tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87139747404875457842024-03-13T07:54:43.035-07:00Life is but a breathAn endeavor to live on purposeKayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comBlogger1099125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-42752081583173638152018-05-20T10:24:00.001-07:002018-05-20T10:26:25.754-07:00Back on the homestead<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xeu3W79dAUe-ySG8GkfgonYO8tXgxvHPBo-HQWYq_HFUNyGi63hLwtCcZQsq0RL9SAV6ZVGRR2CTZor7ocG8x5eX-EH85MjzJl_jihZmlQsdBr7vKjY6Sx8Aiv7ysdKO5lXxcumn/s1600/IMG_2777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xeu3W79dAUe-ySG8GkfgonYO8tXgxvHPBo-HQWYq_HFUNyGi63hLwtCcZQsq0RL9SAV6ZVGRR2CTZor7ocG8x5eX-EH85MjzJl_jihZmlQsdBr7vKjY6Sx8Aiv7ysdKO5lXxcumn/s640/IMG_2777.jpg" width="640" /></a>We are on furlough! For four months now we will meet with the people who have joined us in what we do, update them with pictures and stories, meet more people who like what we do, and eat a lot of Chick-Fil-A. And drink a lot of Sonic cherry limeades.<br />
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And do lots of other American stuff we've been missing out on.<br />
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Because we're back.<br />
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Back at Heritage Church.<br />
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Back with cousin Eliana! Can you believe she's only six weeks older than Zion?!<br />
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Back with Pastor Wes. Look at these two men of God and their platters of meat.<br />
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Back with Momo.<br />
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Back with KK.<br />
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Back with Uncle Philip.<br />
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I'm back in the kitchen with my sister-in-law, whipping up some yellow curry paste.<br />
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Daniel has been reunited with American food.<br />
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He was also reunited with his high school graduating class, 20 years on!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnYVuPkQ2Gth-Aguwsixj2NSc1QVswxpMzHhIKXkvZ2DQne6BYo8opGipbkscP_kQRaZp-9Y6nHX1JA1_IHJ1Lwd31fy47GLwbQbm_GFvRFQIOKwUt0yt6DHZBq6sI1-0SALeIlOT/s1600/31445159_455606598211374_3379176411888615424_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnYVuPkQ2Gth-Aguwsixj2NSc1QVswxpMzHhIKXkvZ2DQne6BYo8opGipbkscP_kQRaZp-9Y6nHX1JA1_IHJ1Lwd31fy47GLwbQbm_GFvRFQIOKwUt0yt6DHZBq6sI1-0SALeIlOT/s640/31445159_455606598211374_3379176411888615424_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tyler Wood, Joseph Hurst, and Daniel Rupp. Friends since they had cartoons on their underwear.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJc4OsPxdcI2ToA6icW7N3RT4ezJ5ja05_bFWG0UupO19HdzNp49N8NNn1pGvvlIV2Em1aBnQNE-ZKhEIqQEPgCTWvSs39zMIsUlnrUYJi0srCbWoJbGx2R0sHukLOAR2pu2y-QIZZ/s1600/31472601_10212000840438995_899630095896157934_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJc4OsPxdcI2ToA6icW7N3RT4ezJ5ja05_bFWG0UupO19HdzNp49N8NNn1pGvvlIV2Em1aBnQNE-ZKhEIqQEPgCTWvSs39zMIsUlnrUYJi0srCbWoJbGx2R0sHukLOAR2pu2y-QIZZ/s640/31472601_10212000840438995_899630095896157934_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I, on the other hand, haven't been around as long (though almost). but I still got to be in the pics.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-BOUj6m1ZU47lnrBovSJDkSMdyNKu-5UnEKzkDtoY9J4VW7f7bAvAt9TBGh-487MNfgcot7eEmoHqJHHxEwkNRH0a6c5NoMwnEL_-p3Eu9qdkzNd1GD1dWUvvnkTnMfpo5CqfNJp/s1600/IMG_2799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-BOUj6m1ZU47lnrBovSJDkSMdyNKu-5UnEKzkDtoY9J4VW7f7bAvAt9TBGh-487MNfgcot7eEmoHqJHHxEwkNRH0a6c5NoMwnEL_-p3Eu9qdkzNd1GD1dWUvvnkTnMfpo5CqfNJp/s640/IMG_2799.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was the handsomest guy there, that's for sure.</td></tr>
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The kids have been reunited with Arkansas wildlife.<br />
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BB guns are back in their hands.<br />
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As are blow guns (real blow guns with darts, handmade by Cherokee people).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzI_xhn9k8EF4F32pGl0_J6C43Vs5CSCYa___qN7bBTWardh-qxpHgD34ogpan2cX2UyK9m_yT8V3v61TGa_rLo9lRUivnQr9qh6i4f0tw11mg9uc5OeEqtWcCS8SiZUe9ooyIqT7/s1600/IMG_2851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzI_xhn9k8EF4F32pGl0_J6C43Vs5CSCYa___qN7bBTWardh-qxpHgD34ogpan2cX2UyK9m_yT8V3v61TGa_rLo9lRUivnQr9qh6i4f0tw11mg9uc5OeEqtWcCS8SiZUe9ooyIqT7/s640/IMG_2851.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bullseye!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Daniel's hands are back on his bow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2YGho7XynNVMSJ-7j9B3DmvpjtcTerhzobI3h3T22M2tH0-oSheP1SjtntZhIAYJYoCjEJ6UWIXMzSfdTGrl_MntOzwaBCTCMkc_NbAYV198N2suD_LyR9jEi5nV4X1mUL5eWE1q/s1600/IMG_2383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2YGho7XynNVMSJ-7j9B3DmvpjtcTerhzobI3h3T22M2tH0-oSheP1SjtntZhIAYJYoCjEJ6UWIXMzSfdTGrl_MntOzwaBCTCMkc_NbAYV198N2suD_LyR9jEi5nV4X1mUL5eWE1q/s640/IMG_2383.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Man and boy alike have had their hands on the hatchet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSLwDv3sX2KRK4DuoQLoB6fWKeGisHKwkyHIrwjqQr69jlWpUUXhOzrMeuksRjRjrZVA6SEn6YLPx4_ulYJyzw2WrfNqB8jq49hluobeUwTtGxDlmZ5F50_JA8Rncl8uThZ0OujRw/s1600/IMG_2893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSLwDv3sX2KRK4DuoQLoB6fWKeGisHKwkyHIrwjqQr69jlWpUUXhOzrMeuksRjRjrZVA6SEn6YLPx4_ulYJyzw2WrfNqB8jq49hluobeUwTtGxDlmZ5F50_JA8Rncl8uThZ0OujRw/s640/IMG_2893.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And I've had my hand on the salad tongs at Olive Garden!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDDEfEjDnq6guKTOg5YaSRe-489-DE0RX0dU4JntUBdWGVEim8eqVvP14YkjfOw9RMTMg44es2r3hn_DTgG3F4D7F0JFMUXuatS8NzC4p0JkIkL1gC2ZIU1N1rnxaJ4iRU8lK8pjD/s1600/IMG_2796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDDEfEjDnq6guKTOg5YaSRe-489-DE0RX0dU4JntUBdWGVEim8eqVvP14YkjfOw9RMTMg44es2r3hn_DTgG3F4D7F0JFMUXuatS8NzC4p0JkIkL1gC2ZIU1N1rnxaJ4iRU8lK8pjD/s640/IMG_2796.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And in the soil of our own little garden. Look at those cute Arugula sprouts!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sip5RS69UXOwBeFszi9gqLYyyL6vPN78sdRh4-QmwH-YfcbL3QBHtkRVV61AOKJCl344F0ugcd5RweoMDbXvhrQZ9gQjBZJagQuhKowYqe0T5g7GqxMb1T4abwLz5A2Gm9S6zlrR/s1600/IMG_2816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sip5RS69UXOwBeFszi9gqLYyyL6vPN78sdRh4-QmwH-YfcbL3QBHtkRVV61AOKJCl344F0ugcd5RweoMDbXvhrQZ9gQjBZJagQuhKowYqe0T5g7GqxMb1T4abwLz5A2Gm9S6zlrR/s640/IMG_2816.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Yes, we are back. Back in the land of the free. Back in the land of our forefathers.<br />
<br />
Daniel, in particular, is back on the land that his forefathers homesteaded in 1872, whose graves still dot the meadows, and whose fieldstone house foundations still hold shape deep in the woods.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZHQjwT9hY3h_zhfTe2bPTqtAJpvugNAYed9hJtgeafPpPPtQpBGHDoPMvv9Ip1DxqWd0kYCzW2BiMwTgqY6_be88KM9PpqPU6ESP4PmwfbZtThTr__zDDfiN6HpO4ptty9DaRKfF/s1600/IMG_2883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZHQjwT9hY3h_zhfTe2bPTqtAJpvugNAYed9hJtgeafPpPPtQpBGHDoPMvv9Ip1DxqWd0kYCzW2BiMwTgqY6_be88KM9PpqPU6ESP4PmwfbZtThTr__zDDfiN6HpO4ptty9DaRKfF/s640/IMG_2883.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-89943280659251922532018-05-19T06:05:00.000-07:002018-05-19T06:05:54.990-07:00And we have a Gene-agerHe was born among friends and family in a birthing room in Kentucky, on a sunny spring day in 2005. They placed him in my arms and we gave him the name Bright Eugene Rupp. Happy tears spilled from my eyes. He was so solid and warm, breathing in and out, so complete. Another life, another person in this world, and this person was mine. I was now a mother.<br />
<br />
Before he was out of diapers he was memorizing the countries on the world map. Before he was five he was addressing adults like equals. Before he was nine he had dropped his first name and embraced his "more sensible" middle name, Eugene. We've joked that he is a grown up trapped in a little boy's body.<br />
<br />
And now he's no longer a little boy. Now he is 13. It's as if he was meant to be this age all along. The calendar is finally catching up to his personality and his heart. This young man of ours is the genuine article, a fine leader in the making. Did we ever think he'd be anything but? We're very proud of our son, our smart and witty, pragmatic, sincere, and staunchly independent Gene.<br />
<br />
Happy Birthday, Eugenius! I love you with all my heart. - Mama<br />
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<br />Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-42306607413166998882018-04-11T01:34:00.001-07:002018-04-11T01:34:16.660-07:00Late winter fun<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfyF4gJy0hSkO97tFFHnO9SXHZHG0Kg5Pj15dC9FYdjrroUqDyS8jzQRId2gkKD3TvsLcDnIQEhOUhBY4V06P9FJRUYPGOEuRZSougu52hb3fUz5h9xvT3hGHIbs7fVAWTKjMSv-_/s1600/IMG_1459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfyF4gJy0hSkO97tFFHnO9SXHZHG0Kg5Pj15dC9FYdjrroUqDyS8jzQRId2gkKD3TvsLcDnIQEhOUhBY4V06P9FJRUYPGOEuRZSougu52hb3fUz5h9xvT3hGHIbs7fVAWTKjMSv-_/s640/IMG_1459.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Took a trip to Harbin with Sarah. Ice castles and shockingly cold temperatures!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaliL56tYBKWj1WHFzpE6Qw_Ti42NMJ5N9UYpPx_8JaUNheITpiAu49yFnObuPoi7WE66N93Noib2fqgrti8QljNiXy5pjt3QjKHCSk7hRiuktGQwQA1mEFc7MxwqFeupk8CJj3w3/s1600/IMG_1479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaliL56tYBKWj1WHFzpE6Qw_Ti42NMJ5N9UYpPx_8JaUNheITpiAu49yFnObuPoi7WE66N93Noib2fqgrti8QljNiXy5pjt3QjKHCSk7hRiuktGQwQA1mEFc7MxwqFeupk8CJj3w3/s640/IMG_1479.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Sophia Cathedral in Harbin.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2UvwT2IXy9F6yLFFQAgTRCZRVxEhSSz-ETZKMxEPWIO16Sz1bHZWSajuQXYCU7YMw8GW8pHTA6CSokm6uDASCoGVOOggYYrx_S7ZEWoX5v5JD5ooxWrdE2WyVGF-HQtuXEFzZOI6/s1600/IMG_1863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2UvwT2IXy9F6yLFFQAgTRCZRVxEhSSz-ETZKMxEPWIO16Sz1bHZWSajuQXYCU7YMw8GW8pHTA6CSokm6uDASCoGVOOggYYrx_S7ZEWoX5v5JD5ooxWrdE2WyVGF-HQtuXEFzZOI6/s640/IMG_1863.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Short stay at a beach with the Greenes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx73K4NnPe_GWMoE_aR-6djMeDR0rTC838BkZ0lFQpDp9OpVRgSXpmTa9fZKSHK8nvDNimQy9RRAdFu2vvJqk_VSe_iDjN5kKnFyEjGZ9in7v8FywAD9zbTWlaffoD4lxRrglqvFps/s1600/IMG_1816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx73K4NnPe_GWMoE_aR-6djMeDR0rTC838BkZ0lFQpDp9OpVRgSXpmTa9fZKSHK8nvDNimQy9RRAdFu2vvJqk_VSe_iDjN5kKnFyEjGZ9in7v8FywAD9zbTWlaffoD4lxRrglqvFps/s640/IMG_1816.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jubi Sue rocking the paddle board.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikykyDTlj7sFdxKe09M-TNG0KF_D_692-qRg2iH03443oYOj3zstHAJdcMok6oqsbPzzQTivq-h7Hl-kZYtA7WQZeTnDYj9n0YcQVA3cIBF6lTqIhc533zpqdU0YkXkwsE757AUjG/s1600/IMG_1707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikykyDTlj7sFdxKe09M-TNG0KF_D_692-qRg2iH03443oYOj3zstHAJdcMok6oqsbPzzQTivq-h7Hl-kZYtA7WQZeTnDYj9n0YcQVA3cIBF6lTqIhc533zpqdU0YkXkwsE757AUjG/s640/IMG_1707.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zip lining over the water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgkjdO9ik6iuBsnJQ0SD8UHIjaXZo44Y0MeL4Qn7Oi2B7qk5MzRyTLRXT-st3IqH_r63fHeLd9yQGGkNA2evPamtB0P9gMAMDw7zyFlyrerPs44VqB50o6mrzBu0p1Y-z1lPuk5D6/s1600/IMG_2364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgkjdO9ik6iuBsnJQ0SD8UHIjaXZo44Y0MeL4Qn7Oi2B7qk5MzRyTLRXT-st3IqH_r63fHeLd9yQGGkNA2evPamtB0P9gMAMDw7zyFlyrerPs44VqB50o6mrzBu0p1Y-z1lPuk5D6/s640/IMG_2364.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His first Thai massage.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4K1DDeajq6RCmgY6ShnjrH72FBRBy6oZOVTbFFEVTh5dlO5JDw3gZkQL5FlkzpMfnCdkALyHqNiFdcwZiHutp0aFCXo_koPhyphenhyphenK5da8VCh9yKgDNb77VX0FGL2VHRleQQFcX9aFWmr/s1600/IMG_2419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4K1DDeajq6RCmgY6ShnjrH72FBRBy6oZOVTbFFEVTh5dlO5JDw3gZkQL5FlkzpMfnCdkALyHqNiFdcwZiHutp0aFCXo_koPhyphenhyphenK5da8VCh9yKgDNb77VX0FGL2VHRleQQFcX9aFWmr/s640/IMG_2419.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbDtuDXP9_AzVJxNe96lQZjeBKgvuXwoqJGvj2PQd3EkpVLtB5UCCcPPkgz-mRn1kjpzH9laB_zPyZ-U38R3KWVoJbPOcSSjPiprpUATttcL8-AkoiJhdyDpQNlKHqwvk9XBfW0z-/s1600/IMG_2429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbDtuDXP9_AzVJxNe96lQZjeBKgvuXwoqJGvj2PQd3EkpVLtB5UCCcPPkgz-mRn1kjpzH9laB_zPyZ-U38R3KWVoJbPOcSSjPiprpUATttcL8-AkoiJhdyDpQNlKHqwvk9XBfW0z-/s640/IMG_2429.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fruit harvester with his harvesting monkey and harvesting pole.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGqceCfYPHaTMp0Bc_6tIMntGdrZOWWhccZFgMphm68HO_TuN_jx2yUYI_truqldCGg4GPVdxGJFinYfz_1gRjurHYDCYcUjbDZ4op7WjPS2n0t04-00lHkpVcXqZlNLPgRfPokYd/s1600/IMG_2459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGqceCfYPHaTMp0Bc_6tIMntGdrZOWWhccZFgMphm68HO_TuN_jx2yUYI_truqldCGg4GPVdxGJFinYfz_1gRjurHYDCYcUjbDZ4op7WjPS2n0t04-00lHkpVcXqZlNLPgRfPokYd/s640/IMG_2459.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ferry back to mainland.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciZulOGvHS4YsWe4MWmtc9ywHHapeBjeX5jauP3g5Guryh1nySAn4SU_UNUBVFoa0_QBP6U8aIpbJf3Ltr4x4Hs1xEKzTJ6LK2qalTpW-Uw1Vj6AYI8WwXXQBZHLdUcbbKt1q-Sfm/s1600/IMG_2451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciZulOGvHS4YsWe4MWmtc9ywHHapeBjeX5jauP3g5Guryh1nySAn4SU_UNUBVFoa0_QBP6U8aIpbJf3Ltr4x4Hs1xEKzTJ6LK2qalTpW-Uw1Vj6AYI8WwXXQBZHLdUcbbKt1q-Sfm/s640/IMG_2451.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VD5_4ZtwlM-4JsvbdBu0KD7pFr6L3So6G4IqySEJHMG2nAtCam67LV17usG7SXHZKgOSaE_NZHzWhjoOzZOuKCV5jAEtzV0fWMnMxtwbRWXQRDkFlFq6x0GHQVF_Wx0Qkiev7Tvl/s1600/IMG_2462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VD5_4ZtwlM-4JsvbdBu0KD7pFr6L3So6G4IqySEJHMG2nAtCam67LV17usG7SXHZKgOSaE_NZHzWhjoOzZOuKCV5jAEtzV0fWMnMxtwbRWXQRDkFlFq6x0GHQVF_Wx0Qkiev7Tvl/s640/IMG_2462.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwh1aUQRbPsqIqA-ecMphKSpA3Zv8LGw6E80KqgPozeUg1gQGGVdr04xyF5EkDBorvK6FwChKlZ_SdKQ4ysQb9NhHHOnG5KvKu200HMJYz9lR03UrNY08MAa9oVS7Ppf3VV7J3eEMr/s1600/IMG_1501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwh1aUQRbPsqIqA-ecMphKSpA3Zv8LGw6E80KqgPozeUg1gQGGVdr04xyF5EkDBorvK6FwChKlZ_SdKQ4ysQb9NhHHOnG5KvKu200HMJYz9lR03UrNY08MAa9oVS7Ppf3VV7J3eEMr/s640/IMG_1501.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brothers in matching astronaut pajamas. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpUK6mgrjJGVGbTSQgBaUnKTUUtvOcZ0rDYJ5RoQWnGLupgUx2f07-M3wWSt5egsRVsrndzDul5h2SzbezjUO90n5pnjtmbscY5sqqEYHXemWWVVzMmap16dXW8bs5_TKtHDBSrId/s1600/IMG_2572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpUK6mgrjJGVGbTSQgBaUnKTUUtvOcZ0rDYJ5RoQWnGLupgUx2f07-M3wWSt5egsRVsrndzDul5h2SzbezjUO90n5pnjtmbscY5sqqEYHXemWWVVzMmap16dXW8bs5_TKtHDBSrId/s640/IMG_2572.