tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88354165220890089502024-03-05T17:10:01.277-08:00Alive, Radiant, and FreeI am the lark's song that awakens courage, calls forth beauty, and proclaims freedom & truth.Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.comBlogger239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-66958440205769776832012-10-17T08:49:00.001-07:002012-10-17T08:50:25.605-07:00SO...here's what's up with me<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the past few months, my life has undergone some pretty
hefty transitions. It’s been incredible to see what God is unfolding for me and
my family as we strive to hear his voice and obediently follow his call – one step
at a time. </span></div>
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Many of these steps have resulted in beautiful change in my personal life. We’re
living in our own home after renting for 5 years. We have a lovely new
daughter, an amazing gift of grace and reminder of God’s promises. And we’re
growing more deeply connected with the wonderful people in our faith community.
While I could write in-depth about each of these transitions, the purpose of
this communication is to share with you a bit about the professional changes
that have taken place in my life and to ask for your assistance and
collaboration with my new endeavors. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I recently quit my job with Indiana Wesleyan University
as their Coordinator of Life Coaching and Instructor of Leadership Studies to
pursue more independent and ministry-based coaching endeavors. Frederick
Buechner said, “<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">The place God
calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger
meet.”</span></span> Through my personal journey with Jesus Christ, I know that
my deep gladness is found in proclaiming the excellencies of God by
demonstrating his love and freedom to those in bondage, bringing emotional
healing to the hurt caused by abandonment and abuse, and developing the
potential of God’s creation. I also know that there is a deep hunger in our
broken world for this excellence, love, freedom, healing, and empowerment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I first want to be able to live out this calling in my
own life, then for my family, then in my faith community and then in the world.
The way this is currently happening is by me accepting a position as the
Director of Recovery Coaching for a young and exceptional non-profit recovery
ministry called NewDay Recovery and by starting my own independent coaching
practice….This is the part where most people start becoming “nodding dogs.” If
you’ve done any public speaking (or parenting for that matter), you’re very
familiar with the “nodding dogs.” It’s that point in the conversation when the
person across from you mentally disengages and just smiles and nods until you’re
finished. “Nodding dogs” are polite, disinterested, and ultimately are not
incredibly useful….I’ve determined that most people become “nodding dogs”
around the topic of coaching more out of ignorance than true disinterest. Most
people just really don’t know what it is, or we all have different ideas of
what it is. SO, if you’d like to stay in the land of “nodding dogs”, you can
stop reading now and just pray for me in this transition. But if you’d like to
join me in a land of fulfilled and free human beings, keep reading and see how
we might be able to partner together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So here’s what my kind of coaching is and how I do it:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I
start with the following coaching assumptions…</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">People are created in the image of God. As a result, they
are naturally creative, resourceful, and relational.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">People are created uniquely and intentionally. Thus, it
can be assumed that they are different from each other on purpose, and there is
distinct value in their existence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">People are created with all of the resources they need to
live in relationship with God, to hear His voice, and to make decisions. As
such, they are fully capable of discovering and confidently living out their
life callings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">People are born into a sinful world with a sinful nature.
Because of this, to fully realize the possibilities associated with assumptions
1-3, they must be redeemed from bondage, reminded of the excellencies to which
they are called, and be held accountable to discovering and pursuing their
callings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God is able to do far more than we could hope or imagine
through his people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I
take these assumptions, combine them with my life calling (that deep gladness,
world’s hunger thing),and I come to this
conclusion about what coaching is and why it is needed…<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Life coaching is needed because our <b>world needs passionate and rational people committed to making it
better through living excellent, fulfilling lives connected to their giftedness
and calling. It is obvious that this sort of proactive, intentional living is
rare. It is non-existent if people try to do it alone</b>. STOP. Read that
again....Do you believe it? If you’re just shrugging off that statement, I’d
like to invite you to do a little experiment. Answer the following questions:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What
is your life purpose?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2)<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What
is most fulfilling about your life (that’s that deep gladness thing again that
Buechner was talking about, and you can bet that their fulfillment will be
connected to a hunger or need in the world). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">3)<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On a
scale of 1-10, how effectively are you living out your purpose/engaging in what
you know fulfills you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Are you satisfied with your responses? If you asked five
people in your life those questions today, could they answer them confidently? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Personal life coaching is a professional partnership
between a coach and individuals designed to achieve the individual’s goals
around life purpose discovery, fulfillment, and freedom. It is founded in a
holistic and action-based approach that promotes the process of discovering
potential and purpose and confidently and courageously living it out in every
area of life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As a
life coach, I have the great privilege of serving individuals, groups, and
teams and partnering with them as they discover purpose, awaken the courage
needed to live it out, and experience the joy and transformation that confidently
living in freedom can bring.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Pretty cool, huh? :)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I would love for you to be involved! Below are some
options for you and I to partner and collaborate:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Refer
Clients: Chances are that you probably thought of someone or a group of someone’s
that could benefit from coaching. Please pass on this information to them and
let them know that they can have a free sample session by submitting a contact
form on my website at </span><a href="http://www.megangilmore.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">www.megangilmore.com</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">.
I do coaching sessions for individuals, couples, and groups via the phone,
skype, and face-to-face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My standard rates are $100 per 45 minute
session, so the sample session is a great way to see the value of coaching and
the power of a coaching relationship before you commit to it financially.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Attend
a Workshop: I am hosting my first workshop series in partnership with Midwest
Coffee Company starting October 27, 2012. The workshop is $45 for a three-hour coaching
workshop, materials, and breakfast. The workshop is limited to a small group of
10 people. The workshop is a great way to get a whole lot of coaching value in
a condensed period of time for an affordable cost. It's also a great way for close friends and family to benefit from my coaching. Check out the AMPLIFY fall
series and register at </span><a href="http://www.megangilmore.com/event-registration.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">http://www.megangilmore.com/event-registration.html</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Suggest
a Partnership: One of the most enjoyable things to me about my independent
coaching practice is the opportunity for creative partnership. If you can think
it up and it makes sense to combine it with coaching, we can probably do it.
Team building, assessment debriefing, Bible studies, relationship seminars,
family strengthening workshops, corporate training, etc. Let’s talk and create
something that will serve you, empower you to expand your reach in the world,
and collaborate with others to do the same.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In conclusion, thank you for not being a “nodding dog.”
Thank you for your interest in me and what I’m up to in the world. And thank
you in advance for your partnership and collaboration!</span></span></div>
Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-20764113175667011382012-06-20T15:58:00.002-07:002012-06-20T15:58:50.373-07:00Creating ContainersContainers are interesting things. They purposefully hold something in a finite space and protect it. I took my first trip to The Container Store a few weekends ago. I had been wanting to go for quite some time, but I was terrified that I would just want everything in the store and completely lose control of myself. So I took my husband with me and we started up and down the aisles. And I realized anew that I LOVE CONTAINERS!<br />
I love that I can have a lot of little things that I like and when I categorize them and put them in a labeled container it just makes me so happy! Those things have a place. They now belong there. They are protected.<br />
I just finished cleaning out my office at my old job (it feels weird calling it "old"). I went through binders and containers of over six years worth of work and memories. Successful projects that I completely forgot about and failed ones that make me laugh to look at now. Files, binders, shelves of 6 years of life, put into boxes...containers. I sat and looked at my empty office and was just a sad and thought, "I HATE CONTAINERS!"<br />
I hate that 6 years of my life's work can be reduced to ten boxes, taken to my car, and never used (at least not in the same way) or noticed again. It will just be sorted through and put into new containers for new purposes.<br />
The truth is that containers are both lovely and limiting. We create them to feel safe and protected...and for good reason. Containers of success, comfort, easy relationships, operating within our realm of competence and knowledge - they're all lovely, safe, and protected and we need them. They are also so limiting. It's easier for us to see the containers that were created for us as limiting - our family of origin, our life experiences, our socioeconomic status, our gender. But in the end, isn't that all in your perspective as well? What about those things was exclusively limiting? No, for the most part, those are lovely, safe and protected too.<br />
