tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73799690934901030992024-03-14T05:46:12.172-07:00Ruffles And StuffDisneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.comBlogger710125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-57832898183663843572022-03-09T06:10:00.001-08:002022-03-09T06:10:33.274-08:00Happy (late) Women's Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh06JMk1SvHtwLl9mC5puTg0nADxKUr8Hchw70V7IThm-nT-jrndtePI478_uocR79gmrV6UTOBGn-EQw2hqDYpyqeOogHNT4Vwc_t7C-6H0OT6BiIWOVs3hSKSeyF-0gOsr_RaC3hvzYWE_BmwHeOZorKeip3a7gmNMtqkKMQxGHSzSwEOMfiXgHkL=s4768" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4768" data-original-width="3368" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh06JMk1SvHtwLl9mC5puTg0nADxKUr8Hchw70V7IThm-nT-jrndtePI478_uocR79gmrV6UTOBGn-EQw2hqDYpyqeOogHNT4Vwc_t7C-6H0OT6BiIWOVs3hSKSeyF-0gOsr_RaC3hvzYWE_BmwHeOZorKeip3a7gmNMtqkKMQxGHSzSwEOMfiXgHkL=w452-h640" width="452" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmsU5CXTn_2jfGHgP76-giqGJ1xiDQgFRX9-HyUaRV94jV6n5jFpG4DxFaNkGNUNRZg_NctRja2Fpzxfbwc_1wHVxg83kp2Tp0UJ1kih2lF--F750YymBA9W_4gQXq66gLTSo9Bte73-rQgWllN_cr7AVgnDJzIGKFYkvosFXZmsILoFAS-94QQKI4=s3000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmsU5CXTn_2jfGHgP76-giqGJ1xiDQgFRX9-HyUaRV94jV6n5jFpG4DxFaNkGNUNRZg_NctRja2Fpzxfbwc_1wHVxg83kp2Tp0UJ1kih2lF--F750YymBA9W_4gQXq66gLTSo9Bte73-rQgWllN_cr7AVgnDJzIGKFYkvosFXZmsILoFAS-94QQKI4=w512-h640" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>I originally created this for Mother's Day, but I thought I'd share it, since it was Women's Day yesterday. I know this says "wife" and not all women are wives, but it's all I have at the moment. ☺️ It's in the Etsy shop, but feel free to click the first image in this post and drag the full size version onto your desktop for free! 💞</p><p><br /></p><p>Love you!</p><p>-Disney</p>Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-24274189293332127622022-02-11T15:30:00.002-08:002022-02-11T15:30:46.922-08:00Our Etsy Shop!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3V_KI94PUqB76ARw-3yYFKuV7r--S3ohX-p1jeWuresRvhCIUNem7ILDaDxk3wt6Gf-Z8U2_4Al8Et68uBphL5jE6gNOui4n3sWx0AwVqXALTFwco0Og4MfIINnHXewI7gOJ661XvU977kQH8Yw4i7m2BcFE_R2mOcVLa6Wy5XQqLonaw3pKPzbmN=s1104" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="603" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3V_KI94PUqB76ARw-3yYFKuV7r--S3ohX-p1jeWuresRvhCIUNem7ILDaDxk3wt6Gf-Z8U2_4Al8Et68uBphL5jE6gNOui4n3sWx0AwVqXALTFwco0Og4MfIINnHXewI7gOJ661XvU977kQH8Yw4i7m2BcFE_R2mOcVLa6Wy5XQqLonaw3pKPzbmN=w350-h640" width="350" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p>Hello, friends!</p><p>Paige and I have opened up an <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/WhereYourArtIs">Etsy shop</a> to sell digital verse art templates for Canva, and I would deeply appreciate your support if you feel like sharing it. </p><p>I'm going to be very candid here. I am doing my best with my two jobs but I'm not getting enough hours, and after my bills, my current budget quite literally allows for food OR gas, but not both. 😅</p><p>Paige already watches Ace so much while I work that I can't even think of asking her to do more of it while I get third job, so we are seeing if we can make it work with an online shop somehow. </p><p><br /></p><p>*I'm going to stop right here for a moment* </p><p>To say that some of you have offered at times to send financial help, which makes my heart just burst with gratefulness. But I really want to talk about my life, and share the nitty gritty of the struggles as well as the joys, knowing that a lot of other people are in my situation and will benefit from hearing how it can still be beautiful. If I receive help, it makes me feel hesitant to be open, because I don't want to seem like I'm manipulating readers into support. So I'm firmly (but graciously!) against receiving direct financial help. However since my circumstances are rather dire, it would mean the world if you would share my shop to anyone you think might be interested.</p><p>We don't have many listings yet, but we will be adding new ones every day. Paige is designing them along with me, as she is also trying to earn money to continue her online schooling, which she's had to take a break from since we changed living situations. </p><p><br /></p><p>Overall, life is incredibly beautiful for us. I can't explain it, but I feel like sunlight could just beam from my fingertips. (Not every moment of course.) I am at peace.</p><p>You know what happened this morning? I was driving to Starbucks before dawn, and as I swerved around one of our city's endless roundabouts, I casually thanked God for the breaks in my car. And not TEN SECONDS later, a family of deer sprang out in the dark in front of me and I had to slam on my breaks as hard as I could to miss them. Haha! My friend said that was God's way of saying "You're welcome" ☺️ Cute.</p><p>Anyway, hope you are all doing well. Thank you in advance if any of you share the shop. 🤗 And of course I'll still be giving away verse art here for free for my special people. And feel free to let me know if you need any of the ones in the shop for free, I wouldn't ever want money to get in the way of God's word not being shared.</p><p>Love you so much!</p><p>💞 Disney</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Link to shop:</span></p><p><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/WhereYourArtIs"><span style="font-size: large;">Where Your Art Is</span></a></p>Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-78834932615599466492022-02-01T11:31:00.004-08:002022-02-01T11:34:07.918-08:00Free Scripture Wall Art Downloads<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGeZ-CEZtf3KSyUnD4zDY8VC31KAIiBusMpDowoXXC4V7AvLze2RqbknrpPJEY0vC2-j3Hqhznvtx1w-b-2jKocI8tLhvwI4daZCSXq8BUhF8v7c0-5la1ySMIT8_PktTQs-c_fMKmoFAbztcujXh61iC8ku1GeiGiLwSmpRTRHHcz3vx3Xo7Q-4yB=s4000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGeZ-CEZtf3KSyUnD4zDY8VC31KAIiBusMpDowoXXC4V7AvLze2RqbknrpPJEY0vC2-j3Hqhznvtx1w-b-2jKocI8tLhvwI4daZCSXq8BUhF8v7c0-5la1ySMIT8_PktTQs-c_fMKmoFAbztcujXh61iC8ku1GeiGiLwSmpRTRHHcz3vx3Xo7Q-4yB=w512-h640" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYaMBD8iccSX1ornn9JNdqaK1P-clc5kqo47HBJN273-N4ZIy0OU0XWxfCfFEV4O7Dl2V9dV4OFcgazbXlwdVlEDSqENWIjIXhxJLC9YRD3SDlH6h_EUtLiqVjoR8KhQ88z9U5G0qvqu8LTIMBRFZuuH5tg3xVZ5Ab_WUrEBArTDhKMhiok1lqknIy=s4000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYaMBD8iccSX1ornn9JNdqaK1P-clc5kqo47HBJN273-N4ZIy0OU0XWxfCfFEV4O7Dl2V9dV4OFcgazbXlwdVlEDSqENWIjIXhxJLC9YRD3SDlH6h_EUtLiqVjoR8KhQ88z9U5G0qvqu8LTIMBRFZuuH5tg3xVZ5Ab_WUrEBArTDhKMhiok1lqknIy=w512-h640" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKqg9Xq1KxOHoLtuIAup1HxgQTfM-3XH6X3q91F7M14YQY21QaL0lKqJQDMaxrdiTq00FuSMHbJ5Hdj64voDUMiRCduxvzRNsccx8VbGpuYV3pTpQH9P4IwNRVgZTSMQhDL6DM2ks1C5C-a2Lh_oOBehu9sE6PwG5JncWHNoBbyaiDavul1vc5OCMU=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKqg9Xq1KxOHoLtuIAup1HxgQTfM-3XH6X3q91F7M14YQY21QaL0lKqJQDMaxrdiTq00FuSMHbJ5Hdj64voDUMiRCduxvzRNsccx8VbGpuYV3pTpQH9P4IwNRVgZTSMQhDL6DM2ks1C5C-a2Lh_oOBehu9sE6PwG5JncWHNoBbyaiDavul1vc5OCMU=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixxBKKz5j-jjdsnw9qYvjUv7V8HBG2fvxuHjvYPyhAJb4EXsPvGwqDUIMcywcZI4ivJhstJzaNi73JNyh4n862O-jqIWaPti8FKl4zn7LUJkfccKm-4_6_GDQ9mnmRlMjdizb6_OW9UEVUj9fDboPQ2BMXAgFtB6L6Heyrw2rIT81rj0eDNPZyOxEo=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixxBKKz5j-jjdsnw9qYvjUv7V8HBG2fvxuHjvYPyhAJb4EXsPvGwqDUIMcywcZI4ivJhstJzaNi73JNyh4n862O-jqIWaPti8FKl4zn7LUJkfccKm-4_6_GDQ9mnmRlMjdizb6_OW9UEVUj9fDboPQ2BMXAgFtB6L6Heyrw2rIT81rj0eDNPZyOxEo=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh56z6NfGWegHgl0KFToNTjHYMlQo8BpXaXHXRF4b0fOw8v6IAJuIEcxOR3eW7nOEcTEKFYFt19cVz3oFM4TDma-7porUEFqonUC8VOV_zB7yv0aslb7_1UbcTjS6zPVd6YAGi8Mu0XNyQb1tsVdGd-21l4zlMO__BWvXKThnlZkw_X5sxeh6oXanof=s4000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh56z6NfGWegHgl0KFToNTjHYMlQo8BpXaXHXRF4b0fOw8v6IAJuIEcxOR3eW7nOEcTEKFYFt19cVz3oFM4TDma-7porUEFqonUC8VOV_zB7yv0aslb7_1UbcTjS6zPVd6YAGi8Mu0XNyQb1tsVdGd-21l4zlMO__BWvXKThnlZkw_X5sxeh6oXanof=w512-h640" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*CLICK IMAGES TO GET TO FULL SIZE*</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been playing around in Canva, and I wanted to share a few of these little 8X10 art prints with you guys. 