tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-194661202024-03-13T12:07:16.065-07:00 joy in the journey miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.comBlogger225125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-45978781084866503362017-06-03T00:39:00.001-07:002017-06-03T01:43:52.749-07:00a story about mental illness<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I seriously contemplated and debated with myself about sharing this...it has been sitting in my drafts for over a month because, well, the
internet is forever, and I kept wondering if sharing this on the webnets was the wisest thing to do. The deciding factor for me was simple: </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I can't claim to be stigma
free if I stay silent, and maybe someone will read this and feel less alone
because there is someone else who can understand what they are going through. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">May is also </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Mental Health Awareness month</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> s</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">o it seems that the Universe is telling me it's not a completely terrible idea...so here we go.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">**INHALE** </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I am coping with
mental illness-anxiety and Postpartum Depression specifically. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">My official diagnosis of anxiety in the spring of 2014 helped me realize there is an actual title for everything I had been experiencing for most of my life beyond "I have a lot of feelings" and "I just don't know how to cope with life". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvLyelpKCUj2D0mYJupK2MBQdIHso2bjODNezELk78N7CwG5k-1cTvdQsAtExZQ0v_TlBTiu2WOZ8sdNYDORxWKNVvSYPKJDZDPM_3hPltZEGkCMubShnYyjMf55sJQ-jfOnj/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvLyelpKCUj2D0mYJupK2MBQdIHso2bjODNezELk78N7CwG5k-1cTvdQsAtExZQ0v_TlBTiu2WOZ8sdNYDORxWKNVvSYPKJDZDPM_3hPltZEGkCMubShnYyjMf55sJQ-jfOnj/s320/Capture.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">It was liberating-having a word that explained what I was dealing with-even in part-and to know that I wasn't
crazy, and I wasn't overreacting or being dramatic; my brain is sick. I had knowledge, and that is an empowering thing. This diagnosis also helped me to discover </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">I'm an </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.drjudithorloff.com/Free-Articles/emotional-empath-EF.htm" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">empath</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> and a </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://hsperson.com/" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">HSP</a>; two more reasons I feel things so intensely</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I started seeing a therapist who taught me ways to cope and techniques I could use to alleviate my anxiety as well as how to cope with being an empath and HSP in this messy, horrible (but also wonderful) world. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I went from feeling like I was sinking all the time to feeling </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">like I could manage. I learned that people who suffer from anxiety are more prone to experiencing depression than those who do not, and that was a large contributor as to why my lows were so low; the anxiety sends you off into a worst case scenario and that makes it easier for the depression to sneak in and take hold. The best description of anxiety I was ever given is "anxiety is like perpetually hearing the boss/enemy music but never seeing the threat." I was living my life in fear of a threat I couldn't see, and the depression that grew from that only compounded things. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Talk therapy is what worked best for me and after about six months I decided that I was able to try life on my own and stopped seeing my therapist regularly-but I did continue to see her for 'tune-ups' as I felt they were necessary. Fast forward to last May when I found out I was pregnant. It sent me into a tailspin and I spent all my time worrying. You see, Mr. Wonderful and I struggled to get pregnant, and four days before I found out I was pregnant we were given terrible news. Because of this I spent the duration of my pregnancy anxiety riddled and waiting for the other shoe to drop. There was going to be bad news, there had to be because the circumstances around this whole situation is the sort of stuff you only see in movies. Because of my anxiety I can count on less than one hand the number of times I was happy and excited about being pregnant. I was so busy living in fear of the unseen threat I was robbed of the ability to enjoy this thing I had waited so long and prayed so hard for. When we learned we were having twins the joy I should have experienced was overshadowed by the constant fear that I would lose not one, but two babies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">About seven months into my pregnancy I was diagnosed with prenatal depression and once again I started seeing my therapist, but this time I wasn't making the progress I had hoped for. I lived in fear of labor and being responsible for two tiny humans. I second-guessed my decision to get pregnant and was convinced I would be a horrible mother. I was afraid of everything, rational or not, I was scared out of my mind. I tried to educate myself but reading books and taking classes only made it worse. I prepared myself for the inevitable-I was going to have Postpartum Depression. I was already anxious and depressed, major life changes (like having babies) exacerbates both, I had undergone fertility treatments, was due in the middle of January (the darkest, coldest, suckiest part of the year), and I suffer from <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/basics/definition/con-20021047">S.A.D.</a> Frankly, I was screwed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">At 37.1 weeks my blood pressure began to climb and my OB decided the risks of staying pregnant outweighed the benefits of cooking for another week (we had an induction scheduled for 38 weeks), and I was sent to Labor and Delivery. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. After 30 hours and a birth that went nothing how I had hoped for, they were here. Two beautiful, healthy baby boys. My lifelong dream of being a mother was a reality, and I wanted nothing to do with them. One of my first memories post delivery in the OR is one I am so ashamed and embarrassed of only Husband and my therapist know about it. It's an interesting feeling; loving something more than you can imagine all while feeling completely detached from them. I spent my time in the hospital trying to bond and feel what I so desperately wanted to feel-what I SHOULD have felt, but there was nothing. I was faking it. I was a fraud and I didn't deserve to be a mother. I felt g</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">uilty because I chose to have the nurses supplement with formula rather than work on breastfeeding so I could sleep. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I remember sitting on the couch the day we came home holding our perfect, beautiful sons sobbing because I felt so detached, confused, overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, afraid, and second-guessing. I was home for less than 48 hours when I returned to the hospital with complications. Our boys were six days old and I was already being separated from them. Three days I spent away from my babies; feeling guilty about being away and at the same time relieved that </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wasn't there to ruin them and thinking it was better </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">they were in the care of someone more capable than me-all while I should have been focused on getting well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not counting the days I was in the hospital for my return visit I had Husband's help for a whopping five days (don't get me started on paternity leave in America) before he had to return to work; after that I was on my own. I was recovering from a C-Section, an abdominal infection, and preeclampsia, and now I had two babies to keep alive, too. Those first few weeks are a blur, but I remember a lot of crying; I cried all the time. I didn't feel like I was bonding with the boys. I felt guilty because I didn't feel what I thought I should be feeling as a mom. I wanted to be grateful but I was resentful of these two beautiful children, and then I felt guilty again because what sort of mother resents her children!? I felt guilty because this is what I wanted; I had what so many women would give anything to have-I WAS that woman a year prior, and here I was second-guessing it. I felt ungrateful. I was empty. I cried while I was constantly apologizing to them for failing them as a mother. I was convinced they would have been better off with someone else as their mom. I didn't sleep because I was convinced the babies would die from SIDS if I did. I was terrified of RSV and sickness so we stayed inside. It was dark and cold and lonely and I began to feel isolated. I stopped bathing. I was terrified that I would end up back in the hospital and wouldn't make it home this time. I was convinced I was going to leave my Husband all alone with two brand new babies. Despite his best efforts nothing Husband did could bring me out of my funk and </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I started to fight with him. The help I was offered I refused-it wasn't going to be there forever and I convinced myself I needed to learn how to care for two babies by myself. My mom tried to come up and help, but my dad suffered a stroke the day after she came up and she had to turn around and go back home (my dad is ok-thank heavens). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because staying alive trumped pumping during hospital stay #2 I struggled to breastfeed. My supply wasn't big enough to feed one baby, let alone two. Trying to tandem feed stressed me out and made me feel inadequate. The boys would get frustrated and we would all cry. I was constantly worried they weren't getting enough from me and I felt guilty for that and for preferring to give them formula-at least that way I knew how much they were getting. Husband made me an appointment with a </span><a href="http://lactationhomecare.com/site/" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">lactation consultant</a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Christy was wonderful and supportive, and never made me feel less than, but I was still disheartened. I was convinced I was a failure. I decided to pump and supplement rather than nurse in the hopes that would increase my supply, but I couldn't pump as often as I needed to. The babies only wanted to be held and would only sleep if they were on me. I only got a few ounces each pump. I felt like a failure. I began to think that everyone would be better off without me. While I never contemplated suicide and I never had thoughts of hurting my boys I did begin to think it would be better for everyone if I just ceased to exist, and if I happened to have a tragic accident it would be for the best. As the last day of my maternity leave approached I became more anxious and I felt guilty I couldn't stay home with them; I had failed them yet again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">At my six-week visit my OB told me what I already knew-I had Postpartum Depression. She referred me to a therapist since I felt like the one I had seen previously was no longer the best fit for me. I saw that therapist twice and I talked a grand total of ten minutes between the two sessions, I knew more about her than she did about me. While I am not opposed to medications if they are necessary she had me schedule an appointment with a prescriber before I had had one full session with her. I fired her and found someone else thanks to a referral from a good friend and I love her. I do the bulk of the talking, and she didn't push to get me on meds right away. Although I will likely end up on an antidepressant she was willing to let me try alternative methods first. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I'm still not out of the woods-a</span>bout a month ago I had my first experience with apathy. It was unlike anything I've ever experienced, </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wouldn't wish that on anyone. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was literally going through the motions for everything in my life when all I wanted to do was curl into a ball and never leave my bed. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The guilt set back in. I was failing my boys-again. That seemed to be the only thing I was doing consistently-failing them. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I felt like I was drowning. There weren't enough hours in the day. Although the boys have been sleeping through the night pretty consistently I was still only getting 4-5 hours a sleep a night because the bulk of my evenings were going to the babies and pumping. We were eating dinner at 10:00 and I was staying up until 12:00 or 1:00 to try to get things done and I was still horribly behind. My therapist asked me what I could give up to make more time. "Pumping". I said it so quickly it surprised even me. As much as I wanted nursing to be a wonderful, beautiful thing for me it was only a source of stress, anxiety, resentment, anger, and guilt. I was afraid to quit-afraid of being labeled selfish for putting my needs ahead of my children's-even if it was less than 10% of their food source. I know you can't fill someone else's cup from an empty pitcher, but nothing has gone the way I had hoped in regards to becoming and being a mom. I needed something I could control, but it still ended up controlling me. Deciding to wean was an interesting process. There was a lot of guilt and tears, but now that I'm done I'm starting to feel like I made the best choice for all of us. Bottle feeding my boys is actually-dare I say-fun. I am able to focus on them and not worry about how much (or little) I got from that session and I'm not attached to the pump. It's such a relief to know I don't have to haul it around or be at its mercy. I'm sure there will be days I'll be sad or wish I could have done more, but I did my best and I tried my hardest. That's all anyone can ask of me and it gets to be okay. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have good days and I have bad ones, but luckily the good are starting to outnumber the bad. I'm starting to take pleasure in things again and I finally feel like I'm bonding with my boys-they make me so happy and I can't imagine my life without them, and I am working on repairing my marriage. I still have a long way to go, but I can see the glimmer of a light at the end of the tunnel. Through this experience I have learned a few things: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li>mental illness is not one size fits all, and just because your illness isn't as 'severe' as someone else's it doesn't diminish anything. A cold is a cold regardless of if you are able to function or not. The same holds true for mental illness. </li>
<li>You are not obligated to stick with your therapist. If you don't feel it's a good fit-even if it's only been one session-find someone else. Your well being is what's important. </li>
<li>YOU ARE NOT ALONE. One in NINE women will suffer from PPD. Odds are you know someone who has dealt/is dealing with it without even knowing it. </li>
<li>Getting help does not make you a failure or a bad mom. It's the opposite, actually. You can't take care of someone else when you are not taking care of you first. </li>
<li>Asking for help is not failure. People offer to help because they love you. Don't deny someone else the opportunity to serve.</li>
<li>Things will ebb and flow. There will be days you feel great and others not so much. It's part of the process. </li>
<li>If you believe in a Higher Being prayer helps. </li>
</ul>
<div>
And above all else-YOU ARE A GOOD MOM. (Don't worry if you don't believe it yet; I'm still working on that, too.)<br />
<br />
-XOXO</div>
<div>
Kristen</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mSfH2AuhXfw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mSfH2AuhXfw?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></div>
miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-31200727269838701652016-06-13T17:28:00.000-07:002016-06-14T09:13:49.185-07:00processingMy heart is broken. It's literally aching in my chest. So many questions swirling, so much confusion, so. much. heartache. One question keeps floating to the top...Why?<br />
<br />
Why do innocent people keep dying?<br />
Why are we doing NOTHING to stop it!?<br />
Why can't we come to a decision on how to stop it?<br />
Why are some people more concerned with a perceived threat to their "liberty" than a very real, very obvious, very dangerous threat to EVERYONE?<br />
Why are people so willing and eager to say "People will always find a way to break the law so there's no use in trying to fix it. Oh well. Better them than me."?<br />
<br />
Then once I attempt to process the heartache the anger sets in. The "red haze" Husband calls it. More whys:<br />
<br />
WHY ARE PEOPLE SO FUCKING SELFISH??<br />
WHY AFTER ONE OR TWO ACTIONS BY A FEW "BAD PEOPLE" CAN WE BAN BOX CUTTERS AND LIQUID ON AIRPLANES, BUT WE CAN'T REGULATE SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS AFTER <b><u><span style="font-size: large;">DOZENS </span></u></b>OF "BAD PEOPLE" HAVE CAUSED <b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/25/us/25shooters.html">HUNDREDS OF MASS SHOOTINGS SINCE 2000</a></span></u></i></b>?<br />
WHY ARE WE OK WATCHING INNOCENT PEOPLE DIE AT AN ALARMING RATE?!<br />
WHY CAN'T WE ALL RESPECT AND RECOGNIZE OUR DIFFERENCES ARE WHAT MAKE US GREAT?<br />
WHY IS IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR SOME TO FOCUS ON THEMSELVES AND TO STOP FORCING THEIR BELIEFS ON OTHERS?<br />
WHY ARE YOUR "RIGHTS" MORE IMPORTANT THAN MINE?!<br />
WHY DO YOU THINK YOU ARE SO SPECIAL?<br />
WHY DO YOU INSIST ON REMAINING THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN THE SOLUTION!?<br />
<br />
BE THE SOLUTION. BE THE HELPER-NOT THE HINDERER.<br />
<br />
This has to stop. I don't want to live in fear. People should be able to go to school, work, church, the movies, a club, or pump gas and not have to worry about being gunned down. Wondering if there will be a shooting at their children's school is not something ANY mother should have to worry about-we shouldn't have to be teaching our CHILDREN what to do in the event a shooter shows up at their school. When shooting drills are happening more than fire drills you know we are FAILING. AMERICA IS FAILING. How are we going to teach the next generation to be better when we are so busy fighting we can't agree there's a HUGE PROBLEM and work together to FIX THIS?<br />
<br />
I am only one person; but that will not stop me. I will be the change I want to see, and I WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pAzKgmXvGxh-Op6TUBi0e8LGNbyWrsr9XMfr8kAO-wd0BLtZsCz290TlcL9fbqA8FcwIzqmtfSlMK7UVjrhpzG2B4JQIk293OG9wb0nron8SsZ9P3S3YUFhmxglGx3oVEqjz/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pAzKgmXvGxh-Op6TUBi0e8LGNbyWrsr9XMfr8kAO-wd0BLtZsCz290TlcL9fbqA8FcwIzqmtfSlMK7UVjrhpzG2B4JQIk293OG9wb0nron8SsZ9P3S3YUFhmxglGx3oVEqjz/s320/Capture.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-26066821426893251402016-01-06T11:37:00.002-08:002016-01-06T11:37:19.053-08:00thoughts on infertilityI've struggled for a while whether or not to write about this-for a number of reasons. Partly because there is a huge risk for TMI, but mostly because it is such a deeply personal thing. I'm usually a pretty open person, but I wasn't 100% sure about sharing this for everyone to see...until I spoke with my good friend <a href="http://braddyverse.com/">Stephen</a> and he reminded me the only way to unstigmatize things is by TALKING about them. He's right, and I'm going to talk* about this, dangit!<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*I should note that these are my thoughts and experiences, and mine alone. Like most things in life everyone's path is different, and I can't make generalizations or speak for anyone else--just me.</span><br />
<br />
It scares the CRAP out of me, but I have <b><u><i>always</i></u></b> wanted to be a mom. Until recently it has always been this thing, far, far off in the distance; something I could see if I squinted hard enough. That horizon got a helluva lot closer really fast when Mr. Wonderful and I got married. Thanks to <a href="http://www.webmd.com/women/tc/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos-symptoms">Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)</a> we knew we (read-I) would have an uphill battle in the effort to start a family, but we also wanted to take some time to settle into our new normal before we turned everything upside down again by adding a small human into the mix. 19 months later I realized we were standing on that horizon and we decided there was no time like the present to try to start our family. I consulted my OB about where we should start (aside from the obvious), and she suggested we begin trying immediately after stopping the Pill in the hopes we could "trick" my body into ovulating. (I had originally been put on the Pill when I started <a href="http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-6661/accutane-oral/details">Accutane</a> and then when that was done my Dr kept me on it to treat my irregular cycle caused by PCOS-and then I opted to stay on it after I got married-we knew the odds of a surprise pregnancy were low-but just in case.)<br />