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out on the town with Jessie. They are pregnant with their second! Yay for the new 2-child policy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeH5ZYjQnDE9idmLjq40tdtY_pJ1wcabh-FN7tAMGVZzB7_Xe8TuYYY-1DiTuLQVfKUIqLkWewA9p6l_sWFvmgQaWg5EAsBeS1NXJzp_WYNzIfMfYWeqchPxVFrEWJcIsuA5FEtIbk/s1600/IMG_2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeH5ZYjQnDE9idmLjq40tdtY_pJ1wcabh-FN7tAMGVZzB7_Xe8TuYYY-1DiTuLQVfKUIqLkWewA9p6l_sWFvmgQaWg5EAsBeS1NXJzp_WYNzIfMfYWeqchPxVFrEWJcIsuA5FEtIbk/s640/IMG_2017.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making pickles with Sarah and Anita. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSIMZNduwYEanGjqLVh9Y_ziVmEyOOoHozNitEO6eadVfCiJoIbLltGbd0OS3Jd1GQkUWXK9N9lwZIF6rpDqyzlqVNshYtlEOpJute-mkZp5X5sdn3v4vv5X3DszaDgPNlnwzqtmS/s1600/IMG_2068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSIMZNduwYEanGjqLVh9Y_ziVmEyOOoHozNitEO6eadVfCiJoIbLltGbd0OS3Jd1GQkUWXK9N9lwZIF6rpDqyzlqVNshYtlEOpJute-mkZp5X5sdn3v4vv5X3DszaDgPNlnwzqtmS/s640/IMG_2068.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trees are dropping their blossoms. I love this picture (Brave conquering the tree while Jubi and Layla collect petals).</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkVfsrDTxDS0oTYcDH2nJrfXdLeF6h8KLUepWuvTs37UPoGMSkjOnO5HYZi8qrbboTOEfuAiW4VpAdIghM8S-jAdYNSTDaW5JIWAoOvk1q-Pa2ur5GVge_PkCfVu2l1JHXPRdBXHw/s1600/IMG_2611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkVfsrDTxDS0oTYcDH2nJrfXdLeF6h8KLUepWuvTs37UPoGMSkjOnO5HYZi8qrbboTOEfuAiW4VpAdIghM8S-jAdYNSTDaW5JIWAoOvk1q-Pa2ur5GVge_PkCfVu2l1JHXPRdBXHw/s640/IMG_2611.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezJptHEAuZ8lOUyXX8ccjreqbcnIk2Y4aF9pTxtMzCrVxn_TLdIDrR6US3jgl4GKtWzFHvUGK9gRdOB8l9iCUiGQI8Btjr8bTBTSPD3Zi0rR1I8zcFOfobpcgyC1frHlBLBm1TIcz/s1600/IMG_2108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezJptHEAuZ8lOUyXX8ccjreqbcnIk2Y4aF9pTxtMzCrVxn_TLdIDrR6US3jgl4GKtWzFHvUGK9gRdOB8l9iCUiGQI8Btjr8bTBTSPD3Zi0rR1I8zcFOfobpcgyC1frHlBLBm1TIcz/s640/IMG_2108.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ten of us women went camping together. We ended up getting snowed out and pushing that minibus uphill in the snow with no men to help us! We bonded alright.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHHSbYmp24W1n3gJ9Mkef8bvG4h5VEMuaTwA_DbIiWPki0DpnbHJGPjFT9v5D08m19aJuK4Okeyk87TKLbotrnE2kEkmaR7hhmFTpVdqWxuiDlVyTW_M70Tw9Bvw0XY8SxrFYRxYP/s1600/IMG_2582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHHSbYmp24W1n3gJ9Mkef8bvG4h5VEMuaTwA_DbIiWPki0DpnbHJGPjFT9v5D08m19aJuK4Okeyk87TKLbotrnE2kEkmaR7hhmFTpVdqWxuiDlVyTW_M70Tw9Bvw0XY8SxrFYRxYP/s640/IMG_2582.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gene, Moses, Harry Potter, and the view from Gene's loft bed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHa6tFjzXAXL6icnvmzrfLpwvEEnUQLAY2Q3OmY4ExjkpHuhnMtmVdU9ym12MzSsEqzej0t6kxDQLKSga_MaJge12uhFKz6KedO9eYkMwneCSCYXK7WPU5xPCrx-145Pd4P_rgwK7/s1600/IMG_2549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHa6tFjzXAXL6icnvmzrfLpwvEEnUQLAY2Q3OmY4ExjkpHuhnMtmVdU9ym12MzSsEqzej0t6kxDQLKSga_MaJge12uhFKz6KedO9eYkMwneCSCYXK7WPU5xPCrx-145Pd4P_rgwK7/s640/IMG_2549.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scoutmaster Rupp hamming it up with Gene, Chesed, and Caleb.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZVBKSODDd0xf7VPnmBDovTpILAPWhWx4PoKw-kIUJHhANn87CNsc1B0sYyVQQ2Tpv4SrZLH7T1CgLIs1wXWn7kVlndynM7imVybQINMNycadyME9AuDhAQ7Gwl6uZN-G8OCFQjiD/s1600/278D9B39-2332-4F66-8AD2-944D94120D8A-9202-00000710C6607012_tmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZVBKSODDd0xf7VPnmBDovTpILAPWhWx4PoKw-kIUJHhANn87CNsc1B0sYyVQQ2Tpv4SrZLH7T1CgLIs1wXWn7kVlndynM7imVybQINMNycadyME9AuDhAQ7Gwl6uZN-G8OCFQjiD/s640/278D9B39-2332-4F66-8AD2-944D94120D8A-9202-00000710C6607012_tmp.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooking his famous hash browns for his patrol.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRn14y_mznHdCvgnPJ5pzeNUSNQb41jNyC5zGGOJ7Zc-QxKqcmShpuBncy0Q5BYXlNw_nN06e3ouWhG27IsO1NAOF1g1P0-enxsNhBGGHUcMX5sOaQGZyThHJWLkTntWuQUhsG7cUS/s1600/IMG_1994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRn14y_mznHdCvgnPJ5pzeNUSNQb41jNyC5zGGOJ7Zc-QxKqcmShpuBncy0Q5BYXlNw_nN06e3ouWhG27IsO1NAOF1g1P0-enxsNhBGGHUcMX5sOaQGZyThHJWLkTntWuQUhsG7cUS/s640/IMG_1994.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My childhood friend Nicole's daughter April came to stay in our city for two months!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1P4iKaLTItoGry8fX-KdAKuLgi45TWz6y29UBaST5_WK2m-NqB7PjpZVXAIO15faImsRtfPtEJfgZpJNkSbBlosiq911ruSdFc8rU-lTr_lEshV-NtOMd4aAs9drlsSYUXvsdul-/s1600/IMG_2510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1P4iKaLTItoGry8fX-KdAKuLgi45TWz6y29UBaST5_WK2m-NqB7PjpZVXAIO15faImsRtfPtEJfgZpJNkSbBlosiq911ruSdFc8rU-lTr_lEshV-NtOMd4aAs9drlsSYUXvsdul-/s640/IMG_2510.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For Sarah's birthday we had a Pride & Prejudice viewing on our roof with tea and scones.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1DIGsg3LOn3XDRANLcRoLlU7OJIGuu8Ccn6eLR1JpqjKPLNVGJzBcXasvb1bFw4sPYfiWnISIgvXgTt4p5OAZeKjQ32iLapUMnxOhS6tuBbA-7YlPyXaJa8vbsf2Y_ZCpbW7Cl6o/s1600/IMG_2515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1DIGsg3LOn3XDRANLcRoLlU7OJIGuu8Ccn6eLR1JpqjKPLNVGJzBcXasvb1bFw4sPYfiWnISIgvXgTt4p5OAZeKjQ32iLapUMnxOhS6tuBbA-7YlPyXaJa8vbsf2Y_ZCpbW7Cl6o/s640/IMG_2515.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love Sarah, to whom I get to be a "Miss Allison" and to whom I am grateful for making me feel young again.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08Ic0qiAgK25-6nZxdZti0ZnKt5-uVJk3nT3pnaBSnTHGLBrlVyh8Yb6acgtrBtPyvf60xmzzeAzJZujOGRXzM5xVzLoknAiChLjfeB92Bz2P6_JmTwhwlWS_9snavz4g__k4_3gV/s1600/08D8F421-B023-4324-8676-C6F34E891DC4-1194-000000CEDCD5E9D2_tmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08Ic0qiAgK25-6nZxdZti0ZnKt5-uVJk3nT3pnaBSnTHGLBrlVyh8Yb6acgtrBtPyvf60xmzzeAzJZujOGRXzM5xVzLoknAiChLjfeB92Bz2P6_JmTwhwlWS_9snavz4g__k4_3gV/s640/08D8F421-B023-4324-8676-C6F34E891DC4-1194-000000CEDCD5E9D2_tmp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We finished up home school early so we'd be ready to head to the States in just 5 days!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RZEhNFhElrhZtTNoZXUgpBC7VluX4m9glXMpfGDhglvxsArDNsQgv6c5y2Um8ScPHiuBYqoao-NI2O9EtnKYHCyPpQiKzLHXSlGm4AY16h4G4Hg0DvIi-eN_O4IXKSQ2G6sWu0Eq/s1600/IMG_1937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RZEhNFhElrhZtTNoZXUgpBC7VluX4m9glXMpfGDhglvxsArDNsQgv6c5y2Um8ScPHiuBYqoao-NI2O9EtnKYHCyPpQiKzLHXSlGm4AY16h4G4Hg0DvIi-eN_O4IXKSQ2G6sWu0Eq/s640/IMG_1937.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's not forget Easter! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihopujU0FU1op0N2erM7EBHX6slpqcj2QTSEVgkQ-4aipYK9R7-Lz3IUISlXxcqyVInu1-FvheiTk-CBPceuKk8diX272o_gXv0RXH6wtq436vnNfqSn4NjYfLhcTkDJnQ8WvrLf-v/s1600/IMG_2044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihopujU0FU1op0N2erM7EBHX6slpqcj2QTSEVgkQ-4aipYK9R7-Lz3IUISlXxcqyVInu1-FvheiTk-CBPceuKk8diX272o_gXv0RXH6wtq436vnNfqSn4NjYfLhcTkDJnQ8WvrLf-v/s640/IMG_2044.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's also not forget Pi Day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dtNPFGIbjzN6aadpMQi4G5WdGRxCqWvz2eTtT5dm99Pwv4Cfok3uw9MwycKZEvpHcrtc9p_mZYOuLWF3mEd922YYrEIQnRzG3CeSINWi-6kreixtd_t9hm98IvsSIMRB8mx_xcRv/s1600/IMG_2259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dtNPFGIbjzN6aadpMQi4G5WdGRxCqWvz2eTtT5dm99Pwv4Cfok3uw9MwycKZEvpHcrtc9p_mZYOuLWF3mEd922YYrEIQnRzG3CeSINWi-6kreixtd_t9hm98IvsSIMRB8mx_xcRv/s640/IMG_2259.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the recipe for the pie I made for Pi Day. It comes from the kitchen of Amy Hedden. I miss you, Amy!!!</td></tr>
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<br />Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-28113610437482945662017-12-28T06:00:00.000-08:002017-12-28T06:00:52.154-08:00Rupp Troop ChristmasThis Christmas was decorated with Jubilee's 8-year-old <strike>ditziness</strike> cuteness, Gene's bottomless appetite for independence, Brave's budding comedic skills (the apple didn't fall far from the tree there), and Zion's passion for novel writing.<br />
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Examples? Ok. During a family Nerf war, Gene hollered, "Jubi, cover me!" before heading out into the open. She just stood there confused. "COVER ME!" he hollered again. Shrugging, Jubi grabbed a blanket and tossed it over Gene's head.<br />
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Zion's love for writing is something else. What did he want for Christmas? An electric typewriter, so he wouldn't have to stare at a screen all day while he wrote (his idea, not mine). The typewriter had to be carefully transported from America by Daddy on one of his trips and then plugged into a voltage transformer so the motor wouldn't blow up in our 220V apartment. Unfortunately it DID blow up, right there in front of all of us on Christmas morning. We forgot to use the transformer in our excitement to try the new typewriter. Oh there were many tears. Mostly mine. But then - and this is one of the reasons we love this country - Daniel took Zion and his now-worthless brand new typewriter to the third floor of the "Digital Plaza" and a very serious little machinist fixed it for a mere 30 kuai! That's around five bucks, in case you're wondering. It was a Christmas miracle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfoC0VYK29d4cbJ7ycmuXX8QW3V-XYGYKeTYM2LdkmVMSek3zbwFDhPfpTOFD8yu5o15CnL9XAhYyOwO9hzMLTDtISLQDG5HzNW0pz_gs1FRm7UAcSS2uLP65nCu9suxMheC4YlCd/s1600/IMG_1422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfoC0VYK29d4cbJ7ycmuXX8QW3V-XYGYKeTYM2LdkmVMSek3zbwFDhPfpTOFD8yu5o15CnL9XAhYyOwO9hzMLTDtISLQDG5HzNW0pz_gs1FRm7UAcSS2uLP65nCu9suxMheC4YlCd/s640/IMG_1422.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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More glimpses of our Christmas:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbs_FvX4Bb_zi7cm27feMbQJqeHPhvk8gWm8Ix28T4YDLqSfQs_2eI54s-sxmo5813onzk0mIdO70s8wIbuvqP0hNq6snowsT2R8QPh91Dv6zJun5PsxCJt86hdJAjTzr96Chu1XF/s1600/IMG_2098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbs_FvX4Bb_zi7cm27feMbQJqeHPhvk8gWm8Ix28T4YDLqSfQs_2eI54s-sxmo5813onzk0mIdO70s8wIbuvqP0hNq6snowsT2R8QPh91Dv6zJun5PsxCJt86hdJAjTzr96Chu1XF/s640/IMG_2098.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We bought our tree from James down at "The Shop."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSdbrUT_FSXFW4QtRCZIoOegB4IJSFQVsvsjfUaaiF7rBvMaTo0-QW-i4d4I607cPfrNtRte6RkOJP2exDBVBzuWJrd8MLJrAOg69TVc70Qam4-EQAT6j7pXxWK_dYr56TgFPBQxv/s1600/IMG_2101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSdbrUT_FSXFW4QtRCZIoOegB4IJSFQVsvsjfUaaiF7rBvMaTo0-QW-i4d4I607cPfrNtRte6RkOJP2exDBVBzuWJrd8MLJrAOg69TVc70Qam4-EQAT6j7pXxWK_dYr56TgFPBQxv/s640/IMG_2101.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Shop" refers to James's and Wendy's coffee house, a true gathering place for foreigners in our part of the city. For all you Adventures in Odyssey fans, it's like our Whit's End.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDfO_7-ExGd6ive1WQ7iy1s0rolpZZH1AEeapBSvYIhyK0UOpxt6XbpvSvJQKBZaVr9d9oeWWBegEZxJiy0vNsrQVsJLYKpdsp3Ra7SjoqSE5rnuFxJNwE7GlVY5gozPEsa9JY2-Z/s1600/IMG_1095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDfO_7-ExGd6ive1WQ7iy1s0rolpZZH1AEeapBSvYIhyK0UOpxt6XbpvSvJQKBZaVr9d9oeWWBegEZxJiy0vNsrQVsJLYKpdsp3Ra7SjoqSE5rnuFxJNwE7GlVY5gozPEsa9JY2-Z/s640/IMG_1095.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like this one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9N4bzEMLvbd5Yn1kqMn8OcLvpfwMSDtEi8QllwZLZ2lcOaQQ-35qxcqFncHwF56L0yzK9fW7nRnbS8Zd06Jlv-6aqvCWNYexiC3ALv3wkxb5gQEjqwRyHGuz0O5Esq8cokUz2tTW/s1600/IMG_2090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9N4bzEMLvbd5Yn1kqMn8OcLvpfwMSDtEi8QllwZLZ2lcOaQQ-35qxcqFncHwF56L0yzK9fW7nRnbS8Zd06Jlv-6aqvCWNYexiC3ALv3wkxb5gQEjqwRyHGuz0O5Esq8cokUz2tTW/s640/IMG_2090.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like this one, too. Daniel is always in a good mood at Christmastime, isn't he Aunt KK? You know!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtTBCrlDEwO7q4CiMGiTF2HmAJ5ODProqnMQLxAR_rpOwDPBMVbB0MElURzqoidhE_NuxHKm0IzdKYopVwWGwIBNbL-4OAgd5y12gLT7yvq2HgYDAr3BNA7foNVb9uFB49uXGDMtF/s1600/IMG_2111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtTBCrlDEwO7q4CiMGiTF2HmAJ5ODProqnMQLxAR_rpOwDPBMVbB0MElURzqoidhE_NuxHKm0IzdKYopVwWGwIBNbL-4OAgd5y12gLT7yvq2HgYDAr3BNA7foNVb9uFB49uXGDMtF/s640/IMG_2111.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And away we went.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAZtyYnML8qk2nLils7glbSu1T-7df-aR0FyZNyzM9wX834mK9MC2YRERTtC0ObIcxFjL05XZTGqOwS6mg0zZALHluLtc_lL6S4L4RIMLt_Zc8W_IXEEnPOFmIKPyU06wIPGAJBTW/s1600/IMG_2223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAZtyYnML8qk2nLils7glbSu1T-7df-aR0FyZNyzM9wX834mK9MC2YRERTtC0ObIcxFjL05XZTGqOwS6mg0zZALHluLtc_lL6S4L4RIMLt_Zc8W_IXEEnPOFmIKPyU06wIPGAJBTW/s640/IMG_2223.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiti3JJR3pFJ3IiyjL-PNR6nWN4PvqCHCx9Cc2lsIfW0kbUglBJDc3XPGWtEiUCQJHNHC4b2r8PPZW6IJwlKphXFt72nIuofjTmfzl1w1vm6IgnebcoitYbGnJ8mK8skM7hDQ6HX4t1/s1600/IMG_1357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiti3JJR3pFJ3IiyjL-PNR6nWN4PvqCHCx9Cc2lsIfW0kbUglBJDc3XPGWtEiUCQJHNHC4b2r8PPZW6IJwlKphXFt72nIuofjTmfzl1w1vm6IgnebcoitYbGnJ8mK8skM7hDQ6HX4t1/s640/IMG_1357.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We hosted a few Christmas parties. That's the table cloth from Jubilee's baby shower, given to me by the hostess. It's very to special to me.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHx6sBUqCZqIFcn2ihdKq04s7YVm9MjNOavgx4hIGEa3Fqy95_B5KAVb7thsHGkRihEBOrWY385KByBBu366mpuEbqTwGP7gohnTqIe0p5RemuSvhyAKpc-f4bi5mt4uNTkH8iMwr/s1600/IMG_1313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHx6sBUqCZqIFcn2ihdKq04s7YVm9MjNOavgx4hIGEa3Fqy95_B5KAVb7thsHGkRihEBOrWY385KByBBu366mpuEbqTwGP7gohnTqIe0p5RemuSvhyAKpc-f4bi5mt4uNTkH8iMwr/s640/IMG_1313.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids were in a small play, written by Gene, and performed by members of their Proverbs Club. Zion was the debonaire narrator.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfapRWcufFkt_-LknkpfyMqKYftvhVjsm0FdycXJN8BWe_5pVwC4dW-cDnZKWnQ0P1jyChCZYQEbt7ca0qnkSE5Quu8EwzNsZxkXu30tXjepXpDiZ9H7TezJKqlKfBsRvomOpmEize/s1600/IMG_1305+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfapRWcufFkt_-LknkpfyMqKYftvhVjsm0FdycXJN8BWe_5pVwC4dW-cDnZKWnQ0P1jyChCZYQEbt7ca0qnkSE5Quu8EwzNsZxkXu30tXjepXpDiZ9H7TezJKqlKfBsRvomOpmEize/s640/IMG_1305+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everybody said Brave looked a little too much like Daniel in this felt moustache.<br /> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTv1azdyPifSbPTNIBd_ultcbOaaMD_E-R6EluzJ54V1rfYoylDQRt8LmrbBwZXrqTH81llASELJ_C2TOlzikE2mRnk9rGJO_zW_BQmzsOQ3tf9tC9iI7B8QIjDZjEhLm-oJQGbmPM/s1600/IMG_1375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTv1azdyPifSbPTNIBd_ultcbOaaMD_E-R6EluzJ54V1rfYoylDQRt8LmrbBwZXrqTH81llASELJ_C2TOlzikE2mRnk9rGJO_zW_BQmzsOQ3tf9tC9iI7B8QIjDZjEhLm-oJQGbmPM/s640/IMG_1375.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ticket to Ride family game night.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYRymPD-ao1WGYwIoA4uG5CTB2Fl2DeLWSFXC6sETrf1165Z_k8Iq_aYHQGVSMGYlS7JPR4HkNzsMXWYRc2SSBH3A839R2-IASiSW1O0mvvEAjrH0oiYWu0ue2SQBMD8Boe8vBpRC/s1600/IMG_1377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYRymPD-ao1WGYwIoA4uG5CTB2Fl2DeLWSFXC6sETrf1165Z_k8Iq_aYHQGVSMGYlS7JPR4HkNzsMXWYRc2SSBH3A839R2-IASiSW1O0mvvEAjrH0oiYWu0ue2SQBMD8Boe8vBpRC/s640/IMG_1377.