tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39176421846950619892024-03-18T18:25:20.763-07:00Ladybug's LairInsightful and spiritual thoughts on everyday life related to the natural world, accompanied by photographs and artwork by the author.Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.comBlogger259125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-83432768479730864892023-06-25T16:35:00.000-07:002023-06-25T16:35:16.875-07:00Trail of Spring<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSR9Y3T66y1BZgjIpaSFTvf4LsPz5A1My2HaSJHP7duWOoTRbIRYz7RcKqQGenhwk8G5fj-aIkO57EaJstxQbG-PJobs1_akY08-QvKBQNfeuqyVh3Cl1Zp4SuiKJ-R23H8AQ4OqKQxBo1XG5pu1XoKtY7fiR494lxgmji9oF1TtRhAcWg_kTj99_tr2j1/s4160/IMG_20220504_090343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSR9Y3T66y1BZgjIpaSFTvf4LsPz5A1My2HaSJHP7duWOoTRbIRYz7RcKqQGenhwk8G5fj-aIkO57EaJstxQbG-PJobs1_akY08-QvKBQNfeuqyVh3Cl1Zp4SuiKJ-R23H8AQ4OqKQxBo1XG5pu1XoKtY7fiR494lxgmji9oF1TtRhAcWg_kTj99_tr2j1/s320/IMG_20220504_090343.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The
river gurgled, splashed, raced on<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Above,
trees reached down with mossy fingers<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We
take the trail, narrowed now by<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Snowberry
and Oso berry crowding in<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtWfbQfYs1nK2cckqrXoB51d92VHi8c7-cedZtXoVSANRsze6KQ6zIj3yM3E5wjtnf8VakJNvX1bTgwwFMAvwMoRrK0DVG3HXnu5yEVTcPfxZbXPYWFDG2lDC18udXC7xchqP2NuawD16IXTC55DFGF_3nGp6CzxM4kANvG6OeiPyd8EdO-P7RNd-fatzM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="229" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtWfbQfYs1nK2cckqrXoB51d92VHi8c7-cedZtXoVSANRsze6KQ6zIj3yM3E5wjtnf8VakJNvX1bTgwwFMAvwMoRrK0DVG3HXnu5yEVTcPfxZbXPYWFDG2lDC18udXC7xchqP2NuawD16IXTC55DFGF_3nGp6CzxM4kANvG6OeiPyd8EdO-P7RNd-fatzM=w268-h400" width="268" /></a></div><br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The
dark way spattered<br /> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">with
blooms of maples and catkins<br /> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Damp,
rich smells of mosses, fungi, and elk dung<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Floor
busy with fringe cup, starflower, and cleavers,<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">All
pushing out and upward </span></span><span style="height: 171px; margin-left: 561px; margin-top: 73px; mso-ignore: vglayout; position: absolute; width: 256px; z-index: -1895821312;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img height="137" src="file:///C:/Users/BARB'S~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_4" width="205" /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">seeking the light</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My
four-legged companion leads the way<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">nose
and tail busy<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Often
taking a route I have not chosen<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For
his way is not mine<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I
do not care to smell every blade of grass</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ76TfKJpXrS0lujUgFpJWXA3sFj7iWQ6SahBJ1eH_GwuUR_jlqsmgcEI4t4rQPJEj4tPQHQjCciqvr5jOR9W1XSWnJlG7PftUAHD15Muyz_zQHmWULNG0bcNJtB6IMUu8xNyUKWemoKaFBa4BJA-q3ENQIsHzvqrfJuRbuhWMaIqcK2Qz-zanytM-iHd3" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="320" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ76TfKJpXrS0lujUgFpJWXA3sFj7iWQ6SahBJ1eH_GwuUR_jlqsmgcEI4t4rQPJEj4tPQHQjCciqvr5jOR9W1XSWnJlG7PftUAHD15Muyz_zQHmWULNG0bcNJtB6IMUu8xNyUKWemoKaFBa4BJA-q3ENQIsHzvqrfJuRbuhWMaIqcK2Qz-zanytM-iHd3=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div></span><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">At
a Y in the path I stop<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">stunned
by the enormity of what stands there,<br /> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">arm-span
wide,<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dark,
with thick coat of green moss<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Face
to face with true giant of the woods<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">A
mighty Douglas fir</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXAHqNeXSLkRJ7xxRXpSu6XHACMb8Ur4rt9RqCcGJszGQaVsaKNf0rg1yuiv88j4e5u2oU0WZCizKxPsKlxvVpFCQZJZKUsR8-TYHmoV8V_o3R_CE65OHMKJSCvQ0Y48aZlcFxGcWdp3b1Jd63bEOO4CjF96unNmYpyP4PeliBsLO687VdmNhbWI29zyjd" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="422" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXAHqNeXSLkRJ7xxRXpSu6XHACMb8Ur4rt9RqCcGJszGQaVsaKNf0rg1yuiv88j4e5u2oU0WZCizKxPsKlxvVpFCQZJZKUsR8-TYHmoV8V_o3R_CE65OHMKJSCvQ0Y48aZlcFxGcWdp3b1Jd63bEOO4CjF96unNmYpyP4PeliBsLO687VdmNhbWI29zyjd=w268-h400" width="268" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /></span></span></span></div></span><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">OH,
if it could tell me what it’s seen<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Of
rumblings, upheaval, and ice<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But, more likely, it
would say</span></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">
<br />
“WHO are you – who disturbs my peace, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">fouls my air, tramples my bed?<br />
Your kind has broken my limbs, destroyed my canopy, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 115%;"><span>fallen my brothers, ripped out their
roots.</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I am wise in the ways of the wood<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And so I remain silent, let you pass,<br />
</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">but I know and do not forget<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the hope you will learn</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">See, I point the way, that you might
discover</span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The wonders, the unfathomable – and
ask yourself:</span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></span><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 40.5pt; tab-stops: 40.5pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">‘WHO
AM I<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 40.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 40.5pt; tab-stops: 40.5pt;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">To
think I am in charge<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
</span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; tab-stops: 40.5pt;"><span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Of All that lives here?’”<br /></span></i></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br />I gather my senses, tiptoe around, </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Humbled by the thought</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Around me the earth greens intensely and offers itself<br /> For all to experience and know<br /> May we do so with care…</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjn7bEmuz2cHmOC92e0ISZgP8th3F08M1ZCXqgMKko2DI9fGoi_YfaPJV6gEf_T4_N2xDte-nBu199EhqkHsfDVkUmG0SUZzFPksTsU-FNmRHqgemNyi3Qs-b4K1od4kL75eGrqKSYUy6IuIs0tlepw8cec33gGldQKAG1rjQsvagMqlaIoyN2k7xGCm4cI" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="476" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjn7bEmuz2cHmOC92e0ISZgP8th3F08M1ZCXqgMKko2DI9fGoi_YfaPJV6gEf_T4_N2xDte-nBu199EhqkHsfDVkUmG0SUZzFPksTsU-FNmRHqgemNyi3Qs-b4K1od4kL75eGrqKSYUy6IuIs0tlepw8cec33gGldQKAG1rjQsvagMqlaIoyN2k7xGCm4cI=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Ahead, the trail widens<br />Guarded by upright tall ferns<br />Lush with newly uncurled fronds<br />Light breaks through<br />Divulging trunks and fallen logs<br />Rife with fungi and tangled lichens<br />Aglow with small flowers shining through.</span><br /><span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1s0UZTxzo_AdSAvpEOjZyjFJ9EXv1vDKBH19kmGQCgOc1NCBfH_26ZXjaDe6hgzOFBTDKKj5SpG8E9cXjlL_aaayv8VEoThTT-vjz4BvIaaNJCievguIof6gO1arLjQO9An5NCg9LWI0VZB3mk445uCL3K7nxmIfI9d3oX6wy9pBnBJVhWjiHHEK-SYoj" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="427" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1s0UZTxzo_AdSAvpEOjZyjFJ9EXv1vDKBH19kmGQCgOc1NCBfH_26ZXjaDe6hgzOFBTDKKj5SpG8E9cXjlL_aaayv8VEoThTT-vjz4BvIaaNJCievguIof6gO1arLjQO9An5NCg9LWI0VZB3mk445uCL3K7nxmIfI9d3oX6wy9pBnBJVhWjiHHEK-SYoj=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></span><p></p></div></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> I follow the wagging tail to a log<br />Sit down on mossy cushion<br />Breathe in deeply<br />Steeped in the solitude<br />High above, a crow harshly calls<br />Somewhere below, a robin scolds back <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_K54DvDTCf4XCMaI3Cl3Zrbh7qSU1QGcowbQ-GL4eJHDsJEo096rHXmLcV-RxIly2FwRwXdmVVX7UUF1lJ_-5v5f0ZNAb8y9kc4wulKcXyRvcw0qtZ_PPycxFBFZjwduMj2biApS_RbyIlmqkS49wC_zsHAus-lO5kJ1KwFmgVR1eMs4cEwreaJB2CW6c" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="374" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_K54DvDTCf4XCMaI3Cl3Zrbh7qSU1QGcowbQ-GL4eJHDsJEo096rHXmLcV-RxIly2FwRwXdmVVX7UUF1lJ_-5v5f0ZNAb8y9kc4wulKcXyRvcw0qtZ_PPycxFBFZjwduMj2biApS_RbyIlmqkS49wC_zsHAus-lO5kJ1KwFmgVR1eMs4cEwreaJB2CW6c=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">At my feet, a large yellow slug <br />The color of dried mustard <br />Glides smoothly over the duff. <br />My companion begs to move on <br />More blades of grass await him</span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfnlWmsV6jrRcV-kAZW1PF3KvoNBoJuH2xn7JGyGVFertOdZKUx3zGv46gJltdQlCv0EfSd2y6aHGcgvUO3KPT0TGoX1w6oBd5dmPsnWOefNXOPorGN8GnuJpSeLchbUYuP_PoLLOfRgCoRKP4Acrh9saTxaK4U2S0r5rjVX6CcqFy1iZ0jNSAOXpbFLfU" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="554" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfnlWmsV6jrRcV-kAZW1PF3KvoNBoJuH2xn7JGyGVFertOdZKUx3zGv46gJltdQlCv0EfSd2y6aHGcgvUO3KPT0TGoX1w6oBd5dmPsnWOefNXOPorGN8GnuJpSeLchbUYuP_PoLLOfRgCoRKP4Acrh9saTxaK4U2S0r5rjVX6CcqFy1iZ0jNSAOXpbFLfU=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>I stand and stretch, turn to go <br />Ahead lies a larger patch of light, <br />The road, and our way back <br />As we emerge from the dim stillness <br />Only two words come to mind <br />as I turn back to look </span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A whispered “THANK YOU”…</span><br /><br /><br /></span><b><i>“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/job/12-10.html"> </a>In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." ~ Job 12:7-10</i></b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /> <br /><br /></span> <br /></div><span><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">
<!--[endif]--></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
</p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">
</p>Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-84006209473893213252022-11-13T13:50:00.000-08:002022-11-13T13:51:47.699-08:00Caterpillar Curl <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilux9nz0HJUv4lqlMY4V48EzBYiscMErd318Rg0zR8jdehEQqvWh1i7UT6s3TlS4MFlWREZAFwRj-Z0qvBV9RvnxiGd_6I0SBCLN_thLElAD--5uGU3u2i4HkUKOE1VUcN8sWw_9SKObN4QVsbhHtEbVhY4x2LW83u-04lx5TlMr9PjXUc4L6rj9VxcQ/s2508/2DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1672" data-original-width="2508" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilux9nz0HJUv4lqlMY4V48EzBYiscMErd318Rg0zR8jdehEQqvWh1i7UT6s3TlS4MFlWREZAFwRj-Z0qvBV9RvnxiGd_6I0SBCLN_thLElAD--5uGU3u2i4HkUKOE1VUcN8sWw_9SKObN4QVsbhHtEbVhY4x2LW83u-04lx5TlMr9PjXUc4L6rj9VxcQ/w400-h266/2DSC_0001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If
not for the bright orange band, I never would have noticed it. This plump Wooly
Bear caterpillar stood motionless on the rim of a round planter in our yard.</span></span><p></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: left;">I
have noticed a substantial number of them this fall. Popular myths say their
appearance can predict what kind of a winter we will have, although there is no
scientific evidence to support that. They are incredible little creatures,
nonetheless. They hatch out in the Spring, feed on a vast assortment of vegetation,
and molt their skin multiple times as
they grow larger. When they have reached the proper stage of this development,
they form a cocoon around themselves using the spikey “hairs” from their skin.
Inside the cocoon, their bodies transition into a lovely <i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202122;">Isabella tiger moth</span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202122;">, which hatches in the Spring and begins
the cycle again. The remarkable thing is, if the caterpillar does not eat
enough to reach the size needed for transition, it simply finds a place to hide
over the winter and waits until Spring to resume eating. Its small body can
withstand total freezing thanks to type of “antifreeze” it produces to enable
it to live. It is indeed a sturdy little thing with amazing power to survive.<br /><br /></span></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAd0DcBAKKGOeBFEwihGWBkTjYgsKdWgABkCFNsvWBKccFASE7nf0mIpgB_Rcc8LcAC5Y-B45KESWt4K0zZwFteLaFzc1DaK9cggwwNVbPfoW3Mg6PIvfeKZE08pGewXQbcsFFSRiARfWE4vZkvojEM8qAO8L916QNF9bTiSU_rOsXlkirNIE4SgsoWg/s2048/2DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2047" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAd0DcBAKKGOeBFEwihGWBkTjYgsKdWgABkCFNsvWBKccFASE7nf0mIpgB_Rcc8LcAC5Y-B45KESWt4K0zZwFteLaFzc1DaK9cggwwNVbPfoW3Mg6PIvfeKZE08pGewXQbcsFFSRiARfWE4vZkvojEM8qAO8L916QNF9bTiSU_rOsXlkirNIE4SgsoWg/w400-h400/2DSC_0007.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></div></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #202122;">Not so amazing, however, is its tactic to avoid harm. Curious as to how it
moved, I sprayed it gently with a bit of water from the hose I was using.
Surprisingly, it immediately curled itself up into a ball and allowed the water
to wash it off the container rim and onto the soil. There it lay, inert as a rock while the water puddled up around it. Regretful
of my action and feeling sorry for it, I
gently picked it up and placed it on a rock near the outside bottom of the
container. The top of the rock was jagged and uneven, and it simply rolled off
and into a narrow space between the rock and the container. The space proved
too small for me to retrieve it, so I had to leave well enough alone and give
up seeing it move…</span><br />
<br /><span style="color: #202122;">
Although its defensive action likely served to ward off predators with its
armor of bristly hairs protecting its soft underside, I found it questionable
and couldn’t help comparing it to the way we humans sometimes behave in similar
fashion…</span><br />
<br /><span style="color: #202122;">
I have a 91-year-old friend who lives alone with no family nearby. She has some
back problems and suffers from bouts of depression. We have called each other
for years and sometimes meet for lunch. One day it occurred to me we hadn’t
talked in some time, so I promptly called her to see how she was. Turns out,
she’d wanted to talk to me, but felt she was grouchy and had nothing positive
to say, so didn’t want to “burden” me with her complaints. I reassured her we
needed to stay in touch no matter our individual moods or problems and she
readily agreed. By the end of that call, her mood had noticeably improved.</span><br />
<br /><span style="color: #202122;">
I once met a woman who was fighting a virulent form of cancer and attended
our church a few times. When we noticed she no longer came, a talk with a mutual
friend revealed the woman had quit coming because she could not bear the
compassionate concerns members expressed to her. To her, the attention was
simply unbearable.</span><br />
<br /><span style="color: #202122;">
Difficult though it may be, we need to be able to share our woes with others.
NO ONE in this life escapes unscathed, and rolling ourselves into a ball and
hiding away from that fact does none of us any good…<br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVwZ29imyl1Bn5kwc2eHfohpVDLospwyGnfT8V7-VQP5hHfpPbCBx2eveZmLR23ta8GWaRX7ubEjTg4UVx3ozAe70aSzEtfnKAmPQjZdYcrdNvmaIQ8bGgRthbZdru3ve18iqmUap25M4XrMbO9YdTNGw2JCavm9LucaXzkhI_6ePquvh9qPZ2JcoXQ/s2508/2DSC_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1672" data-original-width="2508" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVwZ29imyl1Bn5kwc2eHfohpVDLospwyGnfT8V7-VQP5hHfpPbCBx2eveZmLR23ta8GWaRX7ubEjTg4UVx3ozAe70aSzEtfnKAmPQjZdYcrdNvmaIQ8bGgRthbZdru3ve18iqmUap25M4XrMbO9YdTNGw2JCavm9LucaXzkhI_6ePquvh9qPZ2JcoXQ/w400-h266/2DSC_0002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span><br /></span><p></p>
<p align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">One who has isolated himself seeks
his own desires; <br />he rejects all sound judgment.<br />
~ Proverbs 18:1</span></i></b><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="background: white;">Two people are better
off than one, for they can help each other succeed. <br />
If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. <br />
But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.<br />
~ </span></i></b><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #111111;">Ecclesiastes 4:9-10</span></i></b></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-24022481701194398322021-09-11T11:26:00.005-07:002021-09-11T13:39:32.766-07:00Tempting Trot<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJhf2LUP8tM6YSO9UqeBE2JjSbOPYmVBWiZXqHvOlaqBz9-fqkmtpV5wWwRfh8qZ1GOsWDoDoLGJHAQCbU1FfpvdJGvZJHrWD-Fa7j6J4lLheL8dle37ZaNCfGmLpEgLOltrZOnEqHK11/s536/DSC_0031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="536" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJhf2LUP8tM6YSO9UqeBE2JjSbOPYmVBWiZXqHvOlaqBz9-fqkmtpV5wWwRfh8qZ1GOsWDoDoLGJHAQCbU1FfpvdJGvZJHrWD-Fa7j6J4lLheL8dle37ZaNCfGmLpEgLOltrZOnEqHK11/w400-h268/DSC_0031.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">If anyone is to
blame, I am. Poor choices always catch up with you.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Intent on removing
and cleaning the dryer vent by our back door, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">I completely forgot about the door, leaving it
slightly ajar. Scruffy needed no other invitation –in the blink of an eye, he
was out the door. As I saw him edging past me at a</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">safe distance, I held out my hand and called
him, knowing even then it would make no difference whatsoever.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Scruffy is our small rescue dog of undetermined </span><span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: georgia;">lineage</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">,
although we’re sure he has a lot of border terrier in him. We were warned when
we adopted him, he is an escape artist, and so we keep a close eye on him and
never let him outside without being on a leash. Things sometimes happen and
this was one of those times.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">True to his instincts, Scruffy becomes totally blind and deaf to us when he’s
laser-focused on his mission - following his nose to explore the world and
water every pole, shrub, or blade of grass he comes across. Squirrels, rabbits,
and rats BEWARE!!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I caught a glimpse of
his little bowlegged rear end, tail straight up, trotting rapidly up the
driveway and onto the road. My husband started the truck and honked the horn,
thinking Scuff might come back, as he loves rides. No such luck – he was bound
and determined to take full advantage of his newfound</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">freedom. Hubby drove off, following him up the
road to the intersection with Clear Creek Road. Scruffy rounded the corner and
kept right on going. Our biggest fears are that he will someday end up lost or
dead on the road. I doubt he has the foggiest idea where he’s going, nor how to
get home again. This was not our first rodeo…</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Several weeks
earlier, Scruffy had pulled the same stunt. I took out after him on foot. His
route then was much the same and when I reached Clear Creek, he was well up the
road. Walking as fast as I could and loudly calling his name, I must have drawn
the attention of a pleasant young woman who stopped to offer help. She quickly
learned he doesn’t take well to strangers, so said she’d drive ahead and try to
stop his progress to give me some chance of nabbing him. It took a bit of time,
but that worked, and this wonderful person drove us both home.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I have learned these
kinds of angels often appear out of nowhere to help and during this more recent
episode, that again happened. First, a UPS driver saw Scruffy in the middle of
the road, so pulled over. Seeing Hubby in pursuit, she got out and tried to
help, but quickly saw the futility of that, so left. Her efforts, however,
caused the little stinker to leave the road and trot up a driveway. There, a
woman came out of the house and, appraising the situation, diverted Scruffy’ s
attention just long enough for Hubby to grab him, toss him in the truck, and
transport him safely home.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkbXa7U-9f_ZTtvvNQ6c_w3ystA8kj3JxIKUrx-vsvDbMZa06IybMltURIEfdIoZzhGjuJVEWzbjoFh9c-hm_GMQboz3xFwwoHi30yW2sRrYVJDTo_K879AlNLXL5SZ1mz-QHphfhj0MP/s1936/DSC_0035.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1936" data-original-width="1296" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkbXa7U-9f_ZTtvvNQ6c_w3ystA8kj3JxIKUrx-vsvDbMZa06IybMltURIEfdIoZzhGjuJVEWzbjoFh9c-hm_GMQboz3xFwwoHi30yW2sRrYVJDTo_K879AlNLXL5SZ1mz-QHphfhj0MP/w268-h400/DSC_0035.JPG" width="268" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />I would describe
Scruffy as “lovingly obstinate” and have to admit to being grudgingly in awe of
that. Don’t we all wander off the beaten path at times, away from safety and
the known? Pulled forward by some unlikely incentive, we are propelled onward
by confusion, frustration, anger, or mere <span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">hubris. Wandering into unknown territory, we
become lost with no idea how to return to what we know. But just as often,
“helpers” appear seemingly out of nowhere to divert us, help, or offer
alternatives, until—one way or another—we are gently scooped up and carried
home.<br /></span><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.</span></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 48.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 48pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">God is faithful, <br />and he will not let you be tempted beyond
your ability,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 48.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 48pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #404040;"><b>but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape,</b></span><br /><span style="color: #404040;"><b>that you may be able to endure it. </b><br /><b>~ 1 Corinthians 10:13</b></span></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 48.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 48pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 48.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 48pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "inherit",serif;"> </span></i></b></p>Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-51781938424125817522019-11-20T11:59:00.003-08:002019-11-20T11:59:30.975-08:00Seasonal Surprises<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOfiWSXq7spyZWieTwzuOnlR-JWvN8Bj8_vzr7o9je6juvkkOEmUn9vMixvDsEu1XEtTEbasRN8fh54WNNF82YxzDqX3VbEvSMqxTgjouD-5dQyFtXO7X26xklz93EWODahMuwfCRgAEA/s1600/DSC_0461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOfiWSXq7spyZWieTwzuOnlR-JWvN8Bj8_vzr7o9je6juvkkOEmUn9vMixvDsEu1XEtTEbasRN8fh54WNNF82YxzDqX3VbEvSMqxTgjouD-5dQyFtXO7X26xklz93EWODahMuwfCRgAEA/s400/DSC_0461.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I heard them through the open window the other night. As
they were high above on that quiet, damp night, I could not see which way they
were heading, but I knew by their soft, syncopated honking that they were geese
and must be going to some place with ample food and comfort for the coming
colder months. Indeed, in this time of transition, it is a time of change for
most living things, ourselves included.</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjE6KXqTaC34M6ZGpVwQDrUeiVYiFh7BgC7P5ga463ld1wd08P3Mi1o-RQrdNiofKuKzow3yFxWPHDiZIASna6Gp9z3xre2yPipoqbLSK4xcO9gnSXtj2d-sOeIsZumRXmfxX_UWgp_wr/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjE6KXqTaC34M6ZGpVwQDrUeiVYiFh7BgC7P5ga463ld1wd08P3Mi1o-RQrdNiofKuKzow3yFxWPHDiZIASna6Gp9z3xre2yPipoqbLSK4xcO9gnSXtj2d-sOeIsZumRXmfxX_UWgp_wr/s400/DSC_0007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />
<br />
While I feel myself folding inward during these short, dark, rainy days, I’ve
experienced enough seasonal changes in my life to know that this is a change
beyond my control; one that is necessary and important, even if we may not like
or enjoy it. Change is seldom easy, after all. But during the intense,
difficult work of growing, reproducing, and simply surviving, time is needed to
rest and rejuvenate. We may find it odd and uncomfortable the way this happens.
Where there were gorgeous blue skies, there now are moody clouds of roiling
greys and intense, bruised, purplish blacks. Where there was pure, sparkling
sunlight, there now is misty drizzle and chilling rain. The cheerful chirping
of the tree frogs gives way to the mournful cries of those night-flying geese…</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_PaYAQq3GxPssIvaOUA5M4TPNP7pY1Y208FBZcG7VdwuzTN-LUKY1Pj2rCrILekcFw2oN0BQomQVWRbhtpsXTlsQ-XyNE9XjxAvGvwRodBVr2oAWQg1wxltEbloGxfLcreLb3N1ssqCG/s1600/Fungi1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_PaYAQq3GxPssIvaOUA5M4TPNP7pY1Y208FBZcG7VdwuzTN-LUKY1Pj2rCrILekcFw2oN0BQomQVWRbhtpsXTlsQ-XyNE9XjxAvGvwRodBVr2oAWQg1wxltEbloGxfLcreLb3N1ssqCG/s400/Fungi1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There also are moments of beauty and joy in this process.
