tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71597042000128081232024-02-07T12:50:51.209-08:00InfertilityMom has Moved to JenniferSaake.comBridging 2 very different worlds of 10+ years of <a href="http://infertilitymom.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-family-that-god-built.html">infertility (including 3 miscarriages and 7 failed adoption attempts) followed by motherhood of 3 living miracles</a>, "InfertilityMom" Jennifer Saake shares about her daily life writing, juggling stroke recovery and chronic illness. I HAVE MOVED to my own <a href="http://JenniferSaake.com">JenniferSaake, "In Darkness Sing"</a> blog. Please join me there!JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.comBlogger395125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-64389519269788833512018-03-18T22:55:00.001-07:002018-03-18T22:55:24.299-07:00I've Moved<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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It's only been a 6-year process (don't ask), but I am so very excited to unveil <a href="http://jennifersaake.com/">JenniferSaake.com</a> tonight. It's finally live!</div>
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<br />JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-80596542747972756922018-02-26T23:26:00.000-08:002018-03-18T22:44:03.327-07:00In Darkness SingIt is still very much a work in progress. I'm not sure how it is all going to pan out, but my goal is to streamline my multiple blogs into one, eventually under the domain name my husband purchased for me back at Christmas of 2012, and I'm slowly training my brain to figure out actually use, jennifersaake.com (so try that if the following link eventually stops working for you).<br />
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For tonight allow me to introduce you to my new page I've designed without any help (though it has taken me 2 full years to figure out - stroke brain is no joke!), using the WordPress platform, <span style="font-size: large;"><i>In Darkness Sing.</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiUEj6m-qyyonaV6cHBSsitVx7WU6fruXVS2BjDpKpx327DV_Wku2wokFj8OIJ1EyeBLmULvReg9_ZGkg1tghYPWghW7WAK48E8rvV-kRRgElTALNtWhNSFPsxAUuHJsf58_nJOeqTOs/s1600/indarknesssing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="691" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiUEj6m-qyyonaV6cHBSsitVx7WU6fruXVS2BjDpKpx327DV_Wku2wokFj8OIJ1EyeBLmULvReg9_ZGkg1tghYPWghW7WAK48E8rvV-kRRgElTALNtWhNSFPsxAUuHJsf58_nJOeqTOs/s400/indarknesssing.jpg" width="345" /></a></div>
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My first post is live (I think, I hope!) at <a href="http://jennifersaake.com/articles/welcome/" target="_blank">Why "In Darkness Sing"?</a> [edited to add new link 3/18/18] and I would so very greatly appreciate any and all feedback, or reports of spelling errors, typos, broken links, or other technical glitches, you can provide. Thanks!JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-34103373051241387452018-02-23T09:18:00.000-08:002018-02-23T09:37:48.706-08:00WHOLE HEART by Passion Music GIVEAWAYI was moody, grumpy, generally having a bad day.<br />
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I'm sure I'm the only one, right?<br />
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I went back to flop on my bed and pout over some infraction I held against a family member.<br />
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I knew I had a review* coming due, so I mindlessly flipped on the<span style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">PASSION <a href="http://capcmg.me/PassionWholeHeart" target="_blank">WHOLE HEART</a> CD </span><span style="background-color: white;">as I mercilessly crushed candy on my </span><span style="background-color: white;">handheld computer that also happens to be able to send and receive telephone calls.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKS_SyXyR-J2x29DK8cTo0j4aPOVWLLGHc1awUwT_goGQiIY6LC7d1CuFASMgzAn3hbg4CXio34P7gPZnNTm1n3s3AJO200FcMdXZ5qDiwSdtKOHDI1canDoJPWF_-_dShNkLBQPiLQQ/s1600/450x450bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKS_SyXyR-J2x29DK8cTo0j4aPOVWLLGHc1awUwT_goGQiIY6LC7d1CuFASMgzAn3hbg4CXio34P7gPZnNTm1n3s3AJO200FcMdXZ5qDiwSdtKOHDI1canDoJPWF_-_dShNkLBQPiLQQ/s320/450x450bb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I half listened, angrily clicking my phone.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #26282a; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">As the words of worship began to wash over my heart, the frantic pace of my hands began to slow.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">An hour later, I was freshly aware of the price Jesus had paid to buy my unearned forgiveness. My game was tossed aside and my heart was bowed before the Lord as I was convicted of the grudge I had been nursing.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">I can't really give you a critical review of music preferences, because what God did in my heart through these lyrics, His Spirit refreshing my heart, was much more profound than the dissection of music style. So I'll simply post a couple of music clips and let the promoter's words speak toward answering the product details:</span><br />
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WHOLE HEART is the new live album from <a href="http://passionmusic.com/story/" target="_blank">Passion</a>, captured at the Passion Conference 2018 in Atlanta, GA.</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->•<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>“Rooted
out of the Passion movement, we are committed to leading people towards renewed
intimacy with God and fresh encounters of worship. Passion is more than music.
More than events. Passion is a generation living for His name.” <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->•<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
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HEART is the new live album from Passion—captured at Passion Conference 2018 in
Atlanta, GA.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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</span><!--[endif]--><b>Passion
Conference 2018 was a beautiful worship experience, and the live album captures
each powerful moment, allowing those who were not in attendance to experience
it.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->•<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
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Passion Artists: Kristian Stanfill, Melodie Malone, Sean Curran, Matt Redman,
Crowder.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Buy Link: </b><b><a href="http://capcmg.me/PassionWholeHeart">http://capcmg.me/PassionWholeHeart</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Want a chance to win a copy? </span></b></div>
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<b style="color: #26282a;">Leave me a meaningful comment here on my blog (along with a working method of contact so I can get your mailing address if you are the winner!) today, tomorrow, or Sunday. I'll contact one random name on Monday, February 26, 2018, to get your address for FlyBy promotions who will mail my winner a free CD in March!</b><span style="color: #26282a;"> (Blog comments can get grumpy at times, so a comment on this post on my facebook author page will work too, although, if you have the option of leaving a blog comment, I would sure prefer that method, as that will help me track all entries in one spot.)<br /><br /><br /><b>Please go like my author page at </b></span><span style="color: #26282a;"><b><a href="http://facebook.com/HarvestingHope">facebook.com/HarvestingHope</a> (or get a friend to do so) and leave me another comment here that you did so (along with the name for me to verify that I have the new like). You and your friend will both earn an additional chance to be chosen as my winner if you do.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a;"><b>Please help me spread the word. Share this giveaway post everywhere you can - Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, your own blog, etc. Every time you share and come back and add your share link to comments, that's another entry too.<br /><br /><br />I'm excited to see you win. This album, just releasing today, is going to bless your heart!</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #26282a;">Want it sooner or for sure? (Or course you do!) Grab your copy today at c<a href="http://capcmg.me/PassionWholeHeart">apcmg.me/PassionWholeHeart</a></span></div>
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<b>#PassionWholeHeart</b><b> #FlyBy #Contest #Drawing #Giveaway<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">* Yes, I did receive a free, promotional copy of this music for my review. However, opinions expressed are fully my own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The giveaway aspect of this post is not sponsored by any parties other than Jennifer Saake and FlyBy Promotions, so Facebook and other big corporations, you are legally off the hook for this one.</span></div>
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JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-89114390179681441342017-12-07T06:11:00.001-08:002017-12-07T06:11:48.740-08:00Encouragement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">This was fun and unexpected news to wake up to. </span><a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="async" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.StrokeOfGrace.blogspot.com%2F&h=ATNbIsebHOu44F6JuM7DnPaq-HRcCaRXqCvdpy_4-n4nU8QqZNtXBT6-rQwZRkQY9XMiAPry7EnlE2x20DTLedV0b74Dw74r1TYZL0K7VDuV9Q-erJVNhr6StGFAw_hnT7bdSavq124W3DUrfYQLFOhYUFETNdDMcERsoU5NzVS0R-N_WxQ8SfZTo2z785Q8RsnQ-LzJMN8znBRMegGF9N5meNXSlR50DkL0JwTRNPT_wFxIISMTsM9T3wiH6M1Ne_WqpeUX1yPO3BIemdbe4phAtxFttiMjR0vp1Pzv" href="https://www.strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">www.StrokeOfGrace.blogspot.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> ranked 17th in "the most comprehensive list of best Stroke blogs on the internet" (</span><a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="async" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.feedspot.com%2Fstroke_blogs%2F&h=ATPpDp1gsIo7r7z5USb3Pc-gLdW0eq6zoBH7f-1obAikHn_A7vnlS86LdVKxF2bQYWbAwKyrzr6yPtDtwz40DFH6YIrrmAwQuulrFLY1tj_UMwajy7w8JSv0iUyv7CfHB6-cwWCPFjWija0rCMg_HLBngNoYUOF9whYCtZufBhWzOhST6Xi0zv8aWZbsCKdVAu7ZScpCvEP-dreaAGqZtKy19cbmAVtGCUKPuOLF3yCBikaQJ1desjMDs34FwsW9C_7Af0d04qAttyuJ8-RAXpQ6mu0chD_lxynexfq9" href="https://blog.feedspot.com/stroke_blogs/" rel="noopener nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://blog.feedspot.com/stroke_blogs/</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">) this week! Panel selection is based on Google reputation and Google search ranking, Influence and popularity on Facebook, twitter and other social media sites, and Quality and consistency of posts. Updates are selected weekly The rest of the list is pretty impressive, a mix of some really well-done personal stories and some professional organizations.<br /></span>JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-67823009660162189262017-11-20T15:40:00.001-08:002017-11-21T09:33:03.927-08:00I Miss My HouseThis <a href="https://www.facebook.com/chitra.bhakta/videos/885534648201830" target="_blank">video</a> is great perspective. I keep reminding myself to focus on what's really important because "God's still on the throne."<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">I'm frustrated.</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1DVTdWP75LEF_megoa9NRUWyB0hV5zFiBQyyzcd9x0NwFNREmusV9dtmeSns-1pwByuVVRTRaxgZRUzos8uGWZfZlrXtVtRZgiKTPqOVZJATVQfWZySxWWVyDCjS0jzMxaP6cTvzltY/s1600/20171102_104300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1DVTdWP75LEF_megoa9NRUWyB0hV5zFiBQyyzcd9x0NwFNREmusV9dtmeSns-1pwByuVVRTRaxgZRUzos8uGWZfZlrXtVtRZgiKTPqOVZJATVQfWZySxWWVyDCjS0jzMxaP6cTvzltY/s320/20171102_104300.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the midst of the mess. By Jennifer Saake, November 2017</td></tr>
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We had flood damage <b>last winter</b> and we are still living the consequences.<br />
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We thought we would have our house back together by 4th of July. By Labor Day. By Thanksgiving.<br />
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Now I'm hoping for Christmas<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRaLfykkMpdE1pvht-tRydkw_n9rqIHFwq2FvsJsul7FEssf4AMGLc9RZLcOU8oOUQ3W03-aNk6nA62C59MbMTGSXS18hHSO_Prxw4_24tn9IH6dad4yH2ohBFRO0uI3pJqyTWtMuPWQ/s1600/20170825_085707_1503676704885_1509670356426_1509670565193_1509670783787001002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRaLfykkMpdE1pvht-tRydkw_n9rqIHFwq2FvsJsul7FEssf4AMGLc9RZLcOU8oOUQ3W03-aNk6nA62C59MbMTGSXS18hHSO_Prxw4_24tn9IH6dad4yH2ohBFRO0uI3pJqyTWtMuPWQ/s400/20170825_085707_1503676704885_1509670356426_1509670565193_1509670783787001002.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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A moldy wall was torn out in May.<br />
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The wall finally went back up just this month when insurance finally agreed to cover 1/3 of the actual repair costs (far better than the 1/4 offer they made a month prior.)<br />
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Two tiny spots of mold we saw on a wall turned into an entire wall replacement, mold abatement, fireplace damage, carpet removal, and the tiling of the removed carpet area.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Q4it1SofgfyIyJ7fNCpcgcyFuFjhQbPjDedL2Rx7WVvYjWYeJaZFLGzqJbgvSiLXRDVKQbFGiHMYMYr6GyidzT2BUdZ6ZBMehPK0UdsM_h1KmB_ZTZHyzwPbyrgFfC0QaNx02G5NRls/s1600/20171102_134417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 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/AVvXsEg-Q4it1SofgfyIyJ7fNCpcgcyFuFjhQbPjDedL2Rx7WVvYjWYeJaZFLGzqJbgvSiLXRDVKQbFGiHMYMYr6GyidzT2BUdZ6ZBMehPK0UdsM_h1KmB_ZTZHyzwPbyrgFfC0QaNx02G5NRls/s320/20171102_134417.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Believe it or not, we realized we could do a grand fireplace wall for less than twice the price insurance gave us to replace the generic-looking fireplace mantel that was mold damaged and had to be torn out. We learned this because, direct from the manufacturer, our old set was going to cost $3,600 to replace. Insurance only granted about $1,000 for fireplace repair, so we had to go looking for options within our budget. We'll be spending close to $2,000, so far more than what insurance is willing to pay out, but far less than replacing the like item to what was lost.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlALLeo-qlyyUa5YPkaLGVOFhRJao95mA6r8MJlzzKSWACi3JpRQn4iuFaG67fetD_CrLgnb38AKl9Lm8zN8h3g1gLxG3e1LKh4u3-77RuX3JWK-PEgXN1_v1sPHe-jwjVK3X0WfvqgU/s1600/20171102_175018_1509670257026_1509670635075_1509670847490001+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlALLeo-qlyyUa5YPkaLGVOFhRJao95mA6r8MJlzzKSWACi3JpRQn4iuFaG67fetD_CrLgnb38AKl9Lm8zN8h3g1gLxG3e1LKh4u3-77RuX3JWK-PEgXN1_v1sPHe-jwjVK3X0WfvqgU/s400/20171102_175018_1509670257026_1509670635075_1509670847490001+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We are going from this,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3TueDJUeG5WTCsyMFV2UExJCYqfNMeiT9TBMg-QEu6Yw2zn4uBsD2Jm3VkDqW90X-t-fY7s77_6W2XTQHuPBLf2z4TVh7IHULy7NoHeWMvDSla8oyYeb3A6JQ7ARADoDhvIMsQIXWJI/s1600/fireplace.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3TueDJUeG5WTCsyMFV2UExJCYqfNMeiT9TBMg-QEu6Yw2zn4uBsD2Jm3VkDqW90X-t-fY7s77_6W2XTQHuPBLf2z4TVh7IHULy7NoHeWMvDSla8oyYeb3A6JQ7ARADoDhvIMsQIXWJI/s320/fireplace.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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to something similar to this (not our picture as ours is yet-to-be-built, but here's our inspiration picture we found on Pinterest).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtkUCYsnUvSXPdRYUTD8-m1QvLbltPxvCoCh0kJYFkqgnQJLqOwxRlE5pSkG5AEgjfeFNnE9YBOkvIVtj4cs1pAb-bkUptQGvYxyaVdAbTcPxPV1684yF9sIvf9RgRliI9UIs93QzwS4/s1600/6361e484447a8937e2110bc951295b48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtkUCYsnUvSXPdRYUTD8-m1QvLbltPxvCoCh0kJYFkqgnQJLqOwxRlE5pSkG5AEgjfeFNnE9YBOkvIVtj4cs1pAb-bkUptQGvYxyaVdAbTcPxPV1684yF9sIvf9RgRliI9UIs93QzwS4/s400/6361e484447a8937e2110bc951295b48.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