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't play because I was too busy making Momo's famous tea cookies for our game night snack. They are a Rupp Christmas tradition.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NpYK3jjLesBrCYz5LBCiBH3EkRQqlqL14OyheIYe9aTN5MbbfDbjOgiWOkpRnyyEXEBIDauXwAsOq7HnG7EIqNFZWYl2lmrbRnZq_dVW1zFsSDtS0bFJLM4c8T3FuzVQwnxvm71n/s1600/984B4137-1AD9-4FB0-8FD6-E46C9483E5C3-291-0000000F5917CB61_tmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NpYK3jjLesBrCYz5LBCiBH3EkRQqlqL14OyheIYe9aTN5MbbfDbjOgiWOkpRnyyEXEBIDauXwAsOq7HnG7EIqNFZWYl2lmrbRnZq_dVW1zFsSDtS0bFJLM4c8T3FuzVQwnxvm71n/s640/984B4137-1AD9-4FB0-8FD6-E46C9483E5C3-291-0000000F5917CB61_tmp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jubilee's best friend, Callie Noel, was born on Christmas day ten years ago. Her party is always a fun one!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwKfDpDfgUGb2Y3GLM7xYsOHc_5p35fn9pKm7AlijIOBEpaBxBinwddjAa6KS4IsdzsavTCXSMg2sgSZzDDFxwidzh3K4SFJ80arSue_Zgf3FNmROkC7rwSJT09sZ_Cn8GffKjUrl/s1600/IMG_1349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwKfDpDfgUGb2Y3GLM7xYsOHc_5p35fn9pKm7AlijIOBEpaBxBinwddjAa6KS4IsdzsavTCXSMg2sgSZzDDFxwidzh3K4SFJ80arSue_Zgf3FNmROkC7rwSJT09sZ_Cn8GffKjUrl/s640/IMG_1349.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel finished his course work for his PhD. So very proud of this man. We celebrated with Australian prime rib at Morgan's. Look at the contentment on that face.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MT2wlYYUthsxAJniGzeZnrJPkgyb9sNxRd9mB0w-Qt4EXb28iaWFpOzovh0DbO_kMZA2hXBabTSw89eBglu-7Mn8pTulog8bBXdbCA6CcxzaHfyZ4Dx52Pdak-8DNwuwJ5fHPa1M/s1600/IMG_1390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-MT2wlYYUthsxAJniGzeZnrJPkgyb9sNxRd9mB0w-Qt4EXb28iaWFpOzovh0DbO_kMZA2hXBabTSw89eBglu-7Mn8pTulog8bBXdbCA6CcxzaHfyZ4Dx52Pdak-8DNwuwJ5fHPa1M/s640/IMG_1390.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our delivery man came dressed as Santa. I dragged the kids barefoot into the freezing stairwell for a pic:)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxDvFltDv0GodQtgg_xmrzpSKPiu1H5L05G5SMRccrgNEaOltfmS1okLan9VluJYjLDluP7Qpag6ylOdwOdhMELnCwuBgVAc07mkSU3KQU1Z0ugJvHdu5x4oe3TrSivWIt5gg2K-X/s1600/IMG_1396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxDvFltDv0GodQtgg_xmrzpSKPiu1H5L05G5SMRccrgNEaOltfmS1okLan9VluJYjLDluP7Qpag6ylOdwOdhMELnCwuBgVAc07mkSU3KQU1Z0ugJvHdu5x4oe3TrSivWIt5gg2K-X/s640/IMG_1396.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh how we love Moses!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNbErBsC3e4IJsqdXpSqkSuzNTp-iNddoOM6qXfbUtPox0uOHFg1RHylPYW8d2MN7kKOJHGtawglXfKAiu67LdYI3q9X6w51Tw6ybvN9PqSFagE8D3Hpvvy63RHfSinepjRlNgSEj/s1600/IMG_2220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1142" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNbErBsC3e4IJsqdXpSqkSuzNTp-iNddoOM6qXfbUtPox0uOHFg1RHylPYW8d2MN7kKOJHGtawglXfKAiu67LdYI3q9X6w51Tw6ybvN9PqSFagE8D3Hpvvy63RHfSinepjRlNgSEj/s640/IMG_2220.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our 16th Christmas! The love of my life. (That beard is for you, Clay - he's getting ready for that bear hunt you've promised him)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9feQOZhWMWTJmDql_M5XSEgDdipbtMiF6AhWZceKfheXB1jATWDuu03-eh7xohqtpYpMTXpbnFrQS0gNO14wKn0Ca_c5PFCI5mHmBiv1Ima2HfT2Plk-D1FdJAey8o8BEyJ-3ssGa/s1600/IMG_2231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9feQOZhWMWTJmDql_M5XSEgDdipbtMiF6AhWZceKfheXB1jATWDuu03-eh7xohqtpYpMTXpbnFrQS0gNO14wKn0Ca_c5PFCI5mHmBiv1Ima2HfT2Plk-D1FdJAey8o8BEyJ-3ssGa/s640/IMG_2231.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas morning finally came!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPsAhMIdKwJxRbHQSWooplvq5YlxppFCZzRyj5YUglrnPhyphenhyphenZYXpgneZ1it0PeJ-J5nTlV3zc91d1FwDKMmnEH2P5_xxHfm9GbgXjTEnTT9TOtHRnQW24pMr1jdwwqSPhPfOdrhaDM/s1600/IMG_1405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPsAhMIdKwJxRbHQSWooplvq5YlxppFCZzRyj5YUglrnPhyphenhyphenZYXpgneZ1it0PeJ-J5nTlV3zc91d1FwDKMmnEH2P5_xxHfm9GbgXjTEnTT9TOtHRnQW24pMr1jdwwqSPhPfOdrhaDM/s640/IMG_1405.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rupp Van Winkle finally got a man-sized throw under which to take his famous naps. Merry Christmas, Babe!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDrV-Z3g219wr-3N7msMh9tvx5n9rVhBxucMNLmQtiUdmgLrow2O-qRHltN3aQzbRyh9Yp0uW33gc_Q779F0Q91ubw9-kUOa7qSrFQsaq15ned8ovguYODl_Bw_4NjsMiWWoa4lZv/s1600/IMG_1410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDrV-Z3g219wr-3N7msMh9tvx5n9rVhBxucMNLmQtiUdmgLrow2O-qRHltN3aQzbRyh9Yp0uW33gc_Q779F0Q91ubw9-kUOa7qSrFQsaq15ned8ovguYODl_Bw_4NjsMiWWoa4lZv/s640/IMG_1410.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jubilee got a special blanket too! </td></tr>
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Things are changing in the Rupp household. Daniel and I no longer have our evenings entirely to ourselves; lamps burn late into the night as tweens pound out homework for their online classes. Jubilee picks out her own clothes now and I must let her, whether I think pink and red go together or not. Daniel and I are learning that Gene can no longer be given directives. We can no longer say, "Get your shoes on we're going to a Christmas party." We need to ask him whether or not he has something planned, or whether he has too much homework, etc.<br />
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For years we washed them, dressed them, spoon fed them, and took them everywhere we went, in baby carriers, threatening consequences if they didn't behave. Now suddenly they're standing boldly before us claiming their individuality. They have the right to that, after all. They aren't our pets. Somehow it never occurred to me that my children, long before becoming adults, would start the process of becoming people. XOXO<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfGiAIg3fLjC0n7RogiYvvaXEBoRFGCVWHU5NPpw7MWrmzgYIJ3elKadRDkdMh4TeGYQeV2eMAuB6Hnn8_rgowXXp6vrwXO3MImX7v6WNn3R9UOA6CBBk4d_y6dnqQf0oAc2uvUq_/s1600/IMG_2146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfGiAIg3fLjC0n7RogiYvvaXEBoRFGCVWHU5NPpw7MWrmzgYIJ3elKadRDkdMh4TeGYQeV2eMAuB6Hnn8_rgowXXp6vrwXO3MImX7v6WNn3R9UOA6CBBk4d_y6dnqQf0oAc2uvUq_/s640/IMG_2146.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merry Christmas from the Rupp Troop (as my parents lovingly call us)</td></tr>
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<br />Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-24973952312611240482017-12-14T20:27:00.000-08:002017-12-14T20:27:58.246-08:00A quick breather<i>This post was written some weeks ago and I'm just now getting around to posting it.</i><br />
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On the wings of joy, love, and adventure the fall has flown by! The week of Thanksgiving was a full week off for us here at Rupp Academy. It gave us a chance to catch our breath a little bit. Tomorrow the machine starts up again, but tonight I sit in my winter robe, while Daniel reads a digital copy of a book by a Chinese philosopher from the 1930s and our cat Moses rests against his leg.<br />
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Looking back over our fall I feel many things, chiefly gratitude. We miss our friends and families in America, as always, but overall, there isn't any other life I'd rather live, in any other place, with any other people. I'm so grateful to be able to say that! What a blessing that is.<br />
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What a way to live.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlixwR06Kz7nHnoNrmW5zCU1O0Oc0-0itmjH3hfA0DftRCOIMGyHH90UXzJQuCy95TElAuUBRqdb5lIiFtVXSgskuAuoCCV3Hb3-5AfY5P8kZuOz3nj9UtHnSa7Qnjh9IxlRYACRaf/s1600/IMG_1060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlixwR06Kz7nHnoNrmW5zCU1O0Oc0-0itmjH3hfA0DftRCOIMGyHH90UXzJQuCy95TElAuUBRqdb5lIiFtVXSgskuAuoCCV3Hb3-5AfY5P8kZuOz3nj9UtHnSa7Qnjh9IxlRYACRaf/s640/IMG_1060.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding the subway with my four little (or not so little) people.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTep4PGk9mVogzHnneEthawa2a0YyENXmSXQLVQ0MJuvs2hiqPd_XWA32isJfmzzV2GSDhyphenhyphenA5nb7iCzz7dEfZZxHtw0Gcec_k2tZkUp0tAusgAJsybm6NcOlgBEgy5zJPtZtiPJaT/s1600/IMG_0720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTep4PGk9mVogzHnneEthawa2a0YyENXmSXQLVQ0MJuvs2hiqPd_XWA32isJfmzzV2GSDhyphenhyphenA5nb7iCzz7dEfZZxHtw0Gcec_k2tZkUp0tAusgAJsybm6NcOlgBEgy5zJPtZtiPJaT/s640/IMG_0720.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zion designed and the two of them built this wooden airplane. It took weeks! Zion is VERY particular with details:)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqF7EcjApdqRavwMqVOjS10ncywndjIVrWuqvWJvFVWr3G1vp41cZAMLvyixjbNsGPL7u2XFaVfilU-jUJaGNFKVILLL6dUnHxBHZcEPz_tg34ZHp5sVapSbuzH6AgMJ29Sd8hgpZE/s1600/IMG_0624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqF7EcjApdqRavwMqVOjS10ncywndjIVrWuqvWJvFVWr3G1vp41cZAMLvyixjbNsGPL7u2XFaVfilU-jUJaGNFKVILLL6dUnHxBHZcEPz_tg34ZHp5sVapSbuzH6AgMJ29Sd8hgpZE/s640/IMG_0624.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joseph turned 1. His parents requested a chocolate cake. I played around with the fade. Quite nice I think!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soccer season came and went. Lots of fun was had by all.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even I got in on the fun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufPNu0oKMOVUJ4oVHnGzFddiQV1wMRvyFCIdAn7TsgMqAL3hq47wliElO8gS20r7x0eu-gTWLAt_Y4t5zrKwWzWSLyaf-WuRarCXlLP_eIw9zFj2H5lBJHitkp6U-ikuo4cRKKbRX/s1600/IMG_1815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufPNu0oKMOVUJ4oVHnGzFddiQV1wMRvyFCIdAn7TsgMqAL3hq47wliElO8gS20r7x0eu-gTWLAt_Y4t5zrKwWzWSLyaf-WuRarCXlLP_eIw9zFj2H5lBJHitkp6U-ikuo4cRKKbRX/s640/IMG_1815.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gene is a second-year scout this year so he's the one up-front demonstrating. That backpack doesn't swallow him up like it did last year.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrRP9FITcbRvLc5JpYMuE382OXRWVlxDme2PX4YLNpQUPdgALk612WAY1BcIBXB9dx5stMT1GpKe8nxkHAlWwqPogJEQR_9Xn-RWCXDuc3YKFpBq0ZcLhl3hhgXrLQHvMxxYEBgLS/s1600/IMG_0654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrRP9FITcbRvLc5JpYMuE382OXRWVlxDme2PX4YLNpQUPdgALk612WAY1BcIBXB9dx5stMT1GpKe8nxkHAlWwqPogJEQR_9Xn-RWCXDuc3YKFpBq0ZcLhl3hhgXrLQHvMxxYEBgLS/s640/IMG_0654.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's tenderfoot rank now, and fast approaching 2nd class!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCW3x6rxYSYtzMRcohr186e0OsIzUBceHM-JAgy7iKfCchDGCv3LxdiT3JyAILn71PQav7m67-wuX_ldHzsu3YIj73bfrqSOPejM2tBxNZidsN_xUVbHbiTCzbsxs7ZpBRMD5jodty/s1600/IMG_0977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCW3x6rxYSYtzMRcohr186e0OsIzUBceHM-JAgy7iKfCchDGCv3LxdiT3JyAILn71PQav7m67-wuX_ldHzsu3YIj73bfrqSOPejM2tBxNZidsN_xUVbHbiTCzbsxs7ZpBRMD5jodty/s640/IMG_0977.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Daniel, who wasn't a scout - and wasn't sure what he felt about scouts at first - is now the troop scoutmaster. Really cool.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAUHLQZdRDhyphenhyphen95hapTSMbJrsGUxWkFD82kMUu8N-lCyaol8rW3o7oBuF_Oz6lM8TIM9VuDPnEVAfKAKIJ81ZPitMcUJW5KNkqR-3eQYzMsaO7enc22pRhjDpPC1HunaB_WEDAQxn9/s1600/IMG_1030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAUHLQZdRDhyphenhyphen95hapTSMbJrsGUxWkFD82kMUu8N-lCyaol8rW3o7oBuF_Oz6lM8TIM9VuDPnEVAfKAKIJ81ZPitMcUJW5KNkqR-3eQYzMsaO7enc22pRhjDpPC1HunaB_WEDAQxn9/s640/IMG_1030.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheazfAk5rOsuERvhj4-5yOApbCgcYlukkc0xULb29pXL54YleUsgXFnulpoC4xoJxAa1agwy6I51bGAD1J9SX4rcC7MoMi4JL1kDjLi4eDhhII2t_-dnH3GGbehoHEAS841R3MVa_V/s1600/IMG_0803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1600" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheazfAk5rOsuERvhj4-5yOApbCgcYlukkc0xULb29pXL54YleUsgXFnulpoC4xoJxAa1agwy6I51bGAD1J9SX4rcC7MoMi4JL1kDjLi4eDhhII2t_-dnH3GGbehoHEAS841R3MVa_V/s640/IMG_0803.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy quietly turned 38 in the privacy of our home :) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeLG4PjjKzchujeH_8yOrijNohT9hIdXgoBI3FlhYe3l8Ylz5I-qmUsrdgHGHdF9-7BWKOMWChDLXnyYQhyphenhyphenTtqZSi8niiW5Q45fL7DGkyNj56JdEKWBWt6sJiC6S0GULCYHeeW9vC/s1600/IMG_1142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeLG4PjjKzchujeH_8yOrijNohT9hIdXgoBI3FlhYe3l8Ylz5I-qmUsrdgHGHdF9-7BWKOMWChDLXnyYQhyphenhyphenTtqZSi8niiW5Q45fL7DGkyNj56JdEKWBWt6sJiC6S0GULCYHeeW9vC/s640/IMG_1142.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While his brothers devour fantasy novels, Brave is a Hardy Boys fan. He likes the no-fuss adventure of it. Excessive drama turns him off (he's just like his father in that way).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0FpwN3g0yS4TTX9mKS89OBqTqZRnc8jtqHBdHRG9nQdvN0hpz-0Tt7mrjPgs-LxeeZZv7GG3Qz-FLTn13G5CyCwW1wFmRdGe3oyCNuSuuQtmlt_Uw-39ciDLAhMh6t1pkgd1uBZ7/s1600/IMG_1965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0FpwN3g0yS4TTX9mKS89OBqTqZRnc8jtqHBdHRG9nQdvN0hpz-0Tt7mrjPgs-LxeeZZv7GG3Qz-FLTn13G5CyCwW1wFmRdGe3oyCNuSuuQtmlt_Uw-39ciDLAhMh6t1pkgd1uBZ7/s640/IMG_1965.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a trip to Hong Kong, we found her a street all her own. XOXO</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFOqVSmHgcPop_L1qiNnWTMbrzaow4GFiVglJV5PeMTBQhAArHhA0tw73tkwGvSl4kICjf4H_bdlz7ScIiTTxqccPvdVACdh8IDT7jJIgkB3I4lyZeOuKTt7Uza9EI2SxROk_OiYX/s1600/IMG_0915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFOqVSmHgcPop_L1qiNnWTMbrzaow4GFiVglJV5PeMTBQhAArHhA0tw73tkwGvSl4kICjf4H_bdlz7ScIiTTxqccPvdVACdh8IDT7jJIgkB3I4lyZeOuKTt7Uza9EI2SxROk_OiYX/s640/IMG_0915.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trick or Treating came and went. So did the candy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileuK6JdhKXi_x0OPZnk0DR00hzKVnyDlCF_WkaC_pdt6JOMUOz15FKH4wP1iKOMOhLckRgXpJj-gJEAg9oqlQQFuzetqxwrG4whuLKfvS0Tucu7R92c2xP4Pq8y3_IDtSVcyFnI2J/s1600/IMG_0972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileuK6JdhKXi_x0OPZnk0DR00hzKVnyDlCF_WkaC_pdt6JOMUOz15FKH4wP1iKOMOhLckRgXpJj-gJEAg9oqlQQFuzetqxwrG4whuLKfvS0Tucu7R92c2xP4Pq8y3_IDtSVcyFnI2J/s640/IMG_0972.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 500th anniversary of the posting of the 95 Theses on the chapel door at Wittenberg Castle!! We had a party on our roof, watched the movie LUTHER, and studied the Reformation. </td></tr>
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It was a good fall, overall.<br />
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<br />Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-66713883111020365622017-11-19T00:16:00.003-08:002017-11-19T00:31:33.990-08:00The Respect EffectWhen my eldest son turned twelve - or shortly thereafter - my competency as a mother turned sour. I dare say is curdled.<br />
<br />
With my other three kids I still knew what I was doing, but when Eugene and I were in the same room, all 12 years of my parenting experience flew out the window. I didn't even know who he was anymore. It was as if my son had gone and this long-haired attitude in a T-shirt stood in his place.<br />
<br />
I missed our times together. Our talks. <i>Our laughter. </i><br />
<br />
I missed my son.<br />