I find myself awestruck by the colors of this season: the ripe, round, red and
purple berries that are abundant here, the white, orange, and brown fungi that
erupt in the woods and meadows, the brilliant orange, yellow, red, and copper
leaves on the trees. Whether pre-programmed or anomalies, there are some plants
that manage to bloom at this time of year. Colorful Autumn crocus,
chrysanthemums, sunflowers, and sedums punctuate otherwise drab gardens, while
vine and big-leaf maples, red-osier dogwoods, and shiny-leaved salal and
evergreen huckleberries strut their stuff in the local woods. No matter the
weather, it’s always good to don your rain gear and take a walk—amazing what it
can do for one’s spirit.</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3JvbdIrPG4szxmp1ZREUWgDZRACeJ57p3M5M2thGATa53HhNNAkykWDXWPp-Bh0DuuJ0oRn55_YmMjh7K75ZG_qTGGUXgY_M8nsJeIE-sBSLOqUU6IjVlu4nEpihh_QGAsQ652Upo4z0/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1568" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3JvbdIrPG4szxmp1ZREUWgDZRACeJ57p3M5M2thGATa53HhNNAkykWDXWPp-Bh0DuuJ0oRn55_YmMjh7K75ZG_qTGGUXgY_M8nsJeIE-sBSLOqUU6IjVlu4nEpihh_QGAsQ652Upo4z0/s400/DSC_0008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We have one hardy plant that surprises me every year. It
is an old rose bush – likely a heritage variety because it smells
wonderful—that was here when we moved in 40 years go. We’ve dug it up and moved
it several times and, sadly, I never really cared if it survived as it is
rather leggy, with a puny lavender color. Not my favorite, for sure. The last
place we put it was in a corner garden, just below our kitchen window. With
very little care, it has thrived there, growing taller each year and producing
continuous blooms all summer long and well into the Fall. Even now, with many
fully formed rose hips(fruit) which I’ve neglected to prune off, it is
continuing to bloom, refusing to give in to this season of darkness. I know
that eventually it will stop, finally resting up for next summer. In the
meantime, I cherish its fortitude, for it is a good reminder that a new season
is always on the horizon.</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZW96x0hqEWZ_KGHD4woQh5Kwae9UCFo5HBeVMz6bLgj5BXjviQKklYttZs70bdEJqNE_DXwPrM5cltjQJrs-s8uAbmqoIVSDN2MfR5h4N8QPHDDeLCRfIHcZ36fHmkAyBCxtiNWlYAYnL/s1600/Rose+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZW96x0hqEWZ_KGHD4woQh5Kwae9UCFo5HBeVMz6bLgj5BXjviQKklYttZs70bdEJqNE_DXwPrM5cltjQJrs-s8uAbmqoIVSDN2MfR5h4N8QPHDDeLCRfIHcZ36fHmkAyBCxtiNWlYAYnL/s400/Rose+2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> As I remember that my dad said: “Life is a series of
adjustments,” I now know how true that really is. We DO need to “Grow where we
are planted “and carry on as best as we can. It helps if we hang together on
the journey!</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #555555;">"As
long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter,
day and night will never cease.'"</span></i></b><b><i> </i></b><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #666666;">Genesis 8:22</span></i></b></span><b><i></i></b></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span>Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-87570200068524566512019-09-13T16:16:00.001-07:002019-09-13T16:19:46.592-07:00Motorcycle Mama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_MkPPMLCG8vL2SLU3Iqtie8lgX3ZZf0HzF1JEfBnsj1WPJW0DsHmW_Fs6ZNg-NIctlBDDihsA_lN-M26JgSfyZirY1CKmb-393-847cirnpmb-rgM1y4f0QMITghhk_lbLkq_Cb7Hqah/s1600/cycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_MkPPMLCG8vL2SLU3Iqtie8lgX3ZZf0HzF1JEfBnsj1WPJW0DsHmW_Fs6ZNg-NIctlBDDihsA_lN-M26JgSfyZirY1CKmb-393-847cirnpmb-rgM1y4f0QMITghhk_lbLkq_Cb7Hqah/s400/cycle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Digging weeds on this crisp, clear day, I’m trying to gain a
bit on the endless surge of green life that surrounds us here. The horse tails and other ancient relatives
have gained a foothold in the yard this year, no different than any other, I suppose.</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This narrow strip of flower bed is only the edge of what used
to be a vegetable garden, years ago when we first moved here, stripped the heavy
sod, hauled in some good soil, and planted what I was used to growing—beans, beets,
carrots, corn , strawberries. But this was not Idaho, so the carrots and beets
remined small, the strawberries went wild, and the corn, barely ripe, was pillaged
by marauding raccoons, which took one or two bites from each yellow ear and
left them scattered across the grass. I worked that garden for many few years, learning
what did and didn’t grow well here and planting accordingly. We ate a much from
its yield.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Digging deeply now, to get to the roots, I unearth a surprise.
What first appeared to be a small branch or extra tough root, is actually a small
toy motorcycle, remnant of a partial childhood that existed here, once. I pick
it up, turn it over in my hand, hold it gently, as if the child who left it was
still here somehow.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">You played in those huge mounds of dirt that we had dumped
next to that garden, running your small cars, trucks, and motorcycles over and
over the make-believe roads you formed there, making those revving-up motor
noises that you were so good at. You laughed when I tried to emulate you, but I
never could sound like a hotrod. That delighted you so.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">You came to us already born, already burdened by what came
before, things we knew nothing about. There were many days spent in the sun
here, and in the rain. You played often in the tree house that Dad built for
you that first summer, swung on the swing, had friends over and ate the picnic
lunches that I made for you packed in brown paper bags. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I watched you climb the
huge, old, cedar tree until you could barely be seen, wavering between pride in
your fearless accomplishment and guilt for allowing you to risk such a thing.
My own father’s voice echoing in my head: “Be careful!”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">On your first day of school, when we walked to the end of the driveway,
I could sense that you were reluctant to meet that big, yellow bus. It turned the
corner and came down the road, stopping by the mailbox. We crossed the road, the
door of the bus opened, and the friendly driver greeted you by name. Bravely
you climbed up the steps and took a seat, waving goodbye. I blinked back tears;
I think you might have been braver than I was that day. A few weeks later, I watched
from the window as you came home from the bus stop, a few houses down the
street, happily stomping through every rain puddle that you could find, in your
brand-new shoes. I could not scold you; you were so very joyful!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">There was the Halloween, when we walked through the woods to a
friend’s birthday party. As we walked home, you felt sick and threw up; no Trick
-or-Treating for you. You still wore your monster costume as you moped around
the house. The neighbor kids kindly brought you some of the treats that they had
gleaned, which helped some. But you and I both knew that Halloween only comes <b><u>once
</u></b>each year. There is no rewind. Parts of life are like that, too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">There were the birthday parties, with the home-made cakes, always
carefully decorated with whatever your favorite cartoon character or superhero was
at the time. Dad made up scavenger hunts, which got progressively more
difficult each year, as you and your friends grew. We invented all kinds of games
and you always tore the paper off each gift and spent hours playing with them afterwards.
When you got your first bike, the neighborhood expanded for you; you delighted in
riding down the road to play with friends and then bringing them back to play
here. One year, we got your bike equipped so that you could do bike tricks,
something you had been bugging us for. I remember you spending hours and hours practicing
and calling for us to “Come see!” you perform. How proud you were when you ran
through your current “routine” and we gave you hearty applause.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Years passed, and your bike was abandoned, cast aside for
skateboard, boombox, and CDs. There were the friends we did not know, the disagreements
over homework and privileges, the long nights when we did not know where you were.
Those nights became months and, worst of all, we had no idea of what to do. Where is the teenage instruction book, when
it’s desperately needed? Time went on and became years; we are grey now, and have
slowed down.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;">clean the toy motorcycle off in the kitchen sink. It is
broken, missing one wheel and a handlebar. The remaining handlebar cannot steer
the missing wheel, but the kick stand does allow the cycle to stand upright with
one wheel. I place it in the sunny windowsill, although I have no idea why. Maybe
the sunlight makes it appear whole again. I know it needs to be thrown, but
some things are difficult to do. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">You are a man now, living your life as you’ve chosen to. I am
an old woman, feeling left behind as <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in
the dust of a motorcycle speeding <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>off to
who-knows-where. I have no answers to the questions that arise as echoes from
the past reverberate in my head. Vroom, vroom…</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-13631752766768130552019-07-25T21:45:00.001-07:002019-07-27T11:38:01.918-07:00Communing with Nature<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawJPnQA_brZenL9d7Vxwa9JI6BoNflS_cYsE6PL-vWbauJxGeVqULCQsw0BeMQZbS0IFJha1A84hnff8hAPkDuuRn4nOhkAjvckShIwAY1gCmfQQ-BLQJrcHFm7Vn-tl9LL4TAhgjPigR/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawJPnQA_brZenL9d7Vxwa9JI6BoNflS_cYsE6PL-vWbauJxGeVqULCQsw0BeMQZbS0IFJha1A84hnff8hAPkDuuRn4nOhkAjvckShIwAY1gCmfQQ-BLQJrcHFm7Vn-tl9LL4TAhgjPigR/s400/DSC_0013.JPG" width="267" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfcJWNWPCtLJCeK5C_-nvUAQXpe8xaQDghASl3BQaPE9cvWBchHuW5RGhSMR_qyI7JBk78HKaegecegjLRM1sFYS81bOlEjreBTdE_YjMej9-32zSa1sBdNcBdhvezHAjj_C4sk6yhXO5/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfcJWNWPCtLJCeK5C_-nvUAQXpe8xaQDghASl3BQaPE9cvWBchHuW5RGhSMR_qyI7JBk78HKaegecegjLRM1sFYS81bOlEjreBTdE_YjMej9-32zSa1sBdNcBdhvezHAjj_C4sk6yhXO5/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfcJWNWPCtLJCeK5C_-nvUAQXpe8xaQDghASl3BQaPE9cvWBchHuW5RGhSMR_qyI7JBk78HKaegecegjLRM1sFYS81bOlEjreBTdE_YjMej9-32zSa1sBdNcBdhvezHAjj_C4sk6yhXO5/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">At any time,
I can close my eyes and be transported back, and I am brimfull. Full of
wonder, serenity, peace, and love. The forest is a magical place for me. On a trail,
I can hardly take it all in, but I do try. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgw4bA5MHpDyne7VoI1mZ0BvQ1p4Q9gHcGkB89lsr8KYtcYVXq3xi3ZBFarSYUL_Inz1bXhn_yNN8xsum6XmB-qz_JI51XqNg-QmihqO-2x5Bx7ZKtQMYM8jobSlL7DI0-Jfko5iLtjcq/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgw4bA5MHpDyne7VoI1mZ0BvQ1p4Q9gHcGkB89lsr8KYtcYVXq3xi3ZBFarSYUL_Inz1bXhn_yNN8xsum6XmB-qz_JI51XqNg-QmihqO-2x5Bx7ZKtQMYM8jobSlL7DI0-Jfko5iLtjcq/s320/DSC_0033.JPG" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; cursor: move; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" width="214" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57io7jAKSewaStFVeG6AWET3piMM7HUcURhf5pGX-Vu_iL_RRSenKhVqNJ5xUkF3axjl-oGR7ZRcQdkiKekG3CgMF-V2U5JUGrakbQ7ACPQmRViz2rDBd_NSghveJGGcP6dm8ad1_BDGA/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgw4bA5MHpDyne7VoI1mZ0BvQ1p4Q9gHcGkB89lsr8KYtcYVXq3xi3ZBFarSYUL_Inz1bXhn_yNN8xsum6XmB-qz_JI51XqNg-QmihqO-2x5Bx7ZKtQMYM8jobSlL7DI0-Jfko5iLtjcq/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a></span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57io7jAKSewaStFVeG6AWET3piMM7HUcURhf5pGX-Vu_iL_RRSenKhVqNJ5xUkF3axjl-oGR7ZRcQdkiKekG3CgMF-V2U5JUGrakbQ7ACPQmRViz2rDBd_NSghveJGGcP6dm8ad1_BDGA/s400/DSC_0020.JPG" width="267" /></span></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>My eyes scan the tree trunks, taking in the colors, textures, lichens, and spider webs. Are there holes in the trunks? If so, are they a sign of damage, disease, or animal activity?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyi_QGZ6L_drpkoLhIUjFB2CHq9WqJjQ2Xw9D4ONCsaaqXHQh_EM-2j5cRqVxb9dBVpinovqbbuGILX9UPSSgyQY5WTQVKeNusYAG8CdtT19qJlskfvDUVHQy5I4RvEBv0PRspzV_3JzD/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyi_QGZ6L_drpkoLhIUjFB2CHq9WqJjQ2Xw9D4ONCsaaqXHQh_EM-2j5cRqVxb9dBVpinovqbbuGILX9UPSSgyQY5WTQVKeNusYAG8CdtT19qJlskfvDUVHQy5I4RvEBv0PRspzV_3JzD/s320/DSC_0032.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9n_an2Cu794OEJQ-ZMacZmmT8Ze8tBpWplpl1xi2S7dnyaDAbPHCyFVJGg9h2vvMNXfT2lG2-5TdHtk0W3cr6Q_3hRrvy19XxGXHjXP7Z3XwGEn_c1YC7E6K1k3Otwev1d5Z_aiC8uqVN/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 24px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9n_an2Cu794OEJQ-ZMacZmmT8Ze8tBpWplpl1xi2S7dnyaDAbPHCyFVJGg9h2vvMNXfT2lG2-5TdHtk0W3cr6Q_3hRrvy19XxGXHjXP7Z3XwGEn_c1YC7E6K1k3Otwev1d5Z_aiC8uqVN/s320/DSC_0021.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyi_QGZ6L_drpkoLhIUjFB2CHq9WqJjQ2Xw9D4ONCsaaqXHQh_EM-2j5cRqVxb9dBVpinovqbbuGILX9UPSSgyQY5WTQVKeNusYAG8CdtT19qJlskfvDUVHQy5I4RvEBv0PRspzV_3JzD/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b></b><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></a></span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br />
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I search the ground at my feet, looking for signs that lead to knowledge. I see tiny fungi, lush mosses - really all miniature worlds. Sometimes my imagination runs wild and I envision small beings living there and find myself wanting to live in their world for a brief time, just to see what it might be like.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-YxNlUQWcTYGAybI9_6CbSErt6DlgKl2Nph3xS96Eb8DLXrFLGA-tEPJcK3PmO_mvxYEASEbjFGWTxz-DomqaEcCJY-_du2E_t-8sGOsR3Ffen6yoNbroZCsMLgkqpiPvUq9VEMNWcc7/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-YxNlUQWcTYGAybI9_6CbSErt6DlgKl2Nph3xS96Eb8DLXrFLGA-tEPJcK3PmO_mvxYEASEbjFGWTxz-DomqaEcCJY-_du2E_t-8sGOsR3Ffen6yoNbroZCsMLgkqpiPvUq9VEMNWcc7/s400/DSC_0045.JPG" width="267" /></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 24px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 24px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 24px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I see signs
to help better understand this place. For the type of flower petals, tree leaves,
needles, branches, and cones that litter the trail tell much about the giants that
loom overhead. I know a small squirrel has been above in one place for I see
the scales of the Douglas fir scattered about that he (she?) dropped as he tore
the cones apart to reach the seeds. In this case, the cones were still green, and
I know they were the female cones for they are the ones with seeds. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JsK-LO33ZTqdaJzZDmPNRW0TlY5qd7sCIgL0Fat_w-zH0ljiIXjKZrtgj1RwIKwHo95jRNRPIoZBD4LjP91busCgMc1nOdH0h_W-IH964ynaZcqKnhL_b48aql7RiYuNFH744VA7fyML/s1600/DSC_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "georgia","times new roman",serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 24px; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JsK-LO33ZTqdaJzZDmPNRW0TlY5qd7sCIgL0Fat_w-zH0ljiIXjKZrtgj1RwIKwHo95jRNRPIoZBD4LjP91busCgMc1nOdH0h_W-IH964ynaZcqKnhL_b48aql7RiYuNFH744VA7fyML/s400/DSC_0027.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="267" /></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
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<div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
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<div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I note the nearly
invisible strands of a spider web stretching between the branches of a red huckleberry
whose berries have ripened and are mostly gone now, likely eaten by a robin or
towhee. The web leads me to look for others and I begin to see them everywhere,
even high above the ground. Some appear tattered and empty. Others contain
their tiny weavers, unobtrusive and lurking at the edge of the web, waiting for
the hapless bug that becomes caught and struggles against the strands, creating
vibrations that alert the spider.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5NctlGmJLLO1U-BgNAOnjKbeGDu73YmC3A7Cuy7ce7Y_WrbYO-65Fk30h3zBQ6tjTkIi7xujCz8UpzhMMSJ2MOd3get-agKEjIcJN7oGqy3_aJiDMupzVC45ylKNsRsV918x8uUHbuJF/s1600/DSC_0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5NctlGmJLLO1U-BgNAOnjKbeGDu73YmC3A7Cuy7ce7Y_WrbYO-65Fk30h3zBQ6tjTkIi7xujCz8UpzhMMSJ2MOd3get-agKEjIcJN7oGqy3_aJiDMupzVC45ylKNsRsV918x8uUHbuJF/s320/DSC_0022.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="214" /></span></a></div>
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">I notice and bask
in the quiet. I only hear an occasional bird call and try to identify which bird
made it. “Shick-a-dee-dee-dee” gives away the Chickadees, while the “Me-meep”
of the nuthatches remind me of a Volkswagen horn. Robins are numerous and have
distinctive calls and songs. Woodpeckers are often, though not always, loud
with their rattling calls and punctuated hammering against a hollow tree trunk.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 24px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 24px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 24px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 24px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFhdxyjKPX3qYg2ITg85qCN7V3GoXcdiwAyZ_6I6rS09fNsXKz77UMNVOE6oy5NAmhjSA5VJNUCCpJeX3ABWd5nuOQXNDblv5QgjVqCWX4MIyaZ1tUH78FSZBPsVAp6SOudKc2OkAlqoE/s400/Nuthatch+3.JPG" width="400" /></div>
<div>
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<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 24px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br />
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 24px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 24px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 24px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 24px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 24px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 24px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gazing
through the woods, the trees stand like silent sentinels and below them, covering
the forest floor, tall sword ferns reach skyward with gracefully arching
fronds. I often wish the trees could talk, for what tales they could tell of all
they have seen and heard through the years. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXKS7BzvuAQ8Sly87nxCjR5StgAhOEw6BWdBAEfceUijgTmEJh9IN3DTfwXENo7YldVLltCdOTFLpySbVlgFYmQ19pVdouPWyEBU1VcHr0l8gKeMhNi2XoKIj2zNKTpsttA9rvFtugmYL/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXKS7BzvuAQ8Sly87nxCjR5StgAhOEw6BWdBAEfceUijgTmEJh9IN3DTfwXENo7YldVLltCdOTFLpySbVlgFYmQ19pVdouPWyEBU1VcHr0l8gKeMhNi2XoKIj2zNKTpsttA9rvFtugmYL/s400/DSC_0015.JPG" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Logs covered
with thick green moss attract my attention. I love to search them to see just
how many kinds of mosses grow there, to discover small, oddly shaped fungi and
the occasional centipede or other creepy- crawly.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJjL1DlzUsRwuI19othgXFH66NeY_-0v2E8wiM1xpMhmNLxNogoXyrtNIuCRH7ahpUgU6gFzEcmw-AU9xzW1r14x85HBcfD65B6DPktNf4y_4qwvC_5QGsJbJ1pWguy9sMaxbPKnjouvL/s1600/DSC_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJjL1DlzUsRwuI19othgXFH66NeY_-0v2E8wiM1xpMhmNLxNogoXyrtNIuCRH7ahpUgU6gFzEcmw-AU9xzW1r14x85HBcfD65B6DPktNf4y_4qwvC_5QGsJbJ1pWguy9sMaxbPKnjouvL/s400/DSC_0017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkqwzZJBATy9MdoOqk1uuWu4tv_1K0ncfK7cK9drkNsj87h4d725TARW-t5VdtTDLiIcLchb9_aTuZOgQMOU6EHZgW9Xn39YIwL9JZybKDtGH2P6GJxrlzi2kEkxGLrTFqsdMvuqEltEW/s320/DSC_0016.JPG" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; cursor: move; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" width="320" /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">What a wonder
it all is, and my thoughts often lead to the Creator of this wondrous place. I
feel a strong presence here, unlike anywhere else and it speaks to me. I breathe
deeply of the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">rich, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">moist </span> air and am free.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccJUwubSQcDsZNHdYNRWDnRV6tEnNWqkiyefrmb1XqXGJ8YaEK0pF-pIeKnWaIyMDKGt2ByN-Q_UbFA6MZH611JhzBieJ5wub_yA2X3wW2KwH-0QWdHu2LE7twFIVmfw5uJvrkm7qvD3Q/s1600/DSC_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "georgia","times new roman",serif; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 24px; margin-right: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccJUwubSQcDsZNHdYNRWDnRV6tEnNWqkiyefrmb1XqXGJ8YaEK0pF-pIeKnWaIyMDKGt2ByN-Q_UbFA6MZH611JhzBieJ5wub_yA2X3wW2KwH-0QWdHu2LE7twFIVmfw5uJvrkm7qvD3Q/s400/DSC_0017.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<i style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But
ask the animals, and they will teach you;</b></span></span></i></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<i style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">the birds of the air, and they
will tell you;</span></b></span></i></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<i style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">ask
the plants of the earth, and they will teach you;</b></span></span></i></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<i style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">and the fish of the sea will
declare to you.</span></b></span></i></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<i style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Who
among all these does not know</b></span></span></i></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<i style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span>that the hand of the LORD has
done this?</span></span></span></b></span></i></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<i style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In
his hand is the life of every living thing</b></span></span></i></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<i style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </b><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </span>and the breath of every human
being.</b><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </b> </span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> <b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </b></span><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Job 12: 7-10</b></span></span></span></span></i></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-87924628984590830942019-06-25T15:53:00.003-07:002019-07-10T13:29:46.344-07:00Life Changes <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwuy4NQNV1R1ds5RlFibv7Kcc8FsVbrzNdlwXcdcCRGosuqpjUEgGgcdFBdgwBpBj45bbRTBtSHGBD8fkjYi7270St3fwgmK5P-tACfaX6dtbt0myrR0AITF3nXw2QIik69-6DaWODQjw/s1600/DSC_0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwuy4NQNV1R1ds5RlFibv7Kcc8FsVbrzNdlwXcdcCRGosuqpjUEgGgcdFBdgwBpBj45bbRTBtSHGBD8fkjYi7270St3fwgmK5P-tACfaX6dtbt0myrR0AITF3nXw2QIik69-6DaWODQjw/s400/DSC_0201.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhoH6SKoXWNHO1F9zY0qBB0CXhyphenhyphenXV05b1ctSpjJaSfBPRmcEYs1CgwTpqsCd7s4glmddA2tl3AAhyphenhyphensaiypklnk38XdYKCYAt4O35rpmOFGuZc6y_2hQnwcZlY582J73wojeTYTwg_evNc/s1600/DSC_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhoH6SKoXWNHO1F9zY0qBB0CXhyphenhyphenXV05b1ctSpjJaSfBPRmcEYs1CgwTpqsCd7s4glmddA2tl3AAhyphenhyphensaiypklnk38XdYKCYAt4O35rpmOFGuZc6y_2hQnwcZlY582J73wojeTYTwg_evNc/s1600/DSC_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></a><span style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvW-J2TnDhUzsHxOWt_EtbFN-VuO_kJcsp4_EFFEAmKADrRCpOle_6jUcsmu7Bz9T-BpTtnYLDJ6loI9daoE1UHZRYitffOuKH1wPg0U049TSv8RWK-1CXTMQcxRSUKEy45oHw1RT3D4c/s1600/DSC_0203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 24px; margin-right: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvW-J2TnDhUzsHxOWt_EtbFN-VuO_kJcsp4_EFFEAmKADrRCpOle_6jUcsmu7Bz9T-BpTtnYLDJ6loI9daoE1UHZRYitffOuKH1wPg0U049TSv8RWK-1CXTMQcxRSUKEy45oHw1RT3D4c/s1600/DSC_0203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhoH6SKoXWNHO1F9zY0qBB0CXhyphenhyphenXV05b1ctSpjJaSfBPRmcEYs1CgwTpqsCd7s4glmddA2tl3AAhyphenhyphensaiypklnk38XdYKCYAt4O35rpmOFGuZc6y_2hQnwcZlY582J73wojeTYTwg_evNc/s1600/DSC_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Imagine being a barnacle: you begin <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvW-J2TnDhUzsHxOWt_EtbFN-VuO_kJcsp4_EFFEAmKADrRCpOle_6jUcsmu7Bz9T-BpTtnYLDJ6loI9daoE1UHZRYitffOuKH1wPg0U049TSv8RWK-1CXTMQcxRSUKEy45oHw1RT3D4c/s1600/DSC_0203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 24px; margin-right: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a></span></span>life as microscopic one-eyed
larvae that swims about with feathery legs., part of the plankton of the sea,
floating freely, but at the mercies of the tides and currents. Before long,
your body begins to change, so that you now resemble a small shrimp with a transparent
umbrella attached to your back. Soon you feel the need to look for a place to
settle down. Within the immense ocean, you feel attracted by specific
chemicals, seeking to locate others of your kind, and search for a place to land.
