13aUloKR6PRGMZnDdadfDau7EK2rMgM/s1600/12.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">God leads her as she "blindly" allows Him to. </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/AVvXsEhzhxvsuQGQa_EU1MBkcjfS5HFKguMegx7CVgr5aeiwbuDuLmrXAU1Xk0ne_N5ScWgkqdIrl30ZXWS9inJqfm9_O2n-DJMXaMEdbpbCGE-KojVVONrDmwVoOhXlNH7wVWCr1XJutYzFSTY/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhxvsuQGQa_EU1MBkcjfS5HFKguMegx7CVgr5aeiwbuDuLmrXAU1Xk0ne_N5ScWgkqdIrl30ZXWS9inJqfm9_O2n-DJMXaMEdbpbCGE-KojVVONrDmwVoOhXlNH7wVWCr1XJutYzFSTY/s1600/13.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I took apologetics classes when I was a Protestant and now I'm taking apologetics class as a Catholic. I had 2 different lives." </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-51WTz1-BYuDRYEF1kOFg5QEMNivtJHGsQSOdfQO41A4qVGl_OaSLrGRkV8eg-_kt-Sf6ZkwoSSE7don99X2Auq6RiOqzolPKjLzYgjGD5_-VE50IqO9ywKih8W5ucowJ-zh-mdTmUio/s1600/14.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Praying at my bedside<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2sgYX1mrHajOxOGrNV9RQEob7I7bhFSlCcHO2KyO-hr1as-ZyrgFI87RdMsA0VoKxGHU7xFZH5S1zOVdQyvvv-YtBDn2PNYStYSQbh7MmaKcibv6p16TeGRK9IH93YVPuZYUDUiKIYA/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2sgYX1mrHajOxOGrNV9RQEob7I7bhFSlCcHO2KyO-hr1as-ZyrgFI87RdMsA0VoKxGHU7xFZH5S1zOVdQyvvv-YtBDn2PNYStYSQbh7MmaKcibv6p16TeGRK9IH93YVPuZYUDUiKIYA/s1600/15.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whenever I weather a storm, God brings out the blessings in the end. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIMWO4GwhXzusncLRO2wANx9Kj4b3VDYBXJLK-WLHE2MPv07HPCDIZNYrNd_dQGYq4gugmh4DhDwCq7v5gMvYgawGtlxrJZAtATsJEJHLVnyzhdl4FcNaLZj0IeWZdMUE_jx8JfsM_Ao/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIMWO4GwhXzusncLRO2wANx9Kj4b3VDYBXJLK-WLHE2MPv07HPCDIZNYrNd_dQGYq4gugmh4DhDwCq7v5gMvYgawGtlxrJZAtATsJEJHLVnyzhdl4FcNaLZj0IeWZdMUE_jx8JfsM_Ao/s1600/16.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is me being invited to get out of the boat and walk with Jesus</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/AVvXsEifZlL38rntwa981H-CpxpqIGyW4ZFBYsRYe79yLw27eUVLR8_apGYiJVO9Qtiwlj-nSOM8iJhHF39O4y30vVUwr9LUQ27ZbmeyZEDEO1MbAUqM0WIcSsUUWUZIRd5eXDdCzcAQGdz-8B4/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZlL38rntwa981H-CpxpqIGyW4ZFBYsRYe79yLw27eUVLR8_apGYiJVO9Qtiwlj-nSOM8iJhHF39O4y30vVUwr9LUQ27ZbmeyZEDEO1MbAUqM0WIcSsUUWUZIRd5eXDdCzcAQGdz-8B4/s1600/17.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">God is in the center of death (tombstones) as He guides me to Him</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<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/AVvXsEgYJQ0SbeKzAPML7ER1BXDQUH4mPEckRb-f2nNyifQXlPnAyvO3uFLRnmqSj9FZcbnrQ_hVEAcid2ABRAk_GNiJy7mh0DfjXFP0f-VS4GQYXQHIrUTue_lowMK0KvnLyOZQhxB5ntlKQA8/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJQ0SbeKzAPML7ER1BXDQUH4mPEckRb-f2nNyifQXlPnAyvO3uFLRnmqSj9FZcbnrQ_hVEAcid2ABRAk_GNiJy7mh0DfjXFP0f-VS4GQYXQHIrUTue_lowMK0KvnLyOZQhxB5ntlKQA8/s1600/18.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">God has me completely in His hands - loving me and caring for me. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<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/AVvXsEjsWDXMLJZOFuWxMGnVc19gA39PI-kwRIJUJomj0gluSVWNxsQNpM6dQlmBZYqrBIwCOJTwwZ5WtwbI72E1vTg0YIzZTA-ffQW6LMk41UlaRWiXZkitMU6bAu6xSHhDjBV3kYxnX2piM6g/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWDXMLJZOFuWxMGnVc19gA39PI-kwRIJUJomj0gluSVWNxsQNpM6dQlmBZYqrBIwCOJTwwZ5WtwbI72E1vTg0YIzZTA-ffQW6LMk41UlaRWiXZkitMU6bAu6xSHhDjBV3kYxnX2piM6g/s1600/19.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">God gives me gifts every day. (She made a bag holding gifts)<br />
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<div align="left">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have
amazing students, don’t I?! Goodness. I feel like my job is done but NO - We
have 2 hours, every week for the next 30 weeks to talk about love, sex,
chastity, dating, God, the language of our bodies, vocations, sacrament of
marriage, reconciling with God, etc., etc., etc., ETCETRA!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left">
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Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-53944672253475749142014-08-06T16:19:00.001-07:002014-08-06T16:19:21.901-07:00Developing Potential
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mary Kate is
my 19 year old with special needs. I have gone through several hoops throughout
her life to get her the education she needed in just the right environment. As
she graduated to a different school, it was always heartbreaking because I
never knew if everything would still go well. It takes a very special person to
be a special education instructor. Some people have a good heart and good
intentions when they get their degree in special education but then when they
step foot in a classroom, they want every child on Retilin before the day is
over. I can’t say I blame them – hence, why I’m not a special ed. teacher. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Middle
School was pure Hell. I had her in for 4 LONG months before I finally
parented-UP and took her out for good. My plan was to keep her home whether I
totally stunk at homeschooling or not. It didn’t matter. If she stayed home and
watched The Sound of Music over and over, it would have been better than the
abuse she took from the border-line inner city environment she was in. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then the
heavens opened up and the most amazing school dropped in our lap. It was a
school exclusively for kids with special needs. Every time she got off the bus,
she was greeted by teachers and students with hugs and smiles and kisses. Every
day for 3 years she had this. Then, at the tender age of 15, we got the bad
news that due to budget cuts, she would not be able to go back. I held in my
sorrow until the parent/faculty meeting. As we all went in our separate groups
to talk to our case workers, I burst into tears. I couldn’t control myself. I
was a blubbering mess. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If any of the
law-making guru’s were there, I’m sure my pathetic and childlike whimpering would
