tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31301025216970182412024-03-07T13:53:12.431-05:00Praying for GraceBarbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.comBlogger2475125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-84423428229462087822018-06-03T15:08:00.004-04:002018-06-03T15:09:57.275-04:00Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: www.catholicmatch.com <i>What Not to do During Adoration</i></span></div>
<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-22546032868557507852018-01-04T10:26:00.003-05:002018-01-04T10:32:25.827-05:00The Slaughter of the Holy Innocents<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's been a long time since I've posted anything, as I'm living life with an infant again, and if you don't remember those days, well, there's just not a moment to spare. But I just put the little lamb down to nap and since I've intended to post this here for several days, I decided to take a moment. My brother Jeff is in the deaconate program and is at a little parish in Maryland where he helps the parish priest a lot. He and my sister-in-law, Jane, recently went on a pilgrimage with the parish priest to the Holy Land and he brought back a lot of photos and probably just as many deep thoughts. I share this piece that he wrote because it clearly resonated with me, and I have a feeling it will resonate with you as well.</span><br />
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<b style="background-color: #; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">DANIELE da Volterra</b></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">The Massacre of the Innocents</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 130%;">The Slaughter of the Holy Innocents</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">by Jeff Johnson</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The above pictures were taken on separate days with the pictures on the outside being taken in Caesarea while the one in the middle was taken at the Church of the Visitation. I know the two seem totally unrelated, but they weren’t in my mind. As I viewed what was an architectural wonder of its time, the port of Caesarea and the theatre which was built adjacent it, I wondered how Herod the Great, responsible for this achievement, could then be so misguided as to order the murder of dozens of children in Bethlehem to kill the child who was to become the Messiah. This was the same sentence that Pharaoh, fearful of the growth of the Israelites, had ordered on newborn Jewish boys around the time of Moses’ birth. It is amazing (and frightening) the actions that these monarchs were willing to take for the sake of preserving their thrones. A personal thought on this for me is that Jesus Christ is more important than anything else in the secular world. When I remember to put him before “everything else”, “everything else” amazingly (or not so amazingly) falls into place. But back to the Innocents. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the longest time, I never knew that the Christmas song “Coventry Carol” chronicled the murder of the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem. But the lyrics make it clear – </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Herod the King</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In his raging</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Charged he hath this day</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His men of might</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In his own sight</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All children young to slay</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then woe is me</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poor child for thee</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And ever mourn and say</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For thy parting</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not say nor sing</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bye bye lullay lullay</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lullay lullay</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My little tiny child</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bye bye lullay lullay”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Saint Quodvultdeus, a father of the Church and former bishop gave an excellent commentary on the slaughter of the Holy Innocents. He noted “The children die for Christ, though they do not know it. The parents mourn for the death of martyrs. The child makes of those as yet unable to speak fit witnesses to himself. See the kind of kingdom that is his, coming as he did in order to be this kind of king. See how the deliverer is already working deliverance, the saviour already working salvation. But you, Herod, do not know this and are disturbed and furious. While you vent your fury against the child, you are already paying him homage, and do not know it. How great a gift of grace is here! To what merits of their own do the children owe this kind of victory? They cannot speak, yet they bear witness to Christ. They cannot use their limbs to engage in battle, yet already they bear off the palm of victory.” This event was foretold in Jeremiah 31:15 wherein the prophet said “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamenting and weeping bitterly: it is Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a child, I can still remember my reaction when I learned of this awful killing. I was shocked and in disbelief that anyone could order the death of innocent children. But, times were different then – no? The answer is of course, apparently not. I could not help but think about the wanton disregard for the sanctity of life that exists in our current age as I pondered Herod’s crime. It’s not as if this was “a sign of the times”. The Didache, an important first century document that provided guidance for early Christians instructed “Thou shalt not slay thy child by abortion, nor kill that which is begotten". Jewish historian Josephus Flavius, who chronicled the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70 wrote “The law, moreover enjoins us to bring up all our offspring, and forbids women to cause abortion of what is begotten, or to destroy it afterward; and if any woman appears to have so done, she will be a murderer of her child, by destroying a living creature, and diminishing humankind." How can it be that the Church understood this better almost two millennia ago then it is understood in society today? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I know that definitions (of when life begins) and relativism have played an important role in confusing this issue. For many years, there has been debate about when life begins - at conception, when a fetus is formed, at birth, etc. I have never quite understood this debate. Life clearly begins at conception because any point after that requires intervention to stop the growth of that life. Ultrasounds conducted early in pregnancy show a life that is growing. Thanks to modern medicine, we all understand that from the moment of fertilization a life has been spawned that will be born in about nine months. There can be no debate on this issue of definitions. I also cannot understand relativist arguments on choice. Truth is not relative. A relativist view of “it’s not for me but I don’t want to choose for others” is an enormous cop out. We either believe in the sanctity of life, or we do not. There is no choice – we choose life, or we choose against it. Now, the debate on what to do about unwanted pregnancies is more complicated than this piece alone - there needs to be compassionate means to provide for the life of the child. But, if we can get past preserving the life, I think we can work through the other aspects as well. We MUST work through it. For all the revulsion against Herod over the killing of the Bethlehem babies, we are allowing a more heinous crime to occur legally across the US – (one every 30 seconds counting only surgical and medical abortions). </span></span><br />
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-54873891778371403302017-10-11T08:15:00.000-04:002017-10-11T08:16:07.424-04:00Wednesday Daybook<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>In the great outdoors...</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">...though the date says it's almost mid-October, the weather is still in Indian Summer. We're having highs in the low 80s and the lows aren't even cool enough to turn off the air. Josh, Taylor and the baby are in the master bedroom, which is over the garage, which makes it the warmest room in the summer, so the air keeps cranking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our electric bill -- ugh!</span></div>
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Autumn, please come!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...31 days of blogging just isn't going to happen! Sorry <a href="http://bottledponderings.blogspot.com/">Ana Maria </a>-- I guess going from not blogging at all, to blogging for 31 days straight is just more than I can manage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm freshly astonished at how much work a new baby is. Add to that a 15yo teenage girl (truly a handful all by herself), a husband who works from home, and three adult children under the roof. It sounds like there should be plenty of people to manage one baby, but there is some peace-keeping thrown in there, lots of hushing, a washer and drier that never stop, meals to cook, and hassling about homework and cell phone policing. Just this morning either Doug or Faith let the dog out when they left for school and didn't tell me. The poor dog was on the porch for 30 minutes before I realized she wasn't in the house. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I frequently say that my family is not the family I imagined. Not that I imagined a perfect family (whatever <i>that</i> is), but I never imagined the spread in age that we have, I never imagined these grown kids, and I never imagined a grown married couple and a baby living with us again. Not that it's not all good, because it is, and I love it, but I just never imagined back when I was <i>planning</i> my life -- hahaha!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...a denim skirt, a pink t-shirt and sandals -- summer weather clothes! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...nothing at the moment. I am waiting on a book I reserved at the library -- <i><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Were-Lucky-Ones-Georgia-Hunter/dp/0399563083">We Are the Lucky Ones</a></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...I have just the finishing touches (weaving ends) and blocking to do on the Baptismal blanket I made for Max. I started it back when Taylor was pregnant and worked on it off and on when I was at work (when I had nothing to do but wait for the phone to ring), but, of course, it came down to the week of the Baptism for me to finish it. I'll be sure to take a photo of Max with the blanket on Sunday</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...tonight chicken tacos are on the menu, but I have started preparing some of the food for </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the Baptismal party Sunday. </span></div>
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<i><i><i><b>Around the house...</b></i></i></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...lots of baby stuff -- baby stuff in every room. How can such a little person make such a huge change in a house? I have a high chair in my kitchen again (it's nice -- it tilts back so it acts like a baby seat on tall legs), a swing and play mat in my family room, a changing pad on my dining room table, and a cradle that holds not a baby, but his bathtub, cloth diapers, towels and a Boppy! Even my echo dot almost always plays lullaby music.</span></div>
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<i><b>Plans for the rest of the week...</b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...Today and tomorrow I'll be cleaning and doing laundry and making what food I can make ahead (mostly just cupcakes). I'm debating about making cookies, but I don't have a shell cookie cutter. I could do Madeleines but they always seem so bland to me -- just thinking out loud. On Friday I'm going for a flu shot -- something I have avoided for years, but I really don't want to get the flu while I'm caring for a baby.</span></div>