🤗</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was trying to figure out a way to sell the templates on Etsy, but most of the cool elements require Canva Pro, which I have, but a lot of other people don't, making it tough to sell them. So I am just giving them away! I want God's changing words to spread as far as possible anyway, and free things are more accessible, so...even better!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll keep sharing them when I make new ones. Drop a comment if you have any favorite verses you'd like me to use. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How are you all doing so far this new year? I'm doing pretty stinking well!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I still have down times for sure, but this season of life has been SO beneficial for my trust in God, I am just so happy about that. Yesterday I asked myself a question that I ponder from time to time: "what am I afraid of?" (Because fear always attracts the things it wants to avoid.) You know what? I COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not afraid anymore! I've lived through my worst fears now. And I am ok. When something bad comes up, it's a chance to say "God, I'm excited to see what you do here!" and I MEAN it when I say it to him. And then he does his thing, and I am ok, every time. Every hiccup in my life is an opportunity to see God's faithful affection and care for me if I trust him with the problem, and why in the world would I want to avoid that? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For example: my lovely 🍋 of a car has been in the shop 4 times since I bought it three months ago, and somehow I've always had the money. Until this last time, haha. But I thought: "God I'm going to just give this to you if you don't mind" and hardly gave it a second thought...and they just called to say the repairs are going to be free! Things like that are happening so regularly, that I almost feel like I'm just walking through clouds in my life. It's not because God loves me now and didn't before. It's just that I'm finally allowing him full access to shine. I'm aware of the big problems, I feel the gravity of them, but it just makes releasing them feel that much better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Didn't mean to go on that little tangent, but It's probably good that I did. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, love you all! I hope February is staring out wonderfully for you. 💞</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Love,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Disney</div><br /> <p></p>Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-54745049756075036352021-11-06T11:27:00.002-07:002021-11-06T11:27:35.789-07:00How Would You Live?<p>I have an important question for you:</p><p>How would you live, if you could live however you wanted? </p><p>Take a minute to really think about that. </p><p>Before the rules, before the guilt, before the opinions and the peer pressure and the "common sense"...who were you? Who ARE you? How do you want to live? Where do you thrive?</p><p><br /></p><p>For a lot of years, I've felt like I didn't have any control over my life. From the big life decisions, to the little "what do we need from the store" details, I felt I had no choice, in the name of submission and selflessness. (News flash: I always had the choice. It is not loving to let people control you.) But now I am asking myself who I am, who I've always been, deep down. </p><p>Honestly, I have to go pretty far back to think about who I was before other people's opinions shaped me. Like, about 6 years old. A person might think of themselves as very incomplete at that age, but to tell you the truth, what I remember about 6 year-old Disney is exactly the same stuff that 36 year-old Disney is made of. </p><p>I wanted to be happy. I wanted other people to be happy. I wanted to live carefree and play and enjoy everything that was beautiful. And if it wasn't beautiful when I found it, I would MAKE it beautiful, and then I would sit it awe of it. </p><p>I loved people. I loved being out in the world and exploring it. I wanted to see everything and hear everything and KNOW everything. I loved dress up and dolls. (Mostly dressing up my dolls.) I wanted to wear a princess dress every. single. day. There was no activity that a princess dress was not appropriate for. Grocery shopping? Princess dress. Church? Princess dress. (duh) Neighborhood baseball? Princess dress with pants underneath. I still feel that way, 100%.</p><p>Over the years I learned that I was "over-the-top" and what made me happy did not make other people happy. After a while, the half-snide comments about me being "fancy" outweighed the joy I felt from being fancy.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Buuuuut. Not anymore, kids. I'm 'bout done with that. </p><p>Because here's the thing: those people who need you to be a certain way in order to accept you, will eventually find some reason to not accept you anyway. They don't like you. And well, that's ok. You just keep loving them (from a distance) and sashay away in your princess dress. Because you are on your way to the ball, and they are getting spit on your tiara. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8Vt44SBFvfXDkzm2tCdUhk4T5JOlxB1QlownRl9HVsTWcJ2Cu5fXjjBdTksNScZ_wjlWvEVC8VKonyFSIC2nB6HKKw1NkIjQV5h2DMVtxg3_Ew98IAtVXCaQrIyiiBB5iKSMBYkiNVE/s960/IMG_2441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8Vt44SBFvfXDkzm2tCdUhk4T5JOlxB1QlownRl9HVsTWcJ2Cu5fXjjBdTksNScZ_wjlWvEVC8VKonyFSIC2nB6HKKw1NkIjQV5h2DMVtxg3_Ew98IAtVXCaQrIyiiBB5iKSMBYkiNVE/s16000/IMG_2441.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My friend took this picture of me (with the hilarious cake she had made for me) the night I moved into my new apartment last week. It was an extremely long day, and I was exhausted. But I put on my dress and crown, because I wanted to remember this night, this moment. When I became a princess again, like I was always meant to be. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The daughter of a King. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The daughter of the King of Kings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's pretty fancy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So who are you, really? How would you live, if you were truly free? Drop a comment, I'd love to know.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-Disney</div>Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-49896738722460414972018-12-31T20:39:00.002-08:002018-12-31T20:39:21.209-08:00Even Unto Death<center>
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I just love this song. </center>
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All my thoughts, perfectly articulated. </center>
Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-49759715609373947892018-12-31T10:50:00.002-08:002018-12-31T10:50:43.836-08:00American Girl Grand Hotel Review!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
We recently had the huge blessing of being given the <a href="https://www.americangirl.com/shop/ag/american-girl-grand-hotel-fkm88">American Girl Grand Hotel</a> to review, and we have been having so much fun with it! This has been, by far, the most played with of all our AG products (other than the dolls themselves, of course!) Look at all the little things it comes with, couldn't you just DIE??<br />
<br />
All of these blessings...I honestly don't know what to do with it. Do you ever feel that way? Sort of a...burden to reciprocate. I see that all of these things are from my God, and I *must* respond...but how? I once heard someone say the only thing you can give to God that isn't already his, is your heart and I loved that. But I don't think giving God my heart just means *feeling nice things* toward him. It's much more than that. My actions, my words, my thoughts, each one a little stocking stuffer for God. (Oh my goodness, what a dorky thing to say.) And I want it all to be for him, every last breath. I'm too smart, too thankful to waste my time with anything less.<br />
<br />
Um, anywaysss, I'm reviewing a product here, yes. Probably you're only wondering two things: "Is it as cool as it looks?" Yes, for sure!!<br />
And "Is it worth the money?" That's a harder question to answer, because I'm pretty frugal, and with our family budget, there is no way I would ever spend $275 on any one thing for my kids. Just saying. BUT, if I was going to, this would be the kind of toy I would buy; nice quality, lots of potential for imagination, and attention to detail, which I'm a sucker for. :)<br />
