tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42625621368948216932024-03-05T05:42:17.793-05:00Whitakers by GraceOur StoryEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.comBlogger342125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-62638978713019077452018-11-12T09:57:00.001-05:002018-11-12T09:57:28.862-05:00Big News/UpdatesFor those reading this blog who are not on Facebook/Instagram, I'll start with the biggest news from us - Claire is going to be a big sister! We are expecting a little boy in February, and we are all very excited. :) I've been feeling good, thankfully. My belly seems to be getting bigger faster this time than with Claire.<div>
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This picture is from a few weeks ago. Baby is growing well, right on track according to my most recent ultrasound. They captured an amazing 3D image of the baby. He looks so sweet.</div>
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Can hardly wait to snuggle this cutie! </div>
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Another big update is that my youngest sister got married last month. So very excited for her and her husband! I didn't take many pictures, since I was in the wedding party - and Claire, too (she was a flower girl) - but here are the good ones I have.</div>
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Claire was the cutest flower girl. She did well walking down the aisle!</div>
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This is right after their first dance. They make a perfect couple. :)</div>
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We visited Quentin's family out in Colorado and Utah about 2 weeks ago. We flew in an airplane to Colorado - my and Claire's first time on a plane! Claire really enjoyed the plane ride. She kept saying "We're flying!" and giggling. She loved looking out the window.</div>
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I enjoyed the flight, for the most part. It was great seeing clouds from the other side, like a big white blanket. Takeoff was probably my least favorite, but it didn't last long. I was thankful for the free juice and snack that they gave to everyone on the plane. :) </div>
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Quentin's brother picked us up at the airport and let us stay with him that night. Thank you for your generous hospitality! The next morning, we drove from Colorado to Utah, to stay with Quentin's brother and family there. The view along the way was very cool. Here's one cliff we drove by.</div>
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We stayed in Utah for a week. We're so thankful for the generosity of Quentin's family, letting us stay at their house and giving us meals, and taking us on fun trips. :) Thank you all so much!</div>
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Here are a few photos from our week in Utah.</div>
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Antelope Island, in the Great Salt Lake. We saw lots of wild bison there, which was really neat.</div>
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Claire got to go trick-or-treating with her cousins. She had fun, and was a very cute kitty. :) </div>
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The last full day that we were there, we visited the Uinta Mountains. It was cold and snowy up there. We walked around Mirror Lake, which was pretty. There are lots of amazing places out west!<br />
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The trip home was a bit crazy.We had a two-part flight, the first plane from Utah to Arizona, then a plane from Arizona back home. (the only direct flight from Utah to home started at midnight, and we didn't want to do that with Claire) Quentin and Claire had stand-by tickets, which means they only got on the plane if it is not completely full, and I had a regular ticket. We all got on the first plane fine, and got to sit together. It was a short, fun flight. </div>
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Then when we got to the gate for our second flight in Arizona, they said it was full and I had the last seat. I didn't want to be separated from Quentin and Claire, since we didn't know when the next flight was leaving and Quentin had been feeling sick all morning. So I chose to forfeit my ticket and stay. I'm sorry to say, I had a terrible attitude about the situation. I kept saying, "We should have been on that plane." I was angry. I didn't want to spend the night in Arizona, I wanted to go home. Quentin kept saying that we should be thankful that we were all together. He was right, and I was wrong to be angry.</div>
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We got a shuttle bus from the airport to a hotel. When we got to our room, Quentin lay down in bed and couldn't get back up. He had a headache and fever, his muscles all ached, and he was exhausted. That's when I realized that God knew we needed to miss our second plane that day. Quentin wouldn't have been able to lie down and get much-needed rest on the plane, and it wouldn't have been an enjoyable flight. And I am so glad that God caused me to decide to give up my ticket, because Quentin needed me that evening, and Claire, too. </div>
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We were able to book another flight for me, and Quentin and Claire, in the morning, so we weren't stuck in Arizona for too long. I ended up on a separate airline, since it was half the price of the one that Quentin and Claire got. So we were on different planes. Thankfully Quentin felt somewhat better, so he was able to take care of Claire well. We all got home safely in the end, because of God's grace. And I learned a lesson in trusting God no matter what the circumstances seem. He is always faithful!</div>
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-59861076836135149712017-12-30T14:47:00.001-05:002017-12-30T14:47:03.164-05:00Christmas happenings and a tribute to a friendI hope everyone had a great Christmas! We did. :) It was more fun this year, because Claire understood more of what was happening. I love having a child to celebrate Christmas with!<br />
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We had a busy weekend. Three evenings in a row, we had dinner with Quentin's family, including two brothers from out of town. Friday night (22nd) was at his brother Justin's house. We played some fun games and had a yummy dinner. We enjoyed meeting Claire's newest cousin, Ruthie, and Claire got to meet Doug for the first time.<br />
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Saturday (23rd) we hosted at our house. After an early dinner, we walked through McAdenville (aka Christmas Town), seeing the pretty lights and saying Merry Christmas to people in the cars driving through.<br />
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Sunday (Christmas Eve) we went to our church's Christmas Eve service in the morning, then went to Quentin's parents' house for dinner. We exchanged gifts after dinner, which was fun, and the kids acted out the story of Jesus' birth, which was pretty neat to watch. We stayed up too late, but it was worth it being with family. :)<br />