have brought them all to tears and Mary Kate would still be there today. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After
allowing Mary Kate to attend one 1 hour class at the local High School until
she turned 16, I yanked her out and she has been home ever since. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fast forward
4 years and we finally have a nice place for her to go to during the day, Developing Potential. It is
a daily program that provides continued education for adults with special
needs. This program doesn’t graduate anyone. She gets to stay there for the
rest of her life</span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje49LoV0Q4uOcuZA2Tde_F_gvOAQTb-n6naLJV-hHBe-lihCSvzvpBE1rODlDkPFAXU1JB8fVUvkATMOYNREpzOjm-4U8-Wg1VETn7pMyBjmHQQ_xtvvcgcGRnfFpGxlEXGN83aDTnizw/s1600/20140806_131710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje49LoV0Q4uOcuZA2Tde_F_gvOAQTb-n6naLJV-hHBe-lihCSvzvpBE1rODlDkPFAXU1JB8fVUvkATMOYNREpzOjm-4U8-Wg1VETn7pMyBjmHQQ_xtvvcgcGRnfFpGxlEXGN83aDTnizw/s1600/20140806_131710.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is her
new friend, umm…..we don’t know her name. I guess names aren’t important to
Mary Kate</span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-55225714721832170072014-07-25T09:49:00.001-07:002014-07-25T10:07:44.619-07:00Forgiveness & Dirty Diapers<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikej_JhMoEu9idmjBi5vfOMkf3ALapXisLZ63Ku4REVcnjFwqkaL2dihGxk6PVMbchom-5AIkBIQSWV3rCQ_zqTKuZe1OkbnCsieqZnRzOxZbdJXZsKa1ofHDGHDQdeY4Q95CeeIUzgGk/s1600/IMG_8889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikej_JhMoEu9idmjBi5vfOMkf3ALapXisLZ63Ku4REVcnjFwqkaL2dihGxk6PVMbchom-5AIkBIQSWV3rCQ_zqTKuZe1OkbnCsieqZnRzOxZbdJXZsKa1ofHDGHDQdeY4Q95CeeIUzgGk/s1600/IMG_8889.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been
reading a book called Boyhood and Beyond with my 13 and 8 year old sons
throughout the year. I love this book because each story is only 2-3 pages and
they each teach a valuable virtue in a language they can understand. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today I read
a story called Forgiveness & Dirty Diapers. The boys loved it because it
started off telling about a man that collected dirty diapers. Every time he met
someone, he would try to confiscate a soiled diaper from them. Whenever he was
around people, he loved to show off his collection. He would always try to find
the dirty diaper that belonged to his guest too so he could share it and remind
him where it came from. His friends dwindled as time went on because they
couldn’t endure his smell – his house, his car – HIM. He smelled of soiled
diapers all the time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is a
total BOY story isn’t it?! My 8 year old was bug-eyed the entire time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then the
author used this story to talk about the “dirty diapers” that people give us –
insults, hurtful comments, gossip, pride, etc. When people give us their…..lets
say…..CRAP…..What do you do with it? Do you save it? Do you share it with
others? Do you make your friend see it and smell it every time they come over?
Do you make your other friends see it and smell it? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you do
any of these things, eventually, your friends will not want to be around you.
They will be disgusted by you. They don’t want to know about other people’s
“crap” and they certainly don’t want to be reminded about their own. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So. What are
you supposed to do whenever you are given a “dirty diaper”? THROW IT AWAY. Keep
a nice, sweet smelling home and toss out anything that soils or stinks it up.
KEEP THE PERSON but throw away everything that keeps you from being kind
and joyful. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What are we
supposed to do when we give someone one of OUR dirty diapers – when we offend
or hurt someone? We are to ask for forgiveness, ask them to throw away our
offense and promise to never do it again. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Valuable
lesson, eh? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All 3 of us
were tempted to blurt out other people we know that have hoarded “dirty
diapers” but this lesson was not about them. It is about US. How many dirty
diapers do we have that need to be thrown away? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The boys and
I gave several examples of the dirty diapers we were hanging on to – an
annoying friend who said something insulting a year ago…. gossiping about another mom who sent me hurtful e-mails.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My friends
and their friends want to be around someone who is happy, kind, sweet in speech
and is secure that they will not be led into sin when they are with us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you are interested, I highly recommend this book, Boyhood
and Beyond by Bob Schultz<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-34450770540512223162014-07-20T12:13:00.003-07:002014-07-20T12:13:56.814-07:00Totus Tuus
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Totus Tuus
(Latin for Totally Yours) is a Catholic program that brings 4 college students
to a parish for what other denominations would call, Vacation Bible School. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These students could be local or come from
states away but wherever they are from, they come for one purpose – to spend
the entire summer teaching youth about their Catholic faith. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had tried
mercilessly to get my priest to bring Totus Tuus to our parish. Actually, I
never <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> asked the priest. All
decisions that went on in our parish were left up to the office staff and our
deacon. When we got a new priest 3 years ago, I didn’t even have to ask. He
told ME that they were coming!! And it turns out that the priest is actually in
charge of decision-making in parishes. Who would have thunk?!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This year,
our family was able to attend Totus Tuus on 2 separate weeks. The first week
was at Our Lady of Lourdes in Harrisonville while my bigger kids were in Guatemala.