<br />
So I prayed. A lot. And talked to a lot of friends who raised sons. And the Lord led me to read this book, by the same author who wrote <i>Love & Respect</i> (the book that saved many of our parents' marriages).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGo9GAXjsK_WKHrjtkM2I0NcuuzVFy-qLJCUHJ6rCXM-yUFDHiYCyIFnRXgUOl_2iVE20Wdn4KWrl00_-nYigs9LQMwygUeMU6BhU_qYFuQhZtXnOEytTqRbci3Ix68SHR3X2mL0W/s1600/IMG_0649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTGo9GAXjsK_WKHrjtkM2I0NcuuzVFy-qLJCUHJ6rCXM-yUFDHiYCyIFnRXgUOl_2iVE20Wdn4KWrl00_-nYigs9LQMwygUeMU6BhU_qYFuQhZtXnOEytTqRbci3Ix68SHR3X2mL0W/s640/IMG_0649.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
The respect effect.<br />
<br />
<i>Wow.</i><br />
<br />
Who knew that our sons, like our husbands, need our respect more than they need our love? Who knew that we wound them with our disrespect to the same degree that they wound us when they act unloving? Who knew that our husbands and sons don't respond to their wounds the way we and our daughters do? Who knew that boys and men act unloving when they are wounded, which makes us act disrespectfully toward them, which wounds them, which make them act unloving, which makes... you get the picture.<br />
<br />
Who knew? Certainly not me!<br />
<br />
Now, I know.<br />
<br />
I'm telling you, this book blew my mind. It absolutely restructured the way I relate to all of my sons. Most of all, it gave me back my son Eugene!!! I can't say enough about this book. Mothers of sons of any age, please read this book.<br />
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NOTE: All of these pics are taken with food! Haha it made me laugh to realize it. I don't know whether it's because my boys are always eating, or if mealtime is the only time I sit down! Or both! Haha.<br />
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ALSO NOTE: In one of the pictures, Zion is seated with his buffet selections - marshmallows, pound cake, Doritos, meatballs, and a coke. There couldn't be a more perfect sampling of a 10-year-old boy's idea of a good meal. Ha!Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-26448666925574240632017-11-01T05:19:00.001-07:002017-11-01T05:19:50.245-07:00To be understoodJubilee is adopted. Sometimes that makes her feel special, other times embarrassed, and still other times confused. She wonders, Am I Chinese? Am I American? I tell her she is both! She's Chinese-American! She smiles. She likes that. I go on. You have the rich history of your Chinese ancestry, I tell her, and the bright future of your American citizenship. She likes that too. She leans against me and takes my hand, and I kiss her silky black hair. We sit in contemplative, companionable silence.<br />
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The truth is, as hard as I try, I'll not fully understand my daughter. Honestly, how can I? My birth mother packed my lunches with love notes and is, even now, just a phone call away. Jubilee's birth mother will remain a mystery for the rest of her life. My birth father threw me up into his arms when he got home from work, and grilled me a delicious pork chop just last summer. Hers?<br />
<br />
Then again, I also don't have parents who chose me in an email. Who raised money to bring me home. Who sent me care packages to my orphanage. Who signed a piece of paper they didn't have to sign - while I sat shivering and crying in their strange arms - promising to love me forever no matter what.<br />
<br />
Her story is layered and complex like...like a gourmet dish. My story is greasy-spoon diner-fare in comparison. I will never see life the way she does.<br />
<br />
Which is why I'm so glad she's had a string of people in her life with whom she can feel completely understood. I pray she will always have friends like these!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4UjDxW0C5mlL_jFd9asmCCbuRdBDzGsTNcjfF8pmA1iCCQC-eWLWTYZWm_xzaSg15WXuJHIfyiUw9KZypom1_MufgsRcZmcb7RYXN8nBjztnZ7OF9r99HxOgHRlJuHpDh1ErlD3r/s1600/IMG_1908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4UjDxW0C5mlL_jFd9asmCCbuRdBDzGsTNcjfF8pmA1iCCQC-eWLWTYZWm_xzaSg15WXuJHIfyiUw9KZypom1_MufgsRcZmcb7RYXN8nBjztnZ7OF9r99HxOgHRlJuHpDh1ErlD3r/s640/IMG_1908.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Xan, who has become something of a big sister to Jubi. Xan was also adopted by a petite blond lady. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHM-5GZppxADhbNnnWrszZNW2JkCUA1lX6erQaMDOa9vMcy3QjzZ5RaTue03hEpE5a8f2dMt-zpjKa4LbcAX6LCtIVhuUREfVdpvZkt627kzAtYjiiccIrunsDT7uZpOVLsxFP-63w/s1600/Jubi+and+Kai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHM-5GZppxADhbNnnWrszZNW2JkCUA1lX6erQaMDOa9vMcy3QjzZ5RaTue03hEpE5a8f2dMt-zpjKa4LbcAX6LCtIVhuUREfVdpvZkt627kzAtYjiiccIrunsDT7uZpOVLsxFP-63w/s640/Jubi+and+Kai.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutie pie Kai. He had just been adopted in this pic. Jubi and I went to be with my childhood friend Kathy and her husband Nick when they came to adopt Kai last month. Look at the little bond between these two already!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImuzWMgnP-kMwv-u0wrlVELLm7upj78xVA6s2eirc-VFrZLvBG56K6GUPgcvMAeDrPSDjjZb1myZVletYeVCdbmt2DOgbWkbbLUdv4MKtytJFvnFWlGgspa1k-gkjww8D7NYHuoJ9/s1600/IMG_0920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1038" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImuzWMgnP-kMwv-u0wrlVELLm7upj78xVA6s2eirc-VFrZLvBG56K6GUPgcvMAeDrPSDjjZb1myZVletYeVCdbmt2DOgbWkbbLUdv4MKtytJFvnFWlGgspa1k-gkjww8D7NYHuoJ9/s640/IMG_0920.jpg" width="414" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jubi on Halloween with her friend Lily. Lily's mother and I were talking about these two long before they came into our arms.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkS9LyQXKj9EHVsQqHRaKMwh2i7HZAMqHi3k4a1-NU565FfR2gumfjm3aXjVBbFFsps9Wlcc5IoIVHFLu-lOsRVpgmljhEhqB4ggju79nJUQVkI26hL6oHlTmqsDrp3_K-V1Q4eOD/s1600/IMG_0582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkS9LyQXKj9EHVsQqHRaKMwh2i7HZAMqHi3k4a1-NU565FfR2gumfjm3aXjVBbFFsps9Wlcc5IoIVHFLu-lOsRVpgmljhEhqB4ggju79nJUQVkI26hL6oHlTmqsDrp3_K-V1Q4eOD/s640/IMG_0582.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jubi sitting by her friend Maggie at a princess party. Maggie is Xan's little sister. </td></tr>
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<br />Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-37353115792650276992017-10-12T07:15:00.000-07:002017-10-12T07:15:14.389-07:00There's no place like home (school)Every year I tell myself, "Kayla, you don't have to do this anymore. Just finish this year out, and then we'll see."<br />
<br />
But every year I do it again.<br />
<br />
Are there days I wish we weren't a home school family? Heck. Yes. I get <i>no</i> break from my kids, nor they from me (poor dears). "Me" time? Forget about it. Peace and quiet? Never (my ears literally ring when I lay my head on the pillow at night.<br />
<br />
The kids don't have access to amazing sports programs or music programs. The house is NEVER fully picked up (there are five of us inside this apartment all day, every day, year round).<br />
<br />
The reasons to quit home schooling are many.<br />
<br />
But the reasons to keep with it are more. The kids are home, with me, every day. Their childhoods are almost, but not quite, anxiety-free. Awkward stages slip by in the privacy of our family, un-teased and un-unnoticed. Difficulty learning this or that is given all the time it needs until, painlessly, it's gone.<br />
<br />
If someone has a deep philosophical question at 9:30 p.m., we can spend two hours talking it through because the next morning we can all sleep in if we need to. We're hardly ever sick (that's a huge bonus). My kids are each others' best friends because they spend every day together.<br />
<br />
And best of all, their teacher can give them big hugs and kisses on the tops of their heads without getting in trouble for it.<br />
<br />
Home sweet home (school).<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOpoRraxI6NWZlOKmmOLch17enEFGYI2MwuTPJ6VsE4N4JFOErxvNXytC6iB-GuPQTHheWaCfeQFHwb5C8TQOdz7DQSX2c4UC_fIPKYqx_KHaMBE7bMn2s6d_zawew1neFhzxWnxf/s1600/IMG_0539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOpoRraxI6NWZlOKmmOLch17enEFGYI2MwuTPJ6VsE4N4JFOErxvNXytC6iB-GuPQTHheWaCfeQFHwb5C8TQOdz7DQSX2c4UC_fIPKYqx_KHaMBE7bMn2s6d_zawew1neFhzxWnxf/s640/IMG_0539.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desks. They help us take ourselves more seriously (it can't be all fun and games)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvvALFDMmbGPmzcE7m-gO6bdB__idg3-vSowAPA6Y9rLSobfVUDoDdWN-2bU9e_5lM3qErsK0P0H8VuWdph36b4d6FTCfBVdP1cu1y1pSpqvMDFq0T4hnRD6WeJ5blUbvBsOM-NIr/s1600/IMG_0708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvvALFDMmbGPmzcE7m-gO6bdB__idg3-vSowAPA6Y9rLSobfVUDoDdWN-2bU9e_5lM3qErsK0P0H8VuWdph36b4d6FTCfBVdP1cu1y1pSpqvMDFq0T4hnRD6WeJ5blUbvBsOM-NIr/s640/IMG_0708.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The writing co-op I host on my rooftop.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHi6nEEXLcSfOc8Mb8joeUoPPFIfFAJ9SPL64PAjfLAWEkMbh88Ccdz0qCyCFOYx0l_hf3sNKYZU29IIL8swBDVT4t5IMXOgU9l-JbODvE0neQ20Hqv15BVpQYhJvO6r6li0xtcj50/s1600/IMG_0559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHi6nEEXLcSfOc8Mb8joeUoPPFIfFAJ9SPL64PAjfLAWEkMbh88Ccdz0qCyCFOYx0l_hf3sNKYZU29IIL8swBDVT4t5IMXOgU9l-JbODvE0neQ20Hqv15BVpQYhJvO6r6li0xtcj50/s640/IMG_0559.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chemistry co-op, Periodic Table cookies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiByeYYoGN4EC6gGuVliYq-KKcfKfsTk5QG0zx9F4ssnZ-xBuhtg7bcqVb2e7YymbfLNmFc3fdwaJH2k5fs1ztVrUI4pi-SuR9kHJPQrfE72toM-DOer3JuJ67IYJwKq9xQQDcH6zH/s1600/IMG_0561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiByeYYoGN4EC6gGuVliYq-KKcfKfsTk5QG0zx9F4ssnZ-xBuhtg7bcqVb2e7YymbfLNmFc3fdwaJH2k5fs1ztVrUI4pi-SuR9kHJPQrfE72toM-DOer3JuJ67IYJwKq9xQQDcH6zH/s640/IMG_0561.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool dudes make cookies. Gene on the left, his buddy Reister on the right.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLo1Dey3LruhWtI6a4OP1OFtBYOpTF40Ff0ouwhaVwtd4Skw5rXXs0vqbVka-I2gK27o6VnGLHdFdxz5eAbPaBLFP00_VczNy51TrEgY-JgBzjptrVdh3TnXqRSWjEDdKRNALRCyQG/s1600/IMG_0497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLo1Dey3LruhWtI6a4OP1OFtBYOpTF40Ff0ouwhaVwtd4Skw5rXXs0vqbVka-I2gK27o6VnGLHdFdxz5eAbPaBLFP00_VczNy51TrEgY-JgBzjptrVdh3TnXqRSWjEDdKRNALRCyQG/s640/IMG_0497.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The junior chemistry co-op. Brave on the left, his buddy Mason on the right.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvD8J5i-S4vyj3ouw7hcZoTPCoZv7P9t-m3ajkbwzfbL0zBn0wByrKflbS3ZDSLjDZAmkTgIHk7DSHpQlhkmFdIQ0aPwhKykp0yPefvExAqYKVBUMfRh1f2MxhjZ_tQ4PwHy9qmiS9/s1600/IMG_0426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvD8J5i-S4vyj3ouw7hcZoTPCoZv7P9t-m3ajkbwzfbL0zBn0wByrKflbS3ZDSLjDZAmkTgIHk7DSHpQlhkmFdIQ0aPwhKykp0yPefvExAqYKVBUMfRh1f2MxhjZ_tQ4PwHy9qmiS9/s640/IMG_0426.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making Russian gingerbread during our Russia unit in history (Jubi and her classic Chinese squat)</td></tr>
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Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-90932190222166544112017-09-09T02:00:00.000-07:002017-09-09T02:00:31.591-07:00Six boys and a girlThere is another family in town with three sons. Over the years we have become increasingly close to this amazing family of tall, athletic, like-minded and like-hearted people. <br />
<br />
And they know how to have FUN!<br />
<br />
A few weeks ago they took us to this crazy place on the edge of our city where we actually went tubing on a manmade lake! (If you've ever been here, you know how <i>unheard of</i> that is).<br />
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Michelle brought tuna salad and I brought bread and our kids jumped and ran and swam all day. Jubilee, the only girl, hung with the six boys like a champ.<br />
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<br />Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-5231697401913091972017-08-13T20:59:00.000-07:002017-08-13T20:59:02.396-07:00Michigander flies homeBefore school starts I'd better put up an America post! It's amazing how much fun a family can have in under three weeks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSTIOgDIcGFmhZul0baJkIiTJUSFkL9KJ_SywTxD3pou3jINWY_9B92XftqBhw7tS6RCl-4Xc41NaLXYZ31tGUhpUw8fvq7kAjgFiLCNO7n4oftnJ8CIHVHUA28FCTgD8aht9QLg_/s1600/IMG_9949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSTIOgDIcGFmhZul0baJkIiTJUSFkL9KJ_SywTxD3pou3jINWY_9B92XftqBhw7tS6RCl-4Xc41NaLXYZ31tGUhpUw8fvq7kAjgFiLCNO7n4oftnJ8CIHVHUA28FCTgD8aht9QLg_/s640/IMG_9949.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pic says it all. The flag, the boating tube, the minivan, the mobile home. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0o-60BOjXD2mV0z_YAqICxUUlclyfJbwONdPTao9W1knIAU-f9EJ9mPJ8fbRICIuWXGetTGax6FxcpUUD-ucRBKr63Pp-N8d0q9BIkwBt5XZXtJ2fap57ZHZuO15xOgcmLokrLS5c/s1600/IMG_9895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0o-60BOjXD2mV0z_YAqICxUUlclyfJbwONdPTao9W1knIAU-f9EJ9mPJ8fbRICIuWXGetTGax6FxcpUUD-ucRBKr63Pp-N8d0q9BIkwBt5XZXtJ2fap57ZHZuO15xOgcmLokrLS5c/s640/IMG_9895.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">America has Meijer stores, and Meijer stores have slushies. It's one of the first things we do.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGVOOAmSgT02dBrQOwY8EJtlg_i6NWoLXWp_NzBk8ZqM31d7gk55TybszilJ7yKVx_cbiNE65_Nws74xicgBMc3HOk1ymhCxmqTvBHFg1ixloLC0D30n_qt0TDjeDMnxLHcVgCfGU/s1600/IMG_9890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGVOOAmSgT02dBrQOwY8EJtlg_i6NWoLXWp_NzBk8ZqM31d7gk55TybszilJ7yKVx_cbiNE65_Nws74xicgBMc3HOk1ymhCxmqTvBHFg1ixloLC0D30n_qt0TDjeDMnxLHcVgCfGU/s640/IMG_9890.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">America has brothers. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-USdhekJR10_Mu1sAt9MIikIcvK2x4NXG68tQMZtyhzL6AxUH2PDMDLUNdUi83oZzqkv4vdyNM5OxxxreJWL6VF8erZvoFaQKj8MkZhWqJHpokMfxVzXkF6ZOyX-iT3GW5fyBzcV4/s1600/IMG_0428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-USdhekJR10_Mu1sAt9MIikIcvK2x4NXG68tQMZtyhzL6AxUH2PDMDLUNdUi83oZzqkv4vdyNM5OxxxreJWL6VF8erZvoFaQKj8MkZhWqJHpokMfxVzXkF6ZOyX-iT3GW5fyBzcV4/s640/IMG_0428.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family pic 2017. The gang's all here!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8P5IdDuTbCfudDDGktoxQbjeLUh9GRIucE_LAyGAZbn-vgA1zzNii4coYsK5REKq7P0TevFauU4RSmkoSvIalxESJihg5TUpsjA1kFmzK6Vngdt8FL1tS13_i-Y9se4a5zWArkS7H/s1600/IMG_0226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8P5IdDuTbCfudDDGktoxQbjeLUh9GRIucE_LAyGAZbn-vgA1zzNii4coYsK5REKq7P0TevFauU4RSmkoSvIalxESJihg5TUpsjA1kFmzK6Vngdt8FL1tS13_i-Y9se4a5zWArkS7H/s640/IMG_0226.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousins!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdhYQRS-SY8FDXNgzKr-nney5Ac2qhtP_J63_FdYWQH_JN-Kw7O8QtW4WdNIWFHwAKA7ZrCPpbPWL4XrWJUSxKce7BCVVurLgRc94ZI78GK7wPOLLpMheE_LG9KzlK9yhXmiJVXAc/s1600/IMG_0188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdhYQRS-SY8FDXNgzKr-nney5Ac2qhtP_J63_FdYWQH_JN-Kw7O8QtW4WdNIWFHwAKA7ZrCPpbPWL4XrWJUSxKce7BCVVurLgRc94ZI78GK7wPOLLpMheE_LG9KzlK9yhXmiJVXAc/s640/IMG_0188.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousins!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPkXb6lq-Cl4X0U2Mj4bQqTBkO5WE1HX4-AyARRP-Co96N6iFEjPrDhe8DcCaAXJD1a6-DeUzze9kIyDIziVubNpXT4MTEEq54DoJC04vyGe9agGOzHwSF8U08c0O8XFgJRXI5asb/s1600/IMG_0193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPkXb6lq-Cl4X0U2Mj4bQqTBkO5WE1HX4-AyARRP-Co96N6iFEjPrDhe8DcCaAXJD1a6-DeUzze9kIyDIziVubNpXT4MTEEq54DoJC04vyGe9agGOzHwSF8U08c0O8XFgJRXI5asb/s640/IMG_0193.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousins!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXk0h3sfTuO2DdTFuIEbEYuhyphenhyphenyiGLsmC0dlXGgmN_Icj7YhweRuWI4H4a82-Ys1VTxlWh5BRvqNUpTv-x5twhHibomwnIYCL-QthanFE8FZZPyICN2Yb41-iYLnQPp9u6T7Do3tab/s1600/IMG_0076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXk0h3sfTuO2DdTFuIEbEYuhyphenhyphenyiGLsmC0dlXGgmN_Icj7YhweRuWI4H4a82-Ys1VTxlWh5BRvqNUpTv-x5twhHibomwnIYCL-QthanFE8FZZPyICN2Yb41-iYLnQPp9u6T7Do3tab/s640/IMG_0076.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our family's favorite inland lake. Grandpa has a pontoon boat now.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8AF8WgEV343RYb_PeqNAuNCStguAEwujKqnjJtRXGgCCocVlOnGnUMT7AVennmkMt8Zvmphvwg1-V-7p82fKFtZkRRfC1L0_ejWxHNhRt-1cS16Gb6IpHRT9q6CUMzJEW5OUtV1B/s1600/IMG_0082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8AF8WgEV343RYb_PeqNAuNCStguAEwujKqnjJtRXGgCCocVlOnGnUMT7AVennmkMt8Zvmphvwg1-V-7p82fKFtZkRRfC1L0_ejWxHNhRt-1cS16Gb6IpHRT9q6CUMzJEW5OUtV1B/s640/IMG_0082.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dad. XOXOX</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUO7L2qrgtUV4GM1P-GR-Z1NGIVHc3tS2NIK89l4VVlSqZpPZJVkPoJlf-_kp7sWhU975UofJD63Ivqf8R_cY6oJOEXr56lypTcmDK_43Ps7iv-9Xs8ep2HzDxewy2TY3t7vOdE5b/s1600/IMG_0417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNUO7L2qrgtUV4GM1P-GR-Z1NGIVHc3tS2NIK89l4VVlSqZpPZJVkPoJlf-_kp7sWhU975UofJD63Ivqf8R_cY6oJOEXr56lypTcmDK_43Ps7iv-9Xs8ep2HzDxewy2TY3t7vOdE5b/s640/IMG_0417.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four generations!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWP3Ey4JToQIIgO45dHrQK6kDMkJusS3-bhLnXBHFjhLuH-rm-qv5bB0W2Sa-UoF8WeCFCI0Qd_YZitCqGxuFrck-kNqKiz_cHGH61lhrrZL9N6shp_Nbov6oMqJ83EfY79p3b3WfH/s1600/IMG_0127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWP3Ey4JToQIIgO45dHrQK6kDMkJusS3-bhLnXBHFjhLuH-rm-qv5bB0W2Sa-UoF8WeCFCI0Qd_YZitCqGxuFrck-kNqKiz_cHGH61lhrrZL9N6shp_Nbov6oMqJ83EfY79p3b3WfH/s640/IMG_0127.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom. XOXOX</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Xya-e3LmRbY-XAWJe-ZQWO4Xs87bbGm7-7d-qNul0G-GnfPG5rjhIahB1XQ_VyH9xFmndPzb7m6lv1PSK27E0SegBjSO02ta_Jvel_i3WJGioqeznt77Pi3KRe7AAaWAwewsb16Y/s1600/IMG_9926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Xya-e3LmRbY-XAWJe-ZQWO4Xs87bbGm7-7d-qNul0G-GnfPG5rjhIahB1XQ_VyH9xFmndPzb7m6lv1PSK27E0SegBjSO02ta_Jvel_i3WJGioqeznt77Pi3KRe7AAaWAwewsb16Y/s640/IMG_9926.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishing!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwJHD9BnbdrCXcsbMCRFCgi5LaFyKp46CypFtRaD6VJ_I6XUqR0i46EKewArYN_9AciV4NFa8T-XdzRkMsk0sKoQJpfpelD-aB59xhArSwSfiSD826ZOBgqSy7KygSHHwkQ6s8gAL/s1600/IMG_0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwJHD9BnbdrCXcsbMCRFCgi5LaFyKp46CypFtRaD6VJ_I6XUqR0i46EKewArYN_9AciV4NFa8T-XdzRkMsk0sKoQJpfpelD-aB59xhArSwSfiSD826ZOBgqSy7KygSHHwkQ6s8gAL/s640/IMG_0141.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not to be outdone by the grandkids.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnvVMnksZtHcsBewcHt-NrtccO3n_Fv0F6xzAhrr4C3Atj2kJES6Jiwq5BWFfEUSuozgV6GUXsgXjbL8Bv_uVUk0Z5VGm_4yUs-vlUz1vUEv4kQ6aPP2ONRJLYX6QMj6pFpyIhuUE/s1600/IMG_0091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnvVMnksZtHcsBewcHt-NrtccO3n_Fv0F6xzAhrr4C3Atj2kJES6Jiwq5BWFfEUSuozgV6GUXsgXjbL8Bv_uVUk0Z5VGm_4yUs-vlUz1vUEv4kQ6aPP2ONRJLYX6QMj6pFpyIhuUE/s640/IMG_0091.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach. Of course.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YWnIN6k7GtafQLZGuYsXSQLdmfDZvDNEgoPpkNCmOXlOh0e1I5tBrunk4CHjCOx7IvzPpbrcbRZ5aXlREsECopxQuB4EQYb9UzUtthsYRH4adCPtNgnCfphM3AArd146c8ruT74c/s1600/IMG_0113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YWnIN6k7GtafQLZGuYsXSQLdmfDZvDNEgoPpkNCmOXlOh0e1I5tBrunk4CHjCOx7IvzPpbrcbRZ5aXlREsECopxQuB4EQYb9UzUtthsYRH4adCPtNgnCfphM3AArd146c8ruT74c/s640/IMG_0113.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8uE61hb83YwncS7q-0GlR839O4AaqKGuoYSGaQ5qrwI6-VGTBi0lw7qINCXMfUdkFptY_to6SvtJd36IiyjkweRT7qwoFO7HoLNiiQkp7NinICP87dunzfPu2L_QDkA1dtVN3WRD/s1600/IMG_0089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8uE61hb83YwncS7q-0GlR839O4AaqKGuoYSGaQ5qrwI6-VGTBi0lw7qINCXMfUdkFptY_to6SvtJd36IiyjkweRT7qwoFO7HoLNiiQkp7NinICP87dunzfPu2L_QDkA1dtVN3WRD/s640/IMG_0089.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They've been carrying kids' beach toys to the beach for 40 years now.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PQiZxkoMhfUsfLkMeXWsCqvwmNWL7WefZAeixjAUebvSV016q6ULd2NE1Jlz7mpPykhL2HPouPTsF_th_44qIQB93cYQubvCstGSfS38c2PR6RafnYskuay92J0syuZVpk9o8I7R/s1600/IMG_0133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PQiZxkoMhfUsfLkMeXWsCqvwmNWL7WefZAeixjAUebvSV016q6ULd2NE1Jlz7mpPykhL2HPouPTsF_th_44qIQB93cYQubvCstGSfS38c2PR6RafnYskuay92J0syuZVpk9o8I7R/s640/IMG_0133.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents pack a mean cooler.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTSAiCtRkxB1IqMeJ-PnAFpSsaw-aEUHmLgDIMepgtfaStyaUxZrstqRzUUbQn3CxVWuGhSHXqZF74vyxudIUFT9X52L5k_VIQVtuHbFsmRIUJsRLCpDsp5-xZYDV-zbduWqq5MSY/s1600/IMG_0160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTSAiCtRkxB1IqMeJ-PnAFpSsaw-aEUHmLgDIMepgtfaStyaUxZrstqRzUUbQn3CxVWuGhSHXqZF74vyxudIUFT9X52L5k_VIQVtuHbFsmRIUJsRLCpDsp5-xZYDV-zbduWqq5MSY/s640/IMG_0160.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then there's Liz. Of course.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcl66FkSz8nMp6cQ6Ptpaj16dCCFFTBCkvwTF1BJEHhV2YPluha06rx4IlmPt23FbDnpRnFPx1DAhVHWa6wzPzIfUyeuRSNtyeQUKh59p79Xrb1qMKtM02nDo4jA9tIW7rsd19moV/s1600/IMG_0238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcl66FkSz8nMp6cQ6Ptpaj16dCCFFTBCkvwTF1BJEHhV2YPluha06rx4IlmPt23FbDnpRnFPx1DAhVHWa6wzPzIfUyeuRSNtyeQUKh59p79Xrb1qMKtM02nDo4jA9tIW7rsd19moV/s640/IMG_0238.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stayed here for a night. "Linda's Place," it was called. Linda has...interesting taste.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdBQ2zFpWIp4pKnX83_iTWaos7qzGCxtHgfPAZfjSf7hnErso2DWnJh9bXVm6HGmD5jKxXLEh-eFTpK6IaWVbPHt1CWEd20BSSaEaRkBj2183bdnMl_1YO6Y8YYiXb1oPAVNPwaqv/s1600/IMG_0240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdBQ2zFpWIp4pKnX83_iTWaos7qzGCxtHgfPAZfjSf7hnErso2DWnJh9bXVm6HGmD5jKxXLEh-eFTpK6IaWVbPHt1CWEd20BSSaEaRkBj2183bdnMl_1YO6Y8YYiXb1oPAVNPwaqv/s640/IMG_0240.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowling balls were growing in the garden.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwk3NLBxlthZDG9q5OpgECY024-ZmWLYDDYkWXOTFaDtvq7Uw_zAU1PxN6kJuvi7Z1-yTkSELM_MGkds2Whdxyc1UpxpLgFQVqZtLy4zoTnnVKDkI_dc7QwD4fuEBSXoDbQ-BpE_87/s1600/IMG_0241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwk3NLBxlthZDG9q5OpgECY024-ZmWLYDDYkWXOTFaDtvq7Uw_zAU1PxN6kJuvi7Z1-yTkSELM_MGkds2Whdxyc1UpxpLgFQVqZtLy4zoTnnVKDkI_dc7QwD4fuEBSXoDbQ-BpE_87/s640/IMG_0241.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">??</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnXC_M9ifo4M8wmgCS98WJCxubSYKYKgRF9yhB2GPwxAK7rKdo5TDbrcaDTrgG65dca9C4HMkyZiNtUmznPHB6N37Zt0-jBdIZkez_S_VHY1rTX_T-jyXz5xv1vqyK2IGykvHkq-N/s1600/IMG_0232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnXC_M9ifo4M8wmgCS98WJCxubSYKYKgRF9yhB2GPwxAK7rKdo5TDbrcaDTrgG65dca9C4HMkyZiNtUmznPHB6N37Zt0-jBdIZkez_S_VHY1rTX_T-jyXz5xv1vqyK2IGykvHkq-N/s640/IMG_0232.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a blast, in spite of Linda's garden! Ha!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30g-DZimLRUPscb3E695JnxEnNuzSnDdbpxi3B93NtgfiqDVoUHQXF7br05oQdEobVzPVcQ_Z8RvWnJYyW65F_0LPqEOCaU6mJPgtAUYZYtipSO48HQNq7_urkJQtLYBuolUj8A4F/s1600/IMG_0254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30g-DZimLRUPscb3E695JnxEnNuzSnDdbpxi3B93NtgfiqDVoUHQXF7br05oQdEobVzPVcQ_Z8RvWnJYyW65F_0LPqEOCaU6mJPgtAUYZYtipSO48HQNq7_urkJQtLYBuolUj8A4F/s640/IMG_0254.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah, Michigan. Until we meet again. XOXOX</td></tr>
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<br />Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-34590686018673251902017-08-06T00:27:00.000-07:002017-08-06T00:29:50.542-07:00My baby is 8So we snuck back into America this summer, for less than three weeks this time. If we didn't see you or give you a call, don't feel badly. It was worse for us! A globe-crossing series of flights, followed by two weeks of jet lag, then a mere five days of normalcy, only to get back on airplanes heading home to East Asia for another two weeks of jet lag. Not exactly a dream summer...but necessary for visa purposes. We do what we must.<br />
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So it was that Jubilee celebrated her 8th birthday while in the United States. Which is funny. This kid, who has never lived anywhere but her birth country, has now celebrated 3/8 of her birthdays outside of her birth country.<br />
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But she didn't complain too much. She woke up at Grandma and Grandpa's on the morning of her birthday, to the usual streamers and balloons and a present or two.<br />
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Then we met up with Liz and Cadence at Airtime in Grand Rapids. Jubi LOVVVVVES her friend Cadence. This lovely Dutch girl is a full head taller than Jubes and hasn't even turned 8! But their height difference doesn't mean anything to them.<br />
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After Airtime, Liz took the girls to an art event for kids.<br />
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The following Saturday the whole family came together, Momo included, to celebrate again. Jubilee had her cousin Sharlet by her side this time!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmPDKyLp1FUptLGUBVNHfqQ1El2xiLmRsHz-oh9408pWiVdOnHM_ckmiCj1_7TTR-kotg8up3KoVelIOC0eGDW-D5T0c-ovTyei9DbCRRZK3cYcWwJfzg6jKHK_x1c333Q8eBCd9D/s1600/IMG_1674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmPDKyLp1FUptLGUBVNHfqQ1El2xiLmRsHz-oh9408pWiVdOnHM_ckmiCj1_7TTR-kotg8up3KoVelIOC0eGDW-D5T0c-ovTyei9DbCRRZK3cYcWwJfzg6jKHK_x1c333Q8eBCd9D/s640/IMG_1674.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Probably her favorite gift was the shirt I ordered from Etsy. The kitten looks like our Moses, and green is her favorite color.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5R5VsumVOFybc-yNnEetVQcyEM-HpcNTq-TMX_8kqX9anA2MlVl8OV1gCWFn8bypxdByyO7a02-dOQVrfW26ygUmqlmFBs4-1S1sg810ajOwu9YQYwMuxDswkryDAeFwI2xk7Db-f/s1600/IMG_1692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5R5VsumVOFybc-yNnEetVQcyEM-HpcNTq-TMX_8kqX9anA2MlVl8OV1gCWFn8bypxdByyO7a02-dOQVrfW26ygUmqlmFBs4-1S1sg810ajOwu9YQYwMuxDswkryDAeFwI2xk7Db-f/s640/IMG_1692.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The grand finale? GETTING HER EARS PIERCED! Grandma and Momo and I took her to Claire's at Rivertown Crossings Mall. She chose yellow gold and cubic zirconia studs.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Idme-8fH6bOTZphGWPflGyUinXUe0H7hzF4nU4sKU-MC9QwKGKmHMsQ1wRbeCv4bW0vbBghGSkgJh0LnwtFYP_2k10votLI9qAAHdpN3VzppiUM06Reh9JKmsUtyPggJGlsdLWpv/s1600/IMG_0195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Idme-8fH6bOTZphGWPflGyUinXUe0H7hzF4nU4sKU-MC9QwKGKmHMsQ1wRbeCv4bW0vbBghGSkgJh0LnwtFYP_2k10votLI9qAAHdpN3VzppiUM06Reh9JKmsUtyPggJGlsdLWpv/s640/IMG_0195.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her ears just before the piercing.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jwDEvkBWorZrcBBkMESCw2e3HAW-ihGHbQxnqfGxnsa75BvDA6gONjsboGqQ-5BKYTxRL8Ybb02H5AfcCewv-x61royY4X3_-l6UKbiBu-q2TXrd5dv1R025R4MuCOGKRB69uLTF/s1600/IMG_0199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jwDEvkBWorZrcBBkMESCw2e3HAW-ihGHbQxnqfGxnsa75BvDA6gONjsboGqQ-5BKYTxRL8Ybb02H5AfcCewv-x61royY4X3_-l6UKbiBu-q2TXrd5dv1R025R4MuCOGKRB69uLTF/s640/IMG_0199.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lady who would pierce her ears was kind of nuts. Jubi is laughing at her.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr46TQsTcnN_tTOtbksyTdy8rKh2rk6UhleXdtHReCljDxupt4g2BEuBRjE3S0Sixtjj7AGY5Av0gA7QPe0i9PHZ71yh761C9RSg_gsSGXm4Gpbd6AjXESCJtOk1XZrbj3xfI0xSDQ/s1600/IMG_0197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr46TQsTcnN_tTOtbksyTdy8rKh2rk6UhleXdtHReCljDxupt4g2BEuBRjE3S0Sixtjj7AGY5Av0gA7QPe0i9PHZ71yh761C9RSg_gsSGXm4Gpbd6AjXESCJtOk1XZrbj3xfI0xSDQ/s640/IMG_0197.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's laughing at her again. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQl0WlQlmCM0X2UArIuDDISkt9L7k3uYglklPQFGq8s7uCDR8m1zTSfB0G8enV3EsD_Wx8n6euVZFRHll2VCaOm4mL2RQF1WCHRHq5ViZlPVHKAE6P0YYLYOkYnxhO2RZulScehyphenhyphenat/s1600/IMG_0208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQl0WlQlmCM0X2UArIuDDISkt9L7k3uYglklPQFGq8s7uCDR8m1zTSfB0G8enV3EsD_Wx8n6euVZFRHll2VCaOm4mL2RQF1WCHRHq5ViZlPVHKAE6P0YYLYOkYnxhO2RZulScehyphenhyphenat/s640/IMG_0208.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smallest look of pain on her face. Nothing more.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfgqn22VbfpquoKw-5eESxjEhOgTYUfUvi4Vg9pMmVmMLJaaDtqrMINysNCdDrxaJu5oGxEhn-iH1R6Ye4gcFjjjLNLB-amHfAfrt3wp25pKxhnhJYTXee_y2l9mmuZr8pqInPVsX/s1600/IMG_0217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfgqn22VbfpquoKw-5eESxjEhOgTYUfUvi4Vg9pMmVmMLJaaDtqrMINysNCdDrxaJu5oGxEhn-iH1R6Ye4gcFjjjLNLB-amHfAfrt3wp25pKxhnhJYTXee_y2l9mmuZr8pqInPVsX/s640/IMG_0217.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And she's done! Look at the sparkle in those ears! Grandma bought her two more pairs for later.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_6L7X7Eth85GuHHFtWlaeEMXwvPmBjmQZG6gL7nCsCuqJ96mX9C5m7ycLFtQzXWEu8z1eFwnVeAV-qtZq6mPFEz7Q_P0NmTjNrnykCrOwuA0JRXfzoyYAP9HZgkK-Qvp1XAXFh3y/s1600/IMG_0218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_6L7X7Eth85GuHHFtWlaeEMXwvPmBjmQZG6gL7nCsCuqJ96mX9C5m7ycLFtQzXWEu8z1eFwnVeAV-qtZq6mPFEz7Q_P0NmTjNrnykCrOwuA0JRXfzoyYAP9HZgkK-Qvp1XAXFh3y/s640/IMG_0218.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Jubilee, my only daughter, my sweet companion, my favorite girl. You have a golden heart, a level head, a quick wit, and a look of beauty. There is no doubt that girls like you are rare. We are so thankful for you, and we can't wait to see where you will go in life and who you will become! Happy birthday, sweetheart. We love you with all our hearts.Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-89450382374608045752017-07-06T22:59:00.004-07:002017-07-06T23:00:42.007-07:00The twelve year old boyGene: "What I hate most are weddings, haircuts, and art."<br />
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His siblings: "What do you love most, then?"<br />
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Gene: "Video games, soft drinks, and camping."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDzEWBwaLmtgHBtcLjjRTd79E4Qxn2uLR4-JqH5pC-0IpHU-zWL_cEpl7NVNRIoqM7J5peirEIGPV0kVYIm3zf_85Wj87hC3HVlgOjiRj2Gufr_6rYMyBXvFKHKZXLiyGUzPLod94/s1600/IMG_1311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDzEWBwaLmtgHBtcLjjRTd79E4Qxn2uLR4-JqH5pC-0IpHU-zWL_cEpl7NVNRIoqM7J5peirEIGPV0kVYIm3zf_85Wj87hC3HVlgOjiRj2Gufr_6rYMyBXvFKHKZXLiyGUzPLod94/s640/IMG_1311.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He had a little run-in with a mountain.</td></tr>
