tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249829712024-03-06T20:29:20.811-08:00Memories of a Catholic Wife & MotherDominus providebitChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.comBlogger1190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-81821988305355728022020-12-05T13:06:00.001-08:002022-06-30T13:09:19.732-07:00Rocky Douglas<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVtx21CQ5hlO16rvwTMG4cWuU810VqWokuFJJbg8yVfiPrYPZXrH4wVJ2T90Qt23KJnkmzSIh9DhFksAeFfVQUFpdYQZ4OBUUUBNUPI3LuA3ZXwCvHPs-_5F-PZtqqSxqgEVut3WQ6WQ4i-SX7uGXBzt03qPWZAAPbLnyKUspGkgGVIrnpw/s4032/IMG_2173.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVtx21CQ5hlO16rvwTMG4cWuU810VqWokuFJJbg8yVfiPrYPZXrH4wVJ2T90Qt23KJnkmzSIh9DhFksAeFfVQUFpdYQZ4OBUUUBNUPI3LuA3ZXwCvHPs-_5F-PZtqqSxqgEVut3WQ6WQ4i-SX7uGXBzt03qPWZAAPbLnyKUspGkgGVIrnpw/w300-h400/IMG_2173.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />With a second lockdown in place and knowing how much our children wanted a dog, on the 24th of November, Brendan, Theresa, Patrick, and I traveled two hours north to pick up our Australian Shepherd puppy. The children named him Rocky, save for Aidan who fondly calls our puppy, “Douglas.”<p></p><p><br /></p>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-47041139503691255392020-01-25T14:08:00.001-08:002020-01-25T14:09:15.216-08:00Lully, Lulla, LullayI wish that I could embed this video,<br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/387119428?ref=fb-share&1">https://vimeo.com/387119428</a><br />
<br />
Please take the time to click the link and listen. This is probably the most beautiful rendition of this lullaby that I have ever heard. It is sung by the choir at our old parish, North American Martyrs. Enjoy!Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-40319250491782455912019-12-27T15:07:00.000-08:002019-12-27T15:07:25.744-08:00Noël <div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 600; line-height: 26px; padding-bottom: 16px; padding-left: 30px; text-align: center; word-wrap: break-word;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">by J.R.R. Tolkien</em></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Grim was the world and grey last night:</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The moon and stars were fled,</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The hall was dark without song or light,</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The fires were fallen dead.</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The wind in the trees was like to the sea,</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">And over the mountains’ teeth</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">It whistled bitter-cold and free,</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">As a sword leapt from its sheath.</em></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The lord of snows upreared his head;</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">His mantle long and pale</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Upon the bitter blast was spread</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">And hung o’er hill and dale.</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The world was blind, the boughs were bent,</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">All ways and paths were wild:</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Then the veil of cloud apart was rent,</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">And here was born a Child.</em></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The ancient dome of heaven sheer</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Was pricked with distant light;</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">A star came shining white and clear</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Alone above the night.</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">In the dale of dark in that hour of birth</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">One voice on a sudden sang:</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Then all the bells in Heaven and Earth</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Together at midnight rang.</em></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Mary sang in this world below:</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">They heard her song arise</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">O’er mist and over mountain snow</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">To the walls of Paradise,</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">And the tongue of many bells was stirred</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">in Heaven’s towers to ring</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">When the voice of mortal maid was heard,</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">That was mother of Heaven’s King.</em></div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Glad is the world and fair this night</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">With stars about its head,</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">And the hall is filled with laughter and light,</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">And fires are burning red.</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The bells of Paradise now ring</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">With bells of Christendom,</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">And Gloria, Gloria we will sing</em><br />
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">That God on earth is come. </em></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-43497481632317537942019-01-22T17:05:00.000-08:002019-01-22T17:05:02.947-08:002018 Personal Reading<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Gods-Will-Francis-Sales/dp/0918477832/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1541219008&sr=8-2&keywords=finding+god%27s+will+for+you&dpID=517aNvy2M6L&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch&linkCode=li2&tag=saintjosephca-20&linkId=9737006100f9fea13daa2dbc54e4306d&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0918477832&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=saintjosephca-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=saintjosephca-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=0918477832" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2CY1Dt7">Finding God's Will for You</a><br />
St. Francis de Sales<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Foot-Cross-Faber/dp/0895550784/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1541219408&sr=8-1&keywords=foot+of+the+cross+faber&linkCode=li2&tag=saintjosephca-20&linkId=0dd67074de99aff166fd3d2c798289fe&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0895550784&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=saintjosephca-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=saintjosephca-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=0895550784" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2Ry5uBo">The Foot of the Cross</a>Fr. Faber<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/He-Leadeth-Me-Extraordinary-Testament/dp/0804141525/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1533176322&sr=8-1&keywords=he+leadeth+me+by+father+walter+ciszek&linkCode=li2&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20&linkId=ef6332854b7fff7b64b9bb2bc4f32e74" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 100%;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0804141525&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20" /></a><span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"><span style="border-image: initial; border-width: initial; color: initial; font-size: 100%;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=memoriesofacatholic-20&l=li2&o=1&a=0804141525" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2O4tRF7" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 100%;">He Leadeth Me</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">by Walter J. Ciszek, SJ</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Interior-Freedom-Jacques-Philippe/dp/1594170525/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1537075381&sr=8-1&keywords=interior+freedom&linkCode=li2&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20&linkId=d5fe2ae3e7aa7bd0e20731259ef976e7&language=en_US" style="font-size: 100%;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1594170525&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20&language=en_US" /></a><span style="border-image: initial; border-width: initial; color: initial; font-size: 100%;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=memoriesofacatholic-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=1594170525" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2zobYwl" style="font-size: 100%;">Interior Freedom</a><br />
