tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82777407483494928322024-03-13T22:08:11.185-06:00A Moment with BriBri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-6360466661133173952019-07-18T15:14:00.000-06:002019-07-18T16:59:34.299-06:00Entangled <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was going to start a whole new blog...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I kinda like having everything here. Someday I may update it more, but for just writing like I am doing, this is a perfect place for me to share!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I haven't posted something since 2016 - that's 3 years! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Oh My Word!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm sure there are a ton of posts I could look back on and catch up on, but just like I teach with my journaling class...just jump in where you are. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's been a different kind of season of life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most people see our highlight reel on social media, whenever I decide to post (which is few and far between nowadays)...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most people don't see the day to day life...the daily struggles...the mental battles we go through...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And to be honest, I haven't felt compelled to share them. Maybe someday. Maybe just one for now...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's a quieter season of life. More secluded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I still struggle with the<b><i> false </i></b>feeling like I need to appear like I have everything together. And honestly, nothing is "really" wrong...just struggles with the expectations I set on myself and I assume are set on me by others. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That's a dangerous place to be! haha</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's dangerous because I don't allow myself to be the special child of God that I was created to be. I try to cover my imperfections instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to work on me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've been dealing a lot with anger. I never really thought that was something I would struggle with as a believer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Little things make me angry. Big things make me angry. One mention of something can be like pulling a trigger on a grenade and seconds later it just explodes. I explode. Or implode...and Lee is the one who sees it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's been a struggle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I could blame it on "getting older so the hormones are changing..." or being tired because Breelee still doesn't sleep through the night, and when she does, Brennan doesn't...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But it's in me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Recently my dad preached at church, and he focused on the Scripture:: </span><br />
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<table class="passage-cols" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td class="passage-col col-xs-6 first" style="border-right: 1px solid rgb(214, 210, 203); box-sizing: border-box; float: none; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 555px;"><div class="passage-tools2" style="background-color: #e8e6e4; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(214, 210, 203); box-sizing: border-box; height: 40px; margin-left: -40px; padding: 7px 0px 6px 15px;">
<div class="passage-updatetranslation bg-select-wrapper info-viewer-translation-select-wrapper" style="border: 1px solid rgb(214, 210, 203); box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; max-width: 45%; padding-left: 5px; position: relative;">
<select class="translation-dropdown-small" data-prefname="default_version" style="-webkit-appearance: none; background: url("/assets/images/icon-down.png") 98.5% center no-repeat; border-color: initial; border-radius: 0px; border-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #b34b2c; display: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; height: 24px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 280px; outline: none; padding-right: 30px; text-indent: 0.01px; width: 100%;"><option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AMU">—AMU—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AMU">AMU</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AMU"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AR">—AR—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AR">ERV-AR</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NAV">NAV</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NAV"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AWA">—AWA—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AWA">ERV-AWA</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AWA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BG1940">—BG—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BG1940">BG1940</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BULG">BULG</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-BG">ERV-BG</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CBT">CBT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BOB">BOB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPB">BPB</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCO">—CCO—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCO">CCO</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCO"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="APSD-CEB">—CEB—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="APSD-CEB">APSD-CEB</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="APSD-CEB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CHR">—CHR—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CHR">CHR</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CHR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KSS">—CKB—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KSS">KSS</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KSS"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CKW">—CKW—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CKW">CKW</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CKW"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="B21">—CS—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="B21">B21</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNC">SNC</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BWM">—CY—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BWM">BWM</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BWM"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPH">—DA—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPH">BPH</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DN1933">DN1933</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DN1933"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HOF">—DE—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HOF">HOF</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LUTH1545">LUTH1545</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NGU-DE">NGU-DE</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SCH1951">SCH1951</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SCH2000">SCH2000</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SCH2000"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KJ21">—EN—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KJ21">KJ21</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ASV">ASV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AMP">AMP</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AMPC">AMPC</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BRG">BRG</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CSB">CSB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CEB">CEB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CJB">CJB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CEV">CEV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DARBY">DARBY</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DLNT">DLNT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DRA">DRA</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV">ERV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="EHV">EHV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ESV">ESV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ESVUK">ESVUK</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="EXB">EXB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="GNV">GNV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="GW">GW</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="GNT">GNT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HCSB">HCSB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ICB">ICB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ISV">ISV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="PHILLIPS">PHILLIPS</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JUB">JUB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KJV">KJV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AKJV">AKJV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LEB">LEB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TLB">TLB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MSG">MSG</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MEV">MEV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MOUNCE">MOUNCE</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NOG">NOG</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NABRE">NABRE</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NASB">NASB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NCV">NCV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NET">NET</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NIRV">NIRV</option> <option selected="selected" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NIV">NIV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NIVUK">NIVUK</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NKJV">NKJV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NLV">NLV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NLT">NLT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NMB">NMB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRSV">NRSV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRSVA">NRSVA</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRSVACE">NRSVACE</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRSVCE">NRSVCE</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTE">NTE</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="OJB">OJB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TPT">TPT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RSV">RSV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RSVCE">RSVCE</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TLV">TLV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VOICE">VOICE</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WEB">WEB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WE">WE</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WYC">WYC</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="YLT">YLT</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="YLT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LBLA">—ES—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LBLA">LBLA</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DHH">DHH</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JBS">JBS</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBLH">NBLH</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBV">NBV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTV">NTV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NVI">NVI</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CST">CST</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="PDT">PDT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BLP">BLP</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BLPH">BLPH</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVA-2015">RVA-2015</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVC">RVC</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVR1960">RVR1960</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVR1977">RVR1977</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVR1995">RVR1995</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVA">RVA</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SRV-BRG">SRV-BRG</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TLA">TLA</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TLA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="R1933">—FI—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="R1933">R1933</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="R1933"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BDS">—FR—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BDS">BDS</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LSG">LSG</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NEG1979">NEG1979</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SG21">SG21</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SG21"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TR1550">—GRC—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TR1550">TR1550</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WHNU">WHNU</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TR1894">TR1894</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SBLGNT">SBLGNT</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SBLGNT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HHH">—HE—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HHH">HHH</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WLC">WLC</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WLC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-HI">—HI—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-HI">ERV-HI</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SHB">SHB</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SHB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HLGN">—HIL—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HLGN">HLGN</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HLGN"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NCA">—HNE—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NCA">NCA</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NCA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HNZ-RI">—HR—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HNZ-RI">HNZ-RI</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CRO">CRO</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CRO"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HCV">—HT—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HCV">HCV</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HCV"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KAR">—HU—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KAR">KAR</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-HU">ERV-HU</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NT-HU">NT-HU</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NT-HU"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HWP">—HWC—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HWP">HWP</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HWP"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ICELAND">—IS—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ICELAND">ICELAND</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ICELAND"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BDG">—IT—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BDG">BDG</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CEI">CEI</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LND">LND</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NR1994">NR1994</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NR2006">NR2006</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NR2006"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JLB">—JA—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JLB">JLB</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JLB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JAC">—JAC—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JAC">JAC</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JAC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KEK">—KEK—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KEK">KEK</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KEK"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KLB">—KO—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KLB">KLB</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KLB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VULGATE">—LA—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VULGATE">VULGATE</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VULGATE"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LCB">—LG—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LCB">LCB</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LCB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MAORI">—MI—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MAORI">MAORI</