tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51045882124579422522024-03-04T20:36:30.624-08:00imperfect girl - perfect GodAndrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.comBlogger321125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-74523845817912433792013-09-20T12:25:00.001-07:002013-09-20T12:25:54.775-07:00New Blog Link:<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://adventureofanartist.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://adventureofanartist.wordpress.com/</span></a><br />
</div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-14481631321038114942013-07-20T23:12:00.001-07:002013-07-20T23:12:01.552-07:00Carley's Married. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My sweet friend, Carley, married Josh this evening. It was a beautiful and simple ceremony and reception. Lots of family and friends. Lots of laughter and happy tears. Congrats, Car and Josh!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5AVDL3wZokrz0904DHhHNwEUEIONzrbi1Fykkc0ZszbcIXguSdT2SBrmDw8evDE2gorFZHEwNqlFjb7uoE9hOdOBWDsEi6p64h-kAUq9sssguwhFiteTupYlzukbncBbZ-riGhDK-eIe/s1600/374376_10151586380570835_912108175_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5AVDL3wZokrz0904DHhHNwEUEIONzrbi1Fykkc0ZszbcIXguSdT2SBrmDw8evDE2gorFZHEwNqlFjb7uoE9hOdOBWDsEi6p64h-kAUq9sssguwhFiteTupYlzukbncBbZ-riGhDK-eIe/s320/374376_10151586380570835_912108175_n.jpg" width="240" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYaCOK4T1RNYGuKtxGFmzj8U8jJz5H3iQXoqoPmu-VjSIn41MfN33Kc1jt8u0zog2rxPrDZwG1nsFhDQi6X7_bmorqwGrX6cSbjb-aShDtGbXQFkNiNvJYdmM-S_Ka4nAf-7kW1hWOCt-/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYaCOK4T1RNYGuKtxGFmzj8U8jJz5H3iQXoqoPmu-VjSIn41MfN33Kc1jt8u0zog2rxPrDZwG1nsFhDQi6X7_bmorqwGrX6cSbjb-aShDtGbXQFkNiNvJYdmM-S_Ka4nAf-7kW1hWOCt-/s320/-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-14494432069371191252013-07-11T19:37:00.001-07:002013-07-11T19:37:31.806-07:00progression of a s'more in the hands of a 2 year old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoX7-a7htDwyJfkubmy4nJKMPizWNFi9T5mOxSi3utXufFjG16Md5hzzmzrrVOtUcNudnB1vyG5wDMwdLVedk-QYGzURewusAg338kbwror-N2szwLknOnoz5IWaixOxtWylHN_AYEIsq/s1600/IMG_3675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoX7-a7htDwyJfkubmy4nJKMPizWNFi9T5mOxSi3utXufFjG16Md5hzzmzrrVOtUcNudnB1vyG5wDMwdLVedk-QYGzURewusAg338kbwror-N2szwLknOnoz5IWaixOxtWylHN_AYEIsq/s320/IMG_3675.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVp2exFNQzXGNBQMUJ1VircWpgJpFwN5BHdVjXGWu_Gy32uKSY7vo3mi-Oydy4qkFb8vaXWnBVeQK9UcQN-K5iAHkQtnVwlaVnqJMEpmG5r-jkShN3uCfBA4ctllauIi1nMSA5LQHJyu47/s1600/IMG_3676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVp2exFNQzXGNBQMUJ1VircWpgJpFwN5BHdVjXGWu_Gy32uKSY7vo3mi-Oydy4qkFb8vaXWnBVeQK9UcQN-K5iAHkQtnVwlaVnqJMEpmG5r-jkShN3uCfBA4ctllauIi1nMSA5LQHJyu47/s320/IMG_3676.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-rZOY0vu_5O1gQERQUunOlu2ZGMirlTpNm3rIWFhe7VgREe66-lDC1jBN-nEf7r_vfxjsLDLp4vr8PnsQAzIspX1CL7OexcMojXWacP-SVzKK592yrWlNz4rptQSfjmm7PR3jveksy56/s1600/IMG_3678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-rZOY0vu_5O1gQERQUunOlu2ZGMirlTpNm3rIWFhe7VgREe66-lDC1jBN-nEf7r_vfxjsLDLp4vr8PnsQAzIspX1CL7OexcMojXWacP-SVzKK592yrWlNz4rptQSfjmm7PR3jveksy56/s320/IMG_3678.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqao3fo1-r1f1OX05sjqbY50XzazbY-EvfhYVrwzpjJqZczXu0MZine0jLYDn-u_Qu9-PshCtKM8Hfymqc1mGJHUZ8zY2SGtm8Dyy71f8yX0-wadzFmn7QWWPqvFIbQO6SBM2LrXap08m/s1600/IMG_3679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqao3fo1-r1f1OX05sjqbY50XzazbY-EvfhYVrwzpjJqZczXu0MZine0jLYDn-u_Qu9-PshCtKM8Hfymqc1mGJHUZ8zY2SGtm8Dyy71f8yX0-wadzFmn7QWWPqvFIbQO6SBM2LrXap08m/s320/IMG_3679.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0p1pwQekPDLAla_V14_z00M5xwT8xegSTUEzIZLS1spXmHPTwPkbCF0b5qI-txNxGFKBWYJkP11eK41H0J1SRpVJ4MRPsLVWpbEhLOV8HZFsZP8YJvLbfWdDPA9UgvCOYqmHRDtpMdf9/s1600/IMG_3681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0p1pwQekPDLAla_V14_z00M5xwT8xegSTUEzIZLS1spXmHPTwPkbCF0b5qI-txNxGFKBWYJkP11eK41H0J1SRpVJ4MRPsLVWpbEhLOV8HZFsZP8YJvLbfWdDPA9UgvCOYqmHRDtpMdf9/s320/IMG_3681.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEBAHEMLMSHZrP-BJV8wKJcIa5DqdDwTA9-AV4qclcEq26X6JGNW9QlrMs4BzJik9N6vrv-hkN3Yrr0z3XPYpfKpulrrYxnqdZFdj-P_GGYL14gP1X9A4adG9YVdzvdCLsIeWLLRzXURm/s1600/IMG_3683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEBAHEMLMSHZrP-BJV8wKJcIa5DqdDwTA9-AV4qclcEq26X6JGNW9QlrMs4BzJik9N6vrv-hkN3Yrr0z3XPYpfKpulrrYxnqdZFdj-P_GGYL14gP1X9A4adG9YVdzvdCLsIeWLLRzXURm/s320/IMG_3683.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTHb0YIJ9zKV2Vvbx9JNEXiC6fTFVJ17GOT7LAN4ULLtWqoZ9M5qfPOnKx7CG0vqm1ie1t2kE-IukrhukSKH15Kswb1qKG1vvxT2ZC54cwb4aZzmyQMASWCB9V9nghJadNYhBpGdQeTSg/s1600/IMG_3684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTHb0YIJ9zKV2Vvbx9JNEXiC6fTFVJ17GOT7LAN4ULLtWqoZ9M5qfPOnKx7CG0vqm1ie1t2kE-IukrhukSKH15Kswb1qKG1vvxT2ZC54cwb4aZzmyQMASWCB9V9nghJadNYhBpGdQeTSg/s320/IMG_3684.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1zZLGx8NREiblVlRINQgsiKYVQjr0LGgzyz5tzoB8whnFWUTiYvTX-AdCROxFu5pLYiNe79RyW2IaHzSzlPwr_Z3QapzrHI2O_ykLu_JMoYXkTJys9EyXNWiB6vS80JY8qL3jnd09kgR/s1600/IMG_3686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1zZLGx8NREiblVlRINQgsiKYVQjr0LGgzyz5tzoB8whnFWUTiYvTX-AdCROxFu5pLYiNe79RyW2IaHzSzlPwr_Z3QapzrHI2O_ykLu_JMoYXkTJys9EyXNWiB6vS80JY8qL3jnd09kgR/s320/IMG_3686.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhphTRDe1AR4VRCsOTFd53SxXzZEUaN8LDJqULYzdGxhV7AFYtvcKPSl5448TQACJ1oqXE0uhOEoJdLnyVwGtbm9_isZ1wvlPtTXcqxezrIpBCClES4Ux8LzPNb6hEAZ3cX28SCR_ZpIsK/s1600/IMG_3687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhphTRDe1AR4VRCsOTFd53SxXzZEUaN8LDJqULYzdGxhV7AFYtvcKPSl5448TQACJ1oqXE0uhOEoJdLnyVwGtbm9_isZ1wvlPtTXcqxezrIpBCClES4Ux8LzPNb6hEAZ3cX28SCR_ZpIsK/s320/IMG_3687.