tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73207787287683116332023-11-15T23:29:11.582-08:00Expectantly LivingLauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-30471439739526160382012-05-13T19:09:00.000-07:002012-05-13T19:09:51.133-07:00Mother's Day...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: normal;">It comes every year, this day. Every year I think it won't hurt. Every year I'm wrong. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">"You can't see anything properly while your eyes are blurred with tears." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1069006.C_S_Lewis" style="text-decoration: none;">C.S. Lewis</a>, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/894384" style="text-decoration: none;">A Grief Observed</a></i></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">This year I weep for new reasons. I weep for the woman I am becoming that my mother never knew. I am learning, I am breaking, I am changing... She prayed for this, she longed for it. I weep as I come to know more of motherhood, I come to know more of her love for me. Her unbelievable love for me that I could not have fathomed until now. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Will this day ever not hurt? I think not. For as I clutch my baby girl, I cannot help but think of how she must have held me so. And it's too late, too late to tell her, "thank you." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">I know I am surrounded by women aching as I... my dearest Kelley, <a href="http://thegypsymama.com/2012/05/mothers-day-for-the-motherless-daughter/#comments" target="_blank">this precious sister</a>, and so many, many others. They understand. We are motherless daughters. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">“I thought I could describe a state; make a map of sorrow. Sorrow, however, turns out to be not a state but a process.” </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1069006.C_S_Lewis" style="text-decoration: none;">C.S. Lewis</a>, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/894384" style="text-decoration: none;">A Grief Observed</a></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">I believe it's alright to still grieve. To groan for heaven. To wish I could have her back. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">You keep track of all my sorrows. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You have collected all my tears in your bottle. </strong></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">You have recorded each one in your book. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">~Psalm 56:8</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">“When I lay these questions before God I get no answer. But a rather special sort of ‘No answer.’ It is not the locked door. It is more like a silent, certainly not uncompassionate, gaze. As though He shook His head not in refusal but waiving the question. Like, ‘Peace, child; you don’t understand.’”</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1069006.C_S_Lewis" style="text-decoration: none;">C.S. Lewis</a>, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/894384" style="text-decoration: none;">A Grief Observed</a></i></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgw7Xp2CE4guPiC4mxGVe5kp8VZ57JoC8cajkBwOFPYRjC8vsf7Qxdl39CsHvBrYudvWFbfZXUO1qLGjNNOMpiuQ9iRNaqP7BnBSxYkU5MkRA48NSzvWoyTsUqrlubBvzOlvn1Os2d9wQ/s1600/43910001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgw7Xp2CE4guPiC4mxGVe5kp8VZ57JoC8cajkBwOFPYRjC8vsf7Qxdl39CsHvBrYudvWFbfZXUO1qLGjNNOMpiuQ9iRNaqP7BnBSxYkU5MkRA48NSzvWoyTsUqrlubBvzOlvn1Os2d9wQ/s640/43910001.JPG" width="640" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">I think she'd be so proud. I think she would </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">l</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">ve</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> you, my precious friends... and <u>how</u> she'd love your babies. She'd love them all. I know she would love the <a href="http://www.anticipationandbeyondcafe.com/?page_id=10" target="_blank">Cafe</a>, its mission and the exciting things on the horizon. She'd love the desires that are growing in my heart that I never knew were there. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">She'd be so proud of my siblings, their growth, graduations, lessons learned, performances, challenges, business accomplishments, auditions, & stumbles... So much is because of her. We all "rise up and call her blessed."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Yet, I acknowledge - this breaking, this learning, these knew passions - might all in fact be due to her absence. Due to the Lord's gentle and constant love, His all knowing and beautiful care of me.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">My little one, bringing joy to all she meets...</span><br />
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<br /></div>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-63595190568579839162011-06-11T21:28:00.000-07:002011-06-11T21:28:49.023-07:00Where will the Journey of Motherhood take me?<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.growingkids.org/">"Where will the Journey of Motherhood take you and what will the name Mom come to mean to your children?" </a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">This has been a trying week. I am tired, exhausted really. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I feel as if I have entered a new world - as if real parenthood is beginning. I am watching my baby disappear. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Up to this point I have been feeding her, clothing her, loving her, praying over her, etc. But now I am beginning to see my daughter, my Beatrice emerge. This has brought insurmountable joy, but also a sense of sorrow. To realize that she is a sinner, as much as her Mommy and Daddy, is in the strangest way, heartbreaking. To understand that the default position of each of our hearts is to turn away from the very one who created us, deeply saddening. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Motherhood is beginning. I have been weighed down this week with a sense of urgency, and sense of heaviness as I ponder the role I find myself in. W</span><span style="font-size: small;">hat does it mean to instil discipline in my little one? To train her to have self control, patience, kindness, etc? I read this quote recently and found it encouraging. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_153315476">"</a><a href="http://www.growingkids.org/parenting-topic-index/character-training/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Discipline is not action taken in moments of correction but an ongoing relationship with... parent and child. Discipline is a process of training and learning that fosters moral development. It comes from the same word as disciple—one who is a learner." </span></a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br />
I think that defines the stage we are in right now; perhaps for the rest of my journey. We are learning, both Beatrice and I. I to be the parent, she to be the child.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The next few months promise to be challenging as I meet face to face with my daughter's emerging will. I pray, oh I pray, for wisdom, for patience, for gentleness, and above all, for an eternal perspective. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Beatrice, I love you so my sweet little one. May you continue to bring joy to all you meet. May the Holy Spirit stir in your heart a deep longing for our Father even now as you sleep. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Isn't this a beautiful thought... <a href="http://www.growingkids.org/">"The home environment that has a mother preoccupied with heaven as much as earth, is a Mom destined to shape kingdoms."</a></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are a few photos from the last month or so, the moments are truly fleeting. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9FUlsEV9WZ9CDp4JhRs9xaWVav91uYzkmRDtvEAvva612gAyGL9mpyl1iTryzo6cO627QRwIwMuptRPtwORN1Xe1qEM9dIte_cdXVoYcnIy6CtPCoKP5Rvgq0Ge2aA05kFhPxtvh_KcN/s1600/Tea+Party+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9FUlsEV9WZ9CDp4JhRs9xaWVav91uYzkmRDtvEAvva612gAyGL9mpyl1iTryzo6cO627QRwIwMuptRPtwORN1Xe1qEM9dIte_cdXVoYcnIy6CtPCoKP5Rvgq0Ge2aA05kFhPxtvh_KcN/s640/Tea+Party+2.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At our first Tea Party in honor of the Royal Wedding.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_A2fy8GgBUwq-CP2H9ULMITaUjhbLCG0mBL9m8LA0B1PR3_WD2NochWV5e6s3TC8COedfiVh-HKEDZNeaZ4qF7IXWdrzHBruk02YtYihQvT8v1Ex40dT6CODxfErbnTzxvSNDfYDOxRH/s1600/Tea+Party+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_A2fy8GgBUwq-CP2H9ULMITaUjhbLCG0mBL9m8LA0B1PR3_WD2NochWV5e6s3TC8COedfiVh-HKEDZNeaZ4qF7IXWdrzHBruk02YtYihQvT8v1Ex40dT6CODxfErbnTzxvSNDfYDOxRH/s640/Tea+Party+1.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was very sunny, but she is still beautiful.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONng7s6Eh-lyGJrtCPZF0O-529FaQ1uqJmeb11Gx1-WEPfAaYEnrsAd8yrKe5aR5CEyAfoFNMIc6PmL9k9ClBEnR8OV1k9q5q124adBlYkZ_hC9FW8mZ5Mv_y8RJCMnTUlHjYWzovFeTi/s1600/Furrowed+Brow+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONng7s6Eh-lyGJrtCPZF0O-529FaQ1uqJmeb11Gx1-WEPfAaYEnrsAd8yrKe5aR5CEyAfoFNMIc6PmL9k9ClBEnR8OV1k9q5q124adBlYkZ_hC9FW8mZ5Mv_y8RJCMnTUlHjYWzovFeTi/s640/Furrowed+Brow+1.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love her furrowed brow. She has her daddy's expressive eyes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhVif4JdXQcTQeZ5LMfIsFCJqmwbX70IRLSFmQ7pXziEdZft5IUjPxLoGPg7aHuOGf350DAQYr8FVOoMlr0648EhOPxjjRzkll09mnsvWgKv33iQy9A9F_vRme_rfsDqGeDusdDVG743R/s1600/Apple+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhVif4JdXQcTQeZ5LMfIsFCJqmwbX70IRLSFmQ7pXziEdZft5IUjPxLoGPg7aHuOGf350DAQYr8FVOoMlr0648EhOPxjjRzkll09mnsvWgKv33iQy9A9F_vRme_rfsDqGeDusdDVG743R/s640/Apple+1.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some apple on a hot day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhUX3VEMc9CqsSAseO3cCcyVWRFJD-v-hPRjD5rGoz13MDWMeW5pXG5Hv_ouY4mXyn2MWohyHdlWcWA3V7qQG9EG2muep_ltVp0C6GduejX8_AU8WUM0-UV_nbCGd3M0RAe6_i038ED4h/s1600/Park+Swing+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhUX3VEMc9CqsSAseO3cCcyVWRFJD-v-hPRjD5rGoz13MDWMeW5pXG5Hv_ouY4mXyn2MWohyHdlWcWA3V7qQG9EG2muep_ltVp0C6GduejX8_AU8WUM0-UV_nbCGd3M0RAe6_i038ED4h/s640/Park+Swing+2.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her first time in a swing... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6L7E9tagR6qBZQRJ0NOcZKoawBna8qkzdIeyxKZknCwZ5tWJPsfNegD9Njn3WLk5QV73m7aUmo5gzosRjstiSsQxMGbD0g__bK2KXir0wkVQSbJyvwHdLNeA4bHjReakVs7K8aNmBKFe/s1600/Park+Swing+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6L7E9tagR6qBZQRJ0NOcZKoawBna8qkzdIeyxKZknCwZ5tWJPsfNegD9Njn3WLk5QV73m7aUmo5gzosRjstiSsQxMGbD0g__bK2KXir0wkVQSbJyvwHdLNeA4bHjReakVs7K8aNmBKFe/s640/Park+Swing+3.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She loved it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtR3PxvgYTK7nxXAKWHPbttVUi0068ORbfHagklWCKmkzAi_uXleY8WpvwQiNlddhvUsHY2xdQsTzemMaKvf6zV2UCiHdKFnFBQhqiiq5R0rRFnUsqOf23EZeH860ylUeCa4bdFpIJE2P/s1600/Strawberry+Festival+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtR3PxvgYTK7nxXAKWHPbttVUi0068ORbfHagklWCKmkzAi_uXleY8WpvwQiNlddhvUsHY2xdQsTzemMaKvf6zV2UCiHdKFnFBQhqiiq5R0rRFnUsqOf23EZeH860ylUeCa4bdFpIJE2P/s640/Strawberry+Festival+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Strawberry Festival... kissing a calf. She adores animals.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcsd6-jdyns3e3Ji7QGiFwaKX2q7NyDry0YGoI7Pub7zy2jbgqhHVK1liExwLfHM5-MiTdwOVlO7fQcJSbR7iAGG1eJvXS8a4E0_BAtbmRyQyubZJ9DTwzVM7BgpMzhKaINafZPT1_Cd5/s1600/Strawberry+Festival+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcsd6-jdyns3e3Ji7QGiFwaKX2q7NyDry0YGoI7Pub7zy2jbgqhHVK1liExwLfHM5-MiTdwOVlO7fQcJSbR7iAGG1eJvXS8a4E0_BAtbmRyQyubZJ9DTwzVM7BgpMzhKaINafZPT1_Cd5/s640/Strawberry+Festival+2.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Observing the chicks... </td></tr>
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<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-17302435528069646372011-06-03T11:39:00.000-07:002011-06-03T11:39:21.090-07:00Joy through Spinach Basil Pesto with Garlic TopsWhen we were first married I didn't know how to cook at all. I truly mean this. My mother tried for years to instruct, but in my pride, I wouldn't have it.<br />
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Over the past four years I have worked hard, with comical failures along the way, and now I can <i>manage</i>. I am so thankful for this. Many of you know how I love to share a meal with family and friends. I believe there is something about food that draws us together, begs us to linger, and soothes our frantic souls. Now that I am able to contribute to that aforementioned food, my joy has doubled.<br />
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This past week a <a href="http://kellanstudios.com/">dear friend</a> held a birthday party, requesting her guests bring only wine and a favorite appetizer. This pesto is that. It's not always an appetizer, of course, but became one. And one of much talk; seeing as another dear friend had given us garlic tops the day before. You can read about garlic tops <a href="http://localfoods.about.com/od/greengarlicgarlicscape/a/aboutgrgarlics.htm">here</a>. What fun that this simple food became a conduit of laughter and birthday happiness. <br />
