tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90473468725290087582024-03-19T05:32:52.341-04:00We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice In ChristJocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.comBlogger1610125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-80972094392765264572021-06-20T08:00:00.006-04:002021-06-20T08:00:00.222-04:00A Beautiful Sunset<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3GJFzbiyPs/YMUiR1MyPiI/AAAAAAADOnM/aVTfbRY5sU8Y9NgWGdjLSNwMKWAPHhAWgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210602_005840010.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3GJFzbiyPs/YMUiR1MyPiI/AAAAAAADOnM/aVTfbRY5sU8Y9NgWGdjLSNwMKWAPHhAWgCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/PXL_20210602_005840010.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This sunset was so amazing...It just deserved it's own post.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I loved watching it melt into different colors as I sat on my front porch. And I loved watching my friends all over this area posting pictures of their skies on social media. It was just a really cool shared experience.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I am grateful that God puts such beauty into the night sky for us...and everywhere else for that matter...to remind us and unite us. And I'm glad I'm slowing down enough this season to enjoy it!</span></div><br /><p></p>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-30060260164902532852021-06-18T08:00:00.003-04:002021-06-18T08:00:00.250-04:00Scarlett Turns 14<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-awss42pfuGM/YMUhEPEm-CI/AAAAAAADOnA/ViT0YAZBPP8J4px24PnWBt4pUePG6f_JwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210531_184121413.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-awss42pfuGM/YMUhEPEm-CI/AAAAAAADOnA/ViT0YAZBPP8J4px24PnWBt4pUePG6f_JwCPcBGAsYHg/w480-h640/PXL_20210531_184121413.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Can't neglect to mention that this sweet girl turned 14 recently.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">She is so fun and so full of life. I'm so excited for her to take on high school and hope that she has all the fun and normal experiences every kid should have and just become better and happier and wiser for it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">She's my buddy. I'm so lucky to have her. (Even if she does kill me at Phase 10 every day. I can no longer beat her....ever!)</span></div><br /><p></p>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-12684968128457099292021-06-17T08:00:00.002-04:002021-06-17T08:00:00.249-04:00Volleyball<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9vGWyEFGTug/YMUgBF8FbZI/AAAAAAADOm0/cq6q1GGIwwIk2oz3_FSUVt6au0tGinA-ACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210608_215807669.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9vGWyEFGTug/YMUgBF8FbZI/AAAAAAADOm0/cq6q1GGIwwIk2oz3_FSUVt6au0tGinA-ACPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/PXL_20210608_215807669.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Another thing we've been doing a lot of lately is volleyball. Our boys varsity team was in the state semi-finals, so we went to see them: Guy, Scarlett, and Me.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3CwHHrmy6g/YMUgBM4vFcI/AAAAAAADOm0/Tw9IdkQvacIatlyg3ZNK5SuEnTvQK7tcQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210608_231043003.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3CwHHrmy6g/YMUgBM4vFcI/AAAAAAADOm0/Tw9IdkQvacIatlyg3ZNK5SuEnTvQK7tcQCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/PXL_20210608_231043003.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">They both play volleyball, as did I in high school, but it was just so fun to watch my kids cheering in the student section. It was so NORMAL! Here's to more normal.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Our team didn't advance to the finals, but they got so far and were really fun to watch.</span></p>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-74734143899739772742021-06-16T08:00:00.001-04:002021-06-16T08:00:00.242-04:00Made it Through this Crazy Year<p style="text-align: center;"> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cid-763mB_M/YMUdJNbT07I/AAAAAAADOmo/rYU4YjCAl6gbIB1q1bzsV-Bv1R1JjzGyQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/original_94a72f78-976b-4863-8a4d-6ef2ec4a3a8c_PXL_20210604_105235921.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cid-763mB_M/YMUdJNbT07I/AAAAAAADOmo/rYU4YjCAl6gbIB1q1bzsV-Bv1R1JjzGyQCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/original_94a72f78-976b-4863-8a4d-6ef2ec4a3a8c_PXL_20210604_105235921.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I'm very happy to start putting this Pandemic behind me! And that kind of felt like it started with the last day of school!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eM5P9Sc9tP0/YMUdJPpjKLI/AAAAAAADOmo/szuNZjbaNf0EuJAZWH_U9bNxJFe2nFNfACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210604_105402261.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eM5P9Sc9tP0/YMUdJPpjKLI/AAAAAAADOmo/szuNZjbaNf0EuJAZWH_U9bNxJFe2nFNfACPcBGAsYHg/w300-h400/PXL_20210604_105402261.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Sometimes I guess I really am grateful for endings. I've been excited for Scarlett however to start high school next year. It has brought back all sorts of memories from that exciting time in my life. I was in it to win it! And because the last year and a half has sort of stunted lots of kids in this generation, I'm eager to jumpstart their high school time and get them all jazzed for what lies ahead....which is lots of good stuff!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S4qoqo7FZIw/YMUdJA9bbCI/AAAAAAADOmo/lvfQQFKIFp0drtak84pnFHc8h9hmFfuJgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210604_155012515.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S4qoqo7FZIw/YMUdJA9bbCI/AAAAAAADOmo/lvfQQFKIFp0drtak84pnFHc8h9hmFfuJgCPcBGAsYHg/w480-h640/PXL_20210604_155012515.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In conjunction with some other moms in my hood, we did a little celebration when the kids got off the bus. We had food, a water fight, and an old-fashioned balloon launch.