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGA2VXI5V2c16YOgrFKBgcVDKwkvHm-b4LXDDSTFLN7x9gK8O0Z-lBXGHaYqNzz8T4vM50EbaxVZlXhvlOXY2Sv3DxGI6u7QlLBFNHYUi9UO8lEEZd9FhTh6KDEHEr9CXwqEb1AZaFOJYA/s1600/IMG_3693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGA2VXI5V2c16YOgrFKBgcVDKwkvHm-b4LXDDSTFLN7x9gK8O0Z-lBXGHaYqNzz8T4vM50EbaxVZlXhvlOXY2Sv3DxGI6u7QlLBFNHYUi9UO8lEEZd9FhTh6KDEHEr9CXwqEb1AZaFOJYA/s320/IMG_3693.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2-ZgfSh77pF44k7jLYzcb8FmRHb_o-5prYbYCBSmmNLnmi-Qnhzffo-ILkvA7L-eJveMlP4-CTEXP_wJ3dppVwhYNwAjABbLAYCMUSKr94cO9HgEzAxhpq7ZiSw8aGosmPx3yiyInsC6/s1600/IMG_3698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2-ZgfSh77pF44k7jLYzcb8FmRHb_o-5prYbYCBSmmNLnmi-Qnhzffo-ILkvA7L-eJveMlP4-CTEXP_wJ3dppVwhYNwAjABbLAYCMUSKr94cO9HgEzAxhpq7ZiSw8aGosmPx3yiyInsC6/s320/IMG_3698.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz35sI9Az54fFxsGc5P6k181ljjcV4pwIIIW91DSBkmenmKRl1CBKofBd523PsCwYZBfmUWJFsm0sd9IiP20easPKScQMtCiYsn5J1WpZYFTgHvrYsbzBSZufh0BlRvmFkgvwnsIhbULZl/s1600/IMG_3703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz35sI9Az54fFxsGc5P6k181ljjcV4pwIIIW91DSBkmenmKRl1CBKofBd523PsCwYZBfmUWJFsm0sd9IiP20easPKScQMtCiYsn5J1WpZYFTgHvrYsbzBSZufh0BlRvmFkgvwnsIhbULZl/s320/IMG_3703.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1QeT0qs0K060jZ5jXx607ur3uGLxpSkBklRPZjY48Ron7lXMBb9kbp5Uc-WuLWPZul_Paxyy3NfCOcXu7dIqtP1oc1LYhMBTg-UfkeYqi56psX4aetMUJIDPrrSIV42KcSG0o2zuyYex/s1600/IMG_3704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1QeT0qs0K060jZ5jXx607ur3uGLxpSkBklRPZjY48Ron7lXMBb9kbp5Uc-WuLWPZul_Paxyy3NfCOcXu7dIqtP1oc1LYhMBTg-UfkeYqi56psX4aetMUJIDPrrSIV42KcSG0o2zuyYex/s320/IMG_3704.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2NAO38JaIDhnQTrrG0O8Gcwjp4HkEbtfKLt3EraRH5wRItPWvzWQ5iVyVeeluvFS6M1ajXF-renfy7Sh2XIN650Z2sWG94EEjUwJsQY-agk77EwtgVdpMdKVLIk6ctX4n3ZVcqC2hT8S/s1600/IMG_3711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2NAO38JaIDhnQTrrG0O8Gcwjp4HkEbtfKLt3EraRH5wRItPWvzWQ5iVyVeeluvFS6M1ajXF-renfy7Sh2XIN650Z2sWG94EEjUwJsQY-agk77EwtgVdpMdKVLIk6ctX4n3ZVcqC2hT8S/s320/IMG_3711.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieFi6STXJ6korUiAbGqiOAf5OAQHyqVyzCRIeys_zIe1mIBQmXNjHAk070l2ctAxi3zRBCyKmJySsZG9U7PVLhsA1C7DV-DBCK2lIYVuhCeh3F2typowm9UsYYNBX_QLD8oeQcLxyUOhp/s1600/IMG_3712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieFi6STXJ6korUiAbGqiOAf5OAQHyqVyzCRIeys_zIe1mIBQmXNjHAk070l2ctAxi3zRBCyKmJySsZG9U7PVLhsA1C7DV-DBCK2lIYVuhCeh3F2typowm9UsYYNBX_QLD8oeQcLxyUOhp/s320/IMG_3712.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And then it was time for a bath. </span></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-69555193299643752372013-05-02T21:32:00.000-07:002013-05-02T21:32:16.741-07:008 years old today!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This girl. She<span style="font-size: small;">'</span>s no longer 7<span style="font-size: small;">. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy 8th birthday, sweet girl!</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Plo7Qomt-8Pj5Y98ftuADYvfajW-mzc7va7UPnlYQ2YFENYJMz7zOiNmjzWzU1UWoURo_UyAVwn8KPVf_sf7UuQLb5z16YGVL5wvEG_fm4N_5K3nlHA9Z_V1B8wx9bz8WJK84M2GL8z7/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Plo7Qomt-8Pj5Y98ftuADYvfajW-mzc7va7UPnlYQ2YFENYJMz7zOiNmjzWzU1UWoURo_UyAVwn8KPVf_sf7UuQLb5z16YGVL5wvEG_fm4N_5K3nlHA9Z_V1B8wx9bz8WJK84M2GL8z7/s320/-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9qPrCgXGBS5wxdS0XgbYjF3P80XrZCuWDsqdgrcpauS-nR4lGLByt9OT-nJpM5YTr3VCOXXnuwFxTNdmE8ZwB5yn6lKKpzqA-CSe7-CBSRXHqW8fZFRZYUmaJTPMK9zEA32Jg0c_44Pn/s1600/-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9qPrCgXGBS5wxdS0XgbYjF3P80XrZCuWDsqdgrcpauS-nR4lGLByt9OT-nJpM5YTr3VCOXXnuwFxTNdmE8ZwB5yn6lKKpzqA-CSe7-CBSRXHqW8fZFRZYUmaJTPMK9zEA32Jg0c_44Pn/s320/-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-2491311073428682252013-04-11T21:30:00.000-07:002013-04-11T21:43:13.597-07:00gf cheez-its.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today was kind of a strange one. I woke up with a bloody nose, I worked a 3.5 hour shift, I informed a Starbucks barista that I didn't have time for him to flirt with me today, I was too nauseous to eat dinner, and then I made really yummy gluten free cheez-its. Now it's time to blog and watch Pretty Little Liar reruns. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLaXtCMaYVDvPVtI2-pKdTct7_bvokW48CHUNxNgH7sE8Gm9i45JpNqpSTvNt5mb0EufQketJZVMltcdmeUyTpbsCMLb3AI1St51a3DFSqCp3CY1AKivvJ_ozxqCHXVXNc8IS5thM-Jst/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLaXtCMaYVDvPVtI2-pKdTct7_bvokW48CHUNxNgH7sE8Gm9i45JpNqpSTvNt5mb0EufQketJZVMltcdmeUyTpbsCMLb3AI1St51a3DFSqCp3CY1AKivvJ_ozxqCHXVXNc8IS5thM-Jst/s320/-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's the gluten free recipe! </span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
4 TBS cold, cubed butter</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
1/2 tsp salt, plus more to sprinkle over the tops</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
2 TBS cold water</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
3/4 cup sweet rice flour (or any gf flour)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
1/4 cup cornstarch</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1/2 tsp xanthan gum </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Pulse all of the ingredients except the water together in a food processor until well
combined, then add the water and pulse until the dough comes together.
