tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55374203207253142602024-03-16T16:31:19.420-07:00Finding SundayMindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.comBlogger682125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-75014755552413441962020-10-19T08:52:00.002-07:002020-10-19T08:52:59.113-07:00Zion Part One!<div class="separator"></div><center><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqV0G71c9QdKzSJlblWLaSvhy0KWMNZr8ahQ26tr9gBax6OsTVtm-FDFako5-b-taE-rvrDF3sLgBuYQiLHLOtGkBJry-nMJoHgqxj2pPuD9dN7XAfZAxUcAMF6qcgDh5yb5zfqy4JMa8/s16000/lower+family.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">It's been 2 1/2 years since my last blog post, so that means Zion must be pretty great if it's pulling me out of a VERY long blogging hiatus. Truth be told, I just have WAY too many pictures that I love from the trip to share via Instagram, so this is much easier. So, without further ado, here are some highlights from the first half of our trip to Zion (because I even have too many photos to do the whole trip in one part).</span></div></div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We stayed at Zion Ponderosa Ranch during our trip, which is just outside the East entrance of Zion. It was a super fun place to stay with all kinds of activities including miniature golf, a pool, a zipline and rock wall, a playground, tons of open space, and Jeep tours. The kids would have been happy just staying there the whole time and never even going into the park. The parents vetoed that idea, but we did spend more time than we expected to just hanging out there. The one downside of the place is that the East entrance is a bit of a drive from the main part of the park. I'd still stay there again in a heartbeat and recommend it to anyone with kids!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My sister's family and my parents joined us for this trip, so the kids ended up riding out most of the way in my sister's RV so they could be with their cousins. When we got there, we discovered that Junia had turned her face into a canvas while driving. After arriving, Silas quickly jumped on his bike and spotted deer everywhere.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioV1zk9Y3eiGkUyhaJmuTkXQpyls_vJwrY_7Ia7XVQLjuqjXpQmgIT1QHhwfYOykJrMoqoiRYyg04jmuJVkPEzcI6XZUz39m1pjYrlwOlseRLekWZ4BzC_DONOUM7s3DGbGto9DZyZ5d8/s16000/Untitled-1.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We stayed in a glamping tent at the ranch and loved it! Here's a couple pictures to give show what they're like.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkFOKvIHAj9f5SGdHPd0lB3u7qSl6IatTFLMGnNsgC4c5TJHGiNbukrXzHccRCkC6is1VWV7up_Z-O8F7I4GHPlFewU4P0UoeNEno_RCwNTLvfAE9muebXGRwg2ALDwFzLkx5o5BSRwc/s16000/2F39313B-BF70-4889-9873-74FC0210034C-3B287585-F1D0-4C4E-9B6F-B3AAA38A12E5.jpg" style="text-align: center;" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_p6ji-I9CQPIGglfWWGRgUiu-ovCKvzfjOquNEFYUUwxJ2-koVxdiL4LBBqlHv4V_mRsJveHwgXYyXVJaQh783dGruNWiIiPAV3eydcHMK39vW-HWG3BiSgGwzocUjZwtKT04AGSjUg/s16000/DE7E4FC9-BD2A-4313-B2D2-74422199EEBC-B5F7B983-B3BD-46D3-B532-274498435B19.jpg" /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We obviously kept it super clean.</span></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On our first full day, we headed down into Zion to take the shuttle up the scenic route to the Zion Lodge for lunch. There is a giant grassy area there that is perfect to rest and eat surrounded by the giant Zion cliffs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wiovzAaqkVSOIlNve16cWv4o7nTNXFK5JpIoHAnTlctGsIE2xcItdkm2po9OHN9p6bsoA_PZlgZ-XsVD-OM-HtYLGZT3qPZCi9hWJINKM29wBUkmgFJ_iL7RF9WnRdWQ8fjHtEVXHIU/s16000/EAD8F654-CD7A-4F3F-B1C0-F964694C043C-D4746A38-6EAE-4471-8853-56312CD0EAAB.jpg" /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgGxxF3khQONMRk-J9njTQ4iC09b8PPqMk31gkFI8fxms3ackRJxePTpxEElc74NyvwHPsl8cSUszzeToVuGugyGhoZHiLEbxhHnT5UNXuTmrhJJPpjgeQy_u8LX21aDIAdA2YGR0GsM/s16000/7E644A77-F199-451F-90B6-6E1ADACFD55E-B3D956AB-0AA0-4004-B8A7-6506A6DAC364.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2IsAzE6ZJ1QBvZEG8gNq1aBYGcqfbzchaWwIg03BTMeofUMpUyUEpHYxb_zbO6s89emb_AmheA38jIy8UB3xufHoSOyMOOxKob5fklmRUfiqBddYZ5hXs3ov-7MAH6YPpXSJxJm2ndaY/s16000/E23A5E5F-5F27-4DFB-B61E-9F9ABE439C08-5D3684E4-DE8F-4C26-B5F8-28817757DC94.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEt03olQUK1moVLgzkA77vIlhYxAFkQLTitUiSK23MVw2dn4_V00AYKtWdZrFo81xPGvsc6EY_ghvZK030vm9pjdyjjYwAUwQjj_sd5dAMbdU9enlEw7XMYn4WWkdTHGf29-KhJp_lM0U/s16000/DE9BD62B-D61F-48E5-8EA1-4CC61739A4E1.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblxs5Zhjr7K11T1oPZ3__ajiNZLfzr3riCdEelMBnaNKdysZ7-Wxb3T4oUxBucjIPuduEwgOj_8x3_pMl_xsIH1k2SHLQ8G8DJ2JFGhCiLKHwNDAO-LbivaR1n8G9003dDxz2atJcpJs/s780/5D681F76-205E-41D7-8B37-A45CA8BD3524-50B4FEF8-AE62-4723-99BF-FAAA4789616E.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblxs5Zhjr7K11T1oPZ3__ajiNZLfzr3riCdEelMBnaNKdysZ7-Wxb3T4oUxBucjIPuduEwgOj_8x3_pMl_xsIH1k2SHLQ8G8DJ2JFGhCiLKHwNDAO-LbivaR1n8G9003dDxz2atJcpJs/s16000/5D681F76-205E-41D7-8B37-A45CA8BD3524-50B4FEF8-AE62-4723-99BF-FAAA4789616E.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">After lunch, we went on our first of many hikes to the Emerald Pools. Now here is where the picture overload starts. You've been warned.</span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPiGJcYbm1BGMf1P0LaGQO3vzOKfSTu84GnKfcPCV2_QrD8O0Ysesrj_9hW4UmRd05p2BjEPiKJ6H6udDsD2WPlhihwCa_48M_kfNjpKqtjGIjml0L8PPCghXB2q8iG5BFZ5AchxGey8/s16000/Untitled-1.jpg" /></div></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bKg3GE0oWymdhtLOMV4hoEGRf14p2jaOUk7bXZo9qw2q8Ud_lOMlmji5rD3E7UczeqhFKNThY8z0ugPy-6p0hZstJ0OxaythLtSVg7RMz2HWTsa7fNSN3zwSTDJh5zPYDnr2iUS3Ick/s16000/3AA24E2A-68AD-4222-9123-011C8FA1980D-A229B1EB-0B65-4BD1-851B-5DC56C1B15AD.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qj5DCfk64Al5aomadwo1Mf9zWPCchZXH6wQF1K0QHHeYTFHkN8J9arJsVKj8uJRWFTpf2fQLOTDG82uFza7V87blvul0M1hcFEtAXkyF_NeL0UqGdtp2cP7yNubP8DpfPWFXR9uoCyk/s16000/Untitled-3.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VEYpokOWf3kLWC-wk0YCuigvGnALYdNa6XO_rWidvuohfaXxmC0XYbvNQFRiyrec_FdoJ2z1tHJs3-ecsC_3Uyhh-PMb85heiSTZWgHlV60lNdR7ecjOailoDm4Vbv3SaY1-7R4jKXM/s16000/C91E1B10-D79C-46C8-A942-4E8BA676B054-02610F43-302B-489F-A90A-3CA593ABA99A.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-chNuU3YTvSkrViqmJFbDphEdWlxmEUSxl8K7gvYjX6yXt8hs5jaHHS4-m3xG8IixdjiLWD9QL1EgnMW28cX3GTamiF72rnHgnE2-AzQ-V2nDfMdIif5iuCayrDW91YBBj32txh_Ma08/s16000/99E39758-3833-4E76-B753-868701E793E1-080CC714-576F-486C-9E61-AC09967E5700.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnOYIr06rfIAu6ForgbXmjPdejnuG_XdOClho6z1cVRt0MfZ3lm24yuBDw9D_RtaSdHBYvvjngbraMfHcudWXXWp3iAnSaCM83KbQpmexRqQzUJmwrynpfy5v0_UHp6L_KWQ1dvcXHw4/s16000/533191E3-4BA4-48A1-88DD-7905202DBB22-3BA62D71-2460-4526-908C-318B06EE45F7.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKavJRFh638ib9bD1cC4mnxFC4vlEU4OS6jc4zAIij0YUzI6GnKJuibpjoQl0y-Gu7cp9h4Ekbx6nV9p1lS0LA7iKfqse4eZjeHy41ZQT-sKSQhTUZi6jAihDEww45kL_GcaSOumtw3U/s16000/C08FBEF5-778B-4DF1-B09E-8AB745609A5A-DEAE707D-89E6-42BA-A9D6-98095D1BFEAC.jpg" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nick's sister and her husband joined us for a day to hike with us! Here we had made it to the lower pool.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now off to the Middle Pool!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Jht7PojAFy9vVMgQI90ID3YGy7pOiCet6pZUcnc1jZYfyWso_ClI1-dW-A6TxGHL4bWtxs6isrJpoleKj8RxuED1WxfAHviccwhcyryVkODCOwtgptMIGKCAq3qBxTocrC6ANS5w9OQ/s16000/Untitled-5.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafWfloYHhj6vVUIe7ANKyaf_wH3hZujFy925TFJ1rJbnvY3XU2Cg30Cw5uSxPRLzFJlRj5ZNH7A-GM89CaIV8Rk06l712DErVbiv98_B7UjouIOq4DQ2rSXdVcwn7IqBmaNhVtzANjkc/s16000/62D9A2AE-E9D9-4535-AAB8-5DF2627DCB1C-B5240E6B-4458-4AD7-A611-A29B0AEE75FF.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHxBLr4mU6XSQz8YgHNZhJEso9I-xrvDpHkXtToI7j0nT-CxJ7o0u_mfpL6gVNEqLvl3d8JnTx-3nfPSmUzb-hte6aHBllYUdDBTnm3z87Sfa3Sl35634KngRjGyb2qEv5tefmAEClQ0/s16000/Untitled-6.jpg" /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAqOm_g2cLCyRa_gqWU6a9KbH54iD2Y2r4MliK3LFZqAhj4-jKs4IvarXTyYJonnJGtfwSZgZvEHZDihNv6kv4U1AghfuoW5NlC0PVltd-JUAy4UXIgWvFzArzyll_vMEZJ29zsRXNWU/s16000/Untitled-7.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We stopped for a quick rest here and then were off to our final destination, the Upper Pool!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOiqD6oBP6G0dt_3CXfYaj0hBYtZeXGXbqEx1aMi4IvhPukZuFfaqTc-POzeIoQDyK3MXlvQ6Jccm8ktn6GpI4NL9pbqB9RTtxTH-gPFONcez8dUX4cpGHAmrZLNUy1ZRxWpjiICB4A0/s16000/kids+looking.jpg" /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuaQ8q_tXuKGnUfgE2ujhlSgnza1r1RVdeftkNSi9jV0enVMlDkqriDhhMijb5Wut26d4Njx2Ej_2h4kCHCaBHNeyiG_pfcpaUC1S2ZhbRah5gIV7pmY2l91CYdFfhF4KD6Vju2cdmsg/s16000/Untitled-8.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1swB7wSIZNmO3GtxtICMVlQULwVCwwML4nKtAP51I44NU_FOWwmy5j13FEew_Hh0EH38pvm6ZflFbCYwnh5B5KPPdTLciy2oCbSnnnZpKyPCoaZVHkcmDJTh1UK1uWtEbYviFRLBz728/s16000/upper.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRsLCiGTK9HJGU_ULkl83JbQvexPJbYZaORzfZM5w-qCuqLjTYsyWIhWYGHAwWVxOw_YN_jSfX3GXuWrDX3pxs7L-kM1WO9TjcL5N-Q1S3tHLIQ8bG8KULbhe0m0Dn0VF3AY8x1i7ydM/s16000/scenery.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHzXSZ59O0CXahTXX_G0Hp8Az_K_nAIaInxAYVQQqbjjcvuKaxs5yn2ggfcdhueThRrOfifzHhUo7U6npH7bQf3SN8NleFfQuQD_6YlwGe4obU9JnqUZw__IHe_QAO2h73AEAxbbW3Ik/s16000/family2.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSLcRHRXk4xiPHhhtUwUkFNqZ3uMtzvEXWy_KpkdJDggJipiiqw-Tu3F3IJODwcPymIyjb2ko0VOryvGTw1n_aS7s7B_jcWoO5Nc-uFHt-R_7bnE_Tpn2fRosJC6eWk3NJbYHotFIW_0/s16000/wall.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitSE96YAwjVdhIPWFgdr0czxUa7oB8rb4-GYTSB_p1B9haVrrvSBdmSWnFpz5tunIFuiZYEndZCpYcujOpontPbHKoDRGUMGpLgjujvNaVeMUF5xvDPOhPVcdZLD7tzeo2EkAe4emvsLM/s16000/family+upper.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was not a lot of water, and it didn't look like so many of the pictures I'd seen of this hike. BUT, we were not disappointed! The views were amazing, and it's truly incredible to see it all in person. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The hike back down...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3ojQ9jIb8mzmV3QfcF2YeeeJCaCIhxs8K3WHLjyovm6uYP5gb82JU7JkvcEjiHVX4OidtF_N9RcPPNtKt23YxT5aERVNQKl2Cq7_LDKi3OOctmVpBBljB7IjjTzxTS10nO6eUptojWs/s16000/F147A895-0F32-4EFE-A46F-766DA9518AE7-2C7FC24A-7557-4BE4-964F-459B23A144EA.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0djy36pxw0QZjftt6G65Li8uQR3FVqcbsAGNuuusXLnUSE6Wg-jurZE5jcRbQav4tdDAwggwyxRk5guQ9-Rvd4sstJUaiZVdS9eyE6Qqn1uBDF2Jz-r4UZuxZ4a0gV15L0O5iuObPrls/s16000/A073D97F-D2D6-4189-9246-AE0E8DDFB9BC-518592A0-31AB-4843-B9AD-78EA221697F4.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Part two coming soon (if I don't lose steam....blogging takes longer than I remember 😝.)</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><center><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>follow: <span style="color: #bf9000;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Finding-Sunday/141756082667548"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Facebook</span></a> </span>/ <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3233570"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Bloglovin'</span></a> / <a href="http://instagram.com/melindaann"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Instagram</span></a> / <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/melindaann/"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Pinterest</span></a></i></span></center><br /><br /></div><br /><br />Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-66035228733940597742018-03-14T21:04:00.000-07:002018-07-16T17:09:54.342-07:00Thoughts on Infertility Seven Years Later<center>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiWD1mrMN3k04VJZWRL66ZMJ7yvesLxU3Mztpg64zLhgMXqk3ZguwkxEoewgz1gq2BYQEKjDwmOVaM2YrkVjnW1ptQflAJpF5uHqST9Sq9ylVWizWqpS-Mb0HtgMOqd5OwluEpMIFXTA/s1600/MSSR9913.jpg" /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've been thinking lately about how my journey through infertility has evolved over time. It's not something I have talked about much here on my blog (because that would require actually writing a blog post every now and then), and I feel like when I read back through posts I've written in the past, it doesn't do justice to where I am now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here's the reality. Infertility is still hard, but for very different reasons than it used to be. It is not hard because I still want to get pregnant. I can honestly say that I don't. The honest truth is that I am overwhelmed every single day with joy and amazement at the life I get to live and the family I get to have. Adoption was always part of our plan, but I have infertility to thank for the specific family I have now. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not getting pregnant was our miracle. In a world where it's hard not to get pregnant when you're having unprotected sex, we are among the small percentage who don't.</span></center>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTj_C9mXVWrJO0LeMwkpNkOVyxVJPXhVbve4oMa2OdjHKlgmj0HhZMXN97wb7uLp0U54wfPk81UqxQe-kJI7QQDFz_dLO5GsgrvWF2s31H3eEnXzbG-XgFLv3X-dBW-qGwjyvdNW7MTY/s1600/TSMR4039.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But the thing about infertility is that people never think<i> not</i> getting pregnant is the miracle. Everyone thinks the miracle in the middle of it is getting pregnant. That's the ideal. My story is the consolation prize.</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Infertility isn't hard because I want something different or because I wish I wasn't infertile. I don't. It's hard because it's lonely. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even having reached a place where I am at peace with infertility and truly do not wish for "healing" from it, it is still isolating. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There's a variety of reasons for this, including the myriad of pregnancy and birth stories exchanged regularly in female circles that I am on the outside of. Or the conversations about how much kids look like their parents, where people awkwardly try to come up with some random physical similarity between us and our kids, as if we feel like we're missing out on having children who look like us. Or the husbands who express how much more love and respect they have for their wives after seeing them carry and give birth to their children. All of these things can sting and leave me feeling awkward and isolated. But, the hardest part of it all is that</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> the majority of people do not choose what we chose. They see us, they know us, they love our family and think adoption is great, but still they do not choose it. And sometimes, that sucks. Because my story is </span><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">not</b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> the consolation prize. This life of adoption and being a transracial family is our passion. It's what I would choose over and over again any day over a "normal" family. And I am honored that God saw us worthy to live this story.</span></center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMw-PQxHFRn3C4CYTW0Ak4hdUS8k43WZtimMYDjXWurdy5KS8oCejyTBFqdH3zmrEVM8wtwPYdX0aY2SWlh4E4QxmjSmq3aEkaA8YdLKdb7Bf5IC-NoHBK61agCLnOAvqCcW5Df4j7a6g/s1600/VFJE3838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMw-PQxHFRn3C4CYTW0Ak4hdUS8k43WZtimMYDjXWurdy5KS8oCejyTBFqdH3zmrEVM8wtwPYdX0aY2SWlh4E4QxmjSmq3aEkaA8YdLKdb7Bf5IC-NoHBK61agCLnOAvqCcW5Df4j7a6g/s1600/VFJE3838.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We want our kids to grow up in a church world where God's adoptive love isn't just a nice idea in theory. But, in the church world where 77% of Christians think Christians should adopt or foster, but only 5% actually do, that's pretty much all it is. So, when pregnancies are announced and simultaneously celebrated, it doesn't hurt because we want what they have. It hurts because sometimes it just feels like a confirmation that we live in a world that <i>doesn't</i> want what <i>we</i> have. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've seen adoptions (including ours) announced without the same celebration, often times with people saying, "Can you not have your own kids?" or "Just watch. Now you'll get pregnant." Comments that just give further confirmation that adoption is seen as second best.</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There is obviously nothing wrong with having or wanting biological children, and I'm not criticizing that choice. God created the world and humans to function in this way, and it is a beautiful thing. But, creation as it should have been fell, and God chose to redeem it through adoption. He sent his son to be adopted by an earthly family, he adopted us, and he told his people to adopt as well. He wove adoption all through his gospel story. Adoption is at the heart of who God is, and that means it sure as hell is not a consolation prize. I just wish more people knew that.</span></center>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKe2lKLSX7LCRSOdlzLkJ5addXpWOu0l9aNiFIWuf65TPoebnojjI0jmmU3Gz8RA6DVTnly-pA_Kudj9MUiQxCIfdfDXKkH6JACctx4dabfTT3D6f7bxB1qaUAngpEQ5dORjQCuT4MCv0/s1600/DKQH0165.jpg" /></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4gvE5DV15Gd4k7YHjMAYokEGdXkRqR44G-h31POuiIUWYFAJHhr3Db895xeR-C9A5T-2W-dGyqhMoK8iU5REqDBrH1cKA9HinzKYJYI_3yuzAvSGdTvSfwQQPOnN1IiJKsuY_D3g658/s1600/IMG_0009.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My family is a miracle. My body didn't need to be healed for a miracle to take place. My body didn't even need to be healed for healing to take place. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">God's power is not displayed only through supernatural physical healing. How dare we limit God's power to that. It takes a far more creative and powerful God to bring beauty and healing to brokenness that doesn't get a quick fix.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Not getting the miracle we think we want can sometimes lead to miracles that are immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine. I've got two to prove it. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The last thing I want is for people to assume I want something different or feel sorry for me because I don't have what most of the world has. I've never really liked being part of the majority anyways. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And for anyone thinking about joining me in the 5%, life's pretty damn good over here.</span></center>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8WFbodFnOrNIbQJcJoodpmjaWmgS8vOnabBEuprs6HMSig3BF3MgXfq6Jn0lQ1mPrpwguXJE0cesFutaC9-mus5FxYRIvtGuZ-gpxAqtqLeuR1Vx-bcUR1yxXfGza5OGHgkhLlIwZ4E/s1600/IMG_6667.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jesus tells a story about a farmer who finds a treasure hidden in a field that's not his own. It is "with joy" this man sells everything he owns to buy this field. When it comes to our adoption story, we feel like this man. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To focus on the pain of infertility at this point in our story is like making the farmer's sacrifice and loss the point of the parable, when the actual point of the story is the farmer finding real treasure. </span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yes, there is loss and pain in our story, but like this parable, the point of our story isn't what's been lost or given up. The point of the story is what's been found. To some, this man's investment probably seemed risky and foolish. Some may have even pitied him for his "loss." But t</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">o pity the farmer, or to pity us, is to miss the point of the story...the treasure.</span></center>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-43188351682321094402018-03-12T21:39:00.000-07:002018-03-12T21:39:49.304-07:00Homeschool: Rainbow Week<div style="text-align: center;">
I've started to get into a groove with this homeschooling thing (now that it's March and almost summer). So, I've decided to do a blog post at the end of each week to share what we've been working on. We had so much fun last week working through different activities, and I want to keep up with it! So, this blogging thing is mostly just to keep me accountable to actually stick with planning and then doing the things I plan. Because, as a scattered, over-committed, procrastinator, I tend to not do a good job sticking with things.</div>
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With that said, here's a taste of what we did last week.</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFHbRLAPok0-JQxwvpgY5Vm4D_IKZRRr52j6-aXfP7hyphenhyphen5IHoiBo4GTExfvkt4q6I9TnmySKjy27eAYISGqf2_mhqT-Y6a9jeY8Igk-clhsmaRlNjQ913glXKz7uirFXfxMZIDUVzdqb0/s1600/IMG_9996.JPG" /></div>
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I bought <a href="http://www.thehomegrownpreschooler.com/product/a-year-of-playing-skillfully-printed-version/" target="_blank">A Year of Playing Skillfully</a> to use as a curriculum for this year. I love it so much and the philosophy behind it....play based learning! I also like to supplement. It's the curse of being a classroom teacher for 12 years. I know there are endless resources out there, and I feel the need to find it ALL. So, you'll see a mixture of all sorts of things in our weekly activities.</div>
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The theme for March in A Year of Playing Skillfully is Rhythm and Rainbows. I'm trying to choose a specific theme each week that falls into the different monthly themes the curriculum offers. So, this last week, we focused on the story of Noah's Ark and rainbows and worked on the letter N.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4EDE3Zx_gzQkAa5b9uxbAXRvI-fmhVNBgc9EHyKD_P3fkei_t59JwkyVi9SHjM4bEVnAqIdUgAGFzgbUzzxujKns6ptbWNAjS7bFPpK6bZdhJw45OFsiPcSK2eTvyiRV00SBA35JEyM/s1600/IMG_9887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4EDE3Zx_gzQkAa5b9uxbAXRvI-fmhVNBgc9EHyKD_P3fkei_t59JwkyVi9SHjM4bEVnAqIdUgAGFzgbUzzxujKns6ptbWNAjS7bFPpK6bZdhJw45OFsiPcSK2eTvyiRV00SBA35JEyM/s1600/IMG_9887.JPG" /></a></div>
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Making rainbows out of pipe cleaners and a colander.</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lnXCiGUtjZN9pa22_XgaI5QSzXsulddVgF3SCbpLDVzktum5b7ZBtyRPfUSJjvtAmP0LCuRM38CPA5P_aouKOOpEvDfXoG_LhHGCACXEtY_xo-1bcEKf0u1Ax-u73eHJI9A0e1oD1HM/s1600/IMG_9955.JPG" /></div>
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Play-doh rainbow. Somehow we didn't have yellow, so we made 2 rows of orange instead.</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRjoWqKeNG-CnRLXdGGg2f42aqWIYTPgmIArs_pZtEP_tE1JoZ7FJCI4o20Y-bxfZzt0N2aWwtDAPf3Gxa9kmd0tdEpE8VwtDHsVGzl8tKNPmn8iyaXqfEJD9h696y0CNRjI9SCnIr_c/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46vYEdGP8kN4-x9d0bqtG7wqqT_kbQxFLJI0f6sHTxuv1C0zUI3YuDmJTCJqRG0IgKSVqg7SD3us21SOhbPOPrYEX2YMBSq1R_T5hMWNJtAnBc0YOCOgKpv2-AQ4PPH68rPvZKYhI0ik/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" /></div>
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So much rainbow finger painting this week!</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzwnAcE9W5jbybPbSo34UHrHN7su1ESmvxtQ8GjhsAn56yc60J30kZwJMDpKwxqBdufN14YMbznD18W0QHvmLqrm1bbJ7_VTFaqB58WcahNjVkc79-9sPok99acPgqzvHWkmxYeZCHvA/s1600/IMG_9963.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskco3FKUS0MOjdxYu0XKUk3_tE6y2My3l5kt-o27S24elXzhLKBmw7rOOV548TSfeFUOK0PPZNWQk0lbdaxVlu6YZaFB7qmNdpnKruPQEWUdjE0eXqqWZ_G4ic77hAhr2hJopjxBH1zE/s1600/IMG_9962.JPG" /></div>