Crawling among the shells of other adult barnacles, you check out each nook and
cranny until you find a spot that seems satisfactory. You find you can Produce
a natural glue and attach yourself head-down. Taking calcium from the sea
water, you form six hard plates around your body, walling yourself off from the
rest of the world. For added protection, you make a 4-part door at the top of your
shelter, which you can open and close at will. In a short 6 months or so, your
body has undergone so much change that you no longer resemble your larval form,
nor the shrimp-like creature you once were.<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YXXmx32HGuMf721peTCZWlOSuadFuEgmnxDeEHk4nev2UDS8gzUUNCLGUQjOhVspns_su-3NCd565KEAG8oXR-KeRbKBG75lELzzE_ZxUv6d8yU9pNRjbVn6hZtz6eyXQT1QheyXUGrV/s1600/DSC_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YXXmx32HGuMf721peTCZWlOSuadFuEgmnxDeEHk4nev2UDS8gzUUNCLGUQjOhVspns_su-3NCd565KEAG8oXR-KeRbKBG75lELzzE_ZxUv6d8yU9pNRjbVn6hZtz6eyXQT1QheyXUGrV/s400/DSC_0030.JPG" width="267" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
You are quite unique - upside down
and permanently attached to your shell. You could not go anywhere, even if you
wanted to. You now comb the water with your legs, filtering out the small bits
of plankton for your meals. How on earth do you adjust and deal with all these
changes?<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BiTiG_YlK8A8sDzeSsPOdThC9ProwmY5xn24iYYkVzjicRN5BjbETICJVKrjvusack_0oYxrksXzoWWHsP19tyYRe5_2j-5reI1fSBiTeZudR7E_eFFBevbjbtlGCZ5ov_cjJ6SZcgpG/s1600/DSC_0203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BiTiG_YlK8A8sDzeSsPOdThC9ProwmY5xn24iYYkVzjicRN5BjbETICJVKrjvusack_0oYxrksXzoWWHsP19tyYRe5_2j-5reI1fSBiTeZudR7E_eFFBevbjbtlGCZ5ov_cjJ6SZcgpG/s400/DSC_0203.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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</span></span><span style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Thank heavens, most of us don’t experience changes of this
magnitude. Certainly, change is an ongoing part of life and we all have
physical, mental, and emotional changes to adjust to over the course of our
lifetimes. There are also myriad changes in the world around us, over which we
have little, if any, control. So, how are we to navigate all these changes to
our known, comfortable sphere? Consider the barnacle; Do you think it frets,
worries and struggles against what has been preordained for its life? Or, does
it simply go on, living with each change as best as it can? Perhaps we can
learn something from this small, seemingly insignificant life form. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Nx1qU5zQ0X_OdDsMQIWP5bZHV5RQ9bJG5xNiCNftnjUYK9WQAFfBgm_ozOQA1fEuB95WTU7XGJAGbAnVigvVGXdgv82z4uRAaME76NqNg1UXl3aIS_WTWKaUVnxN7VBF067RJRCGYQcm/s1600/DSC_0200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Nx1qU5zQ0X_OdDsMQIWP5bZHV5RQ9bJG5xNiCNftnjUYK9WQAFfBgm_ozOQA1fEuB95WTU7XGJAGbAnVigvVGXdgv82z4uRAaME76NqNg1UXl3aIS_WTWKaUVnxN7VBF067RJRCGYQcm/s400/DSC_0200.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It helps, I think, to admit that changes are occurring, and that
we are uncertain, frightened, and maybe even angered by them. It helps to ask
for help to get through them. It certainly takes planning, commitment, and
determination to weather change. Keep in mind, that we are never alone in these
struggles to adapt. Life does, indeed, go on….</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBIqeK4ZRcExiEe2Jqsgq6cwNwPSKvGQmIX93Oew7Oi2OCWU3zWKznE2xD8xvSJD1D-3PJNeKlZ45X4ZaQBp8vHnqByU2B7KsGtsp9Pe2FILPeLQ1ThOJtbXccepLh58nmNhgiKuuZMrm/s1600/DSC_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBIqeK4ZRcExiEe2Jqsgq6cwNwPSKvGQmIX93Oew7Oi2OCWU3zWKznE2xD8xvSJD1D-3PJNeKlZ45X4ZaQBp8vHnqByU2B7KsGtsp9Pe2FILPeLQ1ThOJtbXccepLh58nmNhgiKuuZMrm/s400/DSC_0026.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Why are you downcast, O my soul?<br />
Why so disturbed within me?<br />
Put your hope in God,</span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">For I will yet praise him,</span></span></i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">My savior and my God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>~</span></span><span style="margin: 0px;">Psalm 42</span></i><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><i>: 11</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i><b>*For more on barnacles, please see:</b></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><i><a href="https://flyhometoladybugslair.blogspot.com/2010/04/millions-of-hiding-places.html">https://flyhometoladybugslair.blogspot.com/2010/04/millions-of-hiding-places.html</a></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><i></i>Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-68728167364001663882019-01-22T13:42:00.001-08:002019-01-22T13:42:46.194-08:00"Underground" Systems<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pJZZ7W9jCZpHrq8aTMDW3U5F3-JVrwYzZacjaabJH-Vsu4SaFSs92skNZqwYro6y4vFity70h3gA52ymI9LGwlN3l-jfxsjgV4qp11V8DXOKYMplEY118ywsBSQObjzV5TORRzTp_YFc/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pJZZ7W9jCZpHrq8aTMDW3U5F3-JVrwYzZacjaabJH-Vsu4SaFSs92skNZqwYro6y4vFity70h3gA52ymI9LGwlN3l-jfxsjgV4qp11V8DXOKYMplEY118ywsBSQObjzV5TORRzTp_YFc/s400/DSC_0033.JPG" width="267" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I often think of them as coming from another world and I’m not
far wrong in thinking that. For most of their lives exist underground in the
dark, secretive, cracks and crevices totally unknown to most of us. It’s only
on those rare occasions, when conditions are perfectly matched to their
individual specifications, that they burst forth into the world that we know and
their time there and in that form is extremely brief.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1U5l3v8VLXvYGq0fbq2hyxonkLyvAZ2q_bu19Y3Hnxl2dvHS5ujmVNcTnLupjWAlLhxINMnqebC9ypoCbHlySH59Xglm8MgjkYSfz5L6cBvG0nt-nnR2dwIVMA6BgL7FvSbgnCLCOziW_/s1600/DSC_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1U5l3v8VLXvYGq0fbq2hyxonkLyvAZ2q_bu19Y3Hnxl2dvHS5ujmVNcTnLupjWAlLhxINMnqebC9ypoCbHlySH59Xglm8MgjkYSfz5L6cBvG0nt-nnR2dwIVMA6BgL7FvSbgnCLCOziW_/s400/DSC_0107.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In this part of the world, wandering about the woods, especially
during the damper parts of the year, we are bound to come across them. Fungi,
in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, pop up seemingly overnight from the
forest floor, moldering leaf piles, or rotting tree stumps. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDTxPQEcNWRPwsoJgCuUJuvw-NlMtM9gh0DAK06wp46qJ3TWkqL0_Qv0Wcur5y_fTBJg0TJr5OZ1yNha9i5xuNKzabon3EsUbR-L57pLdbVpNvOnE4_JcYu7m2c5F0rMNlt19qnbe07tR/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDTxPQEcNWRPwsoJgCuUJuvw-NlMtM9gh0DAK06wp46qJ3TWkqL0_Qv0Wcur5y_fTBJg0TJr5OZ1yNha9i5xuNKzabon3EsUbR-L57pLdbVpNvOnE4_JcYu7m2c5F0rMNlt19qnbe07tR/s400/DSC_0032.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Unlike green
plants, fungi do not need sunlight and are unable to make their own food,
drawing nutrients instead from other rotting vegetation. What we see of them
belies what we cannot see</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">—a vast, complicated underground support
system responsible for their colonization and reproduction. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_g-gvSDiax6ONifDOAIlwY1jUL_Q9t0_scTuSDepkrtLhrQmqbeicn964kZXnYMpmL261SvfuQ_xOAgD_hBPce5libgMJ2OWLBP1Qk6EO1yeQJHWFUh2hKkGLiqBzClxoqBN0PLeYzX19/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_g-gvSDiax6ONifDOAIlwY1jUL_Q9t0_scTuSDepkrtLhrQmqbeicn964kZXnYMpmL261SvfuQ_xOAgD_hBPce5libgMJ2OWLBP1Qk6EO1yeQJHWFUh2hKkGLiqBzClxoqBN0PLeYzX19/s400/DSC_0004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">In the case of a
mushroom, tiny seed-like spores are carried by wind and water to the soil,
where they burrow in and grow into long, multi-celled strands. Different types
of these strands are produced, and the exact right ones need to meet and
combine to form longer entwined strands that carry the full component of genes
necessary for that specific type of mushroom. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_lo89UaoVe4kG7-WW08us3e1JCa4FkH5JGlJ3DHGxMRyXRU2RlXozqkRMpK2pKWlW4yDIPIf08-e-jtKGvj78ZkvTRjTitBXFaWdVro9dt3QJ9smNarswrleNS_k8TuxqyB0cwWgvQpd/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="610" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_lo89UaoVe4kG7-WW08us3e1JCa4FkH5JGlJ3DHGxMRyXRU2RlXozqkRMpK2pKWlW4yDIPIf08-e-jtKGvj78ZkvTRjTitBXFaWdVro9dt3QJ9smNarswrleNS_k8TuxqyB0cwWgvQpd/s400/DSC_0015.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">These strands gradually form a
small, tight ball of cells which grow upward and finally emerge into the air,
taking on the shape of a mature mushroom. This adult fungus then forms spores
and the entire cycle repeats itself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggI3WatTSkWs1d5vEVIjNuK3iUxu-tOU0rkwwLpmnV_eupmfaKILwhYMPpiV-SBwGQFyj0gXvUCeppQOzIkmZsQf88MiaP3vZz-CPYZxi7v4T3JoXSzID41y3IiUrp0zvbqE6yBzZehzQ/s1600/DSC_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggI3WatTSkWs1d5vEVIjNuK3iUxu-tOU0rkwwLpmnV_eupmfaKILwhYMPpiV-SBwGQFyj0gXvUCeppQOzIkmZsQf88MiaP3vZz-CPYZxi7v4T3JoXSzID41y3IiUrp0zvbqE6yBzZehzQ/s400/DSC_0110.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The underground system of a fungus is truly amazing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before logging roads cut through it, a
2,400-acre site in eastern Oregon had a contiguous growth estimated at 1,665
football fields in size and 2,200 years old. This one fungus has killed the
forest above it several times over, and in so doing has built deeper soil layers
that allow the growth of ever-larger stands of trees. Mushroom-forming forest
fungi such as this are unique in that their underground growth can achieve such
massive proportions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57nXi2o0AAIUCP21fqfAjBHp1uqv_n4brRLRKg2ddscVnwsK46KSc5YpZ2xlVUWZSCKiRvZrZIF5CmK2hfdI_mRfMzY7EF3wHy5qx-adYD94RFZ9jd2bhtcXpD_JQdkTVxh2I9MNEmvit/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57nXi2o0AAIUCP21fqfAjBHp1uqv_n4brRLRKg2ddscVnwsK46KSc5YpZ2xlVUWZSCKiRvZrZIF5CmK2hfdI_mRfMzY7EF3wHy5qx-adYD94RFZ9jd2bhtcXpD_JQdkTVxh2I9MNEmvit/s400/DSC_0022.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Human support systems might be compared to this. So much
of what we do with and for others is not obvious; myriad small acts of
assistance, kindness, and compassion combine with others, branch out and
spread, often far from the original source. Surfacing and becoming apparent
occasionally, this support system really is the life blood of any community.
Behind every successful grown child, there are years of effort from caring
adults; behind every recovering addict, there are miles of accompanying
encouragement and intervention; behind every healing of a body, mind, or
spirit, there are thousands of helping hands, loving hearts, and prayers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEbcvdp7zFbYfaRP3O2ADlqQ1xLWvbxKH6WvETrwsaVyROF0KlaeM8MXWhuuTMrcySTh_QzyqsZcyR5JoKvYMog5dfAURfNVGTuNkiopdMd-DT9RaFddzaGDmpu6mMpQY0Yh05B5U2h7m/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEbcvdp7zFbYfaRP3O2ADlqQ1xLWvbxKH6WvETrwsaVyROF0KlaeM8MXWhuuTMrcySTh_QzyqsZcyR5JoKvYMog5dfAURfNVGTuNkiopdMd-DT9RaFddzaGDmpu6mMpQY0Yh05B5U2h7m/s400/DSC_0021.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But we are only the vessels, for beneath all this and
deeper than any of us can fathom, lies a force greater than the combined efforts
of all. We are each a small link in a vast system which surpasses all
understanding. We need only trust and act. Yes, and celebrate the end results
as they emerge out of the detritus of life. For this is the ultimate love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiXx9kD2yKR-oxpSa0Qq1zWjK-a9PCU7jfc6G9bL5emUUtm4sG5oPm1Rz4VQAXo-aO0xtUI7FFCtvfIJeTD1E4rB05HviZWmIISsKe2XWqWm_b3cv2AtqeSfOaU4HyJ9FXVnv00MOBqGA/s1600/DSC_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiXx9kD2yKR-oxpSa0Qq1zWjK-a9PCU7jfc6G9bL5emUUtm4sG5oPm1Rz4VQAXo-aO0xtUI7FFCtvfIJeTD1E4rB05HviZWmIISsKe2XWqWm_b3cv2AtqeSfOaU4HyJ9FXVnv00MOBqGA/s400/DSC_0106.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.<span style="font-size: small;"><sup> </sup>Bear
with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against
someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.</span></span></i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"> <span class="text">And over
all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">~
</span></i></b><span class="passage-display-bcv"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Colossians 3: 12 - 14</span></i></b></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-11650784901156885532019-01-01T14:23:00.003-08:002019-01-05T15:09:26.744-08:00What We Think We Hear<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYVoVJVIQLpAAuWemmbIJolYaVaB55dnaV1vI5epzbdu6dyph9kcngY4TW_2XlyQRFcONkJcVO_XepbL6ghTO6VwupoFAJgTLCTGpWFET262WeGtdqBrKNK7nUALuTJOS9Fdq0yji0AqA/s1600/DSC_0083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1098" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYVoVJVIQLpAAuWemmbIJolYaVaB55dnaV1vI5epzbdu6dyph9kcngY4TW_2XlyQRFcONkJcVO_XepbL6ghTO6VwupoFAJgTLCTGpWFET262WeGtdqBrKNK7nUALuTJOS9Fdq0yji0AqA/s400/DSC_0083.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It
started out innocently enough. A well-intentioned comment was unfortunately
misconstrued and WHAM! Hurt feelings. It happens to all of us.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGrrEpxwvKkDWMWXqrP_6T4pE6-QPUISWOXl2RAsNIFg3gK1DYhcKb_LkAVfSw_03SHnl3nmtJD_ALGhrBIbVsg9PLDqdVY4pCrNMBigpACU04-NjS_92COaehxsvmgMePIAtjg11JUuI/s1600/DSC_0082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="1553" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGrrEpxwvKkDWMWXqrP_6T4pE6-QPUISWOXl2RAsNIFg3gK1DYhcKb_LkAVfSw_03SHnl3nmtJD_ALGhrBIbVsg9PLDqdVY4pCrNMBigpACU04-NjS_92COaehxsvmgMePIAtjg11JUuI/s400/DSC_0082.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Compared to my daily
attire I was somewhat dressed up, wearing a newly-purchased burgundy red skirt
with navy blue top and matching tights. I was pleased with this outfit and
feeling a bit cocky, I guess. Then my husband made his remark: “<em>Wow, you look like
the Queen of England!</em>” To which I quickly replied: “<em>I do NOT!”</em> Then I further
explained that, although I had nothing against the Queen, I was not a stuffy,
dumpy, little old lady, as I perceived her to be. Talk about insults. “<em>No,
that’s not what I meant.</em>” he continued. “<em>I mean, that skirt is a rich royal
color, like what a queen might wear. It looks good on you—I meant it as a
compliment.</em>” Oh…</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7fzWjrApAE1UKgLZlpr_c2LK4qg-kOjwYYGnXdafXgXw1xelicFkXU4E8GdCkudSey1UN-sxbnWVYK8Xr7NYd9t589LaOzpKB54StOoz7XfjPbEt1G_4dMfWD1vnv2A74EyxhS4SE0EK/s1600/DSC_0056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7fzWjrApAE1UKgLZlpr_c2LK4qg-kOjwYYGnXdafXgXw1xelicFkXU4E8GdCkudSey1UN-sxbnWVYK8Xr7NYd9t589LaOzpKB54StOoz7XfjPbEt1G_4dMfWD1vnv2A74EyxhS4SE0EK/s400/DSC_0056.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s not the first time my
thoughts have jumped out of my mouth prematurely. I’m sure it won’t be the
last. It seems to be a basic problem with human communication: what you think you
say about what you think is not at all what the other person hears and thinks
you said, because they are thinking their own thoughts. Thinking is a wonderful
thing, most of the time, but it can and does mislead us. Accurately hearing
what the other person is saying, if we are even listening, is critical. Because
I am such a visual person, I know that I immediately picture in my mind what it
is the other person is saying. I also know that I’m sometimes totally wrong. It
helps to clarify by repeating what you think the person said before adding your
own reply.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8OcN_ieV78ysDMHKdvDrSgjMEqLmL94Cp3DYi7fCBGcs7kg0cehkE2HDOVKrzdoYZ9qr4cB5tTN3lJc2lpDe-UyKkLqxmfxB8crDO-8OC9HAG5JStp47WRSLKbqgB1HARU4qFaihvilo/s1600/DSC_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8OcN_ieV78ysDMHKdvDrSgjMEqLmL94Cp3DYi7fCBGcs7kg0cehkE2HDOVKrzdoYZ9qr4cB5tTN3lJc2lpDe-UyKkLqxmfxB8crDO-8OC9HAG5JStp47WRSLKbqgB1HARU4qFaihvilo/s400/DSC_0087.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To complicate matters,
everyone is different when it come to speaking one’s mind. Some of us are more
articulate than others; some write their thoughts better than speaking them.
Then there are those who think others can just read their minds…</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iUIRVNmL1VfZAfGxrDaW7XP-VQfy_zt27sXbTPZsg98nofAlWdkJSpMCtqWGKkU60g55A5mJJo1TbGvE0SH-tBrQn26xekeUQgC-p7YElUQ_lxNeMCodZZpPn7gIDRgvXPzUzyS8ZsPL/s1600/DSC_0090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iUIRVNmL1VfZAfGxrDaW7XP-VQfy_zt27sXbTPZsg98nofAlWdkJSpMCtqWGKkU60g55A5mJJo1TbGvE0SH-tBrQn26xekeUQgC-p7YElUQ_lxNeMCodZZpPn7gIDRgvXPzUzyS8ZsPL/s400/DSC_0090.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">With another new year beginning, many are making resolutions to
improve themselves or their lives—or at least considering making those. More
recently, it’s become popular to choose a word for the year, with the intention
of focusing on that as a way of improving oneself. I don’t do well with
resolutions, but I do like to set a goal or two for the year. Although I reach
those with varying degrees of success, it gives me something to aim for. I also
like choosing a word or statement and in past years have chosen <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">listen</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">focus</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">one step at a
time</b> as my word(s) for the year. This year, I’m taking my words from the
1989 book </span><b><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People</span></i></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">, by Dr. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Covey"><span style="mso-color-alt: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Stephen Covey</span></a>.
In it, he stated:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"If I
were to summarize in one sentence the single most important principle I have
learned in the field of interpersonal relations, it would be this: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Seek first to understand, then to be
understood</b>."</span></span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"></span></i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtyySgOwp7yC1HJmSdG5-ibZ2C4y39QNqKUB61qNZ9tt-i5dnJA5J2nonyOEALo09sgPtg064hD2iXSngmKskD50G-QvKhmXOecD-TTRPC1EKW-Bamer7R-C4HGrr6hctHFICMC9-MezM/s1600/DSC_0105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtyySgOwp7yC1HJmSdG5-ibZ2C4y39QNqKUB61qNZ9tt-i5dnJA5J2nonyOEALo09sgPtg064hD2iXSngmKskD50G-QvKhmXOecD-TTRPC1EKW-Bamer7R-C4HGrr6hctHFICMC9-MezM/s400/DSC_0105.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I think I have my work cut out for me, but that's good because I like challenges. Whatever method you choose, I hope that you also will seek some way to improve your life in the coming year. Secretly, I really would like to appear as dignified as the Queen of England. How about you?<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></o:p></span></i></b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKlRBRMBRTF79UTcbd1kP2mhx_PZ0J6ReVRl0LcePo0RYajSbbhi7agBp8F66dgcfrXOaPdL6MccBfqc5-Dn4Mhs6vBtnZ0lnBErG9o53Bj4q9_2s9LrbdT-0Ehoo-fWYF66X-h4B4cqy/s1600/military-1722004__340_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="290" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKlRBRMBRTF79UTcbd1kP2mhx_PZ0J6ReVRl0LcePo0RYajSbbhi7agBp8F66dgcfrXOaPdL6MccBfqc5-Dn4Mhs6vBtnZ0lnBErG9o53Bj4q9_2s9LrbdT-0Ehoo-fWYF66X-h4B4cqy/s320/military-1722004__340_edited.jpg" width="278" /></a></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></i></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more
hope for a fool than for them.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">~ Proverbs 29:20 </span></span></i></b></span></span></span></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></i></b></span></span></span></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,</span></span></i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">neither
are your ways my ways,”</span><br />
<span class="text">declares the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text"><sup> </sup>As the heavens are higher than the earth,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">so
are my ways higher than your ways</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">and
my thoughts than your thoughts.”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">~
</span></i></b><span class="passage-display-bcv"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Isaiah 55: 8 - 9</span></i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></span></i></b></span></span></span></i></b></span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-67334942275203175102018-12-26T12:45:00.001-08:002019-01-05T15:08:13.058-08:00What We Think We See<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When venturing out these evenings, I am mesmerized
by lights. Recently, long lines of cars filled the late autumn darkness with
what seemed like a thousand glistening spider webs, awesome in their
perfection. White, bluish, and red, they appeared as the frozen, steady glow of
large individual sparks from a giant Fourth of July sparkler. Honestly, they’re
hard to describe in their brilliant uniqueness. And it’s all because of my “new
eyes.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I
distinctly remember the small room and hallway; it seemed like a whole new
world to my left eye. No one told me that my vision had darkened, yellowed, and
become blurry THAT much. Possibly they did, but I hadn’t believed them. I
thought I could see just fine; could still read, if the light was bright
enough; could still see traffic signs, if I got close enough. I’d put off the
surgery for a few years, knowing it was just a matter of time before I’d <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">really</b> need it. The eye doctor told me
that everyone, if they lived long enough, was likely to develop cataracts.