All of this isn't to judge your containers or mine or to say that we should or shouldn't have them. They are. They exist. We do have them. It is to say that we should be at choice about the ones that we create for ourselves and the ones we carry around and want other people to climb in to.<br />
So I don't have a conclusion. Just questions - If you could categorize and label your life containers, what would they say? What does your God container look like? How about your friend container? What is it like to think about getting a new container? What is like thinking about having no containers? Do you love your containers? Do you hate them? Who do you need to be to make your container bigger? What new containers need to be created?Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-63041070213560118822012-03-07T11:44:00.000-08:002012-03-07T11:44:40.123-08:00Fully Alive<div align="center" style="background-color: #a7a09a; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><strong>fully alive</strong></div><div align="center" style="background-color: #a7a09a; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">I will not die an unlived life.<br />
I will not live in fear<br />
of falling or catching fire.<br />
I choose to inhabit my days,<br />
to allow my living to open me,<br />
to make me less afraid,<br />
more accessible,<br />
to loosen my heart<br />
until it becomes a wing,<br />
a torch, a promise.<br />
I choose to risk my significance;<br />
to live so that which came to me as seed<br />
goes to the next as blossom<br />
and that which came to me as blossom,<br />
goes on as fruit.</div><div align="center" style="background-color: #a7a09a; color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">- dawna markova</div>Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-59322542594700486232012-02-21T11:42:00.000-08:002012-02-21T11:42:54.633-08:00Love and PoopPoop is gross. I feel like I encounter an inordinate amount of it these days, and it's not mine! It smells bad and it's not even a cool color. However, despite my disdain for excrement, I find that I still clean it up...thoroughly. See it wouldn't really work to "kind of" clean up poo. Essentially, I hate the poop but I love the pooper. Which makes me wonder, what if we looked at the crap in our world and absolutely hated it and were determined to thoroughly clean it up, and in the process carried extreme love and compassion for the "poopers" as we did. Have you known anyone that has done that for you? If you have, I would be willing to bet that they changed your life. So I think I'll keep cleaning up the poop, literally and figuratively, and in so doing I will be changing the world.<br />
Just a quick thought on love and poop!Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-88659123188475692192011-09-21T19:42:00.000-07:002011-09-21T19:42:09.768-07:00My SonOnce upon a time, there was a young girl filled with dreams and ambition and concern. She was married to her soulmate and the love of her life. Their life was far from perfect but that was okay, because they learned and grew and suffered and cared together. And they worshiped the one God that delighted in them and quieted them with his love. The one God that understood. The one God that became a servant. The one God who creates something from nothing, created something from them. A young warrior-poet-prince, a child created in His image and likeness.<div>Just over three years ago, our son Elliot was born. My relationship with him is uniquely treasured and special to me, and I don't think I could fully express what a joy and delight he has been to my soul. </div><div>We were talking in the car today and I was telling him that I loved him and that he was my little warrior-poet-prince. Here's the conversation that followed:</div><div><br />
</div><div>Elliot: What did you say?</div><div>"I said that you are my little warrior-poet-prince."</div><div>Elliot: Mommy, what is a warrior-poet-prince mean?</div><div>"Well, a warrior is someone who fights for what is right and a poet makes beautiful things with words and letters and a prince is a very special boy that is the son of a King. Does that sound like something you would like to be?"</div><div>Elliot: (grinning) Oh yes! I WOULD!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Feeling especially grateful for my beautiful son and all the ways he changed my life!</div>Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-10591252656522362712011-08-23T10:47:00.000-07:002011-08-23T10:47:07.187-07:00Some Elliot Cuteness...I realized that I haven't been on here for awhile, because it's been summer and I've just been having so much fun. I also realized that my last few posts seemed a bit...well, out of sorts in some parts. As an addendum to that, I am doing very well and enjoying where God has me and where He's leading me. I am also ever so much more grateful for my husband and his leadership of me and our family.<br />
And NOW, I sit at the computer and type you an Elliot story, because everything else (studying for addictions licensure exam, making salsa, making dinner, folding mounds of laundry, etc.) is a bit too intimidating for the moment.<br />
This morning, Ev had a really bad headache and was nauseated so I drove him to work and on the way we stopped at McDonalds to get him a coke. He's the discussion that transpired with Elliot.<br />
Me: Elliot, we need to use our quiet voice because Daddy's head hurts really bad.<br />
Elliot: But I don't want to use my quiet voice<br />
(Drive up to drive thru at 9:30 AM)<br />
Elliot: OH! Can I get chicken nuggets and french fries?!?<br />
Me: No buddy, we're just getting daddy a drink.<br />
Elliot: OH! Can I get a drink?<br />
Me: Oh sure. What would you like? (thinking the boy will say "apple juice" like he usually does or maybe the less preferred "sprite")<br />
Elliot (if you know how he talks please read this with his little speech impediments in mind): I would like a vanilla ice cream drink WITH SAUCE!<br />
<br />
.....really? Yes really!<br />
Elliot enjoyed his little milkshake for quite sometime this morning.<br />
<br />
I'm now off to make salsa. If I don't get too scared first.Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-38371911594094673662011-07-03T18:15:00.001-07:002011-07-03T18:15:14.837-07:00Not Without Love<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">I am finding that I love almost everything that this artist writes. I was listening to two of his albums today and in both he had a track that was just spoken word poetry. This was one of those poems. I'd encourage you to read it aloud. It's beautiful, especially as we consider celebrating freedom tomorrow.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="background: white;">Not Without Love (Benediction)</span></b></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><i><span style="background: white;">By Jimmy Needham</span></i></span><br />
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</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I tried Lord</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">I tried Lord</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">I tried hard to be Your good little boy</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Chin up, head high</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">All zeal and no joy</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Thinking all my good deeds could please Jesus</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Boy, was I wrong</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Though I knew the right songs, all my cymbals and gongs played the melodies wrong</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">And it wasn’t long ‘til I saw my disease</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">A life spent wanting to please</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">On hands and knees</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">To make right, to appease</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">God help me please</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">This can’t be Christianity, it can’t be</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">The whole thing’s like insanity</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Where’s the rest of eternal security?</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Where’s the hope of a God big enough to cope with all my hang-ups and insecurities?</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Certainly this isn’t breathing</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">My chest burning and heaving</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">It’s like my pulse is ceasing</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Like my heart quits beating</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Yet this I recall to mind and therefore I have hope:</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">You died, Lord</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">You died, Lord</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Assuredly, like the coming of the dawn, the Father’s love song goes on</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Drowning out my bitter songs</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">And breaking through walls and barriers</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Christ swoops in, removes sin, picks up His bride and carries her</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">So I can sing in agreement with the King this thing:</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">There’s only one thing that pleases the Father</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">The God-man on the tree in the midst of the scoffers</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Now I finally see that Christ is what Christ offers</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">And I’m finally free in the love of the Father</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-15046437723918129972011-07-01T16:03:00.000-07:002011-07-01T16:03:47.905-07:00Catching UpMy last post was quite awhile ago, because my BROTHER GOT MARRIED!!! :) It was a beautiful God-filled wedding that impacted many lives with the power of truth and love. I am so thankful for my new sister!<br />
I am also refreshed in my own marriage as Ev and I review the last four years, and what God has done in and through us during that time. I LOVE being married! Sometimes, my husband can be a selfish butthead, sometimes I can be the worst person in the world to live with. But most of the time, he is a wonderful reflection of Christ's love for me in the grace he shows me every day.<br />
I have also been TRYING desperately to make my home into an environment that can foster a healthy family lifestyle. I'm about halfway there, but every couple days, I feel like I'm taking one step forward and two steps back.<br />
ALSO, I have been reading <i>Sacred Marriage</i> by Gary Thomas. This is a book that I've heard recommended by many people and started reading probably five or more times, but I just could get past the first chapter. I'm happy to report I am now on Chapter 2!!! Pretty cool, huh? And it is very good! I think that I haven't gotten through it before because I needed to read it now.<br />
I think it's amazing that in our families God has given us such a powerful microcosm of his love for and relationship with us. In a marriage, we can see Christ's undying, pursuing, warrior/poet/kinsman-redeemer LOVE for the church and with our children we are faced on a daily basis with God's love as a father and our curious ridiculousness as His children. It's so amazing to me that regardless of your family's religious beliefs or affiliation, the way you treat each other will forever impact the way that the others in your family view God.<br />