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Since insurance has unique math, the cost of the "entire room's worth of carpet" they credited us for, in reality, paid only enough the tile a small strip (no, not because of the cost of tile, because we chose the most economical way we could to stretch the dollars granted) of one end of the living room. Our plan was to save most of that room's carpeting by designing a new traffic flow pattern through our house.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42T34nq4dolH3J-20MFGGzjwyu8oY2ypdNP5cgMgJRGBMHXb_W34XjyGhjZRzcnybhZ82szhEPjGMocfmHnoEQ3a80U9IuhpGbdoqndcO3QCTfYGEh3OIF-630-Zv76W7H5GSiBruev4/s1600/20171102_134035.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/AVvXsEi42T34nq4dolH3J-20MFGGzjwyu8oY2ypdNP5cgMgJRGBMHXb_W34XjyGhjZRzcnybhZ82szhEPjGMocfmHnoEQ3a80U9IuhpGbdoqndcO3QCTfYGEh3OIF-630-Zv76W7H5GSiBruev4/s320/20171102_134035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Nice thought.</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDbKHdLNHT2WlCQNijxDwPQoQrQrg8EMWHb3bqlJZD-gZ2vzbTOQtsoUS-wcmv1hN-V0QrzGJInQpHIyVMch5GohylNhFeoi0zKO5GN9dfVjEepOjpWTRA8lLft62e8e9mX5eZ8Vk5g0/s1600/20171107_145516_1510096707467.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/AVvXsEgfDbKHdLNHT2WlCQNijxDwPQoQrQrg8EMWHb3bqlJZD-gZ2vzbTOQtsoUS-wcmv1hN-V0QrzGJInQpHIyVMch5GohylNhFeoi0zKO5GN9dfVjEepOjpWTRA8lLft62e8e9mX5eZ8Vk5g0/s320/20171107_145516_1510096707467.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In reality, when the small strip of damaged carpet was cut out, mold was found to extend far under the living room carpet thanks to a mistake by our original mold abatement folks who had sealed WET carpet under plastic for five months, actually creating a problem that wasn't there to begin with! There solution for their mistake, toss the problem back in the laps of home owner's insurance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFpxgC8J1-nTVgBiBj0VSENi_hMm5XxtWIVmwEdNT0LCg7sbQdjfDeX6Socs3nn6wqcRYT4hd43zUwNBZCuFM6sc2aHqXGcK6xZW_-vyXzyHfm5MnF75erisfHMg0EwzCO-Myy1KJeJk/s1600/20171107_072618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 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/AVvXsEhoFpxgC8J1-nTVgBiBj0VSENi_hMm5XxtWIVmwEdNT0LCg7sbQdjfDeX6Socs3nn6wqcRYT4hd43zUwNBZCuFM6sc2aHqXGcK6xZW_-vyXzyHfm5MnF75erisfHMg0EwzCO-Myy1KJeJk/s320/20171107_072618.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Arrrgggg! </span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-IEozyOCfjDNEOFI8wVQ1NNefbjyWw0HHHdMn8MHPQjR_r61J1tyEJXkscvY0PPTAUZOY5skzFBH7WDC5LZGI7q0dNQfKGwsL-v2jbJSQZecvdmCLO6um-7GDO_FpMpc5Q6dSpcGrHI/s1600/20171107_083021.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/AVvXsEji-IEozyOCfjDNEOFI8wVQ1NNefbjyWw0HHHdMn8MHPQjR_r61J1tyEJXkscvY0PPTAUZOY5skzFBH7WDC5LZGI7q0dNQfKGwsL-v2jbJSQZecvdmCLO6um-7GDO_FpMpc5Q6dSpcGrHI/s320/20171107_083021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Since we had already be credited to "replace" all of the carpet in the living room (again, can't figure out their math on how that was remotely supposed to work), the only thing additional insurance will pay for is the cost of carpet padding there. We haven't even bothered to ask how low that extra check will be. Let's just say, we aren't even factoring it into our resources at this point.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1D1z0xVuCQpMaBgScKUZ0ZUGM9UT-4kpzsbIA3OqTpjIxSy285Hm6VLS9TM9faHNtEY2aAr1coNdOgK_OW48BzDNmvGepj1AncZZ1lyK4LLBPmLuIq374aTaakUYy_F7X2ac-63oOIg/s1600/20171107_072339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1D1z0xVuCQpMaBgScKUZ0ZUGM9UT-4kpzsbIA3OqTpjIxSy285Hm6VLS9TM9faHNtEY2aAr1coNdOgK_OW48BzDNmvGepj1AncZZ1lyK4LLBPmLuIq374aTaakUYy_F7X2ac-63oOIg/s400/20171107_072339.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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So now, re-tiling that entire room (since the tiling process had already begun on the original strip and we need to match the rest of the floor to what's already there, but our tile installer refused to do any further work unless we would rip out all existing carpet in that room) is a nearly $3,000 un-budgeted renovation project.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvBXUt5DugsADwX0mtm66Q84LLcmbht9wi3ZVOKn8t16Wp31SHeCaepuRjrMjsWM8ho8_8VjYFhFjZr1lKzlbjD3hotm3yJrWJBr82sUKOa1nfTJnPkIXl-EewnSsohxhDN63O7Bw7Ng/s1600/20171118_084529_1511023750194001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvBXUt5DugsADwX0mtm66Q84LLcmbht9wi3ZVOKn8t16Wp31SHeCaepuRjrMjsWM8ho8_8VjYFhFjZr1lKzlbjD3hotm3yJrWJBr82sUKOa1nfTJnPkIXl-EewnSsohxhDN63O7Bw7Ng/s320/20171118_084529_1511023750194001.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Before we realized the living room was going to need so much extra help, we had already committed to, and purchased supplies for, the same tiling to flow into our kitchen that has been in dire need (torn up trip hazard) re-flooring since before my strokes.That expense was to have been all our birthday and Christmas and Valentine and what-have-you gifts to each other for at least the next three years because it was so important and it was much more cost effective to do when we were already paying for the flood repair labor anyway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxX6Ir7qiPuSAVrO9xxxuJTWsnBS1pP_dxFug7WsIEn1enWpBESj6XKSyOCSsuE5rQluxnCO0Wx_ZvpH5IdtIbEyC2wJzAQ6onNPIzvT-mk9zCP5MvSt3CZePgDE7oFdssqYUzVtWuH4/s1600/20171118_155555%25280%2529+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 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/AVvXsEhCxX6Ir7qiPuSAVrO9xxxuJTWsnBS1pP_dxFug7WsIEn1enWpBESj6XKSyOCSsuE5rQluxnCO0Wx_ZvpH5IdtIbEyC2wJzAQ6onNPIzvT-mk9zCP5MvSt3CZePgDE7oFdssqYUzVtWuH4/s320/20171118_155555%25280%2529+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I shared yesterday on my stroke blog, about my <a href="http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2017/11/i-did-never.html" target="_blank">painting adventure</a> that wouldn't have happened were it not for our unplanned remodel. This is a reason for rejoicing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigmc_dUskhJl2C9PNgWCGCQ9om6Ba_0nkGImA4YB1i-OxF-9vhntKAmOYIIdF1-NWUj3LqRO6ur8-FjIP7Kl4cC6ZGy1yP8fl2kmiJ6VDZvk24ASiWt5j99KYGxsWW3eXHKCKEWztmao/s1600/homescreenPreview.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigmc_dUskhJl2C9PNgWCGCQ9om6Ba_0nkGImA4YB1i-OxF-9vhntKAmOYIIdF1-NWUj3LqRO6ur8-FjIP7Kl4cC6ZGy1yP8fl2kmiJ6VDZvk24ASiWt5j99KYGxsWW3eXHKCKEWztmao/s1600/homescreenPreview.png" /></a></div>
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The house WILL be beautiful when the job ever finally gets finished (our installer has been averaging three or five tile rows a day and only works half days, two or three days a week, something we did not understand when we hired him, so it is very slow going). In the meantime, we are living with all of our kitchen and living room furniture, and unpacked contents, crammed into our dinning room. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSSx67nZL30lj2xOQDBkJtrUoQNUd9M6N0P8Zso2Lzj2k8o366lZiigpS0e9Q8KgfBFDSGUXlRSkBaBAOSUqH3qknyY-edtCOLcNQOUiy6yJJ0MW35CaBBY0GvVlMyWcdD6rbgPjJbJU/s1600/20171120_143236.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/AVvXsEhbSSx67nZL30lj2xOQDBkJtrUoQNUd9M6N0P8Zso2Lzj2k8o366lZiigpS0e9Q8KgfBFDSGUXlRSkBaBAOSUqH3qknyY-edtCOLcNQOUiy6yJJ0MW35CaBBY0GvVlMyWcdD6rbgPjJbJU/s320/20171120_143236.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm very thankful that my in-laws are hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year. I'm praying that we have a livable house to use in time for Christmas! The kids have already requested a tree, though they know the new floor where it is to be set up will be the primary present beneath it this year!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05VDybcsSu0yVWJA7anSZHo6ELC_n488rBid2ndm2KPya2AslTLIosepVDNP8sK_ep6Ds21PJ70xnZlTXrTCjBz4CWDmanAxIcOjrDiXfWT7nCjcT_YJfq4GkdN5Oh989Zqv4Arlabpc/s1600/20171102_104000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05VDybcsSu0yVWJA7anSZHo6ELC_n488rBid2ndm2KPya2AslTLIosepVDNP8sK_ep6Ds21PJ70xnZlTXrTCjBz4CWDmanAxIcOjrDiXfWT7nCjcT_YJfq4GkdN5Oh989Zqv4Arlabpc/s320/20171102_104000.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by Jennifer Saake, October 2017</td></tr>
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<b>Edited to add that life got even crazier just moments after this post went live. The house is one of three major, ongoing issues our family is surviving this year </b>(and when I say "major," the family's car getting totaled, but no lives lost last Christmas, doesn't even make this top three list, so perhaps that offers a little perspective). <b>We could really use your prayers!</b>JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-32234711063636056242017-10-25T21:49:00.003-07:002017-10-25T21:49:44.194-07:00Celebrating Six<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2017/10/6-years.html" target="_blank">Six years</a> since my strokes!JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-72123750740374463882017-06-08T20:31:00.002-07:002017-06-11T16:09:32.067-07:00Why Don't I Get A Baby?<br />
I wrote a post for my stroke blog last night, <a href="http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2017/06/what-about-me.html" target="_blank">What About Me?</a>, concerning illness, physical healing, and miracles. I've thought a ton since then about how I want to expand on these principles specifically for my infertility audience. This post is intended to supplement that one, not to stand alone, so you will want to read that first. This is bonus content specifically concerning the topic of barrenness.<br />
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<a href="http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2017/06/what-about-me.html">What About Me?</a></div>
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Perhaps I'm not the obvious choice to address this topic? I have THREE living children now! Shouldn't an "empty arms" post be authored by someone with empty arms?<br />
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I did spend a decade where you are, my friend. I write today both as hope that my story may encourage you to know that God does still work miracles and may yet have plans to bring you to the other side of barrenness, and to offer perspective on what those miracles may look like.<br />
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First, let me acknowledge what a treacherous, double-edged thing hope can be! I get it. Not allowing your heart to hope, is a self defense mechanism against being hurt. AGAIN! Being tender-hearted hurts when hopes are dashed time after time. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year. Decade after decade. Why set myself up to be shredded another time or ten? Once was brutal enough. We are talking thousands of fatal blows to the heart by now.<br />
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<b>No. Thank. You!</b><br />
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Psalm 126 has been a theme passage in my life. (In fact, it is the key verse for <a href="http://harvestinghope.blogspot.com/">my next book</a>.) I can totally relate to weeping, planting in tears!<br />
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The part that intrigues me is the harvest of those tears, joy and singing. God doesn't say IF, but talks in absolutes.<br />
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So where does this leave me when there is no hope of a baby? I mean NO CHANCE. Like I've had a hysterectomy or my ovaries shut down at 24 and I'm 57 now - N.O. C.H.A.N.C.E. lady!<br />
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I could take the "easy" answers (that actually end up being true in many cases, but would likely offer you more discouragement than hope today), like reminding you that Sara (later Sarah, mother of Israel, wife of Abram/Abraham) was 90 years old when she conceived, long "dried up," outright laughed when her husband was told she would have a baby within the next year. Or Elizabeth (mother of John the Baptist) was also past expectation of motherhood when God allowed her to conceive. Or Mary, mother of Jesus, who got pregnant WHILE STILL A VIRGIN! Yeah, miracles really do happen, as I know with each and every one of my living children who each has their own amazing miracle story of why they should medically not exist, including the last who was God-sent three years after the latest I was to have had my hysterectomy!<br />
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The reason I won't default to those pat answers is because you would give me the same arguments I've given others countless times. All those miracle conceptions in the Bible were leading up to the one Child of Promise, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. My Messiah has already come. I can't expect a miracle like that because He has already been born! I get that, and while miracle births still happen sometimes, why set my hopes on an obscure improbability???<br />
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I could tell you to "just adopt" (like it is that simple anyway?) and promise you that as long as you have a child to fill you arms, the ache in your heart will end. <i>I'm sure my suggestion would be a totally new concept to you today, right? Because, dear infertile sister, you have NEVER considered, nor had adoption suggested to you, ever before, have you? </i>(OK, sarcasm over now!) Adoption is WONDERFUL, and honestly should be prayerfully considered by anyone and everyone capable of parenting a child, fertile or not, but it is not the "cure" for infertility. Yes, it can transform a childless person into a parent, but adoption is a costly (emotionally, and often financially) process in and of itself and should not be entered into lightly or with the idea that it will put an end to infertility emotions. It might. For many it will bring much healing. Adoption is about both the child and the parent(s). It may or may not be the direction God leads you.<br />
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The same goes for foster-parenting, or step-parenting. God actually <i>may</i> have one of these avenues in your future. If He does, the rewards and comfort may be profound. The challenges and grief may also be beyond measure. I would encourage you neither to discount the possibilities, or to set your hopes too firmly on a plan God has not yet revealed. If that is the path He has for you, He will provide every resource you need to walk that path when He calls you to it.<br />
