tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-180410172024-03-12T20:54:51.341-05:00Live Your Love Out LoudMotivational speaker and NPR radio personality Heather Curlee Novak uses F Words about Feisty Faith, Fumbling Family, Fairly Healthy Food, Failed Fashion and Fabulous Friendships. Find tips for yourself, marriage, parenting and dull kitchen moments. Stop feeling bored or stuck in your life: Live Your Love Out Loud TODAY.
liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.comBlogger441125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-54327036565898380122019-09-06T07:50:00.000-05:002019-09-06T07:50:01.877-05:00Pizza Dough Prayer with Leeann Wright <div dir="ltr" id="m_-7102431164176304750docs-internal-guid-8153206f-7fff-2a05-72e8-a9ae42658991" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>We are delighted to introduce Leeann Wright aka The Wright Baker this week. Leeann is a delightful woman who throws her entire soul into everything she does. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”Esther Circle” is a group of women fumbling towards fierce faith and I am an enthusiastic member who loves to share in the journey toward joy. We take turns “hosting” whether it is in our home, at church, or a local “establishment” (where we sometimes sip wine) and discuss a multitude of topics ranging from daily mundane happenings, to motherhood mishaps, to the supremely deep meaning of life. We conclude our meeting refreshed and renewed, and always just a little bit wiser than when we arrived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few weeks ago, I hosted this group of ladies at my home. I recently read a delightful blog post by Jonny Rashid, who equated the process of making bread to faith. <a href="https://www.circleofhope.net/jonnyrashid/bake-bread-follow-jesus/" target="_blank">You can read it here. </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being a baker myself, this really spoke to me. I appreciated the symbolism of yeast to the Spirit, as growing one’s faith simply takes time and attention.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have only been a baker for a few years, having taught myself from a book. My mother has always declared “I don’t know where you get that from - must be Mamaw because it certainly isn’t me!” and then will proceed to tell me about the time she tried to bake a birthday cake and wound up throwing three of them in the bin before ordering one from the local bakery. Despite this “tale,” my mother is really a very good cook and baker. From her kitchen wisdom (and Betty Crocker), I learned how to prepare meals and treats that would please even the pickiest eaters. Spending time in the kitchen with my Mom is on my “Top 10” list of favorite ways to spend an afternoon. The time shared together in service to the nourishment of the family for me is Godly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my own kitchen, God speaks to me, whether I am preparing a simple dinner for my family or attempting something more elaborate such as Cinnamon Twist Bread or Apple Streusel Muffins. The time spent over my stove, in my sink, and at the counter is a holy experience. I have the time to focus on one task - preparing a delicious, nutritious (or naughty) meal/treat - and my mind is quiet. It is at this time I speak with God, telling him what’s on my mind and in my heart. As I knead bread, or stir soup, I pray, open my soul, and ask for His guidance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I invited my Esther Circle ladies into my home and my kitchen, I knew that I was inviting them to share a tiny slice of how I pursue my faith. I chose to prepare pizza for the group and explained the various steps to putting together the dough for the crust, leaning heavily on the article by Rashid. As I was working through the steps, I was observing the women in my dining room and kitchen. Before me were women who were embattled, struggling, and ailing. Yet, each was determined, excited, and confident in her faith. Some were dealing with family members who are incarcerated, some battling severe illness, some working through loss, others struggling to find purpose in employment. Yet, despite these troubles, I saw God’s touch and the hope glittering in each woman’s eye. As I kneaded the dough and prepared a meal in service to these wondrous women, I gave a silent prayer of thanks to God. For it was He who placed these women in my life. It was He who gave me these fine examples of womanhood to follow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the dough rested and the pizza toppings were prepared, I again gave thanks to God for giving me strong hands and a bounteous pantry. I knew the conversation at my dining table would run the gamut, but at the end of the night, we would all thank God for this fierce and loving friendship and our shared journey toward deeper faith.</span></div>
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Follow The Wright Baker on <a href="https://twitter.com/thewrightbaker?lang=en" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or see what is happening in Mrs. Wright's Kitchen <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mrs.Wrights.Kitchen" target="_blank">via Facebook!</a></div>
liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-90668521242390035672019-08-15T04:08:00.000-05:002019-08-15T04:08:17.555-05:00"Good Ugly" a Michiana Chronicle from NPR's WVPE 88.1FM<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Cambria; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.wvpe.org/post/michiana-chronicles-good-ugly" target="_blank"><b>CLICK HERE to hear the radio version </b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.wvpe.org/post/michiana-chronicles-good-ugly" target="_blank"><b>of this "Good Ugly" Michiana Chronicle.</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Many of us have a bit of vanity and as we age and wrinkles show up we either give up and go with it (which I think is healthiest) or we start buying those $200 neck crèmes and trying botox. At my solid age of…‘marvelous’ …I am grateful to be a good ugly. I say good ugly because my face has had a Bell’s Palsy adventure I do not wish upon any of you. Being uglier has taught me many things I’d like to share.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">If you do not know, most do not, Bell’s Palsy is a mystery. It is a disease that makes your face look like you are having a stroke. Half of your face becomes paralyzed and it can last weeks, months, years or never heal completely. I headed to the ER on March 11<sup>th</sup>apologetically explaining I thought I was having a stroke. They did the scans and the tests and diagnosed Bell’s Palsy. I’ve only heard of that from author and speaker Rachel Hollis who has had it several times. (I KNEW I was just like her!) I was given a pile of prescriptions and went home to Google myself into a panic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I won’t bore you with it all. You, too can google. I’ll share I had trouble eating, my affected side eye wouldn’t close so I wore unsexy eye patches and I felt like garbage for two months. I didn’t work and actually couldn’t even visit with friends or talk on the phone because even 20 minutes of conversation wore me out. My face had to compensate for the paralyzed side and would ache terribly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I am a person who talks for a living. I do motivational and keynote speaking, I am active in my work at church welcoming and connecting people. My smile and red lipstick is who I say I am to the world. My spark felt extinguished. I grew depressed. I slept a lot. I did all of the therapy Blue Cross and Blue Shield could buy: massage, physical therapy, acupuncture. I drank organic juices, slept, avoided stress and cried at my ugly face. I got dozens of sweet get well cards and beautiful gifts and soup. A facebook Group for facial paralysis and Bell’s Palsy was a valuable group for me. At one point early on I learned to apply my red lipstick unevenly so that my mouth would actually look more even. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">When I spoke, children would stare and adults would give double takes. I looked weird and realized people would think I was…what? Less than? Developmentally disabled? Ugly? Would I be dismissed? Had I dropped from the good place in life I held as an educated, somewhat attractive white woman into…normalcy? With Bell's Palsy was I below normal now? Instead of completely panicking, I saw this Bell's Palsy as a gift. I could see what it was like to be treated differently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I started to watch how people interacted with me. For ogling kids I immediately said “Isn’t my face crazy? This side is paralyzed and lazy! Can you grimace-smile like this?” It broke down the barriers for them (and their parents) and I was able to educate. When I saw people out in public who were ugly like me, or had something “other” about them, I observed them. I tried to grimace-smile reassuringly and knew that their mind could be just like mine on the inside. I worked harder for my words to connect with people since my smile was gone. Without the light in my eyes conveying warmth, I looked a bit scary when I tried to smile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Feeling trapped in my broken face reminded me we are all people who matter. We all want to look nice and be liked and we all have something to give the world. I believe I am kinder and more patient with strangers than before Bells’ Palsy made me a good ugly. I gave up waiting for my face to get normal again and decided I had too much to do to wait for healing. I started working again as I felt stronger. I spoke more, I wrote more. I thought more about what I wanted to do with my life, with this whisper of time I have to be alive and connecting with other people. I thank God for letting Bell’s Palsy happen to me, for making me a good kind of ugly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Now I have some slight movement in my face coming back after four months of struggling and I’m grateful. I’m thrilled to see eye wrinkles because it means my mouth is getting the smile muscles working all they way up through my cheek. I’m exited to maybe wear eye makeup again soon and feel prettier…and I will never forget this good ugly life lesson from Bell’s Palsy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-14112734967956053502019-08-14T15:47:00.000-05:002019-08-14T15:47:59.948-05:00What is Wrong with My Face?My most recent YouTube video..."I'm Back" and "What is wrong with my Face?" <a href="https://youtu.be/sxGKN5pZ5gs" target="_blank"> Watch it all here!</a><br />
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<br />liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-85647170784297078082019-07-31T17:30:00.000-05:002019-07-31T17:31:18.270-05:00Edamame Dumplings and Shrimp soup with Asian Noodles: Tiny Red Kitchen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I went on a hot girl date in the city and we did it right! We ate delectable dinner, stalked a cupcake ATM (!!!) caught a piano bar set or two and ended with some Starbucks for the drive home. Though the Sprinkles cupcake ATM was novel and delicious, dinner at True Food Kitchen was my favorite. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">True Food Kitchen is a restaurant with the aesthetics befitting Chicago cool kids, but with a "gut health" angle this "Marvelous" aged chick can feel smug about. <a href="https://www.aliveandwellcoaching.com/gut-guide-101" target="_blank">(NOD to my pal Mari Johnson Hahn for adding the gross words 'gut health' to my repertoire.)</a> Andrew Weil's True Food Kitchen offers only Anti Inflammatory cuisine. AND Cocktails. WHAT? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The food was so delicious I almost bought their $30 cookbook right then. I am an Amazon Prime Whore, so I pulled it up for a cool $11 and ordered it as I sat chewing the nom nom food! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is one of many things I have made since: Edamame Dumplings! We'd ordered these as appetizers, and there was just enough of the light, gingery- garlicky wonton in frothy goodness to be satisfying...the portion was only meant to whet our appetitive: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These are so simple! You'll basically pulverize the ingredients and fold them into adorable wontons wrappers. I'd never bought these wonton wrappers before...they tend to be in the organic cold case in these parts. They would be great to make raviolis too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: start;">I've made these Edamame Dumplings from True Food Kitchen cookbook twice now. (To be honest we go the plump persons route of pan frying them like pot stickers.) <a href="https://spoonuniversity.com/recipe/how-to-make-edamame-dumplings-in-white-truffle-miso" target="_blank">Spoon University has a similar recipe, find that here. </a> </span><span style="text-align: start;">These do not keep well, so mange! mange! </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also made the Shrimp Soup with Asian Noodles. It was gorgeous and delicious. But the Edamame Dumplings were the BEST.</span></span></div>
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liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-5687507695159925982019-07-22T05:00:00.000-05:002019-07-22T05:00:25.814-05:00Tiny Red Kitchen: Nailed It Unicorn Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When kids get to a certain age, like between 5 and 25 years old, it is beyond difficult to find an appropriate movie or tv show to watch together as a family. NO! I do not want to watch Captain Underpants. Again. With our young daughters we fell into <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80179138" target="_blank">Netflix's show </a>"Nailed It!" with wild abandon. All of us would laugh together and watch as the hapless bakers fumbled at comedic levels. The unicorn cake episode was our favorite and we decided to make our own version of it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We used a box cake mix since I discovered long ago it keeps nicer than scratch cake mix. You may have read <a href="https://liveyourloveoutloud.blogspot.com/2012/07/trk-box-vs-scratch-how-good-can.html" target="_blank">my chocolate cupcake in spin class post</a> . For the fondant we used Wilton Fondant but made our own icing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every one got to participate, adding their own magic to the final cake. In our tiny red kitchen it was tricky to work peaceable and there may have been tears and yelling. The ugly cake tasted great, and I know there is no golden chef's hat in my future. How about you? Have you made this unicorn cake everyone is talking about on Pinterest? I'd love to see your cake fails. Maybe you NAILED IT!??!</span></div>
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<br />liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-10834496392458481212019-07-20T21:48:00.000-05:002019-07-20T21:48:20.430-05:00Help FOUND: Gary with Family Express in Valparaiso, Indiana<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Sunday mornings before I go to work I treat myself with a fancy coffee from my neighborhood Family Express on Lincolnway in Valparaiso, Indiana. I always enjoy chatting up the folks working there at 6am ...and they are always warm and interesting people. One of my favorites is this guy Gary. He is funny and makes me feel important. He chats quickly but it is always good conversation with a smile. I think he likes his job. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This one Saturday I popped in for coffee at 6:45am because Starbucks was too far away and Blackbird cafe doesn't open till 7am. I was vaguely interested in getting breakfast. I saw the bright, well lit warming cabinet for breakfast sandwiches right by the register when I went to pay for my coffee and picked one out. I asked Gary if the cabinet used to be at the other end of the counter and he lit up with a grin. He said he'd been doing some research and learned about * where to place things to sell more and decided to move the sandwich case. There I was, buying one!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was impressed the he took his time and made an effort to serve his store. I was amused at how well it worked on me, the average customer. I wanted to give you guys a chance to say "Hi!" to Gary and congratulate Family Express on hiring great people who give awesome customer service.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Gary used thoughtful insider language and I forgot the words he used...Gary is smarter than me.</span><br /></div>