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<a href="http://kellanstudios.com/"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCmHJlQyXf6x4fJob-QuSY3Z0BBgu7NWX3xZdXQ6d57Bq9StQ4MUEBSQiT9o8_XlcKbhywVUhoCw16ba3vj4tA8R-A2MFHC0EhnN4wPBai8YUlGoEe3uc_dkANnl5vaMtjbl6SYlm5ORs/s640/258205_10150322567419148_43652559147_9717229_1391818_o.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Thank you <a href="http://kellanstudios.com/">Kelly</a> for the beautiful photo, now here is my simple version of this classic recipe... <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Spinach Basil Pesto with Garlic Tops</span><br />
<div style="border-top: 1px #ccc dotted; margin-top: 20px; width: 300px;"> </div><div class="ingredients" style="margin-top: 10px;"> <h3> Ingredients</h3><ul><li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> 3 - 6 cups baby spinach leaves (depending on desired flavor)</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> 3/4 cup fresh basil leaves</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (freshly grated is best)</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> 2 tablespoons garlic tops, chopped (can substitute 4 cloves chopped garlic)</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest</li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"> 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil</li>
</ul></div><div style="border-top: 1px #ccc dotted; margin-top: 20px; width: 300px;"> </div><div class="directions" style="margin-top: 10px;"> <h3> Directions</h3><ol><li><span class="plaincharacterwrap break"> Blend 3 cups of the spinach along with basil, Parmesan cheese, garlic tops, salt, pepper, lemon juice, lemon zest, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a food processor until nearly smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula as necessary. Add the remaining spinach and drizzle the remaining olive oil into the mixture while processing until smooth. </span></li>
</ol></div>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-8806661646391306592011-05-26T08:20:00.000-07:002011-05-26T10:17:57.431-07:00Voice: an instrument or medium of expressionI have been struggling to find my voice. My new voice. My voice as a Mother. I knew myself before. I had learnt of myself as a woman, as a daughter, as a friend, as a student as a wife, as an expectant mother. But who am I now?<br />
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This world that I have entered into is beautiful, fascinating, overwhelming and frighting all at once. I feel so naive. So immature. How can I speak with any authority on anything? How did I speak before? I know so little. I am learning. Oh, I am learning so very much. But it all comes so quickly I feel there is hardly a moment to sit and write it down before I am learning something new and of much greater importance.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAdc9UIDBuYBqVqP7l52Py-djrS-ImYP3_LY2OUl216kZL7DzmaSoVtjiZ8IdDMop5P5mqBfc2JDGSR9cNkr-_JhegI72VWnSX7DgSF74jtNCxXeWhBzB9ksOP2zluLw4D6dcZ31yDUDT/s1600/176155_800295135528_55706167_42211141_6069517_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAdc9UIDBuYBqVqP7l52Py-djrS-ImYP3_LY2OUl216kZL7DzmaSoVtjiZ8IdDMop5P5mqBfc2JDGSR9cNkr-_JhegI72VWnSX7DgSF74jtNCxXeWhBzB9ksOP2zluLw4D6dcZ31yDUDT/s640/176155_800295135528_55706167_42211141_6069517_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
A mother. Me? A mother is one with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. A mother is one with experience and skill. The precious author, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Children-Teach-About-Childlike/dp/1573834122/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306422008&sr=1-1">Mike Mason</a> says, "If only I had understood that being a father is not something I needed to become but something I already was... Over time I could grow in maturity as a father, but I would never be <i>more</i> of a father than I was at the outset." I long to grasp this.<br />
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Motherhood didn't arrive gradually, like pregnancy. It didn't grow gently and predictably within a span of 40 weeks. No. It came all at once. In one fantastic moment the magnificent burden of motherhood was placed on my shoulders.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSNe6btMY1X-prOLWJ40IVHUOdhEbvcTp8RAz1foyXu1HrMjwITy_TL489d3Nsnjii__cRpKkanTXOqa5gJj0GPv7oc9nkuttLckX36CGN0kDKtO9iF5FUncY1vv9eOIE2mMasjQTv3jb/s1600/690332-R2-13-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSNe6btMY1X-prOLWJ40IVHUOdhEbvcTp8RAz1foyXu1HrMjwITy_TL489d3Nsnjii__cRpKkanTXOqa5gJj0GPv7oc9nkuttLckX36CGN0kDKtO9iF5FUncY1vv9eOIE2mMasjQTv3jb/s640/690332-R2-13-24.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Shortly after my last post on Christmas Eve we came to the realization that Beatrice was small, too small. She spit up excessively, not painfully, and mostly with a smile on her face, but the first few months of this year were spent trying to determine the cause. This was so hard for me. My first true challenge in the role of "Mother" and I had no idea what I was doing. I wrestled with God, with all the advice I was given and with my own doubts and insecurities. I didn't feel I was in a place where writing here would benefit anyone.<br />
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Nothing at all was wrong with her. We began feeding her vegetables at 4 and 1/2 months. Which broke my heart (I had wanted to wait). But as a <a href="http://homeandbody.blogspot.com/">dear friend</a> graciously reminded me, "it is not about my desires for her life, but God's." Once she began her solid foods of avocado and sweet potato, the breastmilk stayed down and she began to "look" healthy again. She is still small, but I am learning to smile when people comment on her size, knowing that this is how the Lord made her. She is my "little one".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtacN80TUnqRpK2kl1rDHpZxhF8z89Qv1lZ8dpnmp53Tbu6IdN_QcIgBnEO-iFdctQgSGqEZtHsJdCWcONGLmBGLuWHz0zl5Dd1kG2AsgCs6l2H9djE-eaNTceDYTGAYYlkqLuhpYaiwZ/s1600/690332-R2-38-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtacN80TUnqRpK2kl1rDHpZxhF8z89Qv1lZ8dpnmp53Tbu6IdN_QcIgBnEO-iFdctQgSGqEZtHsJdCWcONGLmBGLuWHz0zl5Dd1kG2AsgCs6l2H9djE-eaNTceDYTGAYYlkqLuhpYaiwZ/s640/690332-R2-38-00.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br />
But what I have struggled with is this. How do <i>I</i> share our struggles and trials without sounding like I ungrateful for what I have been given? And how do <i>I</i> rejoice in the small moments of joy Beatrice shares with us every day without sounding like I am full of pride. The internet can so quickly become a place of comparison, which many mothers (including myself) have said can be such a cause of grief and despair. Wouldn't it defeat the very meaning of my <i>little one's</i> life? She is my "bringer of joy", not sorrow.<br />
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So I will continue to struggle; for I have been granted that freedom.<br />
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I have not found my voice yet, no, but 4 years after my precious mother's entrance to heaven, I can tell you that I am more grateful than ever for her constant pursuit of wisdom and knowledge. She was not perfect, but she was <u>my</u> mother. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1CdYSfv1naa1X_w3riN7mTh1hsEcsYqGSKvwBs_CmeGUFazxDF9ApNV4iWDaB2kD1HwsmfN-7rZkb9qMeFN2Gtwee6UC06Wpg5YUu3i_KQboawMXW_6yzntwNaEQLc3lrzKLOXINlxUv/s1600/230178_898886288068_55706167_42729989_908084_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1CdYSfv1naa1X_w3riN7mTh1hsEcsYqGSKvwBs_CmeGUFazxDF9ApNV4iWDaB2kD1HwsmfN-7rZkb9qMeFN2Gtwee6UC06Wpg5YUu3i_KQboawMXW_6yzntwNaEQLc3lrzKLOXINlxUv/s640/230178_898886288068_55706167_42729989_908084_n.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><br />
I have been pondering the following two sentences this morning as I seek to parent my every growing little one who will be 8 months tomorrow. I will leave you with them... what a glorious burden indeed. <i>"There are certain virtues worth acquiring, such as kindness, goodness, gentleness, charity, honesty, honor, and respect. Since these qualities are not naturally found in a child's life, they must be instilled and nurtured into his or her heart."</i> -Parenting AuthorLauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-13849657856670533432010-12-24T22:11:00.000-08:002010-12-24T22:11:33.960-08:00Come, thou long expected Jesus...<pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;">Never have I felt such expectation for Christmas. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></pre><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></pre><div style="text-align: left;"><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sitting here in the glow of our tree with my little girl sound asleep in her bed, I remember what it was </span></pre><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">like to yearn for her, to long for her, to expect her. How I pray that I can begin to desire my Savior in the </span></pre><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">same way. </span></pre></div><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></pre><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">He came to earth as a baby as small as my Beatrice; as helpless and as fragile. As utterly dependent upon </span></pre><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mary as Beatrice is upon me. What great condensation. What a miracle. To be so utterly human when </span></pre><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">he was so fully God. </span></pre><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></pre><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am amazed at the joy my tiny daughter has brought to my soul; shouldn't the Savior of the World </span></pre><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">bring me more...</span></pre><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></pre><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh Father, I rejoice on this Christmas Eve that you did indeed come to set your people free.</span></pre><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></pre><div style="text-align: center;"><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.</span></pre><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></pre><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdEQ5_2m6BdSqgMXorWRCnoFwV5vtPESbdhUFOIxUtqMatcYWSA-ZaqFxUVZAB_wJawt18uW6HXjadUGoDx7Rr4lzNUGTZvu75Q08sBSZD3ZGEsl6QfsSD1ouPVmGvKd8MG20o5T4ZdX-/s1600/127215-R3-16-16.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdEQ5_2m6BdSqgMXorWRCnoFwV5vtPESbdhUFOIxUtqMatcYWSA-ZaqFxUVZAB_wJawt18uW6HXjadUGoDx7Rr4lzNUGTZvu75Q08sBSZD3ZGEsl6QfsSD1ouPVmGvKd8MG20o5T4ZdX-/s640/127215-R3-16-16.bmp" width="432" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><pre style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></pre></div><pre><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></pre>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-1492257594904365982010-12-15T20:30:00.000-08:002010-12-15T20:30:02.422-08:00Joy Comes in the Morning...<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;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She will be 12 weeks old on Monday. I simply cannot believe it; she has taught me so much. There haven't been many moments to write, but there have been many moments worth writing about. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We have come a long way since that first month. I am continually amazed at my ability to learn new truths daily. I do believe my greatest lesson since I last wrote has been that I <u>must</u> relinquish control and trust that God will be glorified in my weakness. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope to catch up on the last weeks over the next few days, but for now, here are a few photos of our "bringer of joy" in the morning... our favorite time of day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-56659989270016179612010-10-23T09:39:00.000-07:002010-10-23T09:40:08.278-07:00Thoughts & Photos from Our First 3 WeeksOn Monday she will be 4 weeks old. My, what lessons I have learned in the first 3 weeks. <br />
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Week 1) His grace is sufficient.<br />
The love of friends is miraculous.<br />
In the darkness His truth shines the brightest.<br />
His mercies are new every morning. <br />
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Not many people talk about the hormonal ups and downs after birth. No matter how beautiful the delivery, hormones will still adjust and leave an emotional mother in their wake, thank you Leslie for preparing me.<br />
Breastfeeding is beautiful, perfect and wonderful, but it still takes work - hard work. It is more than worth it, but it does not come without determination, and support. Thank you Laurie for your unending education and love.<br />
Functioning on little sleep is almost comical. Eating is crucial, and remembering to nearly impossible. Laundry builds and houses get dirtier faster than ever before. Thank you Kelley for taking better care of the three of us than we ever deserved, we could not have made it without you.<br />