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lqgt_HM7gzQ/YMUdJBUlNNI/AAAAAAADOmo/zmPMnu3XsWoijRULNQoPm4kF9KsjhyN5gCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210604_154910158.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lqgt_HM7gzQ/YMUdJBUlNNI/AAAAAAADOmo/zmPMnu3XsWoijRULNQoPm4kF9KsjhyN5gCPcBGAsYHg/s320/PXL_20210604_154910158.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The children wrote their "summer wishes" on a tag connected to their helium balloon and all together we launched them into the sky.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nBdou_fX7Og/YMUdJDApOlI/AAAAAAADOmo/8UT_RhzuE4gO4DQdnTKRnTfgxBq1arUtwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210604_152120971.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nBdou_fX7Og/YMUdJDApOlI/AAAAAAADOmo/8UT_RhzuE4gO4DQdnTKRnTfgxBq1arUtwCPcBGAsYHg/w300-h400/PXL_20210604_152120971.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ARPv6vDZ8HU/YMUdJEkPE8I/AAAAAAADOmo/wUKW4XRXgqQKvtTh24YJiUEmv9stykQUgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210604_150255536.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ARPv6vDZ8HU/YMUdJEkPE8I/AAAAAAADOmo/wUKW4XRXgqQKvtTh24YJiUEmv9stykQUgCPcBGAsYHg/s320/PXL_20210604_150255536.MP.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And then we rounded out the last day of school with the three oldest kids getting their second Covid shot!! We're all so grateful for that!!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aky-p_ymxdg/YMUdJJ5qhsI/AAAAAAADOmo/GgO5dhrg5bYIZf9aXLL4_MrTl-nDf0mnwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210604_190828248.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aky-p_ymxdg/YMUdJJ5qhsI/AAAAAAADOmo/GgO5dhrg5bYIZf9aXLL4_MrTl-nDf0mnwCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/PXL_20210604_190828248.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-63687187598303612942021-06-15T08:00:00.001-04:002021-06-15T08:00:00.251-04:00Getting in to Gardening again<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e6qKlHoWlLU/YMUb2yYCgKI/AAAAAAADOmc/14yC1ZMD0WI9wtt53q5JzKWsdDfEHxmuwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210609_171341309.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e6qKlHoWlLU/YMUb2yYCgKI/AAAAAAADOmc/14yC1ZMD0WI9wtt53q5JzKWsdDfEHxmuwCPcBGAsYHg/w480-h640/PXL_20210609_171341309.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As I mentioned yesterday, I've gotten back into gardening. Since our big yard overhaul last summer, I now have lots of space to garden. I'm specifically in to sunflowers this year and have about 20 varieties planted, but I also have veggies and pumpkins in various areas of my yard.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cf_RIFoGzmo/YMUb28xHYnI/AAAAAAADOmc/himQTBXYJTkyv4I1ZxFDBm0yVLRHMAkAQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210607_120422095.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cf_RIFoGzmo/YMUb28xHYnI/AAAAAAADOmc/himQTBXYJTkyv4I1ZxFDBm0yVLRHMAkAQCPcBGAsYHg/w400-h300/PXL_20210607_120422095.MP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Unfortunately, I also have lots of critters, especially deer. But I'm working on keeping them out of my sunflower patches!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OqFEcq6MP_E/YMUb2zcaGpI/AAAAAAADOmc/ngRmGWdESg0VKykUXLSk9uRMl1zyX1J6wCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210610_225105397.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OqFEcq6MP_E/YMUb2zcaGpI/AAAAAAADOmc/ngRmGWdESg0VKykUXLSk9uRMl1zyX1J6wCPcBGAsYHg/s320/PXL_20210610_225105397.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I have a crazy goal...I want to make a big sunflower patch for a friend of mine who recently lost a child, her three-year-old boy. I am trying really hard to keep the deer out so this goal can become a reality, but we'll see...</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdB7MRPMBVc/YMUb2-8yA6I/AAAAAAADOmc/JsNwhm02h34B7EpPKqHgALfpYuYUl0EzwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210609_110122787.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rdB7MRPMBVc/YMUb2-8yA6I/AAAAAAADOmc/JsNwhm02h34B7EpPKqHgALfpYuYUl0EzwCPcBGAsYHg/w480-h640/PXL_20210609_110122787.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ynJ1iFHIjRs/YMUb20D2JjI/AAAAAAADOmc/-t1FlD4a1mAdAvx4ixjKOI55u2Ca6JepgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210609_145028876.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ynJ1iFHIjRs/YMUb20D2JjI/AAAAAAADOmc/-t1FlD4a1mAdAvx4ixjKOI55u2Ca6JepgCPcBGAsYHg/s320/PXL_20210609_145028876.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pm3Knngqtsg/YMUb2717jlI/AAAAAAADOmc/8eSIUW7a1qE9nEMR0Ms-FizpZgQe6yFZgCPcBGAsYHg/s3264/PXL_20210609_153703415.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pm3Knngqtsg/YMUb2717jlI/AAAAAAADOmc/8eSIUW7a1qE9nEMR0Ms-FizpZgQe6yFZgCPcBGAsYHg/w480-h640/PXL_20210609_153703415.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_cLQsw_iqTg/YMUb2yEiH1I/AAAAAAADOmc/n4-TwzKcVmc7j6dCUi-f3l9w9X0iuA8qgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210609_172517667.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_cLQsw_iqTg/YMUb2yEiH1I/AAAAAAADOmc/n4-TwzKcVmc7j6dCUi-f3l9w9X0iuA8qgCPcBGAsYHg/s320/PXL_20210609_172517667.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-27766402374617564162021-06-14T08:00:00.006-04:002021-06-14T08:00:00.283-04:00Patriotic Kid Books<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-io3KZtBbpgA/YMUaD-RztmI/AAAAAAADOmQ/SpVGwBT3e68vW1QDX7WDRQN963tq3DdigCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210612_125908256.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-io3KZtBbpgA/YMUaD-RztmI/AAAAAAADOmQ/SpVGwBT3e68vW1QDX7WDRQN963tq3DdigCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/PXL_20210612_125908256.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a> </p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It's been a few weeks. I gave myself permission to take a break after I finished homeschooling Honor! And it has been soooooo good! I deep dived into gardening, starting working out and taking long walks in the morning, and reconnected with some old friends. I feel so renewed.