tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22543736415638396012024-03-14T04:38:17.577-04:00Julia's JournalShe's living life and loving it, painting everything she touches with her own special stroke of creativity. God's got her heart and he has her on a wild and wonderful adventure. Read all about it!Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.comBlogger471125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-6083610635718583472015-12-09T10:36:00.003-05:002015-12-09T10:36:48.465-05:00A Whole New Life<div class="MsoNormal">
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You guys, it has been SIX WEEKS as of yesterday since our move! We are loving our new little house on London Lane! :D It's hard to remember what it felt like back in October, when it seemed as if we'd never get here...</div>
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Our closing process was a little hair-raising because some
of the paperwork took a long time to work out, especially with the closing agency
our buyers were using, but at last everything was finalized and we were good to
go!<o:p></o:p></div>
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One minor mix-up we had turned into a major amount of work –
originally we thought we had until Friday on the week we moved to get
everything out of the house. Well, on Monday at noon, we just happened to be
talking to our buyer and she mentioned they were planning to sleep at the house
on Wednesday night, even though they wouldn’t move in until months later after
selling their other home up North. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You can imagine our shock and the craziness that ensued! My
dad drove home with a massive moving truck and we started loading it with our
belongings. It is astonishing how much stuff a family of five can accumulate in
ten years after moving into a larger home. We were downsizing again, so we had
a yard sale before we moved – and we ended up having a <i>second</i> one after we moved in to our new house because we discovered
certain things just didn’t fit! <o:p></o:p></div>
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But anyway, back to our 2-day move – thank goodness we had a
friend stop by to help my dad and brothers load the piano onto the moving
truck, but he was only able to be there for one hour. The whole rest of the
time – All day until 1 AM that first night, and then from 5:30 in the morning
until about 1:30 AM the next day, we worked <i>hard.</i>
Just our family. And I am so proud of us for doing it! First we packed up the
rest of our unpacked things into boxes we’d gotten for free from Ingles and the
local Deli, AS we threw things onto the truck. Even by carefully stacking
everything neatly, it still took us <i>two</i>
trips with the moving truck to get it all moved, and two dark stormy nights
unloading everything on the other end. But the job wasn’t complete with just
that! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Our family is so “Dutch”, we felt we really had to clean the
house behind us. After moving out furniture that had sat in place for ten
years, there was dirt and dust beneath! So as we moved things out of rooms, we
scrubbed the bathrooms and kitchen and swept, dusted and vacuumed the bedrooms,
loft, and living room. I have never worked so hard for so many consecutive
hours in my entire life!! <o:p></o:p></div>
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After we landed at the new little house on London Lane, we
all breathed a big sigh of relief. But there were boxes EVERYWHERE, hampering
even the most basic cooking. So we ended up enjoying several meals of pizza
from the SAM’s club that is just down the road. The first room we unpacked was
our kitchen, and it felt so good when every last scrap of cardboard had left
the space. The new gas stove proved to be <i>awesome</i>
to use, and I hope to never go back to electric burners again! ;) <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now this is the coolest part of the story. We’d been invited
to a party for the neighborhood at the home of our neighbors who lived three
houses down, so a few days after we moved in, we went. We didn’t end up meeting
too many of the folks from the neighborhood, but our hosts, Randy and Connie,
were so warm and welcoming and they invited us to their church on Sunday
morning. We hadn’t been sure of where we would find our new church home, so we
decided to go and see what it was like. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We. Were. Blown. Away. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The church was so beautiful, fresh and alive, and the people
there have such open hearts and made us feel as if we belonged from the first
moment we stepped inside. The worship service filled me with awe and the sermon
on discipleship was <i>great! </i>I think all of us knew at once that we’d
found our church home. After the service the worship leader and one of the
singers, roommates Bonnie and Cortney, came up to us and told us how glad they
were that we’d come. The girls and I ended up going out for lunch on a Monday afternoon and had a wonderful conversation getting to know each other and we hung out and shopped until 4:00! <o:p></o:p></div>
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The next few weeks overflowed with blessings. </div>
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<li>Daddy only needs 3 mins to get to work now instead of an hour's commute.</li>
<li>Sometimes he comes home for lunch and coffee breaks!!</li>
<li>Mama no longer has to climb a flight of stairs every night to get to her room. Our new house is all on one floor and much easier to get around for her!! </li>
<li>Mark got a job spraying weeds for a company called WeedMan, and gets plenty of fresh air and sunshine and walking, so good for him!</li>
<li>I got a job working at BATH & BODY WORKS - which has been WONDERFUL! On Black Friday, I even won a little staff competition to see who could sell the most V.I.P. Totes! :D</li>
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<li>Steven got a job working at a LEGO retail store that just opened... Can you say <i>dream job?!?!</i> :D</li>
<li>Yes, this means all 3 of us young adults have jobs now. *happy dance*</li>
<li>Mama and Daddy and I joined small groups at church and go to Bible Studies every Wednesday evening (mine has been so enriching! Love the young women and my sweet group leader!) </li>
<li>The guys and I have been going to "Insight", a gathering for young people (Almost like a church service) at Crossroads, every Thursday evening. Over a hundred other young adults come, and we are so enjoying making new friends and meeting like-minded Christians near our ages!</li>
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<li>We celebrated our first Thanksgiving in our new house - such a special time with so much to be grateful and thankful for!!!</li>
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<li>It looks like I will soon be serving on the worship team at church, singing, which is a huge passion of mine. I'm <i>very</i> excited about that. </li>
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All in all, God is doing such a wonderful work in our lives and I couldn't be happier about it. I've got some awesome DIY projects to share with you, so be sure to check out <a href="http://lifeonlondonlane.wordpress.com/">LifeonLondonLane.wordpress.com</a> to stay up-to-date!<br />
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Love & Hugs,<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/222/70C231EE36929C1FE817C095E8CF46C7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-69100195819115329292015-09-26T13:31:00.000-04:002015-09-26T13:31:30.426-04:00Exhilarating, Exciting, Extraordinary NEWS!!Well, with a title like THAT, you MUST read this post, right? :D<br />
I am thrilled and delighted to announce that we sold our house.<br />
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WE. SOLD. OUR. HOUSE!<br />
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(imagine me dancing in circles right now)<br />
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We really have been wanting to move for about.... six years now? We've lived in this home for 10 years, and loved it so much, but there are several reasons why we desperately need a change. More on that later.<br />
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So where are we moving?<br />
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A beautiful little spot between two larger spots about 20 minutes south of Atlanta. :D 'suburbs' of Atlanta are cities in their own right, with actual awesome stores (not just super-Walmart) :D But more on that later...<br />
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My plan, honestly, was to do a bunch of sweet and cinnamon-esque fall posts on Julia's Journal during September. That got blown out of the water with all the craziness of a HUGE pre-moving yard sale we did and then the mind-whirling week of sale offers, counter-offers, contract terminology, and finally, sheer and utter bliss. :)<br />
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But I have another announcement!<br />
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I'm starting a brand-new blog, because:<br />
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<li>Our new address is so charming, I'm still floating four feet above the ground. Ladies (and gentlemen?), we will be living on... <i><b>London Lane.</b> *be still my pounding heart*</i>. </li>
<li>Our new house needs some updates. It's a lovely home in great shape but it's been lived in for years by an older couple and it needs a fresh look. That's where I come in. :) I'll be chronicling all my DIY redecorating projects, one-by-one. </li>
<li>I'm really ready for a new chapter in my blogging journey!</li>
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Julia's Journal isn't going anywhere, and I'll probably post more personal stories and non house-related things on this blog (including more Singleness Series posts) but my new blog is going to be such fun. In fact, I'm still building it (so pardon the blank corners) but... here it is. </div>
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INTRODUCING:</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="http://lifeonlondonlane.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Life on London Lane.</a></b></span></i></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVLtHZhwnOeEUwIBQx9x-dgJqjfXWi3C2iPBPU8bY2dfCFRfuW8KM_LXeULwqKLYFoVRVyRCcIAky0CzzBg1mIopnCpCW2AyD4pgym1CvRUYv-5YZg-cFEnfRMdGk7Q6n4TaXCDDcAdo/s1600/Screenshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVLtHZhwnOeEUwIBQx9x-dgJqjfXWi3C2iPBPU8bY2dfCFRfuW8KM_LXeULwqKLYFoVRVyRCcIAky0CzzBg1mIopnCpCW2AyD4pgym1CvRUYv-5YZg-cFEnfRMdGk7Q6n4TaXCDDcAdo/s640/Screenshot.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The address is <a href="http://lifeonlondonlane.wordpress.com/">LifeonLondonLane.Wordpress.com</a>!</td></tr>
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I actually have a first post written up for you to read, plus a cute About page --- I can't decide whether it is silly or clever. Probably a combination of the two. But anyway, I just had to let YOU know about it!<br />
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Prayers for simple, smooth closings on both our old and new homes would be MOST appreciated!<br />
Love & Blessings,<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/222/70C231EE36929C1FE817C095E8CF46C7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-33982573176136273352015-08-19T20:14:00.003-04:002015-08-19T20:14:55.795-04:00Why You Must Read The Mitford series by Jan Karon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know this isn't the newest edition but it's what MY copy looks like... :)<br />
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The Mitford series is, hands-down, one of the best series of stories I've ever read throughout my entire life. I can't fully describe how much I love them! The books have been part of my life for so long that I can hardly remember what it was like <i>not</i> to have read them.<br />
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In fact, I've thought about reviewing them before and then shied away, afraid of not doing them justice! (silly, right?) :) This will be a short review, for more information, try looking the books up on Amazon.com. :)<br />
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The small town of Mitford and its (HUGE) cast of lovable, realistic characters completely immerses you and you fall in love with every single bit of it as you step from book to book like stones across a stream. The setting is pastoral and peaceful, but delightful humor pops out at you from around every corner and there's plenty of drama among the townsfolk. The books definitely fit in the 'cosy fiction' genre but they always kept me turning pages.<br />
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I hunted around on Pinterest until I found faces for some of my favorite characters... (because that's a thing I do) ;)<br />
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Father Tim - a beautiful old-soul, wise and gentle, with a wry sense of humor and a love for wordsworth poetry. I wish I could meet him in person!<br />
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This is actually an early picture of Jan Karon, the author, herself, but this is always how I have pictured Cynthia Coppersmith, a whimsical and vivacious next-door-neighbor to Father Tim.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnAa-iYpbllJr90fSi10KmlhWASQRnvUgx0U7DNyJK1TIlkFZDta6ITrXrB90E2qa3RZ3ZTaq5WZ1yZl13CpNCK8XVjYX6RTIDu1wZjoKcu025rieQgY_jliPrpqqg6laEmKJcN2gCPY/s1600/2fc3aec03e2f66c6145c54ad9f27552c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnAa-iYpbllJr90fSi10KmlhWASQRnvUgx0U7DNyJK1TIlkFZDta6ITrXrB90E2qa3RZ3ZTaq5WZ1yZl13CpNCK8XVjYX6RTIDu1wZjoKcu025rieQgY_jliPrpqqg6laEmKJcN2gCPY/s200/2fc3aec03e2f66c6145c54ad9f27552c.jpg" width="133" /></a><br />
Dooley Barlowe is a boy with a difficult past (also he's got red hair, just use your imagination) and from the first page he enters he instantly tugs at your heartstrings. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzKIzIgC3rwhx3_jSgpHpa4frdH7KPm5QLxailO1QZidGArWoR164PbXhXhVskApmnFe8ZIKijJYWiioT3FaamfjX7ZUHoGa8oC6z5PGp-7BHhiiwgXew3sRJUux2Q6-VZ2MX47LyWsw/s1600/a5aa2f5d10d41541bb76215eeae6a960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzKIzIgC3rwhx3_jSgpHpa4frdH7KPm5QLxailO1QZidGArWoR164PbXhXhVskApmnFe8ZIKijJYWiioT3FaamfjX7ZUHoGa8oC6z5PGp-7BHhiiwgXew3sRJUux2Q6-VZ2MX47LyWsw/s200/a5aa2f5d10d41541bb76215eeae6a960.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
Lace Turner has also had a hard life, poor thing, but a more determined, intelligent girl you'll never meet - think Anne Shirley with much rougher edges.<br />
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Have you read the Mitford series? (I cannot WAIT for the next one coming out in September!!) If not, you should. Right away. Really. :)<br />
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Don't forget to check out Victoria's <a href="https://rufflesandgrace.wordpress.com/2015/08/19/partner-post-book-review/" target="_blank">Companion Post</a> with her perspective! :)<br />
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Blessings,<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/222/70C231EE36929C1FE817C095E8CF46C7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-27185728486526444672015-08-13T16:08:00.001-04:002015-08-13T16:09:21.741-04:00 DIY Vintage-Style Flower Pendant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo4RfveTfT4tQyqG4YFdYvLmov0x0E1B7t671rXtLe9Pr8TH6PW5fbpxLY66wSkWlfVQjZeHnpwD_B7GDyjBNvkbF1lqZZkPuJz_r5KxCsMn2i95a1AjuxyCBEfWhx0xAbGOEjCYa5w8/s1600/DIY+Pendant+Pic+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo4RfveTfT4tQyqG4YFdYvLmov0x0E1B7t671rXtLe9Pr8TH6PW5fbpxLY66wSkWlfVQjZeHnpwD_B7GDyjBNvkbF1lqZZkPuJz_r5KxCsMn2i95a1AjuxyCBEfWhx0xAbGOEjCYa5w8/s640/DIY+Pendant+Pic+.JPG" width="488" /></a></div>
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Hi Lovely Readers!<br />
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I've got a tutorial for you today! I couldn't get pictures of ALL the steps because our camera tripod is out of action (cracked) but I'll make sure to describe it clearly for you, because I know you're gonna want to make one of these necklaces. :)<br />
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Also, be sure to hop over to Victoria's blog, <a href="https://rufflesandgrace.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Ruffles & Grace</a>, to check out her <a href="https://rufflesandgrace.wordpress.com/2015/08/12/diy-notebook-to-journal-tutorial/" target="_blank">DIY Notebook Recovering tutorial</a>! I'll definitely be using that one on some of my old, boring notebooks to give them new faces!<br />