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Decorating the letter N with rainbow colored tissue paper and doing an N hunt (you can find these worksheets free <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Alphabet-Dab-A-Z-3041193" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">here</span></a>, and we use<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0763MVRLC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0763MVRLC&linkCode=as2&tag=mindyblog-20&linkId=16e17a3b6cba2c831626150c75d376bb%22%3EWASHABLE%20|%20Dab%20and%20Dot%20Markers%20|%208%20Colors%20Pack%20Set%20|%20Includes%20200+%20Fun%20Downloadable%20Coloring%20Sheets%20|%20Fun%20Art%20Supplies%20for%20kids%20and%20preschoolers|%20Preschool%20Arts%20and%20Craft%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mindyblog-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B0763MVRLC%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"> <span style="color: #45818e;">these markers</span></a>).</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNr4g85UVEAvrOWbAv6STyQnmUqhDvdByr9JRyE9Nw8jPbPl3Af5g0I5QOMiDfk5qccKzoEdPJ-7v4H0R0aVugYVQ6q8q0M4JGMtdb5NsQXUIGOHIefmihiuzmxSvHwOt244d9PB8dA5A/s1600/IMG_9990.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyeJroF_aNH7dv9qv93WU9OWbdBKLOEID1wct9vQukjgF-252YpMpd8stQardMwx8u7jV7SDiVojukyXiEi1rzdQxpu2U2mL_0LeOCgn9mS_i5jhn9zF4qifYheIdTMEbMXyyU74LuYw/s1600/IMG_9956.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="925" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2mOcYF8SMdEYu-mjjxi6yF5tcnFn0hNCq6jFze2NFuhirl8kd_CAZEwoJPerbeczOI6jkJeKoobjYpoixIl9wauB8xIMLOoMzEbktJqcqGwZombY6DOaQyIPym6Fqvt5G0gIgEUV8FY/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" /></div>
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I found a great Noah's Ark pack from <a href="http://www.123homeschool4me.com/2013/01/free-noahs-ark-mega-pack.html" target="_blank">123 Homeschool 4 Me</a> that we used for several of the activities above.</div>
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We had a rainbow day with our co-op full of rainbow activities and snacks.</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FCHZOII/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01FCHZOII&linkCode=as2&tag=mindyblog-20&linkId=b81c8ca66d98376856f627732d2f7e82%22%3ECANVAS%20PANELS%2012%20PACK%20-%208%22X10%22%20SUPER%20VALUE%20PACK%20Artist%20Canvas%20Panel%20Boards%20for%20Painting%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mindyblog-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B01FCHZOII%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">These canvases</span></a> are the perfect affordable way to have kids paint when you want to keep their artwork.</div>
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My favorite part of the week was our nature walk, where we collected nature items in all the colors of the rainbow.</div>
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Then we created the letter N with our findings!</div>
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I bought this <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/My-Nature-Alphabet-Book-3311962" target="_blank">Nature Alphabet Book</a> from Little Pine Learners. Each week, we plan to make a letter out of what we find on our nature walks. She also has this free <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Search-and-Sketch-Nature-Scavenger-Hunt-FREEBIE-3228605" target="_blank">Search and Sketch worksheet</a>, which we altered to be "search and glue" instead.</div>
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Junia hangs out with us and does what she can. If she can't do whatever we're working on, she colors or plays with blocks or a puzzle or eats or whatever we can find that distracts her long enough. She wants to be a big girl and is really good at hanging with the big kids, so it works well.</div>
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This week, she especially enjoyed playing with <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20style=%22width:120px;height:240px;%22%20marginwidth=%220%22%20marginheight=%220%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20src=%22//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mindyblog-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0006IRTU0&asins=B0006IRTU0&linkId=d945008e2a9966482e97c3886dcb597a&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066C0&bg_color=FFFFFF%22%3E%20%20%20%20%20%3C/iframe%3E" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">this</span></a> and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F49UY8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000F49UY8&linkCode=as2&tag=mindyblog-20&linkId=48e9eae0306ca6b90983dc858beb0641%22%3EMelissa%20&%20Doug%20Jumbo%20ABC%20Wooden%20Chunky%20Puzzle%20(26%20pcs)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mindyblog-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B000F49UY8%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">this</span></a>, which went well with our rainbow theme.</div>
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Some of the books we read this week were <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1558580093/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1558580093&linkCode=as2&tag=mindyblog-20&linkId=b1eef450f264bee4ad75ef1ff50ead00%22%3EThe%20Rainbow%20Fish%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mindyblog-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1558580093%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">The Rainbow Fish</span></a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0440406935/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0440406935&linkCode=as2&tag=mindyblog-20&linkId=ccac5cecb1570209733d2a8e1f82489c%22%3ENoah%27s%20Ark%20(Picture%20Yearling%20Book)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mindyblog-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0440406935%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">Noah's Ark</span></a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0140503285/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0140503285&linkCode=as2&tag=mindyblog-20&linkId=eeded68b61b5ab32d52fb11c56560604%22%3EA%20Rainbow%20of%20My%20Own%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mindyblog-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0140503285%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">A Rainbow of My Own</span></a>, and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0761374108/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0761374108&linkCode=as2&tag=mindyblog-20&linkId=dd9e7396b7acc43d831594252e06f680%22%3EElmer%20and%20the%20Rainbow%20(Elmer%20Books)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mindyblog-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0761374108%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">Elmer and the Rainbow</span></a>. We read the story of Noah's Ark from this <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080247165X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=080247165X&linkCode=as2&tag=mindyblog-20&linkId=6138d198bc47defbeacf58e5b79dda11%22%3ERead%20Aloud%20Bible%20Stories:%20Vol.%203%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mindyblog-20&l=am2&o=1&a=080247165X%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">Read Aloud Bible Stories</span></a>. I love the illustrations in these books, and the stories are perfect for this age. We also read a little about rainbows in <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1612122310/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1612122310&linkCode=as2&tag=mindyblog-20&linkId=eb1039fb614bb34091415f3467175d0f%22%3ENature%20Anatomy:%20The%20Curious%20Parts%20and%20Pieces%20of%20the%20Natural%20World%20(Julia%20Rothman)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=mindyblog-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1612122310%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">Nature Anatomy</span></a>, one of my favorite books! </div>
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We watched a couple videos this week that went with what we were learning. We love Jack Hartmann, so we watched his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZx53RedAZ0" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">N video</span></a> and his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsD3yuCRnjw" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">ROY G BIV video</span></a>, which involved a little exercise. We also watched this<span style="color: #45818e;"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aME-JWXvPds" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">Mother Goose Rainbow video</span></a></span>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCPPLhPTAIk&list=PLEcwuXgEFQtyp4cV35t-aj6R3qlHXdtGU&index=1&t=0s" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">How a Rainbow is Formed</span></a>, and this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vjjhMWJ2wE" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">Noah's Ark story</span></a> (God's voice in this one kind of cracked me up). Those brief moments when they are watching these videos are the heavenly moments I'm actually able to get something else done.<br />
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Hopefully I will have lots more weekly homeschool posts to come!</div>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-83528521639098094192017-07-29T20:56:00.000-07:002017-07-29T20:56:39.411-07:00Lake Almanor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It has been one week since we got home from our two week summer road trip. The fun we had and the memories we made together </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">have</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> motivated me to get back into blogging about the fun adventures we are having together as a family of four. Here's to sticking to it!</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our trip was broken up into 3 parts, and since it was so long, and I take an obnoxious amount of pictures, I'll break the blog posts up into 3 parts as well. Part one was spending 4 nights at Lake Almanor with Nick's family. Somehow during the planning of this trip, I forgot that I have children, and brought 6 books to read. How many got read? Well, I have </span><span style="font-family: '"georgia"', '"times new roman"', serif;">one child who wants to spend all day everyday in the water but doesn't know how to swim and another child who shovels sand into her mouth all the livelong day, so n</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">ot a one. BUT....I'm not complaining. Because this trip could not have been more fun.</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On one of our days, we did a little hike/ride around the lake and found a beach all to ourselves. We had views of the snow covered Mt. Lassen as we swam in the lake, which was actually warm enough for me to get into (so rare!). Silas couldn't get enough of the water, and spent his day doing as many running jumps into the water as possible.</span></center>
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Junia enjoyed lounging on the beach, but she loved being in the inner tube on the water more.</div>
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This moment may have changed that for her...</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='780' height='648' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx0WTMvbvcCyqTJ0oyYCKSYw5IGmZO1b2GvaWYE6d0ScBNbahtW22pmZ8Y84MTYYcqYT462xx-ZY5fmlYLZBQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">We walked down to the playground and community beach area one night with no plans to swim. Silas had plans of his own and ended up in the lake in his underwear.</span></div>
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On our last day, we went on a hike in the Caribou Wilderness. Junia snoozed most of the time, and Silas got to walk across logs and soak his feet in the creek. </div>