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<i><b>A few of my favorite things...</b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...Max is definitely one of my favorite things. He is such a happy baby, and so smart. At 12 weeks he is talking up a storm and rolling from tummy to back as soon as you put him down. His parents are very fortunate that he started sleeping through the night two weeks ago. Yesterday he slept almost 12 hours straight! </span></div>
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...making rosaries -- hopefully soon I will have a little more time to work on some creative work. Right now I'm just keeping up with orders.</div>
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...autumn -- if it would just get here</div>
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...This Is Us (do you watch?)</div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i><i><b>Prayers sent heavenward...</b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...for my husband and children, to do God's will every day<br />...for contracts for my husband's business</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />...for my sweet little Max, and a smooth transition for Taylor back to work full-time and for Max and I to have a smooth transition in his care<br />...for all priests and religious</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...all babies whose mothers are contemplating abortion, for a change of heart</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...for friends who have asked for prayers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Photo of the day...</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Uncle Noah is getting pretty good with a camera. He did a wedding this past weekend and did a really good job. He also did a shoot with Max and got some cute shots. Maggie kept photo bombing, so we let her in one shot -- she licked Max's ear when she had to opportunity.</span></div>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-67376656024068286402017-10-06T16:40:00.000-04:002017-10-06T16:40:32.922-04:00No News But Cute Pics<br />
Yesterday I was feeling a little under the weather (anxiety reared its head) and today I'm busy with my little man. I forgot how much work babies are! There's not a spare moment in the day while he's still taking cat naps and needing lots of love during the day.<br />
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But we took some photos today while he was happy and alert, and looking pretty cute in his little yllow and gray outfit.<br />
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So, for today, that's all I have. Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow.<br />
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-37839498662079592662017-10-04T23:02:00.002-04:002017-10-04T23:03:25.933-04:00Busy in Love<br />
Today was crazy busy, partly with Max, and meeting my former co-workers for a birthday lunch downtown, picking Faith up from school, and making dinner. Mixed in was going on a walk with Max and Taylor, doing laundry, and washing diapers.<br />
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It was the boring kind of busy, mostly, but busy, and I don't have a coherent thought for you here.<br />
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But, I do have a favor to ask any of my friends who are experts at cloth diapering. I purchased 10 <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/EcoAble-Diaper-5-pack-inserts-8-25lb/dp/B06XKFW9L4/ref=sr_1_12_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1507172129&sr=8-12&keywords=ecoable%2Bboy&th=1">EcoAble diapers</a>,</b> which I really love, but I wanted to check with the experts about washing. I usually run the messy ones through a warm rinse cycle, followed by a warm wash and extra rinse (if poopy diapers are mixed in, I use detergent for the first and second wash -- Tide Free), followed by a hot wash/cold rinse and extra rinse, also with detergent. I want to make sure I'm not over washing, but I want to make sure they are really clean. I usually wash them every day.<br />
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In exchange for your advice, I'm sharing a photo of my little dumpling with his Godfather, my youngest son, Noah. (If you're on FB, you've already seen this probably, but I love it so.)<br />
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-52911844169189888672017-10-03T20:31:00.000-04:002017-10-03T20:34:00.094-04:00Setting the Table<br />
Today's writing prompt for <b><a href="http://write31days.com/">31 Days</a></b> is "your favorite family tradition." This 31-day exercise may seriously challenge my memory in other ways, but I know <i>my</i> favorite family tradition. It's exclusively <i>mine</i>, and I can't say that about much in my house. No one participates in this tradition until it's time to sit down to a holiday meal, because my favorite tradition is setting the table.<br />
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I don't have any problem with people who choose to use paper plates and napkins to make holiday meals easier (the dishwashers at my house might just prefer I did). But the joy in serving meals to others, for me, is 40% good food and 60% beautiful tables.<br />
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Ever since my mother moved to a condo, all of the family meals take place at my house. At some holidays, Thanksgiving for example, we have at least 18 people, depending on who brings a girlfriend or boyfriend, which can make table-setting a challenge. But we have three large tables, and lots of chairs, and no one cares if the plates are mixed colors and the flatware doesn't match if there are lit candles and flowers and cloth napkins, and then good food.<br />
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As the holiday approaches I start polishing silver, choosing serving dishes, ironing tablecloths that have been in storage for months, dusting the plates, and washing the crystal. I plan the centerpieces and even place cards. All the good stuff gets used and some of the everyday stuff -- which I have had to buy more of just to accommodate a large crowd. I plan the centerpieces and even place cards. We have no "kids' table" at our house any more, or at least not yet, so everyone just mixes and sometimes the young adults end up together and sometimes the teens and the elders end up together. To me, seeing my family enjoying a meal at a table that has been set with love, in the best family tradition.<br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: ; color: #333333;">begins at the dinner table." </span></i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: ; color: #;">R</span><span style="background-color: ; color: #;">onald Reagan</span></i></div>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-81234618957040364032017-10-02T22:38:00.002-04:002017-10-02T22:38:34.123-04:00Little Me<br />
Today's writing prompt is "What you were like as a child." This is another tough prompt for me because, again, bad memory.<br />
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Also, does anyone really know what he or she was like as a child? I have memories of what I think I was like, and I have stories that have been told about me, but I don't know that I was "like" anything.<br />
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I remember being very shy. I am the oldest child in my family -- the only girl with three younger brothers. We were two sets of Irish twins, however, with only 15 months between each set, so I wasn't much older than they were. I played with my brothers almost exclusively when I was under about age seven. In our neighborhood I had two girlfriends, one with whom I went to school, and the another who went to the public school.<br />
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As I became a little older I was a book worm. I liked school, but I wasn't terribly bright. I liked to read, but I wasn't very good in math, and I didn't have a memory for science or social studies. I could spell very well, and English came pretty easy. I should have taken note of these facts when I later failed at getting through college with a degree in zoology so that I could go to veterinarian school. My degree in journalism was clearly more suited to my skill set.<br />
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I was very close with my brothers and we didn't have a lot of money, so mostly we just played outdoors together until I was a teen. Even then I think I spent most of my time doing gymnastics outdoors because we lived in Florida then (though I was born in Cincinnati) and we played outdoors all year long. We lived simply, and we were innocent. I thank God that I was raised at a time when we didn't even have much to watch on television.<br />
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I had a happy childhood, and that, I think, is one of the greatest gifts a person can have. As an adult, I now know all the things that could have made my childhood miserable, even scarring. But, I didn't have a care in the world, and for that I am very grateful.<br />
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<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-50592409970092930552017-10-01T21:27:00.000-04:002017-10-01T21:27:30.422-04:00A New Start<br />
Ebb and flow, ebb and flow. Those two words have been on my heart for weeks now. I thought this blog was finished. My life was too full to talk about it, at least too full to sit down and have a complete thought, to write a coherent sentence.<br />
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A few weeks ago, however, I learned I would not be continuing my job part time. When I started working in the spring, our plans were that I would watch baby part time and work part time, but as things turned out, part time was not enough -- baby needs all of me.<br />
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But, I guess I should back up because the last time I posted here, a baby had not yet been born, and that is the subject of today's post.<br />
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A dear friend nudged me back into writing. She challenged me to <a href="http://write31days.com/"><b>Write for 31 Days</b></a>. Each day has a prompt that I can use or not, as I so desire. Today's prompt is "Your Most Memorable Moment." Well, my memory is garbage -- I don't have very vivid memories of a lot of my life, just flashes like a slideshow on fast forward. Of course, I remember my wedding, the birth of each child, and some other events, some of which are very sad. But my most recent "Most Memorable Moment" was the day my very first grandchild was born, on July 21.<br />
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When the time for the baby to be born came close we decided not to wait at the hospital while our daughter-in-law labored, rather wait until they were settled and had caught their collective breath. We knew, however, that our daughter-in-law was in labor when we went to bed on July 20. Early in the morning on July 21 we got a phone call from my son saying, "I can see his head! Come now!"<br />
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We woke Faith, dressed and drove to the hospital, getting a phone call (I think we were on the road) saying he had been born, our sweet Maximilian Paul (named after <b><a href="https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/blog/9-things-to-know-about-st-maximilian-kolbe/4426/">St. Maximilian Kolbe</a></b>). We arrived at the waiting room and after our daughter-in-law's mother saw her daughter and baby Max, my son came to bring me to the room -- only one person at a time in labor and delivery. When I entered the room the nurse was getting my daughter-in-law ready to move to her post-partum room, but my son lifted his son from his mother's arms and placed him in mine and I experienced the most magnificent love one can experience on this earth.<br />