<div style="font-size: 100%;">
by Fr. Jacques Philippe</div>
<div style="font-size: 100%;">
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Searching-Maintaining-Peace-Small-Treatise/dp/0818909064/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1535746371&sr=8-1&keywords=finding+and+maintaining+peace&linkCode=li2&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20&linkId=d61c0d06613a4ace4c3313240db89259&language=en_US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0818909064&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20&language=en_US" /></a><span style="font-family: ";"><span style="border-image: initial; border-width: initial; color: initial; font-size: 100%;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=memoriesofacatholic-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=0818909064" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span><br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/2oqttWD">Searching for and Maintaining Peace</a></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%;">
by Fr. Jacques Philippe</div>
<div>
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<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%;">
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Story-Soul-Autobiography-Translation-Manuscripts/dp/0935216588/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1533176169&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=story+of+a+soul&psc=1&linkCode=li2&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20&linkId=cee9e80231b374185c87b204d30637e7" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0935216588&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=memoriesofacatholic-20&l=li2&o=1&a=0935216588" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2KkRGWC">Story of a Soul</a><br />
by St. Therese of Lisieux, translated by John Clarke<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Trustful-Surrender-Divine-Providence-Happiness/dp/0895552167/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1535746578&sr=8-1&keywords=trustful+surrender+to+divine+providence&linkCode=li2&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20&linkId=08b074e6dfe86dc1a8432d23be7d0236&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0895552167&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=memoriesofacatholic-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=0895552167" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2PncU9c">Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: ";"><span style="font-size: 100%;">by Fr. Jean Baptiste Saint-Jure, Bl. Claude de la Colombiere</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Uniformity-Gods-Will-Liguori/dp/0895550199/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1535746108&sr=8-1&keywords=uniformity+with+god%27s+will&&linkCode=li2&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20&linkId=491beec4d727dfbb62ff8883e2d581de&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0895550199&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=memoriesofacatholic-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=0895550199" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2oq41jZ">Uniformity with God's Will</a></div>
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by St. Alphonsus de Liguori</div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-27347580049316503652018-06-27T19:12:00.000-07:002018-08-23T16:04:04.576-07:00Beach Days<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" height="640" id="id_7d07_46c1_5ddb_8817" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrEgtKcMYEHobb5NHFV_X-eEzqBhFbIOYc1E9nflcDcVomER4c28IeT54qOJpRRckCNgiELK_iUHJj5rMeyPTyx7heKnDvSTFxR1EC0HBVYnNbyAgNWujGtNVU5XWtMKmRvSB/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 480px;" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">For the last eighteen years, my children and I have been going to the beach with friends, or just as a family, once a week during the summer. </span></div>
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<img alt="" height="502" id="id_4a8_4e86_4ae1_e802" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7H7uZ_zyrfQ/WzOCNVaw0YI/AAAAAAAAH5M/7osiJU6cCDYvpu3u_Ad9WWzxE295w7K6wCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When we first moved to the city in which we live, I thought that beach and park days would provide an easy way to get to know other homeschooling families.</span></div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_40e5_811b_783b_f72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftbuYrTSmrqe6NS-_OrxKPIdyx10YfuywtGBUHFn3kYbLmPtIQwTHRX9lOv3bnjNCcwFWXr8HBeXuOqjZ3D2LrGTclpLhJ4LSmmZGL4lRdAmtvuUNIdci4j5pEpGJ8NzV6mea/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 480px;" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last year and this, I have come to realize that beach days provided us with more than just an opportunity to make lasting friendships.</span></div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_3b6f_9aa9_839e_fa8d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KhfFCVi2QUg/WzOCN0DAbLI/AAAAAAAAH5Y/cLUvA-Wd9v4ZHZBY4Nm2jAWePRRIrKHJACHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 480px;" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Going to the beach each week has helped to foster friendships between my children.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_465d_5f96_1077_2297" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rXgb_yVa2AA/WzPsy8DUzNI/AAAAAAAAH50/Y4p6nAvayMArozYtv6_CubAVY0k70of6ACHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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It has given them something that they like doing together.</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_7ae4_9f72_ac6a_ffce" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXvkRwXf9cAgJbyCGVIONhpqfMaeMSP5-j7MsOVHJ_vhH0tMai7b1LP3egg6R7we1Uh4APZgc_VeNw6lOwkdXuAUOjP6xND48zq_JzB1jXQ1z0bN0YVyJ3zG1hkHqv7hXSUkV/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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Although we still head to the beach together once a week, my older children will occasionally get home from work and ask, “Can I go to the beach?” They will follow their request by asking brothers and/or sisters if they want to go with them. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_6858_978e_1a5d_3b4b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--FfHhz_3L_k/WzPszX-sKoI/AAAAAAAAH58/NJlbNzH4GYQONQx3Hh87-mrq9-A9F0bFgCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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Recently, as three of our children headed to the beach, I told my husband, “I did something right.” He said, “What was that?” I responded facetiously, “I taught our children to like the beach.” </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" height="640" id="id_905b_5422_7d9c_7937" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2GSVWLMKOiQ/WzPszs57BHI/AAAAAAAAH6A/cTXKBOJ1Sec7DofZKl57_GuJ9LDTNgjXwCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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More importantly than teaching our children to like the beach, I inadvertently fostered loving relationships between our children.<br />