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Now I'm back and here to share a few new books with you that I discovered about the American Revolution. Here they are. Enjoy them with a kid near you!<br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gENA0RsXjxM/YMUaD9tWmQI/AAAAAAADOmQ/P1kIKvwBCBMTA-zAOWSDF1ZQlC_GIU69gCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210612_125746305.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gENA0RsXjxM/YMUaD9tWmQI/AAAAAAADOmQ/P1kIKvwBCBMTA-zAOWSDF1ZQlC_GIU69gCPcBGAsYHg/w300-h400/PXL_20210612_125746305.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EHWEEXr6Lmk/YMUaD-IFx3I/AAAAAAADOmQ/QZMM_IrYGY0YKuVBDpee9XwwQaFiaIRRACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210612_130441993.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EHWEEXr6Lmk/YMUaD-IFx3I/AAAAAAADOmQ/QZMM_IrYGY0YKuVBDpee9XwwQaFiaIRRACPcBGAsYHg/w300-h400/PXL_20210612_130441993.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PoedB6E3TLM/YMUaDxcS39I/AAAAAAADOmQ/K5-fQFgXIS0wjtWBz8M8kEwEsamGyW3bACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210612_130437089.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PoedB6E3TLM/YMUaDxcS39I/AAAAAAADOmQ/K5-fQFgXIS0wjtWBz8M8kEwEsamGyW3bACPcBGAsYHg/w300-h400/PXL_20210612_130437089.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iwJXv6HLaa4/YMUaD2qkyoI/AAAAAAADOmQ/lVFNChhL3dM7U3y93BdZuBD58yPVKPhzACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210612_130428829.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iwJXv6HLaa4/YMUaD2qkyoI/AAAAAAADOmQ/lVFNChhL3dM7U3y93BdZuBD58yPVKPhzACPcBGAsYHg/w300-h400/PXL_20210612_130428829.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2HjkVrAj1fE/YMUaD_lLOVI/AAAAAAADOmQ/2xkG8T_545QBSljzC423DB1ARfpk4o_swCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210612_130422878.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2HjkVrAj1fE/YMUaD_lLOVI/AAAAAAADOmQ/2xkG8T_545QBSljzC423DB1ARfpk4o_swCPcBGAsYHg/w300-h400/PXL_20210612_130422878.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IDGIKAYX7U0/YMUaD4vDkGI/AAAAAAADOmQ/6cFAMFurrGI1vgEjcIwtHcIVPp04dPqjQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210612_130408239.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IDGIKAYX7U0/YMUaD4vDkGI/AAAAAAADOmQ/6cFAMFurrGI1vgEjcIwtHcIVPp04dPqjQCPcBGAsYHg/w300-h400/PXL_20210612_130408239.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></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;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21MdOjWoU7E/YMUaDzzi74I/AAAAAAADOmQ/iWi-UZjw4sIqovzfaOXaIJ7xJFSo9JQZQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210612_130452831.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-21MdOjWoU7E/YMUaDzzi74I/AAAAAAADOmQ/iWi-UZjw4sIqovzfaOXaIJ7xJFSo9JQZQCPcBGAsYHg/s320/PXL_20210612_130452831.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p></div>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-33106721979081255922021-05-15T08:00:00.001-04:002021-05-15T08:00:00.251-04:00Zee best Mother's Day<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--AOXcQw1CJY/YJieBoPDuCI/AAAAAAADJNQ/RQTIEIkvPaQl8bSwMgmD6Jk7OfwbTny4ACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210509_133031133.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--AOXcQw1CJY/YJieBoPDuCI/AAAAAAADJNQ/RQTIEIkvPaQl8bSwMgmD6Jk7OfwbTny4ACPcBGAsYHg/w480-h640/PXL_20210509_133031133.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I had the best Mother's Day...actually I took the whole week and celebrated! :) In truth, since it was "teacher appreciation week", I decided to treat myself to something each day, since I homeschooled Honor this year! And so the two "holidays" just kind of got stretched out all week.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I took the kids out to lunch one day, bought some plants and flowers for the yard, got cards from the kids, got flowers from the girls and some friends. It was really nice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As a Mom, I'm just not someone who takes breaks. I feel like I need to be on 100% of the time and for a long time, that has basically been true. So it was nice for once to let loose a little!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And I'm very grateful to my husband for making it such a fun weekend for me by serving me and treating me extra special! </span></p>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-36225833766597688112021-05-14T08:00:00.001-04:002021-05-14T08:00:00.267-04:00A Tribute to my Mother on Mother's Day<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ri-zIQ5WfUc/YJiX6w7MIbI/AAAAAAADJMo/so2GYMO2c1I5JbPI4kEchuUdgbX1JxXVgCPcBGAsYHg/s910/FB_IMG_1620224140450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="910" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ri-zIQ5WfUc/YJiX6w7MIbI/AAAAAAADJMo/so2GYMO2c1I5JbPI4kEchuUdgbX1JxXVgCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h428/FB_IMG_1620224140450.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I don't remember my Mom being pregnant, but she must've been because she had 5 children! I do however remember my Mom always caring for children! I remember her making Kool-aid for the neighborhood kids in the summer and hosting a parade each summer which we all lived for! </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">My mom has always been a protector of children. I remember in my elementary school (back in the 80's) there was a paddle in the principal's office. It had holes in it (to make it hurt more is what we kids thought!). During my time in school we started hearing of certain kids getting paddled as their punishment for misbehaving. Around that time, mom told the principal that if he ever needed to paddle one of her kids, she was to be called and he was only to do it in front of her. The paddle completely fell out of use soon after that interaction and was removed from the principal's office. (It used to hang behind his desk. I know because I got sent to the office a bunch!)</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">As an adult looking back, I have always suspected that my Mom's requirement that she watch the punishment caused the principal to reconsider this action and realize how pathetic it was. In doing this, my Mom not only saved ME from the paddle, but she saved those kids who were getting paddled who didn't have parents stepping in to stop it.