It gave my younger kids something to do so they didn’t miss their siblings so
much. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It turns out
that all 4 of the Totus Tuus staff were on staff at Camp Savio back in June.
All of my kids knew them already! I knew Samantha and Max would be jealous if
they knew who I was spending my week with so I took selfies with all of them to
send to Roy. My evil plan worked. They were jealous</span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This past
week, we were all hoping and praying that the same team would be at our parish
so Samantha and Max could spend more time with them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They were! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Samantha
spent all day and evening with them as they played and prayed together. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The week ended with an evening party at our house. We had
Gaga ball, volleyball and basketball. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcj_H31eCgRF0fNmIkFlb37FcuPxLU1imNj_EAxy8toupUHEBU3q0EUViVHGXy_bxLgF8DYlhgPS6D3p8rUm_0fyQyGiflcy0mDMSWjzunjZnw2jqYu2rNQ_TrervyectCuWcH-OF8zcA/s1600/IMG_8826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcj_H31eCgRF0fNmIkFlb37FcuPxLU1imNj_EAxy8toupUHEBU3q0EUViVHGXy_bxLgF8DYlhgPS6D3p8rUm_0fyQyGiflcy0mDMSWjzunjZnw2jqYu2rNQ_TrervyectCuWcH-OF8zcA/s1600/IMG_8826.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All 35 of us walked our hiking trails as we prayed the rosary
together. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwE8ygjTf9oq-TcdV3ssfNJTxoQ1rQG2kX0qrQ6ex0dBjRIPKWYXpNydIr2lZ9XEJFmSG_SeRfsB9fkLd4v3BDNfxIFn0Wkl_bkwwQEtGhcWkNRh6o4zDudPHQw3qn4vtYPGWJvICJbgM/s1600/IMG_8811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwE8ygjTf9oq-TcdV3ssfNJTxoQ1rQG2kX0qrQ6ex0dBjRIPKWYXpNydIr2lZ9XEJFmSG_SeRfsB9fkLd4v3BDNfxIFn0Wkl_bkwwQEtGhcWkNRh6o4zDudPHQw3qn4vtYPGWJvICJbgM/s1600/IMG_8811.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After all the students left, the Totus Tuus team and our
family relaxed, talked and prayed together. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are so blessed to be fortunate enough to host gatherings
for such remarkable, selfless people. They inspire young people to keep their
faith as they grow into adulthood. It takes great courage and self-discipline
to keep and grow in your faith just after you leave home and are considered “free”.
Yes, they are all free. They are free to choose the good. They are free to love
and serve God. They are free to love and serve hundreds of young people this
summer. They served my children and I can’t thank them enough for sharing themselves
with them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-88196065016893092512014-07-15T11:50:00.003-07:002014-07-20T12:15:00.866-07:00Pitching for Priests<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There have
been posters and advertisements for an event called Pitching for Priests all
around the Catholic world. They were $10 a ticket so I was pretty sure that I
was not going to make it. I couldn’t dump $100 on an event plus I frequently
make the excuse that I already do enough “Catholic”stuff. I can’t do
EVERYTHING. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then one
day, I was mingling in the back of church when our family’s adopted grandma,
Grandma Marie, asks, “How many tickets do you want for Pitching for Priests?”
She didn’t ask if we wanted to go. She asked how many tickets I wanted. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Uh…..um.
Well?.....” I didn’t want to give her my ungodly high number. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“How about I
give you 7 tickets.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yay! I
bummed Roy for 20 bucks for 2 more tickets and we were set!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the last
couple of weeks, I have been trying to figure out how I can get a group of
Catholic young adults (18-25) to come together on a regular basis to play,
learn about why they are Catholic, eat and play some more. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Light
Bulb!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not invite everyone to
tailgate at the Pitching for Priests game for a meet and greet? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Little by
little, the invitations were getting out of hand. I invited about 250 families
from my homeschool loop to stop by with their young adult child. Nick
inadvertently invited EVERY Catholic he knew. And then my priest announces that
our family will be tailgating before the game. Roy and I looked at each other
in shock. We envisioned hundreds of hungry and thirsty people hovering over us
with no real plan to meet or greet anyone. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We bought 54
burgers and 80 hot dogs. Roy spent a couple hours packing up the truck on
Sunday with the grill, chairs, tables, etc. I spent hours filling up our van
and car with food, drinks and all the necessities – paper towels, cups, plates.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We took 3
vehicles and headed off to T-Bones stadium. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What a
night. Yes, we have flocks of people – including one homeless man….maybe a
woman…..it was hard to tell – that visited our party. The young adults played
Frisbee, talked, laughed, ate and never noticed the older crowd from my circle
of friends and church family sitting nearby. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After my
darling husband packed up EVERYthing, we headed in the stadium to watch the
game. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The game was
between the priests on the Kansas City/St. Joseph Missouri diocese verses the
priests on the Kansas City, Kansas diocese. Undoubtedly, the entire stadium of
2,500 people were all Catholics. Instead of the typical music heard at a
baseball game, we heard Ave Maria. When a Monsignor was up to bat, the crowd
would clap and chant Mon-SEEN-YER! Mon-SEEN-YER! There were Catholic banners
and t-shirts everywhere. The atmosphere was so warm and full of those fuzzy
feelings we get when we are with a mass group of people we love. We all had
something so dear in common. We were all Catholic. We all loved our Mother and
we loved our Eucharist. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The priests
came up to bat one by one. I knew most of them which added to the fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each batter, each hit, each out, each strike,
walk, run, base hit – every moment was exciting. I think what put all of us in
a state of awe was the fact that all of these young and professional looking
men were priests AND normal. They played GOOD! Who would have thought that you
could bring 20 priests together and actually see a good and intense and
enjoyable game? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-55796527461310117772014-07-03T12:42:00.001-07:002014-07-03T12:56:07.119-07:00Treasure with a View<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I got a text
message last night from our neighbor, asking if Samantha would be home in the
morning because he had a treasure hunt planned for her when she wakes up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What an
intriguing message. If I were a few years younger, that may have kept me awake
with anticipation and excitement. But no. I’m too old for that and slept like a
baby…..a sound sleep like those of the NyQuil commercials and then awake every
3 hours throughout the night. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At 8 am
sharp, Samantha received her first text message clue……<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Every day,
rain or shine, the mailman comes with letters so fine. It is there you find
your next clue.”</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAbrm0t1jzP2q95P_E05MwctICcKK2ZEdQ803rzp4UAQ3xGz5LOMC0iKpew9vmcjH8eSy-27rzPwNPirWGx4IGyqcO4t9O4RIDkxQiyRvDWQB1n3JEcYW4hvg1cwDJIk0U787Jfz1_Ak/s1600/IMG_8501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAbrm0t1jzP2q95P_E05MwctICcKK2ZEdQ803rzp4UAQ3xGz5LOMC0iKpew9vmcjH8eSy-27rzPwNPirWGx4IGyqcO4t9O4RIDkxQiyRvDWQB1n3JEcYW4hvg1cwDJIk0U787Jfz1_Ak/s1600/IMG_8501.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Benjamin
walked with her as she went from one destination to another. I had to stay back
to mess with my camera. It was one of those moments when you need something to
work right NOW but couldn’t! I will spare you with my camera drama and jump to
