tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92072039295665016812024-03-12T23:40:55.069-04:00Snapshots and BabblingsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-61154248803449305442013-12-19T03:59:00.004-05:002013-12-19T04:12:00.285-05:00The world literally stopped, at His birth . . . During our class on Iconology/Iconography this evening, Fr. Peter briefly mentioned James' (the brother of our Lord) firsthand account of Jesus' birth.<br />
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Of course, I knew there were writings from the early church out there - that had not made it into the church canon, but my interest was pique enough that I took the time to look it up online when I got home.<span class="userContent"> I love how the other writings of the
saints complement what I've always known from Scripture. And, I can't
believe how much I've been missing all these years:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/infancyjames-roberts.html">Infancy Gospel of James</a> <br />
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~<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-5650103299895345672013-12-12T01:01:00.003-05:002013-12-12T01:01:55.023-05:00On Contentment"You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You."<br />
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~<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">St. Augustine </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-28098314548179409572013-12-07T01:07:00.001-05:002013-12-07T01:07:19.729-05:00She's Climbing!So this morning, Saraqael climbed this flight of stairs on her own! She surprised both Aaron and I as we were getting ready for the day... I suppose she didn't want to remain downstairs with Mikaela.<br />
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I got this video later in the day, to see if she could repeat the same feat. And she did.<br />
Now, to just teach her how to come safely back down... preferably without tumbling!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/O1FzmlREOBo" width="420"></iframe> <br />
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~<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-58689198056692963272013-10-07T23:00:00.000-04:002013-10-07T23:00:01.636-04:00Happy Birthday, Little Princess<div style="text-align: center;">
I can hardly believe she's 4!</div>
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The cold, coupled with her fear </div>
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that her balloons would fly away </div>
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made for a more challenging </div>
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But she survived. :)</div>
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~<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-44624255514859139912013-10-04T22:51:00.001-04:002013-10-04T22:51:17.596-04:00Mikaela writes cursiveAs parents, we experience many moments in life with our children that pleasantly surprise, or impress us.<br />
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This was one of those. Our almost-4 year old picked up a marker, and copied her daddy's handwriting.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"> See? Of course, it's a little shaky, but I thought it was a good start. :-)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/A_ny9jB35qA?list=UUlIFp9pZpvslRXXLVK_-M3A" width="459"></iframe><br />
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~<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-44544031485048599722013-09-29T18:47:00.003-04:002013-09-29T18:47:39.364-04:00Child 2Something about her little determination to keep up her older sister, impresses me.<br />
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I see it in her eyes, her body language, and all over her face when she thinks no one is watching.<br />
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Perhaps I was too busy doing school, when Mikaela was at that age, to notice. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Yes - those 90 credits I earned between 2009-2011 has a tendency to make *her* newborn days a blur). <span style="font-size: small;">But, I still can remember enough to realize that Porky is a tad more advanced than Mikaela was, at her age.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Maybe it's because I have time to take her out to see the world a lot more . . . you know, external stimuli, etc. or maybe it's because she just wants to do whatever Mikaela can do. Who knows.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is Saraqael. <i>Isn't she adorable?!</i></span></span></div>
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We call her Porky. Because, well . . . she has Porky thighs.</div>
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I mean, lookit. There's no way around it. Those thighs are just . . .<i> porky</i>. </div>
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This is Porky sitting up, soon after she turned 5 months.</div>