Chill the dough well; at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator or 10
minutes in the freezer. Roll the dough out as thin as possible; this is
important for a crispy, crunchy cracker. Use a pizza cutter to make
little squares. Lay the crackers on a non-stick baking sheet and use a
fork to poke the tops of each cracker. Sprinkle with a bit more salt. Bake at 350 for 7 minutes, then rotate
the pan and bake another 7 minutes, or until just golden at the edges. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-9364289235185665312013-04-07T20:40:00.003-07:002013-04-07T20:41:17.250-07:00Unjustly Embarrassed <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Let's go back a few thousand years...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The horizon releases the sun as morning</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> is breaking on the Mount of Olives. </span> Soft wisps of amber, coral, and tangerine mingle with the delicate blue sky. A gentle breeze caresses the grass and wild flowers, evaporating the frailly placed dew. The birds begin to awake from their nap and start their lovely songs to welcome the new day. <br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The soft filtered light scatters through the leaves of the olive trees, creating ethereal stepping stones, ushering in a special visitor seeking the seclusion and serenity offered on the mount.<br /><br />And on this particular morning, a special visitor does come. Jesus spends time in prayer with His Father. When He has finished, He leaves His mount of prayer unhurried, but with a destination in mind.<br /><br />People from all around fill the temple to sit in His presence and to listen to Him teach. He sits in their midst, but is halted by a rude but not uncommon interruption from the Pharisees. They thrust a woman before Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />They say, "<i>Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act!</i>"</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />She was seized from the privacy of a bedroom and dragged into the scornful eyes of the public. How unfair. How mortifying.<br /><br />Was she clothed at all? How did they find her? Did someone see her solicit her paramour? Did they eavesdrop? Was this a set up to trap Jesus since the male counterpart of this scandal is nowhere to be seen? <br /><br />She hangs her head, trying to hide the embarrassment turning her face red as she stands next to Jesus in the midst of the crowd. Every eye is focused on her. Her eyes fill with tears as hatred hardens her heart.<br /><br />These self-appointed vigilantes of virtue continue, threatening to throw the rocks clutched tightly in their fists. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>They continued, “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?”</i><br /><br />It <i>is</i> a trap. The Pharisees wonder if He will let her go, abandoning the Law, or throw the first stone, thus upholding the Law. All eyes were back onto Jesus for a few moments. The Pharisees and impressionable crowd are not seeking justice, merely some evidence to use against Him. The scene was only marginally about the adulterous woman; it was about trapping Jesus. She was merely being used and, in return, was openly drowning in her humiliation and shame. <br /><br />Just silence from Jesus. Instead of responding, He bends down and begins writing in the dirt with His finger, ignoring their continued questions and confused stares. Is He making a list of sins?<br /><br />The Pharisees and teachers stand there, steaming with frustration and spite.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Jesus looks accusingly at them as He stands and commands, <i>“Let anyone of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Again, He stoops down and continues to write in the dirt. <br /><br />One by one, the crowd slips away. Convicted by their consciences, they stumble over their own feet as they backtrack. A flurry of thuds is heard as the stones are hitting the dusty ground.<br /><br />Jesus stood back up to see the crowd dispersing. No one is near Him but the accused woman with tears streaming down her relieved face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />In His gentle voice, He said, <i>“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”</i><br /><br />Still trembling and with a racing mind, she gazes up into His loving eyes and manages to utter, <i>“No one, sir.”</i><br /><i><br />He responds, “Then either do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.”</i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He smiles that glorious, forgiving smile at her. With more tears streaming down her face, this time of joy and relief, she thanks Him profusely as she turns around to start her new life.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">John 8:1-11 </span></div>
</div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-55142366420547203572013-03-24T23:05:00.000-07:002013-03-24T23:06:38.821-07:00neither absent nor silent<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>But God is there - in the middle of our lives - and He is neither
absent nor silent. When we are silent long enough, God speaks. It is
then we discover that He was there all along.</i> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Calvin Miller</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaQK5Ruzl262iToiRnXnBs-4py_mxZdYzAE3xX-6XPonR3WOMgN6GqtFBkZtDkesahERQxgA8HHr8aAJCQFS1nI874_1MtMzdNkTkWCwCE5RCGDBDl_C9vxUt4sptCy2nzcJuv4AnCENV/s1600/beauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaQK5Ruzl262iToiRnXnBs-4py_mxZdYzAE3xX-6XPonR3WOMgN6GqtFBkZtDkesahERQxgA8HHr8aAJCQFS1nI874_1MtMzdNkTkWCwCE5RCGDBDl_C9vxUt4sptCy2nzcJuv4AnCENV/s1600/beauty.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are numerous things about God that I can't understand, but today I'm particularly astounded by His immutability. God's love for me doesn't change. Even when I fail. That's someone I can surrender to - someone who's love is constant amidst my imperfections.</span></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-29154345472023961732013-03-17T19:12:00.000-07:002013-03-17T19:12:27.404-07:00St. Patrick's Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFQwx7hhYMXjkJRNPcGNC2-KJ3ICy9jjdHBn1IOl4ZvDxATimxJkIVCtiz2NtexuXnE92cly1uVy_S5U6Chp0WvXMi_LQmvCuRxblBGc3Yg5Wl2lGCtJZFkBK4kngqeEhE-HE-bZxRzYm/s1600/SaintPatrick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFQwx7hhYMXjkJRNPcGNC2-KJ3ICy9jjdHBn1IOl4ZvDxATimxJkIVCtiz2NtexuXnE92cly1uVy_S5U6Chp0WvXMi_LQmvCuRxblBGc3Yg5Wl2lGCtJZFkBK4kngqeEhE-HE-bZxRzYm/s320/SaintPatrick.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I realize Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland is only a myth, but this just made me laugh regardless.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I don't drink beer (I'm gluten-free and don't even like the smell of it), leprechauns creep me out, I don't like corned beef and cabbage, and I don't believe in luck. I do like the color green though! One out of five isn't too bad, right?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Saint Patrick is one of the most commonly recognized saints of Ireland. In the early seventeenth century, Saint Patrick's Day was declared to be an official Christian festival. Celebrations on this day celebrate the spread of Christianity, Ireland, and the Irish culture in general.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Patrick was born in Britain into a wealthy Roman British family. His father and grandfather were religious leaders in the Christian church. As a teenager, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave. According to his Confession, in a dream God told him to flee from his captivity and go to the coast, where he was to board a boat and go back to Britain. He made it back home and joined the Chruch in Auxerre in Gaula, where he studied to be a priest. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once Patrick was trained as a priest, he was called back to Ireland. According to legend, Patrick used the 3-leaved shamrock to explain the doctrine of Trinity to the Irish pagans. After nearly thirty years of evangelism to the Irish people, He died on March 17th of 461 A.D. Although there were other successful missionaries in Ireland, Patrick is the most esteemed in the Irish church.</span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-62190106120124062342013-03-07T22:09:00.002-08:002013-03-07T22:11:24.878-08:00overboard purple lettuce and cascading straws<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My life is full of funny happenings right now, as it usually is.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been working a lot of 8 hour shifts at work, which means I get a 30 minute lunch break! I could stay and eat in the backroom, but I'd rather be completely away from it for my few moments alone. So my car has become my little sanctuary of choice.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Salad is my favorite lunch food right now. Earlier this week, I discovered my dislike for purple lettuce mixed in with my spinach and romaine lettuce. I tried eating around it, but it's hard to eat around specific things in a salad. The window of my car was rolled down, so I causally dropped all of it overboard.