I had a mentor. Her son was about 7, her daughter was about 4. The daughter was being irritating and attention-seeking which annoyed the son, so he responded by calling her a name and storming out. My mentor followed him, looked him square in the eye and told him that he could never do that to his sister again because the way he treated her would impact how she viewed herself, other men, and God for the rest of her life. I thought "WOW! That's quite a burden for a 7 year old to bear!" But then I thought about all the research I had read about attachment and views on God and the like and then I thought, "WOW! I'm so glad she told him that."<br />
I'm still working on courage, gracefulness, and endurance, but it's funny how those mean different things to me now than they did in January when I committed to growing in them.<br />
If you're reading this...thanks! :) I'd like to hear from you and what you're learning this summer, what's challenging you and what is just plain silly. Thanks for bearing with the ramblings!Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-50934639280784076502011-06-15T11:22:00.000-07:002011-06-15T11:22:27.464-07:00Healthier Oatmeal Cookies<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Healthier Oatmeal Cookies:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 cup <a href="http://www.joyofbaking.com/OatmealCookies.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">walnuts</span></a> or pecans, toasted and chopped (I used walnuts in yours)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3/4 cup Coconut oil, room temperature<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 cup honey<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 large <a href="http://www.joyofbaking.com/eggs.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">egg</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 teaspoon pure <a href="http://www.joyofbaking.com/Vanilla.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">vanilla</span></a> extract<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1/4 cup all purpose flour<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1/4 cup whole wheat flour<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1/4 cup ground flaxseed<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1/2 teaspoon <a href="http://www.joyofbaking.com/bakingsoda.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">baking soda</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1/2 teaspoon salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (I grind 1/3 of these and leave the rest of them whole)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1/2 cup goji berries, 1/2 cup dried cranberries (could be substituted with any dried fruit), 1/2 cup ground dark chocolate chips <o:p></o:p></span></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 355px;"><tbody>
<tr style="height: 207.0pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="height: 207.0pt; padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 264.75pt;" valign="top" width="353"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Beat the coconut oil and honey until creamy and smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat to combine. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a separate bowl, whisk together the flours, flaxseed, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and beat until incorporated. Stir in the nuts, oats, and dried fruit and/or chocolate chips. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Use an ice cream scoop to scoop and mold dough and space the cookies about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Then wet your hand and flatten the cookies slightly with your fingers so they are about 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) thick. Bake the cookies for about 12 - 15 minutes or until light golden brown around the edges but still soft and a little wet in the centers. Remove from oven and let the cookies cool a few minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Makes about 20 ish large cookies<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-25300634883293826082011-05-30T12:01:00.000-07:002011-05-31T10:46:28.691-07:00The Couples Wedding ShowerI have not been posting on here for awhile because I've been working on preparing for my little brother's wedding and wedding shower. The shower was this weekend and it was delightful. Apart from a bit of rain toward the end, everything went very well. I wish I could give a start to finish of what we did and how each thing was made...but honestly, that would just take too long and I doubt any of my 20 readers would care. :) So instead, I'll just give you a synopsis and show you some pictures from the day.<br />
<br />
Synopsis: Will and Bethany Joy are getting married, and Evan and I hosted a shower to make sure they felt loved, special, and celebrated! The invites went out a little late, but they were pretty cool.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHId-Wyrqp3ntiaoSVhndZnBHnsSUDrPyklfdzr119HGOB5DXedsxEqRjAKaGNws3mOOzORhOeN9D4Yc9q0AGlssyVKJslzf9F1c9DVSunwrLrrlRxctFyk5iSOvFKkNbIIor8sHKAtYE/s1600/PART_1306863353084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHId-Wyrqp3ntiaoSVhndZnBHnsSUDrPyklfdzr119HGOB5DXedsxEqRjAKaGNws3mOOzORhOeN9D4Yc9q0AGlssyVKJslzf9F1c9DVSunwrLrrlRxctFyk5iSOvFKkNbIIor8sHKAtYE/s320/PART_1306863353084.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
In the invite, everyone was made aware that they should where their "most splendid hat" to the shower. It was very fun to see all the different hats and personalities! Evan was in charge of food and we had lavender lemonade, sparkling peach tea, mini spice and brownie cupcakes with cute cream cheese frosting on top, veggies with dip and hummus, cream puffs, pinwheels, and PB&J sandwiches. My parents were gracious enough to let us have the shower in their yard (and house). Friends and family were invited and we had a grand total of 104 people come to the shower. It was lovely!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbM2derBsUt18DZa4x3HGhd1Oc2Rt6Btqj7yPQMJup9tLsBVP7YKJIOT6_VSY1qKxuZZHuA2sdZVQEQS-8Oqs7W89kwv7DZR_2u_VpYmrnBbHJey5KSQ9FGQt75BCdqOIkEavDX4_U2Yg/s1600/248525_214132998607917_100000336544466_743539_2541991_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbM2derBsUt18DZa4x3HGhd1Oc2Rt6Btqj7yPQMJup9tLsBVP7YKJIOT6_VSY1qKxuZZHuA2sdZVQEQS-8Oqs7W89kwv7DZR_2u_VpYmrnBbHJey5KSQ9FGQt75BCdqOIkEavDX4_U2Yg/s320/248525_214132998607917_100000336544466_743539_2541991_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Groom and Bride</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKUzfgfciLi4kwk_eUv3PtSiLr44gGyK3mp0tLTgigV4OzQdXbjKeMTA-DLQg0E6ETqHxEd7-v3Q0eyElyXngmb60Nkdvsv1xa2LLecw38w6Tzlh8RbfULcKz57wKNnwrRaqWKMJY94I/s1600/246791_214132141941336_100000336544466_743517_639691_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKUzfgfciLi4kwk_eUv3PtSiLr44gGyK3mp0tLTgigV4OzQdXbjKeMTA-DLQg0E6ETqHxEd7-v3Q0eyElyXngmb60Nkdvsv1xa2LLecw38w6Tzlh8RbfULcKz57wKNnwrRaqWKMJY94I/s320/246791_214132141941336_100000336544466_743517_639691_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opening gifts</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwTaoH60EKLMU2aylix9T2w-Cdv4KWXkZ774VrS1UJOqUlvxRIGAvE5IoIdaQdtkwTRZAY8eQ4IMv8rc_2IpMDTKHga5gAGxPOPqhrKU8Q-Pv1mGAZxp5OC7m7hgUqG7BLbjvJi4A3HY/s1600/247016_214131771941373_100000336544466_743510_5385018_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwTaoH60EKLMU2aylix9T2w-Cdv4KWXkZ774VrS1UJOqUlvxRIGAvE5IoIdaQdtkwTRZAY8eQ4IMv8rc_2IpMDTKHga5gAGxPOPqhrKU8Q-Pv1mGAZxp5OC7m7hgUqG7BLbjvJi4A3HY/s320/247016_214131771941373_100000336544466_743510_5385018_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mother and father-in-law....I love them! :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v1mebFgdpTjUXjhOfqaDUrtkQRSdvOuYCfoWA1_T8cdvS_X0yfK1KOjGRKt_RuteLDCqnvDhwHK9oXKKvWaK2DjNmt7DcdHJ5pC2Tzxxtb_oA3UeJWe6ZuFvlBvgsXdX7uZ7-MgMgRs/s1600/248523_214132808607936_100000336544466_743534_4686136_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6v1mebFgdpTjUXjhOfqaDUrtkQRSdvOuYCfoWA1_T8cdvS_X0yfK1KOjGRKt_RuteLDCqnvDhwHK9oXKKvWaK2DjNmt7DcdHJ5pC2Tzxxtb_oA3UeJWe6ZuFvlBvgsXdX7uZ7-MgMgRs/s320/248523_214132808607936_100000336544466_743534_4686136_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chalkboard A-frame sign to greet the guests as they arrived - decorated by Emily!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK4a5OGc3yrdZonZQ09JeZywPQGxSn2PHR8P2iB7ta4POAThpAGPeiGIa8Ev5tnbHxeaKaIZWw9pHkNqVfbVQrIxi_OMF0T8eMg18zq9K1_Vx6zARej5oog_l2EVgzG3LbRKWMV6yYuI/s1600/248572_214132671941283_100000336544466_743531_4445023_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK4a5OGc3yrdZonZQ09JeZywPQGxSn2PHR8P2iB7ta4POAThpAGPeiGIa8Ev5tnbHxeaKaIZWw9pHkNqVfbVQrIxi_OMF0T8eMg18zq9K1_Vx6zARej5oog_l2EVgzG3LbRKWMV6yYuI/s320/248572_214132671941283_100000336544466_743531_4445023_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Centerpieces/prizes for game winners - snapdragons in biodegradable pots with excerpts from Isaiah 62.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8GIjYy3lxOlZjMV_B5OiNE4wfaAxguHuf1Iw0mmLF6IfAm7EVzigH0oeXq4NQskydW919z6uvP9_VLYMR9fl5TNlLFkK6UNNPqQJ4OCLjQjzzpgNm1m7xIAOW8kt-_xuUA6XpxIU0iU/s1600/249250_214132028608014_100000336544466_743515_3019564_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8GIjYy3lxOlZjMV_B5OiNE4wfaAxguHuf1Iw0mmLF6IfAm7EVzigH0oeXq4NQskydW919z6uvP9_VLYMR9fl5TNlLFkK6UNNPqQJ4OCLjQjzzpgNm1m7xIAOW8kt-_xuUA6XpxIU0iU/s320/249250_214132028608014_100000336544466_743515_3019564_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juggling Jesse...probably Elliot's favorite part!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwuMkeyKmNUnU2JMknn8IWvDKKkm6LvhEWlVmUrykXwC4cXmRqciVVxYrmkl1SQA3DSJQDFGDcyySmEGeuNYE3s55yBqtRnh55SSQ1jCdNw94g1gIEs_HfRLltV5anrQm1F8GTTQOhyc/s1600/249408_214132421941308_100000336544466_743524_7018833_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwuMkeyKmNUnU2JMknn8IWvDKKkm6LvhEWlVmUrykXwC4cXmRqciVVxYrmkl1SQA3DSJQDFGDcyySmEGeuNYE3s55yBqtRnh55SSQ1jCdNw94g1gIEs_HfRLltV5anrQm1F8GTTQOhyc/s320/249408_214132421941308_100000336544466_743524_7018833_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma and Elliot - I think this looks like a Norman Rockwell painting or something.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZX9nkvzzOf2jmi464YUOe2kvbAQTmAIX_eBhmHpAmz6aMrChpaikSLC7eZUZOjO7Psuy-wC01PoOnpM9iGCF2ZjOfaL40Oxkjvs_jCnLjAsMj_POKoWdVEmOpvV4EF4Arhd1IkFoLu4Q/s1600/249803_214132205274663_100000336544466_743518_2837555_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZX9nkvzzOf2jmi464YUOe2kvbAQTmAIX_eBhmHpAmz6aMrChpaikSLC7eZUZOjO7Psuy-wC01PoOnpM9iGCF2ZjOfaL40Oxkjvs_jCnLjAsMj_POKoWdVEmOpvV4EF4Arhd1IkFoLu4Q/s320/249803_214132205274663_100000336544466_743518_2837555_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 beautiful and very helpful bridesmaids</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTokxnywi6SQFAGckB2S50YMgKFGwPV3poZHfMZbm3B99DBYZaY1WG726dzkQoQyj1eLAuPxwMLlSBhXRIT8PC94WYj8tp0ccaOpf8hW6Ub77yXWJPBKqEqWsvwbBtZPO_jPjw98-1gA/s1600/250253_214131461941404_100000336544466_743498_7508573_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTokxnywi6SQFAGckB2S50YMgKFGwPV3poZHfMZbm3B99DBYZaY1WG726dzkQoQyj1eLAuPxwMLlSBhXRIT8PC94WYj8tp0ccaOpf8hW6Ub77yXWJPBKqEqWsvwbBtZPO_jPjw98-1gA/s320/250253_214131461941404_100000336544466_743498_7508573_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pin the Boutonniere on the Groom (flags made by yours truly).</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElvNiK3AzDluVhHFOihKJQRtjyGfLYUNQkjRRjj0CRJqTRkQGuKcMq3VgpzDURIS6SvQ5kUCYFyCC76EuwIbLem2LzEw8334ro0lYnL8dEfeVTPZ1MWZ3aU6yO7dSM6gKtSLEoKhGoA0/s1600/250419_214132908607926_100000336544466_743536_5606797_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElvNiK3AzDluVhHFOihKJQRtjyGfLYUNQkjRRjj0CRJqTRkQGuKcMq3VgpzDURIS6SvQ5kUCYFyCC76EuwIbLem2LzEw8334ro0lYnL8dEfeVTPZ1MWZ3aU6yO7dSM6gKtSLEoKhGoA0/s320/250419_214132908607926_100000336544466_743536_5606797_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The groom with some groomsmen.