tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47217902179865143352024-03-13T21:20:40.451-07:00The Hickman HappeningsWe created this blog so that our friends and family can keep up with us and pray for us specifically.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind; love your neighbor as yourself." Luke 10:27Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.comBlogger197125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-5843220386269411872011-01-14T08:32:00.001-08:002011-01-14T08:39:34.631-08:00We Are MOVING!!!Now, don't get on your phone and call all of your friends and tell them we're leaving town! We are just changing <a href="http://thehickmanhappenings.wordpress.com/">blog addresses</a><a href="http://thehickmanhappenings.wordpress.com/">! </a>Trust me, though! I've been busy all week moving things around and making our new home just like I like it. It combines a little of our home life, along with our ministry life. We hope you will like our new digs and come visit often. We still have some work to do on the place, but we're glad you dropped in!<br /><a href="http://thehickmanhappenings.wordpress.com/"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thehickmanhappenings.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">THE HICKMAN HAPPENINGS</span></span></a><br /></div>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-75591158973723424562011-01-12T16:33:00.000-08:002011-01-12T16:38:04.149-08:00Wordless Wednesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaleZcMmgc1R6FidtkcbNS3B5Lr9cEQ4YbbRvAf627rIpMkP4L-mZvEfsKW60HT2ndDw_8yt_zj6tKFGxviNYLkRs0qvOAkMjox8kiUMEiMpaDenJj1qJrtuzOQJHZRBkDticUZFc5FCav/s1600/066.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaleZcMmgc1R6FidtkcbNS3B5Lr9cEQ4YbbRvAf627rIpMkP4L-mZvEfsKW60HT2ndDw_8yt_zj6tKFGxviNYLkRs0qvOAkMjox8kiUMEiMpaDenJj1qJrtuzOQJHZRBkDticUZFc5FCav/s320/066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561463021748546450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfP2NYu4o5lnBVYQxj8LU6yQwXpPVybp99Vj6O3D50wVocvmVmy_XEgpF8HImeqj0DT7SXmhMPLdzFOuV7QfC5yrKB3AJFn-ixa_FhhQKSNZIuGVe52V8XIRBJqjYOKIKvxxlWgy-Estp/s1600/070.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfP2NYu4o5lnBVYQxj8LU6yQwXpPVybp99Vj6O3D50wVocvmVmy_XEgpF8HImeqj0DT7SXmhMPLdzFOuV7QfC5yrKB3AJFn-ixa_FhhQKSNZIuGVe52V8XIRBJqjYOKIKvxxlWgy-Estp/s320/070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561463025260319826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBz6i744lSX0iqHdsLKiQLdKz5p6RHod81l4UDUgOP8rkTP-vYyYb5Ki0OefFN2PMZrNrmwhLkLTg-kWtPc_q1mpzLjqssiwcNOhR50lphKKkLzMMBd-lmUcKm2lSRdh9ZRaz7LgR4q-2/s1600/059.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBz6i744lSX0iqHdsLKiQLdKz5p6RHod81l4UDUgOP8rkTP-vYyYb5Ki0OefFN2PMZrNrmwhLkLTg-kWtPc_q1mpzLjqssiwcNOhR50lphKKkLzMMBd-lmUcKm2lSRdh9ZRaz7LgR4q-2/s320/059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561463023681146962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wZJuBPV8TZ73g3qx68oSXcnbhd3xU5D_hnk7mG7dMXSiYQebl_R2nRLv_K69BLRwp0WD_FgyOrX0cVGmixKxqloZ13aXUgmDoBpzY2UPFCo4ofxKigGGXXodC_GjXdn6em9ffHL_R7Lq/s1600/062.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wZJuBPV8TZ73g3qx68oSXcnbhd3xU5D_hnk7mG7dMXSiYQebl_R2nRLv_K69BLRwp0WD_FgyOrX0cVGmixKxqloZ13aXUgmDoBpzY2UPFCo4ofxKigGGXXodC_GjXdn6em9ffHL_R7Lq/s320/062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561463019834505122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4QmCMeS24ExASMJMPNOfTJsDqrWvCJA6u-uvvV0_LuGt1QKCWCQTkTNVuvEq_KZe6L1UErAeTzeZwT6tasFWwN0S2rYG-NStDtjfUKcLsYx0RFST2VMTxdKkDzRsw3ZJ1wvf67HA3vGa/s1600/078.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4QmCMeS24ExASMJMPNOfTJsDqrWvCJA6u-uvvV0_LuGt1QKCWCQTkTNVuvEq_KZe6L1UErAeTzeZwT6tasFWwN0S2rYG-NStDtjfUKcLsYx0RFST2VMTxdKkDzRsw3ZJ1wvf67HA3vGa/s320/078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561463031405600418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wZJuBPV8TZ73g3qx68oSXcnbhd3xU5D_hnk7mG7dMXSiYQebl_R2nRLv_K69BLRwp0WD_FgyOrX0cVGmixKxqloZ13aXUgmDoBpzY2UPFCo4ofxKigGGXXodC_GjXdn6em9ffHL_R7Lq/s1600/062.JPG"><br /></a>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-79247594108710503822011-01-10T17:45:00.000-08:002011-01-11T07:34:52.647-08:00And the Word of the Day...YEAR...is...<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">My title may give me away as the parent of a preschooler that watches Sesame Street, but really, I've decided to take it a step further and have a word of the YEAR! I've seen a lot of people I follow on Twitter, and really respect as well, talk about their One Word. I had been thinking before the New Year began about some things I would like to have characterize my life at the end of 2011, so when I began to see all of the tweets and updates, it was as though I already knew what my one word would be. No doubt, God had already been preparing my heart. I haven't officially participated in this One Word challenge, but it did give me some encouragement to know that others were thinking intentionally over their year as I have thought over mine. I really believe God is not done showing me plans and goals for 2011, but I DO know that irregardless of the plans or goals, this word will be my constant. I hear it, think it, dwell on it and my heart races! The word?<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-style: italic;">PURPOSE<br /><br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Wikepedia defines it as<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> "</span>Purpose </span>is a result, end, mean, aim, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goal" title="Goal">goal</a> of an action intentionally undertaken." Guess which part I really, really like in this? "Intentionally!" It changes everything for me.<br /><br /> As I read through the Gospels toward the end of 2010 with my fellow Pastor's wives at LifeSong, I saw Jesus being so intentional day in and day out. I can remember viewing the word, "intentional" as a stressor in my life. I, for whatever reason, felt that it required a whole lot of work and a whole lot of planning ahead. What I discovered when I read is that Jesus just lived life. He was! I mean, He is...OK, He's the great I AM! As I read the Gospels and focused on reading in order to just see Jesus for who He is, I saw <span style="font-style: italic;">Purpose</span> and a realness that felt new and fresh to me. In applying this to a New Year, that freshness and realness took on new meaning and put my focus on having purpose and intentionality in every, single thing I do. Every, single thing I say. Every, single circumstance - whether big or small! I honestly believe that I thought I would see fireworks or sirens would sound when I actually had "planned" ahead on how I would approach my New Year. That just hasn't been the case. I have the most honest, real and sincere peace over me as I seek to make every moment count. I've failed countless times already, here 11 days in, thus bringing another change. The old Amy would be beyond frazzled over failure, but the new Amy is taking the failures and waking up each day CHOOSING to not be ruled by fear, failure, disappointment, but instead she is living. Yep...<span style="font-style: italic;">living! </span>She rolls with the punches. She looks in her mirror and not the mirror of another for approval or comparison. She understands freedom and she lives in it, irregardless of the opinion of another. There's a lot of life to live. I wasn't put on this earth to live it just for me. Being a mom that stays home, it's easy to lose my identity and feel I'm not making a difference, but when I see it through the lens of <span style="font-style: italic;">purpose </span>I see that I could be raising a daughter that will be a world-changer, or that as I spend a day sending out notes of encouragement to someone who is alone, or taking a meal to someone who is too weak to cook for themselves, or going to serve my husband in the office just so he can concentrate on something else, I see that I'm loving others more than myself. It's purpose! It may not be how the world defines it, but nonetheless, it is loving others as Christ did.<br /><br />The definition of PURPOSE also states there is an end result. Check back in 2012 for what I hope will be a HUGE end result of changed lives (not just mine) and big impact on me personally, my family and my community. May God use me for HIS purposes and to venture out WAY beyond myself!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div></div>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-90158261571103508082011-01-07T05:27:00.001-08:002011-01-07T05:34:03.435-08:00Win Your Man Over<span style="font-family: georgia;">They say the best way to your man's heart is through his stomach! I think my man would agree. :)<br />Before ya know it, the Super Bowl will be here and you better get your dip recipes ready. Let me be the first to "bless your heart"....ummm, I mean your stomach...with this "yummy to your man's tummy" dip. I thank the greatest mentor of my life, <a href="www.thepioneerwoman.com">The Pioneer Woman</a>, for blessing my heart with this one (OK, maybe not the greatest mentor, but I'm hungry right now as I type this, so my thoughts are to the great food influences of my life). So, here ya go...I bless thee!<br /><br /><a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/06/hot-olive-artichoke-dip-yummy/"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Hot Olive and Artichoke Dip</span></a><br /></span>Ingredients <ul class="ingredients" id="ingredients-30711"><li>1 can Artichoke Hearts (14 Oz. Can)</li><li>10 whole Black Olives</li><li>8 ounces, weight Cream Cheese (1 Pack)</li><li>1 cup (Real) Mayonnaise</li><li>1 whole Egg</li><li>¼ cups Red Onion, Diced</li><li>¼ cups Grated Parmesan Cheese</li><li>3 dashes Worcestershire Sauce</li><li> Salt and Pepper, to taste</li><li> Cayenne Pepper (for Spice)</li></ul> <h4>Preparation Instructions</h4> <p>Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse 5 to 8 times until mixture is combined but not totally liquefied. Stir and check seasonings, then pour into a small casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.</p> <p>Serve with Stacy’s Simply Naked chips.</p>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-32217026875456345502011-01-06T06:00:00.000-08:002011-01-06T07:06:50.462-08:00How Many Friends Do YOU Have?<span style="font-family:georgia;">How many times have you asked, been asked, or even checked Facebook to see if you have more friends than someone else? Are you living under the disillusion that the more friends you have on Facebook, or the more people that follow you on Twitter, define how many real relationships you have in your life? Do you feel like you have "arrived" if you have over 500 friends? I feel, sometimes, that our identity gets wrapped up in little petty things like this and in the long run, we miss a way bigger picture.<br /><br />I'm very relationship driven. I love being around people and it energizes me, but I'm NOT that girl that has/had a ton of friends. My friendships have always been based on an intense loyalty. My friends from 25 years ago, are my friends today...with very little exception. As I've looked back on what makes these friendships tick, it all comes back to the same thing - we spend TIME together. We DO life together and through thick and thin, we endure it all - the good and the bad.