the next chapter. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First she runs to the mail box - then to the gate to the Longview walking trail - to the tree house - and then to her final destination. How I WISH I was there to see her face!! But no.....camera issues! Ugh! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Samantha
runs in the house, puts her hands on my shoulders, looks me in the eye and
pauses. She knows, as even the 4 year old knows, that I might not hear a word
you say unless I am looking right into your eyes just inches away. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“I’m not
telling you what it is. You have to see for yourself” She says with an uncontrollable
smile. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She wakes up
all the kids. As everyone moves around in slow motion, Samantha figured out the
problem with my camera and we were ready to go. Six of us and 2 four-wheelers went
on an adventure through our land and then on the beautiful hilly land just east
of our property. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There, we
all saw this…..</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJU_6cZBAX7kzwNK2DsQ1iKwfHV9Ir11LobfXdyUbUaD-UAFK22ilUtYXceMJdFIJEl764ebgr9AZBkXJYNjD1RUl6IVnY2eHYQeibdPQaqZa6vpNjz3PH3i_ydhnrOnwF1BO53169LXI/s1600/IMG_8487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJU_6cZBAX7kzwNK2DsQ1iKwfHV9Ir11LobfXdyUbUaD-UAFK22ilUtYXceMJdFIJEl764ebgr9AZBkXJYNjD1RUl6IVnY2eHYQeibdPQaqZa6vpNjz3PH3i_ydhnrOnwF1BO53169LXI/s1600/IMG_8487.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The neighbor took a fallen tree and carved out a chair WITH steps!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the
view that Samantha will see every time she sits in this “chair”. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6hSsJMTiCcuq5MwdWyHnTK2wg72-EV9lMzb3TUesGI8dhA-nIcxWLQZPSrSLsKzwHeWO7LuvpqRH0xihAn9k7-ltgcolIOudnKmLStaHVS_U3zLwhfBcFaveSrEUKPThVJgzqZpQjeU/s1600/IMG_8490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6hSsJMTiCcuq5MwdWyHnTK2wg72-EV9lMzb3TUesGI8dhA-nIcxWLQZPSrSLsKzwHeWO7LuvpqRH0xihAn9k7-ltgcolIOudnKmLStaHVS_U3zLwhfBcFaveSrEUKPThVJgzqZpQjeU/s1600/IMG_8490.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Isn’t this
amazing? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Several
times, the kids wake up before the sun and travel to this area to watch the
sunrise – always with the neighbor – and all the while, I am in my sound sleep
with someone’s foot in my face. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now she can
watch the sunrise from her chair.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Read her
books <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Settle down
after an argument with me</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Settle down. Period. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Contemplate
the purpose of her life<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enjoy and
rest in God’s creation<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pray<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As each
friend comes over, we jump on 4-wheelers to show off this gift. This is your
invitation! Come on over and enjoy the view!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-32928063348458248472014-06-12T12:30:00.000-07:002014-06-12T12:30:08.001-07:00Comparing
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Comparing<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have a
terrible vice that I think I am just now starting to overcome. It is a vice
that does nothing but disappoint me and hurts my relationship with my husband
and kids. It is the terrible sin of comparing them to other people. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For YEARS I
have found myself or other people saying things like….. (I’m using Duggar names
just to amuse myself:))<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Why can’t
you be as nice to your sisters as Jim Bob….”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Can you be
humble like Josh?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Jana braids
her sister’s hair and plays games with her. Can you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“John David
plays and laughs with his wife, see?” hint-hint<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“If Jill can
keep a clean house, why can’t you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Joseph gets
all of his homework done on time. Why can’t you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Josiah can
make friends with anybody. Why do you have to be a snob?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“James
always hugs and kisses his mom. It makes me jealous that you won’t do the same
to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Jason can
fix everything. My husband can’t do anything.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I could go
on FOREVER. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am the
example in this house and when you have a lot of kids, the vices I spread to
them are so much more obvious. I have been putting children, teens, moms,
wives, fathers, husbands on pedestals for years. I have metaphorically pointed
at them and said, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Why can’t
you be more like him/her?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are
two life experiences that really made the light bulb flash before my eyes and
made me start changing how I speak and look at my family. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">#1 I was
watching the young men and women slowly lose their faith and fall off the
pedestal I had put them on. This is just heartbreaking for me. I have a serious
and deep love for teenagers and as I sit back and watch or hear about them
turning their back on their faith and family, I get sad and then angry with
myself when I look at how I had belittled my own children into being like them.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It turns out
that all of these young people were not super-human after all. They are regular
wonderful but sinful people just like my own children who may only be misguided
for a short time. How long was I “misguided” as a young adult? Eeek. I don’t
even want to go there!! Thank God for forgiveness and mercy!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">#2 I
remember listening to one wife talk about how wonderful my husband was with
fixing and building things. I knew where she was going with this since she was
angry in her tone. This women had a husband who plays with his kids every
night, walks with one child at a time to have man to man talks, and prays the
rosary with them. He is the holiest and most humble man I know. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If she was
able to miss all of these qualities she had under her own roof and just covet mine,
I had to ask myself if I was doing the very same thing to my husband. Was I
seeing the good in every other man and ignoring the gifts I had in Roy? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Uh, yeah…..I
was. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Turning off
the comparisons and looking at the gifts each member of my family has, has
taken a weight off my shoulders that I didn’t even realize was there. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, I am
still tempted with jealousy when I see a teenager loving on their mom more than
mine does BUT NOW, instead of complaining, I show more affection in the hopes
it will be reciprocated equally one day. In the meantime, I will enjoy the
gifts, characters and relationships that I DO have. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-28749930382281574382014-05-28T15:09:00.002-07:002014-05-28T15:09:56.919-07:00Being Grateful
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of my
dear friends had asked a question on Facebook…..<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“What can I
do to teach my kids to be grateful for what they have?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Needless to
say, she got several replies. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Charge them
for everything they use.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Have them
watch you pay the bills.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Send them
on a missionary trip for a week” (That was my answer)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The best
answer that she got was from a 17 year old girl. She said, “You teach your kids
to be grateful by being an example of a person who is grateful too.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I ad-libbed.