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And here, she's standing - at 6 months. </div>
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We love you, baby. We're so blessed to have you in our lives.<br />
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I'm confident you'll be walking before Mikaela did - you have 5 more months to practice beating her. No pressure!<br />
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~<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-25511042247390117142013-09-20T23:56:00.000-04:002013-09-21T00:29:42.093-04:00On DisciplineI grew up in a strict Christian home, where my father often reminded us that he would not hesitate to discipline (ie, spank, cane, smack, etc.) all of his children when the occasion called for it, regardless of our age. . . just because he sincerely believed it was his prerogative to do so, as a parent.<br />
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I remember feeling incredibly sad and humiliated about it (I was 20 years old), and even if I had not been "spanked" since I was an early teen, his threats of discipline always caused me to shrivel up, a little, inside. At that time, I was not able to articulate my feelings very well . . . I just knew that I was always the brunt of his displeasure, and that perhaps, there might be a better way to handle discipline.<br />
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Fast forward eight years, and I'm now a parent myself, of two precious little girls. I must confess that I have disciplined Mikaela many times, for all the wrong reasons. My frame of reference was the way *my* parents raised me, even though I was keenly aware that I was perpetuating a cycle I did not want to follow. <br />
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This is the best resource I have read, to date, on discipline:<br />
<a href="http://whynottrainachild.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Thy-Rod-And-Thy-Staff-They-Comfort-Me-Mar-2013.pdf">Thy Rod and Thy Staff They Comfort Me</a>
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Lord, have mercy on us all!<br />
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~<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-33711094706521643962013-05-17T00:58:00.000-04:002013-05-17T00:58:01.550-04:00Baby Bumble BeeMikaela recently had a dance recital with OSA, and I'm so glad I attempted to get a few pictures of her right after her dress rehearsal, because it was pouring rain the day of her recital!<br />
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She is going through a phase now where she will not look directly at the camera, and when she does, she dramatically distorts her features :-P, so . . . I'm just glad these pictures came out the way they did.<br />
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And here's a glimpse of her dance! Guess who got distracted by stage lights and props? The girl on the far right, of course!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-76133487969825920652013-03-24T19:23:00.000-04:002013-03-24T19:23:04.711-04:00Our 2nd Angel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HT3wE3oJmeA/UU-IG07Uf-I/AAAAAAAAFtA/vnX5XXF5d5w/s1600/PicsPlay_1364149336298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HT3wE3oJmeA/UU-IG07Uf-I/AAAAAAAAFtA/vnX5XXF5d5w/s400/PicsPlay_1364149336298.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: large;">Saraqael Zhi Yi Hsu</span></div>
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A.k.a "Kelly"</div>
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Welcomed with love by aaron, johanna, & mikaela</div>
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March 21st, 2013 at 5:55 am</div>
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8 pounds ~ 19.75 inches</div>
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We give thanks to God for her safe and healthy birth at home! </div>
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~<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-58232827089419485192013-03-13T15:24:00.000-04:002013-03-13T17:36:43.027-04:00Ready<br />
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I'm ready.<br />
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I think we all are.<br />
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Today, March 13th, is the "big day" (aka Due Date) that's been both consciously and unconsciously on our minds since last summer, when we found out we were expecting yet another precious little angel again!<br />
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I wasn't as intentional about documenting "baby belly" pictures for my first pregnancy with Mikaela, much to my dismay later when I wanted to scrapbook pictures for her albums.<br />
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For Saraqael, thanks to a camera phone, I was able to capture more self-portraits of my growing belly. I also lucked out when I won an online fundraising auction by the Indiana Midwifery Task Force for a maternity shoot by a professional photographer, for a mere $30! I can't think of a better way to support a great cause, *and* have awesome pictures to remember this time of our lives by! :-) <br />