<br />Managing Facebook and Twitter is somewhat a tricky thing for this "want to know the heart of who you are" type person. Let's be real. It's hard to really get to KNOW someone through these two avenues of social media. Sometimes it even keeps us at a arm's lengths distance from knowing the heart of the person. Now, there's no way we can get to know EVERYONE on Facebook or Twitter that we have friend-ed, or have friend-ed (followed) us, but how can we integrate our culture and still pour into the lives of people on our friend's lists? I'm convinced that social media is here to stay and how we use it can make great impact. From time to time, personal statements like where you're eating lunch, or you got a great deal on a sweater (me!!) give us an inside look into the everyday-ness of people's lives, but how are we using the opportunity we have to update our status to be difference-makers in the lives of others? Luke 10:8 says, "</span>When you enter a town and are received, eat what they set before you." Now, lest you think this post is going to turn into a post about food, look at what the Scripture is really saying. Get to know your community. Put your finger on the pulse of who they are. DO life with them! Tap into the culture where you live. Statements like these can oftentimes overwhelm me because I feel a sense of "I have to get to know EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. INTIMATELY???!!!!" No! Be engaging. Show people you care from how you treat your waiter, your cashier at the grocery store, to loving on your child's teacher, be interested in meeting people's needs. Speak to people when you pass them by, rather than trying to write them messages, or posting on their wall, and really believe that you are forming some sort of relationship with them. I've had people walk right on by when they see me in public and not say a word, only to come home and find posts and messages from them in an attempt to converse. Look people in the eye. People don't walk right on by and not speak when we are looking people in the eye. Our eye contact often says to someone, I'm saying hello and acknowledging you without even saying a word. We once served in a church where people grew up with one another, yet they barely spoke to each other, much less had any physical contact of hugging or patting each other on the back. We began to break the wall and actually hug on them, and before you knew it, they were speaking and actually stopping in the hallways to share life together. It really doesn't take much.<br /> Now, I have NOT arrived at all in bridging the gap of social media and real everyday life. I despise talking on the phone, and texting, I believe was created for ME alone! We're not gonna be great at all things regarding relationships, but we can sure be great at some things. Not doing anything will not make a difference at all. Tap into the world around you. Coming back from Venezuela years and years ago, this issue still causes me a whole lotta confusion. America seems to live in a busy, get it done fast mentality, leaving very little time to look people in the eye, pat them on the back and actually say, "You matter to me." 2011 should be a year of new beginnings for us. We need goals everyday. Start today making people matter. For the ones God has allowed me to get close to in my life, I'm a waaaaaaaay better person now than I was when I started off!Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-76782657684707868002011-01-04T06:39:00.000-08:002011-01-04T07:19:01.768-08:00Labels<span style="font-family:georgia;">About two months ago, I took an amazing group of ladies through "So Long Insecurity" by <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CBsQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.lproof.org%2F&rct=j&q=living%20proof%20blog&ei=izEjTfLAIoK78gadqqXxDQ&usg=AFQjCNGG1ia7s9IuLJrZUw-LXPogPwgY4A&sig2=TMV3-xIfKQdkyQMcXHssdA&cad=rja">Beth Moore</a>. We used the online discussion questions found on her blog to guide us through the chapters of the book. One particular day, our discussion turned to labeling people - depersonalizing them by giving them a title, rather than a real person identity. It was....ummmm....TOE-STOMPING to say the least. I was mortified (that's the strongest word I can think of right now) over how I depersonalize people over petty things, like how they dress, how they hold their posture, whether they come to church (or don't), education (or lack thereof). I know of another word that turns into depersonalizing another...JUDGMENT. As I studied to teach this particular day, my oldest daughter was telling me how kids at school had been coming up to her - kids she did not even know - and laughed at her and called her a "goody, goody" because she is a Pastor's Kid. Most of the kids I could forgive because they are not in relationship with Christ. I don't expect those walking in darkness to live like they are walking in the LIGHT, but it's the Christ-followers that I admittedly had problem forgiving. I caught myself depersonalizing the children that depersonalized MY child! It was becoming a vicious cycle, really! The Mama bear in me wanted to yank them by the scalp and give 'em a piece of my mind for labeling my child before knowing her! Then, that still, quiet voice pops in and I'm mortified! Mortified that I am depersonalizing people everyday without taking time to get to know them...to really know what they are going through. I wish I could say that I've become a success at seeing everyone for who they are, but I'm not there yet. I still react in my flesh. I still rush through life so fast that I don't take time to really listen.<br /> Admittedly, I've experienced the receiving end of labels often in ministry. I, too, as a pastor's kid received labels..."You should know the right answer...you're the preacher's kid." "You shouldn't let anyone see you do that...you're the preacher's kid." As an adult, I've more than received them. "You shouldn't say what you really think. You're a Pastor's wife." "I can't believe that you listen to Bon Jovi...You're a Pastor's wife." (True statement!) While this bothers me to have my life singled out as though I'm superwoman, a non-human, I'm more disgusted when I see/hear the same things coming out of my life/mouth. So, the statement we've often made so </span>cliché really ought to hold some truth...we've gotta begin to "see people as Jesus sees them." Rather one is in ministry publicly or not, we ALL...and let me say that again...we ALL have a ministry! We all put our church clothes on everyday and influence someone's life. While it's easier to point a finger at a pastor or a pastor's wife and say, "You shouldn't" this or that, pluck the log out of your own eye and see that the same things we say "you should not" to are true of each of our lives. Someone is always watching, always critiquing. Start seeing people how Jesus sees them. After all, "We’re the clay and you’re our potter: All of us are what you made us<a href="http://www.youversion.com/bible/msg/isa/64/8" class="reference">.Isaiah 64:8 MSG.</a><br />None of us have arrived! I remove labels off of cans to send in with my daughters to school for rewards for their class. It's time I, and the rest of us, begin to remove them off the faces and lives of real, life people. It's time to reap the rewards of knowing a person for whom God created them to really be!<br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"> </span>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-34981478197704785562010-11-17T16:47:00.000-08:002010-11-17T17:12:30.614-08:00My New Year's Resolution...Early!I'm not a big resolution maker. Half the time, I don't keep them, but sometimes you just need a recharge, and I definitely need one with blogging again. I love writing more than just about anything, but I have simply (yet chaotically) allowed life to take over. Time to take back what I enjoy doing...writing about my family, my life in ministry, sharing recipes and photos of our life.<br />So, there's no time like the present...<br /><br />As I look back over the last few years of our life, I've heard myself say, "My heart is so full" so many times. I'm beyond grateful for how God has allowed us to be used and see lives impacted. We have such a great platform in serving LifeSong Church, but it is learning to live and love like Him everyday that excites me the most. It's where life, even in the mundane, not so busy days, is full because His love has become more real to me each day. Life has been full for us, but the moments we have experienced have been as though time has stood still and given us a view of great appreciation.<br /><br />In a nutshell, life with the Hickman's is full of a whole lot of school, where the girls are doing so well. Mommy has time to herself, even, as the youngest little Hickman is off to preschool. There's a lot of running around, working and playing going on!<br />We are excited to see our church, <a href="www.lifesongchurchonline.com">LifeSong</a>, experience a great deal of growth over the last year. We have just broken ground for a new building that we pray will continue to be used to greatly impact our community.<br />We look forward to catching up with you over the holidays, whether it be face to face, virtually or by phone call. Look for us to catch up with you here at our blog, or on Twitter (@AmyCHickman and JeffWHickman)or Facebook.Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-69544527011707559882010-08-26T04:52:00.001-07:002010-08-26T05:06:21.024-07:00I Pretty Much Looked the Other Way<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NCaKcyTlBQLSUPUHcQCVqfIiVM_cZJ8Ov_bfgu_alJjOiriYKTukXdNokyMWqO9B5RQ70IMSEmODjjn03AKN1GLf4branbCFQTYJD1Nv197UyWhGBlNm_FncmH6tScMmsOdEOwUGgU8E/s1600/crying.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8NCaKcyTlBQLSUPUHcQCVqfIiVM_cZJ8Ov_bfgu_alJjOiriYKTukXdNokyMWqO9B5RQ70IMSEmODjjn03AKN1GLf4branbCFQTYJD1Nv197UyWhGBlNm_FncmH6tScMmsOdEOwUGgU8E/s200/crying.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509685391719696866" border="0" /></a><br /><p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(80, 162, 200); font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**(I shared this post in our monthly Pastor's Wives' Newsletter. I think it's something we all face, so I wanted to share here, too.)</span></span></strong></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(80, 162, 200); font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></span></strong></span><br /> </span></p><p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I began my day with a great deal of excitement. School was starting and I was gaining some freedom...some ME time! I still had one child at home, but my day was looking pretty good irregardless. I had plans for pedicures with my girlfriend and a nice lunch later. My day was completely planned out...just the way I like it! For the most part of the morning and early afternoon, I stuck to my plans. I had well-groomed toes with a nice Burgandy polish, and later enjoyed a healthy lunch, and wonderful conversation with my friend. All of it proved to be medicine to my soul...until I left the restaurant and headed home.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">As I left the restaurant, I waited in a line of about six cars, where I was about 5th in line. I looked around and noticed a woman about three cars up standing in the grass holding a sign. I could only make out the word</span></p><p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"HOMELESS."</span></p><p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Immediately, my "Yeah, I bet you are" attitude took over - the one where I got taken for a fool more times than I can count when I lived in Venezuela. I mean, we live in the land of opportunity in America and I have never quite been able to rationalize homelessness in this country. I really shut down my heart to the possibility that this could be legitimate. As I inched closer, a different picture took shape. In seconds my world changed. I began to pass by to turn at the stoplight at which I had been waiting, taking me face to face with a woman holding the sign, red-faced, with tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. The sign could have, instead, read<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"HUMILIATION."</span></p><p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> My heart broke into. I began to cry and ask God what I should do. I had to get to a gas station. I was on empty and had to make it before I ran out. I reached the gas station beside a grocery store and began to ask God if I should go in and buy groceries for this woman. I rationalized my way out of it, though. "How would she get the home?" "Where did she live?" "How did she get to where she stood by the road?" I filled up my car and headed home...leaving a woman by the road without a solution...without relief. All day, her face haunted me. All I could see were her eyes, full of tears, empty of hope. I went though my day, only to wake up the next morning knowing I had to find that lady.