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<br />Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-70093572582217836812017-07-03T07:14:00.001-07:002017-07-06T23:02:06.786-07:00Why was 6 afraid of 7?Because 7 ate 9.<br />
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Get it? 7,8,9<br />
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Brave turned 8 in June, and <i>boy</i> did his birthday go out with a bang!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGvODO4dlyXtWyHQrFcVzrS13Br5zKNcAH8gIN_X-RgI5LUtoqkG5pkIo0lMBxTkgsFCiqrMqItFr96MBAjnIbvEJggw9vIKTORvwE9qpkBmSgklZm-6G1jIQoz5WAc6JvVIxkmqG/s1600/IMG_9685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGvODO4dlyXtWyHQrFcVzrS13Br5zKNcAH8gIN_X-RgI5LUtoqkG5pkIo0lMBxTkgsFCiqrMqItFr96MBAjnIbvEJggw9vIKTORvwE9qpkBmSgklZm-6G1jIQoz5WAc6JvVIxkmqG/s640/IMG_9685.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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But I'm getting ahead of myself.<br />
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Let me start from the beginning.<br />
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He woke up on June 13 to a traditional Daniel Rupp decorating job.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjQpXgfc_IDX0nj-Mmxn_P2n063Dq4pnhQh87kQUqbMvILE1xD83_hAjNu2yMpoS3zYUt3-6inIJoIeiAFawC-C_UmNp_0tuwcgUOSl9crJmANgvyyM_e0yatqDlsBjY4iglUaV-X/s1600/IMG_9377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjQpXgfc_IDX0nj-Mmxn_P2n063Dq4pnhQh87kQUqbMvILE1xD83_hAjNu2yMpoS3zYUt3-6inIJoIeiAFawC-C_UmNp_0tuwcgUOSl9crJmANgvyyM_e0yatqDlsBjY4iglUaV-X/s640/IMG_9377.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pardon the clean laundry chair. Does anyone <i>not</i> have a clean laundry chair?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWqfElikC_l_Rj08P1gl1BERUk8bRNvwBRpG0WpGIniGLsc7iNOaYk5w6rR2AQsCXoExL7e7JxNAB1dVl5bPwZQQXsAvG3qXrEab-YvGWJAiLfRqB_m3uXDyTpucPMbDdAMTYZe7Q/s1600/IMG_9381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWqfElikC_l_Rj08P1gl1BERUk8bRNvwBRpG0WpGIniGLsc7iNOaYk5w6rR2AQsCXoExL7e7JxNAB1dVl5bPwZQQXsAvG3qXrEab-YvGWJAiLfRqB_m3uXDyTpucPMbDdAMTYZe7Q/s640/IMG_9381.jpg" width="457" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brave's nickname, from Daniel. Sing it to the tune of Caterpillar, Caterpillar.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhowOeua36zXHVsaJiQzd4aI4cLKEBOF9ISfEH4VGE3SmLhGHT6EgC3y8nhZcUog1mb1_bUjngDMiMHYV6U12d0xXRTJCluz96wGYu88ZYYMI1D0GoK0hoqF6O8b0LO9dJ8L-ypFy/s1600/IMG_9414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhowOeua36zXHVsaJiQzd4aI4cLKEBOF9ISfEH4VGE3SmLhGHT6EgC3y8nhZcUog1mb1_bUjngDMiMHYV6U12d0xXRTJCluz96wGYu88ZYYMI1D0GoK0hoqF6O8b0LO9dJ8L-ypFy/s640/IMG_9414.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He got a remote control boat!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8CNkiax1wuTkNtvUgX4jD0V8K6dtLigtleheON1Py0fe5dy8b8SXEGKNB3rcPrLlF9w6zaHPT84b6BwaUdYub6jJJ_ZgiezMQvII9EFZ9xGzYb1EswmmRAq4cM-N-Ppc1uaUcmT6/s1600/IMG_9435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8CNkiax1wuTkNtvUgX4jD0V8K6dtLigtleheON1Py0fe5dy8b8SXEGKNB3rcPrLlF9w6zaHPT84b6BwaUdYub6jJJ_ZgiezMQvII9EFZ9xGzYb1EswmmRAq4cM-N-Ppc1uaUcmT6/s640/IMG_9435.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We grabbed some of his friends and went to the park to try it out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3S0bdGSOqLzoWfsGCaHDxfEGpv41kvCZDR0CFdBo0SovqNkd2DWvCGhe1cfFCFYLrgVE1G972kpNPmzlKDze9k4Sba3QLNJ2Aw6r35CeADnLYZd_MBrmwAop9me2ZLzFOKwhqRym/s1600/IMG_9467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3S0bdGSOqLzoWfsGCaHDxfEGpv41kvCZDR0CFdBo0SovqNkd2DWvCGhe1cfFCFYLrgVE1G972kpNPmzlKDze9k4Sba3QLNJ2Aw6r35CeADnLYZd_MBrmwAop9me2ZLzFOKwhqRym/s640/IMG_9467.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It works great!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwdP3qmyy7Zznr1MFhPUQQEdccwJglmWYKFAex-Rk9J0gw54zCv2DDNQngy1cxLb5FVWBUbYBxoxQqCdA60fKlCnsj5L2kHHwtBMRTYDBgMud_D_wolAXXgmkCgJML4QgqG_ONTFx/s1600/IMG_9469.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwdP3qmyy7Zznr1MFhPUQQEdccwJglmWYKFAex-Rk9J0gw54zCv2DDNQngy1cxLb5FVWBUbYBxoxQqCdA60fKlCnsj5L2kHHwtBMRTYDBgMud_D_wolAXXgmkCgJML4QgqG_ONTFx/s640/IMG_9469.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG53BF7ucoE6btDgmkojVzLFqXgb-7Ypy8fc2qQD8Hr6YaKwwk_w10yfuk8A0HZqwlFnD4Ent5fEuHZ1Pdl1rMnqkXEKxCdNQgyUn9eWuaZ11eSmHJsxFgElg-xWYON4Ha08FTE4Wl/s1600/IMG_9479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG53BF7ucoE6btDgmkojVzLFqXgb-7Ypy8fc2qQD8Hr6YaKwwk_w10yfuk8A0HZqwlFnD4Ent5fEuHZ1Pdl1rMnqkXEKxCdNQgyUn9eWuaZ11eSmHJsxFgElg-xWYON4Ha08FTE4Wl/s640/IMG_9479.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Then we rode the trike to Peter's Tex-Mex for dinner, per Brave's request. We brought Zeb along, of course.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUKBIw4Zv5ysEmN8Q2ofH85EkhR4gdQBSjHEnCxI-MbCKfmY90Q7AEErKATG593FLpmuXc2gQ6J3J2Zf_K6HpKvKkpg5yQXiBoPu3Il0lSA748hYsioeZ-SpmBM54TC3XSbOKvmGw/s1600/IMG_9499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUKBIw4Zv5ysEmN8Q2ofH85EkhR4gdQBSjHEnCxI-MbCKfmY90Q7AEErKATG593FLpmuXc2gQ6J3J2Zf_K6HpKvKkpg5yQXiBoPu3Il0lSA748hYsioeZ-SpmBM54TC3XSbOKvmGw/s640/IMG_9499.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gene and I are in the front-facing bench seat, behind the camera.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_OWsEiOXWnUq4U1wBpxfrgRs2FBRiQVRX-Nbg9jGqL_rnXe8d8-g7Rji9v-CAk4btUfhBToPMR8_YCVwZPNoMHgxOiJEbqhkbYjZbFZcqDUJ5etCCdli4AQspUAHYO5_pWjftI8H/s1600/IMG_9521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_OWsEiOXWnUq4U1wBpxfrgRs2FBRiQVRX-Nbg9jGqL_rnXe8d8-g7Rji9v-CAk4btUfhBToPMR8_YCVwZPNoMHgxOiJEbqhkbYjZbFZcqDUJ5etCCdli4AQspUAHYO5_pWjftI8H/s640/IMG_9521.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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That night we watched Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark on the projector in our roof room.<br />
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Then a few days later we had his party. He requested laser tag. He and his friends (and his siblings) had a TON of fun.<br />
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Not to mention the dads.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBz76qgcbX44cd-p2hBuSdui21B1gd3fd_kAIZ6tJSrZZe9WtClasS54SDfd92o2oN6CEahLPfcZz0tqOZYQXUu3IC49KZm89rVKeeg4V2GSAz0Q2B2F2ftUxIgJOSbRAzaP5Fg57M/s1600/IMG_1474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBz76qgcbX44cd-p2hBuSdui21B1gd3fd_kAIZ6tJSrZZe9WtClasS54SDfd92o2oN6CEahLPfcZz0tqOZYQXUu3IC49KZm89rVKeeg4V2GSAz0Q2B2F2ftUxIgJOSbRAzaP5Fg57M/s640/IMG_1474.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel and Moose, bonding in combat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Brave was a little shy at first.<br />
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But Zeb's enthusiasm made up for it.<br />
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<br />
When everybody started suiting up, Brave got more and more excited!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprugOQngTCFPjWdHRtbcROXk0dkcY7jrf8FWccrblJLIzi0xLOTDcgmW-VrNNJm6VpKYtiQc9H0Ab1ZmYRLP_yT2c2PplWXYD2sjZ2QZAWLHfXwoozHIbTwh1eM8btnrXOouH2fLw/s1600/IMG_9631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprugOQngTCFPjWdHRtbcROXk0dkcY7jrf8FWccrblJLIzi0xLOTDcgmW-VrNNJm6VpKYtiQc9H0Ab1ZmYRLP_yT2c2PplWXYD2sjZ2QZAWLHfXwoozHIbTwh1eM8btnrXOouH2fLw/s640/IMG_9631.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even little sister got into it! Look at those pink nails.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcw6iKrS9uhyphenhyphen_G0P1Zqt5p-xGnW0RRLQmUs4irGmOLEXzpbcbHMbWOM-3fMMT3BDcsLYkGv5s_CCKYAWgdSo2lfBl1Ya7vHmS-m45YoV3FzLOeNUFAbONWI_pc_NCcI3-d6yGZ5oxP/s1600/IMG_9744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcw6iKrS9uhyphenhyphen_G0P1Zqt5p-xGnW0RRLQmUs4irGmOLEXzpbcbHMbWOM-3fMMT3BDcsLYkGv5s_CCKYAWgdSo2lfBl1Ya7vHmS-m45YoV3FzLOeNUFAbONWI_pc_NCcI3-d6yGZ5oxP/s640/IMG_9744.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxpztP0-z205fgCTs5jc5TcpJ8lh4PrEGapfLTZx67WOGehTkyzbMte3pUB1FDnfrPo9ddMFpLO7Bvhzu_yCr2IZsxpUugcvvhTGTrlQ1Rtk9JclaJjv4QJvzQpW5YjrI4wvmqhj4/s1600/IMG_9753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxpztP0-z205fgCTs5jc5TcpJ8lh4PrEGapfLTZx67WOGehTkyzbMte3pUB1FDnfrPo9ddMFpLO7Bvhzu_yCr2IZsxpUugcvvhTGTrlQ1Rtk9JclaJjv4QJvzQpW5YjrI4wvmqhj4/s640/IMG_9753.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh yeah, the game is on!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRh0a48QY28mrghGMxie437lgx1B_wzzAtk85Dl_NqmqT3IgPxOHWwV_A8iwVCcgb6Vphc_W0UqVHRi4koeFGSSkXPaA13Q1sYs07ucKSeGdf9WA61mkDFY_zNXzzWGZHDDuh9_gF/s1600/IMG_1472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRh0a48QY28mrghGMxie437lgx1B_wzzAtk85Dl_NqmqT3IgPxOHWwV_A8iwVCcgb6Vphc_W0UqVHRi4koeFGSSkXPaA13Q1sYs07ucKSeGdf9WA61mkDFY_zNXzzWGZHDDuh9_gF/s640/IMG_1472.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smoke bombs were just an extra 20 kuai.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWS79NRrywv6FGGGrNWNRP4XvCeOdUINOaUv0XfFFGNjD43VjGVtrhuctCQ0fUkVW6zEnFmas217VIlcKuDFzIC7z1yKmnl2CzhUKCjKJYoYrwSLFxX0qc4Tb6-bBO_O4CtYF53kdz/s1600/IMG_9721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWS79NRrywv6FGGGrNWNRP4XvCeOdUINOaUv0XfFFGNjD43VjGVtrhuctCQ0fUkVW6zEnFmas217VIlcKuDFzIC7z1yKmnl2CzhUKCjKJYoYrwSLFxX0qc4Tb6-bBO_O4CtYF53kdz/s640/IMG_9721.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worth every jiao.</td></tr>
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<br />
The womenfolk enjoyed ourselves, too.<br />
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But not as much as the menfolk.<br />
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And definitely not as much as the kids.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jubilee is at Brave's right hand. Always. </td></tr>
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Here's to 8 years of Brave Ransom. What a boy he is! The spitting image of his father. The brother favored to grow the biggest (we shall see about that). He's our easy going, cuddly, good lookin' tough guy who makes a friend wherever he goes. And we are proud to call him ours. Happy Birthday, Berv Derv.Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-12780299599946993572017-06-24T20:18:00.000-07:002017-06-24T20:18:03.126-07:00Another year overWe enjoyed another school year here at Rupp Academy. Rich with activity and sprinkled with small victories. Not lacking in challenges. Just like any good school year should be.<br />
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Now we're glad to have a short break before we dive back in this coming fall.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She chose a Rice Krispies Treat for her reward.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw63Td6T_rs8QlEF9ZQwhvVddwepBEySaM-AnAB5t96mto5eKfaSniqAnqFquvvVq4_SmF0ksJnYBwRl9VEywQTDe6YoR7rIeZTeyvE9pFfxQmgKKeoC6pDdWC-EAkMQz4ZV6apHqR/s1600/IMG_9571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw63Td6T_rs8QlEF9ZQwhvVddwepBEySaM-AnAB5t96mto5eKfaSniqAnqFquvvVq4_SmF0ksJnYBwRl9VEywQTDe6YoR7rIeZTeyvE9pFfxQmgKKeoC6pDdWC-EAkMQz4ZV6apHqR/s640/IMG_9571.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He chose an Oreo cupcake.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BFgA1r0y6ikdhi0bqlx_36no9mKLcxI_2slM1xvJN0WPTuK3pGymNvLpp7Csjuxf5N25ESi7ckE5T2BJRQOzyS3V7PoqgVTvbwIDrluz6CVxJTc123gicar11U499hm5p3Mj0Nry/s1600/IMG_9566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BFgA1r0y6ikdhi0bqlx_36no9mKLcxI_2slM1xvJN0WPTuK3pGymNvLpp7Csjuxf5N25ESi7ckE5T2BJRQOzyS3V7PoqgVTvbwIDrluz6CVxJTc123gicar11U499hm5p3Mj0Nry/s640/IMG_9566.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He chose a Dr. Pepper cream soda.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3OG4PvUPvzpE_GU-F1PtjVMuMCbJzzU27MzAkYRKu_yfSTf9zRi2vgNH0XQ6rQ_irs9mVgxg2slTNFQkxGyj2lu056R7ktnSQ-bEppLr_ZX5EdKs6FZ79oX9aYsTsNbl3BBhn0tV/s1600/IMG_9562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3OG4PvUPvzpE_GU-F1PtjVMuMCbJzzU27MzAkYRKu_yfSTf9zRi2vgNH0XQ6rQ_irs9mVgxg2slTNFQkxGyj2lu056R7ktnSQ-bEppLr_ZX5EdKs6FZ79oX9aYsTsNbl3BBhn0tV/s640/IMG_9562.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So did he.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj9ZbrTVk70dpjuUx0vDN4MyBTPfMNQiV-SE1MzBljfQz1xmv93_kmrBynSgrzcn4w6cjRpP1_dj3Cj_XnSu41yKOlQACCcXut46XBRH1sHZag_WIscpo6380Ip6mOCTdiS06mThA/s1600/IMG_9578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj9ZbrTVk70dpjuUx0vDN4MyBTPfMNQiV-SE1MzBljfQz1xmv93_kmrBynSgrzcn4w6cjRpP1_dj3Cj_XnSu41yKOlQACCcXut46XBRH1sHZag_WIscpo6380Ip6mOCTdiS06mThA/s640/IMG_9578.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And for the teacher? Iced Espresso with coconut milk, of course.</td></tr>
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<br />Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-81693473896743148142017-06-23T00:26:00.001-07:002017-06-23T00:26:45.029-07:00Friend of the groomMy read-through-the-B1BLE-in-a-year plan turned into a read-through-the-B1BLE-in-10-years plan. I'm not even joking! I started it when Zion was born. But last week I did it! I came to the last chapter of Revelation and I read it slowly, sentimentally. It was a dear thing, reading "The grace of the L0RD Jesu§ be with G0D's people. Amen" and then closing the worn leather cover, and knowing that every word of the holy book has now passed before my eyes.<br />
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So now I am on to the popular youversion app, where I have started a 30 day reading plan (let's hope it doesn't take me 30 years) reading through the books of John and Acts.</div>
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Today I read from the book of John, chapters 3 and 4. In verses 29-30 of chapter 3 I read, <span style="color: #38761d;">"The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater, I must become less."</span></div>
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The speaker in these verses is John the Baptist. He means that the hearts of the people are not his to keep. Now that Jesu§ has come, he John can rejoice to watch the people turn away from him and toward Jesu§. He John can rejoice in this because he is a friend of the groom, so his heart yearns for his friend to have his bride. His heart does not yearn to have the bride for himself.</div>
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I pondered this. I knew there was something in these verses for me. </div>
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Then it came to me, a question from G0D, asking, "Kayla, as a mother, is your heart yearning to have the kids for yourself, or is your heart yearning for me to have them?"</div>
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What difference does it make? I think it makes all the difference in the world. If the friend of the bridegroom cared more for the bride than for the groom, he would be a terrible friend to both. The bride and groom were meant to be together. The friend attending the groom should yearn for that to happen. </div>