<br />
Well,"tricking" my body didn't work, and so we have moved to other methods. Here we are, seven months later, and we aren't any closer to starting a family now than we were then. I've had plenty of time to feel sorry for myself, think, and overthink-on lots of things. Infertility sucks, guys.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-You would think seeing a negative result gets easier. It doesn't-not even a little bit. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-The only thing worse than getting your period when you're trying to have a baby is not having one at all and not being pregnant (it's a pretty good sign you aren't ovulating. No ovulation=no baby). I cried for two days when that first test (and the four others I took after that-just in case) came back negative.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-Knowing the cause of the problem but not the solution is discouraging and infuriating as hell. Treatment for PCOS is literally a "this is next on the list and worked for another PCOS patient I have; let's try this and see if it works for you, too" approach. When you are type-A and anxiety riddled you don't handle this approach well. I need a plan! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-Regardless of what anyone says not being able to do this has made me feel like a complete failure as a woman. This feeling is compounded when someone says they got pregnant without even trying/wanting to be. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-Uncertainty of whether I will be a mom or not in this life has caused me to constantly doubt myself. More than once I have caught myself wondering and asking Mr. Wonderful if I am enough and will be enough in the years ahead if kids aren't in the cards for us. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-Hormone treatments are just plain cruel. As if this situation doesn't suck enough, the meds I'm on have caused my cystic acne to return AND have made it super easy for me to gain weight, but almost impossible to lose it. I have never felt more disgusting or less attractive in my entire life. (Self-esteem? What's that?) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-I am so so happy for my friends getting pregnant and having babies, but not having a growing belly or baby to snuggle of my own makes my heart ache each time they share their joy and excitement. I want nothing more than to be happy for everyone, but I find myself cutting ties to people I care about because I just can't handle it any more. I know it isn't intentional, but each of their posts rubs more salt in this open, gaping wound.<br />
<br />
-I am on a guilt and shame cycle I can't get out of. I feel shame for not being able to do this thing so many women seem to do without even trying, I find myself thinking "I had to wait to get married, and now I have to wait to have a family, too?" a lot more than I should, and then I feel guilty for being discouraged and feeling sorry for myself-especially when there are so many people out there who have things a whole lot worse or have been waiting longer than I ever will.<br />
<br />
-No matter how strong your marriage is the stress of infertility takes its toll. (Mr Wonderful and I are great, but I'm not going to lie. It's been really, really hard.)<br />
<br />
-Well-meaning people who say "don't worry; it will happen for you!" or suggest adoption, surrogacy, or other medical interventions are the most insensitive people and need to be punched in the face-Hard. From the outside all these methods seem easy, but they are anything but. Financially, physically, emotionally-they all come at a high cost and unless you are willing to write me a check or hold my hand while I'm jabbed and poked and prodded please don't suggest them. Suggesting them like you're deciding where to go for dinner? That's even worse.<br />
<br />
-Same goes for those who say "stop worrying about it. It will happen when it's supposed to happen. Just have fun practicing!" Guess what? There is no such thing when you're struggling with infertility.<br />
Nothing sucks the romance and fun out of sex like feeling like Jabba the Hut and then having to schedule and plan it around your treatments.</div>
<br />
-Mr Wonderful is incredible and provides me with so much support, but he can't understand what I'm going through, and that is hard on both of us. He wants to support and protect me as much as I want to be supported and protected, but there is literally nothing he can do. Watching the person you love most on the planet be frustrated and upset because they feel like they're failing you (although they are not) compounds the problem.<br />
<br />
-I am a textbook firstborn so I don't know how to let people take care of me (I'm still learning this with Husband). As a result I feel alone a lot of the time because I don't want to burden people with my silly problems.<br />
<br />
-There's a lot of doubt. A LOT. I catch myself wondering all the time if my inability to get pregnant is the Universe's way of telling me maybe I'm not supposed to be a mom because I will absolutely suck at it and those children would be better off with someone else as their mother.<br />
<br />
-My biological clock is very real and very loud and I wonder if I've run out of time almost daily.<br />
<br />
-Staying positive, not letting the stress and pressure overcome me, and not allowing myself to become bitter is really, really hard. Lately this has become a losing battle.<br />
<br />
-If motherhood isn't in my cards-is being the 'favorite auntie' enough?<br />
<br />
Bottom line is this: there's a lot of guilt, a lot of feeling inadequate, and a lot of smiling on the outside while you're sobbing on the inside. This post may suggest otherwise but I don't want anyone's sympathy-really. Empathy? Yes. Support and understanding? Absolutely.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-59806160963230482602015-09-22T12:31:00.002-07:002015-09-23T13:41:41.925-07:00griefYou know, grief is an interesting thing. My Grandma Fox passed away yesterday, and all I feel right now is--relief. Well that and guilt.<br />
<br />
When she fell in May and broke her hip part of me knew that was the beginning of the end. Although I wish I hadn't let family discord and drama keep me away from her I will forever be grateful for the time I was able to spend with her in her hospital room-just the two of us, holding her hand and telling her that I loved her. I remember her telling me that this wasn't quality of life and she
was so upset she couldn't paint or write or do any of the things she loved so much
anymore. With tears in my eyes I told her if she felt it was time to go that it was ok. We would all be sad, but we would be ok. Holding her hand and reading her "To Kill A Mockingbird" so she could sleep, and her waking up just long enough for me to hug her and tell her I loved her as I was leaving will forever be one of my most cherished memories. <br />
<br />
As much as I will miss my spitfire piss and vinegar
Grandmother all I can think of is now she is free of the body that has
limited her for so long; for that I am relieved and grateful. <br />
<br />
While I am sad I haven't shed a tear and can only be relieved that my grandmother's illness (a huge source of family drama and contention) is now gone I can't help but wonder if feeling these things make me heartless?<br />
<br />
To be honest I am hurting more watching my father grieve the loss of his mother.<br />
<br />
I can't help but think back to seven years ago when my family lost my Uncle Gregg and how different that grieving process was. It was completely out of nowhere and struck me so deep to my core I had to leave work that day as all I could do was sit at my desk and cry, and I still have a hard time speaking about him without shedding tears. This time I had time to prepare and I knew why my dad was calling before I even picked up the phone, and I was able to finish my work day undistracted. I am able to speak about her with happiness and fondness. There are no tears to be had here.<br />
<br />
<br />
That may change on Friday when I see her sleeping one last time, but for right now all I can think is that I am so happy she is free.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaplYmjLTE0cVfXFZThlzm_tvzP112fmCT2D_w7e6XM5132iJF6xh2IyodL2zCXnm5VeWfa60oc6vQYIfHPV6Qpwuh6ZZIlivFIh5z_xL-hz021jAkWWmEdD12BnFHhq9m7CrY/s1600/Christ+welcoming+home.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaplYmjLTE0cVfXFZThlzm_tvzP112fmCT2D_w7e6XM5132iJF6xh2IyodL2zCXnm5VeWfa60oc6vQYIfHPV6Qpwuh6ZZIlivFIh5z_xL-hz021jAkWWmEdD12BnFHhq9m7CrY/s320/Christ+welcoming+home.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-27028022400436628172015-06-23T23:54:00.001-07:002015-06-24T13:27:35.405-07:00I’m just beautiful me<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As I get older one thing becomes more and more (painfully ) clear: I am my own WORST critic, and it needs to STOP. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today Husband and I had pictures taken, and tonight my <b><a href="http://katejphotography.com/">photographer</a></b> posted a preview on Facebook. This photo, actually: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXb4XuXxiwVpYwkczGCIPMYjG37SwHEfwocCsH_h9AdE12akkUOSFpgHWK9GU2DjV5eMa2U-0JcVQblKNbghOQcBixC4We29hyphenhypheneZTzCSe3q0sxHZC3tFlD7ppNdz0J6w8W4wx/s1600/10150755_10153153471608645_6240098323516905571_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXb4XuXxiwVpYwkczGCIPMYjG37SwHEfwocCsH_h9AdE12akkUOSFpgHWK9GU2DjV5eMa2U-0JcVQblKNbghOQcBixC4We29hyphenhypheneZTzCSe3q0sxHZC3tFlD7ppNdz0J6w8W4wx/s640/10150755_10153153471608645_6240098323516905571_n.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's beautiful. The colors coordinate well and are bright and vivid. I am radiant. Husband is smiling (well as close as he comes to smiling for pictures anyway), and his eyes are so BLUE. We look like we are comfortable and happy with each other. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Kate and <a href="http://sassyjose.blogspot.com/">Sassy Jose</a> told us all through the evening how great we looked and how happy they were with the shots they were getting. I know it is not most important (or at all), but there has been a huge outpouring of love from our friends in the form of 'Likes' and positive, loving comments on Social Media. What IS most important:</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is a photograph of me and my beloved. Because of that there is not <span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>one reason</u></span> I should look at this photograph with anything but a heart bursting with love. </span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My initial reaction to seeing this photo? "Ugh. I have a pooch-I wish I could have found my belt so I could hide that, I'm jowly, you can totally tell I need my roots done, and to top it all off I am REALLY starting to look like a tired, middle aged woman."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u><b>WHY!? WHY DO WE DO THIS!?? </b></u></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I am surrounded by beautiful people I am lucky enough to call friends. They come in all shapes and sizes, with so many wonderful attributes and talents. I constantly find myself comparing myself to these incredible women and tearing myself down because I don't stack up to my own stupid standards; Social Media makes it even worse. Rather than being happy with what I CAN do and a body that works and is healthy and allows me to do so many things others cannot I can only focus on the fact that I am simply not built to be a size 6 or a B cup-no matter how many treats I refuse or Zumba classes I attend (thanks </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">hearty Dutch genes!)</span></span>. Instead of relishing that every day I look more and more like my beautiful, precious mother and I have a loving, supportive Husband who thinks I am the most beautiful woman alive all I can think is that I no longer look like I'm 20--like that's a bad thing. Yes, I will be 35 this year; I am closer to 40 than 20. I am officially middle aged. There. I said it. I have smile lines, crows feet, and old acne scars. But do you know what? Those smile lines and crows feet show I have lived a life that has sometimes been sad, but has mostly been full of happiness and laughter. They show I have learned and grown. And those scars? They taught me empathy and compassion; they remind me of that every time I look in the mirror. Most importantly? The scars and lines aren't as bad as I <u><i>perceive</i></u> them to be. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I catch myself doing it with other parts of my life, too. I recently embarked upon an opportunity that has presented itself (it is still very much in the air so I don't want to put too much out there yet), and once I put myself out there for this opportunity I immediately began to doubt and nay say myself. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am always telling myself I am beautiful, good enough, capable, and qualified, yet I rarely BELIEVE IT. What good is telling ourselves these things if we refuse to actually believe them? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfIbX3DEQKxZGh-t75X0pgKEWqNXSC7ZAf6-uxcaExdO3XBYVeBYwKm-1pqHcZhZSDcgu0262IZdee79WJvcc7ImBvO6mnldWrcbTB84lDcg2V7fweBfrckjIB9NkHDJAWDxy/s1600/comparison-thief-joy_Frame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfIbX3DEQKxZGh-t75X0pgKEWqNXSC7ZAf6-uxcaExdO3XBYVeBYwKm-1pqHcZhZSDcgu0262IZdee79WJvcc7ImBvO6mnldWrcbTB84lDcg2V7fweBfrckjIB9NkHDJAWDxy/s320/comparison-thief-joy_Frame.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am working on all of these things, and learning that confidence is not pride and self-doubt is not humility, but it is a slow process. A process I was reminded of again tonight. When I receive the rest of my images from tonight's session I will try my hardest to make sure I only focus on the positive and not the negative. I need to remember my perception isn't always correct; and the people I love clearly see something I do not, so I need to trust that. As for the days that doesn't work I will just play this on repeat, have a good cry, get up, brush myself off, and try again tomorrow. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BzE1mX4Px0I" width="480"></iframe> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <u><b><br /></b></u></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span></span></div>
<br />miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-55837447440118420382015-02-18T16:55:00.000-08:002015-02-18T22:36:25.354-08:00i choose kristenAn entire year without blogging. That really makes my heart sad. So many times I sat down, only to become so overwhelmed with anxiety and negativity that I decided no blog was better than one filled to the brim with everything I hate reading myself. Even now I'm struggling to finish this because I know it's not going to be all sunshine and roses and not necessarily what some people want to hear.<br />
<br />
This week I made a decision, one that I have known I've needed to make, but have been avoiding for a while. I decided to stop doing something that used to make me happy, but now only brings heartache, pain, and guilt. Before you jump there Mr. Wonderful and I are great. Better than great. We are awesome. He is my rock and support and a large part of why I had the courage to finally make the decision I have been avoiding for so long. After I close my current project I think I'm done with theatre. Wow. Saying it out loud and seeing it in print are two completely different things. Writing it makes it real, somehow.<br />
<br />
Why, you may ask? The answer is long, and complex, but the simple answer is this:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><span style="color: #990000;">I'm DONE.</span></b></u></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></b></u></span></div>
Done giving people control over my schedule, feelings, and self-worth. Done feeling like I'm doing it because I "have to" or that I will be letting people down if I stop rather than doing it for me and the joy it once brought me. Done being criticized by complete strangers. Done spending precious time away from Husband only to feel that time has been wasted. Done being a punching bag to others merely for being willing to donate my time and talents. Done working so hard for something that at the end of the day is pretty thankless. Done letting this part of me define my entire being. Done being afraid to walk away because I will lose the recognition I have worked hard for and fearing I will have to start paying my dues all over again should I come back. Done having negative experience after negative experience, yet still coming back because "this time will be different". Done doing favors only to have it come back and bite me. Done with late nights that turn into early mornings and Saturday morning rehearsals. Done feeling like I always have a black cloud hanging over me, and most importantly I'm done taking out all these frustrations and insecurities on Mr. Wonderful. He has done nothing to deserve it, yet he's the one who gets to take it all because I know he'll still be there and still love me when all is said and done.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HVVe95LThoA/VOWEM_xytsI/AAAAAAAABs0/1tsHheQkLeQ/s1600/IMG_2376.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HVVe95LThoA/VOWEM_xytsI/AAAAAAAABs0/1tsHheQkLeQ/s1600/IMG_2376.PNG" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Ugh, drama is so aptly named. There has been a lot of it, that's for sure, but I am grateful for what it has brought me. Being on stage got me through one of the hardest times of my life and helped me figure out who I was again. It has blessed me with wonderful friends and opportunities I don't think I would have found otherwise. But, there is a time and a season for all things, and I think this season has come to an end. I'm ready to spend time cultivating other things I enjoy but didn't make time for because theatre was all-encompassing for so long. I am more than the stage, and I've been feeling this way for a while. It's time to act on these feelings. Theatre is a PART of me, not entirely what I am.<br />
<br />
Is being done a forever thing? Good heavens I hope not, but for something to get me back on stage in the immediate future it would have to be something big. HUGE. Something I would regret forever if I didn't do or would just be plain dumb to pass up. There aren't many feelings like being on stage, but if I never step foot on one again I can look back over the last 17 years, smile, and be proud of my body of work. Right now I need to focus on me, my other long-neglected talents, and my future with Mr. Wonderful. <br />
<br />
To quote my girl<a href="http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/scandal_season_4_fall_finale_olivia_pope_kerry_washington_chooses_team_jake_team_fitz_kelly_taylor_90210_jennie_garth-2014-11"> Olivia Pope</a> (a little out of context, but still rings true to me), "I choose me. I am choosing Kristen." And you know what? That gets to be okay. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="268" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//giphy.com/embed/nTWtbV4jiRUDm?html5=true" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="480"></iframe>miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-15773109777001863582014-02-20T16:05:00.000-08:002014-02-20T22:04:08.540-08:00HappyHave you seen this video? I'll admit I didn't pay it any mind until I saw a worldwide compilation featured on msn today. I'm not going to lie; I am now completely obsessed with it. I dare you to not turn it up and bust a move:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="233" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/y6Sxv-sUYtM" width="414"></iframe><br />
<br />
I have been thinking a lot about happiness lately, and although I've always known if I count on others to make me happy I never will be, but I found that I was doing that more and more. Guess what? I was miserable. Once I discovered this I have been trying harder to make a conscious effort to make MYSELF happy. You know what? It works. Being happy isn't a life circumstance, but rather a choice you make for yourself. It's not always easy, and sometimes I catch myself slipping out of happiness and into something else, but I'm quicker to recognize it and change it now. Choosing to see (and be) the good in the world has helped, as well as surrounding myself with positive people. I know I'm not always going to succeed at this goal, but I'm determined to be happy more than I am not. I have too many wonderful things to be thankful for to dwell on the silly, insignificant things. When I think of happiness I think of my beautiful nieces, who are always so happy and full of life. What a wonderful example to follow.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxe_sN6kflRUIJdlirvHaHRTzjf_A4VAWZz5K8y1cST75LgX1zMBNF-nq-CfgCA4ZRI9N_V-b7E1lbu9mYvXfJn3PPIIfTxsS-9uJIdxZdhIOuLzZF05GPk5Xbas8yPPUrm-ID/s1600/1382233_724672794213523_1201870448_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxe_sN6kflRUIJdlirvHaHRTzjf_A4VAWZz5K8y1cST75LgX1zMBNF-nq-CfgCA4ZRI9N_V-b7E1lbu9mYvXfJn3PPIIfTxsS-9uJIdxZdhIOuLzZF05GPk5Xbas8yPPUrm-ID/s1600/1382233_724672794213523_1201870448_n.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Yes, happiness is a choice, and I hope you, my dear friends, are choosing to be happy. If not make the choice to start, crank up Pharrell's song and have a dance party wherever you are. I dare you to finish unhappy. I'm pretty sure it's impossible.
miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-44389472011957826172014-02-10T17:32:00.001-08:002014-02-10T17:50:28.388-08:00just words"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."<br />
<br />
"I'm rubber, you're glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you."<br />
<br />
I remember chanting these verses on the playground as a child, but it took me well into my adult years to realize that although well-meaning they are terribly terribly wrong. Words do hurt, words can be cruel, and when used incorrectly words can be terribly, terribly damaging and demeaning. Case in point: a Facebook exchange I had with a 'friend' and one of their friends today:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4J-XER5MLfaCwHfYBIkJMCRJFjyD4FPg_3qEuYJpogmii_2BnJ6yeQTW-ZLV70Se9R9LAsRsHgq5qYU67zjwhnPjShCkwHszNEH5E6iSk7yPT0aabl6GspT6OXgXuRe04zZW9/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4J-XER5MLfaCwHfYBIkJMCRJFjyD4FPg_3qEuYJpogmii_2BnJ6yeQTW-ZLV70Se9R9LAsRsHgq5qYU67zjwhnPjShCkwHszNEH5E6iSk7yPT0aabl6GspT6OXgXuRe04zZW9/s1600/Capture.JPG" height="390" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoTBEj4uGbE1jXPpSZ67t2sWtqzrmcZ8BDwnR4lqNWghNqSGi9MvBBgNpGNIU2Fq6zTNMD0bCeV19bzUNRR-MsjDPvJjKibFChX9VnePBhOwFdb8-VEm_59TwMqbDZEgLnf6E/s1600/Capture+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoTBEj4uGbE1jXPpSZ67t2sWtqzrmcZ8BDwnR4lqNWghNqSGi9MvBBgNpGNIU2Fq6zTNMD0bCeV19bzUNRR-MsjDPvJjKibFChX9VnePBhOwFdb8-VEm_59TwMqbDZEgLnf6E/s1600/Capture+2.JPG" height="400" width="357" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNariBHeCBLsiCiOewOcoF-An0VanRoN3TYKAoRYLNa9a4FOoLUZOdjkTV1DxEqi95H5JVfcw6E6cHvF5KxVrvel9Cy7t4OoaDJqQAVpLCmHPRg-iut5fyROqKRv_7tya-gnj0/s1600/Capture+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNariBHeCBLsiCiOewOcoF-An0VanRoN3TYKAoRYLNa9a4FOoLUZOdjkTV1DxEqi95H5JVfcw6E6cHvF5KxVrvel9Cy7t4OoaDJqQAVpLCmHPRg-iut5fyROqKRv_7tya-gnj0/s1600/Capture+3.JPG" height="191" width="400" /></a></div>
Apparently to some using the word "retarded" is ok as long as you aren't referencing a person, and you choose what words offend you--even the person who teaches special needs children thinks so. Wait...what? Although I agree there are SOME words you choose to take offense with, this is not one of them. Any word that is used to belittle or demean a group of people are not ok words to throw around in conversation.<br />
<br />
The person who posted originally is a bright, reasonable person, and after a little stalking I learned that the other person is a Senior in High School, and seemed to be well-versed, so I'm assuming they are bright as well. I also have a feeling they grew up in the midst of the "stop the R-word" movement, so I'm having a hard time understanding how these two seemingly bright, educated people can think this vile, ugly word and words like it are ok to use merely because it is a synonym for 'dumb' and 'stupid'? That's enough reason NOT to use it IMHO. <br />
<br />
I will admit, I used to be one of these people who used these words, never meaning harm, but not realizing it was causing harm simply because it wasn't personal to me. It wasn't until I had a brave friend stand up and point out just how hurtful those words can be-because there are people for whom these words hit a little too close to home and hit chords the utters of these words don't realize are there.<br />
<br />
If you are one of the people who feel it's just a word, allow me to offer this from one of the MANY resources I came across when I googled "stop using the word retarded" this afternoon:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">"When you use the word "retarded", you are using an antiquated word that,
unfortunately has come to symbolize the struggle of people with
learning disabilities. You are using the language of the bully, you are
using the language of the abuser. You are using the language of those
who hurt... and you are using it to describe your new bank fees. When
you do this, you are not only being <i>offensive</i> in the most literal definition, you are also being <i>demeaning</i> in the most literal sense of <i>that</i>
word. You are attributing (for example) my son's daily struggle to
learn to eat, to learn to sit, to learn to read, to learn to speak, to
your own inability to grasp your company's new vacation policy or what
you think of some new rule in your kid's soccer league. </span><span style="color: #4c1130;">More often than not, it seems that people use this word to describe
things that they themselves don't understand or find too complicated.
There is irony here."</span><br />
<br />
This mother of a child with Down Syndrome goes on to say:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">"Maybe you think this is my problem or I am being "too sensitive", let me
ask you this: what if we change that word to "gay". Or the
N-word. Pick your slur, one that is used to degrade and demean a group
of people. Not only is it not funny anymore, but I'm betting that there
is a group of people out there, like a GLAAD or an NAACP who will tell
you exactly how unfunny it really is." </span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">(Read the full post at </span><a href="http://downwitdat.blogspot.com/2012/03/theres-that-word-again.html">http://downwitdat.blogspot.com/2012/03/theres-that-word-again.html)</a><br />
<br />
You guys. If you are someone who uses this word or any other slur, please stop. Please realize that although you are smart and well bred and competent phrases like "that's retarded", "what a fag", or "that's so gay/queer" immediately makes you look like a jerk. And a little dumb. And like a great big bigot. If you think I'm the only one who feels this way just google "stop using retarded". There are over 2 million results. TWO MILLION. If that doesn't show you just how wrong this word is I don't know what will. After this exchange I couldn't stomach remaining friends with someone who felt using that word is ok as long as it's not directed at someone. Although I wish them no ill and have no hard feelings I chose it was best for me to not have that around. Please don't be that person I choose not to have around. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9ktreU7FALvCPVBk9snhibjbAK5QF8Ld_efq2cSV_fQgRDHlfLQtKVeG6cLQHMrCvJQ1oN67c41XVUBjJsqoGtslG05rzHbyqweJkMsBuP-2rKnmbf69JfJFthvZFj4ltRTJ/s1600/stop-using-retard-570x440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9ktreU7FALvCPVBk9snhibjbAK5QF8Ld_efq2cSV_fQgRDHlfLQtKVeG6cLQHMrCvJQ1oN67c41XVUBjJsqoGtslG05rzHbyqweJkMsBuP-2rKnmbf69JfJFthvZFj4ltRTJ/s1600/stop-using-retard-570x440.jpg" height="247" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.r-word.org/">http://www.r-word.org</a><br />
<a href="http://goinswriter.com/stop-using-retard/">http://goinswriter.com/stop-using-retard/</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-12488/5-words-you-should-remove-from-your-vocabulary.html">http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-12488/5-words-you-should-remove-from-your-vocabulary.html </a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-28036494511416176472013-12-31T17:51:00.000-08:002013-12-31T18:23:50.943-08:00sayonara 2013I couldn't let today pass without the obligatory New Year's post. Overall 2013 was a pretty great year. I'm taking a page from my sweet friend <a href="http://larissaexplainsitall.blogspot.com/">Larissa</a> and I'm doing a past year's resolution list, and because I can't blatantly rip her off, I'm making a few tweaks at the end.<br />
<br />
So here you go, in no particular order, past year's resolutions:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Get engaged!</li>
<li>Get married! The best, happiest, hardest thing I have ever done (and planning it in seven weeks was the easy part). </li>
<li>Play a bucket-list role (Shelby in Steel Magnolias) </li>
<li>Play a wicked Queen</li>
<li>Survive an Ice Rain storm</li>
<li>Become a Mary Kay consultant and end the fiscal year in the top ten for my Unit. </li>
<li>Have my picture taken with a real-life Iron Man.</li>
<li>Have lots of bestie time with Sparky.</li>
<li>Help build a 9' Hulk out of Legos. </li>
<li>See lots of plays like The Odd Couple, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Forever Plaid. </li>
<li>See Boybandpalooza in Vegas with my two gals <a href="http://sassyjose.blogspot.com/">Steph</a> and Mel. Let inner 16-year old out. </li>
<li>Participate in a Las Vegas "wedding" </li>
<li> Experience Steph's first viewing of the '<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKZqGJONH68">Red Solo Cup</a>' music video at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/toby-keiths-i-love-this-bar-and-grill-las-vegas-2">I love this bar and grill</a>. </li>
<li>See lots of concerts like Brad Paisley, Plain White T's, Boybandpalooza (NKOTB, Boyz II Men, 98* Degrees), and P!nk (well, until P!nk rescheduled for January 20) </li>
<li>Sing with the Heritage Carolers </li>
<li>Participate in the first ever Heritage Caroler's World Tour. </li>
<li>Get stuck on I-15 for three hours on the way to St George. Witness Ashley try to pee in the snow-and fail. (She succeeded in getting snow in places one shouldn't though!) </li>
<li>Take a six-month break from the stage. </li>
<li>Have an <a href="http://sassyjose.blogspot.com/2013/11/once-upon-wedding-shower.html">Alice in Wonderland</a> themed wedding shower complete with lip sync-off ala Jimmy Fallon.</li>
<li>Have a karoke bachelorette party and sing 'Touch-a touch-a touch me" </li>
<li>See the <a href="http://www.bigidahopotato.com/">Famous Idaho Potato Tour</a>. </li>
<li>Accept a new position at work and gain the ability to work from home.</li>
<li>Make trips to St George to see my family and celebrate niece's birthdays. </li>
<li>Watch Chef in the Making's stage debut as Snow White in Into the Woods. </li>
<li>Be able to follow the Spirit and Pay it Forward to a stranger during Christmas. </li>
</ol>
Every year I say I'm not going to make any resolutions, but every year I do anyway. I try to keep them realistic so I don't get overwhelmed. I usually keep them to myself but this year I decided I needed a little more accountability so I'm posting here. <br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Read 30 new books along with re-reading Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. </li>
<li>Work on my patience. </li>
<li>Finish the #bofm365 challenge</li>
<li>Blog more. </li>
<li>Visit my first love with my new love on our anniversary. (Disneyland & Mr. Wonderful) </li>
<li>Love me for me.</li>
<li>Work on being happier-accentuate the positive and stop dwelling on the negative. </li>
<li>Be a better friend/wife/sister/daughter/aunt </li>
</ol>
Well friends I hope your 2013 was great and your 2014 is everything you want it to be.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwHoLhxRyiTT8DxodwBffPVp1_9DONfV9wfiqeeWRushR31Wd8wVPKQMhG12a_aNa8Gwt-jGz4JN3I' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Because there were just too many photos this year (and not at all because I'm obsessed with this app), here is a highlight reel. Thanks Lady Gaga for the music and <a href="http://flipagram.com/">flipagram</a> for the app! miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-46270385132902882002013-12-16T11:22:00.000-08:002013-12-16T11:32:04.475-08:00whoops! Because I suck, and thought 30 cards would be PLENTY. (Yeah, it wasn't even close). This is my first year doing this for two so I get a pass, right? <br />
<br />
Please accept this electronic card along with our wishes for a joyous holiday season and a safe, and Happy New Year!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSEkyJcix0P6Lycuydi8GaztSy2_9xwECT38E2JNvsB3KpDKfozv7R9ewgOfwNJqYB6miUlCdRZAfudBpMXFGGURKXZqyC-Dk1x0ECdfUpNPwJa11vQZ9V2mELWjx-HOjSCTr/s1600/Card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUSEkyJcix0P6Lycuydi8GaztSy2_9xwECT38E2JNvsB3KpDKfozv7R9ewgOfwNJqYB6miUlCdRZAfudBpMXFGGURKXZqyC-Dk1x0ECdfUpNPwJa11vQZ9V2mELWjx-HOjSCTr/s320/Card.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Mx3YogqJW86mWp1HEJ9toGt4iZyD42FsJpBa5Q8sWFuyWCrCrpHtxp1M3xCyy_AsH59pc3K4KdexJTghnHsV5tH_1eZRxPvjTFGlXrfH1ZgFA_8rkSuhhoAZXg2cj4Q2U40H/s1600/Christmas+letter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Mx3YogqJW86mWp1HEJ9toGt4iZyD42FsJpBa5Q8sWFuyWCrCrpHtxp1M3xCyy_AsH59pc3K4KdexJTghnHsV5tH_1eZRxPvjTFGlXrfH1ZgFA_8rkSuhhoAZXg2cj4Q2U40H/s320/Christmas+letter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-91423653879347917122013-11-28T14:41:00.002-08:002013-11-28T19:51:33.103-08:00blessedAs I sit waiting for my last pie to bake, enjoying the glorious sounds of my Christmas Pandora station, and wondering how in the world I'm going to get two pies, rolls, and yams to my In-Laws by myself as Mr. Wonderful will be going there straight from work, I decided rather than being overwhelmed by this task to be overwhelmed with gratitude instead. I needed to list the things I am thankful for, because I really am blessed.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>A loving Heavenly Father who blesses me with much more than I deserve. </li>
<li>The Guardian Angels He sent to keep my family safe on October 21. You guys. Their accident should have been so much worse than it was, but it wasn't because of Heavenly Father and His angels. God is good, and merciful, and sends angels to keep our loved ones safe. My beloved siblings are proof of that. </li>
<li>An amazing husband who loves, cares for, and supports me, no matter how crazy the plan or hair-brained the scheme. I know every girl says this about their spouse, but Mr. Wonderful is pretty amazing, and I pretty much have to pinch myself every day because I still can't believe he chose me, the most undeserving of all. </li>
<li>My family. I was very blessed to be born into the family I was, and over the last few years my brothers have chosen the best women and as a result I have the best nieces and nephew. We're wild, crazy, and at times dysfunctional, but they are mine and I love them so much. </li>
<li>My new In-laws. Even before I married their son and brother they have welcomed me into their family with open arms and have made me a part of their family. </li>
<li>Technology. Yes it can be the bane of our existence at times, but it is also a huge blessing. Without it LB2 would have missed our wedding, but because of technology we were able to FaceTime him in from the hospital so he could watch and be a part of the ceremony. </li>
<li>Good friends. For fear of forgetting someone I won't name names, but I am so thankful for friends who love, support, lift me up, teach me, forgive when I mess up, and have been my family when I have needed one since mine is so far away. You step in to help with anything I need, big or small, giving of your time, labor, and talents, looking for nothing more than a smile and hug in return. If you're reading this odds are you are on this impossibly long list, and please know just how much I love you. </li>
<li>Work. It's not all sunshine and roses, but there are a lot of people without work right now, so I know how incredibly blessed I am. </li>
<li>A healthy body. After all the health problems I was plagued with last year it made me love and appreciate my healthy body so much more. </li>
<li>My talents. Not only have I been blessed with many talents I am also blessed with the ability to share them with others regularly. That is pretty amazing! </li>
<li><a href="http://www.today.com/holidayguide/28th-year-man-hosts-thanksgiving-dinner-strangers-2D11663458">THIS</a></li>
<li>Parents who taught me to stand up for what is right, even if it doesn't make you popular, the value of things, not the cost, and that family is more precious than any thing you can possess. </li>
</ul>
This is no where near the complete list, but brevity is the order of the day on this blog. Happy Thanksgivukkah to you all and don't be too gluttonous tonight!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<img align="right" alt="Thanksgivukkah Craft Ideas for Kids" border="0" class="alignright size-full wp-image-5404" hspace="0" src="http://pjlibrary.org/pj-blog/wp-content/uploads/thanksgivukkah-WEB.jpg" vspace="0" />miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-26607519193362658832013-11-06T12:58:00.001-08:002013-11-06T13:00:25.166-08:00weird<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="371">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #2e74b5; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">WARNING: I say 'weird' a lot in this post. Like A LOT. And there may or may not be a monster photo dump at the end as well. Consider yourselves warned. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #2e74b5; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">I’m still working on ‘the post’. It will be at least
another 3-4 weeks before we have our photos and video, and honestly once I got my dress on I only remember <i>maybe</i> 30
minutes of the whole night. It's not even a continuous 30 minutes at that-more like random flashes so I’m hoping the pictures and video will help jar my
memory. Until then you get this other thing I’ve been mulling over since the
wedding. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #2e74b5; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">As of today Mr. Wonderful and I have been married for two
whole weeks. The thing I get asked the most is “how’s married life?” My reply?