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I had been told by other grandparents, for at least the nine months of the pregnancy, how wonderful it would be to be a grandmother, and I believed it, but I was completely unprepared for the overpowering love I felt for that baby the moment he was placed in my arms. Here in my arms was my son's son, my first grandchild -- something my own father never lived long enough to experience. I was overwhelmed by the tremendously deep and immediate love I felt for him. What a joy! What a gift from God!<br />
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There is a Welsh sayi<span style="font-family: inherit;">ng, "<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "bookman old style" , "palatino linotype" , "book antiqua" , "palatino" , "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica" , "garamond" , sans-serif , "arial" , "verdana" , "avante garde" , "century gothic" , "comic sans ms" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "bookman old style" , "palatino linotype" , "book antiqua" , "palatino" , "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica" , "garamond" , sans-serif , "arial" , "verdana" , "avante garde" , "century gothic" , "comic sans ms" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">That saying is so true. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "bookman old style" , "palatino linotype" , "book antiqua" , "palatino" , "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica" , "garamond" , sans-serif , "arial" , "verdana" , "avante garde" , "century gothic" , "comic sans ms" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "bookman old style" , "palatino linotype" , "book antiqua" , "palatino" , "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica" , "garamond" , sans-serif , "arial" , "verdana" , "avante garde" , "century gothic" , "comic sans ms" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have always loved my children with unconditional love, but this love, <i>this</i> love is so different. It is deep and wide and I often feel as if my heart could truly just burst for love of this darling boy. I know I will love all of my grandchildren the same, but the memory of the birth of this first will never fade, because it began with love.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 110%;"><i>Maximilian Paul</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 110%;"><i>Born July 21, 2017</i></span></div>
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<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-75584535782355598832017-04-20T21:20:00.000-04:002017-04-20T21:21:35.448-04:00Blessings<br />
Every day for the past two weeks I have been filled with gratitude to God for finally revealing His plan to me, or at least my part in it. I have a wonderfully kind boss, and friendly, fun co-workers. My job is not taxing, but I see I can growth in it. I am so thankful for all of God's many blessings.<br />
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Today my boss was standing in front of my desk and we were talking about blessings (I have no idea how we got to the topic, but we did) and she asked if I had noticed something she was pointing to on the inside of the door. I got up to see what she was pointing at (the glare made it hard to make out) and was shocked to see the same<a href="http://www.onepeterfive.com/the-chalking-of-the-doors-an-epiphany-tradition-explained/"> <b>Epiphany Blessing</b></a> I have over the door of my own house. I can't think of many attorney's offices with that blessing over the door, but I'm glad I found one that does.<br />
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<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-32959943701967806212017-04-16T09:48:00.001-04:002017-04-16T09:48:17.085-04:00He is Risen! Happy Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-29171714730324821322017-04-13T20:45:00.001-04:002017-04-14T20:02:19.836-04:00At Long Last Daybook<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...tulips! The sun came out in February, the crocuses came up, and then it snowed. Then the sun came out in March, and the daffodils came up, and then it snowed. I had hope for the tulips and in April we have tulips! These are my favorite -- purple tulips just in time for the end of Lent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...at long last -- at long, long last -- I feel our period of adversity, is possibly ending (knock wood), or at least easing to a point at which we can breathe. And the timing is not lost on me as we started Lent last year in this state and we end our Lent this year in a new state.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The last time I blogged I was starting a new job in retail. Life was crazy, my friends, working retail, at all hours of the day and night, and my home life suffered. The manager was scheduling me to close 3-4 days a week (that's 5 to 9:30 or 10 p.m.) and that was hard being away from my family, leaving dinner for them to eat without me, Faith needing help with homework, but me not able to receive most texts in the mall, much lest help with homework remotely (not to mention getting up at six and working that late, and being on my feet for an entire shift).</span></div>
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I had just decided to quit, and then second-guessed myself and decided to stay, but not as a lead sales associate, just one day every other week, in case I needed to ask for more hours. Within a week, a paralegal who works in the office across the hall from where my mom works popped her head in the door to say they were looking for an administrative assistant and to ask if my mom knew anyone "just like her." She told them my situation, they called, I interviewed last Tuesday, and I started Monday (which, considering<b> <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/videos/money/business/2017/04/12/gymboree-preparing-file-bankruptcy/100374542/">today's news</a> </b>-- again, thank the Lord!). I work four days a week from 8:30 to 3, so I leave after Faith leaves and I'm home before she comes home. I get off in time to pick her up if I need to, and when our grandbaby comes, I will go down to three days a week so I can keep baby two days a week as we already planned. There are two attorneys and a paralegal, all women, all incredibly kind and very flexible. I feel so grateful to have landed in a soft place, after a very bumpy ride.</div>
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Doug has another client now -- another church doing a campaign restoration -- and he is busy every day. And so, though life is nothing like it was before last February, it's looking up incredibly. </div>
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I am amazed at the changes we've made in a year. We went from comfortably homeschooling one child, one at home in college, one married, one doing well on his own, to being unemployed, unsure of anything, and fearing the future. I can see God's hand in what we've gone through, but, of course, will never know why until the veil is lifted. Doug started going to weekly adoration and became a daily Communicant. I responded to a request to be a regular lector at our parish. Would our lives have taken the same path had we not made the choices we did to rely on him completely? I doubt it. Only God knows. And now a grandson on the way and our two children moving in with us so we can enjoy him so much more.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Worlds-First-Love-2nd-Mother/dp/1586174746">The World's First Love: Mary the Mother of God </a></i>by Archbishop Fulton Sheen</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...a baby blanket, what else?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...we had Balsamic Browned Butter Tortellini and Asparagus Spears for dinner. The tortellini for the crown of thorns, the vinegar for the vinegar-soaked sponge given in Our Lord's response to "I thirst," and the asparagus spears for the spear that pierced His side after death. A simple, but potentially symbolic meal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...playing catch-up to get ready for Easter. Low expectations this year!</span></div>
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<i><b>Plans for the rest of the week...</b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...Good Friday service, the Easter Vigil (pray for me -- I have two readings), and Easter morning Mass.</span></div>
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<i><b>A few of my favorite things...</b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...Holy Week</span></div>
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...my view from my new desk -- no windows but a fish tank with Dori and Nemo.</div>
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<i><i><b>Prayers sent heavenward...</b></i></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...for my husband and children, to do God's will every day</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">...for my prayer warriors -- you know who you are and I am so grateful for you. You helped bring us through this past year and I will never forget the gift of your prayers!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...for my new job and wonderful trusting (and Catholic) employers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">...for that sweet little grand baby</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">...for all priests and religious</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...all babies whose mothers are contemplating abortion, for a change of heart</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...for friends who have asked for prayers</span></div>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-42330566272371702732017-02-09T16:35:00.000-05:002017-02-09T16:35:05.807-05:00Thursday Daybook<div style="background-color: #9fb8ce;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>In the great outdoors...</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">...winter is back and it's cold! We got an inch of snow -- not much, but the wind is howling and it's really cold.</span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm thinking about...</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...whether life is going to get more hectic or less -- I don't know! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm giving up cooking the freezer meals because I have been hired for a part-time job working at Gymboree at the mall. If you know me well you are probably laughing so hard your sides ache. I have a great dislike for "the mall." In fact, in Faith's 14 years she has probably been to the mall no more than a dozen times, probably half with my mother and half with my mother-in-law. I am not a shopper. But, I LOVE Gymboree. I didn't go looking for a job at the mall, or in retail at all, but I went to the Gymboree website and applied, and they hired me because I'm a mom. Imagine that? I know how to dress a child! There are no other moms working at this particular store -- they are all millennials who have no clue that you need to have leggings to go with the dress, and a headband, and maybe socks, too. I certainly know the merchandise and I like the company. And it's like working in a candy store -- especially for a grandma-to-be. Must not spend the paycheck!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...gray leggings, gray v-neck, gray sweater and denim skirt -- with boots, and my toes are freezing! Later I have to get dressed up because we are helping to fill a table at a charitable event, and all I want to do it sit by the fire with my knitting!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...<b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-All-Welcome-Here/dp/1469233363" style="color: #4a6479; text-decoration: none;">You Are All Welcome Here</a></i></b> by Elizabeth Berg.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...A baby blanket for my shop -- pretty blues, purples, grays, with white stripes in between and all random-sized stripes. It's kind of fun and a stash buster.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>In the kitchen...</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">...just have to figure out something for the kids tonight.</span></div>
