tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12508484856718458132024-03-13T13:44:53.382-05:00Measure of a Melody"I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11-12Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-63226888890790224932013-10-31T08:51:00.000-05:002013-10-31T08:51:44.753-05:00Sunrise Reminders<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s been a minute since I’ve come around to visit this little bit of
cyberspace. Not long ago I thought I was done with blogging for good. But after
a four month snoozer, and a little prodding from my sweet sister, I realized
that I like writing too much to put the blog to sleep for good. So here I am, back
at it again, and wide-awake to some rich truths and life lessons I’m excited to
share. God is always faithful, but I have been made so much more aware of his
presence in the last several months.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mfECIKbb9s8/UnJUba8YSAI/AAAAAAAAAm0/MnrZ84ZgcJs/s1600/Sunrise.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mfECIKbb9s8/UnJUba8YSAI/AAAAAAAAAm0/MnrZ84ZgcJs/s1600/Sunrise.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I took this photo as I was walking into work on Monday morning. I am
moderately obsessed with nature, so the beauty alone nearly brought me to
tears. (I am emotionally attached to trees and clouds, ok?) But what amazed me
more than anything was that I had completely missed this sunrise until I
literally parked in front of its face. There wasn’t a single moment during my
drive to work that the sun hadn’t been breaking through the clouds, I was just completely
oblivious. As I stopped to snap the photo, the Lord reminded me of this verse
from Lamentations 3: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“Because of the Lord’s great love we
are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was struck with the reality that God renews his compassion for me
every morning. This truth is too good to be fair! On my best days and my worst
days, when I am disobedient, and ungrateful, and <i>totally unaware</i>, he is consistently and unfailingly faithful. Just
like the sun will continue to rise -even if we never take the time to
acknowledge it- God will refresh his love and compassion for humanity every
morning, without fail. Whether you’re learning this for the 1st time or the
100th time, I hope it’s the best news you’ve heard today. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s good to be back! </span></span></div>
Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-56526463957363171362013-06-11T18:10:00.000-05:002013-10-02T13:47:19.526-05:00A Little Bit of LifeIt’s been a long time since I’ve posted
because my life is totally insane. The last few months have been so busy that
any ounce of free time is spent doing something completely brainless like
playing Candy Crush or sleeping. But nothing we’ve been up to this
spring/summer has been a drag, that’s for sure! We’ve had a ton of fun
recently; we are just pooped. Oh well, there will be time to rest in November…
Here are some snapshots of our last few months:<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">1) We hosted our annual Hurdle Crew family
dinner at the beginning of May. It’s basically my favorite day of the year, so
I get really geeked-out about it. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F0VgeRVmVZ8/UbenvzXJrRI/AAAAAAAAAlA/Lr0PO7N1Gw8/s1600/IMG_1422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F0VgeRVmVZ8/UbenvzXJrRI/AAAAAAAAAlA/Lr0PO7N1Gw8/s400/IMG_1422.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If you don't get the significance of the ice cream plus cookie dough combo, you've probably never had a Pizookie. And if that's the case, then I feel really sorry for you. [Bake a giant cookie. Add piles of ice cream while it's hot. Hand out spoons. Watch it disappear in < 30 seconds. Magic!] Anywho, all of the hurdlers that Tim’s had in the
last 6 years of coaching have not only been phenomenal athletes, but just
incredible people in general. They genuinely care about their teammates and
challenge each other in the best way. It’s always a pleasure to have them in
our home. Alex, Jacoby, Lauren, or Lindell, if you’re reading this- you da
best!</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">2) My bestie got married in May! </span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I tried on my
Matron of Honor hat, and Tim successfully officiated his first wedding. (And he
did a fabulous job, bee-tee-dubs.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Stinking cute bridesmaids' brunch.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It was a beautiful day, and they are a
beautiful couple, and it was just a beautiful memory all around. Congrats
Britney and Erik! </span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">3) Three days after the wedding we hopped on a
plane with 18 recent grads for their senior trip to the East Coast. </span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Over the
course of 7 days we went to an amusement park in North Carolina, white water
rafted, rock climbed, zip lined, paddle boarded, road tripped to South Carolina, visited Duke university, road tripped to Virginia Beach, swam in the
ocean, shopped ‘til we dropped, and ate southern comfort
food like Jesus was coming back before dessert.</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It was crazy and awesome and
made me realize that I have about 1/10 of the energy I had when I was 18. </span><br />
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I’m glad to be sleeping in my own bed, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t having some withdrawals. Even though they wouldn't stop calling me "mom." <span style="text-align: center;">Class of 2013- you are one-of-a-kind!</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">4) This weekend we went to Topeka to visit my
sister and brother-in-law for his birthday. They moved there a whole 2 months
ago, but we haven’t had a free weekend to visit until now! Unfortunately the
only photos I took were of this amusement park turned junkyard/antique store
called Joyland.</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My sister described it best: “it’s basically like an old
grandpa’s dirty basement.” I think I was standing in a pile of broken glass when I
took this picture. But anyway, we got to eat HuHot which is a rare delicacy,
and enjoyed spending the day with friends. Happy Birthday, Trent!</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Coming up in the next few weeks: two
weddings, a youth trip to Colorado for Tim, a butt load of kitchen projects for
me, a four-year anniversary, a trip to Camp Barnabas for Tim, and a trip to
Haiti for Tim. Happy summer ya’ll!</span><br />
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(P.S. All of the above photos are directly from Instagram, so if you prefer the short version of all of this rambling, you can just follow me @melodyfritson)</div>
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Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-35135541874339089552013-05-09T20:46:00.001-05:002013-05-09T20:46:44.611-05:00Family Spotlight {Dad}<div style="text-align: left;">
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: x-small;">A little note:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">It has been so humbling to sit down and write each of these Family Spotlight posts. I am heartbroken by the reality that many people have been sincerely wounded by members of their family. I wish I could hug all of you! My intention for writing these posts is not to portray my family as perfect or problem-free, but to publicly thank each of them for the ways they have shown me love and contributed to the person I am today.</span></div>
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Readers, allow me to introduce you to Terry!<br />
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I respect and admire my dad so much, and I am extremely grateful that the Lord saw fit to make me his daughter. He has been an incredible example of godliness and humility to our whole family.<br />
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I love my dad for so many reasons; it was really hard to even know where to start this post. I have so much I want to say! He is one of the most consistent, loving, and selfless people I know. Here are a few things about him that I am most grateful for:<br />
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He leads by example.<br />
My dad is not a super outspoken guy, but his actions communicate volumes. He is an amazing teacher, and I appreciate so much that he never passed up an opportunity to help me learn. I have great memories of our father-daughter teaching moments: learning to ride a bike, how to play Stratego, and be a defensive driver. From a very young age he also taught me how to love and honor the people in my life, how to manage my money with generosity, what it means to be thankful, and how to have a growing relationship with the Lord. His words were powerful- he always approached a teaching moment with gentleness and love- but it was his actions that made his words worth hearing. He practices every single thing he preaches. I learned what it meant to love and honor the people in my life because I saw my dad welcome others with open arms and go out of his way to show them the love of Christ. I learned how to manage my money with generosity because I saw my dad forego life's bells and whistles in order to meet the needs of those who were less fortunate. I learned what it meant to be thankful because I can think of zero times I heard my dad grumble or complain. I learned how to have a growing relationship with the Lord because I woke up every morning to see my dad spending time in prayer and studying his Bible. His consistency is absolutely incredible, and I am so thankful for the example he set for my siblings and me.<br />
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He treasures his family.<br />
One of my sisters asked me recently if I was going to cry the whole time I wrote this post. As we've gotten older, my siblings and I have talked so many times about how blessed we are to have grown up with a dad like ours. He is truly an unbelievable husband and father. His desire to live a life that reflects Christ and draws others to Him is inspiring, and this love is totally evident in the way he cares for his family. He is a very disciplined and hard-working man, but he always kept an amazing balance between work and family. He rarely missed a sporting event or band concert, and usually arrived with camcorder in tow to capture the good memories. He planned regular daddy-daughter dates for my sisters and me- taking us shopping for new clothes and treating us to dinner at special restaurants. It still makes my heart happy to this day when I see dads spending one-on-one time with their little girls, because I know how precious those memories will be. <br />
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I watched my dad not only spend quality time with my mom, but shower her with compliments and encouragement. He coached my brother's soccer teams and spent countless weekends playing basketball in the driveway or helping with homework. I know that there were always other things that needed his attention, but he was willing to put the household repairs, financial plans, and vehicle maintenance on hold to make time for us. As a working wife and homeowner who is regularly overwhelmed by the demands of life without children, I am totally in awe of the way he managed to so tangibly cherish his family without letting work and responsibilities fall through the cracks.<br />
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He is a memory-maker.<br />
I 'm sure that going on a family outing with five kids was kind of crazy, and loud, and sometimes embarrassing. But I'm so thankful that it never stopped my parents from making sure that we enjoyed the time we spent together as a family. I know that all of my siblings would agree- we had a really fun childhood. My dad was a master at turning even the smallest activity into a full-of-life experience. He didn't just take us to fly kites on a Saturday afternoon. He took us on a kite flying adventure, where we sent magic notes to the sky. And when giant spools slipped out of tiny hands, he patiently drove us all over the neighborhood searching for our tree-ridden treasure. Things like going for a bike ride, taking a quick trip to the gas station, or ordering pizza on a Friday night were big deals because my dad was intentional about exemplifying what it meant to enjoy simple moments in life. He could build up excitement over the plainest things. I even grew up thinking that wheat bread was a treasure because my dad would get so excited that a new loaf had come home from the store. Overall, I'm just so thankful that he put such great effort into making memories for us, and I'm so glad that he is a part of them!<br />
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Love you Dad!<br />
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P.S.- Since it's so close to mother's day, I should also send you to read about my awesome mama over <a href="http://melodycynthia.blogspot.com/2013/03/family-spotlight-mom.html" target="_blank">here</a>.Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-31922026434394148362013-04-27T17:12:00.000-05:002013-04-27T17:13:28.820-05:00Walk for WilliamsJust a short post to tell you about something that is dear to me. May is Williams Syndrome awareness month, and the annual Walk for Williams is coming up on May 11th.<br />
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My sweet cousin Kate is cutie up there on the top left. I went to the Walk for the first time last year and it blessed my heart like crazy. It was such a fun time for our whole family. I hope you will seriously consider walking or donating to this awesome cause!</div>
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Click <a href="https://www.williams-syndrome.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=127" target="_blank">here</a> to register. All proceeds directly benefit the Williams Syndrome Association. </div>