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What I would like to look at today is the idea that God's plans, while very possibly unfolding in the end to be one of those more common answers already mentioned, sometimes turn out very different, yet even more amazing, than anything we could ever dream up for ourselves.<br />
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Please consider two of my dear friends, beautiful women of God, to whom God answered "no" concerning children in the tradition sense, and yet their stories continue to wow me! Each story is different and yours might not be the same as these, but I wanted to share them just to remind you today that God's not done writing your story.<br />
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Joy DeKok. What an awesome example to me! Her <a href="http://joydekok.com/a-letter-from-my-heart-to-women-like-me/" target="_blank">Letter From My Heart To Women Like Me</a> - Infertility HURTS, is powerful and profound. Some of my favorite lines read:<br />
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...<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino lt std" , "book antiqua" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18px;">We longed to fill our arms and home with red-headed and blond children. I had a secret dream of 13 children and at least as many animals. We’d live in a huge restored home, or barn, or a mill house. We’d need a big yard, an orchard, lots of bedrooms, a huge kitchen, and a big table with lots of chairs...</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino lt std" , "book antiqua" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18px;">Months became years. We begged God for babies, and He said no. His voice was quiet, firm, and love-filled. We had to trust Him because rebelling only made the pain worse.</span></blockquote>
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<em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Accepting His will for us meant facing the death of our dream.</span></em></div>
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As if that wasn’t enough, we endured cruel comments. These weren’t the ignorant kind spoken in an attempt to comfort us. They were mean and cut us deep. We didn’t know how to fight back and didn’t have the energy.</div>
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<em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Palatino, "Palatino Linotype", "Palatino LT STD", "Book Antiqua", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">For years I carried those words on my heart as if they’d been branded there...</span></em> </blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino lt std" , "book antiqua" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18px;">... I did my best to remember every sin I could and re-confessed. All the way back to the day when I was four and sassed my dad. It was a really long prayer, over and over I begged Him to remove the guilt and shame from me. Even as I prayed I knew I was asking Him to forgive things He already had. But I had to be sure...</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino lt std" , "book antiqua" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18px;">...For reasons you and I cannot fathom this side of heaven, infertility is part of God’s plan for us. For many of you, He will say yes and children will be born from your bodies. He will lead some of you to parent a child or children He birthed through another woman or other women. For a few of us, His will is clear: we’re to love the children in our lives already – nieces, nephews, and the kids of our friends. With God as your guide, you get to decide... </span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino lt std" , "book antiqua" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18px;">...Still, you may be tired of baby showers, pregnancy/birth war stories, and although you love your friends dearly, their complaints about being moms scratch at your soul. And when they announce pregnancies, you’re happy for them, but their news stabs. Not because you’re jealous, you don’t want</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino lt std" , "book antiqua" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18px;"> </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Palatino, "Palatino Linotype", "Palatino LT STD", "Book Antiqua", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px;">their</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino lt std" , "book antiqua" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino lt std" , "book antiqua" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18px;">babies – you want</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino lt std" , "book antiqua" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18px;"> </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Palatino, "Palatino Linotype", "Palatino LT STD", "Book Antiqua", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px;">yours</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino lt std" , "book antiqua" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18px;">, and it’s not happening. You’re also exhausted when every month your hope is destroyed. And afraid of more disappointment when you pick your heart back up and in spite of the pain, you start hoping for next month. Your grief is deep and constant and most of the time solitary.</span></blockquote>
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<em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Palatino, "Palatino Linotype", "Palatino LT STD", "Book Antiqua", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">In all of these things and more. . .you are normal. And God understands...</span></em> </blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "palatino" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino lt std" , "book antiqua" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 18px;">...Please don’t believe that I’m “over” my infertility. Nah. . .in fact, it’s the circumstance that keeps nagging at my soul even now. Because we were led by God to love the kids already in our lives, and those still to come, we are not parents and we are not grandparents. I celebrate each grand baby announcement, let it sting, and take more children born to others into my arms, and fall in love again. . .and again. . .and again.</span></blockquote>
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<em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Because that is part of His plan for me too. And He understands. And that is more than enough. If we let it be... </span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuDfgHyn_5HVeFfxdSt7F6Xd6BPCMQSGbRoT6El0W4FHPq5ZZNw3FawMFpuaCdikCPdXH6vAwz2YfB9B9ZbeLXatmmf-WygHbZHNxqJp64fswD7Q-5N3teDr73Gy3ZG6c7bBFBZFcr4g/s1600/BeYou%2528Tiful%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuDfgHyn_5HVeFfxdSt7F6Xd6BPCMQSGbRoT6El0W4FHPq5ZZNw3FawMFpuaCdikCPdXH6vAwz2YfB9B9ZbeLXatmmf-WygHbZHNxqJp64fswD7Q-5N3teDr73Gy3ZG6c7bBFBZFcr4g/s400/BeYou%2528Tiful%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In <a href="http://holleygerth.com/god-writes-best-stories/" target="_blank">God Write the Best Love Stories</a>, Holley Gerth Shares:<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I watched as a single line spread across yet another pregnancy test. In that moment of silence and disappointment, that pink line felt more like a billboard with neon flashing lights declaring: <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“No! No! No!”</em></span></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“No, you can’t be a mother.”</span></em></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“No, your dreams can’t come true.”</span></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 2.6rem; padding: 0px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“No, you don’t get to end this waiting game that is slowly shredding your heart.”</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...As time went by, God began healing my heart and showing me that my idea of motherhood had been limited. He led me to Genesis where Eve is called “the mother of all living.”</span></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I came to see all women are mothers because we all bring life to the world in some way.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After that realization, several different people prayed over me on different occasions and said God would bring life through my words. I began to get the picture: I was a word mama. I settled into birthing books and felt a new fullness deep within.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But one night... [Read <a href="http://holleygerth.com/god-writes-best-stories/" target="_blank">How Our Daughter Adopted Us in Her 20s</a> for the rest of this amazing story.]</span></div>
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Please come visit me on my new official author page on Facebook. I'm gearing up to publish my next book and would love your support at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/HarvestingHope">www.facebook.com/HarvestingHope</a>/. Please help me show potential publishers I'm serious about this book writing thing. They need to see numbers of likes well into the thousands while I'm only in the low hundreds, so far.<br />
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Check out my book <a href="http://amzn.to/2sJqoBS" target="_blank">Hannah's Hope: Seeking God's Heart In The Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage, & Adoption Loss</a> on Amazon for more support.<br />
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Also, please visit <a href="http://infertilitymom.blogspot.com/2017/05/giveaway-lets-start-at-very-beginning.html" target="_blank">my review of the eTeacherBiblical Hebrew course</a> I'm taking this year and enter the give away for a free class for yourself. Entries are low so your chances of winning are great, but you can't win if you don't enter!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3F3BAmmHlZ-F6JGz1o0g7_08LyyVvThmRokHrRqoslEQINY9j7QXNNMM5qipVogUgx6MCiz3S_1YiCgrcc30LegA6B8dHg2zL3oewifwzVNFoKTuL-Ep0BOi_M6VngYBUrgF3DWSBf1s/s1600/3Things.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="532" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3F3BAmmHlZ-F6JGz1o0g7_08LyyVvThmRokHrRqoslEQINY9j7QXNNMM5qipVogUgx6MCiz3S_1YiCgrcc30LegA6B8dHg2zL3oewifwzVNFoKTuL-Ep0BOi_M6VngYBUrgF3DWSBf1s/s640/3Things.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-70900853478467893922017-05-28T18:21:00.000-07:002017-05-29T20:36:45.999-07:00Happy Birthday Paperless Post<br />
A really fun aspect of writing blogs is that random companies fairly regularly contact me and ask me to try their products. I am very selective about what offers I'll except. The products have to really fit my niches of Christian living (companies like Dayspring, or books I want to read, or the online college Biblical languages program I told you about this week), or things specific to stroke therapy or adaptation.<br />
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I say "no," to more offers than I accept, then even if I accept, you won't find the item posted here unless I have some real positives to share. When I feel it is a product I want to share with my readers, you get my honest opinion, the good and the bad.<br />
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When <a href="https://www.paperlesspost.com/" target="_blank">Paperless Post</a> contacted me earlier this month, I was intrigued. I don't easily send postal cards because the addressing, stamping, and mailing process takes a lot of organizational skill that I'm still working to recover since the <a href="http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">strokes</a>. With Paperless Post, email addresses are collected once, then the entire process is automated so that I can send out graduation party announcements (my first living baby will graduate high school in less than a week!), <a href="https://www.paperlesspost.com/cards/group/birthday-cards" target="_blank">birthday cards</a>, shower invites, <a href="https://www.paperlesspost.com/cards/category/wedding-invitations" target="_blank">wedding invitations</a>, Christmas cards, <a href="https://www.paperlesspost.com/cards/section/invitations" target="_blank">invitations</a>, or general "brighten your day" messages on a whim.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylj8gcPRZ8P5Jz1t675Ssak_0YSLDQG1xkrf8oC_pWfw5NBzSRLlg1J3nOrCqBZnhjG7y5Ei_luZ8B-67X46jqWgwmX8f5O6lE-GiCDZCqMI4vNMkXVIzowh_ayb_A59VJ69975GC51c/s1600/RoseEnvelope.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="379" data-original-width="528" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylj8gcPRZ8P5Jz1t675Ssak_0YSLDQG1xkrf8oC_pWfw5NBzSRLlg1J3nOrCqBZnhjG7y5Ei_luZ8B-67X46jqWgwmX8f5O6lE-GiCDZCqMI4vNMkXVIzowh_ayb_A59VJ69975GC51c/s400/RoseEnvelope.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the actual "envelope" I selected, "paid" upgrade coins for. I just now realized that the plain one posted below is what actually got sent. This was visible when people clicked on their plain envelope and visited the Paperless Post website. The customer service is fantastic, and had I not waited until posting deadline to write this blog post, I'm sure I would have been happy with the assistance they offered in this area. Perhaps it is as simple as the need for email recipients to come directly to Paperless Post to access all the benefits of this service?</td></tr>
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There are email options, both basic free ones and more elaborate paid ones, and even paper items to be ordered. I was credited "coins" to go in and play around with some of the fancy options to establish my opinions and receive feedback from my <strike>guinea pigs</strike> friends I tested cards on. I picked a handful on people I know well, some that I regularly interact with via email, and others I rarely exchange emails with at all. I sent them a message of, "<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "arial"; text-align: center;">I am trying out the Paperless Post service to review it on my InfertilityMom.blogspot.com blog. Fun! I picked a few friends to try it out with and when I saw this card was an option, it seemed perfect for you, my friend. :) If you can let me know what you think of this service, that will help me write my review. </span>" All but my mom (who spent many years being "computer illiterate and proud of it" and has been dragged into the technological age kicking and screaming) opened their messages. (Love the tracking feature built in, so I know if anyone needs follow ups!)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeC5YcrrjYPravRHmNBYPKk1j2vfZdVm7Zy7InQta9Pex9lIMO46VKbCWAIvWQcfi__DVvyuJKtBqdDGYADcnOtCBuxk1gXa5C9eUG6g1fXhII-270c3nU7ardreILiXzdR8ndfbDpNQ/s1600/outsideEnvelope.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="678" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeC5YcrrjYPravRHmNBYPKk1j2vfZdVm7Zy7InQta9Pex9lIMO46VKbCWAIvWQcfi__DVvyuJKtBqdDGYADcnOtCBuxk1gXa5C9eUG6g1fXhII-270c3nU7ardreILiXzdR8ndfbDpNQ/s400/outsideEnvelope.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside Envelope That Appears In Initial Email</td></tr>
