tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41393343121479592232024-02-18T19:49:48.096-06:00all things gorebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.comBlogger257125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-50431365204470398012013-03-22T08:00:00.000-05:002013-03-22T08:00:06.933-05:00Life in the Hamptons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX5e5ayPkW09OU7WerBNFo1WulInNETNHuVHOP5km17VWi6f69CggsBRw12AUTr4vg-cKjpRDqrbeuzf4zYu2hn0HZvIX5mrC33Anjzp8InXh7Urc1O1EUTSbltTTPf-T8KHul99ASaMx/s1600/the+wilsons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUX5e5ayPkW09OU7WerBNFo1WulInNETNHuVHOP5km17VWi6f69CggsBRw12AUTr4vg-cKjpRDqrbeuzf4zYu2hn0HZvIX5mrC33Anjzp8InXh7Urc1O1EUTSbltTTPf-T8KHul99ASaMx/s640/the+wilsons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I hope everyone has fun plans for the weekend to get out and enjoy this beautiful weather! I am headed to Memphis to help out my sister who had surgery on Wednesday. So in honor of Memphis (and my sister and brother-in-law), I wanted to share their blog <a href="http://lifeinthehamptons.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Life in the Hamptons</a> with you.<br />
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"The Hamptons" in Memphis is what residents of Binghampton have nicknamed their neighborhood, but don't be fooled. It is one of the poorest, neglected neighborhoods in inner city Memphis. It is also, historically, one of the first African American neighborhoods and also happens to be where MLK, Jr. had his last dinner before being assassinated. Liz and JD have been trying to move into the neighborhood for quite sometime and doors have repeatedly been closed. But God had a bigger and better plan, as he always does and has provided JD with a job at a charter school in the community. That job just happened to come with the stipulation that they had to live there. Perfect! So they are in the process of building their house across the street from the school and hopefully by this summer will be living there full time.<br />
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I will no longer try to tell you their story. JD can tell it so much better, so just read their blog. I am not kidding when I say I cry every time I read it (you HAVE to read Matario's story). I have also had the privilege of meeting a few of the kids JD works with from past visits and I love to see the role model he has become to a lot of kids who don't have a man consistently in their lives. They inspire me more than they will ever know and I love them so, so dearly.<br />
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photo of the wilsons by <a href="http://www.jlaurenphotography.com/" target="_blank">j. lauren</a>.rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-14709304021129341962013-03-21T14:24:00.000-05:002013-03-21T14:24:07.888-05:00For Serious PartisansI mean, how is this real? <div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77IaMAeRjIP_sAn-UkXMsHtUtasRF9MiiN7CSqw7UrY5K-hNnyyySTwTy-S1mgLCIMCxG3KmNZPuiaJjjd8Ic48CWlR38mj0XzQiyMh1RzwCP5DCMySzkxRye4aqCv4eyb5qyGgt2dBkr/s1600/remember+nguyen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77IaMAeRjIP_sAn-UkXMsHtUtasRF9MiiN7CSqw7UrY5K-hNnyyySTwTy-S1mgLCIMCxG3KmNZPuiaJjjd8Ic48CWlR38mj0XzQiyMh1RzwCP5DCMySzkxRye4aqCv4eyb5qyGgt2dBkr/s640/remember+nguyen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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For when you really want to politicize your infant.</div>
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John Johns by <a href="http://www.remembernguyen.com/shop/ViewCategory/16/Clearance" target="_blank">Remember Nguyen</a></div>
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rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-83246518385487418402013-03-20T09:00:00.000-05:002013-03-20T09:00:08.756-05:00CSA Wedding Registry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtwnZq1nnPGkOXVVF53l7amaxM5s7bvZb46mjcsUAwKnU-axNSw2CwCkd0ONx9_1d5EaEIbPS4pFWg8bKBiZhhZ1Kn2xkb0jjv-xgEqlzIbWMKSY8xrz1aVoVWTZ29IU1IoY9mlYg8fe6/s1600/csa2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtwnZq1nnPGkOXVVF53l7amaxM5s7bvZb46mjcsUAwKnU-axNSw2CwCkd0ONx9_1d5EaEIbPS4pFWg8bKBiZhhZ1Kn2xkb0jjv-xgEqlzIbWMKSY8xrz1aVoVWTZ29IU1IoY9mlYg8fe6/s640/csa2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I was reading an interesting article on BuzzFeed the other day about <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/13-unconventional-registry-ideas-for-the-modern-wedding" target="_blank">unconventional wedding registry ideas</a>. And while I didn't necessarily agree with all of them (I don't really like the mentality of using a wedding to just get a bunch of free stuff. Wedding guests want to help you build your new home. Maybe that's because I'm Southern and we tend to cling to etiquette with an iron fist.), I do like the idea of registering for things that you will actually use and if those things are outside the box, then so be it.<br />
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One fantastic idea I saw was signing up for a CSA box subscription. How great would that be? I mean, yes, someone is essentially buying your groceries, but I feel like because it's a subscription it's somehow more "okay."<br />
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What do you think? Would you do it?<br />
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<a href="http://www.greensgrow.org/" target="_blank">photo</a>rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-24217297283284304532013-03-19T12:00:00.000-05:002013-03-19T12:00:00.922-05:00Ezra's First 12 MonthsI had been keeping an Instagram record of Ezra's monthly growth and at 12 months, I had some friends ask for a grid of all of them. I figured it would be better to post it here since this picture on Instagram would be next to impossible to see.<br />
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So here he is...12 months of glory!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXMBqoG504xP42Ucp4BsIUpiWCP4h7AerXufPIYyGP330fP7ftEdQu3WyQttmmwW0IEnNrGbJ-Iuk_7GqgffzwVAaPDGLqH7GZH7qMYuBe4rp621aRR1OAAnQyGAkBvLql8BejJYb1vPc/s1600/ezra+monthlies+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXMBqoG504xP42Ucp4BsIUpiWCP4h7AerXufPIYyGP330fP7ftEdQu3WyQttmmwW0IEnNrGbJ-Iuk_7GqgffzwVAaPDGLqH7GZH7qMYuBe4rp621aRR1OAAnQyGAkBvLql8BejJYb1vPc/s640/ezra+monthlies+copy.png" width="478" /></a></div>
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I'm so mad that I didn't get every month of him in the chair! At three months, I completely forgot to take a picture, but I had a picture that was close to the right time and it had his rhino in the background...thus leading to the other bed pics. Oh well!rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-28928835655180259222013-03-18T15:14:00.000-05:002013-03-18T15:15:25.016-05:00How to Remove a Tough Stain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQumi-XZ_u_nmC2aBNp9-U-FdMOsjWMb1gLVcoLopxCLsVo_fMIaLKzl2SAVj7kMq3pxr900inHL4Ud-e6Ef_ZpmuAZrhwBBNHmrNfIC_OWjdfAFYanYt_MlzePkT9sCZ0x6dSUpBimvZ/s1600/ivory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQumi-XZ_u_nmC2aBNp9-U-FdMOsjWMb1gLVcoLopxCLsVo_fMIaLKzl2SAVj7kMq3pxr900inHL4Ud-e6Ef_ZpmuAZrhwBBNHmrNfIC_OWjdfAFYanYt_MlzePkT9sCZ0x6dSUpBimvZ/s640/ivory.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">A while back, my mom found a stain on her linen couch and - having a linen couch myself - I got so sad for her because I didn't think it would come out. She didn't seem too upset. She just walked into the laundry room, brought back a bar of soap and a wet paper towel and gently rubbed the stain and as soon as the dampness dried it was all gone. </span></div>
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Come to find out this is a remedy that my grandmother used all the time...Ivory soap. It gets everything out. And I mean everything. I have used it to get out red wine, blood, grass stains, strawberries and blackberries to name the toughest of stains. It is truly amazing. And so cheap. I also make my own laundry detergent and instead of Fels Naptha, I use Ivory in my mixture.<br />