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Click <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=6885+NE+Pleasant+Valley+Road+Kansas+City,+MO+64119&hl=en&ll=39.21657,-94.49815&spn=0.007257,0.016512&sll=39.216532,-94.498387&sspn=0.007257,0.016512&hnear=6885+NE+Pleasant+Valley+Rd,+Kansas+City,+Missouri+64157&t=m&z=17" target="_blank">here</a> for directions to the Kansas City Regional Police Academy.</div>
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<br />Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-80079907565215623682013-04-25T18:25:00.002-05:002013-04-25T18:25:28.011-05:00On BostonIt's taken me a long time to decide how I would blog about our Boston trip. My heart aches for those who were deeply affected by the tragedy that occurred at the marathon, and my intention is not to gloss over that at all. I just truly loved every minute of my time in Boston, and I want to share what a blessing this awesome city was to us. It's really long, but I'm not sorry.<br />
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<b>Friday, April 12th</b><br />
Several years ago we made a deal with our great friends Caleb and Laurie that if Tim qualified for the Boston Marathon we would all fly out together for the race. It was so exciting for the day to finally come! After landing at Boston-Logan at 1AM and listening to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ASJBXu8tNo" target="_blank">this</a> song a couple of times, we picked up our rental car- Kiki the Kia- and headed to our hotel. We had originally hoped to stay right in downtown Boston, but some friends of ours were amazingly kind to offer a discount at a hotel in Marlborough, which was about 30 miles outside of the city. It ended up being a huge blessing!<br />
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<b>Saturday, April 13th</b><br />
First stop on this day was the marathon starting line in Hopkinton.<br />
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It was such a cute little place with lots of marathon pride.<br />
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A kind police officer even stopped traffic for anyone who wanted to grab a photo behind the starting line. So nice!<br />
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Tim likes to drive through the course before a race so he can get a good feel for what the run will be like. For Laurie and me it meant 26.2 miles of drooling over shaker shingles and colonial architecture. It was a beautiful drive and a great tour of eastern Massachusetts. Once downtown, we went with Tim to pick up his race packet and check out the runner's expo. He lucked out that this year's marathon colors were Liberty blue!</div>
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Later we stopped at a spectator's assistance tent that was passing out maps of the course and subway system. We shared with a lady there that we were hoping to get some good photos of Tim runnings at one or two different stops along the course. She looked at us a little confused and reminded us that there would be a million people in Boston on Monday. "Like literally, one million people," she clarified, just in case we thought that was a hyperbole. She kindly helped us look at all the maps and recommended the we ditch the idea of seeing him during the race (which is a straight line) and just drive downtown early in the morning with the hopes of catching a good seat near the finish line. We were starting to wonder if our ambitions were a little naive, but we didn't give up hope right away.</div>
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We planned to drive by Fenway on the way back to the hotel, but Boston is not exactly the easiest city to navigate so we ended up in Cambridge saying hello to Harvard University. It was quaint, and lively, and kind of made me wish I was a genius so I could have gone to college there. I don't have a picture of anything in Cambridge, so here's a photo of an awesome church we passed somewhere in between. </div>
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<b>Sunday, April 14th</b></div>
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Sightseeing day! We bought tickets for a Boston trolley tour and it was the best decision we could have made. We got to see tons of toursity things, and learned even more things about the history of Boston because our trolley driver was awesome. We visited Paul Revere's home...</div>
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...and the Old North church. I suggested renting Segways and riding through the streets yelling "The British are coming!" but no one else was down.</div>
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We saw lots of other really old stuff, which is always awesome...<br />
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...and finally got a close-up view of the Green Monster.<br />
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Back at the hotel, we decided to go against the previous day's advice and spent the rest of the evening scheming up a way to watch the marathon from several different locations. During our drive through the course we had taken mental note of a few stops that seemed like good places to watch. We spent probably 2 hours pouring over Google Maps and subway routes until we had come up with what we hoped was a solid Tim Fritson groupie game plan: catching him at miles 6, 16, and 25.<br />
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<b>Monday, April 15th</b><br />
We dropped Tim off at the starting line bright and early on the most beautiful morning!<br />
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Hoping to beat the mad rush of people, we made a break for it as soon as possible and arrived at our first stop- Framingham. Thankfully we got there just in time...</div>
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Apparently we didn't get the memo that Framingham sleeps in for this thing, so we just chilled on the sidewalk for the next 2.75 hours. The people did eventually fill the whole street though, and the atmosphere was one of the coolest experiences I will never forget. Running sports are weirdly emotional for me, so I had that going on, plus the added anxiety that my husband would be passing by in a matter of minutes and what if I didn't get a picture?! Not to mention the race started out with the incredible wheelchair athletes, including the inspiring father-son duo Team Hoyt. (If you don't recognize the name, you must watch <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDnrLv6z-mM" target="_blank">this</a> video. Like, now now now.)</div>
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I kept my sunglasses on for most of the portion of the race because I was silently weeping like a baby. I would probably watch this race every year for the rest of my life if I could- the anticipation, and encouragement, and joy were just remarkable.</div>
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We watched Tim pass successfully just after mile 6 and jetted back to the car as soon as we saw the back of that Liberty jersey. Next stop- Newton. I'm so thankful Caleb and Laurie came on this trip, because they did the driving AND navigating while I just sat in the back seat trying not to throw up from all of the nerves. Thanks guys! We made it to our second destination without a hitch. The streets were definitely line with people this time, but everyone was so nice to let us cut in front to watch Tim run by. </div>
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We left our car in Newton and hopped on a very crowded subway headed for downtown. The haters said it couldn't be done, but we saw him for the THIRD time after mile 25 (sorry, no picture of that one) and floated on the euphoric Boston Marathon spectator's cloud of excitement to meet up with him after the finish. He did something only 35% of Boston runners do and re-qualified for the race next year! So proud of him!</div>
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We were nearly back to our hotel when we heard about the bombings at the finish line. It was such a punch in the gut to see this spectacular atmosphere and iconic experience become marred by violence and heartbreak. But my time in Boston taught me that this city is strong, and kind, and resolute. I know without a doubt that next year's marathon will prove this to be true!</div>
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P.S- The extent of my photography knowledge stops at Instagram, but Laurie took some amazing photos of our time in Boston. Check them out on her blog <a href="http://laurie-freshpicked.blogspot.com/2013/04/boston-trip.html" target="_blank">here</a>!</div>
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P.P.S- For a runner's perspective on the Boston Marathon, check out Tim's blog <a href="http://tfritson.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/the-unexpected-my-experience-at-the-2013-boston-marathon/" target="_blank">here</a>!</div>
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</span>Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-76066932420620054082013-04-11T18:28:00.001-05:002013-04-11T19:29:44.807-05:00To BostonThis is an exciting week for the Fritson family! Soon we
will be flying to the East Coast for the 117<sup>th</sup> Annual Boston
Marathon. (Eeee!) Tim has been working so hard for the past two years preparing for
this race, and there are so many people who are waiting to cheer him on. Some
awesome students in the area planned a surprise “send off” party last night, which
meant the world to him. He was completely unsuspecting, too! Great job, guys!<br />
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Tim ran his first marathon at Dallas White Rock in December
2011. He exceeded the Boston qualifier time for his age group, despite the
freezing wind and rain. (I’m not kidding, it was terrible.)</div>
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The total drudgery of that race turned to sweet victory when
this baby came in the mail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I have talked <a href="http://melodycynthia.blogspot.com/2013/02/family-spotlight-husband.html" target="_blank"><u>before</u></a> about what a disciplined guy Tim
is, but if you live in Liberty you have probably seen his persistence in
action. Roughly 80% of my day-to-day conversations begin with “Hey, I saw your husband
running today!” In a town that barely tips the scale at 29 square miles, he
covers a lot of ground!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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His marathon training even caught the attention of our local
newspaper, who featured him in a pretty sweet full-page spread in the Sports
section today. (You can read the article <a href="http://www.libertytribune.com/sports/cross_country/article_db744eda-dd9c-5287-8f75-23dd01dd9620.html" target="_blank">here</a>.) He's reppin’ the
hometown Liberty jersey, which he will wear to the race next week. I know there
are so many people from Liberty and beyond who have been a huge encouragement
to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your books, blog posts, photographs, ice baths, goo recommendations, running company, and affirming words have been the biggest
blessings. As his wife I wanted to say THANK YOU for supporting and inspiring
him! </div>
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If you would like to receive updates during the race, text
the word “runner” to 345678 and reply to the automatic message with “1762” (his
bib number.) </div>
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You can also follow me on Twitter or
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To Boston!</div>
Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-90041414698752779542013-04-02T19:25:00.000-05:002013-04-04T06:07:13.633-05:00Finish It<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't think I have mentioned before that Tim and I are in the midst of renovating our kitchen. Nothing drastic, mostly just cosmetic. We're about 60% of the way there, I'd say, and it's looking great! The only problem is that we've been in the "midst" of the kitchen updates since April 2012... aka: I fail at following through. I have great ideas and intentions, but I can never seem to muster up the ambition to get 'er done. I know I'm totally capable of knocking things out, but I just allow myself to get overwhelmed by the quantity of things there are to do!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since we moved into our home in 2010, I've been working up a pretty wicked mental checklist of all the things I would like to eventually do/should have done 6 months ago. You name it, and I've got an imaginary checkbox for it. Sometimes all of those things swirling around in my head make me crazy! The other day I tried to take a nap, but Mental Checklist was not about to let me rest until I had made a list of everything in the entire world that I could possibly need to do within the next 20 years. I went insane, people. I clocked at least an hour and four pages of furious scribbling. And things like "come up with a fun Easter tradition for your future children" is not even in my wheelhouse right now! But I have to admit that my head felt at least 10 pounds lighter afterward, and I wished I would have done that months ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anywho, my brain emptying exercise helped me see that there are PLENTY of easy-peasy tasks that I could totally stop putting off like a bum. How simple it would be if I could just commit to checking one of these things off the list each week. In light of this epiphany, I have developed a 12-step program for recovering from my dis-ambition. (Psych! It's a 1-step program. We slackers have to start small, ya know?) But I'm really excited about it, so I'm going to share it with you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Introducing: The Finish It Jar</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After typing up <i>The Master To-Do List for All of Life</i>, I searched for items that met ALL of the following requirements:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. I can finish this task completely in one week or less.