Also, that the procedures had improved over time, there were choices as to what
kind of lens to have put in, and that the success rate was high. I didn’t fear the
surgery, but life was busy, and I just couldn’t be bothered. When I finally
decided to go ahead, the results were more than I ever expected.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After
the second surgery, my right eye took longer to heal and focus. During the
first long week of recovery, the thought occurred to me that I might never see
well through that eye again. There was always that slight possibility, of
course, but I clung to the hope that all would end well. Fortunately, it did,
and I was greatly <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>surprised by the
vision I now have: objects in clear focus both near and far; colors that look
pleasingly different from before; overall, a brighter, whiter world. The new
artificial lenses in my eyes allow me to see all this, BUT, bright lights
shining directly at me (including the myriad stars in the night sky…) appear
with these magnificent prisms of light radiating out of them. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Life is
full of risks, and sometimes we have no option about taking them. Often,
however, we can choose and must carefully weigh what’s at stake and if the risk
is worth it. This year, during this season, I contemplate what vision really is
and wonder: What if Mary had never believed the angel and had run away or Joseph
had rejected her as she was, unborn child and all? What if the journey to
Bethlehem had never been taken or the innkeeper had found room for two more?
What if the shepherds had hidden in fear or the angels had been out on strike?
What if the Magi had miscalculated the position of that one bright star or had
done exactly as King Herod requested? What if we find we don’t really believe
it at all? What </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">is it we think we see and does
or can that vision ever change?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My
faith journey, as perhaps yours, has been long, meandering, and evolving. I’ve
taken some wrong turns and come to some dead ends, hit some slick spots and
lost control. I’ve had to stop to re-fuel or just take a rest, but I’ve kept
going just the same. For I know that I’m not the main driver; the light
continues to shine, directing and guiding my trek through this thing called
life. Sometimes, it even appears as a giant sparkler, giving me joy in the
darkest of nights.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This
season, I wish the same for you.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When
Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>light of the world. Whoever follows me will
never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." </span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>~ John 8: 12</span></i></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-49672905611119604282018-03-31T23:10:00.001-07:002018-03-31T23:12:10.057-07:00Spring in the Greenhouse<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVG_JCWxNG9p355yzzrbp8luJeBmn0rHxJsTdURYDw0rLNEmcT9G9DKQDzb4k9KX9V8DcygbC_vpCs4Nyg4ZtgI3O5yHW0xmpy-KNAMf8Yz1E7caZNOAISVXhFkNr6xBALyCtn7ltLgpYI/s1600/DSCN1101+%25282%2529+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="372" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVG_JCWxNG9p355yzzrbp8luJeBmn0rHxJsTdURYDw0rLNEmcT9G9DKQDzb4k9KX9V8DcygbC_vpCs4Nyg4ZtgI3O5yHW0xmpy-KNAMf8Yz1E7caZNOAISVXhFkNr6xBALyCtn7ltLgpYI/s400/DSCN1101+%25282%2529+copy.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thinking back to my childhood, I try to remember what first
signaled Spring to me those many years ago. I remember snow – lots and lots of
snow. Piled high along the edges of the streets where the snow plows had pushed
it, stained dark gray from the dust and months of shoveling, it often rose
higher than my head. And then, almost unperceptively, it became a soggy brown
slush that was fun to splash through, but not so much when spewed up from
beneath a passing car. It ran in dirty rivulets down street gutters, disappeared
into corner drains, carrying with it the muck from a long, frozen season. As
hillsides, yards, and gardens again became visible from under the sodden
blanket, new green growth gradually pushed up. Most of all, I remember crocuses
– brilliant splashes of deep purple and sunny gold against dark, soggy earth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwB-fvJK7SmnK6WYSv0-S5GT0abKU2rgHZa9_iW_5MwZtzDNnlPK1EZ7j-hGgkHHkLyO9YFHDdmo9oNDSkwSucJk5mYZk7cMWo8ouKfP5itJlFDdRduedhWukhBfztSkVH5LB3Ej0O9HT/s1600/1-046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="689" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwB-fvJK7SmnK6WYSv0-S5GT0abKU2rgHZa9_iW_5MwZtzDNnlPK1EZ7j-hGgkHHkLyO9YFHDdmo9oNDSkwSucJk5mYZk7cMWo8ouKfP5itJlFDdRduedhWukhBfztSkVH5LB3Ej0O9HT/s400/1-046.jpg" width="396" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"></span></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">In our greenhouses, spring arrived early. Entering them was
like arriving at some other, more exotic, part of the world - warm, humid, and
sweetly scented. The heat was generated in a huge, gas-fired boiler in the
basement which heated water that passed through cast iron pipes that ran under
each of the long, wooden benches. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fZkUh1a7b4CvduXV4UpOKory-kIe0IQwB9WIWlpi39mbsL8jsw16xjO2bAJqrMI9y3VVwIIU9JQm-Wqx4hksXHKLaIr-g3HfVRP76yL14byD9rVCdbg4O8kkIYdJfDpHUdvXqCKubBe-/s1600/carnations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fZkUh1a7b4CvduXV4UpOKory-kIe0IQwB9WIWlpi39mbsL8jsw16xjO2bAJqrMI9y3VVwIIU9JQm-Wqx4hksXHKLaIr-g3HfVRP76yL14byD9rVCdbg4O8kkIYdJfDpHUdvXqCKubBe-/s400/carnations.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">Photo from homedepot.com</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">The benches were filled with dark, rich, soil
and tall carnations of red, pink, and white. To this day I love the white ones
best because of their spicy, cinnamon-like scent. There were also potted plants
set on flat wooden platforms on top of some of the unplanted benches. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9ythdMHumBgvEsSB5JbaLRIuJeF98PEUlOAQamWPVZsqXydU3-Mv0IjA10M1ltyV2sBWBIs21Nu05Luo9em9wqXf4oxY1LNZ1Bhg9b9n8kDhe9k4EvHWJBj5CgXja89kPEBWt5pmodoq/s1600/Azalea_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="1402" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9ythdMHumBgvEsSB5JbaLRIuJeF98PEUlOAQamWPVZsqXydU3-Mv0IjA10M1ltyV2sBWBIs21Nu05Luo9em9wqXf4oxY1LNZ1Bhg9b9n8kDhe9k4EvHWJBj5CgXja89kPEBWt5pmodoq/s400/Azalea_3.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: small;">Photo from flowers-in-world.blogspot.com</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">I can
picture the pink and white azaleas, magenta cyclamens</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">calceolaria with their purse-like spotted </span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">yellow and orange flowers, daisy-like cinnerareas, and row upon
row of Easter lilies. The super-sweet smell of the lilies trumped all the other
scents as Easter neared and their number increased. Many began to sport
brightly-colored foil wrappings with satin bows, lined up like so many spotless
children ready for a birthday party. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua"; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskGjm6pBx3fuDw3sNyUHG72CtYcfNlU9elFSIebuBEcsgksX210h5EBDu_ADK_8s2jR69rnEdnzdGcpt3E1sGtien1YMuhyM9jxETQ4aomO3nRCdVtSVRj83tRzlJPMZfNjL3MI98FCAD/s1600/Calceolaria-herbeohybrida-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1000" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskGjm6pBx3fuDw3sNyUHG72CtYcfNlU9elFSIebuBEcsgksX210h5EBDu_ADK_8s2jR69rnEdnzdGcpt3E1sGtien1YMuhyM9jxETQ4aomO3nRCdVtSVRj83tRzlJPMZfNjL3MI98FCAD/s320/Calceolaria-herbeohybrida-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Photo from plantsrescue.com</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua";"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">These plants all needed care – weeding,
fertilizing, watering, and occasional pest-removal. The daily watering
increased the humidity, which caused the single paned glass houses to fog up
with the still frigid air outside. The heat and humidity were in there all year
long, as were some of the flowering plants, but the lilies only came around
Easter time.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccln5N8KbYhXrli5gNCH3ocoXCxvMgen3M_PLVXH3EkOzfsMUaewakUcOUWGl7ZJGpc4GqpzhljGZ8CT-Ec13rZ84dZjRKiZMAt21CjolXT_0bI1c7Cb3q1qZlVi4EDfxOwcLEUxGZQgF/s1600/Lilium_longiflorum_DC3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccln5N8KbYhXrli5gNCH3ocoXCxvMgen3M_PLVXH3EkOzfsMUaewakUcOUWGl7ZJGpc4GqpzhljGZ8CT-Ec13rZ84dZjRKiZMAt21CjolXT_0bI1c7Cb3q1qZlVi4EDfxOwcLEUxGZQgF/s400/Lilium_longiflorum_DC3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: small;">Photo from writeopinions.com</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We could, and did, bring plants and flowers into our house most
any time we wanted, which was a privilege and a luxury that I now know I didn’t
appreciate at the time. We always had an Easter lily and a lovely spring
centerpiece for our dinner on Easter Sunday. Even though it sometimes snowed
then, signaling that winter was not “quite” over yet, it was always Springtime
at Easter inside our home. If I close my eyes and remember those times, I
always smell the sweetness of the lilies.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua"; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ARY5DMj2VSk2slrAYTyP-MXsgl5ao_k0noMVph4RM6hzz6aRDBveOioRvjsahx5KFn4RkFHjD5NXwrQKXZblkb28l_lcI45dF0S1Z_i3f24FG536tpWwU_nxt2h-rBDmLI2o1ouTNiAL/s1600/1-047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="692" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ARY5DMj2VSk2slrAYTyP-MXsgl5ao_k0noMVph4RM6hzz6aRDBveOioRvjsahx5KFn4RkFHjD5NXwrQKXZblkb28l_lcI45dF0S1Z_i3f24FG536tpWwU_nxt2h-rBDmLI2o1ouTNiAL/s400/1-047.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">No matter what date it fell on or whether it snowed again,
Easter always ushered in Spring. We knew that it was only a matter of time
before tulip and daffodils sprouted and bloomed, followed by lilacs and
crabapple blossoms. The snow finally disappeared altogether, the air warmed,
mud dried up, grass turned green and grew tall. The morning came when we awoke
to the familiar song of the robin, back from its winter migration and by
evening we’d hear the mournful cry of the mourning dove perched on the power
line above the back alley. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquoL05mVtoc_rfzaVUvnuFJXgM7EqOgIWljk6lQtKArM_yFJ3EKYLT7QDIp9vF-ejKSqP3XobtO-Gn0lLzly09lzZdfWnCgv31w1gDizl_MIaCLPyaHjks_PUiHFB_acI5FsAktmclVnk/s1600/cineraria-flower_33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquoL05mVtoc_rfzaVUvnuFJXgM7EqOgIWljk6lQtKArM_yFJ3EKYLT7QDIp9vF-ejKSqP3XobtO-Gn0lLzly09lzZdfWnCgv31w1gDizl_MIaCLPyaHjks_PUiHFB_acI5FsAktmclVnk/s320/cineraria-flower_33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: small; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Photo from flowerspictures.org</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Everything was fresh and new again – sun, warmth,
growth, flowers, scents, and song. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><strong>A stimulating renewal after a long, frozen
winter.</strong> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">To me, this truly signifies what Easter is all about.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">For behold, the winter is past; the
rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has
come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Song
of Solomon 2:11-12</span></i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></div>
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Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-88128336887867829112018-02-21T12:21:00.000-08:002018-02-22T11:58:42.494-08:00HOLD ON<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha12M65gmcg3qzrhvTfs9ppALnXwCrOYOV8qIDISOmR_lHZuRwoRbtC0Bs9P5KZbl06Cytml5dn1oVc5ywKi9cyiAEbEtG0VWi2arovhLjBKWWL6n66cVLy4NXB1CauC1YSiAOsfLk6dLd/s1600/DSC_0010_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha12M65gmcg3qzrhvTfs9ppALnXwCrOYOV8qIDISOmR_lHZuRwoRbtC0Bs9P5KZbl06Cytml5dn1oVc5ywKi9cyiAEbEtG0VWi2arovhLjBKWWL6n66cVLy4NXB1CauC1YSiAOsfLk6dLd/s400/DSC_0010_edited.jpg" width="267" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes,</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A wallop catches
us</span></span></span>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Off guard</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">a card, dealt
under the table </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unfairly,
perhaps,</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A nasty slight
of hand</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Strong enough to
numb</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And cast us abroad</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Into an endless
sea of fear and doubt</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tossed about</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Helpless to do
anything but</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Barely hold our
heads above water</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It may be bad
news, a crushing loss,</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Circumstances
that lay us flat</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Render us unable
to even clear our mind</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We find</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We have no idea
who we are or where we’re headed</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We struggle – aimlessly,
even fiercely -</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But to no avail</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For the headwind
is strong and we…</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Clearly, we see</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are not strong
enough nor brave enough </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To weather the
storm alone </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This storm,
anyway</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They say to “let
go and let God”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And yes, it may
be best to</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let go of all
that we cannot control</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With the final
goal</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To be rid of worry,
fear, and fitful tossing…</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But HOLD ON!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What of the
times where you stand a chance</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To gain a
foothold, a toe hold, a sliver of hope-hold?</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With a glimmer beyond,
hold on for dear life </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With all that is
in you and know</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That others reach
out to hold on to you</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With love,
caring, hope, and faith</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We hold on to
each other because</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That is what we
are meant to do</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And HE holds on
to all of us</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who seem to need
a reminder of this</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes…</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjBTN5pc_aOCB5C5y-1W3j32Ms1mi8ezf3EFT2MdNvPky5tpZy4Nl2MnApAzBkJo74aZnek1NbaGhhURUEC2LtgP4MXGchHZr8xt_2NMfFqCAS-Qk-LXqzGxPkqC2_d2Grd_EK5F2xoi_/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjBTN5pc_aOCB5C5y-1W3j32Ms1mi8ezf3EFT2MdNvPky5tpZy4Nl2MnApAzBkJo74aZnek1NbaGhhURUEC2LtgP4MXGchHZr8xt_2NMfFqCAS-Qk-LXqzGxPkqC2_d2Grd_EK5F2xoi_/s400/DSC_0007.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></em></span> <span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There's an opportune time to do things,</span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">a right time for everything on the earth...</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">A right time to search and another to
count your losses.</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">A right time to hold on and another
to let go…</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Whatever was, is</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Whatever will be, is</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; 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line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">That’s how it always is with God</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; 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line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">~ Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 and 15
(from The Message)<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></i></span></span></span></i></div>
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Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-63017597157476947722018-01-01T19:34:00.000-08:002018-01-03T22:35:29.915-08:00That Pesky Persistence<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdzAGWc-MsxqSFxkzWIrup6hFvr8_ffKAE7mQTDeuuxIE5fcQhCLTsya03DwVyofTvJZ8xvWFFl8PqPsxSIqBMlfFXIvyhWboKFffmcu4POZ2D08GNp9HRb22LR23lXRMno9627ghFxm5/s1600/E.+squirrel+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdzAGWc-MsxqSFxkzWIrup6hFvr8_ffKAE7mQTDeuuxIE5fcQhCLTsya03DwVyofTvJZ8xvWFFl8PqPsxSIqBMlfFXIvyhWboKFffmcu4POZ2D08GNp9HRb22LR23lXRMno9627ghFxm5/s400/E.+squirrel+7.JPG" width="267" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If I hadn’t heard the noise, I still
would have known. Our little dog, a terrier mix, has an innate ability to hear
the slightest noise and smell the slightest odor, ultimately and doggedly
following it to its source. At least attempting to… He has recently learned
that the suet feeder hanging from the eaves just outside our kitchen window
attracts more than birds. The louder-than-usual sound of the madrone branch
scraping against the window and the heavy swaying of the feeder caught his
attention and he responded with his typical whining, barking, and frenzied
demands to go outside immediately. To him, it all spelled one thing – SQUIRREL!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SpGjxc1KMKGB_ngrM5Sj5gNdTF6EgfcK3Or1Rxc_AzT9K2U4ROhkhQ8GlSEGJk31_ZtEVwCMfS_MWXIQgC4lKVAUNOtJbnHnkfQDeFaIiMZ9UT9QQrNZiHTHfeOHfFV8wtnoVEx8INK5/s1600/E.+squirrel+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SpGjxc1KMKGB_ngrM5Sj5gNdTF6EgfcK3Or1Rxc_AzT9K2U4ROhkhQ8GlSEGJk31_ZtEVwCMfS_MWXIQgC4lKVAUNOtJbnHnkfQDeFaIiMZ9UT9QQrNZiHTHfeOHfFV8wtnoVEx8INK5/s400/E.+squirrel+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And he was right. As I stood,
rock-still and quiet near the window, I watched that Eastern gray squirrel
attempt what I thought might have been impossible. Literally within inches of
the window, he tenaciously climbed up to the smallest and most brittle twig and
time after time leaped toward the suet feeder, crashing gracelessly to the
ground each time. I found it agonizing – and humorous – to watch. It was also
exhausting to see his fruitless efforts and I finally turned my attention to
other things. When I noticed that the noises had stopped, I checked again and
there he was – precariously hanging from the bottom of that wire feeder,
proudly gorging himself on the suet.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_NpldLWdPZpsf0V03Zq4g-BTwurVaifTd3z0l9d0dVAr2aTK4hyspWbWo5QmDrKzuCfu1gsvoELvKT54oeqpBXG5lqEhgv_jeD1VCYmCBLyLIQg8ww03x4ZyCL2mXhgQvztknChQ0zi6/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_NpldLWdPZpsf0V03Zq4g-BTwurVaifTd3z0l9d0dVAr2aTK4hyspWbWo5QmDrKzuCfu1gsvoELvKT54oeqpBXG5lqEhgv_jeD1VCYmCBLyLIQg8ww03x4ZyCL2mXhgQvztknChQ0zi6/s400/DSC_0006.JPG" width="266" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Although I love all animals and
certainly appreciate that they all have their place in the world, these gray
squirrels are not my favorites. A non-native species, they likely arrived in
the Pacific Northwest with the help of humans. T</span><span class="normal-c1"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">he most
common squirrels found in most urban settings, they have also migrated into
rural forested areas. Unlike most native squirrels, such as the smaller Douglas
squirrels, they have adapted well to human habitation. Both species will give
birth in the spring and fall; however, fall is typically a much busier season
than any other time of the year. This possibly explains the frenzied search for
food. Whatever the reason, they – and certainly all squirrels in general – are
relentless in their pursuit of whatever it is they deem necessary to survive.