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<i><i><i><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Around the house...</span></b></i></i></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...mostly dirty laundry, and the kitchen floor needs to be scrubbed, but I might as well wait until after I cook next week.</span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Plans for the rest of the week...</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...laundry job tomorrow and then I'm not sure what. It's been a long time since I've been subject to another person's schedule, so hopefully I'll be able to plan what days I'll work and fit in everything else around it. I start my job on the 21st.</span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">A few of my favorite things...</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...my kids, and I have a little bit of other news in that department (without revealing anything that's not public knowledge):</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Noah is working full time at The Toy Barn -- an exotic luxury car dealership. He is photographing the cars, editing the photos and loading them to the website. He loves it! And I say life is too short to not do what you love. He gets to "play" with gorgeous automobiles, something that has been his passion for several years. There is not money for college right now -- his last quarter ended with Doug's severance, but maybe he'll go back some day when he wants it more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Isn't he cute?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>photo credit: Toy Barn</i></span><br />
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And in other big news about the kids -- Josh and Taylor are going to move in with us just before the baby comes. They really didn't want to stay in the apartment they were in, and they can't save for a house while they are paying student loans, so they might as well live with us! There will always be someone who can keep an eye on baby if they need to put laundry in or take a shower and I think it will be such a blessing for us. I know very well that you never know how much time you have left on this earth, so treat every day like it's your last -- what better way than to get grand baby hugs and kisses every day?<br />
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I say if you're going to be pro-life, you have to go all the way. I'm glad we can provide a roof over their heads while they save for their own house some day.</div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Prayers sent heavenward...</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...for my husband and children, to do God's will every day<br />...for contracts for my husband's business</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">...for my new job and adjustments<br />...for that sweet little grand baby<br />...for all priests and religious</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...all babies whose mothers are contemplating abortion, for a change of heart</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">...for friends who have asked for prayers</span></div>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-56777800387989289432017-02-01T21:49:00.002-05:002017-02-01T21:52:51.275-05:00 Yarn Along -- Newborn Sweater<br />
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I hadn't planned a <a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2017/02/yarn-along-317.html"><b>Yarn Along pos</b>t</a> this week, but I received a book in the mail today, from my dear friend, <b><a href="https://franciscanmom.com/">Barb</a></b>, and I happened to have blocked this sweet little sweater yesterday (now it just needs buttons, and to be photographed, and to be listed in <b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SwaddlingClothes">my shop</a></b>), so it really seemed destined to be.<br />
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The sky in Ohio, however, has been gray for all but about 10 minutes for the last two weeks, including today. I did my best and my book even matches my little tiny sweater (yarn -- KnitPick's Shine Worsted in Clarity).<br />
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This is the book I whined about not finishing last week, and today, voila, it appeared in my mailbox -- the real paper version -- <b style="background-color: #9fb8ce; color: #24333f; font-family: Georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-All-Welcome-Here/dp/1469233363" style="color: #4a6479; text-decoration: none;">You Are All Welcome Here</a></i></b><span style="background-color: #9fb8ce; color: #24333f; font-family: "georgia" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px; text-align: center;"> by Elizabeth Berg. Thanks, Barb!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #9fb8ce; color: #24333f; font-family: "georgia" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px; text-align: center;">Join Ginny at <i><a href="http://you%20are%20all%20welcome%20here%20by%20elizabeth%20berg/">Small Things</a></i> for more ideas on knitting and good reads.</span><br />
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<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-61530910009668800922017-01-27T07:21:00.001-05:002017-01-27T07:25:07.814-05:00Praying for Life<br />
Resurrected from the archives, I thought I'd repost this one on this day of the<br />
MARCH for LIFE.<br />
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<i>Image: texasallianceforlife.org</i></div>
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If 4,000 dogs were thoughtlessly slaughtered each day in America, animal rights advocates would demonstrate across the country, not resting until the killings <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">stoppe</span>d.</div>
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If 4,000 elementary school children died each day from the flu, there would be public outcry for a vaccine. Parents would beg and plead for someone to save their children. Health care workers would feverishly fight for a cure. The media would report nightly.</div>
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If 4,000 people died in a hurricane one day, wailing would be heard in every corner of the country. People would cry out to the unfairness; surely someone is to blame. Millions of dollars would pour in to save the victims. For years and years people would volunteer to help the affected.</div>
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If 4,000 men, women and children were killed everyday in acts of terrorism, not one American would tolerate it. There would be cries for war against the enemy.</div>
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Yet, 4,000 unborn babies die every day in this country and millions of people turn their heads in silence. Every day. Abortion is a holocaust. It is the desperate, reckless destruction of human beings. There is no evil as great.</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;">"It is a great poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , sans-serif; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.5px;">--</span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.5px; text-align: center;"> Mother Teresa of Calcutta</span></blockquote>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Please join me in praying for those who protest on behalf of those with no voice, and never will. </span></i></div>
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-45032209659566971782017-01-25T17:41:00.003-05:002017-01-25T17:44:23.858-05:00Yarning Along -- Baby Blanket<div style="text-align: center;">
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It's been a long time since I participated in a Yarn Along, but since I'm back to blogging I figure go whole hog or no hog at all!</div>
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This is the baby blanket I referred to in my Daybook yesterday. My brother commissioned it last week, I ordered the yarn from KnitPicks and it arrived Thursday (their distribution center is just across town!). </div>
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It's a blanket for a baby shower -- a gift from my sister-in-law and niece who are out of town and won't be able to attend the shower this weekend.</div>
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This <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/scmom/vinca-gray-white-striped-baby-blanket"><b>pattern</b></a> has become a favorite -- I've now made five or six of them in a variety of colors. This one is made with <b><a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/Comfy_Worsted_Yarn__D5420171.html">KnitPicks Comfy Worsted</a></b> in white, blackberry, and flamingo pink, obviously for a girl. The blackberry looks rather brown in the photo, but it's a deep purple. I'm almost finished -- maybe six more stripes. I will hopefully finish it by tomorrow and block it Friday. A fresh knit!</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I just reserved <b style="background-color: #9fb8ce; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-All-Welcome-Here/dp/1469233363" style="color: #4a6479; text-decoration: none;">You Are All Welcome Here</a></i></b><span style="background-color: #9fb8ce; text-align: center;"> by Elizabeth Berg from the online library, so hopefully I will finish it after all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #9fb8ce; text-align: center;">Hook up with<b><a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2017/01/yarn-along-316.html"> Ginny</a></b> for more knitting projects and good reads.</span></span></div>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-78611032006260478782017-01-24T17:43:00.001-05:002017-01-24T22:52:09.136-05:00Tuesday Daybook (with a surprise ending!)<br />
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<span style="color: #; font-family: inherit;"><i><b style="background-color: #;">In the garden...</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #; color: #; font-family: inherit;">...it's a gray day in central Ohio. It's been gray for days and days. It was warm and rainy for a couple of days, but today it's colder and dry. I hear it is supposed to get pretty cold again this weekend, so we might get snow.</span><br />
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<i>If I could tolerate the temps for long, I would benefit from the sound of my "water feature." I should record the sound of my babbling </i><i>creek in the backyard. </i></div>
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<i>On my way indoors, the kitty followed me. She wanted in and the dog wanted out.But once the dog went out she changed her mind and went with. They are an odd couple.</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: #; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #; font-family: inherit;">...how long it's been since I did a Daybook -- almost a year. I have really embraced my departure from FB, but I do miss my friends and family. I'm afraid I've received no requests for my phone number so I could get precious kid photos on my phone instead of my feed. It feels lonely, but it also feels more peaceful. Social media has become a peace-thief, and I need peace like nobody's business, so I'm keeping the deal I made with myself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #; color: #; font-family: inherit;">...black v-neck, black leggings and socks, and a khaki skirt. And, of course, my apron and head scarf because it's Tuesday and I'm cooking!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #; color: #; font-family: inherit;">I'm so grateful for the apron that <b><a href="http://showerofroses.blogspot.com/">Jessica</a></b> sent me years ago because I wear it every time I cook and it has not worn out!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: #;"><i>I am reading...</i>.</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #; font-family: inherit;">...nothing; I was reading <b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-All-Welcome-Here/dp/1469233363">You Are All Welcome Here</a></i></b> by Elizabeth Berg from the library, but a few pages a night was not enough to finish it before it was due back. I need to try again so I can finish it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #; color: #; font-family: inherit;">...A baby blanket for a baby shower this weekend. My brother commissioned it last week as a gift from his wife and daughter (they are in Maryland so can not attend), and the yarn arrived on Thursday. I'm about 2/3 finished, so I think I'll make it. It's a pretty stripe of white, flamingo pink, and blackberry in <b><a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/Comfy_Worsted_Yarn__D5420171.html">KnitPicks Comfy Worsted.</a></b></span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: #;">In the kitchen...</b></span></i><br />