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. This task requires very little decision-making or prior planning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. I don't need to complete any other projects in order to get this one done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I selected a dozen or so items that met the mark, printed them out, and cut them into strips. Each strip got folded up and tossed into the Jar. I plan to pull out one slip every Sunday, and I will have until the following Sunday to fully complete whatever is written. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was really specific about the tasks that I chose because I wanted to feel confident about my ability to totally FINISH what was listed. For this to happen it could not require tons of thought or very much moolah. The point is FINISHING things, not strapping ourselves for cash or stressing myself out. I didn't set up any kind of "reward" system for myself a) because I'm 25 and I need to just do things because I'm an adult, not because I get candy; and b) I'm fairly motivated by feelings of accomplishment. But just in case I start to dread reaching in to the Jar each Sunday, I did throw in a few fun things like "make some baked treats for a friend." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, I'm fairly certain that I'm not the only one in the world who struggles with getting things done. (I mean seriously, how many of you dust your ceiling fans when you could be eating any number of delicious things, or taking a nap? And just FYI, running the fan on ultra high will not make the dust fly off. Tried it.) This is why I want to invite you to join me! Learning to be more intentional and disciplined is so effective when there are others around you to encourage and hold you accountable. If my lazy, procrastinating self can do it, I know you can too! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've even made it easy for you to put your jar together. I created this cute little tag in Paint (take that, Photoshop!) for you to downloaded if you'd like. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"> Click <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0By9_436LWAMEbWFIZHFyWXRpdkE/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a> to download and print!</span></div>
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A<span style="font-family: inherit;">nd if you are a blogger, feel free to grab a button! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I will update my blog periodically with Finish It endeavors, and I'd love to hear from you as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy Finishing! </span></div>
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Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-90891886733387999732013-03-23T22:18:00.000-05:002013-03-24T14:55:14.876-05:00Family Spotlight {Mom}I'm so excited to introduce ya'll to my mama today. Readers, meet Sandy!<br />
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There are few people that I admire as much as her and I am so grateful to call her Mom.<br />
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I see more and more of her in myself as I grow older, making me keenly aware of the positive character attributes and godly life lessons she has imparted to me. She has been the most amazing example of patience, service, and compassion. Here are a few things about her that I am most grateful for:<br />
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Her joy is from the Lord.<br />
This lady finds a reason to rejoice in every circumstance, regardless of how insignificant or difficult. She treats the little things as if they are the best things and I love that about her. I remember talking to her on the phone a few years ago about the roast I had in the crock pot for dinner that night. She gasped into the receiver and said "OH MY GOSH! Do you eat your roast with onions? I just LOVE roast and onions!" I remember this conversation so vividly because I realized at that moment what a consistently joyful person she is. She truly sees the remarkable in the most ordinary and mundane. Her life has not always been easy or happy; I have seen her walk through many difficult and heartbreaking seasons. But her life <i>has</i> been marked by the overarching joy that comes from a life surrendered to the Lord. Even in the midst of unfavorable situations, my mom has taught me that the Lord's goodness is unfailing- He is the reason we have the ability to rejoice.<br />
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She is selfless.<br />
This is something I totally took for granted most of my life. Looking back, I realize what an effort it must have been to raise five kids within eight years of each other and meet all of our unique needs. Imagine our trips to the grocery store: one baby on each of mom's hips, one kid in the shopping cart, one pushing the cart into mom's heels, and another begging for the fancy (yet disgusting, I later learned) animal crackers in the Barnum & Bailey's circus box. This woman has some patience! But it's not just because she's a mom and that's how moms are supposed to be. She has made selflessness a lifestyle- she genuinely thinks of others first and loves to put her compassion into action. I can't count the number of times she has cheerfully overlooked her own desires in order to aid or encourage someone else. And she's good at it! Her words of truth and affirmation are so nurturing and peace-giving. Everyone is welcome in her presence- she exudes hospitality and generosity. Spending time with her is like getting a hug for your heart. If you know her I'm sure you have experienced this first hand. It's such a blessing to have grown up observing her use her God-given servant's heart to touch other's lives and point them to Him.<br />
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She is comfortable.<br />
I love to tell people about my mom because there are so many fun and quirky features about her. I didn't really appreciate that when I was young and she thought it was hysterical to invite my friends to stay for "liverwurst and hog head cheese sandwiches," but as I've gotten over the everything-is-embarrassing stage, I've realized what an amazing and unique personality she has. I think what I love most is how comfortable she is being herself. I used to make special requests that she not sing in her opera voice when I had friends over, but what I considered fairly annoying 10 years ago, I actually find totally awesome now. I think it's mostly because I realize that I will be just like her when I'm a mom. (Actually, before I'm a mom, because I'm pretty sure my husband has asked me not to sing Frank Ocean in the house because it usually involves an operatic screeching sound.) I think her funny quirks and sense of humor are what make her so lovable. But not only is she hilarious, she is one of the most creative people I know. She is patient, resourceful, humble, and beautiful inside and out. She is confident in who God has made her to be and she doesn't try to fit into any other mold. It's impossible to spend time with her and not feel comfortable being yourself, too.<br />
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Love you Mom!<br />
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<br />Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-33358752832760628842013-03-14T20:31:00.000-05:002013-10-02T13:51:14.342-05:00All I Can Say<div style="text-align: center;">
"<i>I will extol the <span style="font-size: x-small;">LORD</span> at all times. His praise will always be on my lips... Let the afflicted hear and rejoice... The righteous cry out and the <span style="font-size: x-small;">LORD</span> hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The <span style="font-size: x-small;">LORD</span> is close to the brokenhearted and rescues those who are crushed in spirit."</i></div>
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Psalm 34 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible today, but I remember choking on these words as I read them out loud 3 years ago. I knew I believed them, but my heart was broken and angry. Bitterness had quietly crept inside, tip-toeing about as he made himself at home. I didn't even realize I had left the door open. He slipped right in without a peep. Before long, Bitterness had unpacked his belongings and settled me into a comfortable routine:<br />
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Eat. Sleep. Resent. Repeat.</div>
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The circumstances in my life seemed out of control. Unbelievable, even. Tim and I talked later about how we couldn't have dreamed up this time of our lives, even if we tried. Our marriage was healthy, but the darkness and fear and pain were real. I wanted to talk about my situation, but my heart wasn't ready. Talking only led to an extended invitation for Bitterness to hang his hat another day longer; to continue decorating my heart with portraits of people I could blame for my anger. <br />
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I usually regretted whatever I said, so I didn't say much. I prayed. And cried. And sang.<br />
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All I Can Say is a song Tim introduced me to not long after we were married. It's from an old David Crowder album, circa 1999. I had always appreciated its simple and honest nature, but it means more to me now than I ever imagined it would. It's been a while now since Bitterness was evicted. The Lord helped me undergo the long and painful process of restoration- not to a perfect life, but to a life dependent on him. He showed me that he had been there all along, that even in my resentment and anger, he heard all of my cries. <br />
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Maybe you feel like you've been all alone. Maybe you are overwhelmed with fear or anger or pain- like the <i>darkness is creeping up to swallow you. </i>I hope more than anything that you find this song an encouragement to hang on. To cry out. Even when you have nothing to say and nothing to offer, <i>the <span style="font-size: x-small;">LORD</span> is close to the brokenhearted and rescues those who are crushed in spirit. </i><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(If you are unable to access this audio, click <a href="https://www.box.com/s/7gkrd34a8p09c0wj3vgy" target="_blank">here</a>)</span></div>
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<br />Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-29893432278250935262013-03-05T14:33:00.000-06:002013-03-05T15:37:03.084-06:00LolaI have a nice little story for ya'll today. But first, allow me to introduce you to Lola.<br />
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She's a '98 Corolla. I bought her from my aunt when I still lived in California and we've been through a lot together. She's such a good little car and friend. (Yes, friend.) I am already dreading the day that Lola's life comes to an end. There are just so many quirks I love about her:<br />
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The driver's side window that will only roll up at the rate of 1 cm per day.<br />
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The visor that sits half-open, waiting to greet my forehead each time I hop inside.<br />
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The hole in the wiper fluid tank that leaves my windshield looking so grime-kissed and foggy.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Yes, I do realize that all of these things are fixable. Just haven't gotten around to it, ok?</span></div>
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This particular quirk is actually where my story begins.<br />
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Tim and I got home at exactly the same time the other day. Since we have a single-wide driveway, he pulled in first and Lola and I followed behind him. The roads have been all wet and slushy from the melting snow, so my windshield was looking extra grubby by the time I got home. I reached out the door (NOT the window though, because that would mean grime in my face for the next couple of days) and squirted a water bottle across the glass. I ran the wipers a few times, gathered my belongings, and headed inside for the night.<br />
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I was already running late for work the next morning (typical) when I could not find my keys anywhere! After pacing through every room in my house I finally just grabbed a spare and rushed out the door. I climbed in the car, careful to avoid the visor-forehead-whack, and growled at the sight of my keys sitting in the ignition... Good thing there weren't any thieves looking to come up on a blue Corolla in the night. I went to start the car in a hurry, but noticed that I only had to turn the key half as far as normal.<br />
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CLICK CLICK CLICK... palm to forehead...</div>
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I left Lola chilling on accessories for 15 HOURS! She said "Forget it, you irresponsible owner!" I sulked back inside to share my bad news with Tim. I'm sure he wanted to wring my neck, but he only grinned and put on his shoes. (He's a saint, I tell you!) After a lot of staring at our real-life game of driveway Tetris, we decided that we were going to try to push Lola out of the driveway. Not with our bodyweight (because really, have you seen us?) but with Tim's Jetta! He held a bunch of old towels between our bumpers while I eeked down the driveway in neutral until I ran into the back of the Jetta. Since I wasn't exactly in blog mode when all of this was happening, I didn't take any pictures. It's your lucky day though, because I did fabricate a pretty incredible visual reproduction using the Paint program and my trusty Snipping Tool.<br />