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liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-47375938296881758282019-07-20T21:03:00.001-05:002019-07-20T21:27:01.421-05:00Reluctant Missionary: No one Needs to Go to Africa, Why Am I?<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have never felt a desire to take a church mission trip out of the United States. I certainly am not interested in Africa. Or Sierra Leone. I have never traveled internationally and if I got the opportunity I would rather Paris or Italy like any boring romantic American. I do pursue God though, and She is HILARIOUS. I am going with five other fine United Methodist Church folks to Sierra Leone West Africa in October this year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most normal people aren't interested in flying across the world to volunteer in dirty hot conditions. When they don't want to go themselves, it can be difficult for them to know what's going on in other countries or be very interested. In my position as Director of Connections at Valpo First United Methodist Church, I want to figure out a way to help a normal person like me get connected to other parts of the world (without having to get on a plane!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our church staff and ministry leaders talked about how to connect our congregation to our international United Methodist Church missions many times, but haven't discovered the right way to do it. Remember that God has a wonderful sense of humor? Recently I left a meeting in which we talked about giving up on connecting to our own church missions and simply supporting a World Vision or Compassion International Sunday at church instead. It would be easier since we didn't have the energy or resources to create our own vehicle to connect members to our United Methodist Church mission internationally. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then a nice man named Mike ruined my white middle class lady life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This man named Mike Strayer came to my desk. Mike was interested in what I thought about trying to find someone who could go to Sierra Leone in West Africa to help facilitate some sort of penpal relationship with our students there. He said the International Missions team wanted to financially support the right person. Of course this made my heart beat faster and I had just been talking about building relationships like this 10 minutes earlier in our meeting. Since I had just started back to work after missing several months with my Bell's palsy illness, I knew that I wasn't up for international travel. I was barely working part of my normal hours. He asked if I would be interested and I said no, thank you. I suggested they talk to our youth pastor, so we all went and had a conversation. The Youth Pastor Marc Adams encouraged me to consider going, even with my goofy face. He said God can do miracles and work through any situation and all of that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I went home and told my husband casually that I had some conversations and that if our youth pastor wasn't interested in going I said I'd consider going to Africa. My husband who is risk averse and works full-time himself didn't say anything about me being potentially gone for two weeks to Sierra Leone West Africa on a mission trip that I never wanted to go on. A</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ll he said to me was "Well, you'd need a passport!" This was one of many times I thought the door would close on this trip and I would hear a strong "No'" but got encouragement instead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I checked in with someone who did on the trip earlier and got some honest feedback. I checked in with the Pastor Marc to see if he was going and he did not feel led to go, again encouraging me to go even with my malady. I decided that I would not go. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">went and talked with Pastor Kevin (who is going on the trip) and I asked if he thought I should go even with myBell's Palsy. He said that he couldn't possibly tell me what to do. I asked why he was going on the Africa trip and he said it was a once in a lifetime trip for him. I still wasn't convinced. Together he and I came up with a list of 10 amazing people who would be great to go on the trip (instead of me!). I gave the list to Mike and within a day he called me back and said that I was the right person to go, and if they wanted me to go. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am a crazy and at times </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">foolish </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">woman, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">but I do honestly pursue God </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">with my messy little heart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I believe God has some kind of wonderful for me through this trip and decided to give in and see exactly what he has in store for me. I am going on this mission trip. I am going to Sierra Leone and leaving my husband and two little kids for two weeks to jump whole heartedly into....God only knows. I would very much appreciate your prayers and your thoughts as I prepare to go on this adventure In October. If you have tips on international traveler stories of your own to share, send them my way or comment below! </span><br />
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liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-80413439612290296202019-07-12T03:00:00.000-05:002019-07-12T03:00:12.133-05:00Haiku Challenge Friday: Lighthouse<div style="margin: 0px;">
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Haiku is a three line poem with 5 syllables the first line, 7 syllables the second line and 5 again for the last line. </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My Dad is a BIG Haiku guy, he loves them and has compiled his into several books. I do it randomly and rarely but always enjoy the process. It usually starts with an idea or a moment in life I want to capture.</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please email me a Haiku Challenge if you would like to be a Guest Challenger. Include the challenge word and your starting Haiku poem.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I am a crappy Christian</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I love everyone.</b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Your challenge word to use in your haiku is : <span style="color: red;">LIGHTHOUSE</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a data-pin-board-width="400" data-pin-do="embedUser" data-pin-scale-height="200" data-pin-scale-width="80" href="http://www.pinterest.com/liveloudheather/">Visit Heather Novak's profile on Pinterest</a></span></div>
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liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-38493856543573429182019-07-05T02:00:00.000-05:002019-07-05T02:00:00.239-05:00Haiku Challenge Friday: Puppy<div style="margin: 0px;">
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Haiku is a three line poem with 5 syllables the first line, 7 syllables the second line and 5 again for the last line. </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My Dad is a BIG Haiku guy, he loves them and has compiled his into several books. I do it randomly and rarely but always enjoy the process. It usually starts with an idea or a moment in life I want to capture.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Haiku Challenge participants...just write your haiku in the comments below!</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please email me a Haiku Challenge if you would like to be a Guest Challenger. Include the challenge word and your starting Haiku poem.</span></i></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is this week's challenge Haiku:</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Poor Steve is thirteen</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>We'll teach an old dog new tricks</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Get him a puppy?</b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Your challenge word to use in your haiku is : <span style="color: red;">PUPPY</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let's hear <u>your</u> haiku!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a data-pin-board-width="400" data-pin-do="embedUser" data-pin-scale-height="200" data-pin-scale-width="80" href="http://www.pinterest.com/liveloudheather/">Visit Heather Novak's profile on Pinterest</a></span></div>
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liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-53295229552488165652019-06-28T11:38:00.001-05:002019-06-28T11:38:18.841-05:00Bodacious Blog of the week: Mumbling Mommy!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Five years ago when I was blogging regularly, one of my paid gigs was with this great mom blog "Mumbling Mommy". The owner Katie Parsons was helpful to me as I worked on my blog and let me post content on their site. Since then I have enjoyed their posts and the variety of viewpoints. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfkyUr7XB-KU0xZ7kTVgLtDEl5_aLpoNqqbqlHfnjztDUaCmrPlSl7rdHRgUV2WlFt-7uLuw7PjaaLSYRdL4YWyClf0cz0-A4NBQQlrFYWgWo-LFcjg7woZbffJypw10XXTuHcQ/s1600/mumbling+mommy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfkyUr7XB-KU0xZ7kTVgLtDEl5_aLpoNqqbqlHfnjztDUaCmrPlSl7rdHRgUV2WlFt-7uLuw7PjaaLSYRdL4YWyClf0cz0-A4NBQQlrFYWgWo-LFcjg7woZbffJypw10XXTuHcQ/s320/mumbling+mommy.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mumbling Mommy's recent post on <a href="http://mumblingmommy.com/2019/05/5-inexpensive-ways-enjoy-summer-break.html" target="_blank">how to have inexpensive fun </a>during the summer caught my eye and I wanted to share it...don't we all need some ideas? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are a mama, this blog is for you! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mumblingmommy/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mumblingmommyblog/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/MumblingMommy" target="_blank">Twitter</a> & tell them Heather Novak sent you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://mumblingmommy.com/?s=novak" target="_blank">If you would like to see the Mumbling Mommy posts from me, here they are!</a> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a data-pin-board-width="400" data-pin-do="embedUser" data-pin-scale-height="200" data-pin-scale-width="80" href="http://www.pinterest.com/liveloudheather/">Visit Heather Novak the mad crazed pinner on Pinterest.</a></span></span><br />
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liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-55300299706069432342019-06-27T16:35:00.002-05:002019-06-28T07:42:24.389-05:00No I Can't. (And No, I'm Not Busy Then!)<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of my favorite things about having a new baby is the built in perfectly good reason to say "NO" to absolutely any request coming my way. Alas, I no longer have a new baby at home. When I speak to women's groups, particularly moms groups, I remind them of this gift. It makes me want to rent a baby sometimes. If you are any kind of a nice person, many requests will come your way...can you say 'no' when you need to?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXQME4SjKkrzE1c7BGrBkVFJVCW3ul0M1McnXQ6uJBbRdbF3Ae3A6vHS0nVBOs4jEo8f3o9ZIqdfVbUpTevo_qgpJE5qEfPO2tSFbx9dl4WQR771gSSRLGzMeWVhtmfl8ubpKmQ/s1600/I%2527m+not+busy+but+NO....png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXQME4SjKkrzE1c7BGrBkVFJVCW3ul0M1McnXQ6uJBbRdbF3Ae3A6vHS0nVBOs4jEo8f3o9ZIqdfVbUpTevo_qgpJE5qEfPO2tSFbx9dl4WQR771gSSRLGzMeWVhtmfl8ubpKmQ/s400/I%2527m+not+busy+but+NO....png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many people want to please others and struggle to say 'No' when asked to do something they simply do not want to do. They are worried they will hurt someone's feelings, they worry they could miss out on something. They worry people will see them negatively if they aren't helpful and perfectly compliant and agreeable at all times. These gentle, sweet people then get asked to do everything, every time. They struggle to do all the things and have little time left for themselves. This is rarely a problem for me, and I will tell you why: I don't know how much time I have left. Comedian Mark Maron did this bit where he humorously reminds himself "I don't know how much time I have" when confronted with daily choices. Do you know how much time you have left?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you think about it for even one moment, you may just gasp with the speed of our lives. Anything can happen and we cannot assume our days are endless. I choose to spend my time on the things that matter to me. On occasion I do need to take my turn volunteering with a ginormous Girl Scout troop of 19 screaming 4th graders. Sometimes I'll be a good church lady cleaning up after all the fun is over even though I am not quite old enough. While I will help here and there, I try to limit agreeing to things that make me grouchy and unpleasant to be around. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gRb-o1WcQVSW6l1CFYoNFwXgmQyOxYxatusixYst0onHb7rHqQNyfAcwp57_-6pfEEpH9OMLVguMSQEEOjPfyTe_CqBNvCUzSl5p9SwUTJKrm8OinG_nwV-DczzqBi3qVYNctQ/s1600/turqtable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="510" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gRb-o1WcQVSW6l1CFYoNFwXgmQyOxYxatusixYst0onHb7rHqQNyfAcwp57_-6pfEEpH9OMLVguMSQEEOjPfyTe_CqBNvCUzSl5p9SwUTJKrm8OinG_nwV-DczzqBi3qVYNctQ/s400/turqtable.jpg" width="257" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Here is a list of things I choose NOT to do:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. I don't work on my days off. I</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> work at a church and I love my job, but I am fairly careful to work only the part time hours I am paid for. I am challenged to do the work I'd like to do in the timeframe I have, but working part time suits our family. While I do check email on days off, I may save replies for my next work day. Guarding my time away from work does require some planning. Sometimes I make someone unhappy, but I continue to navigate it all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't volunteer for things I really do not want to do. I used to volunteer with Girl Scouts but honestly those 19 screaming girls, precious as they may be, is not a good healthy place for me. I do choose to volunteer at our church by leading the weekly Valpo Modern Moms group and a few other things from time to time. I like to encourage women, and most of my volunteering involves women. I think everyone lives their best life only when volunteering somewhere regularly. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRnt6CfgFpPgsC_EioAANBRQtiTgaEYcbUBAHGpC56tVihkuvxWFNxFuxwbJZkIIYSDXX64athdU8wS3_ika_rYV_fStJzYABdDSK4qQwNxLfTWmxCkK5lqnuIhXlqhBTKEXCgg/s1600/pkcooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="1052" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRnt6CfgFpPgsC_EioAANBRQtiTgaEYcbUBAHGpC56tVihkuvxWFNxFuxwbJZkIIYSDXX64athdU8wS3_ika_rYV_fStJzYABdDSK4qQwNxLfTWmxCkK5lqnuIhXlqhBTKEXCgg/s400/pkcooks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. I don't say yes unless it is a "Hell Yes!". This keeps me from hemming and hawing. For example, I rarely have or attend home parties to sell things. (Lula Roe Clothes & Color Street Nails are two exceptions!!!) I buy from any little kid, every time. <i>(Unless they cannot tell me what they are selling or why. I remain a sales trainer at heart. I see you, first graders! Smile! Eye Contact! Believe in yourself and your thang you want me to buy!)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. I do not allow myself to make long excuses or reasons. I simple say "No thanks!" or "oh, I cannot make that." The more you practice this, the easier it gets.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkau0iyt11KxD3gWsAOGaL346TDMo8kqZtOmndJuT9w-hJS_LtWTE1VX9oKZ618mrUn73zk9r_uUyiBDPoQ9Raw1M6b09iu2XhAfwIi8SM0DpZRbAozagc26mjn2a9hl15THIVRQ/s1600/kayaktoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkau0iyt11KxD3gWsAOGaL346TDMo8kqZtOmndJuT9w-hJS_LtWTE1VX9oKZ618mrUn73zk9r_uUyiBDPoQ9Raw1M6b09iu2XhAfwIi8SM0DpZRbAozagc26mjn2a9hl15THIVRQ/s640/kayaktoes.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. I do not pack my (or my families') schedule full of all the good things. Some people can do all the things, but I do not want to. I feel strained and stressed trying to get to all my places already, so I purposely leave space in my calendar. I take naps. I read books. I while away an afternoon with a friend or two, often on impulse at the last minute(because I do not already have my day filled up). These events add more life to my days and I treasure them. My husband and I guard our kid's time too. They are only in a few events or activities at any given moment, and we talk with them about how they want to spend their time. Sometimes we turn something down just because we have not had a day to just sit around the house together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. I limit screen time. If I sit in a chair with my phone and a book, I will never read the book, even though I find more value in the book. I have lots of wonderful people in my life and sometimes I still want to be alone. I use most Fridays as a Screen Free Sabbath where my computer and cellphone are actually turned off most of the day. (We do have a landline). After I pick my kids up from school, my phone automatically goes to Do not Disturb from 3:30 to 8pm. I can look to see if there is a message, but I won't be interrupted from family time. We do homework, read, cuddle, make dinner....it is great.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Consider if you need to say 'no' more often, and if saying 'no' would make your life better. Talk with your loved ones and really think about what adds pleasure to your life and what maybe could go away. We always think we'll do this or that someday...let's live our best life TODAY. Choosing how I spend my time helps me enjoy it all more and slow my days down. I need to have slower days because I don't know how much time I have left. Do you? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><a data-pin-board-width="400" data-pin-do="embedUser" data-pin-scale-height="200" data-pin-scale-width="80" href="http://www.pinterest.com/liveloudheather/">Visit Heather Novak's profile on Pinterest.</a></span>liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-65815544562769714362019-01-18T10:16:00.000-06:002019-01-19T16:54:20.589-06:00Forgetting New Year's Resolutions: Live Your Life!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is JANUARY 2019. This is when anyone who made New Year's Resolutions is still going strong and the YMCA parking lot is FULL at 5am. TODAY is always a good day to take control of your life...noone knows how much time they get in this glorious life we have. I shared about <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBQG61LR1eQ" target="_blank">Mark Maron and his line to that end at Valpo Modern Moms</a>. Although humorous, it helps to distill how we spend our time on a daily basis, I want to be INTENTIONAL about my life. My mom died when I was 13, so I learned the hard way time is fleeting. I think I do a good job of living in the moment and taking the adventures of life like a firehouse to the face. New weeks, months and years are an awesome time for me to give a thought to what I want from my life. How about you?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcSGPNBnLourYYkITOkrJkJoruDSk0lShe2lvdxuur4_Pgp_IlOADa5fIQye74prwI7Q6ZZ_ysyQ2Ji5wCtXGHTCJD_017viyhpj34BeQ-kq_8auidASQJHC3uxHAyHeVq-Nghw/s1600/IMG_20181210_101129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcSGPNBnLourYYkITOkrJkJoruDSk0lShe2lvdxuur4_Pgp_IlOADa5fIQye74prwI7Q6ZZ_ysyQ2Ji5wCtXGHTCJD_017viyhpj34BeQ-kq_8auidASQJHC3uxHAyHeVq-Nghw/s320/IMG_20181210_101129.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I spoke at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ValpoModernMoms/" target="_blank">Valpo Modern Moms </a>yesterday about "New Year, New You" and I am sharing a lot of that information in my United Methodist Women's Circle (small group), the Esther Circle, tonight. I figured the information and options for approaching any change you wish to make this year could be more broadly useful...not because noone else covered the ubiquitous concept of New Year Resolutions, but because there are so many and it might be nice to have them all in one place. AND this information is good and useful any month of the year. Let me know in the comments what interested you, or not, and I will send prayers and good vibes in your direction!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First, you may be in one of three categories: <u>Desiring Change</u> in your life, <u>Satisfied</u> with everything in your life as is, or <u>TRIAGE</u>...(degrees of urgency)just trying to survive with no energy for planning something better at this moment. If you are Satisfied, may you enjoy the thoughts here and be stirred anyways! If you are in Triage or Desiring Change, the rest is for you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My audience at Valpo Modern Moms is often in TRIAGE if they have small children at home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having a new baby or very young children automatically puts you in Triage. Being a single parent, struggling financially, looking for employment, struggling though illness (your own or close to you) all may put you in Triage. If you want to garner some control in your life even still, opt for simple and attainable ideas to serve you and stabilize instead of conquer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of my favorite FB pages "Words to Sweat By" <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/20-health-hacks-that-are-better-than-resolutions/ss-BBRvCfn?ocid=spartanntp&fbclid=IwAR2UO5RATEWRmA_Nq5tL1L3_hGMDzG5us3gRPblT2UowEn5SfIgBGO-J480" target="_blank">posted this article on self care </a>in lieu of resolutions. Self care is alien to some people and second nature to others. It is crucial to living the best life you can in the moment. It is basically drink water, eat real meals (hopefully healthy). It is avoid negative people, take your time, say no, ask for help. It is stand up for yourself, say kind things to yourself, recognize this tis merely a season in your life and you can persevere. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Author Rachel Hollis has a <b>"Five to Thrive" l</b>ist she starts with. I have applied to my life with good results: <b>1) drink half your bodyweight in ounces of water daily</b>. <b>2) Get up one hour earlier </b>and spend that time on YOU...excercies, work on your goals, take care of yourself. <b>3) Write a list of 10 things you are Grateful for. Additionally per her book <u>Girl Wash Your Face</u> I write 10 goals for my life</b> as if they have already happened. Your brain tries to help you accomplish them! <b>4) Drop one food category for 30 days</b> that does' serve you well (Diet Coke, Sweets, French Fries, maybe mayonnaise? LOL) and <b>5) Move your Body</b> AKA exercise for 30 minutes per day. Learn more about </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Five to Thrive & Daily 10 Goals from </span><a href="https://thechicsite.com/2018/11/11/how-does-the-start-today-journal-work/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Rachel Hollis here.</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Again, for those of you wanting less, consider selecting a word or phrase for your year to be touchstone for where you want your focus to be. This works into any plan...I even have a phrase, "Travel Light' in addition to my "19 for 2019" List because it distills what I want from my days no matter where I may be in my other goals. 'Travel Light' speaks to my physical need to carry a lighter purse to help my back issues. It is also relevant to speaking gentler to my children and to myself. 'Travel Light' reminds me to buy less, eat less, high less, and demand less. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Word of the Year</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://oneword365.com/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">website here.</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is a beautiful and gentle custom "I Purpose to..." Worksheet from <a href="https://annvoskamp.com/sticky-notes-signup/" target="_blank">Ann Voskamp you can sign up for here.</a> It is a peaceful hybrid between resolutions and only a word or phrase.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">19 for 2019 by Gretchen Rubin is a great reworking of New Year's Resolutions <a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/post_tag/19-for-2019" target="_blank">she talks about in her Happier Podcast here.</a> It is accumulating a bucket list for your year of any variety of things from finding the right black purse to speaking a new language. Mine ranges from 'Reach Goal Weigh" and "Learn to Read Music" to "Take a bubble bath weekly". Last year I had a list of 30 things because I love lists of things, but I did accomplish about 20 items. It is important to decide when you will refer back to the list to keep updated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What about Travel? For many of us, travel is a daunting concept requiring more money than we have. Consider "Armchair Travel". Select a location you wish to visit and learn everything you can about it. There are free language apps, recipes, maps, and travel videos. Who knows, if you dedicate a year to really digging into the location you may find a way to really travel there! There are many passport subscriptions services for children where they get to learn about various places, this may even be an all family event for the year. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-Rnsu7f2mmMe0iEx_b_iPLJcgLdSxaf9K2uCjTHH9UTuIjMdsBxF6mbnAbNQ7tZ_6GA9oApbttn3SoePE8kS-VOnqOs3Zb9Za5dVwlfyTlV4aB4mm8NOzBFWO00yFQjQCNWcQw/s1600/MK_MRKTSTROVER_20181213_414918698221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-Rnsu7f2mmMe0iEx_b_iPLJcgLdSxaf9K2uCjTHH9UTuIjMdsBxF6mbnAbNQ7tZ_6GA9oApbttn3SoePE8kS-VOnqOs3Zb9Za5dVwlfyTlV4aB4mm8NOzBFWO00yFQjQCNWcQw/s320/MK_MRKTSTROVER_20181213_414918698221.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Consider exploring the town you already live in. If there is a University nearby, start following them on social media and get to any open events on campus. Our local Valparaiso University had many community oriented events springing from their Institute for Leadership and Service. I have taken my elementary school children along to see Dr, Martin Luther King Day speakers, Beat Poets, Environmental workshops and more. While they didn't love everything, it sure beast having them stare at a screen like zombies. One of the events even motivated my oldest daughter to look into community gardens isn a way to donate to our local food pantry. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Any time we take a different path, risk getting lost or looking foolish to go somewhere new our brain builds new pathways that make us feel excited and more alive. No matter where you are this new year, I invite you to choose simple ways of getting more from your daily life....it makes everything, especially YOU, so much better!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Don't forget to share these ideas with your social circle...it can be wonderful and satisfying to make these plans together!)</span><br />
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<br />liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-31722902785813226252019-01-15T08:35:00.000-06:002019-01-17T20:27:53.761-06:00Tiny Red Kitchen: UPDATED Easier than Pancakes and More Marvelous: Dad's Dutch Baby Pancakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NOTE: My dear Father corrected my recipe 1/17, try these measures instead, friends!</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once upon a time I stole a frying pan from a sweet little old lady. I'd invited her to breakfast, but like most twenty somethings I didn't have most of what I needed to actually make the breakfast I'd invited her over for, including the cast iron pan. The little old lady was the Beautiful and Brilliant </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">M.D. and Professor at Colorado. U. School of Medicine: my Great Aunt Lula Lubchenco. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (P.s Lula Lubchenco developed a specialized practice in care of preemies which spurred worldwide interest and led to thousands of babies living, not dying and growing normally. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (One of my Dad's UU friends, Bob Shuman, was a Neurologist who was a fan of her "Lula-gram"...a measurement of baby head circumference which became a definitive diagnosis indicating different effective treatment regimens for varying degrees of prematurity. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ANYHOO....) . I'd moved to Denver Colorado and wanted to thank her for cosigning for my new apartment. I invited her over for what is a Curlee Family traditional breakfast of Dutch Babies. I asked her to bring cast iron skillet.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEDj1GHPbOJUjjBsKi9Y2dIyJl4xwquA5JyyHvkvSEW4I_KNe5txrDTozFGXGdTHxktC_wy_S-2i1hP2KtzVpUpmw43hrVf6tJj6pr7xWID4uknpqBfoyIdgNywsShns2vb5dsA/s1600/IMG_20190110_175902845_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEDj1GHPbOJUjjBsKi9Y2dIyJl4xwquA5JyyHvkvSEW4I_KNe5txrDTozFGXGdTHxktC_wy_S-2i1hP2KtzVpUpmw43hrVf6tJj6pr7xWID4uknpqBfoyIdgNywsShns2vb5dsA/s320/IMG_20190110_175902845_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For those of you who are unfamiliar, a Dutch baby is a crispy, chewy, light German pancake one sprinkles with powdered sugar and freshly squeezed lemon juice. In that order. (If you put the lemon juice on first you are wrong.) </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My friend Dana recently mentioned that she STILL thinks about the breakfast I made for her a long time ago and she lamented that she had yet to make Dutch babies of her own...this one is for YOU Dana!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A dutch Baby is a forgiving thing, but what you use or adjust definitely changes the outcome. I strongly recommend you use cow milk, white flour and eggs for your first time. I've made them with almond milk, flax eggs' wheat flour, white whole wheat and every variation of measurements. It is always good, but plain old white flour and cow milk is best. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Jim Curlee's Dutch Babies Pancakes</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Directions are for a basic cast iron skillet. If using a large deep cast iron skillet or for a softer baby, use 4 eggs, 1 cup flour and 1 cup milk.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1/2 stick butter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 eggs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3/4 cup White Flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3/4 cup Milk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">powdered sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Turn Oven to 425 Degrees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Place 1/2 stick butter in cast iron skillet and place in oven as it heats up to browning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3/4 cup White Flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can use more or less of each item with satisfying results....this is fairly forgiving endeavor.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaC70hRSPPpv21Jhc_uNuUBq5VrwsJXQyy28HxfYx_p6FkN2BS3lZe-NagTVHuWrgQ1ax0JutP2gnImmAaFXB9Tcw3U5c-7pORA_a5DudvaYG5-FvGtJAgNn5fDYa_7gHhRi7SMQ/s1600/IMG_20190110_175521908_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaC70hRSPPpv21Jhc_uNuUBq5VrwsJXQyy28HxfYx_p6FkN2BS3lZe-NagTVHuWrgQ1ax0JutP2gnImmAaFXB9Tcw3U5c-7pORA_a5DudvaYG5-FvGtJAgNn5fDYa_7gHhRi7SMQ/s320/IMG_20190110_175521908_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When butter in skillet begins to brown, pour in batter and bake for 20 minutes. The initial presentation of the Dutch Baby is breathtaking but it falls and flattens out quickly so make sure you guests are seated at the table before bringing it out of the oven. Slice in pie slices and serve on plates. each person sprinkles the powdered sugar on and then squeezes lemon over. (HEY! Putting the lemon on first is WRONG. Wrong, I tell you.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This round of Babies was made with King Arthur's White Whole Wheat and half Bolthouse's Plant Milk, half cow milk (2%). For the second baby I threw frozen berries on top of the batter. I also like to sautés sliced apples in butter and brown sugar and add the to one of the Babies. For our family of four we easily finish two of these as a meal.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdn3zMtNUrDgRWO5CW2zqivxbW53vo-a441EFL_o9V4e86UNIj9bUKULnR38Tg1EFppQlHobmvX1bO6Gi6_b9l1JDPqcMer_RuZJ65byDGGaa30n6Wbhr4E5LCJUnzlp0tzpWSA/s1600/IMG_20190110_175525339_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdn3zMtNUrDgRWO5CW2zqivxbW53vo-a441EFL_o9V4e86UNIj9bUKULnR38Tg1EFppQlHobmvX1bO6Gi6_b9l1JDPqcMer_RuZJ65byDGGaa30n6Wbhr4E5LCJUnzlp0tzpWSA/s320/IMG_20190110_175525339_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Aunt Lu and I had a wonderful breakfast in my little Pearl Street apartment. She let me keep the skillet and I have it still. My collection has grown to four skillets and Dutch Babies are made in a regular rotation in our home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can hear the audio of this on NPR station 88.1FM WVPR<a href="http://www.wvpe.org/post/birthday-month" target="_blank"> </a></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;"><a href="http://www.wvpe.org/post/birthday-month" target="_blank">by clicking HERE.</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Have you heard?</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">It is my BIRTHDAY!</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Well really it is my birthday month, or it was anyway.</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Still is, if I haven’t gotten cake with you on the calendar yet!</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">After becoming a mama, I moved my traditional Birthday Week into a Birthday Month because…KIDS.</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">As a parent, my needs are often overlooked in lieu of raising awesome young people.</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">I kind of have to get an appointment with my own Dad to not have our conversation overruled by the epic cuteness of my two daughters.</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">But, the more birthdays I have, the more furtive I feel about them, not the “ME! ME! ME!” of it, but the…number of it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGUY5C2sndocqg64CDGJQVVM0in3AnF8fKLmp-v64seTGX83ODPXAAUGudMSyGY8-bTpHMCHU1_e8h5LDyJsbtExHpqGKnhng0kn79UE1zSCHlErgvG-knjF3AnxvHnB1eMzW_A/s1600/IMG_20181130_121442897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGUY5C2sndocqg64CDGJQVVM0in3AnF8fKLmp-v64seTGX83ODPXAAUGudMSyGY8-bTpHMCHU1_e8h5LDyJsbtExHpqGKnhng0kn79UE1zSCHlErgvG-knjF3AnxvHnB1eMzW_A/s320/IMG_20181130_121442897.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I told my husband years ago that after hitting a certain age and feeling literally and figuratively “Old” that I was going to start fibbing my age. He said “You don’t lie about anything else in your life, why on earth would you do that?” I said it just made me feel old when I saw a certain range of numbers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I wanted to feel fabulous….and so instead of my age I opt to say “Fabulous” when asked my age. Now that I have watched the first season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, I’m changing my reply this year to “Marvelous”. “How old are you?” and I say “Marvelous, thank you!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsfqb6FiV6HQRF_y566b4GGk9NkgHKPexSou66IXvSb0qWA2ykeFzwfGBlpIlUXaealmPOPJ95pUp73cE0iY5kn8JGuh5FUA7kb4Q7PvO9eHMahqzP_PITNKVDEss2tXvyl8E3Q/s1600/drunkssquirrelmeme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsfqb6FiV6HQRF_y566b4GGk9NkgHKPexSou66IXvSb0qWA2ykeFzwfGBlpIlUXaealmPOPJ95pUp73cE0iY5kn8JGuh5FUA7kb4Q7PvO9eHMahqzP_PITNKVDEss2tXvyl8E3Q/s320/drunkssquirrelmeme.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial";">This year, in step with not acting my age, I’ve had a five year old’s birthday theme: UNICORNS. I appreciate the beauty and silliness and whimsy of unicorns like everyone else in America, apparently. I think we all want and need to avoid reality. Unicorn and mermaid themed stuff is everywhere, and my darling friends and family made sure I got most of it. From glittery Unicorn Dust, a rainbow water bottle and a coffee mug….I am magical as can be. My own perfectly reasonable hubby got me a pink sparkly unicorn poncho just to make me laugh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_0IR6YnT0AsJ7WGrnKnS_qxEZfcQSnOPjqE0C0U6UB0E6_furpyRqA7E1EVAm-NDTYjZUYF8qwsYY7Y3gIWSETH4MEfnuY5HljZ3FjijzSXk-V3RfCxDztWTqKvgKvk6uTDiJA/s1600/IMG_20181123_173315307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_0IR6YnT0AsJ7WGrnKnS_qxEZfcQSnOPjqE0C0U6UB0E6_furpyRqA7E1EVAm-NDTYjZUYF8qwsYY7Y3gIWSETH4MEfnuY5HljZ3FjijzSXk-V3RfCxDztWTqKvgKvk6uTDiJA/s320/IMG_20181123_173315307.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I think one of the best ways to feel young is to remain interested in small simple things. Being silly and inviting others to join into the playful with me spreads my sense of joy. I am not afraid to look foolish; I revel in it. Putting down the burden of worrying about what others will think makes my days a lot happier. (No one actually thinks that much about me, anyway.) It is freeing to just be who I’d like to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">There is one gift I received, from several people this year that I love, but also fear: Dish Towels. Dish towels? Oh sure, they are lovely and witty and funny and creative….but….they belie my true age. They admit for me that I have everything I want and need. That I have in most ways “Come of age”. The towels started before my birthday.“I Love Jesus, but I Cuss a Little” came first, from my mother in Love. She said it was so funny she couldn’t wait until my birthday to give it to me. Spot on. Then the hot pink one from another friend said ”Sometimes I just want God to say ‘YO! I like You Best’.” Later I got a white towel with a pig outline and it said “Praise the Lard”, because I like bacon more than a little bit. Then “I don’t have my ducks in a row, I have squirrels, and they are DRUNK!” on a reasonable grey/beige “greige” background. The last one, so far, was “PMS=Pass the Merlot, Sister!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">It is true that I need new dishtowels. Half of the ones I own are from when I married John twelve years ago. It is great to add some humor into my kitchen. But. I am at some unwritten age, some matronly place where I do not need anything else and where the witty dishtowel is to be expected. I am embracing this linen filled moment. I am grateful to add another year to my life and amused at the generosity and creativity of the people I adore around me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_KxH9ArPFTHx37zrZP27XIzVEHEmxRxZ7E1QKP7JBToijTJtoWxT8rKDEDTqImanvtma0FHCihQKjK9z5Wk-dmjJa_JkE4-ccQRsSGngD6k18mHI4Y_QoxqHDFrv5nHlts4pog/s1600/IMG_20181128_214419467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_KxH9ArPFTHx37zrZP27XIzVEHEmxRxZ7E1QKP7JBToijTJtoWxT8rKDEDTqImanvtma0FHCihQKjK9z5Wk-dmjJa_JkE4-ccQRsSGngD6k18mHI4Y_QoxqHDFrv5nHlts4pog/s320/IMG_20181128_214419467.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I guess the only thing that can be done is to get down off of this unicorn and wash some dishes. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-54393944508027231292018-11-05T20:36:00.000-06:002018-11-05T20:39:24.988-06:00Lessons on Kindness from a Unicorn in Target<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 had this weird, tight feeling in my soul all day, and I hope that writing about it will help. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I saw a unicorn today and learned something about life, too. I was waiting for the Pet Supplies Plus store to open this morning so I could exchange...I am ashamed to admit...a dog sweater. I've been a perfectly normal dog owner for twenty years, but the newest addition to our family wants sweaters. Well, that is a lie since she...well never mind. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I went into Target, my happy place, to get a few loaves of bread since we were out at the Novak house. As I approached the check out I saw a HUGE UNICORN HEAD sitting in a shopping cart. I reached out to touch it in wonder and adult confusion. I saw myself having a lot more fun handing out Halloween candy wearing it next year. I thought about how delighted my daughters would be to see their grouchy mama wearing something so comical and silly.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQov2NEw0zgAlg1YKcmtkJTxZyF93AAmq1NU46YBLbBNnvkwAFT9KQIWS62Fne4bgZL52isDoFW7EZUAy9r1A28FNPQ5rUxkiRJkGn6Ue1thCqEcYpSwhiGeJwXB9x1UgezGdA2Q/s1600/Unicorns+ar+Target.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQov2NEw0zgAlg1YKcmtkJTxZyF93AAmq1NU46YBLbBNnvkwAFT9KQIWS62Fne4bgZL52isDoFW7EZUAy9r1A28FNPQ5rUxkiRJkGn6Ue1thCqEcYpSwhiGeJwXB9x1UgezGdA2Q/s320/Unicorns+ar+Target.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"That is already purchased!" a voice said. What I'd thought was some weird clearance display of Halloween costumes, cart after cart of them, was actually snaking toward a cash register. I saw a small slender woman with long mousy brown hair standing there, attentive to the increasing total. At least five overflowing shopping carts made a line away from her. She was buying all of the clearance costumes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Pardon me, ma'am, would you let me buy one of these unicorn heads? I have two daughters who would get a kick out of this." No response. There were probably ten various costume heads in her caravan of carts, at least 5 were unicorns."Ma'am?" Finally the woman cashing her out directed her to me, and the long haired woman muttered that it wasn't up to her. That "He is out loading the car." </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7A-LXSwdGakhy7uw5FGvolbXz4DnwJ3ZNDv3u6D0pRi2T3Eg820kfKWok3lIl0gPydV-0brAH0VjYHmiIyyNNgibmFimTRIkcDrCXNH2zcll_iIfr84Ly9QHlESbmbtb3wnT6A/s1600/unicorn.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7A-LXSwdGakhy7uw5FGvolbXz4DnwJ3ZNDv3u6D0pRi2T3Eg820kfKWok3lIl0gPydV-0brAH0VjYHmiIyyNNgibmFimTRIkcDrCXNH2zcll_iIfr84Ly9QHlESbmbtb3wnT6A/s320/unicorn.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was annoyed and bummed. I turned to my cashier and said I wanted to just pick one up. She said "She'll never know." I didn't do it, because I would know. I like to choose well when I can. I asked for a manager and she said she was one. I laughed because she'd advised me to just take one. I paid for my bread and a man joined the long haired woman. I asked him if I could have one of the unicorn heads to buy and he hemmed and hawed and said no. I felt hot and mad and lots of other feelings. I asked if they were reselling them and he said "That's none of your business!" I was taken aback, offended and madder than ever. I left the store.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I thought about how greedy they were. I felt sad I lost the chance to buy a $30 unicorn head for $3. I wondered if they were using a stolen credit card because they felt so furtive and...weird about it all. Neither of them made any eye contact with me. They certainly didn't interact with me like nice people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OR.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Was I a selfish, entitled rich brat? Was this their livelihood? Did they struggle? Were they afraid and stressed and gambling their future on this purchase? I began to pray. I asked God to heal the horrible yucky feeling in my chest. I asked Him to bless the two people. I thanked God for blocking my acquisition of a giant unicorn head I would then have to store. I prayed that their lives, health, business and homes would be blessed. I prayed I was the last person they were rude to. I prayed that they would have what they needed, be safe, and live better lives. The tightness in my chest eased. I felt disappointed but also grateful for the unicorn trouble. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Later, I told my two daughters I saw a unicorn in Target. I told them a tale of guarding our hearts and choosing who we want to be in each moment God gives us. Unicorns are fleeting but kindness, peace, love...those should always be found.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-15324052422238737922018-11-01T17:23:00.001-05:002018-11-01T17:23:57.209-05:00Kid Camping a Michiana Chronicle from NPR's WVPE 88.1<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kid Camping<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By Heather Curlee Novak <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://wvpe.org/post/michiana-chronicles-kid-camping" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Listen to this Michiana Chronicle by clicking HERE!</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With all the monstrous highs and lows for Americans these
days, here is a crazy truth about our world: There is snow on the ground and
people are camping in it for fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
know, canvas tent-sleeping bag-peeing outside-heating up coffee on a firepit,
camping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A local Boy Scout troop was
snow camping just last weekend and my husband has shared a few stories about snow
camping, but I do not see the appeal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I like camping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or I
used too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was in my twenties my
dog Darby and I would drive to Estes Park, Colorado every summer to stay at
“Dreamland”, our family cabin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an eighteen-hour
drive so I’d camp one night each way. I felt like a badass travelling solo;
setting and breaking camp, making a fire and eating what I could cook over it.
