tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23317529690867702812024-03-18T11:50:54.676-04:00Clover LaneSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.comBlogger1147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-82769389689748161122024-03-06T14:11:00.004-05:002024-03-06T14:13:14.026-05:00A Letter for My Mom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkcvnPPJYbF_VGJv7XHU_yMSVBeZesddVnN13CkK8rUJnyVSaaALwJI366LKVw8N5mqP6EFDsVZaI6v8I4RAzB6EDv_cXk1uxG1-XDnNmHKdowRZj7P3EfIpj-uUGFe7c3ago1nTN9FoFD5LtrYBsjKFblbxFl_BfzrSg39boaLq5FR5pYD_9QLXudrA/s1267/momsportrait%20-%20low%20res.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1267" data-original-width="1014" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkcvnPPJYbF_VGJv7XHU_yMSVBeZesddVnN13CkK8rUJnyVSaaALwJI366LKVw8N5mqP6EFDsVZaI6v8I4RAzB6EDv_cXk1uxG1-XDnNmHKdowRZj7P3EfIpj-uUGFe7c3ago1nTN9FoFD5LtrYBsjKFblbxFl_BfzrSg39boaLq5FR5pYD_9QLXudrA/s320/momsportrait%20-%20low%20res.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: center;">A letter to all of you, my mom's beloved readers and dear friends, from her daughter Abbey:</h2><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: times; text-indent: 36px;"><span> I am heartbroken to write this. </span>Our beloved mom, Sarah, passed away peacefully and was received into Heaven on an uncharacteristically warm and sunny evening in March, five days before her 55th birthday.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: times; text-indent: 36px;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; text-indent: 36px;">She was a skilled baker, a talented writer, and a treasured art teacher, but more than anything, she was the best and most fiercely dedicated mom in the entire world.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: times; text-indent: 36px;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; text-indent: 36px;">She felt that being a mother was truly her vocation.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: times; text-indent: 36px;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; text-indent: 36px;">She was cherished by everyone around her: parents, siblings, cousins, friends, students, and especially by her six children.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: times; text-indent: 36px;"> </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>First and foremost, I would like to thank you all sincerely for your endless support for my mom and our family all of these years. When my mom wrote her first blog post in 2008, she could have never foreseen the millions of views and thousands and thousands of people she would touch. She started a community larger than life. <span style="font-family: times; text-indent: 36px;"> She cherished “ordinary days” and preached that living simply and slowly and finding beauty in every small moment was the key to a meaningful life.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: times; text-indent: 36px;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; text-indent: 36px;">Needless to say, she was an inspiration to so many.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: times; text-indent: 36px;"> </span>Your support for my mom - your readership, letters, emails, and comments - all kept her going and uplifted her in her times of hardship. All of my siblings and I feel so incredibly blessed that we can turn to this space for the rest of our lives and read about my mom's thoughts, passions, favorite memories, advice, and guidance. What a blessing it is that we will always have pieces of her to help us through every path of life - especially as we navigate having children of our own. We will miss her every minute of every day for the rest of our lives. I will always be so proud to be Sarah's daughter. </div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>I cannot do my mom's writing abilities any justice - so please show me some grace - but wanted to share with you what my siblings and I wrote in memoriam of our sweet, incredible mother. </div><div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 36px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;">Sarah was born and raised in a “little house in the big woods” at the bottom of a long, steep hill and often shared stories of her childhood with us kids.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She spoke of playing with baby dolls and picking buttercups down by the creek with her two sisters, doting on (and dressing up) her two little brothers, and sledding down the big hill during long Cleveland winters with her best friend, Renée. Her siblings and parents described her as sensitive and nurturing: a sweet, gentle soul who loved pretty dresses and her pet bunny, Myrtle.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She lived very simply with her siblings and was proud of her upbringing -<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her Mom, Patty, and her dad, Tom, worked hard to make ends meet. Our mom’s resilience, discipline, and work ethic all came from her parents.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She was raised Catholic and was dedicated to practicing and passing on her faith to all of her children.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>During her high school years,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sarah worked at Patterson's fruit farm and told us kids many stories of burning her hands on pies that came straight out of the oven.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She also worked at the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It is only fitting that our mom always made the biggest bowls of popcorn with lots of salt and butter.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: times;">Sarah nannied throughout her years at college, where she obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Communications and met our father and her former husband, Jeff, whom she was devoted to for almost 30 years of marriage. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: times;"> </span><span style="font-family: times;">They married in 1993 and welcomed their first child in 1994.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: times;"> </span><span style="font-family: times;">Sarah’s lifelong dream was to become a mother, and she adored her babies.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: times;"> </span><span style="font-family: times;">She had five more children over the course of the next eighteen years.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: times;"> </span><span style="font-family: times;">The same day that she dropped off her eldest son at college, she came home and gave birth to her youngest daughter that very evening. </span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: times;"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;">Our mom was extremely organized and ran her home like a well-oiled machine. She loved her calendar, was never a minute late to anything, and felt that making a list could solve any problem (especially if it had cute stickers on it).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Mom’s house was spotless.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She practiced “less is more” and didn’t care to have many material possessions.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She coined an organization method known as “40 bags in 40 days,” in which she would help her friends and family declutter and simplify their houses.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She wasn’t afraid of hard work - or delegating Saturday chores for us children. Whether it was mulching the yard, cleaning the windows, or vacuuming the whole house in one afternoon - she got joy from checking off her to-do list.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;">Growing up, our mom had a home-cooked dinner on the table every night at 5:30 p.m. sharp, even during sports seasons, where she hardly missed a game for any of her four sons or two daughters.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Spaghetti with meat sauce and homemade garlic bread was her favorite meal ever - we ate this once a week as kids.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If you didn’t like what was for dinner, your choice was cereal or starvation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She made many family favorites (feta dip, meatloaf, calzones, and apple pie to name a few) and transcribed her most beloved recipes into a cookbook for us kids.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She was an incredible baker and made the greatest chocolate chip cookies of all time. (Add extra butter, and take the cookies out a minute early!)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We had no fears of consuming raw cookie dough in our house. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;">Our mom made every holiday special for us kids, and felt that traditions were very important.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She would sew all of our Halloween costumes, and set a beautiful brunch for Valentine’s Day.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She took us to pick strawberries every June, and took us to the apple orchard every August (Macintosh season) to get donuts before school started again.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Our mom also loved making New Year’s Resolutions.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>All of us kids, including her many nieces and nephews, would line up with a note card in hand, ready for Mom to help us fill it out with colorful gel pens.