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Enjoy these <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/115110020450186289261/albums/5854903265081485345">pictures from the rest of our photoshoot</a>. Many thanks to Beth Droste-Glowinski from Kima Life Photography for her donation to the IMT auction, and great work with us!<br />
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~<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-56529758340890069712013-01-16T00:32:00.000-05:002013-01-16T01:35:11.609-05:00Oh Yeaah. Hi Again.<div style="text-align: left;">
The last two months have been pretty busy for us [think 2 cross-country road trips & 1 conference . . . or 7,500 highway miles] - I'm only just now kicking up my legs, savoring this quiet moment at home, and trying to let me <i>be</i>. :-D</div>
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I figured now's as good a time as any to get around to putting a couple important updates on here. (I know, this is lame!) </div>
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#1) *Drumrolls*. Yep, one my favorite persons - my MIL - got married!! Aaron and I got a new father, and three new younger brothers out of this deal. And Mikaela, too, got her Poppy, and new Uncle(s) Kyle, 'Ravis (Travis), and Evan. She has been having a blast - the more people to climb on, the merrier!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vXt3XQFYTCQ/UPYqx5GhqLI/AAAAAAAAEsU/1C0wfEeyoE4/s1600/DSC_3441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vXt3XQFYTCQ/UPYqx5GhqLI/AAAAAAAAEsU/1C0wfEeyoE4/s400/DSC_3441.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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#2) We're expecting another baby girl in 8 (yes, EIGHT) more weeks!! How did the time fly by so fast? Oh yeah, we have a three year old distraction this time around - of course. ;-)</div>
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#3) And thanks to my wonderful husband and in-laws, I'm now the proud owner of a super cool Samsung Galaxy SIII (see picture #2). Best Christmas gift ever!! Although . . . I'm not sure if they're already regretting this gift, since I now have the power to harass them with texts, and adorable pictures of Mikaela all day. ;-)<br />
<br />
I promise not to harass you guys, but just in case you wanna be harassed . . . you can always *choose* to follow me <a href="http://instagram.com/mrsarcfide">here on instagram</a>!<br />
<br />
~<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-84296023750617582062012-10-03T12:21:00.002-04:002012-10-03T12:26:08.676-04:00She talks.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kuHhYrm9Nxw/UGxltmDY7oI/AAAAAAAAEiI/jXtW4rm5ICM/s1600/DSC_2532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kuHhYrm9Nxw/UGxltmDY7oI/AAAAAAAAEiI/jXtW4rm5ICM/s320/DSC_2532.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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I finally got around to putting some batteries into Mikaela's new kitchen set.</div>
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Here she is, jabbering away into her now "working" phone. </div>
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She talks. And talks. Non-stop.<br />
<br />
PS: Be sure to check out some new videos I added to my <a href="http://www.youtube.com/johanna85">You tube channel</a> - including the ones of Mikaela and her adorable friends doing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2PgCa9-jMk&feature=share&list=UUlIFp9pZpvslRXXLVK_-M3A">Gymnastics and Dance</a>.<br />
</div>
~<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-36545526216402667822012-09-13T18:49:00.002-04:002012-09-13T18:49:26.810-04:00Almost 3She's almost 3! I hope you guys enjoy the proofs from her portrait session this afternoon. ♥ <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-83czPJ-_8xE/UFJid8SH-LI/AAAAAAAAEhM/2a5H2l-Ibz8/s1600/Mikaela3rd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-83czPJ-_8xE/UFJid8SH-LI/AAAAAAAAEhM/2a5H2l-Ibz8/s320/Mikaela3rd1.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ze7SFr1MZw/UFJieu77eYI/AAAAAAAAEhc/530WeD5h7lM/s1600/Mikaela3rd4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ze7SFr1MZw/UFJieu77eYI/AAAAAAAAEhc/530WeD5h7lM/s320/Mikaela3rd4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pHZhz_LS9Dg/UFJif_8mN2I/AAAAAAAAEhs/daAlDixwh8Q/s1600/Mikaela3rd6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pHZhz_LS9Dg/UFJif_8mN2I/AAAAAAAAEhs/daAlDixwh8Q/s1600/Mikaela3rd6.jpg" /></a></div>
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~<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-58978456836361581782012-07-03T10:25:00.003-04:002012-07-03T10:25:34.948-04:00Mikaela Sings!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/C2ET1Qy4bT0" width="560"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-5663079645966175202012-05-13T22:30:00.001-04:002012-05-13T22:32:25.963-04:00A Birthday-Mother's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XT8BDZToY80/T7BttfOC-TI/AAAAAAAADKY/cdfCR5n7Dts/s1600/DSC_9381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XT8BDZToY80/T7BttfOC-TI/AAAAAAAADKY/cdfCR5n7Dts/s400/DSC_9381.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