Cheaper than a hotel, too!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I got married, we put camping gear on our wedding
registry and got it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beautiful matching
Eddie Bauer sleeping bags with plaid flannel inserts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A new Coleman Camp stove.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A tent big enough for two adults and two
dogs instead of my cute single girl pop up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We used the gear…once. Or Twice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we had kids. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some parents are awesome outdoors people who could manage
taking little kids tent camping like my Dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Other parents, like us, are just tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We would occasionally admire our gear stowed in the basement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the girls were out of cloth diapers we
even planned a camping trip most summers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We didn’t go. We liked the idea of camping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This summer some friends talked about camping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We even got serious enough to try reserving a
spot but the campground was full. My friend Jen lives on the edge of our
neighborhood park, so Lucas and I plotted to spend the night in her yard in our
tents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be a hootenanny. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We dragged all the things from our homes to our makeshift
campsite. Stuff was bought to roast on sticks. Our site hostess actually
provided blow up mattresses for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There would be three adults and five children camping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our spouses opted for real beds in real
houses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We razzed them, but since we
were the more awesome parent, we would let them go home at bedtime. This was a
mistake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You see, the thing about camping is it looks fine as a
concept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some grownups do not fare well
sleeping on the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even with an air
mattress, it isn’t comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
discovered one cannot move around because sleeping in what is basically a
bounce house is noisy, awkward and no good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The bugs were too loud. I was somehow hot and cold at the same
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our host’s son went inside to his
own bed right away, but our 8year old daughters and two remaining 6year olds were
still awake and talking at 1:05am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
body ached from eating bags of salty chips. I’d lugged all this sssshload of
stuff out here, so who am I to call “uncle!” and give in?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When one of the five kids in the huge kid
tent gets ‘punished’ by moving into your tent to sleep with you, you are
punished too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trying to yell at the other
kids in the kid tent to be quiet without trying to get up off of the bounce house
bed (or waking up the kid sleeping with you) is…impossible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then the other six year old moved into his father’s
tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think they might have slept.
Around 2:10am I told Portia & Belle not one more peep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess what? PEEP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This sent Belle to her dad’s tent too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were like parental body snatchers. Five
kids to start the night in the big tent and now only one left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the morning she was gone too, headed
inside to sleep on the couch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hadn’t slept and wondered how soon I could just give up,
get up and go inside to make coffee. At 6:47am I wearily decided I was only
getting up and outta the tent one more time. Nature called, so GOOD MORNING.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I staggered inside to make coffee and
breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we recounted the
experience and ate breakfast Jen said we should do it again soon. Bleary eyed
and frazzled I grumbled, “Never, never, never again!”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later as we packed up our tents, deflated the
mattresses and stowed the gear I began to think….”Well, maybe…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But never with snow on the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or bugs, or air mattresses, or children!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3rhKCyzzXDYhyOyYDjO5WvYHveaCrbGT_Tl-6Sju-6PKkImkR43PyY3XPpYpzy5p90KWnhpEoMxtXzlGdXQdKz8xB6UUbdds_Gel72R2fqYrrH_rkzEK_YupSOJflSOwHpWVpQ/s1600/IMG_20170922_230248251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3rhKCyzzXDYhyOyYDjO5WvYHveaCrbGT_Tl-6Sju-6PKkImkR43PyY3XPpYpzy5p90KWnhpEoMxtXzlGdXQdKz8xB6UUbdds_Gel72R2fqYrrH_rkzEK_YupSOJflSOwHpWVpQ/s320/IMG_20170922_230248251.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeatherNovakSpeaker" target="_blank"><b>Please LIKE my "Heather Novak, Speaker" Facebook Page</b>!</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><a class="addthis_button" href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&pub=xa-4a9bea8e13df2e2a"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="Bookmark and Share" height="16" src="https://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/v2/lg-share-en.gif" style="border: 0px;" width="125" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a data-pin-board-width="400" data-pin-do="embedUser" data-pin-scale-height="200" data-pin-scale-width="80" href="http://www.pinterest.com/liveloudheather/">Visit Heather Novak's profile on Pinterest.</a></span>liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-75506635465249115892018-11-01T17:19:00.000-05:002019-01-13T19:54:42.175-06:00Act My Age? (NPR Michiana Chronicles WVPE 88.1 FM)<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>You can hear the audio of this NPR piece on WVPE 88.1 by <a href="http://www.wvpe.org/post/michiana-chronicles-act-your-age" target="_blank">clicking HERE.</a></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Act my AGE? No thank you. At the breakfast table recently, I got corrected for using the word “Yo.” I don’t know if it was embarrassing for me to use it because I’m middle aged, or not hip, or if it is not hip to say “yo”… I’d listened to the Fresh Prince song “Parents Just Don’t Understand” by accident and “Yo” felt like the right choice at the time. Beastie Boys were also in rotation because I remember my wilder days and feel younger. It might feel a little mid life crisis, but I do not want to grow up and be the adult. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsfWKP7ExBtfWCrbtebn9aX0aG-Vnpp_TTSWChv9OmfPt8c7tiVgLfRZWDEJFOsNnRe0t8VxLpz6J3ft8dSZxkoVtQs9TOjkN8mYAdakXQ17eUTVCDCbUSuGBfQTPksCXhSdaDg/s1600/IMG_20181003_080917170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="1600" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsfWKP7ExBtfWCrbtebn9aX0aG-Vnpp_TTSWChv9OmfPt8c7tiVgLfRZWDEJFOsNnRe0t8VxLpz6J3ft8dSZxkoVtQs9TOjkN8mYAdakXQ17eUTVCDCbUSuGBfQTPksCXhSdaDg/s320/IMG_20181003_080917170.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Parenting is the fastest way to grow up-and old-without noticing it. Being completely in charge of little people’s lives is draining. I eased my ‘adulting’ pain the first time when I had this epiphany of “What kind of parent do I want to be?” I’d been grouchy all day and I finally decided to ask my kids, both preschoolers at the time, what they wanted in a mommy. I was getting big life thoughtful with little kids. I wondered did they want me crafty? Scholarly? I bent low to their little faces and asked, “What kind of mommy do you want darlings?” Without missing a beat Little Portia said “I want a Purple Mommy!” It wasn’t deep (She was 5 at the time) but it was fun. It was playful and silly and clear: I could be any sort of mommy as long as I was purple! As long as I did not grow up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlQOywXJ_YEo3O63vGwkJCiYfq7Psg21hNLIq1At4TRiJId1U3jq_w9ufbZBTxKpqGCYwL0UBl-OcDHEu-m5Zu29LeI_D_LusE-TEfZ5FIVoHaQE65iNrOOQYP0nr2jJZcCYWhQ/s1600/Actyourageblogpost.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1075" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlQOywXJ_YEo3O63vGwkJCiYfq7Psg21hNLIq1At4TRiJId1U3jq_w9ufbZBTxKpqGCYwL0UBl-OcDHEu-m5Zu29LeI_D_LusE-TEfZ5FIVoHaQE65iNrOOQYP0nr2jJZcCYWhQ/s320/Actyourageblogpost.png" width="215" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">I drafted a notepad manifesto of what a “Purple Mommy” was and have used it as a touchstone in my parenting. There are statements like “Encourage Laughter” and “Simple housekeeping” along with deeper thoughts of “Live towards God” and what became our family motto “Live Well”. My kids remind me when I slide away from being a purple mommy. Having them around makes me very aware of how I am living my life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">As they grew older and resisted correction and consequences I told them the Secret of Adulthood: All adults want to have fun all the time. Since parents are the rule guardians, kids need to know we actually prefer to have fun. The better behaved everyone is, the more energy we have for all the fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkDJfKhOPt1WgMOGOsykdRfsuE9ItP2ojuBgHauRE3fopgTcnzxJvHb3_KjEjlqZaLWcEitsSKeefiwR9GwdLWGSCDSoBWRJhAY5iIIakhGytzXYZ8mHfT__adQkO5pHhUmHXtQ/s1600/IMG_20180822_065009425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkDJfKhOPt1WgMOGOsykdRfsuE9ItP2ojuBgHauRE3fopgTcnzxJvHb3_KjEjlqZaLWcEitsSKeefiwR9GwdLWGSCDSoBWRJhAY5iIIakhGytzXYZ8mHfT__adQkO5pHhUmHXtQ/s320/IMG_20180822_065009425.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">At work it is different. Even at a church we are cubicals and offices, staplers and business cards. There are meetings, some are boring. We recently had a staff leadership retreat and during one break, stiff and tired as I was, I decided to challenge my colleagues to a youthful game of tag. Let me be clear I am not a ‘run about’ sort of woman. I don’t do sporty, so suggesting a game of tag with a room full of grownups was quite a reach for me personally. I wanted all of us to shake off the weariness and have a bit of play. No one else wanted that. Not a single person played tag with me. I felt kind of stupid, BUT it was good for me to risk looking foolish. I never want to take myself too seriously. It was good for me to at least consider moving faster than a saunter, even if only in a single burst of play. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">I don’t always dress my age, either. I mean, I’m not displaying my belly button ring or anything, but I have some fun. I color the under side of my normal hair teal and purple in the modern mullet of haircolor. I try wild prints and tulle princess skirts that make me smile. Lula Roe clothes have brought me out of my all black Chicago fashion style into happy prints and drapey fabric that make play and adventure possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">I play with my words. I am quick to make a joke. I did not get mad when my kids upended a bag of glitter in my car to make me laugh…and I left it there for months. We purchased silly string to bomb a friend’s yard…haven’t used it, but knowing it is there makes me feel younger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">My husband and I watched Mark Marron’s comedy bit where he says “I don’t know how long I’ve got….” to get out of things he doesn’t want to waste his time doing. We love and use that sentence often because none of us knows how long we have. We don’t have to<u></u>act our age. We can play even if we are grown up adults.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">Even if people scowl at our youthful antics, we’ll know that we are showing them a better way. Their brain just needs time to catch up. Let’s not stop our play to wait for them. Remember, we were old once, too. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeatherNovakSpeaker" target="_blank"><b>Please LIKE my "Heather Novak, Speaker" Facebook Page</b>!</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a data-pin-board-width="400" data-pin-do="embedUser" data-pin-scale-height="200" data-pin-scale-width="80" href="http://www.pinterest.com/liveloudheather/">Visit Heather Novak's profile on Pinterest.</a></span></div>
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liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-8340281626341949422018-09-20T16:03:00.003-05:002018-11-05T17:55:21.729-06:00I Tried<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">i tried to fluff you </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">so i could fold you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">you lay there all day</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">cold</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">i meant to pay attention</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">know when you were ready</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">warmth against my </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">fingers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">but</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">you lay there </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">cold</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">you did wait all day...my fault</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">i could hear the accusation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">in your silence</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">your buzzer went off </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">but</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">i was </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">not </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">home</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">i forgot you easily</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">hours passed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">opportunity l</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ost</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">you are</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">wrinkled and old</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">cold</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">damn laundry</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">9.20.18</span>liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-61836273230359938442017-11-15T17:32:00.001-06:002017-11-15T17:32:39.036-06:00"Fully Dressed" (NPR Michiana Chronicles WVPE 88.1 FM)<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">You can hear the audio of this on NPR station 88.1FM WVPR </span><a href="http://wvpe.org/post/fully-dressed" target="_blank">by clicking HERE.</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Fully Dressed" By Heather Curlee Novak</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When
I was young and single every day was an adventure of possibility; would I meet
a cute guy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would happen at that
party? Would those new shoes hurt my feet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nowadays as a middle aged mama and wife, my thoughts (if I have any at
all) are more mundane: What could I make for dinner?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will my pants hurt by the end of the day?