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaLE5nnPP8M3WghNBZG8IdwXHoBlMrcbZplSkLPXPTgScqI8g-__f3I6r-qu8bS3pBZpH_Etqksr9PX3rrIQ_AJsT2ProZQG07b_bhgSps3xcH7bUBN46lEpVRmGsd_ZphmG2hEzQFrc/s1600/251629_214131821941368_100000336544466_743511_949348_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaLE5nnPP8M3WghNBZG8IdwXHoBlMrcbZplSkLPXPTgScqI8g-__f3I6r-qu8bS3pBZpH_Etqksr9PX3rrIQ_AJsT2ProZQG07b_bhgSps3xcH7bUBN46lEpVRmGsd_ZphmG2hEzQFrc/s320/251629_214131821941368_100000336544466_743511_949348_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grabbing a bite of the great food!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12oH_wbTN0bmPhQxOE7zeFuDm9D8yl9eSQ25EB-GTt78v0AlA0NjHI333R1s0veu9IXmquLf7zUTABz-6N9Wq1HVoJviZdQjlWKfEgXHyiY6bXo4Dmh0O2Ix3lUVYXTWNpISk2sTrvTk/s1600/252717_214131738608043_100000336544466_743509_5545295_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12oH_wbTN0bmPhQxOE7zeFuDm9D8yl9eSQ25EB-GTt78v0AlA0NjHI333R1s0veu9IXmquLf7zUTABz-6N9Wq1HVoJviZdQjlWKfEgXHyiY6bXo4Dmh0O2Ix3lUVYXTWNpISk2sTrvTk/s320/252717_214131738608043_100000336544466_743509_5545295_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guests</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgIKJlvk2vuNI5ZBV80d8ursVj4kCMm4_WAxcagZaF2SMkoDmrCzlGgXozVMeH4DLiDjLZDGQ_Fl5NiCjG6Y2GS45QWhYT1xA6ds9-FoPEbtxIQEGFKw2gkLm_PyT-jZIYWhqdpWEyeA/s1600/252846_214132605274623_100000336544466_743530_8289540_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgIKJlvk2vuNI5ZBV80d8ursVj4kCMm4_WAxcagZaF2SMkoDmrCzlGgXozVMeH4DLiDjLZDGQ_Fl5NiCjG6Y2GS45QWhYT1xA6ds9-FoPEbtxIQEGFKw2gkLm_PyT-jZIYWhqdpWEyeA/s320/252846_214132605274623_100000336544466_743530_8289540_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bride trying her luck at this crazy thing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGUGYZhvC1xRONojys74NHbLG2Pir7lRwHZjVD-oG9XvENrAs9CWJqCNfCIr_ZMdXkkl70AROYFbt4WG5J_YE1dKCR9VnPDs0Xct5jHb1MJDTi2ZyCpO_VLXRFD5f4PYh6imSGbeflgU/s1600/253450_214132501941300_100000336544466_743528_3121880_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGUGYZhvC1xRONojys74NHbLG2Pir7lRwHZjVD-oG9XvENrAs9CWJqCNfCIr_ZMdXkkl70AROYFbt4WG5J_YE1dKCR9VnPDs0Xct5jHb1MJDTi2ZyCpO_VLXRFD5f4PYh6imSGbeflgU/s320/253450_214132501941300_100000336544466_743528_3121880_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Groom, bridesmaid, and ring bearer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYXReZ5cq-iE5VgCkeHYgpa1lqIFj3Cv4EqrZN7fRPUqsRWv-E47ijAHcUsDNmx5y4wS8Crud5wpG3vBidZOWACJu7iF3WjzMRBXhDCL3FRv_akffUMp47KrEOk88B9P-HmTyhvOkHD0/s1600/254571_214131961941354_100000336544466_743514_8029791_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYXReZ5cq-iE5VgCkeHYgpa1lqIFj3Cv4EqrZN7fRPUqsRWv-E47ijAHcUsDNmx5y4wS8Crud5wpG3vBidZOWACJu7iF3WjzMRBXhDCL3FRv_akffUMp47KrEOk88B9P-HmTyhvOkHD0/s320/254571_214131961941354_100000336544466_743514_8029791_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elliot and his "Joyee"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBd4zxB6stA2AIzOJJTqAGmpLEoj_q8gqX4iLPkxjzQTMCcb_ie0AB1kQ9YanZzyF30mJ1hSJRp-ydB_7EqiQ5S9en99PBVnol_tSy0w6vZs49oNirsS2HW68atZ1FvZkKur7gRf5RasQ/s1600/257840_2113120667559_1231943201_2625811_1684049_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBd4zxB6stA2AIzOJJTqAGmpLEoj_q8gqX4iLPkxjzQTMCcb_ie0AB1kQ9YanZzyF30mJ1hSJRp-ydB_7EqiQ5S9en99PBVnol_tSy0w6vZs49oNirsS2HW68atZ1FvZkKur7gRf5RasQ/s320/257840_2113120667559_1231943201_2625811_1684049_o.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay...more beautiful gifts!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yLULddowLDJKBvfjqRcw6qzaUyLnUnSmHlEk42-b77yx4xdWLZ2zYMHHQj9HgpZbJzsY52nHh24dA71GVeYFqeebt7vXS-yJCuHCXhyw4ZNDAd2A5wlZdtatCcFMNP7VMVWqvSgqZa8/s1600/DSCN4251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yLULddowLDJKBvfjqRcw6qzaUyLnUnSmHlEk42-b77yx4xdWLZ2zYMHHQj9HgpZbJzsY52nHh24dA71GVeYFqeebt7vXS-yJCuHCXhyw4ZNDAd2A5wlZdtatCcFMNP7VMVWqvSgqZa8/s320/DSCN4251.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collecting the "He Said...She Said" game. You can find a tutorial <a href="http://madesweet.blogspot.com/2009/06/game.html">here</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCi0se49MN4m6Q0XZKSy5Xg_UABlrTkA4VZ459QWCsqzc-25a-h5aRQiV5pZdxcAkeXeXmALDCN_KnwOdG80GerXhobF1hd-4nxEaUmffqrDmX-5h2E9eEeQe-JUp0vP7C_Skgm4O4Ps/s1600/DSCN4261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCi0se49MN4m6Q0XZKSy5Xg_UABlrTkA4VZ459QWCsqzc-25a-h5aRQiV5pZdxcAkeXeXmALDCN_KnwOdG80GerXhobF1hd-4nxEaUmffqrDmX-5h2E9eEeQe-JUp0vP7C_Skgm4O4Ps/s320/DSCN4261.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Grading" He Said...She Said with Caleb the Cheater</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKL9dDWHvL1pnfmY7xzeJQ6ZER1tQ-vG5CPro6S1qwPaajCOY3l1tN5cxPFAD6iJY7Dcp1kPe2BE_kNEGL4TUYVp7-hPgqOiG_IFgeN0Oh8f28uoE3yeBY6fIQAJyjimdWOgKByLC3vk/s1600/DSCN4266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKL9dDWHvL1pnfmY7xzeJQ6ZER1tQ-vG5CPro6S1qwPaajCOY3l1tN5cxPFAD6iJY7Dcp1kPe2BE_kNEGL4TUYVp7-hPgqOiG_IFgeN0Oh8f28uoE3yeBY6fIQAJyjimdWOgKByLC3vk/s320/DSCN4266.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Bouquet Toss"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQNF7LY4-a4YRyP2z_VR_hv0kQIss4xf7CvYXOfvpshYrR5hM-f_sSWrUvcdDf4sHrI2AI47ZzgQvUqnCgf9cG7okEFq8joEbupR9uDeAMXWnEYzcLKOxNk_kE7RCXbGfyhpk0aaQ4sM/s1600/DSCN4274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQNF7LY4-a4YRyP2z_VR_hv0kQIss4xf7CvYXOfvpshYrR5hM-f_sSWrUvcdDf4sHrI2AI47ZzgQvUqnCgf9cG7okEFq8joEbupR9uDeAMXWnEYzcLKOxNk_kE7RCXbGfyhpk0aaQ4sM/s320/DSCN4274.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guests in their splendid hats.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Sy9fQFEW7Eg9pqXpfs8XQJjEeG05ZecmHIz1NibE1RXu5BH__Oq_MEsIog2G2YQHi3NG9A1pCjk5sLL3Ot4aiDeR2QtLW0bUBhLXPRlJeNnRag2iQzteXGaqMeoeNS7WJ54-F6Gmi7Q/s1600/DSCN4277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Sy9fQFEW7Eg9pqXpfs8XQJjEeG05ZecmHIz1NibE1RXu5BH__Oq_MEsIog2G2YQHi3NG9A1pCjk5sLL3Ot4aiDeR2QtLW0bUBhLXPRlJeNnRag2iQzteXGaqMeoeNS7WJ54-F6Gmi7Q/s320/DSCN4277.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The HOSTS! :)....I love my husband!!!<br />
<br />
**NOTE: Most of these lovely pictures were taken by Emily Rose Brookshire. The rest were taken by some bridesmaids and groomsmen.**</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-72730157545815722742011-05-17T17:39:00.000-07:002011-05-17T17:39:47.269-07:00Things to Check Out......because they are AWESOME!!!<br />
<br />
1) <a href="http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/paint_colors/paint_color_palette/colorsnap/">Sherwin Williams ColorSnap</a> app for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry. This app takes a picture of anything, matches it, gives you a color palette of similar, contrasting or coordinating colors, then allows you to save your color palette. Very cool!<br />
<br />
2)The<a href="http://www.agcchicago.org/"> Academy for Global Citizenship</a> is probably the coolest elementary school I have seen or heard of. On the south side of Chicago. These kids learn about science, math, art, nutrition, etc by growing their own food and plants, plus so much more.<br />
<br />
3) <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest.com</a>. If you haven't checked this out already...GO NOW! You can look up just about anything and see a bunch of pictures and ideas that other people have "pinned" that are interested in the same thing. I think it is awesome for brainstorming and finding new interesting sites and such. Lots of DIY, vintage, and just plain pretty stuff.<br />
<br />
4) <a href="http://indianapublicmedia.org/eartheats/">EarthEats</a> is a weekly podcast with a website about the latest in sustainable agriculture and local food. It has great recipes, resources and local and national food news. Their most recent episode was about summer grilling with some great herby drinks. Taking center stage?...Lavender lemonade, Sage Apple Infusion, and Sour Cherry Fizz! YUM!<br />
<br />
Yeah. I think that's it for now! :)<br />
OH...except, Thursday is my last full-time day at IWU! Then I get to spend 3 months with this little man. SO EXCITED! We're going to learn to read and swim and speak Spanish...and we're going to play a LOT!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxOl2we2moacAzR81sneRy9ivvBjQFII1o-jGWR7mAWLGY5k-D403dq1OFTtqTojk4KBSc70r8a38Vch6RC8vpoTpPNk0WzfInl7q7NSqPu63YQILmdpR0UBdz5Of7J_2tAvHJjCgpGE/s1600/DSC_0389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxOl2we2moacAzR81sneRy9ivvBjQFII1o-jGWR7mAWLGY5k-D403dq1OFTtqTojk4KBSc70r8a38Vch6RC8vpoTpPNk0WzfInl7q7NSqPu63YQILmdpR0UBdz5Of7J_2tAvHJjCgpGE/s400/DSC_0389.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-71608900262118066112011-05-16T20:29:00.001-07:002011-05-16T20:29:24.154-07:00A New Name<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">The nations will see your vindication,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> and all kings your glory;</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">you will be called by a new name</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> a royal diadem in the hand of your God.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">No longer will they call you Deserted,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> or name your land Desolate.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">But you will be called Hephzibah <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(“my delight is in her”)</i>,</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> and your land Beulah</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span></sup></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“married”</i>);</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">for the LORD will take delight in you,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> and your land will be married.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">As a young man marries a young woman,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> so will your Builder marry you<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Isaiah 62:2-5a<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">I am not a biblical scholar, but I do study the Bible and while I know that scripture was written to a specific people, in a specific time, by a specific hand. I also know that it is God’s Word – living and active and relevant to me, and sometimes I think that God stepped outside of the box of time and chronology and knew that while those words needed to mean something specific at certain times to a very specific people, He also thought of me…specifically. And He knew that the words He spoke then, whether through His own mouth or the mouth of one of His prophets would speak truth to my mind, light to my soul and love to my heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Such is the passage above. I have been meditating on it for about two weeks now, and each time I read it, it becomes more beautiful and full of meaning. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">I remember the first time that Ev called me “my Love.” It was magical. I felt like I belonged, like I was known, like I was valued. I remember the first time that Elliot called me “Momomom.” It was magical too. Someone that knew me specifically in one role that was more than enough for him. I felt special, I felt irreplaceable, I felt loved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">These names are two of the most treasured that I have been given by those that I love and that love me. I’ve had many other names as well. Some make me feel special, some make me feel inadequate. Some make me think I’m stupid or worthless, some make me think I couldn’t be worth more. But there is one that I have never heard that I know God has in store to bestow on me when we meet face to face. When I then know as I am fully known (1 Cor 13:12). The name will make me feel delighted in, joined together with a God who takes pleasure in knowing me, and in me knowing Him, clothed in the righteousness of Christ – splendid, radiant, distinct. One new name!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">At a time in my life when I’m not sure what my next names will be, it gives me great joy to read this passage and delight in it. I think about the times that God shows us examples of him bestowing new names on his followers, Abraham, Sarah, Israel. It was perfect every time. It made sense for who they were, what their story was and how God redeemed them and set them apart. Another great piece of all this is that the name that God gives people isn’t just between Him and them. No longer are they called Abram, Sarai, or Jacob. No longer will we be called “desolate” or “deserted” or any other name that displays a gross misunderstanding of a heavenly Father’s love and grace or the value of His child. Instead, I will be given a new name that is known by all. How beautiful is that?! What a wonderful, merciful Saviour! What a gracious redeemer and friend! I love Him, my Yahweh!</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-89132879104024238722011-05-07T10:42:00.000-07:002011-05-07T10:42:16.633-07:00SocksDo you ever feel like you just pick up other people's socks? What is it with socks anyway? There are socks all over my house. In the hamper? Yes! On the floor? Yes! In the car? Yes! On my kitchen counter? Yes!....Wait! What?!....Yes! Yes, I picked up an athletic sock off of my kitchen counter this morning. Granted, it was used to wrap an ice pack and not a foot, but still, right? It's at points like these that I think, "what in the world is going on?" And then I think, "what else do you expect? hasn't it been this way since you got married?" And isn't insanity doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result?<br />