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I hope that they always find joy in spending time with each other.</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_d783_63ee_44ba_3ef5" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjyMvgD-eyNrtsaapv5nUArMdAueWFo2EBm_KeSOg1nVEq1gosJoFdYF9yI_oZpVINH0IW0Rj0cB65UOxF2ja4Iu8Cnw79rC4PwLgB9bRtmnPXx86MuybJkUezmZMFt4v-cgj/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-44335807735061241962018-06-23T20:37:00.001-07:002018-06-25T10:38:09.006-07:00God alone Suffices <div style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;">
<img alt="" height="640" id="id_ec15_844_d1bf_351b" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7xNPs6y0TImwidSiZwzHJk5x6KcrYJcd2vO-wLrwEZv2KWwWvntDWq3qE42LaG9J-oMboZguElO3bhtZB8ZmsQKG0yB3Ds7ByMdjEJjqZZNTm07wC7X_knA9OeYAKb8rrJpX/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.399999618530273px;">“Somehow, then, God must contrive to break through those routines of ours and remind us once again, like Israel, that we are ultimately dependent only upon Him, that He has made us and destined us for life with Him through all eternity, that the things of this world and this world itself are not our lasting city, that His we are and that we must look to Him and turn to Him in everything. Then it is, perhaps, that He must allow our whole world to be turned upside down in order to remind us it is not our permanent abode or final destiny, to bring us to our senses and restore our sense of values, to turn our thoughts once more to Him -- even if at first our thoughts are questioning and full of reproaches. Then it is that He must remind us again, with terrible clarity, that He meant exactly what He said in those seemingly simple words of the Sermon on the Mount: ‘Do not be anxious about what you shall eat, or what you shall wear, or where you shall sleep, but seek first the kingdom of God and His justice.’”</span></div>
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~ Fr. Walter Ciszek, S.J., “He Leadeth Me”, p. 22 ~</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-22227426181653796342018-05-31T10:45:00.001-07:002018-05-31T10:45:03.237-07:00Accepting God’s Will <div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" height="640" id="id_d93f_4b94_727c_f025" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HEVJI-dP3Bo/WxAvJMkOIcI/AAAAAAAAH3w/XQbUotf6W-cwE_LAcSvxmMfTreUAoNwzwCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" title="" tooltip="" width="485" /></div>
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<b><i>"One great means of preserving a constant peace and tranquillity of heart is to receive all things as coming from the hands of God, whatever they may be, and in whatever way they may come."</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">~ St. Dorotheus ~</span></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-36851805639663176492018-05-28T12:17:00.001-07:002018-05-28T17:19:25.969-07:00Allium ‘Globemaster’Some of my children used to be intrigued by our neighbor’s alliums. When our neighbor moved away, the alliums stopped growing. Last fall, I was thrilled to find allium bulbs at Costco. This spring, I think that the bees are happy to have alliums growing in our garden. I know that my little boys are fascinated by the purple balls sitting on top of green stems. I am simply thankful to have these interesting looking flowers blooming in our garden.<br />
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_403c_2a09_f91e_5f2c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FSHdK2pRWWs/WwxVsLhSMxI/AAAAAAAAH3Q/8YbYS4BWxC8TST_vHTRW7c5lNht6LzCjACHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_736a_9846_41d_42fb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f0yXKweRO6E/WwxVvAgJNGI/AAAAAAAAH3Y/2c2oXNBLVeck0PEG2SmQgOyhEkn3PYE5ACHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_874a_a75c_977c_78e9" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnzxR0d4j3oPjl-PX7peTxkxkCRaD6vRYn77wwMD741LqnZdKkmICuIlkSUfjYzhI8TVofzHm2Sh5kWCqTyptZnI1cAUNT264GWys-oqFn-bD0F9L3SUi_8J2NshY59iW8Rbt/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-74651602856875962892018-05-16T11:51:00.001-07:002018-05-20T18:42:35.014-07:00Early Spring Flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="" height="480" id="id_41b5_7213_4a49_7e2a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J1eXdD5VMl4/Wvx9vW_TmTI/AAAAAAAAH1g/U7_fAUZbRA4PpFKrPbc8njcxnq17NvW4QCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /></div>
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Muscari (Steeple Bells)</div>
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<img alt="" height="480" id="id_8463_3458_ee4b_746e" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ3b3nMiN9ogH6iQWgxUu5mx1xmqqH3bIeEXdLgxwuQll_VQYEGKkiaIVbsjGZXGdxAH8r_w890YpY2r8uKJ_pv1I4DdnKQkBslCWEik5FBKhFC0Uy0D3ECFxdTC8PBwLhkhO5/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /></div>
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Tulips ‘Foxtrot’ (Mary’s Prayer)</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_599b_5c8b_e89b_b76b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RfqZc_ZCZ9I/Wvx9vyiwYDI/AAAAAAAAH1o/zhfHOc5WkfAL6IJwUdkLGfxNrBkWQz6BACHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 462px;" title="" tooltip="" width="462" /></div>
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Lilac ‘Josee’ (Ascension Flower)</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_b33_dade_f13e_d121" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YIRR-K7Upoc/Wvx9vgkoO2I/AAAAAAAAH1k/KjVEomFxgmoIl1rd0yOtN0tCXMNn5TKwwCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 480px;" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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Clematis ‘Dr. Ruppel’</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_2899_ada4_78f5_3504" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5sLe06piscY/Wvx9w0aMkfI/AAAAAAAAH14/A7l8-Qf6x3I7LYQZzOQJCjVsnnMXxJDMACHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 480px;" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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Clematis</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_63f1_fee8_1296_50a2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tBZrGaOymZk/WwIj4LjGdqI/AAAAAAAAH3A/doCHptAcassFel2AF5TfDfeHIFwpDfgRQCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /><br />
Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’<br />
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_d672_f3cc_6bbf_3307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1v1sHaD4djXE_bgbG8UCf4v8bopu-hBElujetgBlEA36Urldmc8RlMibEvFYhyphenhypheniycqlm-g5PNQOvfsWzjQtlqkBd4xwJLdUjEOdvCXo7TtYO4TuoyPH9AAnwDIZEDD2El-5A0/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 480px;" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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Allium ‘Globemaster’</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_2c70_e1ea_8354_acfd" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PJfmhOfuInI/Wvx9wW8TFdI/AAAAAAAAH1w/_MfHLyZf06ElN-2LC4HgrI7Ku0xGW6D6gCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 480px;" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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Lupine (St. Mark’s Plant)</div>