What the hell am I going to make for dinner?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I
try to recapture the joie de vivre of my youth in little ways like buying
clothes in an ambitious size, using glitter eyeshadow though I probably
shouldn’t and smiling at strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because I am now officially a grownup, I usually shuffle through my day
with a serious face, but I used to smile at everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smiling is free and frankly, it is a size
that fits, so I’m wearing one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As
a little kid I listened to records instead of the radio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music,
Michael Jackson Thriller and of course, Annie. I’d stand up on top of my
dresser and belt out<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Tomorrow” and
“Maybe” and “You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" written by
Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d
sing and smile and the world would be transformed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need that now in my adult life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiy4gMLFJ6GAK3mF1yzgYHM8RMhqeQlQcjvaH8YdP2llK4QHAmYZHdVjM1oeL1a8zIwRiZ_K6uSCZZB0zAVVqq0xLVcqhayBEZQcYBNFrPl9RiBKH5gpiezgPsoO1cGXZfTX-ug/s1600/IMG_20171014_161002085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiy4gMLFJ6GAK3mF1yzgYHM8RMhqeQlQcjvaH8YdP2llK4QHAmYZHdVjM1oeL1a8zIwRiZ_K6uSCZZB0zAVVqq0xLVcqhayBEZQcYBNFrPl9RiBKH5gpiezgPsoO1cGXZfTX-ug/s320/IMG_20171014_161002085.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I
walk through the shopping center parking lot and grin and greet anyone in my
path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They often look surprised I spoke
to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They wonder if there is
something wrong with me, and usually they smile back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel like smiling at strangers is an easy
way to cut through all the crap going on in the world lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know where to put my time or my money
or my presence because there are so many things wrong and thanks to the
internet I know about all of them and they all matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t give money to everything, I cannot
show up for every protest or meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
I pick what matters most to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spend
money there and show up there. And I smile at everyone else because it is a
small regular thing I can do no matter what else is on my twitter feed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This
smiling, it came into play last weekend when I was in Chicago with family and
friends. We were slogging through the rain for a Lyric’s Children’s Opera. We
whined and cried (not just me but the kids too) about our wet feet and hungry
bellies and pouring rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I talked with
my kids about homeless people and rain and helping others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the rain let up we slowed our pace and
a young man stopped my Father on the sidewalk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His name was Dominick and he was well dressed with an untied bow
tie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad, he was well dressed with a
tied bow tie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dominick asked my Dad to
teach him how to tie his bowtie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He and
his two gorgeous lady friends were dressed up heading to a wedding and he’d
been looking for a bowtie-tier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9CnonT4kQ3X3_OcwC3N1Jllk7W11W1t7wmb6RQH4utPKjo3Hsfc5jPJgdxqTYk27ulTbAWoJoorUzlMk5aMS9ERSxQTSSJA9VEIvGAWfa0pRlANsJdZnpBYJF6yPxJi6sSNc8w/s1600/IMG_20171014_160835487_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9CnonT4kQ3X3_OcwC3N1Jllk7W11W1t7wmb6RQH4utPKjo3Hsfc5jPJgdxqTYk27ulTbAWoJoorUzlMk5aMS9ERSxQTSSJA9VEIvGAWfa0pRlANsJdZnpBYJF6yPxJi6sSNc8w/s320/IMG_20171014_160835487_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As
our party of eight stood around their party of three on Michigan Avenue my Dad
tied Dominicks’ bowtie with as much care as he ties his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watched him, a tall older white guy, tete a
tete with this young African American man in this intimate clothing
moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Man to man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Generation to generation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Race to race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a holy moment of love and instant friendship and I’m ashamed to
admit I took pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to
remember the small things matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
THIS was my America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That no matter what
else was true, this moment was just as true. And I smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-46451056268399151582017-10-07T11:29:00.000-05:002017-10-07T11:29:08.454-05:00Household Area 51: Where the Lost Socks and Missing Halloween Candy Live <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXht00QjDNsdrZ9wwMg72XXdSL69YgoVkJMneheOUwrxd_TEvLd3Csm3UNgTly8FdTWpvjOpiBgWgGnEMfBAMhW8Hn25e8dRI6odcI9PazENJlYvqjxCldC4zcIZkEWbwIjzK2w/s1600/20131029_215046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXht00QjDNsdrZ9wwMg72XXdSL69YgoVkJMneheOUwrxd_TEvLd3Csm3UNgTly8FdTWpvjOpiBgWgGnEMfBAMhW8Hn25e8dRI6odcI9PazENJlYvqjxCldC4zcIZkEWbwIjzK2w/s1600/20131029_215046.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My Dad is great Dad & Grandpa. He fearlessly watches our two girls once a week when he stays with us on his Honey Hawking route from South Bend, Indiana to Chicago, Illinois. He feeds them dinner (often an entire container of grape tomatoes...is that a normal side dish?) and bathes them and plays them harmonica before they drift off about nine o'clock (too late for this mamas taste, but I'm not on duty so GO FOR IT G-PA!!!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He really loves his time with the girls and they love him. <i>(NOTE: They also adore John's folks Baba & Papa too, lest anyone feel disparaged...and Portia is inviting Baba to come to her school as her special guest when she is the SUPERSTAR...so these two little girls are blessed & covered in love.) </i>BUT.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNG5VsTwoI__jjpouYA6-35HAaCsXsGJJvlx2SVc6wnEu1_Nmh_gKGTowZ5M_M1VOPxAH2cZbDeAISA4LqpWNqpBOSTqhSnvZ-3bgeM9RQBvgBRuzaXef3Vik_LKEZKlJTJjMHWQ/s1600/Housearea51PicMonkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNG5VsTwoI__jjpouYA6-35HAaCsXsGJJvlx2SVc6wnEu1_Nmh_gKGTowZ5M_M1VOPxAH2cZbDeAISA4LqpWNqpBOSTqhSnvZ-3bgeM9RQBvgBRuzaXef3Vik_LKEZKlJTJjMHWQ/s1600/Housearea51PicMonkey.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BUT. While my Dad is fearless and complaint free when it comes to managing two little wild girls, he isn't perfect. We share the same chromosomes, so you know it is true. He can be a little clueless in some little safety areas and we tease the heck out of him for it. Hey, he is willing and free and full of love for all of us, what is a nail among family. Yeah. He brought an old fashioned nail to share with the girls. And monogrammed rings for them made out of nails. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another time they brought out his (sheathed, but STILL, People!) Crocodile Dundee knife from his overnight bag. Accessible and dangerous. YIKES.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdEM1aouQXlYRZdT_oqQmpA8a5iAPV3DHNnDtmfYXTNlvcaW8cXlDtZDmOcEhXElmACSgawBeFBDxb_h1HVEalIThi1WNqBPiQik_4H83dda2oEg8qO95eKjyzrj67aasc1Hi3Q/s1600/20131031_102453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdEM1aouQXlYRZdT_oqQmpA8a5iAPV3DHNnDtmfYXTNlvcaW8cXlDtZDmOcEhXElmACSgawBeFBDxb_h1HVEalIThi1WNqBPiQik_4H83dda2oEg8qO95eKjyzrj67aasc1Hi3Q/s1600/20131031_102453.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And he bought them rope-burn-heaven-rough-scratchy-old-fashioned-sisal jump ropes. They were long enough for toddlers to get into serious trouble with . (Never mind the other normal little kid jump ropes he bought them before; they strung toys up with those and thus they disappeared into "I think they are somewhere in the basement, have you looked?"). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You know that Area 51 every family with children has where the loud toys and odd socks would be found. Along with the rest of every kid's Halloween Candy Mom and Dad DIDNOTEAT. Seriously. Household Area 51.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSP4g3uSfsQzKGidAP1nFRaD-x7CREZv7RSrwf_aBouNtw6Ic6_T7jb6HWkORTrMQc9wRRtSYazPl6Tk5OLCs-hSqeBOUltdy0133fD13SzgB-NAidZEKWcjIZzefpLV-0y0vmaA/s1600/20131029_215054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSP4g3uSfsQzKGidAP1nFRaD-x7CREZv7RSrwf_aBouNtw6Ic6_T7jb6HWkORTrMQc9wRRtSYazPl6Tk5OLCs-hSqeBOUltdy0133fD13SzgB-NAidZEKWcjIZzefpLV-0y0vmaA/s1600/20131029_215054.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So here is the jack o'lantern I Tom Sawyered* G-Pa into carving with the Littles for Halloween. While I went out with my hubby on a date instead. </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>*("Oh Boy, carving this pumpkin would be great fun with the girls. Gee, do YOU wanna have this much fun with the girls, Dad?") </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He even roasted the pumpkin seeds for us! And do you see where he put it? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yeah... that is a lit candle inside a jack o'lantern sitting on the arm of my COUCH. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was a little verklempt about it. I asked him why it wasn't OUTSIDE where normal people put their pumpkins when they are on fire. He said he and the girls weren't quite ready for it to go outside yet. And he though John & I might get a better view when we got home with it there. On fire. On the arm of the couch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So in love, jesting, sugar overload and Halloween festivity, Our family wishes yours a Happy and SAFE Halloween!</span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>P.s. I actually forgot a lot of these examples and had to call my Dad to ask him what safety issues we make fun of him for. AND he was actually amused! I love you Dad! </i></span>liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-28808402208662287832017-09-28T04:00:00.000-05:002017-09-28T04:00:22.102-05:00Screen Free Friday: Actually Awesome! (NPR Michiana Chronicles WVPE 88.1 FM)<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can hear the audio of this on NPR station 88.1FM WVPR <a href="http://wvpe.org/post/screen-free-friday-actually-awesome" target="_blank">by clicking HERE.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We often tell ourselves stories that are not actually in the least bit true. I tell myself I am laid back. (Actually, Not. True.) I say I'm easygoing(Nope. Actually, Quite Controlling.) I say we choose as a family to be UN Busy. And...well that is partially true. I'd like partial credit. Our daughters didn't play golf as four year olds and we limit their after school activities. I try not to cram forty l'even things into one week. OR day. (Here's lookin' at you, Dad!) I still feel too busy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm trying meditation, the calm.com app is free and splendid. My daughters are less spazzy when they are doing even five minute meditations. I'm trying to exercise. I use essential oils from the health food store to be more mellow. I'm trying to get to sleep earlier...but actually... I found myself reaching for my smart phone all the time. I went to bed with my iPad because my husband goes to bed with his. Wild marital times. As I started taking inventory of my time and tried to figure out how to get more out of my days with less in my days, I decided to fast. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fasting sounds weird. It is usually a medical term where you don't eat or drink before tests or surgery. For the religious among us, fasting from food can be a spiritual process too. I will occasionally fast for spiritual reasons, avoiding food for a short period of time in order to focus on prayer. (Usually I just pray the time passes because all I think about is Cheetos and Diet Coke.) It's practically UnAmerican to intentionally go without something...anything! I get some side eye when the topic comes up because depriving oneself on purpose feels...like deprivation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I decided to take a random June Friday as a Sabbath day of rest and retreat. I chose to fast technology by turning my cellphone 'off' and throwing a darling rooster apron from the Farmer's Market over my desktop computer. I posted my landline digits on Facebook for anyone interested and explained I would cease to exist for the day. Then I waited. I waited to see a total personal transformation. I waited to see what disaster would happen while I was out of pocket, out of touch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seven things happened. Seven times I lamented the lack of technology. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8AM I couldn't text my neighbor to borrow something. I'd have to walk or drive to her house...or in this case I waited till the next day & then texted her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8:10AM I couldn't take a picture of my awesome lipsense lipstick combination and post it. I wonder how the world is still spinning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9am I couldn't check the weather! I actually dug out the paper phonebook and called Time & Temperature. (Remember that???) It couldn't give me the hourly weather though, so I was unsure of when it could rain. I called my husband and he expressed disdain that I would put my tech free burden on him. He said I'd have to get my weather report the old fashioned way...but I reminded him the TV was included in my fast. He said the weather should be fine until mid afternoon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9:08am My friend called the landline to offer me her CSA for the week. We ended up TALKING. I felt like June Cleaver, sipping my coffee and having a telephone conversation. It was delightful and refreshing. If I'd had my smartphone on, it would have been two texts instead of wonderful conversation. I would've saved time at the expense of personal connection.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9:25am I worried my appointment might be late or need to check in with me....then I resolved to just call if she was 15 minutes late. She wasn't. She was right on time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10:15 am I wondered about the the weather again. I didn't call my husband, but I wondered. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I couldn't meditate. My meditation is firmly tied to the app on my iPad. I just did some thoughtful meditation and breathing the old fashioned way. It was great, actually.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10:25am There was an emergency where I needed to watch my friend's daughter, so I did turn my phone on silent, and when the girl's dad called to pick her up (4:00pm) he used my land line anyway, to honor my fast!