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I got two bags of clothes together, put them by the door to load in my car, only to leave them when I went out to run errands...MY agenda only on my mind. And now, the days have gone by and here I sit writing a story with an unhappy ending. I never found the lady.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I never again tried!</span></p><p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I've asked myself a thousand times why I didn't reach out to her. My past would say it was just fear, but I wasn't scared to turn around and go back. I really just didn't have the follow-through. I knew God spoke clearly to go, but I didn't have faith enough to turn around and see where His leading took me. I just didn't have the full picture!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Often times, we don't have the full picture of what it's like to walk the Jesus Way. It calls us to step out on faith. Fear may not be present in our lack of obedience, but our lack of faith to see it to an end may be. Jesus' Way calls us to step out on faith, to take an otherwise stereotypical picture of homelessness in this country and see the individual...see the pain behind the sign.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What my experience has done for me is remind me that each day God has called me to take up my cross and follow Him...follow him out of a planned out day...follow Him to turn my car around and serve...follow Him into danger.</span></p><p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">How are you, everyday, walking the Jesus Way? Are you ready to see where His way will take you? Will you step out in faith?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></p>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-57798305276715800032010-08-25T16:04:00.000-07:002010-08-25T16:10:35.684-07:00I Like to Go to SchoolThe title is Quinn's words EXACTLY. She tells me over and over how much she likes to go to school. I'm finally, after 12 years of being home with my girls, enjoying a little alone time. Tuesday - Thursday I have three and 1/2 hrs a day to myself. I've been staying busy working out tons, cleaning lots and volunteering at Jeff's office and at the other girls' schools. I miss my girls, but I would be lying if I said I didn't love this time to pursue some other interests. I'm always ready, though, to pick this cutie up from school everyday...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxM_Pimz1ipYVNjR7OT7BhWGoahBYy6vvXg9F5f_ZsIpxqYnxLMwvIFwfFCQXSF5WunF7BCvRnKnFeofU9H67Mcp51ifrwYyTxKJvlVM4UUMUk5SYmnLdUPi8DJAwYmWc2y6NsDpAILrS6/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxM_Pimz1ipYVNjR7OT7BhWGoahBYy6vvXg9F5f_ZsIpxqYnxLMwvIFwfFCQXSF5WunF7BCvRnKnFeofU9H67Mcp51ifrwYyTxKJvlVM4UUMUk5SYmnLdUPi8DJAwYmWc2y6NsDpAILrS6/s320/001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509488355091043730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCmHlXJFSqFdsWbUUdC_adLzUj5Xv7Mbl19kmDXhElwiIZyR_QghK_B0pNZkv8EggFgI-evVk3r5ra6_gt_62yS1uNZh39eR0WMb3HXqhZ8nTBiPfYfw4B5PVzAHBLhKjn5kAkvj3jte7/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCmHlXJFSqFdsWbUUdC_adLzUj5Xv7Mbl19kmDXhElwiIZyR_QghK_B0pNZkv8EggFgI-evVk3r5ra6_gt_62yS1uNZh39eR0WMb3HXqhZ8nTBiPfYfw4B5PVzAHBLhKjn5kAkvj3jte7/s320/003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509488360372707042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDdCrKNJfPm0lAZM18PvTuFpqOV0Wq_0BuoPyDGGhXntsAfTABhO3z1cHZ__h-RbDRAYWFOn643tSPbZAN1hNYwSwRaS5hU0hsgkElXgIeBpWUEWJs4JgZX0MopICDvba5WgpXqswqNoE/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDdCrKNJfPm0lAZM18PvTuFpqOV0Wq_0BuoPyDGGhXntsAfTABhO3z1cHZ__h-RbDRAYWFOn643tSPbZAN1hNYwSwRaS5hU0hsgkElXgIeBpWUEWJs4JgZX0MopICDvba5WgpXqswqNoE/s320/004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509488364197725058" border="0" /></a>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-16219165998816793452010-07-24T20:11:00.000-07:002010-07-24T20:15:13.378-07:00Missing DaddyWhen Daddy is away, we miss him like crazy! This week the girls worked on their special sign to welcome him home from his trip to Haiti, where he was gone for 8 days!!! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Q4xxolSsZcRwwNjPRPAiMJwzfTgGBuipBjw2wXFO_Vj6tNvohNUmmvlBKrxaqEVvl-RgkiW1yBhrm8g0EtwDzxGYFTGKQqI1Ck5nXrI2_5VlAMlvdb5iqFkXkj-ie_XebrwhUacSDwo9/s1600/134994750.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Q4xxolSsZcRwwNjPRPAiMJwzfTgGBuipBjw2wXFO_Vj6tNvohNUmmvlBKrxaqEVvl-RgkiW1yBhrm8g0EtwDzxGYFTGKQqI1Ck5nXrI2_5VlAMlvdb5iqFkXkj-ie_XebrwhUacSDwo9/s320/134994750.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497677056664568546" border="0" /></a>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-59979429427168817922010-07-16T18:47:00.000-07:002010-07-17T05:13:08.186-07:00My Best Friend's WeddingI am taking part in <a href="http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/2010/07/show-us-your-life-show-us-your-single.html">Kelly's Korner</a> Show Us Your Life posts today w/ very optimistic expectations (read the title if you don't believe me). Today, we are linking up to show off our amazing single friends in hopes that there's a match made in heaven...or here, in blogland! ;)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhV2jUaD73QXt5ryJdFEgluYa_66O5DhtHtGeM3et3iAIrz60q1DGoj3Qz0l-EaepkwGCcTwgL0HScFL9kH61rdAvanmqX7K_heCv6q3OwKsWkwYV_4Y9v-vBEYB6X3n8IbFWM7B_J3sv/s1600/amyharless2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhV2jUaD73QXt5ryJdFEgluYa_66O5DhtHtGeM3et3iAIrz60q1DGoj3Qz0l-EaepkwGCcTwgL0HScFL9kH61rdAvanmqX7K_heCv6q3OwKsWkwYV_4Y9v-vBEYB6X3n8IbFWM7B_J3sv/s320/amyharless2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494693189692733490" border="0" /></a>My very dear friend, Amy, is one of the kindest, truest souls I've ever known. I met Amy when we attended boarding school in Venezuela, where my parents were missionaries. Amy traveled to school from Colombia, where her parents were missionaries. From the moment I met her, we hit it off due to her "never meet a stranger" attitude and her infectious laughter! She is truly a person that lives each day to the fullest, and she does it all with a smile!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKYi9lHo1cctU3hveVwZkO0jLt7w8yySX1pagp3Mb13Gk897UI3bQxUrTaXMesrzELCLf_taYzCcYuS5mVqIyUNoWPQ2482fIeDI0z2-qPik975XZeFy4jmFtxHBGycnkL_gD_A-zz-Ay/s1600/amyharless5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKYi9lHo1cctU3hveVwZkO0jLt7w8yySX1pagp3Mb13Gk897UI3bQxUrTaXMesrzELCLf_taYzCcYuS5mVqIyUNoWPQ2482fIeDI0z2-qPik975XZeFy4jmFtxHBGycnkL_gD_A-zz-Ay/s320/amyharless5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494693215094038450" border="0" /></a><br />She loves the Lord with all of her heart, and seeks to follow Him wherever He would have her be. She currently resides in Texas, where she attends seminary, and works full time as a Labor and Delivery nurse. She LOVES her job of bringing new life into the world. She loves kids and all of her nieces and nephews can attest to the fact that Aunt Amy is the coolest!Amy also loves to travel, spends a lot of time outdoors camping and in her new kayak and loves hanging out with her friends as much as possible. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWKqtBxtPZaDjm1yRgNlSaEhPkiobv0H2dSMFKUHJSVC9OgubS21tED-_Q7hDEsArslVqzT3jF9wqZs6V7J7NzhfRVSdgOw9u6i4_CObknwou3CgP2zvqh3OlsSw8MyP5ablKg8LZj-u2/s1600/amyharless4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWKqtBxtPZaDjm1yRgNlSaEhPkiobv0H2dSMFKUHJSVC9OgubS21tED-_Q7hDEsArslVqzT3jF9wqZs6V7J7NzhfRVSdgOw9u6i4_CObknwou3CgP2zvqh3OlsSw8MyP5ablKg8LZj-u2/s320/amyharless4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494693208160715442" border="0" /></a>She is very close to her family. Amy is very loyal, confident and always has time to listen. She is 37 years old, and would make any man an AMAZING wife! I look forward to the day that God answers her prayer and sends her someone to love her as she deserves! How much fun we're gonna have at her wedding! One thing is for sure...there will be a lot of smiles and laughter!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JyUdg2hy83SbVyJ_urE7RhMWw9LhEql006M5X5Z8RnfqXqD_ZkxVVYml5korks1mauTRRXl12rnY7YAESFxDnLkwDPKX-vNRqWCQL5AazggnfhlG9WNYr_JNatSoqcHe2D6y368QvyFJ/s1600/amyharless3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JyUdg2hy83SbVyJ_urE7RhMWw9LhEql006M5X5Z8RnfqXqD_ZkxVVYml5korks1mauTRRXl12rnY7YAESFxDnLkwDPKX-vNRqWCQL5AazggnfhlG9WNYr_JNatSoqcHe2D6y368QvyFJ/s320/amyharless3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494693202170024178" border="0" /></a>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-10128380716730998232010-06-01T04:24:00.000-07:002010-06-01T05:02:34.725-07:00ReunionsI love that God has blessed me with so many wonderful friends from all over the world. In my day to day life, I'm learning that God has given me a safe haven to lean on and trust in. It has been a hard journey to find that, and I'm so thankful for the peace I've found in having people to trust and who genuinely love me. That desire to have that love and investment in my life was most definitely born out of an amazing background of growing up in a boarding school, where the girls you lived with in the dorm became your sisters and your best friends. I'm so blessed that now, 20 and 25 years later, we still can't go very long without seeing one another. Two years ago we reunited in <a href="http://thehickmanhappenings.blogspot.com/2008/10/texas-third-day-and-lots-of-laughter.html">Dallas</a>. This year, we reunited in Phoenix, Arizona, where my best friend, Lana, lives.We had such a good time spending our days hitting every great restaurant in the city (well, maybe not 'every', but my waistline is saying A LOT of them!), watching movies and looking at old pictures from high school (there was a whole lot of bad hair going on in those pics) and listening to a ton of 80's/90's music so we could relive the "good 'ole days"! I've known Lana since we met in Costa Rica, where our parents were in language school. We both bonded over how much resentment we had for our parents making us move to another country!! ;) I've known Camille since our parents served in Caracas, Venezuela together, and I've known Amy since my first visit to our boarding school, Christiansen Academy. She was the first person I met there, and later ended up being a roommate there numerous semesters. Lastly, my sister, Missy, and I shared most of our friends growing up, so of course she joined me for the trip!<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here's some great highlights of our time together....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGXtdonHvy95NcGdkBXRdk5LA2Y7C2bCUKbdTdbJpLx2yphUFZnuLR7HARPvC_nzKJ62sju2evYmgVIYVmVRNPCYe6yfzIWORTDwwASOpVcvVB-7niNT-I65mpctBWAE9Ot-C8stJuCnG/s1600/017.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGXtdonHvy95NcGdkBXRdk5LA2Y7C2bCUKbdTdbJpLx2yphUFZnuLR7HARPvC_nzKJ62sju2evYmgVIYVmVRNPCYe6yfzIWORTDwwASOpVcvVB-7niNT-I65mpctBWAE9Ot-C8stJuCnG/s200/017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477769469449593922" border="0" /></a><br />Our day trip to Sedona</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGMqeZ-x5pwCqxyK5rym1acj748zkv7iKmn6YMaFxy5g6qC1d-0s3Xyn2dsxlHoZf2BMa0yROBLclr4fGfZjjVdUtoCgTjZR6pg0MCZgAhVfd1KmRApOHCalU4ir97BZMp6bexpAo5VeI/s1600/026.