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Our purple lupine is somehow purple and white. </div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_5454_d743_3a6b_94dd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OrmPOhgCW3FvHVYMp362isW9z0DCuoNfv5lQItTASwUZBzvDC5kmZvP01-1YVvgV2qF0qAL07vVsrYczP_dUrKxqzXQ5RjgxhRLXpEmm56Hf64V98v9T19dGQu8c-So8CeSQ/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 480px;" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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Rose ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ (Mary)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsRix6Phqm-L-L9lOW-Y8wtpleNdxXVH4FfT769t_muoxBsveZCIjqvB8ha_p2D-Xnbj8IKaueJdoY5Fs1-pe_URn2h936mhhVnLlzAu4k2941LESed0-GhVYU4gTw0eUQP_M/s1600/IMG_9148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" id="id_85_8879_4273_2312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsRix6Phqm-L-L9lOW-Y8wtpleNdxXVH4FfT769t_muoxBsveZCIjqvB8ha_p2D-Xnbj8IKaueJdoY5Fs1-pe_URn2h936mhhVnLlzAu4k2941LESed0-GhVYU4gTw0eUQP_M/s320/IMG_9148.JPG" style="height: auto; width: 240px;" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ8Zzwi12UwK2p-7vZ6Ov3SNLN4JdTuz8CWfNjdcF8hhl3D8rgecHe_Dsb-UUvmt8zBb6zzz_wP_wPHk9MLe-y9HSZGiGNjOu33htiYPQAHgku91bSNSdKSmI398IiglnV3MH/s1600/IMG_9149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" id="id_f95b_d63c_8ef_da22" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ8Zzwi12UwK2p-7vZ6Ov3SNLN4JdTuz8CWfNjdcF8hhl3D8rgecHe_Dsb-UUvmt8zBb6zzz_wP_wPHk9MLe-y9HSZGiGNjOu33htiYPQAHgku91bSNSdKSmI398IiglnV3MH/s320/IMG_9149.JPG" style="height: auto; width: 240px;" width="240" /></a></div>
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Whenever I go outside, my little garden helper is right by my side.</div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-81036881823193821352018-04-16T14:20:00.001-07:002018-04-16T21:05:24.482-07:00Embrace Your Crosses<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Kiss frequently the crosses which the Lord sends you, and with all your heart, without regarding of what sort they may be; for the more vile and mean they are, the more they deserve their name. The merit of crosses does not consist in their weight, but in the manner in which they are borne. It may show much greater virtue to bear a cross of straw than a very hard and heavy one, because the light ones are also the most hidden and contemned, and therefore least comfortable to our inclination, which always seeks what is showy.”</div>
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~ St. Francis de Sales ~</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_bed4_89b2_5249_697d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A5XN8Bn4ekg/WtUTkTfJgvI/AAAAAAAAH0g/DBIC5Ct3W9YAp3c1uNBg5s7tK6fpif-SwCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" title="" tooltip="" width="479" /></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-26865288180619745072018-03-28T16:15:00.001-07:002018-04-16T21:05:39.957-07:00Something to Ponder<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>God parcels out trials only according to the strength He gives us. </i></span></div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_5604_d8a8_206_f9f0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kAPdWVC5oDg/Wrwh-4Nm_6I/AAAAAAAAHzQ/JOMrrrwBXuw2hwD9AsL0EZAphoLUF3OZQCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-72163718242649370932018-03-13T12:14:00.001-07:002018-04-16T21:10:13.111-07:00Tuesday Tip<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" height="640" id="id_c1a6_5e15_3809_f0e9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uzHmGtTe_OA/WqgjBNr_XZI/AAAAAAAAHys/MaPDWAnxuSAvd2MCPSfqdpG1bw3CzQ1_gCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-67215654630587978172018-01-10T19:08:00.000-08:002018-08-01T19:08:57.990-07:002017 Personal Reading<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Marriage-Pope-Pius-XI/dp/097829856X/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1502813673&sr=1-2&keywords=casti+connubii&linkCode=li2&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20&linkId=623f116ddbe491f18ad5871e56ed7adc" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=097829856X&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=memoriesofacatholic-20&l=li2&o=1&a=097829856X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2x1gaOt">Casti Connubii<br />
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by Pope Pius XI<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Siena-Sigrid-Undset/dp/1586174088/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1486878461&sr=8-1&keywords=catherine+of+siena&linkCode=li2&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20&linkId=822adfd1bdad25914b9292d6c886ba89" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1586174088&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=memoriesofacatholic-20&l=li2&o=1&a=1586174088" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2kVu5AO">Catherine of Siena<br />
</a><br />
<br />
by Sigrid Undset<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2tURlls">The Catholic Family Handbook<br />
</a><br />
<br />
<br />
by Fr. George Kelly<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Family-Handbook-Time-tested-Techniques/dp/1928832172/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1502813522&sr=8-1&keywords=the+catholic+family+handbook&linkCode=li2&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20&linkId=5c73efec507241f5211432ea7a344e70" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1928832172&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=memoriesofacatholic-20&l=li2&o=1&a=1928832172" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2vAyX5s">The Catholic Family Handbook<br />
</a><br />
<br />
by Fr. Lovasik<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Power-Silence-Against-Dictatorship-Noise/dp/1621641910/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1506904231&sr=8-1&keywords=the+power+of+silence&linkCode=li2&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20&linkId=22bb757ee0c7141ac23fcb3ae67d75bc" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1621641910&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=memoriesofacatholic-20&l=li2&o=1&a=1621641910" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2x8Avkw">The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise<br />
</a><br />
<br />
by Cardinal Robert Sarah<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/St-Rita-Cascia-Saint-Impossible/dp/0895554070/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1486878305&sr=8-1&keywords=st.+rita+of+cascia&linkCode=li2&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20&linkId=ddc62bde76d4d44a5f5df49bcaa64913" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0895554070&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=memoriesofacatholic-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=memoriesofacatholic-20&l=li2&o=1&a=0895554070" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/2kywwZ5">St. Rita of Cascia</a><br />
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by Joseph SicardoChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-53925760056619752542017-11-30T13:57:00.003-08:002017-11-30T13:58:23.922-08:00St. Andrew Christmas Novena<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><i>Happy Feast of St. Andrew! </i></span></div>
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I was blessed to be able to venerate a first class relic of St. Andrew after Mass this morning.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">It is piously believed that whoever recites the</span> St. Andrew Christmas Novena <span style="text-align: center;">fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew until Christmas will obtain what is asked.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_50VFLW21YCoQ_3LCO9lTi-ZFFTgGvgosceuq2CfEg5pPiKUm0lQ7Ysdi_F7dWy4YzQd2i2yBBgbWDdjPKOp1FdZ3rW9gUa9nEIbu9TNj1DcbnhkBidBSOzqSo3ivi_aj6xva/s1600/Adorationwebsite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_50VFLW21YCoQ_3LCO9lTi-ZFFTgGvgosceuq2CfEg5pPiKUm0lQ7Ysdi_F7dWy4YzQd2i2yBBgbWDdjPKOp1FdZ3rW9gUa9nEIbu9TNj1DcbnhkBidBSOzqSo3ivi_aj6xva/s1600/Adorationwebsite.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #073763;">Hail and blessed be the hour and moment at which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires (Mention your intentions here) through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His most Blessed Mother. Amen.</span></i></b></div>