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I ended my tech fast that evening to watch a movie with my family. My laundry was actually finished. The house was clean, and I'd read a magazine the day it came in the mail. I felt more relaxed, satisfied and accomplished than usual. It was like playing hooky from the world and I relished the peace of a simpler day. I was more aware of my dependence and addiction to technology and vowed to make a tech fast a regular occurrence Do you want to try your own fast? I'm doing it again next week, actually...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-24361314732854057572017-09-25T11:37:00.000-05:002017-09-25T11:37:13.547-05:00Complement the Bully: Help your Child Overcome this Back to School Fear<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">School starts in just a week for many of us, and our families are gathering all the back to school stuff that entails. Updated clothing in sizes that actually fit, new shoes (Hightops this year are apparently IN!) sharpened pencils and all the things. Many children, particularly those starting kindergarten or first grade may be nervous about the unknown back to school stuff...and what about mean kids, bullies, or teachers who are not the one they hoped for? Our family has ONE SECRET TIP any child can use on any bully any time. Yes, I'm going to share it. It is a compliment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I shared the book "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?" in<a href="http://liveyourloveoutloud.blogspot.com/2017/06/how-is-your-bucket-how-to-win-friends.html" target="_blank"> this NPR piece </a>last Fall. Our Secret Tip comes after we read that sweet story through another time this afternoon. We decided that if the girls had a bully say something unkind to them, they would reply with a compliment! We decided to compliment the bully would throw that bully off balance, but also help them fill their bucket. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyDUR3vXckjcxNPm09MA6kGurRc6YehOzZAAb0ytpl3XV9auIO9k6Tie41U8C5wMIQwzeUfwVsdG0a3iH9MREHbuhsoLLzO3HpWJki5nRpyzPr8D2ifapPNaXc_8hlYOmPOMjQQ/s1600/IMG_20170729_132006873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyDUR3vXckjcxNPm09MA6kGurRc6YehOzZAAb0ytpl3XV9auIO9k6Tie41U8C5wMIQwzeUfwVsdG0a3iH9MREHbuhsoLLzO3HpWJki5nRpyzPr8D2ifapPNaXc_8hlYOmPOMjQQ/s320/IMG_20170729_132006873.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We practiced complimenting the bully too! After all, b</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ack to school stuff</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> isn't just shopping, but preparing to be the people we want to be in the world. We took turns saying something mean to each other and while at first being intentionally mean was hard, it got all of us used to hearing mean worlds and in turn offering a positive compliment or statement back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What tips do you have for dealing with back to school fears? Have you or your child encountered a bully? What did you do?</span>liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-19115933363343762082017-09-21T10:12:00.001-05:002017-09-21T10:12:39.654-05:00Gratitude is a Matter of Choice and Perspective: Life in Kenya vs Life in America<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>There are lots of ways to support causes today, but the best cause is where you can touch and talk to the people you are helping. I've come to know Amy and Edwin Ahiga who with Amy's sister and lots of help) <a href="https://grainofriceproject.org/grain-of-rice-project/" target="_blank">created "Grain of Rice Project"</a> so support people living in </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kenya near where Edwin grew up. As I spoke with Amy recently after they returned from a another trip to Kenya, she as sad and missing Kenya. She found it hard to adjust to the hugee cultural differences and I asked her if she would share her thoughts in a guest post here. And she did! In reading her words I'm sure you will agree that gratitude is a matter of choice and perspective.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Top 10 Ways that Life in the U.S. and Kenya are Different</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People often ask me what life is like in Kenya, and the
first thing that comes to mind is that it’s really different than you
think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s rare to see that image of
the African mud hut with the thatched roof. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I once had the audacity to tell a
teaching colleague that I thought she should remove her stereotypical pictures
of Africa that were hanging all over her classroom!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, Kenya is really a welcoming place
with a diverse landscape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are the
top things that come to mind when comparing Kenya to the U.S.:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">1) </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Kenya is all about hospitality and a sense of
community.</b></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">In the U.S., we often hit the
garage door opener, pull in with our car, and disappear for the night, without
more than a simple wave to the neighbor.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">In Kenya, people regularly stop by the house to say hello, to borrow a
cooking pot, to eat dinner.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">You don’t
have to be invited for a visit, and even if you show up unannounced, you’re
likely to at least be given a cup of milky chai tea.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Even families that can barely feed their kids
will scrounge up something to give you, whether it’s bread, a soda, or
something from their farms.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">If you’re a
foreigner, you’ll be treated with even higher regards.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I once had an experience where they kept
piling my plate with more meat than they were even feeding the eldest man in
the family.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">And out of a sign of
respect, you eat what you’re given, with a smile on your face, even if the
small fish eyes are staring back at you and even if you have a gluten
intolerance like me.</span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-list: Ignore;">2<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><!--[endif]--> 2) <b> The pace of life is different.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While other countries in Africa have a
reputation of being even more laid back than Kenya, the saying “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pole pole,” </i>meaning slowly, slowly in
Swahili, is there for a reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things
just take longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meetings, church, and
events, all start at least 30-60 minutes late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In Western culture, being on time shows a sense of respect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in Kenya, it’s more about relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it would be better to stop and check on
your neighbor than to worry about being on time.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> 3</span></span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">) <b>The gap between the rich and poor is much bigger
than the U.S.</b></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b> </b> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Kibera, East Africa’s
biggest slum, where people live in shanty dwellings with no indoor plumbing, is
literally right next to huge shopping malls, the vice president’s mansion, and
other posh homes.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">While around half of
Nairobi is living in slums, the members of parliament are some of the highest
paid in the world.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Unfortunately,
corruption runs deep, from the top levels of government, to the average
person.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Bribes are so common that they
are expected.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Despite the poverty and
hardship, there is laughter, smiles, and a vibrancy about the slums.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> 4</span></span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">) <b>It's more common to travel on foot or by public
transportation than in a car.</b></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">While it’s
necessary in the U.S. to have a car, in Kenya it’s not.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It’s becoming increasingly common for the
emerging middle class to own cars, but many people in the slums are still
living on less than a few dollars a day.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Public transport is cheap and widely available.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">15 or more people are stuffed into minivan
size taxis called </span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">matatus,</i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> for a
daring, thrilling ride that often involves driving onto sidewalks and through
backroad short cuts as well as paying daily bribes to the police.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">5) <b> Small shops and kiosks are on every street and
corner.</b></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b> </b> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">They are an easy, convenient
place that customers can walk to and purchase all the basic groceries and
more.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">When my husband first moved to the
U.S. from Kenya, he wanted to know if we could open one in our front yard for
our neighbors.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93pZRfgWSC213khNTYuvLhI-Y5r508X8DBtKKOwfhsLSOSck8RGDZT4okpaC-R-qBC7OegxzhzNPPwopcftQ2c9CS5PqQjWBC06Wkeg-xcuw1f7ZXSLCeCb9Htd6H3C9vNld5Ng/s1600/IMG_20170902_161025833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1201" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93pZRfgWSC213khNTYuvLhI-Y5r508X8DBtKKOwfhsLSOSck8RGDZT4okpaC-R-qBC7OegxzhzNPPwopcftQ2c9CS5PqQjWBC06Wkeg-xcuw1f7ZXSLCeCb9Htd6H3C9vNld5Ng/s320/IMG_20170902_161025833.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 6) <b>The education system is all about
memorization.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a former teacher, I
know we have challenges with over testing our kids in the U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in Kenya, it’s a whole other level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The students in eighth grade cram for months
on end for one test that determines not only where they go to high school, but
in their minds, it also defines their entire future success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of the years of school are also
spent memorizing and testing, with homework grades not counting towards final
grades, and many kids receive little individual instruction to help them
improve academically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While caning kids
is technically illegal, it’s still happening in many schools across Kenya.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> 7) <b>There is less emphasis on material
possessions.</b></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">While it’s true that many
Kenyans dream of having a nice house and a car, they spend far less time
accumulating so many things the way we do in the U.S.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Many houses in the slums have too few beds
for everyone to sleep and little furniture.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">And even people who are well off do not have garages stock piled full of
things the way we do in the U.S., where we often falsely believe that more
things will make us happy, but in Kenya they do not.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> 8) <b>The healthcare system is all about
pre-paying.</b></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b> </b> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">You must pre-pay before
every doctor visit, before every blood draw, before every test.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">If you can’t pay, you won’t be treated.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Most people do not have insurance, but yet
it’s common for them to run to the nearest hospital or chemist shop every time
they have something even as small as a bad headache or cough.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">People constantly think they have malaria
even though they don’t.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Being
misdiagnosed is common…they told me I had malaria 3 times, when in fact I did
not.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> 9) <b>People have a deep sense of faith.</b></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b> </b> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Many people in the rural areas and in the
slums do not know where their next meal will come from.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">They literally must rely on God.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Church services last for hours, and it’s
often by choice that people are there so long worshipping.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> 10) <b> There
is amazing wildlife in Kenya.</b></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">While the
giraffes and elephants are not exactly walking around your backyard, there are
huge game parks stretching around the country with all kinds of animals.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Many people visit Kenya each year to witness
the great wildebeest migration, take a balloon safari, and experience the
wildlife and people in Masai Mara.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Even
Nairobi boasts the world’s only national park right within city limits where
all of the animals can be found.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">And
even when you’re not in the parks, occasionally in Nairobi there are baboons
and monkeys greeting you on your roof.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTQpUcWacYbdzIvQucJwOTHacv-F0_nVwscI2cyCUP_LS9yeQhoRpOc5D8D86gdkHIAYuOiNHSHmCjF-EHoeAMW_tP4beGNnyGgIYIQqJDirbD3_G6eAMo8KxRRs1Fuory0L_mg/s1600/IMG_20170902_161509620_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTQpUcWacYbdzIvQucJwOTHacv-F0_nVwscI2cyCUP_LS9yeQhoRpOc5D8D86gdkHIAYuOiNHSHmCjF-EHoeAMW_tP4beGNnyGgIYIQqJDirbD3_G6eAMo8KxRRs1Fuory0L_mg/s320/IMG_20170902_161509620_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I pray you found this fascinating and it helps all of us appreciate our small place in the world. Find out more about Grain of Rice Project, </span></span><a href="https://grainofriceproject.org/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" target="_blank">shop for yourself </a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">or friends and family, or consider supporting the ministry with </span><a href="https://grainofriceproject.org/donate/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" target="_blank">a donation</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span><br />