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">For this and so many other reasons, I totally idolize my Mom! She is my hero!</div></div>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-8819781316301032532021-05-13T08:00:00.001-04:002021-05-13T08:00:00.267-04:00Tis the Season<p style="text-align: center;"> <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5r_kvlk11Lc/YJiWSbAHBoI/AAAAAAADJMY/2iSzyc6kpHovBLYO8FLIz-DrueZliGvMwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210506_223621693.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5r_kvlk11Lc/YJiWSbAHBoI/AAAAAAADJMY/2iSzyc6kpHovBLYO8FLIz-DrueZliGvMwCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/PXL_20210506_223621693.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I try to support Guy in the good things he is involved in and one of those things is that he plays on the volleyball team.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This week Scarlett had a band concert at the same time as one of Guy's home games. Because of the pandemic, only senior parents could attend the band concert in person, but they livestreamed it. So I listened to Scarlett's Band concert on my earbuds, while sitting in the gym watching the Varsity volleyball team play.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Isn't it an amazing world and time that we live in?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3nRpvafp5vg/YJiWSd5s8iI/AAAAAAADJMY/qmrhLyr1gyMfC5vXuqXFxBbnT0_qTL9bACPcBGAsYHg/s3264/original_091ed1b9-be18-45c6-9021-077f22b805a1_PXL_20210507_001223681.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3nRpvafp5vg/YJiWSd5s8iI/AAAAAAADJMY/qmrhLyr1gyMfC5vXuqXFxBbnT0_qTL9bACPcBGAsYHg/w480-h640/original_091ed1b9-be18-45c6-9021-077f22b805a1_PXL_20210507_001223681.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-91810717267149315042021-05-12T08:00:00.002-04:002021-05-12T08:00:00.323-04:00Happy Birthday to My Dad<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VUu1KoFGAtg/YJia1HTTdDI/AAAAAAADJM0/dMO_ClTIcWYY6rxdTchT0o_tvVQUEpHAACLcBGAsYHQ/s972/Robert%2BHatch%2Bin%2Bhis%2Bgarden%2B-%2BAugust%2B1977%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="972" height="454" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VUu1KoFGAtg/YJia1HTTdDI/AAAAAAADJM0/dMO_ClTIcWYY6rxdTchT0o_tvVQUEpHAACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h454/Robert%2BHatch%2Bin%2Bhis%2Bgarden%2B-%2BAugust%2B1977%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Today is my Dad's birthday. Many years growing up, my Dad's birthday fell on Mother's Day!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I share these two photos of him today, because this is how I remember my Dad the most...in the garden.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">After working at the steel mill, he could always be found in his peaceful garden turning soil, while we told him about our day, weeding, fertilizing, etc.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I can remember my mom asking us to "call dad in" from the garden for dinner. He would enter the house carrying the largest, reddest, juiciest tomatoes you've ever seen! And the taste! Pure heaven.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I'm pretty sure that most of our family gardens because of the great love our own father has for gardening.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Thank you Dad for investing all of yourself into growing our family and teaching us the most valuable of life lessons. We love you!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bHHM5Uz3ESU/YJia8HgqEOI/AAAAAAADJM4/xlNNfZUXWQIV8phXOzCKcyyV0IDKKIuaACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20150711_182202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bHHM5Uz3ESU/YJia8HgqEOI/AAAAAAADJM4/xlNNfZUXWQIV8phXOzCKcyyV0IDKKIuaACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/20150711_182202.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-15074855931905693082021-05-11T08:00:00.011-04:002021-05-11T08:00:00.248-04:00She teaches me how to plant...<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2F6f3yNFueM/YJiUH657xiI/AAAAAAADJME/ri7hU6FPrwc40wRX5AD38JME0tSUGrttgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210504_224404121.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2F6f3yNFueM/YJiUH657xiI/AAAAAAADJME/ri7hU6FPrwc40wRX5AD38JME0tSUGrttgCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/PXL_20210504_224404121.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I mentioned yesterday that Sunday was Coy's first day in Primary ever. It was also Val's first day back at Primary since the Pandemic started. And prior to that he only went for about two months!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">One of the sweet parts of Primary for me is hearing the answers the children gave to the questions posed by the singing leader.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Question: What's one rule that your Mom has?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Val's Answer: "Make Mom happy."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Question: What is something that your Mother has taught you?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Val's Answer: "How to plant!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">We've done a lot of planting in the last few months...seeds, bulbs, seedlings, and plants.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This week, we planted a doozy: It will hopefully turn into a very large elephant ear that's about 5-6 feet tall!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I love planting with my children and watching things grow together. And I'm very anxious to see what Val and Coy grow into as well! I am still waiting to see what will happen to the seeds that I planted in my oldest children. My prayers go out for them all every day.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t3gakDzoCLg/YJiUH4dXfrI/AAAAAAADJME/IkMjSAHpeCwu2w6NRjnxvJWnXcwTS5z4wCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210504_224402616.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t3gakDzoCLg/YJiUH4dXfrI/AAAAAAADJME/IkMjSAHpeCwu2w6NRjnxvJWnXcwTS5z4wCPcBGAsYHg/s320/PXL_20210504_224402616.