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All right. Here are the steps to make a vintage-style pendant necklace.<br />
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First, get your materials ready. You'll need:<br />
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<ul>
<li>A chain and a clasp (you can find these pre-assembled in craft stores, or you can attach the clasp to the chain on your own with pliers and a jumpring.)</li>
<li>E-6000 glue (better than supergule! Sold at Walmart and most craft stores)</li>
<li>A metal pendant disc (Or any thin flat piece of something that has a hole at the top that you can use to hang it on the chain with a jumpring)</li>
<li>Stuff to glue onto your pendant - I used plastic molded flower cabochons (Find those on Etsy or Ebay) and glass rhinestones (Hobby Lobby, Etsy) And leftover beads and buttons I had lying around. :)</li>
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Let's get started!</div>
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Make sure your pendant is hanging from the chain...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMlAZT57vLQhFfJeNfsQz9XTY_-v5QI4VLmv3uummM9z6ipryTP02AdLStHYciDV3RdtH1ubWArSK8H_pK03N-DI_CQahZSrTW_uFHtSo7bYWMJozCiE-1sC__ug2JZJuylFk_8w8_EY/s1600/DIY2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMlAZT57vLQhFfJeNfsQz9XTY_-v5QI4VLmv3uummM9z6ipryTP02AdLStHYciDV3RdtH1ubWArSK8H_pK03N-DI_CQahZSrTW_uFHtSo7bYWMJozCiE-1sC__ug2JZJuylFk_8w8_EY/s400/DIY2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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OR you can glue your goodies on it first, let it dry, and THEN attach it. Whatever floats your boat. :)</div>
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Decide what you'll be gluing on it, arrange the design however you like...<br />
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Make sure the placement looks nice on the actual piece...</div>
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Get out your glue... (Note: when using E6000, be sure not to breathe in the fumes from the glue. Noxious stuff! I usually do gluing projects on the porch or out in a well-ventilated area)<br />
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There are two ways you can glue things and they both have their uses. Either put a dot of glue on the metal and then drop your item on top of it and press it in, or put a dot of glue on the back of your flower...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdI2Dsu0OTikZacpblGOQ9mW6ifA5ZOUpSBt-INGbOxGYFphKGKL5rdTZQ4k69ySf0R03pJW_-DHHIQ8DHZZ9hz0ImOPieYgSXcFKWxs-ukpfemGBzlwUkvMhP-Ea7cz41TjVS-qWLN_c/s1600/DIY6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdI2Dsu0OTikZacpblGOQ9mW6ifA5ZOUpSBt-INGbOxGYFphKGKL5rdTZQ4k69ySf0R03pJW_-DHHIQ8DHZZ9hz0ImOPieYgSXcFKWxs-ukpfemGBzlwUkvMhP-Ea7cz41TjVS-qWLN_c/s400/DIY6.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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...and then press it to the pendant's surface. Use whatever method you feel most comfortable with!</div>
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There you have it! Let it dry - E6000 glue dries quickly and will be permanently fastened in about 15 minutes, although I usually let it sit for half an hour or so.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1JP54ag02KN5kvPcY43YkZp2mG5Bf_4iBQ6vOnicST7QVzPewBHpNqCgndq8d5GX6n_qVBL2wyV98hXKUcY6jd1L1WgCHWmgMvEmxiy75ALiPcPgdQoLwWr__JK2u-S2Io92571gldI/s1600/DIY7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1JP54ag02KN5kvPcY43YkZp2mG5Bf_4iBQ6vOnicST7QVzPewBHpNqCgndq8d5GX6n_qVBL2wyV98hXKUcY6jd1L1WgCHWmgMvEmxiy75ALiPcPgdQoLwWr__JK2u-S2Io92571gldI/s640/DIY7.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now isn't that beautiful? :)<br />
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While you're at it, feel free to go crazy like I did and make beautiful, vintagey, scrappy-style pendants with anything you choose. This is an AWESOME way to use up leftover little bits in your bead boxes if you happen to make jewelry. :)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQk4XGs21syo9Ydn4si6MbORXCzNdZOR2H4iCEpZ_SjG4kMlsXVXLuZXA5wLZDgPJGDHaiDYDPM07yRSI4YKTHPBoFM1el5mqGHE_4guT1R_Js6zhw2nKARhj_NMxzQZtFQpepwatMxC4/s1600/DIYCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQk4XGs21syo9Ydn4si6MbORXCzNdZOR2H4iCEpZ_SjG4kMlsXVXLuZXA5wLZDgPJGDHaiDYDPM07yRSI4YKTHPBoFM1el5mqGHE_4guT1R_Js6zhw2nKARhj_NMxzQZtFQpepwatMxC4/s1600/DIYCollage.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which one is your favorite? Mine is the upper right with the mauve rose... keeping that one! :)</td></tr>
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I hope you enjoyed that tutorial! Thank you so much for all the comments on my post asking what kinds of things you'd like to read on Julia's Journal! :) I can't wait to get started on all those ideas. :D<br />
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Love & Blessings,<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/222/70C231EE36929C1FE817C095E8CF46C7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-70182061574272248082015-08-10T08:00:00.000-04:002015-08-10T08:00:05.025-04:00Stop. Pause. Rewind. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Do you ever feel like you wish you could just PAUSE life and rewind it a little bit? Not just when you do something silly or embarrassing and you wish you could fix it, but when things are beautiful and time is going too fast - and you want to let it just <i>be</i> a little longer?<br />
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Maybe I'm the only one. ;)<br />
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For instance, I'm thrilled that my childhood best friend is visiting me this week on her way home from a vacation in North Carolina. Then I tried to figure out the last time I actually saw her in person, and my mind went all wibbly-wobbly. It's been at least <i>NINE YEARS. </i>*jaw drops* Wow. It doesn't feel like that long - but at the same time it's been ages. Time is weird.<br />
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Anyway, aside from hosting one night this week, I also want to get some more written on Smoky Mountain Serenade. And then plan a tea party. I don't know, something wild and crazy like that. *giggle* While Summer's still here, anyway...<br />
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Although the idea of autumn is sounding rather nice. The heat does get a little old after awhile. And I have some beautiful sweaters, boots, and scarves waiting longingly in my closet. Can you believe they're already putting holiday stuff in the stores?! It's barely August, people, not October... :) Maybe it's strange because I'm located in the south. Perhaps seasons change more swiftly up north. Do you think that's the reason, or are shops just hungry for the commerce the holiday season brings?<br />
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Okay, blog-readers, I want your input here. What kind of posts are you interested in seeing the rest of this month? Aside from the companion series I'm doing with Victoria, (Book review, DIY, and Fashion coming up)<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">would you rather read...</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">A post filled with pictures of vintage teacups I recently found at an estate sale</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">A post about the characters in my upcoming novel</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">A post about my experience of being on the Trim Healthy Mama Plan since January, OR</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">A post topic that you shall suggest in the comments section</span></li>
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Please tell me, if you're reading this. I see all sorts of interesting visitors on my live traffic feed from places all over the world, so I know SOMEBODY's out there! ;) Don't be shy, say hi! :D I don't bite. much. ;)<br />
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Love & Blessings,<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/222/70C231EE36929C1FE817C095E8CF46C7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-42219101891012070992015-08-05T09:00:00.000-04:002015-08-05T09:13:34.152-04:005 Very Useful Writing Tips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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{This is a companion post to Victoria's post <a href="https://rufflesandgrace.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/partner-post-with-julia-writing/" target="_blank">on Outlining</a>!}<br />
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So, before I begin today's post, I have to thank you. YOU, my readers, for sticking with me through all the years of Julia's Journal, since I began blogging in June of 2008. I missed celebrating my blog-iversary this year, but yesterday I had to go through and remove a bunch of images on past posts I'd used from Google due to possible copyright issues (learn from my mistake, dear ones, and just use your own pictures and photographs, or ones that are in the public domain!)...<br />
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In the process, I skimmed through years of my writing. Blogging blossomed my writing into something that felt as natural as breathing, and I loved seeing the overall bird's-eye-view of how friendships formed through this platform.<br />
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Facebook has stolen some of the shine (and definitely heaping amounts of my free time) and left behind the glory days of blogging, when we participated in ENDLESS "tags" and swapped blog awards and we actually commented back and forth with amazing frequency. But I'm not going anywhere, and maybe, if I am very consistent, I can grow my blog back to the way it once was.<br />
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This month, my darling friend Victoria and I are doing a series of matching blog posts, and this week the topic is WRITING.<br />
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So here are Five Very Useful Writing Tips, if you go in for that sort of thing. :D<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. SHOW, DON'T TELL</span></div>
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<b>"Don't tell me the moon is shining. Show me the glint of light on broken glass."</b> </div>
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<i>-Anton Chekov</i></div>
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This is so crucial! Your story will be bland and lifeless if you lay everything out for the reader like a game of hopscotch. Steps 1 through 12, there you have it. <i>Yawn! </i>Give us the details of the surroundings, the sights, smells, tastes, feelings, aura, atmosphere. Plunge us INTO that story until it's more vivid than a movie could ever hope to be. </div>
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For a great explanation of this, check out this <a href="http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/show-and-tell/" target="_blank"><i>really</i> awesome post</a> by K. M. Weiland.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. WRITE IT DOWN!</span></div>
This one is sort of two-part. Part one: if you happen to have a wondrous idea that strikes you breathless, do yourself a favor and write it down RIGHT AWAY. Do not be embarrassed if you need to dash out of the room and find some paper and a pen. If you're in the shower, keep repeating it to yourself until you can dry off and grab a pencil in your still-damp fingers. :D You may think you'll remember it until later, but 90% of the time... NOPE-A-RAMA. Brains are silly things. So take copious notes, dear. Fill up notebooks with your ideas.<br />
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Part two: You must write to get writing done. Profound, I know. Ha. (Preaching sternly to myself on this one) If you never sit your fanny IN that chair (sidenote: make your writing space organized and welcoming, it will energize your writing life) and actually WRITE, nothing happens. One page at a time adds up. Do it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. YOUR CHARACTERS MUST. BE. AWESOME.</span></div>
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I don't know how many books I've started that had stale, insipid, ordinary, boring characters in them. They lacked life, they had no detail, they had no flaws or quirks and were about as personable as a mannequin in a shop window. Yuck.<br />
Love your story and your characters enough to really dream up every detail about them. Write down their backstory - but don't use it in the book. Let it bleed through into your tale and give it untold richness. Ask yourself how you can make this character DIFFERENT from all the other people in the world. What do they love/hate/enjoy/long for? Steal quirks from people you know! (but not all at once. Pick and choose like you're shopping for produce in the grocery store.) :D<br />
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Also read <a href="http://www.shesnovel.com/write-stronger-characters/" target="_blank">this inspiring post</a>. So much goodness there.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. DO YOUR RESEARCH AND MAKE YOUR SETTING SPARKLE</span></div>
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You've heard the expression "write what you know", right? If you haven't, you just did... :D I believe this saying was invented before Google and Wikipedia, but it holds true. If you have been somewhere and soaked up the essence of a place, you'll be able to write it in a way that your readers can fully grasp the feeling of it. But the next best thing is dedicated research. </div>
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For a TON of information on that, read <a href="http://www.shesnovel.com/cut-crap-research-novel-effectively/" target="_blank">this</a>. :) Oh and<a href="http://www.shesnovel.com/the-epic-guide-to-setting-your-story/" target="_blank"> also this</a>. Basically, you need to read Kristen's blog, <a href="http://www.shesnovel.com/" target="_blank">She's Novel,</a> because it's stellar. End of story. (Haha - but there are always more stories!) </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. OUTLINE.</span> </div>
[insert fifty million exclamation points] I cannot stress how important this is. <a href="https://rufflesandgrace.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/partner-post-with-julia-writing/" target="_blank">Victoria's post</a> today is all about her experience with Outlining and how it's changed her writing for the better. I know it's certainly rocked my world and made my books so much better. DIAMOND was way easier to write (especially in the dreaded middle) than ASHBURN and my other previous novels - which shall remain hidden until I can blow off the dust and bring them back to life - and it is making Smoky Mountain Serenade a breeze. Every time I sit down to write on it, I know exactly where I am in the plot. It practically writes itself! :)<br />
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I HIGHLY RECOMMEND: <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Outlining-Your-Novel-Map-Success/dp/0978924622/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438733284&sr=8-1&keywords=Outlining+Your+Novel" target="_blank">Outlining Your Novel, by K. M. Weiland</a>. </i>SO worth the price.<br />
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But for a wonderful, comprehensive, slightly-less-about-<i>why</i> you should be outlining-take on the subject, a condensed version... read <a href="http://www.shesnovel.com/write-novel-outline-like-lady-boss/" target="_blank">Kristen's blog post here</a>, for free. :D<br />
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That's all for today! Chime in below in the comments section! :)<br />
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-87615767680155131392015-08-03T10:28:00.000-04:002015-08-03T10:28:50.504-04:00August Goals | Before Summer Ends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey lovelies!<br />
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Okay I was just reading a blog post somewhere that said "Summer's nearly over" and I was like - WHAT? Already? Does it feel like 2015 is galloping past to anybody else, or is it just me?! :)<br />
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All right, here in the middle of the Deep South, I think we're safe for at least another two months. August and September will probably still be quite warm. Autumn doesn't properly begin until October. So I can breathe a sigh of relief. :) I love Autumn, but Winter is another story. I need a sweater that says "My favorite part of Winter is when it's over". :D Side effect of growing up as a beach babe! :)<br />