She said it so much better than I just did! But she was so right! – Out of the
mouth of babes….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I went to a friend’s
home from High School a couple years ago who was a great example of someone who
knew she was blessed and knew Who she owed her blessings too. Her husband is
the president of a popular beer company and they were doing well. She was happy
to show me her home and showed such gratitude for all of her gifts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have
another friend who, by the American definition, would be considered poor. She
lives in a small home with 8 children and her husband is out of work more often
than on but every time I see her, she tells me about all of her blessings. She
is always smiling. The very few times that she has shared her hardships with
me, she always did it with a smile on her face and an enthusiastic anticipation
of God’s plan for her. She sees every one of God’s gifts no matter how small
they would look to us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have many
friends that I could use as examples of gratitude. It is difficult to choose.
As a leader at my co-op, I was told of a mom who had her tuition waved because
of financial hardship and her husband being out of work. My mouth hit the
floor. This was the most joyful mom in the entire co-op. Heck she is the most
happy and joyful woman I know!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This idea of
being joyful, grateful and feeling blessed about every gift even if we don’t
have money is not a foreign idea. People all around me have this joyful spirit.
They are my examples. I feed off of them and bring it home to my own family. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every day, I
tell each of my kids how blessed they are for the infinite gifts we have.
Nothing good that we have is by our own righteousness. Every trial has a
purpose. Every hardship has a reason. Knowing this keeps me calm. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When my
dishwasher breaks, I smile and wonder how God is going to work His blessings.
He always does. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When the
drum set my son wanted got sold minutes before he was going to purchase it, he
almost cried. My eyes widened and I smiled really big and said……”God’s got
this! He just put His hand in your drum set purchase. This clearly wasn’t the
one God has planned for you.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He got a
much better drum set that came with extra parts, a book and DVD for a cheaper
price. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, my kids
are still going to Guatemala this Summer for a week but I know that their real
gratitude comes at a much cheaper price. I need to be grateful and I need to
pass this on to my kids or they will be miserable. Poor or rich…Rich or poor, I
need them to be grateful for everything good that they have and recognize every
miracle God sends their way. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When
something breaks…..When someone dies…..When trials and hardships rear their
ugly heads…..<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God is about
to make something special happen. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-57911418643615649262014-05-27T13:43:00.000-07:002014-05-27T13:43:11.960-07:00Bible Study
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ten years ago, I attended a Catholic Bible Study in Kansas.
It was open to everyone but the vast population were Catholic Homeschoolers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The little kids had their own class called Catechesis of the
Good Shepherd. When the kids walked in the room, they were in complete silence.
There were different stations around the room and the kids would rotate
stations alone. One station would consist of dressing up a small dummy in
priest vestments in the proper order. Another station would be to pour water
from a cruet into a water bowl and do that repeatedly. It was a great training
in patience. The kids had to discipline themselves so they never dripped. The
class was silent the entire time. The kids LOVED it. They felt like little
grown-ups. They were given duties in their actions and character that were
equal to mature and disciplined adults. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The teenagers were in a Bible Study class just for them.
They would study the same book or books that the adults were studying. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had such fond memories of this class. Nick (only 10 years
old) and I would read the scripture lesson together and answer our questions
during the week. I loved this time with him. We would ALWAYS start talking
about something else, mostly about life lessons based on our readings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On top of all the readings and homework, I also had a
collection of tapes and cd’s of theologians that walked me through my studies. I
felt like a cheater because I would walk into class and share my incredible
“insights” with the group of moms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One particular year, the Bible Study was on Jeff Cavin’s
Great Adventure Through the Bible. It was a 24-week study that took us through
all of salvation history from Genesis through Acts of the Apostles. It took us
through 14 books of the Bible that walked us through the history. We learned
how the other 59 books fit into the story. If any one of us had a good chunk of
time on our hands, we could read the other 59 books as they fit into the story.
(Ex. We could read Psalms at the time we were reading about David in the book
of Kings. Or we would read Corinthians while we were reading about Paul
visiting Corinth in the Acts of the Apostles). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I understood the Bible better than I ever did before now
that I knew HOW to read it. And reading it from front to back wasn’t it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Understanding the Scriptures opened doors and windows for me
that I never thought could be opened. I could now open up books that I
considered “over my head” – particularly, anything written by any of the Popes!