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I upgraded envelope "liners" (paperless, mind you) to butterflies and had fun with card messages, backgrounds, "postmarks", and more. This is what I came up with:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXts6bsc4lGh2ZRXp-zfR29IgG1GlGZDYM3jBTjIo5V9pXZFuZ39M7wTh_60FyYWAFT0g34R_ev05wso0WGsZ0d1H2XbV0e6hea1dIdntTc_oiggeeomId4gErCjrTdhRtOP4pmu2en6M/s1600/cardFront.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="454" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXts6bsc4lGh2ZRXp-zfR29IgG1GlGZDYM3jBTjIo5V9pXZFuZ39M7wTh_60FyYWAFT0g34R_ev05wso0WGsZ0d1H2XbV0e6hea1dIdntTc_oiggeeomId4gErCjrTdhRtOP4pmu2en6M/s400/cardFront.png" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Card Front</td></tr>
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One third of my test subjects had initial trouble opening/reading everything I had sent on their cards. As one friend said, "It was OK, but all I could see was my name." Once I replied to their questions, they all immediately figured it out and appreciated what I had sent. The replies I sent read like this,<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white;">Click on the button in the original post that says, "View The Card". That will take you to a website where you can see the card along with the front of the envelope by clicking on the image on the right and the opened envelope lining by clicking over to the left. If the card flips over too fast to read all of it, click directly on the card and it will flip back over."</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAEyK0SqPEgL-Lv_BWExwgPclnDo2UezjBE_PltyOkXNc-PoPm-6IroqVueFPud1ArGzsqSNJ2V0486OBNkh3v5isy70NivGASl5IIli3GvGT22E7ot6cAF91cieezBI5X2IQqK5ny0s/s1600/cardBack.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="454" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAEyK0SqPEgL-Lv_BWExwgPclnDo2UezjBE_PltyOkXNc-PoPm-6IroqVueFPud1ArGzsqSNJ2V0486OBNkh3v5isy70NivGASl5IIli3GvGT22E7ot6cAF91cieezBI5X2IQqK5ny0s/s400/cardBack.png" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Personalized Card Back I Created<br />
Since this message sent directly via email, along with the simple outer envelope picture, this is where I would include my instructions for new users in the future.</td></tr>
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Another friend took a while to reply, then said, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "adobe garamond italic" , "baskerville" , "baskerville old face" , "hoefler text" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18px;">Cute card. I couldn't figure out how to respond at first--no box, just one line to write on.</span>"<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionW91KKYeeYpiiiRt5CuTP-SS7aBz27ndVjol6903u0NHITpSo5eOh0qgUFoLhNbYoLA03ZDd2nyR9FBETbicjXPF1go-jfUfUJjVqRb7BCq4PyGsVlrIaBFlNG8fqduaxNRibjlQaqA/s1600/butterflyLiner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="603" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionW91KKYeeYpiiiRt5CuTP-SS7aBz27ndVjol6903u0NHITpSo5eOh0qgUFoLhNbYoLA03ZDd2nyR9FBETbicjXPF1go-jfUfUJjVqRb7BCq4PyGsVlrIaBFlNG8fqduaxNRibjlQaqA/s400/butterflyLiner.png" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside of Envelope With Upgraded Butterfly Liner :)</td></tr>
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My favorite reply nearly wrote my review for me, though I unfortunately filed her message in "trash" instead of "blog." *sigh* The point is she LOVED this service and simply GUSHED over it. Now that I've learned a few tricks, what I did right and what I will do differently next time. I will certainly be using this service again! My advice is to initially try <a href="https://www.paperlesspost.com/" target="_blank">Paperless Post</a> out with a very small test group, find out how things work, practice and reine, then use it for serious contacts!<br />
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Happy 8th birthday to this innovative company that is going to make one area of my life simpler. :)JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-17884567675755075352017-05-26T22:08:00.000-07:002017-07-23T20:22:00.220-07:00Why I No Longer Practice Full Time Head Covering<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFl95ynLhyeFUxx7ZBg5lzLwx0TgBLJ3NaLZNd6EG-W_tSI1XBVC7QzM4sqJRivfrJN1R1Kyt_l6ENAJlyHdF-kuC-yLJSNFRulJTNz-4OSaL08vywLecHu_qJmNkSN215J4xl5xUwegc/s1600/73a5668a47259d6a25eb45ae93134c50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFl95ynLhyeFUxx7ZBg5lzLwx0TgBLJ3NaLZNd6EG-W_tSI1XBVC7QzM4sqJRivfrJN1R1Kyt_l6ENAJlyHdF-kuC-yLJSNFRulJTNz-4OSaL08vywLecHu_qJmNkSN215J4xl5xUwegc/s640/73a5668a47259d6a25eb45ae93134c50.jpg" width="384" /></a></div>
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Remember when I posted about <a href="http://infertilitymom.blogspot.com/2017/04/veiled-glory.html" target="_blank">headcovering</a> a month ago?<br />
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There is still much I agree with in that post, all of my core points in fact.<br />
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<b>There is also much I have changed my views on. Details about personal implementation. </b><br />
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Nearly <a href="http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2017/05/core-deep-lies.html" target="_blank">forty intensive hours of counseling</a>, all packed into one week, can do that to a person, dramatically change some perspectives!<br />
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Profound movement of God, like I just experienced in the <a href="http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2017/05/no-words.html" target="_blank">healing of my deafness</a>, can make a girl re-evaluate opinions too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqC2lQ7B_OaIiqcv4RCOmoR1jeJpMvsC6rEyxgm_YJegO-vb0mDhLnz-nEkFxl2M83LFcPHbK869pk8GQQz3-VSWK9bcFFWrigY_PTzqjNngT9OOFa4u_Xrrw10MSNAJXjIR8h5DElBQ/s1600/2017-04-23+2017-05-26+001+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqC2lQ7B_OaIiqcv4RCOmoR1jeJpMvsC6rEyxgm_YJegO-vb0mDhLnz-nEkFxl2M83LFcPHbK869pk8GQQz3-VSWK9bcFFWrigY_PTzqjNngT9OOFa4u_Xrrw10MSNAJXjIR8h5DElBQ/s640/2017-04-23+2017-05-26+001+002.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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So, I reiterate this point from my last post, "<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">For those who already believe Jesus died and rose for you personally, have accepted Him as your Savior, I in no way wish you to feel I’m adding the weight of legalism</span><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">. Christ died for your sins. No works are needed to finish His saving grace in your life! Jesus is enough!!! Just like neither baptism nor communion are requirements for salvation, rather God’s desired observances for his people who already know and love Him, I absolutely do not feel head covering to be a requirement for a Christian woman when it comes to the soundness of her faith in Jesus Christ as her saving and forgiving God of grace!</span>"<br />
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I stand by my statement that, "<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">I believe that Christian women</span><b style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;"> [who]</b><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">in the church</span><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;"> </span><b style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;">[where] </b><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">are called to cover</span><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;"> </span><b style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;">[what]</b><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">for</span><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://infertilitymom.blogspot.com/2017/04/prayer.html" style="color: #956839; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;">prayer</a><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">and prophesy</span><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;"> </span><b style="color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif;">[why]</b><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">Where my views take a sharp turn away from my prior post concerns the <b>how</b> section of my prior post. Actually, all five of my thoughts listed under "how," other than my thoughts on staying fully covered at my children's school (a small part of point 5), are still valid. It is in personal application of those points that my view has radically changed.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhHBHaXWyVmMlq2TsQhZDfqCMlSFLO5npfEU9IBxS2_lbePiz0v2h-ddswHPswz9NYVFJSMgZiQ6XLa6QFLLWg3mgqxSr-AetJLMgUm6eUMvvN7ZUU8nD9xOXrgvpvFYNlJgh3YMX1YQ/s1600/2017-05-26+2017-05-26+001+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhHBHaXWyVmMlq2TsQhZDfqCMlSFLO5npfEU9IBxS2_lbePiz0v2h-ddswHPswz9NYVFJSMgZiQ6XLa6QFLLWg3mgqxSr-AetJLMgUm6eUMvvN7ZUU8nD9xOXrgvpvFYNlJgh3YMX1YQ/s400/2017-05-26+2017-05-26+001+015.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tonight. Outside my front door with an uncovered head!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I no longer feel compelled to practice full time head covering. </b>Friends who have never seen my hair before are seeing it for the first time. <b>This change in my practice of head covering in no way reflects abandonment of faith. In fact, my relationship with Jesus Christ is firmer than it has ever been!</b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqzj1YjDQOWkMXchp0QaRNsYehJ5V9K0hw1OM1M3ZFzcir-OQohPArij5PQREbbcu2ItpB7ZzrNHoccYcvtvqkGBtA61cfvFFDWH1OEZOyH3TSGECSKZfvKaNGxeLJC9MTvCicD5mWt8/s1600/CAM00195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #956839; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqzj1YjDQOWkMXchp0QaRNsYehJ5V9K0hw1OM1M3ZFzcir-OQohPArij5PQREbbcu2ItpB7ZzrNHoccYcvtvqkGBtA61cfvFFDWH1OEZOyH3TSGECSKZfvKaNGxeLJC9MTvCicD5mWt8/s400/CAM00195.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On January 1, 2016, I posted this picture, saying, "My hair<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> has grown a LOT, but [2015] was also the year, mid-year, when I decided that in addition to headcovering</span><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> for spiritual reasons, I would also adopt the purely personal/cultural choice of no longer wearing my hair loose in public, saving it for my husband's viewing. Nothing to do with my faith, just a personal gift from me to him, so this as as "down" as you see it now:</span>" <br />
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Sadly, as the months past, my personal "gift" did get totally entangled with my faith and views of head covering!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #fff3db;"><span style="color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">It is fascinating that I ended my last article with the statement, "</span></span><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif; text-indent: -24px;">I would simply caution against legalism. Whatever covering you are wearing should not become a source of piety, religious pride, a meaningless ritual, or covering for the sake of covering tradition rather than as a reflection of a heart seeking submission to God’s order of authority. Once the issue of </span><b style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", sans-serif; text-indent: -24px;">if</b><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif; text-indent: -24px;"> to cover gets settled in my spirit, my attitude behind the act of covering needs to be regularly taken before God in order to assure that my motives stay glorifying to Him!</span><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">A legalistic attitude is exactly what I was developing. It took just a few questions from my counselor and another two questions from my husband, for me to realize I had developed a pharisaical spirit. I knew what I believed to be true, yet I had imposed further restrictions upon myself than God had ever asked of me. I was practicing false humility, feeling that if I concealed</span><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;"> my glory (hair) full time, I was somehow bringing more glory to God.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9vRbw01ukMlXWe09ZH2JNiZ8dvYVEtYnW8ZyD3zRnaZKInQxJ1wtd-o2oKygVUPGAC7hwp11qfrPaLhgIUKI03WzGIZfEgH7PdBpFCOsSHFQd_w7BzLUQwYoyVDgiO-uoki6hF_y82o/s1600/2017-05-25+2017-05-26+001+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9vRbw01ukMlXWe09ZH2JNiZ8dvYVEtYnW8ZyD3zRnaZKInQxJ1wtd-o2oKygVUPGAC7hwp11qfrPaLhgIUKI03WzGIZfEgH7PdBpFCOsSHFQd_w7BzLUQwYoyVDgiO-uoki6hF_y82o/s400/2017-05-25+2017-05-26+001+006.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This week. <br />
I (butterfly top, to the right) am wearing a headband just because it is pretty (butterfly lace!) and wearing my hair down for the very first time these long time friends have ever seen it.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #fff3db;"><span style="color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">I was stunned to re-read my the bolded portion of my second "how" point/tip after I started thinking on the questions that were posed to me concerning motive. I wrote the words, but still wasn't getting the idea! "</span></span><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif; text-indent: -24px;">I don’t think God objects to cute or stylish head coverings, but simple would want us to be mindful of not detracting from Him, not trying to draw undo attention to ourselves. <b>He loves us. He created us. He created beauty. He gave us hair for our glory. He isn’t trying to take anything from us, make us feel frumpy or self-conscious! </b>It often takes some practice, time to explore our options, but if there’s a head-wear style that makes you feel beautiful but still focuses eyes (our own as well as the eyes of those around us) on Christ, when we find something we can wear with comfort and confidence in Jesus, that’s what we are looking for.</span><span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">"</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUym6PVm83N9GjGPWZ-tvk2ie0l3LgXX15qtk899UhdQRoYTNnHpBNXM1NJZ-fub0drJOT21vdMgicGNw81BI6xlMA6W83T2l4Pty6pHvhHKiqaB7_Lhmzj1Ax20iT0sp5UPGFP3iQ04w/s1600/2017-04-23+2017-05-26+001+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUym6PVm83N9GjGPWZ-tvk2ie0l3LgXX15qtk899UhdQRoYTNnHpBNXM1NJZ-fub0drJOT21vdMgicGNw81BI6xlMA6W83T2l4Pty6pHvhHKiqaB7_Lhmzj1Ax20iT0sp5UPGFP3iQ04w/s400/2017-04-23+2017-05-26+001+020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">I feel I've been set free from a weighty burden. I still believe in and practice head covering for corporate worship, but that is joyful. When I stopped trying to add my extras to a simple instruction, my heart became so much lighter.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , sans-serif;">Want to read <a href="http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2017/05/core-deep-lies.html" target="_blank">the story behind the story</a>? <a href="http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2017/05/core-deep-lies.html" target="_blank">Core Deep Lies</a> will give you further background on this decision!</span></div>
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JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-80116266562514767222017-05-26T19:16:00.000-07:002017-05-26T19:35:22.703-07:00GIVEAWAY - Let's Start At The Very Beginning<br />