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Christmas morning, I made cinnamon rolls with breakfast. I thought it was funny that my mom and my sisters all made cinnamon rolls, too. Claire had fun opening her presents - a fun toy from my parents, and a new baby doll from us. We got some cool gifts, too. :) Then we hosted my family for dinner (we missed having Mom, Dad, and Ben there) and exchanging gifts. It went by too fast, like it usually does, but I'm thankful for the fun memories that were made.<br />
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Now on to something very sad, but also hopeful.<br />
On Christmas night, a young man I knew passed away. I considered him my friend, even though we didn't hang out much. We grew up in the same church for years, knew a lot of the same people, went to a lot of the same events, and I even lived in the house nextdoor to him for almost two years.<br />
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Hunter was an incredible young man. He always treated everyone with respect and put others before himself, a true gentleman. He loved the Lord, which was evident through his joy - he always had a smile on his face, no matter what he was going through, because his hope was fully in God. Kind, gentle, humble, joyful, are all words that describe Hunter, a man who can never be replaced.<br />
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He truly left a legacy. I scroll down through Facebook, and all I see are posts about how amazing he was, how great a friend he was, how much he is already missed. His life touched so many, countless others, including my own. I can hardly believe he's actually gone.<br />
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I'm mourning with his family, grieving with them in their loss. It is sad that Hunter's last days here were full of sickness and pain. But I know that he is with his Savior in Heaven now, and for that I rejoice. He is no longer sick or in pain, he is whole and in the presence of Jesus. So I say, "Good-bye for now, until we meet again." Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-29864377695998061552017-11-08T15:30:00.002-05:002017-11-08T15:30:40.703-05:00.Claire had fun trick-or-treating with her cousins on Halloween. I had fun too. :) Here's a picture of her in the monkey costume we found at Goodwill.<br />
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Isn't she cute?<br />
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Last week, my family got to have dinner together for the first time in a while - everyone except Ben, who is still in boot camp recovering from shoulder surgery. We had a good time, but it would have been better if Ben was there.<br />
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This week I went grocery shopping at the new store, Lidl, for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised that a lot of their products are less expensive than Aldi (which is where I normally shop). For example, a half gallon of milk was 93 cents at Lidl and $1.29 at Aldi, and a dozen eggs at Lidl are only 36 cents! I'll definitely be going back. :)<br />
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-13335532860859317622017-10-27T16:17:00.000-04:002017-10-27T16:22:23.304-04:00Many BlessingsSo many happy/exciting things happened in the past 2.5 weeks!<br />
<ul>
<li>Anna had her baby on the 10th - a boy! William is so cute, and Claire likes him already. :)</li>
<li>We found out another Whitaker cousin is due in March, so Claire will have 3 younger cousins by Springtime. </li>
<li>Quentin had his 32nd birthday. Claire and I surprised him at his work during lunch break, which was very fun. :) I enjoyed meeting Quentin's co-workers, and they all loved Claire. </li>
<li>Two Saturdays ago, we hiked at Crowder's Mountain, where Quentin and I met 4 years ago. It was fun reminiscing about that first day of seeing each other. </li>
<li>This past weekend, I went on a retreat with the ladies from our church. We stayed at a beautiful house in Boone. I enjoyed getting to know some of the ladies better, and having extra time to focus on Jesus and what it means to find joy in Him. (the theme of the retreat was Fighting for Joy) It was hard leaving Claire (first time leaving her overnight), but Quentin did an amazing job of taking care of her while I was away. I'm so thankful that Claire has such a good daddy.</li>
<li>Christianne and Mika got engaged on Sunday! So very happy and excited for them! They've been dating for a few years, and it's clear that they belong together. :) </li>
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Wow, all that in just 2.5 weeks. God has truly blessed us.<br />
Here are a few pictures.<br />
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holding baby William <br />
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the house we stayed in at the retreat <br />
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the mountain view<br />
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we made s'mores and sang to Jesus around the fire in the evening.<br />
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Oh, yeah, I'm actually excited about Halloween this year. Quentin's nephew has a birthday on Nov. 1, but he's having his party a day early, and will include trick-or-treating. I bought a costume for Claire yesterday, and can't wait to take her around the neighborhood. She'll be so cute! I'll post again after, so I can share her cuteness. :)<br />
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Guess that's all for now. I'll also share more of what I learned at the retreat later.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-89998155832721427182017-08-07T11:11:00.001-04:002017-08-07T11:11:41.509-04:00One Year!I've been so caught up in being a mom to Claire and a wife to Quentin that I haven't posted on this blog for a year. What? Crazy!<br />
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So much has happened, as you can imagine. Here are just a few highlights of the past year.<br />
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- We went on a crazy beach trip with my family, involving hurricane Matthew, flooded roads, hotel stays, and not much beach time. Still fun to be with everyone though. :)<br />
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- Mom and Dad moved up north the end of October. They are now a two-day drive away from all us kids, instead of 20 minutes. I miss them being here, but I'm glad that they are happy where they are. They love it up there!<br />
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- Quentin and I went to his grandma's house for Christmas 2016. It was my first Christmas apart from my family. While I did have a lot of fun with Quentin's family, it wasn't quite the same as being with mine. It helped that we got to drive east to my grandparents two days after Christmas, and spend some time with them as well as two of my aunts. They all loved getting to meet Claire. :) She was a great traveler too, hardly fussed at all in the car.<br />