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Imprimatur</div>
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+Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York</div>
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February 6, 1897</div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-63621955955513290342017-11-23T17:14:00.003-08:002017-11-23T20:08:58.129-08:00Happy Thanksgiving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This year as the unknown looms ahead of me, I am reminded that there is so much for which we can and should be thankful.</div>
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May God bless all of you!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPFEN_meHhUQeDUi9kvSedaQa9xq2YYk0UxiDzVbvVy1ZPizGWI3nhfBktzsfo-9FYqqEhrWvhxyxBBhMv2EbVjFdPaCPo6HnN6-qZuJqA-egOaVEC0hCOXrVlskE9GjdwOST/s1600/Thanksgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPFEN_meHhUQeDUi9kvSedaQa9xq2YYk0UxiDzVbvVy1ZPizGWI3nhfBktzsfo-9FYqqEhrWvhxyxBBhMv2EbVjFdPaCPo6HnN6-qZuJqA-egOaVEC0hCOXrVlskE9GjdwOST/s400/Thanksgiving.jpg" width="400" id="id_5051_7132_35d4_87de" style="width: 400px; height: auto;"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*I couldn't resist going with the Charlie Brown theme. My little boys really like Snoopy. How could I not be a fan?</span>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-75835473486483223832017-11-17T07:08:00.000-08:002020-02-20T07:10:53.935-08:00Water Damage (Part 2)Once the walls were painted and tile was installed, we chose carpeting for two of the bedrooms. The girls chose Stainmaster Trusoft carpet in "Medallion" for their room. The carpet complements the "Greek Isles" paint that they chose for their walls nicely. The boys settled on Stainmaster Trusoft "Raffia" for their bedroom. We will use the same color in the other two bedrooms when we redo the carpeting in the other two bedrooms next summer.<br />
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We knew that having mismatched floors in the living room and hallway would look odd. We also knew that we couldn't match our old Pergo with new Pergo. We decided to have Pergo Outlast Auburn Scraped Oak installed in our kitchen, dining room, hallway, and living room. Little did we know that this decision would delay our flooring install and trim re-installation for months. Updated to say years.Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-91113456192565890242017-11-08T17:02:00.001-08:002017-11-08T17:02:50.132-08:00The Blessing of Children <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On Saturday, October 28, we had the privilege of witnessing our tenth godchild’s baptism. I was surprised and honored when our godson’s mother called and asked if we would be godparents to their soon to be adopted baby boy. Little did she know that Mikhael would be born one month early and shortly after calling me, she and her husband would be holding their first son, Mikhael Pierre, in their arms. Little did any of us know that Mikhael would be baptized three days after his original due date.<br /><br /><img height="479" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q8I9PCbMdrg/WgKhp7-I2KI/AAAAAAAAHuQ/uG23yOiVrxEBXXW8_Wa63g3BSoaTnl-GgCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" width="640" /><br />
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Before the baptism, I was thankful to hear the priest speak about the gift of children. He shared with everyone that parents do their best to contain their children during Mass and to keep them quiet. He commented that we shouldn’t complain about the noise of young children in the church. He said that rather we should be thankful for the noise because the noise of young children means that the church has a future. The priest’s comments reminded me of the holy priest who baptized our oldest daughter telling me that when Joan cried, she was praising God in the only way she knew how. <br /><br /><div>
<img height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8LQSiuvSmoGn_tHMOAdVNNGoLGSrDtgssAc_LXVV9xkmbfi6S_1Vf4-Puc90DmBdTi0y-LekzOUeM8qHX5qCuIYhc0cEG4ePfzcGfizcaOyOBu0XFEPGcAX_LskCEAzmjB6Q/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" width="640" /></div>
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I pray for purity, holiness, (eternal) happiness for Mikhael and all my children and godchildren each day. I pray that they all become great saints and bring greater glory to God. May God watch over and protect our children that they may one day sing His praises in Heaven. Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-85595342849227637282017-10-26T04:33:00.001-07:002017-10-28T13:36:11.627-07:00Tile Floors Recently, a friend asked me, “Why did you choose tile? Seems cold and well, hard. Do you have throw rugs for the cold winters or warm slippers?”<br />
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Just in case anyone else is trying to decide whether or not to install cold, hard tile in their house, I thought that I would share my response here.<br />
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In our first home, we had tile in our entryway, and I really liked it. It is so easy to clean. I think that it is the best option for entryways where wet and dirty shoes enter a home.<br />
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<img height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxv-WDRGadGHJfkaUERlFQsiHfAwUZfuCebn5Mrv7mo6d1htO1hWkIFCXvWERnZGXH5dX33ThHZEHLzhXdd9pYd4FrEDNslerr4tQur7YGcMf6kGtB6uo8BZFkTngirqDnbqO_/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" width="480" /></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In addition, I walked on the porcelain tile that we bought before buying it and I really liked the feel of it. Cold tile doesn’t bother me. Truth be told, so far it hasn’t felt as cold as the vinyl used to feel under my feet downstairs. Plus, large porcelain tile looks better than vinyl. Since the cost of the tile installation (materials included) was very similar to what it would have cost to have vinyl installed, it was a no brainer for us. </span></div>
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<img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-btPR5KB5aY8/WfHIBcletrI/AAAAAAAAHs4/Zp1mPy5pYsMnkJmzFk4OAtiXK76S6WGhACHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" width="479" /></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Finally, we decided to install porcelain tile in our upstairs bathroom and in our entryway because the tile that we purchased has a 0.4% water absorption rate. The old vinyl in the upstairs bathroom was black (bleach wouldn’t remove it) and swollen near the bathtub. We wanted flooring that wouldn’t mold. We chose tile for the downstairs hallway and bathroom because tile is the best flooring to use on concrete. The vinyl used to feel cold and hard downstairs. When we took up the carpet at the bottom of the stairs, the padding was falling apart. In our main room downstairs, the padding is stuck to the floor. We had thought about putting Pergo downstairs, but the Carpet Pros installer told us that even with the moisture barrier, Pergo, isn’t the best option on concrete. Carpet and wood aren’t really good options either. </span></div>