Weird. Married life is a lot of things-but weird tops the list for me. Now don’t
get me wrong. I am not unhappy or complaining. I love Mr. Wonderful more than
anything and I am so happy he chose me to share this adventure with, but it’s
still weird. A good weird, but weird nonetheless. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #2e74b5; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">It’s weird to be Kristen Newman…Mrs. Newman…Sister Newman.
It’s weird that the Seinfeld reference I thought was so funny when we first met
(‘Hello, Newman’) is now one of the most annoying things ever. It’s weird to
know I’m <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">done </i></b>looking for my Eternal Companion-Mr Wonderful is my guy,
forever and ever. It’s weird to have him come home and snuggle up next to me every
night rather than call me on his way home from work as I’m falling asleep. It’s
weird to be budgeting money and sharing the expenses with him after I’ve been
doing it by myself for so long. It’s weird learning how to sleep on a side vs
the middle of the bed (the act of ‘star fishing’ makes sharing a bed with
ANYONE problematic). Although he had seen me not looking pretty before the wedding it’s
weird for him to see me with the sleep in my eyes, morning breath, grumpy ‘just
leave me alone and let me wake up in peace’ demeanor, and bangs that stick
straight up (no joke) when I very first wake up--every single day. It’s weird living
with someone after ten years of being alone and getting used to each other’s
quirks. It’s weird that all it took was a 20 minute ceremony for sex to be ok (and
encouraged) after 33 years of waiting. It’s weird that I have a whole new family
that loves and accepts me and it’s weird how I instantly loved them back. It’s
weird to go grocery shopping for two and to make food and know that half to two-thirds of it
is not going to go bad before it gets eaten. It’s weird to be buying milk twice
a week. It’s weird to not be stressed all the time about dating, getting
engaged, or planning a wedding and constantly being on the brink of a
melt-down. It’s weird how easily we transitioned from ‘dating’ to ‘married’-especially
Mr. Wonderful. He is like a duck in water. It really has been an awesome thing
to watch, marriage totally suits him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
weird how jarring it is to go from planning a wedding to being married and how
quickly everyone’s lives go back to normal after you’ve been running at Mach
speeds for so long (this change happens quite literally overnight). It’s weird
that it’s not all about me and my wants and needs anymore; and it’s weird to constantly remind myself ‘I’ is now an ‘us’, and there is another person to consider when I
make decisions because they don’t just affect me anymore. There’s an us here
now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #2e74b5; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">So yes, being married is weird. But it’s also pretty
fantastic. Although all the things I mentioned are weird, they’re pretty
freaking awesome, too. I just wish people would have told me how weird it would
be, and that this surreal, weird feeling is completely normal!! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I also wish I had taken the people who DID say this to me seriously. Now I will reiterate it for you to ignore like I did: </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #2e74b5; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">Marriage is fantastic. But it’s weird. And an adjustment-even when you’ve been
together as long as Mr. Wonderful and I. I’m learning no couple is exempt from
this, but that’s ok! It’s an adjustment looking at your new signature and
realizing that you’re still you (just new and improved), or remembering the
hand turning the key in the lock at 11:30 at night is supposed to be there so
there’s no need for your pulse to quicken and your adrenaline to race. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #2e74b5; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">So yes, it’s weird. They don’t call it a major life change
for nothing. And you know what I’m learning? It’s ok for it to be weird. There’s
nothing wrong with me because it’ll be weird for the next little bit. I had 33
years to get where I was before, and no matter how wonderful and right this
change is it’s going to take more than two weeks for me to get used to where I’m
going next. And you know what? That gets to be ok. Good thing I have a pretty awesome,
supportive, amazing, loving man by my side. That helps a lot with the weirdness,
too. This marriage thing was a pretty good idea, after all. I highly recommend
it. Oh, and as promised here's the photo dump to get you by--thanks to the fantastically talented <a href="http://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/k-s-tie-the-knot/">Nancy</a> for taking them! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #2e74b5; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXR3Yjpy5nU77nbXOBLQD-pYyF6TKGkdTHodSbjZLhG8_93eSFhydfRPcjYR06CdEiLq7VQ7w2rJPcrvnYCxxq1jfk15i5IvthfIRC10rwFYT_j16tifpy1PKoF8ou4EtZKUD/s1600/2013-10-23+16.09.33-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXR3Yjpy5nU77nbXOBLQD-pYyF6TKGkdTHodSbjZLhG8_93eSFhydfRPcjYR06CdEiLq7VQ7w2rJPcrvnYCxxq1jfk15i5IvthfIRC10rwFYT_j16tifpy1PKoF8ou4EtZKUD/s400/2013-10-23+16.09.33-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLoPGzXgB78fHgqblI203Pp_pi730BcoYS8mdeUfm7r-z3Iwnl9rE66Uo9bEnH0lUupie9z_Flf_vxhyphenhyphenbc2drerL_1RetFpMRZSJIY3_orZxPnT8V_x4ZKfM826BsxHnkT6To/s1600/2013-10-23+16.10.33-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLoPGzXgB78fHgqblI203Pp_pi730BcoYS8mdeUfm7r-z3Iwnl9rE66Uo9bEnH0lUupie9z_Flf_vxhyphenhyphenbc2drerL_1RetFpMRZSJIY3_orZxPnT8V_x4ZKfM826BsxHnkT6To/s320/2013-10-23+16.10.33-1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxbAeizY2YavY9lrZQ7ra7rilLAZdyV0Zf6GSE23lpszeaIMqxZcLEoASW8BpCu1wNOWZdR5ceqCj2o0jJkhVMYL0daFDgGskQHFXmYFhHc7e6y6mJ3C8JT4DmELrN17nR5Kl/s1600/2013-10-23+16.10.47-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxbAeizY2YavY9lrZQ7ra7rilLAZdyV0Zf6GSE23lpszeaIMqxZcLEoASW8BpCu1wNOWZdR5ceqCj2o0jJkhVMYL0daFDgGskQHFXmYFhHc7e6y6mJ3C8JT4DmELrN17nR5Kl/s320/2013-10-23+16.10.47-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjfPauLknhnXDcOnwbEThagB0LDRCZTl6slLja5JIfIaxGO4ALfUIT1M1PUWR1mExe5q3lG91OMj3wUHRElGxmd_hTIO_qSZjZqd62p9cyGRfnLzRVEOD1TooSF7PFy0uVrOn/s1600/2013-10-23+17.12.41-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjfPauLknhnXDcOnwbEThagB0LDRCZTl6slLja5JIfIaxGO4ALfUIT1M1PUWR1mExe5q3lG91OMj3wUHRElGxmd_hTIO_qSZjZqd62p9cyGRfnLzRVEOD1TooSF7PFy0uVrOn/s320/2013-10-23+17.12.41-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fYYMC8wXUwjoABrJsjbM4T7s3jQOBWfGkUzX4B-9jiidw1F1muMZ4sHZE2aC57FgY7rc88YyyGlGkrJdxqXaH57Q6sC5qbaj9Cz4dTM6oC4EW39mkj4Yqp206VcghE9wq22S/s1600/2013-10-23+17.14.46-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fYYMC8wXUwjoABrJsjbM4T7s3jQOBWfGkUzX4B-9jiidw1F1muMZ4sHZE2aC57FgY7rc88YyyGlGkrJdxqXaH57Q6sC5qbaj9Cz4dTM6oC4EW39mkj4Yqp206VcghE9wq22S/s320/2013-10-23+17.14.46-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyKg4DVpBTvChheaHsck-Z446giJuannXlB9_QqCYn7sJVgg_udgPGUEnKqQKqzmt48PiqLwOKDVZV4uwYqXtodHAl8XIuVC6zIocpkz_-WYl6BUDaZwpgvFNNCOjc-PvS6F1/s1600/2013-10-23+17.15.01-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyKg4DVpBTvChheaHsck-Z446giJuannXlB9_QqCYn7sJVgg_udgPGUEnKqQKqzmt48PiqLwOKDVZV4uwYqXtodHAl8XIuVC6zIocpkz_-WYl6BUDaZwpgvFNNCOjc-PvS6F1/s320/2013-10-23+17.15.01-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFh9hhZjzg4rNHsvr7NF_bo1QWeafWOd3hZvBJ0R-IyKNW8GxH9G0U_pCANe_MHL98uQ1fGCGTLRA6k0_SWgykHJD1APfCLssazCuDyXAzfP4QYu5pKjHVG-yvk_QqCdL4V8DR/s1600/2013-10-23+17.17.00-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFh9hhZjzg4rNHsvr7NF_bo1QWeafWOd3hZvBJ0R-IyKNW8GxH9G0U_pCANe_MHL98uQ1fGCGTLRA6k0_SWgykHJD1APfCLssazCuDyXAzfP4QYu5pKjHVG-yvk_QqCdL4V8DR/s320/2013-10-23+17.17.00-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6CitKNUSRT1NFXcAV5GByaIBqOpUmortctY1xU5MQEIP7PaUdKO77Min0nMf3pHFNWx9T6ZBpd6cBckIjAyo1uWswCkzIFusLT_DYvdIKcsIT4Vlg1IRvI58QZf_1eTmtujp/s1600/2013-10-23+17.18.31-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6CitKNUSRT1NFXcAV5GByaIBqOpUmortctY1xU5MQEIP7PaUdKO77Min0nMf3pHFNWx9T6ZBpd6cBckIjAyo1uWswCkzIFusLT_DYvdIKcsIT4Vlg1IRvI58QZf_1eTmtujp/s320/2013-10-23+17.18.31-1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5I_FrHzaoDaDjn9X3q3qEt34HaHfvACYusHXHQOhPJUikMeSeBirMypMxXO0hbgrPPnPP6xBzJgdL4oqYgECH4-OYfKlcV_25Qprau0T8kU4Eq7vXyFQLRmI3_M5bsKWPjjh/s1600/2013-10-23+17.18.46-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5I_FrHzaoDaDjn9X3q3qEt34HaHfvACYusHXHQOhPJUikMeSeBirMypMxXO0hbgrPPnPP6xBzJgdL4oqYgECH4-OYfKlcV_25Qprau0T8kU4Eq7vXyFQLRmI3_M5bsKWPjjh/s320/2013-10-23+17.18.46-1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEjofU6S1nyoyPtqkbad82UAhfj8zU9wfnuqvh4gUrZw0Dw_xbyFHCy_1wUK6FYPYINSzn2Hp8UkVuLEmMQ_w2jVbNH6VR_Sak3rhHwroxkQrFhVkHUsIKCKJv3TMTVxWG66eqtZ/s1600/2013-10-23+17.21.28-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofU6S1nyoyPtqkbad82UAhfj8zU9wfnuqvh4gUrZw0Dw_xbyFHCy_1wUK6FYPYINSzn2Hp8UkVuLEmMQ_w2jVbNH6VR_Sak3rhHwroxkQrFhVkHUsIKCKJv3TMTVxWG66eqtZ/s320/2013-10-23+17.21.28-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With daddy. Look at those lashes!! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajbeH4pkhkzFfeCbdzARXrNklzKOCNsmkJchD5bWYrzxgDvKrxFhjQ9Qnvanq-FzJthBOSB-xy8aOfIdGeNLINw1hfOI3-e5bsN9A1qMgJkkpAOwxLVijAK7aggYuSxHsXyer/s1600/2013-10-23+17.21.38-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajbeH4pkhkzFfeCbdzARXrNklzKOCNsmkJchD5bWYrzxgDvKrxFhjQ9Qnvanq-FzJthBOSB-xy8aOfIdGeNLINw1hfOI3-e5bsN9A1qMgJkkpAOwxLVijAK7aggYuSxHsXyer/s320/2013-10-23+17.21.38-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0YUckzj89_KShlyLlHhyYekeybEzgGKxZCmlJktQ9DDebSw6O0OWX56W4scBp1HD8gZ4xNThGity-CtD3dHbMEWCKNIhmU8gcf-EhQ-7qctdJYr5DpQJtV5OlIUvEMo_rIZa/s1600/2013-10-23+17.23.55-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0YUckzj89_KShlyLlHhyYekeybEzgGKxZCmlJktQ9DDebSw6O0OWX56W4scBp1HD8gZ4xNThGity-CtD3dHbMEWCKNIhmU8gcf-EhQ-7qctdJYr5DpQJtV5OlIUvEMo_rIZa/s320/2013-10-23+17.23.55-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEgdU14UZ6-yI-SGRwXDi1jvejqivBzp0CkC62LnlMuQ1zzi4JDvX1c9a9TrmsLldA_dMd5IcWpoYDSHfwsxoHVJm19vPSmwG1kP382wsqwRGVfirApdloLX6RUiOKjBFQQ4IZSN/s1600/2013-10-23+17.53.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdU14UZ6-yI-SGRwXDi1jvejqivBzp0CkC62LnlMuQ1zzi4JDvX1c9a9TrmsLldA_dMd5IcWpoYDSHfwsxoHVJm19vPSmwG1kP382wsqwRGVfirApdloLX6RUiOKjBFQQ4IZSN/s320/2013-10-23+17.53.34.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LB2 was in a car accident (he's ok!) and was in the hospital so he was unable to attend. I am SO grateful for modern technology and friends with iPads so we could Facetime him in!! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTZiFlCUfzApfD3j-rUAwzDx1kv52CDE-iF6X_4ALjhuzI6cZlRrPUF_Er51WPpa6d0wExBp0uzDXuz7UvWf8ye3yWtKkUWW70diKowpkbF2M3Ib91nz9AZKzg6eYqRJa2BqH/s320/2013-10-24+05.42.39.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waving to LB2 on the iPad during the ceremony.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTZiFlCUfzApfD3j-rUAwzDx1kv52CDE-iF6X_4ALjhuzI6cZlRrPUF_Er51WPpa6d0wExBp0uzDXuz7UvWf8ye3yWtKkUWW70diKowpkbF2M3Ib91nz9AZKzg6eYqRJa2BqH/s1600/2013-10-24+05.42.39.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEuR1_R8o5cB4AiRs28TL9QJ5_kDi9A6274zf7A1J1eHZzMPiUxUrT8tFniSyJeTshyoVSum3JnI__1YDo_CZQ_4eHhqx-Vu5KG2CqnfnCxop4NjwrIHxfjzZFOUl6bvSHUCO/s1600/2013-10-23+17.58.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEuR1_R8o5cB4AiRs28TL9QJ5_kDi9A6274zf7A1J1eHZzMPiUxUrT8tFniSyJeTshyoVSum3JnI__1YDo_CZQ_4eHhqx-Vu5KG2CqnfnCxop4NjwrIHxfjzZFOUl6bvSHUCO/s320/2013-10-23+17.58.37.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx72ZrEzGoTAKQ-zGCu3e25XeogStA8cO8gbq8XKXxjjO6G1-IQpIzh1x5KxdU0E8xXxmI3LVco-bxFFfxiJiqj7p615fc3o1VjMhm6UpjTzCTlX6mn1NiVxUlPMLk4pYevVKA/s1600/2013-10-23+17.59.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx72ZrEzGoTAKQ-zGCu3e25XeogStA8cO8gbq8XKXxjjO6G1-IQpIzh1x5KxdU0E8xXxmI3LVco-bxFFfxiJiqj7p615fc3o1VjMhm6UpjTzCTlX6mn1NiVxUlPMLk4pYevVKA/s320/2013-10-23+17.59.02.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEgpqiafgN9fnl0NrItUcvpzIVinLGCQxCb-GkIrXjYJUl90yeUlgz3kKChAguyUtfVYmzdopApywTZ4M9sFJZaBjfgVY8GKRqcNWSpJO8ouxE_ssZxdEmhOQDaQNV1tKVoSk73l/s1600/2013-10-23+18.28.