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- We found out that Claire is getting a little cousin this Fall. Two, actually. One on each side of the family. We are so excited! My sister Anna's baby shower was this past weekend, and she's due the last day of September. Amanda Whitaker is expecting a baby girl on November 1. It will be fun to see how Claire interacts with her new cousins.<br />
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- My youngest brother, Ben, is currently in Marine Corp boot camp. Unfortunately, he dislocated his shoulder a few weeks ago, and is in medical trying to heal up. It's uncertain right now if he will be able to finish his training, but I really really hope that he can. Prayers for him are appreciated!<br />
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And, of course, Claire turned one year old in June. We had a party for her the Sunday after her birthday, with both sides of the family. It was fun having everyone together! We mostly just sat and talked, then sang to Claire and let her try a cupcake. She got messy, but had fun eating it. :)<br />
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Claire sleeps through the night now, which is very nice. She crawls around so fast, sometimes it's hard to keep up. She can walk while holding onto things, but not by herself yet. Her favorite word is "uh-oh", and she can also say MaMa, DaDa, Up, and Dat (that). It's so cute when she babbles incessantly like she's telling a story. :) Her favorite time of day is when Quentin comes home. I'll say "Daddy's home", and she immediately looks toward the door and smiles when he comes in. She loves her daddy.<br />
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Well, I guess that's all. I would really like to post more often. I'll try to make it happen.<br />
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-85366685483897727672016-08-09T10:58:00.001-04:002016-08-09T10:58:46.504-04:002 MonthsClaire was born 2 months ago yesterday!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8VavtOG-rwwG2Jppd28kTqm9CqHWtgrnO_XJAuzpIeI1XjGN6AV6UdPmraPEfLydOmMWUhG6EEKZDXPJ0qAO9R_kHkevAc6v8fcnpUk8TiXJfa0VazTU8TC5joOsDIumVJCPo_gX4xc/s1600/Claire2months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8VavtOG-rwwG2Jppd28kTqm9CqHWtgrnO_XJAuzpIeI1XjGN6AV6UdPmraPEfLydOmMWUhG6EEKZDXPJ0qAO9R_kHkevAc6v8fcnpUk8TiXJfa0VazTU8TC5joOsDIumVJCPo_gX4xc/s320/Claire2months.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Isn't she the cutest? :-)<br />
She has discovered her hands and is starting to grab things, like her dress in the picture. She can fit into 0-3 months clothes, and her newborn clothes barely fit now. Claire is becoming vocal - cooing and "ah"ing, which is so cute. She's also smiling a lot, especially at Quentin. When Claire hears Quentin's voice on the phone, she smiles. I think she'll be a daddy's girl.<br />
<br />
It's been so fun watching Claire grow and learn in these first two months. But it's also been challenging to learn how to take care of her, particularly the first 3 weeks. For me, the postpartum recovery while learning to care for a newborn was the most difficult part of becoming a mom - yes even harder than labor and delivery. There were multiple times when all I wanted was for someone else to take the baby so I could have a break. I had never been more exhausted or emotionally unstable in my life.<br />
But God was there with me and brought me through it. He blessed me far beyond what I deserved - friends and family provided meals so that I didn't cook any dinner for the entire first month! Quentin was a huge help and encouragement, super sweet and always there for me if I needed him.<br />
<br />
Today I'm mostly back to normal, by God's grace. Claire is a great night sleeper. She usually only wakes up once during the night to nurse, around 2:00 or 3:00am. God is so kind.<br />
<br />
We love you, Claire bear! :-)Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-3740743010885155372016-06-27T18:25:00.001-04:002016-06-27T18:25:50.236-04:00Claire's Birth StoryBaby Claire is here! I've been wanting to post her story, but haven't had the chance. Here goes. (it's rather long)<br />
<br />
Tuesday
June 7, my estimated due date, came with much anticipation. Both
Quentin and I were hoping that this was the day we'd get to meet our
little one. Here's a picture of me on my due date.<br />
<br />
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Baby
girl was very low in my pelvis. But that didn't stop me from running
errands! I went to the grocery store, then to my appointment at the
birthing center. After the midwife finished checking me (everything was
good), we set up a 41 week appointment. She said, "You'll most likely
not need this appointment. We just make it to break it." As I was
leaving, I said, "Who knows, I might be back here tomorrow." I had no
idea that would prove true.<br />
<br />
As we went to bed on the
night of the 7th, Quentin and I talked about how the baby would probably
come on the weekend. We went to sleep around 9:30, and everything was
normal.<br />
<br />
June 7, 11:30pm - I woke up to a slightly painful
cramp in my lower belly. I thought it might be a contraction, but I
didn't want to get too excited. So I went back to sleep. 15 minutes
later, I woke again to a more painful cramp. I started using my
contraction timer app on my phone. I could tell when one was coming. My
belly felt like it was tightening slowly, then the painful cramping
came, then it slowly loosened.<br />
<br />
I think I woke Quentin a
little before midnight to tell him I was in labor. The contractions were
coming 7 minutes apart, lasting for almost 1 minute each. I thought
that was a little fast for early labor. As the pain got more intense, I
had to get on my hands and knees in bed and sway my hips.<br />
<br />
June
8, 2am - Contractions were coming 3 to 5 minutes apart, and I was
finding it a bit harder to make it through each one. We called the
birthing center around 2:45am, and the midwife asked if we wanted to
come in. She gave us the option! I didn't know what we should do, 'cause
I thought I'd be in labor for at least 6 more hours. But, Quentin
helped me decide to go in at 4am.<br />
<br />
June 8, 3:30am - As we
were getting ready to leave for the birthing center, contractions were
1.5 to 2 minutes apart, and very intense. I thought, "If I have to do
this for 6 more hours, there's no way I will make it." With the
contraction right before we headed out the door, I actually said aloud,
"I can't do this!" Quentin encouraged me by saying I could do it and,
"You're doing a great job, sweetie." The car ride wasn't fun. I couldn't
move like I had been to get through contractions. But, Quentin let me
squeeze his hand, which did help. He was so sweet.<br />
<br />
June 8,
4am - We got to the birthing center. Stephanie was the midwife who was
there waiting for us. She had set up one of the birthing suites for us.