I understood the Cathechism now. I was able to move on and study church
history. And the most exciting benefit – I was able to defend my faith &
using the Bible to do it. Heck, just learning the history of where we got the
Bible, who wrote and who said it was inspired was enough apologetics for me! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was so excited about what I learned that I started
teaching it to High Schoolers in my homeschool loop. I spent hours upon hours
preparing for that class. I wrote out my own questions for each lesson that
were more child friendly and less thought provoking. I listened to all of the
CD’s from Jeff Cavins and took notes. I made a gazillion color-coded timeline
bracelets so the kids could keep track of the order in history. I watched
dozens of Bible movies and found just the right 4-8 minute clips to have my
students watch to help them get a real visual about the Old Testament stories.
And just today, I finished up 29 Bible Timelines for the next school year’s
class. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have one student take home a Eucharistic Miracles book each
week and do a short report on one Eucharistic miracle to present to the class
just to keep their faith alive and well throughout the year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3piRSOVv4oQ3uUADxw1cwUMI6bM9ggrQTZ4J3UZDiRLn4FgvrQ4kEna5z45gAbaj27nz8IY932GHtxiPEQ4m_1Ay9ulq6obHOAjleVLj83sLolHpUFUgGuxbOFp6u6VkdI9-L44FjJ8/s1600/IMG_5946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3piRSOVv4oQ3uUADxw1cwUMI6bM9ggrQTZ4J3UZDiRLn4FgvrQ4kEna5z45gAbaj27nz8IY932GHtxiPEQ4m_1Ay9ulq6obHOAjleVLj83sLolHpUFUgGuxbOFp6u6VkdI9-L44FjJ8/s1600/IMG_5946.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am pretty sure that the reason this class has been so
successful for the past 4 years has to do with WHERE I prepared. 80% of this
class was prepared in adoration – right there in front of Jesus Himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RXfHuADPWa4I5evQn2cUjvftsJOgnWOzxkAcABSpwi094WTuJdxOsx7eJrl-Ku5pvoicbjKS6VbGBoLE3Sm5QaIo9XMAz9KG9ImW6yVG6whP7YdBqXbQ2owB4epN9t2-s5pMYWaa1wk/s1600/IMG_5942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RXfHuADPWa4I5evQn2cUjvftsJOgnWOzxkAcABSpwi094WTuJdxOsx7eJrl-Ku5pvoicbjKS6VbGBoLE3Sm5QaIo9XMAz9KG9ImW6yVG6whP7YdBqXbQ2owB4epN9t2-s5pMYWaa1wk/s1600/IMG_5942.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-50698872250606442122014-05-19T13:38:00.001-07:002014-05-19T13:47:44.942-07:00With Great Power.....<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Comes Great
Responsibility. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I may not
have a superpower but our family has powers that are unique to the 21<sup>st</sup>
century. <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-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We
have the power to make anyone’s birthday into an unscheduled party. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We
have the power to clean a messy house in ½ hour. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We
can paint a whole house in 3 hours…..well, maybe when everyone is all grown up.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We
have the power to be the loudest singers in Mass (never done it but I bet we
could!). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We
can gather around a hurt child and have them smiling and playing within
minutes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We
can scare away a park full of people just by jumping out of our van one by one.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We
scare away bad guys. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We
can make any event not get cancelled because we always have the minimum #
required.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We
can shovel the elderly ladies driveway in 5 minutes flat<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We
bring people hope for the future of our children in an immoral world<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is just
a small list of what a large family can do that smaller families cannot. BUT,
we also have the power to cause great harm. I have seen too many large families
take advantage of this and it makes it worth blogging about. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 107%;">We can totally destroy the spirit and
annihilate and ostracize anyone who hurts one of us</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, a small
family can do this but nowhere near to the magnitude that a large family can.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You know the
drill. Someone picks on and bullies your 10 year old and out comes big brother
to defend his sister. NO ONE bullies his sister except him!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Can you
imagine if everyone in a large family does this? Oh it happens! And when it
does, it is UGLY. It is a long and nasty relationship for months or years
on-end. The power is overwhelming and terribly sinful. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just as a
priest has a greater punishment for a sin than you or I commit, so does the way
a large family treats someone who wronged another member of the family. We have
a greater responsibility because the harmful effects are greater than that of a
small family. (Still wrong……just greater and uglier)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have had
this talk with my kids repeatedly. I remind them that if anyone hurts a member
of the family, the proper way to ban together is to do whatever it takes to
IMPROVE the relationship. Never will it be to collectively hurt, criticize,
mock, unfriend or end relationships. Never. It is hurtful and sinful yet so
many families use this power for great harm to others. Even though parents may
teach their children that EVERYone is made in the image and likeness of God,
that undeniable fact seems to get thrown out the window when a much less important
outsider wrongs one of them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ll admit
that the first thought in my mind sometimes is “GET EM GUYS!!! NO ONE CALLS
YOUR SISTER A BRAT AND GETS AWAY WITH IT!!!!” But then I settle down and
remember what my superpower responsibility is. It is to unite and not divide. It
is time to pull out the big guns called virtue and prudence not avenge and
revenge. It is time to pour on the kindness and compliments and bring that person
to know that everything will be ok. Everyone in the Christy family is safe. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I meet
large families, I pay close attention to how they operate when friction happens
with an outsider. If I catch that they unite and conquer poor imperfect
children, we stay far away. I wave and smile from a far distance and make sure
to never get close. It is toxic and dangerous. It can leave scars on a person
for a lifetime. No thank you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I care at
all about my children’s salvation, I will never train them that other people
are less important than them. I will never tell them that the best way to solve
friction between 2 people is to gang up and destroy their spirit with hurtful
comments, gossip, eye rolls, laughter and the cold shoulder – “That’ll teach em
to mess with my sister!!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is not cute. It is not adorable to see your
children caring for each other in that way. And it is certainly not holy. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRorDhSZUiJy0iepNBKK5W_dYKK-Behc0nHTd9ZkLvYNsV0-d-uKpaOtTX9jIIJv4Eq81BH7xnsdSJlpcpu2ushoq5g6nc7GckZEJR8BCi4nHKiMEKAT5FanYOlCT-vowu-941V2wnTs/s1600/Family+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRorDhSZUiJy0iepNBKK5W_dYKK-Behc0nHTd9ZkLvYNsV0-d-uKpaOtTX9jIIJv4Eq81BH7xnsdSJlpcpu2ushoq5g6nc7GckZEJR8BCi4nHKiMEKAT5FanYOlCT-vowu-941V2wnTs/s1600/Family+1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-64711396499121870902014-02-01T20:25:00.001-08:002014-02-01T20:25:05.608-08:00Saying Goodbye to Nick
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nick left
for Basic Training on January 6<sup>th</sup>, 2014. As the days were
approaching, you might be surprised about what was going through my mind. I am
not worried about him. I’m not worried that he will not have a good time or be
physically exhausted every day. I am so blessed with a socially and morally
sound 20 year old son. He controls his temper, prays frequently and can make
friends with everyone. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I was
worried about is whether or not I would cry when he left. That is such a silly
thing to worry about but I so desperately wanted to show Nick that I would
truly miss and love him. He knows because of my words but I wanted him to see
an outward and visible sign that he will remember. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My kids love
to see movies that are tear jerkers. Specifically, because they know Mom will cry
and no one wants to miss that. No one sheds a tear because all eyes are on me.