<br />
Thank you, my good, kind Father! I love you. And thank you also to <a href="https://www.americangirl.com/">American Girl</a>. :) You guys are my favorite.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Hope you all had a great holiday! I love you,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Disney</div>
Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-46994090579462959832018-12-24T14:07:00.000-08:002018-12-24T14:15:23.266-08:00Our Home at Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
Just wanted to share a few photos of our house all Christmasy! I always say I'm going to, and I never do. :)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I hope you have a merry Christmas tomorrow!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love you,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Disney</div>
Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-89364330337769687322018-08-08T14:39:00.000-07:002018-08-08T14:39:42.011-07:00Adventuring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-9593658389198345382018-07-13T14:01:00.002-07:002018-07-13T14:01:44.042-07:00Disney Goes to DISNEY!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
AHHHHHH YOU GUYS!!!!<br />
My whole life, because of my name, people have asked me if I have been to Disney Land/World, and finally, this fall.....I AM GOING!!!<br />
<br />
This is a little bit kind of a huge deal to me.<br />
Disney.<br />
AT Disney.<br />
Will the world like, implode, when I walk in??<br />
Will I feel like I'm home when I get there? 😂<br />
Are all the characters going to be my instant best friends?? (Yes. Duh.)<br />
This feels so special, I almost can't handle it.<br />
<br />
We have the opportunity to go because my husband is guest-preaching in Kissimmee, FL, which is just a hop, skip and a jump from Disney World, and we get to stay in the hotel down there for a week for free. 🤗 And I am so, so thankful to God. What an incredible gift he's giving me.<br />
<br />
My darling friend bought sparkling pink ears for me and Paige (and a monogrammed hat for Ace!) for the occasion, and I have definitely been wearing mine around the house to break them in.<br />
Ah!<br />
I can't wait to go!! And I can't wait to share how our trip went with you, afterwards.<br />
How am I going to wait until the fall?! 😅<br />
I'm so excited!!!!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love you so much,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Disney</div>
<br />Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-73771852641255548572018-07-03T18:38:00.000-07:002018-07-03T18:54:32.724-07:00My Year Without Sweeteners!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I did it!! Yesterday, on my birthday, I completed my year-long fast from all foods with any added sweeteners of any kind. Hooray!!<br />
The one year mark came a lot faster than I thought it would. And to be honest, with much less fanfare than I expected. Last July, I was neck-deep in strawberry PopTarts, and hoped this year would break me of the strong, addictive hold that sugar had on me.<br />
<br />
So.<br />
Did it work??<br />
<br />
You guys. It totally did. More than I ever dreamed. It worked so well, that yesterday, instead of shoveling down a spread of my old favorite sugary treats that I thought I would want, I had a (lightly sweetened) blueberry scone with my morning coffee. And THAT WAS ALL. For the whole day!!<br />
What I really craved as a birthday treat, was this incredibly delicious plantain cake, pictured above, which you can find the recipe for <a href="https://empoweredsustenance.com/flourless-plantain-cake/">here</a>. (It's so easy!)<br />
I was a little concerned that having a sweet treat on my birthday would bring back the wave of cravings, but it hasn't. I feel completely satisfied. (😆 Is this real?!)<br />
<br />
Here's how the year went, if you're interested: 😊<br />
<br />
Months 1-3: Spent trying to feel like I was eating sugary junk when I wasn't. I tried to find every little snack bar, organic treat, etc. that would make me feel like I was indulging. I even ate Cheetos and cheezits because they felt like treat foods. Some of the treats were great discoveries that I'm glad I found, but the super-processed ones, unsurprisingly, gave me stomach trouble. But even with those, I felt significantly better, and even lost about 20-25lbs, which was kinda nice!<br />
<br />
Months 3-6: Lara Bars. Lara Bars and iced coffee, for three months. They are made with dates, which are very sweet, but never gave me any of the side effects that I had with sugar. (Mood swings, breakouts, headaches, low energy.) I stopped drinking as much juice, and made a lot of fruit-only smoothies.<br />
<br />
Months 6-9: This is where things started to get good. I got sick of Lara Bars, and the taste of dates in general. New Years resolutions inspired me to *attempt* to drink more water. About month 8, I was drinking 4-5 water bottles a day, which didn't leave room for juice or even smoothies usually. I ate more fresh fruit by itself, and ate vegetables with 1-2 meals a day. (I never ate them before 😅) I was still eating lots of carbs (tortilla chips, taco shells, Ezekiel bread, etc.), which often left me bloated and uncomfortably full, but at least there was more produce along with it! My skin was looking better, and feeling softer from all the water!<br />
<br />
Months 9-12: I. felt. so. good. I was paying attention now to how I felt after eating foods that were sweetener-free, but still not easily digested, and instead of being addicted to sweets, I had become addicted to the way fruits and veggies made me feel! The freedom of eating my meal, and not worrying about fatigue, discomfort or tight waistbands afterward is so relieving. I feel free as a bird! By now I had lost about 30-35lbs total, and 2-3 dress sizes, so I had to buy a few new things. Knowing that my new clothes are always going to fit makes dressing so much more enjoyable! I cut back my coffee consumption considerably, and my skin continued to improve. My early wrinkles are almost gone, and I can actually wear foundation without my skin looking like the Atacama.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Short story results: </b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>A total change in my taste for foods/appreciation for produce and natural tastes. </li>
<li>Healthier, and more even, hydrated skin.</li>
<li>Totally balanced moods and energy levels. Seriously. Totally. </li>
<li>Whiter teeth.</li>
<li>More pride in myself and my ability to control my body/cravings. </li>
<li>No sugar cravings, by the end. Ever. Not exaggerating. </li>
<li>Healthier kids/husband, by natural influence. </li>
<li>30+ lbs lost (this would probably be much more in some cases. I wasn't terrible heavy to begin with.)</li>
<li>Clothes always fit, and I feel good in them.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
The great thing is, at no point in the year did I really force myself to be super healthy. Other than a very strict "no sweeteners" rule (including at restaurants, people's houses, holidays, everywhere, all the time.) , I pretty much ate whatever/however much I wanted. The love for fruits and vegetables just came naturally, as my tastes changed.<br />
<br />
<br />
So that was my experience with it! In another post soon I'll give you a list of all my healthy treats/tips that I discovered along the way. :) I've mentioned before that I'm going to continue it as a general way of life, with the exception of my birthday and Christmas. For whatever reason, I function better with strict boundaries like that, so it works better for me. :)<br />
Sorry if this is an annoying "look how healthy I am!!" post. 😂 If it helps, I am still totally horrible at getting any exercise. (Ugh! Maybe I can tackle that sometime soon.) But I can't help but be so excited about the change in my quality of life! 💃🏻 I am so, so thankful.<br />
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Anyway, hope you're all doing well! If you're reading this, I've said a prayer for you. 'Cause I love you. 😘💕<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Disney</div>
<br />
<br />