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzGMqeZ-x5pwCqxyK5rym1acj748zkv7iKmn6YMaFxy5g6qC1d-0s3Xyn2dsxlHoZf2BMa0yROBLclr4fGfZjjVdUtoCgTjZR6pg0MCZgAhVfd1KmRApOHCalU4ir97BZMp6bexpAo5VeI/s200/026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477769479823991650" border="0" /></a><br />A Chapel in Sedona<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6GaSItMf8xAp2Z9UxvQM0UG4Wu5Hqj26HC8IPYHvf761ZJ7OCs1Ek3Zo3yyu77Zc2MBlXT0unloSmY4bQS8yooCKfm6VjOXHWPp76PNJBpBKv5SFGqZ0sQxQus0NndrlN6MXzRof6pxA/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6GaSItMf8xAp2Z9UxvQM0UG4Wu5Hqj26HC8IPYHvf761ZJ7OCs1Ek3Zo3yyu77Zc2MBlXT0unloSmY4bQS8yooCKfm6VjOXHWPp76PNJBpBKv5SFGqZ0sQxQus0NndrlN6MXzRof6pxA/s200/007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477769497855420706" border="0" /></a><br />Lana and Amy<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPCFr_0v5eGvc9jVlLEzXdgkXI_3yoy0ztFX2YsHRpfn75iO20eYo2bOBair5j6kfNXIMCmlUn3QOH-8Zpcbpr5esmY_EiBVE7BFKjgbs1RtAf4bJVJbbjf0GoRzewaeFJ_uMr-ejaN25/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPCFr_0v5eGvc9jVlLEzXdgkXI_3yoy0ztFX2YsHRpfn75iO20eYo2bOBair5j6kfNXIMCmlUn3QOH-8Zpcbpr5esmY_EiBVE7BFKjgbs1RtAf4bJVJbbjf0GoRzewaeFJ_uMr-ejaN25/s200/008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477769501630612002" border="0" /></a><br />Camille and Missy<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNco18mOGFKSgZa969KfZeduAZ723GE0OE0ROgslm1Bq2PSomFgGStkOs-bwSYE-vSs-aO15iiCrHXfhWqmXL_rrTpvkrUwZuiR-XPFIpW_yqvrPJxLR9OqWChqwyfTLioMPef7gjc2q6/s1600/missyamy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 117px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNco18mOGFKSgZa969KfZeduAZ723GE0OE0ROgslm1Bq2PSomFgGStkOs-bwSYE-vSs-aO15iiCrHXfhWqmXL_rrTpvkrUwZuiR-XPFIpW_yqvrPJxLR9OqWChqwyfTLioMPef7gjc2q6/s200/missyamy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477771198331790130" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Missy and Me<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPA-TPL3RAlyN8vdvGOffVXH0pC7EbbRvounaz9xAOm6L3m32nxNU6adruRz0U9anKpPmuyG3GNB81Cot86MdbHwr0aHzVjq93XtorMEAT-OxVg_YfyTnSQ3y-L1XbXp_8XW6Eh6WWJEw/s1600/grouparizona.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPA-TPL3RAlyN8vdvGOffVXH0pC7EbbRvounaz9xAOm6L3m32nxNU6adruRz0U9anKpPmuyG3GNB81Cot86MdbHwr0aHzVjq93XtorMEAT-OxVg_YfyTnSQ3y-L1XbXp_8XW6Eh6WWJEw/s200/grouparizona.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477771193796967170" border="0" /></a><br />All of us<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14T9ZUOSce_RqpBrLKTagJbZEhJP6AkAuMlkfLqzUaD_n2KMmTFXFcgRvFZrxZTd-Trgduunl8xgQcp5XoNm66YX-7U6LNReAMITKyw1fMrXZP6dxyGbsfc1YAdGfjBe3fQXYPEvXqjRy/s1600/amylana.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 99px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14T9ZUOSce_RqpBrLKTagJbZEhJP6AkAuMlkfLqzUaD_n2KMmTFXFcgRvFZrxZTd-Trgduunl8xgQcp5XoNm66YX-7U6LNReAMITKyw1fMrXZP6dxyGbsfc1YAdGfjBe3fQXYPEvXqjRy/s200/amylana.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477771189420068386" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Lana and me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaahpgQLBlOI9srfeexDyFMMY_0uQFoqnjPDszxcsZD0opx4eQ6qnfj7P9GD-QHpZib1TjdVTuqRq_o5zUmBJmgAzqx5F1pwFk4w_GmgDTg6voCC_DiXEC0lM8ptZKzUJy2mmVrpieoT0I/s1600/amyamy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaahpgQLBlOI9srfeexDyFMMY_0uQFoqnjPDszxcsZD0opx4eQ6qnfj7P9GD-QHpZib1TjdVTuqRq_o5zUmBJmgAzqx5F1pwFk4w_GmgDTg6voCC_DiXEC0lM8ptZKzUJy2mmVrpieoT0I/s200/amyamy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477773725850716482" border="0" /></a><br />Amy and Amy!<br /></div>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-87740855809487306222010-05-14T09:54:00.000-07:002010-05-14T10:03:19.170-07:00Favorite Children's Book<a href="http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Show Us Your Life with Kelly's Korner" src="http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx15/tricianaedesigns/KellyShowUs.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Today I'm participating in <a href="www.kellyskornerblog.com">Kelly's Korner</a> "Show Me Your Life" posts because I cannot ever pass up an opportunity to brag on my cousin, the author. If you are looking for an AMAZING children's book that your kids will grow up and say, "One of my most special times was when you read...", then you want to get "Me With You." It's about the relationship a grandparent has with their grandchild, but it can translate to any special relationship we have in our lives. The illustrations are timeless and heartwarming. Check out this great trailer of when her book came out last year, and then RUN to your local Barnes and Noble and get one!<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BqAh8GQSxgk&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BqAh8GQSxgk&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-69664462801687587772010-05-05T04:25:00.000-07:002010-05-05T05:07:39.557-07:00Birthday Hoopla!I hesitate to blog at all anymore! I've stunk my blog up here lately, but we've had two very specials birthdays at our house that need to be written about! The photos of said birthdays may be few, but let's try to paint a pretty picture of the ones celebrated!!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;">We have a 12 year old in the HOUSE!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnH55uCMtIRzpP_e9rhs4B0lIkcOZSBJHCt5s21o9-aApcMJVCXCVMnnJw0a8jLXcnsqixqim0rchEhPiRzWnyLPCESyz6FlSNJjJgdQZLu6-pcnfgqQCV3RYvhzy37tv28nVn-AQexKWc/s1600/051.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnH55uCMtIRzpP_e9rhs4B0lIkcOZSBJHCt5s21o9-aApcMJVCXCVMnnJw0a8jLXcnsqixqim0rchEhPiRzWnyLPCESyz6FlSNJjJgdQZLu6-pcnfgqQCV3RYvhzy37tv28nVn-AQexKWc/s200/051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467748023767308738" border="0" /></a>(McKenna is pictured in the middle)<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7ciAIUVdQlPbiNQhZXRM-Z7i4laTw7Ri7S2pbTotwN77-RAIyH5yc9ohlks55Qd4alizfDttDRaAeDw31Mf4hedK9ECUO45uyaNTjOfZJHo5tdVcEvR9xF1Xilm9Bem6eWC5c5wG8ROL/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7ciAIUVdQlPbiNQhZXRM-Z7i4laTw7Ri7S2pbTotwN77-RAIyH5yc9ohlks55Qd4alizfDttDRaAeDw31Mf4hedK9ECUO45uyaNTjOfZJHo5tdVcEvR9xF1Xilm9Bem6eWC5c5wG8ROL/s200/001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467747656998683698" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefAehxV72UZBEng-syq8nftowW9_7BaSQc8_u6EpHitwf6c-aYzFNRh72fdUFKPL7zW8dehPzGLqG1hyphenhyphenhaHFCQVaXhLk9zQzsParPlkpwQf87V5BifcC62tyCSRb2eqA5yckRL18y294u/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefAehxV72UZBEng-syq8nftowW9_7BaSQc8_u6EpHitwf6c-aYzFNRh72fdUFKPL7zW8dehPzGLqG1hyphenhyphenhaHFCQVaXhLk9zQzsParPlkpwQf87V5BifcC62tyCSRb2eqA5yckRL18y294u/s200/008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467747662153096498" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;">I think that we are actually still celebrating McKenna's birthday. It seems to have been a few weeks long celebration from breaking her out of school early the weekend of her birthday to taking off to Columbia for "The Rock and Worship Roadshow" on the actual day of her birthday.<br /><br />McKenna is our firstborn. We first learned to be parents through her, and she teaches us more how to do that everyday. There are so many words that describe McKenna, but here are a few...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">M</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"> - marvelous<span style="font-weight: bold;"> C </span>- Child of God <span style="font-size:78%;">(we're so thankful she calls God her Father!)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> K </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">- kindhearted...always thinks of others<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> E </span>- everyone's friend<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> N </span>- non-stop worker...amazing work ethic<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> N </span>- nice, courteous, gracious<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">A</span> -An AMAZING daughter<br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;">McKenna is, quite simply, a blessing to know. She shows me everyday that while she is my child, she is also my friend. I love talking to her and learning from her. She genuinely loves others and you will not find a more servant-hearted person. Our precious firstborn is growing into a beautiful young woman. Each year with you, McKenna, is a gift to us. If you know McKenna, you LOVE her!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nNWN9AvwMNIGMjFu0qlkPeMkLGCHP1lQNwpeeXI89FWetEQZJ6O8iduqyQqE91deJxgxUzPPPNkHk-sjE7Fpt157B6FQl4f6UpiBhVnomWgOkywlHSNGXi0obxV3AesaU8tOtw1kr4Jk/s1600/130.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 174px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nNWN9AvwMNIGMjFu0qlkPeMkLGCHP1lQNwpeeXI89FWetEQZJ6O8iduqyQqE91deJxgxUzPPPNkHk-sjE7Fpt157B6FQl4f6UpiBhVnomWgOkywlHSNGXi0obxV3AesaU8tOtw1kr4Jk/s200/130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467754129144160018" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The latest birthday in the house was for Jeff! He's 38 years young! We've had lots of fun celebrating as a family and with friends. So many people have a love for Jeff...he's known by many and a friend to all, but for us, he's an amazing husband and father. He's someone that never lets a day go by without it being evident that we are his priority. He makes us laugh. He challenges us to be better and work harder. He walks with the Father so closely that the overflow of that is the love he pours out on you when you are with him. He is never content with being the same, but he is always on a path to being better and stronger! I'm so thankful for how hard he works for us and takes care of us. One day a year is not a long enough celebration of just how we feel to know you, Jeff. You fill our hearts up! We love you!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"></span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"></span></span></div></div></div></div>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-3781015402102528152010-04-10T10:08:00.000-07:002010-04-10T10:09:57.040-07:00A Giveaway for Moms and Their DaughtersThis is a great giveaway over at<a href="http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/womenallaccess/2010/04/five_conversations_giveaway.html"> All Access</a>. Check it out if you have daughters!Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-84104282588638510642010-04-07T04:34:00.000-07:002010-04-07T04:40:57.958-07:00We're NOT Professionals...We are not professional bowlers, but we sure had fun taking all of my girls and my sister's girls bowling on Spring Break w/ my mom.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNE4kilonQhAeEX2YKvTF-3sZw0p2Z9ea3s_z6Ax5Fx6uxCsWszOpz3McpuDiIrTCi2oQhi_n1PEfou7irDXkqRJUrO7585Z__8sQv7rG7CwSU049qXdPGko1MCs7DXU4LajjlNk2Lmpb/s1600/066.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNE4kilonQhAeEX2YKvTF-3sZw0p2Z9ea3s_z6Ax5Fx6uxCsWszOpz3McpuDiIrTCi2oQhi_n1PEfou7irDXkqRJUrO7585Z__8sQv7rG7CwSU049qXdPGko1MCs7DXU4LajjlNk2Lmpb/s320/066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457358659566098818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHOy6k3REiW0p-X-wkTj37z7eeTg9BwFta2wDo3glQX51TVgD5ui3dPTCbrYKFEidY_sYXM9zJHCOcCzLDgWqJ6zNhLZ-mnuQ75dGxBvQlGp7N0MW7WsElB6Ny8bNZdneDdzfXz8gYR3M/s1600/075.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHOy6k3REiW0p-X-wkTj37z7eeTg9BwFta2wDo3glQX51TVgD5ui3dPTCbrYKFEidY_sYXM9zJHCOcCzLDgWqJ6zNhLZ-mnuQ75dGxBvQlGp7N0MW7WsElB6Ny8bNZdneDdzfXz8gYR3M/s320/075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457358677909368194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vj_cpC66nWf4WB2hqaLnsTv0m0c7UZdx6P49uAhr3ahBa_lIYl899HVWVOVqCkjcX_rQgWFswAUH7YwjTsZFCaDDzHap2Qkk9LSwmUhHehMM7NjsQCV1putC-PEjlFvqJ-zQWfuGH2jk/s1600/072.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vj_cpC66nWf4WB2hqaLnsTv0m0c7UZdx6P49uAhr3ahBa_lIYl899HVWVOVqCkjcX_rQgWFswAUH7YwjTsZFCaDDzHap2Qkk9LSwmUhHehMM7NjsQCV1putC-PEjlFvqJ-zQWfuGH2jk/s320/072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457358669799042162" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc11zwf5cskoQvV74l2FhoiX30OW8Kwi6FZpQFFOtbiFB7WWwbWfsxONr2stsG9_uJ8S-GBwkEcIG1fg22dZlHhjUzWtm55hEijLyVis26C4jf-4WIV23sFwxhSfb8Awhb1RwtlQWtrFH5/s1600/070.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc11zwf5cskoQvV74l2FhoiX30OW8Kwi6FZpQFFOtbiFB7WWwbWfsxONr2stsG9_uJ8S-GBwkEcIG1fg22dZlHhjUzWtm55hEijLyVis26C4jf-4WIV23sFwxhSfb8Awhb1RwtlQWtrFH5/s320/070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457358665587184450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyJbeIeG-0jsFDoce9AW2ZY0UxRMozVehYjmKIIfcYlpRQ3cyx9naKSaixFK-JSnEnwd7tFj-0LhalCJQk2b8FbW4oeVNqnZJXJ6PPqEM2DXuZ_p9O2JN5cXrDF5ZT7GLYTXryRLvefLX/s1600/085.