tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73961367933735077192024-03-05T12:55:12.384-08:00Hansen ChampionsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-37222567585443502562015-12-31T11:58:00.000-08:002015-12-31T11:58:49.248-08:00Romans and a Rock ;)Yesterday Keith and I had the privilege of attending a service to celebrate the life of a wonderful man, Mr. Bob Lippoldt. There were so many thoughts and emotions that ran though my mind during the service and all evening really, I couldn't figure out how to "channel" my thoughts. Facebook and Instagram could not completely encompass what I wanted to be able to share, so why not dust of the 'ol blog!<br />
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Truthfully, I grew up knowing "Mr. Lippoldt" - my elementary school PE
teacher. I have fond memories from his classes, crab soccer, bean bag
tag and those AMAZING little scooters that you would roll around on - I
have no idea what they are called, but they were a blast! ;) When I
started dating Keith, the view I had of Mr. Lippoldt expanded. Their families were close and through hearing stories and getting know him more, I started to know"Bob" :). I got to know this incredible man of
faith and learned more about not only his faith, but the love of Christ
his entire family has as well. Over the last year, as I have watched Bob and his family battle his illness, I have been blessed
to be witness to their testimony of faith and belief in Christ. One of posts that was shared a couple of weeks ago shared Bob's favorite Bible verse and one that speaks so loudly to what his journey has shown to so many.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i>"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."</i> ~ Romans 8: 28</span><br />
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These words speak volumes. How amazing it is to know that God has a plan for your life and when you can own that knowledge, and love God with your whole heart, that your life can be a message for others in his purpose. Incredible, absolutely incredible. I absolutely love Romans and this verse is one of the few I didn't have underlined, highlighted, or circled - though it is now. ;)<br />
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Through the entire service yesterday, there was just a constant message of
faith, love of Christ and overall, SERVICE. Every person that spoke,
talked about how Bob was always serving others. His family, his
friends, everyone. How we wanted to know people and know their story.
His love for serving and sharing Christ with others. It was over and
over touching stories and memories of not only what a good man he was,
but a man of Christ.<br />
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As we drove home, Keith was sharing stories and memories about Bob his servant heart. There was also moment today also in which they talked about Bob's love for being an elementary PE teacher for all those years; that the love he had of teaching basics, the fundamentals of all these sports to so many young kids and the pride he felt as he watched them succeed as athletes further on in their high school careers and sometimes beyond. It made me think back as well to the truth in fundamentals not only of these sports, but teamwork he taught. Teamwork is truly the backbone of success. He was such an impact to so many of us in so many ways, but we didn't even probably realize it at the time. It was really in that moment in the car...listening to Keith about the "Bob" he knew and the connection point to "Mr. Lippoldt" we all knew.<br />
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As we left the service, we were asked to take a rock with the word "Servant" written on the face. It's purpose is to serve as a visual reminder of what Bob stood for and believed. He served others with his whole heart, his family, his friends, his students, and above all, The Lord. When I see our little man try his hardest to crab walk while doing wrestling drills I always remember "Mr. Lippoldt" - but when I see this rock, I see "Bob" and the full realization that they were the same person. :) I know it may have taken a few years to sink in, but I am thankful and feel blessed to have known Mr. Bob Lippoldt. May you rest in peace sir and I look forward to the day I get to see you again!!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-7499834864059258832014-12-17T09:46:00.001-08:002014-12-17T09:46:06.837-08:006 Months of Life: Part 2Time for Part 2! :) <br />
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Ok...this is just gonna be one month! August was a big one! <br />
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August was a BIG month...so much happened. In July, my sister, Laurie, had surgery to have tumor removed. We found out after surgery that the tumor was cancerous and she was given the diagnosis of Stage 2 Ovarian Cancer. If you saw my last post, after the month of July we had of attending two funerals for Keith's uncles that both passed of cancer I was pretty much in pieces. To be honest, it is a bit of a blur looking back now on what my reaction was completely. I remember thinking that there was just no way I could lose her, I lost Mom only 2 years before and my sisters are all I have. They are my rocks, who I lean on and just could not fathom the thought of possibly losing Laurie. When someone you love has cancer or is in pain or hurting of any way, shape or form...the feeling of helplessness SUCKS! (Sorry, no other way to express it really) When I don't know what to do...my mind automatically goes to "What CAN I do?" I decided I wanted a way to help Laurie FIGHT...I wanted her to know that we were standing behind her, in this with her and we were supporting her...so I had the idea for some t-shirts (if you know me well, you know I love making shirts for ALL kinds of occasions and events) for our family that would show Laurie we were in this together! So...Team Laurie's Ninja Shirts were born! ;) We did these as a surprise and ended up getting shirts for not only our family, but also some people that Laurie works with (and AMAZING group of people, BTW). In total, our first order was over 50 shirts...we surprised Laurie right before her first chemo treatment and it was so wonderful to see her face when she realized what was going on. I will forever hold that in my heart. It went on even further after we posted some pictures of our shirts on Facebook and in total, over the last 4 months, we have ordered over 125 shirts and were able to use them as well as some generous donations to help Laurie with medical and other expenses while she had to take off for treatment and such. It was a HUGE blessing and we are incredibly grateful for everyone for showing such support! Side note - if you need shirts made in the Wichita/Garden Plain area - talk to me...I have a guy...he is AMAZING! :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWNV8NCMoX1_xyUTMsbND1JTeDX-BbXd5nLyGxiZWoXvhydD4Ig0FDcElwkSU9toMBQbYMo-UPuAAz6vH7Uw1rX6eRz4cmyXQRJ0Lk0JXL1Fs19_Nm-6jrNsRzdM9BwLQFwZN0a352-U/s1600/10557400_10100452665531902_8352254087273082959_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWNV8NCMoX1_xyUTMsbND1JTeDX-BbXd5nLyGxiZWoXvhydD4Ig0FDcElwkSU9toMBQbYMo-UPuAAz6vH7Uw1rX6eRz4cmyXQRJ0Lk0JXL1Fs19_Nm-6jrNsRzdM9BwLQFwZN0a352-U/s1600/10557400_10100452665531902_8352254087273082959_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our INCREDIBLY handsome model when we surprised Aunt Laurie!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVp6DNjC180moPYlEb_29GZQIJTIhyphenhyphenowlXrJkiHjV8EoPbsuKIww3RgmBuK-_gHBIJYbBzzhxjDEj1-4cSINXVp84YTNdDMnszu1EVa6U6gC5pVItURahW9x-VVZ62iz_EiUyU0Evo33Q/s1600/10337722_10100452466795172_3787478486243506583_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVp6DNjC180moPYlEb_29GZQIJTIhyphenhyphenowlXrJkiHjV8EoPbsuKIww3RgmBuK-_gHBIJYbBzzhxjDEj1-4cSINXVp84YTNdDMnszu1EVa6U6gC5pVItURahW9x-VVZ62iz_EiUyU0Evo33Q/s1600/10337722_10100452466795172_3787478486243506583_n.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYy1WRKia9MmXLQdeBkfqaRMi6nONWNiSs-nKVeb9-KejflWccC7M8D0fCGenosnd6kYg3xtO-pPZGgVoh-7-XhdSVjwyiuIX6cie7UuCGuobo3QgrQ1JsuUIxhxC7aD3hynshz8pWaw/s1600/10606295_10100452643715622_8759096438416179715_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYy1WRKia9MmXLQdeBkfqaRMi6nONWNiSs-nKVeb9-KejflWccC7M8D0fCGenosnd6kYg3xtO-pPZGgVoh-7-XhdSVjwyiuIX6cie7UuCGuobo3QgrQ1JsuUIxhxC7aD3hynshz8pWaw/s1600/10606295_10100452643715622_8759096438416179715_n.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's RIGHT...WU is on TEAM LAURIE!!!!</td></tr>
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With emotions running high from the news in late July of Laurie's diagnosis, we also had a HUGE change in our family in early August. My dad decided after losing mom and since he was getting older and things were getting harder to take care of, after 17 years he was going to sell his house and land outside of Garden Plain and move back into town. So, we embarked on organizing a lifetime of accumulating (and that man can ACCUMULATE - I am being EXTREMELY nice here...;)) and divide out the most important items and sort through the "stuff" to be sold at Auction and the house to get ready to be put on the market. To say it was a daunting task does not even begin to describe it...but we are Seiwert's...we press on (and always have a some fun in doing so):<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candace and I having a little fun - yeah...we are goofs ;)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day of the sale with Dad</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone was all over so we couldn't get all of us in one picture, but it was a great day</td></tr>
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The day of the sale was incredibly emotional. I thought I had a handle on it and then I watched our family dining room set being sold...I remembered Mom's excitement and attention to detail in finding just the right piece of furniture for that dining room. This house was her dream, everything was just has she had always wanted...I could remember all of the holidays we had spent gathered around that table...and there it was, being sold to the highest bidder...it was too much. I broke down, which caused a chain reaction and we had a crying party in the garage. The day was rough, but we got through it. The house went on the market and sold withing a month and soon, it was all done (after my brothers set the pasture on fire of course - it's another story for another time). At the end of it all, all of the "stuff" may have been gone and the title of the house is in someone else's name, but no one will ever take away the memories we made in that home...those will stay with us forever.<br />
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The rest of our August flew by in a flash (not even kidding, the sale and Laurie's first chemo treatment were just in the first week and a half of the month!). All of a sudden it was Kolten's first day of school! Preschool at least....:) Garden Plain started a Preschool in the Elementary School. Kolten was SO EXCITED to meet new friends and get started in school! He even named his backpack...his name is "Gary" (no idea why)! ;)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our handsome little Preschooler!</td></tr>
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Of course, school means treats for momma to make! Those that know me well, know I kinda live for this stuff....so I had to make some adorable little treats for his class during the first month of school...:)<br />
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We also celebrated Keith's 32nd birthday during the month of August. It was a pretty low key celebration this year, but don't worry, I wouldn't forget to mention that Keith is a whole year older! ;)<br />
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All in all, like I said...August was a month of emotional highs and lows to say the least. It was incredible to watch God at work in our lives and yet again providing strength when I thought I could not handle even more. I am so amazed continually that God brought us back to Kansas at just the right time...it was hard, it was crazy and it has been AMAZING to see His plan working in our lives!<br />
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Stay tuned for later this week to get into the rest of this year!! Have a blessed day friends!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-67861261097247143282014-12-15T09:53:00.000-08:002014-12-15T09:53:10.294-08:006 Months of Life: Part 1So...I have been more than M.I.A around here in the last 6+ months, and life has change A LOT for the Hansen family. I decided it was best to sum it up in a couple posts! :) Here is what we have been up to!<br />
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<b>June</b><br />
To start out the month of June, I actually have to start at the end of May...Keith surprised me with a trip to Kansas City for my 30th Birthday. He packed our bags two days in advance and hid them in the basement and just told me to get dressed and we were going somewhere on the day of our trip. He did an AMAZING job...we were on a strict budget with our life changes, so he used some hotel rewards for Argosy Casino and got a free hotel room and free meals for us, he worked my my sister, Vickie, to watch the kids so we could go for a night out and when we were waiting for dinner, I got an extra surprise...our great friends, Robyn and Courtney, walked in! We had a great night out and it was an incredible weekend!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robyn took this pic right as they walked in...yes, I was a bit surprised! ;)</td></tr>
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We got back home and on June 3rd, I officially turned the big 3-0...It was nice day with our little family, complete with my special present that I told Kolten I had wanted pretty much all year...a Little Mermaid Balloon (purchased with Daddy's help, of course)! Keith surprises didn't stop at the weekend get away either. For years I had told him about this Snoopy Sno-Cone machine I had when I was little that I absolutely loved, and he found one at a garage sale! This guy...I tell ya, he is a keeper! ;)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgit4JZdfHPTV-fGv0LMUBnp1PGz7LDFGCjBzYVadGJDnKLIscjEdIruUTS3qpHfkSlNYHuzHvAURDFB4UjKfbeJHiRaHGDG6ab7FGF4xEK9vthMLZPHKKYqx8Z8Jv9P2SHXbnuhvPoDFY/s1600/10154346_10100402167365632_5035309205741037588_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgit4JZdfHPTV-fGv0LMUBnp1PGz7LDFGCjBzYVadGJDnKLIscjEdIruUTS3qpHfkSlNYHuzHvAURDFB4UjKfbeJHiRaHGDG6ab7FGF4xEK9vthMLZPHKKYqx8Z8Jv9P2SHXbnuhvPoDFY/s1600/10154346_10100402167365632_5035309205741037588_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
After our celebrations, we started to really pray and come to terms with the position our family was in. With Keith out of a job, I had started to look for some part time employment to at least be able to help with bills and hold us over until Keith was able to find a full time position. He applied to a lot of places, but was not finding any possible leads. I had some luck to be offered a couple part time jobs, but our answer came one night during a call with my niece, Candace. We found out that they were looking at purchasing a new home and their current house would be available for us to rent in Garden Plain if we decided to move home. We prayed a lot and felt like God was really telling us to move back, so we gave notice to our landlord in Iowa and made plans to move home to Kansas in mid-June. As we were packing up we experienced heartache as Keith's Uncle Jim passed away after a battle with cancer. We put a stall on our packing and traveled to Nebraska for Jim's funeral. Because of our limited time to get out of our house in Iowa, we had to travel back from Nebraska the day of the funeral and on the way home, we got the call that Keith's other uncle, Norm, had lost his battle with cancer that day as well. We made quick plans and changes in the next couple of days and with a 4 hour round trip to pick up a truck, and with help from our AMAZING church family at Trinity, we packed up and drove a Uhaul truck to Nebraska for the 2nd funeral in less than two weeks. While it was incredibly stressful, I was amazed at the way I saw God work in our lives and He truly provided the strength we did not have to get us through. <br />
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We arrived in Garden Plain on June 15th in whirlwind, my wonderful brother, Dale and niece, Nicole helped us to unpack our truck in a few hours. In just a week, we got pretty much everything unpacked and our new home was ready for a fun filled afternoon to celebrate Kolten's 4th birthday! We had a wonderful afternoon, complete with a visit from "Uncle" Newby in the firetruck! After the celebration of Kolten's birthday, we got ready to pack our bags and head to Montana to see Grandma and Grandpa Hansen! Yes, if you are keeping up...we did A LOT of traveling in June! ;)<br />
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We arrived in Montana on June 28th, and Kolten got to celebrate his actual birthday with a fun filled trip to the zoo and a really awesome cake from Grandma and Grandpa Hansen that had an actual Transformer on it! He was so excited!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kolten's birthday party in Kansas, pic of the kids on their 1st airplane ride and Kolten with Grandma and Grandpa at the Zoo</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<b>July</b><br />
We started out July still in Montana and Uncle Dan joined us for the whole family to take a fun filled vacation to Yellowstone National Park. We had an AMAZING time...we saw so many animals, lots of Buffalo and Elk and an adorable Black Bear to name just a few! We also went to the Battle of Little Big Horn (I think that may have been in June technically - I can't remember now!) and Kolten got to take part in the Junior Ranger Program. He LOVED it! Keith helped him work through some little work books and they learned about all kinds of stuff (that he tried to teach me as well :))! Grandma and Grandpa also got him a pretty awesome vest to put his badges and patches on (which of course we will have to plan more trips to get all filled up). We had such and incredible time and are so thankful to Grandma and Grandpa Hansen for making the trip possible for us! :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All loaded up and ready to go!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our ADORABLE Junior Ranger!</td></tr>
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As we got back from Montana, it was time for our new life to start back in Kansas. I interviewed and was hired back at Wichita State before our trip and started the Monday after we returned. Keith started a new job as well as the Manager of the Distribution Center for the Wichita Eagle. We got started with our "new normal" and geared up for a busy and fun fall because Kolten was going to start PreSchool!!! <br />
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I am sure there are things that happened here and there that I may have forgotten, but that's our "highlight reel" for June and July! Check back (hopefully) tomorrow for August and beyond! <br />
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Have a blessed day friends! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-14195463547333498832014-05-29T12:21:00.001-07:002014-05-29T12:21:05.098-07:00Becoming a Champion of Faith<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I woke up to my foot being nudged. Groggy, I looked to the foot of the
bed and saw Keith, and then the words came out…</i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Did you get my text?”</i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“No, why? What happened?”</i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I am officially ‘separated’ from Target”</i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Then…something that I NEVER would have thought would come next…I heard
a voice, felt it deep in my heart, God said to me, “Everything is going to be
fine.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That voice, that feeling, was
something a couple of years ago I never would have stopped to hear or listen
to, but it is that feeling, that has been my saving grace these last few weeks.</i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Many of you know that we moved up here to Waterloo about a
year ago so that Keith could take a job with Target.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was something that I never thought we
would do; move 8 ½ hours away from our family and friends, from everything that
we knew for our entire lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
great opportunity, a good job, with enough pay so that I could stay home with
the kids, which was always my dream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrDkJqyHmTny4ub51ZsE8NqkirZzJTwNV7vdvyqv3ya_n_jpXou2G5d2XPX_nGVNwJL7MqdN7BbTeIa-N5eOEu4lJDK9b6R_pyyYdhLPy3zoLbStnPBuHxGYDic9ZlIvIkTknsK6BTTU/s1600/2014-05-11+15.34.09-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrDkJqyHmTny4ub51ZsE8NqkirZzJTwNV7vdvyqv3ya_n_jpXou2G5d2XPX_nGVNwJL7MqdN7BbTeIa-N5eOEu4lJDK9b6R_pyyYdhLPy3zoLbStnPBuHxGYDic9ZlIvIkTknsK6BTTU/s1600/2014-05-11+15.34.09-2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, I’m not going to lie to you, the first feeling WAS a
feeling of comfort and peace…but about an hour later, and in the days and weeks
that have followed, my biggest question for God has been “WHY!?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the thing though, I KNOW why!</div>
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<br /></div>
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We were brought here to Iowa for Keith and I to grow as a
couple and learn to bring our family closer to Christ every day, through
everything we do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been connected
to AMAZING (which doesn’t even seem like a strong enough word) people, especially
through our church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the people who
welcomed us our first day attending Trinity, to our small group, the people we
have met through different events not even connected to church, but are men and
women of Christ that help us to grow in our faith daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think daily and have devoted our website and this blog to
the idea that we are “Hansen Champions”…from day one with AdvoCare, we have
loved the motto, tagline, slogan, whatever you want to call it that they use, “We
Build Champions”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has encompassed the
idea and vision Keith and I have for our family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiouDIUFcKgjZ9AweHfYvlX8Qoox3g1HC4pyWnV0tLYoeB61mRzStylljLPVfeeAzd_UWOXtoyk2sNblQq24qGwbgeWH4nD1MDa9euKSQGqCnmyCZ-PyUPFWfOnfoLvy8LhxaM7WENJY/s1600/2014-05-29+13.58.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiouDIUFcKgjZ9AweHfYvlX8Qoox3g1HC4pyWnV0tLYoeB61mRzStylljLPVfeeAzd_UWOXtoyk2sNblQq24qGwbgeWH4nD1MDa9euKSQGqCnmyCZ-PyUPFWfOnfoLvy8LhxaM7WENJY/s1600/2014-05-29+13.58.59.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This adventure we are one now is bringing us to a whole new
level of Champion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are becoming