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Anyway, after Lola was good and pushed up against the Jetta's bumper, into reverse Tim went! We were actually really surprised at how easy it was. And no one was damaged in the process! With one last nudge, Lola backed into the street with <i>just</i> enough room for Tim to pull out of the driveway. He gave me a jump, I gave him a hug, and Lola lives another day!<br />
<br />Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-23711919111197905152013-02-21T06:59:00.001-06:002013-02-24T13:21:03.440-06:00Dancing QueensMy family was big on home videos growing up. We each had our own VHS tapes that my parents would use to record both the exciting and everyday events in our life. For Christmas this year, my aunt was kind enough to transfer all of our tapes to DVDs. It's been really fun to re-live some childhood memories. And since this video was recorded exactly 19 years ago today, I felt like I needed to share it with you.<br />
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A few things before you press play...</div>
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1) My sisters are cute; I am just a little weird.</div>
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2) I watched a lot of figure skating when I was younger. The odd leg-spin-thing is a direct manifestation of that.</div>
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3) 1:17 is exactly why my husband has a strict "only move in controlled motions" policy for me in our house.<br />
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Katie and Ruth- thanks for hamming it up with me for the past 19+ years! </div>
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<span id="goog_1719736797"></span>Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-19612250618768228722013-02-15T21:30:00.004-06:002013-02-15T21:36:04.813-06:00Spring MantleI am ashamed to admit that I just took down my Christmas mantle decorations this week... Not because I really love Christmas all that much, but mostly because I'm lazy. So I decided to jump straight from Christmas to spring. I've never been much of a winter girl anyway, so I'm secretly hoping that Mother Nature receives my premature invitation for warm, sunshiny days and RSVPs ASAP.<br />
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I always prefer to decorate based on seasons rather than holidays. They aren't as time-sensitive so I don't feel the need to constantly update. Ain't nobody got time for that. I am also big on decorating with things I already own. I usually raid the other rooms in my house for things I might want to use, and then just lay everything out on the floor while I go to town. Since my mantle only gets dusted 4 times a year, I try to seize the opportunity while I have everything cleared off. The mason jar sconces stay (duh) and the oval mirror I like too much to switch out.<br />
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{Isn't it magnificent?! It was my husband's grandpa's. After he passed away last October, my in-laws found it as they were going through his estate in Colorado. It's good-looking and sentimental- a special combination.}<br />
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Once I have a clean slate, I just start placing things around until I like how it looks. I usually start with the largest items, and work my way down to little details. Like this bird!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9hi2osHrPck/UR71Coa_t9I/AAAAAAAAAWE/J137OIyrOF8/s1600/IMG_0861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9hi2osHrPck/UR71Coa_t9I/AAAAAAAAAWE/J137OIyrOF8/s1600/IMG_0861.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sometimes it takes me several tries before I like what I'm working with. Antique books and glass jars are usually a staple, as they are versatile and can be stacked or filled with whatever you please. Either of these can be purchased at a thrift store for pennies. I also like to fill photo frames with pages I've cut out of magazines.<br />
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Voila! Now if only it felt like spring outside...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I photobombed my own picture...</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Favorite design-inducing jam: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RZqPq1-1Tw" target="_blank">San Francisco</a> by The Mowgli's</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Favorite design element: asymmetry</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Favorite room to decorate: living room</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: Molengo; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Favorite home decor blog: <a href="http://6thstreetdesignschool.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">6th Street Design School</a></span>Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-49636002690343066402013-02-09T12:00:00.000-06:002013-02-10T12:07:06.141-06:00Family Spotlight {Husband}<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was already excited to start my <a href="http://melodycynthia.blogspot.com/2013/01/i-decided-few-days-ago-that-i-am-going_30.html" target="_blank">Family Spotlight</a> series, but being that it's Valentine's season, I thought it fitting to begin with a little love story. It's kind of long, but I hope you enjoy!</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Hr3Rqr9Rak/URV3vNnCg3I/AAAAAAAAASw/lwEYHw3t3SI/s1600/Cali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Hr3Rqr9Rak/URV3vNnCg3I/AAAAAAAAASw/lwEYHw3t3SI/s400/Cali.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tim and I met for the first time at a New Year's Eve party in 2007. I was a sophomore in college and he was a fresh graduate of Mizzou. We actually had several mutual acquaintances in high school, so I was familiar with his name, but I hadn't seen him in years. When I walked into the room that night, I distinctly remember thinking "Whoa! I don't recall him being that attractive!" I mean really, look at him...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We shared names, had a few laughs, I made a fool of myself playing ping-pong like a maniac, and off we went on our separate ways. He made a sort of cheesy attempt to strike up a conversation a few weeks later on Facebook, but I had my heart set on moving to California for good in the summer, so I never really entertained the thought of a relationship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fast-forward to summer 2008. One of my best friends was getting married in June and I had the fun opportunity to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. I was super excited a) because she was the first of my friends to get married, and b) since I knew most everyone else in the wedding party, it was pretty much a guarantee that I would be destroying it on the dance floor during the reception. As everyone arrived for the rehearsal, I was caught by surprise to see that the usher lineup included Tim Fritson.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sE3Hhsy2rW0/URV4100OsYI/AAAAAAAAATE/-R4OaiM6r8I/s1600/Ushers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sE3Hhsy2rW0/URV4100OsYI/AAAAAAAAATE/-R4OaiM6r8I/s400/Ushers.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We hit it off right away. Amazingly, he seemed interested even after witnessing my zealous dance moves. I remember asking my friend Britney a million questions about him on our way home from the wedding that night. "Is he a good guy?" "Yeah. I think he's like, the best."</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OBxnMNwfqpk/URV5NfD2lXI/AAAAAAAAATM/YVHXl9Dt3RI/s1600/Wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OBxnMNwfqpk/URV5NfD2lXI/AAAAAAAAATM/YVHXl9Dt3RI/s320/Wedding.jpg" width="390" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was definitely enamored, but I hesitated to believe that I could have met the man of my dreams a few short weeks before I would be cashing in a one-way ticket to Los Angeles. Still he pursued me, and left no question as to whether or not he was willing to make it work. I packed my things and headed West, but in my heart I knew that God had something really special in store for us. We dug on each other the long-distance way until he wooed me back to Missouri for good. (aka: I had no job, and my financial aid for college had been canceled, so home again, home again jiggity-jig)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once we were back in the same city, the rest was pretty much history. He proposed on New Year's Eve 2008, exactly a year since we had met, and we were married on June 26, 2009.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--498hCFuRgE/URV6HHa1CjI/AAAAAAAAATc/WARVFDjfo4M/s1600/Dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--498hCFuRgE/URV6HHa1CjI/AAAAAAAAATc/WARVFDjfo4M/s400/Dance.jpg" width="267" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I could write for days about all the reasons why I love and admire Tim. He has been such a phenomenal example of integrity, forbearance, and discipleship to me. Here are a few his atributes that I am most grateful for:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>He loves God first.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't know very many people who love the Lord with the tenacity that Tim does. He is so consistent with his study of the Bible and it's evident in the way that he lives and loves the people around him. He is such an intelligent guy, and an amazing <a href="http://www.lcfliberty.org/teaching/messages/tim-fritson" target="_blank">teacher</a>. I am always in awe of his ability to interpret Scripture and present it in a way that is challenging and entirely engaging.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uI4iMKH8gsc/URV7bkfdy5I/AAAAAAAAATk/fZVyumM8quc/s1600/Teaching.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uI4iMKH8gsc/URV7bkfdy5I/AAAAAAAAATk/fZVyumM8quc/s400/Teaching.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://laurie-freshpicked.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Via</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have learned so much about the Bible in the short time we have been married because learning and growing on a regular basis are important to him. He disciples me. He never sacrifices what is right for what might be popular. I trust his decision-making because I know he has spent time in prayer. More than anything, he wants God to be glorified in our life and in our marriage, and I appreciate that so much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>He is patient.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am probably not the easiest person to live with. Not because I'm really messy or anything, but mostly because I'm crazy. Bless his heart, he puts up with my antics in the sweetest way possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">He hates taking pictures, but found that if he closes his eyes, they really aren't so bad after all...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He has gotten really good at not losing his place in a book after I have sprinted across the room and catapulted myself into bed because it's "more fun" than simply crawling under the covers. He just sits there quietly until the bouncing mattress has subsided and his ears have stopped ringing from me screaming "INCOMING!" He never complains when I listen to my hippie music at just shy of 140 decibels, or rolls his eyes when I shove my phone in his face and yell something really girly like "LOOK AT THIS BABY SEAHORSE!" He lovingly endured a hellish week of kitchen cabinet painting, not because he really cared what color our cabinets were, but because he knew it was important to me. He is so selfless, and I am extremely thankful for his patient love and kindness toward me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He is intentional.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is something about Tim that I am continually amazed by. When I first met him, he had recently begun his first job as a youth pastor. As he started getting to know the youth group, he found out that some of the guys were on their high school cross country team. He realized the amazing relationship-building potential, so he started showing up to practice and running with them before and after school. He woke up at 5:00 am every morning to run for hours with high school guys because he cared about their eternity. No one does that! If you have had him as a coach, you are probably very familiar with how intentional he is in helping you grow- more than just as an athlete, but as a person. He loves to come home and tell me how hard you worked and how much progress you're making. He cares about your grades, and your family, and wether or not the girl or guy you're dating is worth your time. He pours countless hours of instruction and encouragement into your life because he thinks that you're worth it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So yeah. If you can't tell, I'm a little crazy about this guy.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XDNS9x0_3U0/URXVug0fPxI/AAAAAAAAAUw/ceU1e60VVdw/s1600/DLand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XDNS9x0_3U0/URXVug0fPxI/AAAAAAAAAUw/ceU1e60VVdw/s400/DLand.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<br />Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-21337809863492730752013-02-05T19:27:00.000-06:002013-02-05T19:27:52.804-06:00New LookI would like to offer a formal apology to anyone who viewed my blog over the last 1.5 years:<br />
I'm sorry for having the ugliest blog on the web and for choosing the bloody tie-dye background that likely made some of you throw up in your mouth a little bit...<br />
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Whew. I can feel the weight has already been lifted.<br />