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyJbeIeG-0jsFDoce9AW2ZY0UxRMozVehYjmKIIfcYlpRQ3cyx9naKSaixFK-JSnEnwd7tFj-0LhalCJQk2b8FbW4oeVNqnZJXJ6PPqEM2DXuZ_p9O2JN5cXrDF5ZT7GLYTXryRLvefLX/s320/085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457358686258609426" border="0" /></a>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-70741212688614215252010-04-06T06:00:00.000-07:002010-04-06T06:31:32.170-07:00EasterOur Easter 2010 was wonderful! We saw almost 2000 people come out to LifeSong Church for our Easter Egg Drop/Hunt, and then over 700 come back the next day to our Easter services. We are so grateful for the lives we saw changed this Easter. I loved how Jeff said it on Sunday. He said that you won't find us doing any different service at Easter than we strive to do every single Sunday at LifeSong Church. We always want to come together on Sundays and celebrate Jesus resurrection and life because we have Victory! I can tell ya, though...celebrating Sunday was extra special! What a great thing to know that we can reach out to our community in such fun ways and meet their need for great family activities for their families, and see them come on Sunday and meet Jesus. We saw 13 salvations Sunday, and we rejoice in every one of them!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnwfP8fYFYTm1HK65Qnxd7JyKdnWcBK9odFWB6GEXJcTmH9gy0oJskPYWdDKrsz4YvgihYuZfL3VJ_LikXOti-1byY8MrVzF2tSbLa3rJAIMTltPZQkJLWX5cTpoy5mkOdg3RBRb835x3/s1600/112.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnwfP8fYFYTm1HK65Qnxd7JyKdnWcBK9odFWB6GEXJcTmH9gy0oJskPYWdDKrsz4YvgihYuZfL3VJ_LikXOti-1byY8MrVzF2tSbLa3rJAIMTltPZQkJLWX5cTpoy5mkOdg3RBRb835x3/s200/112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457014041314596578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDEBC9Oze0SX9DZc923maODRdQHKxj38yNBAr89imuV8SMnNrWFQG4pB-MlA-4tkKWd6Zv7zrK5By76ybOaZnPs-B80d4-H7-W1s8G8-L6E-bEhjeEgZq958j_nTr4UaR_prw1vtisAbi/s1600/115.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDEBC9Oze0SX9DZc923maODRdQHKxj38yNBAr89imuV8SMnNrWFQG4pB-MlA-4tkKWd6Zv7zrK5By76ybOaZnPs-B80d4-H7-W1s8G8-L6E-bEhjeEgZq958j_nTr4UaR_prw1vtisAbi/s200/115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457014045890353874" border="0" /></a>The girls had fun this Easter starting off with lots of excitement at our Egg Drop/Hunt. We had so much fun waiting on the plane to fly overhead, dropping tons of eggs out, and off we went to gather them all in our baskets. You can imagine with almost 2000 people there, the eggs were gone like THAT! Even still, candy was to be had, and very dirty faces after!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fN7-ltWK3cdSmzUaJNvKSL-mjFM7B0IBKQi56vgQQNr3fO0tzwrzk0EK0k2SzL9J3-DjkN9KUSDzay88IzeWjsE7D8_vb2L8COEoWp0npVGM2IBdsT0pUdiIsQUDfC_rZZuvD1EFE3wk/s1600/119.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fN7-ltWK3cdSmzUaJNvKSL-mjFM7B0IBKQi56vgQQNr3fO0tzwrzk0EK0k2SzL9J3-DjkN9KUSDzay88IzeWjsE7D8_vb2L8COEoWp0npVGM2IBdsT0pUdiIsQUDfC_rZZuvD1EFE3wk/s200/119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457014395767187362" border="0" /></a><br />Easter morning, the girls woke up to a much more "intentional" Easter basket. This year, I felt very strongly that our emphasis needed to be more focused on the life, death and resurrection of Christ rather than filling our baskets with a lot of commercialism. We presented all four of our girls with brand new Bibles. Of course, they got candy, because who doesn't have a smile on their face after a little bit of sugar! Our prayer is that these new Bibles will be a constant reminder of our desire to see our girls walk in victory each day.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzj9lw5DQD8fANO5J60g-pHOr_X_DwnwzHD4FBBLTiIxZdLTtDFe8PgY1eUpx4rcRLBjcgFN5BJeRVrK9cYuiE1MEB7Yvn7oxOH8Vaj1s7NelBfzGkp53m2XTvBIR6W9FiScxvpQyjq7X/s1600/129.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzj9lw5DQD8fANO5J60g-pHOr_X_DwnwzHD4FBBLTiIxZdLTtDFe8PgY1eUpx4rcRLBjcgFN5BJeRVrK9cYuiE1MEB7Yvn7oxOH8Vaj1s7NelBfzGkp53m2XTvBIR6W9FiScxvpQyjq7X/s200/129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457015637334938002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKpRSh_l_X55w6jy_6zzNYWfyzLtCN_GD7Ad64hR-Z2HdyUG9-Fp4oJf44uh3OiRZzny8QOMQVSZRVMU9Rk1nPn34WlbM0kjkg2TQxkMWVchjV8JNTtrm8t3QpVl7Qhsdy9BUG8wx_WCM/s1600/125.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKpRSh_l_X55w6jy_6zzNYWfyzLtCN_GD7Ad64hR-Z2HdyUG9-Fp4oJf44uh3OiRZzny8QOMQVSZRVMU9Rk1nPn34WlbM0kjkg2TQxkMWVchjV8JNTtrm8t3QpVl7Qhsdy9BUG8wx_WCM/s200/125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457014783540445634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qt7p3vdqvfC_wZOdbJ9hamHsS1jzRMvGHGIbi7u3TYhHZuVCWscum0WdJtuX3QfzTzOz2ur6JiDtDQZxBvVe1oImreNAuWvVk2OHA5P9PoC60IhNbNdUti8k3zmWXgaImnfCrUrg2qMh/s1600/124.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qt7p3vdqvfC_wZOdbJ9hamHsS1jzRMvGHGIbi7u3TYhHZuVCWscum0WdJtuX3QfzTzOz2ur6JiDtDQZxBvVe1oImreNAuWvVk2OHA5P9PoC60IhNbNdUti8k3zmWXgaImnfCrUrg2qMh/s200/124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457015130142765922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XX9ERVH_FxkdC88zS0iHxb8xuf5Wo6Wjh8Eje12qjgP9NK1dkOCOfi7c0vCh9tLaZMp4LylHT4g4XUe1jOW-cCrdkWG-btzBgbpZfFf-hpGrPScMeeyLra2ZwqH7Om9e_XHiiE6e1wTp/s1600/127.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XX9ERVH_FxkdC88zS0iHxb8xuf5Wo6Wjh8Eje12qjgP9NK1dkOCOfi7c0vCh9tLaZMp4LylHT4g4XUe1jOW-cCrdkWG-btzBgbpZfFf-hpGrPScMeeyLra2ZwqH7Om9e_XHiiE6e1wTp/s200/127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457015632797876290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVVio8oqDTDeeBDKYwTLggQ-KJpxYxoF4xg1qGGtI5PP6J7TTJBUmoQUKolqcmRo1Qdh-flOOvI7RFM70LNuDiIfs5piVYnE61VaMsXTqzZxqe5W9VVhvryMaMEijCqMZ9K7duE5dm_fc/s1600/131.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVVio8oqDTDeeBDKYwTLggQ-KJpxYxoF4xg1qGGtI5PP6J7TTJBUmoQUKolqcmRo1Qdh-flOOvI7RFM70LNuDiIfs5piVYnE61VaMsXTqzZxqe5W9VVhvryMaMEijCqMZ9K7duE5dm_fc/s200/131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457015647094240466" border="0" /></a>Easter Sunday afternoon was spent over a yummy Sunday lunch, naps and egg dying and hunting. It was fun spending time together on what could not have been a more gloriously beautiful day!Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-41154470478024148782010-03-18T04:37:00.003-07:002010-03-18T04:57:17.266-07:00Catching Up In Pictures<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8DkVCxmD4nHfYn16IVX5hcFmzejzfeP54JfazMwxD5Dc-yfxspY_fSZoezJJKHKEQbMUd2ckruQ0ukNBx4MRcjPoN2xVDXfl9XvsvkWrLyEtljZXD_iESccZENtum6SVaNDotVV1QnBH/s1600-h/329.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8DkVCxmD4nHfYn16IVX5hcFmzejzfeP54JfazMwxD5Dc-yfxspY_fSZoezJJKHKEQbMUd2ckruQ0ukNBx4MRcjPoN2xVDXfl9XvsvkWrLyEtljZXD_iESccZENtum6SVaNDotVV1QnBH/s200/329.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449937727579650162" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Nicer weather makes for fun times outside!<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNp5L2KHEP94db8u7PuI-YIJfAgKOuk831r2C_MhBtInWlFy3s5KFq1UelRdqbGfM3FsjRWKxv5eKxNglqMOeeduvMfKW9G2MKRyrAaSjMc33uc7kNvt49H8rvPQmlvazVEMFo4zmL4Mp4/s1600-h/338.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNp5L2KHEP94db8u7PuI-YIJfAgKOuk831r2C_MhBtInWlFy3s5KFq1UelRdqbGfM3FsjRWKxv5eKxNglqMOeeduvMfKW9G2MKRyrAaSjMc33uc7kNvt49H8rvPQmlvazVEMFo4zmL4Mp4/s200/338.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449937730783569218" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Our house is for sale...NOT this cutie!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PsKz78FyrXQsEerl9-vBr9_Be_N7V9DpFKwgrG5YvQAa2LXNbbQYinlUNZpXf-Wyi01IOUIHuSTiYjPI5kCYYhUaLV4IxsZMEERZYJMRHSKBjp9OlIRHJXq974hha-T5GGLiWeqzzgDE/s1600-h/362.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PsKz78FyrXQsEerl9-vBr9_Be_N7V9DpFKwgrG5YvQAa2LXNbbQYinlUNZpXf-Wyi01IOUIHuSTiYjPI5kCYYhUaLV4IxsZMEERZYJMRHSKBjp9OlIRHJXq974hha-T5GGLiWeqzzgDE/s200/362.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449938551756409314" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">3 of the 4 girls enjoyed a day at the park</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KuIfNDd3Hh10dLkiz-Rjkwd4lkvUT9hCDDRjAMTIm_4041aNR6qAL1SYqIJiIpc6Gu48pAiNmzqs5wds84odJ3WDjh7imOUg82fqkLvrky3EIVFmQxcjF1u1SEtUwEZbQSdike2DD9Xt/s1600-h/359.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KuIfNDd3Hh10dLkiz-Rjkwd4lkvUT9hCDDRjAMTIm_4041aNR6qAL1SYqIJiIpc6Gu48pAiNmzqs5wds84odJ3WDjh7imOUg82fqkLvrky3EIVFmQxcjF1u1SEtUwEZbQSdike2DD9Xt/s200/359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449938551634769106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqunT15u9njagpPlNN1vIpdOrF0fgAGR3towwvV7faW6j0YUXIuU1NI26G01_25uNcaIswIQ9Laxxb4ppxa3FwpZalcTaEjG04XT0MHAgv65-DfcA6ajkTfSa8aTiXuUQx-rHokULpjHAy/s1600-h/358.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqunT15u9njagpPlNN1vIpdOrF0fgAGR3towwvV7faW6j0YUXIuU1NI26G01_25uNcaIswIQ9Laxxb4ppxa3FwpZalcTaEjG04XT0MHAgv65-DfcA6ajkTfSa8aTiXuUQx-rHokULpjHAy/s200/358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449938540348073762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkqQPkYyJtSzoumVih_3JVSUdPq-jCWDw7Ida3nSJg0S_otTXuRN9k5WO5XK97l3zmCaMuSRK6qM1Z29NYhPzyH0fcX-dnZ3C56zFv7wY_EPVc7O87haacOYI9goJoNtuSvzjvYoMCk5z/s1600-h/357.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkqQPkYyJtSzoumVih_3JVSUdPq-jCWDw7Ida3nSJg0S_otTXuRN9k5WO5XK97l3zmCaMuSRK6qM1Z29NYhPzyH0fcX-dnZ3C56zFv7wY_EPVc7O87haacOYI9goJoNtuSvzjvYoMCk5z/s200/357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449937750156061010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamOuZnmI1JNdp0AK23KDHg2kjG48OxeU8OobeteAHT3CVSP0jJTekaBgwtWLRJVFLzrDEhPGAhe3aiIuVRKwSDFJDGpLloK-I4CPhhd2ZR-09yrEVsd9ekFPdt4VG57oiTgrnK07H2JXH/s1600-h/354.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamOuZnmI1JNdp0AK23KDHg2kjG48OxeU8OobeteAHT3CVSP0jJTekaBgwtWLRJVFLzrDEhPGAhe3aiIuVRKwSDFJDGpLloK-I4CPhhd2ZR-09yrEVsd9ekFPdt4VG57oiTgrnK07H2JXH/s200/354.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449937744278382178" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">A Dinner Party</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaeT9omuUo7ci5QEse3m1P2B_WyjM7gvckIP3IVZOZPb_WBoOrvchgFWPdcQc1CCVqEmuL83UZ4XU0JcDTkFHzht_CIGGyuMrvsCFjX12DqibLj_lt5HtWQBtVCx9r11ERmU70wPahaQW/s1600-h/353.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaeT9omuUo7ci5QEse3m1P2B_WyjM7gvckIP3IVZOZPb_WBoOrvchgFWPdcQc1CCVqEmuL83UZ4XU0JcDTkFHzht_CIGGyuMrvsCFjX12DqibLj_lt5HtWQBtVCx9r11ERmU70wPahaQW/s200/353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449937740408990498" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">The HOST of the Dinner Party</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUHxA7l55_bFnTj5VcADfgcGJ6YCn3dOzbrhy6g8waL8CXJ8w8nD-WYbjZliPtG71nsW0CK4vX5lApRxSlv9e6ElNI6WBW73ui-TjRSd9vY5MPL_fsfJ5lkUcJtJHgThZ4-XgYKWPLQSW/s1600-h/371.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUHxA7l55_bFnTj5VcADfgcGJ6YCn3dOzbrhy6g8waL8CXJ8w8nD-WYbjZliPtG71nsW0CK4vX5lApRxSlv9e6ElNI6WBW73ui-TjRSd9vY5MPL_fsfJ5lkUcJtJHgThZ4-XgYKWPLQSW/s200/371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449938566298127778" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">A visit to see Papa and Meme</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhc0jCHBmjeEWlcZvPx-ypWw2HXjuH5M-Q0EIYeiXGdLqN4UvpoobInHDVv3KowPHWLMpRvGh3DQQuuDROXK2Jm64ymh-ieRrIEwHthNLWr_T6SWHPLmGd2WmXHIXSw6LdubGPkfd-2kh/s1600-h/373.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhc0jCHBmjeEWlcZvPx-ypWw2HXjuH5M-Q0EIYeiXGdLqN4UvpoobInHDVv3KowPHWLMpRvGh3DQQuuDROXK2Jm64ymh-ieRrIEwHthNLWr_T6SWHPLmGd2WmXHIXSw6LdubGPkfd-2kh/s200/373.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449938939478794354" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Loving on Meme after her hospital stay</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hV3wDe15srydXA-cDD2TkiVYXiByU2uuNtGxx2eXnSwwWi6u7IL5-AE3mJoh2rJZTlk7JDIKKjEoUTtixRo5OPszO2kLRTTsa97fo8V1V1UfEjuTkLEMaFleTjV1raYuZLajaV4xn2vK/s1600-h/369.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hV3wDe15srydXA-cDD2TkiVYXiByU2uuNtGxx2eXnSwwWi6u7IL5-AE3mJoh2rJZTlk7JDIKKjEoUTtixRo5OPszO2kLRTTsa97fo8V1V1UfEjuTkLEMaFleTjV1raYuZLajaV4xn2vK/s200/369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449938558764829602" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Sitting in her favorite chair at Meme's and Papa's House</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5617X6TWdyaG9haiEu_rhjZLR1LHmtdBjGOji1Zmy5JgwKckRr4ce1YUQHzBGNsvp44ng8v99lJEOkyiCEmVeOQNv_Za8EwecHPChOWnfa5odbmfG5syqP6gFtoetbOdwMhm1zjMVTYn_/s1600-h/379.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5617X6TWdyaG9haiEu_rhjZLR1LHmtdBjGOji1Zmy5JgwKckRr4ce1YUQHzBGNsvp44ng8v99lJEOkyiCEmVeOQNv_Za8EwecHPChOWnfa5odbmfG5syqP6gFtoetbOdwMhm1zjMVTYn_/s200/379.