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liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-35819011191621649672017-07-26T06:00:00.000-05:002019-06-27T15:55:31.235-05:00Remember Your Vacation with this Postcard Trick! <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I road tripped 32 hours with a six year old and an eight year old and I lived to tell about it. If you are anything like me, there are MANY THINGS about a family road trip you'd like to forget. We will just agree here and not compare notes. This truth aside, what about those wonderful moments during a trip that fade to fog quickly after you have unpacked? How can you remember all the little things that color the feeling of a past vacation? I have a wonderfully unique tip from my dear friend Whitney Hibbits of Wildberry Sanctuary. Of course I will share with it you: Keep your Vacation Memories with a POSTCARD QUADRANT!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ89ZunOqwpo41hP0aCYkaQAzyy8y7DMMjOQ3yaPwlSqrlDi6I_bG7Cm4_-vEVXj7c-HSkwcanHjFK-KtoHavyZH7Ek0bPmUtE0o1nXZokJ_dnSRoHil9JuOu_9x_A15wnhOtBGA/s1600/postcard+quadrant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1370" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ89ZunOqwpo41hP0aCYkaQAzyy8y7DMMjOQ3yaPwlSqrlDi6I_bG7Cm4_-vEVXj7c-HSkwcanHjFK-KtoHavyZH7Ek0bPmUtE0o1nXZokJ_dnSRoHil9JuOu_9x_A15wnhOtBGA/s320/postcard+quadrant.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pick two all encompassing POSITIVE words or phrases for the top and right hand side titles, and two NEGATIVE (Or just plain funny) words or phrases for the left and bottom quadrant titles. This is usually the most fun part. One of Whitney's best was the word "Hecktrocity" . I've also used a variety of colorful language. After you pick your four titles, plot moments and experiences from the trip in the left top quadrant for moderately troublesome, bottom left quadrant for things you wish weren't part of your vacation memory, the right top quadrant for the best of the best and the bottom right for not so great, maybe not sooo bad!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKf_F1gUAvbEJrpvASEPxF8Uypfjhn3Q59fJm247yVf11Le7HWmvt-XOitpY0wQfl0f5mDhQGv1pTxJfvXbQkKc7IS0WOD7rCg8hdSBqbdDtMqhxNwTkR-YP1gEQifEj-8SvWyg/s1600/IMG_20170724_185435055_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKf_F1gUAvbEJrpvASEPxF8Uypfjhn3Q59fJm247yVf11Le7HWmvt-XOitpY0wQfl0f5mDhQGv1pTxJfvXbQkKc7IS0WOD7rCg8hdSBqbdDtMqhxNwTkR-YP1gEQifEj-8SvWyg/s640/IMG_20170724_185435055_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For example, in the "Estes Park 2017" postcard, my quadrants are Llama Petting, Sound of a River, Bear Mauling and Sound of Whining. I plotted memorable but not so great parts of the trip (trying to figure our dinner logistics with 6 adults and two kids, our dog breaking through every barricade to get up on my uncle's bed...when he is allergic.) I also plotted the best parts ( Bear Lake Hike is upper Right quadrant because it was smoother than Calypso Cascades Hike (lower right quadrant) where Libby was DONE twenty minutes from the best waterfall so we turned around and headed back to the car.)</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3dlB5al4nzvbVlgmXexP2ab_w0Wi9wRbBQ6-baPXmY1HqILWw-5Xqh5xNn0tVYe5rQ2WSQCb7uYqAhKb7yGkyh-TYw4QAWtEyrROq9dE4gESyvgt8YEmdwFiLigjDzgE33ABLw/s1600/IMG_20170724_193036105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3dlB5al4nzvbVlgmXexP2ab_w0Wi9wRbBQ6-baPXmY1HqILWw-5Xqh5xNn0tVYe5rQ2WSQCb7uYqAhKb7yGkyh-TYw4QAWtEyrROq9dE4gESyvgt8YEmdwFiLigjDzgE33ABLw/s640/IMG_20170724_193036105.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whitney shared this funny little thing she and her husband Richard use for their side trips and all in vacations. It really resonated with me as a way to be intentional about vacations and my memory of them. I have used this ever since...and often if I do not get the postcard made, I find the notes nearby and can apply it said postcard afterwards. Whitney is cool for this but many, many other reasons. She brings out my wildness and is always encouraging. She is at times an old soul and then again a newborn free spirit. She got my kids into every creek we passed and I try to remember this wildness when my natural tendency is to keep things easy and tidy for me. I miss having her closer, but she infiltrates my life with joy filled memories and wise adages like this postcard quadrant doohickey.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Qp9MdKOR11tZS3Oca0Prtcvw0Bqakxs6kRRnHXut7_sqQZcTnhH-mKVHGQa-BHvI-53q30oOvXDMJfFkp8G20Ga_D7m8W1XcCBij-2cutHvIwVtH-BSw_97B6ynSWAhakeI41A/s1600/20150712_103629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Qp9MdKOR11tZS3Oca0Prtcvw0Bqakxs6kRRnHXut7_sqQZcTnhH-mKVHGQa-BHvI-53q30oOvXDMJfFkp8G20Ga_D7m8W1XcCBij-2cutHvIwVtH-BSw_97B6ynSWAhakeI41A/s320/20150712_103629.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Should you find yourself near Barnardsville North Carolina, look her up and plan a visit to <b><u>Wildberry Sanctuary</u></b> where Whitney and her husband Richard help folks enjoy the wilderness playground of the hills, animals, honeybees and more. <i>"Wildberry Sanctuary is<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f323b; font-family: "open sans" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> a healing retreat offering summer day camps and therapeutic services for children in the foster system and their families, abused women and other people experiencing trauma. We are located in the blue ridge mountains and want something that has the feel of our location, which translates to natural, rustic and healing. We have many structures made with weaving of branches, a creek that runs through the property and nearby forested area." </span></i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/wildberrysanctuary/" target="_blank">Like their Facebook page, if you will! </a> Check out the views from Wildberry Sanctuary before it all began, here!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgann3qp4ryL1LetPuav6eNrXx1ItnaKcuowzaQkCkkJRux2VETin7RA7IDg6VTrrpdA1iHdGy44RY5trCkj5b7-On9aiWwfEIUuHse5T9BbHxsJAys6MdwnX2Sdt5rokPiW0r5Iw/s1600/20150712_121550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgann3qp4ryL1LetPuav6eNrXx1ItnaKcuowzaQkCkkJRux2VETin7RA7IDg6VTrrpdA1iHdGy44RY5trCkj5b7-On9aiWwfEIUuHse5T9BbHxsJAys6MdwnX2Sdt5rokPiW0r5Iw/s320/20150712_121550.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aKL0U82baZeGLI5Crf-YbPvkdWcsqd_0POxxHPK7AxMnaoajjXpZoORtqX7tZvmTDXFW2whNu2KPouFq3SnXQbyL7ibRtpcUKhNAc9FCHJvd_sfF-XVAtCIVeA5Ltx_Vn1s-8w/s1600/20150712_114959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aKL0U82baZeGLI5Crf-YbPvkdWcsqd_0POxxHPK7AxMnaoajjXpZoORtqX7tZvmTDXFW2whNu2KPouFq3SnXQbyL7ibRtpcUKhNAc9FCHJvd_sfF-XVAtCIVeA5Ltx_Vn1s-8w/s320/20150712_114959.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioObNTZpJqmg79Vunk1xgE3ps4F1OvKOsVc0ZE5CB8eC5AYC5YOsC8vMuLkSE2911N5WlCKx1TjqWv_3jCFG_QAGlTMjQ6n2gO872yhs1QWC4mnC9dUaVoa63ThBWsXmNv-lqnA/s1600/20150712_115510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioObNTZpJqmg79Vunk1xgE3ps4F1OvKOsVc0ZE5CB8eC5AYC5YOsC8vMuLkSE2911N5WlCKx1TjqWv_3jCFG_QAGlTMjQ6n2gO872yhs1QWC4mnC9dUaVoa63ThBWsXmNv-lqnA/s320/20150712_115510.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeatherNovakSpeaker" target="_blank"><b>Please LIKE my "Heather Novak, Speaker" Facebook Page</b>!</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="goog_1691599710"></span><span id="goog_1691599711"></span><br /></span>liveyourlovoutloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07120404914868731978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18041017.post-4448295337621348452017-07-24T20:33:00.000-05:002017-07-24T20:40:19.621-05:00Water Wars (NPR Michiana Chronicles WVPE 88.1 FM)<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> You can listen to this radio essay <a href="http://wvpe.org/post/michiana-chronicles-water-wars" target="_blank">by clicking here.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">My family went to war this week with a
neighboring house. We planned and prepared and plotted the attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are civilized people and we warned them,
we did the chivalrous things and then we told them how it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although children should be shielded from all
aspects of war, we used our innocent daughters to deliver the initial
blow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They carried the formal written
challenge in a Turkish letter scroll carrier made of metal carved with filigree
and finesse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They chose matching dresses
for their courier uniform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They crossed
the street and knocked politely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(They
did have to knock louder the second time, but they did not relent.) Our girls
greeted the neighbor and stood outside after curtly stating “We will wait for
your reply”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The challenge was accepted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The time of battle was set for 1:00pm July 4<sup>th</sup>,
2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiXcnPZgyKAk49VU4InQgNeDNOlipwOUAoS0WV-LhM1rzc6zss4HWXcOC0hq5GViyt9gB3iqjn4c3TmABphv2UCgMFeEot9LBS-3QCgZXVjxNCdxoCskDl00J6m2I6Mkr8P4FhA/s1600/IMG_20170704_092507432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiXcnPZgyKAk49VU4InQgNeDNOlipwOUAoS0WV-LhM1rzc6zss4HWXcOC0hq5GViyt9gB3iqjn4c3TmABphv2UCgMFeEot9LBS-3QCgZXVjxNCdxoCskDl00J6m2I6Mkr8P4FhA/s400/IMG_20170704_092507432.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kdIeduActnZigYp6gVLkasqUtA2ZZXPcu98VwT6u3zH2tG3A-v_VkfCTiOZl-GSA1-Vi3T2358OAO_tTpVusLddHj74xOJCDoS05TSSxTlx2TV19SnuTga1W_S13YVlsioZ54Q/s1600/IMG_20170704_093457796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kdIeduActnZigYp6gVLkasqUtA2ZZXPcu98VwT6u3zH2tG3A-v_VkfCTiOZl-GSA1-Vi3T2358OAO_tTpVusLddHj74xOJCDoS05TSSxTlx2TV19SnuTga1W_S13YVlsioZ54Q/s320/IMG_20170704_093457796.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">You may realize I do not get out much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not too fun, I like things tidy and I’m
the kind of mama who tries to avoid a mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am a decent parent so I say “No” and “Clean that up” and “Eat your
dinner, use your napkin why isn’t your napkin in your
lapstoptalkingwithyourmouthful!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try
to tip the balance in my favor occasionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For example;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I buy too many ice
cream cones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We go out in pajamas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bring home crafts and we fuss in the kitchen
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also have a secret: I like a
good water balloon fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I’ve purchased crummy cheap squirt guns that
get ruined with sand at the beach, and we have struggled to fill water balloons
at least once a summer. Then something happened:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some company called Zuru made instant fills
& seal water balloon kits (and charge the equivalent of college tuition for
them).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watched them in the stores all
last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too much money for something
that would essentially last five minutes and then need to be cleaned up.
Everything changed when we made our bi-annual Costco trip and they had 350
water balloons for $20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wheels began
to turn and we declared war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or I sent a
text message anyway:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">US:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">R u
around this weekend?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There may be a
family challenge pending</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">THEM: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bring it. Down 1 kid so it’s even numbers</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">US: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The House of Rochon may be challenged by the
House of Novak to a water fight within the next<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>24 hours.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I also included a Bitmoji of myself as Wonder
Woman that said “BRACE YOURSELF”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(If you
do not yet “BITMOJI”, you might want to start!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I sent text messages to some of our other
neighbors alerting them to the battle between the House of Novak and the House
of Rochon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I invited them to join in or
to watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of our neighbors make the
effort to connect regularly in large and small ways and it feels good to really
know my neighbors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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for the water balloons, another daughter brought a laundry basket upstairs to
hold our squishy, bulbous weapons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
suggestion of running to Michaels for war paint was rejected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The breakfast dishes weren’t going to wash
themselves so I turned on Spotify and found the playlist “Epic War Songs for
Glorious Motivation” and cranked up the volume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dishes aren’t exactly inspiring, but the music was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Before long it was time to begin assembling
munitions which included three mangy squirt guns in addition to our 350 Zuru
water balloons in magic quick fill clusters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My husband had the proper wrist finesse to detach the filled balloons,
so he did that while I used our kid’s wagon to move laundry baskets of ammo
across the street to our neighbors’ neighbor’s yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set six year old Libby as the guard of the
goods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sat in the wagon armed with a
water balloon and a crummy squirt gun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was impossibly cute and ferocious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">I made flower crowns for the Queen of both
Households.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got a selfie in them,
which is great because they were decimated within five minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d decreed the winner of this battle would be
determined by which side was wettest and which crown was stolen first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crowns were just gone almost immediately and
the House of Novak fell to their foe wetly with plopping sound effects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There may have been a home court advantage in
the form of a hose, but all is fair in love and war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The House of Rochon offered us losers some
pretty great brownies with whipped cream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Brownies soften the sting of defeat. House of Rochon, prepare for a
rematch…we can bring the brownies this time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span>
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