The building was very quiet and inviting. I felt safe there, like it was
a second home. The suite was dimly lit, which was nice. When we got
into the room, Stephanie checked me and told me that I was fully
dilated. I replied, "Really? Already?" (I had only been in labor for a
little over 4.5 hours at this point) She confirmed it, and said she
would call her birth assistant, Rebeca, to come help. <br />
<br />
Stephanie
asked if I wanted to try for a waterbirth. I said yes, so she filled up
the tub in the room. Rebeca arrived at some point before I got in the
tub. Contractions were coming farther apart then, so I got a little
break before the big finish. The warm water in the tub felt so good, it
helped me relax more.<br />
<br />
The pushing stage was the hardest
for me. I was scared to push because I didn't want to tear, and I said
this out loud. At 5:14am the water bag broke, and I kinda freaked out a
bit, saying "Oh no! I tore!" Stephanie was quick to say, "No you didn't.
That was your water." After that, contractions were stronger and so was
the urge to push. I got on my knees and had my hands on the rim of the
tub. Quentin, who was sitting outside the tub at my head, let me squeeze
his hand. I squeezed so hard that he had to take his ring off. And I
was very vocal at this point - moaning and yelling "Ow". I'm glad no one
else could hear me.<br />
<br />
Baby crowned at 5:25am, then she was
born at 5:30am. She cried very briefly, then just looked around while
Stephanie held her partly submerged in the water. After a few minutes,
Rebeca helped me out of the tub and over to the bed, while Stephanie
carried Claire still attached by the cord. Once I got into bed,
Stephanie laid Claire on my chest and I got to look at her. I
immediately fell in love, especially with her cute little nose. :)<br />
<br />
I
got some stitches, because I did end up tearing. It wasn't my perineum
though, thankfully. The rest of the morning was a blur of getting to
know Claire, having the midwife check on us, and sending text
announcements out to family and friends. Claire was measured and weighed
about 2 hours after she was born. 7 pounds even, and 19 1/4 inches. We
were sent home at 11am, just 5.5 hours after birth. It was nice to come
home so soon, and not have to stay for days.<br />
<br />
Ok, here are some pictures!<br />
<br />
Claire's first minute of life outside the womb. (sorry it's upside down)<br />
<br />
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<br />
Claire, 2 days old. Cutie pie! <br />
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<br />
<br />
Her first dress. <br />
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<br />
Our little family of 3. :) <br />
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<br />
<br />
Bonus
tip for pregnant moms! Want to know how I had such a short labor? Well,
it was all God's plan, but I think some of what I did while I was
pregnant helped too.<br />
<br />
1. I kept doing all the normal things
I always did before I was pregnant. I didn't use pregnancy as an excuse
to sit around and watch movies all day. Most days I was on my feet for
the majority of the time, even in the last few days of pregnancy.
Exercise is super helpful for a smooth labor!<br />
<br />
2.