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hF6ObTXtj98/YJiUH6Aa8TI/AAAAAAADJME/UNxu5EsCLVYMxzt8obzzIM1UQ2mAiq_ZACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210504_224413940.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hF6ObTXtj98/YJiUH6Aa8TI/AAAAAAADJME/UNxu5EsCLVYMxzt8obzzIM1UQ2mAiq_ZACPcBGAsYHg/s320/PXL_20210504_224413940.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cPJONmTRkY/YJiUH99PkUI/AAAAAAADJME/oaunZM1Rbos7QjCDEyBhoQr6ZL-sMNIgwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210504_224434898.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cPJONmTRkY/YJiUH99PkUI/AAAAAAADJME/oaunZM1Rbos7QjCDEyBhoQr6ZL-sMNIgwCPcBGAsYHg/s320/PXL_20210504_224434898.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7h2GsRFJlE8/YJiUH2sUNLI/AAAAAAADJME/aBfXNsKKPUoHwh63jKh-mJFrSw9EB-aKACPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210504_224441353.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7h2GsRFJlE8/YJiUH2sUNLI/AAAAAAADJME/aBfXNsKKPUoHwh63jKh-mJFrSw9EB-aKACPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/PXL_20210504_224441353.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fbdHv2WPr-g/YJiUH2EEX2I/AAAAAAADJME/i1PhkAKfHlklBv9YWfJMYKuwH-xkesEjgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210504_224456780.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fbdHv2WPr-g/YJiUH2EEX2I/AAAAAAADJME/i1PhkAKfHlklBv9YWfJMYKuwH-xkesEjgCPcBGAsYHg/s320/PXL_20210504_224456780.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-77453734708540363952021-05-10T08:00:00.001-04:002021-05-10T08:00:00.255-04:00Coy's First Day of Primary!<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mfJ2N8wd2Cw/YJiSDBDGsSI/AAAAAAADJL4/hQ7nc9rmvEgLMkF11l_GQawHgWzWCQgRwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210509_150738844.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mfJ2N8wd2Cw/YJiSDBDGsSI/AAAAAAADJL4/hQ7nc9rmvEgLMkF11l_GQawHgWzWCQgRwCPcBGAsYHg/w480-h640/PXL_20210509_150738844.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Today was Coy Boone's first day of in-person Primary! But I didn't fully realize it until we got home from church. The pandemic has made everything so crazy...I almost missed it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Thankfully, Val and Coy were asked to give the opening and closing prayers during Primary, so I have a quick picture of Coy in Primary on his first day!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And he sat surprisingly well for a kid who has never been to primary or preschool yet! I know because I got to sit next to him. Steve and I were called as Primary teachers during the Pandemic, but are only now actually getting to be in Primary.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It touched my heart to listen to the teachers teach these young ones, to hear them answer questions, and to sing with them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">After the last year or so that has really beat me down as a parent, I need Primary to build me back up again and help me refind my inner teacher of young ones!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">But I'm so grateful I could be with Coy on his first day. And I'm excited for all of the Primary days ahead.</span></div><br /><p></p>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-66408188571937711442021-05-09T21:50:00.002-04:002021-05-09T21:50:28.801-04:00End of School FHE<p> <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">We've done this in different ways a few times before, but with the wrapping up of Honor's 2nd grade Homeschool year, we decided we needed to have a family home evening to display some of her creations and celebrate the work of both Val and Honor this year.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9mhw08qgylc/YJiQpWS9FwI/AAAAAAADJLk/ETkCe-KkvlI1zB-6xNz_6au61aNkfNJNgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210503_183354114.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9mhw08qgylc/YJiQpWS9FwI/AAAAAAADJLk/ETkCe-KkvlI1zB-6xNz_6au61aNkfNJNgCPcBGAsYHg/w480-h640/PXL_20210503_183354114.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a></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;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">I just gathered their drawings and stuff and we walked around the house as a family looking at their work and admiring it and asking questions. It was a fun, simple way to support our young students!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3O2ZgnfqsG0/YJiQpSdCSHI/AAAAAAADJLk/HtSuLSlatPQUvKaOpfS9yaN4f7fJ40NNwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210503_183551319.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3O2ZgnfqsG0/YJiQpSdCSHI/AAAAAAADJLk/HtSuLSlatPQUvKaOpfS9yaN4f7fJ40NNwCPcBGAsYHg/w480-h640/PXL_20210503_183551319.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BiHj1xVifGY/YJiQpT-lNII/AAAAAAADJLk/Dm1TMFGERcgzMFQ4e3QQ7ztuqx5FsYDRwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210503_183342967.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BiHj1xVifGY/YJiQpT-lNII/AAAAAAADJLk/Dm1TMFGERcgzMFQ4e3QQ7ztuqx5FsYDRwCPcBGAsYHg/w480-h640/PXL_20210503_183342967.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NN695ZilIh0/YJiQpXQSIyI/AAAAAAADJLk/jS5ZEuPDcv8TpN-oR4ELKR5y2w80Jk5cgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210503_183603522.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NN695ZilIh0/YJiQpXQSIyI/AAAAAAADJLk/jS5ZEuPDcv8TpN-oR4ELKR5y2w80Jk5cgCPcBGAsYHg/s320/PXL_20210503_183603522.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G1aFuZhkod4/YJiQpZCZO1I/AAAAAAADJLk/WjcYwdrlZDQ2DFzW3DjfCLrOL1lyoHvvQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210503_183559513.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G1aFuZhkod4/YJiQpZCZO1I/AAAAAAADJLk/WjcYwdrlZDQ2DFzW3DjfCLrOL1lyoHvvQCPcBGAsYHg/s320/PXL_20210503_183559513.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p7W7habCnrQ/YJiQpaBtgJI/AAAAAAADJLk/3DuxveW9nLMxuefm5gRlHGQsagfyX4XfQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210503_183330674.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p7W7habCnrQ/YJiQpaBtgJI/AAAAAAADJLk/3DuxveW9nLMxuefm5gRlHGQsagfyX4XfQCPcBGAsYHg/s320/PXL_20210503_183330674.