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As a new mother I learned more in a 24 hour period than I typically learned in a month. God was faithful to sustain through that first week. I could not have done it without my sisters in Christ who surrounded me, uplifted me, and labored for me. Thank you to each of you for your prayers, time, love, smiles, food, laughter, tea, phone calls, emails, etc. You were truly instruments of His grace.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwP12GiJhtNbB5EpYM18LZLqCv-cjVfJXDzsjrD6kx2zd2pb4-3un72kyQxUDg_5ixiRk6kk7nF4PENjQM93cIIn4UUMeBdDWbXJFfJWyF9BNK0xMz4TfBEBdF101zxYd-2WjEi9KB2bq/s1600/15240016.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwP12GiJhtNbB5EpYM18LZLqCv-cjVfJXDzsjrD6kx2zd2pb4-3un72kyQxUDg_5ixiRk6kk7nF4PENjQM93cIIn4UUMeBdDWbXJFfJWyF9BNK0xMz4TfBEBdF101zxYd-2WjEi9KB2bq/s1600/15240016.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
Week 2) The deeper that I go in the valley, there His glory shines so bright.<br />
I am blessed with an amazing husband. He is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.<br />
My own expectations are my worst enemy.<br />
When friends tell me they take joy in service, I must trust them. <br />
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I expected too much of myself. I thought I would be "on top of things" by week two. I thought I could "do it on my own". I was wrong. I needed help. It was so hard to ask for, but the outpouring was beautiful. Through all of this I was reminded of my frailty and His power. I was humbled and encouraged. Without the darkness, I truly would not have seen the beauty that surrounds me.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivESTkm8o6iWi5rT0uUbJdf81G1_Rwf3Sl-InaQDeQ4xzHOUDwD9xqVnsIQ8vRfh-d0ojQWNxySWWaLlJNH-th_UOOU2umy8nHhOLPL_FfN3Who9UQtf-ctqPJF8_Ybnf9ZIShSx2twRBZ/s1600/124755-R2-12-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivESTkm8o6iWi5rT0uUbJdf81G1_Rwf3Sl-InaQDeQ4xzHOUDwD9xqVnsIQ8vRfh-d0ojQWNxySWWaLlJNH-th_UOOU2umy8nHhOLPL_FfN3Who9UQtf-ctqPJF8_Ybnf9ZIShSx2twRBZ/s640/124755-R2-12-14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Week 3) When I am weak, He is strong. <br />
All of creation declares His majesty.<br />
Joy comes in the morning.<br />
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The clouds will part and the sun will come out! The beautiful October weather, fresh air and sunshine did wonders for my soul. Walks and coffee are beautiful things, despite "blow-out" diapers and crazy spit-ups. We spent a lovely family day on Saturday the 16th having breakfast crepes at the Community Market and apple doughnuts at Morris Orchard. To me, it signaled the beginning to our new way of living. What craziness, what fun. God is so good. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9z7vH35AGK9RPRCXNExGfqD1SRk4rhyyllu1dA2RmS5aizA2GwRymRVCiZSkI4owPf8diD_ysUm7q7ivpLIZB8ybKMFvlj8EU0ek1FrO5o5kRQcDIQEFVSuzSp0QOdmo9M0M31jwQut-/s1600/014_15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9z7vH35AGK9RPRCXNExGfqD1SRk4rhyyllu1dA2RmS5aizA2GwRymRVCiZSkI4owPf8diD_ysUm7q7ivpLIZB8ybKMFvlj8EU0ek1FrO5o5kRQcDIQEFVSuzSp0QOdmo9M0M31jwQut-/s640/014_15.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
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I love these next photos with all my heart. Thank you Chris and Whitney.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsnkftQFLRxaKD3gYWF6WjxWyeldzKOjmf_V_gtVJb7CzSduCl1FOsEc3wr6gacW-Bg8n9r-bjRFoNpX8JtqoNh6kE4vx0rozY0JRMKV2E93aU3gktGbaJbYp-_8_bwpUTN9Rh-rDie95/s1600/021_22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsnkftQFLRxaKD3gYWF6WjxWyeldzKOjmf_V_gtVJb7CzSduCl1FOsEc3wr6gacW-Bg8n9r-bjRFoNpX8JtqoNh6kE4vx0rozY0JRMKV2E93aU3gktGbaJbYp-_8_bwpUTN9Rh-rDie95/s640/021_22.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90DHITcRydboAedpCerzX7yYMWx2fUG4cwUNw7Fa0Klq3NEgNPjc8fXGZeIDWwuyipaCpq-6Mk2swJLpgj0ezCjykNli2zIhxKnthHW4j0Fc2Se-kgcRU42A6Q8Em05nahFuhCWxagcoS/s1600/022_23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90DHITcRydboAedpCerzX7yYMWx2fUG4cwUNw7Fa0Klq3NEgNPjc8fXGZeIDWwuyipaCpq-6Mk2swJLpgj0ezCjykNli2zIhxKnthHW4j0Fc2Se-kgcRU42A6Q8Em05nahFuhCWxagcoS/s640/022_23.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-20443912294366016882010-10-21T10:53:00.000-07:002010-10-21T10:57:12.891-07:00A Glimpse of Her Birth...<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;"></div><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;"></div><span style="font-size: small;">These photos are like precious gems to me. They are all we have and I am glad. This birth was sacred to me and I couldn't be more thankful that my husband was by my side, and not behind the camera. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I vaguely remember him capturing these first three photos as I neared the end of a contraction</span>.<br />
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My dear Mauresa photographed these next two images. I love their dream-like quality. That's precious Barbie there in the first image, taking such beautiful care of me and Adam. In the second photo you'll see our silhouettes as I lean on my loving husband. <br />
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Adam took these last photos are of our first latch. I love my little curly head girl, and the way my wedding band is slightly in focus. I cannot thank <a href="http://www.anticipationandbeyond.com/Services/BreastfeedingSupport.aspx">Laurie</a> enough for her excellent coaching at this crucial point. This moment will be with me for ever and ever. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39luJ1w6ZUBL-iiEiz2YXs18rid-NdgBX8eF4kYDe4DDM9NBa8zweVhahlJE6oBLcyPZOEG2Kp3XHnjYybuoAOT7Jg1FM-zdiqlxBGyuS6vlZOaXY4lmdd7FtJr65mkTSmIg2dsLfzrB8/s1600/15240008.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39luJ1w6ZUBL-iiEiz2YXs18rid-NdgBX8eF4kYDe4DDM9NBa8zweVhahlJE6oBLcyPZOEG2Kp3XHnjYybuoAOT7Jg1FM-zdiqlxBGyuS6vlZOaXY4lmdd7FtJr65mkTSmIg2dsLfzrB8/s1600/15240008.jpeg" /></a></div>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-80759935169144854942010-10-14T17:42:00.000-07:002010-10-15T08:56:34.367-07:00Her Story (Part Two)<span style="font-size: large;">The Birth of Beatrice Elise Barnes </span><br />
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I don't talk much about my birth choices... but before I tell the rest of the story of Beatrice's Birth I must inform you of my decisions. And they are simply that, <i>my</i> decisions. This is not a decision I feel is right for every woman. But it was right for me. My decision is not <i>better</i> than the decisions of other mothers. It was best for me. I do not judge the decisions made by any other mother, I ask that you do the same for me. <br />
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We chose to plan a home birth with <a href="http://lynchburgmidwifery.com/">Certified Professional Midwife</a>, Leslie Payne and <a href="http://www.anticipationandbeyond.com/">Doula</a>, Laurie Flower. <br />
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Here is a link to an excellent, albeit a little "new-agey", <a href="http://www.thebirthmovie.com/">film</a>, I agree with their final statement. "Accept your responsibility. Find YOUR truth." This is ALL I believe. We as mothers are responsible for seeking out our truth.<br />
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OK, I'm off of my soap box. Now onto the story of this precious girl's arrival.<br />
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At the end of the last post it was 6:00pm and we had just checked in with our dear friend and <a href="http://www.anticipationandbeyond.com/">Doula</a>, <a href="http://www.anticipationandbeyond.com/">Laurie</a>. I tried my hardest to rest, but quite frankly I had missed my window for resting while I was gallivanting around T.J.Maxx! I attempted to lie down, but found it was more comfortable to pile all six of our pillows into a tower on our bed and rest my head while sitting up. <br />
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Adam went downstairs around 6:45pm to make himself a bowl of grits and relax, apparently thinking things were about to slow down. Poor guy. At 7:00pm, right as Extreme Home Makeover was beginning, I believe I experienced my first Active Labor contraction. Sitting was no longer an option, and neither was ignoring these signals from my body. It was time to get to work. I jumped up and let my body move through the intensity, then called downstairs to Adam.<br />
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He came bounding up the stairs and I informed him it was time to call Laurie, Barbie, our dear friend and Assistant, and Mauresa. Things had changed and I needed my support.<br />
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Laurie said she was on her way, Barbie had just gotten off work (another praise!) and she would be over with a few of my food requests, and Mauresa would be there as soon as possible with the dinner we were to have eaten together in her home at 8:00pm. <br />
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I believe at this point Adam brought me one of my birth Cd's, (which I had <u>just</u> made a few days prior), filled with quiet worship music. I changed into my "birth outfit", consisting of my bikini top, a pink jersey dress and a pink headband, (inspired by my friend, <a href="http://geffkenbabiesrock.blogspot.com/">Erica</a>). <br />
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I must tell you that even though I could acknowledge that things had changed, I truly did not believe I was in Active Labor. I kept thinking that everything would end, that I was making a fool of myself by calling everyone over, and that I would just be changing out of my birth outfit later that evening.<br />
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After changing I continued to try and rest in between contractions. I will tell you that I began crying tears of joy. How is it that God could be so gracious. How could my child be coming at this moment? Her father is home, it was a rainy chilly night, everyone was available, my house was clean, everything was in order. I was not deserving of such joy. But she was coming. My bringer of joy was on her way.<br />
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Laurie arrived at 7:30pm, I remember her holding me and crying with me. What a miracle. My little girl was coming. She asked Adam to pray over me and over the birth and then it started - I entered "labor land". The following times have only been relayed to me by those in attendance. I literally felt like I was in a land of my own. And what a wonderful place it was! <br />
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Laurie worked through a few contractions with me upstairs, but as soon as Mauresa arrived with food, she insisted I head downstairs to eat! I ate Mauresa's delicious soup in the den on my birthing ball, while Laurie kept asking for "carbs" for me.<br />
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After eating some soup and <i>bread</i>, I starting working with the stairs - climbing up and down sideways while holding on to the banister, with deep squats on every step. After doing a few sets of singles we switched to two at a time working with the contractions. Laurie suggested we labor in Beatrice's nursery for a little while, using her glider to alleviate some lower back pressure. What a joy it was to be in my soft lit nursery bringing my little girl into the world. Barbie arrived and quickly prepared some wonderful warm compresses for me. I was able to rest my head and arms on the glider and rock back and forth on my knees while Barbie and Laurie applied the compresses. Adam prayed again and I felt surrounded by love and support.<br />
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I wanted to start working with my body again. We went out into the hall and this would be the point when my ballet background kicked in; I thought it might, and hoped it would, but I didn't know to what extent. I used a section of wall and did deep grande-plies in second, breathing deeply and working with each contraction. I loved this so much that they suggested I continue what I was doing, but in our shower. We have a wonderful shower with two shower heads, and the lower one can be aimed right on your back.<br />
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I entered the shower around 9:00pm and adored it! They brought my music in, lit candles and kept refilling my water bottle again and again. I was never alone, yet I was granted the utmost privacy. I always had a supporter right outside of the shower, they rotated, Laurie, Barbie, Adam, Laurie, Barbie, Adam. They read scripture over me, prayed for me and Beatrice, brought me frozen peppermint compresses (heaven!) and surprised me with a book full of prayers and notes from friends. In between contractions I was able to talk and laugh, and during I was fully engaged in the work of my body. I believe it was at this point that I began to talk to my body and to Beatrice. Don't laugh, but in this deep guttural voice I started saying things such as "down", "open", "good girl, Beatrice", "come on little girl", and so much more. I began using my entire body, not just my legs, but my arms and hands to stretch and almost dance. It helped immensely to keep my body loose and to keep me from tightening anything. I also found my animal moan at this point. I loved hearing it echo on the shower tile, I loved how it reverberated inside me, it felt so wonderful. It reminded me of vocal/acting relaxation exercises. <br />