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<img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NP26Kb8tp2o/WfHIBnqx5vI/AAAAAAAAHs8/rlNPyKjCidARuC47KrSpcQ84oiZD289BwCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" width="480" /></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We are still trying to decide if we should eventually put carpet or tile in the main room downstairs. This room has always felt colder than the other rooms in the house. If we do decide to install tile in this room, I think that we might opt to heat the floor with </span><a href="http://amzn.to/2h97kbW" id="id_49cc_a390_5f2c_6f8d" target="_blank">this</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">. I have heard that doing so not only heats the floor, but can also increase the temperature in the room by around 10 degrees. The thought of making this room warmer, makes the prospect of tiling it very enticing. Of course, we have to have the money to do so first, but I can always daydream. </span></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-90387938753463091382017-10-13T04:21:00.001-07:002017-10-27T08:32:56.852-07:00Happy 100th Anniversary!<div>
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<img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyaCD_IWUX7GHOTu5tAsP82s0XQI1TxSJtCVe3P03H-E_Ktp36czT6Oaprflge4TroTBim9AQ7YqDkq8MdyzCLafsyNW8TWbKW8srrduAmLbjU9qzEBI8xpJo5ifD15xm0gtx/s400/%255BUNSET%255D" width="316" /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Our Lady of Fatima, ora pro nobis!</span></i></b></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-21028449325465091902017-10-02T05:26:00.000-07:002017-12-05T16:07:00.646-08:00Water Damage (Part 1)<div style="text-align: justify;">
One morning in March, I was woken by one of my sons standing by my bed telling me that the bathroom floor was flooded with dirty toilet water. Before I could get out of bed, Cecilia came upstairs and told me that there was water dripping into the bathroom, her closet, and her bedroom. I got out of bed to go and see what was causing the problem. As I stepped in the hallway, I gasped. My foot was wet and slimy. I made my way to the bathroom, turned off the toilet and instructed a couple of my sons to bail the overflowing toilet. They had to bail it one or two other times during the day.</div>
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My husband told me to contact our insurance company. I did so, and the rep gave me the names of two water mitigation teams and told me to call one of them. I called one of the companies. An employee came out with giant dehumidifiers, fans, and a humidity reader. The man made note of high humidity readings and told me that employees would come the next day to take out flooring, walls, and ceilings. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MF-H6OMEj2Jy2YrKENLxzwCbRjGJZx4IZQoKzE0Emd17-3-uoMnXOhdBSFrUsWjWyUD7CUjXVAMSA6I43nUD64H7MiysjWel8-k2TXUiwo7Ss2mP7Q69srvmJ0knEuq7OkwK/s1600/IMG_3417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" id="id_59a8_7647_5ee6_26dd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MF-H6OMEj2Jy2YrKENLxzwCbRjGJZx4IZQoKzE0Emd17-3-uoMnXOhdBSFrUsWjWyUD7CUjXVAMSA6I43nUD64H7MiysjWel8-k2TXUiwo7Ss2mP7Q69srvmJ0knEuq7OkwK/s320/IMG_3417.JPG" style="height: auto; width: 240px;" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KNnNHTpq-sF5tKREhS3G-l8gWpWTIh9X1j27MQTppXCKmxXVHQ8CjNabpxat8ASlQj6Ol2IT0x3W2Xw2WKQ1J9BYBpNYF91ZIz25P1o4xtZvCP68MJHiNWEmB0-_utKRRxl0/s1600/IMG_3487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" id="id_e33f_7fed_2c81_3c91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KNnNHTpq-sF5tKREhS3G-l8gWpWTIh9X1j27MQTppXCKmxXVHQ8CjNabpxat8ASlQj6Ol2IT0x3W2Xw2WKQ1J9BYBpNYF91ZIz25P1o4xtZvCP68MJHiNWEmB0-_utKRRxl0/s320/IMG_3487.JPG" style="height: auto; width: 240px;" width="240" /></a></div>
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Once flooring, walls, ceilings, casing, etc. were removed, it was time to find someone to repair and texture the drywall. We called a couple of people before turning to <a href="http://www.homeadvisor.com/">Home Advisor</a> for recommendations. We had four or five contractors come out to give estimates and chose one of them. The man was conscientious, hardworking, and friendly towards my children. My husband and I were happy with who we chose to do the work, despite the fact that the textured walls weren't matched exactly.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRA6_zXB3yrkAn8zfNWe2wP3hn2IdRM3CwhtVQATZKyNKsqd2BosQTUY6lD6LhzGkosJ_5h4YXLnbswcUQdirIYHJz6UGSI3BngPhOMMlOrJlq1xQ54Nut-g5WHCvjmpPc4pj1/s1600/IMG_4658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" id="id_fc62_6d52_efcc_3107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRA6_zXB3yrkAn8zfNWe2wP3hn2IdRM3CwhtVQATZKyNKsqd2BosQTUY6lD6LhzGkosJ_5h4YXLnbswcUQdirIYHJz6UGSI3BngPhOMMlOrJlq1xQ54Nut-g5WHCvjmpPc4pj1/s400/IMG_4658.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Next, we started to paint the main areas of the house. Thankfully, we had matched the paint a few years ago, making it possible for us to paint all the walls and avoid painting the ceiling in most of the rooms. We decided to paint our trim "Polar Bear" white which totally changed the look of the color on the walls. The money that we saved by painting everything ourselves was applied towards upgrading from vinyl flooring to tile in two bathrooms and our downstairs hallway. Thankfully, the porcelain tile that we liked cost less per square foot than vinyl.</div>
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We were ready to focus on flooring for the upstairs hallway. Our upstairs hallway carpet matched our carpeting in the living room and on our stairs. Knowing that we wouldn't be able to match the carpeting and how much we liked the Pergo Original American Honey Oak in our dining room and kitchen, I set to work trying to find a close match. We thought that we could extend the Pergo from the kitchen and dining room into the hallway so that the upstairs flooring would still look cohesive. After a lot of research, we resigned ourselves to the fact that we would not be able to find a close match for the Pergo that was installed in our house over 20 years ago. </div>
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We were left trying to decide whether we pay out of pocket to have new carpeting installed in our living room and on our stairs or whether we pay to install new Pergo in our kitchen, dining room, living room, hallway, and stairs. It's too bad that insurance companies don't pay to maintain the cohesive look of a house unless it's paint on walls and ceilings.<br />
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To be continued...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*We used "Greek Isles" paint in our daughters' bedroom and "Night Blooming Jasmine" in one of the boys' rooms.</span></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-85087737881082552572017-08-09T15:05:00.001-07:002018-04-15T16:36:09.104-07:00A Midsummer Garden <div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" height="640" id="id_97ac_6c36_b167_d0a6" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRPW0NHu0dl2vNplg7Pbu5acO1alJvIl-pdM8dvIQ1cGuXco09_8NMBNGuasS9I7DpLplUNRYOlMfKXi7IScoowjxsPZQbKiJHHOH7hDKDGt2LgHhua8Y0tq0mZOKWFRNpqAI/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 478px;" title="" tooltip="" width="478" /></div>
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<i>Echinacea 'Double Scoop Bubblegum'</i></div>
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I couldn't resist scooping up this beauty when I saw it for a reduced price last month at a local garden store. It seems to be thriving in its new home. </div>
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<i>Platycodon 'White' (Balloon Flower)</i></div>
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I planted three balloon flowers several years ago and then transplanted them the next year. This is the only plant that survived the transplantation. It is a prolific and beautiful bloomer.</div>
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<img alt="" height="633" id="id_4e4a_3469_5254_f94d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XzHB7SJNnD0/WYuG7LR4w4I/AAAAAAAAHno/Az5YZZUI8_44ZwAJRCUzDp0kfiRrYdI9QCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
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<i>Cosmos (St. Michael's Flower)</i></div>