During the last month of pregnancy, I drank raspberry leaf tea and ate
dates every day. I drank at least one cup of tea a day, sometimes 2. And
I ate 6 dates every day. I found these tips online, so I gave them a
try and they worked!<br />
<br />
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-88311292931064857462016-06-03T10:41:00.000-04:002016-06-03T10:41:22.276-04:004 Days LeftMy estimated due date is only 4 days away. What? Crazy how close that is!<br />
<br />
I'm doing well. A bit tired and uncomfortable, but that's normal when you're almost 40 weeks pregnant. :)<br />
Dresses are my favorite thing right now. I just don't like anything touching my belly anymore. And dresses keep me cooler too. The weather has been in the 80's lately!<br />
I've been having a few sporadic, very mild contractions/cramping the past couple days, which my midwife said is my body getting warmed up for birth. Exciting times!<br />
<br />
Here's a silhouette of my growing belly.<br />
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<br />
On Monday, for Memorial Day, Quentin was off work. I love getting to spend the whole day with him! We went to the Botanical Gardens, where we saw a lot of pretty flowers and butterflies. And then we went to a mini golf course to play a few rounds. That was fun, 'cause I haven't played in a while. :) After that, we went out for dinner, then came home and watched a war movie. Long but fun day!<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-84165665801272082112016-05-09T15:31:00.001-04:002016-05-09T15:31:31.955-04:00Mother's Day 2016Yesterday I celebrated my first Mother's Day as a mom. No, our baby hasn't been born yet. But I consider myself a mom already. :-) Here's me and my baby girl.<br />
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And, yes, we have decided on a name - Claire. She is due in one month! Hard to believe it's that close. We have a pack-n-play with a bassinet set up in our room, baby clothes size newborn to 3 months washed and put in her closet, and a few freezer meals ready. At my 35 week check-up, Claire was head down and had a good heartbeat. I hope she stays head down.<br />
I'm feeling pretty good. I added beef to my diet because I found out I'm anemic. And I'm eating something with Vitamin C in it, whenever I eat something with iron in it (vitamin C helps you absorb iron). I was going to get a prescription iron supplement, but found out how much it costs and it is way too expensive. So, I'm trying to increase my iron naturally by eating more iron-rich foods.<br />
Also I am prepping my body for an unmedicated labor. Eating dates and drinking Raspberry Leaf tea every day has been known to help make labor easier, so that's what I'm doing. The plan is to have Claire at a birthing center, which is really nice. I'm both excited and nervous about childbirth. It will be quite an adventure!<br />
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Ok, back to Mother's Day.<br />
We went to the Daniel Stowe gardens with Quentin's parents. The flowers were pretty, but there were /so/ many people there. (all moms got free admission) We still had fun though. :-)<br />
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This is me and Andrea, my beautiful mother-in-law. She truly is my second mom. I enjoy spending time with her, she gives great advice, and she never fails to point me to Jesus and the gospel. I'm so thankful for how easily she has accepted me into her family and treats me as her own daughter. And I'm extremely grateful for the values and wisdom that she instilled in Quentin while she raised him. My husband is amazing because his mom did an amazing job of bringing him up in the Way he should go. I love you, Andrea!<br />
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(Yes, the following picture is edited. I thought it was a cool effect.)<br />
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Me and my gorgeous mom. Apart from Quentin, Mom is my favorite person to spend time with. She gives the best advice, is extremely generous, and always knows how to put a smile on my face. I could make a 100 page list of all the reasons I love Mom and am thankful for her. Here are just a few:<br />
<ul>
<li>she homeschooled me from kindergarten to high school graduation. I loved being able to do school at home, since I could wear mostly whatever I wanted and got to spend more time with her and my siblings. </li>
<li>she taught me to cook, bake, clean, sew, and all the other little things involved in taking care of a house and a husband. I really appreciate being able to learn from a stay-at-home mom all my life.</li>
<li>she was there for me, always willing to talk when I was having panic attacks. That was probably my least favorite phase of my life, but it definitely helped me knowing that I could call her whenever I needed her to talk through my anxiety.</li>
<li>she was and still is my advocate, always for me. She is genuinely excited for me when I share about something I'm excited about, and encourages me to "go for it" when I tell her about something new I want to try.</li>
<li>she loves me unconditionally, no matter how much I mess up or forget to show her my appreciation for her. I will only fully understand her love for me when my daughter is born. There is no love like a mother's love.</li>
</ul>
I love you so much, Mom! <br /><br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-73998236578344085552016-03-24T14:41:00.001-04:002016-04-07T08:21:33.882-04:00Anniversary Trip and Baby updateQuentin and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary on Monday. Hard to believe it's been a whole year since we said our vows. A lot has happened in this first year of marriage! Quentin went from working a night-shift job and a day job, to working just one day job (a job doing what he likes best - landscape design). We bought an SUV. We paid off all credit card and loan dept, so we're dept free. (Hooray!) We took 3 big road trips to visit family. I got pregnant. We adopted our 2nd kitty, Tucker. And we bought our first house.<br />
What a busy year!<br />
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We celebrated by spending a night away in Tryon, NC. The bed and breakfast where we spent the night was the same one we stayed at on our wedding night last year. The breakfast there is really amazing, and the staff are great. We had fun exploring downtown Tryon the day we were there. The town has some pretty cool shops and antique stores. Quentin was sweet and bought me a pair of earrings as an anniversary gift. :)<br />
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The log cabin on the right is where we stayed this weekend. The cottage on the left side is where we stayed on our wedding night last year. Pretty cool! <br />
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The horse of Tryon, NC. </div>
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Cool stone clock tower downtown. </div>
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Tryon is a cute town. :)</div>
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Obligatory selfie. We've been happily married for one year! </div>
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It's a bike rack that's shaped like a bike. </div>
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Also while we were there, we visited Pearson's Falls. It's only a 0.25 mile walk/hike up to the waterfall, so it was easy enough for me.<br />