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MAORI"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MNT">—MK—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MNT">MNT</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MNT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-MR">—MR—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-MR">ERV-MR</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-MR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVC">—MVC—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVC">MVC</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVJ">—MVJ—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVJ">MVJ</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVJ"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="REIMER">—NDS—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="REIMER">REIMER</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="REIMER"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-NE">—NE—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-NE">ERV-NE</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-NE"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NGU">—NGU—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NGU">NGU</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NGU"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BB">—NL—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BB">BB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HTB">HTB</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HTB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DNB1930">—NO—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DNB1930">DNB1930</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LB">LB</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCL">—NY—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCL">CCL</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCL"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-OR">—OR—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-OR">ERV-OR</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-OR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-PA">—PA—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-PA">ERV-PA</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-PA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NP">—PL—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NP">NP</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SZ-PL">SZ-PL</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="UBG">UBG</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="UBG"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBTN">—PPL—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBTN">NBTN</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBTN"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ARC">—PT—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ARC">ARC</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTLH">NTLH</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NVT">NVT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NVI-PT">NVI-PT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="OL">OL</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VFL">VFL</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VFL"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MTDS">—QU—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MTDS">MTDS</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MTDS"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="QUT">—QUT—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="QUT">QUT</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="QUT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RMNN">—RO—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RMNN">RMNN</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTLR">NTLR</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTLR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRT">—RU—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRT">NRT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CARS">CARS</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CARST">CARST</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CARSA">CARSA</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-RU">ERV-RU</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RUSV">RUSV</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RUSV"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NPK">—SK—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NPK">NPK</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NPK"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SOM">—SO—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SOM">SOM</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SOM"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ALB">—SQ—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ALB">ALB</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ALB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-SR">—SR—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-SR">ERV-SR</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-SR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NUB">—SV—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NUB">NUB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SV1917">SV1917</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SFB">SFB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SFB15">SFB15</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SFB15"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNT">—SW—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNT">SNT</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TA">—TA—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TA">ERV-TA</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TNCV">—TH—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TNCV">TNCV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TH">ERV-TH</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TH"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="FSV">—TL—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="FSV">FSV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ABTAG1978">ABTAG1978</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ABTAG2001">ABTAG2001</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ADB1905">ADB1905</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SND">SND</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MBBTAG">MBBTAG</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MBBTAG-DC">MBBTAG-DC</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MBBTAG-DC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NA-TWI">—TWI—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NA-TWI">NA-TWI</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NA-TWI"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="UKR">—UK—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="UKR">UKR</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UK">ERV-UK</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UK"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UR">—UR—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UR">ERV-UR</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="USP">—USP—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="USP">USP</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="USP"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VIET">—VI—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VIET">VIET</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BD2011">BD2011</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NVB">NVB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPT">BPT</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BYO">—YO—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BYO">BYO</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BYO"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCB">—ZH—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCB">CCB</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCBT">CCBT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-ZH">ERV-ZH</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CNVS">CNVS</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CNVT">CNVT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CSBS">CSBS</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CSBT">CSBT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CUVS">CUVS</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CUV">CUV</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CUVMPS">CUVMPS</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CUVMPT">CUVMPT</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RCU17SS">RCU17SS</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RCU17TS">RCU17TS</option> </select><select class="translation-dropdown" data-prefname="default_version" style="-webkit-appearance: none; background: url("/assets/images/icon-down.png") 98.5% center no-repeat; border-color: initial; border-radius: 0px; border-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #b34b2c; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; height: 24px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 280px; outline: none; padding-right: 30px; text-indent: 0.01px; width: 254px;"><option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AMU">—Amuzgo de Guerrero (AMU)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AMU">Amuzgo de Guerrero (AMU)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AMU"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AR">—العربية (AR)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AR">Arabic Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-AR)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NAV">Ketab El Hayat (NAV)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NAV"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AWA">—अवधी (AWA)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AWA">Awadhi Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-AWA)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-AWA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BG1940">—Български (BG)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BG1940">1940 Bulgarian Bible (BG1940)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BULG">Bulgarian Bible (BULG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-BG">Bulgarian New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-BG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CBT">Библия, нов превод от оригиналните езици (с неканоничните книги) (CBT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BOB">Библия, синодално издание (BOB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPB">Библия, ревизирано издание (BPB)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCO">—Chinanteco de Comaltepec (CCO)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCO">Chinanteco de Comaltepec (CCO)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCO"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="APSD-CEB">—Cebuano (CEB)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="APSD-CEB">Ang Pulong Sa Dios (APSD-CEB)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="APSD-CEB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CHR">—ᏣᎳᎩ ᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍ (CHR)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CHR">Cherokee New Testament (CHR)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CHR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KSS">—كوردی سۆرانی (CKB)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KSS">Kurdi Sorani Standard (KSS)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KSS"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CKW">—Cakchiquel Occidental (CKW)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CKW">Cakchiquel Occidental (CKW)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CKW"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="B21">—Čeština (CS)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="B21">Bible 21 (B21)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNC">Slovo na cestu (SNC)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BWM">—Cymraeg (CY)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BWM">Beibl William Morgan (BWM)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BWM"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPH">—Dansk (DA)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPH">Bibelen på hverdagsdansk (BPH)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DN1933">Dette er Biblen på dansk (DN1933)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DN1933"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HOF">—Deutsch (DE)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HOF">Hoffnung für Alle (HOF)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LUTH1545">Luther Bibel 1545 (LUTH1545)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NGU-DE">Neue Genfer Übersetzung (NGU-DE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SCH1951">Schlachter 1951 (SCH1951)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SCH2000">Schlachter 2000 (SCH2000)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SCH2000"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KJ21">—English (EN)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KJ21">21st Century King James Version (KJ21)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ASV">American Standard Version (ASV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AMP">Amplified Bible (AMP)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AMPC">Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BRG">BRG Bible (BRG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CSB">Christian Standard Bible (CSB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CEB">Common English Bible (CEB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CJB">Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CEV">Contemporary English Version (CEV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DARBY">Darby Translation (DARBY)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DLNT">Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DRA">Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV">Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="EHV">Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ESV">English Standard Version (ESV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ESVUK">English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="EXB">Expanded Bible (EXB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="GNV">1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="GW">GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="GNT">Good News Translation (GNT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HCSB">Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ICB">International Children’s Bible (ICB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ISV">International Standard Version (ISV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="PHILLIPS">J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JUB">Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KJV">King James Version (KJV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="AKJV">Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LEB">Lexham English Bible (LEB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TLB">Living Bible (TLB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MSG">The Message (MSG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MEV">Modern English Version (MEV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MOUNCE">Mounce Reverse-Interlinear New Testament (MOUNCE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NOG">Names of God Bible (NOG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NABRE">New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NASB">New American Standard Bible (NASB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NCV">New Century Version (NCV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NET">New English Translation (NET Bible)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NIRV">New International Reader's Version (NIRV)</option> <option selected="selected" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NIV">New International Version (NIV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NIVUK">New International Version - UK (NIVUK)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NKJV">New King James Version (NKJV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NLV">New Life Version (NLV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NLT">New Living Translation (NLT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NMB">New Matthew Bible (NMB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRSV">New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRSVA">New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRSVACE">New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRSVCE">New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTE">New Testament for Everyone (NTE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="OJB">Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TPT">The Passion Translation (TPT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RSV">Revised Standard Version (RSV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RSVCE">Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TLV">Tree of Life Version (TLV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VOICE">The Voice (VOICE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WEB">World English Bible (WEB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WE">Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WYC">Wycliffe Bible (WYC)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="YLT">Young's Literal Translation (YLT)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="YLT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LBLA">—Español (ES)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LBLA">La Biblia de las Américas (LBLA)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DHH">Dios Habla Hoy (DHH)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JBS">Jubilee Bible 2000 (Spanish) (JBS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBLH">Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy (NBLH)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBV">Nueva Biblia Viva (NBV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTV">Nueva Traducción Viviente (NTV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NVI">Nueva Versión Internacional (NVI)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CST">Nueva Versión Internacional (Castilian) (CST)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="PDT">Palabra de Dios para Todos (PDT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BLP">La Palabra (España) (BLP)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BLPH">La Palabra (Hispanoamérica) (BLPH)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVA-2015">Reina Valera Actualizada (RVA-2015)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVC">Reina Valera Contemporánea (RVC)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVR1960">Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR1960)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVR1977">Reina Valera Revisada (RVR1977)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVR1995">Reina-Valera 1995 (RVR1995)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RVA">Reina-Valera Antigua (RVA)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SRV-BRG">Spanish Blue Red and Gold Letter Edition (SRV-BRG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TLA">Traducción en lenguaje actual (TLA)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TLA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="R1933">—Suomi (FI)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="R1933">Raamattu 1933/38 (R1933)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="R1933"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BDS">—Français (FR)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BDS">La Bible du Semeur (BDS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LSG">Louis Segond (LSG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NEG1979">Nouvelle Edition de Genève – NEG1979 (NEG1979)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SG21">Segond 21 (SG21)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SG21"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TR1550">—Κοινη (GRC)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TR1550">1550 Stephanus New Testament (TR1550)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WHNU">1881 Westcott-Hort New Testament (WHNU)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TR1894">1894 Scrivener New Testament (TR1894)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SBLGNT">SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SBLGNT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HHH">—עברית (HE)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HHH">Habrit Hakhadasha/Haderekh (HHH)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WLC">The Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="WLC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-HI">—हिन्दी (HI)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-HI">Hindi Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-HI)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SHB">Saral Hindi Bible (SHB)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SHB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HLGN">—Ilonggo (HIL)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HLGN">Ang Pulong Sang Dios (HLGN)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HLGN"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NCA">—Chhattisgarhi (HNE)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NCA">New Chhattisgarhi Translation (नवां नियम छत्तीसगढ़ी) (NCA)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NCA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HNZ-RI">—Hrvatski (HR)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HNZ-RI">Hrvatski Novi Zavjet – Rijeka 2001 (HNZ-RI)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CRO">Knijga O Kristu (CRO)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CRO"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HCV">—Kreyòl ayisyen (HT)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HCV">Haitian Creole Version (HCV)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HCV"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KAR">—Magyar (HU)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KAR">Hungarian Károli (KAR)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-HU">Hungarian Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-HU)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NT-HU">Hungarian New Translation (NT-HU)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NT-HU"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HWP">—Hawai‘i Pidgin (HWC)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HWP">Hawai‘i Pidgin (HWP)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HWP"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ICELAND">—Íslenska (IS)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ICELAND">Icelandic Bible (ICELAND)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ICELAND"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BDG">—Italiano (IT)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BDG">La Bibbia della Gioia (BDG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CEI">Conferenza Episcopale Italiana (CEI)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LND">La Nuova Diodati (LND)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NR1994">Nuova Riveduta 1994 (NR1994)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NR2006">Nuova Riveduta 2006 (NR2006)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NR2006"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JLB">—日本語 (JA)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JLB">Japanese Living Bible (JLB)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JLB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JAC">—Jacalteco, Oriental (JAC)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JAC">Jacalteco, Oriental (JAC)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="JAC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KEK">—Kekchi (KEK)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KEK">Kekchi (KEK)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KEK"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KLB">—한국어 (KO)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KLB">Korean Living Bible (KLB)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="KLB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VULGATE">—Latina (LA)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VULGATE">Biblia Sacra Vulgata (VULGATE)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VULGATE"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LCB">—Luganda (LG)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LCB">Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya (LCB)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LCB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MAORI">—Māori (MI)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MAORI">Maori Bible (MAORI)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MAORI"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MNT">—Македонски (MK)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MNT">Macedonian New Testament (MNT)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MNT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-MR">—मराठी (MR)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-MR">Marathi Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-MR)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-MR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVC">—Mam, Central (MVC)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVC">Mam, Central (MVC)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVJ">—Mam, Todos Santos (MVJ)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVJ">Mam de Todos Santos Chuchumatán (MVJ)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MVJ"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="REIMER">—Plautdietsch (NDS)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="REIMER">Reimer 2001 (REIMER)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="REIMER"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-NE">—नेपाली (NE)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-NE">Nepali Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-NE)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-NE"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NGU">—Náhuatl de Guerrero (NGU)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NGU">Náhuatl de Guerrero (NGU)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NGU"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BB">—Nederlands (NL)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BB">BasisBijbel (BB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HTB">Het Boek (HTB)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="HTB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DNB1930">—Norsk (NO)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="DNB1930">Det Norsk Bibelselskap 1930 (DNB1930)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LB">En Levende Bok (LB)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="LB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCL">—Chichewa (NY)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCL">Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero (CCL)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCL"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-OR">—ଓଡ଼ିଆ (OR)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-OR">Oriya Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-OR)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-OR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-PA">—ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (PA)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-PA">Punjabi Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-PA)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-PA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NP">—Polski (PL)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NP">Nowe Przymierze (NP)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SZ-PL">Słowo Życia (SZ-PL)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="UBG">Updated Gdańsk Bible (UBG)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="UBG"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBTN">—Nawat (PPL)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBTN">Ne Bibliaj Tik Nawat (NBTN)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NBTN"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ARC">—Português (PT)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ARC">Almeida Revista e Corrigida 2009 (ARC)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTLH">Nova Traduҫão na Linguagem de Hoje 2000 (NTLH)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NVT">Nova Versão Transformadora (NVT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NVI-PT">Nova Versão Internacional (NVI-PT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="OL">O Livro (OL)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VFL">Portuguese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version (VFL)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VFL"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MTDS">—Quichua (QU)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MTDS">Mushuj Testamento Diospaj Shimi (MTDS)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MTDS"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="QUT">—Quiché, Centro Occidenta (QUT)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="QUT">Quiché, Centro Occidental (QUT)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="QUT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RMNN">—Română (RO)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RMNN">Cornilescu 1924 - Revised 2010, 2014 (RMNN)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTLR">Nouă Traducere În Limba Română (NTLR)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NTLR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRT">—Русский (RU)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NRT">New Russian Translation (NRT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CARS">Священное Писание (Восточный Перевод) (CARS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CARST">Священное Писание (Восточный перевод), версия для Таджикистана (CARST)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CARSA">Священное Писание (Восточный перевод), версия с «Аллахом» (CARSA)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-RU">Russian New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-RU)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RUSV">Russian Synodal Version (RUSV)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RUSV"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NPK">—Slovenčina (SK)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NPK">Nádej pre kazdého (NPK)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NPK"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SOM">—Somali (SO)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SOM">Somali Bible (SOM)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SOM"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ALB">—Shqip (SQ)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ALB">Albanian Bible (ALB)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ALB"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-SR">—Српски (SR)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-SR">Serbian New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-SR)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-SR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NUB">—Svenska (SV)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NUB">nuBibeln (Swedish Contemporary Bible) (NUB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SV1917">Svenska 1917 (SV1917)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SFB">Svenska Folkbibeln (SFB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SFB15">Svenska Folkbibeln 2015 (SFB15)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SFB15"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNT">—Kiswahili (SW)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNT">Neno: Bibilia Takatifu (SNT)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SNT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TA">—தமிழ் (TA)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TA">Tamil Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-TA)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TA"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TNCV">—ภาษาไทย (TH)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="TNCV">Thai New Contemporary Bible (TNCV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TH">Thai New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-TH)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-TH"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="FSV">—Tagalog (TL)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="FSV">Ang Bagong Tipan: Filipino Standard Version (FSV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ABTAG1978">Ang Biblia (1978) (ABTAG1978)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ABTAG2001">Ang Biblia, 2001 (ABTAG2001)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ADB1905">Ang Dating Biblia (1905) (ADB1905)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="SND">Ang Salita ng Diyos (SND)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MBBTAG">Magandang Balita Biblia (MBBTAG)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MBBTAG-DC">Magandang Balita Biblia (with Deuterocanon) (MBBTAG-DC)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="MBBTAG-DC"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NA-TWI">—Twi (TWI)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NA-TWI">Nkwa Asem (NA-TWI)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NA-TWI"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="UKR">—Українська (UK)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="UKR">Ukrainian Bible (UKR)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UK">Ukrainian