<span style="color: #; font-family: inherit;">...today I cooked three dozen <b><a href="http://blessusolord.blogspot.com/2007/06/porcupine-meatballs.html">Porcupine Meatballs</a></b> with sauce, 10 pounds of mashed potatoes, made teriyaki marinade and marinated 26 chicken drumsticks, and made two steamers of white rice all for my customers.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #; font-family: inherit;"><i><i><span style="color: #; font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: #;">Around the house...</b></span></i></i></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: #; color: #; font-family: inherit;">...the laundry is almost finished until Saturday, but the bathrooms could use a scrub. It's not too hard to keep things picked up these days with Noah and Faith gone most of the day. The kitchen gets the most use and I have the dishpan hands to prove it!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #; color: #; font-family: inherit;">...meal delivery tomorrow and laundry customers all day Thursday and Friday.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #; font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: #;">A few of my favorite things...</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #; color: #; font-family: inherit;">...news that I haven't shared here in this little corner of the world -- one of my very favorite things and something I've been waiting for:</span><br />
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I'm going to be a grandma! My Joshua and his wife, Taylor, are expecting! </div>
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I'm over the moon excited, and even though baby is not due until end of July, we're planning and thinking about it all the time!</div>
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<span style="background-color: #; color: #; font-family: inherit;">...for my husband and children, to do God's will every day </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #; color: #; font-family: inherit;">...for contracts for my husband's business and clients for mine</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #; color: #; font-family: inherit;">...for that sweet little grandbaby</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">...for all priests and religious</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #; color: #; font-family: inherit;">...all babies whose mothers are contemplating abortion, for a change of heart</span></div>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-75289657102961725122017-01-21T20:43:00.000-05:002017-01-21T20:47:01.975-05:00Cheap Eats -- Chinese<br />
I'm sure you know that when the budget gets tight, the belt always gets cinched around the grocery allotment. The mortgage can't shrink, but food prices are high and low, and low we go.<br />
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After New Years I bought an enormous pork roast on sale for $13.99. I cut it into two pork roasts, two meals of scallopini slices, and two pieces for stir fry meat -- six meals for $13.99. My mom bought me a Food Saver a few months ago, so after I cut it up I wrapped it all using the Food Saver, and today I pulled out a package for stir fry. It was about a one-pound chunk. A small package of pork chops would do the trick, as well.<br />
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I tried a new recipe for stir-fry and it was so delicious, my husband said he could eat it every week -- something he <i>never</i> says. It was really good -- restaurant-quality good, so I thought I'd share. I changed the original recipe because it called for some pricier veggies, but mine tasted just great, and they were cheap! Use what you have, or what's available, inexpensively.<br />
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<i>I served our pork stir-fry with rice, but noodles would be good too.</i></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Crispy Pork Stir Fry</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>serves 4 (or more with more veggies)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;">1 lb. pork, thinly sliced and cut into 1/4" strips</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;">2 garlic cloves, chopped</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;">1 anchovy fillet, chopped (or 1 t. anchovie paste)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 t. freshly ground black pepper</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;">1-½ cups thinly-sliced cabbage</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;">2 carrots, peeled and sliced thinly on the diagonal</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;">one-half small onion sliced vertically</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;">¾ cup frozen thin green beans</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="text-align: left: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the bowl of a mini prep food processor, add garlic, anchovy, ginger, brown sugar, soy sauce, and black <span style="font-family: inherit;">pepper. Pulse until well blended and set aside.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;">In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 T. oil and cook all the vegetables until tender, about 3-5 min.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">Return skillet to high heat and add 1 tablespoon oil. When oil is almost smoking, add the pork. Sauté until cooked through and pork is crispy, about 5 minutes. Reduce to medium heat, return vegetables and half the sauce. Stir quickly to coat the pork and vegetables in the glaze. (Watch carefully, as the sauce can burn due to the sugar.) If you want more sauce, add the balance. Serve with rice or noodles.</span></div>
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-63018116069521473732017-01-17T12:26:00.000-05:002017-01-17T15:17:55.504-05:00I've Missed You So<br />
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I'm here, still hanging on, and it feels good to be back to a place where I feel comfortable. I truly have missed you so.<br />
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I know that blogging seems to have gone by the wayside, in favor of other methods of social media that give quicker and easier responses. There is no "like" button on my blog -- not even the old "thumbs up." The only way I know you've been here and read this post is if you leave a comment, which is sooo cumbersome compared to a "like" or quick comment on FB, or a heart emoji on Twitter or Instagram. But, I'm ok with that.<br />
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I love comments, "likes," and "hearts" -- they makes my day, but the quick responses and likes are not a good trade for my sanity. I have experienced the FB experiment for over a year and I am just not cut out for it. Maybe my skin is too thin, or my anxiety too close to the surface, but FB and Twitter are just sh*t stirrers (pardon my language) and I am finished. I use it for my business, but I can not scroll trough the feed on FB anymore looking for news about family and friends. Most of what I find are political statements or advertising for someone or something. I'm guilty myself of sharing what I call "garbage," and I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I contributed to the mess that satan so loves. He loves the garbage and the stirring of the sh*t -- keeping ideas and statements and images swirling around us like a tornado of human anger, hatred, feelings of worthlessness, and materialism.<br />
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My life is chaotic enough without adding to the mix the opinions of literally millions of other people popping in at any moment. I will post my blog posts on my timeline for my old blogging friends, and use it for my business, but I won't be scrolling through the feed anymore. Family members, I love you, but I can't sift through the garbage to find the beautiful pictures of your children and your news about what's happening in your little corner of the world. Friends, I love you too, but I just want to know what's happening in <i>your</i> lives, not the entire world! I need to stay in my safe little cave. I think I always will -- I'm just not made for the world. Please, send me your news, pictures of your kids, tidbits about your days. I'll give my phone number to any of my friends -- just text me some news once in a while! I'll love you even more for the extra effort.<br />
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In my world, my business is busy, but not necessarily very profitable. Every day I vacillate between going back to looking for a real job and continuing with what I'm doing. Just when I think I've made up my mind, I get another laundry client, or more food orders than normal, and then I'm just busy and don't have time to think about what I should do. I guess I'll do it until something happens that causes me to change what I'm doing. I'm home three days a week, mostly, and almost always when Faith gets home from school. Every day she comes in with her arms out for a hug and says "Mommy, I missed you so much!" which is probably part teasing and a tiny bit true. For 14 years she was with me 24/7. Maybe just a little she really does miss me.<br />
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Doug's business is really just dawning. It may take a while for it to really shine, but it has great potential. It's going to take patience for both of us, but we're in it for the long haul now. I think I've said this about a hundred times in the past 11 months, but I'll say it again -- "I never thought we'd be where we are at this point in our lives," but this is where we are and we have to make the best of it. There's no going back, we can only be grateful for the sun to come up each day, slowly glowing at the horizon and filling the sky with more light as each moment passes.<br />
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If you need me, you know where I'll be...chopping vegetables, forming loaves of bread, stirring pots of soup, maybe rolling enchiladas, or folding a family's laundry and ironing some man's boxer shorts.<br />
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Yes, I iron boxer shorts.<br />
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<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-38311264152596965082016-12-13T22:35:00.002-05:002016-12-13T22:35:35.068-05:00Thank you, with all my heart<br />
Dear Anonymous Reader,<br />
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Thank you, thank you for your incredible kindness. I wish that I could hug you and thank you personally, but know that you are in my prayers, and I am deeply, deeply touched.<br />
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Your sister in Christ Jesus and His Blessed Mother,<br />
Barbara<br />