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P.S. I actually just cleaned a lot of blood out of David, Ezra and my own clothes last night after little man had a mean run-in with a friend's coffee table. After a few hours in the ER and 3 stitches everyone is doing just fine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEmx3ut905faUT9fvWUx-wqoF-FmET0TdnGkiDSzqHeM7-CrOkZnZMMMPCCGWiYdM-3OB6fWMr4f_32-IKuQMD-2_0tqrH8HlrY2KYzD6AOYYfO_rgPHF7-QMbkrIEzXB_8W9a7ZsNiXM/s1600/photo-9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEmx3ut905faUT9fvWUx-wqoF-FmET0TdnGkiDSzqHeM7-CrOkZnZMMMPCCGWiYdM-3OB6fWMr4f_32-IKuQMD-2_0tqrH8HlrY2KYzD6AOYYfO_rgPHF7-QMbkrIEzXB_8W9a7ZsNiXM/s400/photo-9.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
top photo c/o <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Ivory" target="_blank">Ivory</a>rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-56909298169179849022013-03-14T08:00:00.000-05:002013-03-14T08:00:04.304-05:00The Lone Bellow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfeLLlGAIBxSMu9HnpzopJ0Rz-7AGX8-SJpdy4H1lGL8PRFN_ebpfqwS51DNr01OfcY9tlk-mQv-SvIh_slqRcqa1OHMvTZD3aoixlzyeXetKByi-dZCGaIxAdwBIyuf9s_ezD7Hs963w/s1600/the+lone+bellow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfeLLlGAIBxSMu9HnpzopJ0Rz-7AGX8-SJpdy4H1lGL8PRFN_ebpfqwS51DNr01OfcY9tlk-mQv-SvIh_slqRcqa1OHMvTZD3aoixlzyeXetKByi-dZCGaIxAdwBIyuf9s_ezD7Hs963w/s1600/the+lone+bellow.jpg" /></a></div>
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Zach Williams has been a folk hero in our home since David met him in New York about 6 years ago. His music is so honest and raw, and he is just a really talented guy. He has now rounded out his sound by forming a trio (<a href="http://www.thelonebellow.com/" target="_blank">The Lone Bellow</a>) that is a little bluegrass meets gospel. It will definitely have you (me) singing at the top of your lungs around your house, in the car, etc and so on.<br />
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rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-52197302084751683912013-03-13T08:00:00.000-05:002013-03-13T22:53:15.754-05:00Everlane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDuQwFjyMTG4qJl87OreDAvL4jZUc2DF6FHSs45hdSu9V2R_3VvzbPZJq39TncxLq9psMo2jQrn7r1jwCLwSzlUqa6TpVCmAUUqEn6AoTd-Ywiv2hUiHFH69aI4Ss5vFOKvz0Pgv4YFfA/s1600/everlane.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDuQwFjyMTG4qJl87OreDAvL4jZUc2DF6FHSs45hdSu9V2R_3VvzbPZJq39TncxLq9psMo2jQrn7r1jwCLwSzlUqa6TpVCmAUUqEn6AoTd-Ywiv2hUiHFH69aI4Ss5vFOKvz0Pgv4YFfA/s1600/everlane.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">This is without a doubt the most comfortable </span><a href="https://www.everlane.com/collections/womens-luxury-tees" style="text-align: left;">T Shirt</a><span style="text-align: left;"> you will ever put on. I first heard about Everlane through </span><a href="http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/" style="text-align: left;">Joanna Goddard's blog,</a><span style="text-align: left;"> and then my friend Morgan backed up the awesome review from Cup of Jo. So, I finally ordered two of the v-necks. Oh my word. I wanted to wait until I actually put them on and tried them before I pretended I knew what was cool. But, oh my, they are the best things ever. </span><br />
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And they are only $15.<br />
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They also make some amazing <a href="https://www.everlane.com/collections/womens-silk-blouses">silk blouses</a>, <a href="https://www.everlane.com/collections/womens-terry-sweatshirts">french terry sweatshirts</a> and <a href="https://www.everlane.com/collections/womens-tote-collection">bags</a>.rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-85371494529418817092013-03-11T13:06:00.002-05:002013-03-13T22:54:39.829-05:00Ezra's Favorite Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit83nwG_OGkOtRleo1xs_IzDmjaO_KZb_8tbYMuMruFInIfmrHaQpKtZpKpeoR0KWpT8qsj5Ws2je3rxVZUAFMLKccoJdAsFSfHk6L07CeAIYY44bnLr7TzcEYbHFogLKE_9qwqljx-Ga_/s1600/trains+go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit83nwG_OGkOtRleo1xs_IzDmjaO_KZb_8tbYMuMruFInIfmrHaQpKtZpKpeoR0KWpT8qsj5Ws2je3rxVZUAFMLKccoJdAsFSfHk6L07CeAIYY44bnLr7TzcEYbHFogLKE_9qwqljx-Ga_/s1600/trains+go.jpg" /></a></div>
Ezra loves to read books, and it is one of my favorite things to do with him. A couple of months ago, he started turning the pages when we read. It is so adorable, it makes my heart hurt a little.<br />
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For Christmas we got him <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trains-Go-Steve-Light/dp/0811879429/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363024622&sr=8-1&keywords=trains+go">Trains Go</a> </i>by Steve Light. It is adorable and just has different sounds trains make. His favorite is the mountain train that goes "Trip Trap Fuff Puff." Every time he sees the picture he starts going, "Fuf! Fuf! Fuf!" The illustrations are my favorite part, though. Each picture is such a work of art.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftc2CFujua7vhJjIr0TP55AEXwugH4PHyh8EXkB_7Mz2-KMj7qi5rSYvjCf6P-uJx7q_IZhiRhnA_qJUFTUVab5PNZ8B9rUHiVyP6ap8PzKADHd2SQpDokazmdLIYNUW2LYEBQK4_CSIj/s1600/trains+go+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftc2CFujua7vhJjIr0TP55AEXwugH4PHyh8EXkB_7Mz2-KMj7qi5rSYvjCf6P-uJx7q_IZhiRhnA_qJUFTUVab5PNZ8B9rUHiVyP6ap8PzKADHd2SQpDokazmdLIYNUW2LYEBQK4_CSIj/s1600/trains+go+2.jpg" /></a></div>
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There is also a <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trucks-Go-Steve-Light/dp/0811865428/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1363024855&sr=8-2&keywords=trains+go">Trucks Go</a></i> version that looks just as cute!</div>
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What are your kids' favorite books? I'm always looking for great new ones!</div>
rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-76669969909924032662013-03-06T14:29:00.004-06:002013-03-06T14:29:41.320-06:00Happy Gotcha Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One year ago today, David and I were on our way to the Memphis office of Bethany Christian Family Services to meet our son. I can hardly believe that was a year ago. I remember being so incredibly nervous. What would this little person look like? What would he act like? What would he smell like? Would he like me? Would he attach to us?<div>
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...and about a million other things. </div>
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We got there early and had to fill out a lot of paperwork and then we sat. And waited. And heard the bell on the door ring that someone had come in and we knew that was him. When they brought him in, I immediately burst into tears and couldn't believe the beautiful little boy that God had planned for us all along. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_qC7ATMrKSnMDR3LyOcIAmIB1D9qZ9s5Ke3nJvEI4PwP-BRdXNN4e4VUCOxrlJr8sdTsKf5ZOpJyYZ28WX8oUL4VF25y-albRCBJz57pgHgA1Lybq_hW4FFeFea_nz2JUbztqR773Y6W/s1600/gotcha+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_qC7ATMrKSnMDR3LyOcIAmIB1D9qZ9s5Ke3nJvEI4PwP-BRdXNN4e4VUCOxrlJr8sdTsKf5ZOpJyYZ28WX8oUL4VF25y-albRCBJz57pgHgA1Lybq_hW4FFeFea_nz2JUbztqR773Y6W/s640/gotcha+day.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We are so thankful for the blessing that he has been in our lives and how God has used him to teach us so much. For our full adoption story, read <a href="http://rebekahberg.blogspot.com/2012/05/our-ezra-story.html">here</a>.</div>