New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-UK)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UK"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UR">—اردو (UR)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UR">Urdu Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-UR)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-UR"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="USP">—Uspanteco (USP)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="USP">Uspanteco (USP)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="USP"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VIET">—Tiêng Viêt (VI)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="VIET">1934 Vietnamese Bible (VIET)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BD2011">Bản Dịch 2011 (BD2011)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="NVB">New Vietnamese Bible (NVB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPT">Vietnamese Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (BPT)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BPT"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BYO">—Yorùbá (YO)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BYO">Bíbélì Mímọ́ Yorùbá Òde Òn (BYO)</option> <option class="spacer" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="BYO"> </option> <option class="lang" style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCB">—汉语 (ZH)—</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCB">Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified) (CCB)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CCBT">Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional) (CCBT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="ERV-ZH">Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-ZH)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CNVS">Chinese New Version (Simplified) (CNVS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CNVT">Chinese New Version (Traditional) (CNVT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CSBS">Chinese Standard Bible (Simplified) (CSBS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CSBT">Chinese Standard Bible (Traditional) (CSBT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CUVS">Chinese Union Version (Simplified) (CUVS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CUV">Chinese Union Version (Traditional) (CUV)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CUVMPS">Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="CUVMPT">Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Traditional) (CUVMPT)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RCU17SS">Revised Chinese Union Version (Simplified Script) Shen Edition (RCU17SS)</option> <option style="box-sizing: border-box;" value="RCU17TS">Revised Chinese Union Version (Traditional Script) Shen Edition (RCU17TS)</option> </select></div>
<span class="passage-options" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; float: right; max-width: 55%; position: relative; top: 2px;"><a class="icon-audio passage-audio " href="https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Heb.12.1-Heb.12.3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border-radius: 4px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 4px; padding: 6px 6px 3px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Listen to Hebrews 12:1-3"></a><a class="icon-close" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012%3A1-3&version=KJV" rel="nofollow" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: rgb(214, 210, 204); border-radius: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #f5f3f1; cursor: pointer; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; margin-left: 4px; padding: 10px 11px 8px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Close parallel"></a></span></div>
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<h1 class="passage-display" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 6px;">Hebrews 12:1-3</span> <span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">New International Version (NIV)</span></h1>
<div class="chapter-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span class="text Heb-12-1" id="en-NIV-30214" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="chapternum" style="bottom: -0.1em; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;">12 </span>Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30214A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30214A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> with perseverance<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30214B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30214B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> the race marked out for us,</span> <span class="text Heb-12-2" id="en-NIV-30215" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>fixing our eyes on Jesus,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30215C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30215C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> the pioneer<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30215D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30215D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30215E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30215E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> scorning its shame,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30215F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30215F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30215G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30215G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><span class="text Heb-12-3" id="en-NIV-30216" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-30216H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30216H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and lose heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While he was reading this, I could literally see vines wrapping around my ankles...entangling me. Stopping me. Causing me to stumble and fall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Each and every time I get angry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I want to throw it off. I want to run the race of faith without being entangled. And now that I am aware of this, I must do something about it. It will take much prayer, gentle guidance from the Holy Spirit, and accountability from my husband. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The enemy does not want this though, and I seem to get more opportunities to work through this than I'd like. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I must keep going. We all must keep going! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When you feel like there something is entangling you, what do you do to keep going? </span></div>
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Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-80208200260706519282016-04-05T10:23:00.000-06:002016-04-05T10:23:47.968-06:00#MOMFAIL Moment<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The past few days I had an awful headache...one like I haven't had in a very long time. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEMeyXALKVg/VwPj0L_jBtI/AAAAAAAAB4o/WCuuhuYskzsSiS6dAAyFg8XVqrO9boyVQ/s1600/IMG_6650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEMeyXALKVg/VwPj0L_jBtI/AAAAAAAAB4o/WCuuhuYskzsSiS6dAAyFg8XVqrO9boyVQ/s320/IMG_6650.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My sweet Bella took such good care of me and her siblings yesterday while her daddy was at work.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was up and about for a little while, but it got to the point where I just wanted to lay down to rest is out so it wouldn't get worse. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">She checked on me often, and kept her brother and sister hydrated and entertained! That's not always an easy task! </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plus she brought me a wet rag for my head and a cup of water to drink. She's so thoughtful. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">She's such a sweet, caring, fun-loving girl. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I appreciate her love for life so very much. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And after all of that...right before bedtime...I fussed at her for kicking her brother in the face (accidentally) when she was doing a cartwheel in the living room. </span></span><br />
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</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DVaNZaCBPJc/VwPkDSYL_1I/AAAAAAAAB44/MDRzN1b3OQ03FkXc5TRuIY2jSDQ8XKw3A/s1600/IMG_6649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DVaNZaCBPJc/VwPkDSYL_1I/AAAAAAAAB44/MDRzN1b3OQ03FkXc5TRuIY2jSDQ8XKw3A/s320/IMG_6649.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I blew it. It was one of those #momfail moments. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am thankful for God's grace and mercy...that I was able to ask for forgiveness and hug it out with her...I know I hurt her feelings. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So much goodness can be lost in seconds. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I need to get better about not overreacting to such little things that just don't matter. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kids are going to be kids. Rambunctious. Loud. Chaos-causing. Seeking fun and adventure. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's my job to show them love, peace, grace, mercy...and so much more. I want to be patient with them. I want to be consistent with them. I want to provide a nurturing environment so that they can grow to be the best version of themselves. I don't want to stifle anything. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In life...not just parenthood...we blow it. We make mistakes. It's important </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">that we own up to it. Don't blame bad attitudes, bad days, or someone else. Make the best of that. Learn from it and move on!! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-67052883765216864762016-04-01T10:23:00.000-06:002016-04-01T10:23:20.574-06:00How Reflecting Builds My Faith<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reflection is an important tool in our personal growth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It helps us see where we've been...how far we've come...where we need to go...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I usually spend some time going through my journals and re-reading what I wrote.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And with things like the Timehop app, I can see everything that was posted in the past on this day. Like these sweet memories...</span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o91wV6ik1NM/Vv2OPE72OCI/AAAAAAAAB4A/k8dXVDPsuHYyN3TOMHK_DPAqq_IGmOipA/s1600/IMG_6911.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o91wV6ik1NM/Vv2OPE72OCI/AAAAAAAAB4A/k8dXVDPsuHYyN3TOMHK_DPAqq_IGmOipA/s320/IMG_6911.PNG" width="188" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-61oU1uYVPD8/Vv2OWZDFmlI/AAAAAAAAB4I/ylUtE9a8fpAkv6Gjc9mT0IyUOp6IdvzbQ/s1600/IMG_6910.PNG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-61oU1uYVPD8/Vv2OWZDFmlI/AAAAAAAAB4I/ylUtE9a8fpAkv6Gjc9mT0IyUOp6IdvzbQ/s320/IMG_6910.PNG" width="227" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes these posts are funny. Sometimes they are scary. Sometimes they are sad. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Right now, I am realizing how much life has changed for us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Instead of mountains and snow, I see swamps and mud puddles. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wasps, bees, and fire ants are a constant part of our adventures outside instead of white-tailed bunnies and the deer that would walk through our neighborhood. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We actually count alligators on the side of the road much like we were able to count deer there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We don't have the daily knock on the door from our neighborhood kids ready to play, but we do get to set up play dates and see our friends at co-op meetings during the week as well as making new friends at church twice a week now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We know that we'll get to enjoy the summer days here...even though they may not seem as long and as full of sunshine as they did there. We know that the humidity will feel thicker and the air much hotter here during those days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know that Lee is enjoying getting to know and work with his new Apple team here, but I know that he misses his friends at the Aspen Grove Apple Store. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am so grateful for the house we are living in now...it's the most comforting thing to know we had a place to come to from Colorado...no wait...it was ready for us...and we are able to look for a permanent home now without a rush of a sudden deadline, but I do miss our house on Fairwood Street...and our amazing view from the back deck! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I miss getting to see my sweet girlfriends...and I am so thankful that I am able to stay in touch with them through text and Facebook messenger, and I am also thankful for the ladies who are coming into my life now...and that I get to see my mom, my sister, nieces, and cousins more often now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had some really good times in Colorado. I know that we made some really good friends in Colorado. I know that we are better people and closer to God because of our experiences in Colorado. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was an adventure that we were called to take. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And it was that adventure that led us to the adventure we are on now!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know that God has great plans for us. I know that He is not finished with us. He didn't drop us off in Boutte, Louisiana to forget us and forsake us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The best part of our story hasn't happened yet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I refuse to live in the past. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wednesday night, at the Alpha Bible study at Life Church Boutte, I read a quote by Nicky Gumbel that was in the book:: </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faith is not a blind leap, but a step forward, based on evidence. </span></i></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That really has me thinking... a step forward...based on evidence. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Evidence from my personal experiences and the Word of God. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another quote from the book was:: </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faith = taking God's promises and daring to believe them. </span></i></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Living by faith is an adventure!! I continue to trust that as God leads me and Lee, we will follow Him in obedience and He <i>WILL </i>come through. He's done it before. He will continue to do it again and again. Because He loves me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And He loves you. Just as much as He loves me. <i>We are all God's favorites</i>...as I was kindly reminded this week by my sweet professor from Southwestern Dr. Amy Alexander...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will continue to reflect...reflect on the promises of God...reflect on the good times and the bad...the moments that have made me stronger. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And as I reflect, I know my faith will keep growing stronger and keep us on this wonderful adventure!! </span><br />
<br />Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-2231000204511700942016-03-13T16:02:00.002-06:002016-03-13T16:02:17.492-06:00Ordinary Days Count...<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My sweet friend Jessica Blood recently sent me a book that she read and wanted me to discuss with her! Yes, she's that amazing and thoughtful of a friend!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The book is called <i>Simply Tuesday</i> by Emily P. Freeman...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The subtitle is <i>small-moment living in a fast-moving world...</i></span><br />