All the kids, AND my husband, stare at me and wait patiently to see that first
tear come down my cheek. Even in the movie theater, there are 4 heads on each
side of me, peering and waiting, smiling and wide-eyed. I have to say, it is
REALLY annoying. I fight the tears, put my fingers on my lips to control the
shaking and hide Kleenex between my legs that I can grab in a fraction of a
second. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Darnit! The
boy is about to get the girl…..Here come the tears and everyone gets excited. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Moms
crying!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mouths drop.
Kids are smiling. Dad is giggling. The girls fight to give me the Kleenex.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“NO THANK
YOU! I HAVE MY OWN!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It ruins the
whole tearful moment of the movie. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is why
I wanted to cry in front of Nick. I wanted him, THIS TIME, to look at me with
that smile. I wanted him to have this moment and leave with the memory of me
missing, caring and loving him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You would
think that a mom would cry when her son leaves but I was so happy for him that
I was afraid I would be smiling from ear to ear. I had one experience when he
got his driver’s license. He was 16 years old and ready to drive off by himself
for the first time. I was waving and smiling as he drove away. Then, the smile
disappeared and I started filling up with fear. I ran up the sidewalk,
screaming, “WAIT! STOP! I CHANGED MY MIND!” But he was gone and I was left by
myself 3 houses away. I hope none of the neighbors saw me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I didn’t
want to be too late this time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was time
to go. He was standing in line to get his bags checked and then disappear for 9
weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I felt the
tears coming. My fingers went to my lips and I tried to fight it like I always
do. His bags went through the machine. He went to pick them up and he looked up
at me for the last time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He saw me
crying like a baby. I was even sniffling and making those crying noises. I
lifted up my other hand that was not covering my lips and gave a small wave. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nick stared
at me. I mean, he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">stared</i>. He watched
me cry and then smiled a gentle smile. It wasn’t a smile that I’ve ever seen in
any of his selfies. It was a calm and gentle smile that he gives me during the
tear jerker movie. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfHm5UxtR4ghrVaJhHu0YL2C8BXEjbqPjHCZxcM0YK-_Uhhy3Pg_V4POF9IbqFVhNjRd3WqygLZNMpHShoRHa69r9baficuceNe4XQX742OyxcBvwrBSu-SqOETqWqyQvD8uJXDxg7uU/s1600/Nick+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfHm5UxtR4ghrVaJhHu0YL2C8BXEjbqPjHCZxcM0YK-_Uhhy3Pg_V4POF9IbqFVhNjRd3WqygLZNMpHShoRHa69r9baficuceNe4XQX742OyxcBvwrBSu-SqOETqWqyQvD8uJXDxg7uU/s1600/Nick+3.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will never
forget that smile. It was beautiful. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Three weeks
have gone by and I have been busy with the kids and homework, chores and
errands. It is sad to say but I really haven’t felt that ache of missing him.
But when I drive up to my mail box to open it up, my heart skips a beat when I
see a letter from him. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing. The world stops around
me. Hurricanes, tornadoes and screaming children cannot stop me from reading
his letters. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzTJxktXYq49M1qIWpcuI4UAFTr49oKb98-res8ryLPBANKu_uberD4PmLIYoL6jXONubztPEQ2Uaz6hpL7AtVPj_-4JSPAVjmx_Cw0HhV5vfoi24xTHm1z_65VTd35HD0YYq7uwc6EU/s1600/IMG_3652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzTJxktXYq49M1qIWpcuI4UAFTr49oKb98-res8ryLPBANKu_uberD4PmLIYoL6jXONubztPEQ2Uaz6hpL7AtVPj_-4JSPAVjmx_Cw0HhV5vfoi24xTHm1z_65VTd35HD0YYq7uwc6EU/s1600/IMG_3652.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He misses
us…..and we miss him</span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411581029825404566.post-45058021418530291022013-12-20T21:01:00.001-08:002013-12-20T21:01:38.783-08:00The 8 Year Old Talk
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the past
couple of months, the bigger kids have been coming up to me one by one with
serious fear and concern. They expressed themselves something like this….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Mom! You
can’t!!!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“NO! MOM! He’s
not ready!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“He’s too
young! Don’t do this!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The day has
finally come. It was time for Benjamin to experience…….wait for it…….THE SEX
TALK! If you have read my previous blogs, you may have read Theresa’s 8 year
old birthday blog. I’m not going to reread it. I want Ben’s blog to be uniquely
his even if I am repeating myself which I’m sure I will since nothing about sex
has changed in the last 3 years. Right? I didn’t get grief about giving any of
my other 8 year olds this talk but Benjamin is different. He is just a
different breed of a boy. I know this but he will still be a different breed of
a boy when he is 9, 10, 14, 18, 30 something, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This talk is
scheduled for all of our kids when they turn 8 years old. I understand that it
seems too young but if I went by the age that most parents gave the talk to
their kids, they would never get it. Seriously. Did you ever get a real talk
about the inner and outer workings of sex (no pun intended) from your parents?