champions…TRUE Champions of FAITH!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
a strong faith that God brought us here for a reason, we have seen the reason
in some cases, but we have a challenge on a daily basis to look and see,
EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. on how God has blessed us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are going through a bump on our road, we know that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, what we know and believe event
STRONGER is that God is leading us and we KNOW that he will be with us every
step of the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may struggle, we may
falter and we may fall down, but HE will guide us and HE will bless us!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will of course keep you posted along the way, but we
greatly appreciate any prayers you can offer our way!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to share this journey with you all because
as I have said before, this is a place I want to share to help others to know
they are not alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t lie;
sometimes it’s a little “therapy” for me too! ;)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you all will take this though and use
it as a source of encouragement and faith!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have a blessed day friends! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-69749360542835798982014-05-16T22:05:00.000-07:002014-05-16T22:05:27.216-07:00Back to the BasicsSo...I have been M.I.A. on here for over a month now and A LOT has been going on. To be honest, I started to get to a point where I felt like the things that were going on in my head and what I wanted to write about was to "deep" to dive in to or that maybe I didn't have enough "expertise" in the areas that I felt lead to talk about so I just didn't write anything.<br />
<br />
I had to go back and realize and really come to terms again with WHY I decided to start this blog (yes, I understand it has only been going since January, but that's what happened). The reason I did this was to talk about things that were on my heart and reach out to people. That is the "beauty" and "beast" of blogs, isn't it? I don't NEED expertise to talk about a subject! ;) This whole thing is just my opinions and feelings. I want people to be able to read these and get to know me, maybe even know that they are not alone in feelings they are having. I spent so much of my life not being true to myself and worrying about what everyone around me thought, and I have gone through SO MUCH in the last few years that have lead me to this point, I want to share and help others. THAT is the point of Hansen Champions and THAT is what I am going to do!<br />
<br />
So, I will give fair warning now...there will be topics that will be across the board on here (that's how my mind works - it's a little humorous sometimes I think to unwind the "web" on how my thoughts connect:)). I appreciate feed back and discussion are VERY welcome! Like I said, the whole purpose of this blog is to help others, reach out, lift each other up and know that at the end of the day, what is most important is to be THANKFUL and show GRATITUDE from the experiences we have had and to the God that has made them possible!<br />
<br />
Be blessed friends! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-62826565382581678932014-04-02T22:36:00.003-07:002014-04-02T22:37:21.969-07:00The Dollar on the Table<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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So…while unpacking the kid’s toys at, as Kolten says, our
“New New House” one item in particular caught Kolten’s eye as he was exploring
all of his toys after the move – one of Keith’s old wallets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Kolten brought it to Keith a couple nights ago and told him,
“I need a dollar for my wallet”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
first thing that went through my mind was, “How does he know that??”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer is simple…we have been using cash
to pay with items more recently because for the first time in a long time we
CAN use cash and are not using cards any more (THANK YOU AdvoCare and Financial
Peace!)…and everything that Keith and I DO is seen by Kolten and becomes his
reality, what he knows, and little by little his views on everything are being
shaped by us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually McKinley will
be joining this bandwagon too and it really has gotten me to start thinking
about how and what we need/want to do to make sure that these kiddos grow into
the true CHAMPION people they have been created to be!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s sort of a heavy thought to get my head
around sometimes (yes, I just said heavy – IT IS!) </div>
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Anyway…back to the wallet and the dollar…:)</div>
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So, as I have talked about recently, we have been taking Dave
Ramsey’s Financial Peace and I have been reading <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave and his daughter, Rachel Cruze’s book <a href="http://www.smartmoneysmartkids.com/?ectid=smsk.lt.lhansen" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Smart Money Smart Kids</i></a> (that is being
released on April 22<sup>nd</sup> and you should ALL go and <a href="http://www.smartmoneysmartkids.com/?ectid=smsk.lt.lhansen" target="_blank">pre-order</a>!!) and
one of the key concepts is to TEACH your kids about the value of work and
earning money with paying commissions for work done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rachel and Dave talk about starting even as early
as 3 years old (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kolten will be 4 in
June!!!</i>) at having jobs that your children can do on a regular basis to
earn commissions (NOT allowances).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
as they earn that money, you can work together towards goals of purchases they
may want and using it is just a base to teach them about working and money in
general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then as they get even older,
you can teach them the value of giving, spending AND saving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like I said before, I don’t wanna lay out
everything on here for you – I really do want you guys to read this book – it
is AWESOME!!!<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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So…Keith told Kolten that he would give him a dollar for his
wallet if he did some work to earn that money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Keith told Kolten that he needed to go and pick up the toys in his toy
room off the floor and he would get his dollar for his work he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, Kolten went in there and Keith could hear
him starting to pick up toys, then he heard the sounds of picking up turn into
the sounds of playing (he’s 3 – he gets a distracted easily…I’m almost 30 and I
get distracted when I start cleaning!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kolten would come back out and tell Keith, “I need that dollar for my
wallet!” and they cycle went on throughout the evening of picking up, then
playing, never completing the task.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FChG8BVeUQszuS4csuJreYEn66kSXXZWKySDGS1mOGsfnUbJUtOSfGiitu6R_YLBlTsvfganS1-HjEzKBIy0cTmmwPe7TbnnrMSNabzh1qbGTK2DXqkRqy6bw_36JCC9U3ROSDORUgQ/s1600/2014-04-02+22.10.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FChG8BVeUQszuS4csuJreYEn66kSXXZWKySDGS1mOGsfnUbJUtOSfGiitu6R_YLBlTsvfganS1-HjEzKBIy0cTmmwPe7TbnnrMSNabzh1qbGTK2DXqkRqy6bw_36JCC9U3ROSDORUgQ/s1600/2014-04-02+22.10.21.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></div>
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The next day, I saw the dollar on the table and Kolten told
me, “Momma, I need that dollar for my wallet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, I told him (and it was even without hearing this story from Keith
first – he told me everything from the night before after I told him my story –
YEAH for being on the same parenting page!), “I will give you the dollar if you
do some work to earn the dollar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
want to earn money, you have to do work to earn it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mommy and Daddy aren’t going to just give you
money just because you want it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
Kolten said (in true Kolten style), “Okay, okay, okay…what do I have to
do?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him he needed to pick up the
toys he had played with that morning in the living room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, we had a movie on at the same time and
he started to pick up, but soon got distracted again and again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I reminded him a few times, but eventually he
said to me, “No, I not gonna do it…I’m gonna watch this show.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him that was okay and that was his
choice, but that he would not get the dollar until he did his work so he could
earn his money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He agreed and the dollar
is still on the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have had
little talks about what he could do with the money he earns, but for now he
hasn’t decided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVu-FS2dZLO8aMO0y7BvrYftqgYa9O6-b5kXWWv_J_3JKzieE9Tn-ed4GJH9OZrsRSuHjr-4mcKsXph5cKOeEPin5Nx-mUibionb1HAcjnKh0gqX7rxGXf-geAOMqD61iVk_J3xa8jZE/s1600/SMSK-instagram-work.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></div>
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The whole thing has just reminded me in so many ways about the responsibility we have as parents. We are so incredibly blessed with two AMAZING children and I know they they will grown into amazing, champion adults. I feel like it is just something that so often if you look into our society that has been taken for granted so often...teaching kids from the beginning not only what we think is "right and wrong" but showing them and being the example they need in this world. I know in the next few weeks and months we will start to get
a plan together as he shows he is ready and he will start to do his jobs each
day and week to earn his commissions and we will plan for fun purchases and I
am SO incredibly excited to teach him the value of saving and giving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This child has one of the BIGGEST hearts I
have ever seen and I know he is going to do amazing things (yeah sure, I’m a
little biased, but who cares ;)).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
so incredible thankful for people like Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze that have
brought these ideas to the forward to help truly raise champion children and
change how we look at money and how we can teach our children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really do hope that you take the time to
look into Rachel and Dave’s book, <a href="http://www.smartmoneysmartkids.com/?ectid=smsk.lt.lhansen" target="_blank"><i>Smart Money Smart Kids</i></a>, and if you are
looking for help with your own personal finances, look into Financial Peace
University, it’s truly life changing!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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Have a BLESSED day friends!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-57569096775569288202014-03-31T08:44:00.001-07:002014-03-31T09:05:43.804-07:00Momma Monday - Building our Legacy!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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So, I am going
to take a moment to admit something that I think is important to get out there
and I am not saying that EVERYONE that is a mother or parent has thought this,
but I think there is probably someone out there that has thought the same thing
and the purpose of this blog is to get stuff out there…so, here goes!!! ;)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I remember
when we had first gotten married, having a conversation with Keith about when
we should start “trying” for kids…I jokingly said to him, “I just wanna have a
baby so I can dress it up and play with it like a real, live baby doll!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was OF COURSE joking, but I don’t know that
I ever really knew (or at least fully considered) the FULL extent of being a parent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it still amazes me that God has
blessed us so much and entrusted Keith and me with these two, precious human
beings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes incredible faith and
reliance on God on a daily basis to make sure that we are raising them up in
the best way possible and making the right choices to guide them to be the true
CHAMPIONS I know they are and can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of the best ways I can describe this is straight from God’s word:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1Q2ft33-cwtNzPhxz3Zx3bNGW6Ezhc1SEM6GdgjsAN5U0xPojs1qBgbB0x_QpEF7hiSfrCTZ0YwujRZ0N72BSVhJV80z-8Ww-S4SW1gRLolWAs5ljncTQlcGEKEUuSzPRvhQs9PbVbc/s1600/2014-03-19+09.53.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1Q2ft33-cwtNzPhxz3Zx3bNGW6Ezhc1SEM6GdgjsAN5U0xPojs1qBgbB0x_QpEF7hiSfrCTZ0YwujRZ0N72BSVhJV80z-8Ww-S4SW1gRLolWAs5ljncTQlcGEKEUuSzPRvhQs9PbVbc/s1600/2014-03-19+09.53.25.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My silly little champions :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Start children off on the way they should go,</i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
<span class="text">and even when they are old they will not turn from it. </span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)</i></div>
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Like I said, there are MANY ways in which we seek God’s guidance daily
to help us to raise our children, but one in which we have realized lately and
has hit very close to home with me is when dealing with money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know, you are probably reading this and
thinking, “Umm….Lisa….your children are 3 ½ and 1…they don’t have a concept of
money yet…how is this even on your radar yet?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well…let me tell you! ;)</div>
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<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
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Keith and I have been taking Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University
(FPU) over the last few weeks and I LOVE IT! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not going to get into a bunch of details
right now about FPU right now…but I will later…it’s AMAZING!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ANYWHO….during the 2<sup>nd</sup> lesson that
was taught, Dave’s daughter, Rachel Cruze is introduced and gave some tips and
about teaching children about money and leaving a legacy for your children of
understanding the importance of hard work and earning money, then having a
giving spirit with that money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
absolutely loved her and I could tell in just the short time of her
presentation that I wanted to know more about who she was and what she did
within the Ramsey organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I did
what every person does this day in age…I went home and searched the
internet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found out that Dave and his
daughter have written a book, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.smartmoneysmartkids.com/" target="_blank">Smart Money Smart Kids.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></b>The book will be official released on
April 22<sup>nd</sup>, but I actually was chosen to be a part of the Launch
Team for the book, so I have a copy and have been reading (ok…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">DEVOURING</i>) it for the last few days and
I can’t recommend this book enough!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is co-written by Rachel and Dave and brings the perspective from her on what is
what like to be raised a “Ramsey kid” and what it was like to come about at the
time when her parents were building the legacy they not only built for their
family, but so many others as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave
brings on the points of what is like to be in the parent roll and how it is not
always the easiest but it is WORTH IT!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s such an amazing point to think about as parents we often think, “Am
I doing this right?” “Will they appreciate this when they are older?” and in
this case you can SEE the rewards and what an amazing daughter Dave has raised
and now Rachel is giving back as well, it’s truly incredible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.smartmoneysmartkids.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.smartmoneysmartkids.com/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_N7EFKxZJSMy6lk-Icsy7z-bIKq5wpufwRXThB_iF2KBFMJXrZsOY-00XiX7TOUHGFXir11fxk1UqYFvXd3Je71EfnD7hnfNbT4JQS8MhuFEajZUtDJ9Pe8AAXmvXGRhcg1oic4oX9g/s1600/SMSK-instagram-giving.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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Be on the lookout of for more specific tips I have seen in the book…but
I won’t lie…I am not gonna give it all away!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I really recommend that you go out and pre-order the book NOW!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Click <a href="https://www.smartmoneysmartkids.com/" target="_blank">HERE </a>to go to the site to pre-order and
you get some great extras along with your order if you order before the
release!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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I hope you all have a fabulous Monday!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Be blessed friends! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-77238245651853795552014-03-27T12:55:00.001-07:002014-03-27T12:55:30.605-07:00So...It's been a while...It seems like FOREVER since I have taken some time to sit down and actually type a post! So...I will take a bit and catch you up on a few things that have been happening...<br />
<br />
<b>We visited home <i>TWICE</i>!!</b><br />
Some people may not understand how crazy that may sound (we live in Waterloo, IA and we are from the Wichita, KS area - 8 hours away...and that is a perfect, door to door drive...not a drive with 2 kiddos!) We went in early March to attend the Bridal Shower of a great friend of mine that is getting married May and I have the honor to be a part of her wedding party! :) The weather was a little crazy when we were there, I told the bride it is supposed to be good luck if it rains on your wedding day, so a blizzard on your bridal shower HAS to be good news! :) We did get to enjoy some great time together and I am so excited for her wedding!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHKLN1e0OVIyfy3bX6c7aNk-JRTejX7QEeSPrJUQPLIv1vGugRusKeL9itWy5oUGQCiY5LthpXFA6IakMELnT14PVVFxN6aW_hXAoIaIpeQ0krUkDlcaQGkwOMJA2AviAAwCK_sWt9z8/s1600/2014-03-02+15.18.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHKLN1e0OVIyfy3bX6c7aNk-JRTejX7QEeSPrJUQPLIv1vGugRusKeL9itWy5oUGQCiY5LthpXFA6IakMELnT14PVVFxN6aW_hXAoIaIpeQ0krUkDlcaQGkwOMJA2AviAAwCK_sWt9z8/s1600/2014-03-02+15.18.31.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Me and the beautiful Bride-to-Be, Emily! :)</b></td></tr>
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We went home for another quick trip about a week and a half later and got to spend some time during the week there and took advantage of the beautiful weather on that trip to head to the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita. It is AWESOME! The kids had a great time, we were there from about 9:30am until around 2pm! We packed lunches and snacks and had a WONDERFUL family day! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Keith taking the kids to see the sheep!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Spark and a packed lunch are two necessities for a fun filled day at the Zoo! :)</b></td></tr>
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<b>We MOVED!! </b><br />
Same town, different house! We found a house in Waterloo that is pretty wonderful to rent! We have some amazing landlords that are a great Christian couple and I truly feel like God was definitely working on a plan to help us find this home. We have LOTS more room and I am excited to share some pics of the house and talk about projects we have been doing! :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>WAY more room! We set up our tent in the living room before we moved in and let Kolten go "camping"! :)</b></td></tr>
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<b>We are TAKING CONTROL!!</b><br />
That may sound a little weird, but that is the best way that I can describe two key things that have started recently. <br />
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Keith and I will be the first to tell you that we have not always been the smartest with our money choices over the years and it has become very apparent to us that in order to secure our family for a bright future, we needed to get a handle on how we view and take care of our finances. Keith's AMAZING parents gave us the wonderful gift of enrolling us in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. We started back in February and meet at a local church every Monday for class and we have homework and videos to watch and a great book to read as well. It is teaching us some great techniques and truly empowering us to take control of our lives and our family. One of my FAVORITE "take away" moments so far is this saying, "You need to live like no one else right now, so that later you can LIVE and GIVE like no one else!" It means to make sacrifices (pack your lunch, no cable, BUDGET) so you can reap the benefits later...there is SO much more in that class though...seriously, I HIGHLY recommend this course! I will talk more about it later, and Dave's daughter, Rachel Cruze, has written a book that I have been chosen to be on the launch team for that talks about teaching your children about money, so you will hear more!! :)<br />