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJTL8RVpsPg/YJiRIf1Fl8I/AAAAAAADJLs/d6ohjlnVMokdqbJ3O970ur3696tmcSIfQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210503_183636254.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJTL8RVpsPg/YJiRIf1Fl8I/AAAAAAADJLs/d6ohjlnVMokdqbJ3O970ur3696tmcSIfQCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/PXL_20210503_183636254.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p4H-hcwsiE8/YJiRIU3rLVI/AAAAAAADJLs/7jf6bD0Xbk8-5UqFMcDyl2UTXZh6BiwaQCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/PXL_20210503_183632592.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p4H-hcwsiE8/YJiRIU3rLVI/AAAAAAADJLs/7jf6bD0Xbk8-5UqFMcDyl2UTXZh6BiwaQCPcBGAsYHg/s320/PXL_20210503_183632592.MP.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-39625870943414780862021-05-08T09:58:00.000-04:002021-05-08T09:58:27.234-04:00The Temple site in Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C-pnNPQW--o/YI9RGnKGBCI/AAAAAAADIBQ/fxgSTqd5LnoOFYWCVksSoHkZed4vJfgnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1620005140977323-0.png" width="400">
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</div><div><br></div><div>Here's just a quick Pittsburgh Temple update. I noticed the fields were starting to come to life with bright wildflowers around the temple site, so I wanted to quickly snap a photo and this was the result. Everyone is abuzz about the temple. A groundbreaking date has not been announced, but soon... we're all hoping!❤️</div>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-1903959691232025842021-05-07T13:02:00.000-04:002021-05-07T13:02:52.165-04:00Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4FYpwV5whmk/YI9P-eVH4MI/AAAAAAADIBI/mlT9jzjnAGAETMgcswZ_OghqiXb9vzjKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1620004852940943-0.png" width="400">
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</div><div><br></div><div>I made this meal for the missionaries this week. It's just a simple chicken tetrazzini recipe, but every time I make it I think of a friend of mine from my old ward named Susie who made it for me when I had just had my third child.</div><div><br></div><div>I think she had five kids at the time and she was finding time to serve me. She was such a good example to me of service so every time I make this recipe I think of her. I'm grateful for good examples like her.</div><div><br></div><div>Here's the recipe, at least how I make it:</div><div><br></div><div><div>Ok don't judge me for the totally unhealthy way I make this meal. Not sure if Susie made it this way or not. I used your recipe at first then just kind of did whatever. So ingredients:</div><div><br></div><div>Chicken cooked and cut up bitesized or a rotisserie chicken if you want it to go faster, mushrooms sliced and sauteed in butter (of course), dice green peppers, dice roma tomatoes, cook spaghetti al dente, set aside, in a pan combine 2 cans cream of chicken soup, thin with milk and heat, then add a few handfuls of cheddar cheese and stir until melted. Then stir in spaghetti until covered with sauce. Then add in chicken, mushrooms, toms, and green bell peppers. You can add pepper if you like. Serve warm. That's how I make it. Nothing fancy! As for quantities just add as much as makes you and your family happy and full. Can be frozen immediately for another night or to take to a friend!💗</div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-32966424587636279572021-05-06T11:20:00.000-04:002021-05-06T11:20:04.416-04:00Butler Child Advocacy Center Grand OpeningI've been spending a lot of time magnifying my calling as Communication Director lately. I've built some new relationships and made some new friends through this and the other night I was able to meet some of these friends in person, which is no small miracle in this age of the pandemic!<div><br></div><div>I've been following the progress of a small group of people who pushed to have a child advocacy center built some years ago and now succeeded in renovating a larger building where more children could receive help after abuse.</div><div><br></div><div>The building and center was the vision of Denna Hays, and these are many members of our stake who contributed their time (100's of hours-worth) and talents to create this safe and welcoming place for these kids.</div><div><br></div><div>So after interacting with them online and being in complete aw of their accomplishment I got to attend the "grand opening". They really barely know who I am but I felt so lucky to attend and I really wanted to attend to show support for their amazing work a d the work that they will do in this place. </div><div><br></div><div>Here are some photos to show you some of the amazing artwork created to make the place really welcome to all who come there for services.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QGeJyXeuuMI/YI9OoRKmZ4I/AAAAAAADIAw/xsEz-5ySo8UufUviRPXniSx8S77D9sKcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1620004510063295-0.png" width="400">
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</div>First here is Denna Hays, the director and person without whom this place would not exist.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div><div>Here is Jennifer Spryn, a member of our church who donated 300+ hours of her time to create this amazing life-sized tree full of animals who serve to distract the children during exams a d help set them at ease. </div><div><br></div><div>Each animal was hand-made by Jennifer out of sculpy clay. And the painting of the tree is amazing too!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div><div>There is also a long hallway that was transformed by two local painters into an undersea mural. It's like walking through the ocean and it is spectacular and calming.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div><div>I am so impressed and inspired by what they have done to see to the needs of the most vulnera7 in our society and I know Heavenly Father is pleased too.</div><div><br></div><div>Missionaries from the area have volunteered there weekly for months and members from three different units donated their time for help with multiple projects.</div><div><br></div><div>I have experienced some hard things in my calling, but this was definitely an upside of my calling. What a privilege it was just to stand next to these angels on earth even for just one night.