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<br />Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-68844186001510745572018-06-25T20:18:00.000-07:002018-06-25T20:18:16.707-07:00Slow Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
We were really struggling with the homeschool today. Even I wasn't into it. So when a friend texted and generously offered to let us pick berries in their woods, we jumped out of our chairs and into our boots and hats!<br />
<br />
This is my kind of day lately. Slow and easy and no-fuss. I've been trying to bring my camera along when we venture out of the house, not only to remember our little moments together, but also because it gives me a little bit of creative satisfaction. 🤗<br />
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It was a lovely day! :) We walked in beautiful scenery, ate yummy berries as we worked, discovered tons of new bugs, and bickered a little about who's bucket had the most, and which bush belonged to whom. 😌<br />
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Now to figure out what to make with all our black raspberries! Does anyone happen to have any no-sweetener recipe ideas? If nothing else, I'm sure stuffing handfuls into our mouths until they are gone will suit us just fine! :)<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love you!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Disney</div>
Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-32433779736626953572018-06-23T10:35:00.000-07:002018-06-23T10:35:04.277-07:00Luxurious Simplicity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
I am so thankful.<br />
Earlier this year, our family decided it was time to calm down. To rest. To be un-busy. To be purposefully peaceful in our schedule and daily routine.<br />
I stopped teaching at the preschool, I'm not babysitting in my home (for now) and I have the quarter off from teaching bible class. With the exception of Paige's karate class, we have NOTHING to do during the week. And the freedom is so luxurious, I can hardly enjoy it without guilt! What is this beautiful new life??<br />
<br />
We have time to take long walks to nowhere. We have time to stop at a store we've never been to. Time to study random topics. Time to go to realtor.com and vote for our favorite houses (and decided we love our own best of all.) Time to write notes by hand, and do our chores slowly, and read books about monsters.<br />
<br />
We woke up this morning and realized we actually, finally, had time to go to Farmer's Market, so we did! The kids ate macarons and I bought fresh flowers and we took pictures for no reason the whole way home.<br />
When we got home there was no rush to get ready for anything. Ace rode his new birthday bike, and I pulled a few weeds. Then I listened to Vivaldi and wrote a blog post just for fun.<br />
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<br />
There was a time when I thought a slow life was torture, but now I realize what a gift it is to be able to take our time. This is 1,000 times better than what I thought I wanted.<br />
<br />
Thank you, God, you are so kind to me!! :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love you all!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Disney</div>
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<br />Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-36430298707879549362018-04-29T14:52:00.000-07:002018-04-29T14:55:42.620-07:00Blossoming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My pretty Paige. :)<br />
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I am so proud of her.<br />
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Love you, my dears!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Disney</div>
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<br />Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-66162918787610832752018-04-24T08:21:00.003-07:002018-04-24T08:21:59.385-07:00Our Baby Birds!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A while ago, we noticed a sparrow's nest in our front door wreath with eggs in it, and a few days ago, they hatched!! We are so happy to have them. 🤗<br />
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I've wondered many times how this mama bird could possibly have thought that our busy, open-and-close front door would be a good place to keep her precious babies. But as I was posting these photos on Instagram, and quoting the verse about sparrows that I couldn't help but think of, I realized: maybe it was God's plan. Maybe he whispered in the ear of that bird to build her nest here, knowing that I would share his message about his love for us that can overcome our fear. A message that you in particular, perhaps, needed to hear.<br />
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"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-30<br />
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Love you, sweet friends. :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Disney</div>
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<br />Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-67916418990844293982018-04-15T12:53:00.000-07:002018-04-15T12:53:08.015-07:00The Umpteenth TimeI am starting to feel better. Finally.<br />
I usually bounce back and get over things quickly, but this time I didn't.<br />
Maybe it was the therapeutic spilling of all my guts to the internet. Maybe it's been the change in my health since I stopped eating sweetened foods, began drinking more water, and even am suffering through some green veggies for, like, the first time ever in my life. Or maybe it's just time. But the last couple of months I've felt a little stirring of life like I haven't in years. Of course I've had good times and happy days, and little epiphanies that have helped heal my soul, but this is different.<br />
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A couple of weeks ago, Grace Vanderwaal released her single "Clearly", which I love, and part of the chorus says: "I can see clearly now, the rain has gone. I accept all the things that I cannot change." That little line just clicked a button in my brain.<br />
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My sister committed suicide.<br />
My dad left.<br />
We moved far away from my family.<br />
I didn't fight hard enough for our other foster son.<br />
Some people out there don't like us.<br />
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<br />
....ok.<br />
Those things happened. I maybe could have changed it before, or prevented it. But. I can't now. So...ok.<br />
I accept it.<br />
I've learned from it.<br />
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How many times in my life have I heard the phrase "accept the things you can't change"??? About 4,000. But then, I heard it one more time, and it clicked. Isn't it funny how that can happen? It's like your heart isn't ready to hear it...until it is! I can't tell you how many things have worked in my life that way.<br />
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So, it made me realize, again, just how important it is to speak truths and encouragement. Maybe they won't listen this time. Maybe they won't listen next time. But maybe, the umpteenth time, they will hear you. It will penetrate their heart. It'll be just what they needed to finally make a change. Or to let go. Or to feel themselves again.<br />
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On the flip side, it's important to keep HEARING those words that you need to hear. Keep reading the Bible, keep listening to encouraging music. Keep listening to the sermons. It might not magically fix you in one week or one year, but we need to hear those things. They are life changing. But transformation takes time, so don't give up.<br />
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And along those lines, I just want to tell you that I love you. You're incredibly valuable. You are capable of wonderful things, with God's help. It's not too late to change. And, try eating some green veggies. 😜<br />
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LOVE you!! 😘</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Disney<br />
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Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-62148773951211816882018-04-15T11:58:00.001-07:002018-04-15T11:58:07.511-07:00Thrift Store<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I've never done photos in a thrift store before.<br />