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But anyway, I don't plan to let August slip away from me without getting some wonderful stuff done. Time is precious!<br />
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Here are my main goals for this month:<br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Pray first thing in the morning and last thing at night. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Achieve a powerfully effective daily routine (streamline it!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Write the first draft of Smoky Mountain Serenade (about 40,000 words to go at this point)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Blog post every Monday & Wednesday, and do a 4-part series with my friend Victoria on Writing, Books, DIY, and Fashion!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Try new trim healthy recipes and keep doing Ballet Beautiful Exercise routines</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Plan both family activities and friend get-togethers (including a tea party)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Launch my secret project (Shhh! Coming soon!) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Soak up as much sun as possible (While Summer's still here!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">TIME my facebook usage - only 15 minutes MAX at one sitting!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Finish various Graphic Design projects for church and our home businesses</span></li>
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Whew! I think if I can manage all of that, I'll be doing well. :) I'm glad I shared that now, so you all can help keep me accountable. :)<br />
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Stay tuned for a post coming soon all about writing - what's worked for me and why I do it. I'm excited to be talking about that!<br />
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What are you hoping to do before Summer ends?<br />
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-10751938175473477492015-07-28T11:00:00.000-04:002015-07-28T11:00:00.679-04:00Beautiful PeopleWell, I had hoped to have some exciting news to share with you all, but that will have to wait for a bit longer. Looks like I need to order some prototypes first! And that's all the tantalizing hints for today.<br />
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In the meantime - I've been thinking a lot this week. About many things. A side effect, perhaps, of having your mind stimulated by lovely friends coming over for dinner and conversation, and dynamic messages at church.<br />
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I have a question for you today. (No, make that two.)<br />
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Am I beautiful?<br />
Are you beautiful?<br />
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Did you know that no matter your bone structure or skin tone or weight or color of your eyes or age, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL?! Because GOD SAYS SO AND HE'S <b>NEVER</b> WRONG.<br />
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Pardon me while I interject a bubbly pop song sung by five British boys.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VpnuubCJjCU" width="560"></iframe>
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*raises hand* I have a confession. I have listened to this song and bobbed my head until my hair flips in the air - and danced with abandon. :) This is an amazing song to listen to when you're feeling blue about yourself and the enemy has been whispering in your ear.<br />
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<b>Picture this - God is the one saying these words right now:</b><br />
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<b><i>If only you saw what I could see</i></b></div>
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<b><i>You'd understand why I want you so desperately</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe</i></b></div>
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<b><i>You don't know...</i></b></div>
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<b><i>You don't know you're beautiful.</i></b></div>
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Did you know that when you say something along the lines of "I HATE the way I look!" - you are criticizing God's handiwork? You are fearfully (amazingly) and wonderfully made! Psalm 139:14!<br />
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What if you're angry at God because of your acne? "Why me, Lord? Why can't I have perfect skin like Mary Jane and Alicia and Penelope?!" The Lord looks at you and he doesn't see acne. He sees perfection that he paid the price for at Calvary. You are his priceless, one-of-a-kind designer creation that he was in love with before you were even in being. He sees the YOU that was meant to be, without spot or blemish or stain, pure and holy and beautiful. So beautiful.<br />
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Rabbit trail ahead:<br />
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My brothers and I were talking about prissiness and tomboyishness on a recent evening and Mark declared that I hadn't ever fallen into either extreme. "I mean, growing up, you weren't a tomboy, but you wouldn't scream at a lizard either" (hahaha #butactuallyi'mflattered)<br />
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My heart goes out to the young women who don't feel like they fit the stereotypical "WOMAN" mold. Perhaps they have broad shoulders or are six foot three or could never get their hair to behave. They don't know they're beautiful - a glorious creation of God.<br />
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My heart goes out to the young men who don't feel "MANLY" enough. The ones who never win the football games, who feel small or weak or unworthy. Don't they realize how much God loves them? If only they saw what HE could see.<br />
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I think this is one of the huge reasons for gender confusion in America these days.<br />
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So tell me - do you know you're beautiful? Seriously - how do you feel about yourself? I'm all ears.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/222/70C231EE36929C1FE817C095E8CF46C7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a> Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-82868328123474036872015-07-21T08:50:00.000-04:002015-07-21T08:50:28.547-04:00Wonderful Things<br />
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July has been a fun month! Aside from the heat. And the stress of designing and building a bombdiggity website from scratch. I'm really loving my jamberry nail wraps (^those up there are the ones I'm currently sporting) and I've even done a few things with my hair - gave it a trim, lightened it a tad with Sun-In, and curled or braided it a couple times. And I'm really loving the Ballet Beautiful workout DVDs. Huzzah for lean, toned muscles!<br />
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BUT OK THE MOST EXCITING THING.....<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="http://warfarebyducttape.com/" target="_blank">WarfareByDuctTape.com is DONE!</a></b></span><br />
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This website was a HUUUUGE endeavor, and Mama and I worked tirelessly on it for about a month. I did the graphics and page assembly and she did the nuts and bolts of how the shop worked and everything else that made it come alive.<br />
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We make a good team if I do say so myself. ;)<br />
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Hop on over there and tell me what your favorite page is... each one has a cool header. I think perhaps the <a href="http://www.warfarebyducttape.com/the-armor-of-god-book/" target="_blank">Armor of God</a>, the <a href="http://www.warfarebyducttape.com/the-beginner-book/" target="_blank">Beginner Book</a>, <a href="http://www.warfarebyducttape.com/julias-novels/" target="_blank">My Novels</a>, and the <a href="http://www.warfarebyducttape.com/faq/" target="_blank">FAQ page</a> are my favorites.<br />
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My dear friend <a href="https://rufflesandgrace.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Victoria</a> and I have been discussing doing a series of "Complimentary" blog posts - each week in August we're planning to each do a post that mirrors the other, and our four categories are Book Reviews, Writing Tips, Fashion, and a DIY craft, so stay tuned for that! :) <br />
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-47291680149825059142015-07-20T20:51:00.000-04:002015-07-20T22:53:31.446-04:00Flawless? | The Singleness AdventureHey Readers!<br />
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I didn't post as regularly through July as I would have liked - between the heat and the busy-ness of my life, blogging got shelved. But I have another post following on the heels of this one with more newsy updates.<br />
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First though, some thoughts on our many imperfections.<br />
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Sometimes I feel SO MESSED UP. I continually fail in my mission to be sweet and kind and meek and gentle-spirited to everyone in my circle of influence, especially those closest to me.<br />
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Sometimes I feel like a nasty, awful, horrible person.<br />
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Sometimes the bright sunlight catches on my shattered self and my flaws are glaringly apparent.<br />
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But. There is One who says to Him, I am <i><b>Flawless</b></i>. The filter which He views me through is grace. He has made me whole, completely without flaws - <b>PERFECT.</b><br />
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He's my God.<br />
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And only He could do this. Because He truly is perfect. And He paid the ultimate price for me.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wjLlLPZderk" width="560"></iframe>
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We saw this video in church on Sunday and it was heart-moving. I nearly teared up when the labels changed to read "FLAWLESS" over every single individual.<br />
Now how does this relate to singleness?<br />
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Good question. Let's see... well, marriage is a partnership between two people who ARE going to mess up at some point. There will need to be generous heaping helpings of forgiveness served. And you know what? Before you can live with, love, and <i>forgive</i> a man...<br />
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You're gonna have to live with, love, and forgive <i>yourself.</i> And the ONLY way you can do that is to ask forgiveness from God first, and then you can be released to forgive yourself. And it feels so freeing!<br />
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I'm talking about the stuff that's just between you and God that nobody else knows about. NOBODY. But he knows. <b>Everything</b>. There's no hiding it from the one who knows your innermost thoughts. Why not give it a try and ask him to forgive you from that yuck? Then you don't have to carry around that self-hatred anymore.<br />
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Your singleness journey will be so much sweeter if you stop beating yourself up and start loving yourself, learning and growing into a deeper, richer relationship with God.<br />
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And can I say I needed to hear all that just as much as you needed to read it? Wow. :)<br />
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Have you experienced the healing power of God's forgiveness?<br />
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Love & Blessings,<br />
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<!--3-->Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-3548469669047451382015-07-06T21:08:00.000-04:002015-07-06T21:08:01.641-04:00Locked-up Hearts | Letting Go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I think God's trying to draw my attention to <i><b>forgiveness</b></i> this week.<br />
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We visited a charming little church on Sunday and the pastor preached an amazing down-to-earth sermon on forgiveness. He said some things that shot straight to my heart like arrows.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">God's view of forgiveness is radically different from our own. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Past pain</b> is a tool the enemy uses against you - </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">because he wants you to <b>cling</b> to that heartache. It'll keep you from the glorious future that God has for you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The enemy wants you to believe that there's no way - </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">that you're <b>unable</b> to forgive. (But that's not so. You are.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Even Christ-followers will hurt each other. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes God will allow and even orchestrate offenses, to separate relationships he <b>never intended to happen</b> in the first place. If God's not in it, it ain't gonna happen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Forgiveness does not = Reconciliation. You can forgive someone without having to allow them back into your life to constantly abuse or mistreat you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can simply <b>forgive</b> them, and <b>move on</b>. </span></div>
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Don't get me wrong, reconciliation is a beautiful thing. But it's true - sometimes God moves us away from situations (or people) that he doesn't want happening (or being) in our lives. And sometimes that hurts. Really bad.<br />
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If you're going to have any kind of relationship, ever, you have to open yourself up to the possibility of hurt. To be vulnerable. But we will always have the love of God supporting us, there for us, when people fail us. And they will, inevitably. But that's okay.<br />
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We can't lock up our hearts, safe from any cracks or bruises.<br />
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We can't hold on to heartache and miss out on the glorious intimacy of a relationship with God... and beautiful relationships that <i>reflect</i> a picture of the love God holds for his church.<br />
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The important thing is to forgive, and to discern when to let someone go if that's what God shows you is right.<br />
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After I got home from church, made lunch, and was washing up the dishes in the warm sudsy water, listening to a christian radio station - the radio announcer randomly starts talking about forgiveness, and then plays a song all about forgiveness. <i>Haha. Okay, Lord. Message received!</i> :)<br />
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I'm curious. Have you had to forgive someone for something <i>serious</i>?<br />
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And am I the only one God talks to using the radio? ;)<br />
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-90148160577389912052015-07-02T08:19:00.006-04:002015-07-02T08:19:57.558-04:00Of Warfare, Web design, Wraps, and Wistful WordsGood Morning!<br />
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Hey look, it's Thursday already! Wow!<br />
<br />
I've been crazy busy with the release of my <a href="http://amzn.to/1BQ3hbo" target="_blank">new novel</a> and getting my schedule all organized AND this week I'm spending every minute at our desktop computer, designing and building the all-new Warfare by Duct Tape website. (I've mentioned WBDT before, right? :D)<br />
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My brothers have an amazing business selling instructional books and ebooks showing you how to create historically-based duct tape weapons and armor such as swords, shields, helmets, spears, and all sorts of cool stuff! :)<br />
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Trust me, soon as the new site is done I'll be splashing links to it everywhere. :D<br />