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And, on our way home, we stopped to play bowling. We've been wanting to do something fun like that together, so our anniversary vacation was the perfect excuse. Quentin won both games we played, but I still had fun. :-)<br />
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Overall, it was the best way to spend our anniversary weekend. I loved getting away with just Quentin, able to relax and enjoy time together.<br />
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So, now I'm 29 weeks pregnant. Only 11 more to go. Crazy.<br />
I took my glucose tolerance test last week. My results came back normal - no gestational diabetes! But I had a few other things tested, and my iron levels are low. That would explain why my muscles have been more tired than usual the past few weeks. I ordered an iron supplement, and it should come in the mail soon.<br />
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Baby girl is moving a lot, and has a strong heartbeat of 150. She moves so much sometimes, that I can actually see my belly moving. It's kinda surreal. But it's one of my favorite things.<br />
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I've enjoyed people asking me questions about my baby, now that I clearly have a baby bump. It's fun sharing my excitement with strangers. Quentin and I are going to our first birthing class tonight. Not sure what to expect, but it probably will be helpful.<br />
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Here's another belly picture. It's inside the cabin we stayed at this past weekend.<br />
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Hope everyone has a blessed Easter weekend! <br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-59438036037847708442016-01-29T11:06:00.000-05:002016-01-29T11:17:38.766-05:0021 weeks!Hard to believe I'm now 21 weeks along. It's gone by so fast! The biggest change is that I can feel some fluttering in my belly, which is our baby moving. It's pretty amazing. :) Also, my nausea has gone away, which is very nice, and I have a bit more energy.<br />
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At my last ultrasound, the tech lady found that the placenta moved up some. So it's no longer low-lying. I'm extremely thankful for that, 'cause that means I can go back to normal activities and not be super careful. Praise the Lord for a good report!<br />
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Also at the last ultrasound, the tech lady determined the gender of our baby. And,<br />
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I'm having a mini me! :) We're so excited! I am super excited that I get to raise a daughter! :)<br />
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Here's a belly picture. So far, I like being pregnant. <br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-90011932521139352642015-12-15T15:15:00.000-05:002015-12-15T15:15:32.424-05:00Baby update, and other changesThese past several weeks have flown by! So many fun happenings and changes.<br />
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I'm 15 weeks pregnant now, so I'm done with the first trimester. According to the internet, our baby is roughly the size of an apple now. :) And, I have a small baby bump. This makes me super happy!<br />
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I actually did a penny gender prediction test the other day, just for fun. (old wives' tale) You lick your thumb, rub it on a penny, and hold it to a wall for 30 seconds. If it falls right away, you're having a boy, if it sticks, you're having a girl. I tried with 3 separate pennies, and they all fell. It would be cool if it actually was correct, but we will find out for sure in about 3 weeks.<br />
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I had some bleeding 2 weeks ago, which scared me. I went to the doctor the next day, and the baby is good. The placenta is extremely close to my cervix, though it's not placenta previa. The doctor told me to take it easy, and not do too much until my next ultrasound in January. Hopefully the placenta will move away from my cervix at that time. I am super thankful that baby is ok! God is merciful and good. <br />
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Thanksgiving was fun. We got to have 2 separate meals, one with each side of the family. Yes, it was a lot of food, but the meals were 5 hours apart, so it was ok. Loved seeing everyone! :)<br />
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On December 1, Quentin and I became homeowners! God provided us with the perfect house. It has a big yard - almost a half acre - is outside city limits, has a big master bedroom, a nice fireplace, and a wrap-around porch. The previous owners even left a good size swing/slide playset out back. It feels like we've lived here longer than 2 weeks, 'cause it's such a good fit for us.<br />
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Isn't it cute?</div>
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We decorated our Christmas tree, put lights outside, and decorated the mantle. All we need are some stockings, then we'll be finished. I'm excited for our first Christmas in this house and our first Christmas married. </div>
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One more new thing for us. We adopted a kitten! :) </div>
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His name is Tucker. He is 10 weeks old, full of energy when he's awake, and loves to cuddle when he sleeps. He can be feisty and get into things he shouldn't, but overall it's been fun getting to know him. :) We do still have Mabel, we've had her for a year now. Mabel isn't too happy with the new arrival. We're hoping that the two kitties learn to get along soon.<br />
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God has blessed us so much! <br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-78596084193247953722015-11-10T11:59:00.003-05:002015-11-10T11:59:40.659-05:00It's a Bird, It's a Plane, No Wait It's a.....Baby!<br />
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It's still hard to believe that this picture is real. I am pregnant. What???? Crazy!<br />
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Quentin and I went for our first ultrasound yesterday. It was so amazing! We could actually see the baby's brain, and it's tiny heart. We also got to hear the heartbeat, which helped to confirm to me that there is actually another living person inside me. The nurse said the heartbeat is good and strong. :) Also, the baby measured at the right length for how far along I am (10 weeks). God is so kind.<br />
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So, down to the fun details.<br />
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Estimated Due Date: June 7, 2016<br />
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Weight Gain: Haven't gained any weight so far. But I think that's usual when your only 10 weeks pregnant. I'm looking forward to seeing my belly grow, and be able to take pictures for you all. Mom thinks I'll look cute with a baby bump.<br />
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Morning Sickness/Nausea: By God's amazing grace and blessing, I've had very mild nausea most days, and no vomiting at all. There were a few times where it got worse for like an hour or two, but over all I'm feeling pretty decent. :)<br />