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So if my children grow up to die on some battlefield somewhere, can I live with that? Or if they move to a jungle and die of dysentery - or at the end of a militant's gun - can I live with that? Would I rather keep them for myself? If I did, whose friend would that make me? Certainly not theirs (who wants a clingy mother, sniffling and wringing her apron in distress?) and certainly not His (what groom wants a friend who grips the hem of the bride's dress?).</div>
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What then is my job? </div>
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I think my job is to love Him with all my heart, and all my mind, and all my soul. With regards to my children, my job is to point them in the direction of their groom. When I hear the groom's voice, coming for his bride, my job is to rejoice.</div>
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Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-85714600652113705442017-06-21T06:47:00.000-07:002017-06-21T06:57:01.968-07:00Too cuteA few pics to make you say, <i>"Awww."</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rzJTuxaVchajY_U7rPRvdga_HekQMDUOCziVzO7knUNIeeeuk5nGB6l4dPI8yxldSpOWzYilAO6OWK2oVulTU3OUdwbUeGBYpPrWKsUTOKBaW7i-ME-j4VTNUyVDkaBAyDzBqGZk/s1600/IMG_9296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rzJTuxaVchajY_U7rPRvdga_HekQMDUOCziVzO7knUNIeeeuk5nGB6l4dPI8yxldSpOWzYilAO6OWK2oVulTU3OUdwbUeGBYpPrWKsUTOKBaW7i-ME-j4VTNUyVDkaBAyDzBqGZk/s640/IMG_9296.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our besties' youngest, Addie, and her "Kah-Kah" (that's me).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-fg5cvJxhoGGcgXY3sGM_zX08A0Hjjn-mNVqLUM2hlX-JDVncacwJb9D9HVXK8YO-_ZttSita1YKElszDbZJ3dBQ8h7yS3AhRpUW9bLI6G-PdKSNoNKINXH0FqXrTpazr0kMkkaP/s1600/IMG_9298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-fg5cvJxhoGGcgXY3sGM_zX08A0Hjjn-mNVqLUM2hlX-JDVncacwJb9D9HVXK8YO-_ZttSita1YKElszDbZJ3dBQ8h7yS3AhRpUW9bLI6G-PdKSNoNKINXH0FqXrTpazr0kMkkaP/s640/IMG_9298.JPG" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our oldest pet, Winnifred, sitting pretty in her box. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UZTz_9_5M8OOvuJhGMELlXnZ76t3CCZ2P02CdWmcDBK16KOE7-fkkS6TDxb2zG7qmo4ZUC4tDnHBIUvTvq2KgMX6kzEeTtCEBZ5MeprIohHBKK0tTw4Rgq9Zpg2UvAl3jql1-4dD/s1600/IMG_9320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UZTz_9_5M8OOvuJhGMELlXnZ76t3CCZ2P02CdWmcDBK16KOE7-fkkS6TDxb2zG7qmo4ZUC4tDnHBIUvTvq2KgMX6kzEeTtCEBZ5MeprIohHBKK0tTw4Rgq9Zpg2UvAl3jql1-4dD/s640/IMG_9320.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joseph down at the pool, going swimming for the first time.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIu0mDrdaobIC5LdRufaa4toRL-OJbpejlwpwncvxNwxSZa3vGQ7GsTffaZHow-q93yHn-bJZevWS7w95jfNVz5z2OJIsfqkZ9Nr5pw9TXugGfyAJE5lPGauW82cLDZ43RklH8tuxQ/s1600/IMG_9352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIu0mDrdaobIC5LdRufaa4toRL-OJbpejlwpwncvxNwxSZa3vGQ7GsTffaZHow-q93yHn-bJZevWS7w95jfNVz5z2OJIsfqkZ9Nr5pw9TXugGfyAJE5lPGauW82cLDZ43RklH8tuxQ/s640/IMG_9352.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At almost 8 years old, Jubilee finally lost her first top tooth! Also she picked out this outfit by herself at H&M. The girl knows what she likes.</td></tr>
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<br />Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-60193007587137738042017-06-18T20:01:00.001-07:002017-06-18T20:03:05.382-07:00Shout it from the mountaintop!In a scene from Wonder Woman, Diana (aka Wonder Woman) asks Steve to explain to her the human concept of marriage. He responds with something like, <i>Two people go before a judge and promise to love each other until they die.</i> Diana asks if they do love each other until they die. Steve shakes his head and says, <i>Not very often.</i><br />
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Which is why we celebrated our 15 years of marriage with gusto. Up the mountain we went, with our offspring in tow. Because it's no small potatoes, being married this long.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbh_vo9NYntT1zPkDYP7UOoHza84eWKMQ2xfDCFUeBIxTCJdyVVJpABf2JSQZBjdk3TJLPR2vLiMt8lY71DRTA8IAqbSnsAZEh6mpywIsZ4QfFXZlCgeT3bAQ5gs7X57zExy7_hVR/s1600/IMG_9182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbh_vo9NYntT1zPkDYP7UOoHza84eWKMQ2xfDCFUeBIxTCJdyVVJpABf2JSQZBjdk3TJLPR2vLiMt8lY71DRTA8IAqbSnsAZEh6mpywIsZ4QfFXZlCgeT3bAQ5gs7X57zExy7_hVR/s640/IMG_9182.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the town we came to, before heading up those mountains.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDV-y3O22NSjaxkKfchrV2EbiyDiKv9A2wMDD6fD3Ahg9ve154WDTWaGZS24kFQC55vHaybFZItr2EPJaUKYbyqtzcdGU1ITs0vKztR-lK0NngW-kO-TiAb3zpZ6VqjaxmpxFcU7R6/s1600/IMG_9190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDV-y3O22NSjaxkKfchrV2EbiyDiKv9A2wMDD6fD3Ahg9ve154WDTWaGZS24kFQC55vHaybFZItr2EPJaUKYbyqtzcdGU1ITs0vKztR-lK0NngW-kO-TiAb3zpZ6VqjaxmpxFcU7R6/s640/IMG_9190.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1mDQ2l4D1sb4mNvkURMaN-QZWZ6KdCL1qo6KEKhH18Xkp8qb6tksGzUeaFWpYEuIelMVg5q-0D3UGDwQElszjAgOPwCxNSBL_j6oQdC4D0zML6Co1q7dQUfbbF2TOK9liebkmK-i/s1600/IMG_1230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1mDQ2l4D1sb4mNvkURMaN-QZWZ6KdCL1qo6KEKhH18Xkp8qb6tksGzUeaFWpYEuIelMVg5q-0D3UGDwQElszjAgOPwCxNSBL_j6oQdC4D0zML6Co1q7dQUfbbF2TOK9liebkmK-i/s640/IMG_1230.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the hostel we stayed in, before heading up into the mountains.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZbH3i5TrDtR32dsbcBfbrj7m9nE8Nz74UX8HlpxmEitzcKaRTKzzVd44ou7jnSl-PQ2b3G2y1qj6XFD4eJJgU8PQNHbZOuxpLBTN3s1DfbRzXkCdoHX5wkci6CsIqF-jjBonk0RF/s1600/IMG_1237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZbH3i5TrDtR32dsbcBfbrj7m9nE8Nz74UX8HlpxmEitzcKaRTKzzVd44ou7jnSl-PQ2b3G2y1qj6XFD4eJJgU8PQNHbZOuxpLBTN3s1DfbRzXkCdoHX5wkci6CsIqF-jjBonk0RF/s640/IMG_1237.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Lucy, the Tibetan cattle dog at the hostel. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4syUT7qq6iWF99MN6X0D1X3ld78Hk-2_yqi0zSMmAwYEFqhDgIZDiLRuN0PZxfYFGJxpGM3eObHsQdoR54piwEKanuIhPoQvriD7ErNxweysO43F15yT4WaX6NPNwRcVRfLcJ9SU4/s1600/IMG_9178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4syUT7qq6iWF99MN6X0D1X3ld78Hk-2_yqi0zSMmAwYEFqhDgIZDiLRuN0PZxfYFGJxpGM3eObHsQdoR54piwEKanuIhPoQvriD7ErNxweysO43F15yT4WaX6NPNwRcVRfLcJ9SU4/s640/IMG_9178.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just love Tibetan decor. That red color is found growing wild on the rocks; some kind of moss or fungus. We think that's why they use the color so much in their cloth.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpZ7a0m5gy_N522s_T1kqrrBy37ZLgSqzArx20GAqkXSNkjGez2oSpW12ILLbz8bJDlKkB209BmnVK1ZuFJ7MoDNV_t43VQmymeBTBvF7PiCOqTKrcvd_Np2RzZJPMwuHGzsiln_x/s1600/IMG_9219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpZ7a0m5gy_N522s_T1kqrrBy37ZLgSqzArx20GAqkXSNkjGez2oSpW12ILLbz8bJDlKkB209BmnVK1ZuFJ7MoDNV_t43VQmymeBTBvF7PiCOqTKrcvd_Np2RzZJPMwuHGzsiln_x/s640/IMG_9219.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The next morning we headed up. The road went only this far, where we then left the car and humped our stuff the rest of the way.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPofJ8YBIbnTLWOBlynQHRfjhz-teY5LlJyjNt40fy5mNIL2qsyC1gKAFUAHoH1quJOMorvxzUATBnzuYc7fFqr1xl5gR5beizemz0MrW8-OctJiMY7V0hAXuke6ysmFfU9jGKtq6/s1600/IMG_1241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPofJ8YBIbnTLWOBlynQHRfjhz-teY5LlJyjNt40fy5mNIL2qsyC1gKAFUAHoH1quJOMorvxzUATBnzuYc7fFqr1xl5gR5beizemz0MrW8-OctJiMY7V0hAXuke6ysmFfU9jGKtq6/s640/IMG_1241.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We found this valley and decided to stay. The only other person there was this white horse. He was nice enough to share.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1plNFAQIUV1Qm03uxlGCcMP4bWz2O0F9Tukx2u4XZfiyXQvkoTzNJNUN5mGHpHlxYMdSS4pmDEoiVXF7gitICq6q2aWIphxrO7w1jZutFevzAmfe1ZQN_nquB94awdYXnUKlaPfJa/s1600/IMG_9233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1plNFAQIUV1Qm03uxlGCcMP4bWz2O0F9Tukx2u4XZfiyXQvkoTzNJNUN5mGHpHlxYMdSS4pmDEoiVXF7gitICq6q2aWIphxrO7w1jZutFevzAmfe1ZQN_nquB94awdYXnUKlaPfJa/s640/IMG_9233.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel and Gene set up the tent. It was our maiden voyage with the tent, which had been a gift from Momo at Christmas. It's a great little stay!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibq3dlriYDLIRvh7_rcaIdKC1bOmtXexTmQQRTfx62cNHbq6IMyVEWSKh9i3gnX6OQDdJGKQzhxzhzPINapTnKcGb7qOQ0RiWe8ihcCqdpdRKR05OTg9OArrcZBBGZ_zSz0NwIt1CM/s1600/IMG_9237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibq3dlriYDLIRvh7_rcaIdKC1bOmtXexTmQQRTfx62cNHbq6IMyVEWSKh9i3gnX6OQDdJGKQzhxzhzPINapTnKcGb7qOQ0RiWe8ihcCqdpdRKR05OTg9OArrcZBBGZ_zSz0NwIt1CM/s640/IMG_9237.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The others helped me set up the kitchen.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJI1GYdjRykWWayvgjx-dBPGcoDbzTc23AWDBaN1Y-iUg1ZjiUjbfK6t2Uhl0zlbTKi-8umHlFQG3wjVvj3gLSpf_WrlwkZIGACG99U6cx0I4J2VZ-vSIb6pwO4Ata6aaJOtRUK-e/s1600/IMG_9229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJI1GYdjRykWWayvgjx-dBPGcoDbzTc23AWDBaN1Y-iUg1ZjiUjbfK6t2Uhl0zlbTKi-8umHlFQG3wjVvj3gLSpf_WrlwkZIGACG99U6cx0I4J2VZ-vSIb6pwO4Ata6aaJOtRUK-e/s640/IMG_9229.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6v_qWgOlbr50XG4hNAxeUmW29pqWSBPzDh36AWWp8VjIaMMK5Su2S_bdj7eN5-ZjJoFISfCKDVyRSWDMDIQprMK6bStkcnhxREcZ67tSQPDHVJAtS8z0uDUm-iiA10Ht-omXhcwM2/s1600/IMG_9254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6v_qWgOlbr50XG4hNAxeUmW29pqWSBPzDh36AWWp8VjIaMMK5Su2S_bdj7eN5-ZjJoFISfCKDVyRSWDMDIQprMK6bStkcnhxREcZ67tSQPDHVJAtS8z0uDUm-iiA10Ht-omXhcwM2/s640/IMG_9254.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went for a trek around the valley. It was breath-stealing (in more ways than one). We have nicknamed this valley "Middle Earth" and we plan to return!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pd_YTL0rUt_zHdyjegTHg-GKe1vfk_RJYDUOHxkMQv6FD78qnhsz90XN1UpF3mdhz2iRxEqSgBpswlG5D8WGRl7gjI4YSKVl5TW_D0ziVrgM0HW0yJdcZo5-0RS3rjvjhSLGJUCO/s1600/IMG_1282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pd_YTL0rUt_zHdyjegTHg-GKe1vfk_RJYDUOHxkMQv6FD78qnhsz90XN1UpF3mdhz2iRxEqSgBpswlG5D8WGRl7gjI4YSKVl5TW_D0ziVrgM0HW0yJdcZo5-0RS3rjvjhSLGJUCO/s640/IMG_1282.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHq_b9beN5jCCNgvYJmXdfooxJh-WfJFR2bFN7CE1wispEX1lSFELOVqtb6ruITb0muHx4yz1A6WWb4y3orElRSAGdN35GB-p13pkpY8lPSsQIGn8jd0joYUQ7nFXju6FAfY7x1kxK/s1600/IMG_1288+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHq_b9beN5jCCNgvYJmXdfooxJh-WfJFR2bFN7CE1wispEX1lSFELOVqtb6ruITb0muHx4yz1A6WWb4y3orElRSAGdN35GB-p13pkpY8lPSsQIGn8jd0joYUQ7nFXju6FAfY7x1kxK/s640/IMG_1288+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XAO2qApbfayuCWOkCbWj9QibYzoxgDCvoJelvaRFgA5bIJjIEYtEq2WoF_y74lS_XhdSUFlpudXtyJM_Hgu7vGwGAEuNzoY1lWwcvXydnlUfShfvgEFzLZCwaNTVQmv96zwgttH6/s1600/IMG_1292+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XAO2qApbfayuCWOkCbWj9QibYzoxgDCvoJelvaRFgA5bIJjIEYtEq2WoF_y74lS_XhdSUFlpudXtyJM_Hgu7vGwGAEuNzoY1lWwcvXydnlUfShfvgEFzLZCwaNTVQmv96zwgttH6/s640/IMG_1292+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZc7qommB_jxHJhtrLgT1Ot0g9vj7S9Ie3_ZJl1MvJrX-btc17Auo8aukMTSKqqVx9XT9LmwrUV1-0014Z9lYbQmpEK0ok8EaRjMmiNSqJJH0TUu1cxpfo19bcik8sYPhc-KO5RdM/s1600/IMG_1247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZc7qommB_jxHJhtrLgT1Ot0g9vj7S9Ie3_ZJl1MvJrX-btc17Auo8aukMTSKqqVx9XT9LmwrUV1-0014Z9lYbQmpEK0ok8EaRjMmiNSqJJH0TUu1cxpfo19bcik8sYPhc-KO5RdM/s640/IMG_1247.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made a fire from wood we dragged out from the underbrush.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXcHJTLmpBLzSVQku1TES5VttMmoZ9v_SNqSnAcm45InfstKNcwFZmCzU_-Zw8FQchwbalp5ZF83kOiYrwcp5Hgzsh6FgzVi1xRaiTG34NyGfQY0lTz0YzlmQuZ1GnjNduZWHrPtb/s1600/IMG_1250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXcHJTLmpBLzSVQku1TES5VttMmoZ9v_SNqSnAcm45InfstKNcwFZmCzU_-Zw8FQchwbalp5ZF83kOiYrwcp5Hgzsh6FgzVi1xRaiTG34NyGfQY0lTz0YzlmQuZ1GnjNduZWHrPtb/s640/IMG_1250.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Chinese medicine for altitude sickness ran out in the the night (next time we'll bring more), so we all felt pretty iffy in the morn.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqoBVPBHmSfeZeAmwtc5ou5avFS82y1PSynIUGwFwaqJiT6Q21_MBx5NDp-ala06M-YMn9D17EDQpPX4d4lsLvJbqRZfG9IdfBfcWFSHzoqlfbL5bbtQ3P-6Dxj5dH9t1NWIX7I2G/s1600/IMG_1266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqoBVPBHmSfeZeAmwtc5ou5avFS82y1PSynIUGwFwaqJiT6Q21_MBx5NDp-ala06M-YMn9D17EDQpPX4d4lsLvJbqRZfG9IdfBfcWFSHzoqlfbL5bbtQ3P-6Dxj5dH9t1NWIX7I2G/s640/IMG_1266.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But Gene's Boy Scout hash browns helped! Hot, crispy, and licked with salt. Just the thing for a queasy stomach.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDuEFei9BS_BToU58aZbIo_XKtKSvIAKGc0ShIobDKpYGOfjNMyK37asJ5zw7x-JkXO3DXGfDd14rUk4BiNGYfV9b-QGZ8AVMWREttPQ7ARWcGraDXaQWDk5I0rIw4J657yI9IZvb/s1600/IMG_1277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDuEFei9BS_BToU58aZbIo_XKtKSvIAKGc0ShIobDKpYGOfjNMyK37asJ5zw7x-JkXO3DXGfDd14rUk4BiNGYfV9b-QGZ8AVMWREttPQ7ARWcGraDXaQWDk5I0rIw4J657yI9IZvb/s640/IMG_1277.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Thank you, Middle Earth, for a wonderful anniversary celebration!</div>
Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-20485196544352022912017-06-11T20:35:00.003-07:002017-06-11T20:35:32.149-07:00The show must go on!I couldn't have stood by God's side while he created Daniel and handpicked features and characteristics any better myself.<br />
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But even the best of husbands and the best of dads are busy, and in high demand, and devoted to causes other than birthday parties.<br />
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And so Zion's 10th birthday party came along and it was up to Zion and me - and Jubilee, who is always ready to lend a hand - to throw a cupcake decorating party on our rooftop.<br />
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Zion loves two things very much 1.) working with his hands 2.) having the floor. So nothing brought him more joy than teaching his friends how to turn a cupcake into...emoji poop.<br />
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For those with weaker stomachs, we demonstrated octopus cupcakes and daisy cupcakes, too.<br />
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The kids seemed to enjoy themselves. To speak nothing of the sugar buzz making a deafening roar across the surface of our roof.<br />
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Zion loves his friends. He read every word in every card, and it was evident he was truly touched.<br />
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Mr. Moose stood at the deep fryer and made basketful after basketful of fresh fries, which ended up being a party SAVER since the pizza took <i>1 1/2 hours to arrive</i>. When it finally did arrive, the kids were so stuffed full of French fries and gummy worms that they hardly touched the pizza. That is why I have six pizzas in my deep freeze this summer. Dates night dinners are covered until September!<br />
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Ms. Jessie and baby Jospeh made an appearance, too!<br />
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Daddy was missed, but I have to clarify, he <i>was</i> there for Zion's actual birthday. We had a family sleepover in the living room that night, of course.<br />