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</i> The book came to mind as I was sweeping the floor for the 3rd time today. I literally thought to myself <i>am I ever not going to clean the same messes 5 times a day???</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know the answer to that...I know it won't be forever. I have heard countless women in my life who have said that they miss the days that I am currently in. Their smiles and stories of their time in this season do bring me comfort. Most of the women I talk to speak with joy and almost a sense of longing to go back to those days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I picked the book back up today...for as avid of a reader as I used to be...that is something that has gotten harder for me with little kids. (I can't tell you how many times I was interrupted reading as well as while writing this!!!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Emily quotes Wendy M. Wright who wrote a book called <i>The Time Between...</i>She says Wendy "challenges our usual definition of the word <i>ordinary."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It does not mean what you might think: boring, uneventful, undistinguished, everyday, ordinary. In fact, it means 'counted time.' The word <i>ordinary</i> comes from the word <i>ordinal</i>, to count. </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel like my life is full of what I might think of "ordinary days."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boring. Uneventful. Undistinguished. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But these days count too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Washing the same dishes. Sweeping up the same crumbs. Folding the same clothes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's not just about doing these simple duties. It's about my attitude while doing them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God has been challenging me focus on being a better manager of my home. Truly taking care and managing our house. Nurturing our children.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to be a joyful manager.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want my girls to know that there is joy and beauty of being a homemaker. And if that is something that they desire and God blesses them with, they can find joy in it too. I want Brennan to have a great example as he begins searching for a godly wife.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I do today counts for their tomorrow. It counts for my future too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0800722450/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0800722450&linkCode=as2&tag=amowibr-20&linkId=KQIHI3PTWNQWXRWL"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0800722450&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=amowibr-20" height="200" width="128" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=amowibr-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0800722450" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>*yes, this is an affiliated link! If you click on it and purchase this book, I will make a small percentage of it. :)</i></span>Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-44921856840254113472016-03-11T11:30:00.000-07:002016-03-11T11:30:21.556-07:003 Things About Being a Mom of Little Ones<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) I feel like I am always fixing food. Breakfast. Snack. Lunch. Snack. Dinner. and usually a before bed snack too. The constant request for food is draining at times. I know that I won't always be required to fix food...but when they are little, it's not an option. And their little metabolism is running full speed with all that playing...so they require the fuel of food to keep them going. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But oh my gosh...I feel like they just had a snack and now they are asking when it's lunch time! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) Potty-training is disgusting. Thankfully the accidents have been fewer as each day passes, but it seems like there will be one off day when all I am doing is cleaning the kid...the clothes...the floor. And Breelee refuses to use the big toilet...she just wants to use her little potty...and washing it out makes me thankful for indoor plumbing! </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3uV7cgY0V1k/VuMOPXqomnI/AAAAAAAAB3k/d52cov-WDAUbKdnzYG0xQD2Cw0utNSb2g/s1600/IMG_6599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3uV7cgY0V1k/VuMOPXqomnI/AAAAAAAAB3k/d52cov-WDAUbKdnzYG0xQD2Cw0utNSb2g/s320/IMG_6599.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) Homeschool seems chaotic. Today, when I was working at the table next to Bella, Breelee pulled up a chair to sit between me and her. She wanted to be doing exactly what Bella was doing. I know this is a great way for Breelee to learn...and Bella was fine with it and even snuggled up to her at one point. It's been a goal of mine to teach them to wait to talk while someone else is talking. I used to say "Don't interrupt..." and then I realized they don't know what the word interrupt means! I have to teach them to not talk while the person is talking first. Whew. That's an ongoing lesson in this house. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know this won't last forever. It is really hard at times to think that it will be different while I'm in this season. I try my best to embrace the moments. To enjoy the laughter that I hear...the sweet small voices (when they aren't screaming)...the snuggles that I get...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be encouraged moms!! Your job is important! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But for now, it's time to go clean up a mess and get lunch on the table! </span>Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-65009156325862691672016-02-18T19:02:00.000-07:002016-02-18T19:02:33.693-07:00Yes, I Am Biased About My Kids...<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every parent should be biased about their own children. It's a given. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know my kids aren't the absolute best...they aren't on the genius levels...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But they are the smartest, funniest, most beautiful children that <b><i>I</i></b> know... and I am totally ok with you disagreeing and feeling those things towards your own children! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are a few things I love about my kiddos::</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) They work hard to make each other laugh. Breelee is the one who does this the most. From bodily functions on demand or crazy dance moves...she can make them laugh. And when she's crying or another one of them is crying...they do their best to make that one laugh. Yes there is fighting...but most of the time, there is a lot of laughter in my house! </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9LvddnYq_nI/VsZ2Zb1PvKI/AAAAAAAAB3A/kZeJGYjLcDI/s1600/IMG_6384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9LvddnYq_nI/VsZ2Zb1PvKI/AAAAAAAAB3A/kZeJGYjLcDI/s320/IMG_6384.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) They enjoy making new friends. It is very easy and natural for them to introduce themselves to others. I think this stems from our work with Chi Alpha, where Bella regularly heard her daddy introduce himself and then introduce us. He still introduces us when we go to visit him at work. It's precious to hear them introduce themselves in the same format...it's a blessing! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) I get to watch their faith grow. We ask them things that they want to pray about...and then Lee and I decide 1 or 2 things that we pray together for as a family...every night. One of the big things we prayed for when Bella was little was for some friends of ours to get a house. We prayed for months for their situation, and they eventually got a house! It wasn't where they planned or pictured, but they were able to trust God that it was the right place for them. Chris, our thoughtful friend who knew we were praying for his family, sent Bella a thank you card and a picture of their house...talk about building her faith! I know that God is not like Santa Claus...<i>it's not a just because I ask I get it situation...</i>but when we ask in accordance to what God's plans are, He will answer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is not exhausted by any means...but this season of life is tough. Three little ones are not easy to manage. But again I want to challenge myself to focus on what I love. There is a lot that drives me bananas...a lot that I don't always handle well...but if I can focus on what I love, it will help me create the kind of safe, warm, and fun environment I want my home to be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, now that I know you are biased...what do you love about your kiddos or those kiddos closest to you? </span></div>
Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-81404843756392006262016-02-13T17:39:00.000-07:002016-02-13T17:39:01.718-07:00A 4 Week Difference...<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's hard to believe that just a little over 4 weeks ago we were packing up in the snow and ice with mountains as our background. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now I am looking out a window at a beautiful yard with a mud puddle in the driveway that my children get excited about it filling back up! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In some ways it feels like we've been here longer than a month. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ypucj0WFwhk/VqlsXCJVwrI/AAAAAAAAB2c/jspJDEU60JE/s1600/first%2Bvisitors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ypucj0WFwhk/VqlsXCJVwrI/AAAAAAAAB2c/jspJDEU60JE/s320/first%2Bvisitors.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We've been able to reconnect with some amazing friends who live in this area or close enough to make a drive to see us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had my niece spend the whole weekend with us our first weekend here! The girl cousins were thrilled with all that time together!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We've been able to go to my mom and dad's house together as a family...something we haven't done in 2 and a half years (thanks to my husband's selfless sacrifices of sending me to my parents for Thanksgiving for 2 years). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We've been able to spend time with another homeschooling family who has a daughter the same age as Bella! Jenelle has been an amazing resource to me - even before we started homeschooling, I picked her brain about her experiences since she's successfully homeschooled 5 children! She has encouraged me as we were 1300 miles apart, but now that we are in the same neck of the woods, being around her and her awesome kids makes me feel so much more normal. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are going to continue homeschooling for the remainder of this year and then assess where we will go from there. We've already been welcomed into local co-ops, field trips, play dates, and we attended a Valentine's Day party last week!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lee is doing well at the Apple Store at Lakeside!! We are both so thankful that he has a job that he loves. He gets to be himself...the man I love. The man who loves people until it hurts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is so refreshing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All of it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I look forward to what is ahead because I do believe the best is yet to come. </span>Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-14507898430696943172015-12-10T22:13:00.000-07:002015-12-10T22:13:36.746-07:00Focusing on What I Love...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HhNQOzikJcs/VmpTfYd5hLI/AAAAAAAAB1E/PtMkMDaQuH4/s1600/IMG_5571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HhNQOzikJcs/VmpTfYd5hLI/AAAAAAAAB1E/PtMkMDaQuH4/s400/IMG_5571.jpg" width="342" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I confess...it is not always easy to focus on what I love about my life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most days seem mundane. They all look the same most of the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The same dishes being washed. The same clothes being washed (and maybe dried...and maybe folded and put away...maybe)...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The same toys picked up...vacuuming the same spot about 10 times a day because Breelee leaves trails of crumbs no matter what...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even the songs that the kids ask to listen to are the same exact ones every day...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And even though it is mundane...the same...each day is worth being celebrated and worth being thankful for.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is what I want to focus on. What I love. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) I love having faith in God. In the hardest, darkest times, it is what has carried me through. There is hope within me that things are working out on my behalf...no matter what the circumstances around me may look like. My faith has made me who I am. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) I love Lee. He really is my very best friend. He makes me laugh, which is a challenge since I often take myself way too seriously. There is absolutely no one else in the universe that I'd rather be with. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think about our vows..<i>.for better or for worse...in good times and in bad...in sickness and in health...</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've been through a lot together in our marriage, and it has made us grow stronger together. I love Lee Blakney with all of my heart. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) I love that my babies are happy and healthy...a minor cold or allergy issues is nothing...even when it causes whiney, clingy babies to be with me every second of the day...every. second. They are still healthy. And generally they are happy. Even when the bad attitude surfaces, it usually doesn't last long or go without an apology. They are amazing kids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4) I love that our family is adventurous! Like I said before, I can take myself way too seriously...but I am up for having a great time with my family! With awesome kids and a fun-loving husband, it makes it easier to make the best out of what we are doing! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5) I love the friendships that God has brought into my life. Those people who are there for me when I need them. Those people who love me without expecting anything in return. I really am richly blessed to have some amazing people in my life who care about me so much. Getting a call, text, or message from them lifts my spirits in ways that I cannot explain. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could go on...and maybe I will another time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But for now, this is a good place to start. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to be happy. And on the days when I am not...when I am miserable...it's because I'm focusing on anything and everything except the things that I love. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All it takes is one simple moment to recalibrate and refocus...and it's worth it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>What are some of the things that you can focus on that you love? </i></span><br />
<br />Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-34223835035505264922015-09-03T23:35:00.000-06:002015-09-03T23:36:14.611-06:00My Life is a 3 Ring Circus...<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wKuS8_hizeM/Veks6rAcT0I/AAAAAAAAByI/5BvaebFonDA/s1600/3%2Bring%2Bcircus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wKuS8_hizeM/Veks6rAcT0I/AAAAAAAAByI/5BvaebFonDA/s320/3%2Bring%2Bcircus.jpg" width="228" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel like my life is a 3-ring circus...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The constant activity of 3 very active little ones keeps me going in 3 different directions...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bella has been in a gymnastics class for 3 weeks now...she absolutely loves it. LOVES IT. She practices her cartwheels and handstands all of the time...all day...every day...I know she even does them in her sleep. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And while this hour long class is taking place at this huge, amazing gym...I spend my time trying to watch her (because she occasionally looks over to make sure I am)...and then chasing 2 other children in the small area.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel like I am in a mud pit trying to chase greased pigs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's just 1 hour out of 1 day of the week...in a public place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At home it is just as crazy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hear the word "MOM!" yelled multiple times...even if I am sitting right next to them. I have to be looking right at them for them to stop...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And sweet mother of pearl...if I am trying to attempt something like finish loading the dishwasher or put away the mountain of laundry, someone is going to do their best to prevent that from happening. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Home school is another circus...again with the constant need for me to be right there...giving constant attention...and I feel like my head is spinning in a million directions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My sweet friend Josie and I talk pretty often...I met her several years ago...when her kids were the ages that my kids are now. She encourages my heart so much. She tells me often of the moments that have become memories. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know it is not really a circus. I have GREAT kids. They are just active and full of life. They love me and want me to be present for every moment of their days...and if I am not careful now, they will not want me to be a part of their days in the near future. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, if you see me around...or you call me...or FaceTime me...at least you can be entertained by our 3 ring circus! </span>Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-1313627914288050832015-08-12T10:48:00.000-06:002015-08-12T10:48:21.764-06:00Ohhh...OK...Homeschool Reactions...We are homeschooling our children.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fPUjtBYpuDk/Vct4Nk2benI/AAAAAAAABxQ/l8se31Ce6ys/s1600/homeschool%2BBlakneys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fPUjtBYpuDk/Vct4Nk2benI/AAAAAAAABxQ/l8se31Ce6ys/s320/homeschool%2BBlakneys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