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She always gave the best advice, and if you didn’t know what you could improve on, she could give you some very insightful feedback.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;">Mom loved being outside, especially on hot summer days. She would wait as long as possible, until all of her children complained, to turn the air conditioning on in the summer.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She also made the biggest ice cream cones you could imagine, and snuck them to the neighbor kids, even if their parents said no.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She infamously believed that a suntan would cure any ailment - her home was her favorite place in the world, but Seaside, Florida was a close second. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She enjoyed riding her bike around our little town, and sometimes would put our family dog, Sammy, in her bike basket. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She also took lots of walks.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She would walk so fast, and if you wanted to join her you had to promise her you could keep up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She kept a small garden and made our backyard an oasis filled with ferns, hostas, and hydrangeas.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She also loved storms of all kinds: blizzards that turned into snow days, cozying up on rainy nights, and she especially loved tornado weather.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If we were all taking shelter in the basement, she was probably outside on the front porch enjoying the chaos.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;">Sarah was very artistic.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She would paint murals on our bedroom walls when we were little, and loved working with many mediums. She was also a skilled photographer, and had an eye for interior design.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In her brief time teaching art at the local Catholic elementary school, she quickly became a favorite of her students, who would look forward to her attentiveness, care, and structure. She would come home and tell endless stories about her students (her “kids”); which ones were naughty, and which ones she would absolutely die for. Some students fit both categories.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;">Sarah was a bookworm and loved historical non-fiction, especially stories of people overcoming hard times.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She always had a deep appreciation for old things in general.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>An elderly couple’s love story, restoring antique furniture, and going to the estate sale of a house she always admired.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;">Our mother was not only a beacon of guidance but also the voice of unparalleled wisdom, the one whose advice could help navigate any path of life. She loved a good conversation, and had a witty (sometimes even dark) sense of humor. She kept her circle close, including her dearest book club girls. She surrounded herself with only the most genuine people. She was the shoulder to lean on during moments of despair and often the first person you would tell of an accomplishment because of the praise she'd offer.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She made everyone who knew her feel seen. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p5" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;">We will always feel as though our time with our sweet mom was cut short. As she liked to say, “fair is a place where pigs win ribbons.” She never wasted time feeling sorry for herself through tragedy or through her battle with cancer, and made the most of every day. </span></p><p class="p5" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-indent: 36px;"><span style="font-family: times;">Our mom always said, “Heaven is a good book on the beach.” We know you are enjoying the sunshine, Mom, and we can’t wait to see you again.</span></p><p class="p5" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; text-indent: 36px;"><br /></p></div><div><br /></div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-32567966946917986322023-12-14T07:51:00.003-05:002023-12-14T07:51:45.246-05:00December<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rYPrdQNc1pN6QOkVB51zmGXWNykyKkyGgJme-Eykm41CMk51tenbBJas5p4G0lHXx9ORtXiE0wnSeHCVYUwuMtVak9kSGHVbdVvPUqUDo1Ws_gg4F5Y1Dg8HWrCChmcnPxkCtlHwwBOQ8VecCKbAB_tpO-Px7SlBj-YKV178_lMW6nfbQTycQawroAA/s4032/IMG_6313.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rYPrdQNc1pN6QOkVB51zmGXWNykyKkyGgJme-Eykm41CMk51tenbBJas5p4G0lHXx9ORtXiE0wnSeHCVYUwuMtVak9kSGHVbdVvPUqUDo1Ws_gg4F5Y1Dg8HWrCChmcnPxkCtlHwwBOQ8VecCKbAB_tpO-Px7SlBj-YKV178_lMW6nfbQTycQawroAA/w480-h640/IMG_6313.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had a procedure in Miami FL area and was taken care of by these two-the night before we celebrated their engagement with a great dinner.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jduHHoNUrFYQoUn3fphpF0uiQXNyCjG3zcP-9-2KnPt9JhY_bGcGAKa63W_FFLaDSjACkHuN9KStm709RJuMiEUS9WQuuWl68OKBcl2AoG4kjAr1ojrDiSIlXOdaFXwH7rhjb5YzTr8Kx-U0dsk9oziKjpFa05kWjcYuGHqzN38GdaLGKTVfJOPyfig/s4032/IMG_6419.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jduHHoNUrFYQoUn3fphpF0uiQXNyCjG3zcP-9-2KnPt9JhY_bGcGAKa63W_FFLaDSjACkHuN9KStm709RJuMiEUS9WQuuWl68OKBcl2AoG4kjAr1ojrDiSIlXOdaFXwH7rhjb5YzTr8Kx-U0dsk9oziKjpFa05kWjcYuGHqzN38GdaLGKTVfJOPyfig/w480-h640/IMG_6419.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Making place cards for Thanksgiving.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrCb_WU1gbs_8QW666GVyKGSeTmohPwlF80wl-yaQNisG_-fskkDlqIjvS7ehRC3sOSsM91aTkHNUy87g-BFTN9goWMe7HizxDANURde1XHa-fgl2V5EudhMf_WQ0HVaP8dCG4cRR0VvPqF1xBabfAikFEpLr5y-NEUvRXw5yvYykI0fFd8nME924ZAI/s4032/IMG_6439.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrCb_WU1gbs_8QW666GVyKGSeTmohPwlF80wl-yaQNisG_-fskkDlqIjvS7ehRC3sOSsM91aTkHNUy87g-BFTN9goWMe7HizxDANURde1XHa-fgl2V5EudhMf_WQ0HVaP8dCG4cRR0VvPqF1xBabfAikFEpLr5y-NEUvRXw5yvYykI0fFd8nME924ZAI/w480-h640/IMG_6439.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She lasted through the first wedding gown shop, the second one was just mom and Abbey.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3r7st1tmBAsylZDPeIHdoviURuN-fUwvUpFhADIRdXVnsTWS1_NhUkrZfFlsdVaHCp3CmHJRXGVsAhKl9fLp_cQKNavZ3A3okeH-59_f4NiYj9Oeq1j6Tc6XjvoLSOUUVHO88OZgRK8NzcUYdvMi2WrbcVHXwBUF5_Z2CVcDv-uzP8fzj5096DWEGWb4/s4032/IMG_6572.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3r7st1tmBAsylZDPeIHdoviURuN-fUwvUpFhADIRdXVnsTWS1_NhUkrZfFlsdVaHCp3CmHJRXGVsAhKl9fLp_cQKNavZ3A3okeH-59_f4NiYj9Oeq1j6Tc6XjvoLSOUUVHO88OZgRK8NzcUYdvMi2WrbcVHXwBUF5_Z2CVcDv-uzP8fzj5096DWEGWb4/w480-h640/IMG_6572.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First dressed tried on, the one that caught my eye walking in, so excited to check this off because I honestly never thought it would be this easy. (And either did she.)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Edbxzg_vAEFs5aKAZU5XZJ82blaKYdNiYpaGjHCdxf0DURDDp9Hlnazk9xnsPOCOi7WlhZnLhwemJiVCLn9jan9WCWbbm4H6gIiUtfYtNpyffpLM-VYwAS7aJwzgkCTgw25LLmnTJwsS1W4YSQC_QiFfhz9gXwVM_ZP8BEvkMfxFhQAgBm8zmp-QUJs/s4032/IMG_6671.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Edbxzg_vAEFs5aKAZU5XZJ82blaKYdNiYpaGjHCdxf0DURDDp9Hlnazk9xnsPOCOi7WlhZnLhwemJiVCLn9jan9WCWbbm4H6gIiUtfYtNpyffpLM-VYwAS7aJwzgkCTgw25LLmnTJwsS1W4YSQC_QiFfhz9gXwVM_ZP8BEvkMfxFhQAgBm8zmp-QUJs/w480-h640/IMG_6671.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Loving my little tree, still no ornaments yet, but maybe this weekend.</div><p>My Christmas Wish: A new torso, throw in a new arm, and some hair (eyelashes too?) ship me off to American Girl Hospital, and for the low price of $88 I'm a new girl. Instead of drugs, and doctors, and tests and procedures, and aches and pains and tumors, and low energy, and blah blah blah (I really hate talking about my health) I can have a magical brand new cancer-free me. </p><p>My Other Christmas Wishes: I am getting them all! Everyone home for Christmas. A very full house of healthy thriving children. A new, my first, grandbaby (Isaac and Cecilia are expecting) coming in early April! A wedding (Abbey and Kyle) in August! </p><p>Have a very merry peaceful light-filled Christmas. There IS light always, some days, weeks or years we just have to look harder. Light always wins.</p><p><br /></p>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-74904839289835582902023-08-23T09:53:00.001-04:002023-08-25T04:08:30.665-04:00Back To School<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5rc_WDHiG5CAyXqyyC7cgT1JKq7uwYqJbpM5miIi01cBJc9lMhdniYvFo3cuROGq52pnbzSODffCIpXCXX8s_MiyaDi2dL58jm9Ck3N0AbysyZg0U-BSCQl00a8cI_LvscJ0rxzFGCoDJu3J7pUEONonz37FJh7xvwg39BnvtdbDkC4A6Mj2xaKaZVU/s3088/IMG_5569.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5rc_WDHiG5CAyXqyyC7cgT1JKq7uwYqJbpM5miIi01cBJc9lMhdniYvFo3cuROGq52pnbzSODffCIpXCXX8s_MiyaDi2dL58jm9Ck3N0AbysyZg0U-BSCQl00a8cI_LvscJ0rxzFGCoDJu3J7pUEONonz37FJh7xvwg39BnvtdbDkC4A6Mj2xaKaZVU/w480-h640/IMG_5569.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBJU8R8g3GUfvJJ6gr9yrKgbqzdkTBy3cRuu4g9ddwF6LdQtHykbQ1MixqE8kb7V3k_ooYgF7MibH0uYs1UgOxr74shmNDYWTFAW9MiWV9egylir-Eq_xWc1NZ9diZkWLzeZZr3UvaC1KIirWI6NQEmuU9XI4jdnfo0N7zSb3f6pC-poKiPEm6TQmjLY/s4032/IMG_5526.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBJU8R8g3GUfvJJ6gr9yrKgbqzdkTBy3cRuu4g9ddwF6LdQtHykbQ1MixqE8kb7V3k_ooYgF7MibH0uYs1UgOxr74shmNDYWTFAW9MiWV9egylir-Eq_xWc1NZ9diZkWLzeZZr3UvaC1KIirWI6NQEmuU9XI4jdnfo0N7zSb3f6pC-poKiPEm6TQmjLY/w480-h640/IMG_5526.