It was fun!<br />
This is Autumn. She is such a delight, and she has one of the most perfect faces I've ever seen. 😍 Can you believe she's only 14?! I love the girls in our youth group so much.<br />
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Happy Sunday. 😊<br />
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(You guys, I figured out to use emojis on my computer and I'm stoked. You're going to see them in every post now. Sorry. I just can't communicate effectively without small cartoons!!)<br />
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Love you!</div>
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-Disney</div>
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P.S. I'm feeling better. I'm feeling like myself again.Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-24553116434388679962018-04-04T11:42:00.000-07:002018-04-04T11:42:09.690-07:00Seattle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Took the absolute best trip to Seattle recently to visit one of my oldest and best friends. We went to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and it is my new favorite place on earth. I wish I lived close enough to frequent it! If you're seriously into coffee, and you're ever in the area, you must go there. The customer service is impeccable, and the coffee/food is excellent! Every employee could answer every one of my questions, from the greeter at the door, to the bakers, roasters, and baristas. I was quite dazzled. :)<br />
Walking and shopping and giggling and dancing and eating alllll of the amazing things with my wonderful friend was such a blessing. (She is the greatest!) I'm so thankful.<br />
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I hope you're all well. I've been keeping quite busy, but am working on a plan this year to un-busy our family a bit, which I'm excited about. :)<br />
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Love you,</div>
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-Disney</div>
Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-90018118656938881452018-03-03T04:17:00.003-08:002018-03-03T04:17:35.231-08:00Say SomethingHello, Internet, would you like to know the thing I'm most ashamed of?<br />
I. do. not. want. to. write. this.<br />
The guilt is too heavy, and the pain, inexpressible. But beautiful things have come from it, and I don't think I can properly convey the affect without first explaining the cause...I've been trying to write this for over two years. So here it goes.<br />
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My sister and I were temporarily estranged for almost two years, not by choice on either of our parts. One day, I couldn't take it anymore, so I messaged her privately through Facebook to see how she was doing. She wrote that she believed she had overcome some major struggles that were holding her hostage emotionally. She had let them go, she said. She knew it wasn't within her control, she was not able to fix it, and she understood that now. So she was doing actually pretty great!<br />
Then she casually threw in the fact that she tried to kill herself, but her husband had stopped it.<br />
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What?<br />
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...What?<br />
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I didn't know anything about suicide. I didn't now anything about anything. I didn't even know if she was telling the truth. How could she be? If it were true, how could she say it so flippantly? (A question I had asked myself about her many times in the past. It was just her way of hiding the depth of a painful statement.)<br />
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So what is this awful, shameful thing I did? Nothing. I did nothing. I said nothing. I wrote back and said: "It's going to take me a few days to know how to respond to that." And then,<br />
I.<br />
NEVER.<br />
RESPONDED.<br />
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Oh you guys, it's true. And there isn't anything I can say to justify myself. I didn't know what to say at all, and then, the truth-the horrible, disgusting, filthy truth-is that I sort of forgot. I got distracted by my selfish life...How...how...could anyone be so self-centered, so unfathomably uncaring?? I should have dropped everything. I should have RAN out of my house and drove the 3 hours to hers, and hugged her and hugged her and hugged her and never let go. I should have begged her to never think of it again, I should have SCREAMED that I loved her at the top of my lungs until she couldn't hear it anymore. But I did nothing, and I said nothing, and I think that's all she needed to hear to give up.<br />
I NEVER SAW HER AGAIN.<br />
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We started talking fairly regularly shortly after that...but I never brought up what she told me. And a few months later, she jumped off a bridge, and she was gone forever.<br />
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You know, the more I think about it, our entire childhood was me not saying something. Our family didn't really say "I love you much", though it was shown in many ways. And as the little sister, I saw many sneaky things that my sister did, (she was a very gifted sneaker) and I never said anything. I was too afraid. But she needed to get caught, and she needed somebody to say something. Her whole life, that's what she needed. About a month before she died, I heard that song, "Say Something" by A Great Big World, and I was listening to it nonstop. I remember telling someone how weird it was that I couldn't really relate to the message, but the song called to me so strongly. Oh how I wish I had made the connection, but I was too selfish, too caught up in my own pathetic little trials that were going on in my own life.<br />
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So the beautiful part. In all things, God works for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28) and I do love him. He turns hideous into beautiful, if you're willing. He has patiently waited for me to become wiser, and through my life and my thoughts, He has sort of put his hand on my shoulder and gently told me: "Now. Say something." And a girl with a deep-rooted disdain for controversy, and fear of saying the wrong thing, has learned to (almost) fearlessly speak truth. Not the: "That dress looks bad on you." truth, but the life-giving, meaningful, necessary truth. I'm not perfect at it now, but I'm so different from what I was.<br />
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So please, PLEASE. if you take anything from this post, please let it be this: say something.<br />
If someone is hurting, say something.<br />
If you love someone, say something.<br />
If you even just like them a little, say something.<br />
If a stranger has nice hair, say something.<br />
If your cashier has a cool name, say something.<br />
If someone is homeless, look at them, and say something.<br />
If you like someone's shirt, say something.<br />
If someone has a pretty voice, say something.<br />
If you're proud of someone, say something.<br />
If someone is becoming weaker spiritually, say something.<br />
If a teenager posts something weird on social media, say something.<br />
If you see someone being sneaky, say something.<br />
If someone doesn't know about God, say something.<br />
Because God has blessed you, say something.<br />
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And it doesn't matter if they think you're weird. And it doesn't matter if people think you're flirting. And it doesn't matter if it's "none of your business". It doesn't matter if it's not socially acceptable. Make it socially acceptable. The closer I get to God's light, the more repulsively dark the world looks when I glance back over my shoulder. It is full of death, so speak life into it!! If any thought in your heart is kind, then let it out immediately!! Don't second-guess. Just say it. Every time. It's not weird. It's actually how things were supposed to be.<br />
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I love you,</div>
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-Disney</div>
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"Death and life are in the power of the tongue..." (Proverbs 18:21)</div>