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Once I accomplish that goal, I have a new project in the works....<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>A story that's wistful and dreamy. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>A tale of woods and mountains, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>fireflies and campfires, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>streams and cascading waterfalls, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>the wind blowing through the pines and the chestnut trees, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>of love songs and traveling and the open road, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>of family and hearth and home, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>of longing and hopes, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>of friendship and adventure. </i></span></div>
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This, my friends, is <i>Smoky Mountain Serenade</i>. And I literally cannot wait to get started on writing it over the summer.<br />
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But for now, I'm having a party to celebrate DIAMOND! On Facebook! If you like clean, funny, thrilling spy stories with a hint of romance - this book is for you. And if you happen to have great fashion sense and are interested in nail gorgeousness without the harmful toxins, you'll love Jamberry nail wraps. Check out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/825594037532737/" target="_blank">the group on Facebook here</a> and I <i>believe</i> you should be able to request an invite. The party will run until July 8th, so come on and join us! :)<br />
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Time to run! So much to do today... determined to keep my peace throughout it though! :D<br />
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-69343534643878856112015-06-25T10:09:00.002-04:002015-06-25T10:09:47.079-04:00DIAMOND is Published!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxzGKwp1y2Vr5SoZ8bOAuR-mjFJeYR-xVOwwYdDbu2xMZU-OTqF0a77Qzsq-SNNrQuYJLTkEBQyi_inSWbp8Z81JPusjnJ4seAVQjvwv0mZ8_QYu-BKXkz8gRcvAKFKvrvM4h4Pmvq8U/s1600/DIAMOND+cover+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxzGKwp1y2Vr5SoZ8bOAuR-mjFJeYR-xVOwwYdDbu2xMZU-OTqF0a77Qzsq-SNNrQuYJLTkEBQyi_inSWbp8Z81JPusjnJ4seAVQjvwv0mZ8_QYu-BKXkz8gRcvAKFKvrvM4h4Pmvq8U/s640/DIAMOND+cover+front.jpg" width="412" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get it HERE: <a href="http://amzn.to/1e57RaG" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435241142496_2146" rel="nofollow" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #3b5998; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin: 0px; outline: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1e57RaG</a><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435238784353_2690" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-align: start;"> </span></td></tr>
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Hey readers!<br />
I am beyond excited to tell you that my second novel, DIAMOND, is ready for purchasing in the Amazon store, in both paperback and kindle versions! <span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435238784353_2690" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> </span><a href="http://amzn.to/1e57RaG" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1435238784353_2684" rel="nofollow" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #3b5998; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin: 0px; outline: auto; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1e57RaG</a><br />
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Here's the back cover description again:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Penny’s last love story ended tragically, so she hides among
her paints and brushes while keeping a bubbly façade firmly in place. Could a
dashing realtor with a sidesplitting sense of humor be the first step of her
fresh start?</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Blake has always lived in the shadow of his older brother,
using jokes to mask his insecurities and uncertainty. Searching for purpose and
direction, he runs into a red-headed stop sign, and wonders if she might be the
key to open his locked doors. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>When calamity hits Cara, Penny’s best friend, and Bryce,
Blake’s brother, they’ll have to lean on each other and race to the rescue, and
a bitter billionaire planning a major terrorist attack on America might turn
out to be the smallest of their problems. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Let me know via the comments section if you're interested in getting a signed copy directly from me!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/222/70C231EE36929C1FE817C095E8CF46C7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>
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<br />Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-1176136519602755362015-06-23T20:56:00.000-04:002015-06-23T20:56:21.502-04:00Five Problems with Social Media - Post PromptHey Guys!<br />
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Life's been good the past week, though I didn't manage to blog regularly. I promise I'm not going to leave you hanging again without advance notice - it's been so humbling to hear from those of you who have been following me for years and were sad when I stopped blogging for a really long time. :)<br />
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I found a little thing on Pinterest - a writing challenge with prompts for 30 days of topics. It looks interesting, so I think I'll give it a go along with my Singleness posts as they arise. :D<br />
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Day 1: Five Problems with Social Media.<br />
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*steps up on soapbox*<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>#1 - Artificial Relationships</b></span><br />
Social media can become a replacement for real-life encounters and experiences. Sometimes the friendships you have online are false, built on vanity and not really made of stronger stuff. Flimsy, even.<br />
(However, I don't feel that way about my blog followers or facebook friends! :) But I only have about 150 facebook friends, some people have thousands! Can you imagine trying to keep track of all of that?!)<br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">#2 - TIME-SUCKERS</b><br />
Scrolling through Pinterest feed. Need I say more? I could waste hours on there having so much fun... and I have. And Pinterest certainly has its purpose, but it and Facebook are huge black holes where my time disappears. I don't want that to happen anymore - I think I'm going to set a healthier goal of more like 15-20 minutes a day on those sites and see how much more I get accomplished in real life!<br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">#3 - Competition Arises</b><br />
My baby is cuter than yours! Here, see? These 1,000,000 pictures will convince you. My vacation was better than yours. I take the best selfies. I have better friends than you, look how awesome my life is!!!!!! - Not everyone on social media is like this, but the trap is there to fall into! We present the best side of ourselves, and sometimes feel pressured to compete with friends.<br />
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The solution? I dunno. Only post 1,000 baby pictures? Especially if the baby really IS cute. :D Maybe encourage more honesty and sharing? Reach out instead of put on a show like everything's perfect?<br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">#4 - Breeding Grounds for Arguments</b><br />
Something bad about social media is that people feel more free to argue and 'debate' and rant and criticize MUCH more boldly, rudely, and outspoken-ly than they would if there was a real person standing right in front of them. We have to remember that these are real people, not just names and duck faces. ;) I haven't noticed this among my friends, but out there in article-land people tend to get vicious and vile really fast.<br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">#5 - Misunderstandings. "Say WHAT?" </b><br />
Tone is so hard to convey with just black words on a white screen. It's far too easy for people to get mixed up or offended. Most of human communication (I think I read somewhere that it's about 90%!) is <i>non-verbal. </i>That means we're only talking with roughly 10% of our abilities on social media, and it's often things get taken the wrong way.<br />
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So there you have it! However, I am an optimist, and therefore I believe the benefits of social media outweigh the bad. How else could I keep in touch with friends in other states or countries? Where would I find all those amazing DIY projects, inspiring quotes, and wonderful info for my novels?<br />
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Speaking of novels, I have one coming out soon. And there's going to be a facebook party to celebrate! Stay tuned!<br />
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-44769384131920411612015-06-17T06:00:00.000-04:002015-08-04T12:15:29.007-04:00Becoming a Woman of Worth | The Singleness AdventureHuge thanks to a certain reader named Ashley Rose who left me a super-sized comment on the <a href="http://jewelsbyjulia-lauren.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-singleness-adventure-introduction" target="_blank">introduction</a> to this series, because she totally sparked the idea for this post in my little head! :)<br />
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Have you stopped to think, in between adding more things to your "Future Husband's Must-Have Qualities" list... that perhaps there is work to do on YOU? That it isn't all on the guy's shoulders to make himself ready for your marriage, preparing and improving himself?<br />
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*Nods* I'm sure you have. I have too. But all the grand intentions of the world come to naught if they're not followed up by actions.<br />
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For example, <b>let's talk about becoming a woman of worth.</b><br />
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(absolutely no mention of that woman in that certain 31st chapter of a certain book in the holy scriptures will be contained herein this blog post. Ya'll have read that over and over again. We know, already. ;) I'll try to keep this fresh!)<br />
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When I think of a woman of worth, the person who instantly springs to my mind is my mom. She has incredibly desirable qualities and it's no small wonder my dad was instantly drawn to her like a moth to a candle flame. For one thing, when they met she was a slim beauty with a mass of golden hair and a dazzling smile.<br />
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But the real catch was her character. This lady is a go-to gal. She will GET THINGS DONE. Her attention to detail, organizational skills, born teaching talent, and selfless servant's heart are huge benefits in a helpmeet. She's also an inventive entrepreneur! Time and time again she has made our household flourish because of these many gifts.<br />
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If I can be half the awesome wife my mom has been over the years, I'll be doing well! No pressure, right?! ;)<br />
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Me, on the other hand - I still have work to do, although in all fairness I've been attempting my whole life to learn and do things that will benefit my present and future family. Just the other day my dad was enthusiastically saying "Mmmm!" over a meal I'd cooked (Lemon-Rosemary slow-roasted crockpot chicken) and told me the fellow I marry will be a blessed one. May those words be true!<br />
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I'm glad to be able to know how to plan a menu, cook delicious and healthy meals, clean + organize a house (We've got Dutch ancestry, so cleanliness is highly valued) and I can tackle any load of laundry with confidence that I won't cause something to bleed or shrink. All of these skills are things my own mom learned after she was in college. (Therefore, I have hope) ;)<br />
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But is there more? Oh yes! I am grateful for many talents that I've pursued with equal energy. Graphic design, photography, writing, jewelry-making (for profit) and several other hobbies have all had the nice side effect of giving me skills I can use in the future.<br />
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But no, I haven't really thrown myself full-steam into learning as much as I can while I'm still free and single. <b>But I am now. </b><br />
<b><br />These are some things I'm working towards.</b><br />
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<ul>
<li><b>Treat my body like a temple (Stay hydrated, active, eating well, and getting better sleep)</b></li>
<li><b>Draw closer to my Lord (earnestly seeking wisdom through daily morning quiet time)</b></li>
<li><b>Be a Christlike, uncomplaining servant at every possible opportunity</b></li>
<li><b>Earn more money to save for my future (and save more than I spend!)...</b></li>
<li><b>Start a wedding fund for someday</b></li>
<li><b>Make my writing career flourish, publish more novels</b></li>
<li><b>Blog regularly again (check!) </b></li>
<li><b>Get into more graphic design projects</b></li>
<li><b>Run a successful Etsy shop for my jewelry (coming soon!) </b></li>
<li><b>Take self-defense classes and get a concealed carry permit</b></li>
<li><b>Take regular voice lessons from my mom (instead of sporadic coaching)</b></li>
<li><b>Take photoshop lessons from my brother (Using photoshop is a valuable life skill!) </b></li>
<li><b>Dance again</b></li>
<li><b>Crochet things to donate to worthy causes</b></li>
<li><b>Branch out, be social, make new friends</b></li>
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Be doing. Be learning! Don't be like me and excel in procrastination until you're of the age of 24! :D<br />
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I do have a small word of encouragement in the opposite direction. (Balance is everything!) NOBODY IS WONDER-WOMAN. (Except my mom. But she's the only exception.) You will not be able to learn 100% of all the great wifely skills out there by the time you get married. Unless you put it off to, oh, about age 75! But do this - give it your best shot!<br />
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Pray about what the Lord would have you learn to best assist YOUR future husband in your delightful future together. Not every man is going to need a woman who knows how to fix the plumbing, but maybe yours will find that a <i>very</i> beneficial skill for some reason we don't know now. (I do advise learning how to cook, though. I have two grown brothers and one father and they all very much enjoy their meals).<br />
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Get out there. DO things. Meet people. Forge new friendships. Share with the body of Christ, and be edified likewise by their heart-stories.<br />
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But all that great work of polishing up your resume and everything on the outside PALES in comparison to the job of refining your character.<br />
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To anyone who has read or seen Pride & Prejudice (the <i>real</i> version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle) that ^ is a powerful kick in the gut. We do not want to be a Lydia, laughing and snorting and cavorting with any red-coated Officer that casts her half a glance. We want to be the witty, principled, courageous Lizzie Bennet, who captivated Mr. Darcy, a man of estimable judgment and high character.<br />