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The 2nd opportunity we are taking part in is turning up the volume on our AdvoCare business!!! :) We have been involved with AdvoCare for just over a year now and have been SO BLESSED to have been a part of people's journeys to finding better health and solutions and are so excited to take it to the next level. This opportunity has allowed us to help others AND earn income that has allowed me not only to be able to stay home with our kids, but for us to start to be able to pay off debts that have followed us for years and not have Keith have to get another job or me to get a part time job to have extra money. We have met some INCREDIBLE people and I am so thankful every single day when I look in the mirror what it has done for me personally as far as weightloss, but also personal development. SO....we are ready and excited to start to help others not only that may need more energy, athletic performance or weight loss goals, but also goals to help other people and earn income. I will tell you right now, I put in less time than I did at other part time jobs (it just focused, intentional time) and get a MUCH higher paycheck!!! We want to find 3 people (couples or families too) that are ready to take control too! If you are ready and want to learn more, please give me a call or send me an email and we will get connected!!!!<br />
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Well...that got you all kind of caught up...now that the craziness with the move is (mostly) behind us, I hope to be able to sit down and get some posts written at least 3 times each week! :)<br />
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Have a blessed day friends!!! :) <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-60240170544692355182014-03-05T10:39:00.001-08:002014-03-05T10:39:14.596-08:00It's be an incredible journey - and it's only the BEGINNING!!! :)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b><i>February was our 1 year "Advo-versary" and I felt like I wanted to really share my true story about how AdvoCare has change our lives....ENJOY! :) </i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In February of 2013 I came to a point that I was just
tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Literally and figuratively, I was
tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was literally tired because I
was the mother of a newborn and a 2 ½ year old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was up during the night with feedings and running around during the
day after a toddler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no energy to
put into my relationship with my husband and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no idea how I was going to function
when I had to go back to work after my maternity leave to my job in the Office
of Admission at Wichita State.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
figurative sense, I was tired because I had spent my entire (I am not kidding,
ENTIRE) life comparing myself to others and judging myself and how I viewed
myself in regard to what I thought other people thought of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friends, those were all negative thoughts
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was concerned and consumed in so
much negativity and much of it was self-inflicted because I let other people determine
how I felt about myself.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So…what happened?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After weeks of pushing off and giving excuses, I “caved” and accepted an
invitation to an AdvoCare mixer at my best friend, Jenna’s, house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still tried to make excuses leading up to
the very day of the mixer to myself, we had double booked ourselves and committed
to going to a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>birthday party that same
afternoon and had to leave the party early to go to the mixer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my head, I was thinking, “It’s okay if we miss
it…I will just tell Jenna we had to stay at the party.” (She doesn’t know that
story – sorry Jenna!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happened
though is there was something inside me that knew I told her I was going to be
there, so we needed to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With much
reluctance, I told Keith we needed to leave the party (he wasn’t all too
excited about going to the mixer either), and head to Jenna’s.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If I remember right, we got there just in time and when I
walked through the door, I felt instant shame…I just had a baby over a month
ago and I was ashamed of how I looked because I was meeting so many new people
(I had felt that way walking into the birthday party too).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried my best to put on my “happy face” and
introduce myself and try and make small talk while trying to forget how
uncomfortable I truly felt inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat
there and sipped on my Spark as I listened to the stories and saw my best
friend and the excitement she felt and I could see inside of her for these
products, this company and this opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I began to feel excited…to feel hope, which is something I had not felt
in a LONG time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kinda pushed that
feeling away though and thought to myself, “I am happy for her, but it’s not
for me.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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So, let’s fast forward just a bit to later on that night…I
had my Spark when I was at Jenna’s in the afternoon and we went home and I
noticed an incredible amount of energy and it was great, but again…I pushed
back the thought of excitement, I was just too used to not getting my hopes up
(and looking back – I literally shake my head at the amount of negativity I had
in my life!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The game changer came in
the middle of the night when McKinley woke up and needed to me
changed/fed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was still tired (there is
nothing that can replace sleep people, come on!), but for the first time in
over a month, my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mind</i> was awake in
the middle of the night!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">present</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">aware</i>…not groggy and could not focus!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So…the next day…I told Keith, “I want to sign
up for that discount and I want to get that Spark stuff!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did just that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We signed up for the discount and we got our
distributor kit in the mail that week and we enjoyed our Spark (and stopped our
crazy pop habit – Keith was up to almost 2- 2 liters of Mountain Dew a DAY and
I would drink at least 5-6 cans of Diet Dr. Pepper every day).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We will fast forward again a couple weeks…Keith and I were
loving Spark and we (okay…I say we and I mean me and Keith was dragging his
heels but trying to be supportive) decided to really make a change…we were both
sick of feeling to dragged down and tired of being overweight and unhappy with
our appearance (that really is true, Keith just wasn’t sure he was on board
with this next part ;)).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So…we decided
to do a 24 Day Challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We knew we
loved Spark and since we got the discount, we decided to go ahead and “give it
a try”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we ordered everything and
decided to start March 1, 2013. </div>
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During the next 24 days an amazing thing happened…something
I thought was just not possible anymore…I started to feel HOPE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dropped 9 lbs during our challenge and over
13 inches…KEITH lost over 20 lbs and went from a size 42/44 to a 38!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stayed on the products and to date we have
lost a total of over 70 lbs and I have gone from a size 16 fitting tight to a
size 10 pants and from a tight Large to a Medium shirt size, and Keith has gone
down another pant size and is a size 36 in pants and from a tight 2XL shirt to
a loose XL. I have gotten to a point where I FEEL good and I don't have to ask Keith 1,000 times before we go out, "Do I look okay?" and need reassuring compliments from him (don't get me wrong, they are still nice) - this momma has confidence! Confidence is something I NEVER have had (no, never, ever...it will be hard maybe for people to believe, but I have been a good "faker" for most of my life), and it is an INCREDIBLE feeling to finally feel it and for it to be REAL!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbOrlb7efjz_QhG3KSrFzFax6f5Pc2xn0YmnF6tkT7hFdtfv3Hv1Ij3GgfOHcBHnSLcWWm3pid4XRQS2lGcms9-MSjeHbEjtj79F1MuwdwPa1zh2QdbHtOz-Xxujuc4TfMkhujYe2xls/s1600/2014-01-21+21.09.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbOrlb7efjz_QhG3KSrFzFax6f5Pc2xn0YmnF6tkT7hFdtfv3Hv1Ij3GgfOHcBHnSLcWWm3pid4XRQS2lGcms9-MSjeHbEjtj79F1MuwdwPa1zh2QdbHtOz-Xxujuc4TfMkhujYe2xls/s1600/2014-01-21+21.09.09.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxWtxa2HRsiFrZX0QhUARi4NhAc0-NdPKMMXtPM0hk8gxDkGPmLFvYemeeK7hXKrrllC2igWn8m2RnAe9BaObkN7VdoCvXQZccFZaaiIZ41hGO0r6oJgC3uY_WElqzU458RGxSgkk4-M/s1600/2014-02-06+16.21.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxWtxa2HRsiFrZX0QhUARi4NhAc0-NdPKMMXtPM0hk8gxDkGPmLFvYemeeK7hXKrrllC2igWn8m2RnAe9BaObkN7VdoCvXQZccFZaaiIZ41hGO0r6oJgC3uY_WElqzU458RGxSgkk4-M/s1600/2014-02-06+16.21.26.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
There was a bigger change that happened in our lives during
2013 as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We moved from our home of
Wichita, KS to Cedar Falls, IA for Keith’s job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a great job and a great place, we have met so many amazing,
wonderful people…but we are 500 miles away from family and friends that we miss
very much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, of course to move, I
had to quit my job at WSU.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were able
to make a transition when we moved here for me to take a couple months off to “settle”
our little family and such, but the time came in the summer of 2013 that it was
time for me to start looking for a job…that time came right as we were getting
ready to leave for what is called AdvoCare Success School in Dallas, TX.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no idea what it was or what to prepare for;
Jenna just told me I HAD to be there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, Grandma and Grandpa Hansen came to Iowa to watch the grandkids and
Keith and I packed up and made the 14 hour drive to Dallas from Cedar
Falls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happened was AMAZING!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were filled with hope and excitement of
what our lives could be and what this opportunity of AdvoCare could truly bring
our family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was MORE than vitamins
and supplements to help us FEEL great, but we could help others feel great AND
provide financially for our family!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
spent almost the ENTIRE way home from Texas talking about our dreams and hopes
for our family (something that we had NEVER done before).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who we could help, how we could help, it was
AMAZING!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had felt and seen the change
that AdvoCare had provided for our bodies and all of a sudden it was like we
could SEE what AdvoCare could provide for our ENTIRE lives!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWv1dnCr9BTG6t49FVrgifLlDNmesrvMU8QK9B_cd_7iYb3RataztrnEmfKvFMXgYVSz8tucbWF2IdF7d8ob64z7XH-JHDpRv9Gl9KNRa8slps7jo2l053dVQxv_Y8QqVBamM53O3ZRzQ/s1600/2013-08-11+13.01.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWv1dnCr9BTG6t49FVrgifLlDNmesrvMU8QK9B_cd_7iYb3RataztrnEmfKvFMXgYVSz8tucbWF2IdF7d8ob64z7XH-JHDpRv9Gl9KNRa8slps7jo2l053dVQxv_Y8QqVBamM53O3ZRzQ/s1600/2013-08-11+13.01.58.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We began to share with intention and purpose, we don’t spend
all of our time talking to people about AdvoCare, but we do talk about it a lot
(which I am sure you can all attest to, you see all my posts!:)).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talk about it because it is truly amazing
and is such an incredible tool to provide true solutions for people’s lives!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I want to be very clear about something too…the products and
this opportunity HAVE truly changed our lives but it’s not because of the
products why we have changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t take
that the wrong way…what I mean is that yes, our physical appearances have
changed (and that IS because of the products – they work!), but it’s our hearts
that have changed, our mindsets and our dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have allowed ourselves to start believing, start dreaming, start
setting goals and attaining them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have realized and seen how God can use us and the tool of AdvoCare to help not
only our family but other families as well to truly change the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not just our world, the ENTIRE world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sounds crazy to some people, I know…but I
believe it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are limitless
possibilities as to what God can provide and I know that when we do all of this
and have servant hearts, and we do it FOR HIM and in HIS name, it will bring us
closer to Him and provide amazing blessing for our family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>THAT is what had changed us and that is what
our team stands for and I am so incredibly blessed every day to know that we
have some AMAZING people in our lives thanks to the blessings of AdvoCare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY97FIomST0_nX4EXJ5jXRAsH-Bn1X6ovn0yXiw-QaXXV1ohvGSFSgge2jvDnboYD-jnyQck4Prs_pgdEcXqZ5FHSxrGF5P9cqizQD6QYMF8iTNJc6YstuxLBAtcOF5twHBLLd3rFgqAU/s1600/2013-10-29+20.36.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY97FIomST0_nX4EXJ5jXRAsH-Bn1X6ovn0yXiw-QaXXV1ohvGSFSgge2jvDnboYD-jnyQck4Prs_pgdEcXqZ5FHSxrGF5P9cqizQD6QYMF8iTNJc6YstuxLBAtcOF5twHBLLd3rFgqAU/s1600/2013-10-29+20.36.30.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I am so very excited to keep going on this incredible
journey and if you want to know how to get involved, let me know!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are here, we are ready and we are
EXCITED!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Have a blessed day friends!!!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-1530901558746530922014-02-24T14:18:00.001-08:002014-02-24T14:18:41.613-08:00Momma Monday - The Most Amazings Words My Mother Ever Told Me<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So, today’s “Momma
Monday” is dedicated to my amazing Mom, Jean Marie Seiwert. If you have been
reading for a while, you know…I think my mom was pretty much one of the most
amazing women to walk the face of this earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She has been gone now for over a year and a half, but there are words
that she spoke to me often that I think of every single day, multiple times a
day, those words are “Don’t be hateful.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are three simple words, but words that can change your life completely
if you chose to employ them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I feel like
I could truly write a novel on these words…they can be used in so many
situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to give you some
examples from my life, and hopefully I will be able to convey just a small part
of my heart and the way I honor my mom every single day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In My Role as a Mom</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Let’s face
it, my beautiful, amazing, wonderful children are also ornery, inexperienced at
life, and don’t like to listen to what I say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, there are moments in the day when I can become frustrated, and as
much as I don’t want to, I can lose my temper pretty easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enter Jean Marie…when those frustrations rise
and I feel myself getting upset I truly do consciously make the effort to not
be hateful towards my own children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
don’t understand most of the time what they are doing and even if they do, it’s
my job to not jump down their throat and flip out…it IS my job to talk to them
and teach them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t mean I can’t
be upset, but what I can do is calmly tell them why I am upset and what they
could do differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mind you, this
works WAY better with Kolten than with McKinley, who is at the stage when you
talk to her and say anything, she responds with, “YA!” – as much as that could
comfort me to think she knows why I am talking about, previous experience as
taught me otherwise. ;)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1DlIS3ZL0vy2Wa8ldIduYX49zLR4gx048bnV548EnKr8D8Vvds36prnIUdNeIp8HCAL9IDeLHN34a4gQLxA8nGjKhr64YmdRMHZINff4hGmLZjennHHC3Wa9CgtgDvJUS22MMSjBp1c/s1600/2013-11-28+18.39.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1DlIS3ZL0vy2Wa8ldIduYX49zLR4gx048bnV548EnKr8D8Vvds36prnIUdNeIp8HCAL9IDeLHN34a4gQLxA8nGjKhr64YmdRMHZINff4hGmLZjennHHC3Wa9CgtgDvJUS22MMSjBp1c/s1600/2013-11-28+18.39.44.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kolten's attempt at taking a "selfie" of us all :)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In My Role as a Wife</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have
explained this pretty well in my “L word” post (if you didn’t catch it, check
it out here). However, what I just want to make sure that I do touch on is this
is in two fold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will NOT publicly (on
facebook or any other social media outlet or even over and over to friends and
family) “vent” about Keith and what my get on my nerves or about a fight we may
have had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just not going to help
anything get resolved between Keith and I and it is not going to help anyone
else truly know what is going on in our relationship , Keith is not there to
tell his side, it’s just going to give them an obstructed view of Keith, which
helps no one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second part is though
that I will not be hateful TOWARDS Keith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone knows that when you are in an argument or tensions are high
about a situation, things can be said that you very well may regret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it happens to me, I’m not kidding when I
say I feel like I hear the words I my head directly from my mother’s mouth,
“Lisa Marie, DON’T be hateful”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">As a Sports Fan</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Here is a
good one, I’m serious too folks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
what some would say an “enthusiastic” college basketball fan - (that’s fancy
talk for the fact that I yell, A LOT – I can’t even blame this one completely
on my dad, my mom was HILARIOUS to watch sports with!) …I have that syndrome in
which I believe that the teams can actually hear me <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">through</i> the TV! ;) It’s a completely true story that one time,
before I was even pregnant with Kolten, during March Madness I was watching
games at home while Keith was at work and I was yelling so loud during a KU
game that I scared our dog into his kennel and he wouldn’t come out!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something that I have learned over the past
few years (as KU has done not so great on occasion and I have been humbled and
WSU has done better and better), and I know this is a hard subject honestly for
some people to comprehend, BUT…to be a fan of a team does not mean you have to
be rude and hateful towards other teams!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why in the world can’t being a fan just mean that you have incredible
pride in YOUR team?? There is a difference in a little playful banter and such
(some of my best friends are K-State fans and I live in UNI country up here in
Iowa) but don’t be nasty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no
need to “Boo” at games and make fun of players because of hairstyles or
anything like that…it’s not going to make your team play any better…on any
given night, either<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>team can win…that’s
the beauty of the game!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yDJtvIFbAhXgz7bMaGo6UF4mueazC8TCNs_hWXOwj2VsvFT7GFD3F5Z48R3mGHonAk8LwYw1sfC8totF1m47OcltDGnEMnUoqR1rPbVgAhddjyypseUZQOOfkxL1yoqcefWumm6R-qA/s1600/2014-02-08+19.21.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yDJtvIFbAhXgz7bMaGo6UF4mueazC8TCNs_hWXOwj2VsvFT7GFD3F5Z48R3mGHonAk8LwYw1sfC8totF1m47OcltDGnEMnUoqR1rPbVgAhddjyypseUZQOOfkxL1yoqcefWumm6R-qA/s1600/2014-02-08+19.21.54.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Keith and I at the WSU vs. UNI game in Cedar Falls in Feb 2014</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
Facebook</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have seen
a lot of posts on Facebook about the idea that dirty laundry belongs in the
laundry basket, not on Facebook, and I totally agree!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so truly thankful for Facebook…it allows
me to stay connected to people back home and even get to know my new friends up
here in Iowa a little more as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, sometimes Facebook is used as a place to just spew negativity…whether
it’s about current events happening in the world or people posting negative
comments on other people’s posts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
guess with this one, I think of two sets of words…”Is it Hateful?” then “Is it
Helpful?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really, do the words I have to
type or my “two cents” to add to a situation have anything to add that is going
to be helpful?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been known to
thrown in my own opinion just because I feel like it, but I know I don’t always
appreciate it when someone else does it to me, so I try to be aware of those
situations as much as possible.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">For Myself in General</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This one is a HUGE one and one that took me a long time to
come around to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is probably the
part that I could write on the longest, but I am going to try and keep it to
two points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent most of my life comparing
myself to so many people around me that I almost literally made me sick…the
thoughts that would run through my head on a daily basis were, “I will never be
that skinny”, “My could never look that good”, “I will never make enough money