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<a href="http://lynchburgmidwifery.com/">Leslie</a>, my spectacular <a href="http://lynchburgmidwifery.com/">midwife</a> was called at some point and arrived around 10:30pm while I was still in the shower. Apparently I was in the shower for a whole 2 hours. I depleted the house of its hot water supply, and still remained in the shower. I vomited up all of my extra large lunch from that afternoon, (again, it felt so wonderful), and still I remained in the shower, I absolutely loved it! Leslie, didn't mind my singing or my shower dancing or my other-worldly birth chants, she just watched me carefully and asked to hear Bea's heartbeat every once and a while. Oh, the heartbeat! Every time she would put the doptone up to my belly and I could hear my little one's strong heartbeat it was as if I was filled with a brand new dose of energy.<br />
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Around 11:00pm, they informed me that the den and the birthing tub were ready. They had Adam climb in the shower with me to share a couple of moments with me before we transitioned to the next phase. It was like a dream. He massaged me with organic lavender body wash and told me what a magnificent job I was doing. What a gift.<br />
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I remember getting out of the shower and someone wrapping me in a towel. I remember Adam trying to help me down the stairs, but I must have been in the middle of a contraction, because I wanted no assistance.<br />
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Then it happened. I walked into my dream come true. For months I had dreamed of this moment, and it was here. I had written a "wish list" for my birth during my fabulous <a href="http://anticipationandbeyond.com.blue.mysitehosted.com/Services/ChildbirthEducationClasses.aspx">Childbirth Education Classes</a> but never did I imagine it could look so beautiful. There were candles everywhere, the windows were down and the sound of pouring rain and a cold soothing breeze were slipping in, there was a roaring fire in the fireplace (my one request everyone thought was crazy, but it was PERFECT for this cool night), my carefully chosen music filled the air, and surrounding the huge birthing tub were the best support team anyone could ask for. I burst into tears. I couldn't believe that this was the night God had ordained for the birth of my child. This was the night he would temper judgment with mercy. <br />
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I climbed into the tub, and after an hour in a cold shower, it felt incredible! I felt so light and buoyant. Everything I had heard about laboring in the water was accurate. I loved it. It did change the feel of labor completely, but with coaching and encouragement I was able to feel the transition and change with it. I continued to move, moan, dance and speak in my low birthing voice. Not once did I feel ridiculous or silly. Everything felt so right. I could feel my body working to deliver my baby, and I wanted to help as much as I could.<br />
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At around 1:30am they suggested I get out of the tub and try to use the restroom. I complied, but as I was climbing out a contraction came on, and I had to MOVE! I apparently took off around the house circling and circling the main floor; shaking out my limbs and marching to keep anything from tightening. I must have seen the blinds were all open, and I was appalled! Barbie scrambled to close all of the curtains and out of the corner of my eye I saw her fly across the dining room. I later found out she had tripped over Laurie's suitcase! What dear friends I have. After the contraction came to an end I attempted to use the restroom, but to no avail. Adam told me that they needed me to rest and relax at this point (apparently I was working too hard). They tried to have me lie down, but I despised that position, instead we moved to the den doorway, and while I hung on the door frame, Laurie and Barbie swung my hips from side to side as I moaned, "surrender". (I wish everyone could hear my husband's impression of me at this point.) The doorway failed to let me do what my body wanted, so I grabbed Adam and hung from his neck while continuing the same rocking. This felt so great, and truly helped relieve my lower back pressure.<br />
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I climbed back into the tub, and again, things changed. After throwing up again, (my poor helpers - I vaguely remember them scrambling to find something for me to vomit into), there was a moment where I lost my confidence. But with one look into the eyes of my amazing support, and one request that they assure me I could do this, I was back on track. I began chanting my new mantra, of, "I can do this. My body can do this."Adam climbed into the tub with me and in between contractions they had me recline into his arms to rest. Again, it couldn't have been more beautiful.<br />
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At 2:40am I had a contraction different than all the ones before and at the end I felt my body pushing. What?! You must remember I had thought earlier that I was only fooling myself, and somehow I still couldn't believe it was true. It felt like only minutes had passed. In astonishment I told Leslie I felt like I needed to push. I knew she was going to tell me I was crazy, so I asked if she needed to check me or something. She told me that there was no need. I had known what my body needed till now, and that Bea's heartbeat was wonderful, so I needed to do what I needed to do.<br />
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Pushing naturally isn't really pushing. It's more like falling. There is nothing you can do to stop it. Your body just does it. I hate to compare it to this, but it's truly like vomiting. Your body has such power that you can't resist it. It is impossible to fight against it, and you simply need to relinquish your control and let your body do what it needs to. With every contraction I had 3 or 4 rushes of pushing. I could literally feel her descending. It was magnificent. The pressure was insane and the stretching sensation unlike any other, but all together amazing. <br />
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1 or 2 contractions into pushing I felt my water break. What a feeling. It was as if a giant balloon had just burst inside of me. After 5 or 6 contractions I asked Leslie to help me understand where she was in the descent. She described how she was working her way underneath the pubic bone. It felt so right. After 5 or 6 more contractions it was truly time. <br />
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With my husband holding and supporting me from behind they coached me into a position where I could use my whole body. With the next contraction she began to crown. The next contraction brought her a little farther. The next contraction even farther. Leslie told me to feel the top of her head and I couldn't believe it. It was such a small portion, what a miracle the overlapping of an infant's skull is. Over the next few contractions the rest of her head began to emerge until I could put my entire hand over the top of her head. AMAZING!! I think that so many talk about this point feeling like a "ring of fire", and a burning sensation. But I truly could only call it stretching, crazy stretching.<br />
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Then, at 3:38am, Monday the 27th of September, a day before her due date, there in the birthing tub, it happened. With the next contraction and the 4 rushes that accompanied it I pushed, pushed, pushed and then SHE BURST FORTH!!! All of her! It was if she exploded into this world! No head, and then waiting for the next contraction for her body, no, my precious little one came flying into Leslie's arms.<br />
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I couldn't believe it. Here was the child we had labored in prayer for. I couldn't believe it. Here was the child that grew in my womb, that was bringing joy into such darkness. I couldn't believe it. <br />
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She was immediately placed in my arms and when I looked up, every eye was full of tears. My husband, her father, was sobbing tears of joy as he held us both. Here she was. I swear I could hear the angels singing, and my mother joining in the chorus! She was so beautiful. My daughter. My Beatrice Elise. <br />
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Praise to the Lord<br />
Who o'er all things so wonderfully reigneth<br />
Shelters thee under His wings<br />
Yea, so gladly sustaineth<br />
<b>Hast thou not seen how thy desires e'er have been<br />
Granted in what He ordaineth</b><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"></div><div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"></div><br />
<span class="verse-num" id="v09001026-1">1 Samuel 1:26-27 </span>"And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>. For this child I prayed, and the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> has granted me my petition that I made to him."<br />
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<span class="verse-num" id="v09001028-1"></span>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-60315117727045003772010-10-02T14:13:00.000-07:002010-10-02T14:13:30.571-07:00Her Story (Part One)<span style="font-size: large;">The Events Preceding the Birth of Beatrice Elise Barnes </span><br />
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<i>What joy has come to our home. What a miracle I have beheld. What glory belongs to my God. </i><br />
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It's hard to know where to begin. So I'll start with the preceding events that make the story of her arrival even more spectacular.<br />
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Adam has had weddings scheduled for the weekends surrounding her due date since before her conception. Many have asked us if this frightened us at all, and we have honestly answered, "no." The Lord is fully aware of my husbands profession. We firmly believed that if it was His will that Adam were to be present at Beatrice's birth, he would be there. We prayed daily and daily Adam would lovingly tell Beatrice, "now Beatrice, you need to come when Daddy says to come." And Daddy always "said to come" anytime between September 26th and October 5th, but preferably the earlier the better, so that he could spend as much time with her as possible. Now of course he said this in jest, but just keep this in mind.<br />
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Tuesday morning the 21st of September I woke up thinking my water was leaking. It wasn't, but boy did it put me in preparation overdrive. I had always thought that Beatrice would come late, so I was dilly-dallying on the final details. Not after Tuesday. Throughout the week I finished all of my birth projects and then on Saturday, September 25, as Adam shot his final wedding, and motivated by a friend's kind offer to help, I cleaned and organized our little house from top to bottom. <br />
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At 5:00pm, that same Saturday, I lost my mucus plug. I called Adam, and left a message informing him there were no contractions accompanying this occurrence, but I wanted him to be aware. I called my Midwife and Doula (yes, it is finally time for you to know the details surrounding this birth), and while they were both excited, we all agreed this meant the baby could come any time - now or later. I kept cleaning.<br />
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I finished my last task as Adam walked in the door. He was done and I was done! As we crawled into bed at midnight we both said, "Ok, Beatrice, it's time!"<br />
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I began contracting shortly after we went to bed, but this was common for the evenings, and since I had been cleaning so vigorously I was not surprised. Throughout the night as I rose to use the restroom (too many times to count at that point) I noticed they still hadn't stopped, but again, no big deal. At 6am Sunday morning I woke Adam and asked if he would massage my lower back, again, cleaning must have made me sore.<br />
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He massaged me for a while and then we got up and prepared for church. I told him I really thought it was nothing, and if it was "something" worshiping would definitely keep my mind off of things. Besides there was a catered lunch we were to attend and I was looking forward to it!<br />
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It was a beautiful fall day and I enjoyed layering up in a sweater and boots! We got our Starbucks and met up with friends who were visiting our church. On the way to church Adam asked me to at least text Laurie, my Doula and dear friend, with an update. I obeyed.<br />
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I can't tell you how splendid it was to worship my living God, who 9 months ago granted us the desire of our hearts.<br />
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I chatted with friends after church, all the while "plie-ing" and moving. Once we were back in the car, Adam insisted I call Leslie, the Midwife, Laurie, and Barbie, friend and Assistant Midwife. I felt ridiculous, again, I just KNEW I wasn't in labor. I left messages with all three and went and joined dear friends over a deliscious lunch! I asked Adam for seconds, thinking that if for some strange reason "this was real" I should eat as much as I could.<br />