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-79555340603486356422021-05-04T07:38:00.000-04:002021-05-04T07:38:08.805-04:00Mother and Protector<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><div><br></div><div>We got to attend Val's spring play at preschool this week, and boy am I glad I didn't miss it.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div><div>He was so sweet dancing around dressed like a crayon and teaching us to be kind through their little play.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div><div>At the end of the program they all recited a special poem about Mothers and handed out small gifts and certificates to the mothers on which each child finished the sentence, "I love my mommy because...."</div><div><br></div><div>Val said, "I love my Mommy, because she protects me."</div><div><br></div><div>I could not have been more flattered or felt more proud by his description of me.</div><div><br></div><div>He could have easily said, "She makes me sandwiches or lets me watch TV" as other kids did, but this just shows how observant this precious one is.</div><div><br></div><div>As Mom's, we don't always get the pats on the back, but this was a big one that I'll always remember.</div><div><br></div>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-80476400751162264772021-05-03T09:00:00.001-04:002021-05-03T14:49:51.297-04:00May Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I appreciate my Mom teaching us and "enforcing" our many family traditions. One of those traditions us is giving flowers in May Day.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Steve rarely gets onboard with these traditions, but this year he got me this bouquet! I love it!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The last 8 years or so I have bought a bouquet of flowers and we split it up into mini-bouquets for neighbors or teachers These are the ones I dropped off at the homes of the ladies I minister to...a day early actually because I knew I'd be busy on Saturday. This is definitely a fading tradition, but it lives on in our family.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">What traditions do you have in your family that are rare in this day and age?</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-26872578652579983902021-05-02T20:23:00.000-04:002021-05-02T20:23:26.609-04:00To Value and Encourage Young Women<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><div><br></div><div>There are some people in this life who are just extraordinary. One of those people is my friend Mark.</div><div><br></div><div>He is always so kind and encouraging to others. And he values womanhood.</div><div><br></div><div>Mark recently reached out and sent a special gift to encourage my girls in their art and in their spiritual journey by sending them an art kit.</div><div><br></div><div>I hope my boys turn out like Mark...kind, generous with compliments, and men who value the talents and contributions of women. Thank you, Mark!</div>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-60623634014265786492021-04-30T13:58:00.000-04:002021-04-30T13:58:03.894-04:00We made it!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><div><br></div><div>We did it!!! Honor had her last day of school yesterday...her final math assessment of 2nd grade!</div><div><br></div><div>It's been quite the adventure!</div><div><br></div><div>I'm so grateful we could have this experience together learning and growing, discovering our world and our place in it.</div><div><br></div><div>I will have to take some time to think about how this year has changed me. I can now say that I have taught 2nd grade (best grade in my opinion!)</div><div><br></div><div>I know that God, for whatever reason, gave us this special time together, and I am grateful for it. </div><div><br></div><div>Now, we celebrate!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br></div>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-23746960005232976622021-04-29T22:55:00.000-04:002021-04-29T22:55:41.996-04:00Plant Night and Missionary Work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br><div>I brought a friend to a Relief Society activity last week where we learned gardening tips from our Stake RS president who is a Master Gardener through Penn State.</div><div><br></div><div>My friend and I both enjoyed it immensely and were so excited to get our plants in the ground and try out some things we had learned. It was just a nice, simple evening with useful information shared.</div><div><br></div><div>Then as we were saying the closing prayer, we could hear laughing and cheering coming from the cultural hall.</div><div><br></div><div>I had to go right away and see what was going on: the missionaries were teaching English lessons for Portuguese speakers as they do twice a week now. (Because of the Pandemic we have many sets of missionaries who served in Brazil previously!)<br><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div></div></div><div><br></div><div>My friend and I popped in to observe and they were having the best time. They were loud and animated playing a game where the moderator named a kitchen appliance and a set of elders were competing to be the first to slap the appliance with a spatula.</div><div><br></div><div>It was so silly but hilarious.</div><div><br></div><div>My friend suddenly had a million questions about missionaries and what they do, and wanted to know if I am going to "let Guy go on one", which I explained to her it has never been a matter of letting but of him wanting to go.</div><div><br></div><div>Anyway, I'm sharing this to give an example of a positive experience introducing our friends to the gospel in a way that touches them, but doesn't necessarily have to be doctrine heavy.</div><div><br></div><div>I definitely hope they have .ore activities like this and I know the missionaries are doing amazing work in the service they're providing. More good things to come from this time of COVID.</div>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-7479146780704440942021-04-28T08:07:00.001-04:002021-04-28T08:07:31.216-04:00Reaching Out in Love to Youth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><div><br></div><div>The girls had a special visit last evening from a dear lady at church named Sue Ellis.