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At one point, the men hiked ahead to see how much further we should go while Silas took a little water/creek break. They left all the backpacks and gear with us, but after waiting for them for quite a while, we women and children decided to head out after them. Which meant we were carrying all the backpacks (and a baby) on our own. Obviously, we had to take these pictures as evidence of our awesomeness.<img border="0" data-original-height="981" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxyc2YXpyRBzY_7v9zKP-7Ft2jFDp4wWZ-nLkvnBL9lMdk0f9yy1VDYKXQdTDKjAhcOw2SPRbDdNynTRXt91XJxyBX2duL2A6odl9R2tEF_LPGzk88ewkfR4dWgS6NATkHlk_tzdFz0U/s1600/IMG_7163.JPG" /></div>
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We started our trip off right, but this was just the beginning. Can't wait to share the rest!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>follow: <span style="color: #bf9000;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Finding-Sunday/141756082667548"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Facebook</span></a> </span>/ <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3233570"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Bloglovin'</span></a> / <a href="http://instagram.com/melindaann"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Instagram</span></a> / <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/melindaann/"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Pinterest</span></a></i></span></center>
Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-21776111721452078092017-04-07T23:00:00.000-07:002017-04-08T13:46:10.185-07:00Life These Days<center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxu57ItlzbdAR8sBL0Au-UF3EhHIxAS1gn3DZ4Nlgw2C7hAzdF5-wrXKvSjuX1S2Wu3boQrc8l9xrVHPhrEls82oYQBI3pVCjB-ay3aclShHFlyH8cajnZYEbMajuWbM7N5pJ71heEZ0/s1600/post3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxu57ItlzbdAR8sBL0Au-UF3EhHIxAS1gn3DZ4Nlgw2C7hAzdF5-wrXKvSjuX1S2Wu3boQrc8l9xrVHPhrEls82oYQBI3pVCjB-ay3aclShHFlyH8cajnZYEbMajuWbM7N5pJ71heEZ0/s1600/post3.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had a really good idea about something to blog about this morning. And I thought about pulling out the computer and writing right then, but I had a clingy baby who wouldn't let me put her down and a toddler who was trying to smother said baby with every pillow from every room of the house. So I decided that I'd dedicate tonight to writing that post. Only now it's tonight and I have no recollection of what brilliant thoughts were swirling around in my head this morning before my brain was slowly sucked from my body throughout the day.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But such is life most days right now. Balancing all the things and managing little people with little wills of their own leaves me pretty much useless come that glorious moment when both children have been shuffled off to bed. Netflix and the couch win pretty much every night when up against using brain power from the brain I just lost to try to come up with some witty or profound blog post. And so the many spectacularly enlightening posts that I have written in my head while I'm driving or walking to the park or making mac and cheese continue to go unwritten in reality.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: inherit;">Silas was sitting on my lap this morning while I read him a book when Junia decided she wanted to join the fun and started climbing on me too. I settled them both onto my lap and kept reading, but Junia kept yelling and trying to put the book in her mouth and bouncing up and down until Silas finally announced, "This is absurd!" He said the same thing when he walked by the mound of dirty laundry that has been growing in the hallway over the past several days since I put it there thinking I'd get to it that day. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: inherit;">Later today Silas noticed that Junia was trying to pull herself up on his toy bin to stand all by herself. It's something we've seen her attempt several times, but she hadn't quite figured out how to place her feet in the right spot or use her strength to pull up. Somehow Silas knew there was something different this time, and he started yelling at me frantically to come quick because Junia was going to stand. His excitement for what his sister was about to do was so intense and so sweet. And when she actually did stand up, he was jumping up and down with happiness and saying "Good job Baby!" over and over again.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't know why these two stories popped into my head in regards to this topic (or lack of topic). I guess my emotions about life at this moment feel a bit like the contrasting emotions Silas had in both these stories. Sometimes, my life feels absurd. It is chaotic and unplanned and messy and mundane, and I can't stay on top of anything. Projects get left undone, meals do not get planned (or made...at least by me), and I pray every day that no one knocks on our door and sees the state of my house or the state of my appearance. Because before I can </span></span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: inherit;">decide to pretend we aren't home or throw something decent on, </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: inherit;">Silas will run to the door and open it with an overly cheerful greeting, most likely naked or in his underwear. But my life, strangely enough, is also wildly exciting. There is never a dull moment with Silas and Junia. They fill this home with so much life and joy and newness and wonder, and I get to be swept up in all of that with them. I laugh more than I've ever laughed, I have more fun than I've ever had, and I hear Silas tell me unsolicited every single day, "Mama, I love you. You're cute." And that makes all the absurdity and unwritten blog posts worth it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: inherit;">We have a sign in our house that says "These are the Days", and I know it's true. I bought it because I know this time of our life right now is the time we will look back at and remember was so so good. It's a time we will look back and miss. But I don't want to miss it now, even if that means I'm passed out on the couch by 8:00 every night with a to do list that never got touched and a house that looks like hell.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: inherit;">The moment just after Junia stood up....because I wasn't quite fast enough to catch her in the act.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>follow: <span style="color: #bf9000;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Finding-Sunday/141756082667548"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Facebook</span></a> </span>/ <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3233570"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Bloglovin'</span></a> / <a href="http://instagram.com/melindaann"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Instagram</span></a> / <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/melindaann/"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Pinterest</span></a></i></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Right about the time we decided to adopt again last summer, this blog became pretty neglected. All the time I would have spent blogging was taken up by adoption paperwork, profile book making, and fundraising. Oh yeah....and raising a two year old. And the more time that passed, the more overwhelming it felt to try to make a come back. So, I posted the occasional adoption update, wrote my thoughts down in notes in my phone, and just stuck to sharing my favorite pictures on Instagram. But, now the adoption is finished, and I have the prettiest little babe to show off, as well as the cutest toddler, and so many thoughts consuming my brain that I must get out, so I'm going to see if I can't get back in the game. </span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, let's start with this new little girl rocking our world right now.</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our little Junia Je'Brianne Swenson Kinnier was born on April 29th at 7 lbs 5 oz and 18.5 inches long. </span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We first heard about Junia just 2 1/2 short weeks before she was born. As soon as I read the email about her and her birthmom, I felt incredibly drawn to her. I couldn't shake the feeling. After much discussion and prayer, we decided to have the agency present<span style="color: #45818e;"> <a href="http://melinda-ann.blogspot.com/2016/02/adoption-profile-book-ii.html" target="_blank">our profile book</a></span> to her birthmom. Our only hesitation was the fact that we were pretty short on the funds we would need for the situation. But, we knew that if this was our baby (which I REALLY believed she was), we would be chosen and God would provide. Well, sure enough, she chose us, and sure enough, the money came in! We got to talk with our birthmom that night on the phone, and it could not have gone better. We were in shock that this was all happening so fast but so so excited to have a daughter on the way.</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We flew to Utah the night before our birthmom (I'll refer to her as J from this point on) was induced so we could have dinner with her and get to know her better. We were all so nervous to meet, but conversation flowed easily, and we loved getting to know each other. </span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The next morning, our Junia was born bright and early, and we headed to the hospital to meet our new little one. We couldn't believe how beautiful she was when we first laid eyes on her. We spent the next two days at the hospital with her and J. That time together was so special and is something I will never forget. We bonded with J in ways that made it so hard to say good-bye at the end of the hospital stay. We talked and laughed and cried and hugged a lot. We covered the full gamet of conversation topics and we were so thankful for the ways she opened up to us and shared her life. Her love for Junia was incredible, and she got to see how loved Junia will continue to be. It was a beautiful, heartbreaking experience that I would not trade for anything. I've said it many times before, but the whole experience and the compexity of emotions is indescribable. To feel such heartbreak and elation at the same time is difficult to explain, but the whole experience is an amazing gift. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are blessed to have this special relationship with J and love that she will remain a part of our lives. Even though saying good-bye was hard (like so SO hard), we know it wasn't good-bye for good.</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Top 2 Hospital Moments:</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1) When Silas met Junia. Our parents brought Silas to the hospital to meet Junia a little later on the day she was born. He was so sweet and gentle with her and kept saying "Look at her" and "That's a baby" and wanting to hold her. I love that he and J got to meet and that she got to see how much he loves his little sister. </span></center>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">And this also happened at the first meeting....</span><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="439" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pLSbmUd41pA" width="780"></iframe></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2) At the end of our second night in the hospital, we were going to leave to let J get some sleep. After everyone left, she asked Nick and me to stay a little longer. A little bit later, a dinner cart was rolled in with steak, flowers, a box of chocolates and some sparkling cider. She had ordered the "celebration dinner" to surprise us and share a special meal with us. We were blown away by her thoughtfulness and so thankful to have that special time with her.</span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The entire experience could not have been better, and we are so enamored with our little Junia. She</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> is such a joyful baby, and we are so incredibly happy God chose her for us and us for her. We are the luckiest parents in the world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And now for photo overload of our time in Utah...</span></center>