In the midst of the socks there is a lot of change going on in my life and while it might be dysfunctional and weird, the stability and predictability of knowing that I will come home or wake up and have to pick up at least three pairs of socks from random places makes me smile. Because I can also know and predict that the boys that stand on the extra wide feet that those socks belong to, whether large or small, love me despite the change and that just makes me feel content, for the moment! Which is a lovely gift from God in the middle of all my internal clashings.Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-50856932461924978022011-04-05T20:36:00.001-07:002011-04-05T20:36:52.890-07:00What Every Child Needs to HearWhen I found out was pregnant with Elliot, I was scared out of my mind! I wasn't scared that I would be a bad mother or that I would make mistakes sometimes or that he wouldn't turn out the way I hoped or anything like that. I was scared that I would just kind of be an okay mom, that he would know he was loved but he would have to remind himself of that, that I wouldn't understand what he needed from me so I wouldn't be able to give it to him. Things like that.<br />
It scared me even more when I found out he was a boy! I knew what truth a little girl needed spoken into her life, I knew how and what I would teach her about strength and faith and femininity, I knew what to tell Evan to do too (at least I thought I did). But...a boy? What truth does a boy need to hear spoken by his mother into his life? What do I need to teach him about strength and faith and masculinity? I was so scared I would fail. Not fail miserably, but fail by just kind of making it work.<br />
I've learned a lot in the last 2 1/2 years and God has provided me with the knowledge I need to raise my son one step at a time, consistently showing His ever-present grace in my life. I know now the truth that he needs spoken into his life. He is loved, special, valuable, handsome, brave, strong, and smart. He is a little warrior and poet and prince. "God is love (1 John 4:8)" and he is a "fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)."<br />
Confession - I'm not good with kids. I haven't really ever been. At least not children under the age of like 16. However, having Elliot in has changed a few things in me. I'm still a bit awkward around other children, but I pay attention to them more. I pay attention to their body language and their spirit and their needs. I am especially observant of little boys. How society and parents and other influences shape them, encourage them, or scold them with their expectations. And can I tell you? Most of the time it breaks my heart!<br />
I was in line today at Walmart and in front of me was a mom with a baby in the cart that was maybe 9 months old and she had a little boy that looked like he was about 3 1/2 or 4. He was sitting on the floor playing with an Etch-a-Sketch and his mom gently told him to come over by her. He set the toy down, willingly obeyed and stood next to her cart. He asked her a question, something like, "Mommy, can I have some of that food?" She laughed and said to the cashier, "Such a typical male isn't he?" They laughed together. The little boy just looked away. Not particularly hurt, but not really feeling anything else either. His mom continued, "Yeah, he's already got the selective hearing going too. Men!" Chuckles ensued and the boy waited patiently for his mother to check out.<br />
I wanted to shout so everyone could hear and at the same time look intently into the little boy's eyes so he knew I was talking just to him and tell him, "You are special and loved and valuable!"<br />
I don't think the mother had a poor relationship with her son. I could tell they loved each other very much. And I know that there are times, whatever the reason, that I find my son has tried to say the same thing to me seven times just trying to get my attention and interaction, and I only catch it on time number 8 with a minimal response. I know that I fail at times and that is okay, but I also know that regardless of my limitations or shortcomings, God is using me in my son's life and I am honored and blessed by that.<br />
Children don't need to hear how typical they are, they don't need to be bound by societal expectations (whether positive or negative) of how different descriptive characteristics limit them or make them difficult to be around, whether that difference be gender or race or something else.<br />
Every child needs to be heard and recognized and known. Every child should know that their life is valuable beyond measure, that their uniqueness is intentional, and that they are loved without limits.<br />
I need to hear that, and you need to hear that!<br />
I'm not scared anymore, and I haven't been for awhile. Not because I feel a lightened weight of responsibility toward my son, but because he knows and he has heard and he will continue to hear that he is more valuable than any treasure that any pirate could ever dig up, that he is so a dearly loved child of God (1 John 3:1), that I will gladly dance with my little prince any time he asks (even if it's when he should be sleeping), that playing with new friends in the nursery is brave because he says it is and so is climbing rocks that are really big and so is living life so beautifully in such a big world, that even if and when his mommy and daddy cannot be there with him, God always ALWAYS is, and that he is so special and so SO loved!<br />
I also know that I will fail. Sometimes I'll be a great mom and sometimes I'll just be okay, but thankfully when I'm just okay (or even when I'm downright lousy), I have a heavenly Father that is always paying attention, never saying "what a typical woman!" and just waiting to tell me how valuable I am to Him.Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-8570904541434196162011-03-22T16:37:00.000-07:002011-03-22T16:37:08.301-07:00So...we went to Utah!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4cQQUlA4g4qawc0qjkswDp4oAu1cDwFxsrVe8txLX9JvsVNY_QuOHuJ0MFmAl48B7WWN4AIrIMdy86VjlUB3GTto0BvIiU_eynbgA01IRnJFCsf4c6pjZgBFtvkx_MeeL1Vr0LMtR64/s1600/DSC_0163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4cQQUlA4g4qawc0qjkswDp4oAu1cDwFxsrVe8txLX9JvsVNY_QuOHuJ0MFmAl48B7WWN4AIrIMdy86VjlUB3GTto0BvIiU_eynbgA01IRnJFCsf4c6pjZgBFtvkx_MeeL1Vr0LMtR64/s320/DSC_0163.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My beautiful sister and Elliot</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpxeKkANCi5mOAb17kLlPwouWwYbcnpFJKXdvwHKYcwyNZL5_47GHbKJkloS1V_xvloVLfVBFGM8vybgMbg3e8B-2uwxVCINp_yVqJrXt0qTTpxw9RcOpmu_q2nq2FjIfahG7DoCgNeI/s1600/DSC_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpxeKkANCi5mOAb17kLlPwouWwYbcnpFJKXdvwHKYcwyNZL5_47GHbKJkloS1V_xvloVLfVBFGM8vybgMbg3e8B-2uwxVCINp_yVqJrXt0qTTpxw9RcOpmu_q2nq2FjIfahG7DoCgNeI/s320/DSC_0245.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My love and me!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVgU_gt2gS9EG-46xKykp8mRgB6QQ5VBFrzVSo4E4vZ3eS2UbTIJTBsmj9xekzZRcOVijGrxG3XCTMgu4CWRKXaePrb5W_Z29uSXVgsEjmf1bXPaDF0gYIT33Sjiv63tMxMBAFug0f8w/s1600/Elliot+%2526+Mom+Climb+a+Mountain+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVgU_gt2gS9EG-46xKykp8mRgB6QQ5VBFrzVSo4E4vZ3eS2UbTIJTBsmj9xekzZRcOVijGrxG3XCTMgu4CWRKXaePrb5W_Z29uSXVgsEjmf1bXPaDF0gYIT33Sjiv63tMxMBAFug0f8w/s320/Elliot+%2526+Mom+Climb+a+Mountain+1.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing "Mount Elliot"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQ7EBhqhJaRE_hO0bglC1mSUqFY4gOpNCP5eeNqLYRSpQiaZB9YokpEIYZwdPRTNCBy4eljXcMASocnVKIhTuD-YZODYskeG1CfJ97dPD6M3wz2eFPSCzxLa7w7xFqR9_0pE-yFbLe6g/s1600/193524_554881281863_56200965_32163318_7731179_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQ7EBhqhJaRE_hO0bglC1mSUqFY4gOpNCP5eeNqLYRSpQiaZB9YokpEIYZwdPRTNCBy4eljXcMASocnVKIhTuD-YZODYskeG1CfJ97dPD6M3wz2eFPSCzxLa7w7xFqR9_0pE-yFbLe6g/s320/193524_554881281863_56200965_32163318_7731179_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across the mountains and canyon, just 5 miles "up" from Ephraim, UT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-54900516662346911592011-02-18T16:19:00.000-08:002011-02-18T16:19:06.453-08:00Elmo Worship?...Oh yikes!For the past two Friday afternoons, I've had the privilege of going through some training in Strategic Futuring (yes, it's a word) and in StrengthsQuest. The first is a process by which you envision your life 15 years in the future and then outline strategic steps to make that future a reality, and let me tell you, the next 15 years look amazing! :) The second is an assessment tool developed by the Gallup organization to identify key talent themes in your life. For example, my themes are activator, achiever, individualization, futuristic, and learner....I know, surprise, surprise, right?<br />
Anyway, it's been awhile since I've pushed myself to do this sort of intentional reflection and envisioning and it is making me incredibly thankful for the blessings in my life and excited about what the future holds. It is also giving me little bits of courage to take steps to explore and create.<br />
One of the things I've been exploring is some different music. Just taking time to sit and listen or have it intentionally playing in the background. It makes a big difference in my mood and meditation, etc. I've been creating a playlist on Grooveshark of my favorite worship songs, which might not be a big deal for most people, but for me each of the songs are especially beautiful or touching so I only have about 10 right now.<br />
I've been listening to these about every other day on my way to work. After dropping Elliot off two days ago, I was driving to work, listening to "Megan's God Tunes" and singing along. "You're Beautiful", "Dearly Loved", "Emphasis", "My Redeemer Lives", "In Christ Alone." I'm having a beautiful time of worship and then I catch myself in the middle of "la la la la, la la la la, Elmo's Song." Yes, singing out loud! I was brainlessly singing Elmo's Song on my way to work.<br />
Grooveshark had just automatically gone on to the next playlist, "Elliot's Songs." I sat and laughed at myself for awhile. Then I called Evan and he laughed at me.<br />