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhdrUE_i_0dtycFQJv5oJj3lndu4h-NTzpJ1vdiD8yyYqn-f64jM0A9El5s_U1sCMIt9vRrT9vqpo26stB4kKFuwqVHfEx6vAtMGLXPaBkqMn89o2gpTPV6qBq8fwpePVfWn-E-1TbbuIGfI0u7mgSL9us3EGcvUvMGucMB7cNQUapeZcPcGLfvEa7vE/s3088/IMG_5533.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhdrUE_i_0dtycFQJv5oJj3lndu4h-NTzpJ1vdiD8yyYqn-f64jM0A9El5s_U1sCMIt9vRrT9vqpo26stB4kKFuwqVHfEx6vAtMGLXPaBkqMn89o2gpTPV6qBq8fwpePVfWn-E-1TbbuIGfI0u7mgSL9us3EGcvUvMGucMB7cNQUapeZcPcGLfvEa7vE/w480-h640/IMG_5533.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsMtqhC5RoXDiBN9wSX6ITffLYmdV_MfQQvclbvxrRC7OzLQC7WJk6FTugSL-8BXkdgOm6aWzkHacg771dpTCiiAedE6eY5uvSsXiumSLZWHgwzxbgl7hHGNZguLGAgFpS3m0nVKH7uhVZQuIXw0L9wsxXD_sYbjzk0i2hjV_ZZ1i9dgqL9x2zC2PQT4/s4032/IMG_5515.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsMtqhC5RoXDiBN9wSX6ITffLYmdV_MfQQvclbvxrRC7OzLQC7WJk6FTugSL-8BXkdgOm6aWzkHacg771dpTCiiAedE6eY5uvSsXiumSLZWHgwzxbgl7hHGNZguLGAgFpS3m0nVKH7uhVZQuIXw0L9wsxXD_sYbjzk0i2hjV_ZZ1i9dgqL9x2zC2PQT4/w480-h640/IMG_5515.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicgIKIy_b9H7-HPmQH9Hwf-g48yqJ1weVqdrD-XWemuNDrtuh7eimhmdXt2PxltfgKE4pYonNtseX7RtR4lBRt0aLgx-UjU7kvx3TZAkOkQbCU5t7N9aldtBieqjAA3VxVKf8dRhFdQwoPr2NFA91oVo56KWW21SL8x2A-mUlJVrhqUfsAzSrwyIYP_A/s4032/IMG_5503.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicgIKIy_b9H7-HPmQH9Hwf-g48yqJ1weVqdrD-XWemuNDrtuh7eimhmdXt2PxltfgKE4pYonNtseX7RtR4lBRt0aLgx-UjU7kvx3TZAkOkQbCU5t7N9aldtBieqjAA3VxVKf8dRhFdQwoPr2NFA91oVo56KWW21SL8x2A-mUlJVrhqUfsAzSrwyIYP_A/w480-h640/IMG_5503.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzETyuaPDIx-D73MoqjHzPaiEVcWim1BhU0mO3SWUWJ4FDpBWC6mPSF7RN7PyRjwxqXUoB9rUoOmM3QF-rBvknb9mP9kal3wbaz7j5JCc5XB2n8KMQzZRmkKUFRdo9Zvywc7Oh2x1Zq7r0i_uJwwuKUlimEXowZe_C46r2FnAk1aGguCb8kWqjKC6vnY/s4032/IMG_5464.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzETyuaPDIx-D73MoqjHzPaiEVcWim1BhU0mO3SWUWJ4FDpBWC6mPSF7RN7PyRjwxqXUoB9rUoOmM3QF-rBvknb9mP9kal3wbaz7j5JCc5XB2n8KMQzZRmkKUFRdo9Zvywc7Oh2x1Zq7r0i_uJwwuKUlimEXowZe_C46r2FnAk1aGguCb8kWqjKC6vnY/w480-h640/IMG_5464.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmS7TxxFlRNN_RGNEieVqTLVVW6BKvxFB-PnC76vkBo6WE8H0t1E-grEjHV129p9TEojOe1D3Ys083sQpjSMtMdUaJ9j-avXVs0l9ThZ1WBzJG-SKfjKhhDRIJio0MJRXzfnXaazILmDi7yuAD_2y2C5S6wp2jBal1HcDfm_-BwLGsmo_XkVDG0KdZHRo/s4032/IMG_5460.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmS7TxxFlRNN_RGNEieVqTLVVW6BKvxFB-PnC76vkBo6WE8H0t1E-grEjHV129p9TEojOe1D3Ys083sQpjSMtMdUaJ9j-avXVs0l9ThZ1WBzJG-SKfjKhhDRIJio0MJRXzfnXaazILmDi7yuAD_2y2C5S6wp2jBal1HcDfm_-BwLGsmo_XkVDG0KdZHRo/w480-h640/IMG_5460.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is back to school time for the youngest three-Andrew is a sophomore in college, Patrick started high school, and Janey is in fifth grade. I've always said this is a sentimental time of year for me-it just feels like this is when it's apparent how fast the years are flying by. I'm so grateful though that everyone is happy where they are-thriving and growing with great schools and teachers and classes and friends. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am back at home not teaching- health-wise I will have way too low immunity to fight anything, and I know it's the right choice-I don't have the energy or time frankly to give it my all, although I sure loved that job. Thankfully I also adore being home, and I will always have enough to do here. I am never having to rush or feel that my brain is juggling too much, or that there isn't enough time in the day. I love tending my home inside and out, and just living a quieter and slower life. I love being outside every day and noticing the weather and nature - the trees and birds and smells and sounds. It has been a gorgeous sunny summer, with just enough rain. I've been on my porch for most of it, it seems. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-45662073238013026192023-06-25T18:51:00.002-04:002023-06-26T13:59:38.289-04:00Where I Left Off<p> I don't even know how long it has been since I've blogged - I could check the date but it seems easier to just start writing.</p><p>Our sweet little Sammy went to heaven at the beginning of this year and it was not easy to make that decision. Putting a dog down feels like murder, it really does, but thankfully I had a very lovely vet and "nurses". The hardest part was holding him, walking out of the room where his tiny little body lay, and going home. I went alone while older kids helped younger kids with it at home. I miss him most on summer evenings when he loved to sit in my bike basket and have the wind blow his face fur back - he really thought he was a hot shot during those rides. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuddOPEWTcg-KmECdKh903UcyMLftF9gIIyg1LNBILBNKlpnJP-AaGccon4X3UvJWPijv5R9ZtgOLvK0aXM8RR3bntAiRGDmMZPKkFNDLvqpF76-ZnsWtDDYb7MaSirWY7B_g-0BJMIGqeo6woldQKeuWNm76usoolCROZqa3R8meMU8V4DdyR716/s4032/IMG_7417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuddOPEWTcg-KmECdKh903UcyMLftF9gIIyg1LNBILBNKlpnJP-AaGccon4X3UvJWPijv5R9ZtgOLvK0aXM8RR3bntAiRGDmMZPKkFNDLvqpF76-ZnsWtDDYb7MaSirWY7B_g-0BJMIGqeo6woldQKeuWNm76usoolCROZqa3R8meMU8V4DdyR716/w480-h640/IMG_7417.jpg" title="Andrew and Sammy" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Andrew and Sammy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Andrew will be starting his second year of college in the fall, and is lifeguarding for the summer at home, and always always has plans which means he comes in, eats, and goes to work or does something fun. Andrew is the same person he was at three. Outgoing, busy, always has a smile, always makes everyone laugh, and cares so much about people. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERatzEgAUgqiX1-g-UVIxKzqCSjv47EZJTtgTdr4V5dNwOVmxU_nbx3_0BRboaiYnebrF8y-B_2zcv6d6xNS6bWw65WpMbjVsAyQqqc1TngYRpOo_doR5MDFDFytmtMO87J-Ea4UL42sGeEJZHWRMF_8Yav2NR65iT4632BZkQ55wys-KvDdllf33E2w/s4032/08A0F109-FFF9-497C-81BE-8ED745EBB270.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERatzEgAUgqiX1-g-UVIxKzqCSjv47EZJTtgTdr4V5dNwOVmxU_nbx3_0BRboaiYnebrF8y-B_2zcv6d6xNS6bWw65WpMbjVsAyQqqc1TngYRpOo_doR5MDFDFytmtMO87J-Ea4UL42sGeEJZHWRMF_8Yav2NR65iT4632BZkQ55wys-KvDdllf33E2w/w480-h640/08A0F109-FFF9-497C-81BE-8ED745EBB270.heic" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our annual trip to the strawberry field - Janey is 10 and we are still like velcro and I love it. She loves school and her friends, adores her siblings and their friends and is on a huge hummus and peppers kick even in the morning. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFxr49WS3-LsvPFMkoOw7-87mc5NFxX_uDJ0Y2h-_s8XLcNq4oJG_X4wYz_NpOtm6j7hpIoO5plMunblCWPicJ78439hQn8rii_2bDTAZom3oyRnF1qxdLnmYs_REXGUtK_H0k2FvnHWwxr_WjC-EGgf1oUTxCFPULflq1kaBfcLc9JpUPGEa8TiQXeA/s1024/PHOTO-2023-05-29-10-35-01%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFxr49WS3-LsvPFMkoOw7-87mc5NFxX_uDJ0Y2h-_s8XLcNq4oJG_X4wYz_NpOtm6j7hpIoO5plMunblCWPicJ78439hQn8rii_2bDTAZom3oyRnF1qxdLnmYs_REXGUtK_H0k2FvnHWwxr_WjC-EGgf1oUTxCFPULflq1kaBfcLc9JpUPGEa8TiQXeA/w480-h640/PHOTO-2023-05-29-10-35-01%202.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Many fun visits with cousins this summer.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_ADZLpwQgzkmtn7m2tYWKn_-OhxH9OXc9A5nAmINQgB09nXDskm4lLAnuU4WruyVnzDEMWstXzqGJvLizA9-IU_H_gxxm8DQHAevv3yLGCmVDlIwnQhPn0Pbr_IgjmFD6XtMyVvpWUVTDv_UrpZfSdWFDJToc5PBOUpwm3XbYEoFDhTEfgvSGFzG8aY/s1024/PHOTO-2023-05-29-10-35-01%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_ADZLpwQgzkmtn7m2tYWKn_-OhxH9OXc9A5nAmINQgB09nXDskm4lLAnuU4WruyVnzDEMWstXzqGJvLizA9-IU_H_gxxm8DQHAevv3yLGCmVDlIwnQhPn0Pbr_IgjmFD6XtMyVvpWUVTDv_UrpZfSdWFDJToc5PBOUpwm3XbYEoFDhTEfgvSGFzG8aY/w480-h640/PHOTO-2023-05-29-10-35-01%204.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PF-80q_bPhoOuzl_RFjJF5kfZQ7VcfyC9wOAGrSJgZtd7O3zcdBA49QtHUOO0Ok9zDs4JPAWBB8FsxCHdZZ3zpcxiDIyTo2atRvWuDv3bjqYk97LSQEEq-Fee4PFhdjQ06jsATl1-zuAHSD6m8Ga1HCaOhVeZqiddjzYQH5Fl_h5UCfOfT8MSASIZfQ/s3088/IMG-6688.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PF-80q_bPhoOuzl_RFjJF5kfZQ7VcfyC9wOAGrSJgZtd7O3zcdBA49QtHUOO0Ok9zDs4JPAWBB8FsxCHdZZ3zpcxiDIyTo2atRvWuDv3bjqYk97LSQEEq-Fee4PFhdjQ06jsATl1-zuAHSD6m8Ga1HCaOhVeZqiddjzYQH5Fl_h5UCfOfT8MSASIZfQ/w480-h640/IMG-6688.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Isaac and Cecilia moved from NYC to Denmark this spring! They celebrated their first anniversary also. They loved NYC but the timing was perfect for them to move, as they always intended to live in Denmark. And thankfully they hop on planes like I get in a car so we will see them often. </div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadfQrcXeWiSwzvwc_3WtY2cOZ2NC5C1WfqcBdv4N02xg8h-2CYuOkABrCeccPwasWzjZbL1lOEv3dXJC9UhKaAgDwd1cu-tKayZqCmD3E9T-1vYDWFAradcMiExhBYbCU4FAw9y1VdzHNyUVCILXoqpQWnNshpOWDKU-tRFBlGX51QjGvfZEeJeJ_w5o/s1600/IMG-9375.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadfQrcXeWiSwzvwc_3WtY2cOZ2NC5C1WfqcBdv4N02xg8h-2CYuOkABrCeccPwasWzjZbL1lOEv3dXJC9UhKaAgDwd1cu-tKayZqCmD3E9T-1vYDWFAradcMiExhBYbCU4FAw9y1VdzHNyUVCILXoqpQWnNshpOWDKU-tRFBlGX51QjGvfZEeJeJ_w5o/w480-h640/IMG-9375.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Abbey is doing so well health-wise and loves her work in Florida-and the weather! Her hair is growing back and it looks so so cute, with ringlets. We miss her here, but find a way to see each other at least every 6 weeks or so.