to be able to afford that”, “They are so much better than I am”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took me 28 years (yes, this thought truly
only came to me in the last year), to realize what my mom had told me all of
those years was applicable most to ME!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
should not be hateful towards MYSELF! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When that thought finally became apparent, it
literally changed my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I no longer
felt the need or desire to try and impress other people or compare myself to
them or their situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began to
focus on myself in order to improve myself to be what I wanted to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I do want to be is a healthy, strong (literally
and figuratively), supportive example of faith and encouragement for anyone and
everyone around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I focus on the
good that I have done and everything that God has blessed me with, it’s
incredible to truly see what else is possible in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am no longer hateful to myself and that
makes an INCREDIBLE difference in every aspect of my life!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The 2<sup>nd</sup> part of this is truly the general point
that I have taken away from my mother’s incredibly simple, but life changing
words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I said before, she said to me,
“Don’t be hateful.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it is not a
direct translation, to me it is in the same realm of these amazing words from
the Bible:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>“<span class="woj">Do to others whatever you would like them
to do to you.” Matthew 7:12 (NLT)</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="woj">Some refer to this as “The Golden Rule”; I
like to refer to it as just simply TRUTH. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any situation you are in, especially if it’s
a difficult one, remember two things: Matthew 7:12 and Jean Marie’s words, “Don’t
be hateful”…would you want someone to be hateful towards you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I highly doubt you would say, “Yes, of
course!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has helped me in so many
situations!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest, sometimes if
you don’t want o be hateful, it means you have to be quite (I like to call it “The
Thumper Approach” – If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything
at all). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="woj">I will be totally honest with you…each and
every one of these things is a daily point of full on intention on my
part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every day it gets easier and I am
so very grateful for my mom in so many different ways, but the words, “Don’t be
hateful” with be with me in my heart forever and I will pass them to my
children and I know that Jean Marie is looking down, smiling and one day when I
see her again, I will be able to tell her how much truly thankful I am!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="woj">Have a blessed day friends!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-22712588737580085042014-02-09T12:20:00.001-08:002014-02-09T12:38:16.782-08:00Oooo...the "L" word! :)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So…there
is this day coming up next Friday, some love it, some dread it…some think of it
as just a dumb, made up “Holiday” that was designed just drive consumers to buy
flowers and jewelry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever your view
is on Valentine’s Day, the fact remains that for many it is a day that they set
aside to truly show their significant others how much they mean to them, how
much they love them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think
love is a word that truly is used actually pretty lightly by some people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I used it pretty lightly for a long
time myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the last few years I
have really taken the time to truly reflect and find out to me, what it means
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpvyQ2-xUx5_MFBh983SK8MYgxt2_J_Fedum0MMA2vloAotKD3zmhd_BvMUhaM_hYo5h1RxraPV3LsPNyKy7riY-2LC-trBhGz_D_YRiiUEXhDD-TU1NRjrLLA70AE5xIf8Sij1C-gwo/s1600/2013-09-06+17.05.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpvyQ2-xUx5_MFBh983SK8MYgxt2_J_Fedum0MMA2vloAotKD3zmhd_BvMUhaM_hYo5h1RxraPV3LsPNyKy7riY-2LC-trBhGz_D_YRiiUEXhDD-TU1NRjrLLA70AE5xIf8Sij1C-gwo/s1600/2013-09-06+17.05.24.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>On our Wedding Day - November 27, 2004</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> When I
started to look into it, I wanted to really have God at the center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to know what God told me about love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the best places I knew to start was 1
Corinthians 13, it’s what people commonly refer to as “the love verse”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has really helped me to fully understand
to ME what love means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I wanted to
share it with you today!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I wanted
to take specifically verses 4-8 and show you how I honestly have reflected on
them for myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t have to agree
with me, and you don’t have to believe what I believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am lead by my heart and love to share my
heart with others, so…enjoy!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 Corinthians 13:4-8</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">New International Version (NIV)</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4 </span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love is patient,</span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
do not need an immediate response to questions or immediate action to a
request, I need to be patient (one of the hardest things for me on a daily
basis!)</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">love is kind. </span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DO
NOT say nasty things in any way, shape or form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not only TO Keith, but ABOUT Keith…I don’t need to and should not
complain about him to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It IS my
responsibility as his wife to talk to him if I have problems or concerns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is where solutions can be found, not in
bad mouthing him to others. Be kind not only in words that are spoken, but
thoughts as well!</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It does not envy, </span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Honest
truth and example, for a while when I started staying at home, I used to be
jealous of the fact that he went out and got out of the house and had
conversations with actual adults every day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I love my children VERY much, but it was an adjustment to have more
conversations with a 3 year old all day, every day.</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">it does not boast,</span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ooooo…can
I say….TOUGH ONE!!! Here it is…when I am right and he is wrong (when it
happens, because one of the most amazing things about Keith, even if it is
frustrating at times, is he is almost always right! Yes, I know I put it in
writing on the internet and now it is documented for life – it’s true!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BUT when it does happen, I do not need to and
should not do a “happy dance” and make a huge spectacle to prove and relish in
the fact that I was right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">it is not proud. </span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
should not be too proud to admit when I was wrong either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along with the admitting, I can take it like
a champ (yes – I am can be a CHAMPION at being wrong, it’s not always about
winning) and move on.</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5 </span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It does not dishonor others, </span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
kind of goes back to being kind, but I try very hard to be conscious of what I
am doing and saying around others because as Keith’s wife, I believe that it is
FAR from my place to be disrespectful or dishonor him in any way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">it is not self-seeking</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
do not need to look at and focus on what I need from Keith and I’s
relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can tell him (because sometimes
– not all, I am aware it is not a blanket statement – men need things to just
be plain and simple, laid out and explained in plain English to what women want
because we as women can tend to be a little cryptic sometimes, we all know it’s
true.) what I am feeling, but I do not need to focus on myself, I need to focus
on Keith and what I can do to be a better wife FOR HIM.</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">it is not easily angered, </span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sometimes
I feel like this specific part of this verse was written specifically says “All
decendants of Lawrence Seiwert, please highlight this, underline it, and
MEMORIZE THIS”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am completely joking
of course…I do think that genetically I did get my “hot” temper from my father,
but it’s MY temper and I am the one who can and should control it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one is probably the most hard to follow
for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a truly daily struggle, but
I work very hard to try my best and that is the most I can do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will continue to work and seek God’s help
and I know in time it will become easier, it has already! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">it keeps no record of wrongs. </span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
I first started thinking about this one, really truly thinking about it and
what it meant, I won’t lie, I thought at first, “I can follow them all, but
this one…I don’t know about this…” You know what??? It has taken me a LONG time
and it is still a daily battle as well (really all of them are – I am human,
that is what being a human is all about), but I can tell you with full honesty
that this is the one that can be the MOST freeing and truly improve your
relationship the most. When you are “wronged” in your relationship, LET IT
GO!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not saying that you have to
forget everything thing that has happened, you probably won’t ever forget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is also a part of being human, we don’t
forget wrong doings - “Forgive and Forget”, I’m sorry, I don’t believe that
actually exists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You CAN however FORGIVE
and let go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let go of the hard, ill,
hurtful, sick, damaging feelings that are associated with the action and it
will truly change your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I
could write an entire post on this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
has been truly life changing for me, it’s not something that is easy, and it’s
something that many people never fully be able to grasp and practice, but I
hope for you that you can take a look at your life and try, really try to make
this a common practice.</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6 </span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. </span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
one was kind of hard for me to wrap my head around at first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What it came to mean for me at least, is that
I do not relish or focus on the bad (evil) in my relationship; I focus on the
good (truth).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t need to let evil
rule over my truth in knowing I chose Keith and he chose me and we made a commitment
before each other, our friends and family and above all, God to our
relationship.</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7 </span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It always protects, </span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
will protect Keith at all costs literally and figuratively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would lay my life down for him if it came
to it and I will protect him and his name in the same way I talked about being
kind and not dishonoring him, I will defend him and also not talk about him in
negative ways to others.</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">always trusts, </span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
trust Keith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I trust him in his word
(what he tells me) and to lead our family and truly be the head of our
household.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>End of story.</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">always hopes, </span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
will NEVER lose faith in Keith and in the man that he is and can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is absolutely amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been proven, tested, and proven again
that he is a true man of God and he is just incredible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will help him as his wife to be the best
version of himself at all times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is
what I know I can do for him as his wife and I count it as a privilege. </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">always
perseveres.</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8 </span></sup></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love never fails. </span></i></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
is a HUGE one for me. I will always do my best to never fail Keith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I make a promise, I will follow through.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I know he is relying on me to do
something (even as small as make his lunch every day and set out his AdvoCare
stuff for the next morning. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do it
every day, and there are nights that I forget…but I will not let myself go to
sleep until I make that lunch and get everything set out for him. It is
something I can do for him and he relies on, so I do it), I will always do
everything in my power to follow through for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is truly simple, but can me so very much.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, like I said, in everything I
talked about, I am talking about how I love Keith, my husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I want to add too, these are the ways that I love Keith, I am responsible for only myself to this point. I am responsible for my actions, and what I do to show love. I am not responsible for Keith and I am not holding count of what he does for me to show he loves me and compare it to the ways that I believe I can show love for him - there is no score card in loving someone.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This love is also a different type of love than the love I
have for my friends and family, but every single one of these same truths apply
in each situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The descriptions may
be different, but the truth of love is the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I hope you have a wonderful and
blessed day and if you have a special someone to celebrate Valentine’s Day with
on Friday, that is truly wonderful…but don’t let that one day be the day you
shower them and show them in every possible way how much they mean to you and
how much you love them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do it every day
(maybe just add in a special card on Valentine’s Day – and maybe dinner, dinner
is nice too! ;))!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-1152444288182903212014-02-07T20:39:00.001-08:002014-02-07T20:49:42.535-08:00Uncomfortable comfort...what?!?SO...in my new (it's still been less than a year and I am still adjusting, so I say new) world of being a stay at home mom of two of the most amazing little people God has ever created (aka Kolten and McKinley), I find myself often having the TV on during the day at times and I do have my "shows" that I like to watch or have on in the background, and one I have started to watch a lot is "The Chew." It's on at noon here and on ABC, it's a show all about food. I am pretty much a food-aholic...I LOVE to eat.<br />
<br />
They had this segment on a few weeks ago that really got me thinking. They were talking about "Comfort" Food. You know exactly what I am talking about, usually fried, usually cheesy, fattening, make you feel warm inside, yummy goodness. It does just what the name says, it makes us feel comfortable when we are eating, we drown ourselves in what we are eating and let every feeling good or bad wash away and the food can "make it all better" - it <i>comforts </i>us.<br />
<br />
I really started to chew on this (pun intended - NAILED IT!)...I am a comfort food kinda gal! I LOVE Chicken Fried Steak and for a period of time I would jokingly refer to myself as a "connoisseur" of the meal and had it every time we would go out to eat (which was at least 3 times a week, if not more). During that time I was also at my heaviest and I would look in the mirror and seriously feel so upset with what I saw in that mirror. I would get so upset about it that I would yet again, drown my feelings in more "comfort" in eating....ice cream, cookies, brownies, chips, whatever I could find to try and ease my feelings. All it took as another look in that mirror and that cycle started itself over and over and over.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkdSgNxSZRDlR_jViqdu_gstP9DKwaYAiIce057d42fWLqqtU2VwgoxbfaF2LR-avpRDAmIBOD0k9IBtfHhSMuGPsbwu9N6Q8tBj80pok4WpdKtHD9xNTiFQtq7JsZzRnRu7PGNBgTfE/s1600/2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkdSgNxSZRDlR_jViqdu_gstP9DKwaYAiIce057d42fWLqqtU2VwgoxbfaF2LR-avpRDAmIBOD0k9IBtfHhSMuGPsbwu9N6Q8tBj80pok4WpdKtHD9xNTiFQtq7JsZzRnRu7PGNBgTfE/s1600/2010.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Probably mid "connoisseur" peak time - New Years 2010 - 6 months after having Kolten</b></td></tr>
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What I started to realize along the way that is was all my "comfort" food that was making me UNCOMFORTABLE in my own body! I was ignoring signs that I needed figure out who I truly was as a person, become COMFORTABLE with my self and stop seeking comfort from all the foods I sought out for so long. There is this AMAZING verse in The Bible that helped me so much on my journey and into understanding fully what it meant to take care of this body God has given me:<br />
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<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
“Do you not know that <b>your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit</b>, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore <b>honor God with your bodies</b>.”<br />
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~ 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20</div>
- See more
at:
http://fitforjesus.com/scripture-and-fitness/11-more-bible-verses-for-your-body-and-christian-weight-loss/#sthash.9EZmCTmc.dpuf</div>
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
“Do you not know that <b>your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit</b>, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore <b>honor God with your bodies</b>.”<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
~ 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20</div>
- See more
at:
http://fitforjesus.com/scripture-and-fitness/11-more-bible-verses-for-your-body-and-christian-weight-loss/#sthash.9EZmCTmc.dpuf</div>
<i> "Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for got bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body" - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20</i><br />
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I just had never really thought of it in that way before. God gave me this body, this <i>one </i>body. I need to take care of it! Yes, I wanted to get healthy so that I could be around longer in my lifetime to be around my family longer (it seemed like an odd fact to me at the time, but as I started thinking more, I am gonna be 30 soon, it's not like time is going backwards!). Yes, I want to set a good example for those around me and especially my beautiful children. However, in everything I do, I want to give glory to God and truly know that I am honoring him. He gave me this body, I better do my best to take care of this business! :)<br />
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Truthfully, my whole change has taken a long time to come about. It was NOT overnight and is a continuing journey. There are some pretty amazing things I learned along the way....I never knew we needed supplementation to truly get the nutrients our body needs. I always thought loosing weight and being "healthy" was based on calories (excuse me while I shake my head and laugh under my breath at myself...it still gets to me that I focused so solely on that for so long! :(). I thought that if I ate "healthy" and "clean" that was it. Nope..it was about what nutrients my body is getting and the truth of the matter is that the food that is around today is no where <i>near </i>the nutrient filled food that was around years ago. It's still so very important to eat as clean as possible and avoid highly processed, sugary, artificial and carb-loaded foods, but supplementation make a HUGE difference! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NwTH7cUoiBYQ9TXR15OEZoStMbpxg20AsRCp-VMe4snw-5ts5QiB6Fl6qw9eMMdSnutQffMaquMZxFbOkIVVAFjpaX-Fev7CSIeoItmCMpntfOhYDNcOgKqjUXnW9m5EsqHwbSFDtXY/s1600/2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NwTH7cUoiBYQ9TXR15OEZoStMbpxg20AsRCp-VMe4snw-5ts5QiB6Fl6qw9eMMdSnutQffMaquMZxFbOkIVVAFjpaX-Fev7CSIeoItmCMpntfOhYDNcOgKqjUXnW9m5EsqHwbSFDtXY/s1600/2013.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kolten and I at Keith's Uncle Norm's wedding in September 2013</b></td></tr>
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What I know now though is that I STILL LOVE food! Don't get me wrong either, I don't ALWAYS follow plan 100% (to be honest, I usually shoot for 80-90%). If I do have an occasional day of shooting the plan out of the water, instead
of swaying a bit and letting the bottom fall out form under me, I know