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I don't know about you, but I want to be a prize worth winning!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfHaqaqau7DLIWfFsTtvAUKCj5Spp0DerU9wsohiurJMEKS6vcld7M4nmExlTZCJXv-2FuJrnMRpXLOv-Sme4pL_EneDMKvD9DwVFAClkP9CVsfoDch0bmBVTBgcmhZRcGo6xliZ-EnM/s1600/b4ce4a646b462bdd36bb045f35a0fedf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfHaqaqau7DLIWfFsTtvAUKCj5Spp0DerU9wsohiurJMEKS6vcld7M4nmExlTZCJXv-2FuJrnMRpXLOv-Sme4pL_EneDMKvD9DwVFAClkP9CVsfoDch0bmBVTBgcmhZRcGo6xliZ-EnM/s640/b4ce4a646b462bdd36bb045f35a0fedf.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfHaqaqau7DLIWfFsTtvAUKCj5Spp0DerU9wsohiurJMEKS6vcld7M4nmExlTZCJXv-2FuJrnMRpXLOv-Sme4pL_EneDMKvD9DwVFAClkP9CVsfoDch0bmBVTBgcmhZRcGo6xliZ-EnM/s1600/b4ce4a646b462bdd36bb045f35a0fedf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfHaqaqau7DLIWfFsTtvAUKCj5Spp0DerU9wsohiurJMEKS6vcld7M4nmExlTZCJXv-2FuJrnMRpXLOv-Sme4pL_EneDMKvD9DwVFAClkP9CVsfoDch0bmBVTBgcmhZRcGo6xliZ-EnM/s1600/b4ce4a646b462bdd36bb045f35a0fedf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfHaqaqau7DLIWfFsTtvAUKCj5Spp0DerU9wsohiurJMEKS6vcld7M4nmExlTZCJXv-2FuJrnMRpXLOv-Sme4pL_EneDMKvD9DwVFAClkP9CVsfoDch0bmBVTBgcmhZRcGo6xliZ-EnM/s1600/b4ce4a646b462bdd36bb045f35a0fedf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfHaqaqau7DLIWfFsTtvAUKCj5Spp0DerU9wsohiurJMEKS6vcld7M4nmExlTZCJXv-2FuJrnMRpXLOv-Sme4pL_EneDMKvD9DwVFAClkP9CVsfoDch0bmBVTBgcmhZRcGo6xliZ-EnM/s1600/b4ce4a646b462bdd36bb045f35a0fedf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfHaqaqau7DLIWfFsTtvAUKCj5Spp0DerU9wsohiurJMEKS6vcld7M4nmExlTZCJXv-2FuJrnMRpXLOv-Sme4pL_EneDMKvD9DwVFAClkP9CVsfoDch0bmBVTBgcmhZRcGo6xliZ-EnM/s1600/b4ce4a646b462bdd36bb045f35a0fedf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfHaqaqau7DLIWfFsTtvAUKCj5Spp0DerU9wsohiurJMEKS6vcld7M4nmExlTZCJXv-2FuJrnMRpXLOv-Sme4pL_EneDMKvD9DwVFAClkP9CVsfoDch0bmBVTBgcmhZRcGo6xliZ-EnM/s1600/b4ce4a646b462bdd36bb045f35a0fedf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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Saw this on Pinterest and <i>had</i> to share it. <b>It's so true. Great guys are looking for girls who have hearts of gold and are doing wonderful things. </b></div>
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Also, girlies, I have a Pinterest Board dedicated to the topic of "Becoming" - everything inspiring in any way that molds me into a better version of myself. I thought some of you would enjoy perusing it! <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/jewelmaiden/becoming/" target="_blank">Find it here</a>. :D</div>
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I hope this post encouraged and challenged you today. I tried not to "slap you upside the head" with the thoughts I was attempting to share. But I know for sure I needed a little fire lit under me, so here I come with my matchbox to help my fellow fair maidens! :D</div>
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Now - get thee to the comment box and fire away! Is there a particular point of The Singleness Adventure you are curious about/struggle with/want my perspective on? What are some new goals you'll be working on?</div>
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-2315468914338172942015-06-16T12:09:00.000-04:002015-06-16T12:09:12.549-04:00Cover Reveal - DIAMOND!Hi lovelies!<br />
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Here it is, the cover for my upcoming novel, DIAMOND, book 2 in the I.C.E. Agency series!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieh4CVpdVjtQJFecd2nlroZvT_pdp7sixVftBMPaVOvbZubBJwYnWDVX6HrBpDnp78h9XlhUZ_QiSfNiSkmDIbNTruupxXX4s0jk8fSyAcWzsQuy8rxYaOCzP2vEr1Y1SqYRRY22q_qFc/s1600/DIAMOND+cover+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="465" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieh4CVpdVjtQJFecd2nlroZvT_pdp7sixVftBMPaVOvbZubBJwYnWDVX6HrBpDnp78h9XlhUZ_QiSfNiSkmDIbNTruupxXX4s0jk8fSyAcWzsQuy8rxYaOCzP2vEr1Y1SqYRRY22q_qFc/s640/DIAMOND+cover+resized.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The proof copy CAME and unfortunately the spine image got squashed by Amazon because the image I'd uploaded was too wide, so I'll have to alter that. But the rest of it is *singing voice* FAAA-Bu-Lous!<br />
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Thankfully the edits are all done - I tweaked a few things here, changed one character's name, added an extra scene, and generally made sure there were no missing punctuation marks. I am a typo bounty hunter, and I believe I've caught every single one of the little beasts!<br />
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So tonight I'm going to be uploading the revised document to Createspace and ordering another proof copy. As soon as that arrives and I give the final thumbs-up, the paperback AND Kindle versions of DIAMOND will be ready to purchase!<br />
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*SQUEE*<br />
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So tell me, what do you think? Do you like my cover design? How does it compare with its older sister, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ashburn-I-C-E-Agency-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00YM3VP3C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434470889&sr=8-1&keywords=Julia+Erickson%2C+ASHBURN" target="_blank">my first book</a>? :)<br />
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-38124022972261425802015-06-15T06:00:00.000-04:002015-08-04T12:17:21.329-04:00In The Day-To-Day Moments | The Singleness Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We've ALL had them. Days where you wake up on the wrong side of the bed - late, because of course your phone didn't get plugged in and your alarm didn't go off. Or you awake feeling excessively groggy because you were up late reading a mystery because <i>of course </i>you had to find out whodunit before you could possibly get a wink of sleep. There was no other option.<br />
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I feel ya.<br />
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Or perhaps you've had this situation - <b>When Good Days Go Bad</b>. *insert scary music* "du-duh-duuuuuuuuh" SOMETHING happens to throw this day completely off the track. You were having a perfectly fine time, going about your daily routine, when Something Horrible and Terrible and really, really bad occurs.<br />
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Like a papercut. (<b>OH the pain)</b>.<br />
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So all you want to do is put on this shirt and hide in a quiet, dark place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwGeLnxG9HOvXV6xLaamSHW2BZ9EZHZHvAt2ieCB-rJL82KYdScso-HGxuD7z3C6c06cxPvrq1Kc-dcAPPm0z6yYN0pmEJYZ3vRWtCBulMVZyG_ePnWjKWJQAkxURzy9r2g9Bqb1NA3g/s1600/356e2d24ad1c353ab4caab655041d0a2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwGeLnxG9HOvXV6xLaamSHW2BZ9EZHZHvAt2ieCB-rJL82KYdScso-HGxuD7z3C6c06cxPvrq1Kc-dcAPPm0z6yYN0pmEJYZ3vRWtCBulMVZyG_ePnWjKWJQAkxURzy9r2g9Bqb1NA3g/s400/356e2d24ad1c353ab4caab655041d0a2.jpg" width="373" /></a></div>
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Because, after all, you are UNDERappreciated and OVERworked and NOTHING is going right! Nobody understands you and you are taken COMPLETELY for granted!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">"The cruel irony of housework - people only notice when you don't do it!" </span></div>
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Life is just plain nuts now and then. And when you're right in the middle of it and snapping at your family left and right it's extremely difficult to rise above it all. But there is another way. There is hope. You have not one, but two choices.<br />
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<b>Choice #1: Freak out, and make everything even worse</b><br />
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<b>Choice #2: Choose JOY.</b><br />
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Joy? When we are <i>completely out of ketchup</i> because <i>certain people </i>use<i> too much </i>of it?! When I'm tired and cranky and hungry and grouchy and ugly and sick and worried and stressed and and and........ *stops for breath*<br />
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Yes. Because you can. We really don't have an excuse, girlfriend. We are called to be living examples of Christ in the flesh, and trust me, Jesus dealt with the same exact things we did. Frustration. Annoyance. Insults. Hurt. Stress.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tezG4LRNzw" target="_blank">This song</a> by Mandisa is really encouraging when you're having a day-gone-wrong.<br />
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If you're too busy (or your papercut-shredded finger is too sore) to click and watch the video, this is the chorus:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I'll learn to love these days</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Laugh along the way</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the middle of the crazy</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">God, your love is so amazing</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Through the ups and downs</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You're the only hope I've found</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lord, you meet me in the madness</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I'll learn to love these days</span></div>
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<i> ~These Days by Mandisa</i></div>
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Send up a prayer to the one who <i>does</i> understand you, who knows exactly what you're going through. (be it a papercut, or something more serious.) The innermost parts of your heart are seen and known by God above.<br />
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He will lift you up and give you the strength to carry on. :)<br />
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Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a day before me to enjoy. :D<br />
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-52535518604520765402015-06-12T07:00:00.000-04:002015-06-12T07:00:09.821-04:00A Summer Party {and where to get Tissue Paper Flowers on the cheap!}So if you're interested in having your own summer party, you might like to see how I did my Spring birthday party.<br />
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I had a color palette I worked from, with a few slight modifications. :D<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHu3yOZObdBNRPkCEyggEenwVTJ25iopf99dNYh5DG5eoh2H-pQmmK1Vu8PGM3uawLJh0mRR9CgLOd-MjtqCWgATSdzxAkexdMVJG8286jl1wIJRL37Mq-usetyDAx_UJISesvjA5C_fg/s1600/a9491d893220deaa40b8ea2003e53a9e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHu3yOZObdBNRPkCEyggEenwVTJ25iopf99dNYh5DG5eoh2H-pQmmK1Vu8PGM3uawLJh0mRR9CgLOd-MjtqCWgATSdzxAkexdMVJG8286jl1wIJRL37Mq-usetyDAx_UJISesvjA5C_fg/s640/a9491d893220deaa40b8ea2003e53a9e.jpg" width="393" /></a></div>
I added a little lemony yellow and hot pink to the soft peaches and creams and light pink.<br />
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Here's my list of party supplies:<br />
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Hanging Tissue Paper Flowers and Lanterns</div>
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Mason Jars for drinking glasses and lights</div>
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(already had those on hand!) </div>
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With lids and pink-and-white striped straws.</div>
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And I found those at <a href="http://justartifacts.com/">JustArtifacts.com</a>! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQecQd0Z_Sg0iDNdm3BOZE2HZSqpWlzw633TFSL6BtWYAXvnV39blkAYxD9ZuLKlMoieuWjESv7yecFwj8mmdgV1WHtd1OXS5CSK4wWJ0EbjstWEaIumGSszxrDfX3BWnkUNBsNf5KR4Y/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQecQd0Z_Sg0iDNdm3BOZE2HZSqpWlzw633TFSL6BtWYAXvnV39blkAYxD9ZuLKlMoieuWjESv7yecFwj8mmdgV1WHtd1OXS5CSK4wWJ0EbjstWEaIumGSszxrDfX3BWnkUNBsNf5KR4Y/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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If I were a proper blogger I'd be getting some kind of compensation for telling you about this website, but nope, I am just sharing a great resource with you because I'm nice like that. :D </div>
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So here's what it looked like!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQtuCrIvU9PP4JQuxZDNAhzQAluS9zkpxgNpodXgrC6Pn_f9mochyphenhyphengkViivGfhUMKRqbXuorvyilqb8uNMaqvyoMKNKB6Oi0zQVZIsrJQBx_jgEPgqF1fePW6-57wMljPb-0EYI_ti58/s1600/P1014740aa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQtuCrIvU9PP4JQuxZDNAhzQAluS9zkpxgNpodXgrC6Pn_f9mochyphenhyphengkViivGfhUMKRqbXuorvyilqb8uNMaqvyoMKNKB6Oi0zQVZIsrJQBx_jgEPgqF1fePW6-57wMljPb-0EYI_ti58/s640/P1014740aa.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We decorated our carport with the tissue paper flowers and lanterns and set up tables all around for the guests to sit at and enjoy the party food. Later we cleared them out of the way for the games. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN70s_a07rBK2i_-Icje4R-NRGqCLPCd7mO4M0B_d_8zR8WQA7lnK-RsVZ1esmYwBMpyOt63ll4RreAzI08wLPn1spvng4HMJ4KO6VjsmSnQKPHLFvC4HlaEQE1DfLK-MX1Fd3p1C9_1k/s1600/P1014741aa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN70s_a07rBK2i_-Icje4R-NRGqCLPCd7mO4M0B_d_8zR8WQA7lnK-RsVZ1esmYwBMpyOt63ll4RreAzI08wLPn1spvng4HMJ4KO6VjsmSnQKPHLFvC4HlaEQE1DfLK-MX1Fd3p1C9_1k/s640/P1014741aa.JPG" width="464" /></a></div>
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The Lemonade Stand! :) My dad helped me make this a cute photo booth! We used scrap wood we already had, a plastic folding table, a plastic tablecloth and chalk from the dollar store. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5oRugQ-HXVSixjNE4PukjJ7dWpct18fi5-OcD9XqhhK4si6uMDE8ISqzQIi3NlTA_NZZ-auRrIPWNcnbeMkER9RsaGC0BtbHX2KO5A-4Qo5jullloeQJc9uDg8WlE2J70r5TD8c859Q/s1600/P1014743aa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5oRugQ-HXVSixjNE4PukjJ7dWpct18fi5-OcD9XqhhK4si6uMDE8ISqzQIi3NlTA_NZZ-auRrIPWNcnbeMkER9RsaGC0BtbHX2KO5A-4Qo5jullloeQJc9uDg8WlE2J70r5TD8c859Q/s640/P1014743aa.JPG" width="596" /></a></div>
Here's one of the flower bouquets on the tables. I got the silk peonies and roses from Hobby Lobby.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1USVvAb_lHMl-_8xPhDC7YUNHzHSUbSBeCeaQcZGhcsD2viIgxbwSInDn8CBGpF43fhInz9Lz3l4G6Ck4zNltCy2L9dHxtNhyphenhyphenlnh3xvcrJ59r-JD7vPWeMmbd9ZUPE5fIUCd97iVdenU/s1600/P1014746aa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1USVvAb_lHMl-_8xPhDC7YUNHzHSUbSBeCeaQcZGhcsD2viIgxbwSInDn8CBGpF43fhInz9Lz3l4G6Ck4zNltCy2L9dHxtNhyphenhyphenlnh3xvcrJ59r-JD7vPWeMmbd9ZUPE5fIUCd97iVdenU/s1600/P1014746aa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1USVvAb_lHMl-_8xPhDC7YUNHzHSUbSBeCeaQcZGhcsD2viIgxbwSInDn8CBGpF43fhInz9Lz3l4G6Ck4zNltCy2L9dHxtNhyphenhyphenlnh3xvcrJ59r-JD7vPWeMmbd9ZUPE5fIUCd97iVdenU/s1600/P1014746aa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1USVvAb_lHMl-_8xPhDC7YUNHzHSUbSBeCeaQcZGhcsD2viIgxbwSInDn8CBGpF43fhInz9Lz3l4G6Ck4zNltCy2L9dHxtNhyphenhyphenlnh3xvcrJ59r-JD7vPWeMmbd9ZUPE5fIUCd97iVdenU/s640/P1014746aa.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
The set-up...<br />
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Already having fun serving ourselves some yummy punch and strawberry lemonade!</div>
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Here's what the glasses looked like - super adorable.<br />
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Since I have a bajillion beads on hand, I made a little game with some that matched the party colors.<br />
Any idea as to how many there are? Oh all right - there were 224 beads! The closest guess was 235 and the guesser won a prize of a big box of starburst candy. :D<br />
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The photo booth was really cute. The backdrop is a vintage sheet I found for $5 at a little shop in town, and the photo props I found on sale at Hobby Lobby and customized myself. :)</div>
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There's <a href="http://rufflesandgrace.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Victoria</a>!! She was invaluable as my set-up assistant, could NOT have done it without her! :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjIIpJDulT-cmkF6ednw0QmnGkNIPYpwAV98AQknG_DsS9PRb-D_4zpRoKpP3KbZvfNgset0TzhxgFXs35PD5aTD8DEVqXDBUVIx0oKhGTVYsORe-lZFbix5P5njA7jC1qY1sLZmc2aw/s1600/P1014757aa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjIIpJDulT-cmkF6ednw0QmnGkNIPYpwAV98AQknG_DsS9PRb-D_4zpRoKpP3KbZvfNgset0TzhxgFXs35PD5aTD8DEVqXDBUVIx0oKhGTVYsORe-lZFbix5P5njA7jC1qY1sLZmc2aw/s640/P1014757aa.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
My cake! The candles are from walmart (as is the dotted tissue paper beneath the cake stand) and the cake I bought from the deli in town - it's strawberry, my favorite! And it was so delicious. Totally worth blowing my THM plan for, just this once. :D<br />
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The strawberry lemonade and the fizzy peach-lime-kiwi punch were a big hit! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6K0z9SZOqmBtcuA6suGplHy4SUhK9UlaUst5k_KhDrUWbbPb7E8y1WraxJnxSBRl6i3pEAkRLf8Z7uQhb-j2t9b_nQ50ap-WS4NVZOXuqggwZ4eM8L2zgD9Cp-VpGEw45z6OIkMqcrw/s1600/P1014764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6K0z9SZOqmBtcuA6suGplHy4SUhK9UlaUst5k_KhDrUWbbPb7E8y1WraxJnxSBRl6i3pEAkRLf8Z7uQhb-j2t9b_nQ50ap-WS4NVZOXuqggwZ4eM8L2zgD9Cp-VpGEw45z6OIkMqcrw/s640/P1014764.JPG" width="542" /></a></div>