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoUxiWTssoY8TiYxoia58aFe-yWk6pXZ1KoWVJULXkgOm4Qr6Fo4TePHbkyks2T3AZqGTr7L9OBM-oIUuIKWV-VMrk3E0P4PcY7-jwuyPrCBbTm9teeP6fqhuc0eS9__s83i3Aar2RmE0kJ65a0tVoQaW1kayetRIaJmxSU8D9OsTHFst3Qd5l8hdlG8/s4032/IMG-3846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoUxiWTssoY8TiYxoia58aFe-yWk6pXZ1KoWVJULXkgOm4Qr6Fo4TePHbkyks2T3AZqGTr7L9OBM-oIUuIKWV-VMrk3E0P4PcY7-jwuyPrCBbTm9teeP6fqhuc0eS9__s83i3Aar2RmE0kJ65a0tVoQaW1kayetRIaJmxSU8D9OsTHFst3Qd5l8hdlG8/w480-h640/IMG-3846.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Matt is working full time at a science education center and living at home, busy with hobbies (I feel like no one uses the word hobbies anymore, it sounds like something only our grandparents used) and coming and going so much like Andrew it makes my head spin. He is my back up driver and I make him laugh which he won't probably admit but I do. He reminds me so much of my brother Andrew that it scares me. Same humor, same way of looking at life. Same intentional pace.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYnYuNedc6-QtWOWNsfzBWGz-F3iY1cauK_PwJXUydJ6SoA9TBcMQvpWlDlabw5fC1e-_cx1u-N6M3lH7Yldtc-XQE4exOncC_uiiXuvZUsddG60-b_dd90bUCqeQL5-LF8TY_vCUxM06jHjkRh9-FAAOe1PtcuDOxZmnAbvm1I89UtqdScbFYGEAp9U/s4032/IMG-3734.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYnYuNedc6-QtWOWNsfzBWGz-F3iY1cauK_PwJXUydJ6SoA9TBcMQvpWlDlabw5fC1e-_cx1u-N6M3lH7Yldtc-XQE4exOncC_uiiXuvZUsddG60-b_dd90bUCqeQL5-LF8TY_vCUxM06jHjkRh9-FAAOe1PtcuDOxZmnAbvm1I89UtqdScbFYGEAp9U/w480-h640/IMG-3734.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Patrick graduated from grade school and start HIGH SCHOOL in the fall. How can that be? He is still a sports guy, first love basketball, second soccer. He is protective of his sister when he isn't teasing her, and loves to be with his older siblings, who all adore him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are the kid's updates!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My update:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRb-lbaA1NPd3Yp9L7JoJeI9q-Rb5fUcY1DnF8yBzMtA9RfG-k3_hY-0YIC1OKRjVUf7YUYrp6CcORBcKqhCY68L0dmg2yIJ9FXMe1OiPCXmi6YSAG66VGnwUl6S3zPUHZ16B9Fi6mlQZcJxeXbpyFsJ2yBFXVgiBVyDDVJnxo6qLkZxo9ITfV8oB16YA/s2048/f49b0e7a-71da-4d65-8c19-300cccb0a451.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRb-lbaA1NPd3Yp9L7JoJeI9q-Rb5fUcY1DnF8yBzMtA9RfG-k3_hY-0YIC1OKRjVUf7YUYrp6CcORBcKqhCY68L0dmg2yIJ9FXMe1OiPCXmi6YSAG66VGnwUl6S3zPUHZ16B9Fi6mlQZcJxeXbpyFsJ2yBFXVgiBVyDDVJnxo6qLkZxo9ITfV8oB16YA/w480-h640/f49b0e7a-71da-4d65-8c19-300cccb0a451.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I went to Ireland last summer with my mom to see my brother and his family and loved it, and cried really hard when we had to leave. Because it is so different-so slow paced and beautiful and calm and I adore the way my brother and his wife have set up their life and the slow purposeful way they raise their kids. I want to live next door. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I started teaching art full-time at my children's grade school. I taught kindergarten readiness all the way to eighth grade. I had each grade for an hour every week. I LOVED IT. I learned so so much. Number one, teachers are some of the hardest-working people I know. Number two, kindergarteners are adorable but if you have 24 of them in a small room you better have a plan and get used to hearing your name 1000 times in one hour, especially when you are teaching them to weave. (But they got it and my heart burst with pride!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can't even tell you how much I loved teaching, even with the hard parts of it (exhaustion after the day is over, lots of noise, and any paperwork/meetings etc). I could post so many photos of all the projects we did over the year. I lined my classroom with them and I'm so proud of the work the kids did. I think my job is the best most rewarding job ever and I really was finding my groove with it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1he1uOE1R-ViWI6AUTUNW22b5QPnZvkD_e4-8RbCErsyJRTk2pfFWgTJbmPIE2T9SyWuA6hjJqIrSXQat2Ac6Tk7u2NdjzrPX8K5FEKA3Lwl7UoI4PzXuhk7RQGGgTblbaFqdF2ObGc823y-wtM_G2-gBjl8_il7pvk_Lg13EWZ_UCOu51s6r2nvU9U/s4032/IMG_1617.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1he1uOE1R-ViWI6AUTUNW22b5QPnZvkD_e4-8RbCErsyJRTk2pfFWgTJbmPIE2T9SyWuA6hjJqIrSXQat2Ac6Tk7u2NdjzrPX8K5FEKA3Lwl7UoI4PzXuhk7RQGGgTblbaFqdF2ObGc823y-wtM_G2-gBjl8_il7pvk_Lg13EWZ_UCOu51s6r2nvU9U/w480-h640/IMG_1617.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJddOAhL27gCwtn4Tda_TRfbD9JCyXEOLdQO9WMyLvYgBmXdklmHLhha3WBSG6KFuR4pkYieL6hzZWLOkArj7xzbbcgxbyU7IXwjj0w0hBJOFM_xYyCLxXDBzpf6f9Mm6yI5yAGhLJKtCkb5V3fNWqgnG5tzFCSDoqNkIAjwoh7bbAjVH-rNmBhnY8Z_w/s4032/IMG_1718.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJddOAhL27gCwtn4Tda_TRfbD9JCyXEOLdQO9WMyLvYgBmXdklmHLhha3WBSG6KFuR4pkYieL6hzZWLOkArj7xzbbcgxbyU7IXwjj0w0hBJOFM_xYyCLxXDBzpf6f9Mm6yI5yAGhLJKtCkb5V3fNWqgnG5tzFCSDoqNkIAjwoh7bbAjVH-rNmBhnY8Z_w/w480-h640/IMG_1718.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNQbU99Wl-bL1k8QqPW0gJMccihm3dQGfUrsuNkz5nrKJWMLhfUuiGJmpiEperZs2Ssy9Z0S97kHXakBMyCCK1AMB4idmmnK6DfBAgowocYMGUvJzyZRTIXnXEbvi5aieMh-HHkz6Rk8gZjR2-bS2nzdMYzX4b4K_kDImn6uj0uhP3R1JMcU8adz8lxk/s4032/IMG_1754.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNQbU99Wl-bL1k8QqPW0gJMccihm3dQGfUrsuNkz5nrKJWMLhfUuiGJmpiEperZs2Ssy9Z0S97kHXakBMyCCK1AMB4idmmnK6DfBAgowocYMGUvJzyZRTIXnXEbvi5aieMh-HHkz6Rk8gZjR2-bS2nzdMYzX4b4K_kDImn6uj0uhP3R1JMcU8adz8lxk/w480-h640/IMG_1754.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgb7fxJ24UQLOZrnoiTS4p3FPkZZ5Bd5-oCJnviL30XzA4yEFXlVqNzba0e8zkxEkzUwVk5ynppbQN5ZbWUhhXWOPvDnajheOP51CfXkz0ZKsTPoaB5kDnEoMcwZPQ272SikPyGpyygXP4JY9nxcpqsUCG6qtYHqbj72nwqW2yHPafi1oQ8k9Pj5nUNBk/s4032/IMG_2040.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgb7fxJ24UQLOZrnoiTS4p3FPkZZ5Bd5-oCJnviL30XzA4yEFXlVqNzba0e8zkxEkzUwVk5ynppbQN5ZbWUhhXWOPvDnajheOP51CfXkz0ZKsTPoaB5kDnEoMcwZPQ272SikPyGpyygXP4JY9nxcpqsUCG6qtYHqbj72nwqW2yHPafi1oQ8k9Pj5nUNBk/w480-h640/IMG_2040.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I felt like I really was finding my groove with LIFE. I was settling in, getting used to being on my own, working full time outside of the home and loving it, managing the finances and simplifying everything just the way I love it, taking a deep breath of air and exhaling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then I started having chest pain-I saw a few of my doctors and they thought it was a pulled muscle, and I did also -I thought maybe I was using new muscles to bend down to help little ones and clean art tables, and lift up stools. I was so exhausted too-but that was teaching full time, and running a house by myself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Except it wasn't. I have cancer again, triple negative again, metastatic. I found out right after I wrote all my fun New Year's Resolutions. Jaunary was full of testing, and the news kept getting worse. And like all mothers everywhere, you scream and cry but only for a little bit because life. Life keeps happening. Thank GOD it keeps happening. And in between the doctor's appointments, and work and grief and fear, we keep going because that's what mothers do. I would go to an appointment, go back to work, having 25 little sweet faces staring up at me, excited to see me. I would get a phone call with news that could knock me over, except I needed to pick up one of my children, and make dinner, and pay a bill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I feel most of the time like my diagnosis never ever leaves my mind. It's there when I wake up and there when I go to bed. Along with other trauma I was still and still am working through. Your brain and heart can only hold so much. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know this: there are two silly sayings that don't make a bit of sense.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Live like you are dying.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Live every day like it's your last.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am trying as hard as I can to live like I am LIVING-the simple life I love. I want for nothing, I really do, except for my health. That doesn't mean I haven't had loss and heartbreak, or really hard days and weeks and years, it means I know what is important. I have known for a long long time. Gratitude and contentment are always the way out of despair. It seems unfair, but I also know there is no such thing as "fair" in life. (I always think of the old adage "Fair is a place where pigs win ribbons.":)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am going to live the rest of my days, which I pray will be as many as I always intended them to be (thousands) like they are ordinary days. Because I've said it before, ordinary days are the best ever. Ordinary days are the most beautiful days on earth. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And right now we are having a gorgeous summer thunderstorm, this morning I cleaned the garage, did a load of laundry, went to the grocery store (new kitchen towels!), made cookies for neighbors, and talked to my kids. I have a stack of library books on my nightstand, blooming flowers in my garden, and friends and family who check up on me. I woke up this morning to chirping birds and a list to check off that I made last night, and a text from my mom. I will end it with a warm cozy bed and cute pajamas. And prayers. I will take ALL the prayers I can get. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-57625230340921839082022-12-24T06:07:00.002-05:002022-12-24T06:07:28.150-05:00Merry Christmas!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZhYn7RVXwbze8gvveuO1FfrwFhYOF5CDGV5ERHCe2mKK-Fr_lbJgiLoioTKEr5dtq1edaujqtQpPf3UIScrEzac5nmvX-KIO--ZNtUt4pr8lRxh5XJOZwxfGTyEuC86dNYQmeuhX2pnyFTrjSQ2C-qOirexi2yUkNmNhJ6Vn3mnDH_se5NeOJR_l/s697/ECB6B61A-6060-4149-88D3-952C2A45B176.