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(top photo taken by our friend <a href="http://lelefainphotography.blogspot.com/">LeLe</a> who lived in Memphis at the time and was kind enough to come over the day after we brought Ezra home...well, to my sister's home!)</div>
rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-86586243763991583192013-03-05T10:48:00.005-06:002013-03-08T16:18:15.618-06:00Ezra's First Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ezra is one and I can hardly believe it! This has been the fastest year ever (tomorrow is our "Gotcha Day!"). We had his party a few weekends ago and it was so much fun! We are blessed by some of the greatest friends and family. We had hoped the weather would be nice and had planned on a little whimsical outdoor picnic inspired by his best stuffed friend, Reggie (short for Reginald P. Fox). However, it was way too cold and overcast, so our friend Joel allowed us to use the building for his college group and it was so nice to be inside and warm!<br />
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Also, mother of the year over here didn't think about the fact that he was getting his 12 month shots on Friday...he slept through most of his party. But he woke up for cake and presents and didn't cry, so that was a win in my book! My wonderfully talented (and just all-around wonderful) best friend <a href="http://mandyphoto.net/">Mandy</a> took a few highlight pictures and it was really hard for me to not use all of them. Here are some of my favorite...<br />
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<br />rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-2648400664844974552012-10-21T21:31:00.002-05:002013-03-10T16:07:38.107-05:00Shutterfly Giveawayit is that time of year again - christmas card time! i can hardly believe it's fall, much less time to be thinking about christmas cards, but here we are. we have our photo shoot scheduled with the wonderful mandy busby the first weekend in november. i get really excited about this because it's one of the few times you will find both david and me in the same picture.<br />
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shutterfly has some pretty amazing options this year and i've been settling in with some apple cider getting very excited about some of the <a href="http://bit.ly/RjyOos" rel="nofollow">christmas card</a> options and here are some of my personal favorites:<br />
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so, i am going to do a little shutterfly giveaway to get us in the christmas spirit! shutterfly would like to give one reader $50 off their order (does not include shipping and handling, cannot be combined with any other promos). just for fun, leave a comment here with your favorite christmas tradition, and a random reader will be chosen on october 28! (also, if you have a minute, check out shutterfly's <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/special-offers">special offers page.</a>)</div>
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<i>this post is sponsored by shutterfly.</i><br />
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<i>this giveaway is now closed...congrats to callie!!! </i><br />
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rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-53669565033765159492012-09-21T15:10:00.000-05:002013-03-10T16:07:19.548-05:00Happy Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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i have promised myself to get back into blogging at least twice a week. i feel fully adjusted to being a mom these days, it's just that naptime seems full of so much potential and i don't ever want to sit behind my computer. but deep down, i really miss it. so here's to hoping! </div>
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also, i just had to share this adorable picture i snapped a few weeks ago when ezra was refusing to nap. it looked so much like a precious baby <a href="http://www.sashastone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Bob-Dylan-profile.jpg">bob dylan</a> i couldn't stand it. and the paci silhoette just pushed it over the top for me. i think my kid's the best! (- says every mom)rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-22367272904065321182012-05-08T08:00:00.000-05:002013-03-10T16:07:01.439-05:00Why Ezra?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLf_yjFJPXRq_bzK4fpPnfqTU9R1u9Zz5U38i3NCko4yIqVhhJLTMnc5feDudA8b75yPH9wP2zKwnv4tj2cLLovxwdOXA6EQATARgzfo5kL_tRS8o8yWUoTE1EeWfvqxnXP316m9UQfMyX/s1600/ezra+david.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="467" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLf_yjFJPXRq_bzK4fpPnfqTU9R1u9Zz5U38i3NCko4yIqVhhJLTMnc5feDudA8b75yPH9wP2zKwnv4tj2cLLovxwdOXA6EQATARgzfo5kL_tRS8o8yWUoTE1EeWfvqxnXP316m9UQfMyX/s640/ezra+david.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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so, i get a lot of people asking us why we chose the name ezra. it's not a very common name (bonus!). however, old testament names are pretty popular - at least in our friend group...we have an asher, jeremiah, levi and amos and a noah (we think) on the way.<br />
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to tell you the truth, we had completely different names picked out before we started the adoption process, but once we started filling out the paperwork, a lot of them just didn't seem to fit. so we went back to the drawing board. then, one day last summer, i felt like the Lord just spoke to my heart and said "his name is Ezra." that really blew me away. first of all, i instantly loved the name. second, i thought, "whoa, God! does that mean this is going to be a boy? for real?" about a week later, i couldn't stop thinking about the name (and the idea of holding a little boy that i couldn't adequately imagine got me so excited), so i decided i needed more information about ezra. i opened my Bible to the first page of ezra and there in the margin, written well over a year earlier, i had copied from a commentary:<br />
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theme of ezra: the sovereign hand of God is at work in perfect keeping with his plan at his appointed time.</blockquote>
it was perfect. it just fit. it fit our story. it fit what God had been teaching us over 3 long, hard, painful years. it got me even more excited. <br />
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the other day david was talking to our friend joel about the ezra of the Bible and what kind of man he was and joel paraphrased ezra 7, saying "ezra gave himself to know the law, to do the law and to teach the law in that order." i love that. almost as much as i love that little boy.<br />
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bonus:<br />
here is our little man at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. i can't believe we are 1 week away from 12 weeks! it's flying by so fast!<br />
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<br />rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-50044091115801917492012-05-03T13:23:00.001-05:002013-03-10T16:06:29.924-05:00Our Ezra Story (Long Read)well, i know this post is well over due (8 weeks, to be exact). and i have no idea how long it will wind up being or if anyone is even interested in reading it all, but i will now attempt to share our journey. i have sat down multiple times to write this and every time, i struggle with my thoughts and how to best order them, and i am more than likely going to struggle now, but hopefully you will bear with me. and i will intersperse this post with pictures to make it more fun.<br />
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THE "FEELING" <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21)</span><br />