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About to go in to meet our girl for the first time!</div>
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Court to start the process to finalize the adoption! Nick <a href="http://melinda-ann.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-great-salt-lake-and-court-date.html" target="_blank">had pants this time</a>!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thank you for all the prayers and support that helped get us to our girl! We are eternally grateful to everyone who played a part in this adoption.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>follow: <span style="color: #bf9000;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Finding-Sunday/141756082667548"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Facebook</span></a> </span>/ <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3233570"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Bloglovin'</span></a> / <a href="http://instagram.com/melindaann"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Instagram</span></a> / <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/melindaann/"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Pinterest</span></a></i></span></center>
Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-19231143025215642702016-02-06T14:58:00.000-08:002016-02-07T14:39:05.767-08:00Adoption Profile Book II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our latest profile book is done! It's actually been done since October, but I'm just now getting around to posting it, as blogging has been a little on the back burner lately. For this profile book, I wanted to do something different than <span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://www.melinda-ann.com/2013/05/our-adoption-profile-book.html" target="_blank">our first one</a></span>. I loved our first book but felt like I wanted something a little cleaner and simpler this time around. I designed all the pages in photoshop then uploaded them to <a href="http://www.blurb.com/" target="_blank">blurb</a> to print the book. I loved the quality of their books last time around, so we went with them again and were not disappointed. Also, Silas is in this book, which significantly ups the cuteness factor. <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fR09-rk1DtCmBaovuJWOiT6VDqIvdKqi3iaQ5-_OxMmLHbykwp4yoDfsLOXyA6azWmKnmPGuG8rTrL8F0byTzf_j5wU9tzfNru7hH5-lXOG7ocB0FvMOHFjxLBqnrRzOvcwMd4gCOv8/s1600/IMG_1460-001.JPG" /></span></div>
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</span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And, here are the digital versions of each page, in case you want a closer look...</span></span></center>
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I've had a lot of questions since posting our last profile book about where to find graphics and how to design the pages. If you are looking to design your own profile book, there are great fonts on <a href="http://www.dafont.com/" target="_blank">dafont</a>. You can also find tons of great graphics in their dingbats section. If you don't know how to use adobe programs like photoshop or illustrator, you could try <a href="https://picasa.google.com/" target="_blank">picasa</a>. It doesn't work for everything, but it allows you to make collages and create pages. I made most of our first book in that program before learning how to use photoshop. </div>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-62776901885984952972015-12-31T22:17:00.000-08:002015-12-31T22:17:23.958-08:00Happy 2016!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">We were a bit late with a Christmas card this year, so it turned into the New Year's card above instead. We also included an adoption announcement and letter about our adoption. Here's the letter sharing about our adoption and letting people know how they can support us.... </span></span></div>
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Dear Friends and Family,</div>
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<br /></div>
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We've officially started the adoption process again! Our
home study is done, we’ve been properly fingerprinted by the FBI, and our
adoption profile book (just think glossy-GQ/hipster pics of myself and you’ll
be close) has been submitted to our agency. As long as the FBI doesn’t
get wind of the time Silas rolled off the bed headfirst while we were in the
kitchen, we should be declared “fit to parent” and well on our way to baby
#2. Needless to say we’re excited. Mindy prays we get a baby <span class="aqj">tomorrow</span>. I then counter her prayers with a prayer of my own
for a longer timeline that will let me finish remodeling the bathroom.
And then I remind Min, “The fervent prayers of a righteous <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">man</i> availeth much.” As for Silas, we’re pretty sure he’s ok
with the idea of a sibling, so long as it doesn’t detract him from his trains
and trucks.<br />
<br />
While Silas was napping the other day, Min and I were trying to articulate the
difference between this adoption process and Silas’s adoption. Last time
we were green and had no idea what to expect. This time, however, comes
with the benefit of memory. Adoption pushes past what is manageable and
predictable, but God’s very real provision and care last time around make
banking on God’s resources this time a bit more of a reality. The
preacher in me would call this faith.<br />
<br />
This time around also comes with a clarity of conviction that we’ve grown into these
last couple years. To state the obvious, adoption made us a “trans-racial
family”, which is one way of saying Silas has better hair than anything his
mother and father could have produced. Being a trans-racial family in
Orange County means we stand out. Two white-as-can-be parents chasing
after a toddler with an afro makes for a peculiar scene at the beach. Peculiar
as it may look, we’re convinced that trans-racial adoption is normal in God’s
economy and reflects both the strangeness and the goodness of the gospel
itself. Not the thin sort of gospel that promises “heaven when you die”
at the bargain price of a one time prayer and nothing else. But rather, a
thicker, Jesus-oriented gospel that really does shape how we order our lives
now. This gospel says in Christ there is no dividing line or hostility between
races. This gospel says in Christ we’re all adopted. This gospel
says in Christ there is reconciliation and peace to be had in a broken
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
That being said, we’d really appreciate your support in the following ways:<br />
<br />
First, we would really appreciate your prayers. Please pray for the process,
for the baby, for the birth family, and for us. The love and sacrifice
required to place a baby for adoption is both heartbreaking and
beautiful. So, please pray for the birth family, and the birth mom as she
grapples with this decision. And please pray for us, that we would draw
our strength from God and trust him through this process.<br />
<br />
Second, We could use your financial support. Adoption is quite expensive
but we are confident that God will provide, as he always does. We are still
amazed at how well we were provided for with Silas's adoption and know God will
make a way again. If you’d like to support us financially, there are a
couple of ways you can do so.<br />
<br />
1) We have two fundraising sites, one of which is tax deductible. Both of these
sites take a small percentage of the donation, so if you prefer to mail a
check, that is another option. The sites are:</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><a href="http://www.youcaring.com/kinnieradoption">www.youcaring.com/kinnieradoption</a>
(takes about 2.5%)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><a href="http://www.adopttogether.org/kinnieradoption">www.adopttogether.org/kinnieradoption</a>
(tax deductible & takes up to 5%)</div>
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<br /></div>
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2) You can also shop our Etsy site. We have some items
available right now and will be adding more as we make new things. The site is <a href="http://www.findingsunday.etsy.com/">www.findingsunday.etsy.com</a>. <br />
<br />
3) We are having a dinner and silent auction on <span class="aqj">January 30th</span>
in Santa Ana, CA. Anyone is invited to join us for dinner and to bid on some
wonderful items. We are also looking for donations to our silent auction. If
you have any goods or services to offer or just want to put together something
for us to auction off, we would be so appreciative. Our silent auction was our
most successful fundraiser last time around, so we are excited to be having one
again. <br />
<br />
Lastly, we would love it if you could share our story with others who you think
may be interested in supporting us. Feel free to share our fundraising
sites on social media or to pass the information along to friends. We have lots
of extra adoption cards that we would be happy to mail to anyone wanting to
pass them along. We know there are so many people out there with a heart for
adoption, and we would love for them to share in our story!</div>
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Thank you all so much for your support and love! </div>
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Merry (belated) Christmas and Happy New Year!</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Nick, Mindy and Silas Kinnier</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">HAPPY NEW YEAR! </span></span></div>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-28501941089419511862015-11-18T08:52:00.000-08:002015-11-18T08:53:48.163-08:00Here We Go Again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Big news for the Kinnier Family! </span></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are on our way to adopting baby #2</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">, and we are so excited! We are doing another domestic infant adoption through our </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">agency, Heart and Soul Adoptions in Utah. This is the same agency we used for Silas</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">, so we are happy to be working with them again. <span style="font-family: inherit;">We<span style="font-family: inherit;">'ve completed all our paperwork and our home study, <span style="font-family: inherit;">so we are officially waiting <span style="font-family: inherit;">t<span style="font-family: inherit;">o be matched. We are also in fundraising mode<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and planning all sorts of fun ways to raise money. <span style="font-family: inherit;">I'll have lots more to share about that soon, but for now<span style="font-family: inherit;">, you can check out our fundraising website <a href="https://www.youcaring.com/nick-and-mindy-kinnier-437346" target="_blank">here</a>. We would love any and all support you are able to give, whether it<span style="font-family: inherit;">'s financially or through prayer. We are very excited about this next step for our family and so ready to bring our <span style="font-family: inherit;">next child home. Silas is going to be the best big brother, and we can't wait to see him step into that new role! Thank you for all your support and prayers<span style="font-family: inherit;"> through this process!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I know it's been a while <span style="font-family: inherit;">since I've posted, so I'll leave you with a few pictures of some of what<span style="font-family: inherit;"> we've been up to lately<span style="font-family: inherit;">. Someday I'll play catch up and post about all the fun things we did over the summer and this fall. But until then, here you go...<span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></center>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-21269807672713409342015-06-18T14:54:00.000-07:002015-06-18T15:30:21.835-07:00Turlock 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We are now home from our trip to Turlock, but if it were up to Silas, we'd take up residence under the palm tree at the Turlock splash pad. As you can see from the