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<br />Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-35083657324251975382018-02-05T16:16:00.000-08:002018-02-05T16:16:11.257-08:00Author Interview with Erin Teagan!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I'm so excited!!! I feel so cool right now you guys, honestly. I actually got to interview <a href="https://www.erinteagan.com/">Erin Teagan</a>, the Author of the Luciana books for American Girl. Do you know how hard it is to be cool when you're sending questions to people of this magnitude of awesome? "Oh, here are some questions for you, I do this all the time..." *hyperventilates* *dies*<br />
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Erin is basically everything I ever wanted to be: smart, goal-oriented, hard-working, accomplished, and writes 2,000 words before the sun comes up each morning. (No joke!!) But she's also down-to-earth, humble, and super funny. What I wouldn't give to spend the day with her, drinking coffee and asking a million more questions!<br />
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Let's here from Erin!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Tell us about yourself; what made you interested in writing children's books?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Growing up, I was the oldest of four kids and when the house was quiet and my siblings were in bed, I would often write stories for them, especially my youngest sister. I continued to write stories for kids, even after my littlest sister went to college, and everyone else was grown up. When I went into science, I wrote before I went to work and during my lunch breaks, hoping that one day I might write for children full-time. It took me almost ten years, but the work finally paid off when I sold my first manuscript, The Friendship Experiment, which came out in 2016.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">What was it like writing for American Girl? How did you go about the research for your stories?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Working for American Girl was a dream. The amount of work American Girl puts into their products to empower young girls is inspiring. The writing schedule was challenging but I had the support of two editors to help me navigate through the drafts. The research involved in writing the Luciana stories was my favorite part of the entire process. I tagged along on a few of American Girl’s trips to Space Camp and I was able to experience the camp firsthand. I took a turn on the multi-axis trainer, dived to the bottom of their underwater astronaut trainer, and even ate the food in the camp’s crew galley. My experience at Space Camp played a big part in the books. When I was home, writing at my own desk, I had an entire advisory board of NASA and space experts, including an astronaut, and a Chilean cultural expert, to answer my questions and provide feedback on my manuscript. Writing for American Girl was really an amazing experience. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Were you interested in science as a child, and do you see any of Luciana in yourself?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">I wish I had more of Luciana in myself as a kid, but I didn’t become interested in science until I was in high school, when I met a scientist in real life. She worked in a genetics lab at the University of Pennsylvania and I had the opportunity to shadow her at work for the day. It was an eye opening experience and it was the first time I realized that there was room in the field of science for a creative person like me. When I wrote Luciana’s story, I wanted to make sure that readers could see there are many sides of science, and that the field of science really needs people with different strengths and interests and backgrounds to be successful. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>What is your favorite part of Luciana's story?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">It’s so hard to pick one favorite part! I love her friendship with Raelyn from home and I love her relationship with baby Isadora. But, probably my favorite parts of the Luciana plot are the flops and failures. In science, there are always surprises and set backs, but eventually, by working through all of the challenges you end up with a stronger conclusion and often an open window to explore more. I hope readers will discover along with Luciana that failure is a necessary part of progress. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>What advice would you give to parents and caregivers who want to support their child who is interested in STEM, like Luciana?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">If I had a child like Luciana, I would try my best to keep up with her! With an increased emphasis on STEM in schools and after school clubs and camps, it seems like now more than ever, a kid interested in STEM has many options to pursue their interests. I’d support her the best way I could, whether that meant extra trips to the library to read about topics of interest, researching scholarship opportunities so she could participate in more costly programs, seeking out mentors, or just giving her the freedom to explore and learn herself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>What about kids who don't think they are the "science type"? How would you encourage them to explore STEM?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">I was the ‘non-science’ type of kid growing up, the kid that wasn’t naturally talented in math, the kid who would rather read a book inside than explore the bugs in the backyard. What I realized as I grew up though, was that science is so much more. I wished I had known that on the most basic level, a scientist is someone who uses the scientific method, a person who asks questions and makes predictions, and tries to figure out the solution. Thinking of science in such simple terms helped me make a connection with STEM as a teenager. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">As a parent, I’ve found the best way to support my own kids’ interest in STEM is to think of them as individuals and appeal to their interests. My daughter was obsessed with sharks for a bit. She checked books out of the library, tracked them on an app, asked a lot of questions, watched documentaries. Whether she knew it or not, she was thinking like a scientist, and I did everything I could to encourage that interest. Exposing kids to the many facets of science, listening to them talk about something they learned or discovered, encouraging them to ask questions and explore, are all ways that can help inspire a kid in STEM. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Thank you so much for sharing an insight into your life and your writing process, Erin! You are the best!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">You can purchase the Luciana books <a href="http://www.americangirl.com/shop/ag/girl-of-the-year-luciana-books?utm_medium=paid_search&utm_source=GOOGLE%7CRES_AG_Brand_GOTY_Phrase&utm_campaign=RES_AG_B_2018_Luciana&utm_content=luciana+vega+books&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy5W5nYGQ2QIVyYKzCh3NmQxPEAAYASAAEgLnYPD_BwE#facet:&productBeginIndex:0&orderBy:&pageView:grid&minPrice:&maxPrice:&pageSize:&contentPageSize:&">here</a>! I highly recommend these books for you and your girls to read. Paige and I loved reading Luciana's story together! Great job, Erin!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">Love you all!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;">-Disney</span></div>
Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-33967170811020655642018-01-11T20:39:00.003-08:002018-01-13T14:56:48.491-08:00Luciana Vega!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am this penguin at this point in my life.<br />
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A few months ago, I accidentally clicked a sidebar video on youtube that attempts to explain quantum mechanics to seven year olds. The guy had a British accent, so I kept watching. (I mean.) Three hours and a million videos later, I had convinced myself that I could possibly be the one to solve the mystery of wave-particle duality. (I told you. I'm an optimist.)<br />