we got an email from <a href="http://bethany.org/">bethany</a> updating us on birth mothers they were working with and it also stated that a boy had been born the previous day and was taken into custody from the hospital as his birth parents had decided to make an adoption plan for him. i immediately forwarded the email to david and we agreed not to get our hopes up, but by the time david got home, i had the overwhelming feeling to pray for these precious parents. selfishly, yes, we hoped they would choose us. but, also because i can't imagine sitting in the hospital, holding your child, and for one of a million reasons you believe adoption would be the best plan for them.<br />
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THE CALL <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29)</span><br />
it was around 4 in the afternoon and my cell phone rang. i looked at the clock and thought "what if this were debby (our social worker)?" not sure why, but i did, thinking it was still within business hours, and that's what i did during that time...waited for the phone to ring between 8 and 5. i picked up my phone and saw the memphis area code and my heart stopped. i answered and debby's voice was there saying she had a case for us and she thought it would be a perfect fit. i would like to say here that i gracefully cried, but i sobbed. i sobbed like a little baby and told her i wouldn't be speaking for the rest of the phone call, but i promise i was still there. she went on to describe the stats of mother/father/child as well as a statement from the birth parents and the interim care family that was caring for him at the time. all very formal and sterile but beyond exciting to me (it was a <a href="http://socialstudiesdc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/30-Rock-Leap-Day-William-copy.jpg">leap day miracle</a>!). she did warn us, however, these birth parents are married and this case is a little more touch and go than typical cases. they are much more likely to change their minds and they wanted to meet us first. they had 3 other children ages 3, 2 and 1 and this pregnancy was a game changer. after talking to david (we flipped out together) we told her we would be there as soon as they wanted us there for the meeting. we were kept on hold until they could schedule something, but we were told to be ready to come the next day. obviously, exactly what you can imagine unfolded that night. we called our families and closest friends. we weren't ready to announce it to the world or anything. we weren't sure if this would work out, after all. and then we started packing. we each packed one bag for the weekend and one bag for 2 weeks, just in case things worked out and we had to stay while interstate paperwork was being worked out.<br />
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on thursday, we waited and waited...ran errands and waited some more until we heard that a meeting with baby boy's birth mother was scheduled for friday at noon. we decided to head to memphis thursday night so we could wake up and take it easy before the meeting. we had dinner with our best friends mandy and joel so that we could enjoy one last dinner potentially as not parents (their little boy henry was due at the beginning of march and we weren't sure if we'd be back before he arrived), and then we hit the road. we got in late and stayed up talking to liz and jd, getting all kinds of advice and encouragement and then went to bed, but unfortunately for me that did not mean sleep. i spent a lot of sweet time with Jesus in the wee hours of the morning that night and in those to come...and besides being really really tired, i wouldn't trade it for the world.<br />
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THE MEETING <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(FRIDAY, MARCH 2)</span><br />
friday morning we woke up and were mainly distracted by amos and evie and spent the morning playing and hanging out. then we made our way to bethany's memphis office where we were able to spend some time with our social worker going over what to expect and some questions we could ask as well as some questions we could be prepared for. we were only going to be meeting with his birth mother, which was at the same time a little disappointing and relieving. we heard her walk into the office and then were led into the meeting room (basically set up to look like someone's living room) where we would have our interview. as we walked in, the first thing i thought was "she is so beautiful." she said she was so nervous and we assured her we were just as nervous. probably more. we spent the next hour talking, telling each other about ourselves. it was almost like a proposal. i am vaguely aware of what we talked about, but it was so overwhelming that i've forgotten most of it. she shared that they really were looking for confirmation of the impression they got from looking at our profile book. and at the end of it, she felt good about everything. she did tell us multiple times that she was trying to protect us by making absolutely sure this was what they were going to do before we met baby boy. we really appreciated that and she was so wonderful, we were just excited to get to know her and share with her that we wanted to stay a part of their lives, if they were comfortable with that. she said she would go back home and share everything she learned about us with her husband and they would make a decision over the weekend. we also learned that they had already set a court appointment for tuesday morning to sign their surrenders (termination of parental rights).<br />
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we really just went away from the meeting being blown away by her. she was such an outgoing, sweet person who truly loves her child so much and told us that multiple times. people often think that children who are adopted have been abandoned (which is sometimes the case, yes), but there are so many cases where there are extremely loving and responsible parents trying to make a way for their child where they can't find a better option. it is a decision made out of love, and they make a plan, and they care. and ezra's birth parents love him.<br />
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THE WAITING (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">FRIDAY, MARCH 2 - SUNDAY MARCH 4)</span><br />
we spent the weekend trying desperately to distract ourselves. we went out to dinners and went to the playground and went shopping, etc, etc. we had a great time with liz, jd and the kids. i don't know what we would have done if we had been in a hotel somewhere. saturday night, we went on a date where we finally settled on baby boy's name, and then we met up with liz and jd for desert before heading back home. sunday morning i woke up with a weird feeling. it wasn't a terrible feeling but it wasn't a peaceful one. we stayed home from church because we both just felt restless and i felt like i would burst into tears at any moment.<br />
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throughout the weekend, whenever i felt anxious, i just reminded myself that here was this married couple deciding whether or not they would be able to parent their 4th child...an unimaginable position and that helped give me a little perspective. i spent the sleepless nights praying that their marriage would be strengthened by this, that they would lean on each other and that whatever happened, they would grow through it together. and then i prayed the same for us. it was a hard prayer, because for a little while i was really afraid that God was going to use this to grow us through a hard time. and that's terrible to admit, but there it is.<br />
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sunday night we got a call saying the bad news was they still hadn't heard anything. the good news was if they changed their minds they <i>would</i> have heard from them saying they wanted their baby back. if nothing else, we should stick around until tuesday to see if they showed up to court.<br />
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THE DECISION <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(MONDAY, MARCH 5)</span><br />