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449938944773839346" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Bailey's chorus concert</span><br /></div>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-89391445737905978092010-03-03T08:20:00.000-08:002010-03-03T08:55:37.468-08:00Who Do You Inspire?I have many people that have inspired, and continue to inspire, me in my life. They may all have different personalities, but the one connecting factor in all of them is that they just are who they are. They are <a href="http://thehickmanhappenings.blogspot.com/2010/01/be.html">"being today who they want to be tomorrow.</a>" In other words, they are just being the real deal, truly living their lives....every part of their lives. The thing that inspires me about them is they are not trying just to show the good parts. They are vulnerable, teachable and willing to start over in order to really become what they are supposed to be in life. I've been told (more than a time or two) that I expose too much of who I am to people...say too much, don't hide my emotions very well or I "might" be a little too honest. For a very long time that has, quite honestly, wounded me. It held me back from being who I am. I cared way too much what people thought about me. At the same time, when you are in the process of being who God wants you to be, you're gonna need to hear some criticism, but ultimately care about the One's comments that matter the most. I am learning that God has made me to be me...not you, or who you think I should be, or even who someone else is that may be WAY cooler than me. I'm to be me!<br /><br />This has challenged me this week as Jeff began a new series called<a href="http://jeffhickman.mypodcast.com/2010/03/Close_Encounters_of_the_Real_kind-291283.html"> "Close Encounters,"</a> challenging us to have encounter with God for one...to know Him as our Father, but also to realize when the God of heaven and earth is right in the midst of our LIVES! Those unmistakable, undeniable times when it's you and God. We talked about this in our LifeGroup Monday night - "Describe your close encounters, or one of your close encounters with God." This, for me, has come through times of God showing Himself to me through others...the ones that inspire me, but I've had significant times in my life that it's just God and me...the only one that could deliver me from being so low and depressed that I could barely breathe...He reached out to me and drew me close and spoke "peace." Times when the hurt and pain have been so severe that He said, "You're not alone. I'm here." Most significantly, though, is that none of those things would have happened had God not spoken His love for me as a 7 year old little girl...had it not been for me accepting a simple and unconditional promise that He would live in my life forever. As I've heard many stories of close encounters in their salvation as an older teen or adult, I hear such a real desperation in voices to live for Him, that freshness in their love for Him...it's just "seemed" more real. I thought a lot about it yesterday, and truly, had it not been for people inspiring and investing in my life, I often wonder if the love I feel for Christ now would not seem so real to me. It made me think of the way inspire others...my kids, my husband, women's lives, our church as I serve as their Pastor's wife, etc. It's heavy the responsibility we have to inspire others, but it's also the very thing that could spur others into their own close encounter with Christ. Don't take for granted that you have no one to inspire. Don't ever deny the fact that if you are His child, you have been inspired to lead others. For me, my husband inspires me as he is just REAL in his relationship with Christ...never living as though he's already "arrived," but doing whatever it takes to move everything in his life in the direction of Christ. My parents have inspired me in the readiness of their hearts to follow Christ wherever He leads them. My sisters inspire me simply by giving my life laughter. My daughters even inspire me as they challenge me to be the mother that they need. My dorm mom from high school inspires me as she prays scripture over my life, and just genuinely loves me for who I am. <br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who are you inspiring to have a close encounter with God? Who is inspiring you?</span>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-21323162625798208302010-02-16T06:04:00.000-08:002010-02-16T06:40:58.310-08:00What I'm DoingThere's a whole lot going on in my life right now. Before you stop reading because you think this is a post about being busy, never fear...I don't like that word..."busy". It has become too much of a status quo statement maker. The busier we are, the more successful we're supposed to appear. Instead, I'm trying to focus on the little details of my days...the insignificant and the significant. I just want each moment to be LIVED, and not regretted. I want to love well and in turn, love God by loving others. So, here's a little peek into my life TODAY, and if I can be intentional to love through even the most tiny detail, then I'm going to relish it!<br /><br />What I'm reading: <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.crazylovebook.com/">"Crazy Love"</a> </span>by Francis Chan - Really has been the impetus for this post. Lately, it has pinpointed in my life not minimizing the ways I CAN love right now, without all of the excuses that I'm good at making, such as "life is just so mundane/routine," "I never come in contact with other people...other than the grocery store," "How can I make a difference?" Rather, know that God has commanded me to love Him and love others, and by loving others, I am loving Him and desiring more and more of Him when I'm exercising love. It's becoming real to me through the hug I can give, the meal I can prepare for others or even my family, through the kiss I can give my girls in the morning that's not easy for this morning person, or through loving and praying for that difficult person. It's practical. It's real. It's freeing.<br /><br />My favorite activities: I wrote a <a href="http://thehickmanhappenings.blogspot.com/2010/01/12-months-of-investing.html">post</a> recently on being intentional to spend one on one time with my girls, and the month of January was more special to me just because of this alone! I loved getting to sit with my girls and hear even the smallest detail of their day, or what they are into right now. They always amaze me by sharing their heart. Sometimes I think I know them, but then they surprise me even more.<br /> Date nights are consistently one of my favorite activities. I never get tired of spending time with Jeff. We just get along...plain and simple. I love every bit of time I can spend with him. His heart is the purest! He is just an amazing person to get to know. We laugh, we sit and stare at one another, we enjoy our time! We are beginning to get healthier together and I love being on whatever journey God puts us on right now...together!<br /> I still enjoy reality TV. It just amuses me. I definitely think it's fallen into the "favorite pastime category. Along w/ that, I love keeping in touch with friends through Facebook, Twitter and email. It's really strengthened my friendships, when I keep it in check! ;)<br /><br />New ventures: I'm all about relationships. They breathe life into me, and lately this aspect of my life has taken a newer, richer turn. I've been able to connect myself with some great wives of Pastor's. These ladies have been such an encouragement, whether it be the ones I've had the pleasure to meet in person, or the ones I know through Facebook, Twitter and blogging. They teach me and enrich my life. I had the honor of meeting with five wives of pastor's last week as a part of the coaching network Jeff has been attending the last six months. It was such an edifying time to hear all God is doing in these ladies' lives to make them the lead pastor's wife that God wants them to be. I really appreciate the words spoken over my life during that time. God has put so many neat people, in general, in my life lately. Their humility, vulnerability and love have all worked to make me a better me!<br /><br />Deeper callings: In loving well, I continue to know God is challenging me and moving me to a greater place alongside my husband as he leads our church. I LOVE being married to a pastor. Even in the times of figuring out my place of leading others, it's a joy to be a part of seeing lives changed. I am excited to be more intentional as Jeff and I lead together and as was spoken over my life at the coaching network, to "relish my reality." I am excited to move forward in the confidence of my calling to encourage and love, in order to be who God wants ME to be!<br /><br />I encourage you today to take a look at all areas of your life. Sometimes we don't take the time to realize that we are difference makers, and that our life that never seems to matter much, matters to someone! <span style="font-weight: bold;">What are you doing TODAY to love Him well?</span>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-65039805149804497512010-02-07T03:49:00.000-08:002010-02-07T04:43:04.708-08:00Happy Birthday to Quinn!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8xw2fISdD4ok-YSSs0y_L0gMaP_vrzzGU3vF9E5SsEBIF57DNp96AfmZ4dURxg39iT3qEIzesM5OdAeAxx3p6hL3sUpgwGyF9_OJE4PfFSB5lsQmPKGDrbFqfz9iBQhvyrgKqKGlor0o/s1600-h/quinnbday.jpg">ha<img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8xw2fISdD4ok-YSSs0y_L0gMaP_vrzzGU3vF9E5SsEBIF57DNp96AfmZ4dURxg39iT3qEIzesM5OdAeAxx3p6hL3sUpgwGyF9_OJE4PfFSB5lsQmPKGDrbFqfz9iBQhvyrgKqKGlor0o/s200/quinnbday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435469299959571634" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Quinn Olivia is</span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-size:130%;"> the name we chose for this "unexpected" little blessing three years ago on a chilly February 7th day. It was no surprise to us that w</span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-size:130%;">e were having our FOURTH daughter...seeing as we pretty much had a winning streak going already! The day the ultrasound tech told us, we pretty much could've told HER! We were familiar with the picture! We were surprised, however, to even be expecting a </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCID4Jmvl-yw6Qh_fnMaV1FLDlzoopvAyUg10kYKGfq6afDV3hQozLMqzFtz2fClqD6t_SNiPfWoRUrh3ru5-GIf1SQ4O6jl9aVhpEQ6Ho1cgiMA54Qy8liCDkfYq3ADaa_JRQi1axBQ69/s1600-h/quinn3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCID4Jmvl-yw6Qh_fnMaV1FLDlzoopvAyUg10kYKGfq6afDV3hQozLMqzFtz2fClqD6t_SNiPfWoRUrh3ru5-GIf1SQ4O6jl9aVhpEQ6Ho1cgiMA54Qy8liCDkfYq3ADaa_JRQi1axBQ69/s200/quinn3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435469290228920130" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-size:130%;">baby at that point in our lives. Having a fourth child was NO WHERE on our radar...AT ALL!</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-size:130%;">We were going through one of the darkest times of our lives and feeling very uncertain of our future...very hurt, very frustrated, very confused. Going to the movies with my sister and her girls that day was only supposed to be a girls' day out (my sis has THREE girls!)...not a day to go find out that I was pregnant. I just wanted to be out and have a day to not think about the current state of our life, but something kept nagging at me the whole movie..."I think I'm pregnant. No I'm not. Yes, I am. NO I'M NOT. That is CRAZY!!" My thoughts were later confirmed that day as I took a test and found out that indeed I was pregnant.