I'm in magical, twirling, swooning, puppy love with science right now. Particularly quantum physics, because it's so fascinating. I WANT TO KNOW THE THINGS. All the details of creation just make me love the Creator so much more. So you can imagine my excitement when <a href="http://www.americangirl.com/">American Girl</a> announced their Girl of the Year, Luciana Vega, who is into STEM, and wants to be the first kid on Mars. How cool is that theme for an American Girl character?! Plus, she has a permanent purple streak in her wig, and (even though it's not pink) I love the sassiness of that.<br />
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The doll itself is just so beautiful. Luciana is Latina (Chilean) and I love her coloring. She looks beautiful in everything!<br />
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Ah! That purple streak! :) We pulled her hair up so you could see it well, but it is pretty discrete when her hair is down. </div>
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When we opened the box, we were so surprised to also find her space suit in it!! I was so delighted to have the actual suit, but it was also the gesture that just felt like a warm hug from them. I know that's silly, but it was just such a sweet, unexpected surprise. It made me feel loved. They are such a kind and generous company. </div>
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So the kids and I put on Luci's space suit and went to the moon for a photoshoot. And if you're thinking that the moon looks a lot like a huge mound of shoveled, dirty snow in a parking lot...well that's just silly. There aren't even cars on the moon, why would they need parking lots?</div>
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I had read a couple of reviews that said the space suit was super hard to put on...and maybe it's the years of training I've had squeezing a wriggling Ace into his skinny jeans, but I had no trouble with the suit at all! It was quite simple, and it even comes with a little instruction booklet just in case you're not sure which piece goes on first. </div>
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Luciana has many other amazing pieces in her collection. We went down to Indianapolis to check them out in the AG store, and they are just beautiful, so many cool features. Delicious quality, as usual, and great attention to detail. I love that they don't just throw together a collection of themed merchandise. They have an advisory board with NASA scientists, astronauts, and Chilean culture specialists that inspect the collection for accuracy and authenticity. I love that the toys are for fun, and also for education, and character building. And built to last for generations. I'm just a sucker for that kind of thing. Here are a few photos from American Girl that showcase them beautifully! </div>
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It's always interesting to see what other American Girl fans online think of the new dolls, and I have to say, this has been the most enthusiastic response I've ever seen to a new release. And understandably so! I think American Girl hit a bullseye with this doll/collection. Paige and I just finished the first Luciana book, too, and it was really good, you guys. More on that later though. :)</div>
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Thanks so much, <a href="http://www.americangirl.com/">American Girl</a>!! I love you :)</div>
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And I love you! Take care :)</div>
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-Disney</div>
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Post sponsored by American Girl *dance emoji*</div>
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Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-47160688076500386702017-12-24T12:02:00.002-08:002017-12-24T12:03:15.207-08:00Merry Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Merry Christmas, sweet friends!<br />
It started snowing this morning and it has been such a magical Christmas Eve!! I brought my camera to church since the kids were already dolled up and we stopped at a park near our house to snap a few pictures. I am so excited to have a white Christmas!!<br />
This year we are just hanging out at home with the kids all day, and I think this will be the first year we've ever done that. It's been so relaxing not having anything to prepare for. Just wrapping presents while listening to Christmas music with the (fake) fireplace going and drinking coffee. Ahhhh. <br />
I hope your Christmas is relaxing and peaceful, or chaotic and exciting, but merry either way!<br />
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Love!</div>
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-Disney</div>
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<br />Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-69015870343406310562017-12-20T05:52:00.001-08:002017-12-20T06:48:59.639-08:00A Year Without SugarI decided to commit to a year without sugar. I remember reading about a family that did that a few years ago and I thought: "How crazy and extreme and tough that would be!" But it must have planted a seed of inspiration in my head, because here I am.<br />
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I've talked to you before about going without sugar, and why. Basically, I was incredibly addicted to sugar, and it was making me sick. Also nervous, because diabetes is all over both sides of my family. Back in the beginning of last year I decided to go a couple of months without sugar or any other sweeteners (with my vanilla soy milk coffee creamer as my only exception) and it turned into 5 months because I felt so good. My energy and moods were much more balanced, my skin was clearer, my mind was clearer, and I'd lost 20 pounds, without any additional lifestyle chances. Pretty cool. But then I was at a work camp our church goes to for a week and had to eat what was provided. I tried to eat well, but by the end of the week I was eating pizza and brownies, and that swung me back into sugar-overload mode until autumn, when I went another 3 months without sugar. Buuuut then Christmas.<br />
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One thing I know: I cannot moderate myself. I am like a cocaine addict. I go off, then I go back on. I try hard, I pray about it, I make plans, but as soon as my "two months" or whatever is up, I go right back. (Incidentally, this has given me a lot more compassion and insight into the struggle of drug addicts.) I cannot eat sugar in moderation. At least at this point in my life. And the life of a sugar addict...well I'm just too good for it. Thinking of sugar first thing every morning? Letting it control my mood? Being a slave to cravings? Nah. We were meant for better things.<br />
So I thought maybe if I committed to a full year, this time with no soy milk, and no exceptions whatsoever, I could reset my mind and body and get over it somehow. I was thinking maybe after the end of it, I might even be able to do what I've known I should probably do, but wasn't ready to: commit to a lifestyle of no sugar. That's a tough one, because who wants to be the weird girl who "can't eat that" all the time? The one that nobody wants to have over for dinner because her diet is "special", and not even for real medical reasons. You know what I'm talking about. Also, can I really commit to the rest of my life without Brach's candy corn?? (Not a sponsor, haha. But you know that's the ONLY brand.)<br />
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A couple of months into this year without sweeteners, I had already realized that this is the life I want. I want to feel good. I want to rest within my "None at all" boundaries, so I don't have to struggle with moderation. I know it seems like it wouldn't be this way, but I actually find it easier to eat strictly no sweeteners than to try to only eat a little now and then. Because I can put it out of my mind completely, like it doesn't even exist. So after this year of no sweeteners is finished (July 2 of '18), I'm going to just continue, and make it a lifestyle. However, I'm toying with the idea of allowing something on my birthday and/or Christmas. That way I don't have to feel like I can never have a certain thing ever again. I'll try it on my birthday in July, and if it causes too many cravings or problems, I won't do it again. But I know myself pretty well here and I think it will be ok, as long as I know that it's just for that day.<br />