monday morning i woke up with the greatest sense of peace. i truly felt like we were going to become parents and that we would hear from them soon. we knew our social worker had a homestudy that morning so we wouldn't hear from her until after lunch. david was going stir crazy and had to get out of the house, so he headed off to starbucks to get some work done. around 2, i got a call from debby and it was the quickest, most wonderful phone call where she said "we've heard from [birth mother] and she and [birth father] are in agreement and would like to move forward with placing their baby with you and david! since the court date is tomorrow, we will let them sign their surrenders and you will get custody tomorrow. so go celebrate and i'll call you back later with details!" literally, that was it. she obviously said those things with great excitement. but it was definitely short and to the point.<br />
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so then i called david and he was just speechless and mad that he wasn't there and then he was on his way to get a celebratory cookie cake (because who passes up on an opportunity to get a cookie cake?). he came home to liz and i sorting through amos's baby clothes and making a target list. we went that night to target and were ridiculously giddy, practically skipping down aisles. and then that night i folded a bunch of tiny baby clothes that the next day my son would be in. between the emotions and the staying up late to fold laundry and the lack of sleep nights prior and the relief, i slept like a baby.<br />
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GOTCHA DAY <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(TUESDAY, MARCH 6)</span><br />
tuesday was sort of a grueling day because we weren't supposed to get to the agency until 3, which made for a looooooong morning. but it was awesome, because it was the big day. i remember debby calling to tell us that the surrenders had been signed and i was so excited and at the same time mourned for these precious parents. around 2 david put the car seat in the car and it became very real what was about to happen. we headed up to the office and had to sign about a thousand papers, and then were led back to that same living room-type place. we sat there and then i heard the doorbell ding that indicated someone new had come in and i knew it was our baby (well, the interim care mom carrying our baby). my heart started pounding and i felt like time slowed to a crawl. i realized later they were taking him out of the car seat so they could actually hand him to us, but at the time i just wanted to run down the hall and grab him. i was kind of a wreck. when they came around the corner and said "here's your baby!" i had a total come-apart. we just sat there and stared at him and held his little hands and talked to him and it was so wonderful. we then had this time where we talked with the interim care mom and got the basics of his schedule/needs, etc. he was two weeks, one day old when we took him home. the next 30 minutes we spent with our social worker, the birth mother counselor and the interim care mom were kind of a blur, but then we got to take him with us (really? they let us do that?) and it was so exciting. i think david drove 20 mph the whole way home.<br />
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when we got back to the house, the kids were asleep and we immediately had to hand him over to aunt liz. shortly after we got home, evie woke up and when we went to get her, she had the most hilarious look on her face of "why is mommy holding a baby?" and then she looked at me like it was my fault. it was really hilarious. when amos woke up, we were a little more interested to see what his reaction was going to be (we're tight...me and amos), but he was so excited and just kept saying "hey, baby!" over and over. and he just wanted to touch him. the picture above is one of my favorites. he just wanted to be close to him.<br />
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my mom came to visit during the week. sadly, i didn't take any pictures and didn't realize it until just now. hopefully she took some!<br />
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david's family came up that weekend and got to spend some time with sweet little man. david's dad wins the award for most effort! he drove all the way from texas to birmingham on friday to meet up with david's mom who had come to visit liz and charlie (they had just moved into a new house) and then all of them drove up to memphis on saturday morning - just to have to turn around and drive back to texas on sunday. we love them so much and it was really hard to see them go!<br />
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the pictures below were taken the day we left. on tuesday, march 13 we got the call that our paperwork was approved and we were getting to go home. it was really bittersweet. we were ready to get home - to get to some level of normalcy - but at the same time i broke down into tears. i was so sad to leave. the reality that liz and i don't live in the same city anymore hit me and i just knew that going home meant leaving her. but we got our butts in gear and amazingly got the car packed, fed ezra, got in the car and left. we made it home around 9 to an apartment full of our closest family and friends. they were total troopers to party that late and it was great to introduce ezra to his new people!<br />
(liz said that amos woke up the next morning and went downstairs and the first thing he said was "baby?" she had to tell him that baby had gone home and then he said "bekah home?" -yep. bekah's at home too. "day-day home?" -yeah, baby. bekah, david and their baby went home. sweet boy. he thought we were moving in.<br />
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that day everything changed. that little boy became the greatest thing in the world to us. we were overwhelmed by how beautiful he is and how much we loved him immediately. yes, there was a 10 day waiting period where his birth parents could change their minds, but we really felt that - based on her previous protection of us - that they wouldn't have even made this decision if there was the slightest possibility that they may change their minds. we just stared at him, as did amos and evie! we were and still are so overwhelmed and thankful for our little blessing. he amazes us every day. his is 10 weeks old now and completely fascinating. he knows his mommy and daddy and will turn towards us when one of us starts talking - even in a room with other people talking! we think he's advanced. and we just are head over heels in love.<br />
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we are so appreciative of everyone who supported our journey, whether it was financially or through prayer. to say that we could tell that people were praying for us is an understatement. there was no reason for us to be as calm as we were. We are so thankful for those prayers of our sweet friends and family.</div>
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rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-46922499156847934082012-04-14T09:00:00.002-05:002013-03-10T16:06:10.702-05:00Titanic today (is it technically today or tomorrow?) is the centennial of the sinking of the <i>rms titanic</i>. so, for no other reason than that, i present you with these:<br />
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on the left: <a href="http://www.lettersofnote.com/2011/10/we-were-both-asleep-when-boat-hit.html">a letter</a> written from a survivor to his father about what that night was like. (the best part of the whole letter, though, is at the end when he comments on his wife's weight.)<br />
on the right: <i><a href="http://www.20x200.com/art/2011/03/overheard-on-the-titanic.html">overheard on the titanic</a></i> is one of my favorite pieces from artist austin kleon's newspaper blackout poems.<br />