now that an occasional slip up is OK! It's about the long term here
people!!! Get back up, get back on track and all it's all good! :) What IS different now too is I love to LEARN about food. What is best for my body, what can fuel me to do what I want to do and help me reach my health and wellness goals. Those goals involve weight loss because I do have weight to lose, but my focus is to get HEALTHY and weight loss is just an amazing side effect! I have realized that all the comfort I truly seek is to look in that mirror and be happy with what I see. I won't let food be my comfort, my comfort lies in knowing I am doing what is best for myself and my family and I am doing it ALL to glorify God! Now, THAT is COMFORT!<br />
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Have a blessed day friends!!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-76859513494314600942014-02-03T21:32:00.001-08:002014-02-03T21:32:56.229-08:00Confessions of a former full-time working momma...OK! So, for "Momma Monday" I wanna address something that I feel like I was not truly able to admit until truly the last month or so. Here goes!<br />
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Most of you know that before we moved to Iowa, I worked as an Assistant Director in the Office of Admissions at Wichita State University. I LOVED my job! Keith and I are both WSU Alumni and I truly believe WSU is one of the best schools around and has so much to offer students and I am incredibly sad that most (including me - I didn't start out at WSU) don't give it the chance it deserves (sorry - didn't mean to get off on that subject - but I think I may have found a subject for another post!). Anyway....like I said, I loved my job, I loved our daycare provider, I had always said it would be nice to stay home with our kids, but I never thought of it as an actual possibility. When Keith got this job though, and God placed the INCREDIBLE opportunity of AdvoCare into our lives, that dream that I never thought was really a possibility became a BEAUTIFUL reality!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLllEEAj0g4rXFltETHFZyxpMgh5W5Gc-wyEURAo8HuYSdoniY140b3aNUt5nrDNIpZ917PUJKi1665LDbxN2iPWkOOSjxvBb9pRdm1tEDv8IkeQu8CTpKKJF2mDnKL3-0xkfGar6bkCI/s1600/Door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLllEEAj0g4rXFltETHFZyxpMgh5W5Gc-wyEURAo8HuYSdoniY140b3aNUt5nrDNIpZ917PUJKi1665LDbxN2iPWkOOSjxvBb9pRdm1tEDv8IkeQu8CTpKKJF2mDnKL3-0xkfGar6bkCI/s1600/Door.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Door to my office decorated from when I came back from maternity leave (note the #Dreamcrusher on the top of the door...it's a subject for a later post)</b></td></tr>
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So...most of you have seen my kids, some have even met my kids. I will tell you this truly with out the slightest bit of hesitation...I have AMAZING kids! They are truly a huge blessing. They have been amazing sleepers, eaters, listeners, well tempered, just all around great for their entire lives. Kolten was a great baby and I remember being terrified when I was pregnant with McKinley of all the horror stories that sounded something like Stephen King could have written about the 2nd child being just horrible! Well...that was not our experience. Dare I say, McKinley has been an even BETTER baby than Kolten was. As our kids grow, I am continually amazed at what they learn and the little things that happen each day that I get to be a part of and I do count myself as truly blessed. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Straight Up HAMS and I love them SOOOO MUCH!</b></td></tr>
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So, here comes the "confession"...this Stay at Home Mom business is HARD! For the first 3-4 months that we moved up here, I was trying to just get adjusted in the house, unpack, find out where everything was in Waterloo/Cedar Falls, just trying to adjust. When the summer got here, I was busy with trips home, trips to Success School for AdvoCare in Dallas, TX, Kolten's birthday and such. Then as the Fall rolled around, I had still not found my "groove"...I felt like we were spending every day just like I had when I was working full time and I had a day off. We lounged in our PJ's, we would watch movies and TV shows, not venture out much, just kinda coasting through each day. Honestly, that was when I started to realize I was in trouble...I started to feel myself get almost depressed...those that know me pretty well know I am creature of habit and I like things to have a plan, and order, a purpose, I like to get things DONE! So, my day to day actions were not fulfilling my own desires of what I really wanted my life to be. SO...what did I do? I planned! I decided that instead of stewing around, getting mad at all the snow outside (which is VERY easy to do up here - let me tell you what!), we needed to just bundle on up and get out of the house! We have made some AMAZING friends up here and I am so very blessed that we have been welcomed openly into a Small Group Bible Study on Sunday nights, I am currently doing another Bible study on Wednesday nights at our church and every other Thursday we have a Mom's Connection group at our church as well. We also had Kolten try gymnastics (he was not a huge fan - he was the only boy and just didn't like it all too well) and are looking in to other activities outside the house as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFw6IwIBxXenGCwispwSKLz5Tuk4c8Y9q-DHZjWlSH102GTHWFZG2eqX_lF565AlbzQXE1qs82bTn0jgyYUDTg0Fys5GmUoQqKOHpURaaLA_vppfwObf5pAmUZ1RgamfiPCOr0b70WkaM/s1600/2014-01-16+11.02.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFw6IwIBxXenGCwispwSKLz5Tuk4c8Y9q-DHZjWlSH102GTHWFZG2eqX_lF565AlbzQXE1qs82bTn0jgyYUDTg0Fys5GmUoQqKOHpURaaLA_vppfwObf5pAmUZ1RgamfiPCOr0b70WkaM/s1600/2014-01-16+11.02.05.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kolten playing with the dress up clothes and puppets on the stage at the Phelps Youth Pavilion in Waterloo</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>McKinley was not too keen on the PYP until she found some little stools to push around so she could walk on her own ;)</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mzwQD1zEqYhV_pdgDvQCeJqtnbniw21SF8yyqQdz5Qwrao6cDDVOOKVQRHxPrdNOcYxik4RT0_o5jMVBLSfepWZoJu1iK7ytzgXoJWZtCkBcxFRJqpsghPkgyVYc5zXeCZ8XWIEvte8/s1600/2014-01-28+10.38.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mzwQD1zEqYhV_pdgDvQCeJqtnbniw21SF8yyqQdz5Qwrao6cDDVOOKVQRHxPrdNOcYxik4RT0_o5jMVBLSfepWZoJu1iK7ytzgXoJWZtCkBcxFRJqpsghPkgyVYc5zXeCZ8XWIEvte8/s1600/2014-01-28+10.38.11.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>McKinley enjoying a rockin' horse ride at the Indoor Park in Cedar Falls</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmNH4cbsE2oGKT7F8tQwqRANjtjivAhpkqxdFrUIE7zGBVTb6EeHNSIJirnnmXw9kY-biFbnitj3vvxYz6wbwizEAZl9ZRPATEe1NXSQnaBdVPfJfqVkWh1Ftfd4rNdgdrcbTOK31QzY/s1600/2014-01-28+11.00.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmNH4cbsE2oGKT7F8tQwqRANjtjivAhpkqxdFrUIE7zGBVTb6EeHNSIJirnnmXw9kY-biFbnitj3vvxYz6wbwizEAZl9ZRPATEe1NXSQnaBdVPfJfqVkWh1Ftfd4rNdgdrcbTOK31QzY/s1600/2014-01-28+11.00.44.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>They had a horse for Kolten to ride too! It was perfect!</b></td></tr>
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The planning didn't stop though with things to do outside the house. I started to look at what we were doing AT HOME that I could help with getting a plan set and some structure started. So, we have a bit of a routine started now that we wake up, eat breakfast, play, have a snack, McKinley goes down for a nap and while she is napping, Kolten sits down for some "games" (I signed him up for ABCmouse.com - it's GREAT!) and while he is "playing" (SHHHH....he's learning too - don't tell him:)), Momma get's her WORKOUT on!!! I have been doing AdvoCare's Can You 24 DVD set and they are AWESOME! They are perfect for what I need, there are 3 different intensity levels so I can pick how hard or easy I can work out that day and each workout is 24 minutes long. It's absolutely wonderful! So, after working out, I usually can jump in the shower quick and when I get out, get lunch ready and McKinley gets up, we do lunch, play some more, snack and then we can have time to watch a movie or some PBS (Wild Kratts, Curious George, Word Girl, you name it!) and then Keith is home!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Playing at home....I LOVE watching them play together!!</b></td></tr>
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It's not perfect, and I am still trying to get a cleaning routine down (I swear - it's amazing, I had a better cleaning schedule when I was working full time than now when I am home almost all day!). It is a work in progress now though instead of just "coasting". I have also started to work hard at really managing our money better and making my "job" truly managing our day to day functions of our household (money, groceries, cleaning, kids, etc). I joked with my MIL as we were looking at filling out paperwork to buy a car over Christmas that when I was asked what my Job Title and Salary were, I felt sort of robbed for having to not be able to truly report anything. I feel like I am the "Household Manager" of sorts and I should somehow figure how much I save in groceries every week and how much we save in child care and such so I can report a salary! ;)<br />
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In all honesty, I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunity I have to be able to stay at home. It is a HUGE responsibility I feel to raise our beautiful children and I am so grateful for having such a loving husband that works so hard so I can stay home and have the joy of raising our kids. I also am so very grateful for the opportunity that AdvoCare has provided us. Let me make something very clear as well, I don't sit around all day and do AdvoCare just because I stay home. I schedule my time with AdvoCare just like everyone else, that's when it works best and allows me clear focus to help others is when it is scheduled and dedicated (Sorry, again - another post, another time :)). I thank God repeatedly, every day (I am serious.) that I get to able to watch my children and be an active part in their development every single day. It's not all roses - there are temper tantrums, crying fits, moments of pure insanity (and that's just me - not the kids!). As with most things though, I have found it's best to do 3 things: 1) Say a Prayer 2) Drink a Spark (possibly chase with Oasis) and 3) Give it all you've got!<br />
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Have a blessed day friends!!!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-61153078112269914232014-01-28T14:02:00.003-08:002014-01-28T14:05:21.736-08:00Oh what a difference...Part 2OK, Ok...I know I promised this Part 2 business over the weekend, but some things don't change over the course of 5 years! ;) I got caught up and didn't get to sit down until today to get this written! If you missed out on Part 1, check it out <a href="http://hansenchampions.blogspot.com/2014/01/oh-what-difference-some-years-can-make.html?spref=fb" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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SO...during my mild adventure of Facebook stalking myself, I found not only pictures, but a "Note" that I had posted in February of 2009 and a items in that note really make me look back at how much has changed not only since then, but even as short as in the last couple of years!<br />
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The note is titled, "25 random things about...ME". You can check out the whole she-bang <a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/lisa-hansen/25-random-things-aboutme/52676237342" target="_blank">here</a>. There were two items on the list that really stuck out to me:<br />
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<i>15. I have extremely low self confidence in all senses of the phrase. </i><br />
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<i>22. I sometimes think I have lost the person I once was...I am not sure
what happened to her and how to get her back but I miss the old me... </i><br />
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I want to explain one thing before I dive in here...I read these statements and I literally felt like someone punched me in the gut. The feelings that I had back then and for a lot of my life leading up to the last couple of years, came flooding back and I was put in a place that I KNEW I needed to share. I need to get this out and truthfully, the reason is because if I can help ONE person that is in the same place I was, it will be completely worth putting myself out there. It's a hard thing to open up and really be honest about what you have struggled with in your life. There is always the chance that you will be judged or people will not completely understand where you are coming from. However, the benefit of helping, like I said, even ONE person, that makes it worth it! So, here goes...:)<br />
<br />
Through most of my life I have had such horrible self confidence. Some of it had to do with my physical appearance with being born with one leg shorter than then other (you can read more about that <a href="http://hansenchampions.blogspot.com/2014/01/why-yesmy-bum-is-lobsidded.html" target="_blank">here</a>), some of it had to do with just insecurity. I can't tell you where it came from particularly, I just always compared myself to other people. It happened all through elementary school and high school, and into college and even after graduating. I want to make something very clear here too....I grew up with incredibly loving parents and people who supported me in school and other than having the issues with my leg, I never had any extremely bad experiences in feeling like I didn't have friends or that people didn't like me. I just didn't like MYSELF and for the sole reason of that I couldn't LOVE myself for who I was. <br />
<br />
So....no self confindence over a number of years can lead to many unpleasant things. Like I said, I constantly compared myself to others and all I saw was the negative
things about myself and every situation I was surrounded in and it made
me a unhappy, negative person on the inside. I was faking the happiness that everyone saw on the outside. I would laugh, but not like I used to with a full heart of true joy. I would smile, but at the edge of that smile were tears of sadness waiting to pour out. I had found myself literally as a shell of my former self (but that shell was housing a MUCH larger person - I had put on weight and lost it back and forth so many times, but at the time I posted that note I was probably 170 lbs, by the end of that year, when I found out I was pregnant with Kolten, I would top out the scale at just around 180/185, I weighed around 225 lbs when I gave birth to Kolten).<br />
<br />
Now, being so unhappy can make you do some desperate things...I used to find ways to continually beat myself down around others and I would "fish" for compliments, just so someone would say something nice about me so I could try and make myself feel better. The person I did this a lot with was Keith (God bless that man, seriously). I would say, "Does this look okay?" or "This makes me look fat, doesn't it?" or "I feel so ugly." and every time, I would expect him to come back with some comment that would mildly bring my mood up because he was saying something nice, but it was not anything that would last and it was in NO WAY Keith's fault...it was me. It was because I was the key to this. I had to be ready to change, my heart had to change. I had to MAKE changes and LOTS of those changes happened in my head and my heart...not just changes in food or supplements or activity. <br />
<br />
I am not going to go into the long story of what happened and how it happened and exactly how everything went down...each person has their own story. What I want people to know is that you HAVE to not just <i>want </i>a change to happen, you have to MAKE changes to make an all over change happen. There is LOTS of changes that have to happen to make your life happy. Let me tell you a few things (not in detail - if you want details, let's talk...I am happy to share, but this post would be a NOVEL by the time I was done) that I have done to make some changes:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I STOPPED making excuses.</li>
<li>I STARTED pushing through at the point I always used to stop because it was "hard" to keep going.</li>
<li>I read my Bible EVERY DAY.</li>
<li>I started to realize that I can't change what happened in the past, I can simply learn and move forward. ANYTHING and EVERYTHING.</li>
<li>I learned to forgive, not just others, but MYSELF and truly forgive, not forgiveness with conditions.</li>
<li>I learned how to eat, to fuel my body and enjoy my food, but not JUST indulge.</li>
<li>I made goals for myself, realistic goals, and rewarded myself (but NOT with food) when I reached my goal.</li>
<li>I learned and always try to live on a daily basis what it means to LOVE.</li>
<li>I started to truly put others in ahead of myself (and stop trying to draw attention to myself when I did it).</li>
<li>I started to look at everything that was POSITIVE in my life instead of NEGATIVE. (That business is HARD - but it is worth every ounce of effort you put into it!)</li>
</ul>
Those are not ALL the changes (10 is a good number to start - if I gave it all away now, what else would I have to write about! ;)) I wanna show you a few pics from 2013 and I want you to see how changing multiple small things can make a HUGE impact.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTm-1EgmF36euQ3P32RbeMC7qKb6m_4Rz9PhhIOpUj5NVKU4NvK4XsOAcweQkHZC9lBAePpIIRNt2ta1i6tqh3Xkwci1pZdhZFx8tRt80x5S3HjnGCMf1K_H5Z2x4s-5hulQ4dfZfeAIw/s1600/2013-07-28+15.27.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTm-1EgmF36euQ3P32RbeMC7qKb6m_4Rz9PhhIOpUj5NVKU4NvK4XsOAcweQkHZC9lBAePpIIRNt2ta1i6tqh3Xkwci1pZdhZFx8tRt80x5S3HjnGCMf1K_H5Z2x4s-5hulQ4dfZfeAIw/s1600/2013-07-28+15.27.19.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>McKinley and I - July</b></td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiT0rVgqOYquX8W6wg5ilDvdC4Glw1aMU7MzAcyvft9osM9DHacfAMHxBp0Oa7GQnhQlw1WRWogTV9vhOl547DiQqt57VwcgZ3HM99hc04ixQXpU7Zv-ThS7784mG29lkqElwTL2ZYwY/s1600/2013-08-11+13.07.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiT0rVgqOYquX8W6wg5ilDvdC4Glw1aMU7MzAcyvft9osM9DHacfAMHxBp0Oa7GQnhQlw1WRWogTV9vhOl547DiQqt57VwcgZ3HM99hc04ixQXpU7Zv-ThS7784mG29lkqElwTL2ZYwY/s1600/2013-08-11+13.07.55.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Keith and I at AdvoCare Success School - August </b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedzClpY4tSNCiNRtC6edS6mnkDn-580na3Zx6HdsWFLDOtHWo6GEJTi5gEXlslFHMa7C2QMqOvuZNzl9jdfDkcVCrErwA738Ae-fOo5baRlPUUSe2H2Z432oG1WKmdG6Rwjz9LMFyVvg/s1600/2013-08-19+15.33.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedzClpY4tSNCiNRtC6edS6mnkDn-580na3Zx6HdsWFLDOtHWo6GEJTi5gEXlslFHMa7C2QMqOvuZNzl9jdfDkcVCrErwA738Ae-fOo5baRlPUUSe2H2Z432oG1WKmdG6Rwjz9LMFyVvg/s1600/2013-08-19+15.33.37.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kolten and I - August</b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsE1Q2QlQgRst3V35w8itu8RgTEIbt7tf12uoIIeMC_aATqtRwMOOzJoZqgzjFYAMDMvkRdrDYapKqdJi9Cmg7QtfNv-ZTrdjJ-L9xwn84FAPcxBnQT9_A589R74Nm0K9a9JM_DG_y84/s1600/2013-10-13+15.50.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcsE1Q2QlQgRst3V35w8itu8RgTEIbt7tf12uoIIeMC_aATqtRwMOOzJoZqgzjFYAMDMvkRdrDYapKqdJi9Cmg7QtfNv-ZTrdjJ-L9xwn84FAPcxBnQT9_A589R74Nm0K9a9JM_DG_y84/s1600/2013-10-13+15.50.12.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>McKinley and I - October</b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05fFJ4mOjMRy56_Eha4QLX1i-lAhLWodDhSN6hpKpIxUpi7fkrE8awwY7iYgzyENufz_2tJgwDntTerL4cecpZuiWuxgZbVao6QuJL4s9Js9Iwy6aY5StXWZcDtme51d4naB2OiaE7ic/s1600/2013-12-23+08.35.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05fFJ4mOjMRy56_Eha4QLX1i-lAhLWodDhSN6hpKpIxUpi7fkrE8awwY7iYgzyENufz_2tJgwDntTerL4cecpZuiWuxgZbVao6QuJL4s9Js9Iwy6aY5StXWZcDtme51d4naB2OiaE7ic/s1600/2013-12-23+08.35.28.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kolten and I - December</b></td></tr>
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<br />
I will share more about my journey along the way, that was the whole reason I wanted to start sharing with others. However, I will tell you...while it felt like getting punched in the gut at first, it is an incredible feeling to look back and see how far I have come in 5 short years. I am so excited to see how God will bless us and how many changes we will see in the next 5!<br />
<br />
Have a blessed day!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<i> </i><br />
<i> </i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-50511040417195464532014-01-24T20:22:00.003-08:002014-01-24T20:24:32.581-08:00Oh what a difference some years can make!! ;)Ok...5 years to be exact...:)<br />
<br />
So...tonight, as it was 8:30pm and McKinley was in bed, Keith was getting ready to go to bed (watch out kids, that's what happens when you turn 30 - you go to bed at 8:30pm!! ;)) and Kolten was settling down for the evening I was thinking to myself..."Oh my gosh! There was a time, not all that terribly long ago that I would just be jumping in the shower at 8:30pm on a Friday night to get ready to go out!"<br />
<br />
So...that got me thinking and I started to Facebook stalk myself a little (that may even be more sad than Keith going to bed at 8:30! ;)). It was actually pretty amazing! As I looked back, 2009 really stuck out to me as a HUGE year for transition for us. It was a great year and we had A LOT of fun in 2009. There were a few things though looking back at even all the fun we had, what a different place entirely I was in my life and on my journey (not just becoming a mom - but becoming the woman I am today).<br />
<br />