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So yeah. A year without sugar. It's not as crazy as I thought it would be, it's actually awesome. I'm over 5 months in, and by now I'm pretty familiar with which foods have sweeteners in the ingredient list (everything. just, everything.) and which restaurants I can eat at (It's a long list: Chipotle.) and most people are pretty understanding about why I'm doing it. And I feel so, so good. When you're eating nothing with sweeteners, you're almost always eating pretty healthy food, which is so nice. I never worry about my weight anymore, because it's almost impossible to gain too much eating like this. It's so funny, because with all the restrictions of eating this way, what I really feel is...free! So apparently there is something to this "self control" thing. Looks like my Creator was right again. Thank you, God, for giving us advice that gives us freedom.<br />
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Love you :)</div>
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-Disney</div>
Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-16414122975698656212017-08-30T12:42:00.000-07:002017-08-30T13:01:46.868-07:00American (Girl) Dream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The other day, my husband said: "Your blog is pretty much an American Girl blog now." and I was like: "Yeeeaaahhhh..." Haha. I laughed, but actually sometimes I do feel a little embarrassed about how excited I am about dolls. I mean I'm 32, I get it. It's quirky. But I gotta be me, you know? And me loves dolls, I always have.<br />
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I write sponsored posts for AG every time they send me a doll, but I wanted to write a little post that wasn't sponsored, so you'd know how I authentically feel. (Which you already do, fyi, authenticity is kind of a thing with me.)<br />
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I always loved dolls as a little girl, any kind, every kind, but there was nothing more beautiful and sublimely perfect in my mind than the American Girl dolls. In particular, Samantha Parkington, who was not only the prettiest doll, but had my dream life: A large, elegant victorian mansion, formal dressing, piano lessons, an only child (haha), and endless lessons in manners and ladylike ways. I would have ROCKED that existence. But that $87 price tag back in the 1990's may as well have been $5,000 for my family, and to be honest, we couldn't even afford the books. So I got them from the library and read them over and over, even though I usually wouldn't pick up a book to save my life. I studied the illustrations like priceless works of art in a museum. I memorized Samantha's behavior and elegant ways. And the catalogs, OH those beautiful, glorious catalogs! I could have framed every page. Every product, every detail was utter perfection. I just knew I would never look my best until I was wearing one of Samantha's dresses for girls. The AGONY of not having them was almost too much to bear. Looking back, it must have hurt my mom's heart to hear me pining away knowing she could never get me one. But she never made me stop. She was kind like that.<br />
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So to fast forward 20 years or so, it was pretty special when Paige and I went to the Seattle AG store to get our first dolls. Remember <a href="http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/2014/10/a-special-day.html">that post</a>? It was bittersweet, because we were over there to take our little Curly Fry (a sweet boy we took care of for a year) to meet his new foster parents. Our new dolls made it less strange and painful. A couple of years after that, American Girl started sending me samples of their new dolls as they came out, to review on Ruffles and Stuff. Can you say DREAM COME TRUE?? I seriously...I know it sounds strange, but you just have no idea what it means to me, and how special it is. Not only because, well, gorgeous new dollies, but also, and mostly, because it feels like a special gift, straight from God. I almost don't even think of them as from American Girl. When the box comes, the return address should just say "Heaven". As you all know, my heart has been through a lot of pain in the last few years with the loss of my sister, and my father leaving, & etc., and these dolls, these toys...are so much more than that to me. It's like God brought me flowers to say "I'm sorry, feel better." Does that make sense? During this season of sadness, I've seen so many little (but big) gifts like that from God. And I love it so much, because he knows life has really hard times and it has to be like that, but he comforts us in the ways that are just right for us. And I'm so thankful!<br />
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So that's why I post about my dolls. They're special to me. :O)<br />
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Love you, dear people!</div>
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-Disney</div>
Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-45180211197844254422017-08-27T21:19:00.000-07:002017-08-27T21:19:01.464-07:00Joy MedleyWell.<br />
As you've probably gathered, the jewelry company my mother and I started, Joy Medley, is not happening at the moment. I can't tell you how disappointed and horribly embarrassed I am to tell you that.<br />
The odd thing about blogging, and having your life be public, is sometimes you feel obligated to share details, but out of line doing so at the same time. The short story is: my dad left my mom after 40 years of marriage. He left her just months after my sister's suicide, but it was only recently finalized. There's a lot more pain and confusion and sleepless nights and true, true, heartbreak to it, but that's the gist. And we just...we just...we thought we could do the things, but we can't. At the moment.<br />
So I'm sorry. I'm sorry to be flaky, again. And I'm sorry that you were all so encouraging and supportive for nothing. It might just be the foolish, illogical optimism that I am everlastingly plagued with, but I really think someday we will be able to run the business again. It really was such a joy to us.<br />
For now, we're just being still. And I think that's ok.<br />
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Thank you for everything, you kind, kind people. I love you.<br />
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-Disney</div>
Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379969093490103099.post-85696498374522594572017-08-23T18:59:00.001-07:002017-08-24T17:51:40.354-07:00Nanea Mitchell!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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(all images above belong to American Girl^^^)</div>
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Isn't she so beautiful!!!!! Our latest little package of happiness From American Girl came this morning! Their newest doll is a historical Character, which are our favorite! They are what made me fall in love with American Girl when I was still a little girl-the fun stories and dresses and accessories that reflect life in America at the time of whichever doll you had. So cool. This doll, Nanea Mitchell, is from Hawaii and her year is 1941. Paige and I can't wait to start her book tonight, reading about what life may have been like after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Ever since they announced Nanea, back in spring, I've been counting the days until she was released! I love her new face mold, so pretty! And I mean her outfit. Those shorts! I'm dying, why are dolls so cute.<br />
On a personal note, Nanea bares several resemblances to Ace's birth mom, which I find kind of cool. Maybe I will save her for Ace's daughter one day.<br />
Thanks, American Girl, for giving us such a lovey gift! You make us so happy!!<br />
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Love you, friends. :)</div>
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-Disney</div>
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P.S. This post was compensated by American, Girl, blah blah legal stuff, what am I supposed to say again? Opinions and gushing feelings are all mine. :o)</div>
Disneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05027217920177541810noreply@blogger.com0