various states of delight on his face, he was a bit obsessed with this
place. He started out a little timidly, but mustered up some courage and
started following the lead of the older kids. He ran, crawled, splashed
around, made friends, and threw a temper tantrum when it was time to
leave. Can you blame him?<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPVgAMLtnsbnvVPsFmuLyYblMiBbBuqBihxSIaSncd0mnWTCxfKYy11lPlAjhrFk_v6dy_cC83ibEqFg1Hl_7NBGLVKT1FPFJy5V2cibPGyyb1JYuCp7n7Gm5LqfOW9QQqWUVfRKWUOo/s1600/IMG_5226-001.JPG" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDzF0h6_Ux060D2Swc0-wNd0rDn9xMpovJyDqCADHOZBdFP0F1uvFtblmuGQYH-gglI6yXslM-w_BTzDfevDeDsqhY12cbpS4vTBJkXLUEMUxYv2UOUoZU26AcmRTKt6TZuwg0vnUDCw/s1600/Turlock5-001.jpg" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4w22TMMjsOBc8_lgvydYhqEluDEkHGAB_8odUrn3gyYDQLGyaTTEiYE81toGCyWkAbr711Zh0Uut93rnprt1RMFdXwMlPxeMR4y1gROITgLEq1t1neuGBoiKqN-i9QuzheAoMP7vmKY/s1600/Turlock3.jpg" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3T8wyS7ifL8OZ_NGAYJDq5hFOZz9_G69mbArcKQu4oAaPtYJBagv2aXe6vvA_uo2X4xjuQiK8_81ufIl8_-qXbyG2FrvsBPCzlKG3sK3WhLv36yGid6iBQlC59H24sHuiRZwhigEbPU/s1600/IMG_5227.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UUPZD9_VqBwNgm_kdkh6npzsxdOYE0UgZ1Mwphgpeg2irNHNEvK10iDPMAqV8v1BEggtAQ2KhN4jW6J_wzlPP363kxD4RVr3c6ZtaH1PZ2zoj6jZkMZou6IL1eJ4loHBXQOqguo4qrA/s1600/Turlock7.jpg" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86wbUI0rI9UVlWiC7mBlbSE9LDCE09L-levR0c43Wk4DQPeGRj3YgvwghM3cI00UobaCI5efvSQcBirLW8MlzFrFdiJM0HKX1I1VVtzwRQSZPOKr-R9g7gl-H4tEwuQYTiiBT84EXTtA/s1600/IMG_5058.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOV_GQjAFGB3wajon4DLHeRD99AbdfYomLokr4bgIrakIFwT3kQNhrfNNpczn6cXS13bt1sRO7DbVs-xNX8jGGxki7djncFZ9VKOvI7JhRL1hz_727WgxMkdIXTWJQcl9hs7Hqw5JCRAM/s1600/Turlock6.jpg" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0p83BJTFyRBkiJ8c6l5YEBZsVcrJS9tJXi5CoJDpqAle_aJhQxmgoOaKZalRwUzN5clLFIUWIHKO-Bts9ZaFrK2iAKbh70LtbaC-4Iwocxj4HTacrY0x7jA1eB9YkvLMLOq4LzszttkY/s1600/IMG_5068.JPG" /></div>
Meanwhile....<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXTtLd97LJx5nMi2iivMa7UalfHxChXH19QnPAME59lvbqA4f4TTzkYeW3Kv7TsbTJbi2YC68ThhPld__AqAK-fwAGpGCAGvDCOlnRqihUHwRuSbbM7y-ivtqVfmAwUDXAIoGBOTyr7c/s1600/IMG_5244.JPG" /> Silas is a car, truck, plane and helicopter expert, but he got to experience some other modes of transportation during our trip. He was given an early 2nd birthday present from his aunt and uncle and grandparents....</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJU2FdZhxq19-Fk5WGYzYwB6ISMqu4i4MybvIHdlXVUmmV3Y8cQhqHWdgvoZix1LDOr-DMFervVpALLmW1Jeq4fFtXM4S-DdltUWFoymRhbAFNLV0sm6xUk3ZnZl5v9B9EDqAdmY02Tcw/s1600/IMG_5230.JPG" /></div>
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and he is now a pro at longboarding....</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuBTg3TuyUMFA9lbaEBn6Xz_DMT8dvEVVgX8t5o4_ooqGDPqttt5PsAl0rhcUeSQbhApxsZwqX4ThRxedpfxz1bLIq5O-2tW5HlYQMH0jfoGEfryWgJlgzvdm-M1Zd_ylwjrBegXl7YM/s1600/IMG_5221.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMr05a2TAetXhreOcDG4Z3IWyyNBpDnnKIyMnXrQtFgXdwHTUIf0h5ZuLbuDMdwBDdvdr7flQ4mIfX5xPSL7iKf5yBrQJdGTi9vkpetR2M-fWPFM3MJXWMdDZWJFTadxwsHKuU-FVjMqc/s1600/IMG_5234.JPG" /> We went blueberry picking one day when the weather was a little cooler, and Silas was given a little bucket to pick his own berries with. I described our experience on Instagram like this...."Blueberry picking...for him that meant eat five, drop one in the bucket, eat five more, dump the bucket out, take a bunch from mom's bucket to refill, run into the orchard nearby, eat, dump the bucket and so on and so forth. We had fun, and now we will make pie." Lots of people commented saying it reminded them of the book <i>Blueberries for Sal</i>. I had totally forgotten about it, but we have the book (thank you Turners!). So, when we got home, I reread it, and sure enough, Silas and Sal are quite similar in their berry picking styles. Maybe not their moms though, as I have no intention of canning mine because they will all be turned into pie.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRGsA7fBGaJuVCU8-8bkAeDUienklWoDk81rl5NGut4moMqGrBOOk_VCP82Ov4jPNCjW6bhSQ3MCu30_UlDpk3KHuH2AYRqrI9YFtjHXgov1pwvDJRnRgLtVxNTP3PiCeBIeJaZOgd4o/s1600/Turlock8.jpg" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqe8LLzBKr11vsIBm7yem_T5FFYYXYUFjMdvg05ASzXrb_gcTNuheL2b8mHQIRbwHiiKmjf-KdkmoTk7_Z3DkWz-9i-ulaGwt4SUt8ZPCeAELwKSA0lIuiLoPR0Hb7tB5IfViMjyVRM0/s1600/IMG_5331.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TfX1Q393Alvw_pOWwVrf5hvQ-ukawjC_FDW8xM_bZMWJJpujzwEccgk4VkB-Wgwzywca84KpvcqbMdkOdgqZReIGkuJiSTI7Rp-0y7zC_Jt21e-sVCjXOka73KTFDF5ibGkEt64sjQc/s1600/IMG_5329.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQb3Ad3s2bLmtQ43kSAsoznDtNKt-vWhW93TNxR52a-eQ2aXYtIiKIIk9PuVMkEe0MsHyhoTz_U3g8mm64zVaXzjckOztnQik8EBALm6epCoU_ogdcYQtBEYum5cOarvE6TG7pm7QXIA/s1600/IMG_5327.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3SY-uTR2PBs-sa4wfLngmuZFA2wBjhUZPKkRJD1HWcSUSBmj7NKaBnzTT1Kpvzrr8p9sY1QXvrCNKh2NHjpr9OPwrDXAQ2VMKI2OaIMvClMvvogcPrLivq-9Vom-LitA-A3152TG3pE/s1600/IMG_5325.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPC-2qKrgzecVjkzIuP4yxBMbD-2QlesA3Ew2YZsNCbWkVkLFODbyZq2Vhk_lGY6TYAS5x2QK1wyktqM2nGGlRSPUKmIale4CaD-4QCzIYP63TMjA6e3hTKy_xcOmHMAzxn_3bd0OGlQM/s1600/IMG_5323.JPG" /> Things heated up again pretty quickly, so we spent one of our last days at a nearby lake. Silas was in heaven yet again. He is most definitely a water baby. (Can we still call him a baby? I'm a little in denial that I have a temper tantrum throwing toddler!)</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWa7-mNu7Wb9dU3NhEmjqQqmd9vcR3VYK3kUIt-S4qaLxpsEMLMD9U7oAE0NmmZG0dwcSDsx38gzTXrHJY3YmUvBMzL-7nu_1HGkuAn2LFeVmmdSlP09PmcHe4QPrSsad0mV-bbUpSvm0/s1600/IMG_5324.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvXQhStpqnkdh2KA4MAjQ4Vm_NSMyb7_jwp5gY_KcgXtsv8PijFkmkFRnONAEB-6o4MJ_CiP3Eu7yNnYJfEkxhqLRgoXvdv_oTSlaySSQJl1ZLUBwr-g82rjU4GLi37Co80Rsx4pHIq4/s1600/IMG_5319.JPG" /></div>
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And there you have it. Our first summer trip over too quickly.</div>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-14770199709593560152015-06-12T13:22:00.001-07:002015-06-12T13:29:37.474-07:00Road Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Just about two years ago, we were taking <span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://www.melinda-ann.com/2013/10/our-summer-camping-trip-part-one.html" target="_blank">this trip</a></span> to Sequoia, and we made a stop at Orangeworks on the way. It was on that drive that we talked to Silas's birth mom for the first time, and she told us that she was choosing us to be his parents. When we stopped here for ice cream, we texted or called everyone we hadn't already talked to by that time and sat in great excitement and anticipation that we were matched and that this was finally happening. So, as we were driving up to Turlock to visit Nick's family earlier this week, we decided to stop here again, this time with our little match in tow. Silas had his first taste of the famous orange ice cream when we all split a large. Only, he was not too pleased to be sharing, and in reality, neither were we, so we ended up getting another one to split once that one was gone. </div>
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Silas is quite the fun road trip companion, yelling out "big ruck" every
time we pass a big rig and "big car" every time we pass any sort of
moving vehicle that is larger than a small car. He also slept a large portion of the way, which meant we didn't think we needed to stop to change him. When we pulled him out of the car once we arrived, he immediately had to be stripped down and hosed off, as he (and his car seat) was covered with pee. The ideal road trip companion....he never asked for a bathroom stop.<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVnDZ8zOf1uUdMxFEu2-U5NqfU8K6bpvIk4MNR8SiRaIsjapZGKh3_QPpBfg_pvzRDL3c4sH75wLNpM-F3teX0GtkAHIf3wFkDP2cvKwSClXEXRA5q9gfgFDx7WiGILTQB1M9emZGeT8/s1600/IMG_5235.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_TgFuiQxA8f_c49FQa_UnVuIxX8gIzuaw6aH0_i_TZN285744W_Xne8ewLbxg2oHTO31E3Gq6iOJvoDAt4betS5wMsE5iW3vWBTNVWsB8FRrERhvbZlStcUAUTCRvD2irvEScB-5v2I/s1600/IMG_5242.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZVBFHzxS6y-VgbIL_SvlF7N1iwpX7RFjeW7FcgtVG7P0Fyhj2F0jKpw9pXMh2WU-LCUNKTHUGY4M-iby3HBpqx_Z7pCDpVynrnh4LzNE72VOkoo-7saT3pVCbk1XhAmSY8BLFRksxak/s1600/IMG_5236.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkrSJ_Jgmr7jlgGhD_PxmyyDjlwMLaAF-KVFto_h5wKuoL1HLQ37Y5QMYQ42KtU1aFfvVIm93WTqDhHpjPQ_CCajm7CFN3-mrZ5CuL9CKeUtEjTaziTyLvOwB3rJ92trfHb0His-nxyo/s1600/IMG_5238.JPG" /> </div>
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Once upon a time, Silas loved the family selfie (<a href="http://www.melinda-ann.com/2014/12/oh-christmas-tree.html" target="_blank">evidence</a>). Those days are gone. </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElxUtdP6G0h5Hm-yETwVKzJWa2944NE-um-8-ukMr2Apj8wLiHCbkgYQXRV-DZyQokgSEei1DHSN-w8le3GT_FHALD1CPrm2N6rma67zIywcDD8BEAzntjGYLi1wqZxWDstfmzVItBbw/s1600/Turlock4.jpg" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUHpice66IeELLz1U5llkLnM4H8r_EEKKPU0ljF9FEDElkVJZ-h_fcRxT0p4hWIUdODjds7mJz07GVCDPRlXtIS_8_pe82ax2fGO9Jc4gqR33j5QteeuVwTjP6TNmZe1pSIXsrHcxN9M/s1600/IMG_5241.JPG" /></div>
It was only 106 degrees when we got to Turlock, so it's not like we were hot or anything. A swim sounded nice, and seeing as how Silas has mastered the ocean, we figured it was time to let him try his hand at the pool. As you can see, he hated it.<br />
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His delight was quite contagious, and he's taken the fun of swimming to a whole new level for all of us. More of our trip to come, because this was just the beginning of his water adventures.</center>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-11287903393973818152015-06-10T16:32:00.001-07:002015-06-10T16:32:54.180-07:00Cosmic Creek Concert<center>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i><span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sometimes I complain about where we live and wish we could experience what life is like somewhere else, but the</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">n </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">we get to do some</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">thing like this, and I</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> think</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> nope</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">, I'm good. Life is pretty great here in our little part of the world. Maybe someday we will experience something else for a time, but for now, we are going to enjoy all the perks of where we are at...like this fun concert at Salt Creek Beach a couple weekends ago that we went to with our friends, the Shaws.</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: normal;">It's fun to have adoption buddies...for them and for their parents :) </span></span></div>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-33654921502721733742015-06-08T05:00:00.000-07:002015-06-08T05:00:06.827-07:00Memorial Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am officially on my summer break! Yay! I am so looking forward to having more time to write and blog, enjoy my family, and maybe even keep my house clean. We are off for our first summer trip today, headed North to visit Nick's family. So, I'll start the blog catch-up now. Over Memorial weekend, Nick's sister and her boyfriend came to visit us, and we took a fun trip to the tidepools. It was an unusually cold Memorial weekend, so we were all bundled up, but Silas didn't care. He just wanted to be in the water. He loved splashing around and running into and away from the waves. It was impossible to not get wet while holding his hand. Hence, all the pictures with Dad in them. Alyssa also taught Silas the art of skipping rocks, which I'm sure he'll catch onto once he can get them to make it all the way into the water.<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcinsKl_2Nz90OD8LEhPvnC4bpZd7cpSKhE2fmGcMvT8ioWyA4qkYYaiyknora2dUV_fDEVa8VdaH8As_dqjE7vI-J-cVSGkr9BeM9Vtyk9f6ojc3JRD5CU_LlrGhjq2yhdMcjhmxaHY/s1600/IMG_4821-001.JPG" /></div>