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="517" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZhYn7RVXwbze8gvveuO1FfrwFhYOF5CDGV5ERHCe2mKK-Fr_lbJgiLoioTKEr5dtq1edaujqtQpPf3UIScrEzac5nmvX-KIO--ZNtUt4pr8lRxh5XJOZwxfGTyEuC86dNYQmeuhX2pnyFTrjSQ2C-qOirexi2yUkNmNhJ6Vn3mnDH_se5NeOJR_l/w474-h640/ECB6B61A-6060-4149-88D3-952C2A45B176.jpeg" width="474" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-81406786649203624642022-11-05T06:40:00.002-04:002022-11-05T06:48:54.006-04:00A Long Summer <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngiwTklaA8yiERNClr29eFYc9tBHMwMIuC0R0A90lSBDQjM_Fn5rvAlqnnamjfUWdkJ5sXbTTFk_MLNI6PlbcpE4eVczV-A-76e37ZInvA49nOTG4agBZ3xgU7HNnuYAIfq37_sZfXjaXOo4D8bBFYKtuPl_aug-fQIM2hLOOa06-GtZFB6_vat-j/s4032/3EFB0546-6158-4D5A-9C9C-FC6EB5F9780C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngiwTklaA8yiERNClr29eFYc9tBHMwMIuC0R0A90lSBDQjM_Fn5rvAlqnnamjfUWdkJ5sXbTTFk_MLNI6PlbcpE4eVczV-A-76e37ZInvA49nOTG4agBZ3xgU7HNnuYAIfq37_sZfXjaXOo4D8bBFYKtuPl_aug-fQIM2hLOOa06-GtZFB6_vat-j/w480-h640/3EFB0546-6158-4D5A-9C9C-FC6EB5F9780C.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>We have been having the most beautiful fall weather here in Ohio - which feels way more like summer weather. </p><p>It's November and I wore a t-shirt and flip flops yesterday and went for a bike ride with Sammy. (Who is 15 and I know doesn't have many of his favorite bike rides left.)</p><p>On my weekends I've been working in the garden with the help of my kids someday and others, just me. Since my classroom is in the basement of our school and I have just one window that looks out into a basement stairwell I try to soak up all the sunlight I can every day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPi1ZJn1sR1DZW5WFNAiCV64vl71wvudsaIVYZ2TsWoYQUtQkIMDivzfYgIorcOn6KCLtrae-b5LaU4gXfmNLXtZwyDDHTubfzWwABPRoXBdfP9yGWv6zksX9X-053xGlor6aCxPKKVQbW2kAaTUlEUM4fCVo4PkXeI2EQaIM6J7JK4M-C2AQKnoC/s4032/F385A4CE-CC1D-49B9-803A-63272713FC48.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPi1ZJn1sR1DZW5WFNAiCV64vl71wvudsaIVYZ2TsWoYQUtQkIMDivzfYgIorcOn6KCLtrae-b5LaU4gXfmNLXtZwyDDHTubfzWwABPRoXBdfP9yGWv6zksX9X-053xGlor6aCxPKKVQbW2kAaTUlEUM4fCVo4PkXeI2EQaIM6J7JK4M-C2AQKnoC/w480-h640/F385A4CE-CC1D-49B9-803A-63272713FC48.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Work-I love it! It's heavenly. Sometimes yes there are days when things don't go as planned but there is nothing I don't love about my job and if there has been I have found a solution. (For instance hanging kids art work is so time consuming but I now have more cork strips and a rechargeable glue gun for cement block walls and both make the job enjoyable instead of frustrating and never ending. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEzAk13HZgHgZWSMO3Jj6smn4jR0KLyHhx7NTlxMXUmGKL-0YVyFWwXxW0FOGjpFUHWhynb-d1UPF2Ur0GvuEzzZF8aUlJ1h6qsBR_P9R6KOlgAHJpPBIXZGICFOQ7SmWD5a7EniWkUMcNNWKPOUyKlw7cqbADXW5yw6tdXG7YqBWVxSAljysA5Ed/s4032/D71F1298-EB52-4ADF-B6C6-803716BAE2AC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEzAk13HZgHgZWSMO3Jj6smn4jR0KLyHhx7NTlxMXUmGKL-0YVyFWwXxW0FOGjpFUHWhynb-d1UPF2Ur0GvuEzzZF8aUlJ1h6qsBR_P9R6KOlgAHJpPBIXZGICFOQ7SmWD5a7EniWkUMcNNWKPOUyKlw7cqbADXW5yw6tdXG7YqBWVxSAljysA5Ed/w480-h640/D71F1298-EB52-4ADF-B6C6-803716BAE2AC.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Halloween was wonderful- Patrick went with a friend and Janey and I just slowly walked the neighborhood. I can get nostalgic about all the years with the older kids at home but then I realize how lucky I am to still get to see the whole day through the younger kids eyes.</p><p>One thing I do know when I look back on holidays and life in general is that simple is always always better. It doesn't mean boring or unenjoyable in fact in means just the opposite. It means more excitement and appreciation because there is no burnout, exhaustion, unrealistic expectations, and never ending materialism - for parent, child and family. I have never regretted dialing a holiday, a weekend, a vacation back. Back to simplicity- back to less decoration, less planning, simpler food, gift giving and outside commitments. The kids want it and need it- even if the pressure of our culture sells them (and us) the opposite every day. </p><p>Yesterday I sat down and took a plain sheet of paper and planned how I want the next two months to look for me. For us. And now I feel more at peace instead of stressed or overwhelmed. Because it's all as simple as heck with the emphasis on what I decide, not the craziness of outside sources that tell us every day how holidays should look. </p><p><br /></p>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-72174344775926637702022-09-25T19:03:00.002-04:002022-09-25T19:03:53.753-04:00Back To Blogger<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuUrwIGY9AdEXZoBhudDaeae5WBTJ3DGGeGK9mkGQwYZ9qj3RinCeTDNssW0a1F2s5DzZOs0gPTAb-PrGEvUzI30z3EH7KtR9UR2jbr6fYkaWwAvI75EmMqAD5-N7HMisxUfha-hDkJ2vIbJzft1ZwGM-UpF2YlTlE7qRv6YyyIvz-If8OAN2egxq/s4032/FE9E9CB7-2D48-46B9-88A9-D9708D7B72F1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuUrwIGY9AdEXZoBhudDaeae5WBTJ3DGGeGK9mkGQwYZ9qj3RinCeTDNssW0a1F2s5DzZOs0gPTAb-PrGEvUzI30z3EH7KtR9UR2jbr6fYkaWwAvI75EmMqAD5-N7HMisxUfha-hDkJ2vIbJzft1ZwGM-UpF2YlTlE7qRv6YyyIvz-If8OAN2egxq/w480-h640/FE9E9CB7-2D48-46B9-88A9-D9708D7B72F1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tkB7gbxGUJxKhSvQnRFYFUGDcTuVBNigy1sgg469m1kwI94bk-Q037Wp9VfBACf1Jlm6PpQrj2zniXVnoRizyLmBGy-ibXIYZqB-kp43xACK1IWOc0rhjU0zSMk4IdshfgOfLyNR8NTdYcfGE782R2bim5gtq0J8uiHrtvW2Hy5RQWPxlB36NEU2/s4032/0C1FC2EA-F286-4CEA-8F02-8DBC5080C6C9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tkB7gbxGUJxKhSvQnRFYFUGDcTuVBNigy1sgg469m1kwI94bk-Q037Wp9VfBACf1Jlm6PpQrj2zniXVnoRizyLmBGy-ibXIYZqB-kp43xACK1IWOc0rhjU0zSMk4IdshfgOfLyNR8NTdYcfGE782R2bim5gtq0J8uiHrtvW2Hy5RQWPxlB36NEU2/w480-h640/0C1FC2EA-F286-4CEA-8F02-8DBC5080C6C9.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FUUbpWSbwHOD0kB6HjwLWHSpfc4D5vIsMwAxgCPBLl0cs-mck8Z1dhLlBKiPLOTLoA0eY6udt_wB0Nfaxd6kMU9pCWm_opxJ-keVEkNM9rss9wH5SxT4s1dQul1KDN_QJ18bTiIhzMHsBZ4kjg-Wm9VfSWVKdMOg1_Mk9d1u2Z6Kd9DPeMQOF-ET/s4032/4DD169E6-2CCD-4148-8558-DDAAAD563C31.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FUUbpWSbwHOD0kB6HjwLWHSpfc4D5vIsMwAxgCPBLl0cs-mck8Z1dhLlBKiPLOTLoA0eY6udt_wB0Nfaxd6kMU9pCWm_opxJ-keVEkNM9rss9wH5SxT4s1dQul1KDN_QJ18bTiIhzMHsBZ4kjg-Wm9VfSWVKdMOg1_Mk9d1u2Z6Kd9DPeMQOF-ET/w480-h640/4DD169E6-2CCD-4148-8558-DDAAAD563C31.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvWZAz_cTIQy8Mq5dnh7-qbeC7_yvlMEDvZ46vmTP3La_blkO5EOcEsCZX7Ai2cp54ci6saj6CBQkfycBKoV_fEYWTm6e1U42cFXCMA0EJ_UCS0irHWOn5G2r6A_O29HQ-E7OMVdlCUqTS6JYv10dW5Pd-XN1AJhwS4yMmMLdzfguKJsZN8nYi2pB/s2048/C1E47174-2E0F-48E0-8849-A31966F30F88.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvWZAz_cTIQy8Mq5dnh7-qbeC7_yvlMEDvZ46vmTP3La_blkO5EOcEsCZX7Ai2cp54ci6saj6CBQkfycBKoV_fEYWTm6e1U42cFXCMA0EJ_UCS0irHWOn5G2r6A_O29HQ-E7OMVdlCUqTS6JYv10dW5Pd-XN1AJhwS4yMmMLdzfguKJsZN8nYi2pB/w480-h640/C1E47174-2E0F-48E0-8849-A31966F30F88.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br />Just a little note to say that the last two years of blogging are missing here-I decided to switch platforms back to my simple and free Blogger, and I will have to manually enter all my posts. This might take me some time since my main gig is teaching now! (And if you are an email subscriber you might receive some old posts now and then.) Nevertheless, I feel like I am back to familiar and easy blogging and it's wonderful. <p></p><p>September has been gorgeous here and I am loving every minute of it. The leaves are beginning to turn and the days are warm and the nights are cool. The last day of summer was hotter than heck, and the temps fell about 40 degrees that evening and we woke up to fall weather-I am not sure how Mother Nature got that timing so right this year but she was down to the minute with that summer to fall switch.</p><p>Working full-time is an adjustment for sure, but it seems easier than I thought it would be, thankfully since my two youngest are at the same school where I teach and we live so close. My main hurdle now is meals-when I get home I just want to eat and eat and eat. I usually have little to no time to eat lunch because of prepping in between classes, especially the weeks I have planned big-time painting projects. But I wouldn't have it any other way, because I do love being busy at work. The time just flies. I just need to figure out that work-to-home transition.</p><p>I was thinking about what I really love about my job-it encompasses a lot of what I do at home! Planning projects is so fun for me, I have to slow myself down sometimes. Working with children is intense but I laugh every day and it is wonderful to see them learn and grow. Organization in the art room, and keeping it clean and orderly isn't any different than what I've done here at home for years. I like switching off the lights and closing the door after a busy day, knowing it's all cleaned and prepped for my first class the next day. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-90983809612570689772021-03-04T16:08:00.007-05:002021-03-07T19:18:28.231-05:00Favorite Kitchen Items<p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*affiliate links used</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYP1SG8pWhl0EDIIm57q_5imgLwEL0tzzo_Wgg38c8BQWE0VpRdaFtxecj0icDTR0QAbsWo1cktCwOkPQ0UA0uwxTklxU9bP2fH333xGAdfcxUiRQudew_dQy8qyYFo55ZSS334E4Kgf0/s1500/memoriesoncloverlane.com+%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYP1SG8pWhl0EDIIm57q_5imgLwEL0tzzo_Wgg38c8BQWE0VpRdaFtxecj0icDTR0QAbsWo1cktCwOkPQ0UA0uwxTklxU9bP2fH333xGAdfcxUiRQudew_dQy8qyYFo55ZSS334E4Kgf0/w426-h640/memoriesoncloverlane.com+%25282%2529.png" width="426"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> As I was going through my kitchen organization-40 Bags in 40 Days-I thought it would be useful to do a post on the things I have loved and were the most useful to me in my much used kitchen. I've been a mom for 26 years and regularly feed many hungry mouths from sunup to sundown. My kitchen works hard. I've had some things forever, and other things it took me awhile to find what really worked and lasted.