I think that sometimes in life, we just drift into this space that isn't really ours but we keep living right along with it and then all of a sudden we realize, "What am I doing here? Whose song is this? Why am I living this way?"<br />
I guess what I'm trying to say is that no matter how funny it is, Elmo worship, just isn't right...at all! And neither is singing anyone else's life song or unconsciously drifting into a space where you don't have to live intentionally anymore.<br />
So if you had to envision your life in 15 years what would it look like? What are you doing now to make that happen? Cause I'm pretty sure you don't want to drift into 2026 and wonder "What am I doing here? Whose song is this?"Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-78618686324192221742011-02-09T19:31:00.000-08:002011-02-09T19:31:49.389-08:00Of breath and dustBroken then separated by shoots of green<br />
that push through you and grow toward the sun<br />
Lifeless and brown and spoken to be<br />
You lie under the sky and beside the sea<br />
<br />
OH breathless dust - unfashioned, unformed<br />
<br />
Transformed by hands with care and intention<br />
Animated to live and love and explore<br />
Breath-filled and whole with imagination<br />
Running, laughing, singing, dancing on a beautiful sphere<br />
with a God who came near<br />
<br />
OH breath-filled - dust rebellious, so proud<br />
<br />
Do you ever dream about where you came from?<br />
And know someday you will return?<br />
Because of a choice and a curse and a lie,<br />
Brown and breathless on the ground<br />
Unnoticed - clinging to feet, sandals, and boots<br />
<br />
OH breathless dust - judged wanting and lost<br />
<br />
But dream again with eyes open this time<br />
And you'll see your God who came near<br />
All you notice at first are His fleshy two feet<br />
They're blood-stained and scarred and breathless dust-caked<br />
And you hurry to wash them with tear after tear after tear<br />
<br />
You know what He did and you know what it cost<br />
To breathe life again into dust that was judged wanting and lost<br />
"Does He resent me?" you wonder "Surely the cost was too much<br />
For my sin and my shame, my death and my dust!"<br />
<br />
Then His transforming hands, familiar and strong<br />
Hold you close with care and intention<br />
And you hear Him speak with His voice and his breath<br />
In your ear, "You're lavishly loved!<br />
You're special to me!<br />
Dear one, you're forgiven. I've redeemed you.<br />
You're free!"<br />
<br />
Life bursts through your soul<br />
When His breath hits your being.<br />
You go running and laughing,<br />
Dancing and singing, with Yahweh, your Yahweh<br />
Your breath-filling King<br />
All through the sky and on top of the sea<br />
<br />
OH plank-filled eye<br />
OH sin-filled self<br />
Forgotten, covered, rescued<br />
OH breath-filled life and dustless you<br />
Alive and radiant and freeMegan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-80508937931602437252011-02-06T18:04:00.001-08:002011-02-06T18:33:36.051-08:00Dearly Loved<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="283" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OwQ3tTiw4eM" title="YouTube video player" width="450"></iframe></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b>Dearly Loved</b></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Jimmy Needham</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please lay down your arrows<br />
For they're sure to pierce the skin<br />
And water from a broken well<br />
Will make you thirst again<br />
When all things you've acquired<br />
Are tested by the flames<br />
And you can see them melting<br />
Then will you call his name<br />
<br />
It's worth it brothers<br />
It's worth it friends<br />
To know your maker<br />
To lose your sin<br />
Did you know that you are dearly loved<br />
<br />
To the slaughters you are being led<br />
Being told that it's a party<br />
That this God is in your head<br />
And every single lie<br />
Sounds just like the greatest truth<br />
But the one truth you're not hearing<br />
Is that he died for you<br />
<br />
No greater joy<br />
No greater peace<br />
No greater love than this<br />
<br />
It's worth it brothers<br />
It's worth it friends<br />
To know your maker<br />
To lose your sin<br />
Did you know that you are dearly loved</span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.</span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ephesians 2:4-5</span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.</span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.</span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Psalm 63:3-4</span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!</span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 John 3:1a</span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">"When I hear people talking about love like it's the latest, greatest flavor of cotton candy, I get very nervous and suspect we are not talking about the same thing."</span></span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Jen Lee</span></span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">This is a new favorite song of mine, moving me to tears because of the reality of its truth. My dear sister Sarah sent me this last quote a couple weeks ago and it deeply resonated with my heart. I feel that love is one of the most misunderstood and shallowly represented constructs within our world. And the thing that astonishes me the most is that people seem to be okay with that. The devasting thing is that when I try to describe love to other people, I find that my proclamation of this truth leaves much to be desired. Yet I look around me as see people, as C.S. Lewis did, happy to be playing with "love mud pies" when a holiday in a sea of love is afforded to them. And I have to conclude with him that we are "far too easily pleased."</span></span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Recently the university I work at had an essay contest among the faculty called, "Why I Teach." As I pondered when or not to submit something I thought back and forth about why I teach, why I lead, etc. It's not because I have vast amounts of knowledge to impart or am even close to being able to use my life experiences as vicarious sources of learning. It is because I believe that the greatest, sweetest truth that everyone needs to learn is that they are DEARLY LOVED - specifically, intentionally, uniquely, dearly loved by God. And I believe so strongly that anything that is truth will point to this life altering, soul filling reality. So I teach the truth I know and I lead for change that eliminates lies and darkness because people must know that they are dearly loved.</span></span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">My life has been a learning laboratory for love, and I hope that it continues to be. One reason that the truth of love is so difficult to articulate is because it's often deeply felt rather than only cognitively processed. The limbic system in our brains (bear with me here) is the physical seat of our emotions and drives. It is full of feeling and not rationality, passion and not logic. And it isn't anywhere near our brain's cortex (where cognition is processed) or Broca & Wernicke's areas (where we develop language and the articulation of our ideas). And so in my little life laboratory, when I see or hear or read or look at something that can connect the all of those areas in my head and empower passion with knowledge and ignite logical truth with fervor, I most often just start crying. Because what my heart felt as true and my mind knew as true connect and fill my soul with the light of truth. And almost always that truth is that I am dearly loved, incredibly unworthy, and miraculously redeemed.</span></span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Last night, Pat Terenzini in his opening remarks at our conference said that learning or education is "not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." So while I still feel that my words above are shallow and disjointed, I guess my observation and question to you is this. We are all learning and teaching and following and leading, but what fire are you spreading? Because, in case you didn't know my brothers and sisters...</span></span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div id="songlyrics" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">...you are SO DEARLY LOVED! </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"></div></div><div id="songlyrics" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-85256302014992876132011-01-31T14:54:00.000-08:002011-02-06T18:31:17.600-08:00Pretty Pretty Song"Yahweh" by Tal & Acacia. One of my students shared this with me and I absolutely love it. I want to wake up to it! :)<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="283" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/J9VXCCWW_hk" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="450"></iframe>Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-28261922912320866922011-01-26T16:49:00.000-08:002011-01-26T16:54:23.151-08:00Fun & PrettyI recently made some super cute herb coffee/tea cup sleeves that I LOVE (I'll try to post a tutorial and pics soon)! After this, I started getting a bit of a crafty bug. I am looking forward to painting a set of canvases with the 5 freedoms (as soon as I find my paintbrushes). But here are a couple things I stumbled upon when surfing my bloggity-blogs today that I'd like to make get. I think they're fun and pretty.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>1. First Aid to Go</b></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWFK9IZr1m8_9ZbjVCL_MUnwVuCVvSXpQaPG8CwrMQDWkOHA6aZhsJfZE6bshophMbv_5qNS3U-k2CExPIlIm6i8KjAnaueuO0WozEmtLBB2Um53U51Sk3HNOiiCmbFkjbLp5nYZy77I/s1600/travel+first+aid+kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWFK9IZr1m8_9ZbjVCL_MUnwVuCVvSXpQaPG8CwrMQDWkOHA6aZhsJfZE6bshophMbv_5qNS3U-k2CExPIlIm6i8KjAnaueuO0WozEmtLBB2Um53U51Sk3HNOiiCmbFkjbLp5nYZy77I/s320/travel+first+aid+kit.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