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqiafgN9fnl0NrItUcvpzIVinLGCQxCb-GkIrXjYJUl90yeUlgz3kKChAguyUtfVYmzdopApywTZ4M9sFJZaBjfgVY8GKRqcNWSpJO8ouxE_ssZxdEmhOQDaQNV1tKVoSk73l/s320/2013-10-23+18.28.09.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You bet there's a zombie on this! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEgxapa7znTD9aPFLVfWnf28Njq40JJ-mZY2ytz__380lcT2b3d26QGK1EV49ug1fV3RYmJZxii-zbrzrjcr_B2Kw3FTdLn6HRgPvQM8HqfIrCaCyDr-3Q1p-P6vhvpPbzETDNEL/s1600/2013-10-23+18.28.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxapa7znTD9aPFLVfWnf28Njq40JJ-mZY2ytz__380lcT2b3d26QGK1EV49ug1fV3RYmJZxii-zbrzrjcr_B2Kw3FTdLn6HRgPvQM8HqfIrCaCyDr-3Q1p-P6vhvpPbzETDNEL/s320/2013-10-23+18.28.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr Wonderful wanted cupcakes, so he got cupcakes. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmhoJG_m10wnwOy6ae0u2ym3utZBFJmSgH-u86JUIA6wAHZAJKCk9sw_nzb_EgqHAHtQDtp0hwdvv_mqpkn2DMv5MVH0WdPJwoWSz9T1Tn1yJmGx0isO-L2IYedww8XWTZ_80/s1600/2013-10-23+18.35.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmhoJG_m10wnwOy6ae0u2ym3utZBFJmSgH-u86JUIA6wAHZAJKCk9sw_nzb_EgqHAHtQDtp0hwdvv_mqpkn2DMv5MVH0WdPJwoWSz9T1Tn1yJmGx0isO-L2IYedww8XWTZ_80/s320/2013-10-23+18.35.21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEhpjwAtkyBuvMC2NCuAhlvwopP4cXL7LrrZ5UWJKKTo4aXAVY3qHiBbmXmdcKGn5ELYPDDke0-bsr0y2Qo4CC-REFVJgk1O_5WQIOwXW44EUY6lOkeE32-JVN3W3RmIUODYDPwg/s1600/2013-10-23+18.58.32-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjwAtkyBuvMC2NCuAhlvwopP4cXL7LrrZ5UWJKKTo4aXAVY3qHiBbmXmdcKGn5ELYPDDke0-bsr0y2Qo4CC-REFVJgk1O_5WQIOwXW44EUY6lOkeE32-JVN3W3RmIUODYDPwg/s320/2013-10-23+18.58.32-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know what this is...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RLhXKgKKa_fcbuLygkf6kqrknPhFThuca_A_i44b2acpDzV0PCq8FjUvO8yGchsbJfes7DjiVaxqpG5bBjmb_0DhJboVEBPgRnIxWuYbFaweOMvtt6lVIFBOTTZe2XAkxIur/s1600/2013-10-23+18.59.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RLhXKgKKa_fcbuLygkf6kqrknPhFThuca_A_i44b2acpDzV0PCq8FjUvO8yGchsbJfes7DjiVaxqpG5bBjmb_0DhJboVEBPgRnIxWuYbFaweOMvtt6lVIFBOTTZe2XAkxIur/s320/2013-10-23+18.59.34.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEiVLUTyOfqN9P-Tu0eUF-ZUzxsMr7PBD5yCqNjjp0qdrcnzx430d4ZFmsCD1UHLqPk-fBzenlI14Zz4k7DOZ61OMuj3JSiuhp4uFrFJ0-bAxdoRf5Za0T8hLEJqL0lWH9-BtOLE/s1600/2013-10-23+19.00.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLUTyOfqN9P-Tu0eUF-ZUzxsMr7PBD5yCqNjjp0qdrcnzx430d4ZFmsCD1UHLqPk-fBzenlI14Zz4k7DOZ61OMuj3JSiuhp4uFrFJ0-bAxdoRf5Za0T8hLEJqL0lWH9-BtOLE/s320/2013-10-23+19.00.01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm sorry Megan. I LOVE this picture and your "wow this is heavy face" too much! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tCzAknlPv6TryjZBUQNZB21OSV5r7OXOMh58g_Wsr_Zr-0_rAwasYKv5IqeXgOegyKtHQqme405C2GoQ5XwSM6-Do-JUljSc5wDp8PUPY5KquD0CZxTUC7T4pFL7czTlg_W5/s1600/2013-10-23+19.01.31-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tCzAknlPv6TryjZBUQNZB21OSV5r7OXOMh58g_Wsr_Zr-0_rAwasYKv5IqeXgOegyKtHQqme405C2GoQ5XwSM6-Do-JUljSc5wDp8PUPY5KquD0CZxTUC7T4pFL7czTlg_W5/s320/2013-10-23+19.01.31-1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMW2J-wY072oAkPhZ4itg8jXxOCnV9n7eBEMGh8m_w3l7ZJrIlmGdbnlFaIKRoWwamkfV4YyCfHwRiVFz9iZ_-X3yFT9GGDe-uYgac5Ok42ewa894bPgcWnT73eBVR6QvKVcr/s1600/2013-10-23+19.07.17-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMW2J-wY072oAkPhZ4itg8jXxOCnV9n7eBEMGh8m_w3l7ZJrIlmGdbnlFaIKRoWwamkfV4YyCfHwRiVFz9iZ_-X3yFT9GGDe-uYgac5Ok42ewa894bPgcWnT73eBVR6QvKVcr/s320/2013-10-23+19.07.17-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkaoCUEoWniCW-xtIsGkIE21bRX84uSaGCk7OcBXzAWubPFtyA9yIu0diaSXWzxaQQYo46378TwpZjksh8UQg1LOiUCPIKFVgxrpuoAsIw4uh17lp7cdQN-naC0-NAv42ZoWR/s1600/2013-10-23+19.09.46-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkaoCUEoWniCW-xtIsGkIE21bRX84uSaGCk7OcBXzAWubPFtyA9yIu0diaSXWzxaQQYo46378TwpZjksh8UQg1LOiUCPIKFVgxrpuoAsIw4uh17lp7cdQN-naC0-NAv42ZoWR/s320/2013-10-23+19.09.46-1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEimvgMMXOFaQDkvOxR_H2VtCu3zkpZSfYubMPLKmUPXATqr33K81mZYHX4vC6Al6Af2uxCKL_DPWaCwM20l4-aVHwqHpSo7FW6FD1QCfuA4HXBBM-I2hmu8e7K3K4zM_WVLc138/s1600/2013-10-23+19.12.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvgMMXOFaQDkvOxR_H2VtCu3zkpZSfYubMPLKmUPXATqr33K81mZYHX4vC6Al6Af2uxCKL_DPWaCwM20l4-aVHwqHpSo7FW6FD1QCfuA4HXBBM-I2hmu8e7K3K4zM_WVLc138/s320/2013-10-23+19.12.44.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing with my daddy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEhkWZkVTKS6nXYAvOX8gMYnqwVI6cA3XPF6aV71umr9_St8Umi-KtxxXut46EXD06y849gUnbRoLyDaYb4pilyMXSKi723-IYOSIm4AOjHF3Gg12hqf2UdIWWgfrZz29_bl2BSB/s1600/2013-10-23+19.13.16-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWZkVTKS6nXYAvOX8gMYnqwVI6cA3XPF6aV71umr9_St8Umi-KtxxXut46EXD06y849gUnbRoLyDaYb4pilyMXSKi723-IYOSIm4AOjHF3Gg12hqf2UdIWWgfrZz29_bl2BSB/s320/2013-10-23+19.13.16-1.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My handsome Groom dancing with my momma</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEgeHQRFzAYyaPTPUM8E31Nj6CZqE9wUbLGj1UMiW9z5gfOaeZtrs_1mHJ5gHLxpTfxAJZbqTHmnIL6bpmD7VeyxHSF0HC-6gXCbSlIufM3HEBKYKvW1r5PbRiZfkE1G291tSb4M/s1600/2013-10-23+19.21.50-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHQRFzAYyaPTPUM8E31Nj6CZqE9wUbLGj1UMiW9z5gfOaeZtrs_1mHJ5gHLxpTfxAJZbqTHmnIL6bpmD7VeyxHSF0HC-6gXCbSlIufM3HEBKYKvW1r5PbRiZfkE1G291tSb4M/s320/2013-10-23+19.21.50-1.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have silly nieces</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggt6RofQbkdHf2hofHx5Md67IrsMKQzz9gOZrNa63wK2Mb1_NCON4oMkP4Dli_dzZjZKk4WInih_SccKY2mvIPAoekBstzq72ZNUfzjhoTJUa5Ge7ACbeM6tQx64BIhWqhRbt/s1600/2013-10-23+19.39.55-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggt6RofQbkdHf2hofHx5Md67IrsMKQzz9gOZrNa63wK2Mb1_NCON4oMkP4Dli_dzZjZKk4WInih_SccKY2mvIPAoekBstzq72ZNUfzjhoTJUa5Ge7ACbeM6tQx64BIhWqhRbt/s320/2013-10-23+19.39.55-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpsRK8q7kzQ09yUYh0XOWhBlQmQkK19zObSz4aRoPARJZ6YzyVNhxVbC_CjkxU8yPSz7NMR-mW-xp0lhDCusl_PXXFpfKeeAYRl7NKwRMyOx3hRoNQaOmTbAGrk3QAFF0yySv/s1600/2013-10-23+19.26.15-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpsRK8q7kzQ09yUYh0XOWhBlQmQkK19zObSz4aRoPARJZ6YzyVNhxVbC_CjkxU8yPSz7NMR-mW-xp0lhDCusl_PXXFpfKeeAYRl7NKwRMyOx3hRoNQaOmTbAGrk3QAFF0yySv/s320/2013-10-23+19.26.15-1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbYTWszogamhtfBBowmjaaV7yyatHrjHa-Tb_2HuaKkuLrgLzU5PU8hCMYZtneac3PsPwnuP7Y0zd-ElpwjjtaXqW-rUOeFx2F0sXVoY2bmOC_EKHWXVTC4W4-CRvBuayLBL_/s1600/2013-10-23+19.28.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbYTWszogamhtfBBowmjaaV7yyatHrjHa-Tb_2HuaKkuLrgLzU5PU8hCMYZtneac3PsPwnuP7Y0zd-ElpwjjtaXqW-rUOeFx2F0sXVoY2bmOC_EKHWXVTC4W4-CRvBuayLBL_/s320/2013-10-23+19.28.53.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEhw7XoejBaBzdCs5HM29Wpxgl-aN4ysRgHNUQP5ScMeBzxWFqoEEIMDva1BflEo0QdHPYTEh8_Z9Z34Tfb3kB5-isgG2PjLeCTvF24PWPxzigK8TZn5eDXPzB6XvOTVyn4QSePF/s1600/2013-10-23+19.36.44-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7XoejBaBzdCs5HM29Wpxgl-aN4ysRgHNUQP5ScMeBzxWFqoEEIMDva1BflEo0QdHPYTEh8_Z9Z34Tfb3kB5-isgG2PjLeCTvF24PWPxzigK8TZn5eDXPzB6XvOTVyn4QSePF/s320/2013-10-23+19.36.44-1.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My beautiful niece who wanted nothing more than to dance with me all night. She even called last night to ask when I was getting married again. Once is enough for me, baby girl. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPj-W8l8_a7yglBXK9v9rPLnZNVRMQLDnGDTHI28XLt4M8TxnMF5l-1U6OFIpfxCocoONDV2Nxyh7mYE_HCfKC89_zrXuTmtjsVUAdc9zB8p_mveD0j61zy1uoMEHN5FsmVz6/s1600/2013-10-23+20.20.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPj-W8l8_a7yglBXK9v9rPLnZNVRMQLDnGDTHI28XLt4M8TxnMF5l-1U6OFIpfxCocoONDV2Nxyh7mYE_HCfKC89_zrXuTmtjsVUAdc9zB8p_mveD0j61zy1uoMEHN5FsmVz6/s320/2013-10-23+20.20.38.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFgyDq6k83XiJ1NPFID2h_OCkXVh7IZStXDrjhyHeMyicgGRBGJdJyz_U-GwHo3LypeNKLiua8y2PYfW2Mhz7zrfKmQpfHvPTCx-oqZIakJVDsPd5M4s00cyrAGXhK4CsblwN/s1600/2013-10-23+19.37.12-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFgyDq6k83XiJ1NPFID2h_OCkXVh7IZStXDrjhyHeMyicgGRBGJdJyz_U-GwHo3LypeNKLiua8y2PYfW2Mhz7zrfKmQpfHvPTCx-oqZIakJVDsPd5M4s00cyrAGXhK4CsblwN/s320/2013-10-23+19.37.12-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<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/AVvXsEh6VSAfzC7rRKgRGRx15eqdDs1AaIKvvgdTpcKKgKGzYW2DEDqQlr-KmBBjzXuFNCOdGlmoiOiG6ElzV3w8U3_FF_Smal8fRJTM5fAWH0eS4bHxEM32BF1lid4Lcf4oIn7jZM8C/s1600/2013-10-23+19.42.00-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VSAfzC7rRKgRGRx15eqdDs1AaIKvvgdTpcKKgKGzYW2DEDqQlr-KmBBjzXuFNCOdGlmoiOiG6ElzV3w8U3_FF_Smal8fRJTM5fAWH0eS4bHxEM32BF1lid4Lcf4oIn7jZM8C/s320/2013-10-23+19.42.00-1.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being scary with my nieces. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEi5aj_8x3OaHg2OUFAX3av_r76F4h54q4kFmp7lDT_e5Pijz5V8PSQGgKsE9RNoRP23VPZbD2R_elOkbxtZmNKUP4fkywjXXx5t6DP94NmAKadgyzuGNi1oxLMYrQw-xzk3uMR5/s1600/2013-10-23+20.05.11-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5aj_8x3OaHg2OUFAX3av_r76F4h54q4kFmp7lDT_e5Pijz5V8PSQGgKsE9RNoRP23VPZbD2R_elOkbxtZmNKUP4fkywjXXx5t6DP94NmAKadgyzuGNi1oxLMYrQw-xzk3uMR5/s320/2013-10-23+20.05.11-1.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep. She's gorgeous. And my friend. Lucky!! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #2e74b5; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"><br /></span></div>
miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-55950627743532170482013-10-31T18:14:00.001-07:002013-10-31T18:17:19.873-07:00this is halloweenHalloween is one of my favorite holidays, but you wouldn't guess it by looking at me this year. Since I was busy planning a wedding (which I will blog about soon-once I can remember stuffs-unless you don't care to read all about it--do you care to read about it?) taking care of my costume was demoted to the bottom of the list. I cut a batman logo out of felt, stitched it to a black T-shirt, dug out an old Witch cape, threw on a batman mask from a Happy Meal, and called it good enough. Because of my lack of effort I felt a little like <a href="http://www.homestarrunner.com/tgs2.html">What's Her Face</a>. Oh well. The wedding seemed to be pretty rad so I think it was a fair trade. <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/AVvXsEi_yq0_FLFzkormVsjWdyBbgDVtDNDH1Vaw0mClTsWoJYs5K7_dlKpHtGN2vBmKed7Jmd0OD11nqnslIEHLKjs0fhrgVwBLYqEZDDhI42VhBo5fh7tZPEjGeodNPQ7CMEiQF5Fq/s1600/frameShareFile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yq0_FLFzkormVsjWdyBbgDVtDNDH1Vaw0mClTsWoJYs5K7_dlKpHtGN2vBmKed7Jmd0OD11nqnslIEHLKjs0fhrgVwBLYqEZDDhI42VhBo5fh7tZPEjGeodNPQ7CMEiQF5Fq/s400/frameShareFile.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I totally nailed the Blue Steel...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You know you have been busy when your favorite part of your costume is the fabulous shade of red lipstick. Next year it's on like Donkey Kong. Halloween will be my masterpiece once more. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-3996341045066803942013-09-03T16:10:00.000-07:002013-09-04T08:19:20.650-07:00tie it up<div class="MsoNormal">
So this happened:<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/AVvXsEiuMgDgbugH1I1KhyYxA_bFXbYkru-3Ql14VddI4S7xEMJirL8MvbFVUYSz_bVRlZqxwvj456BNXV2MYQOv3ZJTyrhnxofwTD24sTzWNQTSe0-0tKvsRnXk7Jh5ZOLDaAzCDyas/s1600/photo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMgDgbugH1I1KhyYxA_bFXbYkru-3Ql14VddI4S7xEMJirL8MvbFVUYSz_bVRlZqxwvj456BNXV2MYQOv3ZJTyrhnxofwTD24sTzWNQTSe0-0tKvsRnXk7Jh5ZOLDaAzCDyas/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wow. The flash made me look white but my diamond sure is purty!<br />
Don't worry. He didn't propose at my house. We took this after we got home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yep, it’s official. Mr. Wonderful and I are tying the knot!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">We (well he) made it official August 31, </span>but we wanted people to find out from us and not on Facebook, Instagram,
the blog, or through the grapevine. So chances are if you’re reading this you