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Mama and Mark helped light all my two-dozen candles and then I blew them out in one breath. :D<br />
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Besides the cake, we also served:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Mini Quiches</li>
<li>Lunch Meat & Cheese platter, and bread & sandwich condiments</li>
<li>Pasta Salad with cherry tomatoes</li>
</ul>
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It was all very tasty! :) I was having so much fun that I didn't take as many pictures as I should have, but the memories will last forever all the same. :)</div>
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Hope you enjoyed that little glimpse! Do you have any plans for parties coming up this year?<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/222/70C231EE36929C1FE817C095E8CF46C7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-87479404751521586952015-06-10T06:00:00.000-04:002015-06-10T06:00:04.984-04:00But - What If I NEVER Get MARRIED?!? | The Singleness Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nub-s9k0WeM6enXd2oIdZfOG4kcNK8mF6yfHwKekYOXCrFjDsIZ72-2rx5adzmsKJ24Ck-fkBrozdvUmsaMhasP7RPx9b8Cc8N2cwppqI5AQzwC9niRIU3jWrRroFmkfzpEoL-PxGDs/s1600/Hello+Gorgeous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nub-s9k0WeM6enXd2oIdZfOG4kcNK8mF6yfHwKekYOXCrFjDsIZ72-2rx5adzmsKJ24Ck-fkBrozdvUmsaMhasP7RPx9b8Cc8N2cwppqI5AQzwC9niRIU3jWrRroFmkfzpEoL-PxGDs/s400/Hello+Gorgeous.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Deep breaths, girlfriend, deep breaths.<br />
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I understand the feeling of raw panic and despair that may tear at your innards when you have that thought, of not getting married - the dread that you may be left to wither, a wallflower whose bloom has faded. But you know what? That's not gonna happen. You will only shrivel up, a crisp dry dead thing, if you become a bitter old maid.<br />
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Repeat after me. "I WILL NOT BECOME A BITTER OLD MAID."<br />
There. Problem solved. :)<br />
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You know what you can be instead? Right now? A vibrant, beautiful princess, serving her people. Or a dynamic, determined secret agent, delivering the information of the gospel. Or anything! Pretend this is one of those role-playing games and create your own character! :) <b>You can be anyone you want to be</b>.<br />
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Honestly, the thought of not getting married used to terrify me. Right up until last month. Until God got ahold of me and I had a heart-change. I let go. He took that fear away and whispered "<i>Daughter - I am enough.</i>"<br />
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<b>And he is</b>.<br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Matthew 28:20 - "I am with you always, even unto the end of the age." </b></div>
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<b>James 4:8 - "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you." </b></div>
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<b>Isaiah 26:3-4 "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord, is everlasting strength." </b></div>
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It took me a long, hard walk to get to this point. I went through difficult times and learned painful lessons. It wasn't easy. Kind of like my hike up Yonah Mountain. But now... the view is incredible. :D<br />
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I realize how tough it is to be honest about this point. Of not being afraid to let God have complete control in how things play out. Of not getting married when YOU think you should get married. And I always knew I <i>should</i> be okay with the thought of staying single if that was what God had for me.<br />
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But I wasn't. OH no. I am an extreme case. :D I have wanted to get married and have a family since I was fifteen. I remember lying on my bed, sobbing my heart out, because I <i>wasn't married yet</i> and it would probably be <i>five long years</i> until I turned 20 and could <i>FINALLY</i> get married.<br />
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Imagine what my reaction would have been if I could have looked into a portal and seen that I would still be single at 24!!<br />
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Can you guess why I wanted to be married so bad? Because then I'd have a <i>husband.</i> Husbands were perfect, magical beings who brought home money and showered you with hugs and kisses and gave you sweet babies and met your every need and never failed you once. (any married ladies out there, laughing yet?)<br />
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Husbands are hard work! They leave piles of laundry to take care of! They eat all the time and want dinner <i>every single night!</i> ;) Yes, they can be awesome, but they all have flaws, and are NOT perfect!<br />
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<b>A husband is not Jesus. A husband will NOT be able to meet your every need. ONLY GOD CAN. And he needs to be your everything <i>now</i> before you are married, or you will be disappointed and depressed instead of living your happily ever after.</b><br />
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Almost two years ago now, I almost got married to the wrong man. I shudder to look back at that brief experience, but it's always accompanied by a prayer of thankfulness to the God who brought me through with as little pain as possible and taught me a valuable lesson through it.<br />
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Marrying the wrong man and being miserable would have been ten thousand times worse than staying single and living a happy, busy, productive, creative life!<br />
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Marriage is meant to be a comfort while we walk this earth. But it actually isn't for forever. (I never liked this thought either.) Men and women are created to help each other in an equal partnership of matrimony through the difficulties of this life.<br />
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I was reading this verse this morning:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Matthew 22: 30</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"For in the resurrection, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as angels of God in heaven."</b></span></div>
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In heaven, marriage doesn't matter anymore, because we are all <i>with God</i>. Can you imagine looking right at God? <i>Being in heaven</i>? I can't wrap my mind around it. But it will be so.<br />
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We desire marriage so much because we were created to do it. Get married. Be helpmeets. Bear children. But you know what? I serve a God who does miracles. Anything is possible with Him.<br />
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We are created to eat, too, right? (Honey, I <i>know</i> I am.) God has miraculously sustained people who are fasting and praying, time and time again. In the same manner, he will supply your need for love and companionship. In Himself, firstly. And if you stoop dabbing your tearful eyes with tissues and look around - in many other people who love you as well. Your family. Loved ones. Friends, even!<br />
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But what if you're thinking "I STILL WANT TO GET MARRIED!"<br />
<br />
ME TOO. :)<br />
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<b>But if I never get married, <i>that's okay</i></b>. Because I have a God who is more to me than an earthly husband ever could be, and that will never, ever change, throughout eternity, when we're in his glorious presence.<br />
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Thank you for being patient and reading this gigantic post! I hope it was helpful or encouraging. And feel free to share with your other single friends. :)<br />
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And if you want a laugh, go read <a href="http://miss-dashwood.blogspot.com/2015/02/how-to-catch-man-period-drama-style.html" target="_blank">this charming post</a> by Amy Dashwood. TRY not to laugh at that girl's humorous wit! You will not succeed! ;)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">While on the topic of marriage, I would also like to take the opportunity to wish my parents a very happy anniversary! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They have now been married for 26 years!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">*applause*</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">*confetti*</span></div>
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And they're such cuties. So blessed to have them in my life. :)<br />
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Love & Hugs,<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/222/70C231EE36929C1FE817C095E8CF46C7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-37908906614158592882015-06-08T06:00:00.000-04:002015-06-10T09:57:10.921-04:00Wanna Win $100 on Amazon.com??I mean, if you don't, that's fine. But who couldn't use that kind of money for a place that sells practically anything you could wish for? :D<br />
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The details... ah yes...<br />
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Read all about it over on <a href="http://www.homeschooledauthors.com/search/label/Read%20to%20Win" target="_blank">HomeschooledAuthors.com </a> - there are a whole bunch of neat authors participating, including yours truly. :D<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkUtrF9vP8ExR9CuiBYt7_LyPZLNH1x7lAoPSnhvmEE_4oh48L5nbNAHpnmF0Ff_aTSOKNpbCUZr7r6-tgzz4EbRp-P_plIe78ruXRHwdeMXzRFRjam0AhkejhiUo5k3JXlHfyK2eXlg/s1600/Ashburn+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkUtrF9vP8ExR9CuiBYt7_LyPZLNH1x7lAoPSnhvmEE_4oh48L5nbNAHpnmF0Ff_aTSOKNpbCUZr7r6-tgzz4EbRp-P_plIe78ruXRHwdeMXzRFRjam0AhkejhiUo5k3JXlHfyK2eXlg/s400/Ashburn+.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
For<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ashburn-I-C-E-Agency-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00YM3VP3C/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1433266876&sr=1-1&keywords=Julia+Erickson%2C+Ashburn" target="_blank"> <i>ASHBURN</i></a> is on sale for only .99 cents during the second week of June! Isn't that FABULOUS? Trust me, now is the time to take advantage of that price. It'll be the best almost-dollar you've ever spent. :) And writing a review of it earns you a chance to win $100!<br />
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So hop on <a href="http://www.homeschooledauthors.com/search/label/Read%20to%20Win" target="_blank">over there</a> this minute to check out the contest and snag a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ashburn-I-C-E-Agency-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00YM3VP3C/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1433266876&sr=1-1&keywords=Julia+Erickson%2C+Ashburn" target="_blank">kindle copy</a> of my book! :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/222/70C231EE36929C1FE817C095E8CF46C7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-53947852418336916422015-06-05T07:00:00.000-04:002015-06-05T07:00:06.611-04:00Pearls are More Amazing Than You Thought<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Via <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/288511919855048372/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
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Pearls are the 'birthstone' for the month of June.<br />
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I love wearing pearls, don't you? So shimmery and sleek - classic and chic. (hey, that rhymed) ;) I think they glow like tiny moons. They're unique in the fact that they're the only "gem" that is actually a material created by an animal - a pearl oyster. All the other gems are rocks and minerals. Oh right, except for some rare corals.<br />
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I kinda have a thing for jewels. ;)<br />
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Treasures of the sea have always fascinated me. I grew up near the beach, you know. When I was a little homeschooled girl, we had a large library of books in our house, and one of them was all about treasure that had been brought up from the ocean - loot from shipwrecks. I don't know how many times I read that book, over and over again. I stared at the pictures of the emerald-encrusted gold cross, the Spanish doubloons, the ruby-studded dagger.<br />
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But anyway, where was I? Talking about pearls, that's right.<br />
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You've heard about how they're made a thousand times, right? So often that it's become a little tired-out, I would imagine.<br />
Pearls are formed when a tiny irritation enters the oyster, like a grain of sand. (Poor thing. Imagine having something like that in your eye and you can't blink to get it out!) The oyster coats it with layers upon layers of pearly 'nacre' as long as it remains inside the shell. After about five seconds on Google I found an article that details the process a bit more <a href="http://www.americanpearl.com/historyoyster.html" target="_blank">here</a>. To a jewelry-maker that works with pearls often, it's even more interesting.<br />
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This part sounds super scientific, but bear with me:<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666;">The nacre is not just a soothing substance. It is composed of microscopic crystals of calcium carbonate, aligned perfectly with one another, so that <i>light passing along the axis of one crystal is reflected and refracted by another</i> to produce a <i>rainbow of light and color</i>."</span></span></span><br />
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I'm sorry, but that's just beautiful. I'm freaking out over here. <b>Pearls are actually tiny worlds composed of millions of rainbow-reflective crystals</b>. How awesome is that?!<br />
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I was sitting on my bed, holding my Bible, thinking about pearls, after reading three verses the evening before with my family. (They're in Matthew, chapter 13, if you want to go read 'em yourself in your own preferred translation, but really, KJV, people, it's just so rich)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The kingdom of heaven is like unto <b>treasure hid in a field</b>; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof <b>goeth and selleth all that he hath</b>, and <b>buyeth that field</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto <b>a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls</b>: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Who, when he had found <b>one pearl of great price,</b> went and <b>sold all that he had, and bought it</b>. </span></div>
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Um. Wow. I can't begin to imagine giving up every single thing I own for <i>one</i> pearl, even if it was gorgeous and bigger than my head. But this guy here, he didn't hold back. Not one bit.<br />
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These verses are in <span style="color: red;">red letters</span> in my Bible, which means Jesus said the words. He was actually talking to the disciples in this scene, because after he'd come back from preaching to a huge crowd from a boat they started asking him what the heck he meant with all those parables. ;) So Jesus starts to patiently explain to them what they meant.<br />
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They he hits them up with this pearl story. I believe the field represents believers, as a whole. Jesus sacrificed everything for those who would accept the price he paid for them on the cross. The pearl of great price?<br />
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That's <i>me</i>.<br />
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My hands fly to my cheeks and I almost blush, thinking about it. <i>Jesus</i> gave his <i>life</i> for me. He thought of me as he hung there dying for <i>my sins. </i>Sins that, at that point in time, I hadn't even committed yet, because I hadn't even been born, nor had my great-great-great-grandparents.<br />
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I can't even begin to fathom it. I'm just grateful that I've accepted his beyond-generous offer.<br />