There are all kinds of reactions we get whenever we say that we are doing this...<br />
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"Ohhhh....OK..."<br />
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"I could never do that..."<br />
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"At least you have a background in teaching..."<br />
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"But Bella is so social...how is she going to make friends?"<br />
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Lee and I have thought about it and prayed about it a lot. It is what is right for our family.<br />
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I know that our kids don't understand right now why we've chosen this path...and to be honest, Bella is the only one who knows the difference.<br />
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She went to an amazing MDO (Mother's Day Out) in Broussard, Louisiana before we moved to Colorado, and then she went to an amazing junior kindergarten program here in Colorado for 2 years...and part of us holding her back one year there led us to our homeschooling decision.<br />
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Bella loves people. LOVES people. She's an extreme extrovert, which is hard for her introverted momma. But her daddy sure does get her.<br />
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Thankfully we are going to have the opportunity to put her in gymnastics this fall...Brennan in karate...and eventually we will get them in year-round swimming lessons! That is the goal.<br />
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And we will be in control of the environment that they are in.<br />
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Sure, I'm not going to lie...I do think it would be nice to get a daily "break" while they are at school.<br />
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I would get a lot more done around my house and for my business.<br />
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But this is the best decision for us. The sacrifice is worth it.<br />
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I know that this is not a fit for every family. But it is a fit for ours.<br />
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Lee works most Saturdays...so that would be a whole day that Bella would be home and her daddy would not. But now we get to enjoy his midweek day off. We can go camping, go on vacation, and live our life by our design...not by a school calendar.<br />
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So, here we go! I am spending this week preparing. I am writing out what we are going to accomplish as a family, and what we are going to accomplish individually!<br />
<br />Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-39897663333929273972015-06-13T00:18:00.002-06:002015-06-13T00:19:01.759-06:00Binge Watching The OfficeI love watching the Office with Lee Blakney.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uuZFyppLReY/VXvJm_u67UI/AAAAAAAABwQ/vz1fWVkFFXE/s1600/The_Office_NBC_logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="65" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uuZFyppLReY/VXvJm_u67UI/AAAAAAAABwQ/vz1fWVkFFXE/s320/The_Office_NBC_logo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our love of this started about 7 years ago when our friend Amanda (Meadows) Gravely gave us the season on DVD to watch...<br />
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I was preggo...and huge...<br />
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And we lived in a little apartment in Lafayette.<br />
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A few times a week, Lee and I would go back to our tiny apartment for lunch, and we would watch a few episodes of The Office before going back to the cafe for the afternoon. We would also watch several episodes at night. This was true binge watching before Netflix was around.<br />
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Every time we hear the theme song now, Lee and I look at each other and smile.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MYjCTL3YsyI/VXvJSJiJzxI/AAAAAAAABwI/x_IiqFsh3js/s1600/preggo%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MYjCTL3YsyI/VXvJSJiJzxI/AAAAAAAABwI/x_IiqFsh3js/s320/preggo%2B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And funny enough...when Bella was smaller, she would stop and smile every time she heard the theme song too. It was something that amazed us! We watched a LOT of episodes when I was pregnant...and we know that she recognized that from the womb!<br />
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The Office has so many likable characters...and so many characters that can make me feel uncomfortable!! But that is what makes me laugh!<br />
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Of course, Lee and I love the relationship of Pam and Jim...and amazingly...Lee is my Jim.<br />
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I am thankful that the whole series is on Netflix...and Lee and I binge watch at night after we put the kids to bed. It's like those afternoon lunch dates that we had years ago.<br />
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Life looks a lot different than it did 7 years ago...<br />
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I couldn't have predicted the adventure we would be living now!! But living by faith then taught us that we can continue to live by faith now...and our faith has to keep growing in order to keep up with the adventure!<br />
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God doesn't want us to stay the same...the faith I have now is stronger because of the faith I had at that point in our lives.<br />
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It's just a sweet reminder that comes along each time we watch an episode (or 2 or 3 or 4) of the office...Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-37283713405774928192015-05-29T20:03:00.000-06:002015-05-29T20:03:43.609-06:00In High Demand...<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being a mom of little ones has to be the most demanding job there is. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know that there may be more challenging jobs. And even as a parent, there are difficult and challenging seasons and stages...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But with having 3 little ones that are ages 6 and under...the demands seem endless. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Jf8hWCNQrs/VWkZxMCmJII/AAAAAAAABvs/UKR2-u3XJG4/s1600/thumb_IMG_2298_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Jf8hWCNQrs/VWkZxMCmJII/AAAAAAAABvs/UKR2-u3XJG4/s320/thumb_IMG_2298_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Food has to be prepared for them. All of the time. And when 1 seems to be going through a growth spurt, the others follow suit and want to eat all of the things in the house all of the time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When one is sick, that one consumes my day by staying put in my lap. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And there are many tears shed by that 1 when I get up to get food or anything else for the other ones. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is just straight up <i>demanding</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I try to breath slowly and calm my nerves as I am fixing something for one and getting asked repeatedly for something else by the others. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It doesn't matter if I acknowledge them and let them know I am aware of their requests. They are only quiet when the requested thing is in front of them. Then they are satisfied for 5 minutes. Maybe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hear from my other mom friends who have older children (these amazing women in my life whom I love dearly) that this is a stage...it won't always look like this. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It will look different as you wait with your teenager to see if he passed or failed his driving test...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It will look different as you hold your crying teenager who is suffering from a broken heart...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It will look different. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know that there will be a time when I will ask my kids if I can fix something for them to eat instead of hearing their demands from the moment they wake up until the moment they go to sleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am doing my best to embrace this season of life. </span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord, help me to appreciate the demands. Help me be thankful that I have happy, healthy children who are growing...and you've provided food for our family to ensure they continue to be healthy and full of life. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Help me to continue to show them patience...that it is ok to wait...and appreciate that they know how and when to say "please" and "thank you." </span></i></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just like any other job, it's a good thing when you are in high demand...it means you have a gift and a purpose to share with those who need you most. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to be even more thankful that I am in high demand...</span>Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-91920725915342159462015-03-10T22:59:00.000-06:002015-03-10T22:59:18.942-06:00Where Does My Worth Come From? <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used to check the stats of my blog every single day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Multiple times a day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OlDMSRsOQjk/VP_KFNZaWXI/AAAAAAAABuE/qgl5VDr7g6g/s1600/Not%2Ba%2BBlogger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OlDMSRsOQjk/VP_KFNZaWXI/AAAAAAAABuE/qgl5VDr7g6g/s1600/Not%2Ba%2BBlogger.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know why it made me feel good to see those numbers climb up. Or feel bad when they didn't! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess it gave me a sense of value. It made me feel important if people liked what I wrote. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I struggle with finding my value from external things instead of internally from God. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's harder for me to find my worth in Christ and who I am in Christ and not in the things that I do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who I am is enough. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not what I do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, like I said, that is a real struggle for me! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Becoming a professional, full-time blogger did NOT pan out for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I am thankful that my worth is not in a blog. I am thankful that I didn't pressure myself to do this to make it big. haha. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's definitely a hobby for me. Something that I enjoy when I have the time or the inspiration. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't usually mull over a blog post. I like to just sit and write it in about 10 minutes...proof it, then publish it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again. There is no pressure so I enjoy it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God is always wanting to work in us, and He is always wanting to work through us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He wants me to find my worth and my value in Him...not in what I do or do not do. </span><br />
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Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-8422396598959019802015-03-05T22:49:00.000-07:002015-03-05T22:49:14.047-07:00Focused and DeterminedWhat are you committed to doing? <div>
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It takes commitment and focus to make things happen. </div>
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If we leave things in our lives up to "chance," there is no guarantee that these things will happen. </div>
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But, with commitment, determination and focus, you will make things happen. </div>
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What is not in your life now that you would like for it to be there? </div>
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And just as importantly, what is in your life right now that you don't want for it to be there? </div>
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I challenge you to get a journal and write these things down. </div>
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And don't just close the journal and never look at it again. </div>
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Look at this list every day. </div>
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Daily. </div>
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What you focus on will happen.</div>
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If it is not on your mind regularly, you won't be focusing on making those things happen. </div>
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Don't put off for tomorrow what you are able to do today! </div>
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So, as I am finishing writing this blog, I am going to get my calendar and look at my lists. They are not just in my journal, they are in my planner as well. And something I will do tomorrow will help me move closer to getting the things I want in life and getting rid of the things that I don't! </div>
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I am focused and determined. </div>
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Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-62243737252700439782015-02-07T15:30:00.000-07:002015-02-07T15:31:25.730-07:00My Favorite Things Party!!<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided to write what I've done here as a reference! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That way it can be easy to find for those of you who would like to do this with your friends, women's ministry groups, co-workers, or family! :) </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XpxP_FXm4RY/VNaPrukUqyI/AAAAAAAABss/_XdR6kxM2Q8/s1600/My%2BFavorite%2BThings%2B2015%2BPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XpxP_FXm4RY/VNaPrukUqyI/AAAAAAAABss/_XdR6kxM2Q8/s1600/My%2BFavorite%2BThings%2B2015%2BPic.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are the instructions I sent out to the ladies. I used email, but you could make a cute paper invitation too for this! :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Favorite Things Party</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Choose<b> 1</b> of your most favorite things that costs $5 or less<br />
This can be your best kept secret cleaning product, beauty product, special treat...anything that is YOUR favorite. </span></blockquote>
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2. Buy <b>3</b> of that<b> SAME EXACT ITEM</b>. (Shouldn't cost you more than $15 - and it will not be 3 different things…they will all 3 be the same exact item; for example, same color/flavor of chapstick, same color of socks, same kind of candy!) </span></blockquote>