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And now, I am looking forward to warm beach days!</div>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-20359216703540583712015-05-29T10:28:00.001-07:002015-05-29T16:47:07.642-07:00Adoption Video<div style="text-align: center;">
Nick and I had the privilege of being a part of a really amazing video sharing a few adoption stories. It turned out so beautifully, and I am very excited to share it here. This first video is just our portion.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="438" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/128947949" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="780"></iframe>
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Here is the video with all three adoption stories. Totally worth watching, because I love the other two families involved! Our portion is pretty much exactly the same as the video of just us (minus a couple little scenes), so feel free to fast forward that part. Enjoy!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="439" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/128548994" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="780"></iframe>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-35197610027837322462015-05-22T16:40:00.000-07:002015-05-22T16:40:28.983-07:00Thirty-Four<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDShdqoIGdViGRfgwDhahwBta8G10LwJQv2n-qHC6I4dRGaChBZorjcwIbcRGEFQGVRRLVFYFZnUeLlTRtx9HsPor7ApTiw9mJLpeeGAAUra3kyvYtTMf5TTq-hFeRmL3fQ4KLk_AaN_Q/s1600/IMG_3786.JPG" />Last month, I turned 34. I was feeling a little pout-y about getting older, because being 34 puts me officially in my mid-thirties, which makes me feel old. So, my boys took me to breakfast at my favorite, Ramos House. The delicious food and my adorable company quickly changed my mood. My life doesn't look the way I thought it would at 34, but I'm glad. Nick asked me if I was sad that day because I feel behind in life. Truthfully, I have felt that way at points. Nick reminded me that I'm not behind in anything that matters. And in actuality, this life I'm living is better than anything I ever could have dreamed of.<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydDe7TrOpmzJolVz6XoGsL-N9QxaE2ZUaoWjrssprx3bLB3-R89X7yzip4Yp1GxgnVB_mPvybLm4XUC5tn5mCBT86554uas2ZOPj3Rv6lZjnmgZ5wLu8yOzjVWyPQFNdbGBgkqXfVC2M/s1600/IMG_4191.JPG" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyf0wWpRN9d2OtmlTLNvyR-c2dMCKBx8_p2MXlyxfwibG_-hAbZphQzx7SVUBunikoojHwUwT1n0N7MITNrE48eD0g4sIDO4axox1Kd_PrvlIUo0P56OTbp8M7nIUCeFIRcPPlmNpEKk/s1600/IMG_4196.JPG" /></div>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-971112213387244592015-05-09T21:58:00.001-07:002015-05-09T21:58:56.433-07:00San Diego Zoo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The week after Easter, we decided to take a family trip down to the zoo. It was so fun seeing Silas discover new animals and respond to them. He stared and stared at a snake that came right up to the window to look at him. Then, he started sticking his tongue out over and over again, mimicking the snake. He's been doing it ever since. The most intriguing thing to Silas was not the animals, though. He was enamored with the floating buckets that passed by overhead (the skyfari), so of course we had to ride one ourselves. After the zoo, we had a picnic lunch at Balboa Park and let Silas play on the playground while Nick and I traded off napping in the sun. I love these days with this kid!<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsERmSlEYN21Ir-Ele6tiyhBreERCfXHhpwebM8WEtSI3_24YQ3nPVIuauDjWYYr4A6OKGdegkPZCmZ1tYx3T30zHSvGRb6DG-CLwPeDYQ6iWsuY3rEdn2OGgFluB_CkfMZGWl_G1jU0/s1600/IMG_4186.JPG" /></div>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-35231895776460440102015-05-06T20:20:00.000-07:002015-05-07T14:49:10.485-07:00Easter 2015<center>
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April was quite an eventful month for us, so I've got some blogging to catch up on. Starting with Easter! Nick spoke at Rock Harbor central on Good Friday at four different services. There he is in front of all those people....</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We went to church on Easter morning, then went to my grandma's house for an Easter egg hunt. This was Silas's first egg hunt, but the only thing he had any interest in was the cool police car Grandma has. I had to distract him and hide it to even get him to have any interest in what was going on. He was still only mildly interested, but that didn't stop us from finding as many eggs as possible. Silas
and Trevor liked exploring their loot together, which included mostly
yogurt bites along with some candy bars that were pretty much all eaten by the parents.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My grandma took a picture with all the great grandsons who were there. Four out of the five kids in this picture are black (or at least part). How rad is that!? Our family has got some color now, and I love it!</span></span></div>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-52586391779346301422015-05-05T16:39:00.000-07:002015-05-11T08:48:50.852-07:00Thoughts on Mother's Day and the Church (Repost)<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>This was originally posted <span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://www.melinda-ann.com/2014/05/thoughts-on-mothers-day-and-church.html" target="_blank">here</a> </span>on May 10, 2014.</i><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMe8nb2NxZEiYyMJ7al8mkalirL9p8qXRt3_ljuTGqSxQSV16yLo6rW6ZZaN6NuBQB4pynlV8GUi-bfG_czRICUVMGhGJrCXbHo6vPB3ZWRpf0osDI1g_zROWilzlJqJ6ed_SQ31QZYL_D/s1600/DSC_0752.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is an excerpt from a post I wrote a couple years ago, but never posted:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Did you know that Mother's Day is called Mother's Day and not Mothers' Day?</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(note the placement of the apostrophe in Mother's).</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">That was done on purpose when Mother's Day was invented, because it was meant for each of us to celebrate our mothers individually within our own families, not meant to be a corporate celebration of all mothers worldwide. I'm serious....look it up. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Did you hear that, oh ye churches of the world? So, maybe you should stop making it a corporate celebration wherein all mothers stand and receive honor and glory and praise and applause and flowers, whilst us infertiles have to stay seated, trying to keep ourselves from becoming bawling buffoons just because we don't have working uteruses. (what is the plural of uterus? uteri?) But really, what do I know? I skip church on Mother's Day. </span></i></div>
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I do have a lot of serious thoughts about Mother's Day, and I am working through them all right now, trying to write up something coherent about it. One thing that struck me this year was thinking about all the women from the Old Testament who would have also been left sitting in church on Mother's Day for most of their lives, had it existed at the time. The Bible makes it very clear that God did not forget them.....so maybe the churches shouldn't forget them/us either. And, I suppose they are not a bad camp of women to be among.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's been two years since I wrote that post. And I guess now I have finally worked through my thoughts enough to write about them. I'm sure that my feelings about Mother's Day will continue to evolve and that the future will bring continued healing. But, I'll never forget how hard Mother's Day was for me, and, for the sake of other people, I don't want to forget.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think the church needs to rethink how we do Mother's Day. Not all churches, but the church as a whole. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When you have a select group of people who feel that they need to avoid church on a certain day, and when church is the last place they want to be, I think that signals a problem. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our home church has come a long way on the topic and chooses to celebrate all women on this day, rather than just mothers. I think with any celebration, we have to think about what we are saying and how it will effect an entire congregation. And, while many will feel momentarily celebrated on Mother's Day, there are others who will just feel further isolation that will last far beyond that day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I don't think we should be celebrating Mother's Day in the church. (Who decided it needed to fall on a Sunday every year anyways?). What other secular holiday, other than Father's Day, (which usually isn't made into as big of a deal) do we celebrate in the church?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I get that we want to honor the role of mothers in a world that sometimes devalues this calling. But, I also believe that we need to speak truthfully about what it means to be a woman. Motherhood is not our highest calling. Following Jesus is. And that calling is going to play out differently in each woman's life. Not every woman is called to be a mother, and not every woman is called to be a wife. So, when we have a day in church where we honor mothers, and we do not have a day where we honor other women doing other work, we are elevating motherhood above anything else a woman might do. And this is especially painful for women who would love to be wives and mothers, but aren't for reasons beyond their control.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is damaging. I can say without hesitation that church was by far the most difficult place for me when we were walking through infertility and waiting to become parents, and not just on Mother's Day. It is where I felt the least valued and the most insecure. I have talked to many people who have said the same thing, including single people. We've created a church culture that puts mothers and the nuclear family on display, and in a place where everyone is supposed to be included, many are excluded. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, as Mother's Day approaches, I am feeling a mixture of emotions. This day represented so much pain for me for so long, that I'm not walking into my first Mother's Day feeling light hearted and excited. I am thankful to be on this side, and I do want to celebrate this day with my family (and just my family). I am deeply, deeply grateful to be a mother now. But, I also want to remember those who are hurting, and I do not want or need to be publicly celebrated at their expense.</span><br />