This includes defending their territory, collecting nesting materials, and
finding and obtaining food. As we have learned over years of trying, it is nearly
impossible to out-smart of squirrel. Far more cleaver people than us have tried. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnPmhJNyWaC3fsXvkx0csWr3-oovec5EkCsbfIR2XMuunDXNvuOyDd8yaOF3PSqTgJB9GVAPRb2_U8oiIzlDkr2FOCf5aSjJK8lOKFn4EhCoXoYIK6JwEES2jnzxqNIK0NWMXmUDxAVSe/s1600/E.+squirrel+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnPmhJNyWaC3fsXvkx0csWr3-oovec5EkCsbfIR2XMuunDXNvuOyDd8yaOF3PSqTgJB9GVAPRb2_U8oiIzlDkr2FOCf5aSjJK8lOKFn4EhCoXoYIK6JwEES2jnzxqNIK0NWMXmUDxAVSe/s400/E.+squirrel+6.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="normal-c1"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As we enter this brand-new year, we would do well to keep in mind the squirrels and their dogged persistence. Frustrating though it may be for us, more often than not this trait gets these furry creatures what they need. Trying new methods, climbing, leaping, and yes – often falling – are all a part of life’s journey for us, also. When we step out in faith, persisting in what we need to do to attain our goals, even with the accompanying setbacks, surely we will accomplish whatever it is we set out to do. Fortunately for us, we do not take this journey alone.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="normal-c1"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="normal-c1"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><i><strong><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">“But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. <br />~ Luke 11:5-9</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></i></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
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Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-63938047788945976332017-12-06T23:31:00.000-08:002019-01-30T10:24:14.879-08:00Windfall<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ2ljw83E-Zgrn9zP-KMVLPnLenOWngjYfcWPxq5Ou5euTkSZ8bKm_AxV6WStldRpFjfHQh9l3vOItQO2GwplBV7RqNxFyXn0PaKDgW9D2-mBX4Dp6xDIjzywW5FMmeD5aZ0T1yzhASvN/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ2ljw83E-Zgrn9zP-KMVLPnLenOWngjYfcWPxq5Ou5euTkSZ8bKm_AxV6WStldRpFjfHQh9l3vOItQO2GwplBV7RqNxFyXn0PaKDgW9D2-mBX4Dp6xDIjzywW5FMmeD5aZ0T1yzhASvN/s400/DSC_0018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sometimes, when we are diligently searching but
looking in all the wrong places, the very thing we seek waits for us in plain
sight. Things we don’t even know we need…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPUHgVZ1bt3-DaTDN9H-7qqxYg0S87LinWchABGprM8lR_Sb8e1xBpyUWa1fKpx-n6wcO-1bhcUD3Um02RkP_oEWtP8A0K4tWKoZHZXggigHD544uBbRr4R-olcK8Ml_be78fbKz9sUC9/s1600/DSC_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPUHgVZ1bt3-DaTDN9H-7qqxYg0S87LinWchABGprM8lR_Sb8e1xBpyUWa1fKpx-n6wcO-1bhcUD3Um02RkP_oEWtP8A0K4tWKoZHZXggigHD544uBbRr4R-olcK8Ml_be78fbKz9sUC9/s400/DSC_0027.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 157.5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Glad to go out on a mission, I sought the variety of greens that I
usually gather for holiday decorations. For cedar, I knew right where to go; the
revered old tree had some lower branches that needed pruning. It was easy,
using the long-handled loppers, to cut a couple of long branches off. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd06KpyCOrPxM0fXZTEWPPfnPOE_pqlMX5UN_p6-iN8880iWjSXppvOhj2y6dsHRs98XMUCmofhEmsP3prEh1MLOiZ0Q3w8RIsqY3pesCRqVwO4j3pKJ92GZclygPn-8FO0sKZHmyi9hgy/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd06KpyCOrPxM0fXZTEWPPfnPOE_pqlMX5UN_p6-iN8880iWjSXppvOhj2y6dsHRs98XMUCmofhEmsP3prEh1MLOiZ0Q3w8RIsqY3pesCRqVwO4j3pKJ92GZclygPn-8FO0sKZHmyi9hgy/s400/DSC_0031.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Once
those were down, I pruned off the smaller branches and made a stack on the lawn
to be retrieved later. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaufXoKF1v-UNKzLXMdq0VxKdpPfPu9nywVPPB6X5-uNmtvT2kxm7TWvijvBcT6XcaUKDdIJsveguHfGpAGkINPXdueT9HPI4ciOKEb5u_3wRQQ-qye8tSwhqWsmh6kGDDuVKEOEQh6rzJ/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaufXoKF1v-UNKzLXMdq0VxKdpPfPu9nywVPPB6X5-uNmtvT2kxm7TWvijvBcT6XcaUKDdIJsveguHfGpAGkINPXdueT9HPI4ciOKEb5u_3wRQQ-qye8tSwhqWsmh6kGDDuVKEOEQh6rzJ/s400/DSC_0032.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Douglas firs were more difficult, as most of the lower branches were gone. Strolling
the edge of the pasture, I searched for any possibility when something caught my
eye. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1nykPVzUZr2Hcc96kjaBpzskrz0rKQQlw22I_lLE8h0BBhnaR57LHEW_MuksN-vzv78kbtfBHoDJpDQ63tlvfQWvTTK8GFz9GnsluOHqapvhpDE1yneZN6d0s62q-tCZKl4PrvMsZByP/s1600/DSC_0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1nykPVzUZr2Hcc96kjaBpzskrz0rKQQlw22I_lLE8h0BBhnaR57LHEW_MuksN-vzv78kbtfBHoDJpDQ63tlvfQWvTTK8GFz9GnsluOHqapvhpDE1yneZN6d0s62q-tCZKl4PrvMsZByP/s400/DSC_0050.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Scattered about were many small branches blown down by a recent storm. I
gathered them up and stacked them into another pile. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJeVi_C7TLXWNCFzruABOmEvmlEYdnZzuiaF6IwHsImkucDhyFCJTNzHo9uDZEgZ7BDx12W3J94I4djv2LQWb9EYXr9qo_m75eumrZhS5nCNS-_CDwsQagBdsgD_CMHi5Axn_2tcRkrC4/s1600/DSC_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJeVi_C7TLXWNCFzruABOmEvmlEYdnZzuiaF6IwHsImkucDhyFCJTNzHo9uDZEgZ7BDx12W3J94I4djv2LQWb9EYXr9qo_m75eumrZhS5nCNS-_CDwsQagBdsgD_CMHi5Axn_2tcRkrC4/s400/DSC_0053.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There is a spot where western
white pine cones accumulate. It’s a bit of a mystery as there are none of these
trees nearby that I can see, and now there were more there than usual and some
unmistakable long-needled branches. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiBCMLGes6dZnVP0s0uT2BmUDlTXP9Ew7Q2_wbCFAbmFRFoDROjVWWMLW9jK0PWCdZZvjf3XXqBabyOSdRX_NIUBLy0juYe4PcslOqfn0ixsuVumSfFR05Z1zcjagexKT7jzCfiLsBEaa/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiBCMLGes6dZnVP0s0uT2BmUDlTXP9Ew7Q2_wbCFAbmFRFoDROjVWWMLW9jK0PWCdZZvjf3XXqBabyOSdRX_NIUBLy0juYe4PcslOqfn0ixsuVumSfFR05Z1zcjagexKT7jzCfiLsBEaa/s400/DSC_0024.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I made another pile. When I was finished, I
had more than enough fresh greens to do what I wanted and to share with friends
and neighbors. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ppfPqhVvi73A1j1s0sxgJ6r1-KsFf6JxkN22VvPTWc6SIiWwme-mFbSKr5u48WuRUIB2jnSmFr4cqd6YgdB1lEvUubxKoWRuaHUozzUcNPc37DXaDFCpbiY2X-MRlFQx2DL7I7qdpkcI/s1600/DSC_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ppfPqhVvi73A1j1s0sxgJ6r1-KsFf6JxkN22VvPTWc6SIiWwme-mFbSKr5u48WuRUIB2jnSmFr4cqd6YgdB1lEvUubxKoWRuaHUozzUcNPc37DXaDFCpbiY2X-MRlFQx2DL7I7qdpkcI/s400/DSC_0051.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">After fifty years of marriage, my husband and I have reached a new plateau, of
sorts, in our relationship. Gone are the rounds of endless discussions trying
vainly to change a mind, the hurt feelings, the frustrations of not seeing
eye-to-eye on an issue. We have always agreed on most of the important things,
but have our differences, as everyone does. Perhaps the struggle to turn a
partner into someone other than who they really are is a hallmark of youth, but
it is one we’ve surrendered to time. We now truly value each other - “warts and
all” – and with that acceptance comes a tremendous </span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">peace.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yPCrqt8M_tyTULmFZMdvPqXDEJ2dg4RYEucluaHv8rGVftre2tOHy0_AP3qWMMoswkpxGVpQItOeuGhxdLwQM8suatij7LZuyXszxk6mJPM4cmDwQ9w4w9ABRQguoaGfohLfWj1GODEf/s1600/DSC_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yPCrqt8M_tyTULmFZMdvPqXDEJ2dg4RYEucluaHv8rGVftre2tOHy0_AP3qWMMoswkpxGVpQItOeuGhxdLwQM8suatij7LZuyXszxk6mJPM4cmDwQ9w4w9ABRQguoaGfohLfWj1GODEf/s400/DSC_0035.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A few years ago,
through a series of volunteer projects, I gradually became acquainted with a
couple of remarkable women. </span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">One is a chatterbox - innately honest and a warm, caring
person with a heart as big as all outdoors and a fierce enthusiasm to
throw herself wholeheartedly into any endeavor she is a part of. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvbx7NYre0sw1g-fZAU5DtFXBzePDy0qjG_sTaJYSelNVfEO-P2WV1FYxsOdjDvZCpSQSc1BcO2L2I3aSeHDXLHlNR4H3-y-pIpBjN5Ag121AZi0hGCPvr9lLVGgIfyRHpGCLQlVOkpYK/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG"></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other appears quiet and reserved and can
size up a situation quickly, has an eye for detail, and a determined stubbornness
when it comes to preserving the environment and all creatures within it. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lUJe9Huus2t_e3KADUNI90WvxK7FcU4uCxt2M9yxa0l89WTFsYLQHLIqJOANATdl-qSDp-7W0NDfF1p1Dwc6VatOjk-aivn_Z-6LBVT0TmJdwwMPcnWrpxJWRf24KIMs7lYsXm4bq7fI/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lUJe9Huus2t_e3KADUNI90WvxK7FcU4uCxt2M9yxa0l89WTFsYLQHLIqJOANATdl-qSDp-7W0NDfF1p1Dwc6VatOjk-aivn_Z-6LBVT0TmJdwwMPcnWrpxJWRf24KIMs7lYsXm4bq7fI/s400/DSC_0036.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">One is
a non-practicing Catholic; the other has probing questions on all things
involving faith. We get together often, discuss anything, and respect each
other’s opinions. Beyond a doubt, I have become better informed, stronger in my
convictions, and more willing to act for causes I believe in because of their willingness to question and share. Ours has become a treasured
friendship.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8VCa2AJs9bPsc41P5x6AOyZoBLfHADOrzVn1n-3jUT2NdgZN9VjMQliQDohsZK0lyYVLMjd1_4QFbyHanacnUcfPrfTdiPOezUOpB2YxH3lN04jUpJjOuz41-VHOqcvBk61bQz8isASp/s1600/DSC_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8VCa2AJs9bPsc41P5x6AOyZoBLfHADOrzVn1n-3jUT2NdgZN9VjMQliQDohsZK0lyYVLMjd1_4QFbyHanacnUcfPrfTdiPOezUOpB2YxH3lN04jUpJjOuz41-VHOqcvBk61bQz8isASp/s400/DSC_0048.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 157.5pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We had been without a dog for fifteen years when a series of
circumstances led to our adopting our little rescue terrier, Scruffy. We wanted to find a dog locally, but we found him on the internet. We wanted to travel a short distance, yet we drove to another state to see him. We wanted an uncomplicated process - we visited him at an incarceration facility for young men, but still could not bring him home because the rescue group needed to visit and approve our home. Lord
knows he has his issues, unique behaviors, and odd little personality quirks,
but he has added a certain energy, challenge, and spirit to our aging lives. He
makes us LAUGH harder than we have in years, gets us out of the house daily, and gives us a reason to look forward to every day. And we wonder – just who saved
whom?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MAVVFDYs6N_l_UOH2iKj4fAnM-ITbRXE-EgugZTTwBXGxsuTmefprzfsUwCJ16v7O7ifIGIQ3YiyYu4zKfUz_4ZYz0-obpRPINOhYfvd1fhmjT4yC9RoI4pJZk-XgeBdX0HPLCzuAQSr/s1600/DSC_0006+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1549" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MAVVFDYs6N_l_UOH2iKj4fAnM-ITbRXE-EgugZTTwBXGxsuTmefprzfsUwCJ16v7O7ifIGIQ3YiyYu4zKfUz_4ZYz0-obpRPINOhYfvd1fhmjT4yC9RoI4pJZk-XgeBdX0HPLCzuAQSr/s400/DSC_0006+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">All of this is windfall - </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">unexpected, unearned, a sudden gain or advantage. In one
form or another it comes to all of us, but we need to open our eyes to see and recognize it. And when you do, acknowledge, accept, and value it –
trust where it comes from and that there will be more to come.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkoL3ue0VxnblM7evj1q8PHhuxfISsIi1Ie_YZkmKspGdRO_Jg1QHFOnNMT8lwfLI5HslWXU6N_QjwJ1d1-yJPsBnCD2olJ7WtsaTMMUHEXf0QbeskfEC3IYMgmXhQ5zzdOPZXJKlvIhM/s1600/DSC_0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkoL3ue0VxnblM7evj1q8PHhuxfISsIi1Ie_YZkmKspGdRO_Jg1QHFOnNMT8lwfLI5HslWXU6N_QjwJ1d1-yJPsBnCD2olJ7WtsaTMMUHEXf0QbeskfEC3IYMgmXhQ5zzdOPZXJKlvIhM/s400/DSC_0058.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Now to him who is able to do
immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at
work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout
all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #55544c; font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ephesians 3:20-21<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
</div>
Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-86795993985594954642017-11-26T14:11:00.000-08:002017-11-26T14:21:47.922-08:00Acorns in Parking Lots<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“<em>I’ll be right back…”</em> I called out as
I began crossing the large parking lot to the motel office where they kept hot
coffee all day long. In the early twilight, I could see splotches of some
tannish-gray material spattered across the dark pavement. My first thought was
that someone’s tires had collected and dropped globs of mud, but they seemed to
be the wrong color. Then I noticed odd little chunks and on closer inspection
could see what they really were – acorns. The oak trees that had been planted
in the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">median strips had produced
dozens, which now were ripe and dropping to the pavement. Many had been smashed
by tires, but some were still whole, scattered about with their broken-off
caps. Quickly grabbing that hot cup of coffee, I set it down on a curb and
began gathering up the acorns and caps into the front of my shirt. Gingerly
balancing the hot cup in one hand and my newly-acquired treasure in the other,
I returned to our room, joyful. “<em>Look what I found – free decorations!”</em> </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghetnLBNLEAvxcHnJ55dHpYOFoAM2FYqnIp4IFCY2mluh2EoZW4_w7iX5cTd4pnKybUR4WFaHsRs4j3SCj8Yn4FwPlXgg8uBbP4iJ0IFnQxEKZFmKcBOEhNIJ2C2B-Cp1Fs81XQvxNJuAD/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghetnLBNLEAvxcHnJ55dHpYOFoAM2FYqnIp4IFCY2mluh2EoZW4_w7iX5cTd4pnKybUR4WFaHsRs4j3SCj8Yn4FwPlXgg8uBbP4iJ0IFnQxEKZFmKcBOEhNIJ2C2B-Cp1Fs81XQvxNJuAD/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 157.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have always loved to gather nature’s bounty,
which is everywhere you look and often free for the taking. Brightly-colored
autumn leaves of different shapes and sizes, various seed pods and grasses,
lichen-covered twigs, evergreen cones, berries, and nuts are abundant this time
of year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the weather cools and
dampens, I bring them indoors to add some color and cheer to the darkening
days. Once collected, however, we need to see how they fit together and how
best to use or display them. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvz4AGHGT6P4xCaYIQBFlCK-J92kc5JTis5gun9UzMCmJcchCzNeUykG59lvkO0YT6XCRZDwGyZwutIdus51q5znQ0x4tKxScI7diVdY-cv93Zg-1QHtrqg5wAauc-e8Bc7eloPE5pNth/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvz4AGHGT6P4xCaYIQBFlCK-J92kc5JTis5gun9UzMCmJcchCzNeUykG59lvkO0YT6XCRZDwGyZwutIdus51q5znQ0x4tKxScI7diVdY-cv93Zg-1QHtrqg5wAauc-e8Bc7eloPE5pNth/s400/DSC_0002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And, if we pay attention, those are not the only
free treasures to be found, combined, and valued. I remember the year, shortly
after both my parents passed away, that I had the opportunity to attend art
school (at the age of 50, no less…) and use my part of a small inheritance to
complete the studies debt-free. Another time, while attending a community class
and subsequently volunteering to use that knowledge, I met some women who
ultimately became some of my closest friends. Asking for help on a local
internet community page has resulted in meeting some incredible people, whom I
would now not hesitate to contact for access to their unique skills. Serving on
a local community committee has helped me become acquainted with members of
different service organizations, educational institutions, and a local juvenile
justice department. The exchange of information and knowledge with each of
these people has enriched my life immensely and helped me connect them with
others who have needed their expertise. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8tApYxFxDWl5hCWMDMnSGvwrAU_bwHZuxY0CrbuUNKo9Va-yhiWOJBavjp0G7sQDswKhquLr6QBlymHpRuQMUfwbJLxsI3k_EtPzHxQk8VppgE0pYqHaqSyHOACP5_8whhazhrBS0VyI/s1600/DSC_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8tApYxFxDWl5hCWMDMnSGvwrAU_bwHZuxY0CrbuUNKo9Va-yhiWOJBavjp0G7sQDswKhquLr6QBlymHpRuQMUfwbJLxsI3k_EtPzHxQk8VppgE0pYqHaqSyHOACP5_8whhazhrBS0VyI/s400/DSC_0003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Those acorns – and their matching caps – returned
home with me. The caps have been glued on and they are prominently displayed,
along with other nuts and seedpods, as a reminder of the yearly harvest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d much rather enjoy these real things than
plastic imported replicas. Some years, I gather a small amount of evergreen
huckleberries from our yard. They are small and there is never enough to do
much with, but when combined with apples from my neighbor’s yard, they make a
wonderfully tasty pie.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBvsc1JACiDwe6rLIcEstTnshxMQnnPqGW3J-G1g1vQgsmF-Mgmm_YbXr-p6qxVJebiYLUmgTFDTngaImeoYcsEPjSv7ZfoHtSS7H3jQ5_7c_H7NFsPCsouujvPVgusvoNMgeswT92WEy/s1600/DSC_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="1575" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBvsc1JACiDwe6rLIcEstTnshxMQnnPqGW3J-G1g1vQgsmF-Mgmm_YbXr-p6qxVJebiYLUmgTFDTngaImeoYcsEPjSv7ZfoHtSS7H3jQ5_7c_H7NFsPCsouujvPVgusvoNMgeswT92WEy/s400/DSC_0004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 157.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many of us are not as close to the land and its
abundant resources as our ancestors were, but it’s good to remember that all
these things are timeless gifts from God. The harvest is ready – reap what you
can, share the bounty, and be forever grateful.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM16pwgEbcu7HhZM_Zye4FEy-ASi7YIHhFCrUduHWpKJpW2UEkfEDrhihv546_C5XOVFhIEb4ZPMo2RDixhFPlFVlXCjzd05Xewxs-N8pPGJNmoUUmAjGLvLJWSyjIT69YIcvCs38pQ364/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="1392" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM16pwgEbcu7HhZM_Zye4FEy-ASi7YIHhFCrUduHWpKJpW2UEkfEDrhihv546_C5XOVFhIEb4ZPMo2RDixhFPlFVlXCjzd05Xewxs-N8pPGJNmoUUmAjGLvLJWSyjIT69YIcvCs38pQ364/s400/DSC_0009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and
harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad
together. ~ John 4:36</span></span></i><br />
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw9DOP28JLafHdFdQoFLe0MI6YPvWmdg2DoscwOFF1tt6Ly5rfpA8SBQPNZlrPqxaMWpcW1emaNhDUi4WKld-WV63nFsCEoCCIYIfu84r0fEFUz5HT-dKtrsjojHLM5LvAtOH1Usj-aAa/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw9DOP28JLafHdFdQoFLe0MI6YPvWmdg2DoscwOFF1tt6Ly5rfpA8SBQPNZlrPqxaMWpcW1emaNhDUi4WKld-WV63nFsCEoCCIYIfu84r0fEFUz5HT-dKtrsjojHLM5LvAtOH1Usj-aAa/s320/DSC_0012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i> </div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-89317116904644202652017-06-22T21:10:00.001-07:002017-06-22T21:40:09.908-07:00The Ants Go Marching...<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_4Hp6Lkle-JfBValVKnDRxWiiiNQxdPBhTonBgDL12gbkkt47xjBWuVF8V7Rb46Rk9wmWESLj2_Jy3Z1LOVQj2-AOZl5QL8VsEHQnQC9lIUZ-VezZgO2qN4WsTUXOl_3vpN09CvLvbbX/s1600/copy+10+day+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1600" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_4Hp6Lkle-JfBValVKnDRxWiiiNQxdPBhTonBgDL12gbkkt47xjBWuVF8V7Rb46Rk9wmWESLj2_Jy3Z1LOVQj2-AOZl5QL8VsEHQnQC9lIUZ-VezZgO2qN4WsTUXOl_3vpN09CvLvbbX/s400/copy+10+day+9.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">March </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">verb</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: walk in a
military manner with a regular measured tread.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">walk or proceed quickly
and with determination <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></li>
<span style="color: black;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span>
</span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">force (someone) to walk
somewhere quickly<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></li>
<span style="color: black;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span>
</span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #767676; line-height: 12.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">walk along public roads in an organized procession to protest about something
(</span><a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+advance"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">advance</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">/</span><a href="http://www.bing.com/search?q=define+progress"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">progress</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">)</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8c_0yK25vIP4n00WHxOwCAWSDw0FL_954GANZE9qGfyFvFijr2jEygmrCsEF7_Nti9a3XqYDB3440DdM7xPBgbtLeZ2noC0hwBaXTybenyXXRA7HGhepE8qtRzQsA8PawuhHXELOXstG/s1600/DSC_0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8c_0yK25vIP4n00WHxOwCAWSDw0FL_954GANZE9qGfyFvFijr2jEygmrCsEF7_Nti9a3XqYDB3440DdM7xPBgbtLeZ2noC0hwBaXTybenyXXRA7HGhepE8qtRzQsA8PawuhHXELOXstG/s320/DSC_0050.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In these times of dissent and
confusion, marches for various causes have become more prevalent. Those who march
for their “cause”, and those who hold strong opinions about these marches, are
as passionate and diverse as our nation itself. I find myself, at different times
and in various situations, wondering just whose side I’m on and what I should
choose to do. Then, I am reminded of ants…</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeJFZSimLkeqjL1-0x0AGsKed2YTAaBGhtZz3_zdTaY8k9WS__PWWzjy_ycPHKVfM6nrbXyVatxhUD8slVX8ELOAstVnnh7urTVWhXcHo1cOC0-rS_Ceb9M7ckT1DdYKg6Fv0KyiY6yY1/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeJFZSimLkeqjL1-0x0AGsKed2YTAaBGhtZz3_zdTaY8k9WS__PWWzjy_ycPHKVfM6nrbXyVatxhUD8slVX8ELOAstVnnh7urTVWhXcHo1cOC0-rS_Ceb9M7ckT1DdYKg6Fv0KyiY6yY1/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span></span> <span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a child, like many of my age, I
spent a good deal of my time outdoors. In mild weather, with the screen door
banging behind me, I roamed the immediate neighborhood seeking adventure (such
as it was, in those days.) until lunch or dinner lured me home again for a
short while. Growing up in a city, and being intrigued by all life, there was
not much more than garden plants, weeds, birds, and bugs to investigate. The
bugs were common ones – caterpillars, butterflies, moths, grasshoppers,
beetles… and ANTS! </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRsH6YRO7prY-sqGh9rsF3XVSl749y8iCk15A2lXCVIN8wfC1kBdhEN4SoNLylNpZ0TSPZ5ujzomaSIkTZw1hD6LVA5GuQPUVZQ37iPpRSehc5tBo3rREncKcu_G-90Fa62V5eu5JHEP8/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1294" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRsH6YRO7prY-sqGh9rsF3XVSl749y8iCk15A2lXCVIN8wfC1kBdhEN4SoNLylNpZ0TSPZ5ujzomaSIkTZw1hD6LVA5GuQPUVZQ37iPpRSehc5tBo3rREncKcu_G-90Fa62V5eu5JHEP8/s320/DSC_0025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 157.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">While I captured, studied, and played with all of these, I
have especially strong memories of the ants. During several summers, I
carefully dug up ant nests and set the tiny residents up in my own home-made
ant farm – a large glass jar filled with soil with black paper taped around the
sides. It never took the ants long to reestablish themselves in their somewhat
abbreviated world of the jar. As they worked to create their myriad tunnels and
living quarters, some which were down along the glass sides, I would remove the
paper at times to observe them. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PAjGuPTJViAHmNRfHcPEEjTI4Vx8NVSUg3z6KB_ogFXRELk_ORNzvFSUHx5BI8j9s6T0y6VScnvAPrellHTYk79giCMWW25zR4Nv6OFkOYwcAPpu0dZ8q9EMmWIjXwArtUGi5sQll9HG/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1289" data-original-width="1600" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PAjGuPTJViAHmNRfHcPEEjTI4Vx8NVSUg3z6KB_ogFXRELk_ORNzvFSUHx5BI8j9s6T0y6VScnvAPrellHTYk79giCMWW25zR4Nv6OFkOYwcAPpu0dZ8q9EMmWIjXwArtUGi5sQll9HG/s320/DSC_0033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 157.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some of the best
education is personal experience; here is a small bit of what I learned about
ants: </span></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">When a threat is perceived, ants
respond quickly and with vigor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">There appears to be chaos and
confusion at first, with scurrying about in all directions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 31.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> T</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">hey quickly take up their assigned
roles of defending, carrying loads of young and food, saving their queen, and
seeking safety.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Often, when the threat has passed,
they return to their nest site to painstakingly rebuild.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 31.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If deemed necessary (Who knows how?)
they will rebuild their colony at a new site – marching steadfastly back and
forth until all has been accomplished – and resume their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 31.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In the greater scheme of things, they
are teeny, tiny specks of life in a vast universe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 31.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Within that universe, they are
important and part of the wider-ranging web of life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We are not that much different.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeXqM7_zAZais4KT6kbsiYA_AGnSglqzn5An7Czo1Iiv-SlT9a4YMEVOjV2CyAQGehewxHoBZPVyjBU932uw3Li5TzFx83C8YCh0znCMFGnyRhuxNpt-wkO-mvSQl6bMd3OGtO-0HcPTn/s1600/DSC_0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeXqM7_zAZais4KT6kbsiYA_AGnSglqzn5An7Czo1Iiv-SlT9a4YMEVOjV2CyAQGehewxHoBZPVyjBU932uw3Li5TzFx83C8YCh0znCMFGnyRhuxNpt-wkO-mvSQl6bMd3OGtO-0HcPTn/s320/DSC_0052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In times such as these, we each have
our personal decisions to make as to our beliefs and associated actions. Study,
soul-searching, diligence, and respect are needed for all of us. There has
always been, and will continue to be, times of disagreement, distrust, and
division among humans, and Christians are no exception. Among these Ds don’t
forget dialog, discussion, and discernment. PRAY, especially for all those
“others”- and don’t forget the ants…</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span class="content"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">God, when you took the lead with your people, when you marched out into the
wild,</span></b></span></em></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span class="content"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></span></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span class="content"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Earth shook, sky broke out in a sweat; God was on the march. </span></b></span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><span class="content"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ps</span></b></span></em></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">alm 68:7-8<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b></em></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">from The
Message)<o:p></o:p></span></b></em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span>Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-49758263941737361742016-11-26T12:52:00.002-08:002016-11-26T20:59:09.253-08:00Struggling Upstream<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvBjHP0BLQsWujMcTtFawgagMYnaecC-H_7rluzeC6_apVdC5c0arwoTisQf3kcRggcZkIdS3zVwsJyQFbtGNvYJlFwu_E1ciXEeb-elhnQF0Q3pKfEU5DsPWq6AGBePHmI91iqdDP0xU/s1600/John+Williams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvBjHP0BLQsWujMcTtFawgagMYnaecC-H_7rluzeC6_apVdC5c0arwoTisQf3kcRggcZkIdS3zVwsJyQFbtGNvYJlFwu_E1ciXEeb-elhnQF0Q3pKfEU5DsPWq6AGBePHmI91iqdDP0xU/s400/John+Williams.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Photo by John Williams</span></span></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Surrounded by the hush of the forest
- firs, cedars, and maples closing in with all their muted glory - I was once
again struck by the fragility, yet the stubbornness, of life. Below us in the
stream the salmon struggled, their once-glorious bodies battered, tattered, and
covered with white splotches of fungus. Theirs was a trip of a lifetime, a
one-time journey upstream to preserve their species; a trek marked by danger
and tragedy as they wended their way past fishermen, boulders, logs, predators,
through culverts, over or around dams and fish ladders.</span></span><br />
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpChfP4VnHuhNVYHz7y3hcL53e0iEEhstoGTSsjSoFarXfwiSjYvY2HnYxZ8bHZyRj_dXD7kztPlEbkWR6sOefHPgkWaRIxiszM2L_3kNE5mFV3BypdBy0EYq1Tkk_uM3ViGSp4yFefVt/s1600/20161118_120727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpChfP4VnHuhNVYHz7y3hcL53e0iEEhstoGTSsjSoFarXfwiSjYvY2HnYxZ8bHZyRj_dXD7kztPlEbkWR6sOefHPgkWaRIxiszM2L_3kNE5mFV3BypdBy0EYq1Tkk_uM3ViGSp4yFefVt/s400/20161118_120727.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Many would not survive
the ordeal. Those who did would, if successful, produce progeny that might face
even greater challenges on their return journey to the sea. It was a risk they
all had to take – to choose otherwise would mark the end of their kind.</span></span><br />
<div align="center">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEB8BqCPPp4n2iA1yqXD6WUScfdHn_tG4cpmXmBm-XFf-EI_D02iDgwO9QYJVUroNXGdftVY4tVPk_Y_PFBMC2oGcecwwtR6jdSLPiFsqxW1SpCr6CJtDruArt7My9hRsW87fteKax9MgF/s1600/%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEB8BqCPPp4n2iA1yqXD6WUScfdHn_tG4cpmXmBm-XFf-EI_D02iDgwO9QYJVUroNXGdftVY4tVPk_Y_PFBMC2oGcecwwtR6jdSLPiFsqxW1SpCr6CJtDruArt7My9hRsW87fteKax9MgF/s1600/%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEB8BqCPPp4n2iA1yqXD6WUScfdHn_tG4cpmXmBm-XFf-EI_D02iDgwO9QYJVUroNXGdftVY4tVPk_Y_PFBMC2oGcecwwtR6jdSLPiFsqxW1SpCr6CJtDruArt7My9hRsW87fteKax9MgF/s400/%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Salmon are driven by instinct, a highly-sensitive sense of smell, and an uncanny
ability to detect the </span></span><span lang="EN" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">pattern of the Earth's magnetic
field at the mouth of their native river. They are one of the few fish that can
adjust to differences in salinity, spending part of their lives in both salt
and fresh water. Adults live in the ocean where they feed and grow for six
months to seven years, depending on the species. At maturity, they return to
the stream where they were hatched and literally fight their way upstream to
the ideal gravel beds for laying their eggs. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZLcfbsYs7capn-PTdnkPEPN0q_PB3TT9J84MJL8HgVLfM5WljY6iQqUcD5Gu_MAcUITNGTbp7qUiKlSqQl82EvBmZG3NQGrjc1SRopRSI3e-4uZLigsIOom_FeHEr2DXAh_iyWPRkEST/s1600/%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZLcfbsYs7capn-PTdnkPEPN0q_PB3TT9J84MJL8HgVLfM5WljY6iQqUcD5Gu_MAcUITNGTbp7qUiKlSqQl82EvBmZG3NQGrjc1SRopRSI3e-4uZLigsIOom_FeHEr2DXAh_iyWPRkEST/s400/%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<span lang="EN" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">During this time, the adults stop
eating and their bodies undergo many changes to help them attract a mate and
ward off competitors. After the precious eggs have been laid, fertilized, and
gently covered, the adults finally give in to the starvation and damage of
their bodies and die. But that is not the end of their story – far from it. Some
of the dying or dead fish provide food for other animals; their decomposed
bodies return valuable nutrients to the water and soil of the surrounding
forest.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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Photo by Laura Finch</div>
<span lang="EN" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span></span><span style="margin: 0px;">
</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The
newly-hatched fish continue to feed on the yolk sac attached to their bellies.