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3. Bring those <b>3 EXACT SAME ITEMS</b> to the party. They don't have to be wrapped because you'll be showing everyone what it is!</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. You'll be going home with 3 new items that could become your new favorites *<b>But you’ll be arriving with 3 of the exact same thing!!!</b> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the ladies arrive at the party, they place their items on a table for display, and then I have them write their name on 3 different slips of paper and put all 3 pieces of paper in a basket.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I'll have everyone draw a number from a different cup, and we go in order of the number drawn. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each woman stands up and explains what her item is and why it is her favorite, then she immediately pulls 3 names from the basket to give it to!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 14px;">We had women go home with chocolates, chapsticks, utility knives, </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">cleaning</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 14px;"> products, chips and guacamole, chips and salsa, candles, and </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">sooooo many other goodies! </span></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will have a few get-togethers before our next BIG event - that will be this summer! It’s our Summer White Party…I’ll have details on that soon! </span></div>
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Please email me or leave a comment here if you have any questions! I am happy to help you host your own party!! It is definitely something our ladies look forward to! </div>
Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-2808407407899564172015-02-03T18:41:00.002-07:002015-02-03T18:45:19.535-07:00On a Scale of 1 to 10<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If I compared my life to one of those 1 to 10 scales...I often think of what I would start as 1 and what I would have as 10. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would probably need to decide what 5 was too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know, right there in the middle. </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5zSBVBS8xzw/VNF4GzQwzHI/AAAAAAAABsc/foZGl1wq9Xg/s1600/scale-1-to-10-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5zSBVBS8xzw/VNF4GzQwzHI/AAAAAAAABsc/foZGl1wq9Xg/s1600/scale-1-to-10-copy.jpg" height="88" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10 is supposed to be perfect. So what would my perfect life look like? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And 1...the worst...what would that look like too? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5...mediocre. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What does my mediocre life look like? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know about you, but this is pretty deep thinking for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And to be honest, I don't know if I quite have this all hashed out myself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, it has me thinking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thinking about what I would want my life to look like...and also about what I would not want it to look like. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I don't want to live a boring life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lee and I have already been challenged to live a story worth telling...to live a life that others would talk about...would be inspired by...would be challenged by. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A life that would make someone say, <i>If they can do it, I can do it!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I'm actually going to take some time to think about it before I share. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>While I'm thinking, would you share with me what you have as one of the things that would make your life a 10? </i></span></div>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-5zSBVBS8xzw%2FVNF4GzQwzHI%2FAAAAAAAABsc%2FfoZGl1wq9Xg%2Fs1600%2Fscale-1-to-10-copy.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5zSBVBS8xzw/VNF4GzQwzHI/AAAAAAAABsc/foZGl1wq9Xg/s1600/scale-1-to-10-copy.jpg" -->Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-18684119265515742322015-01-25T20:46:00.000-07:002015-01-25T20:46:44.070-07:00You matter....<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've heard it said for years...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Don't compare yourself to others."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Comparison is the thief of joy." Theodore Roosevelt </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And yet<b> I STILL DO IT</b>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">haha...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's amazing how I can let my own thoughts of comparison ruin my own day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No one is forcing me to compare myself to others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No one is making me think those thoughts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do it to myself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I let discontentment get in the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am essentially saying "They have it better than I do...what I have or where I am or what I am doing is not good enough."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that is a load of baloney.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've written about <a href="http://briblakney.blogspot.com/2012/03/godliness-with-contentment-is-great.html" target="_blank">contentment</a> before. (You can read that post by clicking <a href="http://briblakney.blogspot.com/2012/03/godliness-with-contentment-is-great.html" target="_blank">here</a>!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being content with who I am is jeopardized when I compare myself to others. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to a training in Denver recently, and I heard an amazing lady, Crystal Thurber, speak for one of the segments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She held up yard sticks with names of the people who had also done trainings that day. She said how easy it would be to compare herself to those people, but she had to remember that she was called to be herself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She said, "As long as someone else's name is on this yardstick, I will never measure up. I'm not them. I could only be the second best version of them. I will only measure up when I look at myself. I can only use the yardstick with my name on it."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the meeting was over, I waited to talk with her...and let her know that I was going to go to Home Depot to get a yard stick of my own to write my name on it. Then I boldly asked her if I could have one of hers!!</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w9Fu43WZrXE/VMWsNDSgnrI/AAAAAAAABr4/HMXk5iQEMns/s1600/Crystal%2BThurber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w9Fu43WZrXE/VMWsNDSgnrI/AAAAAAAABr4/HMXk5iQEMns/s1600/Crystal%2BThurber.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She gladly gave me the one that said, "YOU MATTER!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a great trophy to take home from the day as a reminder!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I matter. I don't need to compare myself to anyone else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My story is my own. It's unique because it is me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lee and I often say we want to live a story worth telling...but not because we want our story repeated...but because we want to inspire others to live a greater story for themselves!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You matter. Quit comparing yourself to those around you. Instead, focus on the great things that make you who you are!</span><br />
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<br />Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-75410960666653853282015-01-04T11:59:00.000-07:002015-01-04T11:59:30.689-07:00This Was Not the Way I Expected to Start 2015...<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was not the way I expected to start 2015. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All 3 kids sick. Husband who is sick. I'm getting over this myself! And we have been stuck in the house for over a week. With lots and lots of snow outside. Partly because we have been sick...and partly because we only had the Jeep! (The faithful suburban has been out of commission for a bit due to the deer that was hit by it on the way to the Connection Church Christmas service!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My kids do well playing with each other for a little while. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then the simplest thing can seem to trigger the start of World War III. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The gross mom jobs that don't seem as gross when you are a mom have been multiplied this week. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even this morning there was one of those "Oh my word it's getting everywhere" moments...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I feel drained. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And strained. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I just don't want to be touched or talked to for 5 consecutive minutes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, that's not where I am at for this moment. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KGiB2d7w1AM/VKmKztHil3I/AAAAAAAABrA/sTml-NQU1Ts/s1600/Photo%2Bon%2B1-4-15%2Bat%2B8.41%2BAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KGiB2d7w1AM/VKmKztHil3I/AAAAAAAABrA/sTml-NQU1Ts/s1600/Photo%2Bon%2B1-4-15%2Bat%2B8.41%2BAM.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm holding a silly little sick one who finds comforts in m</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">y arms and in a lambie hooded towel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm keeping the peace between the 4 year old and the 6 year old as they learn to play together on the wii...or share the iPad...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm heating up red beans and rice at 1</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">0 am because that is what was requested, and appetites have been low around this house. So I am excited that they want to eat! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not at church today...because I do not want to spread these icky germs...so I had to send things with Lee for him to do on top of all of the other things he already has to take care of. And there were just a few things I didn't get to contribute to today. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yeah, this is not how I expected the fabulous beginning of 2015 to look like. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, I am still expecting great things. I know that God is working in me and through me...even now...even today...when I may not feel like I am vibrantly living life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I still believe the best is yet to come! </span><br />
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<br />Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-32702649493819103482014-12-30T16:40:00.000-07:002014-12-30T16:40:01.981-07:00I Expect Great Things<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here we are!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2015 is knocking on our door. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's just 2 sleeps away...and really, just 1, because we all know that I am not going to go to sleep until after midnight tomorrow night! That's crazy!!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am super excited about 2015. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really am! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe that the best is yet to come. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, we had hard times in 2014, but we are moving beyond that, and it just gets me fired up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm excited to see what God is going to do in and through Connection Church. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm excited to see what God is going to do in and through AdvoCare.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm excited to see what God is going to do in and through Lee at Apple.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I'm excited to see what God is going to do in and through me and my family. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a new expectancy in our home and in our personal lives that I don't think we've had in a very long time! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is a fresh season in our lives. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What are you excited about for 2015? </span>Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-41794085574329775822014-12-20T11:14:00.002-07:002014-12-20T14:03:41.484-07:00Stop Growing!!! A Reflection of My Growing Babies in 2014!! <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My kids are growing so quickly!!! </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gjIUxaJIF-w/VJW7fslNgVI/AAAAAAAABo0/mS8VbLM2yoE/s1600/IMG_1607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gjIUxaJIF-w/VJW7fslNgVI/AAAAAAAABo0/mS8VbLM2yoE/s1600/IMG_1607.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bella is learning to read, and she's doing a fabulous job! It is getting to the point where Lee and I can't spell things out to each other anymore because she will know what we are talking about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She's a pro at riding her bike. She makes friends super easily, and she loves playing with the kids on our street. She still loves to sing and dance, and life is definitely better for her when she has an audience! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She is an adventurer! She loves being outside and playing in the snow!! When we are ready to take the task of taking 3 kids up to the mountains, we are going to get her snowboarding lessons! </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a3Z-9IAEx88/VJW76K6uniI/AAAAAAAABpU/_gDOsmBhfwI/s1600/IMG_0590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a3Z-9IAEx88/VJW76K6uniI/AAAAAAAABpU/_gDOsmBhfwI/s1600/IMG_0590.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brennan is all boy! His curiosity is piqued from Bella learning to read, so he's interested in learning his letters and sounds for now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He loves all things ninja turtles, and he can often be found with swords in the back of his shirt. It's quite entertaining! He looks forward to his dad getting home from work so that he can begin fighting and wrestling with someone who will fight back and he won't get in trouble for it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He is a mischievous little boy, and I absolutely love it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He is so different from Bella in so many ways, and learning what works with him keeps me on my toes. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C2dmC5PGVVg/VJW7m4a2SLI/AAAAAAAABpE/pV4OTBHg-aQ/s1600/IMG_1630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C2dmC5PGVVg/VJW7m4a2SLI/AAAAAAAABpE/pV4OTBHg-aQ/s1600/IMG_1630.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Breelee is a hot mess. She LOVES to make people laugh. She's super silly and sweet. She loves Minnie Mouse and wants anything that her older siblings are playing with. She has an amazing vocabulary, and she seems to talk non-stop! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She is pretty much out of the breath-holding spells. It's been a very long time since she's had one...and the threat of them happening are pretty rare...usually just when she gets hurt...which is rare! She's a tough cookie!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are so blessed to have happy, healthy babies!<br />
They get along well (most of the time) and love each other very much. <br />
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Bring on 2015!!! </div>