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1kOdqNNXwydFNhhRnXqNoPkmBoLZSyFUSZZpbw4R5r6xjPLOyyrQ8-Uv7i7l-anVFM5etxQz2DEEnHwXb18ugoUqxC42ebVJXlcTSr-aohGqeYw0nE19kcMxAYX9fMSOez9PqHbQ8AZf/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1kOdqNNXwydFNhhRnXqNoPkmBoLZSyFUSZZpbw4R5r6xjPLOyyrQ8-Uv7i7l-anVFM5etxQz2DEEnHwXb18ugoUqxC42ebVJXlcTSr-aohGqeYw0nE19kcMxAYX9fMSOez9PqHbQ8AZf/s320/-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tonight I brought T and V home from soccer practice. There was a bag of straws in the backseat that I strategically moved to the front. I didn't want the back of my car covered in straws, as I knew it would be if they were within V's reach. I got the girls home and ready for bed and it was time for me to leave. D helped move the car seats out of my car and I was making sure there were no stray toys or blankets in the front seat. I opened the front door and the straws cascaded out of the bag and into the curb. I instantly started giggling. D and I laughed a lot as I attempted to pick them all up</span>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNPL-oNad3mRx2fEFqc0C4tl4ubLZQ9CsIftYrdhZcpHsH3r09pmmKQvjYaiF4v_uQxdsF3y5v6mII-RXITEtu5TCPgosfl7WVnMIGBIqO5P-hXDqIcjQFZskb5H9BcCdtQg-Uh-f4fWg/s1600/BEz5UowCcAAS6Do.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNPL-oNad3mRx2fEFqc0C4tl4ubLZQ9CsIftYrdhZcpHsH3r09pmmKQvjYaiF4v_uQxdsF3y5v6mII-RXITEtu5TCPgosfl7WVnMIGBIqO5P-hXDqIcjQFZskb5H9BcCdtQg-Uh-f4fWg/s320/BEz5UowCcAAS6Do.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">First off, who keeps a bag of straws in their car? And second, who manages to let them spill out of their car and onto the street? Laughing just seems like the best option right now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.</i> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Proverbs 17:22</span></div>
</div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-32485232883271442252013-02-26T22:40:00.000-08:002013-02-26T23:31:21.246-08:00Sweetie.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Sweetie, He's never failed you before, so what makes you think He'll just start now? Use the proof of the past to calm your anxiety about the future.</span>"<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sometimes frozen yogurt and a rockstar daddy-daughter date are exactly what I need.</span></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-4357162486442468622013-02-17T20:49:00.001-08:002013-02-17T20:53:26.472-08:00Oh no. (You never let go.)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNR3uL5RQ8hpWXT01hefmg8tNE8IYA0zDP_FI1IgChUrFEqXdkJooBl9Y6d5R9XyUhGCgswfwnG1gXmVK01HUgbpS6sbbZ2rAl1f75HI_XBjUT08qyvYjAAStaOUkQbR2hiLyL-EW6gAd/s1600/229377_7748620834_7597_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNR3uL5RQ8hpWXT01hefmg8tNE8IYA0zDP_FI1IgChUrFEqXdkJooBl9Y6d5R9XyUhGCgswfwnG1gXmVK01HUgbpS6sbbZ2rAl1f75HI_XBjUT08qyvYjAAStaOUkQbR2hiLyL-EW6gAd/s320/229377_7748620834_7597_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My best friend is an emotional tackler. She hid it well for 20 years! One Sunday a few years ago before I went back to Chicago for the fall, we sang Matt Redman's song <i>You Never Let Go</i>. After the service, while we were still on the stage, Alicia started singing the song again.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> She wrapped her arms around me while singing "oh no you never let go".</span> We somehow managed to topple down to the stairs leading off the stage before falling completely over. There was lots of laughing and probably a few tears as our high heels went everywhere. Our "hellos" and "see ya laters" were always (and will always be) loud and dramatic. This "see ya later" might have taken the cake though.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We sang that song this morning at church. During rehearsal on Tuesday night, those memories sprung back into my mind. It was happy and then sad, but then happy again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy: I have the best best friend in the world. The memories of her tackling me make me laugh whenever I think about the ridiculousness of the scene. We've been friends since we were babies in the church nursery. I won't list all our memories and adventures because that would be an encyclopedia-lengthed book series. We're very different people, but at the end of the day, our hearts are on fire for the same thing and that's what fuels our friendship and gives it meaning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Sad: I cringe at the words “never” and “forever”. I’ve been told too many times that “we’ll be friends forever” or “I’ll love you forever”. And then “forever” becomes a lot shorter than it should be. Or “I’ll never hurt you” or “that’ll never happen”. And then “never” becomes a little too frequent. There's a lingering shadow of fear with those words.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy: But then there’s God. His “forevers” and “nevers” mean just that. Guaranteed. He will <i>never</i> leave me. He will love me <i>forever</i>. I have to believe that and live within that promise. It's means replacing fear and hesitancy with confidence and joy in the constancy of God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You Never Let Go</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death<br />
Your perfect love is casting out fear<br />
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life<br />
I won't turn back, I know you are near</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><br />
And I will fear no evil<br />
For my God is with me<br />
And if my God is with me<br />
Whom then shall I fear?<br />
Whom then shall I fear?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><br />
(Chorus:)<br />
Oh no, You never let go<br />
Through the calm and through the storm<br />
Oh no, You never let go<br />
In every high and every low<br />
Oh no, You never let go<br />
Lord, You never let go of me</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><br />
And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on<br />
A glorious light beyond all compare<br />
And there will be an end to these troubles but until that day comes<br />
We'll live to know You here on the earth</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i> </i><i><br />
Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on<br />
And there will be an end to these troubles<br />
But until that day comes<br />
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You</i></span></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-59316435814441585812013-02-14T22:42:00.004-08:002013-02-14T22:44:27.776-08:0014th.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oddly enough, I ended up with either food poisoning or the stomach flu each Valentine's Day in Chicago.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> But this one was a good one! No throwing up, whatsoever! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. Gluten free cereal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. Time for an iced vanilla latte before work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. Blue sky and sunshine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4. Lots of happy texts from friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5. Shopping with Alicia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">6. Beautiful flowers from Nick.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">7. Only four hours of work today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">8. Hannah Montana sing-a-long with Alicia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">9. To-do list conquered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">10. Dinner with Alicia and her parents.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">11. Time to relax.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">12. The Cromie's had blueberries in their refrigerator.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">13. A day fairly void of anxiety.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">14. Unconditional love from my Father.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">#win </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvkbNwmJtZECH63FzFKGKU1OmkVfH_NasMFUgFEor4VJpeKvQXz2P-pCjuCuXn4HJslCPfwqGY5-bzCdbL9yxqNA7rjZLsA-FirLv1bHHDG4iyi-fdVQgJksL3lf387p19a6geuSTcF_M/s1600/cf8f373bb1e4a43e4061b5f7c59dd0d4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvkbNwmJtZECH63FzFKGKU1OmkVfH_NasMFUgFEor4VJpeKvQXz2P-pCjuCuXn4HJslCPfwqGY5-bzCdbL9yxqNA7rjZLsA-FirLv1bHHDG4iyi-fdVQgJksL3lf387p19a6geuSTcF_M/s1600/cf8f373bb1e4a43e4061b5f7c59dd0d4.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-67479669824759710982013-02-13T23:17:00.001-08:002013-02-18T19:23:51.022-08:00Lent: Giving Up and Replacing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heidi (my roommate at the time) gave up soda. I gave up being mean. That's what happened during Lent last year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can't tell you how we made those decisions, but we did. I'm sure some dramatic event influenced my decision. And I'm sure Heidi's decision was more thought out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And I honestly can't tell you who had a harder time. I'd like to think I did, because not being mean included not being impatient, annoyed, frustrated, short-tempered, all that stuff... But, then I think about taking diet coke out of my life. I'm not sure I would survive. Regardless, we kept each other accountable and made it through Lent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Giving up my "meanness" really did help me focus on God. I had to give every situation to God, regardless of the size, so I could consciously handle it in a way that would be pleasing to Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Giving up my "meanness" for Lent served it's purpose. I was emptied of myself and was continually relying on God.