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It's a pretty sweet Mother's Day, when</div>
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your two year old wishes you, </div>
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<b><i>"Happy Birthday-Mother's Day!!"</i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Never mind that my birthday's actually in September. ;-)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-48682756038470428832012-05-13T02:46:00.002-04:002012-05-13T02:56:32.365-04:00Le SighI think of my family. Of course I do.<br />
<br />
Especially days like today, on Mother's Day . . . when I wish I could pick up the phone, and call my mom just to hear the sound of her voice again.<br />
<br />
I try to remember the good moments (and we had *many*) - those happy, carefree days when my siblings and I rode our bikes for hours, roller-bladed, sang together, went on road trips, and cracked each other up.<br />
<br />
But there are other moments. Those moments laced with harsh and almost oppressive expectations, too heavy to bear. My <a href="http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/default.htm">health</a> broke. The last year in my father's house, the dawning realization in my heart, the stress and helplessness I felt - it was all like a bad dream. I needed to get away. So get away I did. <br />
<br />
On days like today, I pull up a few of my favorite links. I read again the writings of strangers, who seem like friends to me, mostly because they've walked this road before me. These "friends" took all my messy emotions, combed the dark corners of my heart, and wove into words what I would have never brought myself to say.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.quiveringdaughters.com/2010/04/cultic-family-part-i.html">They know me</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://kathyescobar.com/2012/04/16/rebuilding-after-deconstructing/">They've walked my journey</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.irawagler.com/?p=669#">And they've learned to move on</a>. <br />
<br />
So now you know. Where I've come from, and where I hope to be. :)<br />
<br />
PS: Be sure to read all 7 posts in <a href="http://kathyescobar.com/category/spiritual-formation/">rebuilding after deconstruction</a> - you'll be glad you did.<br />
<br />
~<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-18412018942943920792012-05-13T00:47:00.000-04:002012-05-13T00:47:00.871-04:00To every thing there is a seasonNext to getting married and having our baby, graduating again this year was one the of happiest and proudest moments of my life.<br />
<br />
I am done with classes. I truly am. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z9f3Q4LzSMA/T68MMc3mBqI/AAAAAAAADKM/MDbOFtyOxGY/s1600/DSC_9358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z9f3Q4LzSMA/T68MMc3mBqI/AAAAAAAADKM/MDbOFtyOxGY/s320/DSC_9358.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was fortunate enough to finish among the Top 3 of my graduating class.</td></tr>
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</div>
In 2003, when I first graduated high school, going to college - let alone graduating from college - was an untenable idea. Nine years later, I have worked full-time, put myself through late-night classes, had an amazing man ask me to marry him, moved half-way around the world, had a beautiful baby, and completed over 100 credits and two Associates degrees in 2.5 years.<br />
<br />
My life has been one big, happy roller-coaster ride that I would not exchange for the world. I am so thankful to God, for His blessings, and to my husband, our extended family, and all our friends, for their continuous words of encouragement and support.<br />
<br />
They were the ones who poured fuel over my fire on days when I felt like I was burning out.<br />
I could not have done it without them.<br />
<br />
I am thankful, too, for this little munchkin, who patiently bore with her parents all 2.5 years of her little lifetime they were in school. She was a constant reminder of the more important things in life outside of books - stuff like food, baths, laughter, dirty diapers, and play-dates.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uVtd8gORbPo/T68LdzIgbeI/AAAAAAAADIk/Kcu4reFaLbY/s1600/DSC_9296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uVtd8gORbPo/T68LdzIgbeI/AAAAAAAADIk/Kcu4reFaLbY/s320/DSC_9296.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She looks so deceptively calm and composed in this picture. ;)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dcaxko0NgEQ/T68LpobA0AI/AAAAAAAADI0/aZpw3TkLkbA/s1600/DSC_9309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dcaxko0NgEQ/T68LpobA0AI/AAAAAAAADI0/aZpw3TkLkbA/s320/DSC_9309.jpg" width="234" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me walking across the stage.