Here are a few fun pics to look at from back in 2009<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHZugqGWEJaF4p17YuD9JjMqBx3T4oBTuBz6ZXiyqh6M2r-ea_XPMD6ssuLVq4Zul4CJQGPzphYbIwsx2fEM9PELVponERfQ0yll3ElmUmoTp6-qnwjn-AkEjsCYHRuyS3CTtiXnSFu0/s1600/2009+-+NY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHZugqGWEJaF4p17YuD9JjMqBx3T4oBTuBz6ZXiyqh6M2r-ea_XPMD6ssuLVq4Zul4CJQGPzphYbIwsx2fEM9PELVponERfQ0yll3ElmUmoTp6-qnwjn-AkEjsCYHRuyS3CTtiXnSFu0/s1600/2009+-+NY.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>New Years Eve 2008/09</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yvubAAjDm6p6wjsqTp5G8Yigohs_t5x5wzV4rwiRr_Rd6_8-gfWzhp19FQye4TQraBFjOGE6fJqpOQqEvg3iJoBE1Q2GGr_qiek4VrwTbRRO4u1kZB0mqLvkHtPeXyub96vb9pOWg7E/s1600/Mar09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yvubAAjDm6p6wjsqTp5G8Yigohs_t5x5wzV4rwiRr_Rd6_8-gfWzhp19FQye4TQraBFjOGE6fJqpOQqEvg3iJoBE1Q2GGr_qiek4VrwTbRRO4u1kZB0mqLvkHtPeXyub96vb9pOWg7E/s1600/Mar09.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I believe this was Robyn's B-Day - Gotta love the crutch as an accessory!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-IB81OvgTsVgUiFHU_n07MdxVUZ6HkB3LPm1DgSxlhdVmxKuQU6wwIbDmhK4AFLOfSQ7naTsIV5HOSQePcEu1y6iZhoWTe55bz8VthnYipjfLBRsz5peHUPfGcvGrr2NV0XX9AI7hTI/s1600/AIFinal09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-IB81OvgTsVgUiFHU_n07MdxVUZ6HkB3LPm1DgSxlhdVmxKuQU6wwIbDmhK4AFLOfSQ7naTsIV5HOSQePcEu1y6iZhoWTe55bz8VthnYipjfLBRsz5peHUPfGcvGrr2NV0XX9AI7hTI/s1600/AIFinal09.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>American Icon competition at Fox and Hound </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrzUNrsYoqD_P76EJs3VykyfjjayFMrAUdZOq9sIPd2behlvx9lO9W0X05USuN31TXiIH-7zAuuNb8kJoSMaJ1CY2ji7G1jEEtCXnIqMvJYytBZ9RiNFEtgrYSSBdqncJZeOvGFyQCtE/s1600/KeithsGrad09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrzUNrsYoqD_P76EJs3VykyfjjayFMrAUdZOq9sIPd2behlvx9lO9W0X05USuN31TXiIH-7zAuuNb8kJoSMaJ1CY2ji7G1jEEtCXnIqMvJYytBZ9RiNFEtgrYSSBdqncJZeOvGFyQCtE/s1600/KeithsGrad09.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Keith's Graduation - May 2009</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ymS9VGSo8jE_xv0pI8_yJ_-HL_t-5poN4Wd_-sTyZebCxvGCea4v2b3swgdC18x_tAv2-JNN8Y30G5GjOi4UGGzXY_Xdeae8Byyrnv8CGValFDIPJvF7L-8zzVxb0JSUxKa_NcKcRq8/s1600/80s09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ymS9VGSo8jE_xv0pI8_yJ_-HL_t-5poN4Wd_-sTyZebCxvGCea4v2b3swgdC18x_tAv2-JNN8Y30G5GjOi4UGGzXY_Xdeae8Byyrnv8CGValFDIPJvF7L-8zzVxb0JSUxKa_NcKcRq8/s1600/80s09.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>No Questions - Just enjoy my ability to poke fun at myself and share it with you all....this was our attempt at some 80's pictures at work...;)</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YkWcAr63wGmltd1KTRZmT1x40QnvQ_-hmMlys166uDn-LMYF3FcuDLd57eXEMOuYw1dsIStU1bkG8PXa_5DERYY9AOp-iNo26I3TZi0DdRtm7IVQDnvTQnLdmp_ZJlF74-iX42rcv9E/s1600/Jun09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YkWcAr63wGmltd1KTRZmT1x40QnvQ_-hmMlys166uDn-LMYF3FcuDLd57eXEMOuYw1dsIStU1bkG8PXa_5DERYY9AOp-iNo26I3TZi0DdRtm7IVQDnvTQnLdmp_ZJlF74-iX42rcv9E/s1600/Jun09.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>With my beautiful niece (who I clearly didn't and still don't see enough), Callie Marie. :)</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliR3eOi9bMN0pvSV88n6neltgdhioxzmEvKgwhY79QFJkaC6f8kICMQK0X4nIaA7W2H6HbVKqbKVs-v6e0xGBghRgiZW3_6vlsDSWsjVK5n9nqSrMF1S3Rz7_bweSUVp3pDDPIVA-_GM/s1600/BBs09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliR3eOi9bMN0pvSV88n6neltgdhioxzmEvKgwhY79QFJkaC6f8kICMQK0X4nIaA7W2H6HbVKqbKVs-v6e0xGBghRgiZW3_6vlsDSWsjVK5n9nqSrMF1S3Rz7_bweSUVp3pDDPIVA-_GM/s1600/BBs09.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>You can't tell from the picture, but I was living out one of my DREAMS in this picture! We went to Texas for a great friend's wedding and stopped at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth. It was AMAZING!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQiWPm3YvEyYpa6jaZtjPhkriU8HmSlig0BYSa1Nq94jo0chPqbGN9NbtF8rNm7hKWTl9qlnzN6LAFD96JJ2mumKJKdSrUVXbuLmdN5C_I062moKwFODQClYMZFMhNU4XojC8Tv1CXSU/s1600/KU09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQiWPm3YvEyYpa6jaZtjPhkriU8HmSlig0BYSa1Nq94jo0chPqbGN9NbtF8rNm7hKWTl9qlnzN6LAFD96JJ2mumKJKdSrUVXbuLmdN5C_I062moKwFODQClYMZFMhNU4XojC8Tv1CXSU/s1600/KU09.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Getting ready to go into the Keith Urban concert (side not to mention we did have a lot of fun in 2009 - Jenna and I thought it was necessary to "tail gate" the concert and I literally ran INTO KEITH URBAN at the concert...it's a story for another time - but it was a memorable concert to say the least!)</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwIGIWWzhya2Z9MeiqImsMrutjHpKtdwFZSzdJzxrirWW4QVSSgNKj2amiTspNKToRqGn2PGU11GxjJp7cYLoLMfK7seVrnxRDKEVC81T2JyuRT41_gklsyE0EV8X26GCYWW5mCbAhi8/s1600/Mom09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwIGIWWzhya2Z9MeiqImsMrutjHpKtdwFZSzdJzxrirWW4QVSSgNKj2amiTspNKToRqGn2PGU11GxjJp7cYLoLMfK7seVrnxRDKEVC81T2JyuRT41_gklsyE0EV8X26GCYWW5mCbAhi8/s1600/Mom09.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My AMAZING mom (if you haven't read about her, you can <a href="http://hansenchampions.blogspot.com/2014/01/i-miss-my-mom.html" target="_blank">here</a>) after Candace's Bridal Shower</b></td></tr>
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And...2009's craziest memories are reserved for 2 fun weddings!!! The first was my Candace and Brandon's wedding in VEGAS (yes - almost all of our family went - we compared it to Vegas Vacation...;)) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgynFFdPUJyLBXiQkXUKhfj7p_Xr8vt3bQ2ABN0aZXas9DbCKtAH_4Twm0fqv4aPvyGBlfWkb2UsaYV4ngUrXGuSWgyP4-ucrA45GnMk5utNgXbBuwqIu9oP38EcZ56y5vxVs_ltElQZA/s1600/NewbyVegas09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgynFFdPUJyLBXiQkXUKhfj7p_Xr8vt3bQ2ABN0aZXas9DbCKtAH_4Twm0fqv4aPvyGBlfWkb2UsaYV4ngUrXGuSWgyP4-ucrA45GnMk5utNgXbBuwqIu9oP38EcZ56y5vxVs_ltElQZA/s1600/NewbyVegas09.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I love EVERYONE'S expressions in this picture - it captures us so well :)</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvAXQMMf0N0TZ6GQYSfcAzRYwPtwdKbC_rcO8_UTvlQHcwh1ccMA4NFef6babo_uw5LvBdvokRxetBNgRrUjlBRkyYznHo1mQxq1KGdkc1QI7Fj0AWHvrGudcJTiFra9q9D__DKdvUNI/s1600/BAinVegas09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvAXQMMf0N0TZ6GQYSfcAzRYwPtwdKbC_rcO8_UTvlQHcwh1ccMA4NFef6babo_uw5LvBdvokRxetBNgRrUjlBRkyYznHo1mQxq1KGdkc1QI7Fj0AWHvrGudcJTiFra9q9D__DKdvUNI/s1600/BAinVegas09.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"Yeah...WHAT? We are going to the Chapel and she's gonna get married...You wanna say something?? ;)</b>"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpj94itrgG72rOFpQwAHqrdkeFUVTCeeZyAJbOM7qmgrs5uq0gEpzmk0KZ6ekayhmNECL6DSrGbbahYPTfFQ1y5Iw_ezeirdTKeDK1AM_aTh7FW22hZiJQrfEHaqQqomNeqin6NySmQ0/s1600/BVegas09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpj94itrgG72rOFpQwAHqrdkeFUVTCeeZyAJbOM7qmgrs5uq0gEpzmk0KZ6ekayhmNECL6DSrGbbahYPTfFQ1y5Iw_ezeirdTKeDK1AM_aTh7FW22hZiJQrfEHaqQqomNeqin6NySmQ0/s1600/BVegas09.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Photographer told us to pick him up and carry him...I don't think this is what he had in mind (clearly none of us knew what he had in mind though)....but it was a GREAT picture!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_T-pB97JwjBHfwBtvazlCbgekP1Uo8-oTqnTX6NhDUGv32ksUKF-nTvZOIef6GhVIAidzSqS3nZ8gEcHwpWyuB20JUdbGGf6DSdSXxa3eWzA2GYw5YKeZx6NxXVeCEe6ITLE6XP_CdxU/s1600/SIstersVegas09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_T-pB97JwjBHfwBtvazlCbgekP1Uo8-oTqnTX6NhDUGv32ksUKF-nTvZOIef6GhVIAidzSqS3nZ8gEcHwpWyuB20JUdbGGf6DSdSXxa3eWzA2GYw5YKeZx6NxXVeCEe6ITLE6XP_CdxU/s1600/SIstersVegas09.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Me with my beautiful sisters! :)</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1E3wyALrFmJvWvi9K8ByqnF4a2CqnzXn3fegKSPQwv-BuLtlKAuhD-mT3BXNI2znlMD-g1ndISB2zdCMycYIJQsR-iq6LDC__UbACBNv7sETwo_PnQZrFPUMI9eV_p4vjw719GDb7XhA/s1600/Weddingfun09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1E3wyALrFmJvWvi9K8ByqnF4a2CqnzXn3fegKSPQwv-BuLtlKAuhD-mT3BXNI2znlMD-g1ndISB2zdCMycYIJQsR-iq6LDC__UbACBNv7sETwo_PnQZrFPUMI9eV_p4vjw719GDb7XhA/s1600/Weddingfun09.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>SUCH A FUN TRIP!!!!</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We had another wedding to celebrate when we got home! Madison and Paul got married just a few weeks after Candace and Brandon! :)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivs_zevMgKDGvwGc7bQCJVzaM8ig2YYI6y-wVSECxVEjqErehNYo92Mh-UnweTeSRxlocXce4U1AA84TnVWk-r5TUHw0jBtY7xrrs9DgftTH8ZwzGWFP5GPjTzUmVaBE5tTMyy39PogEo/s1600/Madi+and+Candace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivs_zevMgKDGvwGc7bQCJVzaM8ig2YYI6y-wVSECxVEjqErehNYo92Mh-UnweTeSRxlocXce4U1AA84TnVWk-r5TUHw0jBtY7xrrs9DgftTH8ZwzGWFP5GPjTzUmVaBE5tTMyy39PogEo/s1600/Madi+and+Candace.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I know what you are thinking...and YES! I have pretty much the most beautiful niece's on the face of the planet and their husbands ARE the most lucky people EVER (other than Keith, of course ;))</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUGLimCsy8n5Eqsj13l0BbZR6phnXwoGXfBStuyho47HZkJnGFs9bYuDJWTlwUTctnjrmJLVT39sKzL_c5TjnrdAOHPhEmpRGnAZz6TzCUNgy5tHM-sJV50u6OyY9tGo4f5RwAjWE4qE/s1600/Mom+and+Dad+@+Madi%27s+Wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUGLimCsy8n5Eqsj13l0BbZR6phnXwoGXfBStuyho47HZkJnGFs9bYuDJWTlwUTctnjrmJLVT39sKzL_c5TjnrdAOHPhEmpRGnAZz6TzCUNgy5tHM-sJV50u6OyY9tGo4f5RwAjWE4qE/s1600/Mom+and+Dad+@+Madi's+Wedding.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My Mom and Dad....in this picture they had been married almost 52 years...absolutely AMAZING!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWzm0GtAVJlT6VtpfmxGYUs_an-8V-j-EN6C5hm8uvjBMYqnATIRknwK6MGfkih5mIbWPFKLUKm5rytOR8bb98Pdysip64Q-1b4gjWIfeM2uCgeMokGikRLvpTPWhjUUs5mHToyL6LLQ/s1600/Turkey+Necks09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWzm0GtAVJlT6VtpfmxGYUs_an-8V-j-EN6C5hm8uvjBMYqnATIRknwK6MGfkih5mIbWPFKLUKm5rytOR8bb98Pdysip64Q-1b4gjWIfeM2uCgeMokGikRLvpTPWhjUUs5mHToyL6LLQ/s1600/Turkey+Necks09.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We like to have fun...and be weird...they kinda go hand in hand with us. :)</b></td></tr>
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So...after all of the fun of the weddings and as 2009 was starting to wind down...God said, "OK! Here we go! I'm gonna bless you with a baby!!!" So, on October 31, 2009, we found out we were pregnant...and then about 5 hours later we slipped into our Halloween Costumes and went out for a night of fun with our friends! ;) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdq_V3aGkjm0KE6EW7SNtdppUJjP10_cUBObmDkes-w1DxOFs3VSoUV4mU8_pkCns7gYFJIYwYSILFAFpkzeJf3VEhfnFV-E39fgKQ-mdNYxsdn6wr5TzCugj9Xn7qDcvZx1qOUx2ZWM/s1600/Halloween09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdq_V3aGkjm0KE6EW7SNtdppUJjP10_cUBObmDkes-w1DxOFs3VSoUV4mU8_pkCns7gYFJIYwYSILFAFpkzeJf3VEhfnFV-E39fgKQ-mdNYxsdn6wr5TzCugj9Xn7qDcvZx1qOUx2ZWM/s1600/Halloween09.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXhbgBF7Z1oE86wRmjp9ES2obRMQuqi5MpJ-8-Q7iuy50_pnIxJdSq2NaLLrpb_8Esnl68GfmJ2fctExE2694yPtQxfPoEP6_OPCKSv0NO87gbDON0ff5Qp8voGqbmZp3LI2YJJ4QOhY/s1600/Super.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXhbgBF7Z1oE86wRmjp9ES2obRMQuqi5MpJ-8-Q7iuy50_pnIxJdSq2NaLLrpb_8Esnl68GfmJ2fctExE2694yPtQxfPoEP6_OPCKSv0NO87gbDON0ff5Qp8voGqbmZp3LI2YJJ4QOhY/s1600/Super.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Keith LOVES the movie "Super Troopers" and he worked so hard on these costumes, he ordered the base of them from an actual police supply website and then made the patches, special ordered the name badges, sewed the ribbon on pants, the whole she-bang! He REALLY looked like Farva too (one of the characters from the movie) - he has people ask him all night to take their picture with him. It was a blast!</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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So...the life I lead 5 years ago is just<i> a bit</i> different than the life I lead now and I am totally okay with that. In fact, I love every minute of it. There was another little something I found on the ole facebook profile that is gonna make a pretty sweet "part 2" to this story...so I will leave you now (the rowdy little 3 year old is feeling the effects of his 3 hour nap and now does not want to sleep - so momma's gotta go lay down some law!:)).<br />
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I hope you all have a beautiful, safe, and fun Friday...I encourage you too to go back and take a few moments to look back on your facebook pages (if you have one) or at old pictures or memory boxes...it's a fun way to look back and see how far you have come.<br />
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ANYWHO...stay tuned for part 2 later on this weekend...until then...<br />
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HAVE A BLESSED DAY!!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-2290362927665365522014-01-22T14:55:00.000-08:002014-01-22T14:55:00.486-08:00I Miss My Mom.Ok...this is a topic I was again thinking I would wait a bit before jumping into on here, but again, God has really laid this on my heart a lot over the past week, so I'm gonna go for it.<br />
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I miss my mom.<br />
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There really isn't a lot more to say about the subject exactly. That is the thought that runs through my head every single day pretty much. I would say it runs through multiple times per day actually. I will be honest, it's been a month or so since I have actually sat down and allowed myself the time to think about how much I really do miss her, mostly because when I do, I cry...and it's not a pretty cry...it's a sobbing, uncontrollable, usually inconsolable cry. She was an amazing woman and I learned so much from her, I can't begin to explain how hard it is to not have her around and the pain that is in my heart every single day to know that Kolten will not grow up around her and that McKinley never even got to meet her.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDtUh6O2xXETq3xjyOpnzev9nH8M-K6dWFGJn15_ZkjcusEVeXaKu4-rzHr5uYqG13h7UfLLufSTvHxQXCTTlnzZlE-raZtqLVflGCwneTDx_sDCE-_velXDCHetFGuGJ9KNnF2KZCo0/s1600/Kolten+and+Mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDtUh6O2xXETq3xjyOpnzev9nH8M-K6dWFGJn15_ZkjcusEVeXaKu4-rzHr5uYqG13h7UfLLufSTvHxQXCTTlnzZlE-raZtqLVflGCwneTDx_sDCE-_velXDCHetFGuGJ9KNnF2KZCo0/s1600/Kolten+and+Mom.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kolten and Mom right after he was born - look at that love!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAALN8Dfv8oEu4QIjEMOq-BrvCMMFK9juE9RT1gCE9FaFmy9LCPNbNtXEVZYf_62Furc_Aa4itRJl2uBPUPq8mfV-B62AJY0HRJvNvP-s_Npfs1memCZGZSmcum3k6EjHfCr_ZS_coldg/s1600/Mom+and+Kolten+-+Thanksgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAALN8Dfv8oEu4QIjEMOq-BrvCMMFK9juE9RT1gCE9FaFmy9LCPNbNtXEVZYf_62Furc_Aa4itRJl2uBPUPq8mfV-B62AJY0HRJvNvP-s_Npfs1memCZGZSmcum3k6EjHfCr_ZS_coldg/s1600/Mom+and+Kolten+-+Thanksgiving.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kolten and Mom on his 1st Thankgiving - November 2010</b></td></tr>
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I always knew as a kid that my parents were older than all of my friend's parents. For those that may not know, I was what I like to call a "happy surprise" (some call it an accident :)) for my parents, they were 46 when I was born. I am one of 6 children and my oldest brother is 25 years older than me and the youngest before me is 15 years older than I am. I actually have a niece that is one month and one day older than I am. If you have ever seen "Father of the Bride - Part 2" that is kind of my family (I don't think my mom and sister in law did any fun workouts together while they were close to their due date like in the movie - but it's a great thing to imagine!). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0Q3kCC1okuLrCSSb-KSyRjjfNHboUhJm9p9vL1fjN9zDo2Rvp0I7ry5VebXZ2vEnf88p4r1UiuXp3vW5a5ZMUy2qn8EOQwdXl_Vehxpj5dNGWrqibYBiAL34hlVcLTweh2JBYW-PTS4/s1600/Dan's+Wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0Q3kCC1okuLrCSSb-KSyRjjfNHboUhJm9p9vL1fjN9zDo2Rvp0I7ry5VebXZ2vEnf88p4r1UiuXp3vW5a5ZMUy2qn8EOQwdXl_Vehxpj5dNGWrqibYBiAL34hlVcLTweh2JBYW-PTS4/s1600/Dan's+Wedding.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One of my FAVORITE pictures! Me with my Mom and Grandma Scheer (my mom's mom) and niece Candace</b></td></tr>
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I totally understand that there are many people out there that lose parents at very young ages because of diseases or accidents. I know that there are people out there that lost parents as infants and never knew them. I never ever want it to seem like I do not sympathize with them or that in any way I feel sorry for myself for not having my mom here now. I know how lucky I was to have the time with her that I did. I am not going to go into the long details of what happened with my mom, that is a topic for another day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurmaaFekFkahokPxKakyCpLrxdY26vhyrK9ZocehoEif9lRBjHlPqIXjVgJYNIZCTKzCrVxs8Glaeajr7bUVh3htAO_oRaxTeOKUzBl1lPJywYBZ8uyIM6vg4yONAM7rLo0GMtQQNOeU/s1600/Last+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurmaaFekFkahokPxKakyCpLrxdY26vhyrK9ZocehoEif9lRBjHlPqIXjVgJYNIZCTKzCrVxs8Glaeajr7bUVh3htAO_oRaxTeOKUzBl1lPJywYBZ8uyIM6vg4yONAM7rLo0GMtQQNOeU/s1600/Last+Pic.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kolten w/ Mom and Dad - December 2011</b></td></tr>
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Like I said, I don't let myself think that often about how much I miss her. Even typing this, Keith is not home, so I know that I can't myself really get down in that place to really acknowledge how much I miss her. What I DO focus on each day is how much I love her (not LOVED - I still love her, that love will ALWAYS be here). How much she has taught me and how incredible, truly incredible she was as a mother, wife, friend, and woman. She died in June of 2012. I was just a couple months pregnant with McKinley at the time and I was going through one of the hardest times in my life personally. At the time, I don't know if it even occurred to me completely how God was watching over me and helping my heart to grow and love in ways I never thought possible. I was in so much distress from everything going on around me, all I could do was to lean on God and put every ounce of my trust in Him to see me through what was one of the hardest years of my life. You know what? I came through it! I am now happier than I can truly ever remember being and there is a certain amount of that happiness that is bittersweet.<br />
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I wish my mom was here to share in my happiness. I wish she could have been at the hospital to hold McKinley the day she was born. I wish I could call her and tell her about how much fun I am having being able to stay home with the kids. I wish I could talk to her when I have had a bad day and I just need that advise or someone to say, "It's okay honey, everything will be okay." I know she is watching over us. I know she will see my kids grow and she can see how happy we all are. I know that I will see her again someday. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GRKvzowlg-nHqXKTviL4f2si9CCUI6kPxP9zJmDmbwIJmB5UwrBjsChQTDy6L59oz7S-5IVPdGC07LAUuJxINcUYN7O14JgVhlfJ6q4ahtBzJzXGLfWJ3iJxzPL9QYc7zdGzdEpqAqE/s1600/2013-12-24+14.20.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GRKvzowlg-nHqXKTviL4f2si9CCUI6kPxP9zJmDmbwIJmB5UwrBjsChQTDy6L59oz7S-5IVPdGC07LAUuJxINcUYN7O14JgVhlfJ6q4ahtBzJzXGLfWJ3iJxzPL9QYc7zdGzdEpqAqE/s1600/2013-12-24+14.20.57.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kolten, McKinley and I at Mom's grave - December 2013</b></td></tr>
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There is no big lesson with this, take from it what you will, for now I am going to go pick up my baby girl (who I can hear talking in her crib because she has apparently waken up from her afternoon nap...) and give her an extra hug from Grandma Jean...:)<br />
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Have a blessed day friends! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-65018783874571424372014-01-20T21:49:00.001-08:002014-01-20T21:51:52.975-08:00Truly BlessedI am gone back and forth of how to say this, so I am just gonna jump in. This will be fairly short, will not contain pictures but is one of the most important messages that I wish to share with others.<br />
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Being a mother is one of the most incredible and amazing things that has ever happened to me. I have been truly blessed with two of the most amazing and beautiful children anyone could ever ask for.<br />
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Every day as I play with my kids, feed them, bathe them, love on them, my heart aches for those that I know that cannot have children. I have known many people that have had problems conceiving. Some have had luck with fertility treatments, some have completed their family by route of adoption. At times I feel like I cannot say anything because I have been blessed with my children for the most part very easily. I don't say that to boast by any means, and I don't mean to do that in any way.<br />
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The message I have to share or want to cause some to think about in general in this post is never assume you know someone's story. Don't think you know what is truly going on in someone's life unless they make the choice to tell you. If they do, sometimes the best thing we can do is just pray. Don't offer a solution, don't tell them what you would do. Just be there to listen and pray for them or even with them.<br />
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I challenge you also to expand this way of thinking beyond those that may not be able to have children or are having trouble conceiving. Take this practice with everyone in your life in any situation in which you find yourself trying to understand something that is beyond your control. Know that there are just somethings that are beyond our control and there is God is there, watching over us, all of us and in His time He will provide and show us the way.<br />
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Have a blessed day!!! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-72475782777760248462014-01-17T13:17:00.002-08:002014-01-17T13:22:36.274-08:00Hansen Champion Adventures - Vol. 1So, I decided to take a bit of a break from the "Share and Learn" posts to share with you a bit of our family adventures. I know we do a lot on a regular basis now that I don't get to share with everyone so, I figure it will be a good way to show everyone what we have been up to!<br />
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Since the whole idea for this came about because we have moved from Wichita, KS to Waterloo, IA...I thought the best place would be to start with our move!<br />
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When Keith took his job up here, he came up here in February and the kiddos and I joined him at the end of April/early May. Here are a few pics of our journey...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My sweet set up for my going away party at WSU - truly one of the best jobs anyone could ask for!</b></td></tr>
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Let me tell you...one of the biggest adventures I felt like at the time was packing up our entire house pretty much on my own. We didn't pack too much before Keith left because we were not 100% about moving, we wanted to make sure he liked the job and such before we decided for sure, so when we got the green light, he was already up here and working, so I packed like a mad woman during the month of April (I left WSU at the end of March).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>How many contact cases does one family need??? - this wasn't even ALL OF THEM!</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This was about 1/2 way done...I took all of the kids stuff out of their room and we all shared one room so I could stack all the boxes somewhere!!</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I have no pictures of the actual day of loading up our truck, but we were blessed by Candace, Brandon, Laurie, Justin and one of his friends to come and help us (not to mention Brandon randomly having a appliance dolly that came in quite handy for our washer and dryer)!!<br />