already know (if you don’t I’m so sorry you were missed-unless you read it on feedly earlier this week that means you weren't missed, stupid, stupid feedly beating me to the punch), but now that it's official official I’m just too dang
excited to NOT say anything every chance I get!!! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I
say 'official official' because the REAL surprise here is we have been
planning this since
MAY. Yep, you read that right, Mr. Wonderful and I have been secretly
planning a wedding ALL SUMMER. *insert maniacal laugh* Why wait so long
before saying anything, you ask? Well we wanted a ring on
my finger before we said anything, and to be honest after my first
failed
attempt at making it down the aisle I have been more than a little gun
shy this time around. Although I know it's no guarantee of success we
both REALLY wanted a ring on my finger before we said anything-mostly so
that it felt real to me. I chose to play my cards close to my chest
until I was sure it was a done deal. And now it is. Preparations are
well on their way. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would love to tell it here but Mr. Wonderful is a very
private guy and has asked me to not share our engagement story with the
interwebnets, so I’m respecting his wishes. If the curiosity is just too much
to bear I am happy to share it with you personally or via private message if you would like. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So instead of ‘the story’ here are a few things I’ve learned
over the last twelve weeks: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-I am great at keeping secrets—except my own. I may have let
it slip to a few people (ok, like more than a few). Thank you all for keeping your mouths zipped when
I could not!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Having a few people in the know was actually nice because I
had people to talk to and bounce ideas off of when Mr. Wonderful was sick of getting an earful. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Just because you title your Pinterest board ‘Someday’ doesn’t
mean people won’t jump to conclusions and start asking you if you are in fact, engaged.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-You don’t have to have a ring on your finger for people to be GENUINELY
happy and EXCITED for you-one person may or may not have started crying upon
hearing the news. (You know who you are, and thank you for that reaction. It was priceless to me.)<br />
-When you do finally 'have a ring on it' it's really distracting and you spend a lot of time looking at your hands. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Although
I’ve had marriage on the brain pretty much my
entire life (I am a girl you know), forming all these ideas into a
cohesive plan that is both economical and practical to carry out is
HARD. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Having a groom who chooses to
be completely involved in the planning process is great, but it also
makes planning harder
because now I actually have to compromise vs "do whatever you want, I
will just show up, stand where I'm told, and look good". (Good thing he
has ideas that are
usually better than mine anyway.) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-TIME
IS OF THE ESSENCE. Seriously. In the time it took to look at it and
then get Mr Wonderful there to fall in love with it too (24 hours) the
venue went from available to not for the day we originally wanted and we
had to push the date back a
week. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Although it has been a hard secret to keep, it has been fun
having something just between Mr. Wonderful and me (well mostly between us).<br />
-As
worried as I was about being labeled a hypocrite or being judged for
choosing to be married civilly first rather than in the temple so ALL of
our nearest and dearest could be there (most importantly my daddy and
our siblings), people have been super supportive and accepting of my
reasons. But then I have the best family and friends ever so I shouldn't
be surprised by this, right?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Everything I thought I knew about me has been thrown out
the window. Although I HOPE I haven’t been a Bridezilla I HAVE been
overly-emotional. Seriously guys, tears at the drop of a hat over the most
ridiculous things. Rational Kristen would have been fine, but Bride Kristen?
Not so much. It’s quite embarrassing to Rational Kristen, actually.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-I
REALLY wish I had followed through with when I was sixteen and
decided to start saving for my wedding. Sixteen years is plenty of time
to
build quite the nest egg--hell, even if I'd started when Mr. Wonderful
and I started dating we'd have more than enough for the wedding of our
dreams! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-We have entertained
eloping more than once. If we didn’t
know at least a dozen people each who would kill us for doing so we
probably would have. (Plus once you start paying deposits you're kinda
committed to staying put.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Having a seamstress for a mother is a huge blessing-I am getting
exactly what I want, although having her 300 miles away makes fittings difficult.<br />
-My
whole family is just a huge blessing-my little brother is building us
the arch we will be married under and then GIVING it to us to put in our
yard one day--just because I mentioned it would be nice but out of our
budget. Seriously, guys. Anything I have mentioned I would like but
labeled 'undo-able' they have taken the initiative and figured out ways
to give it to us. Best. Family. EVER. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-As
much as I thought I wanted things to play out one way: Unexpected
proposal (well as unexpected as six years can get us) with a ring he
chose
himself, then letting everyone know and commencing with the planning,
this way (as backwards as it
may seem to some-including me) was perfect. I loved choosing my ring
with him
(waiting for him to finally give it to me-not so much) and making plans
just the two of us. It’s been fun, but I’m happy to finally be
able to let you in on our secret (as are the people who were sworn to
secrecy I'm sure)!<br />
-There is no such thing as 'normal' and trying
to compare my normal to other people's normal is just a bad idea all
around. Things happen the way they are supposed to, and just because it
worked a certain way for someone else does not mean that it's how it
will work out for you, and you know what? THAT'S OKAY. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So those are just a few things I have learned over the
last few months. I will say October 23 can not come fast enough-I can hardly
wait to start my new life with Mr. Wonderful. It’s been a long time coming and
patience in the Lord’s timing definitely pays off. He is the perfect man
for me and I love him so much.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because
I don’t want to be “that person” I am trying to be
sensitive to people I love, so after this post I will be trying to not
spam everyone with anything that isn’t solicited, but I am happy to tell
you anything you
want to know personally!<br />
(Or you can visit the wedding blog I've set up-provided I make time to post there too <a href="http://www.scottandkristen2013.blogspot.com/">www.scottandkristen2013.blogspot.com</a>. If that fails you can visit our website if you wanna. <a href="http://www.scottandkristen2013.com/">www.scottandkristen2013.com/</a>)</div>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HCXEV-O0kQk?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><br />miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-62094794973090055952013-08-20T14:10:00.000-07:002013-08-20T14:10:01.023-07:00pressureYep. Pretty much sums up my day (and life) as of late.<br />
<br />
What a great song.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/a01QQZyl-_I?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><br />miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-51653248206907985422013-08-05T14:16:00.000-07:002013-08-07T07:37:34.667-07:00symphonyI read this today (read: found it blog stalking) and thought it too beautiful and poignant not to share. (Plus it may or may or may not have been something I personally needed to hear.)<br />
<br />
"Some
are lost because they are different. They feel as though they don’t
belong. Perhaps because they are different, they find themselves
slipping away from the flock. They may look, act, think, and speak
differently than those around them and that sometimes causes them to
assume they don’t fit in. They conclude that they are not needed.<br />
<br />
Tied
to this misconception is the erroneous belief that all members of the
Church should look, talk, and be alike. The Lord did not people the
earth with a vibrant orchestra of personalities only to value the
piccolos of the world. Every instrument is precious and adds to the
complex beauty of the symphony. All of Heavenly Father’s children are
different in some degree, yet each has his own beautiful sound that adds
depth and richness to the whole.<br />
<br />
This variety of creation itself
is a testament of how the Lord values all His children. He does not
esteem one flesh above another, but He “inviteth them all to come unto
him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him,
black and white, bond and free, male and female; . . . all are alike
unto God.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
. . .Brothers and sisters, if only we had more
compassion for those who are different from us, it would lighten many
of the problems and sorrows in the world today. It would certainly make
our families and the Church a more hallowed and heavenly place."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-Joseph B Wirthlin<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtf40sO3gzTpLVvYA-JCALiR_4Rvzuv1bv-LRm2Dw2ibM33BtZ3d2IjMuSymobiF-x9qXDjnDyRK690RZX6cKwwhM_HkYmn_SkFbwKVhyLYufehdztFBhR6eywjYSXg6VeRGYq/s1600/orchestra+4.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtf40sO3gzTpLVvYA-JCALiR_4Rvzuv1bv-LRm2Dw2ibM33BtZ3d2IjMuSymobiF-x9qXDjnDyRK690RZX6cKwwhM_HkYmn_SkFbwKVhyLYufehdztFBhR6eywjYSXg6VeRGYq/s320/orchestra+4.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-77931798477235717162013-07-09T14:41:00.003-07:002013-07-09T15:37:42.529-07:00have a little faith<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="371">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently I had an epiphany of sorts. All surrounding a five
letter word. Faith. For most we associate faith with religion-and whether or
not we believe in some form of Deity. But faith comes in all forms, and it’s
something I think it’s safe to say we all struggle with in some degree. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have never struggled with faith in regards to my religion.
I know what I believe is true; I know that I have a Heavenly Father who loves
me and blesses my life. I have known this from a very early age and have never
wavered. Some people say I blindly follow, but to them I simply say “you don’t
have to look for something you already know.” In this regard my faith is as
easy as breathing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where I struggle with this little word is having faith in
others. There have been a lot of circumstances that have shaped me and made me
who I am. Some are good, and some not so much. I am no longer bright-eyed and
in love with the world; but rather I am cynical, angry, and distrusting towards
that same world I once loved. Because of this I am very much a “if you want
something done (not necessarily right, just done), you need to do it yourself.”
Because of being burned before I always prefer to do things myself; that way I know
it’s done and done the way I want it/need it to be. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because of my experiences I have a hard time having faith in
people and their ability to follow through with what they say they will do, or
asking for help because I don’t trust people to do what they say. Although I
WANT to believe they will come through, more often than not I find myself
expecting the “inevitable” and not being surprised when people do let me down.