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLnIxRQNPl0/T68Lt-0iKeI/AAAAAAAADI8/WGpJFVmtSYM/s1600/DSC_9317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uLnIxRQNPl0/T68Lt-0iKeI/AAAAAAAADI8/WGpJFVmtSYM/s320/DSC_9317.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oompa and Ooma - the BEST grandparents a girl could ask for.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oyCkH6mbmFQ/T68LzKzQJ9I/AAAAAAAADJM/fV3fLopdunw/s1600/DSC_9326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oyCkH6mbmFQ/T68LzKzQJ9I/AAAAAAAADJM/fV3fLopdunw/s320/DSC_9326.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With My Man ♥ I *love* him so much!!! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_UAUnT-ZL-s/T68L5j0GF3I/AAAAAAAADJk/1fq4rFUtEZw/s1600/DSC_9333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_UAUnT-ZL-s/T68L5j0GF3I/AAAAAAAADJk/1fq4rFUtEZw/s320/DSC_9333.jpg" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The daughter who did not want to take pictures.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qshiazoz70o/T68MFZWDS5I/AAAAAAAADKE/7fOjaNu-o1Y/s1600/DSC_9344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qshiazoz70o/T68MFZWDS5I/AAAAAAAADKE/7fOjaNu-o1Y/s320/DSC_9344.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My touch of pizazz to the Pomp and Circumstance.</td></tr>
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I will always look back on this chapter of my life without regrets, knowing I did my best for myself, for my family. Knowing I pleased my husband, and made him proud. All that sleep-deprivation was so worth it, in the end!<br />
<br />
<b>"So, then, to every man his chance – to every man, regardless of his birth, his shining, golden opportunity…</b>" - <i>Thomas Wolfe.</i> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y52kQWV4yqQ/T68L8OfsVpI/AAAAAAAADJs/wO_G10IpF8s/s1600/DSC_9337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y52kQWV4yqQ/T68L8OfsVpI/AAAAAAAADJs/wO_G10IpF8s/s320/DSC_9337.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you, Ivy Tech!</td></tr>
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~<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-40556566523777443712012-05-04T10:03:00.002-04:002012-05-04T10:04:57.389-04:00The Highlight of Mikaela's Week . . .<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aBssPARMRyY" width="560"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-3852897609093019892012-05-02T22:26:00.002-04:002012-05-02T22:29:50.371-04:00A Day to Remember . . .Two Facebook updates today said it all:<br />
<br />
Status #1) Done with the last exam of my very last class. No more syllabuses - surreal!! :)<br />
<br />
and #2) So, while I was at school taking my Finals this morning, Mikaela
woke up, took off her diaper, and got dressed - all by herself! It was
all good until she climbed on our bed, and peed on her sleeping Daddy.
Yeeeaah. ;)<br />
<br />
So today has been a good day, filled with cramming, testing, meetings, and other domestic sundries like washing sheets, and hosting - since a surprise visitor joined us for dinner.<br />
<br />
I'm dog-tired, but grateful for new mercies every morning. Especially grateful to close another chapter of my life.<br />
<br />
Hope y'all are doing well! <br />
<br />
~<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-72952527763496388412012-04-30T22:18:00.002-04:002012-04-30T22:18:57.188-04:00Like it?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sa3fAXjyThg/T59GbQ3ab8I/AAAAAAAADIY/riN-gpmn_tU/s1600/7-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sa3fAXjyThg/T59GbQ3ab8I/AAAAAAAADIY/riN-gpmn_tU/s400/7-5.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's a recent picture that one of my photographer-friends </div>
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took of me, while we were in Chicago! </div>
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<a href="http://elizabeth-dahl.com/">Elizabeth</a> is SO talented - she can make anyone,<br />
and anything look good, trust me!<br />
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More about that trip, to come . . .<br />
</div>
~<span style="color: #660000;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: lucida grande; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-23099693307589902812012-04-15T20:12:00.003-04:002012-04-15T20:15:51.191-04:00Friends . . .<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7F0mNntUN94/T4tkLAnd7HI/AAAAAAAADHE/sDl6aqbMWLQ/s1600/DSC_0159.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7F0mNntUN94/T4tkLAnd7HI/AAAAAAAADHE/sDl6aqbMWLQ/s400/DSC_0159.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731785091065965682" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">How adorable are Mikaela and her friends?! :)<br />More pictures from our church's 2nd anniversary celebration <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/115110020450186289261/albums/5731767745038231937?banner=pwa">here</a>.