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This year, after many suggestions thrown around by Nick and Alicia (Nick's suggestions were marginally better then Alicia's.), I decided that I wouldn't be giving up anything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With the weird health things I have going on, many of which effect my emotions, I just want normal. Not even normal. Steady. Something steady.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yesterday was rough. Nothing was horribly wrong, but my "normal" has just been a little tougher than I'd like. I drove home after a long day and realized that giving up nothing was exactly what I needed to do. I'd love to take some major things out of my life, but (at least for the time being) that's not possible. So adding more of God to those pieces of my life seems like a good option.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So there you have it. It's untraditional, but that's what I'm doing for Lent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-72196166965281720382013-01-31T18:13:00.000-08:002013-02-01T18:18:10.922-08:00January Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5104588212457942252" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5104588212457942252" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5104588212457942252" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5104588212457942252" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5104588212457942252" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5104588212457942252" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">January seemed like a long month. A long month that went by too quickly. Confession: I went through twitter to remember what I did this past month.<br /><br />Jan 3rd - I dyed my sister’s hair. Ok, attempted to. 3 boxes of hair dye later and we had a somewhat decent color! My little sis was a good sport about it. :)<br /><br />Jan 4th - Shopping and dinner with my sister and grandma. I know we won’t always have this time with my grandma, so I’m enjoying and treasuring it as much as I can. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDPwdrV6cY0eR9OW4o2cztZF4_mmoqf6HJVoZme3S9BJyjRyhCznEt_0GyfZQWgrNL2gdNmYPuw6VhnnuhxnuMt44eTIeUF3ejI8LJ7iIO3VQP7j6Itqy3fseZr-UKjQv6itwBbMfkApQ/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDPwdrV6cY0eR9OW4o2cztZF4_mmoqf6HJVoZme3S9BJyjRyhCznEt_0GyfZQWgrNL2gdNmYPuw6VhnnuhxnuMt44eTIeUF3ejI8LJ7iIO3VQP7j6Itqy3fseZr-UKjQv6itwBbMfkApQ/s320/-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jan 7th - Ugh. I don’t have a problem with doctors, but sometimes I think when I go to see my doctor I’m healthy, but I leave sick. I felt fine when I arrived, but left with a fever, low blood pressure, and low sodium. More french fries? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jan 13th - Blog Post: <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2013/01/outspoken.html">Outspoken</a> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jan 14th - Blog Post: <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2013/01/red-pen.html">Red Pen</a></span> <br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jan 18th - Packing for Florida with Alicia. We only packed 5 pairs of shoes! And a few extra outfits. We managed to make it fit in one large suitcase though. I’m impressed!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jan 19th - FLORIDA! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jan 22nd - Disney World. I don’t know what else to say other than it was amazing!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemHQdc6enf8WP_Jz5dzWD9HrBzotUc0j8taWef7KVzymuwNunDqFPUTFn6tSkRlCcjMoY1c1J4CEbeJjGHElPIgVQm1ih0PhLzTnS_x6-SHfJ0pm2OfpF7m4j8YeRPJB_5xsRkn1BkcK2/s1600/-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemHQdc6enf8WP_Jz5dzWD9HrBzotUc0j8taWef7KVzymuwNunDqFPUTFn6tSkRlCcjMoY1c1J4CEbeJjGHElPIgVQm1ih0PhLzTnS_x6-SHfJ0pm2OfpF7m4j8YeRPJB_5xsRkn1BkcK2/s320/-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jan 23rd - Home. Without seeing any alligators. It was the longest two airplane rides ever. The turbulence and crying baby made the flights seem even longer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jan 24th - Party with my favorites! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikv1T97sKJSH9bUD0eTWLyg4gkmc9Ga9k5j4iAYgOoJVQMMxE805lPh8bmxvE04DYUV6IzWPFp9fzweBJtFGX50gme6pYBxyroJomJpP6c4qPsdoZpHPa5qyrLiW4DRJztgCKeJoQ4jv-/s1600/-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikv1T97sKJSH9bUD0eTWLyg4gkmc9Ga9k5j4iAYgOoJVQMMxE805lPh8bmxvE04DYUV6IzWPFp9fzweBJtFGX50gme6pYBxyroJomJpP6c4qPsdoZpHPa5qyrLiW4DRJztgCKeJoQ4jv-/s320/-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jan 29th - Annie and Jacob are BOTH on Twitter!! Party!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And I had a million and a half wonderful conversations that were too important to tweet about. That’s what January was full of for me. Meaningful and memorable tidbits of advice and encouragement. January was a good month. I’m looking forward to seeing what February holds!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-62423999221881998442013-01-29T22:51:00.000-08:002013-01-29T23:24:13.209-08:00Ariel and Fireworks.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you don't know that Ariel is my favorite Disney princess and if you don't know that I love fireworks, well, you simply don't know me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nick's wonderful Christmas present to me was a trip to Disneyworld! We spent the morning and early afternoon in the Magic Kingdom and the rest of the day in Epcot. The highlights of my day were meeting Ariel and watching the firework show. And, of course, having Nick with me while doing those things!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaSEI_gJRLCgLdGZB9UJGHzgwfMMvA5nz2Dc3ybw5LjcPpHHzEeJR0bmq4mtVDJyZDTiVkIWa6Vm1cRd8Ht8Coh6ByefEDXIpXndjSwMjy8lAN48wRolvZKwRkeOjCGjmkGBlj5M6t7yn/s1600/DSC02839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaSEI_gJRLCgLdGZB9UJGHzgwfMMvA5nz2Dc3ybw5LjcPpHHzEeJR0bmq4mtVDJyZDTiVkIWa6Vm1cRd8Ht8Coh6ByefEDXIpXndjSwMjy8lAN48wRolvZKwRkeOjCGjmkGBlj5M6t7yn/s320/DSC02839.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jKmvPZle2BUogiBxREJlb13kuyLGs9PBf7MwouHCUYuHNCvLAA9QM2UnhO3TjncdqSKVe3wXOIhMxoi8TroOC88r1mmlfWPe5qmT8crMAVa4Bk4eJE7HL2UJbOD1u_ZwJz27O2hBlUFr/s1600/DSC02847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jKmvPZle2BUogiBxREJlb13kuyLGs9PBf7MwouHCUYuHNCvLAA9QM2UnhO3TjncdqSKVe3wXOIhMxoi8TroOC88r1mmlfWPe5qmT8crMAVa4Bk4eJE7HL2UJbOD1u_ZwJz27O2hBlUFr/s320/DSC02847.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMKW3_B28p-7EifufuY0XAX-N91aqKuQEEdWEJ8YIEunaTOYKwpkS7krE7bLo0fJ-ggtPWuFzFjDZ9vyTNAGCxJ8Ok0Z4oY7Zx0T49rCSgV5VyO7srz-mLqGr-4KfGQdUPCtroGzYE-2Y/s1600/DSC02848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMKW3_B28p-7EifufuY0XAX-N91aqKuQEEdWEJ8YIEunaTOYKwpkS7krE7bLo0fJ-ggtPWuFzFjDZ9vyTNAGCxJ8Ok0Z4oY7Zx0T49rCSgV5VyO7srz-mLqGr-4KfGQdUPCtroGzYE-2Y/s320/DSC02848.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNXuGXatVRPZglv-jeean2kWUfarHN4of87J4R-TyLaZ09z9de5ISvMkMn-YpRhrDEk3Flmd56VUOyrTpHwAH2yfxU6Fw-yYMBhZldRzdrra04d67sMb8D0d1aRK_geAHLrR65at5wxxR/s1600/DSC02865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNXuGXatVRPZglv-jeean2kWUfarHN4of87J4R-TyLaZ09z9de5ISvMkMn-YpRhrDEk3Flmd56VUOyrTpHwAH2yfxU6Fw-yYMBhZldRzdrra04d67sMb8D0d1aRK_geAHLrR65at5wxxR/s320/DSC02865.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdodjoKbY7zIXqL8C4I6diPvAKj1zPcV6KfhWFGktgaCrhV6FwFgySxM3JYjGvStF3eeTfZLTIdPg11ULoGYFmQwNuuPZabuecy-xGEbtSj6fM7eQsmXUAybwGg32BvvOnLDCmp4hnTMv/s1600/DSC02877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdodjoKbY7zIXqL8C4I6diPvAKj1zPcV6KfhWFGktgaCrhV6FwFgySxM3JYjGvStF3eeTfZLTIdPg11ULoGYFmQwNuuPZabuecy-xGEbtSj6fM7eQsmXUAybwGg32BvvOnLDCmp4hnTMv/s320/DSC02877.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwwAhV3s54UZrRyUAhIgmsVSfFyMG5KrCFnDFqr2SJovav_vR3Pxig8kejqlem0pO8mH1zVDvSQiSTA-T6RzFt7tmAoA3doDLFpuM85l2RK3uCm2Gw2XRqHy2-OzRLiFnOGo6NJ7ZQwnX/s1600/DSC02880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwwAhV3s54UZrRyUAhIgmsVSfFyMG5KrCFnDFqr2SJovav_vR3Pxig8kejqlem0pO8mH1zVDvSQiSTA-T6RzFt7tmAoA3doDLFpuM85l2RK3uCm2Gw2XRqHy2-OzRLiFnOGo6NJ7ZQwnX/s320/DSC02880.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkJqeNK0lBdIbOMTWIIgA-tbemKCVczMNMGqeA2TR9GWVeCnPj2dI7FjhgiHlmbIwHUMNZn_Xlz8JpCRT39fKb0OhX6j4IyYzMwm7RzRzaII94NFIygNtJU0L6DBRkOE2QeHHX6A-YyEO/s1600/DSC02972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkJqeNK0lBdIbOMTWIIgA-tbemKCVczMNMGqeA2TR9GWVeCnPj2dI7FjhgiHlmbIwHUMNZn_Xlz8JpCRT39fKb0OhX6j4IyYzMwm7RzRzaII94NFIygNtJU0L6DBRkOE2QeHHX6A-YyEO/s320/DSC02972.