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Leslie called back and suggested I head home after this lunch and nap. Either I was up for another night of contractions, or active labor was on the horizon. She asked me to stay hydrated, and she was glad I was eating such a large lunch.<br />
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I chatted with my dear friend Julie, and at Adam's prompting, finally headed out around 2:30pm. <br />
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Instead of going straight home, Adam asked if I would instead enjoy a rainy day drive with the heated seats. We had a few errands to run for the nursery, and I couldn't see why not! We drove to T.J.Maxx and I began to time my contractions on the way. Adam had previously downloaded this nifty Contraction Timing App for his I-Phone, and it was nice to just tap "start" and "stop", and let it do all the recording.<br />
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We walked through T.J.Maxx selecting frames for her carousel photos Adam shot in NYC, as I timed contractions and did deep plies when no one was looking. <br />
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We drove to Joe Beans (where I got a decaf caramel spice latte) then to Lowes where I sat in the parking lot timing contractions and Adam ran inside. At this point I was noticing that these silly contractions were all roughly 50 - 60 seconds long. Through our excellent childbirth classes I knew that contractions of this length were worth noticing. This frustrated me slightly, and I began to think I was timing them incorrectly. I called Laurie, who was also our childbirth instructor, and left another message.<br />
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Once we finally reached the house at 6:00pm Adam and I both spoke to Laurie who told me I was indeed timing correctly and she thought active labor was beginning. WHAT?! She urged me to rest in a completely dark room for an hour and to have Adam call her at 7pm with a status report.<br />
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This is where I feel "Part One" ends, and "Part Two" begins.... so I'll leave you in suspense.<br />
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Remember, this was Sunday, September 26th. To God be the Glory, GREAT things he has done!Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-34963626766059653322010-09-23T21:26:00.000-07:002010-09-23T21:26:32.337-07:00Room Transformation #3 (One step closer)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: small;">I completely forgot that we took these pictures last Sunday... I get to share one additional sneak peek! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmAWPRAtJUKIui5MNvQGFG-7OYBOu2DjzAvePOhkgq-KdGVXmRawecW2ZWFI0p5QanVl5vhxHRolmQmYOvF0Vh1wOmB32ThnRz7WBKDXyEBcmiONT1r8ULTp8TJ4YXOyaW5kGuoovN7-m/s1600/Room-Transformation-banner3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmAWPRAtJUKIui5MNvQGFG-7OYBOu2DjzAvePOhkgq-KdGVXmRawecW2ZWFI0p5QanVl5vhxHRolmQmYOvF0Vh1wOmB32ThnRz7WBKDXyEBcmiONT1r8ULTp8TJ4YXOyaW5kGuoovN7-m/s1600/Room-Transformation-banner3.png" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">Adam deserves such praise for all of his hard work at this stage of the project. I have had a vision in my head of creating a "ledge" out of molding on the one long wall since the beginning of the pregnancy, and on Sunday, he made it happen. I couldn't be more thrilled. Thank you, darling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I'm not going to go into any of the little details on this post, but you're going to see some of little things we've been working so hard on... </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here is a shot of the room in complete disarray, and me looking very pregnant. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTX1yRQvBQtZYayTjMG5QvulySRiaDOIYBh1RUD821dXK1ejzw3ODB6Rn1rKPHz5P-Ptc1b1NPNPX7mvtrFk5qUYLJ0PAX_wjwaDnVe4AZoDHwT3R2mpwGHD-uYpseSpt-s6boa2ZYc-O/s1600/IMG_0002.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTX1yRQvBQtZYayTjMG5QvulySRiaDOIYBh1RUD821dXK1ejzw3ODB6Rn1rKPHz5P-Ptc1b1NPNPX7mvtrFk5qUYLJ0PAX_wjwaDnVe4AZoDHwT3R2mpwGHD-uYpseSpt-s6boa2ZYc-O/s640/IMG_0002.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Again. I was so very excited that all the planning was coming together! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-OnvlQ8vv_76ptwsoVVDWFtJTt2Vz8dhpAUmjWH9SDTeRZh7MhfUcHBg4q_PzADh0S1C6s5Amc-2ucyUxMfoO44ZQ2Aho_QssjmdMdEuOtwYj8mjrpCJJK_iYyL5HiMGrVoOk90AK9PI/s1600/IMG_0003.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-OnvlQ8vv_76ptwsoVVDWFtJTt2Vz8dhpAUmjWH9SDTeRZh7MhfUcHBg4q_PzADh0S1C6s5Amc-2ucyUxMfoO44ZQ2Aho_QssjmdMdEuOtwYj8mjrpCJJK_iYyL5HiMGrVoOk90AK9PI/s640/IMG_0003.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Look at that ledge! I'm so excited! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdGM6Sul7sgEBKlqyIj7EyoljyF9eTlSPHgJ3X2IqUaJogRvr1r6-IXGM3XfryOkNOgDqmABIyaYVGJ7WqjkHmhyphenhyphenIZ4xmDqYYxuguKVS4J1xLABdJUGKCiij6yZCe-bCj_TfyscRKHEyp/s1600/IMG_0006.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdGM6Sul7sgEBKlqyIj7EyoljyF9eTlSPHgJ3X2IqUaJogRvr1r6-IXGM3XfryOkNOgDqmABIyaYVGJ7WqjkHmhyphenhyphenIZ4xmDqYYxuguKVS4J1xLABdJUGKCiij6yZCe-bCj_TfyscRKHEyp/s640/IMG_0006.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Hopefully we will be able to take the final photos on Sunday. I am hard at work on the last details. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Thank you for sharing in our excitement. </span>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-38949675561966095162010-09-22T16:44:00.000-07:002010-09-22T18:53:07.473-07:00Room Transformation #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These photos are from the nursery painting back in August, but they are the in-between, so they deserve to be posted before the finished product photos. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2w9c_nfxWG0_K1i-If0nc6sRuDDcO5jo2OkTqsm04WxvR5dyRfX-JQtc9GfhRN4CcHNcYAQtuat-dSlgW7WmJjEUPCwJ7w8s9SIq6R6MzDBDnCgaaKH86Q_XvvqHTmqrk9_GW62UPWHm/s1600/Room-Transformation-banner2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2w9c_nfxWG0_K1i-If0nc6sRuDDcO5jo2OkTqsm04WxvR5dyRfX-JQtc9GfhRN4CcHNcYAQtuat-dSlgW7WmJjEUPCwJ7w8s9SIq6R6MzDBDnCgaaKH86Q_XvvqHTmqrk9_GW62UPWHm/s1600/Room-Transformation-banner2.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can get a good idea of the space and the beautiful soft "ballet pink" Adam created especially for his baby girl. We couldn't be happier with the end result. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you look closely you can see the bedding peeking out from under that sheet... and the amazing chair!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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Gorgeous! Barely pink. Soothing, inspiring and just the perfect color for all the art that is now on her walls!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are putting some last finishing touches on the room before taking the final set of photos... but I promise to have them up as soon as possible. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh, sweet girl, we can't wait to meet you. </div>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-6164460557384206332010-09-22T08:28:00.000-07:002010-09-22T08:28:41.658-07:00NYC What is it About You?<span style="font-family: inherit;">Through a few miraculous events and God's generous provision, at 34 weeks Adam whisked me off on one final trip to New York as just the two of us... There are not many places in the states we love more than the city. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We rode the train there and back and made our only "goal" to expose ourselves to as much art as possible. We rested, ate, walked, visited galleries, and enjoyed a simply exquisite trip together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Instead of writing about the fabulous time we had, I'll just let the story be told through his photos. Thank you Adam for documenting our trip with such fantastic images. I will forever treasure this trip in my heart. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was beautiful... </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjK0ibIlBIP1A7tEY_ImwwLS3o1uJmEFdLwdK6ml1nK3sXFr7se8Uzruw4hcwt2ejkLfk2yLkBvAbCGyCub9guqUBqvgR_wBpI8i5rJze_8kWaSDH3NP7QPmUxPx9RlFWjWWc4OrVOV3w/s1600/196686-R7-16-17A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjK0ibIlBIP1A7tEY_ImwwLS3o1uJmEFdLwdK6ml1nK3sXFr7se8Uzruw4hcwt2ejkLfk2yLkBvAbCGyCub9guqUBqvgR_wBpI8i5rJze_8kWaSDH3NP7QPmUxPx9RlFWjWWc4OrVOV3w/s640/196686-R7-16-17A.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-69531320593058291332010-09-18T18:38:00.000-07:002010-09-20T08:38:41.654-07:00Preparing to become childlike...<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;">As I near the end of this journey I feel less and less like I am preparing to become a mother and more and more like I am preparing to become childlike.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">As Mike Mason says, "Being childlike involves mastering the art, not just of remembering, but of keeping the past so fresh it seems to be one with the present. Children have no past. For them there are no "good old days"; there are only good new days. When things have always been this way there is nothing to which to compare the present. <b>There is no past, there is only now.</b> And 'now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation'" (2 Corinthians 6:2) </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I long to see this world for the first time, through her fresh eyes. Again, Mason says, "A baby is fallen and sinful, but she is also more innocent than her parents. Isn't this because babies have been with God more recently than we have? They have just come from beholding his face."Ah, what a glorious thought!</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oh, this is what I desire. To be taught by my daughter. To see her experience the beauty of this world for the first time, again and again with such delight, and yet to know so much more than I.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">As we get closer and tasks are getting accomplished, I find myself caring less and less about the "things" to be done and more and more about preparing my heart for her.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, yes, there will hopefully be a post this week with nursery updates, because it is truly transforming into a joyful yet peaceful sanctuary, and I want you to be able to share in our excitement! Our pastor once said that, "Joy is Peace Dancing & Peace is Joy Resting". This is exactly the type of room we have sought to create, and by the Lord's grace it is coming together.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am feeling wonderful. Beatrice is growing and growing and I couldn't be more grateful. Her body is almost completely distinguishable from the outside, which is thrilling and comical at the same time.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I told someone today that I am so curious to know her story, or at least it's beginning. The preparations are almost complete, and so now my darling girl, it's up to you. We can't wait to meet you and watch as the Lord writes the story of your life.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">My Beatrice, we continue to pray that you will always be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and that you will hear his voice. That you will be confident in the Lord's calling and that you will truly bring joy to all you meet.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I also hope to do one post on our beautiful trip to New York several weeks ago. But here is one photo Adam took for her nursery while we were there... </span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-13375385694997713612010-09-02T08:52:00.000-07:002010-09-02T08:52:24.731-07:00Photos at 36 Weeks...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"On our own we are nothing; all light shines through relationships. We cannot obey Jesus' word to be come childlike without loving an actual child. He or she will be our guide into this forgotten land."</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Mike Mason - "The Mystery of Children"</span></span></span><br />
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</div><div class="clearfix edit" id="photocaption_parent" style="color: #333333; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; zoom: 1;"><div class="UIImageBlock clearfix" style="display: block; zoom: 1;"><div class="UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_ICON_Content" style="display: table-cell; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: top; width: 1000px;"><div class="photocaption"><div class="clearfix edit" id="photocaption_parent" style="display: block; zoom: 1;"><div class="UIImageBlock clearfix" style="display: block; zoom: 1;"><div class="UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_ICON_Content" style="display: table-cell; padding-top: 1px; vertical-align: top; width: 1000px;"><div class="photocaption"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQz476BBVeTxUqdasXFZcSuKXlrLWmRaI_bFmJKi_9IQx21Dg0Z8gCFPT5QVtPc73njJ21B5c16mBtGAWnmYKUhlQSG8nWlXCtev3iurNBVIjxWUYeCxEYZJ4g-Mr61-EhR9vqXRn5cHEe/s1600/IMG_0332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQz476BBVeTxUqdasXFZcSuKXlrLWmRaI_bFmJKi_9IQx21Dg0Z8gCFPT5QVtPc73njJ21B5c16mBtGAWnmYKUhlQSG8nWlXCtev3iurNBVIjxWUYeCxEYZJ4g-Mr61-EhR9vqXRn5cHEe/s640/IMG_0332.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br />