I realized earlier this week that if Elliot got hurt when I was gone, no one else would know where anything was. So I gathered some supplies and made a first-aid kit for our house, which is now sitting on our dryer (random, I know but it's a central location). Then I realized how many extra supplies we had. I have a first-aid kit in each car but it's somewhat limited. I'd also like to have one for my, Ev's and Elliot's bags. I also thought these would make super-cute momma gifts. Find instructions at <a href="http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-to-make-travel-first-aid-kit.html">Fireflies & Jellybeans</a>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>2. Spa Headband</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdc3FTuujxr93uIyPaks4ZS4bHlcdDaA9X36UW_R9Uti-7oN0fWs8O5t6BSfG8RUVWoBZUxFPmydRreO4f3Ika7OrXfkfQzxsQPNwtlSWEByNa5ai2RlwaaH9No56Xuk5vIMZkWbpA6k/s1600/spa+headband.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdc3FTuujxr93uIyPaks4ZS4bHlcdDaA9X36UW_R9Uti-7oN0fWs8O5t6BSfG8RUVWoBZUxFPmydRreO4f3Ika7OrXfkfQzxsQPNwtlSWEByNa5ai2RlwaaH9No56Xuk5vIMZkWbpA6k/s200/spa+headband.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I think this one pretty much speaks for itself. I think I'd want to make mine with some green ribbon or some cool embroidered fabric strip, instead of the lace. But I would just feel pretty using one of these when I get ready in the morning. Find it at <a href="http://www.flamingotoes.com/2011/01/spa-headband-and-oatmeal-facial/">Flamingo Toes</a>. She has a fun oatmeal scrub on this post too.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>3. BLOOMIES!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KzxR_lt49hS-lPvKRKiLhn0xxBvdpBc4TAKDkRTUdc2k_SFLzO_9NHTWNvt7TU3tBRCBFKTgyfckNV0vpbU39uq0Sj5_b0Afyx_eqdOT_PgB2JVYSd1hbg9U6k5WxdjYIVm2qjM0tGw/s1600/bloomies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KzxR_lt49hS-lPvKRKiLhn0xxBvdpBc4TAKDkRTUdc2k_SFLzO_9NHTWNvt7TU3tBRCBFKTgyfckNV0vpbU39uq0Sj5_b0Afyx_eqdOT_PgB2JVYSd1hbg9U6k5WxdjYIVm2qjM0tGw/s320/bloomies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I think these are SOOOOOO COOL!!!!! I think I can figure out how to make them, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't turn out as well as these and that it would cost just as much to get the supplies each time to make the notes. They are encouragement notes that bloom into wildflowers!!! What a cool cool idea huh? LOVE it! Find them at <a href="http://www.ilovebloomies.com/">I Love Bloomies.</a>Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-60845120854085117642011-01-15T12:49:00.000-08:002011-01-15T12:49:16.106-08:00Sledding!<div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ESrI-2AeIcMK0n75c-rs3UKRt9KFsmPqkTbch4sYYGIYGKjhbZ3Pjqp0Z703SHbdbtbTbGXy1QTgsB_QMNGJ2STLl8YG5g9INM7KFG_RfZFSnClvsydJ3MUWZlR1_wZxsm1kqui5thc/s1600/DSC_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ESrI-2AeIcMK0n75c-rs3UKRt9KFsmPqkTbch4sYYGIYGKjhbZ3Pjqp0Z703SHbdbtbTbGXy1QTgsB_QMNGJ2STLl8YG5g9INM7KFG_RfZFSnClvsydJ3MUWZlR1_wZxsm1kqui5thc/s400/DSC_0119.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAmHpMekGZoH7vErlThfyssTcfoRIKO07ZF2cntvuV29J27N_tu6XtfVJcTSVzn43DOyZhTCktMJDSKhKUf3f40zV83TsuY9UX1nGygaDUhIYzRudPH-zJx6rudrnZrNUFIyJTmb_Z28/s1600/DSC_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAmHpMekGZoH7vErlThfyssTcfoRIKO07ZF2cntvuV29J27N_tu6XtfVJcTSVzn43DOyZhTCktMJDSKhKUf3f40zV83TsuY9UX1nGygaDUhIYzRudPH-zJx6rudrnZrNUFIyJTmb_Z28/s400/DSC_0139.JPG" width="400" /></a></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/AVvXsEjfQANJcCESf_DCaYPJt1tpMbJJGbr2Q3-TGBwvuOxhcDRJjMpBIR7qipFG4nWks6zfqYA_N_A0i0MBT_8Zzh4jQsUPB-B-WtljTFTzT12etnC1H9_HdSC8_dNCOAvgItRQFYr7L_GHZsE/s1600/DSC_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQANJcCESf_DCaYPJt1tpMbJJGbr2Q3-TGBwvuOxhcDRJjMpBIR7qipFG4nWks6zfqYA_N_A0i0MBT_8Zzh4jQsUPB-B-WtljTFTzT12etnC1H9_HdSC8_dNCOAvgItRQFYr7L_GHZsE/s400/DSC_0123.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
</div>When it snowed in December Elliot wanted to go play in it very badly, but he was sick. My excuse for January was that he didn't have the appropriate attire. Thanks to Goodwill and Walmart, we have the attire covered. For a grand total of $32 we were able to purchase snow boots, pants, and a new coat. Definitely better than the $100+ mentioned everywhere else for a 3T snowsuit. This weekend one of our friends invited us over to their house for sledding with a few other friends. Sledding followed by soup, chili, and conversation was LOVELY! And so stinkin fun!<div>Elliot told me he was "too scared" to go sledding when he saw everyone else do it. So I told him we would just try it once together and then if he wanted to go back inside we could. As soon as we got to the bottom of the hill, he had a big smile on his face and said, "Oh! Dat was fun! We do da sledding again, mommy?" So we did...lots of times. I was eventually the one asking to go inside. :) </div>Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-6948378696246528222011-01-12T18:39:00.000-08:002011-01-12T18:39:28.932-08:00I want...I want to be able to sit and write and know that I am expressing the message in my head and my heart clearly on a page. In order to do that, I personally have to know what that message is, which has been increasingly difficult for me to figure out with any measure of clarity lately.<br />
I was thinking about the moon as I was reading a book to Elliot the other night. I want to write a poem about the moon watching things happen on earth. An object that has "seen" the creation of the world, its fall, its redemption, my Savior's birth and life, beauty of souls saved and the devastation of hideous sins performed. The precious moments in my life of love and life and light and truth. I don't know how to write the poem, but I want to.<br />
I want to spend more time with my friends - listening and laughing and being silly. This is also increasingly hard with a families and schedules and distance.<br />
I want to dance....beautifully and gracefully.<br />
I want to live purposefully. Knowing that what I do today will make a meaningful difference for tomorrow. Considering the ever present factors of practicality, physical limitations, and the roles I must play, I sometimes wonder if I've lost the drive and courage I used to have to see a task through to completion or a vision from concept to reality.<br />
I want to travel. I want to see and experience new things and new people with those that I love. I want to speak other languages.<br />
I want to be the best wife and mother in the history of the world! I want my husband and my children to always know that they are loved and treasured beyond any earthly thing or any lofty idea. I want them to know that they are beautiful to me and to God. I want them to know that they are interesting to me and that I am curious to know them better.<br />
I want to be vulnerable without being scared. I want to heal those that are hurting. I want to be light where there is darkness.<br />
I want to know Jesus' words and heart and life well enough that they become my words and heart and life.<br />
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These are all things that I want, but I often wonder if I can have them. And I struggle with what to pursue. And when and where and how.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Delight yourself in the LORD</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and he will give you the desires of your heart.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Commit your way to the LORD; </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>trust in him and he will do this:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Psalm 37:4-7a</i></div>Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-81179009415022127002011-01-04T08:44:00.000-08:002011-01-04T13:33:50.081-08:00Endurance, Gracefulness, and Courage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrAZY6xld5onVrMxtnebSWZklCRCQbi45B2ABsi7jwGMJkqha1IsIGikRVV0bxC6aBWCLjWYnNh4KfnMAiAU-jTz2ybO2qbjM_dMAml7fYUCxgd9O2KVs3zgnfeFfS1CZQOeszrIki6A/s1600/DSC_0800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrAZY6xld5onVrMxtnebSWZklCRCQbi45B2ABsi7jwGMJkqha1IsIGikRVV0bxC6aBWCLjWYnNh4KfnMAiAU-jTz2ybO2qbjM_dMAml7fYUCxgd9O2KVs3zgnfeFfS1CZQOeszrIki6A/s400/DSC_0800.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Elliot & Ev (what joys they are to my heart) at Butterfly World on our Family Summer Vacation</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #806b55; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><big>The most sacred place dwells within our heart, where dreams are born & secrets sleep, a mystical refuge of darkness & light, fear & conquest, adventure & discovery, challenge & transformation. </big></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #806b55; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><big>Our heart speaks for our soul every moment while we are alive. Listen... as the whispering beat repeats: be...gin, be...gin, be...gin. It's really that simple.</big></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #806b55; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><big> Just begin... again.</big></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #806b55; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><i><b><big></big></b></i></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #806b55; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Royce Addington</span></b></div></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: center;"><div style="color: #806b55; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">It was January 2004, my sophomore year of college, when my dad called each of us kids individually to talk with him. No warning. I figured he liked to shroud these sorts of encounters in mystery, which always made me anxious. Like most people, we did not have family meetings because things were going well and we just wanted to sit down and talk about how grateful we were for each other, eat lollipops and put roses in our hair. Nope. We had family meetings because something was wrong and it needed to be fixed. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">However, this was different. This was an occasion that made a mark on my spirit and life and made me feel incredibly loved, especially as I think about it now. During our time together my dad shared that each year he would personally and privately reflect on his own character and pick three character qualities to work on in the coming year. (He used the list developed by the Character Training Institute, found <a href="http://www.characterfirst.com/assets/Files/SevenPerspectives.pdf">here</a>) That year he had also reflected on each of his children and three character qualities he saw could be developed in them. He wrote those on a piece of paper, along with some Bible verses to memorize and meditate on. We sat and talked about different practical ways that these underdeveloped areas could become stronger. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">I don't know if my dad thought this was very effective because we never did it again as a family, but I asked for my own copy of the little<i> Seven Leadership Perspectives</i> card and their character qualities. He gave one to me and I still have it in my Bible, next to my <i>Lifting My Husband through Prayer </i>card.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Each year, now I go through my own reflection time, thinking about last year and the year ahead. This year only one of my "character resolutions" comes directly from my card, and I'm trying my hand at creating the other two. Here they are...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #806b55; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #806b55; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b>Endurance </b>vs. <i>Giving Up</i></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The inward strength to withstand stress and do my best.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Colossians 3:23</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">1 Peter 5:8-10</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #806b55; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #806b55; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b>Gracefulness</b><b style="font-weight: normal;"> </b>vs.<b style="font-weight: normal;"> <i>Carelessness</i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Having beauty of form, composition, movement, or expression in daily words and actions.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her househol and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Proverbs 31:25-28</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">1 Peter 3:3-4</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="color: #806b55; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #806b55; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b>Courage </b>vs.<b> </b><i>Cowardice</i></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #806b55;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #806b55; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 19px;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 19px;">he ability to confront fear, pain, risk/danger, uncertainty, or intimidation and act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, or discouragement.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #806b55;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #806b55; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life so that you and your children may live, and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life."