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Food Cravings: Oh my goodness, I cannot get enough savory food right now! I crave hamburgers, peanut butter, cheddar cheese, fried eggs, Chick-fil-A waffle fries, and guacamole. Mmm. But of course, I make myself eat salad and other veggies and fruits, to keep myself healthy. I still like fruits and veggies, but they're not as satisfying as savory food.<br />
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Gender Prediction: I think it's a boy. I looked at the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and it said it was a boy. (not saying it's 100% accurate) And supposedly when you have a boy, you have less nausea and crave more salty foods. But whichever gender our baby is, I will be thrilled. Every baby is a good gift from God!<br />
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I'm so excited to be on this next chapter of life! I'll try to keep you updated as much as possible.<br />
God is awesome! <br />
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-53750089714368055132015-10-19T14:05:00.003-04:002015-10-19T14:05:39.755-04:00Moving onWe helped Mom and Dad move yesterday, into a nice rental house. It was sad moving them out of the old house. They've lived there since I was about 7. Pretty much all of my childhood memories are from stuff we did at that house. We set up a few haunted houses in the basement, pretended we were Indians after swimming in our pool, played with Legos and Playmobiles for hours at a time, and had many super fun birthday, Christmas, and Thanksgiving celebrations there.<br />
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It really was a great house to grow up in. :)<br />
And yesterday was the last time we got to be there.<br />
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But we will move on. We (particularly me) must not dwell on the past, holding on to it and wishing things would stay as they were before. Instead, we should accept the fact that change is inevitable, look back on our childhood memories with fondness, and move on.<br />
The future is bright. Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-33851311260693842602015-10-13T14:28:00.000-04:002015-10-13T14:28:30.522-04:00Day 30I read Psalm 18 the other day, and thought it was really good. The first 3 verses are probably my favorite of the chapter. It goes like this.<br />
"I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies."<br />
It's hard to explain, but these verses are very comforting to me. I guess it's because it's saying how strong God is, and that I will be safe if I lean in to Him and rely on Him.<br />
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Today is the 30th day in a row that I've posted on here. Yay! :) I gave myself a challenge and I rose to it. Now if I could just do the same thing for exercising....<br />
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<br />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-19081372986577528022015-10-12T10:57:00.001-04:002015-10-12T10:57:20.751-04:00Day 29<br />
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Today is this handsome man's 30th birthday!<br />
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There is so much I could say about Quentin. He's my best friend, my lover, my encourager, my confidant, my leader, my darling. He is kind, patient, gentle, loving, honest, gracious, hard-working, others-focused. He's always there for me when I need him. He takes the time to get to know me well. He challenges me to live for Jesus and do things that would please God, and he is never harsh when he does this.<br />
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Quentin favorite things include coffee, plants, hugs, church, spending time with family, reading Scripture, cuddling with me on the couch, teasing our cat about being chubby, and doing special things for me. He has a wonderful sense of humor and is not afraid to laugh at himself. He is extremely loyal and faithful, and has never made me doubt this for a second.<br />
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Quentin, my sweetheart, I am beyond grateful for you. I'm thankful that God created you, brought you into this world 30 years ago, and shaped you into the man you are today. I'm humbled that God chose you specifically to be the one who is my husband. You are far beyond what I deserve or could have imagined. You are one of the very best things that happened to me. I love you more than I can say.<br />
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Happy birthday!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-35442504451372580112015-10-11T13:12:00.002-04:002015-10-11T13:12:29.964-04:00Day 28Wow, only 2 more posts after today 'til I make it to 30 in a row. Time flies!<br />
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Speaking of time, I'm thankful for time savers. Take a crock pot for instance. I just prep a few things, put them together in the crock pot, and turn it on. Then when dinner time comes, dinner is already ready to eat. It's super helpful when I'm not gonna be home much, like today. We're leaving in a bit to hang out with the Whitakers for Quentin's birthday celebration (his birthday is tomorrow), then going straight to small group. So, we have to wait 'til after small group to eat dinner. By that time, I won't feel like making dinner, so I'm using the crock pot. I like modern inventions.<br />
<br />
At church this morning, the message was about embracing your identity with Christ. Basically, if you want non-Christians to be attracted to Christ and the church, you have to truly identify with Christ and <u>live differently</u> than the world. You have to display Christ to others - be like Christ. Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-43632568638148537712015-10-10T12:29:00.001-04:002015-10-10T12:29:37.444-04:00Day 27Praise Jesus, I feel better today! :) No appendicitis or anything like that. It was possibly from something I ate. Ended up not going to urgent care, which was good 'cause I got better.<br />
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Here's a recipe I've tried that I really like. It might sound weird to have sweet potato in a cookie, but it is so tasty!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Cookies</span><br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">2 cups pureed sweet potato (about 2 medium sweet potatoes)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">1/2 cup oat flour (can be sub. w/ another kind of flour)</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">1/2 cup nut butter<span class="Apple-converted-space"></span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">2 eggs</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">3 T maple syrup</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">1 tsp vanilla</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">1 1/4 tsp cinnamon</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"></span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"></span>1/2 tsp ginger</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">1/4 tsp clove</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">1 tsp cacao powder</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">1/4 tsp allspice</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">1 tsp baking soda</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">1 tsp baking powder</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">1 tsp salt</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">3/4 cup dark chocolate chips</span><br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">1. Boil a medium pot of water. Peel and dice sweet potatoes, add to water. Cook till they can be easily forked. Once they are done add to the food processor and pulse till smooth. Let cool.