</div></div></div></div></div><div id="phototags_row"></div></div></div></div></div><div id="phototags_row" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></div>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-18497995247415232412010-09-02T07:31:00.000-07:002010-09-02T07:31:38.142-07:00A New Perspective...Thank you, thank you.<br />
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Each of your comments, personal notes, facebook messages, etc. comforted me in ways unimaginable.<br />
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Today I am filled with a rest and peace, knowing that I am surrounded by a community of women who have gone before me and who are currently walking this road with me.<br />
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I stumbled upon this beautiful song... It delivers the same message many of you so lovingly shared with me. <br />
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I can't wait to hold her in my arms. I have a feeling I will say the same words as the artist, "I never knew His love.. Until I knew <i>this</i> love".Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-16076461909698137512010-08-31T20:40:00.000-07:002010-08-31T20:40:49.869-07:00Fears and Revelations...I have a confession...<br />
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I haven't written because I've been afraid of my own expectations... that each blog post must surpass the last. (Which might be physically impossible after my father's letter.) That I must be thoughtful, and reflective. That I should only write if I have something worth saying and the time with which to say it poignantly.<br />
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Well, I no longer have the time or the energy, and evidently this has been the week where I have discovered that my expectations are unreasonably high.<br />
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Time has flown by. Simply flown.<br />
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There is so much I had "wanted" to do, so many tasks "to complete before the baby". And now I find myself just wanting to ponder her impending arrival. To sit and feel her move within me and imagine her little heels and bottom as they shove against me.<br />
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She is coming... and quite honestly, she doesn't need anything but Adam and I. So why is it that I want to have so much accomplished? Why am I fixating on the tiniest details? Why am I so concerned with remembering something after the fact?<br />
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These days are so precious. So limited. Why am I spending them consumed with fears? Has not the Lord promised to provide? Shouldn't I be living these days, these last days, in joyful expectation?<br />
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No, the nursery has not progressed... the walls have been painted and that is all. The to-do list remains incomplete. The books have not all been read. But my child, my sweet Beatrice, is growing beautifully. I have been granted good health by my heavenly Father. And I am surrounded by phenomenal support.<br />
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Rather than ponder all that has yet to be done, may I instead reflect on this quote by Mike Mason, author of "The Mystery of Children":<br />
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"A child <i>is</i> a revelation from God. Prophets receive visions, mystics ponder the ineffable, great preachers deliver God's word. but the greatest revelation comes through flesh and blood. <u>Every child is fresh, unheard-of image of God</u>, and children keep coming and coming because the world has not yet conceived of all the fullness of God's glory."<br />
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Amen and Amen!Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-48499972650749608962010-08-12T06:47:00.000-07:002010-08-25T05:24:49.036-07:00A Letter from my FatherMy Daddy sent me this letter yesterday... I am posting it in hopes that it might encourage you today.<br />
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May you, my dear friends, be free to enjoy and love as Christ did.<br />
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I love you daddy. Thank you for being such a beautiful example of parenting to both Adam and I.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My Dearest Lauren,<br />
<br />
As I was reading today's chapters in my 'reading through the Bible in a year' plan (remember when Mom used to do that?), I was assigned, among other chapters, I Samuel, Chapter 1.<br />
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I know you have referenced this story and these passages numerous times over the last few months and I imagine you have pondered them deeply in your heart as well. They speak of many things, don't they? That God really cares for us. That sometimes His answers are not 'No', but rather 'in My time, dear child'. That He really does delight in bringing us joy. That He truly hears our prayers...It's remarkable how the trajectory of life sometimes takes off in unexpected and strange directions. Even more astonishing (to me anyway) is how quickly it all seems to pass. 'Poof'- like Brigadoon - it vanishes. Just like that. Where did it go, I wonder?<br />
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God has been pleased to bless you and Adam, yet another time, with Beatrice. I think you know I couldn't be happier for you both! It's been a while to be sure, but I remember quite fondly the days of playing peek-a-boo and reading books and changing dirty diapers. Such thoughts bring me smiles...many of them. I look forward to reliving some of those moments with Beatrice.<br />
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And I also want you to know that I understand how bittersweet this is for you. I've told you at least once (I believe) how Mom was brought to tears at the sight of a young grandmother holding her grandbaby as she and I waited together in a lobby at Virginia Baptist Hospital. She knew, even though I was still believing for a miracle, that she was witnessing with her eyes one of the few blessings of life that would never be hers to enjoy. It truly broke her heart.<br />
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But because I knew your mother better than anybody else in the world, I knew exactly what she was thinking as the tears started to roll down her still beautiful but sadly taut and emaciated face. She sized things up quickly (as she was always able to do). Mom didn't take any more or less time then than she ever took when faced with a situation that was not to her liking. Disappointments to your mother, like most other things, were in short order run through her remarkably tight theological grid. Your mother, although imperfectly, truly attempted to allow her theology (how things REALLY are according to Scripture) to inform her actions and attitudes.<br />
<br />
She cried as she watched the young grandmother caress and embrace her grandbaby. But she regained her composure. Not because she feared how she might look to the strangers and onlookers about, but rather because she already had processed her feelings - theologically. Some, and I sadly fear many, would say that people don't really do that. But they do, Lauren. And God's Word tells us to, as you well know. Your mother did it.<br />
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Mom believed that we didn't DESERVE anything, except that is, the condemnation that our sin and rebellion brought upon us. And so, even through her tears, even in the midst of her pain, she subordinated her emotions and feelings to the Sovereign Creator in whose presence she knew she would shortly be. For above all things she knew that she had been 'translated from darkness into the Kingdom of His marvelous light.' And measured against this unspeakable blessing, save being in His very presence herself, every other desire or want or hope or wish or expectation simply paled.<br />
<br />
Regardless of what her culture insisted, irrespective of what her emotions and feelings were creating inside of her, despite what her Christian friends with poorer theological training might say...she KNEW that her God was good and that His goodness was not to be measured by (just) the pleasant and favorable things He brought to her. I know for a fact that being a grandmother (especially to your children!) would have been one of the supreme honors of her life. But I also know for a fact that she didn't feel as though she deserved it.<br />
<br />
Thus, she was not left the option to pout, whine, whimper or throw a 'pity party'. To do so would have been an extreme display of ingratitude for her. For she knew that she had already, in fact, been handed the greatest blessing of all -- Christ in her, the hope of glory! She believed that the habit of presuming upon God's goodness would truly break the heart of her Lord who, through His death, had already made her a joint-heir of His kingdom! And so it was against the truthful statements found within the pages of Holy Writ that she decided to weigh all of her expectations and wants and desires and even the disappointments of this life. She knew her Bible well enough to know 'that the present sufferings of this world didn't compare to the glory of what was awaiting her.'<br />
<br />
Furthermore, if her theology wouldn't allow her to feel sorry for herself, neither did it allow her to dwell on misfortune. To choose to linger too long on the questions of 'WHY?' (sin of commission) or to not earnestly enough seek to get beyond the providential ordering of our lives (sin of omission) is to imply of the One Who loves us supremely that He, in fact, must not. For if He did love us, we are tempted to ask, why would He allow such things to happen?<br />
<br />
For your mother, such questions and attitudes were...well, yes...theologically inappropriate. Scripture taught her that her Heavenly Father is not arbitrary. NOTHING, she believed, could happen to her unless it was for her own good as well as His glory. She knew all too well that those who spend too much time asking 'WHY?' have that much less time and energy to look and watch and anticipate the good which He providentially ordained would spring forth. Or worse yet, preoccupation with one's own misfortune results in an inability to feel or notice or enter into our neighbor's pain.<br />
<br />
Trusting God when things go as we would have them is a rather simple thing, don't you think? It's when things don't go our way that our character is tested and our understanding of God is heightened.<br />
<br />
What your mother grasped so well, again according to Scripture, was that our peace and happiness is found neither in having what we want, nor getting what we think we deserve. Happiness and joy are found in obedience and trust. There is a marked difference between the two perspectives. For, as the Good Book states, 'His ways are not our ways'.<br />
<br />
And then, of course, there is the 'flip side' of embracing good theology. And this, I think, is where Mom really benefited. Good theology begets good theology. If your mother truly believed that she didn't DESERVE anything good, then she was free to fully ENJOY everything. That was her secret, my dearest Lauren. Nobody knew that better than me.<br />
<br />
I pray that you'll feel your mother's 'freedom' during the last eight weeks of your pregnancy. I pray also that you'll realize how to best honor her. I think she would tell you not to dwell on the fact that she won't be here (physically) with us and Beatrice, and to rather pray that God would use this experience to somehow give you a profound ability to see, feel and minister to the pain and hurt of your fellow man. I think she would say to focus on (and verbalize back to God) the innumerable blessings of your life and not on the profound but singular disappointment of not having her present. I think she would warn you that to many women who have never even known their real mother (or whose relationship with them was abusive) you might appear rather spoiled, self-absorbed and ungrateful. I think she would remind you to be sure to count your blessings in light of the millions of women whose lifelong dream of having a baby will never come true.<br />
<br />
Your mother believed with every fiber of her being that God was not obligated to grant her anything good. And she embraced fully the sovereignty of God in all things. That was her secret to ENJOYing 'all things richly.' And it is something that she desperately wanted all of her children (and husband) to embrace.<br />
<br />
Let's honor her, my dearest.<br />
<br />
Daddy</span></i></span>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-43397179673476387502010-08-07T18:50:00.000-07:002010-08-07T18:50:02.168-07:00The Arts and My BeatriceBecause of my mother, I have a passion for the arts. Oh, I pray, Beatrice might share this same love.<br />
<br />
Today I had the opportunity to watch 29 children perform in a production that I was blessed to choreograph. What joy it brought me to see their smiles as they created living art. For the past six weeks I have also been able to teach the beauty of ballet to 3 & 4 year olds. How splendid it was to see their eyes sparkle as they danced their own versions of famous ballets such as "Sleeping Beauty" and "Petrushka".<br />