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Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-86138868703340808802014-12-18T12:04:00.002-07:002014-12-18T12:04:57.125-07:00Beginning to Reflect on 2014<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've decided that I'm going to get back into blogging! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All it takes is a decision and action! :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we get to the end of 2014, it is a huge time of reflection for me! I've done this since I was a teenager. It's great to look back and see where I've been and plan and dream about where I am going. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2014 has been a...year. I'm struggling with finding the right adjective to describe it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were some really good, amazing, incredible things that happened...beautiful moments...but then there were some hard, dark, harsh moments too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most people may not be aware of the dark moments that our family faced. And that is ok. Even though we live in an age of social media, where everyone is connected, but these moments were hard to describe. Every once in a while we might have asked for prayer or said we were having a hard time, but it wasn't a picture of the daily struggles we were facing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lee was in a serious season of deep depression. Each day...each moment...was a struggle. I felt as if we had been robbed of our joy, and no matter what we did or what we prayed, we couldn't get it back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I knew it was bad...but often, I don't think I realized it was as bad as it was. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We lived in survival mode. Just barely making it from one day to the next. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-619RUophOvo/VJMcLEA2eBI/AAAAAAAABnk/6YHTb-vBfz4/s1600/UL%2Bstudents%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-619RUophOvo/VJMcLEA2eBI/AAAAAAAABnk/6YHTb-vBfz4/s1600/UL%2Bstudents%2B.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think the day that I realized it exactly how hard it had been was when a group of our UL Chi Alpha students came to Colorado for a camping trip and then came to Connection Church on the Sunday before they headed back to Louisiana. We hung out with them at Blair and Christian's apartment after church for a while, which was wonderful! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hadn't seen Lee that genuinely happy in a very long time. He was alive. He was himself. He was the man I had married. After that Sunday, I just kept crying as I thought about the glimpse of my husband I had seen. I missed him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was one of the hardest seasons we have been through together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I personally went through a time of depression after we lost everything in our Uhaul fire and Hurricane Katrina demolished my hometown. And Lee was super supportive as we survived that time, even dealing with his own emotions and grief. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This time around...3 little babies at home all day...it was extra difficult. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm thankful for the grace of God. I'm thankful that He walked us through that season. And I'm happy to say that it is over! </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--MGEEOn3jCg/VJMdJCWgARI/AAAAAAAABnw/hGxms3YKR6Q/s1600/IMG_0797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--MGEEOn3jCg/VJMdJCWgARI/AAAAAAAABnw/hGxms3YKR6Q/s1600/IMG_0797.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is joy in our home and our lives again. We work hard to not live in a constant state of survival with our 3 little ones. This is such a demanding season of life with them, but we definitely want to enjoy it and embrace it! I know that it will not be like this forever, and I refuse to rush through it by wishing for the next season to come!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are stronger because of the struggles we walk through together. And we can appreciate where we are now because of where we have been. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking forward to 2015!!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><i>Psalm 23:4 "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." </i></span></div>
<br />Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-20723111883859579642014-04-21T11:25:00.002-06:002014-04-21T11:26:42.294-06:00April 2014 Update<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a while since I wrote anything here! So I thought I'd do a spring update!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kids are growing fast. Super fast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Breelee is rolling her eyes now. She's not even 18 months old yet. It is unbelievable. She loves reading books and singing songs. She's a sweet, silly girl. She makes all of us laugh. She is saying lots of words, but my favorite is to hear her say "Bella" and "Bubba." It is so precious...and it totally melts my heart! She is still having breath-holding spells, but now that we know what they are, we can handle them...it doesn't make it fun or easier, but at least we can cope with it! Hopefully she will grow out of it by the time she's 2!</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kO8c1lQ9uGM/U1VS0atl_RI/AAAAAAAABlc/YMHYoiS7CLQ/s1600/easter+egg+dying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kO8c1lQ9uGM/U1VS0atl_RI/AAAAAAAABlc/YMHYoiS7CLQ/s1600/easter+egg+dying.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brennan is so tough...a bruiser and a destroyer of all things...usually because he's pretending to be the Hulk. He loves to pick up toys and throw them on the ground. He's been singing a lot lately...and his current favorite song is the "Itsy Bitsy Spider." He is fascinated with anything drum related....and before I know it he will be playing music with his dad. He's a handsome man just like his daddy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bella is a beautiful girl. She is drawing all kinds of things, writing her name, spelling words, sounding words out, and will be reading big ol' chapter books before we know it. Her preschool teacher tells us that she's the most helpful child in her class...and she is a great friend to the other students! She's smart and funny and has her dad's musical abilities as well! She loves loves loves being outside...whether it is snowing or scorching hot! She says she misses Louisiana, but she loves living in Colorado.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1cELYzo-k9M/U1VS07omEiI/AAAAAAAABlk/pYFcnurJYDg/s1600/IMG_1534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1cELYzo-k9M/U1VS07omEiI/AAAAAAAABlk/pYFcnurJYDg/s1600/IMG_1534.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's hard to believe that we've been in Colorado for almost 2 years!!! Sometimes it feels like we've been here longer. We love it...absolutely love it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We know that God has brought us here. There is no doubt in our minds about that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has not been the easiest thing we've ever done. The days are long but the weeks seem to go by so fast. We get tired and may even feel drained, but the joy of the Lord is our strength.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God keeps providing for our family in creative, unique ways. It is amazing and humbling to experience it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My faith is stronger for it, though.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've been setting goals as a family. It is fun to check them off of our list as we accomplish them! Lee and I are at the place where we are about to set some goals for the next 90 days. Health goals. Financial goals. Spiritual goals. Time goals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a good place to be. </span>Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-62011690632915077052014-01-14T11:20:00.001-07:002014-01-14T11:22:21.281-07:00Making Sweet Lemonade<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lately my babies have seemed extra clingy and needy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are constantly wanting to be held. Constantly wanting all of my attention.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And Breelee's breath-holding spells seem to happen more often when she's tired and not feeling well...and she's teething right now...so she has passed out a couple of times recently...which makes me feel like I can't do anything else except hold her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday, Brennan fell asleep in the car. So I brought Breelee inside first. From the time I set her down to coming back inside with Brennan, she was on the floor passing out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just that fast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of these days get really frustrating. OK, most of them...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't seem to finish the laundry or dishes or whatever I'm doing without a million interruptions and the threat of a little girl passing out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But before I know it, these days will just be a memory.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know that saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade..."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I would rather remember it like sweet lemonade instead of bitter lemonade that made my lips pucker.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It takes a lot of thought and effort to take those moments and make the best of them.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xW_tV4pHJZ4/UtV_Xj49PqI/AAAAAAAABks/uwKGCPTLjkk/s1600/lemonade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xW_tV4pHJZ4/UtV_Xj49PqI/AAAAAAAABks/uwKGCPTLjkk/s320/lemonade.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know that this is a season. I know that there will be times I will go to the restroom without an audience. I will be able to unload and reload the dishwasher without an interruption. I will be able to read a book without feeling guilty because my house will be clean and I won't have other things that I feel like I should be doing instead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But for now, I need to keep making sweet lemonade with the moments that I do have with my babies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's my attitude that makes all the difference.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want my babies to look back and have sweet memories instead of bitter ones.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, it is my attitude that will make all of the difference.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, cheers! Here is to enjoying those lemons in some sweet lemonade!</span><br />
<br />Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-46306846765464914102013-12-26T22:16:00.002-07:002013-12-26T22:16:46.496-07:00The End of 2013 Mini-Update<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cannot believe that 2013 is days away from being over. History...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a while since I've blogged...so I thought I'd do a little update. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) We took Breelee to see a pediatric neurologist about her breath-holding spells. He told us that what we described was very common...and even her worst one was considered normal. And thankfully, they are not seizure related. He believes it is something she will grow out of soon. That is a wonderful thing. She has passed out since then, but none of the non-responsive moments...which is a relief! But it is a wonderful thing to know that she is ok!</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IorbwJTnc0g/Ur0K46CrBhI/AAAAAAAABkI/mWqAbR_Xq7Y/s1600/cousins+tea+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IorbwJTnc0g/Ur0K46CrBhI/AAAAAAAABkI/mWqAbR_Xq7Y/s320/cousins+tea+party.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) The kids and I spent 2 1/2 weeks in Buras with my parents. It was a fantastic visit!!! The kids had a blast playing with their cousins...I had a wonderful time fishing with my dad...and of course, eating the fish that was caught - along with a lot of other amazing food! Lee came in for Thanksgiving, and it was great to be with the family for the holiday. Such a special time. We even had a tea party to celebrate all of the cousins birthdays together. It was so neat!!! Such a great time!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) My dad has stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma. It was crazy hearing him talk to Brennan about cancer. Again, this is another thing that made the trip so special. My dad isn't taking chemo...he has been taking supplements and eating super clean and healthy. He has lost about 20 pounds (that he said he could stand to lose) and he looks great! We are believing that when he goes back for tests in January, he will get a great report from the doctor that he has been healed!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4) We are blessed to be a part of Connection Church. God is doing wonderful things in our community. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with friends from church who are like family. It was a wonderful, relaxing time! These friends mean so much to us. <i>I love living life with these people!!</i> And I love doing things with our ladies...that is one of my favorite things ever!!!! We are blessed!!! It's not always easy...but this is exactly where we are supposed to be. And we love it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for keeping up with our family. We feel so loved!! We appreciate the prayers, financial support, and encouragement that we receive...and as always, it is exactly when we need it. God is good to us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are excited about what is to come in 2014...</span><br />
<br />Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8277740748349492832.post-25172224681882825522013-11-09T15:24:00.001-07:002013-11-09T15:24:20.609-07:00To Relish in This Season...<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gosh...here I go again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have about 5 blog posts that I've started...I just haven't finished them yet. Not quite ready to publish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was telling Lee last night that this is such a demanding season of life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 little ones - ages 5 and under...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just seem to stay busy and feel like I am always in survival mode.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just want to make it to the next day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are often dishes left in my sink.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laundry in the process of being sorted/washed/dried/put away...and in various places of the house in those stages.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A floor that needs to be vacuumed...only to stay needing that vacuum because a baby has finally fallen asleep and the older 2 are being quiet enough that I don't want to take the risk of disrupting that sweet blissful moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know this is a season. Just like it is fall right now...winter is coming...and before I know it, it will be spring!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just had our parent-teacher conference with Bella's teacher.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We made the decision to keep Bella in preschool one more year instead of putting her in kindergarten.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her teacher went on and on about the difference between the 2 years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bella was the youngest last year. She had difficulties using scissors, sitting still and following directions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year, she's older...and her teacher said that Bella is the natural leader in the class. She said Bella will be ready to move on next year...and she will have so much more confidence for her whole academic career. It's one of the best decisions Lee & I have made in a long time! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her teacher had so many wonderful things to say about our precious Bella. It's treasured words that I wrote in my journal as soon as I could because I never want those words to leave my heart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It seems like just yesterday she was wearing the same clothes that Breelee is wearing now. She was that tiny...walking around Cafe Chi Alpha...watching you tube videos of Sesame Street songs with her college friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And now she's writing, coloring, drawing, singing, dancing, and becoming a beautiful young lady right before my eyes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the other 2 aren't far behind her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Breelee will be walking soon...she's already taking several steps in a row. Her little personality is shining through, too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brennan is getting taller...becoming more creative in his imagination and playing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a season. I know that other seasons will have their challenges and demands. I know that there will be moments I will want to cry and pull my hair out...for totally different reasons than I am facing now...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So for right now, Lord, help me to embrace this season. To enjoy the innocence of my babies. To relish in the snuggles and giggles and the moments that will never be like this again. </span>Bri Blakneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04680287029987261418noreply@blogger.com2