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rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-87157016823221970132012-02-07T15:02:00.000-06:002013-03-10T16:05:26.222-05:00New Josh Ritter EPcould i be an happier about the email i received??? (answer: no)<br />
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<br />
on february 21st, josh's new ep <i><a href="http://www.bluecollardistro.com/joshritter/categories.php?cPath=429/">bringing in the darling's</a> </i>will release. this is a collection of 6 songs recorded at Brooklyn's Homeward Sound this past winter. here is an excerpt from today's <i><a href="http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/av/2012/02/song-premiere-josh-ritter---why.html">paste</a></i> article:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
the collection of songs, which ritter calls his version of lullabies, came from a recent writing session. the songs didn't fit with the tracks ritter was writing for his still-untitled forthcoming album. as he described it, the tracks were "strays," but thats not all they had in common. every track on album contains the word "darling" at some point. in bringing the collection of songs together, ritter had his title for the ep: <i>bringing in the darlings</i>.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"it always kind of rolls off the tongue," ritter told <i>paste</i> about the reoccurring [<i>sic</i>] word. "it certainly fits in the songs, i think it's a plaintive word. i imagine, what would a cowboy say to a longhorn?"</blockquote>
<br />
you can (and should) stream the first release, <i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1227240156">"</a></i><a href="http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/av/2012/02/song-premiere-josh-ritter---why.html">why" over at paste right now</a>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">seriously. go there now.</span>rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-43595625560818657442012-01-23T09:00:00.000-06:002013-03-10T16:05:04.120-05:00Lilly Marthe-Ebener Baby Linei saw this baby collection from <a href="http://www.lillymarthe-ebener.com/collections/total-look-2010-2011/338/rosemarie">lilly marthe-ebener</a> and about died. the clothes are adorable and the styling is just perfect. too cute for words.<br />
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rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-7364641418058089602012-01-15T15:13:00.000-06:002013-03-10T16:04:16.607-05:00Best of 2011who missed me? no one? cool...so i'm (ahem) a little bit behind on all of this, i know. but i figured i would do the obligatory best of 2011 post to remember the good times, half of which i failed to blog about in the first place. so here goes...(i'll try to keep it short)<br />
<br />
JANUARY:<br />
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<br />
- auburn won the national championship which was one of the greatest things. part of me never thought i'd see that happen.<br />
- <a href="http://www.rebekahberg.blogspot.com/2011/01/happy-birthday-jack.html">jack turned 1</a>! (and he has since turned 2 as well.)<br />
<br />
FEBRUARY:<br />
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<br />
- we visited david's grandma in st pete, florida. this was the same weekend that mark and katelyn told us they were pregnant!<br />
- i turned 27 and did not blog about it. and apparently didn't even take a picture of it. oh well.<br />
- we kept lil boo while his parents looked for a new place to live all the way in memphis :(<br />
<br />
MARCH:<br />
- liz, jd, amos and evie moved to memphis, and i plunged into a deep depression<br />
- amos turned 1! and on his actual birthday, he became a permanent part of the wilson family!<br />
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<br />
APRIL:<br />
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<br />
- we celebrated <a href="http://www.rebekahberg.blogspot.com/2011/04/happy-belated-easter.html">easter </a>with my family which was wonderful.<br />
- it was david's turn to get old and he turned 27. sadly, his birthday was the day the <a href="http://www.rebekahberg.blogspot.com/2011/05/tornadoes.html">tornadoes</a> came through tuscaloosa and birmingham. (the scotch was his birthday gift...he wasn't toasting the tornadoes)<br />
<br />
MAY:<br />
- pierce turned 1!<br />
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<br />
- if anything else happened in may, i don't remember what it was...<br />
<br />
JUNE:<br />
- one of my dearest friends carol got married in nashville. it was such a fun wedding and great times with friends<br />
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<br />
- david and joel successfully smoked their first brisket (it has been the first in a wonderful tradition now. one of our favorite things to do...we love our "family dinners")<br />
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<br />
- also, we <a href="http://www.rebekahberg.blogspot.com/2011/06/big-news.html">announced</a> that we are adopting!!<br />
<br />
JULY:<br />
- we went to memphis for july 4th weekend.<br />
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- we took our annual trip to michigan that is probably what we look forward to most each summer. (don't you like my cheesier than cheese michigan insert in the middle, there?)<br />
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- we saw <a href="http://www.rebekahberg.blogspot.com/2011/07/josh-ritter-awesomeness.html">josh ritter in concert</a> which was my favorite show i've ever been to, ever.<br />
- caroline turned 4! i can hardly believe it.<br />
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- joel and mandy announced that they were having a baby too!<br />
<br />
AUGUST:<br />
- i literally have nothing. have no idea what happened.<br />
<br />
SEPTEMBER:<br />
- we visited david's parents in Houston!<br />
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<br />
<br />
- we threw mark and katelyn's baby shower in our courtyard, which was so much fun!<br />
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- we said goodbye to david's granny re who went to be with Jesus.<br />
<br />
OCTOBER:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLuEKJUwbi6UVphYynMr4rfrkfZTd1iqu6qO7OL5Kga7e3kpY8xIOlyphdrWUI9w5oRAfPvbeS61AjovL8Tciekh8z9W8SQ2I0tMb2OYBDoJXbis4joFjTbD9T6VJ-SkOvwwvip-BUrn8/s1600/october.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLuEKJUwbi6UVphYynMr4rfrkfZTd1iqu6qO7OL5Kga7e3kpY8xIOlyphdrWUI9w5oRAfPvbeS61AjovL8Tciekh8z9W8SQ2I0tMb2OYBDoJXbis4joFjTbD9T6VJ-SkOvwwvip-BUrn8/s640/october.jpg" width="640" /></a>- i cut my hair!<br />
- we welcomed sweet avory williams into the world!<br />
- we headed <a href="http://www.rebekahberg.blogspot.com/2011/11/cutest-little-circus.html">back to memphis</a>.<br />
<br />
NOVEMBER:<br />
- we had our incredible blessing of an <a href="http://www.rebekahberg.blogspot.com/2011/11/yard-sale-success.html">adoption yard sale</a>.<br />
- we got to visit our friends <a href="http://steveandcourtney.tumblr.com/">steve and courtney</a> in austin (who also are having a baby!)<br />
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- we spent the week of thanksgiving in houston and then we lost the iron bowl :(<br />
- we were approved for our adoption and are now just waiting to be chosen!!<br />
<br />
DECEMBER:<br />
- evie girl turned 1!<br />
- we went cruising...<br />