Some kinds stay in the gravel for several weeks before swimming up into the
open water of the stream, where they feed on plankton and other tiny aquatic
organisms. Some spend one to two years in fresh water before beginning the long
journey downstream and heading out to sea. As the current carries the young
salmon tail-first to the ocean, their bodies undergo physical and chemical
changes to enable them to survive in salt water. It truly is an incredible,
never-ending circle of life.</span></span><br />
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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Photo by Laura Finch</div>
<span style="color: #222222; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">God provides us with many teachers and there is much
we can learn from the salmon. We need to become keenly aware of our instincts
and learn to trust in them; as we develop our finely-tuned sense of self and a
sense of place, know that those are inexorably linked. We should set our goals
and persevere until they are reached, no matter how tough the going may be. If
we value the </span></span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">wisdom
and knowledge of older people who have amassed a wealth of information,
experience, and acumen, we will find it is worth making the time to listen to
and learn from them. To live sustainably, so that there is enough for everyone,
we need to become fully conscious of our use of the many natural resources this
planet provides – carefully buying, using, and recycling; there should be
little that we waste or throw away. We must trust that others will carry on
after us.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There is a time for everything, and a
season for every activity under the heavens:</span></span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; display: none; margin: 0px;">ferences for
Ecclesiastes 3:1</span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; display: none; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13px -12px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; display: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; display: none; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/ecclesiastes/passage/?q=ecclesiastes+3:1-5#crossreference-1"><span style="color: #428bca; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Cross References</span></a></span></i></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a time to be born and a time to die, a time
to plant and a time to uproot,</span></span></i></b><br />
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(250, 250, 250); line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a time to kill and a time to heal, a time
to tear down and a time to build, </span></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(250, 250, 250); line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time
to mourn and a time to dance, </span></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(250, 250, 250); line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a time to scatter stones and a time to
gather them,</span></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(250, 250, 250); line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a time to embrace and a time to refrain
from embracing…</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="background: rgb(250, 250, 250); line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">~ </span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ecclesiastes 3:1-5</span></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It is the season of renewal, joy, and hope -</span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">CELEBRATE!</span></span></i></b><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-10445469825117900922016-11-07T16:09:00.002-08:002016-11-08T08:47:39.859-08:00SCARY - or just Scared<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85hS2CxbDBvzHhmjVvgVlleWc_AqkYG3ctA_9-h7OIq000YV9eq-G6h-8_BLYWfqHfIZvIsqohrJSQq8Ej7yyEWoiTZegCBdJYWNb10yo_B_hcqYrV8Qhqp2Gx0YM8vWQecbRnxtVf3Te/s1600/Scary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85hS2CxbDBvzHhmjVvgVlleWc_AqkYG3ctA_9-h7OIq000YV9eq-G6h-8_BLYWfqHfIZvIsqohrJSQq8Ej7yyEWoiTZegCBdJYWNb10yo_B_hcqYrV8Qhqp2Gx0YM8vWQecbRnxtVf3Te/s400/Scary.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“<i>I’m SCARY!”</i> the small voice suddenly boomed out
menacingly, while the arms straightened and stuck out and there began a
stiff-legged strut around the room. Frankenstein had come alive! It was only a
costume, of course, and not a very good one at that. It was just a cheap print
of the infamous monster’s face on a sort of rectangular pinafore of vinyl with
a matching plastic mask. But he had chosen it himself and now wore it proudly
over a bright yellow raincoat and dark red jeans. I’ve often wondered if he
thought he really was that scary or was just trying to convince himself of the
fact…</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFP-Nd6aLvW6kdPc01ZBN9dMIyj1L_mNtsNamy3z7ME4WnEm-FTr-4xK27SSVAy3GUiOX0VWxb-tYNvTmq8YL7pRxuTB_lor8NXZK7bY_UlrFHlAyH7C_styGaQnExfGGy9cjAlGWu2LT/s1600/Shane+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFP-Nd6aLvW6kdPc01ZBN9dMIyj1L_mNtsNamy3z7ME4WnEm-FTr-4xK27SSVAy3GUiOX0VWxb-tYNvTmq8YL7pRxuTB_lor8NXZK7bY_UlrFHlAyH7C_styGaQnExfGGy9cjAlGWu2LT/s400/Shane+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We had only lived here six months when we got the OK
to pick up this four-year-old child in Everett and bring him home as our foster
child. It was not really what we wanted; we wanted to adopt, not foster, a
child. But as they say, beggars can’t be choosy and we’d waited long enough -
we’d been married fourteen years and time was flying by. We’d been assured that
they were “almost positive” this little boy would become free for adoption
within a year and we decided to take the chance. It proved to be so.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBS04qpbtwcmxbEDRtzSEvONi64j4vrbdDRKOog4Lk4wOkoAkpTmv1J2ZEQcZQexbyD5pOlEIkzhKh-7v3NWIBi1Ci03mB8GOIKVRbkdHq6vlSkNuOmFxEKJMTWngbpuj_OFgAt41w8ceb/s1600/Shane+1+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBS04qpbtwcmxbEDRtzSEvONi64j4vrbdDRKOog4Lk4wOkoAkpTmv1J2ZEQcZQexbyD5pOlEIkzhKh-7v3NWIBi1Ci03mB8GOIKVRbkdHq6vlSkNuOmFxEKJMTWngbpuj_OFgAt41w8ceb/s400/Shane+1+%25282%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I look back at that time and cringe, for none of us
really knew what lay ahead. We drove to Everett once to spend a couple of hours
with this boy before picking him up the next week. There was no time to get
acquainted; very little time to prepare. We’d had a bedroom ready with the
basics - bunk beds, chest of drawers, rocking chair – because we’d hoped to
adopt while living in Idaho. When that did not happen before we found out we’d
be moving to Washington, we stopped planning. Disappointment can do that to a
person. We went through the motions of applying to adopt here, but had no idea
things would happen as fast as they did. By the middle of October, we had a
child and wondered if we knew what in the heck we were doing. All new parents
must feel this way to some degree, but this was a preschooler with “issues” and
we had no instruction manual. We were new in the community, so knew few people
and had no family nearby. My husband was commuting to Seattle every day and still
traveling some with his work, so I was alone much of the time. To say I was apprehensive
is an understatement…</span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Our son arrived with one small box of clothes and a
small paper bag of toys from the child center – he had none of his own and
didn’t seem particularly attached to these. We drove to Penney’s in downtown
Bremerton (There was no mall in Silverdale yet.) to buy him a few clothes that
fit better and just sort of winged it the rest of the way. As Halloween
approached, he made it known that he wanted a costume and to go
Trick-or-Treating. I took him around to a few houses where we knew the people
for his treats. He acted so brave, but I could tell that underneath the bravado
was a scared little boy – new home, new parents, new experiences. But he did
enjoy himself and managed to eat his entire small bag of candy the next day. We
all had much to learn yet!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUV52YnF7se5fotqtjO65zVGCf3H2GQJ3a6yckKaZaov8qyKf5XZdE7gGKIo-umuxdQyw6vcOS93_baJcLNWWQ8qJp8AjI780IzE7AnZKG9l_fLNmXl6CFTENIwioObMteQUB0TBxAp2yq/s1600/Shane+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUV52YnF7se5fotqtjO65zVGCf3H2GQJ3a6yckKaZaov8qyKf5XZdE7gGKIo-umuxdQyw6vcOS93_baJcLNWWQ8qJp8AjI780IzE7AnZKG9l_fLNmXl6CFTENIwioObMteQUB0TBxAp2yq/s400/Shane+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">How often we put on a brave face and go forward as
if nothing is bothering us, afraid to show our perceived weaknesses to others. How
often we won’t face our fears and misgivings. How often we refuse help and seal
our hearts against risking more. How much hurt and grief we would avoid if we
would just let it all go…</span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My
heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Psalm 38: 10</span></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For
I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Psalm 109:22</span></span></i></b></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-633358979261695772016-07-15T11:42:00.001-07:002016-07-15T11:42:16.597-07:00Those Daily Miracles<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“There
are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as
if everything is a miracle.” </span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">~ Albert Einstein</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Amazed. It
is a word which today is over-used and has lost much of its meaning. But on
this day I truly was - amazed. Before me stood a minor miracle, a small plant
which only the day before anyone would have taken for dead. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I had
recently purchased my yearly supply of garden plants; most I had planted, but this
one had somehow escaped me. I thought I’d gotten six lovely coleus plants, but
when I planted them I only had five. Thinking I had simply miscounted, I
thought no more about it. But now I remembered that before planting we had
found one of them lying on the porch deck. It had been dry and therefore very
light-weight and we assumed either the wind or a pesky squirrel had knocked it
off the ledge where it had sat. I watered it well and planted it that very day.
</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1B_8ERk9ud76aBlX11_4ZjeA4BAvgR6YJsqjZhEVHnxeRlP2ziqUdebnziJ_ABUlrWI0VrN2XQ6bPzMORiydu9eBtJchJi1UfnryRg48WBOoV5SiQHaAVMynPBiojDZLI7uJCyRQ_9IJT/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1B_8ERk9ud76aBlX11_4ZjeA4BAvgR6YJsqjZhEVHnxeRlP2ziqUdebnziJ_ABUlrWI0VrN2XQ6bPzMORiydu9eBtJchJi1UfnryRg48WBOoV5SiQHaAVMynPBiojDZLI7uJCyRQ_9IJT/s400/DSC_0004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><span id="goog_1977840327"></span><span id="goog_1977840328"></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br />Unbeknownst to me, another coleus lay nearby, but out of sight. A week later I
had found it, pot and all, lying on its side on the ground, bone dry with
withered leaves. In fact, about half of its leaves were brown and crunchy-dry.
I nearly threw it out, but I had spent good money on those plants and decided
to do what I could. Setting the plant in a small bowl, I thoroughly watered it
and set it on our kitchen window sill. The following day all three of the
plant’s stems stood straight up, its remaining leaves full and healthy looking,
with bright green and rich rust coloring. I will plant it in a larger pot and
nurse it along until it has fully recovered before planting it outdoors. I call
it Lazarus.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“The
only way to live is to accept each minute as an unrepeatable miracle, which is
exactly what it is: a miracle and unrepeatable</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">.”
~ Storm Jameson</span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Recently, a
family friend had a horrendous bicycling accident and suffered a traumatic
brain injury. He lay in the intensive care unit for days with bleeding and
swelling on his brain, no memory of the accident, and questionable prognosis
for recovery. Doctors were guardedly encouraging, friends and family were in
shock, and the patient himself had no idea of what was going on. But those
close to him were always there with him – sitting next to his bed, holding his
hand, praying, crying, staring off into space, occasionally nodding off –
keeping watch by simply being present. But in a situation such as this, it is
never simple.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3cZUwdz-a5BlS_geMJfpBJ6e8lovl5_-7XzapJ_xE85BfNzpsYX7Pvb_MHgrxJiLN_rm2AiDJjgawRImt25s8kMZIpZLR5ztz9QX26loYlDdpo0isHUjlMshxrHYJAo-7I3Z2ZYtAh0f/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3cZUwdz-a5BlS_geMJfpBJ6e8lovl5_-7XzapJ_xE85BfNzpsYX7Pvb_MHgrxJiLN_rm2AiDJjgawRImt25s8kMZIpZLR5ztz9QX26loYlDdpo0isHUjlMshxrHYJAo-7I3Z2ZYtAh0f/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">After a
couple of weeks, he was released from the hospital and admitted to an
in-patient rehab center. After another few weeks, he was allowed to go home
with continuing out-patient rehab. Fortunately, he is able to walk, talk, and
communicate, although not as well as he did previously. Some of his memory has
returned and his functioning has improved, but he still has a long way to go.
No one can say, with certainty, if he will recover fully and how functional he
will end up being. However, he has made great strides in a relatively short
amount of time, which is a positive sign. He might have died, but here he is
one short month later. Again I am – amazed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKL01ALtW3fG07KxvVFz9hNeeFwYbhLzr8aHQM34uwhWk3anyV6qUtPCDUbtp4_CtFdYaoUVqF5lNrLNdwh8Q-ZlN_tXBeRODz_no3fJPQ2jk2n4s4-_5b2GPnuQo25VEFNLtKHgLMAByN/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKL01ALtW3fG07KxvVFz9hNeeFwYbhLzr8aHQM34uwhWk3anyV6qUtPCDUbtp4_CtFdYaoUVqF5lNrLNdwh8Q-ZlN_tXBeRODz_no3fJPQ2jk2n4s4-_5b2GPnuQo25VEFNLtKHgLMAByN/s400/DSC_0002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Whether you
believe in them or not, miracles do happen every day. Many are seemingly
insignificant, some mind-blowing - ALL are evidence of something far greater
than ourselves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFj_t-JCDpg0hI4Vyl5f-HxSGQ5mgDTnzAA1AZaLqfIvmzsVnvaonoA_v3DPA0S5jy9BbxBunJkVsERfFiHCtQueIKYUqfNFNH4fiA-EnPRlEySjzSk7-7LTSdr9gT4rtMm3XIvPi2aaQ/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFj_t-JCDpg0hI4Vyl5f-HxSGQ5mgDTnzAA1AZaLqfIvmzsVnvaonoA_v3DPA0S5jy9BbxBunJkVsERfFiHCtQueIKYUqfNFNH4fiA-EnPRlEySjzSk7-7LTSdr9gT4rtMm3XIvPi2aaQ/s400/DSC_0010.JPG" width="383" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth. </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Psalm 105:5</span></i></b></div>
Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-43742628621215122622016-07-07T13:27:00.000-07:002016-07-11T10:18:53.539-07:00Repairing Damage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gqGqo9kZ7O_h_WgsY0VoSsN2aLlqp4-M2rFb72uyQnvx_UqTYggxweanVDcpnqcd0i0bmBBU6kgE8LVs4D2rHbVdwGlgX3EDOLKNJIo1EiQRf9qOoTPAFGFRB7kcxUc_RGI4lNd0w6OA/s1600/DSC_0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gqGqo9kZ7O_h_WgsY0VoSsN2aLlqp4-M2rFb72uyQnvx_UqTYggxweanVDcpnqcd0i0bmBBU6kgE8LVs4D2rHbVdwGlgX3EDOLKNJIo1EiQRf9qOoTPAFGFRB7kcxUc_RGI4lNd0w6OA/s400/DSC_0065.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I’d
been watching for her, so when the tall, long-haired woman walked across the
small parking lot, came in through the door, and immediately approached me, I
was not surprised. “<i>Are you Barbara?</i>” “<i>Yes, you must be Kristin?</i>” And so it
began.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We all know about Internet dating, but this was something different. Still,
with my age and experience, it is not something I ever could have envisioned
myself doing. But I’ve learned to never say never, and in this instance it was
a sort of modern day miracle – and yes, thanks to the Internet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76dSjMSa763kTnCDmfXR6YLd-XGwKoizy7Y_hg2xxIXJ_gvYXy0tzNKdCWHMtmfr-oFRZAuE-kLjRNTBBDgxmLnqGBQXGo7HmWQ94ixwque1OkAZl17-NF6whZSQ8mbEPsmBMkCA3gwgB/s1600/DSC_0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76dSjMSa763kTnCDmfXR6YLd-XGwKoizy7Y_hg2xxIXJ_gvYXy0tzNKdCWHMtmfr-oFRZAuE-kLjRNTBBDgxmLnqGBQXGo7HmWQ94ixwque1OkAZl17-NF6whZSQ8mbEPsmBMkCA3gwgB/s400/DSC_0074.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We
climbed the stairs to the second floor and settled ourselves into the only couch
in this small, cozy, eclectic coffee shop. It was the idea place to meet –
casual, easy to find, and centrally located. After a bit of small talk to acquaint
ourselves with each other, I pulled my treasure from the large bag I had
carried in. Before us lay the white, hand-crocheted coverlet that my
mother-in-law had painstakingly made back in the 1940s, lovingly created of
thin cotton thread with a variety of intricate stitches. “<i>I lied</i>” I said.
“<i>Instead of four or five areas to fix, there’s more like twelve</i>…” Kristin
studied it carefully. “<i>That’s OK</i>” she said “<i>let me go get my kit</i>.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NCs4e7a8fDpiLBm6EwCOr_uj2Ufg_ZWnsoj9cP6I-7aNARSNQtVcFUKSjGPiIOBslEVdd3SN2yNLb6b873Slnn3HDQF6xKSwuTFP7VAbwngITqIKLWbkl3_HgoePk0CaL4wIBbgVatbs/s1600/crochet+damage+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NCs4e7a8fDpiLBm6EwCOr_uj2Ufg_ZWnsoj9cP6I-7aNARSNQtVcFUKSjGPiIOBslEVdd3SN2yNLb6b873Slnn3HDQF6xKSwuTFP7VAbwngITqIKLWbkl3_HgoePk0CaL4wIBbgVatbs/s400/crochet+damage+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I had
packed this coverlet away, safety pins marking and holding in place the areas
that had unraveled. I had considered repairing it myself, even buying a
“how-to” book on crocheting. It did not take long, however, for me to decide
that this was not something I wanted to attempt. Asking around for someone who
might repair it gleaned no results, so I finally submitted my request to a
local group via the Internet, complete with a couple of photographs. Someone
who saw my plea asked for permission to share on a local needle crafters' site
which is how Kristin heard about it. She responded immediately: “</span><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>… I have
experience repairing vintage crochet and knitting work and it's something I
really love to do. I love that you value the piece for sentimental reasons and
I would be happy to help you keep it around for many more years…I will bring my
kit, if the picture shows the full extent of the damage it's possible that I
can fix it then and there for you.</i>” She included some references, we discussed
her charge, and agreed to meet.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqb_DgIzVbtBQFT6kCvxM7HU-D1nC2aYhotNXrWg1ZC96BfbZW5D7vNSJvJ6_8fjscI_SHIQv5akkLWaEMjB7TJPmDRy6PFMsSWAWwbziGAVdOQEemF7044S7lQKenmPrJTyd9f23eSXG/s1600/DSC_0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqb_DgIzVbtBQFT6kCvxM7HU-D1nC2aYhotNXrWg1ZC96BfbZW5D7vNSJvJ6_8fjscI_SHIQv5akkLWaEMjB7TJPmDRy6PFMsSWAWwbziGAVdOQEemF7044S7lQKenmPrJTyd9f23eSXG/s400/DSC_0068.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Her
repair kit included different spools of cotton thread, in various shades of
white, and a selection of crochet hooks. Carefully, she held the different
threads against the coverlet and crocheted a few stitches, meticulously
comparing the different shades and sizes of the work – asking me what I thought
– until we were both satisfied with the results. Then, she settled in to do her
work. For the rest of the morning she worked, while I sipped my coffee and
visited with this most interesting and talented woman. When she was done, the
final results were more than satisfactory – the heirloom looked as if it had
never been damaged at all. I expressed my gratitude, paid her what we’d agreed
upon, and we went our separate ways. Perhaps our paths will cross again –
perhaps not – but we agreed that we’d enjoyed the time together and we are both
richer for that brief time we shared.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAObR-GbbHPou5TdPNZtLy-_5SzvLXcA3L3-4i6FvJ0o3vJJpr9tdwCWQwhHiJgyxXDhm6LOoZ_0FVZtaKaX7-tbCiXwhJ9YMuyAgRuBt6gGkCtRP422grpd_XgNR2iHK1FJOCjP5Jw-8x/s1600/DSC_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAObR-GbbHPou5TdPNZtLy-_5SzvLXcA3L3-4i6FvJ0o3vJJpr9tdwCWQwhHiJgyxXDhm6LOoZ_0FVZtaKaX7-tbCiXwhJ9YMuyAgRuBt6gGkCtRP422grpd_XgNR2iHK1FJOCjP5Jw-8x/s400/DSC_0063.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Our
lives are much like this aged coverlet, intricately stitched together in
different patterns, textures, and subtle colors. Often, we experience a closeness
and tight-knittedness which strengthens and melds us together; in-between
spaces allow for variety, independence, and breathing space. There is a rhythm
and a beauty which fulfills us and keeps us on an even keel. </span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSTsp11SBgI3ML81LjnVrbG5VgfVWkKrIxFQOU9uRUCMPfMpDxhdG-FYrDoOcoUgqnb1HR18ftHCKtoeWXgEFvs2PPWe1r6lIOMBndJJ5RHpmisFPSQtLNfisfyjGyIS_C3nesdKSqrw7/s1600/crochet+damage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSTsp11SBgI3ML81LjnVrbG5VgfVWkKrIxFQOU9uRUCMPfMpDxhdG-FYrDoOcoUgqnb1HR18ftHCKtoeWXgEFvs2PPWe1r6lIOMBndJJ5RHpmisFPSQtLNfisfyjGyIS_C3nesdKSqrw7/s400/crochet+damage+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Some </span><span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">relationships may be delicate and can break
on minor issues and simple misunderstandings. Others, although strong, may suffer major damage through severe trial, tragedy, broken trust, or a myriad of other situations beyond our control. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When damage occurs, it
threatens to destroy all that holds us together. We must </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">admit the relationship is broken,
slowly start to rebuild it by tackling each small problem, and create a
stronger foundation. </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Mending
broken relationships is never quick or easy, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">but over
time, it can be done. Sometimes, we can do the mending ourselves – and
sometimes we need help. Trust that it’s out there…</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3fM1unpW7HJhR0zNVereiUOPx-WtcQ3u6sUT4OmbUKUjU7tMe8NxuKz2a5NsD4K1SxNdfoRan3mtH7YlKB_TdtXJldjU8T24eYFXh1T5WdlYOObZ_Iwqlb9wUgTCKa_VYSv7Fw6dch2U/s1600/DSC_0069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3fM1unpW7HJhR0zNVereiUOPx-WtcQ3u6sUT4OmbUKUjU7tMe8NxuKz2a5NsD4K1SxNdfoRan3mtH7YlKB_TdtXJldjU8T24eYFXh1T5WdlYOObZ_Iwqlb9wUgTCKa_VYSv7Fw6dch2U/s400/DSC_0069.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><br /></span><i><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So, as those who have been chosen of
God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other,
whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also
should you. </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Colossians
3:12-13</span></i></div>
Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-71253213174068311502016-03-22T17:43:00.002-07:002016-04-13T22:00:27.653-07:00Those Small Rays of Hope<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Hope
is being able to see that there is light </b></span></i></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>despite all the darkness.</b></span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">" </span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Desmond Tutu</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">As this new year progresses, we are ever more aware that we truly
are a part of a greater global community. Degradation of our environment, poverty,
war, pestilence, hatred, and violence seem to be unending and it is easy to
allow that to dominate one's thinking. Indeed, the world can seem a very dark
place with evil rampant. The problems appear myriad and the solutions hopeless.