Admit it. Strains of Do-Ray-Me from <i>The Sound of Music</i> are filling your mind right now. "When you read you begin with <i>a, b, c</i>..."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsLCHw7xjg5NO-4LdqKoJ1j_kW8J2bTjo5jdXrA0Oxn-LOKAFz10AWVIHkCV_hWm5kHamWb0ytecu4HseSVfMrZ8lOxLPNe19WCUKgrvcorszrB1ey3ObrLNiD5mgfnHtNDAEjQ1g_P8/s1600/2017-05-26+2017-05-26+001+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsLCHw7xjg5NO-4LdqKoJ1j_kW8J2bTjo5jdXrA0Oxn-LOKAFz10AWVIHkCV_hWm5kHamWb0ytecu4HseSVfMrZ8lOxLPNe19WCUKgrvcorszrB1ey3ObrLNiD5mgfnHtNDAEjQ1g_P8/s320/2017-05-26+2017-05-26+001+036.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Hebrew University of Jerusalem</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">www.eTeacherGroup.com</span></td></tr>
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I'm not quite sure what I expected when I attended my first <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://trailer.web-view.net/Links/c.htm?p%3D0XC5C79273EE3896D6A2C2E955B4E8AB5F1FC08E7EDF8132AD9F37BD136CE555A9EF2FB91A602DE051B4C874AE4727B423EDC410D1AECC1437256250B25B0EE4B1E846D629E9D366EAFD1655846E94A209&source=gmail&ust=1495901815196000&usg=AFQjCNFKFxu1sUD1iN2f6t6o9fQYfS3c_w" href="http://aff.eteachergroup.com/aw.aspx?B=6736&A=3293&Task=Click&TargetURL=http%3a%2f%2fisraelbiblicalstudies.com%2fhow-it-works%2f" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #00008c; font-family: calibri, verdana; font-size: 18px; outline: none; word-wrap: break-word !important;" target="_blank">The Israel Institute of Biblical Studies</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri" , "verdana"; font-size: 18px;"> (Formerly eTeacherBiblical.com, a</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri" , "verdana"; font-size: 18px;">n eTeacher Group Virtual School</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri" , "verdana"; font-size: 18px;">) Biblical Hebrew course, but what I discovered left me humming this tune. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEGujRwv8x7oGMbCrd4kTnc4jnILpvyN-qngurfgNIRYE9ExHPDgsziKHNOpij4XEEH4svNjaTLUMRUM90SWBWSbenZGd7ymCPupgL5bExCAm6tRGz9u-TDT5B0sNT8UOED_pKCmLTjo/s1600/2017-05-26+2017-05-26+001+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEGujRwv8x7oGMbCrd4kTnc4jnILpvyN-qngurfgNIRYE9ExHPDgsziKHNOpij4XEEH4svNjaTLUMRUM90SWBWSbenZGd7ymCPupgL5bExCAm6tRGz9u-TDT5B0sNT8UOED_pKCmLTjo/s400/2017-05-26+2017-05-26+001+037.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2012 (c) All Right Reserved<br />eTeacher Ltd.<br />8 Oholiav St. Ramat Gan, 52522<br />The Hebrew University of Jerusalem<br />www.eTeacherGroup.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana";"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Instead of </span></span><i style="font-family: calibri, verdana; font-size: 18px;">a, b, c</i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana";"><span style="font-size: 18px;">, our first lesson exposed us to just 4 letter (6 symbols) and explained how the Hebrew alphabet is comprised only of consonants. The nun (similar to the Latin (English) "n") and mem (sounds much like our "m') each have two symbols to represent their sounds, a regular form that is used anywhere in the beginning or middle of a word, and a <a href="http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Final_Forms/final_forms.html" target="_blank">sofit</a>, or final, form used if it is the last letter in a word, a tip of the hat to the history of hand transcription without clear spacing, in order to know the definitive ending of words in strings of letters. Fascinating!</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPmVSrF3C88bMZX_k-pII9RauQZtJZw2UJq3klMqRWIsJxeeGPp43EAHZp4NXSkYCLqWEtCFj03WtRBpqnKpFSbc-oHTTncPxMrrRT_0sLewuhKsImRcLBQ1ftPvmYgkTYlFmBcJd51k/s1600/2017-05-26+2017-05-26+001+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPmVSrF3C88bMZX_k-pII9RauQZtJZw2UJq3klMqRWIsJxeeGPp43EAHZp4NXSkYCLqWEtCFj03WtRBpqnKpFSbc-oHTTncPxMrrRT_0sLewuhKsImRcLBQ1ftPvmYgkTYlFmBcJd51k/s640/2017-05-26+2017-05-26+001+030.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2012 (c) All Right Reserved<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">eTeacher Ltd.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">8 Oholiav St. Ramat Gan, 52522</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Hebrew University of Jerusalem</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">www.eTeacherGroup.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana";"><span style="font-size: 18px;">By week three, we were just beginning to learn about the small markings over, under, or next to consonants that act as vowels and direct how consonant sounds are pronounced.. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri" , "verdana"; font-size: 18px;">While we started with the very basics,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri" , "verdana"; font-size: 18px;"> thus felt rather like returning to Kindergarten and my early "Dick and Jane" and "See Spot Run" readers, I felt respected as an intelligent</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri" , "verdana"; font-size: 18px;"> adult, never talked down to.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo-IWh1hs5_IXfHGbuA0B4VOKcKIe6_IO3jbhcdf0fAfCpMurpKgSJ49ckJ_5OukD13IP8wqNoRBIXVPFKm7GsCeFqjCmXwj9yPZZGewe4XgkXMoAealBu2N1uCydLRxX_5ys1ST4vyk/s1600/2017-05-26+2017-05-26+001+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo-IWh1hs5_IXfHGbuA0B4VOKcKIe6_IO3jbhcdf0fAfCpMurpKgSJ49ckJ_5OukD13IP8wqNoRBIXVPFKm7GsCeFqjCmXwj9yPZZGewe4XgkXMoAealBu2N1uCydLRxX_5ys1ST4vyk/s400/2017-05-26+2017-05-26+001+032.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2012 (c) All Right Reserved<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">eTeacher Ltd.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">8 Oholiav St. Ramat Gan, 52522</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Hebrew University of Jerusalem</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">www.eTeacherGroup.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana";"><span style="font-size: 18px;">When I had to miss a week of live, interactive classroom instruction (from my laptop), I was able to catch up before my next week's class, thanks to the recorded version available to me in my "online locker". This feature, along with my printed textbook containing all the class slides and homework (not required, but you get out of the class only what you put into it, so worthwhile and helpful!), will come in very handy in catching up with my classmates who seem to be catching onto these concepts much faster than I am. I'm very thankful that I have easy access to reviewing each class session as often as needed!</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_Uiey1IM6W4Hcv9IEquJeG6NuKSA7FavYfFQrtqHaS_XYs03TpJB91juJYcrlSmCB5R39NkWnaoKmeOkymDN8SQ66ZBaNn8fyP6vdPUxyFj4RM6cGMMxcVFiMb1OB2hB-rEgsF8lr-o/s1600/2017-05-26+2017-05-26+001+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_Uiey1IM6W4Hcv9IEquJeG6NuKSA7FavYfFQrtqHaS_XYs03TpJB91juJYcrlSmCB5R39NkWnaoKmeOkymDN8SQ66ZBaNn8fyP6vdPUxyFj4RM6cGMMxcVFiMb1OB2hB-rEgsF8lr-o/s400/2017-05-26+2017-05-26+001+029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana";"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Technical support, both during registration, and even if technical issues arise right during a class, has been stellar! On the few occasions any student has has sound issues or what have you, during class, the teacher will take 30 second and open a support ticket for technical support for her student, right there in class. The disruption in minimal, while the customer service response is immediate and fellow students quickly rejoin the class in progress. I'm signed up for both text and email reminders when my weekly class is about to start, so I never have to go looking for a class participation link, can log in right from my reminder email!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana";"><span style="font-size: 18px;">From </span></span></span> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://trailer.web-view.net/Links/c.htm?p%3D0XC5C79273EE3896D6A2C2E955B4E8AB5F1FC08E7EDF8132AD9F37BD136CE555A9EF2FB91A602DE051B4C874AE4727B423EDC410D1AECC1437256250B25B0EE4B1E846D629E9D366EAFD1655846E94A209&source=gmail&ust=1495901815196000&usg=AFQjCNFKFxu1sUD1iN2f6t6o9fQYfS3c_w" href="http://aff.eteachergroup.com/aw.aspx?B=6736&A=3293&Task=Click&TargetURL=http%3a%2f%2fisraelbiblicalstudies.com%2fhow-it-works%2f" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #00008c; font-family: calibri, verdana; font-size: 18px; outline: none; word-wrap: break-word !important;" target="_blank">The Israel Institute of Biblical Studies</a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana"; font-size: 18px;"> website, "</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">T</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">he Israel Institute of Bible Studies has partnered with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the leading academic institute in Israel and one of the leading biblical research institutes in the world with a long and proud history of scholarly excellence and leadership in biblical languages and studies. We aim to share this wealth of knowledge with people around the world through programs developed by our leading biblical scholars and education professionals, and through our many years of experience as the leading online institute of biblical studies. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem fully accredits all of our classical languages courses, so students can take courses for university credits that are acknowledged by universities around the world.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri" , "verdana"; font-size: 18px;">" College credit folks!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;">I was blessed to try this 9-month, beginner level course free-of-charge, in exchange for my honest review here on my blog. The only real negative I can say, is that I have not found course pricing readily available on </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://trailer.web-view.net/Links/c.htm?p%3D0XC5C79273EE3896D6A2C2E955B4E8AB5F1FC08E7EDF8132AD9F37BD136CE555A9EF2FB91A602DE051B4C874AE4727B423EDC410D1AECC1437256250B25B0EE4B1E846D629E9D366EAFD1655846E94A209&source=gmail&ust=1495901815196000&usg=AFQjCNFKFxu1sUD1iN2f6t6o9fQYfS3c_w" href="http://aff.eteachergroup.com/aw.aspx?B=6736&A=3293&Task=Click&TargetURL=http%3a%2f%2fisraelbiblicalstudies.com%2fhow-it-works%2f" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #00008c; font-family: calibri, verdana; font-size: 18px; outline: none; word-wrap: break-word !important;" target="_blank">the website</a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana";"><span style="font-size: 18px;">. There is a simple form you can fill out to request more information, so that is my best guess on how to obtain pricing information.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana";"><span style="font-size: 18px;">However, if you are at all interested, please take a moment to enter this </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.blessedfreebies.com/iibs.html" target="_blank">giveaway</a> in which one winner (from all participating blogs) will be selected at the end of the giveaway!<b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;"><b>It is well worth <a href="http://www.blessedfreebies.com/iibs.html" target="_blank">enter</a>ing since </b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;"><b>each contestant will receive a follow up email after they enter for $100 off a class, so even if you aren't "the" winner, everyone who enters wins a nice discount!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="background-color: white;">I'm not learning as quickly as I had hoped I would, but I'm so excited I took this opportunity to work on training my brain to learn something new. The process is rewarding and enjoyable. The convenience of at home learning at my own pace, and the caliber of education being offered, is unmatched. You'll want to pick a language and give this a try!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 16px;"><b><br /></b></span>JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-21223223850015546652017-04-29T22:53:00.000-07:002017-04-29T22:53:26.292-07:00Three-Foot-Tall Adults<br />
Stop laughing, Mom and Dad! No Vicki Caruana did not steal your journals from raising me:<br />
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<i>The two most common phrases to come out of the mouths of three-year-olds are "Why?" and "I can do it myself." Questioning authority and making your own decisions are hallmarks of adulthood. But it tends to rattle us when the "young adult" is only three feet tall and stands with her hands on her hips and her lower lip pushed out and, once in a while, stops her feet...</i></blockquote>
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<a href="http://litfusegroup.com/campaigns/joy-letting-go-vicki-caruana"><img alt="Caruana pin1" class="aligncenter" src="http://bit.ly/2oZqq9g" height="596" width="596" /></a>
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I'm quoting from the devotional <i>The Joy of Letting Go</i>, a book about embracing your child's journey to independence. With our first bring-home, after-infertility baby only about a month from high school graduation, I was blessed to review a complimentary advanced copy of this sweet little treasure at a great time in my life.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (I was given the book in exchange for this review, however opinions are fully my own!)</span><br />
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<strong>About the book:</strong> </div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: "Century Gothic", CenturyGothic, AppleGothic, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">With readings of encouragement and inspirational quotes, this devotional helps parents prepare their hearts for their children's independence, whether their kids are just starting kindergarten or graduating from college.</strong></div>
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Parents let go of their children every day, even in ways they don't realize. The 52 devotional readings within shine a light on all the times readers have loosened their grip on their children and encourages them to continue to let go in life-giving ways. Written by a parenting and education expert, <em style="border: 0px; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Joy of Letting Go</em><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> will comfort and inspire parents in all seasons of parenting.</span></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001jEZ3ARYgZDeSn0ncsAh1XdOfeX9rjHrveZjCu_zLtKRtD7qwXV557s6mzB5pdYkm1pBJSIpywspAr5hG-F7DAXces0x4OSxu1YQ5OXfWXLdU4j4tUcezMJIufiNhXMP0X7ixQMPKpEFmGLAszQUliejrleL6g2aPgbTcHrnr1RPYZmhD0Kv02AAOH6IkyIMfuRRv4KIHo2rjM-oElKWyJKx4KjArfeO7Ef-iXJfF7FHEZAFDJvfcKa-82MDwcgNoC2_BH-VBeian-NzO50HKubds7uiXv9E5e7TIDd86ScGN1hyIkzFTzCTMX2mBcv70fEgHu2gKd7E=&c=xUSFbFzqTtLI50ayHlxC_zG0aGs_x62YckHCi4bF6h6vGT_Rljn2LQ==&ch=NbrIoAmbUtqHCgnNpvKrbYHF2MlhE5jCoJ-q24A4nobP5ph4bHGz1Q==" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: #6ba3a6; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Learn more and purchase a copy.</a></strong></div>
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Maybe your baby just got his driver's license. Or maybe she slept in through the night in her own crib all through the night. As Vicki points out, our letting go moments start with the cutting of the umbilical cord!