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Despite their dainty appearance Cosmos are hardy annuals in our garden. We can always count on them to grow from seeds that I scatter in the spring. </div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_e004_30ac_5f6b_525" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zPZa4NILpVM/WYuG8YB5UqI/AAAAAAAAHns/qQc2v54AL4gJbBDFQy_rkT1UCr_MiBKsgCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 594px;" title="" tooltip="" width="594" /></div>
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<i>Cosmos (St. Michael's Flower)</i></div>
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This beautiful Cosmos came from the same seed packet as the flower above.</div>
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<img alt="" height="479" id="id_d789_1bc0_455e_a14" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z5KN30ghpIE/WYuG8g_DK9I/AAAAAAAAHnw/-NCWJK22W6EIOa6ml1zv8crJoTv8z0HyQCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><i>Rudbeckia 'Goldstrum</i>'</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I purchased a single Black-eyed Susan several years ago. Each year, it has continued to grow and spread. They grow from rhizomes which means that I occasionally need to pull some of the flowers to keep them in bounds. I have debated moving them, but their bright sunny yellow color prevents me from doing so. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltFSAREdhClb0iBHXTbWM18cljoeYyFe5KbbeVDugRDQfVNJuzX1OypEmL4JFdH9x4MyWybEc7CRpYK7aE0UFO93sREB45qT-bJbDYN2nz9tt2dWE2ssFSL1WCOMZdJEWLqHG/s1600/IMG_5720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" id="id_9299_74c8_610e_194d" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltFSAREdhClb0iBHXTbWM18cljoeYyFe5KbbeVDugRDQfVNJuzX1OypEmL4JFdH9x4MyWybEc7CRpYK7aE0UFO93sREB45qT-bJbDYN2nz9tt2dWE2ssFSL1WCOMZdJEWLqHG/s640/IMG_5720.JPG" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><i>Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll'</i></span></div>
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This is the newest and most fragrant rose in my garden. I have planted it in a very dry spot and am hoping that I can get its roots to grow deep enough that it survives the winter without me watering it. </div>
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<img alt="" height="479" id="id_6ea5_25e7_a0d6_9d90" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jRSLuNymfDw/WYuHCEfGfaI/AAAAAAAAHn4/g3P9biQ75JknxQrVF_jyTzw67WUWFM-hQCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /></div>
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<i>Geranium</i></div>
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Usually, I plant geraniums in our backyard planters. This year, I decided to divide our raspberries and plant them in the planters. Thus, the geraniums ended up in the garden. </div>
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<img alt="" height="479" id="id_2ac2_f438_3bd8_bac4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F3VFxjyHiJo/WYufmaRNyYI/AAAAAAAAHoc/Q2H1fuwFAp4tExCtf0vopn_93Hu1vl06gCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /><br />
<i>Sweet Alyssum</i></div>
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I plant alyssum around my garden each year. The fragrance is truly sweet. </div>
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<img alt="" height="479" id="id_3e81_eca8_68ed_d663" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cr99okHKz0I/WYufoWwB7kI/AAAAAAAAHok/MkHPRPYt0HYbLOlHhscIYwFlDEr9eIyUwCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /></div>
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<i>Peach</i></div>
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After having Anthony transplant this tree a couple of years ago, I read that peach trees don't like to be transplanted. This peach tree is proving what I read wasn't quite right. We shouldn't always believe what we read. </div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_720a_239_eea4_55ac" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLRmw2B8FdHkMcmDXiAputdUPN_t7NtDsUKExY1taIe5m1MAR1Kws9DYMkoYG7fyZp-iLf4UaK9zigKu2Q0hLOLEqZwIOMCcS15pNgPSL0I7iuz2z5JM1MVp6IJ5vJmS8MM1L/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 480px;" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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<i>Grapes</i></div>
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My dad planted these grapes from his garden before moving away almost twelve years ago. The children enjoy foraging for them while playing in the backyard. </div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_65fc_cef2_8fb1_cf4c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w9zwwSFQqVY/WYufqiSJHMI/AAAAAAAAHo0/wXQJsUvjBIggjX8IcNZze9_rwIQ4PKaxgCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 480px;" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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<i>Grapes</i></div>
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Some of the grapes are easier to get than others. </div>
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<img alt="" height="529" id="id_4b69_9829_81d4_76d3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBqPBuNlztTAl-zxu0lEvrN9gPnqz8mInP5-2A5A1E_HHyoG4OrOXKkjVjH7ApeBbWmkArZrJmFxdS5KHf_L0Dcw6BoaD2zFV3iKx-pKF6pdnI2cVHdr2SjXm3SfdcO3L-B6t/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /></div>
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<i>'Friar' Plum</i></div>
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Hopefully, this plum ripens and we are able to pick it before the squirrels do. </div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_24df_407d_8be1_8ced" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kDkW96qhwTPUNo4CM8x6GVSZqyNxLYwm7mP3rhkN-lA9-bc0X47IBJlh6_qs8t0ETRQ226GYggFlWUPX4V4WubegiOlBAdGZCA0tcFrjO0kBy0FumMWjfau0RSXh67wGW4vI/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 480px;" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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<i>Italian Prunes</i></div>
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My parents had the most amazing Italian prune tree when I was growing up. The fruit was juicy and delicious. I am anxious to see how these prunes compare. </div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_a85_c81d_667e_dc22" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vQ6XykFMUdI/WYuf-m62SaI/AAAAAAAAHpA/AozL25DcosEtjTdategilq0JxCc9yGBLwCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 480px;" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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Centipedes, do you really have 100 legs?</div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_39ac_78ac_60ee_3d36" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWk-k86u2xSErzI_zYRrAKNKdBk5SHfnsghSmXk_9PF8t3LDCu5emHghdzopEBJjgbnUigtv6vGJlpS_lltd6FKayITM0O2y2bqrGJ6ZlopJZezylefJHorHIsoJJ8Hd_FGko/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 555px;" title="" tooltip="" width="555" /></div>
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<i>Strawberries (Fruitful Virgin)</i></div>
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I divided and transplanted some of our strawberries this year. I am surprised to see that they are still bearing fruit in August. My little boys so enjoy plucking them from the planters whenever they are outside. </div>
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<img alt="" height="558" id="id_b9d3_c2f7_5e51_8ad6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XCGfImU34Rc/WYuf-TIV6GI/AAAAAAAAHo8/3tWQsfYfXuYRiuTU00Fu_Q6mzCoG5u2zACHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 640px;" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /></div>
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<i>Gaillardia</i></div>