</div><div><br></div><div>Sue conducts the music during Sacrament meeting and each year she takes a few youth aside and teaches them all she has learned about leading music and then has them help her lead a few songs each week.</div><div><br></div><div>She has picked my girls to do this.</div><div><br></div><div>I was really touched as I sat in on their lesson. She not only taught them the mechanics of conducting music, but she ministered to them and emphasized parts of the gospel.</div><div><br></div><div>I was so grateful for her energy and kindness in reaching out to my girls, drawing them in, and giving them a job to do. Her encouragement means a lot to me as their mother.</div><div><br></div><div>I just wanted to spotlight her and people like her in the Church who reach out to other generations and pass their wisdom on to them. Thank you!!!</div>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-74197343310866306762021-04-27T08:00:00.005-04:002021-04-27T08:00:00.248-04:00Dear Self...<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X94ot4P0q7M/YHzvkrVx6sI/AAAAAAADGQ8/_6Y8dbpvjkMGJ9__j6pkNVrK0dlLZldnwCPcBGAsYHg/s1958/PXL_20210418_174949000.MP%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1958" data-original-width="1593" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X94ot4P0q7M/YHzvkrVx6sI/AAAAAAADGQ8/_6Y8dbpvjkMGJ9__j6pkNVrK0dlLZldnwCPcBGAsYHg/w520-h640/PXL_20210418_174949000.MP%257E2.jpg" width="520" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This girl does something really funny...she writes letters to herself.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">She's been doing it for a while now. I think it is something that she started during the pandemic.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">She is writing these letters to read when she is away at college...over 4 years from now!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It's really, really sweet though. The envelopes say things like "open when you're sad and miss home", "open on your birthday", "open on October 10th", "open when you think you've found 'the one'". ETC!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">She has read some of them to me. And I'm telling you it's so sweet. She encourages herself, reminds herself that we love her, and gives herself good advice.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">With letters like these I don't think she even needs me really! Yet some of these letters end with "PS - Call Mom" and "PS - Call Granny".</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Today, she turned to me and said, "Mom, I wrote you a letter....but I'll send it to you in 5 years."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Typical Scarlett.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Maybe you've got a girl in your life looking for a goal to apply herself to....this might be a good one...</span></div><br /><p></p>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-41878967509683881242021-04-26T08:00:00.004-04:002021-04-26T08:00:00.256-04:00Return to 2nd Hour Church<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy3DBRK5zc9LVIoUR5gRBHCwcI2zsOqxfltvDJT8S1YsaqAawpOEBtuoCrjd5kNAO_c04mEobx8et_pd4wxnw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Isn't it funny how a few short years ago when they announced we'd be moving from 3 hour church to 2 hour church, it was a difficult adjustment for some of us?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And maybe a year later, the pandemic hit and we were forced to go to zero hours of in-person church and it suddenly hit us that the Lord knew exactly what was coming and prepared his entire Church to continue without missing a beat!? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Isn't God amazing?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Lessons like these are lessons that I don't want to forget.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I want to trust Him more. I want to remember that I follow the God of the entire Universe who sees all of time at once, knows the end from the beginning and can direct me and my family in all things and bring us safely home to him.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I want to remember that when something in my life seems to not make a lot of sense. I want to remember this moment.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And I want to have the faith of a little child.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">My little children are going back to 2nd hour church, which means they're going back to in-person Primary.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">My two boys don't even remember what Primary was like. Coy only knows Nursery. Val only attended Primary for about two months before the shutdown.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">They've been participating for two sessions of online Primary and Val (my five year old) in particular is really jazzed about going to Primary in-person. (See the video above of them singing along with the primary on zoom!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And I'm jazzed for them....and us.</span></div><br />Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9047346872529008758.post-7669111171416514342021-04-25T08:00:00.001-04:002021-04-25T08:00:00.227-04:00Beat the Virus!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1U9UVhK5Ncg/YHzskYuktII/AAAAAAADGQk/urym5k3LjHkuwCUxcrH-hLWY6uCM5o7VQCPcBGAsYHg/s768/IMG_20210407_083511_932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1U9UVhK5Ncg/YHzskYuktII/AAAAAAADGQk/urym5k3LjHkuwCUxcrH-hLWY6uCM5o7VQCPcBGAsYHg/w400-h400/IMG_20210407_083511_932.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I got my second dose of the Covid vaccine the other week. There is something to gratifying in knowing that fasting, prayers, God's grace, and the relentless work of scientists brought us this much closer to overcoming this worldwide pandemic. I am beyond grateful to be a recipient of this great blessing! I continue to pray for further advancement against this virus! </span><p></p>Jocelyn Christensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.com0