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<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-60159099011965090152016-11-27T20:59:00.002-05:002016-11-27T21:09:12.348-05:00Hello, my friend<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 115%;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 115%;">Hello, my friend, hello<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It's good to need you so<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />It's good to love you like I do<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And to feel this way<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When I hear you say, hello</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;">Ok, kinda corny, but I've missed my friends here, even though you've probably all faded away to more interesting (certainly more active places). It's the first Sunday of Advent, however, and that means we are starting a new year -- a start over. I certainly wish I could start this entire year over, but it is what it is and I can't change anything except tomorrow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;">Our homily today started with a joke -- "Happy Advent!" Is that what we say at the beginning of Advent? Merry Advent? Penitential Advent? This is the liturgical season in which we wait for the coming of Our Savior. We try to repair in ourselves what needs to be repaired to be our best selves for Him. But, we're fighting our culture which says Christmas starts the day after Thanksgiving. <b>We</b> wait, however -- wait in joyful hope. So I say "Blessed Advent!" I look forward to Advent traditions, and put off Christmas as long as I can.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: ;">Frankly, this year I wish we could skip Christmas. I love Christmas. I love celebrating the coming of the Infant God, but when times are really tough, and all you want to do is hang onto your home, Christmas is depressing. We have to make explanations to family -- we can't exchange gifts, but family want to do it anyway, so we feel like hiding away and just holding onto each other, and our Newborn Lord.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: ;">I haven't been at this place in so long that many of you who aren't on FB don't have updates. Doug applied for a position at the diocese. It was what seemed to be the perfect job for him -- chief of development and planning for the diocese. But he was not even called back for a second interview. Someone way up the ladder, I suspect, already knew who he wanted for the job, and it wasn't Doug.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: normal;">So we're back to where we were months ago, starting a business. He put most of what he was doing on hold when he applied for the job because he didn't feel it was right to start work with pastors, when as chief development person at the diocese he would be in a position to help pastors and principals at no cost to them. (Big mistake.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not to get too much into finances, but we're as low as we've been since I quit work to stay home with our firstborn back in 1990. We might actually be lower. So never take anything for granted. We are losing our insurance because UHC is pulling out of Ohio, and I am finding that a lot of insurance companies are pulling out of healthcare.gov entirely. So we're stuck with insurance that covers one or no hospitals, and none of our doctors, AND we're paying through the nose for it. Hey, but the government said it would be a GOOD thing, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, back to where I was at the beginning of this post -- new starts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today I got out our Advent candles. Due to fires I'm not allowed to have a wreath anymore, so here is my simple Advent "wreath" with our first candle lit and our simple turkey soup dinner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I thought I'd share the prayer we pray every year at dinnertime during Advent, if you feel the need to do something different. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 110%;">Advent Dinner Prayer</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 110%;">Leader:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 110%;"><i>Blessed are you, Lord, God, of all creation: in the darkness and in the light.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 110%;"><i>Blessed are you in this food and in this sharing.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 110%;"><i>Blessed are you as we wait in joyful hope, for the coming of Our Savior Jesus Christ.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 110%;">Response:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 110%;"><i>For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 110%;">Leader:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 110%;"><i>Come, Lord Jesus!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 110%;">Response:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 110%;"><i>Come, quickly!</i></span></div>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-56739070997979871042016-08-24T07:34:00.000-04:002016-08-24T07:37:43.690-04:00H.S. House System<div class="tr_bq">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When we attended the open house at the high school where Faith is starting her first full day with all freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors today, I was really impressed by one aspect of the school that I had never heard of (well, not in real life). It is the House System. Those of you who are familiar with the HP books know what I'm talking about, but short of that example, I had never heard of it. I could liken it to a system of academic college fraternities -- that's really the closest example.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wednesday is always "House Day" at BHHS, and students wear a uniform different from their normal -- instead of Faith's navy jumper and white blouse, she'll wear her House uniform -- a khaki skirt and green Aquinas polo. Faith is in Aquinas House (pardon the blue headband -- it makes her look bald! She decided to put her hair up in a bun today -- must have been a popular style yesterday!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rather than try to explain the purpose and function myself, I am copying from the school's website:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our innovative House System is a hallmark program for Bishop Hartley High School. The creation of the program began seven years ago when a team of Hartley administrators, faculty and staff led the charge to create an environment where every student felt at home. They wanted to ensure all students had a support system, healthy peer relationships, people to turn to with questions, great adult role models, and a place to be themselves. That effort led to the creation of Bishop Hartley’s House System. Every house contains members of the faculty and staff to mentor and provide pastoral care to all our students. In each of the six houses, there are approximately 120 students. Split into six mentor groups (five students from each grade for a total of 20 students per mentor group), students meet with their mentor teacher/group every day.</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The primary purposes of the House System are to further the mission of the school by providing greater pastoral care to all our students, training and guiding our students to become leaders and strengthening our sense of community. Each student is assigned to one of six houses. Our House System assures that each student is embraced in the “Hartley Family Spirit” while recognizing them for their individual gifts and talents. Our program enables us to strengthen the partnership of school, student, and parent in the development of each child that walks through the doors of Bishop Hartley. No matter what house a student belongs, we are all Hawks committed to furthering the mission of Christ both in our community and in the world.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At Hartley, we believe it is imperative for students to gain not only knowledge in high school but also real world skills to be successful. One of the most critical skills is leadership. With the House System’s focus on developing leaders, the House Program was expanded in 2014 to include a unique leadership curriculum. Bishop Hartley is the only school in the Dioceses to offer an approved leadership curriculum for which students earn graduation credit.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">While integrating many of the roles of our previous student government system, the House System provides more leadership positions than that of a traditional student council model. Students can serve in more than 100 school leadership positions, including: School Captains, School Vice-Captains, Senior House Captain, Junior House Captain, Sophomore House Captain, Freshman House Captain, House Chaplain, and House Service Coordinator. </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are six houses, all named after Catholic high schools in Columbus that have since closed their doors. The house Faith was placed in, Aquinas House, is named after Aquinas HS, where her great grandfather attended school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am very impressed with the concept of the House System, their service projects and and opportunities to pull together and work as a group. High school can seem like a very big place where you could get lost, and this system helps the school make each student feel like an important individual to the group as a whole. I think making a big school smaller is always a good thing. Do you have a House System in your child's high school?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As an aside, Faith was very excited to come home yesterday and tell me that she met another girl who had been homeschooled her "whole life, too!" She says they are destined to be best friends!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-9475883451375467702016-08-23T09:28:00.003-04:002016-08-23T09:57:04.235-04:00First Day of School for Little Chicky<br />
Little Chicky is at a real bricks-and-mortar school starting...today! She was nervous and excited and nervous. Today is freshman orientation so at least she'll be in good company and they can try to figure out how to open their lockers and find their classrooms with everyone else who is equally confused (there will be compassionate upperclassmen there to help).<br />
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It's a big day!<br />
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And here she is in all her uniformed glory<br />
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I tried to get another photo of Faith and her cousin as they went through the doors, but they were having none of that!</div>
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And since I've been up since 6 (an early hour for me), I have gotten more done by 9 a.m. than I have by noon most other days all summer -- even with a one hour round trip commute to school. A new business will do that, I guess!</div>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-56054260718445169822016-08-21T21:35:00.001-04:002016-08-21T21:56:23.696-04:00New VenturesIt's been a long time since I wanted to write here. When life is not going my way, no matter how hard I try, I have a hard time expressing it. I'm usually better off just keeping my mouth shut. It's safer that way anyway.<br />
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It's been six months since my husband lost his job, and we're both still unemployed. I think I mentioned in a previous post that we've never been unemployed before and I really thought, back in February, that this would be a short-lived situation. Doug has been recruited multiple times to a variety of institutions and he always had headhunters calling him...when he had a job.<br />
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We've learned how much more difficult it is to get a job when you don't have a job, and especially when you have had a big gap in your employment history -- mine is 14 years. And so far I am 0 and 34 in the job application department. I've had two interviews for real jobs and one interview for a temp agency. The two real jobs ended up being jobs I don't think I could do, for a variety of reasons, for more than a couple days. No one has called me back, so I didn't get a chance. I even got passed up to be an elderly caregiver with an agency. In a phone screening, I said I wasn't sure I felt confident, having had no caregiver experience, changing a man's soiled Depends and getting him in and out of the shower/bath. Well, that was the wrong answer because I guess there are other people waiting in line to earn $10 an hour to do that job.<br />
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Doug had one Skype interview and they didn't call him back. Most of the jobs for which he applied were jobs he was over-qualified for, and he even assured the HR people that he was fine not managing a big department, just working with donors on a more personal basis. But, I guess the fear that he would take off as soon as he found something else, or the fear that he was really trying to get the boss's job was too much for them to handle and they passed, even though they were passing on 30 years' experience and contacts in this town.<br />