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I knew all along that my blog was ugly, but for whatever reason I just never took the time to make it pretty. So, I'm sorry guys. Hopefully the new look is a little easier on the gag reflex! There are still several things that I plan on updating, but I'm pretty happy with the mid-way result.<br />
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I wanted to also give a shout out to the awesome Etsy store where I snagged this super cute background. Corin over at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/DistrictNineDesign?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">District Nine Design</a> sells the most delightful digital paper, frames, custom cards and birth announcements. This background came in a pack of 8 hand-drawn designs for a very reasonable $5.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n1WX9ed8q1s/URGr0a1ZiiI/AAAAAAAAARQ/1hZRskqwzrY/s1600/Rustic+Herringbone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n1WX9ed8q1s/URGr0a1ZiiI/AAAAAAAAARQ/1hZRskqwzrY/s1600/Rustic+Herringbone.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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And I don't know about you, but if I had a baby girl I'd put her face on this. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9qv9xlPcRaI/URGuIB8jCOI/AAAAAAAAARY/6w2CDwOUQ1w/s1600/Birth+Announcement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9qv9xlPcRaI/URGuIB8jCOI/AAAAAAAAARY/6w2CDwOUQ1w/s1600/Birth+Announcement.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.peekaboophotos.com/" target="_blank">Via</a></td></tr>
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<br />Anywho, I just love her stuff so I wanted to share. I hope you enjoy the new look!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<br />Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-83869596990042764732013-01-30T19:31:00.001-06:002013-01-30T21:44:38.765-06:00Family Spotlight<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I decided recently that I am going to start a "Family Spotlight" series on this here little blog. My husband, parents, and siblings have had a massive influence on the person I am today, so it seems necessary that I give them a good amount of public attention. There are 7 members in my immediate family, so be looking out for a feature each month starting in February. I hope you enjoy getting to peep into my past and learn about the people I love most! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Until then, here are some fun pictures of my family from the past few years:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2006: A great action shot of Ruth running inside because I accidentally gave her a bloody nose.</span></div>
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2006: A nice visit to the Shatto Dairy Farm. </div>
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2008: Happy Graduation to Katie!</div>
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2010: Glamour Shots.</div>
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2010: Just your average McQuerry Family Christmas.</div>
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2011: This was the only normal photo that we walked away with on Thanksgiving.</div>
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The Christmas card would've said "Have a freaking good Christmas."</div>
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2012: Cheering for my dad while he pwns some noobs at the Corporate Challenge 1 mile run.</div>
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2012: Celebrating a special day with a pretty good-looking crew!</div>
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Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-20880214721429228382013-01-26T23:02:00.000-06:002013-01-26T23:02:07.899-06:00Paper Snowflakes<span style="font-family: inherit;">I love to spend time making things. There is just something about creating anything at all that makes me feel at home. I would high-pitched-squeal anytime I found a "free magazines" pile outside a strangers dorm room in college because it meant hours of tearing out pages and cutting up pieces until I had transformed and re-arranged them into something of my own. What I got the biggest kick out of was making paper snowflakes. I don't necessarily remember what made me think of it the first time, but after I realized that my grown-up fine motor skills allowed me to make infinitely more amazing paper creations than my 7-year old self did, I couldn't get enough of the delicate little suckers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I recently read a quote by author Kurt Vonnegut:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"Go into the arts. I'm not kidding... They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think Mr. Vonnegut is onto something. Creating <i>is</i> an enormous reward; it is something that flows through every human's veins. We are made in the image of the ultimate Creator- we can't help but have a desire to create. Whether it's crafting a delicious meal, a football playbook, a detailed spreadsheet, or a kind letter to a friend, we all identify with the reward that comes from putting our talents and interests into producing something unique. Creating is fulfilling because it's a native element of our being.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We love the things that we create. We are proud of them. We want others to notice that we did such a good job.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Can you image how God feels when he looks at you? He loves you. He is proud of you. He wants others to notice what a goo job he did creating you. The Creator of the universe is crazy about <i>you</i>. Dear reader, I hope you know what a work of art you are!</span><br />
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Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-81535714468663090522013-01-19T12:16:00.003-06:002013-01-28T21:22:43.469-06:00A Little 2012 Love<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was unusually thankful for my Twitter account recently as I spent some time reflecting on my life events in 2012. I went back through a year's worth of tweets and relived so many good memories and fun pictures. Here are my top 15 favorite tweets from 2012:</span></div>
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1: I started 2012 out with a bang! Quite literally, I banged by head on the toilet when I passed out in the bathroom at work and got sent to the ER. After the 3<sup>rd</sup> IV attempt, some yelling at the nurses, and almost sending my queasy husband on a blackout adventure of his own, they found out nothing is wrong with me. Except that my resting heart rate is 89. </div>
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2: Probably one of the biggest blessings of 2012 was the amount of amazing people that we got to spend time with in our own home. I sent this tweet after a crazy late-night game of Mafia with some our youth kids and volunteers: </div>
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3. If you have never experienced my utter love for dancing like a crazy person, you can get a good idea of what that’s like </div>
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4. This one is a retweet, but my hubby said it best. We started a new youth ministry adventure in 2012 and have been so thankful to be a part of such a godly, generous, and compassionate church family! </div>
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5. I seriously have the most amazing siblings, and 2012 proved to be no exception. I consider each of them a dear, dear friend and cannot imagine life without them! </div>
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6. I picked this tweet for two reasons: 1) Because it mentions our awesome friends <span style="color: #1f497d;"><a href="http://sarahbeard.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sarah</a></span> and Andrew, who have meant more to us than they know. 2) Because the Hunger Games changed my life. Not really, Jesus changed my life. But we did have a super fun themed party the night of the midnight showing, then went out late to see the movie like a couple of crazy kids. </div>
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7. Carly Rae Jepsen stepped into the scene in 2012 and I was on that bandwagon in a jiff. </div>
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8. This was a glorious day in 2012. </div>
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9. Marriage has been a huge blessing to me since 2009. I am one lucky lady! </div>
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10. I turned 25 in 2012 and received the most amazing present from my hubby! Cirque du Soleil was FANTASTIC! If you ever have the chance to go, I guarantee you will be so glad you did!! </div>
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11. This takes the cake for cutest thing in 2012. You will not regret listening to this once... or twice... or three times!</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Click <a href="http://www.prx.org/pieces/73865" target="_blank">HERE</a> to hear the clip. </span></div>
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12. I got a nice big-change haircut in 2012. And I fueled my existing obsession with Zooey Deschanel and her tv show New Girl. </div>
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13. I guess emojis were technically a 2011 thing, but but the update in 2012 really cranked the excitement up a notch.</div>
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14. My sweet 87-year old grandma was diagnosed with colon cancer this November. While we didn’t expect her to live forever, it was a shock to find out that she probably has less than a year left with us. I cherished this Christmas celebration with her and the rest of our family! </div>
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15. I am hardcore blessed by the students I get to hang out with on a regular basis. Our annual winter trip to Chicago certainly confirmed that for me. Liberty is full of gems!</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You were a good year, 2012.</span></div>
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Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-34358697152022292002013-01-16T19:46:00.002-06:002013-03-06T08:04:35.957-06:00Remix<br />
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I don’t have anything especially thrilling to write about today, but I was recently challenged to <a href="http://topofthepagewithleslie.blogspot.com/2012/12/rethinking-blogging-for-2013.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">rethink</a> the way I view my blog in 2013. I used to believe that the recipe for the perfect post was to allow a topic to boil up from the depths of my soul, and then let it simmer there for days on end until I had worked out all of the lumps and reduced the contents to a fine mush. I would stew on my writing forever- making sure that any trace of imperfection had evaporated before I hit “publish.” No wonder I didn’t blog often- it was completely exhausting! So in 2013, I’m going try a new recipe- it’s called Real Life. That means that some of my posts may suck, but I’m going to practice publishing anyway. I’m going to practice being the rough-draft version of me: a little sloppy, but mostly heartfelt and quirky with some creativity mixed in. I hope you like the new flavor!</div>
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Now here are some grainy pictures from a recent evening with 3 of the best men in my life:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">1/2 of my brother Micah, me, Tim, and 1/2 of my brother Caleb. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">We made cupcake brownie burgers!</span></td></tr>
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Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-13480720916550635132012-11-01T22:10:00.001-05:002013-01-25T12:19:46.807-06:00Fall Recipe<br />
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I have a lot of favorite things in life, but my husband and food are way up there on the list. So naturally, it's the highlight of my day when Tim and I hang out in the kitchen together, cooking up something yummy. I have grown to really love cooking, but it’s mostly because I have such an awesome sous chef! Tim is great about helping me cook and making it a fun, quality-time experience. (If you are married, I highly suggest cooking TOGETHER! It's less stressful when you have a helper, and it's more fun!) </div>
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There is one big problem with my cooking, though- I never measure things. And not because I'm some sort of Julia Child, but because measuring utensils require washing. And even though Tim and I also clean up dinner together, dirty dishes are my arch nemesis. Not measuring = no washing! But not measuring also = slim chances of identically reproducing a really delicious meal... Today, however is a special day because I have been working on an original recipe that actually has calculated ingredients! I’ve made and re-made this dish several times in the last year or so, and I think I have finally perfected the recipe. And seeing as I actually wrote it all down, I figured it was only fair for me to share. (I do realize that I'm not the first person to put pretzels on chicken- I won't take credit for that.) My test subject (aka: Tim) has sampled each variety, and this is his favorite. So, without further ado, here is my </div>
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<i>Smoky Pretzel Chicken with Savory Peanut Sauce.</i>
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Ingredients</div>
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- 2 lbs chicken tenders, trimmed and patted dry</div>
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- 2 cups pretzel twists (You’ll want to use the twists opposed to other varieties because they have the most </div>
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“outside” area. The dark outside of the pretzel is what contributes the best flavor. Weird, I know.)