After all, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>what can each of us, alone and insignificant, do</b></span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>?</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I believe we need to look for those small, bright rays of
goodness and action that we see in those around us. Begin locally and then
widen your circle of awareness. We all may look for different things, and not
agree on all of those, but here is a sprinkling of what gives me hope:</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwTH-PwmlcG-sUenOHfBMGKWmRAXTKQxn7Fb0J8Xe4ChSWXQ_4ZCVxYwy-oL6fniNVDS8XupqFsBfALGt4HFz_szk9a_ZxSoyTVa0O5PPQWC1J9_aySN2R3Iyag5bhusbgQ95-8AUM2w5/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwTH-PwmlcG-sUenOHfBMGKWmRAXTKQxn7Fb0J8Xe4ChSWXQ_4ZCVxYwy-oL6fniNVDS8XupqFsBfALGt4HFz_szk9a_ZxSoyTVa0O5PPQWC1J9_aySN2R3Iyag5bhusbgQ95-8AUM2w5/s400/DSC_0031.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">One of our High School's recent graduates has
begun college with plans to study engineering and develop prostheses for
those with physical disabilities. </span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63TpBefap9WuDfFHpEEdsTpxwfgHwY7GbkVtfbvnZLEweHzNfFx2sL4Rzv9l4hCdA0lL8J8X-lNqDpdG2lb_2U-222U1WPS25LePuETCL_buC4gmkhNbWzKVkWK3bu-hIK3WmtokDOxkF/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63TpBefap9WuDfFHpEEdsTpxwfgHwY7GbkVtfbvnZLEweHzNfFx2sL4Rzv9l4hCdA0lL8J8X-lNqDpdG2lb_2U-222U1WPS25LePuETCL_buC4gmkhNbWzKVkWK3bu-hIK3WmtokDOxkF/s400/DSC_0014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A neighbor helps sponsor a local
gathering each November where the sole purpose - besides having fun - is
to collect gifts for the needy. </span><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This year that was just under
$4,500 in cash, food and toys. Each year, I see more people responding to
the needs of those less fortunate.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6O8qwN7gMSSm3YkflTNNmAucpec81XiDwVKDihltrTLdq8whYGaIN3Uw9D2vYP4beyAltLF1KGT64stfBdFG30SHrVzwudw1oyoTH0YeUDFvRJmxyGXCL69JnNtcYIrOsYrvtOj3dZAPr/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6O8qwN7gMSSm3YkflTNNmAucpec81XiDwVKDihltrTLdq8whYGaIN3Uw9D2vYP4beyAltLF1KGT64stfBdFG30SHrVzwudw1oyoTH0YeUDFvRJmxyGXCL69JnNtcYIrOsYrvtOj3dZAPr/s320/DSC_0031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">One of my friends has worked
diligently for years on generating </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><u><b>no</b></u>
</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">waste. Through her creative re-use, far-reaching recycling, and
non-judgmental example, she has inspired many others to lessen their
impacts on our environment.</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5ds8lRbhuYswof7JQnNIcAfc_h8iZMQwi0UcIK2004KvSI_-zZdZhYNNQInI4sS7P5S2wezjjukVHQMxj-z7XLihc5TRF_BHLOoMrPLrFYNi1foza2uK1SJ3jseI0zsBOOmmL51vnCcr/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">One of our county's residents publically offered
to run errands for or accompany any Muslim citizens who were feeling
threatened or afraid because of outrage aimed at Muslims over recent violence.
Many others have agreed to help in this way.</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5ds8lRbhuYswof7JQnNIcAfc_h8iZMQwi0UcIK2004KvSI_-zZdZhYNNQInI4sS7P5S2wezjjukVHQMxj-z7XLihc5TRF_BHLOoMrPLrFYNi1foza2uK1SJ3jseI0zsBOOmmL51vnCcr/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5ds8lRbhuYswof7JQnNIcAfc_h8iZMQwi0UcIK2004KvSI_-zZdZhYNNQInI4sS7P5S2wezjjukVHQMxj-z7XLihc5TRF_BHLOoMrPLrFYNi1foza2uK1SJ3jseI0zsBOOmmL51vnCcr/s400/DSC_0007.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
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<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li style="color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; letter-spacing: 0.2pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Washington governor's 2016
budget addresses urgent needs in the state’s mental health system,
including new spending on mental health programs. </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieY1gKP6bRZp5MbPKbpdWkzOPG2oLdnGODbCOj-RG-Nma4PLMDWedsRrNDILg3KVGdmE7nS2IBxhDe9xpxCleNNUL9mFLdzQJ8SNv3Q5Y0tta6vkPTY6fKpdFCyRl8iDNKYNa1uq-SmBfe/s1600/DSC_0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieY1gKP6bRZp5MbPKbpdWkzOPG2oLdnGODbCOj-RG-Nma4PLMDWedsRrNDILg3KVGdmE7nS2IBxhDe9xpxCleNNUL9mFLdzQJ8SNv3Q5Y0tta6vkPTY6fKpdFCyRl8iDNKYNa1uq-SmBfe/s320/DSC_0088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The endangered Southern Resident
Killer Whales have <u>eight</u> new calves this year.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3slS7TiG-6myo-5IJFes3XUtDE6bEUX7tl56ogeinndMzJbNssr70-nDNmdM7IIr8fpDz6_QHzXZtrUQOQkQqwmSCn84syGAgXmGzrZ_hEyUkPT3BDpDPC-lZSkDTmhjbV1YQcyWMz9T/s1600/DSC_0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3slS7TiG-6myo-5IJFes3XUtDE6bEUX7tl56ogeinndMzJbNssr70-nDNmdM7IIr8fpDz6_QHzXZtrUQOQkQqwmSCn84syGAgXmGzrZ_hEyUkPT3BDpDPC-lZSkDTmhjbV1YQcyWMz9T/s400/DSC_0060.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN" style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">70%
of Washington voters enacted a state law banning trade of parts or
products made from elephant ivory, rhino horns and other species of
endangered wildlife, including lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs,
pangolins, certain marine turtles, sharks and rays. </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A 21 year old Dutch engineering
student is working to develop technologies to extract, prevent, and intercept
plastic pollution in our oceans. He plans to initiate the largest cleanup
in history.</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkZ3k8PVqK5TCjGM8fp9rW23eFIxqsUS_C3bbAYbCyGHgHuydCRjnzsXSCGDYF9bc4Pg-oPbJHYWmW00WqrsAAl27LUJtfoob9OYxXwsnNAUPbUkle7JvezNxyv-13GeN0HC4bXT42NfA/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkZ3k8PVqK5TCjGM8fp9rW23eFIxqsUS_C3bbAYbCyGHgHuydCRjnzsXSCGDYF9bc4Pg-oPbJHYWmW00WqrsAAl27LUJtfoob9OYxXwsnNAUPbUkle7JvezNxyv-13GeN0HC4bXT42NfA/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The answer, I believe, is in holding tight to HOPE and basing
our actions on that, for without it we truly are lost.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQn26jTmvE8I-eGdv7lEdiKupchDEc9Qr6X69lknoGwvtaiteoFFQs-cwgyPkIHB1n8MSZYQoMceJsztrVG64_hEVGO7hhpJgaVcEOqz1jFMzsvPcQux5sFDVliH9iGgRgR6WFqG2xQf5/s1600/DSC_0006+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQn26jTmvE8I-eGdv7lEdiKupchDEc9Qr6X69lknoGwvtaiteoFFQs-cwgyPkIHB1n8MSZYQoMceJsztrVG64_hEVGO7hhpJgaVcEOqz1jFMzsvPcQux5sFDVliH9iGgRgR6WFqG2xQf5/s400/DSC_0006+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">"For I know the plans I have
for you,” declares the LORD, </span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, </span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">plans
to give you hope and a future." </span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">~ Jeremiah 29:11</span> </span></i></b></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-68865877323533437122015-11-15T00:01:00.000-08:002015-11-15T00:01:01.282-08:00In the Blink of an Eye<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc83bq6HJjNwcuSoeiBQmJhsgMeqEU4quVC6Q2HU36vLz1g8sCDuHdST6l-J1JzkXj9VqxO3PuHu8nqtxaLHFQWIt_SQDbCCeii95FZdJ8HLk-5dc8jJYqQODudygklFXxRyRIRAj7RM1V/s1600/DSC_0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc83bq6HJjNwcuSoeiBQmJhsgMeqEU4quVC6Q2HU36vLz1g8sCDuHdST6l-J1JzkXj9VqxO3PuHu8nqtxaLHFQWIt_SQDbCCeii95FZdJ8HLk-5dc8jJYqQODudygklFXxRyRIRAj7RM1V/s400/DSC_0038.JPG" width="267" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 157.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was odd that it caught my attention at all, but at the same time how
could it not? It was so completely unexpected and foreign to my eyes that, even
though it was nestled unobtrusively among the still-green leaves, it literally
took my breath away. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeP7yOI7p-t0_3khM4TFj1HI6iL_ZVYol3qnGP9EMNfIIm02RhSrpBfOp01_vgCQ85VJqV39xiz7FOnzlB3tlTwF3zrUbrrqJrLCyfaz3r6omoWQwHDe3byd1nvb7JrCj7xOx3XLY9ujS/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeP7yOI7p-t0_3khM4TFj1HI6iL_ZVYol3qnGP9EMNfIIm02RhSrpBfOp01_vgCQ85VJqV39xiz7FOnzlB3tlTwF3zrUbrrqJrLCyfaz3r6omoWQwHDe3byd1nvb7JrCj7xOx3XLY9ujS/s400/DSC_0039.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 157.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">About five inches long, it hung as a tightly-packed group
of dark-colored, woody pods, each one containing a brilliant, shiny red, plump,
bean-shaped seed suspended from the pod by a single, white strand. I'm not
kidding about the color - identical to the red of M & Ms, I'd say! If this
plant had produced this dramatic show of fall seeds before, I somehow had
missed it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXiGY7NEWtdV54HnuzNhi0q1jTDw_XFrBLo0H_n6VQd_ktjS3GyRfEiZ74_pLDNLkUifz9MXHAJ2VtQ5zH1knBfKDzRy6Ioh5kR1EgQkoeHY4ITzX_6xQI6LBbBVDTZtDE6eVollOzeL9/s1600/DSC_0046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXiGY7NEWtdV54HnuzNhi0q1jTDw_XFrBLo0H_n6VQd_ktjS3GyRfEiZ74_pLDNLkUifz9MXHAJ2VtQ5zH1knBfKDzRy6Ioh5kR1EgQkoeHY4ITzX_6xQI6LBbBVDTZtDE6eVollOzeL9/s400/DSC_0046.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The plant is a saucer magnolia tree, which we planted back in 1988 as a
memorial to my mom whom we lost that year. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroA_VU8R1fa6c9xYvtV9TfwWhUi0ArMXWv6InUFJiLflElA27HzCE44QMGEH7uztpdlZv-fAY0I8JT41aVsK0i28YRm_hdjWNrcosU2OOeIVAr8be-9kJNZrg5ELSYRW05rOevbUvwaLX/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroA_VU8R1fa6c9xYvtV9TfwWhUi0ArMXWv6InUFJiLflElA27HzCE44QMGEH7uztpdlZv-fAY0I8JT41aVsK0i28YRm_hdjWNrcosU2OOeIVAr8be-9kJNZrg5ELSYRW05rOevbUvwaLX/s400/DSC_0004.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is slow-growing - only about eight
feet tall after twenty-seven years of growth - but faithfully produces huge
pink blooms each spring. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzXTyNwerBN2LgkrH3ny0MBGvuh1e2jgb7gb5-ENa1mG8d_TOcDZTLCjp_kr5ckxas5PMjDP4m9YbcfQK4pAX2g4bSYE77Xwyev5Uo_0aUM2reoH1n67rR7rxqAm_1XZN2__aAzNq2SN-/s1600/DSC_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzXTyNwerBN2LgkrH3ny0MBGvuh1e2jgb7gb5-ENa1mG8d_TOcDZTLCjp_kr5ckxas5PMjDP4m9YbcfQK4pAX2g4bSYE77Xwyev5Uo_0aUM2reoH1n67rR7rxqAm_1XZN2__aAzNq2SN-/s400/DSC_0037.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whether it was the unusually warm, dry summer, the
tree reached some certain level of maturity, or other unknown factors, it
lavishly produced five or six of these hanging seed clumps this year. Maybe I
just happened to be working in its part of the yard at the right time. Whatever
it was, because I think of it as "Mom's tree", it stirred up all
kinds of memories of her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQLFljWq4wI9juWBBO2vW4kslQNxNEScjY-K6DNzp7VMxFC2BhYp4bhCKTf-YWjHDdLW2uA3cmjubaXqvIe_fnuiJ0ESyDSaiGDu9KNs1yHJDqqzZaF4WApg0y5m8xQGCu7dmIuG2nKEW/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQLFljWq4wI9juWBBO2vW4kslQNxNEScjY-K6DNzp7VMxFC2BhYp4bhCKTf-YWjHDdLW2uA3cmjubaXqvIe_fnuiJ0ESyDSaiGDu9KNs1yHJDqqzZaF4WApg0y5m8xQGCu7dmIuG2nKEW/s400/DSC_0040.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 157.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is often so easy to take those closest to us for granted. Precisely <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">because</i></b> they are so near and dear to
us, they become a part of the fabric of our everyday lives, woven in so tightly
and secure that we forget how precious they really are. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnrrfMGIWWPAFwgKzWaWaTLtZdXy9HGmF3O39RFX3rQWbTB8fLlvqhrWhGcQudpzS5EzzWUGwcARFgmnruWTgx3IcPZJU6osz1MBubdkgmvaDKBYuSTsdNO11smdgUgbEez1gG3AdVZ1h/s1600/DSC_0044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnrrfMGIWWPAFwgKzWaWaTLtZdXy9HGmF3O39RFX3rQWbTB8fLlvqhrWhGcQudpzS5EzzWUGwcARFgmnruWTgx3IcPZJU6osz1MBubdkgmvaDKBYuSTsdNO11smdgUgbEez1gG3AdVZ1h/s400/DSC_0044.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 157.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If we are fortunate,
and fully aware, age and experience teaches us that life can change in the
blink of an eye and we should NOT take anything for granted - least of all
those we treasure. I have been reminded of this time after time, but more so
recently...<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">My loving
husband - best friend ever, stalwart partner, robust worker, now facing
physical challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">My sister -
living close by for the first time since I was two years old, facing failing
eyesight, hearing, and the fragility of aging.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Our adult son -
struggling with mental illness, substance abuse, and unemployment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">My youngest
niece - dealing with health issues, unemployment, her Alzheimer's-affected dad,
and a sister with mental illness. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Our dear friend
- solid presence and confidante, widower with young-adult children, who
recently escaped serious injury from a falling tree.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">My "Coffee
Klatch" ladies - each facing their own unique challenges with family
members, health, disability, and aging.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">My community
volunteer friends - dealing with family issues of dementia, addiction, failed
relationships, worries for grandchildren, spouses, and their own declining
abilities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">All of YOU -
whom I know, love, appreciate, and consider part of the greater family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bWYuM5G_t_VyO3XWQqOogzhHtNPik3wAKiaWvjm0KFpBPXeKfk0aYhxfEgKiUjqB1-GgVgs7Am7gkDfXv_0_qdbi0HM3_GreQbwHsnFXtq1fRQcL6N3T-KmIAfetwlKwUVr4Ue7uk5Mj/s1600/DSC_0049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bWYuM5G_t_VyO3XWQqOogzhHtNPik3wAKiaWvjm0KFpBPXeKfk0aYhxfEgKiUjqB1-GgVgs7Am7gkDfXv_0_qdbi0HM3_GreQbwHsnFXtq1fRQcL6N3T-KmIAfetwlKwUVr4Ue7uk5Mj/s400/DSC_0049.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am not alone in this; I only listed those above as a reminder that <u>all</u>
of us carry burdens of concern for those we care for and love. Let us remember
to be thankful <u>now</u> for those we hold dear - circumstances can change in
an instant and tomorrow may never come.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfMBR7TYCIRoLhY2B6JEdE2PQwBgphQIh7lhz_Fzk-EAlVg6qsEH8DXlWCOyO6m6DSK__0poH4DJHltU2Pzth79QeZjU0f3FPMbrSO8SSFql4TAovBiYj0DOxRZlxhtQ36ib-h_CZ32KL/s1600/DSC_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfMBR7TYCIRoLhY2B6JEdE2PQwBgphQIh7lhz_Fzk-EAlVg6qsEH8DXlWCOyO6m6DSK__0poH4DJHltU2Pzth79QeZjU0f3FPMbrSO8SSFql4TAovBiYj0DOxRZlxhtQ36ib-h_CZ32KL/s400/DSC_0051.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I view the magnolia's brilliant red seeds and remember my mom's bright
red lipstick, geraniums, and apple pie. I'm ever so thankful to have had her in
my life...</span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I
always thank my God </span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">as I remember you in my prayers..<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="passage-display-bcv"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Philemon
1</span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">:4<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-41183260187099186002015-11-01T20:33:00.000-08:002015-11-01T20:45:27.874-08:00Keep Your Tail Waggin’<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhuw-Y80P1kBDYcQKEgWSylyfjNLdoRkcQfk9yBrHrGQw-zese8Y5fmpz6JPhPhf7RwNjg06ky7T__OjL4nFOoY1nNzCMhIbxV2PttiPcHf9gu4WjgR78mZM1mpuDciJ7VZw_GChr-fOq/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhuw-Y80P1kBDYcQKEgWSylyfjNLdoRkcQfk9yBrHrGQw-zese8Y5fmpz6JPhPhf7RwNjg06ky7T__OjL4nFOoY1nNzCMhIbxV2PttiPcHf9gu4WjgR78mZM1mpuDciJ7VZw_GChr-fOq/s400/DSC_0012.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Entering the woods this day, I am once again intrigued by his
single-mindedness. That being to fully take in and enjoy every single bit of
ground that we cover and, looking forward only a limited distance, that which
lies ahead. I observe his steady gait – the little trot-trot with a bounce in
every step. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoZHvx-_S4wIRU2b9hcVa27r-xn_M-pzkHrbXRtQOg-5N7yHFJvWrdhvmsb5RzSOuhP8shYkr6irhyOssgQW2MqkRInqWzkxRAhWmEvw9sccZOIAwuCDLDG9x6PIFF9o5OopqkoNyc74G/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoZHvx-_S4wIRU2b9hcVa27r-xn_M-pzkHrbXRtQOg-5N7yHFJvWrdhvmsb5RzSOuhP8shYkr6irhyOssgQW2MqkRInqWzkxRAhWmEvw9sccZOIAwuCDLDG9x6PIFF9o5OopqkoNyc74G/s400/DSC_0022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The alert expression on his face – head and tail held high, ears
forward, nose twitching, eyes continually scanning. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQCvBhewUBXaY6kc7sDwe1hX4c60qtE3PNkUPlfQw4iAOkS8Vo3C4s3jglV3N_grEUzEFfd3jNDtOZOYmQRAZJ9cCrrykmBlcRVTKy1JtSB18ImJe86o1cjJ1ItBo70CJq-mtBRD_6KsF/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQCvBhewUBXaY6kc7sDwe1hX4c60qtE3PNkUPlfQw4iAOkS8Vo3C4s3jglV3N_grEUzEFfd3jNDtOZOYmQRAZJ9cCrrykmBlcRVTKy1JtSB18ImJe86o1cjJ1ItBo70CJq-mtBRD_6KsF/s400/DSC_0004.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rather small, he is close
to the ground and the grass is high, so his vision is limited. But for him the
nose rules all, and his senses are constantly inundated with scents I can only
imagine: mice, moles, squirrels, deer, raccoons, and dogs – always there are
dog scents… To him, they are all good and exciting!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDY9_7RSchVsgSoEAOuN0T0CkJMOHvJe_VWaPmANjAPB7sNlaQDC8zq9aC2ikf0L7BGcZl3oebYSETmFud0WmOW1z76Vkh4fQa2FnLP06kTfOUUZew3BTK6l3CQSLUvxp-dN2knZCsJBBW/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDY9_7RSchVsgSoEAOuN0T0CkJMOHvJe_VWaPmANjAPB7sNlaQDC8zq9aC2ikf0L7BGcZl3oebYSETmFud0WmOW1z76Vkh4fQa2FnLP06kTfOUUZew3BTK6l3CQSLUvxp-dN2knZCsJBBW/s400/DSC_0008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 157.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This little rescue dog is new to our family and in some ways he had
changed our lives. Sure, he has some “baggage” – some we know about, some not.