Congratulations if you said yes but all I ever got was gross looks from my mom’s
face and “I’ll tell you when you’re older” (I was 18) from my dad. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, at the
ripe old age of 22, I got my hands on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How
to Talk to Your child about Sex </i>by Linda & Richard Eyre. I was reading
it in the delivery room right after I gave birth to Mary Kate. I know, I may
have been a bit ahead of the game but I am making up for it now as I sit on my
bed at 10:00 at night as the kids run wild around the house. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCU2UzKFDjR6pOise8NssZpVN8LyXujF0SkZq6VIvhqs41ezTCtoQg3rSH1PG2lBMj1SthV03ne3ZCbQrtbSrSqh-9ol9uJmII67d2NLi44xqtkHNfOS3psAw-DlBacfJ2hWhVJKk_hs/s1600/IMG_2650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJCU2UzKFDjR6pOise8NssZpVN8LyXujF0SkZq6VIvhqs41ezTCtoQg3rSH1PG2lBMj1SthV03ne3ZCbQrtbSrSqh-9ol9uJmII67d2NLi44xqtkHNfOS3psAw-DlBacfJ2hWhVJKk_hs/s320/IMG_2650.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">supposed</i> to spend several weeks building
his excitement prior to the talk. I am <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">supposed</i>
to say things like…..<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Your dad
and I are SO excited to tell you the most WONderful thing God gave us!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We are
going to let you in on a very exciting secret.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“This is
really something fantastic, and it’s going to be such fun to tell you about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But instead,
all he heard was….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“He’s EIGHT!
He’s getting the talk whether he’s ready or not.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We have to
give him this talk before we lose the book again.”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“There is
never a good time to tell Ben so get over it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m pretty
sure Ben got more pumped up with what he heard then what the book said I was
supposed to say. He is just that kind of kid. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5udAYisINDhaoBXitvz2xuRZrXYSWnzZlWIGtqT52orn6hMlBWPJiXGK_kyerU-YrLR5dcrQISED9WnWANH2Gvh2gnmyHwy3UUJ-Y_9V34fF2udE3ZF3i_cOcHaz-AiK8yLlkZ2DZexY/s1600/IMG_2653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5udAYisINDhaoBXitvz2xuRZrXYSWnzZlWIGtqT52orn6hMlBWPJiXGK_kyerU-YrLR5dcrQISED9WnWANH2Gvh2gnmyHwy3UUJ-Y_9V34fF2udE3ZF3i_cOcHaz-AiK8yLlkZ2DZexY/s320/IMG_2653.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The day has
come! The restaurant he picked was the T-Rex restaurant WAY out at The Legends
in Kansas City, KS. I told him to dress up really nice and he ran in my room
screaming, “I’M READY!” in his race car shirt and camouflage pants. I sent him
away to change into real church clothes. He comes in my room all dressed up and
muttered,</span> “<span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 107%;">I’m ready</span>”.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">After Samantha takes our picture, the three of us, plus baby,
are on our way. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Benjamin is
SO excited all the way there. He can’t WAIT to find out this secret. I just
love this age. The reason we chose eight years old is because, “it is a window
between the disinterest of very young childhood and the moodiness and
unpredictability of prepuberty.” (-Linda & Richard Eyre) I am reminded of
this when the book that we use to read, teach and show the kids about sex was
brought out of hiding. Theresa finds it, opens it and starts to giggle. She
passes it along to Max and then Samantha. Pretty soon, I have a house full of
immature giggling basketcases. Thank goodness Nick wasn’t home. He would have
been the worst. Eight year olds are trusting, open, innocent and anxious to
please. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of my 8 year olds acted as
infantile as they do now at 11, 13 and 14. Oh, and 20. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After we
order our food, Ben is bobbing up and down, back and forth. “Tell me the secret
now! Tell me now. Tell me now. Tell me now. Tell me now.” I was getting dizzy.
This boy won’t sit still. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We went
through the preliminary questions…..<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Name some
wonderful things God made.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Why is a
person awesome?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Where do
you think babies come from?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“How do you
physically show someone that you love them?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now it’s
time for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Where Did I Come From </i>by
Peter Mayle. This is the climax of the afternoon! (Sorry. I couldn’t help it!) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPF5MnYUV43_zXKuvXL9RcIls1PTtR7IMppOXNA_IFFHznUO08SNverrESPa4Wet2otUwwnZCDdD2Mn3ZCUtZycHbDwYSUVm91bC1narvbMv0ygpGv5iDpB8x_PAdcAGFnK69sId3VMGk/s1600/20131220_132300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPF5MnYUV43_zXKuvXL9RcIls1PTtR7IMppOXNA_IFFHznUO08SNverrESPa4Wet2otUwwnZCDdD2Mn3ZCUtZycHbDwYSUVm91bC1narvbMv0ygpGv5iDpB8x_PAdcAGFnK69sId3VMGk/s320/20131220_132300.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Goodness.
Ben’s reaction was nothing like the other kids. He laughed and giggled and
couldn’t believe that his parents would do such a thing. If nothing else, I
know for sure he totally understood what sex is. I was not too sure if the
other kids understood but this boy did. He totally did. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During our
excursion with fighting and wrestling to turn back to the pages with naked
people (cartoon), we accidently ripped out a page. All of us start to laugh. He
was SO into this talk and so fascinated with this new information he just
learned. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But now we
are scared. It was not too early to tell the other kids but was it too early to
tell Ben? I don’t know. He seemed more engrossed with this information then we
wanted him to be. He was laughing and smiling more than we have ever seen. I am
not sure what to think. All I know is that he is part of the older group of
kids now. He can share and talk about sex with his older brothers and sisters
but has been sworn to secrecy with everyone else. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From this
day forward, Roy and I will be sharing with Ben what we learned from Blessed
John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and he will understand. Our body is the
visible reality of the invisible God. When a man and wife make love, they are
renewing their vows. Their one flesh union is a sign of the one flesh union
that we have with Jesus in the Eucharist. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, he got
this talk too but all he wanted to do is look at the naked pictures. Sigh….There
is still time. Pray for him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Katy Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05309382392037014068noreply@blogger.com0