</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMZzsSgNYpgQpE-LQ47uoD122qglU07Sdc9SorMOWUnnAPYsDGco3qF1npGhDUeldrHGhGXrjcQHxqKiksU1_XhcnBrNSClJuDAgzvUcYyrwtfJzTfdmv__HM4DuZty3NTjRME32z7m_y/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMZzsSgNYpgQpE-LQ47uoD122qglU07Sdc9SorMOWUnnAPYsDGco3qF1npGhDUeldrHGhGXrjcQHxqKiksU1_XhcnBrNSClJuDAgzvUcYyrwtfJzTfdmv__HM4DuZty3NTjRME32z7m_y/s200/005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435469296791573314" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-size:130%;"> I was too scared to tell Jeff in person beca</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnWsKLKIjK9ZCVt43cp04f-lCGBX5K-23rRhKZ-stspyldzsDC0UGNUzO35FgUyFyBkmKVJ0Yr3qAZfAMHfPdVbvczWiqDO-Y2aYrTZ75wHBt9Ni8vXF4Bzr8Wy__9uM9l5EDdT2nTn-q/s1600-h/amyquinn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 97px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnWsKLKIjK9ZCVt43cp04f-lCGBX5K-23rRhKZ-stspyldzsDC0UGNUzO35FgUyFyBkmKVJ0Yr3qAZfAMHfPdVbvczWiqDO-Y2aYrTZ75wHBt9Ni8vXF4Bzr8Wy__9uM9l5EDdT2nTn-q/s200/amyquinn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435469286788206130" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-size:130%;">use he was already going through so much. I told him over the phone! I think of his words all the time, especially now on Quinn's birthday...especially now on this side of God's provision and protection - His plans for our life of prospering and not harming - His plans for a future that included a smiley faced, happy little girl that lives life for the fullest. He told me<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;">Celebrate Life<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Never did I need to hear two words more...NOT even, as I've learned now, living in the midst of heartache, but more because embracing each day in joy, in trial, in success. I'm thankful for God sending us a precious little 7lb 8oz girl to teach us so much about life. She continues to be a ray of sunshine for her Mommy and Daddy, as well as her sisters. She tackles the day with a lot of fervor, and gets in trouble a whole lot for it, but nonetheless, she does it with a smile on her face.<br /><br />Here are some special facts about Quinn:<br />Loves sweets - as with the other girls, I blame this on their Daddy. He always gave 'em that first piece of candy, thus spoiling them for life!<br /> <br /> Loves her sisters - she is NEVER fully content until we pick them up from school everyday!<br /><br /> LOVES to sing<br /><br />LOVES her dogs, Jake and Emmy<br /> Loves her "boyfriend," Aiden<br /><br />LOVES her "gaggy" - her blanket<br /> Loves outdoors<br /> Loves apples<br /><br /> Loves to run to her Daddy when he gets home everyday (will even tell him to go back to the door if she misses him coming in)<br /><br /> Loves her bed! She calls "Mommy" every morning when she is ready to wake up. I love that time of the day when I hear her call my name.<br /><br />Quinn has blessed our lives in sooooooo many ways. Our prayer for her is the same it's been for all of our girls...that they would come to know Christ at an early age, and in Quinn's case, that He would use her love of life to touch many, many lives!<br /><br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></div><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"></span></div>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-18735188447869007422010-01-09T13:55:00.000-08:002010-01-09T14:21:31.486-08:0012 months of Investing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuI2IeqIHnO8wGsxmUFlMWkgLpZI11T0cz0JfYzXP6lv2djbJtYej2Af56ZTArHUPY4kgfo5FzoCdI6q7WdOyNh9alAwkK_Jvx_a2r5dw1cqJW2LE-VITRUhidQi2kYSIN5p-BDNWjVvmw/s1600-h/thumbnail.aspx.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 108px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuI2IeqIHnO8wGsxmUFlMWkgLpZI11T0cz0JfYzXP6lv2djbJtYej2Af56ZTArHUPY4kgfo5FzoCdI6q7WdOyNh9alAwkK_Jvx_a2r5dw1cqJW2LE-VITRUhidQi2kYSIN5p-BDNWjVvmw/s200/thumbnail.aspx.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424868506090271074" border="0" /></a><br />Very recently we (at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.lifesongchurchonline.com">Lifesong</a>) were challenged to Invest...time, resources, gifts, talents, love, compassion - whatever we could to love God by loving others. The result of this challenge was different for everyone, but for me, I was really challenged, and convicted, that I was not investing in my kids' lives as <span style="font-style: italic;">intentionally <span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>as I should be. Sure, I'm home with them a lot - that's what my life's calling is, but I had not been giving it my all. During Christmas, this really seemed to stay with me. <span style="font-style: italic;">What could I do to show each of my girls - individually - that I want to spend time with them...that I want to get to know the "girls of God" that they are. </span>I get so stressed sometimes trying to find alone time with each of the girls, so this year, after NOT over-thinking it, I decided to gift the girls with 12 months of alone time with Mom. Dad even jumped in on the fun with his on ideas, too. We each decided to come up with an idea per month that we could take our daughters - by themselves - on fun days. Some of the things we came up with are things we actually have managed to stay consistent in doing with them, but for me, it was the <span style="font-style: italic;">being intentional </span>aspect of things that made this matter the most. Knowing that on a designated day each month of the year the girls and I would have our day together is so exciting to me.<br />Today, Avery and I have made plans for our first month's activity together. She chose the "Dinner and a Movie with Mom" certificate I gave her. Over the next year, I'll post pics of our time together so I can have a record of it. I'm excited, and my prayer is that we'll reach December 2010 with loads and loads of brand new memories...and a LOT of laughs!<br />How have you been intentionally investing in others?Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-82545022177210465822010-01-06T04:48:00.000-08:002010-01-06T05:22:14.353-08:00Be"Be today who you want to be tomorrow" were the words I started off my day reading. For a procrastinator, with very good intentions, these words penetrated my heart and brought me challenge, but more so, relief! When you live with the mindset a lot of the time that, "Tomorrow, I'll get it right," you sell yourself short on living each day to the fullest, so that tomorrow will just become "More of the same, please!" In these last few months, I have felt that I am realizing more and more what this means. For me, it's meant to finally stop doing what others expect, but do what God has created me to do. He's made me like I am. You have to come to terms that not all will like you, or give you the benefit of the doubt in this life. Thing is, I really don't like everyone either. (Thanks to a new <a href="http://vanebrown.wordpress.com/">friend</a> for making this a little clearer for me on a cold December day in a Starbucks!) Personalities and paths are different for us. I may not be on the same road you're on at the moment, or you may have a less than "go get 'em" personality that is different from me. Either way, I gotta be me! This scares me a bit. It scares me because, typically, God has to put me in front of people to be bold most of the time, which often gives others the false illusion that I crave attention and want to be the focus. Here's a little secret...<br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">I hate it!"<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span>I cannot stand to be the one that has to be in front of others, to have my life looked at because my husband is a pastor and well...your life is GONNA be looked at whether you like it or not, to sometimes have God ask you to say the unpopular thing in order to lead people to something, or Someone, greater. I may over think this from time to time, but coming to terms that God has called me to a life of not doing what is popular most of the time, will make me the woman of God I desire to be tomorrow. I kick, scream, cry a lot of the time back at God because I get trapped in the, "But I just want to be like others" trap. I focus too much in desiring to be liked by others, and waste countless hours trying to determine just why is it that some don't like me. Truth is, deep down, I probably don't care. I must become all that God wants me to be....not what others want me to be. The last <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1415866449/?tag=mh0b-20&hvadid=152062484&ref=pd_sl_93bku8vv8c_e">Bible study</a> I did<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span> </span></span></span>rocked my world about this. I really believe that most of the time you don't like me, or I don't like you (figuratively speaking) is because we have no clue what is going on in each other's lives. We don't know where each other is coming from (birthplace, path, trials, victories) - what you are currently facing in life. I look back to some of the most hurtful times in my life and remember some nasty things I have said to people just because I was hurting. That's life, and it happens, and it is what we leave others with in impression of us. That's not wrong. It happens. Even in the midst of being nasty sometimes, we can still "<span style="font-style: italic;">Be today what (we</span>) <span style="font-style: italic;">want to be tomorrow." </span>God's given us each a path to grow from and gain experience from. It's, again, a relief! For me, it's embracing the knowing - the knowing that God has a plan for my life. <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."</span>(Jeremiah 29:11, The Message)<br /><br />That verse gives me hope that when I give up control, I become free to be what God has intended me to be all along. I hope that you are encouraged today to stop putting off what God may be asking of you, which is just to embrace the woman, or man, that He wanted you to be all along. He doesn't make mistakes. He doesn't make us all the same. He <span style="font-style: italic;">does</span>, however, make all things beautiful in His time.Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-37364186738988508122010-01-02T07:32:00.000-08:002010-01-02T08:18:08.128-08:00Happy 2010!2010! Wow! It's crazy to think about, but it's here! We hope that you have enjoyed an AMAZING New Year with your family and friends, and that you are armed with lots of resolutions to fulfill. I used to be so anti-resolutions, but really, if you're not making goals for yourself in life, you are living with zero challenge to become all God desires you to be. Go out and make a resolution. You don't need to make a ton. Make one and stick to it! I'm excited over things that God has put on my heart and hope to leave 2010 behind me much differently than I entered it...with a better ME!<br /><br />We have enjoyed the last days of 2009 spending time together and celebrating Christmas with family and having a new 10 yr old in the crib! Bailey celebrated her birthday with some of her 4th grade girlfriends by having a bonfire and s'mores, cookie cake, and hot chocolate! Can you say H-Y-P-E-R!!! They had such a great time, though. We are so incredibly proud of Bailey and the young lady she is becoming. She fills our home with her sweet laugh, artsy personality and her love for others. She is such a blessing to us!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BjclJlvpnY4xyyjHQEHVEJGmTrQ6Voy-CwSNeCBH0MU_Ku0CudNoqopSP1bFG71XDEItRg9KaWK3QMIMxxl-JPuQ32OdEQofnPC2wMV2HowaxeQ8Md_GldIsngQRE01EfFA27LZe2OKN/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BjclJlvpnY4xyyjHQEHVEJGmTrQ6Voy-CwSNeCBH0MU_Ku0CudNoqopSP1bFG71XDEItRg9KaWK3QMIMxxl-JPuQ32OdEQofnPC2wMV2HowaxeQ8Md_GldIsngQRE01EfFA27LZe2OKN/s400/008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422169639018768226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AixKuxW8jClEdJA1MC13c7t_0NIYgIco2o3PA8pzQNl2g_77SJ8Jy7x3FNwBNq3oomH80zspheoKHgtP5Xv0PAxFjzqTcMv4ION86DnFIKV_zEDuNAD6My2FipqXStmPXGcvBsFuhgik/s1600-h/009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AixKuxW8jClEdJA1MC13c7t_0NIYgIco2o3PA8pzQNl2g_77SJ8Jy7x3FNwBNq3oomH80zspheoKHgtP5Xv0PAxFjzqTcMv4ION86DnFIKV_zEDuNAD6My2FipqXStmPXGcvBsFuhgik/s400/009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422169635708471186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWRDg5LiAiY1CyboRiJepyP_F2rfTFtgylMLJ4KJYwfPi38dDGwY45UhR1J8SAnBOM8YCYzHCLNdWd8CVu6OFfnMZZlxc187tO07K3P_29TbS5zJ34qij7MdoBvLhzTTd0lxFJX8DEUy9/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWRDg5LiAiY1CyboRiJepyP_F2rfTFtgylMLJ4KJYwfPi38dDGwY45UhR1J8SAnBOM8YCYzHCLNdWd8CVu6OFfnMZZlxc187tO07K3P_29TbS5zJ34qij7MdoBvLhzTTd0lxFJX8DEUy9/s400/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422169632336039954" border="0" /></a>We have enjoyed seeing our families over the holidays. Our time with them is few and far between with our weekends being full, but when we have the chance to see them, it's always a blessing.