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The night before we were getting ready to head out of town, Keith and I were packing up a few last minute boxes and I came into our bedroom to find Kolten with a Sharpie and some amazing "artwork" on our down comforter and all over one of our laundry baskets (not to mention all over himself)! That kid sure knows how to keep me on my toes!! <br />
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Since our journey was 8 1/2 hours away and we were traveling with a 2 year old and 4 month old, we decided to split up our trip...we stayed in a hotel in Kansas City on our way up and Kolten was SUPER excited because he got to go swimming!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>He's got a good poker face...this was before he started screaming when we made him actually get in the water! ;)</b></td></tr>
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We got all of our stuff to Iowa and got all unpacked, and stayed for a couple weeks, then we came back down to say good bye to all our family and friends. Kolten was super excited again because we got to stay at "Pepaw's" house in Garden Plain and he got to play with all kinds of new stuff!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Playing with Grandpa's glasses</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The slot machine may be Kolten's favorite toy at Grandpa's house!</b></td></tr>
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We gathered all our family and friends for one fun night out! We started with dinner and of course had to go to some karaoke and then to the "cowboy bar" for some dancing! :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kolten playing the hunting game at the restaurant </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Having fun with Courtney and Robyn!</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></td></tr>
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So, we made it back to Iowa, safe and sound and began to settle in...one of the BEST moments of our trip to settle in was one day when I was taking our dogs out. Kolten was inside and had taken both dogs outside, and Shelby was done, so I let her go inside, but didn't take her leash off, I just let her run in the house. I let Baden finish up and when I brought him in, Kolten said to me, "Where is Shelby?" I started looking around and I couldn't find her anywhere...I was starting to freak out when I heard a bark come from somewhere but it sounded muffled, then I heard some scratching...I turned the corner in our kitchen to find this...<br />
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I then opened to lid to the trash can and found this...<br />
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I sure do love my son! Like I said...he is always keeping me on my toes! Stay tuned for more Adventures! We have been very blessed and quite a bit of fun to share!<br />
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Have a blessed day!!!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-583036319621497132014-01-15T21:33:00.000-08:002014-01-16T12:32:00.013-08:00Work for What You WANT, Be Proud of What You've GOT!This post is something that I truly don't actually like talking about all that much, but I feel like I is really important to be totally honest for the thought and hope that it will help others...so, here it goes!<br />
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My original major in college was music. I love to sing, I have always loved performing, so it felt like a natural choice for me. I soon realized that while I loved singing, I didn't necessarily have a huge interest in learning all the theory behind the music, so after my first semester, I nixed the idea of majoring in music. I didn't have any clue what I wanted to do, but it was always important to my parents that I went to college, so I stayed in and I changed my major to business. I figured it would be a good, generic degree and I could get any job with that degree, right?!?<br />
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Well, after a semester of being a business major and making the decision to transfer back to Wichita State and finish school, I decided yet again to nix my major and there I was...starting from scratch yet again. SO...I was an "Undecided" student for a bit, then at some point decided that I was going to be a Dental Hygienist (I don't know where in the world that idea came from, I like going to the dentist, but that always seemed like a "left field" choice to me and almost everyone that knew me)! Well, there was one small problem with that little decision...I HATE science classes! So guess what...after a semester...that major was thrown out as well as the first two!<br />
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So, by this point, I was lost....I was the ultimate undecided student. I had a meeting with and advisor and finally, they asked me the one question no one had really asked me before, "What classes do you <i>like </i>taking?" Oddly enough, and not in line with too many other people, my answer was Public Speaking classes or any classes that I got to find out more about being a manager or leader. So, they told me about this degree that seemed to fit me so well that I had no idea how I had never heard of this before...a Communications Degree!!! It was like a golden light shined down and I heard a chorus of angels (ok...yes, that is extreme...but it was an amazing feeling to FINALLY know what I wanted to do - for a major that is, I had no idea career wise what was gonna happen).<br />
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So, this was it...I knew what I wanted to do and my advisor told me what I needed to do to get the ball rolling...I needed to go and take a test, simple, just basic grammar and such as an entrance into the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State. So, I made my appointment, got there early and I FREAKED! I am a horrible test taker...every time, any type of standardized test, I clam up. So, what happened? I FAILED! Ok, it wasn't like they put a huge red "F" on the test, my score just wasn't quite high enough to pass. What did I do though? I went back to my advisor, defeated and distraught and asked them what to do, the world had ended for my golden shining moment and I was crushed.<br />
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My advisor told me about another option - a Field Major. I could pick 3 areas that I was interested in and study those and I would have one major concentration and then two other areas that I would take courses in as well and I would have a totally legit degree, but just a different route than originally planned. So, I went ahead with that plan and in 2007 I graduated with my degree. A Field Major through the College of Liberal Arts and Science and Wichita State in Communication, Sociology and Music.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJ6JOYdfK8wmyh2YWjsw9Kwwv9yeOLsO4YF8BbleGTP3jvxi0QThDyulKTQa1Dyb-NuDOSmh89ok00XedYRM2DfdZfPSE7mtKbpZstPvh3QGJ6T0rxdbyvIuh8hu9Nb5LiUwc1WiW3fo/s1600/Graduation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJ6JOYdfK8wmyh2YWjsw9Kwwv9yeOLsO4YF8BbleGTP3jvxi0QThDyulKTQa1Dyb-NuDOSmh89ok00XedYRM2DfdZfPSE7mtKbpZstPvh3QGJ6T0rxdbyvIuh8hu9Nb5LiUwc1WiW3fo/s1600/Graduation.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My mom and dad and I at my College Graduation Party - May 2007</b></td></tr>
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So, here is the deal...now, over 6 years later, why am I talking about this and what kind of lesson can possibly be learned from all of this? Here it is...if you have something you want....WORK FOR IT! I should have NEVER given up after the first try of taking that test. I seriously just barely didn't pass that dang test, and I just gave up! Do you know how many times I have regretted that decision? I can't go back and change it, but I know that I have learned from that decision. I am telling you this for the point of that if there is something out there that you want...WORK FOR IT! There may be sacrifices ahead and it may not be the "easy" road, but it will be worth it to reach your goal and know you got what you wanted!<br />
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The flip side of this lesson is be PROUD of your accomplishments! I may regret that I don't <i>technically </i>have a full fledged degree from the Elliott School of Communication, but I still took all the same classes as those people that <i>did </i>graduate from the ESC; and I have a degree! AND after a changing my major all those times, I still graduated in 5 years and had a WONDERFUL job after graduating!! So, when things happen and they are an accomplishment, CELEBRATE! You deserve to celebrate and reward yourself for a job well done! Small accomplishments or large, don't discount them, you let yourself be happy and pat yourself on the back. You deserve it!<br />
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I fully live by the mentality that I can't change the past, I can just learn and move on. While I say that I regret my decision, know that what I mean is that I have used it as a lesson and will use it in the future to always remind me that when I want something and I it's important to me, to work hard and get what I truly want, not settle for anything less!<br />
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Have a blessed day! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-45051782844296906062014-01-14T11:10:00.001-08:002014-01-14T11:10:54.982-08:00Why Yes...My Bum IS Lobsidded! ;)Oooo...see?? I got your attention didn't I? ;)<br />
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I have been struggling for the last couple of days to figure out exactly how I wanted to write this, but I knew this was the next topic I wanted to touch on. So, hold on peeps, this is gonna be a fun one! ;)<br />
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You see, I was born with one leg shorter than the other. They say that most people have a leg that is a little shorter, but that is not what I am talking about. The way they found out about it (or so my mom told me) was that when I started walking as a baby, I would walk on just one tip toe. So, they took me to the doctor and he did some measurements and sure enough, my right leg was shorter than my left. As the years went on, they thought maybe it would even out, but that was never the case. By the time I was ready to go to school, there was an extreme difference, almost 3 inches. We used to have to get lifts built into my shoes, and the summer after 2nd grade I had my first surgery. It is called an osteotomy (but no 2nd grader really knew what that meant!)...They broke my femur and set it with pins and it was surrounded by these huge metal "halo" type things that held everything in place and a ever so often, my mom would turn the screws and it would stretch out my leg and the hope was for new bone to grow in that gap. Well, to make a long story short, there were two issues that happened...one, I fell while I had it on and it created a hairline fracture in my leg that was not detected by my doctor, so when I got the halo off, my bone was VERY weak and broke and grew back together from that break and so my bone was curved and lost a lot of the progress they had made with that first surgery, so they had to re-break my femur and I was in a body cast from my waist to my ankle on my right leg and wait to knee on my left leg (over Christmas during 3rd great no less!). The second thing that happened was that through the process of some extreme physical therapy and the fact that they lengthened my leg at a fairly quick rate over a short amount of time, my ligaments and tendons in my leg were SUPER tight and my kneecap would actually dislocate every time I bent my knee and pop over to the side of my knee (insert cringe here - I know it sounds gross, but it was the norm for me, so I never realized it was all that weird).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This was right after my first surgery. My mom loved pictures, she wanted to document it all! I disliked them terribly, notice that my face is not in the picture ;)</b></td></tr>
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So, fast forward to today. I have had a total of 8 surgeries, including a rod in my femur to finally get it to grow back straight (the body cast turned out to be a waste of time, the bone popped back out of place), a surgery to snip all my ligaments and tendons in my knee and put a screw in there to hold my knee cap in place, and ACL and PCL reconstruction in one surgery, and a tibial osteotomy as well. I have had so many instances of being on crutches that my parents invested and bought a pair (which because of the blessing of having my growth plate stopped, I was able to use every time!!!) and some amazing times in wheelchairs (I once had to roll myself up the ramp at Hubbard Hall on WSU's campus...because no one would help a girl out!) There is still a difference in my legs, not one that is large enough for me to try and have more surgeries, it's about 1/4-1/2 inch difference now. I have quite the story and one funny "super human" trick I get to freak people out with. :) To compensate for the difference in my legs, I used to hyper extend my left leg to try and I guess "make up the difference" in my legs (I was young and I told you, this was my "normal"). Well, anyway...so I still do it and a few years ago, when I was in physical therapy, my therapist asked me if she could measure how far I could hyper extend my knee. She measured and it is 30 degrees! She was shocked and asked me to please stop doing it because it gave her the willies;) (I still do it, just out of habit, but Keith calls me on it quite often).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My poor, beautiful nieces, Nicole and Candace often got roped into coming to spend time with me as I recovered from surgeries...here is Nicole and I during Christmas when I had my body cast on!</b></td></tr>
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OK! So, the reason I told you that long ole story has purpose! While I do want to share my story with others I want people to get a little something out of it too other than just getting to know me better! :) So, there are 3 things I want everyone to be able to take away:<br />
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<b>1) What doesn't kill you DOES make you stronger!</b><br />
My mom used to tell me something that got on my nerves so much as a kid; she was an AMAZING woman of God and would tell me to offer up all my pain and suffering and God would bless me for everything I was going through. There were SO many days that people would make fun of me, some of the people that I thought were some of my closest friends would make fun of me for something I had no control over and I would literally come home and cry almost every day. I had no idea why I was being put through all of the pain and hurt. Then there was the literal, physical, pain. Those surgeries were no walk in the park! I remembered those words my mom said to me all the time, offer it up, offer it up, you will be rewarded...I felt like it was a mantra of sorts for me some days. Looking back now, I am actually grateful (NEVER in a million years could you convince 12 year old me that would be the case!) for everything I went through. I have some hard memories, I have some limitations, but boy howdy did I have an AMAZING love poured my way throughout the process! I can't even begin to explain how grateful I am for the blessings I have been given.<br />
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<b>2) DO NOT let a set back or a limitation stop you from reaching your goals!</b><br />
So, after all of those surgeries when younger, I was still a cheerleader in high school and college, I was in plays and I LOVE to be on stage and sing. When it come to working out, I can't work out like a beast...it is physically impossible for me to do some workouts. However, that has not stopped me from deciding to make a change in what I EAT and how I supplement my body to make sure I am as healthy as possible! I also am still active, while maybe not as much as other people, I play with my kids, I enjoy a good 'ol dance party (you are welcome to join any time!), but the key is this - I don't use my handicap to make excuses or say, "Well, _____ is super skinny and it's because they love to run and I can't run like that, so I am just gonna not be skinny or smaller than I am now because I can't do it. " NO FREAKIN' WAY! I will do what I can as much as I can and I will reach my goals! People I'm gonna tell yo this right now too, this business is not for goals of working out or losing weight, don't let limitations stop you from reaching your goals in EVERY instance! Work through them and get past it and grab that dream!<br />
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<b>3) You want someone to love you or people to accept you? LOVE YOURSELF!</b><br />
I was my biggest critic all the time...I pointed out to everyone that I had one leg shorter than the other for so many years. I would make fun of myself and find different ways to bring it up and it was a shield. I wanted to make fun of myself and point it out because I didn't want someone to realize I was different and make fun of me or talk behind my back. Do you know why I did it? Because I was insecure, sad, defeated and I didn't want other to pounce on me. It was defense. It took me MANY years (and it's still a work in progress) to be comfortable with myself and take a compliment in ANY way. I still have issues if Keith tells me I look nice or someone tells me I'm pretty. I brush it off and think to myself, especially with Keith, "He has to say that, he is my husband." You know what...NO HE DOESN'T!If you feel that way let me share with you, TAKE THE COMPLIMENT and say THANK YOU! Believe it and believe in yourself! God created you in His image and likeness, that says a lot! <br />
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I really do hope that everyone understands, I know that many people have worse handicaps than I do or did. I truly believe that as a child and teenager I felt like I had the worst "luck" and had quite a few pity parties for myself on numerous occasions. I am proud to say that with the every enouraging words from my mother along the way and support form family and friends and an AMAZING husband who thinks I am an truly beautiful (and is even a "leg man"), I have started to see myself for the beautiful creation from God that I am and have always been destined to be. It's up to me to make the most of my life and I am not going to let a measly difference in leg length get me down! I have a beautiful family, amazing friends and an opportunity to help change lives here! It's a beautiful world out there people! Live it up! :)<br />
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Have a blessed day!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-10077662974377201392014-01-09T22:08:00.000-08:002014-01-09T22:08:18.073-08:00Here's Your Sign! ;)So, I'm fairly positive that when most people hear the saying, "Here's Your Sign" they most likely think of Bill Engvall and his comedy routine that when people do something stupid they would get a literal sign that says "I'm Stupid". In the last couple of years of my life though, that saying has taken on a new meaning for me and I feel it being laid on my hear to share with you today! :)<br />
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There have been MANY times before, during and after our move to Iowa or even just in the last couple of years or so that I have found myself asking "WHY?". I find myself to be a bit of a planner...I like to know when things are going to happen, how things are going to happen, and in many times I like to control both of those options as well (THANKYOUVERYMUCH! ;)). Now, as a few of my other posts have said so far, what I have learned so very well is when man plans, God laughs (maybe not laughs like an "LOL" type of situation, but you know that moment when you see someone do something or hear them say something and you kinda chuckle to yourself and shake your head? In my mind God does that a lot to me). Well...I digress (but it was important to the topic, I promise). <br />
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Over the past year or so, I have started to be able to consciously see the "why" and give credit where credit is due to the blessings I have in my life. A month or so ago, I got a text from a friend here in Iowa, Michelle, that told me Harry Connick Jr. was a co-host on "The View" and I better turn it on (I have a bit of a "healthy" obsession with HCJr - you'll hear more about that in a later post, I am sure:)). Anyway....I ran to the bedroom, turned on the TV, found "The View" and watched intently and much to my surprise, Jody Benson (The Voice of Ariel, The Little Mermaid) was on at the end of the show and sang "Part of Your World" (I also have a slight obsession with The Little Mermaid :)). So, during the commercial break in the show when they announced that she was going to sing, I went back into the living room and told Keith, "See, this is why God brought us to Iowa! He brought us here so you would work with Michelle and she could do my hair and we could talk about Harry Connick Jr and because of your job, I can stay home and she text me today so I could watch this show and see him and hear this song!" NOW...let's be real here folks...that is a STRETCH! I was joking (sort of) that day, but what I want you to see is that sometimes you do have to stretch to see what God is doing in your life!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIu98-vV8gN-7N2TXeWOnTcCNIcXCt02PADwDim7C4co7YXhd7yEbk4Rt22WHN-_H_Mmfpw2WPSkmWsJa6G-P5b05dAu8InLSWhpTqTt-aG1i70Espjudp4MPaJy2DTwHRUeP-p1bvZM/s1600/IMG_3794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIu98-vV8gN-7N2TXeWOnTcCNIcXCt02PADwDim7C4co7YXhd7yEbk4Rt22WHN-_H_Mmfpw2WPSkmWsJa6G-P5b05dAu8InLSWhpTqTt-aG1i70Espjudp4MPaJy2DTwHRUeP-p1bvZM/s1600/IMG_3794.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Another "before and during" - Left is when I met Harry Connick Jr. in 2011/Right is this November when Keith and I saw him in KC!</b></td></tr>
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Tonight was not a stretch for me...I went to a PHENOMENAL training tonight for AdvoCare in Cedar Falls that was lead by our area leaders, Michael and Lindsey Roberts and also a Double Diamond Distributor, Joe Hadachek. I can't say more to anyone about this night than when Joe was up there and talking, I literally felt like God really was laying it on my heart, "Lisa, this is for you! Listen to these words, know they are for you and that you CAN DO THIS!" I have been so on fire for AdvoCare for almost the last year and you know what I have felt in the last few weeks? I KNOW that I will be involved with the company for the rest of my LIFE! It is a long standing company with incredible integrity and time and time again I hear story after story of product success and business success that prove to be that God brought this company, this opportunity to us for a reason! We have been able to help so many people already and I am so excited for what is yet to come for us and for those people that we will lock arms with in the near and distant future to help reach their goals.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipylZnlCxkdVL6n-PD653RGMiBK3EtGUHgdy8THHZIuV5iXGHwrexl9WGzZSzvApvV93I0uTdPEN4oHXDiAiQxI8paA2N9POOAcTiZJpUA9R7H02ks3l-AZt9ik-tLpUlOIzurpiNxD0A/s1600/IMG_4557%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipylZnlCxkdVL6n-PD653RGMiBK3EtGUHgdy8THHZIuV5iXGHwrexl9WGzZSzvApvV93I0uTdPEN4oHXDiAiQxI8paA2N9POOAcTiZJpUA9R7H02ks3l-AZt9ik-tLpUlOIzurpiNxD0A/s1600/IMG_4557%5B1%5D.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Joe Hadachek and I at tonight's training!</b></td></tr>