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- we moved into my parents house for a few days over christmas to spend time with liz and jd and the kids...so much fun.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpkeHrjKhJyHnAZGLbqiIPAlzIvME3coyx8ecfhyphenhyphenu1e0j-OV56n4p_Tju9RVqPsiskR105231f6EQJIXNFutP9DsZ1HK9wjB4fFnk2fKbJGAFUNKw_DjBqHwLvngASIZmyL3dLRPsQt1m/s1600/december+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMpkeHrjKhJyHnAZGLbqiIPAlzIvME3coyx8ecfhyphenhyphenu1e0j-OV56n4p_Tju9RVqPsiskR105231f6EQJIXNFutP9DsZ1HK9wjB4fFnk2fKbJGAFUNKw_DjBqHwLvngASIZmyL3dLRPsQt1m/s640/december+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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whew! that was alot. 2011 was crazy busy (thanks to instagram for capturing most of these memories) but mostly we were reminded time and time again of God's faithfulness to us. we are so excited for 2012 and all it will hold for us and our little family!</div>
rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-87907069783204718362011-12-06T14:00:00.001-06:002013-03-10T16:03:39.912-05:00Adoption Update: We're Approved!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TryEKCKfn-NzHZXA0TzX7iR-2offe8o5XFy4v8gNjbbtWTslePMr6m_v50vYMmlw1A2MDISMpyZ0t4tGfahJTA0y_P-i3Lqahyphenhyphen1j-Q888zC6WBVZqAXykMnj8KwPYveORCKnJCBBoGGU/s1600/adoption+update.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TryEKCKfn-NzHZXA0TzX7iR-2offe8o5XFy4v8gNjbbtWTslePMr6m_v50vYMmlw1A2MDISMpyZ0t4tGfahJTA0y_P-i3Lqahyphenhyphen1j-Q888zC6WBVZqAXykMnj8KwPYveORCKnJCBBoGGU/s400/adoption+update.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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We have HUGE news. We have officially been APPROVED by Bethany and our profile will now be shown to prospective birth parents! (side note: we used <a href="http://pinholepress.com/">Pinhole Press</a> for our profile book and could not have been happier with them and their customer service!)</div>
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We still have no idea how long it will be before we are matched. It is almost entirely up to the birth parents at this point. Originally, we had been open to the whole country, but it turns out that since there isn't an "Alabama" option on the website and it would misrepresent us to birth parents to make it look like we were from Memphis, our profile will only be shown to parents who come into the Memphis office. But there is always a chance that another office may call if they haven't been able to place a birth mother with a family from their office or online. In that case, they can show it. Make sense? So there is still a chance we could get a baby from another city, but it is most likely they will come from Memphis or the Memphis area. </div>
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I woke up in the middle of the night last night and couldn't sleep, so I was checking my email and had a message from some sweet friends who just found out their son in China, who they were finally going to meet in a few short days has passed away. The saddest part is that they will probably never find out what happened. But their words were so encouraging as they were reminded that their sweet son (who had some special medical needs) is now made whole and perfect in the arms of our everlasting Father. As I lay there wide awake and deeply saddened, I prayed that God would just put his arms around them and they would be reminded of his grace and mercy and goodness. And then I realized I was praying that for us, too. As we have passed each milestone, I seem to have grown more and more impatient. I prayed that God would just remind us of his sovereignty in all of this. This child has been prayed for for three years. God hasn't carried us this far to let us down now. And I am so thankful for that.<br />
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In other adoption news, one of David's friends <a href="http://abryanphoto.com/">bryan</a> was on the <a href="http://www.cbs42.com/content/localnews/story/A-Birmingham-adoption-success-story/CQ0zUnBvXkaExV3_hqZVnA.cspx">local news</a> with his family and their new daughter Finley. Such a great story of the urgency and simplicity of adoption!</div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="330" scrolling="no" src="http://eplayer.clipsyndicate.com/cs_api/iframe?pl_id=21958&page_count=5&wpid=10021&tags=CCTVI_NEWS_LOCAL&windows=1&va_id=3079004&show_title=0&auto_next=0&auto_start=0" width="425"></iframe></div>
<br />rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-19900870850744226202011-12-05T10:00:00.000-06:002013-03-10T15:49:30.245-05:00Matthew Mayfield Videojust another monday around here. day off. projects up to my eyeballs.<br />
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while i've been working on stuff around the house today, i've been listening to <a href="http://matthewmayfield.com/">matthew mayfield</a>'s album (which is currently <a href="http://noisetrade.com/matthewmayfield">free on noisetrade</a>...i highly suggest you check it out). it made me think of his video for "now you're free" which our friend, paul bryant of <a href="http://kinorafilms.com/">kinora films</a> shot this past spring. it is beautiful. so, naturally, i wanted to share it in case you hadn't seen it yet.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Zgfou4u9XRk" width="560"></iframe>rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-4138751022835829212011-11-25T15:00:00.005-06:002013-03-10T15:49:02.836-05:00Happy Iron Bowl Weekend!hope everyone is enjoying their friday recovering from your turkey comas by eating turkey sandwiches. settle in for your weekend of football, especially the greatest rivalry in college football - the iron bowl. it will be sad. auburn will most likely lose. but it's ok, we are still the reigning national champs for a few more weeks and it at least won't be alabama taking the title from us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnTwFGq03QCizlOctHkm5zp46HDHsDhrVfQB7PWBD2r0JLj9k_OK40tfsdZehX4Vcb98K9vhQfGPaHxKmMbw6sHWTJkCzmGckWu7uWLxGJfM43mfCuPDUWuUwbfu9YBqy6khn6XBV0Y8Z/s1600/iron+bowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnTwFGq03QCizlOctHkm5zp46HDHsDhrVfQB7PWBD2r0JLj9k_OK40tfsdZehX4Vcb98K9vhQfGPaHxKmMbw6sHWTJkCzmGckWu7uWLxGJfM43mfCuPDUWuUwbfu9YBqy6khn6XBV0Y8Z/s640/iron+bowl.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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did anyone see <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZwcf7VmEJ8">roll tide I war eagle</a>? i actually thought it was an interesting look at ridiculous culture. it's so funny, though, growing up an auburn fan and then student/graduate, you really do have the little brother complex, like you're never given the respect you deserve. did any of you watch it? what did you think?<br />
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war eagle!rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-84997861059655761242011-11-25T09:00:00.004-06:002013-03-10T15:48:47.100-05:005 Whole Years...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxdZfekDKu2ylBIiGyrWkOofPgJSIrYX9C2cMOqmfAtWr3_1PpY9CFjOgFhIL3rKz0kMAIgNYpE6JjizlUtGZ40hmjVZGPrvOGGRKjVSvJDhAw1hiIhuvy0yVdTyTuwDoYGssmKaip46e/s1600/anniversary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxdZfekDKu2ylBIiGyrWkOofPgJSIrYX9C2cMOqmfAtWr3_1PpY9CFjOgFhIL3rKz0kMAIgNYpE6JjizlUtGZ40hmjVZGPrvOGGRKjVSvJDhAw1hiIhuvy0yVdTyTuwDoYGssmKaip46e/s640/anniversary.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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i cannot believe it. are we old enough to be married for 5 years? i'm still 23, right?<br />
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well, 'tis true. today is our fifth anniversary. i am so incredibly blessed by david. last year, on our anniversary date, david told me he was ready to adopt. it will forever be burned into my memory - as we sat there at <a href="http://www.highlandsbarandgrill.com/">highlands bar & grill</a> enjoying the <a href="http://gardenandgun.com/article/southern-side-dishes">best baked grits</a> i've ever tasted - as one of the greatest moments of our marriage. he is my best friend. i can't wait to see him as a dad.rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-30796689816512095372011-11-24T09:00:00.018-06:002013-03-10T15:48:20.466-05:00Happy Thanksgiving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wg74nN-ZtNBTQJIpkT8yuQj4E_cJb-kWuZY2mnMRudhKiy28ykRdyUIaHtC3t8tV3QF2717gDqwzmsBGZmXFGtYmFq3mrCbhyphenhyphenAlNP2x1FlA4h3nsu6A9GOxKadDjwyDiAavPJgyV-sfJ/s1600/thankful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="499" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wg74nN-ZtNBTQJIpkT8yuQj4E_cJb-kWuZY2mnMRudhKiy28ykRdyUIaHtC3t8tV3QF2717gDqwzmsBGZmXFGtYmFq3mrCbhyphenhyphenAlNP2x1FlA4h3nsu6A9GOxKadDjwyDiAavPJgyV-sfJ/s640/thankful.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