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Have you?<br />
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If your heart answers "Yes, I believe it, and I've said it - Jesus is Lord. And he died for me." then - WOOOOOOHOOO! We'll be dining together at the most glorious banquet ever, in heaven, and worshiping the one and only GOD. There's no way I'm not accepting <i>that</i> party invitation! :) In fact, I already have!<br />
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When your heart is looking forward to something so incredibly beautiful... it's easier to let the day-to-day irritations become softened and covered in grace. forgiveness. love. mercy.<br />
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Like pearls.<br />
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I'll never wear pearls again without thinking about the fact that I'm treasured by the creator of this world (and the little pearl-worlds of rainbowy crystals - still can't get over that) <b>more than anything.</b><br />
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And guess what? So are you!<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/222/70C231EE36929C1FE817C095E8CF46C7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-4249977954141424292015-06-03T07:00:00.000-04:002015-06-03T07:00:03.246-04:00{The Singleness Adventure} IntroductionIt may take him two-dozen years, but eventually, God will get your attention one way or another. :) The past few weeks have taken me completely by surprise, as the Lord has revealed some amazing things to me. I'm going to try to put it into words - I'm a writer, after all, it's what we do. (Or <i>try</i> to do!)<br />
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Picture this: I'm sitting in our living room, which is alive with the presence of some good friends of ours. We've just had a Bible study taught by my dad, and now we're taking prayer requests and praying for them. And then I get this thought - <i>I need to ask for prayer for my Future Husband.</i> Ooh. Things just got real. I'm a really outgoing, bubbly person, but in certain areas I prefer to keep things to myself. I actually got trembly as I waited for my turn to talk.<br />
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So then the moment comes, and when I speak, it's a croaky whisper.<br />
<i>Oh dear</i>. The trembling hasn't stopped, either. The good people around me could sense my emotions just under the surface. And here I'm thinking <i>Where in the world is this coming from?</i> One minute I was just fine and the next I'm all teary-eyed.<br />
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God was softening my heart.<br />
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Some of the ladies started asking me questions and it took an unexpected turn - suddenly we were talking about <i>me.</i> Not my future husband. <i>ME. </i>My <b>plans</b>. (Nebulous and vague at best) My <b>goals</b>. (Umm, what goals?) My <b>ambitions</b>. (Ha. Nonexistent.)<br />
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Something became painfully clear. Something I didn't want to look straight at and see, but when the spotlight shone on it, there was no avoiding it. <i>I have nothing that I'm working towards.</i><br />
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So the men adjourned to the porch, where they prayed over another topic that had come up, and the ladies and I stayed in the living room and formed a tight little circle and prayed... for me. And something finally cracked through my walls and set my heart aglow. Or rather, <i>someone.</i><br />
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As we prayed, and after we prayed, all these wonderful, astonishing, why-didn't-I-think-of-this-sooner ideas exploded around me. The women had some great suggestions - and I believe they were hearing from God and sharing it with me. Things were dropping straight into my mind as well. It's hard to describe exactly what it was like, but the closest thing I can compare it to is a dried-out little sponge getting sprinkled, splashed, and then doused with water until it swells full to bursting, fresh again and dripping.<br />
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Then, the opportunity opened up for me to visit <a href="http://bare-foot-hills.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">McKenzie</a> for a week! It was exactly what I needed. A chance to get away from it all for a little bit, clear my head, climb mountains, breathe the fresh woodsy air, swim in their pool, laugh - and learn. I was opened up so God could pour new inspiration and encouragement into my spirit.<br />
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Want to hear from God? Go stand on a mountain and listen. :)<br />
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Oh. And while I'm sitting at McKenzie's kitchen table, she just happens to mention this book - <i>Preparing to be a Helpmeet</i> - which I, on a whim, began to read that night. <i>HOLY COW. </i>Mind. blown.<br />
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I've heard this stuff for <i>years,</i> darlings. All my life. "You need to be a woman of God if you expect to marry a man of Godly character", yada-yada-yada-blah-blah-blah..... but this time it was like...<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"BAM!"</b> </span><br />
It wasn't so much the words, it was that they came at exactly the right moment. I was so full of zest to get started on applying everything I was learning anew, that the night I got home I grabbed a brand-new blank notebook that a sweet girlfriend had given me for my birthday and scribbled in it for upwards of two hours.<br />
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I'm on fire. I can hardly sit still. There's SO MUCH I want to do with my life now - my focus has changed entirely from what it used to be, which was along the lines of:<br />
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<i>"Sigh, I, the princess, will try my best to be content and wait here, quietly, in my tall tower,</i></div>
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<i> until my prince arrives on his white horse, </i></div>
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<i>and I can finally decorate my own castle and have beautiful royal babies"</i>.</div>
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Now, I feel like I'm a secret agent and I've been handed a mission. To reach my objective, I've got to go out and get some things done! It's extremely important that I train myself accordingly - learn all I can learn, be <i>all</i> I can be. Time is short! This season is only a brief interlude of freedom, in which I can do these things without the added burden of a husband and family to care for.<br />
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I have to use it <i><b>wisely.</b></i><br />
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Not only do I want to learn everything I should know, and do great and wonderful things and finish cool, amazing projects - I desire to cultivate a heart that is so sweet, so tender, so giving and so thankful, that it sparkles in a beautiful example of Christlikeness. Grow a character that is pure, righteous, and faithful - <b>until I am the woman my man needs. </b><br />
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Rome wasn't built in a day, folks. If I want to be all that, I'd better get a move on!<br />
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When that man comes along (white horse or not) I'm hoping he'll find a prize worth winning - a queen, who has benefited the lives of so many others within her circle of influence, highly skilled and fit for a king, to reign in splendor by his side - but is the picture of Christ, and the first to get her hands dirty and leap to someone's aid if she is needed.<br />
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I could go on, but I'll save the rest for another time - I think this is the first in a series of adventures in Singleness that need to be shared! :) Hope you enjoy following along!<br />
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Love & Hugs,<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/222/70C231EE36929C1FE817C095E8CF46C7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-46246370566072223322015-06-01T07:00:00.000-04:002015-06-01T09:04:24.420-04:00North Georgia Adventure | May 2015Intro: If you still remember that blogger called "Julia" - I'm honored! No blog posts all year, and here I am again, popping into your blog feed! Well, it's crazy how fast time flies these days. It seems like the older one gets, the faster the ride. Pictures become more valuable, because they're frozen moments you can always look back on. :)<br />
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I had a lovely winter and spring. Some of the things I did (after publishing <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ashburn-I-C-E-Agency-Julia-Erickson/dp/194200611X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432687327&sr=8-1&keywords=Julia+Erickson%2C+Ashburn" target="_blank">my novel</a>, of course) -<br />
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<li>Traveled up to Michigan for my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary party, where I reconnected with a sweet friend named Victoria G. (who blogs <a href="https://rufflesandgrace.wordpress.com/blog/" target="_blank">HERE</a>)</li>
<li>Went down to Florida to visit my other Grandma and saw the beach in November - chilly!!</li>
<li>Had fun at the Rock Ranch Staff Christmas party</li>
<li>Steadily babysat an adorable blond tot (and now he has a baby brother!)</li>
<li>Worked for the month of January at the deli in town (such fun!)</li>
<li>Started Trim Healthy Mama (more on that later!!)</li>
<li>Professionally photographed and staged our log home for sale and listed it online (Pray about it for me? Still waiting on a buyer)</li>
<li>Celebrated my 24th birthday in style with a spring-themed party :) Victoria came to visit me!! We had a blast. </li>
<li>Went to Florida again, and celebrated my Grandma's 90th birthday!! Wow! We had a birthday shopping trip and I found a <i>fabulous</i> dress. </li>
<li>FINISHED WRITING the second book in my Agency series, DIAMOND, which is due for release mid-June (eeek! So excited about that!) </li>
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And then... I went and had an amazing adventure and stayed for a whole week with my sweet friend <a href="http://bare-foot-hills.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">McKenzie</a> (whose wedding I was in as a bridesmaid - first time in my life I was one!)<br />
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And this is what we did...<br />
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The first evening I was there, we went for a drive and saw not one, but two gorgeous mountain views! And there were blooming flowers everywhere, Mountain Laurel and Rhododendrons. Gorgeous!<br />
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I know, right? WOW.<br />
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And here are the two cuties who put up with me for a whole week:<br />
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Yes, there was considerable newlywed mushiness - I didn't mind! Research for one of my novels!! ;)<br />
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Then the next day, McKenzie and I mustered up our girl power and hiked Mount Yonah... only the second highest point in Georgia. Uh-huh. And even stopping for breath on occasion, we made it to the rock face in about an hour and a half. Boo-yeah!<br />
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This isn't even the top, more like halfway up. So blue. And serene. *inspiration galore*<br />
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Did I mention the gigantic boulders studding the mountainside yet? Here ya go:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-G8X-i_Jd0U3hGbzgosLbhHYQTlFDETfKqrWs6jqdAdVpJQz8RmjPq0B_10_JhQdHIoOxmVNrqijuYHoeHpqkGzYGhtGjuTGxADqRhwFl3NCDEJkG5Gre0fyeRPthTLgdRrtJiommwK4/s1600/10422101_712576842184356_1665129201422316976_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-G8X-i_Jd0U3hGbzgosLbhHYQTlFDETfKqrWs6jqdAdVpJQz8RmjPq0B_10_JhQdHIoOxmVNrqijuYHoeHpqkGzYGhtGjuTGxADqRhwFl3NCDEJkG5Gre0fyeRPthTLgdRrtJiommwK4/s640/10422101_712576842184356_1665129201422316976_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That little human is me! </td></tr>
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I will never forget the feeling of exhilarating triumph as I took the last few steps onto the top of that mountain. I actually screamed "WOOHOO!" at the top of my lungs and pumped a fist in the air. There were very few other hikers around to notice this momentary display of craziness - so I started singing "Top of the World" by Anthem Lights for good measure. :D McKenzie found it amusing.<br />
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Here is a terrible picture out the car window so you can see what I'm talking about:<br />
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Ah yes, and here we have a specimen of the delightful Mountain Laurel, with blooms that bring pink peppermints to mind.<br />
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The next day, we took it rather easier (My muscles didn't complain overmuch of the terrible trial I'd put them through - perhaps they were appeased by the very rare treat of strawberry cheesecake ice cream) McKenzie and I went shopping in a darling, bigger-on-the-inside antique mall full of unusual and curious things. I found a complete matching set of all the Winnie-the-Pooh originals by A. A. Milne and snapped them up.<br />
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But anyways, McKenzie is a master at hair. Even my mid-thigh-length slippery silky tresses. Look what she did!<br />
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Oh, and their little garage apartment (which is dollhouse-esque in its sweetness and layout) also happened to enjoy the privilege of sharing the landlord's pool. We took advantage of it all week. :D<br />
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And then on Wednesday we took a day-trip (In Kenzie's gorgeous white Camry) to Helen, GA and strolled around like tourists and I took about five bazillion pictures,</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The horse-drawn carriages were a big draw!<br />
We didn't try it out, being content with our own on-foot mode of getting about. </td></tr>
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^ That, my friends, is my first cup of coffee. EVER. And from what I'm told it was very mild for coffee and full of cream and sugar and some caramel flavoring. I still thought it was really strong, but it tasted like the coffee place smelled and the experience was fun. Don't think I'll adopt it as a habit, though!<br />
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Speaking of the coffee shop ^ It was SO cute, and honestly smelled amazing. (Not quite as amazing as the fudge-shop, but it was a close second!) McKenzie was in heaven. :D The bartender (barista just sounds so wrong to say about a guy!) was friendly and helpful and looked so much like a hipster we were both holding back laughter. :)<br />
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Downtown Helen, you were charming. I'll come back one day! I'd been there before as a child, but seeing it with fresh eyes was wondrous. Also walking to Anna Ruby Falls - which were just as loud and crashing and pretty as I remembered.<br />
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The last full day I was there, McKenzie and her husband Daniel took me down to an unassuming place called "Panther Creek". The trail was ten times rougher than Yonah Mountain (which was plenty rugged) - I mean, in places we were literally climbing down tree roots and picking our way along a path SO STEEP, each foothold was about three feet down apart from the next.<br />
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But it was worth it because at the bottom awaited us a glorious, raw, wild view of THIS WATERFALL...<br />
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It was like encountering a majestic beast that just waited for you, and let you come right up close to it. The water streaming through the huge pool at the base was not very deep and we waded right out to the rocks that the water tumbled over.<br />
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I actually went barefoot, in the rough-sandy river. Ya'll, I wear flip-flops in the <i>house. </i>That gives you an idea of how free I was feeling at this moment. :D<br />