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I encourage each of you, every single day to look to see how God has blessed your life. Where is your "sign"? Can you see it? Take each day and make it yours! See how you are blessed and although sometimes you may have to stretch a bit to see it, it's worth it!<br />
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Have a blessed day friends!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-77082614080306452362014-01-08T20:33:00.000-08:002014-01-08T20:33:33.672-08:00"But It Might!!!"There are so many things I love about my dear husband and so many things he has brought into my life (you know this post is going somewhere good when it starts like that, right?;)). One of the things that he brought into my life was a love for Craig Ferguson. Keith worked 2nd shift through most of our marriage, so he would get home pretty late. If I wanted to talk to him when he got home, I would usually watch some late night show to keep me awake, and usually it would be the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Keith and I enjoyed his comedy a lot and when he came to Wichita a few years ago, we decided to have a "date night" and get tickets. It was hilarious. I am not sure if it his Scottish accent (I am a SUCKER for accents) or really what he said, either way, there were quite a few snorts involved in that show (yes, I snort when I laugh really hard).<br />
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During one part of the show he talked about situations that you would not normally do something because it wouldn't work out, but there is that voice inside that says, "BUT IT MIGHT!!!" It was hilarious during the show of course because he gave examples of guys talking to incredibly attractive women with the hope of her returning his advances, or things of that nature. However, I have kept that little saying with me since that night and often refer back to it in so many instances and it's incredible how useful it can be.<br />
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That's how I felt with AdvoCare at first...it was great, Jenna had great results, her friend Ali had great results, they showed me videos and stories of other people that got great results...but that couldn't happen for me..."BUT IT MIGHT!!!!" kept running in my head. So, we signed up for our discount and started enjoying our new found energy with Spark..IT SURE DID!!! Then I saw more stories about the 24 Day Challenge and the weight loss so many had experienced...but I had tried so many other systems and products before, there is no way this could work for me..."BUT IT MIGHT!!!" So, again, I went with it and we started our challenge. In 24 Days Keith was down 20 lbs and 3 pant sizes and I was down 9 lbs, 2 pant sizes and over 13 1/2 inches...IT SURE DID!!!! When Keith took this job in Iowa and we moved and I got to spend this amazing time with my beautiful kids and I needed to start looking for a job; I heard about Jenna making the type of income I needed to make to be able to stay home, and Ali and Jason making even more than that and they were all doing it part time with their full time jobs and their kids at home and all because they were just sharing with people about products and an opportunity that I knew were amazing, but I just didn't think it would work for us..."BUT IT MIGHT!!!" Now, I get to stay home full time, enjoy my beautiful children, make connections with incredible people and have found my true passion in helping other individuals and families reach their own goals and am making money to help support my family...IT SURE DID!!! And it will continue to work and grow and I know we will touch more lives, help more people and I am AMAZED at the opportunities and people God has brought into our life through AdvoCare. We are truly blessed!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfmFLm9OYWWiw3w8LP3WWUbVpoeUXWIMfYhtoHzxdQIuRSkjgms_YyF6ayxxzMRGZchAnaNrLLEDVXx6kJwZZqyzS8408qaz2CIHi1GnvJFUN8CxzXqalsXvm04NHLA_KEyyiJkP2Cf8/s1600/348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfmFLm9OYWWiw3w8LP3WWUbVpoeUXWIMfYhtoHzxdQIuRSkjgms_YyF6ayxxzMRGZchAnaNrLLEDVXx6kJwZZqyzS8408qaz2CIHi1GnvJFUN8CxzXqalsXvm04NHLA_KEyyiJkP2Cf8/s1600/348.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Jenna and I at Success School - August 2013</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A little "before and during" of me on my journey so far!</b></td></tr>
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Please...remember always to try and think to yourself when you catch yourself having those negative thoughts, feelings, and just letting the world try and tell you something won't work just think..."BUT IT MIGHT!!!!" (do it with a Scottish accent to, I feel that makes it more fun somehow :)).<br />
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Have a blessed day friends!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-14061479542711394192014-01-07T11:48:00.000-08:002014-01-07T11:48:03.264-08:00"Iowhat?!?!"I am not sure if it is the cold, cold, weather we are having (-11 yesterday with a windchill of -45 and today is a high temp projected of 7!) or still reflecting on what our first Christmas traveling back home was like, but I feel lead to talk a little about our move to Iowa today...:)<br />
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One of the most beautiful verses in the bible that reflects on marriage I believe is Ephesians 5:31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."<span class="p"> (NIV). I believe it is both beautiful and one of the hardest truths a couple has to overcome sometimes when getting married. Keith and I were one of those couples. It was more me than him, I have such a huge family and I love every single person in my family with my entire heart. I am one of those people that is "you mess with my family, you mess with me" (I am not Italian, I'm straight blooded German, but I view it as sort of the little mobster coming out in me every once and awhile ;)). What comes with that great love for my family is a great attachment. What comes with that attachment is sometimes not allowing my marriage, the family that Keith and I built to be my priority.</span><br />
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When God brought this job for Keith into our lives, it was a blessing and a huge confusion. Keith needed to find a new job, he needed something new and something that he could be excited about. It was a great job with a great salary, but it was in IOWA! At the point Keith was offered the job, I had been praying for a long time that God would shine some light for Keith and I and our future for us and our family. I just had NO IDEA (which is usually the case in the works of God) what he had in store for us. I was terrified at the thought of moving. I had a great job that I absolutely loved as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Wichita State. I loved going to work every day, I had always wanted to be a stay at home wife and mom, but I loved our day care provider and trusted her completely with our children. When we told our family and friends, most were happy for Keith, but all were concerned with our decision to just pick up and move to Iowa with a newborn. It was totally understood for the m to be hesitant, so I was I! The biggest obstacle I had to overcome was to not let what everyone around me was saying effect what I knew in my heart God was telling me about this move. I know He was guiding our family here, giving us the opportunity to grow as our own family unit. We decided to kind of "split the difference" in making the decision to move. Keith came up first and I didn't give any notice at my job until we knew he would like it and everything was set. Keith moved up here at the end of February and spent the first month here in a hotel that the company paid for (which was a HUGE blessing). He loved the job and we made the decision to follow what we could see as God's plan for our family and make the leap and move 500 miles away from our family and friends and in April, Keith flew home to Wichita, some of our amazing family and friends came to help us pack up our Budget truck and our little family moved to Waterloo, IA.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5a9gNRkMTqYIUf0HPLuidxQDkTo1R3tb30YyJGKYuQCkPPODT4YBT8HCGuovQL2QWbcKRYskrAhJ7iRrBiblim2-ptsX3O-Irg2CfclFtkEuRWPdNY3W6s3FBBnprUihRNb54F01rtFw/s1600/132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5a9gNRkMTqYIUf0HPLuidxQDkTo1R3tb30YyJGKYuQCkPPODT4YBT8HCGuovQL2QWbcKRYskrAhJ7iRrBiblim2-ptsX3O-Irg2CfclFtkEuRWPdNY3W6s3FBBnprUihRNb54F01rtFw/s1600/132.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One of my FAVORITE pictures from our move, Kolten and my dad playing on our piano...I never knew Dad knew how to play the piano, but sure enough, he sat down and played a song for Kolten!</b></td></tr>
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It has been a bigger blessing on our family and Keith and I's marriage than I ever could have imagined! Keith and I have grown stronger in our marriage and our little family has had some pretty great memories made so far! We have found an AMAZING church and made some great new friends through Keith's job and our church. It has been just a truly better experience than I truly could have ever pictured on my own. We have even been able to connect to some great leaders in AdvoCare and look forward to continue to grow our team up here as well! God is truly an amazing planner and I am reminded each day that I just my job to follow Him and I will be rewarded in abundance!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5D1hoKCXDjOgXkBQKgePKvSCDFq4IQQ5_Vqq_cd6XDch8dsmfSVyeAv-jVwrHsIqAZdPtNRvo5u9azHFIdcDxGIdQCJYmzVrCA-Vb2fhvoW-lU2qc23WafIGA6ZH21OqP_Oh4GfJ66Ak/s1600/175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5D1hoKCXDjOgXkBQKgePKvSCDFq4IQQ5_Vqq_cd6XDch8dsmfSVyeAv-jVwrHsIqAZdPtNRvo5u9azHFIdcDxGIdQCJYmzVrCA-Vb2fhvoW-lU2qc23WafIGA6ZH21OqP_Oh4GfJ66Ak/s1600/175.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kolten playing in the car on one of our many pit stops on the way to Iowa!</b></td></tr>
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I look forward to sharing more stories of our Iowa adventures with you all! Have a blessed day! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-54194792844526488932014-01-06T11:10:00.000-08:002014-01-06T11:10:14.170-08:00Momma MondayI have said that this blog will consist of a lot of different things (simply because there are a lot of different things that go on inside my head!). I didn't want to start a blog that had a specific topic...I wanted to share my heart with people, so that's what I am gonna do! ;) I think though to help with a <i>little </i>direction I am gonna do "Momma Mondays" and talk a little bit about my journey as a mom. It has been a long and winding road (even in just the 3 1/2 years it has has been since Kolten was born) but an incredibly rewarding one. So, here is the start to Momma Mondays!<br />
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I will be totally honest, there was a time in my life that I didn't know if I wanted to have children. I come from a large family (I am one of 6 kids and I have 16 nieces and nephews) and it is nothing against all of them (you all know I love you DEARLY), I just didn't know if I wanted to have kids. Keith and I got married fairly young, I was 20 and he was 22. So, we weren't in rush to have kids right away anyway, after spending 5 years as "just us" we decided to really leave it up to God to decide if He would bless us with another little Hansen. After a few months (including an amazingly fun trip to Vegas to celebrate my niece's wedding), we were blessed on Halloween 2009 to find out we were expecting. I am not going to lie to you all...I did NOT really enjoy being pregnant. I know there are many women who love it, and bless them for telling me how great it was, but I didn't agree. I was SUPER swollen and I was due July 7th, so I was smack dab in the middle of a Kansas summer and pretty darn uncomfortable. To add to all the of swelling, I packed on over 50 lbs during my pregnancy. Kolten was breach, so we had to do a scheduled C-Section and we scheduled it for July 1st (in my "plan" I thought about my birthday being in June, Keith's being in August, so we would have a June, July and August!) - BUT Kolten had other plans! At 3:30am on Tuesday, June 29th my water broke! We made it to the hospital and our doctor lived very close so he was there quick and Kolten Allen Hansen was born at 8:28am!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHE5374C-lWnj-Tn4rWzCIgqA2fKajs0U8iBxoe9Is_WjeW8A_aMakTYcfT_mk5UQWZIaXyBwJZunIjot2f0QX_fwF0UFNQrszguGe7i7sAry5OMnSotfDakm7kUBdW8t9fc4J24ShllM/s1600/Mom+and+I+-+Kolten%27s+Shower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHE5374C-lWnj-Tn4rWzCIgqA2fKajs0U8iBxoe9Is_WjeW8A_aMakTYcfT_mk5UQWZIaXyBwJZunIjot2f0QX_fwF0UFNQrszguGe7i7sAry5OMnSotfDakm7kUBdW8t9fc4J24ShllM/s1600/Mom+and+I+-+Kolten's+Shower.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My mom, Jean Marie and I at my baby shower </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjH94FnUhyaHFEMcPkiYJyIUWvOVavHqiRldjMJeKwYkSU7n3Ig0EFoZQYshiER5FtR-5c6QiTb88XPLJFByROWClzYxOnnznE5KY-hOunb1or9M6ScB44JzXdASZYhPgpSPsw3l3pMo/s1600/Mom+and+Kolten.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjH94FnUhyaHFEMcPkiYJyIUWvOVavHqiRldjMJeKwYkSU7n3Ig0EFoZQYshiER5FtR-5c6QiTb88XPLJFByROWClzYxOnnznE5KY-hOunb1or9M6ScB44JzXdASZYhPgpSPsw3l3pMo/s1600/Mom+and+Kolten.jpg" height="212" width="320" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kolten and my Mom</b></td></tr>
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Our hearts were so full, we thought we were going to be a "one and done" family. Kolten was an amazing baby and turned into an amazing toddler, we had so much fun with him! He was so happy and fun loving, we couldn't ask for more. As happens though, God had so amazing other plans in store! In April 2012 (after going to Vegas again in October 2011), we found out we were (VERY unexpectedly) expecting again! I was Due December 28, 2012. This pregnancy was pretty different than before. Kolten was almost 2 when we found out we were pregnant so chasing after a toddler did keep me a little more active the second time around, I still packed on 40+ pounds of weight and had a lot of swelling again. One of the hardest things I went though during that time though, had nothing to really do with my pregnancy. My mom passed away on June 10, 2012. She had suffered a brain aneurysm when I was a senior in high school and had a long battle with her health including mild Alzheimers and dementia. The last coherent conversation my mom and I had, I stopped by the nursing home to see her and she was having an okay day the nurses told me. I was talking to her like normal and she was just kind of moaning or answering back in sentences that made no sense to what I was saying. Then I told her I was pregnant again, that Kolten was going to be a big brother. She looked at me, straight in the eyes and sighed. "You better slow down on those babies" was the next thing out of her mouth and I couldn't help but laugh. She was there, for that split second, my mom was there with me in body and mind. It was amazing. She started to go down hill very soon after that conversation and we never shared any other conversations. However, not long after she passed, we found out we were having a baby girl. That little girl as well, much like her brother had a mind of her own! As I said, I was due December 28th and since I had a C-Section with Kolten, we opted for the same for Baby Girl Hansen. We decided to wait until after Christmas, I wanted Kolten to have one last Christmas when it was all about him and we just barely made it! We scheduled for December 27th and Keith's mom and dad were in town for Christmas, but his dad was going to have to head home on the 26th for work, so he was going to miss the birth. On Christmas Day night, he said to me, "You know Lisa, if you have her tomorrow, I won't have to miss it!" and I told him that I thought she was going to stay put and I was sorry. Again, "man plans, God laughs"! By 11am, I was having contractions and went to the doctor's office to get checked (we lived right across the street from the office), I was only dilated to 1 and he thought I would pry make it to the next day but instructed me to go to the hospital if they got more intense or started to come closer together. By 3pm I couldn't take it any more and we headed to the hospital. We got checked in, I got hooked up, and as the nurse walked out to go get a doctor to check me, my water broke! Then those dang contractions got serious! I am going to take a time out there and say YOU ARE AMAZING (and maybe a little crazy) to any woman that has had a natural child birth, and yes, I am a COMPLETE chicken. Well, Grandpa Hansen did get his way, and he was there at the hospital to welcome meet McKinley Jean Hansen! She was born on December 26th at 5:28pm!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYIanDqrhDDgV1dIQMVyhLNsUCC8aDJtdnI69KNpsFJS89oxNUMdLDCnBe9i_xt3dbia20y3hv565aVakkKvs51ZCEUCZtA1tvrn9PdiCEO2XEHDnPUZztMaD15qyyUgXaZpk3vTTVRE/s1600/Dad's+Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYIanDqrhDDgV1dIQMVyhLNsUCC8aDJtdnI69KNpsFJS89oxNUMdLDCnBe9i_xt3dbia20y3hv565aVakkKvs51ZCEUCZtA1tvrn9PdiCEO2XEHDnPUZztMaD15qyyUgXaZpk3vTTVRE/s1600/Dad's+Birthday.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My Siblings (-1) and Dad celebrating Dad's 75th Birthday about 1 week before McKinley was born</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbpd2eudcGCoVP64-oBbxO5OByzvnEhMvfi97MZWjg0FGCu8bSpJsBwhyphenhyphenMYphab5KdXBlfZzta3oQbPQYHTKOtjUmSlTSLOGDsHno3-abpKPFdYruhG1gCR9kqHOiW4ymV6okyoJXvoo/s1600/McKinley+and+I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbpd2eudcGCoVP64-oBbxO5OByzvnEhMvfi97MZWjg0FGCu8bSpJsBwhyphenhyphenMYphab5KdXBlfZzta3oQbPQYHTKOtjUmSlTSLOGDsHno3-abpKPFdYruhG1gCR9kqHOiW4ymV6okyoJXvoo/s1600/McKinley+and+I.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>McKinley and I in the delivery room</b></td></tr>
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Being a mom is truly the biggest blessing that I have ever experienced in my entire life and I am amazed each day by how much our children grow and learn and just how they are being shaped to live in this amazing world. I am thankful to God for giving us these blessings and for Keith (who has some amazing genetics to create some beautiful babies ;) and has been incredibly supportive and is an AMAZING father - Kolten even told me he likes Daddy more than me - more about that in a different post ;)).<br />
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Stay tuned! The adventures never stop with these too! There will be plenty more entertaining Momma Mondays ahead!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396136793373507719.post-19098543556576799652014-01-05T10:02:00.000-08:002014-01-05T10:02:22.928-08:00Why AdvoCare?Happy Sunday!<br />
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Today I am gonna post about something I originally planned to wait a bit to talk about, but as with most things in my life, God had other plans! This weekend I had the opportunity to go to Des Moines for AdvoCare's Regional Success School. It was a truly amazing opportunity and I came away with an even stronger, deeper feeling that God (and Jenna ;)) brough AdvoCare into our lives for a reason, a HUGE reason that I don't know if I can even fully see yet, but I want to explain a little bit more about why we have chosen to do AdvoCare.<br />
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I will tell you right now, I NEVER wanted to own a business or be in business for ourselves. I had tried a few different direct sell companies in the past to make extra money but none of them took off and I ended up loosing money truly. I had kind of a sour taste in my mouth with those experiences to be honest. There was something different about AdvoCare...to be completely honest, the products can sell themselves. They are formulated by some of the TOP doctors across the country and they WORK! There is no arguing about that and while that was all well and good to me, it was something else that truly spoke to me. It is the PEOPLE the people that are involved with AdvoCare that make the difference. The people in the corporate office, the CEO, Richard Wright and his wife Sherry (Sherry herself said yesterday that they think of every one of the distributors in AdvoCare as their family - and they show it!), the people across the country that I have been able to meet and form friendships with at different AdvoCare events, and the people that are a part of our every day lives now that I would never have been introduced to or reconnected to if AdvoCare hadn't been a part of my life. THAT is what makes it different. You can buy products at a corporate chain or a big box store, but you don't get someone who will check in with you and see how it is going. Encourage you when you are having a rough day (even when it has nothing to do with the products, because there are day when that happens!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzUQ-SPzi0wQIl8xxncgiXCHlhZzyVoMexNI1FVIUYTvYe0GfU6g2_5WUx7s6Y5xRr-TtxMHt3NobsqCMX8X5hAC7c79sDvq7syL4zMPs58e8xHcv_-R_KMvO0xiSB50aLRNT2S_y35A/s1600/Jan+2014+SS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzUQ-SPzi0wQIl8xxncgiXCHlhZzyVoMexNI1FVIUYTvYe0GfU6g2_5WUx7s6Y5xRr-TtxMHt3NobsqCMX8X5hAC7c79sDvq7syL4zMPs58e8xHcv_-R_KMvO0xiSB50aLRNT2S_y35A/s200/Jan+2014+SS.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Awesome stage set up! :)</b></td></tr>
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Yesterday and truly at every event I have attended with AdvoCare, I am reminded that there is so much good in this world. People out there that truly care about making a difference in their communities and in the world and it lifts me up and fires me up! There is so much, so very much around us that happens every day to try and get us down. To try and get us into that negative little hole in our minds that says we are not enough, that this world is a horrible place and gets us into that ugly spot. You know what I am talking about. I think everyone has been there, some are there now. I was there, and I thank God EVERY DAY that I have been able to come out of it and for all the blessing and positive things and people I have in my life to help me stay on the track to know that there is MORE I can do MORE I can give MORE! I am on a track to help others to see the same thing! I am going to help as many people as I can to reach their goals and if I make some good money and can support my family and we can go on vacations and give to our church and community and live life on our own terms, heck yes, I'll take it! I am so excited for our journey and if you are ready, I would LOVE to take you with us! Let's do it! :)<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07425776520102346407noreply@blogger.com0