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHW3R1shpgtnfjF2mDE_JAWlGmLxqpmo4_3FZdK6f0CEToovhfCU-Y1zl96dnc_pZNj4vdUH4KTzoFfLNaWE1dB5seegUV2QPiJ-fH8hJRYpLs59zerCyVuM4Q3HICYqy7edJIolj2Z2Z/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHW3R1shpgtnfjF2mDE_JAWlGmLxqpmo4_3FZdK6f0CEToovhfCU-Y1zl96dnc_pZNj4vdUH4KTzoFfLNaWE1dB5seegUV2QPiJ-fH8hJRYpLs59zerCyVuM4Q3HICYqy7edJIolj2Z2Z/s320/003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422172184013106914" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6RfCy_DDcA1mncJki8fpWbrDreBMsHQ2YZWXV0Z-Yxyx0iVLOxlqiXqnVt01argK4H23sBcs5CfnCl60Ds-zLkqGVKERchEnOYBIBul8_jttCGiJjxs4CErOU5jbuMf8CK7IVEt_5V4c/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6RfCy_DDcA1mncJki8fpWbrDreBMsHQ2YZWXV0Z-Yxyx0iVLOxlqiXqnVt01argK4H23sBcs5CfnCl60Ds-zLkqGVKERchEnOYBIBul8_jttCGiJjxs4CErOU5jbuMf8CK7IVEt_5V4c/s320/008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422172193374232866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizL6s9lTFMTFKg8SZGtQ6AG8CR197anr4CJkiUC2b0b3AKcg1bQwqHD8gMfz-0nF6L_6XdFHcvxuXsHJroYsWs9HqbosT-cJDOvW0AFbHiv15xQo-5dkFwJi3DC1ioPG9OG9UjAtRxTiq3/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizL6s9lTFMTFKg8SZGtQ6AG8CR197anr4CJkiUC2b0b3AKcg1bQwqHD8gMfz-0nF6L_6XdFHcvxuXsHJroYsWs9HqbosT-cJDOvW0AFbHiv15xQo-5dkFwJi3DC1ioPG9OG9UjAtRxTiq3/s320/001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422172189955215970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUGx44k141YtewKlr5NeybM4l_po_0Zdd2o2ZDB30ynGo9yJ0z_oPYv864cLlTtDaF6GCA9_AMBPu79tDexXfTM2_5mwRYMTe2-wJU2u7fGT5JcDOs2s-k7Ct61iVtKTzI93zgbQqOt6S/s1600-h/014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUGx44k141YtewKlr5NeybM4l_po_0Zdd2o2ZDB30ynGo9yJ0z_oPYv864cLlTtDaF6GCA9_AMBPu79tDexXfTM2_5mwRYMTe2-wJU2u7fGT5JcDOs2s-k7Ct61iVtKTzI93zgbQqOt6S/s320/014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422175389928351778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1TIg1tX0n3EEDfIHfeMfi73VwGwr-6h66Lap7yDCezPQ2CgJGOffG7y5JRIddKav2U3dL0dfhhHHsxlECMJpRG0q879Aw8bjj1YVfOgnTSMkw836F4BrNnM7rNjtlYJbOXoTq3Q0SyFt/s1600-h/004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1TIg1tX0n3EEDfIHfeMfi73VwGwr-6h66Lap7yDCezPQ2CgJGOffG7y5JRIddKav2U3dL0dfhhHHsxlECMJpRG0q879Aw8bjj1YVfOgnTSMkw836F4BrNnM7rNjtlYJbOXoTq3Q0SyFt/s320/004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422172208671893010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsqcqZZs6FcFU_127GnZFxxbJS2CU0rObm98HQ6ttyILOy04Raxe5PQF90ox4WrvM0ayC8Lt8NYUtXMONjIytu715ESWqPScnkmHAsJju2gyc282Iusb5RK5errRBvAc4mP4ecFaQhW8E/s1600-h/006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsqcqZZs6FcFU_127GnZFxxbJS2CU0rObm98HQ6ttyILOy04Raxe5PQF90ox4WrvM0ayC8Lt8NYUtXMONjIytu715ESWqPScnkmHAsJju2gyc282Iusb5RK5errRBvAc4mP4ecFaQhW8E/s320/006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422175389196505474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8KbhSQswp5W2iP2s_Nky6mLWNqYI-WC7ZlprhzwzF9_q1NC5-CpcWoCewC5lTSaHEQGY6GkQcq-YFKOU338WAuyO6RKRbPpL2vV4pOjLTJdDlgJI1Ja2fQ3kHzVYmN3fqQ2DQ9FmKksB/s1600-h/016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8KbhSQswp5W2iP2s_Nky6mLWNqYI-WC7ZlprhzwzF9_q1NC5-CpcWoCewC5lTSaHEQGY6GkQcq-YFKOU338WAuyO6RKRbPpL2vV4pOjLTJdDlgJI1Ja2fQ3kHzVYmN3fqQ2DQ9FmKksB/s320/016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422172202057650306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX-10ThIfIh0FjwnWdqiJOvEiBwRF4N2mczc-l6weQPw_Hep4c2ckA3laCB47SsUKli5TuWyvjX9HIVP8M9zknPWB8r9rLlPcbWVdDJdfPv0txk-vnamcqjc06ZFe8ay0P2bQG0D6zG5g/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX-10ThIfIh0FjwnWdqiJOvEiBwRF4N2mczc-l6weQPw_Hep4c2ckA3laCB47SsUKli5TuWyvjX9HIVP8M9zknPWB8r9rLlPcbWVdDJdfPv0txk-vnamcqjc06ZFe8ay0P2bQG0D6zG5g/s320/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422175383063553634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Xkew8ZDe7u5s0sS9u-sTPY6oOoWtDGzDgbJ__Jtyir06qH33g_qBROuTLcK__wUnwioxYDrc_jHn2TJWCUDi7QqV2eTTU8chdzF1S6FoBOF3Mt4nt0wnHxMbGIVee-f0sh1KDosY989v/s1600-h/019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Xkew8ZDe7u5s0sS9u-sTPY6oOoWtDGzDgbJ__Jtyir06qH33g_qBROuTLcK__wUnwioxYDrc_jHn2TJWCUDi7QqV2eTTU8chdzF1S6FoBOF3Mt4nt0wnHxMbGIVee-f0sh1KDosY989v/s320/019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422175409110824898" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuCGZV2X2_4dSJnjXt9DiDVVvXrJfFDkENaLhOzxzzbBKUE55eaAJDrKFG93HKnG5beFDw02tOQdMsgIiiU1y4WVJ01Q8hWh9t9gQ6JvgSwZokJuPNBy5wbfBkqLT5ioZkcJGbGYBiZzh/s1600-h/017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuCGZV2X2_4dSJnjXt9DiDVVvXrJfFDkENaLhOzxzzbBKUE55eaAJDrKFG93HKnG5beFDw02tOQdMsgIiiU1y4WVJ01Q8hWh9t9gQ6JvgSwZokJuPNBy5wbfBkqLT5ioZkcJGbGYBiZzh/s320/017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422175398742948674" border="0" /></a><br />We hope that this year is filled with much love, laughter and joy! Take time to do for others and make sure your friends and family know you love them! Happy 2010!Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4721790217986514335.post-86430686072324917622009-12-21T06:26:00.000-08:002009-12-21T07:16:45.551-08:00Christmas Newsletter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOc86bUsmthxVcxrJe4EKouj6rXfJV38T6WjnnrHjxKCRJ3Dh7Khp-IJoEh9Gch4my-rmWik3dFNDiYWJTLf3-PPoe44nu3QJhP6NAngg4CSgbj9HdyyFOJiMrAxILXbtor5kUy5eYlXpU/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOc86bUsmthxVcxrJe4EKouj6rXfJV38T6WjnnrHjxKCRJ3Dh7Khp-IJoEh9Gch4my-rmWik3dFNDiYWJTLf3-PPoe44nu3QJhP6NAngg4CSgbj9HdyyFOJiMrAxILXbtor5kUy5eYlXpU/s400/001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417699015147985746" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Here at the end of the year, here's a little "catching you up" on our 2009. We are grateful for each of you and continue to be so incredibly grateful for the investment you make in our lives and our ministry. Continue to pray for us, that God would guide our steps to go right in the center of His will!<br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Jeff - This has been an incredible year for Jeff as Lead Pastor at LifeSong Church. God has used him to be a part of seeing lives changed, our community impacted and a look into the future of where LifeSong needs to focus. He has been a part of a coaching network of six other pastors that meet once a month under the mentoring of two other pastors. This has been an incredibly encouraging time for him, as well as a challenge to always become a better leader.<br />Of course, with football season ending soon with college bowl games and Super Bowls, I always worry he might go into a depression, but he has thoroughly enjoyed his favorite hobby these last few months.<br />He and I have just celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary on the 17th of this month.<br />I am so thankful for the man of God that Jeff is and continues to become. He leads our family well and loves me completely. There's no greater gift than to be Jeff's wife!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">Amy - I feel more and more like I live in the car everyday. With a span of ages of almost 12 down to almost 3 years old, I feel like my brain is living in two different worlds most of the time. I'm carting kids to and from school, watching a whole LOT of Dora and Diego, and trying to stay consistent in my responsibilities everyday. I wouldn't trade a minute of it. I'm convinced it's the #1 way that God challenges me, humbles me, and grows me as a person by continuing to have me be home with my girls!<br />Aside from full time Mommy, I began a hobby/job as a Southern Living at Home consultant. I have really enjoyed the party aspect of things...meeting people from all walks of life. I probably enjoy the "booking parties" part the least, but it has been something that I've been able to make my own and still have it provide a little extra income for our family.<br />I continue to believe firmly that God has given me a specific ministry to the lives of women. It feels slow going at times, but I'm so very thankful for how God uses this ministry in my life to not only impact the lives of women, but to grow me as well. We begin our new Community Ladies' Bible study in January, and I'm always anxious be a part of having a front row seat to women growing in their love relationship with their Father!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">McKenna - We have an almost 12 year old come April! Crazy!! We have continually seen McKenna on her own path with God...one that she hears Him speak to her about and that she obeys to follow. She is passionate about her role as AWANA secretary in our LifeSong Kidz area of ministry. She prepares during the week, adds special touches and wakes up early every Sunday morning to go to church with her Dad so that she can serve her ministry well! To say we are proud of her is an understatement.<br />She is doing so well in school. 6th grade has proved to be HER year. She has a ton of friends and next month we will go attend her induction into the National Beta Club! Her Mama "might" have cried over the invitation! (wink, wink).<br />She plans to play soccer in the spring/summer and will start sewing lessons next month, but whatever Kenna does, we know she will put her whole heart into it!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Bailey -Bailey will turn 10 on the 27th. 4th grade has been a very busy year for Bailey! She has an incredible amount of homework everyday, but she has done so well in all of her subjects, and her first 9 weeks saw her name on the Honor Roll. She is on the Pride Patrol team for the month of December, so she gets to school early to help kids to their classrooms and the running and talking in the hallways to a minimum! ;) She has been taking private art classes this year and we are AMAZED at her talent. She is doing so well. We've also seen her put her love for music and theater to practice. She is in chorus at school and was chosen for Honors Chorus for our school district, had a part in LifeSongs Mortality Room at Halloween, and can constantly be heard singing and seen being a DRAMA QUEEN a lot ! ;)<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Avery - Avery is doing incredibly well in school this year, too. She is 8yrs old and in 2nd grade. She has made straight As the first nine weeks and we've seen her develop a real love for reading this year. She might not LOVE homework and comes up with every excuse in the book not to do it, but nonetheless, she is finding she loves Math more than anything, and is in love with Magic Tree House books! She loves playing with her friend, Andrew, everyday after school. They've been working diligently on building a fort everyday in our backyard.<br />Avery just lives life to the fullest and on "full steam ahead!!"<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">Quinn - Quinn has probably changed the most. She talks 90 miles a minute and doesn't hesitate to tell you what she REALLY thinks! She is obsessed with Dora and Diego right now, loves to read books and anytime she can be outside she loves swing HIGHER!! She will turn 3 in February, and she has zero interest in the potty, yet she can tell you everyone's schedule and probably even cook a meal if she set her mind to it. She's our baby, though, so we may have let a lot slide with her. She is a joy to us and a constant source of laughter! She calls us "Mom" and "Dad," loves her sisters with her WHOLE heart, has a boyfriend named Aiden (of whom she is VERY possessive), and loves anything to do with music. <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">We pray God's very best for you this year! May 2010 be a year of great promise, love and laughter! We love you!!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"></span></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Amroosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06917823743955499182noreply@blogger.com2