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Epcot</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5_GjQDC4NLRWCuCN6cbaTczJNTv4pR94nKVJ4AoHLI1E8YVboXkThJWs4aO0x8x6rdWcAVGQrVZqaGLp3AuVFouo3AsslEv0Tf3ekJpzcpnTczJP8g8ZuNst3gDAgkze5BiMb9Bjmu9c/s1600/DSC03052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5_GjQDC4NLRWCuCN6cbaTczJNTv4pR94nKVJ4AoHLI1E8YVboXkThJWs4aO0x8x6rdWcAVGQrVZqaGLp3AuVFouo3AsslEv0Tf3ekJpzcpnTczJP8g8ZuNst3gDAgkze5BiMb9Bjmu9c/s320/DSC03052.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWEhTrxEKa_2QRvnVhTn-V6xzl-yClTFpFJGm4jARFvTC9vhzXLbJEhyphenhyphenWIex4mjWMPJ5VW-7CoFj5HBUMA69n1tD_Gvlj1n7h0FwOFaOiCNX5H2UN8d7558pWjWd_8d3L2uN29sowuz73/s1600/DSC03065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWEhTrxEKa_2QRvnVhTn-V6xzl-yClTFpFJGm4jARFvTC9vhzXLbJEhyphenhyphenWIex4mjWMPJ5VW-7CoFj5HBUMA69n1tD_Gvlj1n7h0FwOFaOiCNX5H2UN8d7558pWjWd_8d3L2uN29sowuz73/s320/DSC03065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUrKjCLbqVSpyzTNkp8EmMVWOPii4HZ73Ebm-QIxLzl_UitWndxeIvcdwcReVuWvfc7iu8gBHlihCAyj7zzoUP4pPhRVxZCW6iqUYtKf9tfP8CSQMLr0epGKgg5b3Yt0dPL-rFNvIjlDJ/s1600/DSC03066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUrKjCLbqVSpyzTNkp8EmMVWOPii4HZ73Ebm-QIxLzl_UitWndxeIvcdwcReVuWvfc7iu8gBHlihCAyj7zzoUP4pPhRVxZCW6iqUYtKf9tfP8CSQMLr0epGKgg5b3Yt0dPL-rFNvIjlDJ/s320/DSC03066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5l3M7Yn6uSkeVLkQPfoIid9W19xa9V-97hl8tiSoaSdpLqegvOq27zgyehZiQHglUXgPxO_i56mnJEj0QPwfcn7GF7sdqlagz2NVXfteSKUQghEDvbXODZnLN3KK8BwQ5v4Oll7ENsTJp/s1600/DSC03069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5l3M7Yn6uSkeVLkQPfoIid9W19xa9V-97hl8tiSoaSdpLqegvOq27zgyehZiQHglUXgPxO_i56mnJEj0QPwfcn7GF7sdqlagz2NVXfteSKUQghEDvbXODZnLN3KK8BwQ5v4Oll7ENsTJp/s320/DSC03069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYDzOqweXhnFboCRxH9V3dcCjCH532am1MoBOIl_MEH4S-ctUS1Yja3sGYxt3eQ5tiL7wjofn-5tmxp9T2dteshenkIoecLn_nVPXTm1lIVY2MFNsVRokZIzsI7rnVzFzcg9NNxo34I_A/s1600/DSC03074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxYDzOqweXhnFboCRxH9V3dcCjCH532am1MoBOIl_MEH4S-ctUS1Yja3sGYxt3eQ5tiL7wjofn-5tmxp9T2dteshenkIoecLn_nVPXTm1lIVY2MFNsVRokZIzsI7rnVzFzcg9NNxo34I_A/s320/DSC03074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ME2la_-8MXXhpbo2OhKKqlGu47jc3RAxxyFj4hXXZ2Mz_xtSO4pBmHCcqhX2ZxktTmkmrqQNfR6b5UWi_dw4oeEB1caggws16LTxNDKEBHpsTdUEmXeViu6Cbzeaq_uBo5CAzmUKyRwv/s1600/DSC03077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ME2la_-8MXXhpbo2OhKKqlGu47jc3RAxxyFj4hXXZ2Mz_xtSO4pBmHCcqhX2ZxktTmkmrqQNfR6b5UWi_dw4oeEB1caggws16LTxNDKEBHpsTdUEmXeViu6Cbzeaq_uBo5CAzmUKyRwv/s320/DSC03077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInKri1IpfGqCU38xJuJaKskwBJ4Pbir9EK8kiCag4TesRRvW73tLQFyAtN6YNE3rbsn6suN2a8xdtejIT81hYLFklUb6pG-3ZCHN8EJ8d-jLYfMCPxsV3DaSKAuuGSDZBtPtzkpynjgYA/s1600/DSC03070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInKri1IpfGqCU38xJuJaKskwBJ4Pbir9EK8kiCag4TesRRvW73tLQFyAtN6YNE3rbsn6suN2a8xdtejIT81hYLFklUb6pG-3ZCHN8EJ8d-jLYfMCPxsV3DaSKAuuGSDZBtPtzkpynjgYA/s320/DSC03070.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVsPIej5VMi1uHbVEW9D1Sow8XBmFpvKxbp6pQaAebO4-WYRSzIHelg5UPAr21WO5PGJCrqGoK-qLJoYLhtjMOS_woyG2Nhy1ayXPy3bkAQJhJzysp08k0FfIP8CHX1x0wlIrjQROKlsL/s1600/DSC03079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVsPIej5VMi1uHbVEW9D1Sow8XBmFpvKxbp6pQaAebO4-WYRSzIHelg5UPAr21WO5PGJCrqGoK-qLJoYLhtjMOS_woyG2Nhy1ayXPy3bkAQJhJzysp08k0FfIP8CHX1x0wlIrjQROKlsL/s320/DSC03079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-68222625508562466902013-01-28T10:01:00.002-08:002013-01-28T10:04:48.871-08:00manatees and power plants and marinas, oh my!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love little beach towns. Absolutely love them. I love all the little old boats mixed in with the fancy yachts. This little beach town had a big power plant in it! The manatees were enjoying the warm water from it.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpC8ML71ytfgUDzyQnynLTzUxTJHcAQglXGG7KQzcW62VE5Lh4hOZnLWF5TKfD31XqBEyPyOwDdEb41SWtBxIkc6mIox2GpeHFobSbjYAlRYI1i69InHhq76cp9VPqlZkACSdd1OccX7S/s1600/DSC02675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpC8ML71ytfgUDzyQnynLTzUxTJHcAQglXGG7KQzcW62VE5Lh4hOZnLWF5TKfD31XqBEyPyOwDdEb41SWtBxIkc6mIox2GpeHFobSbjYAlRYI1i69InHhq76cp9VPqlZkACSdd1OccX7S/s320/DSC02675.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAU-Kmt9nVQ_VZ7EwiWE_0Op6t0SF4lRbEyY0MdjjSuEPd7FtuTczkPV2frsynQKBjfEZzJw0ucYiwgQ6Q7nlTTOyhPwcluuSFQpwQTCQ-r_gv3qC4-w-scnRNiNoyd0WdE-fTVgCiAco/s1600/DSC02683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAU-Kmt9nVQ_VZ7EwiWE_0Op6t0SF4lRbEyY0MdjjSuEPd7FtuTczkPV2frsynQKBjfEZzJw0ucYiwgQ6Q7nlTTOyhPwcluuSFQpwQTCQ-r_gv3qC4-w-scnRNiNoyd0WdE-fTVgCiAco/s320/DSC02683.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There's a manatee in there!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9H5NoEDwCByhEwDK_QHZ3S1sDEWlQmRWBpLlx2mHHseyRDs-2uD4U3_foa7lvXkb2UOfvepcfTpkm6f5dROzeOd4TqKJXeU19ryLu28iViM4uZF1ZBNX-j5sPSuC-_aeEj-4Us0Hu0ZoH/s1600/DSC02701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9H5NoEDwCByhEwDK_QHZ3S1sDEWlQmRWBpLlx2mHHseyRDs-2uD4U3_foa7lvXkb2UOfvepcfTpkm6f5dROzeOd4TqKJXeU19ryLu28iViM4uZF1ZBNX-j5sPSuC-_aeEj-4Us0Hu0ZoH/s320/DSC02701.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQJOTRfeVw3pRJR2Cfl85_nYhjmlYYzSKb2EH_MXdf8_PN_S3HwCa6QrWdiQp4UUWA2BdoSqlXVBVmB6Z7Uoqa9Jn2reLOTFww7wN-D1G25tCoMDN5kWXlhAJYtC2BZV6tgs_ZXFuFz12/s1600/DSC02733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQJOTRfeVw3pRJR2Cfl85_nYhjmlYYzSKb2EH_MXdf8_PN_S3HwCa6QrWdiQp4UUWA2BdoSqlXVBVmB6Z7Uoqa9Jn2reLOTFww7wN-D1G25tCoMDN5kWXlhAJYtC2BZV6tgs_ZXFuFz12/s320/DSC02733.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Can we keep him?"</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbx11rRCHlrof_oujxVahgB1IjHuXVPiC5qmbJ0jBjS5kcFxMp33UXDXiHrVkG0lwqUFpDbbkVWhOn5VtumqwKrj362-OshlmmyAW4g1-KG3-XiehWWHU68pWxhgwdLQjowL5JzWUtPifF/s1600/DSC02727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbx11rRCHlrof_oujxVahgB1IjHuXVPiC5qmbJ0jBjS5kcFxMp33UXDXiHrVkG0lwqUFpDbbkVWhOn5VtumqwKrj362-OshlmmyAW4g1-KG3-XiehWWHU68pWxhgwdLQjowL5JzWUtPifF/s320/DSC02727.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Lisa and Jerry. Nick's mom and stepdad!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8_RGLHgdVubd95cJezkiaNY8lfYtW_7CpVWy_nbKzMUm5zMNokHG9X0HDNzCl0SaeNobzUvy0DEIkr13cqyDN9Sf6NuhOx8c1XC2oZKcz8mYCQ-Oss8eUmhLEbEPGgUfEjjoLlk44iyc/s1600/DSC02742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8_RGLHgdVubd95cJezkiaNY8lfYtW_7CpVWy_nbKzMUm5zMNokHG9X0HDNzCl0SaeNobzUvy0DEIkr13cqyDN9Sf6NuhOx8c1XC2oZKcz8mYCQ-Oss8eUmhLEbEPGgUfEjjoLlk44iyc/s320/DSC02742.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJEqBxoYIEmeXv4OvCGy6dVuDBc_MBt5XeM0DfU6MnfgbnLe113R5sI7mlRmNLJ9XhKx2ixyvG_SwshzgK0ut9Q7sLRJ-0LG44maLKPgU4N4DXJbWJo_iRdtjwxql4u4mFQL6jo0jiZZa/s1600/DSC02745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJEqBxoYIEmeXv4OvCGy6dVuDBc_MBt5XeM0DfU6MnfgbnLe113R5sI7mlRmNLJ9XhKx2ixyvG_SwshzgK0ut9Q7sLRJ-0LG44maLKPgU4N4DXJbWJo_iRdtjwxql4u4mFQL6jo0jiZZa/s320/DSC02745.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQWcC3SC3cJtWUbMhcdm95mYiq1_5V2mCrdawqaH_78jE1dueei7y1-IcK69uel19D8ZFYLZysHc-o8Q0T2gzb2cDFJe4t6sEhT1Gxc_C3seNIoxdQ1hAZdCdn5sDzYHtx3S09grsUgNw/s1600/DSC02759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQWcC3SC3cJtWUbMhcdm95mYiq1_5V2mCrdawqaH_78jE1dueei7y1-IcK69uel19D8ZFYLZysHc-o8Q0T2gzb2cDFJe4t6sEhT1Gxc_C3seNIoxdQ1hAZdCdn5sDzYHtx3S09grsUgNw/s320/DSC02759.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCdEnHZS8M49ZMgpxGc7o8khs_JXLbfApF8NWxHw4_zjTIfvu2Nxn4WdoNwY_orP4cNzBR53a5Qzh51FRcob2b4Ek00C4nyuJI1NgtTU7bhZxRqLFyibBkVAA8TqzcYpiIMWO0Qd7yDIn/s1600/DSC02767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCdEnHZS8M49ZMgpxGc7o8khs_JXLbfApF8NWxHw4_zjTIfvu2Nxn4WdoNwY_orP4cNzBR53a5Qzh51FRcob2b4Ek00C4nyuJI1NgtTU7bhZxRqLFyibBkVAA8TqzcYpiIMWO0Qd7yDIn/s320/DSC02767.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-7837013535937793672013-01-27T22:04:00.003-08:002013-01-27T22:05:36.186-08:00Lettuce Lake Park<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nick and I walked around this pretty little park in Florida last week! Well, it was pretty until we found a snake. Then it was horrifying and I was done.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYajsKV-esZXxzSYuKDVem8s4ak9a7m8dC90T_PjbJMJBZ8CNDYSgQQDm2gYaYxIGqLGcC-cN_gGRdWsXa8FEyniesFSw3ZkOeqVZJeJe3o40eoFyJ6Cu5jNONFurPXW2VZMo6-aPZYUO/s1600/DSC02776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYajsKV-esZXxzSYuKDVem8s4ak9a7m8dC90T_PjbJMJBZ8CNDYSgQQDm2gYaYxIGqLGcC-cN_gGRdWsXa8FEyniesFSw3ZkOeqVZJeJe3o40eoFyJ6Cu5jNONFurPXW2VZMo6-aPZYUO/s320/DSC02776.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSFVkFeuZINQLcoa1QeZW6FKN7AmGPdZWTmZ0NItN7djeeBsTIzGMbGcsCIuzbIKk-CItstFdjq6nBLNLg9Ko75Y810zEM2kFKamHxuERuCNgXl-axW79VjyJANSx5ZgHln8KbOkt8t1g/s1600/DSC02782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSFVkFeuZINQLcoa1QeZW6FKN7AmGPdZWTmZ0NItN7djeeBsTIzGMbGcsCIuzbIKk-CItstFdjq6nBLNLg9Ko75Y810zEM2kFKamHxuERuCNgXl-axW79VjyJANSx5ZgHln8KbOkt8t1g/s320/DSC02782.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPoMzru-SlCKArqfvSePTGYRRyo-MkHFG843R2Ej-MqaJZH8tVDJ4oq6rFr6DhEyNdcsbccXTpuMempRME9TFwI2oq9TTDBBhIGCJFQ4Usc9xv8-S9ipnWYpWWUjzOujekeMEH3CT3ZI6/s1600/DSC02783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPoMzru-SlCKArqfvSePTGYRRyo-MkHFG843R2Ej-MqaJZH8tVDJ4oq6rFr6DhEyNdcsbccXTpuMempRME9TFwI2oq9TTDBBhIGCJFQ4Usc9xv8-S9ipnWYpWWUjzOujekeMEH3CT3ZI6/s320/DSC02783.