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- 2 Tbs olive oil</div>
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Marinade</div>
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- 2 Tbs. olive or canola oil</div>
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- 2 Tbs. chipotle chili adobo sauce (Found at any grocery store in the hispanic aisle.)</div>
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- 2 Tbs. brown sugar</div>
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- 1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar<br />
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Peanut Sauce</div>
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- 1 Tbs. olive or canola oil</div>
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- 1 Tbs. peanut butter
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- 1 Tbs. brown sugar</div>
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- 2 Tbs. soy sauce</div>
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- 2 Tbs. chipotle chili adobo sauce</div>
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Method</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2) Clean and trim your chicken tenders until they’re nice and lean. Pound out any thick parts, pat dry, and set aside. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3) In a large ziplock bag, combine ingredients for the marinade. Squish the bag to mix it all together.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--uyjohIkoxc/UJMp10N57oI/AAAAAAAAAFw/APeIYM1cPZs/s1600/IMG_0558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--uyjohIkoxc/UJMp10N57oI/AAAAAAAAAFw/APeIYM1cPZs/s1600/IMG_0558.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They spell "chipotle" wrong. Hehe!</span></span></td></tr>
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Just a heads up about the chilies: they are SPICY! I can think of zero reasons why someone would need an entire can of these. But if you're not a spicy person (I am not) don't worry, we won't be using the actual peppers in this recipe, only the adobo sauce. It has much less of a spicy and more of a smoky flavor. Scoop out the adobo for the marinade and peanut sauce, then save the chilies to make yummy Mexican chili later in the week!<br />
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- Another side note: it was at this point in the night that I neglected to take any more photos... So hopefully the raw chicken and mini tin can will tide you over until you can see what it looks like for yourself. Ma bad! - </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">4) </span><span style="text-align: center;">Add chicken tenders to the bag and let sit in the marinade for 30 minutes or so.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">5) Pour ½ cup of the pretzels into a food processor. Pulse until finely crushed (almost powdery).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">6) Pour the remaining pretzels into the food processor. Pulse to crush, but allow coarse pieces to remain. Shake the container a bit to mix the pretzels together then spread evenly onto a plate. (I add a little bit of kosher salt here because I’m a sodium fiend.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">7) One by one, remove tenders from marinade and press into the pretzel crumbs. Get ‘em good an covered!</span><br />
8) Place tenders side-by-side in a 9x13 baking dish and baste or drizzle with a bit of olive oil.*<br />
9) Bake for 30 minutes.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">10) While tenders are baking, melt peanut butter and oil in a small saucepan over low heat. </span><br />
11) Stir in remaining sauce ingredients. Heat until the mixture thickens, stirring frequently.<br />
12) Serve warm as a dipping sauce for tenders.<br />
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Yields: 2 servings with leftovers</span>
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*You can achieve a similar effect by cooking the tenders in a medium hot skillet with 2-4 Tbs of olive oil for about 4 minutes on each side. I’ve tried it both ways, and I’ve decided that the oven-baked version is a little more flavorful.</div>
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We usually eat this meal with garlic roasted broccoli and some form of rice/orzo/cous cous. I hope you enjoy!!</div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Favorite chef-inducing jam: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCVrC7Dg2qo" target="_blank">On Top of the World</a> by Imagine Dragons</span></div>
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Melody's favorite cooking utensil: Silicon basting brush</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Tim's favorite cooking utensil: Cleaver</span></div>
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Favorite place to eat: on the couch</span>Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-68103151661895124382012-06-07T20:07:00.001-05:002013-03-06T08:13:00.516-06:00Differences<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">At the end of this month my husband, Tim, and I will be celebrating our 3-year anniversary. I still feel like a kid most of the time, so it’s hard to believe it’s already been as long as it has. Time flies when you’re having fun! And our marriage has definitely been fun. Truthfully though, Tim makes being married easy- he is the most consistent, intentional, and thoughtful person I know. The funny thing is, we couldn’t be any more different if we tried. When it comes to personality, interests, strengths, or activities, we are literally on opposite ends of the spectrum about 90% of the time. Here are a few examples:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">Tim loves sports.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">I love art.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">Tim is very disciplined.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">I am what we call “free-spirited.”<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">Tim will dress our future children in things like this:<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">I will dress them like this:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">Tim knows what he likes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">I like to try new things.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">Tim runs marathons.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JQ2iPfZEs5E/T9FJTGVGJ_I/AAAAAAAAAEk/ix-EJx2niPM/s1600/Marathon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JQ2iPfZEs5E/T9FJTGVGJ_I/AAAAAAAAAEk/ix-EJx2niPM/s320/Marathon.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sarahbeard.blogspot.com/2011/12/white-rock-marathon-weekend.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Via</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">I run into shopping carts.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">Almost…<u></u></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;">Tim doesn't eat bread.</span></div>
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Tim is prompt.</div>
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I am on-time if I'm lucky.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">Tim hates to dance.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">I dance like a crazy person.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZERe42j8NAg/T9FKJAlwYOI/AAAAAAAAAE8/RVbPm39p0jo/s1600/Fist+Pump.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZERe42j8NAg/T9FKJAlwYOI/AAAAAAAAAE8/RVbPm39p0jo/s320/Fist+Pump.PNG" height="267" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://katiedayphoto.com/2012/06/06/katelyn-miles-married-at-fresh-air-farm-kansas-city-mo/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Via</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">Despite our obvious differences, there is one common thread that makes our relationship congruent and complete: Jesus Christ. I know that my husband loves the Lord with all of his heart, and it is <i>only</i> because of that commitment that he is able to fully love me in return. I can’t imagine being married to a man with more wisdom, integrity, and patience than Tim. I am truly blessed beyond measure. But if I had never experienced the love of Jesus, and made the decision to live my life for Him, I know I would <i>never</i> be able to love Tim with any amount of sufficiency. </span><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">We love because He first loved us.</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;">So yes, sometimes we don’t “get” each other, and maybe we can only count our mutual interests on one hand. But our marriage <i>works</i> because we recognize that fulfillment is found in Christ alone. It doesn’t mean we’re perfect or we don’t face challenges. But it does mean that when Christ is our everything, we are free to love each other simply because it glorifies Him, and not because we have to earn each other's affection. I can't think of a better reason to celebrate an anniversary!<span style="font-size: x-small;"><u></u></span></span></div>
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Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-64259517675598666682012-05-12T07:12:00.000-05:002013-03-06T08:02:14.034-06:00Presence<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">If you have ever left me a voicemail, sent me a text, written me a Facebook message, tweeted at me, posted on my wall, commented on my photo, or anything of the like, you have probably noticed that I am the slowest at responding. It is not uncommon for me to reply to a text message 3 or 4 days after I received it. I’m sorry if this has ever hurt anyone’s feelings!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">I love keeping in touch with my friends and family, and I’m blessed to have the ability to do so. I have an iPhone. It’s a nifty little gadget that I’m really grateful for. I can virtually connect with other human beings 24 hours a day if I want to. I have access to a constant flow of updates, photos, events, and links. But I would submit that if I never allowed myself to put the phone down, leave it in another room, and miss out on a few messages, the iPhone has the ability to wreck my relationships, my walk with the Lord, and my reputation.<u></u><u></u></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">I am a quality time person. There is nothing that fills me up more than some good face-to-face time with a person that I care about. So naturally, it really bothers me when I am trying to have a conversation with someone who is constantly checking her phone. I actually take it really personally. I don’t think anything says “you’re not important” more than virtually disconnecting from someone’s presence, physically demonstrating that the tiny gadget in the palm of your hand is more worthy of your full attention. But unfortunately this has become something I practice in my own life on a regular basis. Who honestly enjoys spending time with a friend or family member who is constantly enraptured in the most recent version of Angry Birds? It makes valuable conversation impossible.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">I think about it this way: I love to host dinners and hang outs for the people in my life. Sometimes I will make snacks, or burn candles, or have fun music playing. I do these small things because I want others to feel <i>welcome</i> when they walk into our home. I want to create an atmosphere where my guests feel free to engage in laughter and conversation with my husband and me. Never in a million years would I welcome friends into my house only to say “Hey guys! I’ve been wanting to do some shopping, but you go ahead and make yourselves at home. I’ll be back as soon as I’ve browsed through all of my favorite stores.” That would be absurd! So why has it become completely acceptable for us to treat others with this type of disregard when it comes to our phones? We sit down for dinner with our best friend and decide that it would be a better use of time to browse the Women’s Apparel section on Pinterest.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">I’m a fan of social media. And I understand that being “connected” to whatever goes on in cyberspace is really important to some people. I’m not suggesting that you only check your Facebook app when you’re in seclusion on the toilet. But here is what I’m getting at:<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">Every person you come in contact with is a guest in your presence.<u></u><u></u></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e7e4dc; font-family: inherit;">What kind of atmosphere are you creating? Are you putting out the welcome mat? I can return the calls I miss, and send belated responses to hour-old text messages. But I can never re-live my interactions with people. There have been way too many times that I look back and wish I would have been more actively engaged in a conversation with my husband, or more aware of the students sitting near me at Lemontree, and not mindlessly scrolling through my Twitter feed. These are the things that I want to take priority over the latest Condescending Wonka tweet. So if you haven’t heard from me in a few hours, I assure you it’s not because I don’t care! I just want to be the most welcoming hostess to the people in my presence, and I can do that best if I put my phone away.</span></div>
Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-92132137752191899462012-03-03T16:13:00.000-06:002013-01-20T09:07:24.788-06:00Herringbone PaintingI decided that I would do a tutorial for the painting that I blogged about <a href="http://melodycynthia.blogspot.com/2012/02/for-rosie.html">here</a> because I finally remembered to take step-by-step photos - something I have forgotten to do for at least 12 other projects. If you are wondering what kind of lens I used for these photos, it's called iPhone 4G. *wink*<br />
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Now, without further adieu, my maiden tutorial voyage:<br />
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We've been living in our house now for about 1 1/2 years, and the wall behind our dining table has been stark naked since the day we moved in. I'm not the kind of person that can go out and fill my house with generic decor items just to call it complete. It takes me a looooong time to find something that I love. So long, in fact, that I usually end up making whatever it is myself. Because once I get an idea of something I would like in my head, inevitably it does not exist in any store imaginable. This is probably a good thing because it forces me to think outside the box and come up with creative ways to make things my own without breaking the bank. <br />
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So anyway, I came across this print on Pinterest and I was sold.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rm1j-8JdI1k/T1Fm_4sJ_sI/AAAAAAAAACA/YuIXPqm7cT8/s1600/Herringbone%2BPainting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rm1j-8JdI1k/T1Fm_4sJ_sI/AAAAAAAAACA/YuIXPqm7cT8/s320/Herringbone%2BPainting.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Found at <i>cozamia.com</i></span></td></tr>
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But after looking at the price tag, $328.00 was not going to make the cut. It seemed simple enough to make, so I decided to give it a try. Here are the materials that you'll need.<br />
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- Canvas<br />
I bought a 30" x 40" Gallery Wrapped canvas at Michael's. My biggest piece of advice when shopping at Michael's: don't be an idiot! Do not even think about paying full price for anything there. They have 40% and 50% coupons available <u>all the time</u>. I just Googled a coupon while I was standing in line at the check out and they gave me credit for showing them the image on my smart phone. My canvas was originally $60 and I paid $30. Woot!<br />
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- Paint<br />
I'm a cheapskate, so I bought two small bottles of acrylic paint, and used whatever else I already had at home. Including latex paint leftover from painting the wood trim in my house, which I'm not even sure is allowed. But it's art, so I figured there aren't really rules, right?<br />
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- Paint brushes<br />
I used a total of 6 brushes for this project: a few artist brushes in various sizes, and 3 larger paint brushes (1 1/2", 2", and 2 1/2") that I typically use to paint walls and furniture. Just make sure that if you use latex paint, clean your brushes really well immediately after you use them! Acrylic should rinse out easily.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Nd4Qh_DGy0/T1JlfhrtBUI/AAAAAAAAACg/vSyvaT9D30k/s1600/IMG_0260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Nd4Qh_DGy0/T1JlfhrtBUI/AAAAAAAAACg/vSyvaT9D30k/s320/IMG_0260.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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- Painter's tape<br />
The width of the tape will determine the look of the painting. I used 1" tape, but any size would work.<br />
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- Scissors<br />
- Drop cloth<br />
- Patience<br />
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Hokay, first cover your work space with a drop cloth. Duh.<br />
Second, paint whatever crazy design you want until there is no more white showing on your canvas. Or leave white showing, it's up to you. No rules, remember? This part was a little nerve-racking for me because I had no idea what I was doing. I started out with a crazy starburst/tie dye theme, but ended up with this simple vertical pattern of brush strokes.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m7RV4fVYdbc/T1FsnOLQftI/AAAAAAAAACI/9YsAK_b7P0g/s1600/IMG_0231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m7RV4fVYdbc/T1FsnOLQftI/AAAAAAAAACI/9YsAK_b7P0g/s320/IMG_0231.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>
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The great thing about paint is that you can always paint over something you don't like! I really did not like the starburst thing I had going originally, and after making all of the changes for the above picture, I woke up the next morning and felt like it was now too neon and bold. I ended up muting a lot of the bright greens/yellows with softer blues and neutral tans, and ended up with this slightly varied version of the above photo.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lkL-w3VcFlE/T1FtldoSQTI/AAAAAAAAACQ/TOCmeA10a-8/s1600/IMG_0234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lkL-w3VcFlE/T1FtldoSQTI/AAAAAAAAACQ/TOCmeA10a-8/s320/IMG_0234.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Don't be afraid to manipulate it several times until you end up with something you really love.</div>
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Next, after allowing the painting to dry FULLY, I started playing around with the pattern I wanted to create over the top of the painting. I really liked the herringbone design in the photo from Pinterest, so I went with that. I cut several lengths of tape and laid them out on my dining table in various arrangements. I ended up with this combination of strips:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Not really sure how that fork got in there...</span></td></tr>
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I liked having the tiny space between each strip, but you can close the gap if you prefer. The biggest thing to remember is that for your first canvas-wide herringbone stripe, make sure that you measure your strips of tape. The longest section of tape that creates the "forward slash" should be the same length as the shorter "back slash" strip + the width of your tape + the width of your tape. For instance, because my tape was 1" wide, my long strips were cut to 5" because my shorter strips were 3". (3" + 1" + 1" = 5") It's going to vary slightly because of the gaps in between strips, but as long as the first stripe you put on the canvas is fairly straight and consistent, the rest of the stripes should follow suit. </div>
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Now that you have the pattern down, start taping! I suggest placing your first stripe across the middle of the canvas. This will ensure that your pattern remains consistent above and below the most focal portion of the canvas. Here we are with three stripes down:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yes, that is my dog's paw. She sat under the table the entire time.</span></td></tr>
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After laying your first stripe of pre-measured tape, measuring will no longer be necessary if you follow along with the original layout of the tape. By placing the edge of the tape in the right starting location, you can unroll the tape and cut it at the necessary length like this:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jnN6w8nnnfg/T1Jntje-tmI/AAAAAAAAACw/IyBnxb1RIoM/s1600/IMG_0238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jnN6w8nnnfg/T1Jntje-tmI/AAAAAAAAACw/IyBnxb1RIoM/s320/IMG_0238.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Repeat the "forward slash" and back slash" pattern until you make it across the canvas. Then keep taping...<br />
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And taping...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nfcaYy-pGzs/T1JoXW12ZuI/AAAAAAAAADA/0HcrLQ-Jwnw/s1600/IMG_0243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nfcaYy-pGzs/T1JoXW12ZuI/AAAAAAAAADA/0HcrLQ-Jwnw/s320/IMG_0243.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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This whole process took close to three hours. If that seems like too much time, keep in mind that my canvas was giant and it would take considerably less time for a smaller canvas. </div>
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Once everything is all taped up, it's time to paint again! Make sure that all of your tape is stuck down and no corners are curling. The tape doesn't adhere super well to canvas, so you'll have to be gentle with the next step: painting the outline for the herringbone pattern. Keep in mind that anything not covered in tape will be covered with a solid color. The photo from Pinterest showed some larger gaps, as if parts of the herringbone were "missing." You could easily achieve this look by removing a few strips of tape in various locations. I decided to forgo this step. I also wanted more of my painting to show behind the herringbone stripes, so that is why I kept my strips of tape really close together. If you like a bolder pattern, then you might want to make more space between your strips.<br />
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For this step I used a can of paint that the previous owners of our home left in the basement. It's probably at least 10 years old, and I had no idea there was a brand called "Easy Living" but it was free! So I used it. I wanted a white pattern, but any color would work.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nNkN8ShtwKg/T1JsR1RtTkI/AAAAAAAAADI/njLljHCvmdc/s1600/IMG_0257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nNkN8ShtwKg/T1JsR1RtTkI/AAAAAAAAADI/njLljHCvmdc/s320/IMG_0257.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Using my largest paint brush, I started painting over my entire canvas. It was easiest for me to imitate the pattern of the tape with my brush strokes, making me less-likely to peel up an edge of the tape with my brush. Once your canvas looks like a hot mess, you're done! Don't worry if there is still tape showing through. The most important part is good coverage between the tape.<br />
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I let the white paint dry for several hours before I pulled the tape off, but that's probably not necessary. I thought the lines were pretty crisp, all things considered. You can also see that I didn't stress about getting all of my strips of tape exactly the same distance away from each other. I liked having a little bit of variance and a subtle "messy" look. <br />
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Thankfully it didn't take forever to remove the tape because I had several awesome girls from youth group sit and help me peel those suckers off. And the final result: love it!<br />