// <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2011/11/autumn-birthday-by-loretta-flower.html">photo</a> //<br />
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for most of my life, thanksgiving has been my favorite holiday and i take personal offense when people start celebrating christmas too early, because - c'mon people! respect the turkey. it's just such a wonderful day to be reminded of all the things we are thankful and grateful for. i will never forget on thanksgiving day 5 years ago (2 days before mine and david's wedding) my brother and sister-in-law told us they were pregnant. then, 9 months later along came caroline. and today we have 6 nieces and nephews! i am definitely thankful for that! and here are a few more things...<br />
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- the gracious work of God in my life and His continuing mercy day by day as He molds me (despite my sometimes bitter resistance) to become more like Him. seriously...thank you is not enough for that one.<br />
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- an amazing, supportive husband who wants nothing but the best for me.<br />
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- for our sweet baby we don't even know yet, and their birth parents for being willing to go through a very difficult time because they wanted to choose life for their child (and i don't mean that that we will give them a better life...i mean that they chose to allow their child to be born, to live)<br />
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- for not one but 2 incredible families that we get to call our own.<br />
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- for our community in birmingham that makes living here so spectacular. everyone should be jealous. we have the best friends in the world.<br />
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i also have certain friends that have <i>the</i> craziest family stories. what better time to bring out the crazy than at the holidays...anything you are particularly thankful for or perhaps a ridiculous family story?rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-28878288032351064542011-11-22T08:00:00.005-06:002013-03-10T15:47:46.152-05:00Parenthood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTX-W7dtujvzim29mO85s6pZdQ7UqKkUlMDxF7YIfoLoFmP3qkeoAdAsWEC8bqqi_O4lWVJdNRPp0BWeGxCexcR9wLF4kxhALgKgsySA1SDVe39pWCWsE4JYiBC7ZvWL_DtG-gjT1x-4b/s1600/PARENTING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFTX-W7dtujvzim29mO85s6pZdQ7UqKkUlMDxF7YIfoLoFmP3qkeoAdAsWEC8bqqi_O4lWVJdNRPp0BWeGxCexcR9wLF4kxhALgKgsySA1SDVe39pWCWsE4JYiBC7ZvWL_DtG-gjT1x-4b/s640/PARENTING.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
no, not the <a href="http://www.hulu.com/parenthood">tv show</a>...although, isn't it great? lately, david and i have been talking a lot about parenthood, what we would do in certain situations, how we are going to handle questions and issues that will come up with being a transracial family (we have lots and lots of discussions about this...like playing out scenarios 15 years into the future).<br />
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but the overarching theme of our discussions are how we want to raise our children to love our God more than anything. we are so thankful that in their own adoption into this very temporary ytterberg family, they will see the greater story of how we are all adopted - <i>through</i> Christ - into inheritance <i>with</i> Christ as sons of God (ephesians 1:4-6). and more than just knowing that, we would so desperately want our children to grow up with a heart for others and a desire to follow Christ in whatever he might call them to do in their lives.<br />
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so that brings us to secret church a few weeks ago, and david [platt - not husband david] said something that has stuck in my brain ever since.<br />
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"God gives children to families for his glory. The goal of biblical parenting is NOT to help your children get a great education, be a great athlete, go great dates, have a great career or make great money. the goal of biblical parenting is to help your children <i>love a great God</i>."<br />
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and then he said this...<br />
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"Don't forget. God commands your children to leave you in order to follow Him." (matt. 10:37)<br />
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and that has just been rolling around in my brain and my heart for weeks. his point being that God is to be first in all of our lives and our allegiance to Him supersedes that of family, friends, circumstance or convention. and at the end of the day, God has called our children's allegiance to Himself and not to us. so we can play that role of supporter, encourager, teacher in our child's life or we can be the ones they leave behind to follow Christ in obedience. it's just stuck there in my heart. i'm so thankful that God would deem to bless us with the task of raising a child to love Him. it's such a great responsibility but will be full of such great reward.<br />
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(if you've even made it this far) what are some of your favorite things about parenting? favorite conversations, songs, books, etc.rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139334312147959223.post-56456243387091739262011-11-18T15:00:00.002-06:002013-03-10T15:47:15.985-05:00Have a Great Weekend!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgiS44n__w_SBTKnJceUNNwBd-xm057_18KVFWR7AXJiME7CHwjO057UX7s1UQMt-0jbmqEr7jhKSrRq7Sv0Tj-rpP-bkoGq6g_XxqKOWk_JRAqfkiyXZwil1fPYCxSSpT24qDMkBeZeM/s1600/trailer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgiS44n__w_SBTKnJceUNNwBd-xm057_18KVFWR7AXJiME7CHwjO057UX7s1UQMt-0jbmqEr7jhKSrRq7Sv0Tj-rpP-bkoGq6g_XxqKOWk_JRAqfkiyXZwil1fPYCxSSpT24qDMkBeZeM/s640/trailer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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hope everyone has a great weekend before thanksgiving. the bergs are headed to houston, by way of austin. we will take any excuse we can find to get over and visit our wonderful friends <a href="http://steveandcourtney.tumblr.com/">steve and courtney</a>. it is not hyperbolic to say that they really are two of my favorite people on the planet. i would visit them if they lived in des moines, but the fact that they live in austin just makes it that much better.<br />
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then we are off to houston for a week of ytterberg family time! can't wait.<br />
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// <a href="http://www.duchessfare.com/2010/05/stylemaker-liz-lambert.html">photo</a> //<br />
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<i>also, i've been ripping off this whole "happy weekend" post from </i><a href="http://ohhappyday.com/"><i>jordan ferney</i></a><i>, who is probably one of the most creative bloggers around. just wanted to give credit where credit is due. </i><br />
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we have some friends going to hawaii for thanksgiving. score. so what are your fun thanksgiving week plans?rebekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17977950936561775089noreply@blogger.com1