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7Fz4npd2ur8sH7L5iq4AMwkt3zvEPdkR1GFmED_zMVbIZcxElw0Tz1s-vmTIShxcs90myj4ABW0ch-Jm4u0miNDaYhaZqJv3KLkXBQv1OPUH-KPrTmXbrI18MeBprwk1Z9wLnwermzgG/s1600/DSC02779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7Fz4npd2ur8sH7L5iq4AMwkt3zvEPdkR1GFmED_zMVbIZcxElw0Tz1s-vmTIShxcs90myj4ABW0ch-Jm4u0miNDaYhaZqJv3KLkXBQv1OPUH-KPrTmXbrI18MeBprwk1Z9wLnwermzgG/s320/DSC02779.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfhNCBwKP3ddHx5gt_N-qsLAzsJYqzAXEtHI_gvtTy4HTplh5MVbmAL-8XsrTE4bHdag8M0qqwfOvx6h7_wx5dZMDiHCWKQnLAdp27LVXMSSqHuR7MNNRM4shIMx6Zv3pLyl0za3nSX80/s1600/DSC02786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfhNCBwKP3ddHx5gt_N-qsLAzsJYqzAXEtHI_gvtTy4HTplh5MVbmAL-8XsrTE4bHdag8M0qqwfOvx6h7_wx5dZMDiHCWKQnLAdp27LVXMSSqHuR7MNNRM4shIMx6Zv3pLyl0za3nSX80/s320/DSC02786.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18tmBceoqFoj8Lgh3TYOQHzZbpVNdwbBnhVJt3V_LZk7Li54JZa4Oor0SFPs5EHXglPs9oFgZbDO6zjCSC3mGu_nnKDVR8sgdkf07c2leaWkddionRb-QcuK46hYmfTks4JXvl_WPVh8D/s1600/DSC02795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18tmBceoqFoj8Lgh3TYOQHzZbpVNdwbBnhVJt3V_LZk7Li54JZa4Oor0SFPs5EHXglPs9oFgZbDO6zjCSC3mGu_nnKDVR8sgdkf07c2leaWkddionRb-QcuK46hYmfTks4JXvl_WPVh8D/s320/DSC02795.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-55802474985380398822013-01-25T21:30:00.001-08:002013-01-25T21:30:41.505-08:00Alligator Search Party<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've never been a big fan of animals. There are certain animals I wish Noah would have left off the ark, actually. But, nevertheless, my trip to Florida as supposed to be filled with alligators! After all, Florida is known for their alligators, right? I thought so. Anyways, Nick and I looked and looked and looked and didn't find any. We did find what might have been an alligator egg, though! Next time I visit, I'm sure the alligators will be more widely available.</span></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-54764728514981943472013-01-14T20:50:00.000-08:002013-01-15T20:22:24.958-08:00Red Pen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Seven writers of varying proficiencies sat around the table. The room was chilly and the raging snow storm happening outside mirrored the turmoil happening inside my stomach. It was the first day of critiques in my creative nonfiction writing class. This was a new experience for me. My usual routine of posting a blog or submitting a paper to a professor was being turned upside down. I didn't want to know what they thought. I liked my writing and that's what mattered.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The class and professor had been emailed a copy of my paper and were ready to have a discussion about it. I volunteered to go first. My anxiety was taking over and I knew if I waited much longer, a full on panic attack would ensue. The professor had me stand at the front of the room behind the podium and read my paper in its entirety. It's one thing to write a personal and emotion-packed paper, it's another to have other people read it, but it's entirely another thing to stand in front of strangers to read it and have it critiqued.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I took a few deep breathes before starting. It took just a few minutes to read it, but it felt like hours. I reminded myself to enunciate and to speak slowly and intentionally. I finished the last sentence and looked up at my audience for the first time. All wide-eyed and silent, I wondered if I'd done something wrong. Did I misunderstand the assignment? Did I disclose too much?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Vulnerability and trust are not my strong points. There are a few people who have walked through the ups and downs of my life alongside me. Not only the struggles and tears, but the laughter and successes as well. Even still, I initially have a hard time talking about personal things with them. Something inside of me flash freezes the second I begin to unpack my often scrambled thoughts. It takes a few minutes of mindless chatter to thaw me out. It's a daily process of warming up to them and reassuring myself that I can trust them. Once the hovering fear dissipates, it's gone until the next day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was time for someone else to be in the spotlight. I was done. Hot tears filled my eyes and I wanted to be out of that situation. Feeling overly exposed and empty, I quickly gathered my papers and slipped back into my seat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Thank you, Andrea. How brave of you to put words to that situation and those feelings," the professor said as she rose from her chair and moved to the podium. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I remembered to keep breathing at that point and quietly thanked her. She put a reassuring hand on my shoulder as she explained the value of exploring emotion in writing. Writing about a situation revels many unnoticed details to the writer. Nonfiction writing can be like counseling if done right. A situation is thoroughly processed through and come to terms with. A resolution or settling of emotions is not always brought about, but a greater understanding lends peace and a greater ability to move forward.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>"Never again," </i>I thought. Counseling should be between a counselor and a single person, not one person, a fictitious counselor, and a captive audience waiting to critique. It was settled - my next submissions were going to be void of all emotion and feeling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The professor opened up the discussion to the other students. First came the positive feedback, then the general questions on the topic, and then finally the areas that needed work and clarification. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Word choice, how I handled the topic I wrote about, voice, sentence structure, general flow. Those were all strong points. I had been mortified in the moments prior to this segment of the critique, but the compliments ushered in hope. My writing was not terrible, far from perfect, but not terrible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why did I choose the topic I did? It seemed like a good story to tell. And it was, until I had to read it aloud that is. It was a situation that I needed help understanding so I thought I would attempt to do just that. I can't say that endless hours of rehashing details helped, but it thankfully didn't make it worse. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The criticism came next. I considered slipping under the table for this portion. My ears would work just fine from the safety of the floor. Tears filled my eyes again as the professor started talking through her list of concerns. Her words were gentle and constructive; there was nothing harsh about them. This put me at ease. The tone was set for the remainder of the discussion by her example. Questions were asked and a few clarifications were needed. I took notes because these would make my paper better. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Not one negative word was uttered about the topic I wrote on. I was thankful for that. Everything said was constructive and considerate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The storm raging in my stomach died down. My anxiety melted into excitement. These critiques would make my writing stronger. The occasional negative comment would, in the long run, give me more positive ones. This step was necessary. My writing was being tested and refined. If it could withstand fire, it would be made stronger.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now I welcome the critiques and criticisms. Maybe not welcome them with enthusiasm, but I don't fear it. I see the reason for it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I need the idiosyncrasies, irrational fears, and poor decisions pointed out in my life just as much as I need the unclear portions of my writing pointed out. I need the occasional red pen to sweep through, leaving behind the pieces of worth.</span></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-78781614386169399992013-01-13T21:03:00.002-08:002013-01-15T20:22:50.537-08:00outspoken.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I sometimes have moments of being outspoken. I think my 4 hours at work today were those moments. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Some Sunday afternoons are busy, but others are painfully slow. Today was a busy one. At Brighton Collectibles, we greet each customer when they enter the store. A man walked in and went directly to the charm bar. I asked him if I could do anything for him and told him about the fun promotion we were doing. He said the promotion sounded great and that he would like to do that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He pointed to a handful of beads and charms and then asked what it totaled. I was still pulling things out and adding up the numbers in my head </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"<i>Could you go any slower? I know you don't have anything else to do, but I do.</i>"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"<i>I'm almost done,</i>" I said patiently. Seriously dude, it had been 10 second since he pointed to a handful of beads and asked for the total.