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And there was something sweet about throwing a party just me and my little man. It was a bonding experience.<br />
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We went from baby ZiZi to double digits in no time flat!<br />
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Happy 10th Birthday, Zion Daniel. Sheesh, you are amazing.<br />
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XOXOXO<br />
<br />Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-79017831026320121502017-05-18T20:00:00.000-07:002017-05-18T20:00:00.512-07:00It is an honorI stood at the front of the congregation last Sunday. Mothers were lined up to my left, and mothers were lined up to my right. Shoulder-to-shoulder we stood, the front line of an army, a chorus of heralds, a chain, a wall. Our deft fingers held long stemmed roses, thorny in places, smooth in others, blooming at the end. Our collective stories would fill a library of volumes. Our tears from over the years would fill a swimming pool or two.<br />
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The woman to my left? A mother from India, her children now grown. I didn't know her name (lots of turnover in our all-expat congregation) but I didn't need to. She looked at me. I looked at her. We smiled at each other, and in that moment, as the preacher thanked G0D for mothers, she and I shared so much. In her eyes I saw, "Well done, my younger sister. You are doing the hardest job of all. You are seen. You are understood. You are loved." I can only hope that she saw, in my eyes, "Thank you, older sister, for blazing the trail for the rest of us. You are honored. You are beautiful. Be at peace."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday School craft</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small kitchen + I love cooking = spending Mother's Day afternoon making pretzels with the kids..on the floor.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQTf1HbcMmASTZD0diilLJ1KmcjHK3EzzTNRBwRmrNYBfROL_4QHZmzGneH-4mD6aKPS5CgiM51P1O6oHNW8nJZgdFwXXUtqHrcPSfY47XXCQrRtEeIHlklrM07nmfp6ypevqDd3K/s1600/IMG_7760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQTf1HbcMmASTZD0diilLJ1KmcjHK3EzzTNRBwRmrNYBfROL_4QHZmzGneH-4mD6aKPS5CgiM51P1O6oHNW8nJZgdFwXXUtqHrcPSfY47XXCQrRtEeIHlklrM07nmfp6ypevqDd3K/s640/IMG_7760.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My momma: all that I hope to be and more.</td></tr>
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<br />Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-35755413448347420652017-05-05T06:29:00.000-07:002017-05-05T06:31:26.882-07:00I'd rather be hikingYou know those "I'd rather be" bumper stickers? I would have one for fishing. And for writing. And playing soccer. And cooking. And definitely hiking.<br />
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Good thing I don't have a car of my own, or it'd be covered up in "I'd rather be" stickers, and people would think me the most discontented person ever.<br />
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But I'm actually quite content, I'm just a doer. I love doing things. I'm not much for sitting and sipping and chatting. I'll be bringing out a deck of cards at the very least. And if it can be done outside, all the better!<br />
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So it stokes the campfires of my heart to see my son enjoying the great outdoors with his Boy Scout troop. When the troop found out that I was a camping and hiking enthusiast, and especially a backcountry cooking enthusiast, I was brought in to demonstrate some of my skills. Thanks to NOLS, I've had lots of experience with a camp stove, and so I chose to demonstrate backcountry cinnamon rolls and backcountry pizza. I used these recipes, which are virtually the same recipes we used in the Australian outback over 15 year ago:<br />
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The boys were gentlemanly and interested.<br />
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I wanted to impart my love of backcountry cooking to these boys because being in the great outdoors shouldn't mean compromising our God-given palates. We shouldn't have to subsist on overpriced jerky and granola bars until we finally get home to a hot meal. In fact, I told the boys, nothing lifts the morale of the group more, after a night of rain, a fall in the creek, and a busted tent pole (or other such events) than a hot, yeasty pizza oozing with melted mozzarella.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xV3vpxNdPleZtoBznqT7Jjaiwjdk37pR9PS2mJhSHVQmPhFOw8OK-zAaTziaBcJuBTQcmkmPEVcZHwrCaEJzXwJLoV3KwLhyF81B0-Nlk7ZF7YS9hx5Mz_HR7cMSq8sgsXLmPSej/s1600/IMG_8699.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xV3vpxNdPleZtoBznqT7Jjaiwjdk37pR9PS2mJhSHVQmPhFOw8OK-zAaTziaBcJuBTQcmkmPEVcZHwrCaEJzXwJLoV3KwLhyF81B0-Nlk7ZF7YS9hx5Mz_HR7cMSq8sgsXLmPSej/s640/IMG_8699.JPG" width="360" /></a></div>
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And nothing says "good morning" like hot cinnamon rolls with your pour-over coffee as the sun rises over the valley.<br />
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The food pics are from my demo at the scout meeting, but that last pic is from an actual scout campout - the trip they took last weekend. Here are some more pics from that trip:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrg5FiV4Bc097itVGfikiGCOTEK-86a_rfFEvgnHt00EHb1JAEfeZjKyRmMKZg7iq-UKc2NrlwnF-OmeSY8DpL1NobDWbZV4hhEjWToiLI06_dMrZqZpPI2a5oug5NEY2aYlsSNw1I/s1600/IMG_8724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrg5FiV4Bc097itVGfikiGCOTEK-86a_rfFEvgnHt00EHb1JAEfeZjKyRmMKZg7iq-UKc2NrlwnF-OmeSY8DpL1NobDWbZV4hhEjWToiLI06_dMrZqZpPI2a5oug5NEY2aYlsSNw1I/s640/IMG_8724.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's Gene in blue.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfcPzxJmYKCvNsiWFLRNIgTHDdtYNquQpLBEEFT1zGBqHqwOngWC16mpV886R0hkrsUZn8DEIEWHNcOGrzDLs6F8JLqIGrFMK2MIwK-M_AgEjGsLkGlaIW0y8nBDuOdnutLvE6YGb/s1600/IMG_8727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfcPzxJmYKCvNsiWFLRNIgTHDdtYNquQpLBEEFT1zGBqHqwOngWC16mpV886R0hkrsUZn8DEIEWHNcOGrzDLs6F8JLqIGrFMK2MIwK-M_AgEjGsLkGlaIW0y8nBDuOdnutLvE6YGb/s640/IMG_8727.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We live in a fairly gorgeous part of the world.</td></tr>
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Due to the nature of our lifestyle here, I haven't been able to impart my love of soccer to the kids (to the extent that it was offered to me, anyway), but to watch a child of mine lace up a pair of hiking boots and heft a pack first to his knee, then around to his back, well, it fills this trail junky's tin cup to overflowing.Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-21427283607632741962017-04-30T21:11:00.000-07:002017-04-30T21:11:23.820-07:00She joins the ranks!Finally, just shy of her 8th birthday, after years of watching her friends and brothers bite down on bloody gauze and pull money out from under their pillows, our little angel girl has lost her first tooth.<br />
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It happened at McDonald's, at her friend Zeb's birthday. She thought she had a fry stuck in her teeth. She pulled at the fry but it wouldn't come away from her gums. She brought the problem to my attention.<br />
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I squealed like a kid, "She's going to lose her first tooth! Hey everybody, she's going to lose her first tooth, right here at McDonald's, on Zeb's birthday!"<br />
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Everybody gathered around. Daniel grabbed a napkin off the tray and folded it over the tooth.<br />
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"It's so small," he said. "I can barely get my fingers on it."<br />
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But then he moved his big hand just a bit and pulled the napkin away, leaving behind a perfectly square hole.<br />
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This picture was taken the next day (the lighting in McDonald's had been poor so I didn't get a good shot). We are so happy for our baby who now has one less baby tooth. Now she won't have to feel like such a baby anymore.Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-8838143724452154152017-04-27T22:14:00.002-07:002017-04-27T22:17:48.039-07:00Common misconceptionsWait, your kids don't go to <i>school</i>?!<br />
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But don't they miss out socially? Aren't they bored? Don't they lack the ability to work together with others?<br />
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Not exactly..<br />
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<br />Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-24629726128789287002017-04-25T00:41:00.000-07:002017-04-25T00:41:18.775-07:00Good lifeGene wants to fly drones for the U.S. Navy.<div>
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Zion wants to do what his dad and I do, only in a "real" place like Africa;)</div>
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Brave is determined to raise his family in Madagascar alongside his best friend, Zeb. The two of them hope to own a plane, flying people and supplies around the island.</div>
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Jubilee can't be bothered with such daydreams. She has both feet planted firmly in the here and now. Always has. </div>
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But all of them would like to live as a long as this guy (except for Gene who hopes to go down in a blaze of glory before his body gets old):</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is our neighbor's grandfather's 90th birthday party.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuSh15LAgyTOhCjl3ogQVG9Ng702MV6WMst7kt4bXqx4DOqdybWdfgTUxN3jZ6kZ7fY3VL9IAXbous39CjzEN0arnDfKS33s1yGbgxPK8ngPiWuj_o4y0WJw_Wp5N9XBb0AVDi-mk/s1600/IMG_0916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuSh15LAgyTOhCjl3ogQVG9Ng702MV6WMst7kt4bXqx4DOqdybWdfgTUxN3jZ6kZ7fY3VL9IAXbous39CjzEN0arnDfKS33s1yGbgxPK8ngPiWuj_o4y0WJw_Wp5N9XBb0AVDi-mk/s640/IMG_0916.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brave looks unsure, but Zion seems genuinely proud of the guy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiF7PgeMAfFQ5EbOAzo_rHjClqUR3YoB0999BuG9ocvcvAuUG691-kCe8gnN4POC4NT13IGc9H2hTPla2GKWQzxah1y8tceiyJpB3Kc5UCIMZ3u6nDw-lKIGN-QU0M2xgHNmKsq22d/s1600/IMG_0921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiF7PgeMAfFQ5EbOAzo_rHjClqUR3YoB0999BuG9ocvcvAuUG691-kCe8gnN4POC4NT13IGc9H2hTPla2GKWQzxah1y8tceiyJpB3Kc5UCIMZ3u6nDw-lKIGN-QU0M2xgHNmKsq22d/s640/IMG_0921.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The man on the right is our neighbor and dear friend.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixFLzMG0FCXK3K4qs8cXcsIT9ZdrSQdZCownIKTD9gPEStdpi1vPUh-5NPdDT8CoZHhuAp5icCG068Qw3b7jczmMQpgDwn3n7Ld21zNNZ-5kWULxRxyMgsLrmD_uwmyD4dNE-ibYq/s1600/IMG_1013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixFLzMG0FCXK3K4qs8cXcsIT9ZdrSQdZCownIKTD9gPEStdpi1vPUh-5NPdDT8CoZHhuAp5icCG068Qw3b7jczmMQpgDwn3n7Ld21zNNZ-5kWULxRxyMgsLrmD_uwmyD4dNE-ibYq/s640/IMG_1013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this butterball is the birthday boy's great-grandson. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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<div>
To long life! To good life!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-19586793225387670622017-04-18T02:55:00.000-07:002017-04-18T08:09:12.063-07:00Twelve<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Every twelve years, the Chinese zodiac animal comes back around.<br />
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Our firstborn son, Bright Eugene, was born in the year of the rooster. Guess what? It is the year of the rooster again. That means Gene is 12, and in China, that is very special. But 12 is an important number in other contexts, too. The tribes of Israel. The months of our calendar year. The optimal number of donuts.<br />
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And the last birthday a child has before becoming a teen.<br />
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Preteens are a crazy breed. They're a cuddly, prickly, weepy, laughing, silly, somber mess. No amount of Dr. Dobson or John Eldridge can fully prepare a parent for these transitional years. No longer a little boy, not quite a young man. Fuzz on the upper lip. Fuzzy stuffed animals still filling his bed. He's being tugged in both directions. And I feel like I'm being tugged in <i>all</i> directions, trying to help him through his ups and downs without going up and down with him. At the end of every day I hit the pillow completely exhausted, but happy, too, because it's going well. It really is.<br />
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And so it is with a full heart and a weary mind that I wish our Eugenious, our Gene Machine, a happy 12th birthday!<br />
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加油 Gene! Manhood, here he comes!<br />
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<br />Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8713974740487545784.post-88846471299725582842017-04-04T20:45:00.001-07:002017-04-04T20:46:31.618-07:00Right up there with Paul and the Good Shepherd Zion reads The Word. Every night, past bedtime, but of course we allow it. Wouldn't you?<br />
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He tells us in the morning at the breakfast table all about what he read the night before. This morning he reported about Solomon's two sons, Rehoboam and Jeroboam, and what each son grew up to do.<br />
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Of course his seminary dork of a father beams at him, his face rolling back into that certain smile that only his children can coax forth. I butter the toast and send my thanks up with the steam. It is a good, good thing to see the soul of your child wrap itself around G0D like rope.<br />
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The other night - I just have to share - Zion said at bedtime, "The thing I'm most looking forward to about Heaven are the church services."<br />
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This remark brought sidelong glances from his siblings, who no doubt were thinking (as most kids would), 'We're looking forward to the unending screen time and sweets, but sure, you go ahead and long for those church services.'<br />
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Zion went on.<br />
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"I mean, can you imagine when it's <i>Paul's</i> turn to preach?!" He had a point there. "And do you think they'll let <i>Jesus</i> preach?"<br />
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"I'm sure they will," I said (my weak interjection into his inspired vision).<br />
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And then this:<br />
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[gasp] "OOH MAMA! Do you think they'll let <i>Daddy</i> preach?"<br />
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<br />Kayla Rupphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03031845047718407380noreply@blogger.com