Yes, I understand what you put out to the Universe is what you get in return, but this
is just something I’m really struggling with. I WANT to be that person who
trusts people at their word rather than looking at it with skepticism and
setting people up to fail before they've even begun.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How does one regain faith in people? Because I’ll admit, I
have none. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiX7mzVomGbwdXtW96QiS1_qhei9pk2RFiI1sN3hN7OEx0xebFloioGhxfAr_wvRGx-6Yf6kXLgzlyN0vDPZjX3eH7Jy70uA_BmmjyRlthdXa8LOcwkTvE9yO68cXTMfgu4iPG/s1600/4230831123_9797c75d8c_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiX7mzVomGbwdXtW96QiS1_qhei9pk2RFiI1sN3hN7OEx0xebFloioGhxfAr_wvRGx-6Yf6kXLgzlyN0vDPZjX3eH7Jy70uA_BmmjyRlthdXa8LOcwkTvE9yO68cXTMfgu4iPG/s320/4230831123_9797c75d8c_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-85385992862957241932013-04-03T12:44:00.003-07:002013-04-03T12:44:53.486-07:00proof I was in fact a blonde once...<a href="http://srbraddy.blogspot.com/">Braddy</a>, <a href="http://mesmyth.blogspot.com/">Dizzy</a>, <a href="http://randomthingsandkitestrings.blogspot.com/">Most Happy Girl</a>, and the rest of you non-believers, here you go:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KOA_6zsDIEylpWGqB5ELGUjygKu9ONLuOlHconbJwdBeDmKSmBGvdCTnEgxXHx9fynSA_qpMz-VHh-fuhD5Qokjg7wjtYUCUYQYSKB1a55BcA-Zi0bSZ_igYWooYcyYc1Haz/s1600/mail.google.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KOA_6zsDIEylpWGqB5ELGUjygKu9ONLuOlHconbJwdBeDmKSmBGvdCTnEgxXHx9fynSA_qpMz-VHh-fuhD5Qokjg7wjtYUCUYQYSKB1a55BcA-Zi0bSZ_igYWooYcyYc1Haz/s1600/mail.google.com.jpg" /></a></div>
It's not very big (couldn't enlarge it without distorting it), or very flattering, but it's undeniably me. I am a natural blonde. Here's my Mads pic too-well part of it...can you find me? (Hint: I'm the blonde on the bridge.) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QDQd7jvD8l06PmqfyG9GDc3IZMVe-WeBDfI0LOFVCm9Jz2xx3SVDI6cK454cXcYuiu7eHtYvqesRBpudWyT_rmtF6savZlSdzloZyUx9azM0vPS2n-x_z4i7PvS0c36w8C0l/s1600/2680_80874167745_1384989_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QDQd7jvD8l06PmqfyG9GDc3IZMVe-WeBDfI0LOFVCm9Jz2xx3SVDI6cK454cXcYuiu7eHtYvqesRBpudWyT_rmtF6savZlSdzloZyUx9azM0vPS2n-x_z4i7PvS0c36w8C0l/s1600/2680_80874167745_1384989_n.jpg" /></a></div>
Man, I'm not photogenic. AT ALL. <br />
<br />
<br />miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-28555169179626306032013-04-02T15:02:00.000-07:002013-04-02T15:25:09.281-07:00Liebster Award<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qtyGGm0nBUnSH8vXwMjEJiVhI82qG8yv3RkVq63uK4BXjhnpTOoG6FmrWzFHisrL8Z4YuEJY2vVzTqq5nyilQwUJeiQGbbeAPSeceV4ZTwvNkVOZlJ21BWzR_Ao3-cxz4BoK/s320/liebsterblogaward.jpg" width="320" /> </div>
<br />
My sweet friend over at <a href="http://onecrazygirlskitchen.blogspot.com/2013/03/liebster-award-nominations.html">One Crazy Girl's Kitchen</a>
nominated my blog for a Liebster Award*! I don't know that there is an
actual award; it kinda sounds like a gimmick to get our friends to
branch out and try new blogs... and I'm totally on board with that ;D (Totally cut and pasted <a href="http://mesmyth.blogspot.com/">Dizzy Dandelion</a>'s response here--thanks!)<br />
<br />
<u>The Fun Rules:</u><br />
<ul>
<li>The nominee must link back to the blogger who nominated them.</li>
<li>The nominee must state 11 facts about themselves, and then answer
the 11 questions provided for them by the person who nominated them.</li>
<li>The nominee must then nominate bloggers with less than 200
followers, who they think deserve the recognition, and pose 11 new
questions for them to answer.</li>
</ul>
<u>Random facts about me:</u><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>I am a natural blonde and carry my Senior picture in my wallet to prove it to the people who don't believe me. </li>
<li>I know how to navigate Disneyland better than I do my local amusement park, <a href="http://www.lagoonpark.com/">Lagoon</a>. </li>
<li>The Iphone has a function where if you tap the space bar twice it enters a period in texts. I regularly fat finger a space and the letter 'b'. So if you get one of those I'm not calling you a name, I just didn't pay attention before pressing 'Send'. Same thing holds true for Facebook posts I make from my phone (which is pretty much all of them.)</li>
<li>I LOVE the company I work for, but HATE the job I do for them right now. </li>
<li>I regularly sing at random and don't realize I'm doing it. (At least that's what I'm told.)</li>
<li>I am a trivia nut. I can't learn much about a specific subject to save my life, but I LOVE learning random "did you know" factoids. </li>
<li>I am now a Mary Kay consultant. (No seriously. I signed up like 20 minutes ago.)</li>
<li>I am a child of the 80's but I've never seen 'Karate Kid' or 'Crocodile Dundee'-much to Mr Wonderful's shock and chagrin.</li>
<li>I HATE getting manicures. If I'm not worrying about the cleanliness of the tools or about how it's not going to look the way I want it's the fact I'll probably just end up going home and re-doing it myself after spending $30 (true story). Then I'm just ticked that I wasted money for something I could have done better myself. So now I just do them myself. </li>
<li>When I was 18 I was *this close* to mustering up the courage to move to Nashville to become a singer, but my fear of failure got in the way. </li>
<li>Mr. Wonderful and I met in High School, had crushes on each other, but never went out on a date until we decided to start dating after we kept running into each other everywhere almost ten years later.</li>
</ol>
<u>Answers to One Crazy Girl's Kitchen's questions:</u><br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
<ol>
<li><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>What is your favorite color and why?</i> <span style="color: black;"> </span></span></b>Green. It's just so happy and pretty, and it is the first thing I remember re-learning about myself after my engagement to <i>Fiancee' #1 </i>ended. </li>
<li><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>Who is your greatest inspiration?</i> </span></b>Total cop-out answer, but my mom. She is so kind, patient, loving, positive, and <b><i>TALENTED! </i></b>When I was 20 she made me a Sleeping Beauty gown using the patterns from the toddler costume and a WEDDING DRESS. There's seriously nothing she can't sew. If I'm half the woman/mother she is I will consider my life a success. </li>
<li><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>What is the strangest thing you've ever eaten?</i> </span></b>Sea Beans. They look like little green twigs, but are tender like green beans and since they grow in the ocean they taste like the ocean. Surprisingly delicious.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>What is one talent you wish you had?</i> </span></b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: black;">I have always wanted to be able to play the piano and the guitar. I want so badly to be a songwriter. </span></span></li>
<li><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>What is your favorite movie?</i> </span></b>I love Mr. Holland's Opus. I hope that one day I will touch lives the way Mr. Holland did. </li>
<li><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>What is your favorite vacation memory? </i></span></b>Anything that involves Disneyland. Probably my most favorite is when I went with my family (extended included) in 2007. </li>
<li><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>What is one food you refuse to eat?<span style="color: black;"> </span></i></span></b>Magic shell. It's the most disgusting concoction known to man. If I wanted to chew on wax I would eat a candle. <span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></li>
<li><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>How long have you lived in your current home? </i></span></b>One year, one month. :) </li>
<li><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>If you could live anywhere, where would it be?</i> </span></b>Seattle or Del Mar, California. <b><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>What is your biggest pet peeve?</i> </span></b>I have a few, but I HATE having to repeat myself when people just aren't listening. </li>
<li><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>What is one thing you couldn't live without for a day?</i></span></b> My phone. I feel naked without it. </li>
</ol>
<u>Nominees (in no particular order):</u><br />
<br />
<a href="http://sassyjose.blogspot.com/">Sassy Jose</a><br />
<a href="http://srbraddy.blogspot.com/">The Life and Times of SR Braddy</a><br />
<a href="http://anidiosyncraticlife.blogspot.com/">An Idosyncratic Life</a><br />
<a href="http://hellomynameislina.blogspot.com/">Life as an Overly-Anxious Introvert</a><br />
<a href="http://theinnerworkingsofjustinasmind.blogspot.com/">The Innerworking's of Justina's Mind</a><br />
<a href="http://michaelandkaralee.blogspot.com/">Michael and Karalee</a> </div>
<br />
<div>
<u>Questions for nominees:</u><br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">1. If money/success were no hindrance to you what would you be doing for a living? Why?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">2. Is there a character from a movie/book you most relate to? Who is it?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">3. If you turned your Ipod (or other music playing device) on right now what would be playing?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">4. What is your guiltiest pleasure?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">5. What would you today tell the you of ten years ago?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">6. Do you sing along to the radio? What's your favorite song to sing to?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">7. If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would be your first non-bill/debt paying purchase?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">8. Favorite vacation spot?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">9. Describe your perfect day.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">10. What is one thing on your bucket list?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">11. If you could be anyone else for a day who would you choose and why? </span></i><br />
<i> </i></div>
</div>
miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-33925786278636884342013-03-27T15:13:00.002-07:002013-03-27T15:14:05.794-07:00we're all equal-unless you're different from me<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
What I’m about to write is a very heated topic with little
to no gray area for most. I’m sure there will be a few of you reading this who
don’t agree with what I have to say. That’s ok, but this is my blog, and I
write about what I want. You choose to continue reading. Although I never
intend to offend and I try to keep things light and fun, writing my feelings
about this topic in my journal over and over and over isn’t helping me to feel
better. Maybe putting it here will. I am not intending to offend anyone, and if
I do I am truly sorry. I’m just trying to comprehend. If you choose to read on
you may feel the need to comment. Please do. I welcome open, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>respectful
</u></i></b>conversations, EVERYONE’S right to have a differing opinion, and the
right to make those opinions heard—even if I don’t agree. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HOWEVER-please be advised I will NOT tolerate
hateful, hurtful, goading, or attacking comments. They will be immediately deleted
and my relationship with you will be reconsidered. If you choose to read on you
are agreeing to the terms mentioned above. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Change is a comin’. The LGBT community is demanding it. And
do you know what? I’M ALL FOR IT. Yep, this little Mormon girl from Salt Lake
is for Gay Rights. Why, you may ask? Because I feel that it’s the right thing
to do. I don’t understand how people can feel they have the right to rob
someone else of happiness. I know I wouldn’t appreciate someone telling me that
the love Mr. Wonderful and I share is evil, and immoral, and an abomination in
the eyes of the Lord, so who am I to say that to someone else? Some of you may
argue that “the Bible says”. Ok, so WHAT if the Bible says? The Bible also says
to love one another and to leave the judging up to God, but we definitely have
no problem ignoring those passages. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
don’t get to pick who you love any more than you got to pick your parents or
the color of your skin. Am I saying to ignore what you believe to be true and
follow what the mainstream tells you to do? Of course not. Am I asking you to
show everyone the same unconditional love Christ shows for us all? Abso-frickin-lutely.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I was young I felt differently. I even voted for Utah
Constitutional Amendment 3. This is probably the biggest regret I have and one
of the things I am most ashamed of. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mostly because at my young age I didn’t really
understand <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what </i>I was doing. Although
I have never had a problem with the LGBT community I was following the current,
and not really thinking for myself (evidence there just how dangerous
uneducated voters are, but I digress). Two days after that election I was at
work talking to one of my regular customers about the outcome.
He also happened to be gay. He expressed his profound sadness about the
decision and his anger at the pride of people for thinking we had the right to
tell him how to live his life. Then he looked at me with tears in his eyes and
said, “Why would people want to deny me the opportunity to marry someone I
love?” After that it was personal for me and I have never wished so badly that
I could take something back. Seeing the tears in my friend’s eyes and knowing
that I had caused him pain with my actions will be something I regret forever.
That experience taught me just how important our agency is, and how it’s even
more important to not take that away from others. Agency is the one thing
Heavenly Father won’t take from us. Why do we feel we are allowed to do so?
There are exceptions to this, of course. When someone is putting themselves or
others in danger or taking away the rights of others, then yes, we need to step
in and say ‘no’. I just don’t understand how something as silly as a man
wanting to marry another man is enough to send us into upheaval. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People will argue the ‘sanctity of marriage’. To that I say
bullshit. Marriage has NEVER been sacred--wait, let me re-phrase. Marriage is only as sacred as the people entering into it treat it. Marriage began as a business
transaction and a way for countries to maintain peace. It’s only within the
last 200 years that people have actually married for love, and not for some
sort of monetary benefit. Even marriage in the last 50 years has changed
drastically. I know many married couples who don’t plan to have, nor want,
children. Fifty years ago this was unheard of. Yes, marriage is an important
step for some who want to have a family, but it’s not the sole reason to do it
anymore. The people who argue ‘then what’s the point in getting married’ ask
the elderly couple, the infertile couple, the couple who were finished having
children before they remarried why and they’ll tell you: LOVE. Two gay men
marrying each other will no more sully the reputation of marriage any more then
we heterosexuals have done. This isn’t a new thing. Henry VII was married EIGHT
times, and MURDERED TWO because of his roving eye. If you want to see a modern day
version, look around you. It’s in the 50% of marriages that end in divorce, the
bed-hopping culture we live in, the Kim Kardashians and Britney Spears who change husbands the way we change clothes. The spouses who couldn’t remain
faithful if they tried, and the people who joke “this is only my first
marriage. I have time” have completed that task. I just don’t understand how
people who have known each other for hours can run to Vegas in a drunken stupor
and get married, but a loving, committed gay couple who have spent their entire
lives to each other cannot. Yes, the LGBT community has a reputation for being
promiscuous, but guess what? The hetero community is JUST AS BAD. You don’t
believe me watch any reality show on television or go to a bar or dance club.
Denying the whole something because of the actions of a few is unfair and
WRONG, and I will do everything I can to make my voice heard. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes there are arguments about the church part-they will lose
their tax-exempt status for refusing to marry a gay couple, yadda yadda, yadda.
Frankly, I’m not worried about that. Most of the gay friends I have are
spiritual, but not religious, and the likelihood of them wanting to marry in a
church (or temple) in a religious ceremony is about as likely as any of us growing another
limb. Yes there will be people who will try, but I truly believe it won’t be
the issue everyone is making it out to be so for me it’s a moot point. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bottom line for me is it hurts my heart to see such hate
camouflaged as Christianity. Denying people their right to choose is NOT Christian. Watching my <b><i>best friend </i></b>worry about whether he will get to marry the person he loves while I take it for granted hurts my heart so badly. To those of you who don't agree, but don't stoop to hateful, bible-bashing, 'you are evil and going to hell' comments, I am not talking to you. I understand and respect your right to feel differently. I just don't understand why. I'm LDS and this is the biggest problem I have with the Church. It is something I struggle with. Every. Day. Yes I understand the Gospel says it's wrong, but I also struggle with the fact we came here to have and exercise AGENCY. Although you don't choose to be gay if you choose to do something that contradicts those Gospel teachings how are you any different from the adulterers, thieves, and murderers? It may be a poor comparison, yes, but my point is they are exercising their right to choose, why can't everyone? How will gays being able to marry and have what we all strive for going to ruin and tarnish our own heterosexual relationships or diminish the value of what WE have with the person we love? How can some parents look at their gay children and in essence say 'You are not allowed to be happy because you are different from the rest of us'?<br />
How ashamed will we feel in 50 years, looking back, and seeing how we treated our fellow man? I just don't understand, someone please help me understand how inequality equates to love and compassion? Forty years ago black men weren't allowed to hold the Priesthood because they were black. Now they can. Just three years ago the Church's stance on homosexuality was that it was a choice. Just last month they released a statement saying this isn't true-it's not a choice. I just don't understand how something that is so unlikely to affect us more than hey 'John can go see his husband in the ICU now when he couldn't before' is such a huge deal. Why are we taking it upon ourselves to be judge, jury, and executioner? It's the Lord's job to judge us, not ours. So why can't we all just focus on ourselves and our families and leave it at that? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0O_SeDxC6rhmnZ4UwDV4SRxaNg8pBcIZskMk7d5ZTbyjtONnQktszrf1kQVMkg44Ww7HRc0Ne-fAhd2nVYDrsMAbjILM9sI78fakLkhVA4HkdmVI4ih7UNyU_fK72RVWFvHZW/s1600/480606_10200955290230537_108927577_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0O_SeDxC6rhmnZ4UwDV4SRxaNg8pBcIZskMk7d5ZTbyjtONnQktszrf1kQVMkg44Ww7HRc0Ne-fAhd2nVYDrsMAbjILM9sI78fakLkhVA4HkdmVI4ih7UNyU_fK72RVWFvHZW/s1600/480606_10200955290230537_108927577_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-78458589811776268702013-01-24T14:17:00.002-08:002013-01-24T14:27:53.145-08:00to forgive divine? <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a past. Everyone does. What do you do when a part of
your long-gone-almost forgotten past comes-a-knocking? <br />
<br />
In High School I had a "friend". Then I called him my "best friend". Looking back
now I know he was anything but...wait, that’s not fair. He had moments when
he was a good friend and even lived up to the title I had bestowed on him, but they were few and far between…but maybe I’m saying that
now because my view is marred…anyway. <br />
<br />
Since meeting as Sophomores he had a thing for me and he always wanted me to give him a chance romantically. Finally during our Senior year of High School I agreed to take our friendship to the next
level. It ‘worked’ for about two weeks…until he cheated on me. Well, I say we were just in a fight that hadn't been resolved when he
cheated, he says we were broken up. Tomato <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tomahto.</i> After that we went back to being friends and there was a lot of back and forth-he wanted me when he couldn’t have
me, wasn’t interested when I was, etc. After a while I decided to stop the
insanity, take the romantic card off the table, and just be friends again because his home life wasn't that great and I knew he needed a good friend above all else. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
I’ll spare you the details, but a lot happened in the time
following our break up. As my 'friend' he continued to break my heart.