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"<i>If you'd have gone to high school, you could do the simple math</i>," was his belittling response.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"<i>Excuse me,</i>" I rebutted as I shut the desk drawer hard, "<i>you don't know a thing about me.</i>" </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think I caught him off guard. He may be used to trampling over people in his everyday life, but I'm not one of those people who puts up with it. Especially when he was blatantly being a jerk. I completely quit working and turned to face him.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>"I have a double major and a minor and am in the process of applying to graduate schools. And I'm also in the process of working with a Pulitzer prize winner at the San Francisco Chronicle. I've had my writing and photography published in a few different places. I have a great future and this part-time job is simply a stepping stone, not the achieved goal</i>.<i> Anything else you'd like to know?</i>"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He was silent and looked stunned.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I continued calmly, "<i>so what can I help you with?</i>"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"<i>Uhhhh, I'd like some help making a charm bracelet for my wife's birthday,</i>" he managed to stammer.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"<i>And I will gladly help you with that if you'd let me. It'll take me a few moments to find what you've asked for,</i>" I said as I continued finding the desired beads. "<i>Your current total is $57.50. You need $17.50 more to get the promotion.</i>"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We finished the bracelet and as I rung up his purchase, he apologized. It was nothing special or meaningful. I think he was still a little taken aback. I forgave him and we both continued on with our lives.</span></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-82920982422207960252013-01-04T20:07:00.001-08:002013-01-04T20:07:59.934-08:00two new cookbooks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpmKAsdVdJxuqU5Nk6BIP35sPH9oXNqujE0hE7q9sy8g01WkpmjGcjQtA8p8L-D8lYejITjM2PlXxGaESKsh6aD4d4-ct4QM1xQ-Cf07kz67-xnWTmHI77UKl2KdvZRmys8E2y3Ex7nTB/s1600/-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpmKAsdVdJxuqU5Nk6BIP35sPH9oXNqujE0hE7q9sy8g01WkpmjGcjQtA8p8L-D8lYejITjM2PlXxGaESKsh6aD4d4-ct4QM1xQ-Cf07kz67-xnWTmHI77UKl2KdvZRmys8E2y3Ex7nTB/s320/-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My grandma got these two cookbooks for me! I don't know if they can be considered cookbooks, but I guess I have to start somewhere! </span></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-2860787638194034302013-01-01T20:11:00.000-08:002013-01-01T20:12:02.350-08:002013: Enough<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My word for 2013 is "enough". I've never done a word-of-the-year before, but I think I'll try it! We'll see where it takes me. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />God is enough. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am enough.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have enough.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PS. This is my 300th post!! Woo-hoo!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-18421590086149542172012-12-31T12:49:00.000-08:002012-12-31T12:49:00.507-08:00Happy birthday, Mom!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today is my mom's birthday! The <i>entire</i> world is celebrating with us today! Happy birthday, mom!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitu2nlNO4Fxx731sJXyZRPOAgoi69lpnf4UcOyt7cq9QD7pWtwyrG6s-HCFJpo6jafUp1mqLVuH9UuOWkZWdlFHmnz_TZZ0vkjGWWqIGWYMKtGIPBth71GmWhbgSphHUp3bgUQ4jPN5SVh/s1600/303452_10150817371930835_1893659187_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitu2nlNO4Fxx731sJXyZRPOAgoi69lpnf4UcOyt7cq9QD7pWtwyrG6s-HCFJpo6jafUp1mqLVuH9UuOWkZWdlFHmnz_TZZ0vkjGWWqIGWYMKtGIPBth71GmWhbgSphHUp3bgUQ4jPN5SVh/s400/303452_10150817371930835_1893659187_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-32620093502624969302012-12-30T19:54:00.000-08:002012-12-30T19:54:25.185-08:002012 Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some favorites from 2012! I tried to limit it to one a month, but there were too many that just stuck out to me!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">January - <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/01/out-of-these-ashes-rise.html" target="_blank">Out of these ashes, rise.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">February - <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/02/groundhog-day.html" target="_blank">Groundhog Day</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">March - <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/03/perfection-my-simiple-request.html" target="_blank">Perfection: my simple request</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">April - <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/04/malaria.html" target="_blank">Malaria</a>, <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/04/hope.html" target="_blank">Hope</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">May - <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/05/and-then-comfort-comes.html" target="_blank">And then comfort comes</a>, <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/05/miss-vi-fashionista.html" target="_blank">Miss Vi the fashionista</a>, <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/05/jelly-donut-incident.html" target="_blank">The Jelly Donut Incident</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">June - <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/06/painted-goldfish.html" target="_blank">Painted Goldfish</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">July - <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/07/shut-up-and-hug-me.html" target="_blank">"Shut up and hug me!"</a>, <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/07/confession-session.html" target="_blank">Confession Session</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">August - <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/08/proof-that-im-city-girl.html" target="_blank">Proof that I'm a city girl.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">September - <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-quesadilla-incident.html" target="_blank">the quesadilla incident</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">October - <span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/10/awwwww.html">Awwww...</a></span>, <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/10/her-love-language-chocolate-milk.html" target="_blank">Her Love Language: chocolate milk</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">November - <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/11/flirty-homeless-dude.html" target="_blank">Flirty Homeless Dude </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">December - <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/12/oh-tragedy-has-taken-so-many.html" target="_blank">"oh, tragedy has taken so many..."</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdOcI-fr3WlVz6cR3hXpdkVZ7szFMezDXVO2wZVcyfucmryr7yYeHukel0zFQCrCRi7vne6cENOu9PE4DV79Mc2zEr8i5vOZNIi_nyBNbq3td70JR0xHUjLqmFd12WUFdIVRyvqk8dLSj/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdOcI-fr3WlVz6cR3hXpdkVZ7szFMezDXVO2wZVcyfucmryr7yYeHukel0zFQCrCRi7vne6cENOu9PE4DV79Mc2zEr8i5vOZNIi_nyBNbq3td70JR0xHUjLqmFd12WUFdIVRyvqk8dLSj/s400/-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I tried to find a photo that summed up this past year. And this was it. "Princess" written on my coffee cup. I was working in the sound booth at church getting things ready for that Sunday morning. I'm learning that being a leader means being a servant. Doing the tedious behind the scenes work is just as important as being up front leading.</span></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104588212457942252.post-61447066500704953562012-12-29T16:53:00.001-08:002012-12-29T16:53:29.501-08:00Christmas Blur<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Christmas kind of flew by in a hurried frenzy. Larissa was home, Nick was here, I was working 5 million hours, there were services at church, it was raining a lot. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTCovj5u3D41Lgo1usDb8CFrDR27T320RI_G9ol5NC7XNKnUvdiFoU4T7IGYqrD61fkrBJfUw9wSijqBEfHyl0qIe9ES4xRAWsj2B5f6iV_LcGWtc601HGqOPyp6OYyTEDq_P-ybVM77q/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTCovj5u3D41Lgo1usDb8CFrDR27T320RI_G9ol5NC7XNKnUvdiFoU4T7IGYqrD61fkrBJfUw9wSijqBEfHyl0qIe9ES4xRAWsj2B5f6iV_LcGWtc601HGqOPyp6OYyTEDq_P-ybVM77q/s320/-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And I did get my hippo! Sort of. I actually got two hippo ornaments. One is bright pink and the other one is a hippo-y gray and sings the "I wanna hippopotamus for Christmas" song. Sam and Stephanie along with Danny, Kendra, Trina, and Vi should win some sort of award for getting me exactly <a href="http://californiatochicago.blogspot.com/2012/11/baby-hippo.html">what I asked for</a>! </span></div>
Andrea Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15369113826607672277noreply@blogger.com0