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<strong style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong style="font-size: 10pt;">About the author:</strong></strong></div>
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<div style="border: 0px; font-family: "Century Gothic", CenturyGothic, AppleGothic, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://files.constantcontact.com/d06cdd88001/1e47a681-a494-490c-af14-9dc01800f2b1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://files.constantcontact.com/d06cdd88001/1e47a681-a494-490c-af14-9dc01800f2b1.jpg" height="242" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.1410" vspace="5" width="200" /></a>Dr. Vicki Caruana is the author of 20 books and the blog Apples & Chalkdust-named after her bestselling book that has touched the lives of a million educators around the world. Caruana is one of four parenting experts on "Starting Points," Focus on the Family's parenting DVD series. Formerly a public school teacher and a homeschooling mom, Vicki is now an assistant professor of education at Mount Saint Mary College in New York. She lives with her station wagon loving husband, Chip, in Newburgh, New York and has two grown sons in Colorado Springs.</div>
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JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-34078072122675041602017-04-26T12:23:00.000-07:002017-07-23T19:59:48.000-07:00Veiled Glory<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_118778522"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBJZPBigIdNXTj4vzwRSzPfjk3EXe8AiIbA3zvSZQE6s4FmHQcPs0BMbIvjVK7dsP6LduLbMxduvxG4L-ZwPIbMRp6ivfBlXRNB_MyMQgcRU87Wlmey8morWenF3LRRZjfJOQRWIL0hc/s400/justPast5.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://facebook.com/HarvestingHope">facebook.com/HarvestingHope</a></td></tr>
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I haven’t written on this topic a lot because Jesus, that He
died on the cross in payment for my sins, that He was buried, that He conquered
death by raising from the grave, is the main issue!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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For those who already believe Jesus died and rose for you
personally, have accepted Him as your Savior, I in no way wish you to feel I’m
adding the weight of <a href="http://lifebeforeeternity.com/legalism/" target="_blank">legalism</a>. Christ died for your sins. No works are needed
to finish His saving grace in your life! Jesus is enough!!! Just like neither baptism
nor communion are requirements for salvation, rather God’s desired observances
for his people who already know and love Him, I absolutely do not feel head
covering to be a requirement for a Christian woman when it comes to the
soundness of her faith in Jesus Christ as her saving and forgiving God of
grace!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-LYastimZtv9zAvr_0d98fX4Df4rv6gMZlb2UB5D9sgeyanDoeeNGd694bxgi9zBH8Brn9mIhPSAVfMm4cS5tKg1XlYuTiU7Ln_VSuZ9z65166nf9jor3UYo_84oLgXqJ3O-HpSUBtI/s1600/20161221_144014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-LYastimZtv9zAvr_0d98fX4Df4rv6gMZlb2UB5D9sgeyanDoeeNGd694bxgi9zBH8Brn9mIhPSAVfMm4cS5tKg1XlYuTiU7Ln_VSuZ9z65166nf9jor3UYo_84oLgXqJ3O-HpSUBtI/s400/20161221_144014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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God is unchanging, but He is also gracious to allow us to
digest His Word in steps, His Spirit revealing Truth to us, convicting us
gently and gradually, not demanding transformation into the image of His Son in
a single moment, but patiently imprinting His will on yielded hearts. The
thoughts I am about to explore took me over 30 years of walking with Jesus to
even consider. I share them here ONLY for those interested in putting yourself
more deeply under the Lordship of our God. If those words don’t sound inviting,
please stop reading now. This article is not intended for you! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dallas Theological Seminary professor</td></tr>
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Back in 2013 (about 2 years after <a href="http://www.strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/">my strokes</a>, thus the typos
and rambling thoughts) I wrote on <a href="http://infertilitymom.blogspot.com/2013/10/headcoverings.html">head
covering</a> once before. (I spoke on angels and other issues specific to this
passage then.) I shared that my thoughts were still developing on the topic,
that I had been prayerfully considering and exploring the ramifications of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=+1+Corinthians+11%3A+3-16&version=ESV">1
Corinthians 11: 3-16</a> for the Christian woman in my era and culture, for
about a year prior to my strokes (so for about 3 years at the time of that
article’s writing, about 6 ½ years now) and had recently become convinced to
follow this course of action, in large part because of my experiences directly
resulted from my strokes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gCzOEc7ZlPKvHBdCHNiV_fpbI65C2rVbgm7y1_pibbZg_s-2PUJa8anEOzRhWzLGkz4QuIoYltlpPr96iGVgUvb7XQh4iCym2oqgECzku8im3-wB8upjJvDdQY_jBHThc0iS48bhx9c/s1600/11937911_10153538368224035_716812853_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gCzOEc7ZlPKvHBdCHNiV_fpbI65C2rVbgm7y1_pibbZg_s-2PUJa8anEOzRhWzLGkz4QuIoYltlpPr96iGVgUvb7XQh4iCym2oqgECzku8im3-wB8upjJvDdQY_jBHThc0iS48bhx9c/s400/11937911_10153538368224035_716812853_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<b><i>This is not my picture but I think it is beautiful!<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b><i>I found it floating around Facebook. Does anyone know who should receive credit?</i></b></div>
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Here’s where I now stand:<o:p></o:p></div>
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I believe that Christian women<b> [who]</b> in the church <b>[where]
</b>are called to cover <b>[what]</b> for <a href="http://infertilitymom.blogspot.com/2017/04/prayer.html">prayer</a>
and prophesy <b>[why]</b>. This is true of
structured worship services, but also something that should be seriously
considered even when only two or three are casually or spontaneously gathered
together for the purpose of corporately entering God’s throne room.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=112010173492">http://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=112010173492</a>
is the start of a 3-part radio sermon series that offers sound teaching on the
subject, if you wish to explore more. If you are unsure you want to invest
three hours into examining these few verses, I would encourage you simple to
pray for God to teach you what He desires you to know on the topic, then
prayerfully listen to just the first 14 minutes of that first sermon. From
there you can decide if this in an area God would have you investigate further,
or not. <b>Having been raised in a
tradition where women were told head covering was not needed for today, that it
was cultural instruction for a specific time and place in early church history,
I would have had no interest in listing to sermons like this series, figuring
my hair took care of the matter!</b>
There are so many excellent resources to the contrary, such as <a href="http://www.headcoveringmovement.com/">the Head Covering Movement</a>. I’m
so glad I asked God to show me if there was anything He wanted to reveal to me
about a subject I considered irrelevant to my life! I was beyond stunned that
there was anything He did want to teach me on a matter I felt totally
indifferent toward. The results of heeding His call in this area have been
dramatic, even life changing!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Personally, I <strike>am</strike> [<i>was</i> at the time of this article's publication] convicted to cover full time, any time I am
not under a roof provided by my husband (our home, a hotel room he has
purchased for us, etc.). I do NOT place this conviction on others, and will
continue to seek God’s direction for my life in future seasons. [Edited to explain <a href="http://infertilitymom.blogspot.com/2017/05/head-covering-revisited.html" target="_blank">why I changed my view on frequency</a> since I wrote this article.] Corporate
worship is the only issue the Bible seems to be addressing in head covering <b>[when</b>], as far as I understand the
context of this passage. I think my full time drive to cover may (or may not)
come to a close with the publication of the book I’ve been writing through the
entire course of my head covering journey. (Speaking in representation of Jesus
is prophecy! I believe most forms of public ministry, such as public speaking on
topics related to the Bible, should be approached very prayerfully, and falls
under this same category of prophecy.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I also cover in my own home for most personal prayer, again
a matter of personal conviction, not something I believe Scripture instructs
for all women at all times.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Practically speaking, it has become my habit to wear head
covering nearly every waking hour other than showers. Simply, it is easier for
me to fix my hair once in the morning and already have my covering in place
when I step out the door or sit down to worship the Lord. I take the action of preparing my head (and
heart!) at the start of a new day and this helps put me into a mindset of
thinking on Jesus throughout my day. Again, personal preference. Just sharing
how it works well for me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCXsRcLt9k5AUxYLkar-L2o6Mwc1NcVcmcdRy3GoR8BxvdttM9I0xNO-PNEmCW4urs5FreqA6ZuBJM2NFE-rPoMdmCuFJOGrhtJa63gp3Ug4aAOWuBV5bakqWrpAdhKLwjeiibgM3KtM/s1600/1+Cor11-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCXsRcLt9k5AUxYLkar-L2o6Mwc1NcVcmcdRy3GoR8BxvdttM9I0xNO-PNEmCW4urs5FreqA6ZuBJM2NFE-rPoMdmCuFJOGrhtJa63gp3Ug4aAOWuBV5bakqWrpAdhKLwjeiibgM3KtM/s400/1+Cor11-10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Type of hair covering <b>[how]</b>
can become a hot topic. The Bible doesn’t get into much detail on this point.
We are told to do, and left with great freedom in how that instruction is implemented!
A couple of observations you might want to consider as you pray through God’s
specific plan for how you prepare your physical head when you enter His
presence are:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->A woman’s hair, given to her as <b>A</b> covering, is also referred to as her
glory. Since our purpose in prayer is to give glory to God, veiling our created
glory He’s given us, allows more focus to be on Him and His glory. (If our hair
were <b>THE</b> covering referenced in this
passage, how could we put it on, or how would a guy take his off each time he
entered a worship service?)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->With the veiled glory concept in mind, I don’t
think God objects to cute or stylish head coverings, but simple would want us
to be mindful of not detracting from Him, not trying to draw undo attention to
ourselves. He loves us. He created us. He created beauty. He gave us hair for
our glory. He isn’t trying to take anything from us, make us feel frumpy or
self-conscious! It often takes some practice, time to explore our options, but
if there’s a head-wear style that makes you feel beautiful but still focuses
eyes (our own as well as the eyes of those around us) on Christ, when we find
something we can wear with comfort and confidence in Jesus, that’s what we are
looking for.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Along the same lines, in my first article, I
mentioned simply wearing a flower clip in my hair as a possible answer to head
covering. I would like to expound on this thought a bit and say that while the
emotional and spiritual struggles of beginning head covering can be intense, God
faithfully honors any and every effort we take towards obedience of His Word!
During my flower wearing months, <b>it
mattered</b> that I was striving to obey! I strove for consistency to the point
of folks noticing that I was never without something in my hair. (Sometimes I
explained why, other times I just silently thanked the Lord for the work He was
doing in my heart in this area, then went on with my day). I worked through a
lot of questions and fears by keeping doing what I was doing. <br />
However, today I would not feel a flower clip in my hair to suffice as covering
for my head, a veiling of my God-given glory to ensure more focus on Jesus. My
advice is to focus on head over hair or “how much” hair is to be covered. Keep
seeking God’s direction for your life and He will guide you in every detail!<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08NLO3Ue81twi9PaT1rjsM8JBanz3J-OE-Vu-FrwOX4G8rgzcdeT5QI7uLMH1YBhJgwAurpGLBvokP2D42AulmEbODJ3mr1EPsIBVGzdJ5jMOV5rA1yFdUsiyL5u7WtraftQgLBbwr50/s1600/1Cor11-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08NLO3Ue81twi9PaT1rjsM8JBanz3J-OE-Vu-FrwOX4G8rgzcdeT5QI7uLMH1YBhJgwAurpGLBvokP2D42AulmEbODJ3mr1EPsIBVGzdJ5jMOV5rA1yFdUsiyL5u7WtraftQgLBbwr50/s320/1Cor11-7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->I love simple, comfortable ball caps myself.
