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JusticeMom
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Name: Carolyn
Location: Springfield, Ohio, United States
Birthday: 4/14/1953
Gender: Female
Interests: Building a closer relationship to God; working on being a success at the expertises listed below; reading, movies,on T.V.: American Idol, & crying over Extreme Makeover-Home Edition!, music, computer, handcrafts, cooking, learning about other cultures, M.K.'s & their parents, the Philippines & India, and more.
Expertise: Hopefully: Teaching, being a wife, mom, grandma, (etc.) and friend.
Occupation: Education/training
Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website
Member Since:
11/19/2005
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| It has been over half of a year since I posted on Xanga! I am going to try to make a go of blogging again. Here are a few items from the time I have been away. SUMMER
  In August, we traveled to N. Carolina - Oak Island - to celebrate my 40th high school reunion with the class that I attended school with from 4th through 8th grade at Faith Academy (school for children of missionaries - aka M.K.'s) in the Philippines. It was so fun to be reunited after so many years, and it was such a blessing to hear how God had been working in each of our lives over the years. We were together for several days. 
We also enjoyed a visit this summer with one of my Xanga friends and her husband, as we met up at the Gaither Family Resources (shop, studio, restaurant, etc.) in Indiana. What special people are Gracia and her husband Tom! We were so blessed by the time that we shared together. (Thanks again for the yummy lunch, and the good fellowship together). FALL  A new school year begins with a new student. Meet 5th grader Sarah (younger sister of Nicole, whom I graduated after having taught her for over nine years). One of the things Sarah enjoys is "dress-up day" when we (or she) dresses up for a theme of the day.In September and in October we had two birthday parties we attended.On the left side below, Tristen and her bff celebrated their seventh birthdays together at the local World of Bounce. Then in October, Brogan celebrated his first birthday with family, friends, lots of new action toys, pets, and a yummy cake! At the end of October, our older son Tom went with Mike and me to the Columbus Veteran's Memorial Stadium for our younger son's official deployment ceremony.
 
At the end of November, we spent Thanksgiving with with our family in Illinois. 
IN DECEMBER -- We were able to see Shaun, Melissa, and the kiddos two more times.. Once for Tristen's first piano recital and afterwards to their home for some snuggle, talk, eat, play, pictures, etc. time . . .  
. . . and once for Christmas with all of our offspring. 
Daddy Shaun had been away for much of Sept., Oct., all of Nov., and had just returned to the family for a little over a week in December. Seeing him with his kids (& wife) especially, it was again brought to me what a great sacrifice the military families give to serve our country. Of course, I miss him too, but it's so much harder on his immediate family. Our prayers are with Shaun and his family during this time of separation. And that brings you, my friends up to the current time. I pray that you each have a blessed 2012. I will try to get around to visit you all the rest of this month.
TRIPLES with EMMA | | | | | | | | |
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33 years ago on July 12th, I was being taken to our local hospital our oldest child was ready to be born! I want to introduce him through a collection of pictures --some from long ago obviously... and some from more recently. Awww... so cute!     Big brother... and (1) 4 generation picture with my dad & his mom... and (2)when he was in high school, he introduced us to a friend who became one of my private students, and then our "adopted" daughter (here seen with my husband Mike last year). (3) Tom's high school senior picture.   Tom LOVES his family, and especially his wife Amber . . .  He loves his niece & nephews (here are his brother's kids). . .  He loves his music . . . this year he introduced me to a new favorite of us both, Brandon Heath. Here's one of his songs we love: "Your Love" (with lyrics)...  He loves his cats . . . he loves cooking . . .   He is very artsy as seen in his photography and various art projects (didn't have a picture of one of those). . .  He loves shopping . . . especially looking for great buys! He's a man of many talents and interests, he loves to do special things for others, he has a tender heart. He is a much loved son.  For Tom's birthday meal, I am making him his favorite Filipino dish ~ lumpia! Here is an acrostic using just ~ TOM . . . some good verses for not only Tom, but for all of us to take to heart. 
T rust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding. (Prov. 3:5)
O bey my commands and live!Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes. (Prov. 7:2) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and M ind. (Matt. 22:37)
 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TOM! TRIPLES with EMMA | | | | | | | |
|  This blog is just to remind me what July 4th is all about in the U.S.A. ~ the birth of a nation. As we celebrate in various ways, the best gift that we can give to America is our support in prayer, service, & honor by being good citizens. May we humble ourselves to God, and in so doing may God truly be able to bless this country.   " . . . One nation under God . . . !!!" 2 Chronicles 7:14 – (AMP) “If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” 
 "GOD BLESS AMERICA" - SUNG BY WINTLEY PHIPPS
 
TRIPLES with EMMA | | | | | | |
| ` "Catch-up Time" On Easter weekend, Mike and I visited the Illinois family. As usual, we enjoyed our time there with the family. One highlight of the time was meeting the wonderful man that married our niece Suzi, and became the much loved Daddy to our great nephew & niece. Here is a picture of the happy family with Suzi's grandparents (my parents).  
For my birthday (in April), I used my gift money to purchase a bread making machine. It makes it so easy (& pain free - for arthritic fingers) to have delicious smelling and tasting breads with a minimum of effort!  Today I made another loaf - not from scratch, but with a boxed mix. It still smelled heavenly, and tasted...ahhh, good!  May 24th my student and I planted a few spring flowers and some chives in my front yard & in my big outdoor flower pot. There were already some beautiful perennials that had come up and were blooming like crazy! You can see them in the collage on the right. Most of those eventually went away after a bad thunderstorm; but since then some other beautiful perennials (the lilies) have been blossoming.  
   So, I'm back on Weight Watchers, and trying to fix and eat good nutritious meals for Mike and me. This was lunch: a bowl of a new Progresso soup. While it isn't a low - fat (or low calorie) soup, it was so delicious. For Mike ~ it was just ok, because he isn't that big of a rice fan, and he is quite generous to me, since rice is my favorite dish to go with proteins, vegies, or plain even (my background in the Philippines). Anyway, I gave him a smaller portion, along with a larger portion of the homemade bread I'd made yesterday, 2 slices of low-fat Provolone cheese, and a banana, to go with his always preferred drink of choice: milk! I had more soup, but only one slice of the cheese, and a smaller portion of bread, and waited until later to have my fruit ... a nice crunchy apple. So I figure out the points for W.W., and try to balance nutrition, low point values, and getting some type of low-impact exercise.  
"A smile is a curve that sets everything straight."-- Phyllis Diller 
SMILEY SPRING & SUMMER PHOTOS OF OUR GRANDKIDS TO HELP YOU SMILE.
" A glad heart makes a happy face"
- Proverbs 15:13a, NLT -
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