<br />
Our Lord is the ultimate creator, all we must do is look around to see the "performances" that surround us. The thunder of His storms, the songs of His birds, the light of His sunsets.<br />
<br />
My husband and I share this artistic passion, and for that I am so fortunate. Beatrice, may you grow up surrounded by beauty! A most favorite quote of ours is by Jerram Barrs, and it reads:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Our work in any field of the arts will be imitative. We will be thinking God's thoughts after Him—painting with His colors; speaking with His gift of language; exploring and expressing His sounds and harmonies; working with His creation in all its glory, diversity, and in-built inventiveness. In addition, we will find ourselves longing to make known the beauty of life as it once was in Paradise, the tragedy of its present marring, and the hope of our final redemption. All great art will contain this element of being an echo of Eden: Eden</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">in its original glory, Eden that is lost to us, and Eden restored."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">How appropriate this statement is after my earlier post this week. This world in which we live is tragically marred, and here I am, longing to know the beauty of what once was. May the art I create always lead back to Eden! Sweet Beatrice, may you long for the day when Eden is restored. </span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFk_OQMON4JAyr90T6AjG-aAkeBKrr6I5ln8SKfaFpXB9kUy6RL1iC8AvbcBYu67jB3FfXwR0eEEz9Zrb-J4ggeZNyMymACsu6jdyv_yxFazYtaUIvWWFBU-zvZ9fu_oX5zU2ShQDNT5T/s1600/597373-R1-32-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFk_OQMON4JAyr90T6AjG-aAkeBKrr6I5ln8SKfaFpXB9kUy6RL1iC8AvbcBYu67jB3FfXwR0eEEz9Zrb-J4ggeZNyMymACsu6jdyv_yxFazYtaUIvWWFBU-zvZ9fu_oX5zU2ShQDNT5T/s640/597373-R1-32-34.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-10218456446391407372010-08-03T15:39:00.000-07:002010-08-03T15:59:54.906-07:00I need her...Here I am... with only 8 more weeks... and I need her. I need my mother so badly.<br />
<br />
I am overwhelmed. I don't know what to do. I don't feel ready. I don't know how to be a mother. I've never thought I'd fear this... but now, I do. I want to know that when Beatrice comes it won't matter if I don't know everything, because she'll show me and teach me... one little thing at a time. And I'll learn.<br />
<br />
Oh, how I want her to hold Beatrice. How I want to see her joy as she rocks her to sleep. How I want to know that she'll be there for us both... when I don't know what to do.<br />
<br />
But Beatrice will never know her. And she can't be here.<br />
<br />
But I will tell my sweet daughter, oh, I will tell her stories. She will know how much her grandmother wanted to be here, how much she wanted to hold her. How beautiful she was, how gracefully she danced, how generously she loved, how eloquently she spoke. <br />
<br />
I need her words.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Please forgive me, but I've taken the liberty of altering this beautiful poem by </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><i>Anna Hempstead Branch</i> by putting it in the past tense... for it has been soothing to my soul. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: normal;"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Her Words</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">by </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Anna Hempstead Branch</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My mother had the prettiest tricks</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Of words and words and words.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Her talk came out as smooth and sleek</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> As breasts of singing birds.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">She shaped her speech all silver fine</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Because she loved it so.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And her own eyes began to shine</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> To hear her stories grow.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And if she went to make a call</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Or out to take a walk</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We left our work when she returned</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> And ran to hear her talk.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We had not dreamed these things were so</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Of sorrow and of mirth.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Her speech was as a thousand eyes</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Through which we saw the earth.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">God wove a web of loveliness,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Of clouds and stars and birds,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But made not any thing at all</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> So beautiful as words.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">They shine around our simple earth</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> With golden shadowings,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And every common thing they touch</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Is exquisite with wings.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">There's nothing poor and nothing small</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> But is made fair with them.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">They are the hands of living faith</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> That touch the garment's hem.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">They are as fair as bloom or air,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> They shine like any star,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And I am rich who learned from her</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div></div></div></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"> How beautiful they are.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: auto;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><object height="28" width="335"><param value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/audio_embed?data=YTo2OntzOjU6ImFwaUlkIjtzOjE6IjQiO3M6NjoiZmlsZUlkIjtpOjEyMTc4NTIzO3M6NDoiY29kZSI7czoxMjoiMTIxNzg1MjMtNGYxIjtzOjY6InVzZXJJZCI7aToxOTAxNTAwO3M6MTI6ImV4dGVybmFsQ2FsbCI7aToxO3M6NDoidGltZSI7aToxMjgwODc1MDIyO30=&autoplay=default" name="movie"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed wmode="transparent" height="28" width="335" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/audio_embed?data=YTo2OntzOjU6ImFwaUlkIjtzOjE6IjQiO3M6NjoiZmlsZUlkIjtpOjEyMTc4NTIzO3M6NDoiY29kZSI7czoxMjoiMTIxNzg1MjMtNGYxIjtzOjY6InVzZXJJZCI7aToxOTAxNTAwO3M6MTI6ImV4dGVybmFsQ2FsbCI7aToxO3M6NDoidGltZSI7aToxMjgwODc1MDIyO30=&autoplay=default"></embed></object></div></span>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-1447538749572568132010-07-31T06:38:00.000-07:002010-07-31T06:39:12.861-07:00A Joy"Full" Week (Part 1)Week 31 has been full of joy.<br />
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It began on Monday with the first week of<a href="https://secure.gombos.com/afa/tickets.asp"> "Willy Wonka Kids"</a> at the <a href="http://academyfinearts.org/">Academy of Fine Arts</a>. I have desired to choreograph a children's production for a long time now, and this has been the perfect opportunity. Although I may be pregnant and awkward, I have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside two dear friends and 30 wonderful children. I am excited to see the end result next Saturday.<br />
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Tuesday afternoon Adam and I drove over to Farmville, VA to the stupendous <a href="http://www.greenfront.com/">Greenfront</a> Furniture. During my baby shower last Saturday Adam purchased the paint for the nursery, no it's not on the walls quite yet, but it is purchased! We had been waiting to select a chair fabric until our wall color was decided upon, only to discover that we had waited a little too long! After speaking to <a href="http://www.greenfront.com/">Greenfront</a> on Monday we were told that a chair would take at least 10 weeks to be delivered. Well, our precious girl is due in 9, and while she could take 10 more weeks, Daddy really wanted to be able to have everything in order just in case she decides to come on time.<br />
<br />
<br />
So Tuesday we went up full of prayer that the Lord would guide us to a peaceful decision and we would not be overwhelmed by the pressures of this world. We took swatches of the bedding, and a paint stick with her wall color, and a panel of her curtains and a shade from her chandelier. We probably looked like a crazy couple, but at least we were prepared!<br />
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We had such a beautiful time on our drive. Our Lord has been so gracious to allow us sweet moments together as husband and wife before we become a family of three. I truly treasure these times in my heart.<br />
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We arrived at <a href="http://www.greenfront.com/">Greenfront</a> with an hour to make our decision. We went straight to the <a href="http://www.shopfourseasonsfurniture.com/sc-ac45g.htm">"Swivel-Glider" 4 Seasons Chairs</a>, and Adam went to work immediately looking at swatches. Then low and behold, to our right we spotted a floor sample with blue and red stripes... could it be?<br />
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We laid the swatches out...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJYI_fSwR6J2LiypiYdOXKwIsVj5Q5Rpqb2YQsp_ir_VlxkufMSdZP-7rGUObsYHAruTAL2_EoV6pOVM0Nl633u23mtcadxNMY9JZhjddk57lkkQ4rUDcXkllLNfhz4frhS16IOE-0Tk-/s1600/IMG_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJYI_fSwR6J2LiypiYdOXKwIsVj5Q5Rpqb2YQsp_ir_VlxkufMSdZP-7rGUObsYHAruTAL2_EoV6pOVM0Nl633u23mtcadxNMY9JZhjddk57lkkQ4rUDcXkllLNfhz4frhS16IOE-0Tk-/s640/IMG_0023.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Praise the Lord. How gracious and generous He is. How He surprises us with gifts we are so undeserving of. May we learn from His example and show love to our daughter in similar ways. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJCvHHGvVBY3bXBlEP44LjS_EVzIBLhy-WIDmCMjCAlWAtnwzYICjv236ZDArRQluO7-ixK3GjOoT18PiHJdTJsvMTKsXbthL_mc2nN-VjLJoC4Dgpbh5VbP7Jy9w0xrpauxZlY7OL_b5/s1600/IMG_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJCvHHGvVBY3bXBlEP44LjS_EVzIBLhy-WIDmCMjCAlWAtnwzYICjv236ZDArRQluO7-ixK3GjOoT18PiHJdTJsvMTKsXbthL_mc2nN-VjLJoC4Dgpbh5VbP7Jy9w0xrpauxZlY7OL_b5/s640/IMG_0027.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We bargained slightly, since we were willing to drive it home that day, settled on a price, loaded it in the car, and were back on the road in 50 minutes. What a joy! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The chair is settled in the nursery, and every time I pass the door I practically shiver with expectation. Yesterday I sat in it for an hour and read books to Beatrice... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Adam's hope is to paint tomorrow afternoon... so hopefully their will be a "Room Transformation #2" post on Monday! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is an "unprofessional" sneak-peak...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCc0gtqY3KKjmwaysVp4PuV9g6JFvQonmYOoTNr9nN8DqlokErl6mk16KdWYtxBoFUhJdZGXJRFVgoTbR7xQrD23Aefo5kxBKY9PYzT9fb7xVYMzoDAiX0E5hydlF-qEPTahVrgbI6SqV/s1600/IMG_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCc0gtqY3KKjmwaysVp4PuV9g6JFvQonmYOoTNr9nN8DqlokErl6mk16KdWYtxBoFUhJdZGXJRFVgoTbR7xQrD23Aefo5kxBKY9PYzT9fb7xVYMzoDAiX0E5hydlF-qEPTahVrgbI6SqV/s640/IMG_0097.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Later tonight, after a fun filled day of celebration Ethan's 4th Birthday, I hope to write about our marvelous prenatal appointment on Wednesday, and my building excitement. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Much love and thankfulness to all of you. </div>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-36303532955745633232010-07-24T20:58:00.000-07:002010-07-24T20:58:33.567-07:00Overwhelming Thankfulness<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Tonight, as I ponder all the blessings of today I would be remiss if I did not write of my thankfulness. </span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">What a labor of love I was showered with today. My heart is filled to overflowing. I wish there were words to express this measure of gratitude. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">At times I do not understand our Lord's sovereignty; but today I am resting in His gentle mercies. Why was my mother not here today to share in this joy among such beautiful women? Why must friends suffer? Why must hearts break? Of these things I am not sure, but I here, at this moment am sure that, "...t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">he Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward yo<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">u." </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2 Peter 3:9 </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">He </span><i>has</i> fulfilled His promise, and I pray that I will always remember Hannah's prayer of rejoicing.