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">2. Mix dry ingredients- oat flour, spices, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the nut butter with a fork or a pastry cutter if you have one. I ended up using my hands.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">3. Add eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla. Mix in sweet potato and then chocolate chips.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">4. Scoop onto parchment paper or foil lined baking sheet- I used a mini ice cream scoop. Then press down with a fork.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">5. Bake for 15-17 minutes. Cookies <u>will</u> be moist and soft.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzhzYUiUbH7A3jryuGMl8161tZjlFcjMtgOi1UQ1wi07LF0iVyoAu5g0M0khDwU0008uR9jHDrHuf-TIzD4x2FRhiizBSFnqPL9_bLtIXe_cG4mEDLmH65iZkg7dOGd9TU9607-psmCM/s1600/sweet+potato+cookie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzhzYUiUbH7A3jryuGMl8161tZjlFcjMtgOi1UQ1wi07LF0iVyoAu5g0M0khDwU0008uR9jHDrHuf-TIzD4x2FRhiizBSFnqPL9_bLtIXe_cG4mEDLmH65iZkg7dOGd9TU9607-psmCM/s1600/sweet+potato+cookie.JPG" /></a></div>
(this is not my picture. It's from another blog.)<br /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18.2px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span> </span><br />
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Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-46096916216803805142015-10-09T11:03:00.001-04:002015-10-09T11:03:20.253-04:00Day 26Our house listing on realtor.com now says that it's under contract. :) It's been under contract for 6 days, but now it's more "official".<br />
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Well, I've been feeling totally crappy since about 4pm yesterday. Boo, sickness! I might go to urgent care later when Quentin gets home. Especially since I can barely eat anything without feeling nauseous. At least I'm able to drink water. Prayers for healing would be awesome.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-59221562212237855542015-10-08T15:51:00.001-04:002015-10-08T15:51:32.287-04:00Day 25Today I brought our earnest money check to our closing attorney's office. Mom came with me, and when I was done she took me out to eat. She is so generous! The chicken salad sandwich was really good. :) And, since we were somewhat close to my future home, we got to drive by the house so Mom could see it. She approves.<br />
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When I checked the mail after getting home, I saw a package with our wedding photos that I had ordered. It was fun looking through them again, not on the computer. One day soon, I'll start putting them together in a scrapbook. Fun times are ahead!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-58292974870106197252015-10-07T10:27:00.001-04:002015-10-07T10:27:24.724-04:00Day 24It seems like I just started this 30 day challenge, and now I only have 6 more posts to write after today.<br />
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Random fact Wednesday: Possibly my favorite breakfast combination is a fried egg with avocado and tomato. It might sound weird, but it is so good! Especially with a slightly runny egg yolk. Mmmm.<br />
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I just finished packing the 5th box for moving. Making slow and steady progress! I'll try to pack more later today, after I do laundry and make a fresh batch of granola. I love being home all day. It gives me time to work on things that need to happen. :)<br />
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Happy Hump Day everyone!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-39807714404633634552015-10-06T08:47:00.001-04:002015-10-06T08:47:37.737-04:00Day 23One year and 8 months ago today, Quentin and I started dating. Seems like I've known him for longer than that.<br />
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To be honest, when we started dating I was a bit skeptical about it ending in marriage. I hardly knew Quentin at all, so I wasn't sure if our beliefs and values would match. Also I didn't want people to make fun of our height difference. (I'm 5ft, he is 6ft 3 in.) That was a silly reason, now that I look back.<br />
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Today I am so glad that, despite my initial skepticism, I said yes to dating Quentin. I found out that all of our most important beliefs did actually match. And I got used to the height difference; now it makes me feel more protected. (and when I can't reach something, Quentin can get it for me)<br />
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In other news, the sun is out! :)Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-13479594423149884762015-10-05T13:48:00.001-04:002015-10-05T13:48:50.195-04:00Day 22The sun came out for a few minutes just now. It was good to see sunshine again, since it's been hiding for the past 5 days. :)<br />
I found out that South Carolina is flooded in multiple cities, with interstates and bridges closed. This hurricane is no joke. I pray that everyone is safe.<br />
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Totally random fact: on Mondays I usually give Mabel some hairball remedy medicine. I put it in her food bowl when it's empty, and won't give her more food until she eats the medicine. The problem is that she refuses to eat it. So she'll go for an entire day without eating. I usually end up having to put the medicine on her paw so she'll lick it off, which she hates. You would think that after multiple times of this happening, she would get the idea that if she just eats the medicine from her bowl then I wouldn't have to put it on her paw. Silly cat. Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-39430466084831856662015-10-04T11:52:00.001-04:002015-10-04T11:52:03.741-04:00Day 21It is very windy today. We could feel it pushing on our car on the way to church this morning. Yeah, random fact...<br />
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Here are some verses from 1 Timothy, which I've been reading through.<br />
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"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men " - 2:5-6<br />
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"Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." - 4:7-8Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4262562136894821693.post-17287836576245649662015-10-03T10:43:00.002-04:002015-10-03T10:43:41.524-04:00Day 20We are officially under contract for the house. :) Now we have to get it inspected and find an escrow agent to help with the title stuff at closing. There's a lot that goes into buying a house. But it's worth it!<br />
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Oh yeah, my parents' house is under contract now. They're getting a rental house in about 2 weeks. It's kinda funny that everyone in my immediate family is moving this year. It's a fun change though. <br />
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In other news, there's a flash flood warning for our area due to the rain left over from a hurricane. Thankfully we're not in a flood plane. I hope everyone stays safe out there!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17923581359983883397noreply@blogger.com2