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We are at the age at which it becomes very difficult to find a job. I know now why so many middle-aged people start a business -- it's the only way to get a job.<br />
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Which led to Doug starting his own business while I continued to look for work. The name of his company is Veritas Philanthropy and he hopes to work with pastors, principals, and non-profit presidents to enhance their fundraising abilities. So far we have a half a client, and we need about 6-8 clients. We're learning that the church, schools and non-profits are really slow-moving vehicles. It takes a lot of people to get a contract approved. It's rather frustrating when all he wants to do is work, but has nothing to work on.<br />
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After my last interview on Friday, for a job I know I am just not capable of doing for a number of reasons, as much as I want to, and as much as I want a job, I decided I have to be real. I know what I am capable of and I was just not capable of doing that job.<br />
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I, too, have decided to try and start my own business. My cousin (thank you Mindy!)) has been asking me if I would be interested in cooking freezer meals for her family and doing the laundry (thank you for your persistence!). Maid services don't do laundry and, of course, don't prepare dinner either. So, my new job is, cooking and washing, two tasks I really don't mind doing (and I know a lot of people really don't like doing those two jobs, so hopefully a few of them will be my clients). I created a blog to direct potential and current clients to so that they can check the menu each week and choose their meals, and the name of my business -- <b><a href="http://cookedandlaundered.blogspot.com/">One Woman and an Apron</a>. </b><br />
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I am going to keep<b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MaryDevotions"> Mary Devotions</a></b> up and running, as well as <b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/SwaddlingClothes">Swaddling Clothes</a></b>, so please, please pray for some successes (some clients!) with us. It's very depressing when you really want to work, and the world just keeps telling you that you no longer have any value.<br />
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<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-56209965588194832112016-08-09T16:48:00.000-04:002016-08-17T09:03:04.794-04:00Curriculum Sale Link-Up<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">SALE CLOSED!</span></b></div>
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I'm hooking up with <b><a href="http://showerofroses.blogspot.com/2016/08/6th-annual-book-sale.html">Jessica at Shower of Roses</a></b> for her <b><a href="http://showerofroses.blogspot.com/2016/08/6th-annual-book-sale.html">Annual Curriculum Sale</a></b>. It took me a few days to hunt down all the books that are left from our homeschooling days...because those days are officially (I guess never say never) over. Faith starts high school in two weeks. Yikes!<br />
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I have quite a few books to sell, and I think I've priced them pretty reasonably, but if you want to make an offer lower than the price listed, you can do so on or after Friday, August 12. </div>
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Most books are used, but a few are new, and a few are in worse condition than others. I have noted the condition of each book and the price, and postage cost. If you are combining books to purchase, contact me and I will give you a shipping price for all books together.</div>
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We have a non-smoking home.</div>
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DIVE CD to go with Saxon Math 7/6 -- used for two years but still in good shape. $15 plus $3 shipping (will be shipped separately from books in a CD envelope)</div>
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<strike><b><i>Saxon Math 7/6 </i></b>Third Edition; very clean copy $10 plus $3 shipping</strike></div>
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<b><span style="color: #073763;">SOLD</span></b></div>
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<strike>Catholic Heritage Curricula's <i><b><a href="https://www.chcweb.com/catalog/AYearwithGodCelebratingtheLiturgicalYear/product_info.html">A Year With God</a></b></i> -- very clean copy, no marks, clean cover $15 plus $3 shipping</strike></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><b>(SOLD)</b></span></div>
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Memoria Press' <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/latin/latina-christiana-i/">Latina Christiana I Teacher's Manual</a> </i>-- cover slightly torn at binding but all pages clean $8 plus $3 shipping</div>
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Memoria Press' <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.memoriapress.com/curriculum/latin/latina-christiana-i/">Latina Christiana II Teacher's Manual</a> </i>-- great condition, all pages clean $12 plus $3 shipping</div>
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<strike><i><b>Latina Christiana I and II</b></i> Flash Cards (all but two sheets of<i> Latina Christian I </i>and and unopened package from II) $8 plus $2 shipping</strike></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d;"><b>(SOLD)</b></span></div>
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<b><i>The New College Latin and English Dictionary</i></b></div>
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used by clean</div>
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$2 plus $2 shipping</div>
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<b><i><a href="http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/v/vspfiles/tt/Math4.htm">Teaching Textbooks Math 4</a></i></b> all four CDs (CDs only -- no books) $15 plus $4 shipping (will not be shipped with books, but separately in a stiff cardboard envelope.</div>
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<u><strike><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Creation-Explorer-Educational-Ministries/dp/1932012494">Young Explorers Exploring Creatiing with Botony</a> </i>-- some pages with highlighting, but clean otherwise; hardcover -- $8 plus $3 shipping</strike></u></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://www.setonbooks.com/viewone.php?ToView=P-AR07-11">Seton Art 7 for Young Catholics</a></i></b> -- slight bend on the cover, but pages are very clean and tight binding -- $5 plus $2 shipping</div>
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<b><i><a href="http://www.setonbooks.com/viewone.php?ToView=P-HI08-13">Seton The History of the United States </a></i></b>-- eighth grade</div>
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torn, but taped cover; highlighting and underlining on some pages -- no writing</div>
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$4 plus $3 shipping</div>
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<b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Story-Church-Founding-Progress-Textbook/dp/089555156X">The Story of the Church</a></i></b> by TAN</div>
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paperback with library binding on it</div>
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a few pages with highlighting, but otherwise clean</div>
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center split but pages have been taped with packing tape and binding glued</div>
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$6 plus $3 shipping</div>
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<a href="http://bible%20history%20by%20tan/"><b><i>Bible History</i></b> by TAN</a> </div>
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a few pages have highlighting, but it's mostly clean, no writing</div>
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binding is split, but pages are taped with packing tape and binding glued</div>
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$7 plus $3 shipping</div>
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<a href="http://www.setonbooks.com/viewone.php?ToView=P-RD08-16"><i><b>The Hidden Treasure of Glaston</b></i></a></div>
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very good condition, like new</div>
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$7 plus $2 shipping</div>
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<b><i><a href="http://www.setonbooks.com/viewone.php?ToView=P-RD08-17">The Yearling </a></i></b>-- two copies</div>
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both clean copies -- no page marks, slight shelf wear on covers</div>
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$3 each plus $2 shipping each</div>
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<b><i>Merriam Webster School Dictionary</i></b></div>
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hardcover -- very good condition $8 plus $3 shipping</div>
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<b><i>The American Heritage Children's Dictionary</i></b></div>
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hardcover -- very good condition</div>
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$6 plus $3 shipping</div>
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<b><i><a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-illustrated-book-of-american-childrens-poems-9780195145786?cc=us&lang=en&"><u><strike>The Oxford Illustrated Book of American Children's Poems</strike></u></a></i></b></div>
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<u><strike>like new -- clean cover and clean pages, jacket has some wear</strike></u></div>
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<u><strike>$3 plus $2 shipping</strike></u></div>
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<b><span style="color: #134f5c;">SOLD</span></b></div>
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<strike>Three Catholic coloring books </strike></div>
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<strike>all clean pages and covers</strike></div>
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<strike>$3 for all three $2 for shipping</strike></div>
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<b><span style="color: #073763;">(SOLD)</span></b></div>
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paperback fiction: </div>
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<i><b>My Friend Flicka</b></i> by Mary O'Hara</div>
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(SALE PENDING)</div>
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<b><i>All Creatures Great and Small </i></b>by James Herriot</div>
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(SALE PENDING)</div>
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<strike><b><i>Growing Up </i></b>by Russell Baker</strike> <span style="color: #073763;">(<b>SOLD)</b></span></div>
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all in good condition (aged, but good condition)</div>
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$2 each with $2 shipping</div>
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<b><i><strike>Atlas of the Bible Lands</strike></i></b></div>
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<strike>like new </strike></div>
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<strike>$3 plus $2 shipping</strike></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><b>(SOLD)</b></span></div>
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<b><i><strike>Jesus is Calling 365 Devotions for Kids</strike></i></b></div>
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<strike>like new (what looks like edge wear on the cover is the way the cover was designed)</strike></div>
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<strike>$3 plus $2 shipping</strike></div>