<span></span></span></div><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2021/03/favorite-kitchen-items.html#more"></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-67531714164006899142021-03-04T10:33:00.007-05:002021-03-04T20:41:40.655-05:00Favorite Smoothie Recipe<p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> *affiliate links used</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ILzrB2UsWN3DdM-u8GOUCloGiCw9DJUxsho4cAr3yMbb2GuAhSpgeWWRfvfbq1qrw-nnWDxjIck5Kl3p4OqqjKNlrF6twuQ_InadixKOyiCv7wB2xL3cK4TAeRnYhahXB5bFiWON2Zg/s1500/memoriesoncloverlane.com.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ILzrB2UsWN3DdM-u8GOUCloGiCw9DJUxsho4cAr3yMbb2GuAhSpgeWWRfvfbq1qrw-nnWDxjIck5Kl3p4OqqjKNlrF6twuQ_InadixKOyiCv7wB2xL3cK4TAeRnYhahXB5bFiWON2Zg/w426-h640/memoriesoncloverlane.com.png" width="426"></a></div><span></span><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2021/03/favorite-smoothie-recipe.html#more"></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-2240070978645885642021-02-17T13:12:00.001-05:002021-02-17T13:31:28.207-05:00Bathroom Organization-Five Tips For Purging and Organization<p>Hi Everyone!</p><p>Today is Day One of <a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2012/02/40-days-tips-and-tricks-basics.html" target="_blank">40 Bags in 40 Days </a>(all the old posts <a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/search/label/40%20Bags%20In%2040%20Days%3A%20Decluttering" target="_blank">HERE)</a> and I've made my list and I'm checking it twice! I started in the farthest corner of my first floor which happens to be the old Master Bathroom. The kids and I use this space mostly for morning duties, like tooth brushing and hair-do's, and my teen uses it for "his" bathroom. It's a nice overflow bathroom (my other two full baths are upstairs and I have a TINY 1/2 bath in the older section of the first floor.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dQ90Z9X6iHzV7wlW-8yg4-SSCdwLbEixrBAu_wyDLApPZrUEgUQu-uuBr2PQJvX70lF2HZK-9CwVpUBlk6aSI1UeyfWlVAOUwE9clhHHUA3MEDHcg4MRv_wBQ-5zjxF0BuxMCWF9aGU/s1500/Cream+Beach+Photo+Pinterest+Graphic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dQ90Z9X6iHzV7wlW-8yg4-SSCdwLbEixrBAu_wyDLApPZrUEgUQu-uuBr2PQJvX70lF2HZK-9CwVpUBlk6aSI1UeyfWlVAOUwE9clhHHUA3MEDHcg4MRv_wBQ-5zjxF0BuxMCWF9aGU/w426-h640/Cream+Beach+Photo+Pinterest+Graphic.png" width="426"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCvkUTlrco3b4eQQTjibG4DYU2fblQqVwiLfVCZj2ftSZ8HLQy8LON80S6MauaMltqpoRYtQPtTJhJeyJJoAIsffb0NugnLR7uR0yGdfqel1tn00TWeLucARdofKQxe4kRRi49w-3agM/s768/IMG_1679.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCvkUTlrco3b4eQQTjibG4DYU2fblQqVwiLfVCZj2ftSZ8HLQy8LON80S6MauaMltqpoRYtQPtTJhJeyJJoAIsffb0NugnLR7uR0yGdfqel1tn00TWeLucARdofKQxe4kRRi49w-3agM/w480-h640/IMG_1679.jpg" width="480"></a><span></span></div><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2021/02/bathroom-organization-five-tips-for.html#more"></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-73801416688573186452021-02-15T11:56:00.006-05:002021-02-15T11:56:59.603-05:00The 'Sell This House" Method Of Spring CleaningThought I'd repost this since I started my spring cleaning method this week!<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIKoerjZXk72KJD9ZkrTKxUgKCnWLfrqLLmIMlbmgv9PSnn2IaEOOhVM2Brq0g2cWhw09eqLylhUJIR0NIVoVLkZJ0PhCeVMxnQ3sJE8RoMeM2nLwYQ29ivNDDV8qBTSRkiGXnHArlMJT/s1600-h/open-house-red-arrow-shaped.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302648008637858386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIKoerjZXk72KJD9ZkrTKxUgKCnWLfrqLLmIMlbmgv9PSnn2IaEOOhVM2Brq0g2cWhw09eqLylhUJIR0NIVoVLkZJ0PhCeVMxnQ3sJE8RoMeM2nLwYQ29ivNDDV8qBTSRkiGXnHArlMJT/s200/open-house-red-arrow-shaped.jpg" style="display: block; height: 148px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;"></a><br>
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Here's how I spring clean:<br>
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">1.</span> I buy a notebook.<br>
I make a <b>heading</b> for each room. Even closets.<br>
I imagine that I'm a potential buyer of this house. You know...PRETEND!...and see the room through someone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">else's</span> eyes.<br>
I stand in each room and look around and see all the imperfections.<span></span></div><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2021/02/the-sell-this-house-method-of-spring.html#more"></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-27778858543641249962021-01-28T07:53:00.007-05:002021-01-28T07:56:29.066-05:00Little Gifts<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span></span><span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmnvDt4uLFNgRZa5uyGpbh5f2MRnKfhxrgQvoaD2JJSFFSNCQZOme_aEGYk1rmRVccCS0yPnnEwniNJIg8e0-aXfhyemq93VNguqEx9Ihq2FTwawmTPwH_PnSVXOvsKIwlF8bn8GnHN4/s1024/IMG_3462.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmnvDt4uLFNgRZa5uyGpbh5f2MRnKfhxrgQvoaD2JJSFFSNCQZOme_aEGYk1rmRVccCS0yPnnEwniNJIg8e0-aXfhyemq93VNguqEx9Ihq2FTwawmTPwH_PnSVXOvsKIwlF8bn8GnHN4/w426-h640/IMG_3462.jpg" width="426"></a></div><br><span><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span>When I hear Janey wake up after a long nap, I "spy" on her. I can peek through the door and see her sitting in her crib looking around. Sometimes she will play with one of the three little bunnies she has in her crib, but mostly she just wakes up slowly, and looks at things around the room.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It is just about the cutest thing ever.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And then I crack the door a little more, and she sees me spying and her whole face lights up into a huge grin.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My heart just fills with love and happiness.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am grateful for every single day I spend with her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am grateful that I get to love her everyday, and be the first thing she sees when she wakes up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I don't think there is anything in the world that can bring more joy than our own children, do you?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I made the mistake the other day of cruising the internet a little...you know, going to this link or that link and wound up off my strict course of my few favorite uplifting blogs. I always regret it, darn it, I guess I just have to remind myself of that every once in awhile. When I stray I usually find something that just makes me feel so sad or like the whole darn society is going to pot. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I hope I'm so wrong but it seems like it has become too common for parents to complain about their kids, or what a pain babies are, or think it's funny to have a misbehaving toddler or child. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We parents reap what we sow, and much more often than naught, our children's behavior is the reflection of the time and love we put into our parental vocation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Babies are precious sweet little perfect creatures that need us, their moms and dads, to love them all day and night long. So it's sometimes requires us to give a lot. I just want to say to these parents-get over it! Grow up! </div><span></span><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2021/01/little-gifts.html#more"></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-45203854153393345412021-01-20T15:12:00.005-05:002021-03-04T12:28:35.326-05:00A Quick Beginner Furniture Painting Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*affiliate links used</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWsYxQp3rUXgc8IJPs5dR2CioJv2Us0Kb4jDLG8_f7dWrxANj7IUMe1zB-q4Y6c3a2e4FuRt7gFCw5eMb0-5MCwJKQatCwH2D8ew9tS9zInde1S8kDa6Rp7t0CLoSlhh_VMLVilHo-Es/s1024/White+Brown+BBQ+_+Grill+Party+Pinterest+Graphic+%25282%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWsYxQp3rUXgc8IJPs5dR2CioJv2Us0Kb4jDLG8_f7dWrxANj7IUMe1zB-q4Y6c3a2e4FuRt7gFCw5eMb0-5MCwJKQatCwH2D8ew9tS9zInde1S8kDa6Rp7t0CLoSlhh_VMLVilHo-Es/w426-h640/White+Brown+BBQ+_+Grill+Party+Pinterest+Graphic+%25282%2529.png" width="426"></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQitHHQBtJKlvwrg7JKJ-fC6VVc_EH84sQOpUj-LIDq265JSFMWoLwnwI-AiPlIOmkETX2YBk0c6UmUUg2Vm3Z3NYLgWC7orCczkeFYvsnqG2QKuezAa2hTFMEP_dgvwcSf7smWTnURg/s1024/IMG_0005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQitHHQBtJKlvwrg7JKJ-fC6VVc_EH84sQOpUj-LIDq265JSFMWoLwnwI-AiPlIOmkETX2YBk0c6UmUUg2Vm3Z3NYLgWC7orCczkeFYvsnqG2QKuezAa2hTFMEP_dgvwcSf7smWTnURg/w480-h640/IMG_0005.jpg" width="480"></a><span></span></div><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2021/01/a-quick-beginner-furniture-painting.html#more"></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-15722282314740903952021-01-19T16:18:00.005-05:002021-01-19T16:33:52.827-05:00Cinnamon Sugar Muffins-An Easy and Delicious Recipe<p>This is our second favorite muffin, first being the<a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2020/06/blueberry-or-raspberry-lemon-muffins.html#more" target="_blank"> lemon blueberry muffin</a>. Easy and quick, no tricky ingredients. I bought new muffin "tins" and I LOVE them. Why did it take me so long to switch over? I hated cleaning the stainless ones, and I also always ran out of muffin liners. All my problems solved! These are so easy to use and to clean. I'm adding these to my list of favorite kitchen supply purchases ever.