They offer a lot of coverage, are culturally quite normal, and are typically
no-fuss and non-attention-drawing. One consideration to be aware of is that the
etiquette required of a ball cap is the same for a man or a woman. If you are
at a ball park, a church or school, a parade, or any other occasion where our
national flag is honored by men needing to remove their hats, the same
requirement applies to women in ball caps. (Interesting that the removal of a
man’s hat was instructed in reverence to God clear back in the early church,
yet is still reflected in our culture regarding entering a building or honoring
our flag to this day!) <br />
A woman’s “fashion hat” (clearly distinguishable from a traditional man’s hat
style such as a ball cap), a headband, or a scarf, is exempt from expected
removal. If you don’t mind taking your hat off for our flag, feel free to wear
one, just maybe think about the pros and cons of wearing it into a worship
setting if there’s a flag present.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->If God has unveiled (pun intended) to you the
truth that His instruction that Christian women covering our heads in prayer is
valid today, ask Him to guide you in exactly how that should be accomplished in
your personal circumstances. <br />
I know missionary women who take on traditional Muslim attire in ministry and
God blesses them abundantly and strengthens their families and their faith. I also
know of women who take on Muslim headscarves in initial desire to fulfil this
instruction for Christian women to practice in worship of Jesus, but satan uses
that style embraced by another faith as a foothold to start leading these women
down a path of spiritual searching that ultimately results in denying Jesus and
pledging allegiance to another god. <br />
My kids attend a heavily Muslim influenced school and my conviction to stay
covered was confirmed about the time they started there. It has been
interesting to watch how being consistently covered has gained the respect of
administration and fellow parents who do not offer the same credence to the opinions
of uncovered women. While I chose head covering, I intentionally chose styles
distinctly distinguishable from Muslim, so there is no question that my loyalty
to someone other than allah. <br />
I avoid styles readily identified as “Muslim” (same would be true of other
faith practices with distinctive head covering styles) because I attempted a
certain head style commonly associated with another faith and, while I had no
personal issue with what I saw to be a freedom of expression, I learned my
choice was perceived as a “conversion” to another believe system and was a
stumbling block to a fellow Christian. That was the last time I tried that
specific style!<br />
I know some women who will only wear a certain style of covering, perhaps a
certain shade of blue, specific length of veil, a special bonnet, or all white
or black. There is nothing wrong with any of those choices. In fact, submission
to local church leadership is to be applauded, so if your church instructs a
specific style, wonderful! The desire for head covering that doesn’t draw
attention away from the Lord is fantastic. (I am often the ONLY woman in my church
or other local circles who covers for Christ, so this has not been my issue.)<br />
I would simply caution against legalism. Whatever covering you are wearing should
not become a source of piety, religious pride, a meaningless ritual, or
covering for the sake of covering tradition rather than as a reflection of a
heart seeking submission to God’s order of authority. Once the issue of <b>if</b> to cover gets settled in my spirit,
my attitude behind the act of covering needs to be regularly taken before God
in order to assure that my motives stay glorifying to Him!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_118778503"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNb2A2K1vzKYewHUaSwRW2p62SYABFqjRUy9Y2kCUfzOEFvtVAiNbShlE17NI3EiYN9DRuVk38qE1MV_Q6ntTj03pI2TgbYrawBisZcG8LpbZ42NEYpBDv15tJP8u3w8NJYpdgX41fbs/s400/authorPage.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://facebook.com/HarvestingHope">facebook.com/HarvestingHope</a></td></tr>
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JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-9408472763523024212017-04-17T20:09:00.002-07:002017-04-30T16:33:02.760-07:00PrayerPrayer has been a huge issue God has been working on my heart the past <a href="http://infertilitymom.blogspot.com/2017/04/veiled-glory.html">few years</a>, especially the past 8 or 9 months. I've been so convinced that the prayer of a righteous man [or woman!] avails much (Proverbs 15:29; James 5:16; 1 Peter 3:12), and yet there is none righteous, no not one (Psalm 143:2; Romans 3:9-10). I'm so thankful that Jesus imparts His righteousness to me (Romans 1:17; Romans 2:13; Romans 3:22; Romans 4:5; Romans 5:19; Romans 10:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 4:24; Philippians 1:11; Philippians 3:9; 2 Timothy 4:8; Titus 3:5; )!<br />
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I'm living through a long, dry season of huge "unanswered" prayers. Not only are the things I'm praying about not getting resolved, some situations are getting worse... and Worse... and WORSE! For months on end, even years! Keeping faith gets hard!<br />
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How amazing that at <a href="http://infertilitymom.blogspot.com/2017/04/travel-with-me.html">Mount Hermon</a>, I had chances to pray with several different people and repeatedly see significant and immediate answers. Also, I had an almost fully pain-free week and had notable lack of many profound stroke deficits during my week there! What refreshing reminders that God is still powerful and active in my life.<br />
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I appreciate <a href="https://thedisciplemaker.org/the-hardest-place-in-the-world-to-pray/">this article on prayer</a> that begins with the powerful description of a common prayer struggle<span style="font-family: inherit;">, "<span style="background-color: white;">We want to talk to God but can’t. The friction of our desire to pray, combined with our badly damaged prayer antennae, leads to constant frustration. It’s as if we’ve had a stroke." </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>It's as if we've had a </i><a href="http://www.strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/" style="font-style: italic;">stroke</a><i>!</i> For obvious reasons, these words have profound impact for me!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-88542499531539165492017-04-15T20:56:00.001-07:002017-04-15T20:56:54.303-07:00Silent SaturdaySandwiched between the anguish of Good Friday and the glory of Easter Sunday is Saturday, the day Heaven was silent.<br />
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Life often feels like the day Jesus lay low in the grave. The drama of acute is over, yet celebration has not yet come. Thankfully, though it often feels that way, Heaven is never truly silent.<br />
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I'm glad yesterday is over! I look forward to tomorrow. For today, I pray us each peace!<br />
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<br />JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-26190482542060687742017-04-03T13:15:00.002-07:002017-04-03T13:15:49.568-07:00Travel With MeI'm leaving on Wednesday to start making my way to <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/StrokeOfGrace">Mount Hermon Christian Writer's Conference</a>. I will be tweeting daily updates from <a href="https://twitter.com/RenoMom">@RenoMom</a> (my personal page, with motherhood and stroke focuses, along with northern Nevada interests, if I can get my phone to work with that account) and/or <a href="https://twitter.com/InfertilityMom">@InfertilityMom</a> (my big infertility, miscarriage, adoption page, where my phone likes to post by default), using hashtag <span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">#MHWriters2017 either way. Please journey with me! :)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Want to leave me encouragement or post your prayers for the journey? Please use #HarvestingHope as your tag so I am sure to find you. :)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hubby and oldest miracle baby preparing to leave for his prom this past Saturday.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I would especially appreciate your prayers for Rick and our kids as they hold down the fort while I'm away. I'm cutting three days off my original trip plans, but still will be gone for nearly a week.</span>JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-56882225180676243842017-03-20T20:05:00.000-07:002017-03-20T20:09:51.516-07:00WinnerRandom.org selected Sarah H. is the winner of our <a href="http://infertilitymom.blogspot.com/2017/03/planning-my-funeral.html">Laura Story CD giveaway</a>. Enjoy Open Hands, Sarah. Please check you facebook PM within 48 hours. :)<br />
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<br />JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-57878068345489979482017-03-18T21:51:00.001-07:002017-03-19T15:04:12.158-07:00When Others Remember My BabiesTee, thank you for remembering our babies in Heaven and honoring them today!<br />
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<br />JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-19199717689280898162017-03-15T08:41:00.000-07:002017-03-16T08:42:25.794-07:00Planning My FuneralThis is not a morbid post. Promise! In fact, stay tuned for a fun giveaway.<br />
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No, I have no particular timeframe in mind, no imminent expectation of needing to implement my funeral plans. This is simply a topic I've pondered ever since nearly dying almost 5 1/2 years ago and long-outliving the wildest possible expectations of maybe 3 or 4 years, as the long, most ludicrous possible outcome.<br />
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I would argue that funeral planning is a topic all of us might do well to consider. Life is 100% fatal, after all. There's a good chance you will have a funeral someday. Wouldn't it be great, as is true of making a will, your own plans and ideas could be honored, your loved ones relieved of the weight of decision-making?<br />
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I'm sure I'll add more ideas as I clarify them, but the one list I've been mentally creating for years is one I want to get started today:<br />
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For my children, I want the song Give You Faith by Laura Story, from her new album <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l3CEMWCxSk&feature=youtu.be">Open Hands</a>, played.<br />
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For my husband, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l3CEMWCxSk&feature=youtu.be">Your Hands</a> by J. J. Heller, is my message to leave him. Likely also a Steven Curtis Chapman song, but I haven't decided which one yet. (Suggestions?)<br />
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For my grieving friends and family, I want Blessed Be the Name played or sung.<br />
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As a congregation, I want several hymns sung. I've jotted down several, so I'll add them as I remember or find my notes, but I'll Fly Away is one for sure.<br />
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Also, a hymn that saw me through our miscarriage and infertility years, It is Well With My Soul.</div>
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This is just a start, but help me with my list please. What do you want played/sung at your funeral and why? What should I consider adding to my list?<br />
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I want to focus for a moment on just one of these artists, Laura Story. Perhaps you know the name from her popular song (another of my favorites) <i>Blessings</i> or<i> Mighty To Save</i>. Something I didn't know about this GRAMMY winner is that she has recently written a new book and bible study curriculum I want to get my hands on, <u>When God Doesn't Fix It: Lessons You Never Wanted To Learn, Truths You Can't Live Without</u>.<br />
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If you would like to enter for a chance to win a copy of Laura's brand new CD, Open Hands, please leave a comment answering my above question about what song you would want played at your funeral and why. Be sure to comment with a valid form of contact! I'll draw a winner Monday morning, so please enter soon and share widely. (For each share of this link via your blog, social media, even emailing to friends, leave me another comment in order to gain another entry!)<br />
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<i class="yiv7624180904" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489676192268_5239" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b class="yiv7624180904" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489676192268_5241" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): </b>Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. <span class="yiv7624180904" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489676192268_5249" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; text-align: justify;">Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.</span><span class="yiv7624180904" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span class="yiv7624180904" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span class="yiv7624180904" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489676192268_5245" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; text-align: justify;">If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.</span><span class="yiv7624180904" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span class="yiv7624180904" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span class="yiv7624180904" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; text-align: justify;">Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.</span><span class="yiv7624180904" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span class="yiv7624180904" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1489676192268_5246" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; text-align: justify;"> Winner is subject to eligibility verification.</span></i>JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-37226211117485117092016-11-24T09:10:00.002-08:002016-11-24T09:10:32.695-08:00After Infertility ThankfulnessSo thankful to be a mom, beyond words! Even after so many years, I vividly remember those childless years where my heart struggled to find thankfulness. Praying for those still waiting, grieving today!<br />
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<br />JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-77541538069320635182016-11-03T12:57:00.001-07:002016-11-03T13:04:03.588-07:00The Accidental TraditionI don't like Halloween. I just don't.<br />
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I used to truly loath October 31, and really the whole season, all the "decorations" leading up to the day, the yucky costumes that night, EVERYTHING!<br />
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Two things have happened to make the day tolerable for me.<br />
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First, we moved to the state of Nevada. October 31, in addition to being Reformation Day (The date Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the door of the church, starting the Protestant movement) is also our state's birthday. Celebrating Nevada Day is significantly more palatable to me than Halloween!<br />
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Next, <a href="http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2016/10/living-scary-brave-part-one.html">5 years ago</a>, an encounter with the profound glory of God, honestly made all the ugliness this world can muster for this date, truly make me ask, "Really? Is that the best you've got?" There's simply nothing ugly and evil enough to dampen the splendor of pure grace, goodness, peace, beauty. Honestly, the scary junk, while exactly that in my mind, junk, doesn't even phase me now. (Doesn't mean I like it, delight in it, find it pleasurable, just doesn't freak me out or give me nightmares like it did for nearly 40 years!)<br />
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I used to despise this date so very much that we would either turn every light in the front of the house off and just watch a movie or play games in the back and ignore the door, or we would actually pack up the family and go away for the evening, like to my parents' house since no trick-or-treaters even come to their retirement neighborhood.<br />
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Since my strokes, it easier to stay home then pack up, so that's what we usually do now. The first few years, my kids and hubby actually answered the door and gave out candy. Last year, I took a candy shift myself. This year, I fully managed the door all evening (though, with hearing loss, I missed the doorbell multiple times, making for some awkward moments as kids stood peering in the window and wondering why I wasn't answering, while I sat staring back waiting for them to play the game by ringing the bell before I opened the door).<br />
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Now that I've set the stage, let me tell you about our hysterical evening, the happy accident that created a new family tradition.<br />