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">“Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For THIS CHILD I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him." 1 Samuel 1:26-27</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Oh, Beatrice. you are so loved. So cherished. So anxiously awaited. Today women surrounded and uplifted you in prayer. You are not even here with us, and yet you are precious to so many. They prayed so tenderly over your mother and father asking for wisdom and patience. You received such beautiful gifts that I cannot wait to show you. What a wonderful time it was. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Dear friends, may God richly bless each one of you for all you did today. I cannot wait to post pictures of all your hard work and my, almost comical, faces of joy. As we unpack all of your generous gifts into her room over the next few weeks I know there will be even more tears.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sleep well, all my friends, and may <i>you</i>, "dream of lovely things and wake to find them real." </span></div>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-58240100004852105002010-07-22T09:31:00.000-07:002010-09-22T18:55:37.312-07:00The Fullness of Life & Room Transformation #1These past weeks have been full. Full of preparation of life to come and life of the moment. I cannot wait to share more of what the Lord has in store.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>I have been blessed with beautiful friends that fill my life to overflowing. My precious Julie, <a href="http://listeningmom.blogspot.com/">Leslie</a> and <a href="http://www.hikinghomeward.com/">Emily</a> who are hosting my first baby shower this coming weekend, (they simply have no idea how grateful I am to celebrate God's unfailing mercies with such special women.) My dear Mauresa and Jessica who are also lovingly ministering to my precious little one with a night of sweetness soon. <a href="http://thesalvias.blogspot.com/">Kristin</a>, whom, together with her sister Jessica, I recently had the honor of throwing a shower for (pictures to come soon). And gentle souls like Kelley, Kelly, Whitney and Peggy who speak words of soothing balm to my broken soul in the perfect moments.</div><div><br />
</div><div>These women are gifts. May I never think otherwise. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I also have a husband who was gracious enough to extend a DC wedding trip into Sunday so that we can pick up some basics for our Bea's nursery at the Woodbridge IKEA. </div><div><br />
</div><div>My now 30-week-old daughter is growing and growing; constantly reminding me of her impending presence. I'm sure many of you mommies remember almost forgetting in the midst of preparations that at the end of this journey there will be a new life. What a miracle. </div><div><br />
</div><div>But the preparations still must be made. </div><div><br />
</div><div>So it is time to begin the Nursery Transformation. I am so eager to watch as the small details come together. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoF13_1RRua5EBMU-ZZDYGvag1V8rAzjHz7m2dWLdaRkHmVfLtyOqTNXyoG1KExOJPH6wCXQNArEoaJqQx7f3moumLjgTqZovGoyFPw4dk0_CdMCz-jb_5ZkqCg7tMWfzOskEEnYSkDoW/s1600/Room-Transformation-banner1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoF13_1RRua5EBMU-ZZDYGvag1V8rAzjHz7m2dWLdaRkHmVfLtyOqTNXyoG1KExOJPH6wCXQNArEoaJqQx7f3moumLjgTqZovGoyFPw4dk0_CdMCz-jb_5ZkqCg7tMWfzOskEEnYSkDoW/s1600/Room-Transformation-banner1.png" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Painting and other small construction projects will prayerfully happen this weekend, so it is only appropriate for you to view the room as it looked prior to the 15 paint swatches.<br />
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</div><div>This was our canvas... </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdrOboYUNSwf9ZIeizdXButLyRWUGqp505Y7TWZVPfbzPfZ6NtRbx7wUEVI4rrl1altOU2c2U9nSRVC9w91F56I7I_WVkOJ1PU2MNZzWQQXmI3b_g988IE2dBgY8qwpCvzG_Fm1IaL_uo/s1600/Room1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdrOboYUNSwf9ZIeizdXButLyRWUGqp505Y7TWZVPfbzPfZ6NtRbx7wUEVI4rrl1altOU2c2U9nSRVC9w91F56I7I_WVkOJ1PU2MNZzWQQXmI3b_g988IE2dBgY8qwpCvzG_Fm1IaL_uo/s1600/Room1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdrOboYUNSwf9ZIeizdXButLyRWUGqp505Y7TWZVPfbzPfZ6NtRbx7wUEVI4rrl1altOU2c2U9nSRVC9w91F56I7I_WVkOJ1PU2MNZzWQQXmI3b_g988IE2dBgY8qwpCvzG_Fm1IaL_uo/s640/Room1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAvAtcVGBRUwkNsuyh8tXFXcCMGfBtGF36fTx9jGFJVkBfqI0Kk0jAUvagilZj-ztO6P9ObuDgJWK7eWRf12IgBTXCjwrXA_AHR4k1AVo2mcWSfOP-TDEBu0r3qkzF1KEiLdL5dW7fgKO/s1600/Room+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAvAtcVGBRUwkNsuyh8tXFXcCMGfBtGF36fTx9jGFJVkBfqI0Kk0jAUvagilZj-ztO6P9ObuDgJWK7eWRf12IgBTXCjwrXA_AHR4k1AVo2mcWSfOP-TDEBu0r3qkzF1KEiLdL5dW7fgKO/s640/Room+2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">The window seat is a favorite. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3d3M4IyO-2KDIPPsQtZTojLD8Q-198L35uV4AEVzxGsbwRi4R-bIHPVI9LJcKaXNFxIzMX3EFou81sqb5Mz_Gp86GCCsUV8s0vcyNNIKYluMWCyghuoOg5yq0UhBZxoimWgZ0dhJ-EFG/s1600/Room+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3d3M4IyO-2KDIPPsQtZTojLD8Q-198L35uV4AEVzxGsbwRi4R-bIHPVI9LJcKaXNFxIzMX3EFou81sqb5Mz_Gp86GCCsUV8s0vcyNNIKYluMWCyghuoOg5yq0UhBZxoimWgZ0dhJ-EFG/s640/Room+3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">We found this piece months ago... so I'm including it as part of the "before". </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-_KUzS_m9gNdJEqdv46DqKZiUba0w5QnArVThC6F_JsIicMT2BD82T6CYFDOK0x5bQi0mBqb0qhjyb4hV20O7LTVqtn8ES50juv710jDw0_Vh3CGhThDygN5t8JeccLxruarcP7SzShM/s1600/chaning+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-_KUzS_m9gNdJEqdv46DqKZiUba0w5QnArVThC6F_JsIicMT2BD82T6CYFDOK0x5bQi0mBqb0qhjyb4hV20O7LTVqtn8ES50juv710jDw0_Vh3CGhThDygN5t8JeccLxruarcP7SzShM/s640/chaning+table.jpg" width="586" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Remember, <a href="http://expectantlyliving.blogspot.com/2010/06/painting-and-patience.html">Painting and Patience</a>? Well, just for laughs, here is a peek at part of the learning experience. (This was even before two additional colors...) Please note that the above images were taken with Adam's camera... the images below, with mine. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LpDbDFn1ilHD4cdv3wIpW5Mlfba2JKks1u8fxx8zQStnosXbjKik1sxuq6ix1hmWcxhr2-R1HBRN0OhqXZ0CBG1rxx-Hn2EVkfkx7iCzunLFNee926FOp45ES-6whA84dlD-lGngkBvO/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LpDbDFn1ilHD4cdv3wIpW5Mlfba2JKks1u8fxx8zQStnosXbjKik1sxuq6ix1hmWcxhr2-R1HBRN0OhqXZ0CBG1rxx-Hn2EVkfkx7iCzunLFNee926FOp45ES-6whA84dlD-lGngkBvO/s640/IMG_0005.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzl_rQXFFeRKVTIpLFM-a9MrLBjoYTsoQuxo-HyNIxD2liZzaChC8meNM5rbyEleupzSQ0ArnAb4Cvnc8ON9wKzsNBqtXgB3BKKzrR1RAHbfVAN4IYuuu4v5j4JcLigGJUWMWMq17tKF3/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzl_rQXFFeRKVTIpLFM-a9MrLBjoYTsoQuxo-HyNIxD2liZzaChC8meNM5rbyEleupzSQ0ArnAb4Cvnc8ON9wKzsNBqtXgB3BKKzrR1RAHbfVAN4IYuuu4v5j4JcLigGJUWMWMq17tKF3/s640/IMG_0006.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEDHV4O0PqcQOew37XLKkYIvZCVmLy58nxm4EXnVKqmbMnAm7kDoio5Bi7NCpSLOlwdQbH5Wmvuy38vvohoiu7TS8NZ3UPjmzedeSZ9ZkmiXdpa5YrHUJatGz0hjER6tOFnm6siX3JeN1/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEDHV4O0PqcQOew37XLKkYIvZCVmLy58nxm4EXnVKqmbMnAm7kDoio5Bi7NCpSLOlwdQbH5Wmvuy38vvohoiu7TS8NZ3UPjmzedeSZ9ZkmiXdpa5YrHUJatGz0hjER6tOFnm6siX3JeN1/s640/IMG_0007.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nG_E4SfdhhqUKXyxZqWSf4i3EdeFN4y_7WGm9W-MjnBKYKkwoPuusSwCAjNWPEJxJg2c7YdKfSARVFvCf2iSzDE2bPfDex_vNt8QkAjls74zJ_uaOjyCuPAgruDkqZRxCyyAdXDsspUP/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nG_E4SfdhhqUKXyxZqWSf4i3EdeFN4y_7WGm9W-MjnBKYKkwoPuusSwCAjNWPEJxJg2c7YdKfSARVFvCf2iSzDE2bPfDex_vNt8QkAjls74zJ_uaOjyCuPAgruDkqZRxCyyAdXDsspUP/s640/IMG_0008.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Remember "<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAaWhU4um84zGb0KjcVC6oMOJsh1YxPCHmoU5wYDP-I4m0Qsyp5LN-vzjW9iOqhJY8sU_EJSruG8nfn862LVHDA2Sc9bvfR3ybXXd98iaFnIWM8V9-vgW4F2_-OHCY86itgOO0Y_hw11j/s1600/Paint-Colors.png">Custard</a>"? Ha!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvAJICqyPzffRb7ULe2XOFz3tDGspvKpPFEQtRJJQxakJAatZrjOjYkoBJDK2tUnjWXBuOixE6iwaehiTLLkPWfJNCBpngwz8dbRIRJslMgNYsJHjpOzY2BEZDBWNPv9njfSEremfprNq/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvAJICqyPzffRb7ULe2XOFz3tDGspvKpPFEQtRJJQxakJAatZrjOjYkoBJDK2tUnjWXBuOixE6iwaehiTLLkPWfJNCBpngwz8dbRIRJslMgNYsJHjpOzY2BEZDBWNPv9njfSEremfprNq/s640/IMG_0009.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">We have yet to decide upon a color, but we are sure that we will...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I needed these verses today... </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 2 Peter 3:8-9</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">May your day be filled with fulfilled promises. </div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div></div>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-62993149642332364392010-07-12T15:28:00.000-07:002010-07-12T15:28:10.860-07:00Third Trimester Thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Praise the Lord for His goodness! We, Beatrice and I, have arrived safely in the Third Trimester!<br />
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What a beautiful pregnancy it has been so far. I have learned so much already, that I simply cannot wait to see what motherhood has in store for me.<br />
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To document the beginning of my Third Trimester, my dear husband captured these simple photographs.<br />
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My precious girl, I cannot wait to meet you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgvcs0NCJnVHUMPKkSdoTIA-BizM5JbaRC1p3p68hesWKqnjpKiym_QgEBZsWMWswg1RNg4VCPx9KOuy_9jsJiY5vRf2egtFRBwI4OrLKraKesfJUvAB30qwj3NewV7uCRWryvwurwLKX/s1600/090996-R2-35-36A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgvcs0NCJnVHUMPKkSdoTIA-BizM5JbaRC1p3p68hesWKqnjpKiym_QgEBZsWMWswg1RNg4VCPx9KOuy_9jsJiY5vRf2egtFRBwI4OrLKraKesfJUvAB30qwj3NewV7uCRWryvwurwLKX/s640/090996-R2-35-36A.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7320778728768311633.post-66255761196815679672010-06-28T20:15:00.000-07:002010-06-28T20:15:14.427-07:00Painting and Patience...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Remember the swatches from a few weeks ago? Well, they have turned into a learning experience.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Since so many of you voted for April Mist, Custard and Ballet Slipper Pink we got samples of all three. These were quite simply... a comical disaster. We decided that April Mist looked like Turquoise, Custard like Lemon Meringue</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">, and Ballet Slipper Pink like Calamine Lotion... We laughed it off; thinking that the next day we would find samples of milder versions of the pink and blue. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Well... to make a long story short we now have 12 different colors on the wall; and while we are no further along in the decision process, I have learned a serious lesson in patience. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I've found in this season of expectation that it is quite tempting to be full of silly "expectations". Our culture would like me to believe that I "need" this and must accomplish A, B & C by the baby's arrival. But truly, does Beatrice "need" a nursery dressed to the nines? Do I "need" a boppy, a bumbo, a bouncer, and a bottle cleaner? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In these past weeks I found myself drifting away from the Spirit given joy that Beatrice has brought to our lives and wandering into a world full of anxiety and fear over that which "must" be done. Which is most likely the reason I haven't felt the motivation to write. The condition of my heart has been simply, yucky. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I so desire to return to a place where I am thoughtfully preparing for the arrival of my precious little one. Not only in the accumulation of things, but in the careful preparation of my heart. Where each addition to her nursery discovered at a yard sale is a cause for rejoicing, not a check mark on a to-do list. Where each day is savored for all that it is. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So dear friends, Bea may have a kaleidoscope of a nursery and the Barnes household may not have every "needed" baby item, but there WILL be joy, and joy abundantly! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have been singing this song to my sweet girl recently, yet it has been more of a reminder to me, her mommy, of the infinite love my Savior holds for me. May it encourage your heart today.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="36" id="divplaylist" width="470"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=11842978-4df&new_design=true" /><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=11842978-4df&new_design=true" width="470" height="36" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object></span>Lauren Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14858723447785261818noreply@blogger.com5