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6AMVWQN4mlfzifuqcXdKNjWHTnFN_96rJ9cjHBCStdPlZl9GTWhn4GFKXYEwFHCVtp1kvva52rcICMBzSgFh2MaDaPFXqAFd13E-XZgJEg8SQ88-luycU0DHS97V9ylAdUGXFV3OvNI/s1024/IMG_0625.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6AMVWQN4mlfzifuqcXdKNjWHTnFN_96rJ9cjHBCStdPlZl9GTWhn4GFKXYEwFHCVtp1kvva52rcICMBzSgFh2MaDaPFXqAFd13E-XZgJEg8SQ88-luycU0DHS97V9ylAdUGXFV3OvNI/w480-h640/IMG_0625.jpg" width="480"></a><span></span></div><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2021/01/cinnamon-sugar-muffins-easy-and.html#more"></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-82635013268718685832021-01-18T15:14:00.005-05:002021-03-05T13:49:07.093-05:00Daily Duties<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaJXE7f6z6kZVhMK3WP4ZqPUwOUnv2Ni68sWy3Rfcgc86nMxpuFzmURGmXzs95unf71gCcZVUbXW2vCdSVHWkTKJPGdWXRXmiZZpMOsEOOeZqWVJdEq3upw2o3ClN-jB9WDtCJqxBWVyh/s1600-h/035.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaJXE7f6z6kZVhMK3WP4ZqPUwOUnv2Ni68sWy3Rfcgc86nMxpuFzmURGmXzs95unf71gCcZVUbXW2vCdSVHWkTKJPGdWXRXmiZZpMOsEOOeZqWVJdEq3upw2o3ClN-jB9WDtCJqxBWVyh/s640/035.JPG" vt="true" width="640"></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;">Th<span style="color: #38761d;">e best things in life are nearest: </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Breath in your nostrils, </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">l</span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">ight in your eyes, </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">flowers at your feet, </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">duties at your hand, </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">the path of right just before you. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Then do not grasp at the stars, </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><em>but do life's plain, common work</em> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">as it comes, </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.</span></span></span><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #38761d;">~</span></span>Robert Louis Stevenson</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Isn't it so difficult to remember this these days? I think it is. I love that we women all have so many choices in our life's path, but have you ever either questioned yourself, or been questioned by others for choosing the ordinary? <span></span></div><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2021/01/daily-duties.html#more"></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-80828390082443767672021-01-18T13:33:00.001-05:002021-01-18T13:33:03.359-05:00Slow Cooker Pulled Pork<p>This is such a quick easy budget friendly recipe, and so savory. I serve this on fresh buns, and some kids choose to top with BBQ sauce. It's good just the way it comes out of the slow cooker also! The next day I freeze the leftovers or save some to add for a coleslaw salad for myself.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3lHZG2_IXKUs-ds9skXH-ow58zJaYrVF5IeNaoxSPBwD4Fgwcv50CxgIuflblMtugMc5j1-mYKdEQA92cOFe1T3ua2WfEpMZkZljCPWSm68nD5pqg9FY2oDajye75wlv-6eqLfy1rGM/s1024/IMG_0411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3lHZG2_IXKUs-ds9skXH-ow58zJaYrVF5IeNaoxSPBwD4Fgwcv50CxgIuflblMtugMc5j1-mYKdEQA92cOFe1T3ua2WfEpMZkZljCPWSm68nD5pqg9FY2oDajye75wlv-6eqLfy1rGM/w480-h640/IMG_0411.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Slow Cooker Pulled Pork</h3><p>3-4 pounds of boneless pork shoulder (I always have to remember the<b> sh</b>oulder is the one that <b>sh</b>reds the best)</p><p>1 tsp paprika</p><p>2 tsps garlic powder</p><p>2 tsps cumin</p><p>2 tsp chili powder</p><p>2 tsp kosher salt</p><p>3 TBS brown sugar</p><p>1 onion, chopped</p><p>In a small bowl, mix together the seasonings.</p><p>Place the pork shoulder in the slow cooker and coat it with the seasonings and onion. That's it!</p><p>Cook on low for 8 hours. When time is up, shred the meat with two forks until it's all mixed up. It's ready to serve!</p>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-24127326665212457592021-01-15T14:14:00.001-05:002021-01-15T14:14:03.785-05:00Thinking, Playing, Reading<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">*affiliate links used</span></p><p><u style="color: #cc0000;"> Thinking:</u></p><p><span>I know I will never regret not watching the news, reading Facebook posts about current events or political opinions, or listening to talking, talking, talking, about nothing. It has brought such peace and quiet to my life for years and the world keeps turning. It's called cultivating a life where neighbors help neighbors, and communities come together and everyone stops wasting time on scrolling and getting angry and upset about things, but most then do nothing. Talk is cheap. Love thy neighbor.</span></p><p><span style="color: #45818e;"><u>Playing:</u></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1PML3dIMixoPJrB6xbjD6BmhP5Gtpr-tGi6YecjIibXx9-6QUTCUA0uJPoFsIYy1tAwhfbA2B_uv6psunSehx5NZXpYEs_EebMaPCnJnN487krQ0VJ-Zgo6UAQdiR7lA9W-16BJJef0/s1024/IMG_0311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1PML3dIMixoPJrB6xbjD6BmhP5Gtpr-tGi6YecjIibXx9-6QUTCUA0uJPoFsIYy1tAwhfbA2B_uv6psunSehx5NZXpYEs_EebMaPCnJnN487krQ0VJ-Zgo6UAQdiR7lA9W-16BJJef0/w480-h640/IMG_0311.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">First up, </span><a href="https://amzn.to/3nO5Ovw" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">these affordable coats </a><span style="text-align: left;">($35!) I bought the kids for Christmas are a huge hit. They are light, but warm (I'd say perfect for above 30°) and great for going to school, recess, and bus or car ride home. They squish down to nothing (they come with a little bag that fits the coat) and are NOT bulky which was a big request from both my kids. And they come in the cutest prints. I bought ONE size up. (Janey is wearing a Large (usually a size 8) and Patrick is wearing an XXL (usually a size 12). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Ekb8LtJvE9hXZXQ2lJpKwy6-mGjouaf1ZNFsSyK7skLKgFWGl5xIKN2rZr7mC8znSDheWB4n4USFF9pcBb6Np2kHeY_QD6Dx32GZJ_H9Dm5tmLHvlqEQ9kJemgJokhhpPbEL5p8n4iQ/s768/IMG_0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Ekb8LtJvE9hXZXQ2lJpKwy6-mGjouaf1ZNFsSyK7skLKgFWGl5xIKN2rZr7mC8znSDheWB4n4USFF9pcBb6Np2kHeY_QD6Dx32GZJ_H9Dm5tmLHvlqEQ9kJemgJokhhpPbEL5p8n4iQ/w480-h640/IMG_0033.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/39yUr5n" target="_blank">Elenco Teach Tech Programmable STEM Robot Building Kit</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Patrick received this<a href="https://amzn.to/39yUr5n" target="_blank"> cool robot building kit</a> from Santa :) and he loved putting it together. I helped him a tiny bit - sometimes he gets intimidated by all the instructions, but I was basically there for moral support. It is so cool, and has great reviews on Amazon. Right now it's on sale $14 less than it was at Christmas so if you have any birthdays coming up I recommend this for the over 12 crowd. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><u>Reading:</u></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJZsKJRo-MVXlUU1wzqP6Fww0kATuQaU8VMaC6ehVSI9D7A7rrg8EA1iA4NUP4-pDq-bnXdcMhsm2LNQwBExqbTkkMF2Hi7xqmCAXh5ll1ZRSH3TVrjPBHHtHkKWP9rAl5VA_7YSbSkE/s1024/IMG_0513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJZsKJRo-MVXlUU1wzqP6Fww0kATuQaU8VMaC6ehVSI9D7A7rrg8EA1iA4NUP4-pDq-bnXdcMhsm2LNQwBExqbTkkMF2Hi7xqmCAXh5ll1ZRSH3TVrjPBHHtHkKWP9rAl5VA_7YSbSkE/w480-h640/IMG_0513.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3st7ttM" target="_blank">Mitten Strings For God</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3bK5NX8" target="_blank">Parenting with Dignity</a></div><br /><div>Still two of my favorites when I had little ones. Always calmed me and motivated me to slow down to their pace and parent intentionally. I highly recommend them both.</div>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-9210025490544417912021-01-13T14:16:00.004-05:002021-01-13T14:32:04.366-05:00Simple Organization-Systems<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2021/01/a-new-year-simple-organization.html" target="_blank"> Last week I wrote about the basic questions</a> that need to be answered if we need and want to make changes and head in the right direction. </div><p></p><p>These were the simple questions I asked myself the last month.</p><p><b style="background-color: white; color: #161614; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.6px;"><i>Have you ever made a list of things that bring you joy? Things that you enjoy doing? Things that you hate doing? What you want your day to look like? A week? A year? Your life? What is one or two feelings you want to have and others that you want to avoid? What are your priorities? What do you want to accomplish this year? How do you want to feel? How do you want to show up for others? What do you worry about the most? Who do you want to be? </i></b></p><p><span face="Open Sans, sans-serif" style="color: #161614;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.6px;">The next step after answering these questions is to figure out solutions or action steps that can apply to "real life". Practical, calm, slow and steady steps forward. Not freak out, I'll never be able to do this, this can never happen, one million excuses answers but tons of grace, and experimentation and willingness to find a way.