Sometimes he cared he had, but most of the time he didn’t. The best word I can
use to describe him is <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cavalier</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. </i>In
the years following High School he was in and out of my life-him telling me he
had changed and he was going to be a better friend, me foolishly believing him
and subsequently having my heart broken. He was still the king of wanting me when he
couldn’t have me and completely disinterested when I would make myself
available in a romantic regard. I allowed him to manipulate me and I missed out on other great opportunities as a result. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>By the
time I was twenty I was over it and ended the friendship for good. I made myself
clear that I was done being used and I had no interest in being a part of his
life again—ever. I thought it was a clean break. I thought I would be free to
go on with my life as normal. I thought wrong.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first time he tried to get back in touch with me was a
couple years after I ended things. We shared a mutual friend, I’ll call her A —
but I should say friend is a generous word. He was about as good a friend to A
as he was to me—so he quickly became an acquaintance to her. Because she’s a
good person she humored him and played messenger. A refused to let him know
anything about me-contact info, where I was, and what I was doing. She was my
gatekeeper and I wanted it that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This happened almost every two to three years like clock work-I would start to feel confident he wouldn't try again, only to find another half-hearted, cocky attempt waiting for me in my in-box, or a text from A saying he had called again looking to get in touch with me. I had so much latent anger and hurt from him that I
was still trying to process, and I had NO DESIRE to have him in my life, yet I couldn't seem to shake him. To me
he was poison, and above all else I was still angry at myself for letting him make
a fool out of me time after time when all I ever wanted from him was the
friendship I so freely and unconditionally gave to him. Then he stopped trying to reach me. I thought he had finally clued in and that I was free of him hassling me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
When Myspace became a big thing he searched me out and tried again to contact
me. He caught me off guard so my filters failed me. I let him have it. Eight years of latent hurt, anger,
resentment, all came raining down on him in that email. He got it all. I took pot shots. I didn’t care. I
wanted him to KNOW how much he hurt me, and I wanted him to hurt like I had
all those times. I held all the cards,
and we both knew it, so there were no holds barred. I had nothing to lose, and he had everything to gain if I let him back in my life. Once
again I told him no way and to leave me alone. And he did. Until Monday morning. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Although I keep my Facebook as locked down as possible, I
still make my profile searchable (what's the point of being on social networking if you refuse to be social? Just because someone can request my friendship doesn't mean I'm obligated to accept it...) He found me. He apologized and asked me for
forgiveness. He even asked for the opportunity to <i>earn </i>my friendship back and get to know <i>me</i> again. His other letters were always so cocky, so self-centered, so much about how hard it's been for <i>him</i>, how horrible <i>he</i> has felt all these years, how <i>he </i>needed me in <i>his </i>life. He never worried about what his actions had done to me. This one felt grown-up, not at all about him, and shockingly enough it feels sincere. It's been two days and I'm still not quite sure what I'm supposed to do. My decision would have been easy had his most recent email been half as phony as the other ones, but it wasn't. I think I've processed the anger and hurt and have started to genuinely forgive him, but I don't know if I need him in my life the way he clearly thinks he needs me since he keeps making the effort to contact me. He lost my trust a long time ago. I also know people can change, but I have been burned too many times by this person. I am not willing to give him a chance to hurt me again, and sometimes the past is best left in the past. Even as I'm writing this I realize how much it sounds like a battered wife, and that right there should be my answer. I think more than anything I'm afraid of being a bad person. I want to take the high road on all of this and be able to stand before the Lord and account with a clear conscience, but I am older, wiser, less trusting, and admittedly more cynical then I was all those years ago. I'm at a loss. I have no idea what to do. I know I don't trust him, but I know I need to forgive him. I'm trying, but because those scars are so deep they have taken a VERY long time to heal and I don't know if I have actually forgiven him or just become indifferent to the whole thing. <span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">IF</span> I decide to give him a chance, it will be on my terms, not his. He will earn every millimeter he is given, and I will have zero tolerance for slip-ups. One thing and it's done. I have done just fine without having him in my life. He will have a very short leash with <i>very</i> limited access to me. He will not have my cell number, email, or know where I live. All his contact will be restricted to his very limited access to my profile on Facebook. Even knowing all of this I'm still very hesitant. Mr Wonderful said to do what I'm comfortable with and he'll support me no matter what. Is my intuition telling me not to do this or are my past experiences with this person clouding my judgement here? </div>
miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-44629759903964845612012-12-26T13:30:00.002-08:002012-12-26T13:34:16.054-08:00Update<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Wow, I really suck at this lately.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Not much has been going on in the Fox casa as of late, but a few things have happened that merit mentioning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Christmas happened. Mine was good. A little bittersweet because Mr. Wonderful and I couldn't make it down to St. George like we had hoped, but I spent the day with him and his family so it was nice. Mr. Wonderful even did a few of my family's traditions with me (A Christmas Story on TBS all day-he even started quoting lines by the end of it-SCORE!, and opening presents through the day), so that was really nice. Plus we'll be headed down there for the weekend on the 18. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I have two more nights (Thursday and Friday-weather permitting) up at This is the Place for Candlelight Christmas. I'm so glad I was able to be a part of this again. It really helps get me into the right frame of mind for Christmas, plus it's so fun to dress up and share my talents with others. I LOVE to watch people's faces light up when they see us come up the street. We even had a few people at off site performances stop us and tell us they had come up and their kids couldn't stop talking about us, or that they were already planning to come but couldn't wait to see us in the park. I'm not going to lie; knowing how loved this group is makes all the rehearsals, driving back and forth, and wig-wearing SO worth it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Let's see...anything else. Oh, I was cast as Shelby in "Steel Magnolias" last week. No biggie. I KID. It's a HUGE deal!! I am so so excited to work with Midvale, Steph, Casey, and her pro team. Plus I get to play a role I have dreamed about playing since I was 17, so that in and of itself is pretty dang cool. We start rehearsing next week and we run <span style="line-height: 18px;"> February 22-March 2, 2013. I pick up my script tonight and I can't <i>wait </i>to start.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfIss3DBUny8FtkUnN0cTIbtJNTfphao8izwKvccDbyvIcLeV_U2zXBDIue60Cf7VHQP3woNf9gcPeQJ4imo0ov_scE0pjueep3TN3bTttc3MfYnJTCEC3lAbqVHo3Mg283H2/s1600/6a01156faa621f970c0133ed6d4b02970b-320wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfIss3DBUny8FtkUnN0cTIbtJNTfphao8izwKvccDbyvIcLeV_U2zXBDIue60Cf7VHQP3woNf9gcPeQJ4imo0ov_scE0pjueep3TN3bTttc3MfYnJTCEC3lAbqVHo3Mg283H2/s1600/6a01156faa621f970c0133ed6d4b02970b-320wi.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Well, that's it kiddoes. Hope you had a fun, family filled holiday, and if I don't see you before then I hope you have a safe and fun New Year! (Mr. Wonderful works til 11:00 that night, so if anyone wants to let me tag along on their evening let me know.) :) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-3822039114283636952012-12-13T14:21:00.002-08:002012-12-13T14:56:39.336-08:00skirting the issue<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So apparently there has been a lot of brouhaha on the
interwebs about women wearing skirts/dresses to church. Apparently there’s even
some sort of protest scheduled for this Sunday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am glad to see that I am not the only one
who thinks this is completely ridiculous. I am so bothered with people who need
to make everything into a political statement—especially things like this where
it’s OBVIOUS they are so insecure about something they have resorted to
grasping at straws for something to take issue with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are many reasons I love and am so thankful for my
mother, but one of the biggest is that she taught me to love and accept
EVERYONE. I remember one Sunday morning-I could only have been 5 or 6, and we
were on our way to church. I remember seeing one of the less-active families
headed that way too, and I noticed the little girl was wearing a pair of shorts
and a t-shirt. I asked my mom why she wasn’t in a dress, and she replied, “it
doesn’t matter to Heavenly Father what you wear to church. It matters more to
Him that you’re there.” Twenty-six years later and that lesson has still held
true for me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For me women wearing dresses to church isn’t a sign of
submissiveness, but rather respect. Respect because you wear the nicest things
you own when you go to worship. Dresses are the nicest thing I own, so that’s
what I wear. Not because I feel I am being oppressed and unequal to my male
counterparts. It makes me sad that there are women in the church who feel this
way. Men and women in the church have their own roles to play, they are both
divine and necessary in their own right, and I have never once felt that one
was more important than the other. It is only when both are working in harmony
that everything works as it should. If anything I have felt more honored by the
men in the Church <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">because</i> I am a
woman. Men and women will never be ‘equal’ because they are not the same, and
it is infuriating to me that some women will choose to use something as sacred
as personal worship to propel their own political agenda fueled by their own insecurity.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now if a woman chooses to wear pants to church because that
is what she is most comfortable in? I say more power to her. If you are so
pre-occupied about how uncomfortable you are in what you’re wearing that you lose sight of the real reason
you’re there, then you’re better off not going in my opinion. Do I think less
of women who choose to wear pants? Nope. I’m just glad they’re there. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I just wish people would stop. Stop wanting what others
have. Stop the hatred, and anger, and discord. Stop trying to be something they
aren’t and instead revel in what they ARE. I am a divine daughter of my
Heavenly Father, and I know that He holds women in the highest regard. I am
trusted with bearing and raising His children. One day I can be a QUEEN. That
is pretty cool and not the least bit oppressive in my opinion. Because we’re
different we have been given different responsibilities-neither is more important than the other, and that’s just fine by me.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People may think I’m brain-washed or a Stepford wife for
saying this. I assure you this isn’t the case. I merely have never felt
oppressed or wronged by my role as a woman in the
Church and I am <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">HAPPY</i> with the role I
have been given. So, I will be wearing a dress to church this Sunday. Not
because I feel I HAVE to, but because I WANT to. I hope what you wear to
worship is what you WANT to be in and it allows you to feel close to your Heavenly
Father and His spirit (or whatever you believe in). Because that’s all that
matters. </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/AVvXsEifQAuKwqgPlrGUhIswflFvPqnCNo5xfw8EULisu020_V1lDZsQWWRhcU_v3Bs3hlb-pEoIly6sJ7lu35kjwQOqfyDO3We7pHIpyCoh38HM9rFBm-Qs38EhG11bgucpmnDXhoFH/s1600/green-church-dress_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQAuKwqgPlrGUhIswflFvPqnCNo5xfw8EULisu020_V1lDZsQWWRhcU_v3Bs3hlb-pEoIly6sJ7lu35kjwQOqfyDO3We7pHIpyCoh38HM9rFBm-Qs38EhG11bgucpmnDXhoFH/s320/green-church-dress_l.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even fashion-forward girl power Carrie wore a dress to church...just sayin'.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-38881086761096791722012-11-19T14:45:00.000-08:002012-11-19T14:49:56.048-08:00hair today...gone tomorrowI've been debating cutting my hair for a while. Like a LONG while. The last six months or so have not been the best, and the last few weeks were the last straw. It was time for a change and a little positive energy. I had been growing it out with the intention to donate but I had originally planned to grow it to my waist so I had a little more wiggle room. Last week I started seriously considering cutting my hair, and although I had my reservations (change is scary!) the thought stayed persistent and wouldn't go away. In my experience when the thought won't go away it's because it needs to happen, so I scoured the interwebs to find something that I liked. I found this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGx7eGvbLG1rPXpnD-fQtPZEp8igiVHCoEP6yUyfJ9teKWK1whFtcAUtAfDKUWBn_UkR0k-JeXxWNHelKjR_9ne1ucMTDuQvJyBAkLqy8zxALkgJ5kt8d8saLm7k_QLg3KwFc/s1600/bob+hair+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGx7eGvbLG1rPXpnD-fQtPZEp8igiVHCoEP6yUyfJ9teKWK1whFtcAUtAfDKUWBn_UkR0k-JeXxWNHelKjR_9ne1ucMTDuQvJyBAkLqy8zxALkgJ5kt8d8saLm7k_QLg3KwFc/s320/bob+hair+1.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
LOVE. <br />
<br />
I then had the following conversation with my good friend <a href="http://michaelandkaralee.blogspot.com/">Karalee</a>:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWkvK9o-q0fB7nCWmTGrl7sERgmY8YYWWDSKBp-YCy-uTcOgkPy8z4rM3nTQ668xTrF0Cm0VtWvzub9eJFYsEy2TsK8miCIKqvC5KTq9ImGDJXoIRZ9cliFtdynZcMx0pDkd4/s1600/text.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWkvK9o-q0fB7nCWmTGrl7sERgmY8YYWWDSKBp-YCy-uTcOgkPy8z4rM3nTQ668xTrF0Cm0VtWvzub9eJFYsEy2TsK8miCIKqvC5KTq9ImGDJXoIRZ9cliFtdynZcMx0pDkd4/s320/text.PNG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IKYkjoFauKN4dCCIo4K5Kck81MaIm5Qd4Lb9knJEMuL0IL8dYPcMvhN-I1rDv1dPNFJ2Gr6CYpnWxrqoS_saHqCjJnlkW5DB6O6E6EpBMonUwB4gwUImPrSukRFb1TKSN6am/s1600/text2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IKYkjoFauKN4dCCIo4K5Kck81MaIm5Qd4Lb9knJEMuL0IL8dYPcMvhN-I1rDv1dPNFJ2Gr6CYpnWxrqoS_saHqCjJnlkW5DB6O6E6EpBMonUwB4gwUImPrSukRFb1TKSN6am/s320/text2.PNG" width="213" /></a></div>
Followed with this picture:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdAt4NEdTQzxJxcSuv_Z7brc8JTLbORsnAa5RCcbtN3cnbHJ214f7oJfr2JdrSsRXGjtC28dfBqS_GHERwr-I6KohjbSQmWjKoX7rD0X_vKTgubKB-OLiZHLN64IV2ven5xDq/s1600/tumblr_lzun3m1WbJ1qge3im.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdAt4NEdTQzxJxcSuv_Z7brc8JTLbORsnAa5RCcbtN3cnbHJ214f7oJfr2JdrSsRXGjtC28dfBqS_GHERwr-I6KohjbSQmWjKoX7rD0X_vKTgubKB-OLiZHLN64IV2ven5xDq/s1600/tumblr_lzun3m1WbJ1qge3im.jpg" /></a></div>
Yeah I'm rad when it comes to explaining what I want. Lucky for me Karalee is amazing. <br />
<br />
Kar came over on Saturday and after about 30 minutes of making sure we were on the same page we set to work. I'm not going to lie. I was nervous. So nervous that I told her to just cut it without warning me so I couldn't change my mind. She put it in four pony tails and got to work. Two hours, one color job, and eleven inches later this is what I got: <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfNu7PTy1fuS7qTNFX8L0P_o528awELMZwbcrFVWLe9bVlzfL_s7b5BgdrTyb1rplpVUT7SkkE4_ulrDb79Ao3VcfOzWYaeMqSsJ7DBMOxJo2GcUXnvHngTIkxP8eMbbDlp4X/s1600/311335_10151308601324935_2031054050_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfNu7PTy1fuS7qTNFX8L0P_o528awELMZwbcrFVWLe9bVlzfL_s7b5BgdrTyb1rplpVUT7SkkE4_ulrDb79Ao3VcfOzWYaeMqSsJ7DBMOxJo2GcUXnvHngTIkxP8eMbbDlp4X/s320/311335_10151308601324935_2031054050_n.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
I'm still getting used to styling short hair, and my neck is SUPER itchy where my hair is rubbing it, but other than that I LOVE it. Aside from a few 'mehs' from silly boys everyone loves it too! I've even been told I look younger-which is good-but I'm worried now I look TOO young!<br />
<br />
I'll be mailing my pony off to Locks of Love later this week. I hope whoever gets my hair loves it as much as I did! <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJWkPA2S_ChPdOvfT8tJwf0rrV6vnrkr-FYt5GClyn1SfuxUjK95r4EqoW3wM-_8qcXw-tseQFOMyo7UKf5l7JSZklNr4HZX1FC6kIW-FAjM3CwvdROd6KUXAZ7zLm5xmxhTH/s1600/finished.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJWkPA2S_ChPdOvfT8tJwf0rrV6vnrkr-FYt5GClyn1SfuxUjK95r4EqoW3wM-_8qcXw-tseQFOMyo7UKf5l7JSZklNr4HZX1FC6kIW-FAjM3CwvdROd6KUXAZ7zLm5xmxhTH/s320/finished.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19466120.post-47627991660793075342012-10-26T09:47:00.000-07:002012-10-26T09:47:59.835-07:00mind your own business"So, when are you and Mr. Wonderful getting married?" <br />
<br />
I know people mean well and when I'm asked this it comes from a place of love (for the most part), but I'm so sick of it I'm ready to start punching people in the face. Here's why:<br />
<br />
A: If I had an announcement to make I'd make it.<br />
<br />
B: IT'S NONE OF YOUR FREAKING BUSINESS<br />
<br />
C: It's a humiliating question to answer and I'm tired of acting like it doesn't bother me and you're not the ZILLIONTH tactless person to pass judgement and unwanted advice on a situation you know NOTHING about. <br />
<br />
Suffice it to say if there's ever an announcement to make I'll make it. In the mean time keep your rude, tactless, and inappropriate questions and comments to yourself. If you choose to be a jerk and ask anyway, consider yourself warned.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUFqMhEeevGq1W4K9m22pwhb_qWYsZen5l5q_ZD_d6k8XfbQGXuIHr2sf79l3r_tc3kWiUXD1jUAkE4YLhcaSC9VGzliQWwI6vx8JQSA6zVHBzU79SgGLWm0xiHBTD7KIRMmg/s1600/private-details.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUFqMhEeevGq1W4K9m22pwhb_qWYsZen5l5q_ZD_d6k8XfbQGXuIHr2sf79l3r_tc3kWiUXD1jUAkE4YLhcaSC9VGzliQWwI6vx8JQSA6zVHBzU79SgGLWm0xiHBTD7KIRMmg/s320/private-details.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />miss kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06146662055102145257noreply@blogger.com5