</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Deuteronomy 30:19-20a</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #806b55; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #806b55; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></span></div><div style="color: #806b55; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #806b55; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">And so I begin again! Though my heart is more fearful than inspired, my body is tired and my mind is dull, that is often the way things have to be in the beginning for transformation to actually take place. </span></span></b></span></span></div><div style="color: #806b55; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #806b55; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">I am grateful for 2011 and the love and blessing it has already brought, and I look forward with hope to what it will bring in the days to come.</span></span></b></span></span></div></div>Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-18267657438604851032010-12-28T19:36:00.000-08:002010-12-28T19:36:33.349-08:00At a Farm Near You!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHNJ7BhOcOjlTySa7Ds41cls_cV28z-PTKL-Y999qsd6If5mOpO8ukqOE6wf0ZQrqx14WJHSvi0U0qDFXcAXGNdK4V9AClqANLG89iVh0iQjU0TgLhPJyJ61BpIGSLBwBHsPomeblBr4/s1600/factory+farming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHNJ7BhOcOjlTySa7Ds41cls_cV28z-PTKL-Y999qsd6If5mOpO8ukqOE6wf0ZQrqx14WJHSvi0U0qDFXcAXGNdK4V9AClqANLG89iVh0iQjU0TgLhPJyJ61BpIGSLBwBHsPomeblBr4/s400/factory+farming.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/health/map-reveals-massive-increase-in-factory-farming/">photo source</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This picture represents the amount of factory farming in the U.S. OH.MY.WORD! Awful, right? Not because factories are bad and not because farms are bad, but because most factory farms are not producing good food or treating the animals they're raising for it well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">SO...here's where you can be responsible about what farms you support! :) There's this great resource on the Food & Water Watch website where you can search according to your zip code and it will bring up all the CSAs, health supermarkets, and a bunch of other stuff. I put a 50 mile radius from my zip code this is what came up. Six CSAs (and yes, Victory Acres is on there), a bunch of farmers, 7 restaurants, 3 co-ops, 17 stores, 19 farmers markets, an orchard, a brewery, and even a B&B that cleans their furniture only with natural lemon oil and handcrafts their bathroom amenities with organic ingredients and essential oils AT the B&B. Isn't that cool?!?! I found some awesome new stores and restaurants that I didn't even know were super close to our regular stomping grounds. SO excited! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And the website is....<a href="http://www.eatwellguide.org/i.php?pd=Home">http://www.eatwellguide.org/i.php?pd=Home</a>. I hope you like it as much as I do.</div>Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835416522089008950.post-84518781276565528422010-12-28T17:24:00.000-08:002010-12-28T17:24:05.270-08:00Christmas Eve with the Smiths<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Every year we spend Christmas Eve with my side of the family, we usually do some sort of brunch or lunch at my parents house and exchange some gifts there and then move on to the extended Smith family at my Grandma Smith's house. I think the way my grandma decorates for Christmas is awesome! She puts a tree in every room of her house and often has themed decorations for them. When I was little she would transform her china cabinet into Santa's House, complete with Santa snoozing upstairs and Mrs. Claus knitting in her rocker in the living room. Since my grandpa died about 8 years ago (wow, has it really been that long?), I've gone each year to help my grandma decorate. I LOVE IT!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My mother is more intentional about traditions than Tevya, and it made my Christmases growing up magical and special. I have no idea how she never forgot a tradition, and if she was ever tempted to "not do it just this year" she didn't succumb to it. It was beautiful! One tradition that we still participate in with them is opening pajamas on Christmas Eve and taking pictures in front of the tree (which we help decorate). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below are some of our pictures from our fun times this holiday with the Smiths.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc00bjxaEjzJkaBcWHvG00budyE3x82e22yLP6507WOG1ElTktTGMKt2dQYcPxGMIdVav_hOe_weVoR-tt7yVRu5WmIIALv26cPsOkVBp2ZFC_xOINqH9PDJ7-SbK1Ylm_IexnRVOFwmk/s1600/cb1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc00bjxaEjzJkaBcWHvG00budyE3x82e22yLP6507WOG1ElTktTGMKt2dQYcPxGMIdVav_hOe_weVoR-tt7yVRu5WmIIALv26cPsOkVBp2ZFC_xOINqH9PDJ7-SbK1Ylm_IexnRVOFwmk/s320/cb1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elliot and his Emmy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfihTdKxZnJDAXP08ZCaxZj387_79gfYJ7_yUEVSszGAc475oKu8LpmzHvknVuUCz5mooitvkGSxmVqUK9H5_295i1Un-9alhStGVBtGWQKdaICACgiyUR6WC8QflbNaNHHnqKuu-kkcM/s1600/cb2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfihTdKxZnJDAXP08ZCaxZj387_79gfYJ7_yUEVSszGAc475oKu8LpmzHvknVuUCz5mooitvkGSxmVqUK9H5_295i1Un-9alhStGVBtGWQKdaICACgiyUR6WC8QflbNaNHHnqKuu-kkcM/s320/cb2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas tea...of course!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkCTxD1He0sMab9o2qNWNNPcXhrE0cqiKSKsTyW63m6PqpSO8iCNjJnOR0jKHuxW0zK4xlj7NHGBXyh0edvt91emJgBduGubo5bYhDS7irhGt4H5VTEcQwzOaGerV1WmDS45QV6IP40g/s1600/cb3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkCTxD1He0sMab9o2qNWNNPcXhrE0cqiKSKsTyW63m6PqpSO8iCNjJnOR0jKHuxW0zK4xlj7NHGBXyh0edvt91emJgBduGubo5bYhDS7irhGt4H5VTEcQwzOaGerV1WmDS45QV6IP40g/s320/cb3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Putting a hook on the Noah's Ark ornament...or as Elliot calls it "a zoo on a boat"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidN9NLUyOHgI4qAfhecaa8jYELBIhj8M3TcqLdvw8cWLPpdhi2ZleXnYLWEB5HJgMkBD2aKHMBUcouc3h_uNeJ0GJeEQJDhgCH0wfsnN1ApO6Xa3X9EXtMs6my6JcC6s5AmedCLsk2PlE/s1600/cb4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidN9NLUyOHgI4qAfhecaa8jYELBIhj8M3TcqLdvw8cWLPpdhi2ZleXnYLWEB5HJgMkBD2aKHMBUcouc3h_uNeJ0GJeEQJDhgCH0wfsnN1ApO6Xa3X9EXtMs6my6JcC6s5AmedCLsk2PlE/s320/cb4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sisters and Joy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWDnyWk5AgSLQz9EksFT29P0de6NTrDR83c9qDqcnD38wEyKb28zz2EuCTA4hQTXabekzXEYIzIMnkg5DUQ8oF1gmZNg2CRD7BBj9qLT9LK1xTuoDyO3xz3kxx2B7nSyfKPzKSvgM6Ls/s1600/cb5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWDnyWk5AgSLQz9EksFT29P0de6NTrDR83c9qDqcnD38wEyKb28zz2EuCTA4hQTXabekzXEYIzIMnkg5DUQ8oF1gmZNg2CRD7BBj9qLT9LK1xTuoDyO3xz3kxx2B7nSyfKPzKSvgM6Ls/s320/cb5.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elliot playing with his "people"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHZdIVTNPK_k7k9z-szlbxHxmkYJjABN_t7DSEefKJnCGiy94MiCg1uLxLakrrUuu4tyK9hivVo2nr99Y6hPtwHrlRjH8aZQbmn04m-XFdO63HMmuWy3d04LC1PfPqdrhqMM2OIE6O9I/s1600/cb6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHZdIVTNPK_k7k9z-szlbxHxmkYJjABN_t7DSEefKJnCGiy94MiCg1uLxLakrrUuu4tyK9hivVo2nr99Y6hPtwHrlRjH8aZQbmn04m-XFdO63HMmuWy3d04LC1PfPqdrhqMM2OIE6O9I/s320/cb6.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helping with pumpkin cake...race cars are necessary when stirring</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8f31uj66KjG8ywQE0xGgK0udN-UhNtRVAGGy5aMc5K0dc3yLDLsMsj-T09HTzcqM5dudx2_lNvjcsvp-WIF0nuv0C74Rp1qu6Nn8Y6HVX4jWaNsCfiJdPMdZcI9Ji7dakAYsh_JLqmeg/s1600/cb7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8f31uj66KjG8ywQE0xGgK0udN-UhNtRVAGGy5aMc5K0dc3yLDLsMsj-T09HTzcqM5dudx2_lNvjcsvp-WIF0nuv0C74Rp1qu6Nn8Y6HVX4jWaNsCfiJdPMdZcI9Ji7dakAYsh_JLqmeg/s320/cb7.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My hubby...isn't he just a hoot!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO31cgJUVv8xhi2eYzsxOcUEdf5xg4xiWOPSEh8F5yAUxhOq3eZw7t5hoUx9lRb4CoyxKfBF0iLtfcGDY6Uib7FsDLW26rB5oc2edey-5CaMK6G82jg2GR2Kb_ZoSh4BhTZFNWAnqX5J8/s1600/cb8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO31cgJUVv8xhi2eYzsxOcUEdf5xg4xiWOPSEh8F5yAUxhOq3eZw7t5hoUx9lRb4CoyxKfBF0iLtfcGDY6Uib7FsDLW26rB5oc2edey-5CaMK6G82jg2GR2Kb_ZoSh4BhTZFNWAnqX5J8/s320/cb8.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ev & Beth</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmsyHpOeLJM-UKngBgbh38VFfUPGTGjWgMglAV3ZMQ62SXSgVOrcLZUWPOvHJMDEzQ41bZb_MQgz8OvUzEwf3a-jA1e-xLwfUe1gslGUNPQndnnE-N3NhTeaiTdwZ5N_osVb0YbwtAws/s1600/cb9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmsyHpOeLJM-UKngBgbh38VFfUPGTGjWgMglAV3ZMQ62SXSgVOrcLZUWPOvHJMDEzQ41bZb_MQgz8OvUzEwf3a-jA1e-xLwfUe1gslGUNPQndnnE-N3NhTeaiTdwZ5N_osVb0YbwtAws/s320/cb9.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousins at Grandma's #1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlX67j7JBrMyQ_MKmre9n1hLcA5dMY6m9-UxGuO1RZZSs6KvwUUqOOIlFYr6ei9rPyWL3YclC_9tDUfpW66KKAhyphenhyphen9auuXRr3K4mK6PwGJrx8km3uwUzvzSrNU5FT3veAyiamkdBqzNR8/s1600/cb10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlX67j7JBrMyQ_MKmre9n1hLcA5dMY6m9-UxGuO1RZZSs6KvwUUqOOIlFYr6ei9rPyWL3YclC_9tDUfpW66KKAhyphenhyphen9auuXRr3K4mK6PwGJrx8km3uwUzvzSrNU5FT3veAyiamkdBqzNR8/s320/cb10.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousins at Grandma's #2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQd-WwI-lkAUPJB8vbYeu_XRcD_vGs8w5Xlli2QB480LNJXTshOYZbwaobK71p3zbt1maxpRGXOVee3ZpU4OrLgy1i0Nxq9pYeBaUPKQ_Tswgv-9naz5uJ851I2bYTBniWMofEUxBcgk/s1600/cb11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQd-WwI-lkAUPJB8vbYeu_XRcD_vGs8w5Xlli2QB480LNJXTshOYZbwaobK71p3zbt1maxpRGXOVee3ZpU4OrLgy1i0Nxq9pYeBaUPKQ_Tswgv-9naz5uJ851I2bYTBniWMofEUxBcgk/s320/cb11.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Elliot & Cousin Madison - HUGS!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQraiT4uWpKzGlqsHD33atsDl4HSD1AocaAeMpGB0yEpOkjUNGJeaUmYKQa5sZzm6G6uGQyWGBgsyuWSvaNL_nkWNBm5RC2SAUBdwbUkcdXd3k51ujft-WWa7xFKtEA15i1cTrsqNmXg/s1600/cb12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQraiT4uWpKzGlqsHD33atsDl4HSD1AocaAeMpGB0yEpOkjUNGJeaUmYKQa5sZzm6G6uGQyWGBgsyuWSvaNL_nkWNBm5RC2SAUBdwbUkcdXd3k51ujft-WWa7xFKtEA15i1cTrsqNmXg/s320/cb12.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New guitar!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-aHkRt4akyYfIyHnoae0gjGElLGVj4rua0seIR07H73Yf5nVuTt0r8EJAPTHohbwwEbBh6p6kwSCZ_nvbHMT5YqUUnpu5kaaKWB_JQfT5_qY3cYknwsTLfTVWoOqrAFyFVq4DjzsHGw/s1600/cb13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-aHkRt4akyYfIyHnoae0gjGElLGVj4rua0seIR07H73Yf5nVuTt0r8EJAPTHohbwwEbBh6p6kwSCZ_nvbHMT5YqUUnpu5kaaKWB_JQfT5_qY3cYknwsTLfTVWoOqrAFyFVq4DjzsHGw/s320/cb13.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elliot's gift to his grandparents this year! - SO FUN!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVyXIRyAy6-dthmqRQuwWYYFTikRnTkFiY5p8J0nzUa1XEeCIzu8DnOWP0bdzgiTxC7PuJ9IwaH_QdnOgIXaJj_RUZNNq952Fhkk8g5Bh-A4ZNxY3GnY6jS3ro63LKarh2JZjE1-hJTA/s1600/cb14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVyXIRyAy6-dthmqRQuwWYYFTikRnTkFiY5p8J0nzUa1XEeCIzu8DnOWP0bdzgiTxC7PuJ9IwaH_QdnOgIXaJj_RUZNNq952Fhkk8g5Bh-A4ZNxY3GnY6jS3ro63LKarh2JZjE1-hJTA/s320/cb14.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sibs + Elliot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVNhzG8IpSuU_IA5OoNR2ao9Nc1uie0r1VzYlpvdp8_wEmr2ZOqQRSTAnVk7HihVtm_Z7BRAIbEiSSWuJul-6Ia572PE9mUtpRa40TKhVAawmvm1pW12qWrnsBhJNM1ZJsTcuyEXE0rA/s1600/cb15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVNhzG8IpSuU_IA5OoNR2ao9Nc1uie0r1VzYlpvdp8_wEmr2ZOqQRSTAnVk7HihVtm_Z7BRAIbEiSSWuJul-6Ia572PE9mUtpRa40TKhVAawmvm1pW12qWrnsBhJNM1ZJsTcuyEXE0rA/s320/cb15.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite men!<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Megan Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16584186985457381537noreply@blogger.com1