</span></span></p><p><span></span></p><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2021/01/simple-organization-systems.html#more"></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-88632603138317414112021-01-12T14:01:00.003-05:002021-01-13T14:31:53.865-05:00How I Organize Warranties, Manuals, and Receipts<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*affiliate links used</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-Z-knZ8YkhX0XZ0hs0Uub8z88bLSKPDT3Pf5EO6Z9HSVqzHdxvyM2KFRsuTSJzKsWMxW1xU-E617uHKhMfR8hWhWFPcl0YfNKb-0DM2WwU1FVxoFWuLj77wSPDxPLSfjOjmhWdsKUqI/s1024/IMG_0320.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="862" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-Z-knZ8YkhX0XZ0hs0Uub8z88bLSKPDT3Pf5EO6Z9HSVqzHdxvyM2KFRsuTSJzKsWMxW1xU-E617uHKhMfR8hWhWFPcl0YfNKb-0DM2WwU1FVxoFWuLj77wSPDxPLSfjOjmhWdsKUqI/w538-h640/IMG_0320.jpeg" width="538"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPN7If6YcxwxZb04dW79M8vQv4om_xoIZzndU6VzQwfB_P8v6_EYGBuqBMg-tEDDLePKSClezfZXClIIvoHPN9Y50x3ap4CTFVEBtMHA3BV6Z0L3j9X7lrtymWkFEBH6UqduvfN66eH4A/s1024/IMG_0321.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1006" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPN7If6YcxwxZb04dW79M8vQv4om_xoIZzndU6VzQwfB_P8v6_EYGBuqBMg-tEDDLePKSClezfZXClIIvoHPN9Y50x3ap4CTFVEBtMHA3BV6Z0L3j9X7lrtymWkFEBH6UqduvfN66eH4A/w628-h640/IMG_0321.jpg" width="628"></a><span></span></div><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2021/01/how-i-organize-warranties-manuals-and.html#more"></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-77261085006958769292021-01-11T12:35:00.005-05:002021-01-12T11:52:38.911-05:00Soup of the Week: Tortilla Chili<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kUHqfvT6UitXfQswpkcF7potJA7hgrSh7TA3VaRTxFBXgL6gOu1yy3isNC_kvbqndxBQAjqZF2OyFhhwkHy58Ob0bq-HMBnd9vjFMxZ8FnJwah_wKXxKNRHU27cHp9E83p20nXCIOyc/w426-h640/White+Brown+BBQ+_+Grill+Party+Pinterest+Graphic+%25281%2529.png" width="426"></span></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Tortilla Chili</h3>I am trying to make a soup for Sunday dinner, and then for me to have leftovers for lunch during the winter months. This week I made my Tortilla Chili. It's so easy and so good. It's easiest to make in a large slow cooker like <a href="https://amzn.to/3q8y1i7" target="_blank">this</a>, but I can fit it carefully in my regular sized slow cooker also.<p></p><div><span></span></div><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2021/01/soup-of-week-tortilla-chili.html#more"></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-49720118416113833902021-01-07T15:16:00.005-05:002021-01-11T14:47:25.704-05:00Thinking, Playing, Reading
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">*affiliate links used</span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: medium;"> Thinking:</span></b></h4><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZY4JoFMJ54gltnpsUx5v7kLI75DfPzHxo6sQPKz7CKgRSZ6aMMsOubBaVsUX5MCxyPbvhZvPcl0jhtenPjFZT6rHrRZFkWNzsFyD51aJvKEsLD1oF3AroEI4ffSfkwaCCaA_M-Y65i2I/s768/IMG_0221.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZY4JoFMJ54gltnpsUx5v7kLI75DfPzHxo6sQPKz7CKgRSZ6aMMsOubBaVsUX5MCxyPbvhZvPcl0jhtenPjFZT6rHrRZFkWNzsFyD51aJvKEsLD1oF3AroEI4ffSfkwaCCaA_M-Y65i2I/w480-h640/IMG_0221.jpg" width="480"></a></div>About how much TIME solves any concerns we have with our children. Spending time one-on-one and talking, whether they are old enough to have an adult conversation, or young enough for us to just listen to, whether at home, or on a special date, or at bedtime, helps me as much as it helps them connect, and communicate and puts worries at ease. It's all kids really want.<span></span><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2021/01/thinking-playing-reading.html#more"></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-35424152178091368052021-01-06T02:43:00.020-05:002021-01-08T10:12:37.965-05:00A New Year-Simple Organization<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexru5SD5AO3EgwbzrG6AexGdwbkq7YxKxQW0649w4i_sznku2UYWXrlvtnZuHsXFrFsan1pXKxWd6ezkLn4IuqUSetlLojSiWK_BmwrBPDDiJmvZPzYbeL7uoQ37cObCzQLRYsL3fz_4/s1598/IMG_5187.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1598" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexru5SD5AO3EgwbzrG6AexGdwbkq7YxKxQW0649w4i_sznku2UYWXrlvtnZuHsXFrFsan1pXKxWd6ezkLn4IuqUSetlLojSiWK_BmwrBPDDiJmvZPzYbeL7uoQ37cObCzQLRYsL3fz_4/w480-h640/IMG_5187.jpg" width="480"></a></div><p>I'm so ready for 2021! New Year's I think is my favorite holiday. The calm after the storm, everything feels peaceful and quiet outside, and warm and cozy inside, as we brave the few months until spring. It's always been a time for me to get things in order, and this year more than ever. The last four or so years I feel like I've lived in crisis mode. I've taken my deep breath, and continue to do so this year, as I create a new life for myself and myself children, and navigate what makes me feel safe and secure and happy.<span></span></p><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2021/01/a-new-year-simple-organization.html#more"></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-36908836619495244032021-01-05T14:31:00.001-05:002021-01-05T14:31:43.192-05:00Italian Sausage and Vegetable Soup<p>This was a hit at my house last Sunday night, and I've saved the leftovers for lunch for me all week. It hits the spot on a cold winter day!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcs5FeCDUAIDHvLIO3VnqtkchZPMB1MOkSjUOYiIne5EK6PORsjkCKEgsLIjaiZHTW11_3lUurhmN16wfCpx6dXMnZr2yFXk1FVQw89ovir8LjTueP3VsS93SfNXYpw1mp2GXUVOcICQ/s1024/IMG_0108.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcs5FeCDUAIDHvLIO3VnqtkchZPMB1MOkSjUOYiIne5EK6PORsjkCKEgsLIjaiZHTW11_3lUurhmN16wfCpx6dXMnZr2yFXk1FVQw89ovir8LjTueP3VsS93SfNXYpw1mp2GXUVOcICQ/w480-h640/IMG_0108.jpg" width="480"></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Italian Sausage and Vegetable Soup</h2><p>1 TBS olive oil</p><p>1 pound of Italian sweet sausage, removed from casings</p><p>1 cup diced celery</p><p>2 cups chopped onion</p><p><span></span></p><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2021/01/italian-sausage-and-vegetable-soup.html#more"></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-40545381361816070892020-12-24T12:29:00.000-05:002020-12-24T12:29:24.930-05:00Merry Christmas!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtG-DqPS3w-aCaU6x1bf3Oq8PRKm3_sCcvuGV4dNOMW09V_4ke7yJG6NI5DEfX72I0PpWMvsV1IHjeQr5WrHnwHa-0sM3r4WRToF8WkfX4P72EEZ_gtI4mH2Qm4f3pUMXV6UwcFeM_tk/s1024/IMG_8418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1024" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtG-DqPS3w-aCaU6x1bf3Oq8PRKm3_sCcvuGV4dNOMW09V_4ke7yJG6NI5DEfX72I0PpWMvsV1IHjeQr5WrHnwHa-0sM3r4WRToF8WkfX4P72EEZ_gtI4mH2Qm4f3pUMXV6UwcFeM_tk/w640-h456/IMG_8418.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b>Merry Christmas!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">Love, Sarah, Isaac & Cecilia, Abbey, Matthew, Andrew, Patrick, Janey and Sammy</p>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331752969086770281.post-33893783596666273132020-12-12T11:16:00.001-05:002020-12-12T11:17:16.938-05:00Searching For Peace<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigju7zffrXYCcCT-aumyIXoURF1E7Azj2N-y-gxTB1V2DCMetrKM-NMzK5OHwx-NAsJk41HFTfp9Dkbyp2AGciQivDiD5dbj_2SL5OsR8AEIsyfHZolVG1vzknhznB9FUKcYqjXDJPUfU/s600/IMG_9800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigju7zffrXYCcCT-aumyIXoURF1E7Azj2N-y-gxTB1V2DCMetrKM-NMzK5OHwx-NAsJk41HFTfp9Dkbyp2AGciQivDiD5dbj_2SL5OsR8AEIsyfHZolVG1vzknhznB9FUKcYqjXDJPUfU/w480-h640/IMG_9800.jpg" width="480"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3qMShaa">Searching for and Maintaining Peace</a></div><br> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I’m loving this book but pacing myself - one little sentence or paragraph at a time because it is rich and powerful and contains deep truth. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Twice yesterday I came across completely randomly this Bible verse-<i>“In quietness and confidence is your strength.” {Isaiah 30:15}</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">I wasn’t reading the Bible, or doing anything a bit holy. Trust me when I say it was very random. It happened to strike me the first time because it seemed to be an answer to a frustration I had with myself for being inconsistent with something I wished to do-boundaries- and knew was best for my soul healing. Do you ever get so frustrated with how many times you need to learn a lesson over and over again? Are there people out there that don’t? They just learn the first time? That’s what I tend to think- to imagine that there are completely balanced, always sensible, always consistent, methodical people and I somehow do not have that secret sauce whether it be laziness, moods, disorganization, outside circumstances that I could have avoided- if I had taken care of this, not scheduled that, had the car fixed earlier, found that lump earlier, asked these questions sooner, exercised every day - if I was perfect in a sense - I could avoid pain and hardship and just skate through my life and everything would work out. If I was only better dammit.</div><span></span></div><a href="http://www.memoriesoncloverlane.com/2020/12/searching-for-peace.html#more"></a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14912466557223829314noreply@blogger.com7