There have been challenges – some we have overcome, some training is in
progress, some we are still figuring out how to deal with. The upside continues
to be his unique little personality. So often, there is a joyfulness about him
that defies explanation. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ISliekV5KmkUUxXpKP5nnfbQ2_L5auriyqTfySApJfy2gDkTPh-Lr88E6qU_ZMcCjH81lad8saXuye8JsmYMEJCrRjUx1gqpe1iFJoQJDCcnil7l2RE9jeREA_M00_l_sVidEMsWd5ZA/s1600/DSC_0057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ISliekV5KmkUUxXpKP5nnfbQ2_L5auriyqTfySApJfy2gDkTPh-Lr88E6qU_ZMcCjH81lad8saXuye8JsmYMEJCrRjUx1gqpe1iFJoQJDCcnil7l2RE9jeREA_M00_l_sVidEMsWd5ZA/s400/DSC_0057.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He enjoys playing with his toys, but the small rubber
ball trumps all. He would go to the moon and back to retrieve this ball, chews
on it, rolls it around with his nose, squeaks it, and holds it between his paws
to keep it from being taken away. </span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLFYqjGDMBNtrZnAdKrkwZdPbo4BKfwZEDtvTo8WRJE4g0wLuR0-gVgkC9Oe3yjyxR7i_XEhUBGCXATlbxMkuFK3qB4OTNbBHJR8WYDhZppvfW-Tdi4j13tEMODqdIVzQWguMRt6iu3HN/s1600/DSC_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLFYqjGDMBNtrZnAdKrkwZdPbo4BKfwZEDtvTo8WRJE4g0wLuR0-gVgkC9Oe3yjyxR7i_XEhUBGCXATlbxMkuFK3qB4OTNbBHJR8WYDhZppvfW-Tdi4j13tEMODqdIVzQWguMRt6iu3HN/s400/DSC_0064.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Each morning, or on our return from being
away, he greets us with such enthusiasm – tail wagging his entire body. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzYwZuho1xcNMSm01gKhJ2_yXuenBk-vcAiTw2odFiWpWwOHX0nk5rRmHKHFtHGA291PkBfJZAmpWdKGoLrIrtJpjEdSnsBVzWmmgIp4kyezdPeLl17VRgcItUiMWIKPzwbI2r_8FVmxZ/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzYwZuho1xcNMSm01gKhJ2_yXuenBk-vcAiTw2odFiWpWwOHX0nk5rRmHKHFtHGA291PkBfJZAmpWdKGoLrIrtJpjEdSnsBVzWmmgIp4kyezdPeLl17VRgcItUiMWIKPzwbI2r_8FVmxZ/s400/DSC_0004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He enjoys
his cuddle time, curling up tightly against each of us in turn, sometimes under
a quilt or blanket. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCQ7KblMCaUYYSNNHqCQb-aSlHJu_e5qI7yJvs0A8tc7oQWZAwTXvhL8qr5YFGGUNbaAYEXzVXrOlO7B2_WTmgwXOYFlEzUEDfr7WCXHV_i_VimLkJrboayFvVnY_0Pv4a9wZavtNThJt/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCQ7KblMCaUYYSNNHqCQb-aSlHJu_e5qI7yJvs0A8tc7oQWZAwTXvhL8qr5YFGGUNbaAYEXzVXrOlO7B2_WTmgwXOYFlEzUEDfr7WCXHV_i_VimLkJrboayFvVnY_0Pv4a9wZavtNThJt/s400/DSC_0008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 157.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He loves to be brushed, stroked, scratched, or to have his
belly rubbed - yawning, stretching, rolling onto his back, and surrendering to
the enjoyment. I swear this dog actually smiles with pleasure at it all!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55VRyux-K7bIBegiGw010Pg8JAL8VnFTytSWb6HYB2m5pVI3QCkITQBhgtKmpRrbaDSWErjL6fbZl9qlUgdjCzeTY9UGm9Gabqvhre0RjT1ddUghV52YiftoZFirFxyK_5U8ykU1k2Lqq/s1600/DSC_0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55VRyux-K7bIBegiGw010Pg8JAL8VnFTytSWb6HYB2m5pVI3QCkITQBhgtKmpRrbaDSWErjL6fbZl9qlUgdjCzeTY9UGm9Gabqvhre0RjT1ddUghV52YiftoZFirFxyK_5U8ykU1k2Lqq/s400/DSC_0066.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anyone with a dog understands and I think we all could learn something
from these loyal companions. That would be to simply welcome each day as it
comes and to make the very most of it; to have a true interest in our immediate
surroundings and the people we encounter. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhST2jhl9JGVXEL-s8h8p7oJWyKll9U3epSRDyDn_ntFBhTaDLP_OmwQ1mxs3aHJE1JSCJbnPUH5UxTGeqaa3sBtzwLLAuJM9-Uhj3YwDrV4G0i0lZSiFGFvv7vCJZ-XLunWOKMQoGxIMPn/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhST2jhl9JGVXEL-s8h8p7oJWyKll9U3epSRDyDn_ntFBhTaDLP_OmwQ1mxs3aHJE1JSCJbnPUH5UxTGeqaa3sBtzwLLAuJM9-Uhj3YwDrV4G0i0lZSiFGFvv7vCJZ-XLunWOKMQoGxIMPn/s400/DSC_0029.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To take life in with all of our
senses: to clearly see the eyes of those we meet, hear the nuances of the music
we listen to, smell the mudflats at low tide or the fresh air after the rain,
taste the dinner someone else has prepared, touch the shoulder or hand of
someone who needs to know we care. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZd0r4ZeLKOxm4CoRjcvQqbG04V59xCWrkYuXe7zSE84Xg-sqKh-P2Ut-GzGH3YTTrBIPUvjA_v8tNpckXPBZuMa9ZXO4FpkvU-daxii-vOgtafZKU0zm6bXMwIPLaA6tfXDbGyD7fEaR/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZd0r4ZeLKOxm4CoRjcvQqbG04V59xCWrkYuXe7zSE84Xg-sqKh-P2Ut-GzGH3YTTrBIPUvjA_v8tNpckXPBZuMa9ZXO4FpkvU-daxii-vOgtafZKU0zm6bXMwIPLaA6tfXDbGyD7fEaR/s400/untitled.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To be aware of our demeanor and what it says
to others, whether we look fretful and busy, or enthused and energetic. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDQWo7HToTEMcZz_3YtvyMuw-4r9h3a-79BkwbrwDNOdd9o-TzDQ3Gn3L4nystoEK8NpGWWRyRZX2Q6wGAxQzKDwpdqYOdvUPsBF_zJFVmdMDCgRpyXueK_w7rG0Du9IPB1YqLySsNfV2/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDQWo7HToTEMcZz_3YtvyMuw-4r9h3a-79BkwbrwDNOdd9o-TzDQ3Gn3L4nystoEK8NpGWWRyRZX2Q6wGAxQzKDwpdqYOdvUPsBF_zJFVmdMDCgRpyXueK_w7rG0Du9IPB1YqLySsNfV2/s400/DSC_0018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We
should not ignore the future, but also not look too far ahead, as we can only
adequately deal with today. If we enjoy our leisure time to the fullest,
throwing ourselves into whatever our interests are, could we not do the very
same with our work? </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyDJGR89Yh31ZIAXuuVgnivKXBqtbFnfpqgZSsaitWuaQd7RSXh9YT2I6uFNYMglGLJ2ljIRRVlI97AQhM65FIxNMkssOzUl87A7SDBRlWIe9p3Ixo8YuPLNwXTC8-P_lu33NjAK9sA6a/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyDJGR89Yh31ZIAXuuVgnivKXBqtbFnfpqgZSsaitWuaQd7RSXh9YT2I6uFNYMglGLJ2ljIRRVlI97AQhM65FIxNMkssOzUl87A7SDBRlWIe9p3Ixo8YuPLNwXTC8-P_lu33NjAK9sA6a/s400/DSC_0031.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What if we gave those we associate with our full attention
and those we’re closest to our total commitment? When was the last time we
really ENJOYED this life – every single day of it?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGPjRi5zcguIEkKaTWeZH0XwOZaRYjWIp4jPdZOPHmU9ixPS-ORlhBEb10dPqzJzepbSo0APLfDw2hi7Ky4xzlYF5sSyesUpokl_256V8OtkD2PtqNXuaErPG9Hoh6NVaZHIVPM2blJN7/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGPjRi5zcguIEkKaTWeZH0XwOZaRYjWIp4jPdZOPHmU9ixPS-ORlhBEb10dPqzJzepbSo0APLfDw2hi7Ky4xzlYF5sSyesUpokl_256V8OtkD2PtqNXuaErPG9Hoh6NVaZHIVPM2blJN7/s400/DSC_0040.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 157.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course, not every day is pleasant for us because life is full of
hardships, uphill battles, pain, and grief. No one ever promised us that it
would be easy. All these trials can wear us down and before we know it we can
become locked into the negatives more than the positives. I think it is
important not to forget that there are always some positives and that it would
be good to celebrate those while we have them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnu8rZIVz1772syr0R96JyfD1p6EYv0S1ZWp0OB83ra5vXHnayrimz6-7nqkux5PGxUeEatbXlOm6jQlT-YCc0EwgNHj66yCUNcMkRr64hkPEBIam7hUpmeAK5AzNGeCSHR-MNyOBIlaZI/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnu8rZIVz1772syr0R96JyfD1p6EYv0S1ZWp0OB83ra5vXHnayrimz6-7nqkux5PGxUeEatbXlOm6jQlT-YCc0EwgNHj66yCUNcMkRr64hkPEBIam7hUpmeAK5AzNGeCSHR-MNyOBIlaZI/s400/DSC_0015.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As you head out on your path of life today, remember that you will never
pass this way again. Although the trail may be rutted, rocky and muddy, there
are many interesting surprises along the way. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4aTRFvfg6RNcT-EfovV4kDLfx_jKfbBNQMqw9CSU2qe9nNOBxi1N_7KzEQ-o3lEwkTbhh8z1qa7yFf5uOxbDlVpawOgo93EfJO59vBbKnvX8gbHVBLXq4EKBdnNiXgx1_7JENLFuTwOG/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4aTRFvfg6RNcT-EfovV4kDLfx_jKfbBNQMqw9CSU2qe9nNOBxi1N_7KzEQ-o3lEwkTbhh8z1qa7yFf5uOxbDlVpawOgo93EfJO59vBbKnvX8gbHVBLXq4EKBdnNiXgx1_7JENLFuTwOG/s400/DSC_0009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As best you can, try to keep your
head up, your step lively, and your senses fully engaged. Don’t forget to walk
with those who love you and keep your tail waggin’… there is rest later and
tomorrow is indeed another day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8Jb0Q08b-0IWZjdtdr1hrswhIOR5Pcajh_s7eLXK8yrGH-BOpy6bZIYzZX77ppMU_PA8K9iOn4IUwarw6v-EkrinI2VO1377Vzo1wSIfoowTgp4xzgQMwP_1q0XTdBVDHyphP_MgWoso/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8Jb0Q08b-0IWZjdtdr1hrswhIOR5Pcajh_s7eLXK8yrGH-BOpy6bZIYzZX77ppMU_PA8K9iOn4IUwarw6v-EkrinI2VO1377Vzo1wSIfoowTgp4xzgQMwP_1q0XTdBVDHyphP_MgWoso/s400/DSC_0007.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<em><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This
is the day the LORD has made;</span></span></span></em></div>
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<em><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"></span></span></em><em><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Let
us rejoice and be glad in it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Psalm
118</span>:24<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-44206587089858228202015-09-01T13:53:00.000-07:002015-09-01T13:53:00.870-07:00Living with the Weeds<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAARgmf_4rSaM9rAcQWKBszaCbqGWhuZmhVjlRVCLFqmJaAY5gT4NZySLuXD0-TPSofY30eXcr6HVbXgt4XirDezhgVT40uPZdi62GX-J_kzcqijtfNHDRyw5iArgxpGiUODtHe1gjdPk/s1600/DSCN1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAARgmf_4rSaM9rAcQWKBszaCbqGWhuZmhVjlRVCLFqmJaAY5gT4NZySLuXD0-TPSofY30eXcr6HVbXgt4XirDezhgVT40uPZdi62GX-J_kzcqijtfNHDRyw5iArgxpGiUODtHe1gjdPk/s400/DSCN1806.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What a summer we had this year – warm, sunny, dry, and long. For those of
us who are sun-lovers and gardeners, it was joyful bliss. But, as always,
August crept in with the vague, intangible feeling that fall was on the way.
I’ve wondered why I always feel this, but suppose it is the cooling
temperatures, the gradual shortening of the days, along with the difference in
the slant of those sunny rays. Endless summer would surely get old (or so I
tell myself), so I welcome the change of season with the crisp evenings, moody
days, and blessed rain. Lord knows, we could use the rain.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSuDqBSOKjgCs-GVJup6h9tul-4Or5L480p-Mzd1dPQZABhZZg7g0ejbARTaoMRSSM33jKD2aVwXiDUOKkextLMDDOnOOfBH0DC-pmxKXnbzbRi_QUWJCwrOod32yIw4u8utVCDKBaq1b/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSuDqBSOKjgCs-GVJup6h9tul-4Or5L480p-Mzd1dPQZABhZZg7g0ejbARTaoMRSSM33jKD2aVwXiDUOKkextLMDDOnOOfBH0DC-pmxKXnbzbRi_QUWJCwrOod32yIw4u8utVCDKBaq1b/s400/DSC_0012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With the extended summer was an extended growing period for both the
native plants that surround us and for those we cultivate in our yards.
Planting, weeding, pruning, watching for pests, and harvesting flowers, fruits,
and vegetables became a drawn-out affair this year. As the weeks - and then the
months - passed with no rain in sight, watering became a regular, necessary
task. During our usual summer “droughts” native plants survive just fine,
having slowly adapted to our unique Pacific Northwest climate through
millennia. This summer was unusual, however, and even the natives suffered.
Some slowed their growth, some closed up shop early by going into fall mode
with leaves turning color, and some simply gave up and died. The weeds, on the
other hand, seemed to flourish…</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeGfLxiAvF8o8n2T3_y2FSQshuUZJ442XBpUJJq0C60SZMtwLy1MAcoszNLcMotuqRdvwIimBUsvB1wVN7YKbZWezQw1PDnhq3sbmhnqqymEuVVCnlYhODQ4R_Vq_EV8i5SdF5gfeQQ44/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeGfLxiAvF8o8n2T3_y2FSQshuUZJ442XBpUJJq0C60SZMtwLy1MAcoszNLcMotuqRdvwIimBUsvB1wVN7YKbZWezQw1PDnhq3sbmhnqqymEuVVCnlYhODQ4R_Vq_EV8i5SdF5gfeQQ44/s400/DSC_0054.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As any gardener knows, weeds are a constant battle. Many hours are spent
weeding – eliminating those plants that spring up in our gardens, insidious and
unwanted. What is it, exactly, that makes a plant a “weed”? They definitely are
plants that we don’t want or like, but there must be more to it than that. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04e9mW7k__VX7kqlO8gnsU76-bLH6eN_Z1D4eDLMkrhOuGSQOaPNyft7VXFjkUjD5aJi7e0v51_s0-YNHsUejd0SKB4FKOkzHcJsaUNwi0AnIObQSWQY9cf56qLUhgrRxJrWOHDDHog7V/s1600/DSC_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04e9mW7k__VX7kqlO8gnsU76-bLH6eN_Z1D4eDLMkrhOuGSQOaPNyft7VXFjkUjD5aJi7e0v51_s0-YNHsUejd0SKB4FKOkzHcJsaUNwi0AnIObQSWQY9cf56qLUhgrRxJrWOHDDHog7V/s400/DSC_0028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It
may be that some of them are natives that are unusually well-suited to taking over
any space they find and reproducing exponentially to the point where they crowd
out any other plants in the area. It may be that some of them are wanted and
liked in other parts of the world, perhaps where they originally came from.
</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQpZXA1uklgk6HzV39loT6qbhQJZlixgxtuPOo-Dz1frjQaaSn9WuOUS-T79vjzdRybijLUoh2hdYIU24-dF4S7XI9vpUO74o54yzGwUnlObg2mpotZkx8KFJNlmZtA9SgQkP-LA7U77d/s1600/DSC_0044+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQpZXA1uklgk6HzV39loT6qbhQJZlixgxtuPOo-Dz1frjQaaSn9WuOUS-T79vjzdRybijLUoh2hdYIU24-dF4S7XI9vpUO74o54yzGwUnlObg2mpotZkx8KFJNlmZtA9SgQkP-LA7U77d/s400/DSC_0044+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Somehow, they got from there to here and seem to thrive – often because our
conditions suit them and they lack the animals here that would consume them
back home. I think that weeds go back as far as the first people who, for
whatever reason, decided to leave home and wander into new territory. Whether
they carried them intentionally, such as for food, healing, or needed
materials, or inadvertently as hitchhikers, wherever they roamed some plants
went along. All plants do have a use, whether or not we know what that is. For
most of us today, weeds are quite simply plants that we do NOT want.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Fn_ejI0rXXQ-Rfi6kuTEH0jT1dsXrW5EaFEDyyKH9Ald5v1WTh4SA2zJwfInZQXOAvONaC-xjohINMKXGKNuaS1I8g00jwhnzjgDa_AUK4SyH0PDStpP7XyJ3ZfGg7WroztDXWqlFAN-/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Fn_ejI0rXXQ-Rfi6kuTEH0jT1dsXrW5EaFEDyyKH9Ald5v1WTh4SA2zJwfInZQXOAvONaC-xjohINMKXGKNuaS1I8g00jwhnzjgDa_AUK4SyH0PDStpP7XyJ3ZfGg7WroztDXWqlFAN-/s400/DSC_0006.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If we think of it this way, some people may be considered weeds. Not liked,
unwanted, problems to be dealt with - we find them everywhere if we are looking
for them. Misfits, aliens, minorities – call them what you will – they intrude
on “our” territory and cause us discomfort. Native or imported, they are unlike
us and are often sturdy survivors, for they have had to be. Because they are
different and not what we think we want, need, or can use, we’d just as soon weed
them out, cleaning up our spaces to our own specifications and satisfaction;
discarding them because we don’t deem them worthy to grace our presence.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWetwoWbjLJjZeyYUXsI2I4eniGiEL6nNSdODDsqGH3pgR7KNa_zXABtPFOW-0BEw8zK5p8iOVd3ByUmHIEbP8_K_xrwAUrGrgcJtYhvYkTtm2NtKAkLqtNHENkrv6oYgQAWEZpf47VV0g/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWetwoWbjLJjZeyYUXsI2I4eniGiEL6nNSdODDsqGH3pgR7KNa_zXABtPFOW-0BEw8zK5p8iOVd3ByUmHIEbP8_K_xrwAUrGrgcJtYhvYkTtm2NtKAkLqtNHENkrv6oYgQAWEZpf47VV0g/s400/DSC_0008.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are they not also God’s creation and, as such, certainly as worthy as we
are? Suppose - just for a moment - that “we” and “they” all grew in the same
garden. Consider this thoughtfully, because we are all in this life on earth
together, whether we like it or not...</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJQCpCEQKoiD4wgovFOpj5pGmjdZbSARoRaRY-Qsi6Q8t1nWGhPZFA2XB-jcSBjsZjLS8c86lZvOQww0ZlewjJiSoLlHSVb-uoCvSPsAh1CQpmJf9IoH3V_IZoGA7dSi6tJOSrxu7uEsO/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJQCpCEQKoiD4wgovFOpj5pGmjdZbSARoRaRY-Qsi6Q8t1nWGhPZFA2XB-jcSBjsZjLS8c86lZvOQww0ZlewjJiSoLlHSVb-uoCvSPsAh1CQpmJf9IoH3V_IZoGA7dSi6tJOSrxu7uEsO/s400/DSC_0002.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">It is absolutely clear that God has
called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an
excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your
freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything
we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you
love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each
other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and
where will your precious freedom be then? <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></i></span><span class="passage-display-bcv"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Galatians 5</span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">:13-15 (The Message)<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917642184695061989.post-54929226966178836322015-06-25T12:40:00.003-07:002015-06-25T12:40:44.445-07:00Overgrowth<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFdKEcUcDV5iR2xrtSMLKIe7TGvRHA_80awdvOC50QbaCFCHbR77JA-ymo1ktCnT9V59W7PzFKw_s3EJwLR8kwRtkycT8Pfa-wRX9fY_Idwxy-4kETblI8V5O3T73o5FRFDLXDtK_N78j/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFdKEcUcDV5iR2xrtSMLKIe7TGvRHA_80awdvOC50QbaCFCHbR77JA-ymo1ktCnT9V59W7PzFKw_s3EJwLR8kwRtkycT8Pfa-wRX9fY_Idwxy-4kETblI8V5O3T73o5FRFDLXDtK_N78j/s400/DSC_0003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wearily,
I put my foot on the spading fork and dug deep, lifting up the rich, dark soil
along with a good-sized clump of small, white bulbs with narrow leaves and
bright blue flowers still attached.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ahead of me in this bed was a sea of blue. I had my work cut out for me.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The
Spanish bluebell or Wood hyacinth is a spring-flowering bulbous perennial
native to the Iberian Peninsula. Like many other plants, it was carried away
from its native land by well-meaning people and is now found world-wide,
including here in western Washington. Although it appears to behave itself in many
places, it tends to run rampant in our area; with moderately good soil and fair
amounts of water, it takes over.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxme6V5BDSXKdw5z6NXKfCfN18boatMybCTx4_JRUmyoEKqHQKkOLC4AQvJEEJIFyeJcv68Jit1JV6Y00C7aNPCuVPVTxaQmjGFMJQrUjKhbK0MN99rI_ZyceZbEQ5V84SA4FJIL0PgPE/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxme6V5BDSXKdw5z6NXKfCfN18boatMybCTx4_JRUmyoEKqHQKkOLC4AQvJEEJIFyeJcv68Jit1JV6Y00C7aNPCuVPVTxaQmjGFMJQrUjKhbK0MN99rI_ZyceZbEQ5V84SA4FJIL0PgPE/s400/DSC_0009.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When
we moved here thirty five years ago, we discovered these lovely beauties among
the plants that the previous owners had planted. I remember them always blooming
around the time of our son's early May birthday. I enjoyed them so much that I
eagerly transplanted them to many places in our yard.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qHKYIsOmldcKvLpImfTiL8n0TVfWrsIQ-al9QyMB-k7y1xbotzewdjE5KvSuwCcJyhDLh_ovsRKNDWx5vwqkNF67YBvtGe7Bn0Wj6nXlxGLO2aZWvFt1tNu8awmKlw7TVUwZsfBXqLYb/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qHKYIsOmldcKvLpImfTiL8n0TVfWrsIQ-al9QyMB-k7y1xbotzewdjE5KvSuwCcJyhDLh_ovsRKNDWx5vwqkNF67YBvtGe7Bn0Wj6nXlxGLO2aZWvFt1tNu8awmKlw7TVUwZsfBXqLYb/s400/DSC_0002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But this innocent-appearing plant naturalizes
to the point of killing everything else and takes shelter under and around
roots of shrubs and trees. The bulbs connect to others underground by tendrils,
and also by adding tiny seed-sized bulbs around themselves at the same time.
When the flowers dry, round hard seeds form and you can have hundreds of new
hardy seeds flying around your beds, yard, and neighborhood where they readily
self-sow. They survive beyond belief, and although they can grow densely, their
thin leaves allow all kinds of weeds in your beds anyway. They just became too
much of a good thing and </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua";">I finally made the decision to get rid of
them. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>All</u></b> of them</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> - and those bulbs must be removed by hand.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCBDGy8D23JghR4Of8QNP7hJYuARkDygmXHaFDoltd4UTL8wkZIATwgXqthfOL5IgrsYT_WksPCCHP59nWy5lwiaU_zgtwQZKbyh4WUtu9kxs6elIneNLyfktv_brh2QfVQ_4FXWacml6/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCBDGy8D23JghR4Of8QNP7hJYuARkDygmXHaFDoltd4UTL8wkZIATwgXqthfOL5IgrsYT_WksPCCHP59nWy5lwiaU_zgtwQZKbyh4WUtu9kxs6elIneNLyfktv_brh2QfVQ_4FXWacml6/s400/DSC_0004.JPG" width="232" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">They remind me of the many possessions we all
seem to accumulate as we go through life. It begins with things we need, which
becomes things we want, and then morphs into things we think we have to have
and can't live without. Toy boxes overflow, closets become crammed, garages
have no room for cars, and before we know it we need to rent extra storage
units to hold all our stuff. Like the </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">ubiquitous
Spanish bluebells, our possessions gradually take on a life of their own and
quietly take over our lives. Before we know it, our possessions own us.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCBDGy8D23JghR4Of8QNP7hJYuARkDygmXHaFDoltd4UTL8wkZIATwgXqthfOL5IgrsYT_WksPCCHP59nWy5lwiaU_zgtwQZKbyh4WUtu9kxs6elIneNLyfktv_brh2QfVQ_4FXWacml6/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5m9w4qO5TbgdsYKjbGyhGCxWHL-iv9QUE-5iFqpMSu0PHmTmd1mXFPcvAvY3JjHerJaPxQHW4IXg2Q2wtCq_p0Foppf36nleqsLe_aH7LhQuV8OZn-F37uAbJfTsLa5EAz98_0H9xDT9/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5m9w4qO5TbgdsYKjbGyhGCxWHL-iv9QUE-5iFqpMSu0PHmTmd1mXFPcvAvY3JjHerJaPxQHW4IXg2Q2wtCq_p0Foppf36nleqsLe_aH7LhQuV8OZn-F37uAbJfTsLa5EAz98_0H9xDT9/s400/DSC_0006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like digging up the bluebells, it takes hard work to
disentangle ourselves from our belongings. It seems we spend much of our lives
working to accumulate things and as we reach that "certain age" - if
we are wise - some of us work at ridding ourselves of them. "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You can't take it with you</i>." they
say, but some of us try very hard to do just that.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qhZjzoNBRIFnGX1jTMhj1hF6sfPfPL5WFZSPB8E9rTelXHwE6Zs51f1YqQbFfQt6kQ6s-9omqFGvnoGbWUeh4Pq3wlQnvgE2Ti-IyT1VRVhw_77Y2jN7wEQ8JirGPbQxokvc3dT4mMm8/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qhZjzoNBRIFnGX1jTMhj1hF6sfPfPL5WFZSPB8E9rTelXHwE6Zs51f1YqQbFfQt6kQ6s-9omqFGvnoGbWUeh4Pq3wlQnvgE2Ti-IyT1VRVhw_77Y2jN7wEQ8JirGPbQxokvc3dT4mMm8/s400/DSC_0005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today, our flower bed is nearly clear of those lovely
Spanish bluebells. It's taken me several months of digging to get the majority
of those bulbs and I expect more time is needed to complete the job. Still, I
will not be surprised if some of them pop up next spring. </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2zrFd3K3DStQircloOAvvk9jVLofEtDj6GXJSWuHTts9Fm6QdZ_WojyeX_gNTjOleKoBN-4y3XobVUAmk8a1446p7RM1oDE1lhzmbvZ6_GVnwBS1k_Wj6ZjoLSl7CDdKl3HMQV0JSx97/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2zrFd3K3DStQircloOAvvk9jVLofEtDj6GXJSWuHTts9Fm6QdZ_WojyeX_gNTjOleKoBN-4y3XobVUAmk8a1446p7RM1oDE1lhzmbvZ6_GVnwBS1k_Wj6ZjoLSl7CDdKl3HMQV0JSx97/s400/DSC_0010.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are down-sizing
and unloading possessions also and the effort is similar. In both instances,
the results are the same - peaceful, uncluttered space - in the garden, in the
house, in our bodies, minds, and souls. </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4vgASkfUkoSTWbWz3xgmpBVm46_EV_PGua-kgjuSK2l4bKfgKOb23Qjo1_9MlByIBJLztc5Y0dXbFlAw3_nYv4CfM1vBdgRTzkulM7_G6Zg24wxPRLXGIWfmkqJDBM5gEmDaWxUdDZUD/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4vgASkfUkoSTWbWz3xgmpBVm46_EV_PGua-kgjuSK2l4bKfgKOb23Qjo1_9MlByIBJLztc5Y0dXbFlAw3_nYv4CfM1vBdgRTzkulM7_G6Zg24wxPRLXGIWfmkqJDBM5gEmDaWxUdDZUD/s320/DSC_0013.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Will I miss those bluebells and possessions I've parted with? In some fleeting moments I'm sure I will, but the memories are locked away in my heart and mind. At the end of our lives - and I'm not there yet - it's said that all we really have left is our memories. Uncluttering our lives simply leaves more room for all those wonderful memories...</span></span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><em> </em></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span class="text" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, who is good and pleasing and perfect. 1 Romans 12:2</span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span class="text" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><span class="text">But he said to me, </span><span class="woj">“My
grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” </span></em><em><span class="passage-display-bcv"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">2
Corinthians 12:9</span></span></em></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></strong></div>
Ladybughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17150609820066935078noreply@blogger.com0