<br /></div><br />~<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-38642483194055639192012-04-02T23:56:00.006-04:002012-04-03T00:08:48.891-04:00Of ethnicity and bloodlines . . .<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YZit-m5Sqfk/T3p069azOEI/AAAAAAAACsk/CiIH-7zPBMA/s1600/DSC_9062.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YZit-m5Sqfk/T3p069azOEI/AAAAAAAACsk/CiIH-7zPBMA/s400/DSC_9062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727018432423213122" border="0" /></a>Some time ago, Ooma and I were discussing ethnicity and bloodlines, and trying to figure out what the cute mostly-Chinese pumpkin you see in that picture was made of.<br /><br />She wrote,<br /><blockquote><br />I AM 50% IRISH, 25% ENGLISH AND 25% GERMAN.<br />THE OTHER SIDE WAS 25% IRISH AND 75% ITALIAN.<br />THAT MAKES YOUR MOM 37.5% IRISH AS WELL AS 12.5% ENGLISH, 12.5% GERMAN AND ITALIAN.<br />AARON IS 18.75% IRISH, 18.75% ITALIAN, 6.25% GERMAN AND 6.25% ENGLISH AND 50% CHINESE.<br />THAT MAKES MIKAELA 9.375% IRISH. ALMOST 10%.<br /><br />LET ME KNOW IF YOU CALCULATE YOUR SIDE OF THE FAMILY.</blockquote>I'm 100% Chinese-Singaporean. To add to the Chinese-Singaporean nationality-complication, my grandparents were Malaysians, and my maternal grandfather was Thai. That makes Mikaela 75% Chinese, 9.375% Irish . . . and - anyone else willing to do the rest of the math? ;-)<br /><br />~<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-10885237431651250572012-03-26T23:30:00.005-04:002012-03-27T00:05:17.602-04:00So "Mikaela"<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nLGMcg2nycI/T3E0o53YObI/AAAAAAAACsY/meUOVEZrjIk/s1600/DSC_9026.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nLGMcg2nycI/T3E0o53YObI/AAAAAAAACsY/meUOVEZrjIk/s400/DSC_9026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724414478697118130" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"> Dear Mikaela,<br /></div><br />Out of the hundreds of pictures I took over Spring break,<br />this one ranks as one of my Favorites.<br /><br />I don't mind that it was taken inside a garage,<br />filled with drab colors and doggy hair.<br /><br />My eyes keep getting drawn towards that hot little red face<br />in the picture, with That Expression. <span style="font-style: italic;">Your </span>expression.<br /><br />The same one that greets my sleepy eyes each morning,<br />as you ask for "Ap<span style="font-style: italic;">ple</span> Juice!"<br /><br />The same one that faces me when you talk animatedly<br />about Lightning, Mator, and Curious George . . .<br /><br />It's the same one that tells me, "<span style="font-style: italic;">You're so you</span>." <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I didn't think I'll actually get a good picture of you that moment when I called your name.<br />You've been good at blinking just when I snap my camera, lately.<br /><br />Or walking right up to me for a hug and a squeeze, so I can't get your picture anyway.<br /><br />But this time, you looked directly at me, and simply said, "Yes?"<br /><br />And this was one of the few times I was glad you didn't smile,<br />because in that moment,<br /><br />I finally saw a picture of <span style="font-style: italic;">you</span>.<br /><br /></div></div>~<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Mama</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-69217534488290738652012-03-24T23:15:00.004-04:002012-03-24T23:28:02.407-04:00Them deceivingly bright and sunny days . . .<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mwLSyPcGcj4/T26N8YjKuvI/AAAAAAAACsA/F8GIpKxZWQw/s1600/tornadoclouds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mwLSyPcGcj4/T26N8YjKuvI/AAAAAAAACsA/F8GIpKxZWQw/s320/tornadoclouds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723668244956101362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo credit to our friend and neighbor: W.L Ng</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I braved yesterday afternoon driving alone in heavy rain and hail, under stormy skies . . .<br />hearing tornado warnings outside, and severe weather interruptions over the radio.<br /><br />I've never seen anything quite like that in all our years here in B-town. Seriously.<br /><br /></div>~<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207203929566501681.post-73547426640295625972012-02-19T00:30:00.007-05:002012-02-20T00:10:30.197-05:00Mikaela can say her "ABC's"Mikaela's been saying her ABC's for a couple of weeks now. She's learned rather quickly from watching ABC songs on DVD, and playing with the alphabet on almost every electronic toy she owns. <br /><br />When she was younger, it was kind of funny to hear her call "A", "Apple". Now, it seems that "V" is "Van", or "Ban". Listen to her go, " . . . U, 'Ban', 'Double', X, Y, Z!"<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yr2THhxwo7w" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="500"></iframe><br /><br />~<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;" >Mrs. Arcfide</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16998816429975112873noreply@blogger.com0