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Do you see the busy bee? The bees really seem to like the blanket flowers, penstemon, and scabiosa. Seeing them flying all around my garden makes me wonder if beekeeping might be something that our boys would enjoy. </div>
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<img alt="" height="640" id="id_db83_5889_5739_a2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Jqz5B4u5wF4/WYuf-eFdVeI/AAAAAAAAHo4/ex9RztxozQARY2CATRC4j_-Jz0Aei39fQCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 480px;" title="" tooltip="" width="480" /></div>
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<i>Rose 'Peace</i>'</div>
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A friend of mine gave me this Rose in 2003 when I miscarried at 19 weeks. The first year it produced three blooms. This year, the blooms haven't stopped coming. </div>
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What do you have growing in your garden?</div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-5271755580843821062017-07-24T13:23:00.002-07:002017-07-24T13:23:33.080-07:00Cha-Ching!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I hope that nobody else's daughter feels this way about their dad. ;)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHiVjZ9lb9-wpJw3-8M0zDxb-JfrPZmKxunasS94tZjZ21ZW7tq-4q_oXM9ROhC0ot8NOmjfWiO1ggGg5e1S5uFcj3gW4_-Z61q8713PMDIUMw7NX4y2HdguwbNFiW_I8jlVh/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHiVjZ9lb9-wpJw3-8M0zDxb-JfrPZmKxunasS94tZjZ21ZW7tq-4q_oXM9ROhC0ot8NOmjfWiO1ggGg5e1S5uFcj3gW4_-Z61q8713PMDIUMw7NX4y2HdguwbNFiW_I8jlVh/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-88247314855595611682017-06-30T19:19:00.001-07:002017-08-15T09:10:26.839-07:00Encouraging Confession<div style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A few weeks ago, a friend asked me how we encourage our children to go to confession. I shared the following with her. I am sharing it here just in case it helps any other mothers. </span></div>
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<img alt="" height="479" id="id_47_1ebd_c0a3_e262" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i-ULYbx79nE/WYuJD0FE9GI/AAAAAAAAHoM/d64HN_b-q0ET_1Hd7u5-hTlpFh2jA-8rgCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" title="" tooltip="" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">In my family, we make it a habit to go to confession on the First Friday/First Saturday of each month. If any of the children want to go before then, they can do so. Having your child review his conscience each night before bed is a good habit. We can help our children by focusing on the 10 Commandments with prompting questions (Did I always listen to my mommy and daddy?) and letting the child reflect on each one quietly in his head. We have been known to go over the 10 Commandments with questions on our way to Mass. Don't ever tell your child that he has sinned. Do gently help him see that he has done so by encouraging him to examine his conscience at the end of each day. </span></div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-26257241946867376372017-06-28T19:35:00.000-07:002017-06-28T19:35:10.438-07:00Summer Garden<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NjsBQJ_jXP0/WVMHVJJnFQI/AAAAAAAAHlc/A2WQZck5b6UG-WJO4xW6Yf4Qx_QBzROQACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" id="id_e3ed_2ab3_fe6a_b764" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NjsBQJ_jXP0/WVMHVJJnFQI/AAAAAAAAHlc/A2WQZck5b6UG-WJO4xW6Yf4Qx_QBzROQACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /></a> <img alt="" id="id_9879_266b_55b3_e5f5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ECwnOZQhmuc/WVMHXL6UOOI/AAAAAAAAHlg/Aox70lVyThsPElQCRF5_H-aDdLEdepLMwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /> <img alt="" id="id_dd26_5864_91bb_71f9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tK-aB78k-MI/WVMHUoCZJyI/AAAAAAAAHlY/tbgiJOB6ci0BCVDBwWR3fpQcfLRok1pOwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /> <img alt="" id="id_cecc_1e7d_1c57_1f7b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P8RYjKnWfsU/WVMHQBkV1qI/AAAAAAAAHlM/TK-nAcp9zx0lGuVc2cpdcOBSyLMRslJ2gCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /> <img alt="" id="id_c866_5bce_7b4a_1869" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l-73Vxfgy78/WVMHSdfbBTI/AAAAAAAAHlU/V0woyLzjuAwU8GXTJfoNppkNsMAo7p5GACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /> <img alt="" id="id_d8a3_b7e9_17f3_6f07" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8pUJk3lbxj8/WVMHQ74Rg8I/AAAAAAAAHlQ/y3d4irVTV-UWN1SAexiQlNeRo4sVTmVmACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJY7BSCiWLqxOWOIsgR3JmliAvN1UwP5WPayI70n-uzR7_0JkPTIlk-Ld1fj9_dE1mwK6VXUe-2UoU5TguCwmvsMyoTsr2RFAlDICQPfFHu9-nCPdMYDKwPrjn-a1EITTS48e/s400/IMG_4653.JPG" /> <img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoYgLFG6ZUY5nANp0kEKfPo6d3uiYxvkUqdnMw20ThhrlDxoZP7MwVvqdHY6-LqHSexARY8vsB6WzbNUlevdqAStavVQ2c6xysKc_bsN7-Ls5mx-yHQIBW93XEhY6uDESOq19/" width="300" /> <br />
<img alt="" id="id_338c_fc65_a680_87a8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yRw4dbGVtQw/WVMHYzxaohI/AAAAAAAAHlk/Vf8zwKb4jLYUrcnwdq-65LQa-Iza5IGcgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /> <img alt="" id="id_7d68_fc10_21b5_6381" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c2NuqcG_Czw/WVMHey9OtUI/AAAAAAAAHls/EbUYNfX3i0QbPHdnFsLp5U7rL1wLwEl2QCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--_h080NdUGg/WVMHfG7XVgI/AAAAAAAAHlw/cTysA4CxYc0nQ66eYhCfnNafwhGwVt6qQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" id="id_d4ea_3cee_7227_d05c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--_h080NdUGg/WVMHfG7XVgI/AAAAAAAAHlw/cTysA4CxYc0nQ66eYhCfnNafwhGwVt6qQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuFUTFcxzDb7uCMAGdzMqG2sCJcUASO8vokXHLrOLkcxwDREBWRqFMoZO3ZcDzNWTLqVPRX8VuVBbcs9Fhx0HDeNn63OuCNtnflySvQ5szeI-uaSmhk5epHpC9vbYvx6bjN67/s1600/IMG_4652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIuFUTFcxzDb7uCMAGdzMqG2sCJcUASO8vokXHLrOLkcxwDREBWRqFMoZO3ZcDzNWTLqVPRX8VuVBbcs9Fhx0HDeNn63OuCNtnflySvQ5szeI-uaSmhk5epHpC9vbYvx6bjN67/s400/IMG_4652.JPG" width="300" /></a><img alt="" id="id_aa67_4a68_9d83_bd9a" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWzBsnyrpZ4nH9Xnafue1YCnJPGx9iqJBIlgb8h0CbCF71mk803M5iPA02f7_QffrmWmlnRT99hMBdNlcNdJvIjKC1W8HiepWWFPSJLDFzqhIglo6-KYPNXFHa8Cfl1FvvjNB/" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /> <img alt="" id="id_b85e_8236_1fc7_eafc" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjOcCH_4fEnSBS9N3UZev0lV2HyLCr9LMt35rxo_O-XtBDvmZHMkfADCL_FwAAZjq2lwJfDs5L1BZKg0GPP2sa4SioUdVwWS-HIOA5_b3y0XFaI35-fzUevtly4Yu1OZS98zr/" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /> <img alt="" id="id_523e_9608_d172_a5f4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DdZsMxUzORs/WVMHNd60KFI/AAAAAAAAHlA/eDzcIde4-RQTTSJfXI7fz3B69hvyao7hgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 298px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2a1mZx1kOZqtZPWzV-sAYpssNYeMBUvMjNqQ_pesjSsQ95Ydk2HHPsBTGYz3d1ly8EMk9_nEYhkWZ15oPYijdADqAe8qzamsHVsD7vb0adwpE6lY1Nhp-QYxDOS54nsCRITO/s1600/IMG_4650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2a1mZx1kOZqtZPWzV-sAYpssNYeMBUvMjNqQ_pesjSsQ95Ydk2HHPsBTGYz3d1ly8EMk9_nEYhkWZ15oPYijdADqAe8qzamsHVsD7vb0adwpE6lY1Nhp-QYxDOS54nsCRITO/s640/IMG_4650.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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One of the benefits of gardening is having a ready supply of cut flowers to place around the house.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos copyright Anthony</span></div>
Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24982971.post-47210344920431852522017-06-01T20:59:00.002-07:002017-06-01T21:02:48.851-07:00Spring Flowers<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpReUIYipTmSCJjPAxnJBPp4xCUBOPyBLy2P0fkqo2IxypWH_GSu2Xl3-Vmwc_mWreCWCFmkBcKb7NC5Vk5P5BVGrpmP84B5nO9GjK0C3O3W-OY_TMGJeQf1fRjLHnlpXVvJa/" /> </div>
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409884162620456941noreply@blogger.com0