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Our daughter and I had just cleaned out the pantry. Since eggs (her) and wheat (me) are newly discovered allergens within the past year, we moved multiple partial Sam's / Costco size cases of various instant noodle meals to the front door so Rick (hubby can still eat them) could take them to work.<br />
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There sat all the individual noodle meals by the front door as kids came. About the third set of kids that came was a group of teenagers. As I gave them their candy, I heard, "Oh they have some good food in there. I saw cup noodles!"<br />
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On a whim, I called them back to the door and dropped noodles in their bags too. They all were SO excited! I haven't laughed that hard in a good while.<br />
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News quickly spread through the neighborhood that our house was "giving away soup," and packs of teens and college kids were showing up. As two girls said to one another, "Now we have dinner for tonight!" The reactions would make you think we were giving away cars or something! The squeals and pure delight left my teenager (pictured above) quite befuddled! He turned to Google and learned that cup-o-noodles as trick-or-treat gifts apparently are "a thing" in Japan. He insists, that even though he's going away to college next fall, we make family plans to give out cup-noodles every year from here on out.<br />
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It was a fun night. I would hear teens coming up the walkway saying, "I want soup!" so I would get candy ready just to see their reactions when I pretended that's all I had. I haven't laughed that much at one time in ages! Rick said it was wonderful to hear me laugh so much!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSYoQa_wfaTiMIO7GcHX-4R02YkDoE9ZM5VT4oS6QEEe050b_JJM9YDQK6J2oQ-EIwctbUiWtmdao712CcTItfBvKnzwcVQc_kOk8M5luTal7cypNSWEXvugkQIFeP4TsH5T5WqKgCAw/s1600/12190820_10153120626671022_5961210690993025312_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSYoQa_wfaTiMIO7GcHX-4R02YkDoE9ZM5VT4oS6QEEe050b_JJM9YDQK6J2oQ-EIwctbUiWtmdao712CcTItfBvKnzwcVQc_kOk8M5luTal7cypNSWEXvugkQIFeP4TsH5T5WqKgCAw/s320/12190820_10153120626671022_5961210690993025312_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wore the exact same shirt last year.<br />
I couldn't find my wings this year, but the shirt displays my weight loss over the past year of being wheat-free.</td></tr>
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We had food we could never have used before it went bad. We got to spread joy and had a blast doing so. :)<br />
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<br />JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-16498636300104898762016-11-02T19:11:00.000-07:002016-11-02T19:11:05.694-07:00Blue PlaydoughFacebook gave me a good laugh today. Memory from 6 years ago:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Looking up tips on removing Play-dough from carpet. Thought I had it all up and out of reach, but somehow the dark blue canister made it into the craft bin in reach of a craft-loving 4-year-old who didn't think to move over 2 feet onto tile before he began joyfully mashing. Lord, help me to remember how I prayed for this child and what a blessing he is...</span></blockquote>
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In comments I shared, <span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Everything I'm reading says not to add water (ice would do that) because it makes a bigger mess. Working what I can our with a credit card, then let dry overnight, pick more out with a fork or comb, vacuum, repeat, comb, vacuum, repeat, comb, vacuum, repeat... Then spot clean with stain cleaner as needed.</span>JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-88329831034600389812016-10-21T10:27:00.000-07:002016-10-21T10:42:24.371-07:00What A Week!<i>Ooops, this post was written for my <a href="http://www.strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/">StrokeOfGrace</a> blog. I'll post it there too, but will leave it up here as I think this readership will enjoy too.</i><br />
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A friend asked me yesterday how I was doing and I told her I was feeling generally agitated and couldn't figure out why since nothing specifically bad was happen.<br />
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This morning, I can put my finger on the reason.<br />
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I'm trying not to feel anxious at four days out from my 5th re-birthday (stroke-a-versary), next Tuesday.<br />
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<a href="http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2016/10/but-for-grace-of-god.html">Here</a>'s where I "should" be today (best case, supposing I had even lived), <a href="http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2016/10/but-for-grace-of-god.html">locked in</a>, not able to lead a "normal" life at all. And <a href="http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2016/10/i-ran.html">here</a>'s where I actually am! I am so thankful. I do not take my abilities nor bonus time I've be granted lightly in the least! And yet, there are sobering losses, very real griefs. A day like Tuesday leaves me processing such a wild mix of emotions!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRM9ZWsrGX-jzQkl0A-guK_Fd_dRnyvyJteG0Qzg0TfvbXG7jBQOlG84IjC5fwDfLg1l-UpCO3OWTPRARW9JStWeYfCfUxmbboKouGZhaISbiHr9Mo0-LAqH4sRjXSgZw_155Cjt4cywXj/s1600/October.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRM9ZWsrGX-jzQkl0A-guK_Fd_dRnyvyJteG0Qzg0TfvbXG7jBQOlG84IjC5fwDfLg1l-UpCO3OWTPRARW9JStWeYfCfUxmbboKouGZhaISbiHr9Mo0-LAqH4sRjXSgZw_155Cjt4cywXj/s320/October.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, I've been intentionally overloading my life with positive distractions, pretty much all to your benefit. Allow me to recap:<br />
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Today is <b>the very last day</b> to enter my <a href="http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2016/10/coloring-calendar-giveaway.html">giveaway for two Adult Coloring 2017 calendars</a>! (As of this posting, there are just over 12 hours left to enter! Two prizes, with only seven folks who have entered so far! Please join the fun. I would love to smile at your answers about what color crayon you would be and why, and you have fantastic odds of winning a prize!)<br />
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Tonight, 5 (Pacific), I'm hosting the Facebook portion of my post-stroke <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/187549351653472/">Grand Re-Opening celebration Boutique for the Lilla Rose Flexi</a> hair clips I had just signed up as Stylist (consultant) a few months before my strokes.<br />
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Since I finally have figured out enough coordination and tricks do my hair again, despite some remaining stroke paralysis and lack of fine motor skills, and because I'm working hard to earn my way to the <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/StrokeOfGrace">Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference</a> in the spring, I'm excited to share these beautiful, <b>durable</b> (made of music / piano wire, so highly flexible, yet incredibly strong), <b>ingenious</b> (unique figure-8 design) "hair jewelry" available in <b>seven different sizes</b> and hundreds of designs to fit <b>every length</b> (if you have at least two inches of hair, you can wear a Flexi, even some fun designs like motorcycles that I've seen men wear in their beards!), <b>hair texture</b> (baby fine, pin straight, thick curls, floor length, dreadlocks. pixie cut, any everything in between), and <b>personal style</b> (from simple and practical to frilly and flamboyant)!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqUx8FLj2ngDQ5Uj_mtTWyGGEImDiWmTYhppvnF1xHrqjJht5SDGCgm4WnKAr53iHdjw2je8c_BgRXwKS2VAwmr1dh82hgeGo2UQgc0b2El86guSqXTZUQx3Bc8QG9UVq8cugnwALKwI/s1600/20160914_164310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqUx8FLj2ngDQ5Uj_mtTWyGGEImDiWmTYhppvnF1xHrqjJht5SDGCgm4WnKAr53iHdjw2je8c_BgRXwKS2VAwmr1dh82hgeGo2UQgc0b2El86guSqXTZUQx3Bc8QG9UVq8cugnwALKwI/s400/20160914_164310.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Tomorrow, at 4PM, please come to my house (need directions?) for the hands-on portion of my party! It will be my very first in-person Boutique and I'm pretty excited to gather some friends together to celebrate five years of stroke survival and the accomplishments these years have brought about. Playing with Flexis will be fun too! :) If you can't make it to my house due to distance or schedule, you are still welcome to join the Lilla Rose portion of the party on my <a href="https://www.lillarose.biz/parties/18576">website</a>. You can order hair pretties for yourself or as gifts (holidays are quickly coming!) any time, but to count towards my grand-opening celebration (where it will make the most positive impact for me in sales numbers), all orders must be in before the end of the day Tuesday the 25th.<br />
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Tomorrow morning, before my Lilla Rose event, I get to spend a few hours with my church sisters at a get-to-know-you brunch. Being the social butterfly, people-person, that I am, even though I know this will cost me in terms of physical and mental energy (thank you, stroke and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), I know it will this time together will bless and encourage me emotionally and spiritually!<br />
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On Tuesday, my actual stroke anniversary, I'm scheduled to participate in a research study at Renown, the hospital where I lived for the first two months. I told the study coordinator I had scheduled for that date because I wanted to "do something significant" that day.<br />
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Oct. 25th, my re-birthday, is much more significant to me that the actual date of my birth each year, now! I hope to see some of my care team. Mom and I plan to go out to lunch afterwards. I've asked my hubby to take our family out to dinner that evening.<br />
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My brain doesn't really even go beyond next Tuesday yet. Starting my 6th year of survival?!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrbx8cJCv7DjLCipHoOQoy_D38LgNgv0jcYhLE6yEzh4t43InHneas1GqqZVZgqKlYCS2IGTMIRRg_dEeHxKFtG_pT1w1Rl5QMUdSK18yZ3re0BTOYvi0gJOtsjbV02kExXtl-jmSHyc/s1600/20161021_085514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrbx8cJCv7DjLCipHoOQoy_D38LgNgv0jcYhLE6yEzh4t43InHneas1GqqZVZgqKlYCS2IGTMIRRg_dEeHxKFtG_pT1w1Rl5QMUdSK18yZ3re0BTOYvi0gJOtsjbV02kExXtl-jmSHyc/s640/20161021_085514.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mailbox surprise from Kendra. :)</td></tr>
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I have no new blog post ideas after Tuesday. Do you have any questions? Anything you've wondered about? Feel free to ask! I need your curiosity right now, to spark future blog content!<br />
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<span class="versiontext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0092f2; font-family: "arimo" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 700;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/nasb/psalms/94.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;">New American Standard Bible </a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "arimo" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.</span></b></i><span style="font-size: 15px;"> -</span><a href="http://biblehub.com/psalms/94-19.htm" style="font-size: 15px;">Psalm 94:19</a></span>JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-86188910227877055782016-10-05T17:19:00.000-07:002016-10-05T17:19:00.218-07:00Jesus and the BeanstalkI almost refused to read this book, based solely on its quirky title. BIG MISTAKE! Don't judge a book by it's cover.<br />
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Wow! I feel like Lori Stanley Roeleveld is a personable new friend. I wish we could sit down and have coffee (or tea, since I detest coffee, but I was going for coffee house intimacy with that phrase!) and a long chat together.<br />
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As God so often does, He put this book in my life at the same time He was putting the spotlight on the same part of Scripture through other means. I had just started a new Bible study on 1 and 2 Peter when He brought this book across my path. Seeing the back cover blurb about "use the hidden gifts in 2 Peter to topple the giant challenges in your life," made me willing to give this book a (albeit skeptical) chance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e-PaNK0eQ2dwZ1FfKdBrhFKeJgjAJfdeBAyJ-qpaFjEIaXUv_wJcPDHX7VJ9UUcvzSn3xBY7ZgXQQAZeMQDNFxXDmd3OlNeb5_zYNyqcjeRaFxDAKBNFyy6HqFUQiby5wnp_uouWyfA/s1600/1beanstalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e-PaNK0eQ2dwZ1FfKdBrhFKeJgjAJfdeBAyJ-qpaFjEIaXUv_wJcPDHX7VJ9UUcvzSn3xBY7ZgXQQAZeMQDNFxXDmd3OlNeb5_zYNyqcjeRaFxDAKBNFyy6HqFUQiby5wnp_uouWyfA/s320/1beanstalk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The subtitle: Overcoming Your Giants and Living a Fruitful Life, was also highly appealing, being on the <a href="http://harvestinghope.blogspot.com/">spiritual fruit journey</a> I've been on for these past 5+ years! The list of words, "Faith, Godliness, Affection for Others, Love, Perseverance, Goodness, Knowledge, Self-Control," had enough overlap with the Fruit of the Spirit I'm dissecting, to get me a little excited, before I even opened the front cover.<br />
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Now that I'm well into the book (I'm a SLOW reader, thanks to dyslexia then my strokes), I can't imagine a better-fitting title than <i>Jesus and the Beanstalk</i>. Lori has so masterfully woven familiar fairy tales together, Jack and the Beanstalk in particular, to illustrate deep spiritual truths. As a writer, I marvel at her clever mastery of both the English language and cultural concepts, with nearly every turn of the page. This one should become a bestseller if enough readers can get past the "irreverence" (my primary objection) of the title and delve into the richness behind the selected monacure.JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-10525247115347804542016-09-17T12:42:00.000-07:002016-09-17T17:51:13.677-07:00Hair Jewelry Sale!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I shared why I love these Flexi clips so much, how I first became, then (rather accidentally) stayed, a Stylist (consultant). <a href="http://strokeofgrace.blogspot.com/2016/09/i-can-do-it.html">Fun story</a> over at StrokeOfGrace today. :)</div>
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JenniferSaake.blogspot.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00187951307787002730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7159704200012808123.post-69001461974256635932016-09-11T17:33:00.000-07:002016-09-11T19:13:07.468-07:0015 years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">15 years ago we woke up to a ringing phone and images of 1 1/2 twins towers, the half billowing smoke but not yet fallen. Through the morning my long-awaited toddler played as I sobbed and watched a second tower hit, panicked people jump from windows high, then the towers fall. As the day unfolded, I relayed news of two additional plane crashes to my husband at work. For three solid days I cried and seriously wrestled with God over the issue of should we continue to bring more lives into </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">this broken world or not.</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">We learned my husband's aunt was initially scheduled to have been on one of those planes and got bumped. Being on the west coast of the country, we were slightly insulated from the trauma in the sense that not every single person here knew someone who died that day, but the tragedy was massive enough that everyone here had at least one loved one they worried over until safety was confirmed. There was still enough communal loss that the churches were packed for week and flags flew abundantly and high. Rick's grandma, who lived next to the airport, lived under eerily quite sky for days.</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Since that day, life has carried on. That baby is about to get his driver's licence. We have been blessed with two more living miracles here on earth. My husband has changed jobs twice. We have changed houses. We just celebrated that aunt's 70th birthday and she and her husband had another very near-miss going through the airport in Turkey just before the recent bombing there. (My husband and son were in the same airport two years prior!)</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">I've published my first book. My father-in-law has battled cancer epically. My mother has given us a sound hospital scare. I've survived a traitoris immune system that tried to abandon me a decade ago. I've survived a chiropractic accident leading to six strokes. A year ago today I had massive abdominal surgery for feminine pain and a renegade appendix.</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">The joys and griefs have been great. Today, I simply pause to remember. To lay the details of our lives before the Lord. To thank and rejoice for the blessings. To acknowledge the losses. To pray.</span><br />
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