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This last photo, McKenzie snapped of me with her phone as I sat perched on a rock after we'd ascended a branch of the trail that led us to the very top of the falls - I was looking off down the river. I think it captures just a hint of the grand and overwhelming inspiration that infused the whole trip.<br />
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More on that inspiration later, but for now - I'm blogging again! I'm going to shoot for a Monday-Wednesday-Friday thing and I already have a month's worth of posts scheduled in advance. So here goes! Hang on for the ride with me! :) Julia's Journal is not done yet. This is the 500th post, and I still have more stories to tell!<br />
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Love & Hugs,<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/222/70C231EE36929C1FE817C095E8CF46C7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-26182370049343668222014-10-03T07:00:00.000-04:002014-10-03T07:00:06.256-04:00In Which I Was On TV!You see, I happen to work at the wonderful Rock Ranch, located in The Rock, Georgia. Every autumn they have Fall Family Fun Days each Saturday from late September all the way through November, and each has a theme - for example, this week is Lumberjack day and there will be college teams from all over the southeast competing at lumberjackesque events like chopping trees, sawing beams, and log "burling" in the lake.<br />
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Now, why did that make me get on TV?<br />
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This year, the enormous corn maze is celebrating "75 years of Oz" (it's the 75th anniversary of the movie!) and the entire maze is shaped like this:<br />
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I know. Complicated-looking! And I have to memorize the whole thing because... I'm working in it! Part of the time I'll be a corn cop, helping folks find their way out of the maze if they need a little aid. But part of the time...<br />
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I'm dressing up as Glinda!<br />
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That dress must weigh ten pounds, but it's my favorite of all the costumes. :D ANYway, all the characters from the movie (but not the wicked witch) are represented by a great cast of Rock Ranch staff, including me. Kids (and parents!) will be able to meet-n-greet us and get their pictures taken.<br />
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It's going to be fun! I couldn't be there last Saturday, as I was in a very special wedding bridesmaid-ing, but this week I am stoked to be gallivanting around as Glinda. :D<br />
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Last week, myself and Hannah (Dorothy) and Tyler (The Scarecrow) and our events manager, communications director, AND my awesome mama (super-duper assistant extraordinare) all drove up to Atlanta. Whilst there, we stopped by 104.7 The Fish radio station and did a quick radio spot and got a photo with the DJ!<br />
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THEN... we went here.<br />
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CBS. As in, an actual TV station. (that's Adam, our awesome events manager, behind me)...<br />
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<a href="http://www.cbs46.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=10642815" target="_blank">Click Here</a> to watch the segment. Unfortunately there's also a bit about a haunted house, but it's over rather quickly. :P I had no idea what to expect when we went in, but it ended up that we didn't have to say anything at all, just smile and wave. There was another short bit where we stood at another table with pumpkins on it and waved goodbye at the very end of the hour and Parker surprised us by asking "So where is the tin man?" And I told her "He rusted over." XD Haha! We didn't have microphones on though.<br />
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Being at a real TV station was fascinating. The actual broadcast room was a lot smaller than I had thought, with different desks and areas in one room with several HUGE cameras in the middle that swiveled. One of the behind-the-scenes gals told me that my hair was fantastic and asked if I had any hair secrets to share on how to get it so long and gorgeous. :D (short answer: I don't. Don't blow-dry, don't dye, and don't flat-iron. I curl it once in a great while though.)<br />
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Us waving goodbye. :D<br />
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And a scarecrow selfie! :)<br />
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After the live TV bit was over, Sue from Field Trips with Sue interviewed Adam more about the Rock Ranch, for her own website.<br />
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Then after that we got lost about four times on our way to a certain chick-fil-a (actually walked into the wrong one fully decked out in costume - that was hilariously awkward) we finally made it, ate some tasty salads that the staff served us on the house, and then took our picture with all the customers and handed out coupons in the drive-through. Most of those customers had never even heard of the Rock Ranch.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just me that day, in a top I found on ThredUP.com. More on that amazing website later. :D</td></tr>
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Mama and I made it back home at around 8:00 that night, worn out! But it was so much fun and I would do it again in a heartbeat. :D Maybe I will, we'll have to see! :)<br />
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Until then, if you live in Georgia and are looking for some great family fun this fall, come by the Rock Ranch (<a href="http://www.therockranch.com/">www.therockranch.com</a>) and see me at the Corn Maze! :)<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/222/70C231EE36929C1FE817C095E8CF46C7.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>
Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2254373641563839601.post-72252381448301880502014-10-02T16:31:00.001-04:002014-10-02T16:31:27.550-04:00In Which I Was a (Barefoot) Bridesmaid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My sweet friends!</div>
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Life has been full for me this past month! One of the most wonderful events was the wedding of my dear friend, McKenzie. I could not be happier for her and was incredibly blessed to be part of her special day. </div>
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In the craziness of it all, I didn't take many pictures (or even bring my 'real' camera!) so a few of these are snatched from facebook and uploaded from my iPhone, just so you know. ;) </div>
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Mason jars, twinkle lights, burlap, lace, candles, and some of the fluffiest baby's breath I've ever seen combined to make a DARLING reception at the bride's home, Pecan Pastures.<br />
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But I'm getting ahead of myself!<br />
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Ohhhhh, this picture. Every girl deserves to be the most beautiful woman in the world on her wedding day, and just look at her... <i>wow.</i> The <a href="http://kaitlynwrightphotography.com/2014/09/mckenzies-bridal-session/" target="_blank">pre-wedding bridal shoot</a> was done by Kaitlyn Wright (whose pictures are fall-out-of-your-chair STUNNING, in my opinion).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three of the <i>nine</i> bridesmaids, the bride's sisters and cousin (middle) - such gorgeous girls! </td></tr>
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It was a pleasure to create the jewelry for all the bridesmaids - more pictures later, in another post! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ceremony was held in this graceful old church - aren't the columns striking?! :) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthQrGgHZZQ3sia3WH14_r_S3VjEOagQ73wEnfQXw6bx61ENGq4rEYbOvAQODS3wIhqwBk3KE_7EZ_uPStMvLxX3GHQBe7tYcreRIijErGLWnqImwwjlqR1W7iNHoA3WW90nXPK1W4htY/s1600/10414909_600848940023814_2782915565730658389_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthQrGgHZZQ3sia3WH14_r_S3VjEOagQ73wEnfQXw6bx61ENGq4rEYbOvAQODS3wIhqwBk3KE_7EZ_uPStMvLxX3GHQBe7tYcreRIijErGLWnqImwwjlqR1W7iNHoA3WW90nXPK1W4htY/s1600/10414909_600848940023814_2782915565730658389_n.jpg" height="400" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey there! (Haha - this picture makes me think of the scene in National Treasure 2 when Nicolas Cage is peeking over a huge bouquet at Abigail in an elevator in Buckingham Palace) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAdon_NyG0gAQEIHnh-rf2QJWJD4Ep5ta3rE7IFuPHE7POH9fTDbJC9Lf4D_kr2OkGuWj-3ILy234nLOLFfhfH7rmhAKHRTzXGq9TFvOMxNdp_GfciPsUhBDA3Hquc8H4WVDTzogr6ns/s1600/1654123_600848826690492_4380450110898606963_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAdon_NyG0gAQEIHnh-rf2QJWJD4Ep5ta3rE7IFuPHE7POH9fTDbJC9Lf4D_kr2OkGuWj-3ILy234nLOLFfhfH7rmhAKHRTzXGq9TFvOMxNdp_GfciPsUhBDA3Hquc8H4WVDTzogr6ns/s1600/1654123_600848826690492_4380450110898606963_n.jpg" height="400" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok, this is possibly the most makeup I have ever worn in my life, but it was a special occasion and there was lots of photography involved. The very precious Beka Lavender touched up my face for me and even managed to leave my eyeshadow job (that I'd done myself) alone! She's amazing! :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyE-y4W-xkjOcwZ-oSzeWfPGtUTWoLlF67yHR1p22DywnFKNSWXrb1U5frkYwSgBCC5XlZRBrv2NpqBS_F9EgayeGNH06MYcFZK-KvO00oGW7tOMKO5-P9H1_UmqbkdktUoL5w68PjTA/s1600/10377610_600848866690488_7447053874900484223_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyE-y4W-xkjOcwZ-oSzeWfPGtUTWoLlF67yHR1p22DywnFKNSWXrb1U5frkYwSgBCC5XlZRBrv2NpqBS_F9EgayeGNH06MYcFZK-KvO00oGW7tOMKO5-P9H1_UmqbkdktUoL5w68PjTA/s1600/10377610_600848866690488_7447053874900484223_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katie!! She's too sweet, and I am so happy to have met her through this experience of bridesmaiding together. ;) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsy8Nhsoq29jpg5pNS2sGMdbRgV2iDifXT6ckvtvmcZVG2RfGiqrS1K6ZnwUHKYkYksil32vJWM6Bg5KzHg0xt8ynfpEN0Kt_4qfzRXeu-XzlQ6b_B1zilKX99E_qkHmZat-LPU5Axd54/s1600/1907842_600848923357149_2444405689063639447_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsy8Nhsoq29jpg5pNS2sGMdbRgV2iDifXT6ckvtvmcZVG2RfGiqrS1K6ZnwUHKYkYksil32vJWM6Bg5KzHg0xt8ynfpEN0Kt_4qfzRXeu-XzlQ6b_B1zilKX99E_qkHmZat-LPU5Axd54/s1600/1907842_600848923357149_2444405689063639447_n.jpg" height="400" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doesn't this puff of adorableness, otherwise known as the flower girl, just make you <i>melt?</i> She was towed down the aisle in a little wagon by the ring bearer, as she's still a baby. AWWW.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht71feOA4t7wxqxuzu6ZWU0bwAFFj25UP_6vF07RhR0ZvAH9CYpwW6leeMhy9-yHrk5V6jBpPnCU7GIgbfoMAkbQP1PmLXzYRJUtr90nIAouCYklHfqanX8ZY7nLa3mYeuBBpOr9n5Wl4/s1600/10689602_600848970023811_2102367309244045683_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht71feOA4t7wxqxuzu6ZWU0bwAFFj25UP_6vF07RhR0ZvAH9CYpwW6leeMhy9-yHrk5V6jBpPnCU7GIgbfoMAkbQP1PmLXzYRJUtr90nIAouCYklHfqanX8ZY7nLa3mYeuBBpOr9n5Wl4/s1600/10689602_600848970023811_2102367309244045683_n.jpg" height="400" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could NOT have done this without the support and encouragement (and WOWZA hairstyling help) from my awesome mother. And doesn't she look beautiful in her pink dress? I was flabbergasted when we found that for her at a thrift store for $8, practically brand-new... score!! :D</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeYGuzBjaC3D2OTtgZFOBKV5QoD-0pG8921GAKNxbzXLnk6jSVhH3zWpK9nDlapjCoB5b73sn2XDOfUXu2YqHA5Co88cH3xjYuI27oZioCw_JfXleqTBI56EJUTabsvCgV4uEvXvf8Dw/s1600/10659362_600848983357143_8249850504446238393_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeYGuzBjaC3D2OTtgZFOBKV5QoD-0pG8921GAKNxbzXLnk6jSVhH3zWpK9nDlapjCoB5b73sn2XDOfUXu2YqHA5Co88cH3xjYuI27oZioCw_JfXleqTBI56EJUTabsvCgV4uEvXvf8Dw/s1600/10659362_600848983357143_8249850504446238393_n.jpg" height="400" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And I couldn't believe it when I heard from my sweet online friend Courtney that she would be driving four hours to attend the wedding!! She and the bride have been penpals for ages. It was amazing to finally meet her in person!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7wR_CF0ZVVJkgJ5Gaz24kaxV-4ZZxMDybCf9VxTlmDl8Nfvz4_NObbdH7rE3U5adbuauqs1V4nap0Ossw5dFsZDpmQRN0d7tMRDTYOW8T1Ic3C6btee9AEvjgAYeRIf-IV79ekhe2LY/s1600/10624803_10203291890632683_533652163217659525_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7wR_CF0ZVVJkgJ5Gaz24kaxV-4ZZxMDybCf9VxTlmDl8Nfvz4_NObbdH7rE3U5adbuauqs1V4nap0Ossw5dFsZDpmQRN0d7tMRDTYOW8T1Ic3C6btee9AEvjgAYeRIf-IV79ekhe2LY/s1600/10624803_10203291890632683_533652163217659525_n.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many cute handmade signs at the reception! The bride's family worked so hard to get everything done, and they did a stellar job! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDLrDh6A9uhXN2WN3QGMflHIl3X3yiAh3zeLyBh76jLxtrDAkoUxEe4GsXQ_zrc5tDHxRjEdOv9MxC0TSyEcZM6heGUjKNXZ9NTmF-EJlXVVtLUV9omj_-TevCstzqT-xSmfLPBW0BsQ/s1600/10270544_468870553251763_1505312673372381057_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDLrDh6A9uhXN2WN3QGMflHIl3X3yiAh3zeLyBh76jLxtrDAkoUxEe4GsXQ_zrc5tDHxRjEdOv9MxC0TSyEcZM6heGUjKNXZ9NTmF-EJlXVVtLUV9omj_-TevCstzqT-xSmfLPBW0BsQ/s1600/10270544_468870553251763_1505312673372381057_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such loveliness! Under the pecan trees, on the green grass, tents and satin-draped chairs and sweet tea and lemonade and wedding cake! Not to mention a table heaped with southern goodies like cheese straws, toasted pecans, and chicken salad-stuffed crescent rolls. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDMFGWjxE1CLRSxxUpLFFN7i-owDDGvYkhcFFtzP8yirh-V_odlhe03VauWxqYME5RnhLaX2KuHdNCK67DbrAUKiuDPjyQGs1R3YUOUI85U_0bdNz_0bS6HzZxlPmK9NuUZwYPbgQvTM/s1600/10687209_600849036690471_7926316057225009656_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDMFGWjxE1CLRSxxUpLFFN7i-owDDGvYkhcFFtzP8yirh-V_odlhe03VauWxqYME5RnhLaX2KuHdNCK67DbrAUKiuDPjyQGs1R3YUOUI85U_0bdNz_0bS6HzZxlPmK9NuUZwYPbgQvTM/s1600/10687209_600849036690471_7926316057225009656_n.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first photo with the bride - and the groom photobombed it spectacularly. I CRACKED UP when I saw this picture. She's got herself a keeper, for sure. ;) I am so glad Daniel found McKenzie, they make a perfect pair!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRg26xgxMZKl65rZMaZf1uCg9cgxTiRSdLIs4TXrEJX8NEbmipNjprX9FRbWnyK1Uh8YNWhRdIrALPQQwcrb05JgYpSz1DsJMZ3nq7IZsfVI-6gj-K1HFgbVf-irBQfBPBPRGz5LfN4Mo/s1600/1743542_600849083357133_8170315260421521296_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRg26xgxMZKl65rZMaZf1uCg9cgxTiRSdLIs4TXrEJX8NEbmipNjprX9FRbWnyK1Uh8YNWhRdIrALPQQwcrb05JgYpSz1DsJMZ3nq7IZsfVI-6gj-K1HFgbVf-irBQfBPBPRGz5LfN4Mo/s1600/1743542_600849083357133_8170315260421521296_n.jpg" height="640" width="477" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">:D They're married!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYR40bfEyXvhO_2kIRrUoI9iH5UbwzthU50UcfSejxYfRRHRuBHmJ0cgpUI19nwVukivpIq5DsJcbm5DlfZZsE1ChQee-QlWWzn18I88PTGP158bl65fOH-9Bz_qPci70dgdXtL07q7I/s1600/10392514_600849013357140_3812052414807321502_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYR40bfEyXvhO_2kIRrUoI9iH5UbwzthU50UcfSejxYfRRHRuBHmJ0cgpUI19nwVukivpIq5DsJcbm5DlfZZsE1ChQee-QlWWzn18I88PTGP158bl65fOH-9Bz_qPci70dgdXtL07q7I/s1600/10392514_600849013357140_3812052414807321502_n.jpg" height="371" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If Daniel and McKenzie have a marriage anything like my own parents, then they will be blessed indeed. :D I'm so glad my Daddy and one of my brothers could come to the wedding, as it was the first time I'd ever been a bridesmaid. :)</td></tr>
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And yes. All of the bridesmaids were barefoot. *shrug* Not my thing for sure, but I'd do just about anything for McKenzie, and it was what she wanted! I was just happy the dresses were floor-length! Something about going shoeless in church was so strange! ;)<br />
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Stay tuned for more posts, I'm writing one as soon as I hit publish on this one, because a couple of days ago........ I was on TV. :)<br />
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Juliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18266076830751102809noreply@blogger.com5