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<b style="color: #073763;">(SOLD)</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUV2DxTBJNBDi6-1ZNQjsWZkZ720lH0HuWe7iSa7WklLt_x4n8t-mJdt4aL6_EdDmfDOnzzpunoWPyRHV16OtgQgM6DgCBW3YVEA1czb52cFpiLezV6iHnbEWmTFYZUYffw2pvdTLb2sO/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252818%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUV2DxTBJNBDi6-1ZNQjsWZkZ720lH0HuWe7iSa7WklLt_x4n8t-mJdt4aL6_EdDmfDOnzzpunoWPyRHV16OtgQgM6DgCBW3YVEA1czb52cFpiLezV6iHnbEWmTFYZUYffw2pvdTLb2sO/s320/FullSizeRender+%252818%2529.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Pauline Jaricot</i></b> by Mary Fabyan Windeatt</div>
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used but clean, no marks on pages</div>
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$2 plus $1.50 shipping</div>
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(SALE PENDING)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZk8Ne7CJVftDL9V_3Kx7lNaeiCvYdXtZCwKNhLqpZxhrUUM6eQHb5w8Q7CE0_nQnspb8nIuqUJzd8Ek-DOaUig9k3fHWiuLokBTwDbs8LR4Lng-_7OZXdsJOascwSB4P-EnYRE5wcZPgH/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252817%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZk8Ne7CJVftDL9V_3Kx7lNaeiCvYdXtZCwKNhLqpZxhrUUM6eQHb5w8Q7CE0_nQnspb8nIuqUJzd8Ek-DOaUig9k3fHWiuLokBTwDbs8LR4Lng-_7OZXdsJOascwSB4P-EnYRE5wcZPgH/s320/FullSizeRender+%252817%2529.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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<b><i><strike>American History Stories You Never Read in School But Should have</strike></i></b></div>
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<strike>like new, clean pages and cover</strike></div>
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<strike>$2 plus $1.50 shipping</strike></div>
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<b>(SOLD)</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiX9h-Qlp0XvgQo9Y8E3OpNU5AjF57-NQpy1A1noQLwu2XneVWHVkQ-gDIWNm0qd_LP-zZiHImt4UgMGll_rx03RwvtJfdSvvrx4Cg1PArZJhdgn_5nd0KQmjrZn-SR-wCDHE5BLaOuySu/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252816%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiX9h-Qlp0XvgQo9Y8E3OpNU5AjF57-NQpy1A1noQLwu2XneVWHVkQ-gDIWNm0qd_LP-zZiHImt4UgMGll_rx03RwvtJfdSvvrx4Cg1PArZJhdgn_5nd0KQmjrZn-SR-wCDHE5BLaOuySu/s320/FullSizeRender+%252816%2529.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<u><strike><b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Behind-Bedroom-Historical-Fiction-Readers/dp/1571316582/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1470774165&sr=1-1&keywords=Behind+the+Bedroom+Wall">Behind the Bedroom Wall</a></i></b> by Laura Williams</strike></u></div>
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<u><strike>like new</strike></u></div>
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<u><strike>$3 plus $2 shipping</strike></u></div>
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<b><span style="color: #073763;">(SOLD)</span></b></div>
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<b><i>Preparation for Confirmation</i> Angelus Press</b></div>
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paperback -- very clean</div>
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$2 plus $1.50 shipping</div>
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<b><i>The New Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism No. 2</i></b></div>
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paperback with library cover; some pages have erased answers but mostly all clean</div>
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$3 plus $1.50 shipping</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAA5ZORcKtFbupJyXAJUO6S9taGB5aIyg7zVghkaF24nxE-8j1xCmBcVINAC1ZUg90Xb3P4737bYP_JNsVbFCqOgEPnXtR4qNgqXAwfmdPjs8wwlyLR4N3H3IhdRhUOpz2wVALiOjUBzg/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252813%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAA5ZORcKtFbupJyXAJUO6S9taGB5aIyg7zVghkaF24nxE-8j1xCmBcVINAC1ZUg90Xb3P4737bYP_JNsVbFCqOgEPnXtR4qNgqXAwfmdPjs8wwlyLR4N3H3IhdRhUOpz2wVALiOjUBzg/s320/FullSizeRender+%252813%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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paperbacks:</div>
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<u><strike><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Singing-Tree-Newbery-Library-Puffin/dp/0140345434/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1470774665&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Singing+Tree">The Singing Tree</a> </i>by Kate Seredy</strike></u></div>
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<u><strike>like new</strike></u></div>
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<u><strike>$2 plus $1.50 shipping</strike></u></div>
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<b><span style="color: #073763;">(SOLD)</span></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Citadel-God-Novel-about-Benedict/dp/0898704049/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1470774729&sr=1-1&keywords=Citadel+of+God"><u><strike>Citadel of God</strike></u></a></i></b></div>
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<u><strike>like new</strike></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<u><strike>$8 plus $2 shipping</strike></u></div>
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<b><span style="color: #073763;">(SOLD)</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><i>20,000 Leagues Under the Sea</i></b></div>
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like new</div>
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$2 plus $1.50 shipping</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oIsQsupZR87XLhGgXugfnmQZkh6xeDaVHGRw8B4kbxHrWh9oZa8-NKJsfTvsS-wFdwftopJzAkT5TBAxAMPAFJa2r1aRN-OQOX6rfyx122QEhcx3LZxNNxPk6Bq2LOmqx0K_wOexeceu/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252811%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oIsQsupZR87XLhGgXugfnmQZkh6xeDaVHGRw8B4kbxHrWh9oZa8-NKJsfTvsS-wFdwftopJzAkT5TBAxAMPAFJa2r1aRN-OQOX6rfyx122QEhcx3LZxNNxPk6Bq2LOmqx0K_wOexeceu/s320/FullSizeRender+%252811%2529.jpg" width="279" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Exercises in English Grade 7 Teacher's Edition</i></b></div>
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used but clean</div>
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$3 plus $2 shipping</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.littlepassports.com/"><br /></a></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.littlepassports.com/"><u><strike>My Little Passports</strike></u></a></b></div>
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<u><strike>plastic container and brand new, unopened envelopes for </strike></u></div>
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<u><strike>Rhode Island/Arizona</strike></u></div>
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<u><strike>Georgia/New Hampshire</strike></u></div>
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<u><strike>Louisiana/Oregon</strike></u></div>
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<u><strike>Missouri/Idaho</strike></u></div>
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<u><strike>New Mexico/Michigan</strike></u></div>
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<u><strike>South Carolina/Alaska</strike></u></div>
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<u><strike>Nebraska/Florida</strike></u></div>
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<strike>all new and unopened except for plastic container which is in good shape</strike></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strike>$10 plus $4 for shipping</strike></div>
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<b><span style="color: #073763;">(SOLD)</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWwdRg8mVOB0lD2rJ8jHm8D4lMEMgjx_D7KaWYPtyrH-Wvn1-VpCJO8QjezfvFzMtNh_uZi0QyUytxCl_ll1R8JDNJKKgVbTthVONQC3Stkm9HAgtrqP7p7-FqlAmNtYuTo6Snz8szrV-/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWwdRg8mVOB0lD2rJ8jHm8D4lMEMgjx_D7KaWYPtyrH-Wvn1-VpCJO8QjezfvFzMtNh_uZi0QyUytxCl_ll1R8JDNJKKgVbTthVONQC3Stkm9HAgtrqP7p7-FqlAmNtYuTo6Snz8szrV-/s320/FullSizeRender+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbWUdKhBJ2dMwMyGbmnVPhK5Co7KoQk7DxUXy4Nq0P37MaRS7vV9oxlRerKxQYUvrK0Mx0od6fNRiC8xpAJ2yfj4SAz-A65V4X1AorQlxN7f0oEFaWKQzzMBjB774Tb7NwJ37aY9YgZHU/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbWUdKhBJ2dMwMyGbmnVPhK5Co7KoQk7DxUXy4Nq0P37MaRS7vV9oxlRerKxQYUvrK0Mx0od6fNRiC8xpAJ2yfj4SAz-A65V4X1AorQlxN7f0oEFaWKQzzMBjB774Tb7NwJ37aY9YgZHU/s320/FullSizeRender+%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Art/Drawing Books:</div>
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<b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Guide-Drawing-Realistic-Animals/dp/1581807287/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1470775214&sr=8-2&keywords=Draw+Realistic+Animals">The Artist's Guide to Drawing Realistic Animals</a></i></b></div>
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like new</div>
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$7 plus $2 shipping</div>
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(SALE PENDING)</div>
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<b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Kingdom-Millie-Marotta-Coloring/dp/1454709103/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1470775264&sr=8-5&keywords=animal+kingdom+drawing+coloring"><br /></a></i></b></div>
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<b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Kingdom-Millie-Marotta-Coloring/dp/1454709103/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1470775264&sr=8-5&keywords=animal+kingdom+drawing+coloring">Animal Kingdom: Draw Me, Color Me</a></i></b></div>
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like new (two pages partly colored on, but binding tight and other pages clean)</div>
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$4 plus $2 shipping</div>
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(SALE PENDING)</div>
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<b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ways-Other-Nifty-Things-Nature/dp/1592538371/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470775404&sr=8-1&keywords=20+Ways+to+Draw+a+Tree"><u><strike>20 Ways to Draw a Tree</strike></u></a></i></b></div>
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<u><strike>clean, like new</strike></u></div>
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<u><strike>$5 plus $2 shipping</strike></u></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0c343d;">SOLD</span></b></div>
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<b><i><strike>How to Draw Faces</strike></i></b></div>
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<strike>like new</strike></div>
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<strike>$2 plus $1.50 shipping</strike></div>
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<b style="color: #073763;">(SOLD)</b></div>
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<b><i><strike>Fairy Drawing Book</strike></i></b></div>
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<strike>like new </strike></div>
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<strike>$2 plus $1.50 shipping</strike></div>
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<b style="color: #073763;">(SOLD)</b></div>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3130102521697018241.post-21361432662818019822016-08-08T15:59:00.001-04:002016-08-08T16:02:41.034-04:00For my Grand Reentrance into Blogging...<span style="font-size: 110%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 110%;">...a discount on any order from <b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MaryDevotions">my shop</a></b>, on this feast of St. Dominic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 110%;">Today, on the Feast of St. Dominic, use the code ( stdominic ) at<b> <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MaryDevotions">my Etsy shop</a> </b>(coupon code is entered at checkout) to receive 10% off all your purchases -- unt<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">il midnight today.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 110%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"One day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, Our Lady will save the world." -- St. Dominic</span></span></div>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.com0