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I ended up spending a total of $41 on this project. A savings of $287 if you factor in the cost of the original inspiration print. Not too shabby!<br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"> And as if this post isn't long enough, some more useless details!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Favorite art-inducing jam: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PElhV8z7I60&ob=av2e">Islands</a> by The xx</span><br style="line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Favorite creativity tool: paint</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Favorite post-art snack: apples and peanut butter</span><br style="line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Favorite place to paint: in whatever room is closest to the music</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Now it's your turn! Give art a try!</span></div>
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Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-60178534132293649532012-02-25T23:27:00.001-06:002012-02-26T08:54:21.459-06:00For RosieI had a really fun time creating this painting recently. I got the idea, of course, from Pinterest, but I found my inspiration nearly five years ago in a little dorm called Horton Hall...<br />
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I once had a good friend from Kansas City ask me where I would live if I could choose any place in the entire world. To her confusion, I instantly replied "Oregon." I have never been to Oregon. I don't have family there. I have never even flown over the state in an airplane. But I do have a friend from Oregon, and her name is Rosie. And if Oregon produces human beings that are even a fraction as cool as Rosie, then it's a place I'd want to live. <br />
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I met Rosie during my freshman year of college at Biola University. She lived a few doors down from me on the 5th floor of Horton Hall. It didn't take me long to realize that she would be one of the most awesome people I will meet in my lifetime. She's as sweet as pie, witty, adventurous, a closet comedian, and one of the most talented artists I have ever encountered. If you have ever been in my house, you have probably experienced her artistry first-hand. I received this gem in the mail right around the time Tim and I got married:<br />
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Rosie is a phenomenal artist by trade, but I think one of her most amazing talents is drawing the art out of others. I haven't met very many people who genuinely make me believe that I am fantastic at the smallest things I do- laughing at a joke, making a sandwich, walking to class, enjoying great music. Rosie sees a beauty in life that most people wouldn't notice if it smacked them in the face, or spilled across their canvas. And she is SO encouraging. Not because she doesn't want to make you feel bad, but because she genuinely sees the best and most beautiful things in people. I could (and at some point I probably did) draw the most hideous array of wonky figures in the worst color combination imaginable and Rosie would find a way to call it a masterpiece. If you spend any time around her, it is hard to not feel like the real Thoreau or Van Gogh or Mozart. To this day, every time I pick up a pencil, cook in my kitchen, or make an attempt with a paint brush, I can hear Rosie's sweet voice in my head, and she's literally changed my perspective on life.<br />
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I can say all of these great things about Rosie because I know where her heart is. I know that her ability to create and incite creativity in others stems from her relationship with her Creator. I believe that when the Bible says we are made in God's image, that includes his creativity. No, we are not all Rembrandts or Picassos, but we are "God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works." We have the ability to make simple things beautiful and awesome because we are made in the likeness of the ultimate Artist. <br />
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I wish everyone in the whole world could meet my friend Rosie, because she's that cool. But since that's mostly not possible, I'll just post this blog about her. And maybe you'll be encouraged to see the extraordinary in the ordinary too!<br />
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(If you're interested in a tutorial on the painting, stay tuned! I'll post it soon!)Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-36157884870186236092011-06-14T15:49:00.000-05:002011-06-14T15:49:35.996-05:00Never EnoughI've realized recently that I am a total jerk.<br />
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This past weekend my husband returned from a 9-day mission trip to Haiti. It felt great to have him home, but the fact that I hadn't seen him in a while didn't change the busyness of the week ahead. The weekend ended shortly after it began and I was left thinking "I feel like I never have enough time to spend with Tim." My alarm went off at the crack of dawn Monday morning and as I begrudgingly rolled out of bed to start a new day I thought to myself "I never get enough sleep." The day slithered along, and at night, as I walked up the stairs toward my bedroom, I sighed at the dirty dishes left in the sink and the tufts of dog hair that should have been vacuumed off the landing. Exhausted, I thought "There's never enough time in the day." <br />
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"Never enough" has been the anthem of my life for the past few months. Never enough rest. Never enough encouragement. Never enough time spent with loved ones. Never enough sunshine. Never enough rain. Never enough purpose. Never enough free time. Never enough conversation. Never enough quiet. Never enough excitement. Not even enough ice cream in the freezer! I have spent so much time being dissatisfied, longing for more of whatever is in front of me. I have been a complete jerk to the God who is <i>more than enough for me</i>. He <i>gifts</i> me with rest, and peace, and joy, and laughter, and I am so ungrateful sometimes. How could I dare to think that there was an unfortunate distribution error in the heavenly warehouse- that God somehow miscalculated, and I have been accidentally receiving a less-lovely portion of all of His good things? Lamentations 3 says that HE is my portion. HE supplies all of my needs. If I receive any joy or fulfillment from anything in life, it is because he has given it to me. My own lack of gratitude or satisfaction doesn't make his gifts any less good, it only robs me of the joy and fulfillment I could be experiencing, and the praise He could be receiving. <br />
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I love this excerpt from "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau. A life of solitude in the woods isn't necessarily my thing, but I think he's got the right idea:<br />
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"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived...<i>I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life</i>..."<br />
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There is no good thing in life that doesn't last long enough to be enjoyed. So I'm going to soak it up- marrow and all- and give credit to the One who is more than enough.Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250848485671845813.post-1132055655191933062011-05-24T12:50:00.001-05:002011-05-24T12:54:04.194-05:00This blog post has been running through my mind all day...I realize that the only people who will be laughing at the title of this post are myself and the wonderful <a href="http://sarahbeard.blogspot.com/">Sarah Beard</a>, but I am totally okay with that! <br />
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I also realize I said I was going to write this post about 2 weeks ago, but it didn't happen... Oops! I checked my stats, so I know there are a good handful of you who are just chomping at the bit to absorb the wealth of knowledge I possess about running. (Ha!) But before I begin, I should remind everyone that I am merely a beginner who is willing to share what I've learned along the way. If you actually want to learn expert things about running you should ask Coach Tim Fritson. Off we go!<br />
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<b>Before you begin running...</b><br />
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1. Accept the fact that you will most likely sweat, trip, get rained on, spit, fall, get chased by dogs, blow snot rockets into your shirt, swallow bugs, and be sore. <br />
Once you've come to terms with all of those things, you'll be good to go!<br />
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2. Make sure you have comfortable running shoes. <br />
I started out running in my 5-pound New Balance tennies circa 2005. Not only did people in the gym wonder who let the one-woman stampede hop on the treadmill, but it felt like I was wearing a pair of bricks. Lightweight shoes are best.<br />
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3. Set a reasonable, but challenging goal.<br />
I have a really busy schedule, so I decided that running 3 times each week would require me to be intentional about managing my time, but give me enough flexibility to actually accomplish my goal. Once you have decided on a commitment, follow through! Don't make excuses or talk yourself out of it. It's going to be hard at first, and you will probably want to resign. But just decide from the get-go that you are not going to be a quitter, and then don't give up! <br />
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<b>Once you've walked out the door, or arrived at the gym, or popped in your Skull Candy...</b><br />
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4. Start small.<br />
My good friend <a href="http://laurie-freshpicked.blogspot.com/">Laurie</a> encouraged me to download an app called "Couch to 5K" when she heard that I wanted to start running. <br />
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I loved it! It is a 9 week program that slowly builds you up from 90-second spurts of running, to a full 30 minutes. <br />
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It seemed silly at first to only run for a minute and a half at a time, but I think this was SUPER beneficial for me to not get discouraged. Because if you are like me, you would probably just hop out your front door one morning and totally expect to be able to run a quick 2-miler no sweat, then get really irritated when you find yourself gasping for air about 3 minutes later. <br />
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5. Base your workouts on minutes, not miles.<br />
I didn't ask the expert about this one, so I could be totally off, but I think worrying about mileage should come secondary to practicing endurance. Once you are accustomed to running "x" amount of minutes each day, you can gradually increase your speed, and distance, as well as the amount of time you run.<br />
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6. Divide your workout into thirds.<br />
This little tidbit did come directly from the expert, so you can feel safe about following along. Let's say you are going to run 15 minutes today. Your workout should go as follows:<br />
1st 5 mins: a leisurely, feels-kind-of-slow pace<br />
2nd 5 mins: a comfortable, yet picking-up-speed pace<br />
3rd 5 mins: a challenging, go-hard-or-go-home pace <br />
It sounds like it wouldn't really work, but I was surprised to find that I had way more energy at the end of my runs if I completed them in this fashion. The main thing you definitely do not want to do is start off with your fastest pace, then slowly wear yourself down to a crawl. Not good.<br />
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Well there you have it! Beginner advice from a beginner runner. And now, because I like to over-share and bore everyone with nitty-gritty details, here are a couple of my personal workout faves:<br />
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Favorite jog-inducing jam: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UPzJRX6OPY">Pumped Up Kicks</a> - Foster the People (Remix)<br />
Favorite running tool: <a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com">http://www.mapmyrun.com</a><br />
Favorite post-run snack: frozen berries and yogurt<br />
Favorite place to run: through whatever yard has their sprinklers on<br />
Your favorite part of this blog post: The End<br />
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Yay!Melody Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17461686485142948722noreply@blogger.com1