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-69803690962650842772015-03-31T12:46:00.000-07:002015-04-01T20:32:19.608-07:00Gratitude<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday</span> afternoon, Silas fell asleep on my chest for the first time in a long time. I laid there soaking it in, feeling his heart beat on top of mine. This kid's heart beats so in sync with mine that sometimes I forget he grew in another mama's belly. I never forget her. I just sometimes forget that Silas hasn't always been a part of me. He hasn't always been mine. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">I began imagining what it would have been like to have had him growing in me. I don't feel any lack in our relationship because we missed out on that time together, but there's a part of me that does grieve for that time. Not because we lack a connection, but because I know he has a connection to another mom too. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">I started to wonder...if I could have grown him in my own womb and given birth to him myself, would I have? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, sure, if he could still be the same Silas that he is now. But, the reality is, he would be a different kid if he had been born to me. And, I don't want a different kid. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, my grief is drowned in the depths of my gratitude. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gratitude for his birthmom, who carried and cared so well for my baby for 9 months and then selflessly gave him the life she wanted him to have...one that did not include her. My privilege is her pain. And her connection to Silas does not diminish mine. In fact, I think it strengthens it, because I carry with me every day the knowledge that he could belong to someone else. And yet, he's mine.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my gratitude for a God who breathed a deep desire for adoption into my heart long ago, before infertility was something I even knew could be a reality. For a God who gently guided us through our pain down the road that led to Silas. For a God who redeems and restores and who causes all things to work together for <span style="font-family: inherit;">good</span>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">I feel this overwhelming gratitude daily, and I often ask Silas in these moments, "How did I get you?" and "Why do I get to be your mama?" </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">I live every day in awe that he is mine.</span></span><br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdGlI5wtqIpqEy-p5-Iz6jr6Xqh6XUNhzHYugo7mGz6XwLHFWlrV4ycPpJ9X46n6yWXuab0tegOYBCEKDvTRQRCyCalc-8G1KtB2aProCsRSDRuGXxjCQS3W2pX7BFipSqM_LuJYJ7Tk/s1600/IMG_2472_2.JPG" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HPs5MXe_h8Ix8kSoEcrQa8zkL1LlYpUGJqkSEixpLxZDoUl5uagtX4Ae1RQymj9gTjahBgBeJhlHIk-TVGQaAJ3PFzH_x-I55npICASNbVdnYfrJFH64nl0CStheO4o4de7H51Gs1ok/s1600/IMG_2948.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2mZBXgsv_EYsRmLRg3l_Bt2Gq_OWnNNvt2u8gQhKGixoTwl1x_KGGd5mfc99IyO5CtWBM68ev4mxctELFRX7yCmhUwCCo_Pa0r7CEFdQxOLx_uYJlD7s6rasj0b35MJbZQp7grIGDkY/s1600/IMG_3060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2mZBXgsv_EYsRmLRg3l_Bt2Gq_OWnNNvt2u8gQhKGixoTwl1x_KGGd5mfc99IyO5CtWBM68ev4mxctELFRX7yCmhUwCCo_Pa0r7CEFdQxOLx_uYJlD7s6rasj0b35MJbZQp7grIGDkY/s1600/IMG_3060.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span> </span></span></span><i> </i></span></div>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-51069655776176840432015-03-15T13:58:00.000-07:002015-03-15T14:00:28.322-07:00Created For Care<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This last weekend, I was in Georgia at the Created For Care retreat for adoptive moms. I am still processing everything I experienced there. It was so life-giving for me to be among so many women who have the same heart for adoption. I left feeling so encouraged and empowered, knowing there is this incredibly strong and courageous group of women walking a road so similar to mine. I am so thankful for the relationships I was able to form in such a short amount of time. I felt instantly bonded to so many of these women and know that there were lifetime friendships that began over the weekend. If only we all lived closer!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My friend <a href="https://whateverbefall.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Lauren</a> and I flew out to Atlanta together and met up with several people we have connected with through Instagram, Facebook, and blogs. Meeting them and others in real life was better than I could have hoped for, as I loved all of them even more in person. What a blessing and an honor it is to walk this road with these women. When my heart is heavy with the burden of infertility, or when I have a difficult encounter with someone who just doesn't get adoption, all I have to do is picture the faces of these women...my friends...and I feel strengthened. These are some of the strongest women I have every known, enduring trials with grace and dignity and rejoicing in the beauty God brings from ashes. They get it, and I am forever grateful that God has given me these incredible friends to journey with. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fOiaxqa4Qfz7MurYDskHKQ4aauB79jtXRErDXN2Dssw_KQRUN7cB68laKpQU4iCTFMu4_w6LYOD2wM93tAsEsb3VxN9Wt0WlsiWrIOWqIWn6w-O59KySOh7N1dS4Z9uD1LikSXrMAlU/s1600/IMG_2805.JPG" /> After the retreat, we took a little detour to the Coca-Cola museum on the way to the airport.<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDx-fPg_D22O-4aJO7VA7kpgM0SJfRwmcWDzptbpgZRL0z9nkicA-gagT47p-rwgJyxQEH7MsQ6o5EPWCy3-UfwnnVgGjW3YexLPJx6nSUcHkIRNfggOKIdUuvLJ9iJXcVktVd_QEgHA/s1600/IMG_2808.JPG" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW97a1IUMIZytL23LhLhbff3_ifQmMJcgFkGXUg4ExbX8dzUFgCJwKmSKWHpa0fRiaybDtMSqG0bYRm9sl5KLP1Ni_-Hs-gbdMaSjr6fTLMb-OrMtQ1oJxZ-8zBDkUEO3FvBHOgoSJHVk/s1600/IMG_2804+copy.JPG" /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I highly recommend the Created For Care retreat. If you ever get the opportunity to go, do it! I can't wait to go again next year.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>follow: <span style="color: #bf9000;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Finding-Sunday/141756082667548"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Facebook</span></a> </span>/ <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3233570"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Bloglovin'</span></a> / <a href="http://instagram.com/melindaann"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Instagram</span></a> / <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/melindaann/"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Pinterest</span></a></i></span></center>
Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-70696085751563771712015-03-01T21:03:00.004-08:002015-03-01T21:06:46.200-08:00Five Years<center>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Five years ago today, my grandpa went to be with Jesus. I miss him
everyday. Not many people are so lucky as to have a grandpa like mine.<br />
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Silas has figured out how to open the doors in our house by himself, and
his favorite place to enter is the bathroom, of course. Over the course
of today, Silas dropped three full rolls of toilet paper in the toilet
and one full roll of paper towels. I couldn't help but laugh, thinking
about how proud his great grandpa would be of him. He honored him well
with his orneriness today. My grandpa was, after all, the most ornery and mischievous of
them all.</span></span></center>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1PagmzJHOA8ly5sy7-w0pdYJhF61qnMS2wlFfC4ALWMsDKAGUuX7KA4A4yk691VL1I4uhetp3Q_5vtuH3RaAYbz6n0sJCwnOjHe-7s154DQ0viF9pdrex0dH1tRPXpUlF2oYuph9pCE/s1600/Desktop39.jpg" />Let's zoom in, just to prove my point.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6Rp1i112hO-mTkY6Czvi4l9ZdHYvMz4Tdnfx1EVtH_I8rjqehpLdKNM9sYNQ2MIf9wBjr02vS1GMtYEofaTJX0p3snaMYu-m_O3Vu4Al4nvwJ5yLyO2tsPfo70qJfRU2Ab6fqqG5l7s/s1600/Desktop40.jpg" /> I love you Grandpa!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>follow: <span style="color: #bf9000;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Finding-Sunday/141756082667548"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Facebook</span></a> </span>/ <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3233570"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Bloglovin'</span></a> / <a href="http://instagram.com/melindaann"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Instagram</span></a> / <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/melindaann/"><span style="color: #bf9000;">Pinterest</span></a></i></span></center>
Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-61516692985702580432015-02-14T08:25:00.000-08:002015-02-14T09:00:09.250-08:00Adventures in Co-Sleeping<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nick left for Portland on Wednesday night, so Silas and I are living it up on our own these next few days. Seeing as how I'm used to having a warm body nearby when I sleep at night, I thought I'd have Silas sleep with me while Nick is gone. When I was ready to go to bed that first night, I snuck into Silas's room and pulled him out of his crib, barely waking him. As we laid down together, I was pleasantly surprised to have him go right back to sleep there next to me. This was going to work out beautifully. A couple minutes later, he scooted a little closer to me and snuggled his little body up next to mine. Perfection. And then a couple more minutes later, he decided that he still wasn't close enough and squeezed his feet in to rest between my knees. And then his hands to rest between my arm and my body. And just to reassure me that he was there, he started squeezing my arm gently and patting me over and over again. Stop the cuteness! Only, he didn't stop there. He still wasn't close enough. So, he sat up, readjusted himself and laid back down with his head on my chest. And now, we could fall asleep. And so we did.<br /><br />It wasn't long before I was awakened to have the same process of events happening all over again. We managed to fall back asleep again, once he had adjusted himself to his liking, and I figured we had finally pushed passed the hard (but so so adorable) part and would now have a good nights sleep.<br /><br />I was wrong.<br /><br />At 12:30, I had to call it. At that point, Silas once again sat up to readjust himself, and this time slammed the back of his head down as hard as he could on my face. Which didn't seem to phase him, but I was certain that my nose was broken and was reaching up to check for blood (not dramatic at all). I decided that we would probably both sleep much better if we were in our own separate beds. So, I reluctantly returned him to his crib, where he happily snuggled up to <span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://www.melinda-ann.com/2014/04/family-hike.html" target="_blank">Belle</a></span> and fell right back to sleep.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, maybe we aren't going to be co-sleepers anytime soon. But seriously, having a ridiculously cuddly child is a problem I'm thrilled to have....because it's really not a problem at all. And, I do think I'm going to give it one more try before Nick gets home. We'll see how that goes. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To prove he's a cuddle monster and also totally expressionless (wink face)...(I need some blog emoticons)....</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoV7ySM4N0XWb5svSjw5tHt2mu7Luko3tVfkbhXBS_YQyseTBg_9cknepD_dcy43ZaXU1gJNEGUxlBwk1cPP8ycEjM08wY2-FwjUuNbZXFWUMW2aw5EzOu8VYsij7tnlTKSUFBwb2RSU/s1600/IMG_2382.JPG" />If he's sitting on our lap or laying on us, it's pretty much always because he has climbed up on the couch or chair specifically to snuggle with us.<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctJpGQKdJEJz1FX3k0nCKpAmpwQGIN1x2LpSSP1vw9W5-ZQIFV0eX8IAnlgchvXTCY0kel87KYrmiaND4CTHtKLVfkjTU_fXe7wi0xTRl5dKDP_ZrHHqy7yccw8xpxnfIjm6E15p4uWg/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" /></div>
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He had never met this girl....didn't know her at all...<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6yKxa_YDKeGFFWUqdu0OC3qzZBOiHeMyYd9NMB1lFRdxz7RmAsQEUqQze0H1JeD-2iappAEjF_OhuQFdfi7tbrIU5en-WXdYy4-LG134yymd_VGuyWSo8cWMmav-oJqU9949YhdO8tA/s1600/IMG_2378.JPG" /></div>
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He barely knew her...</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7tuPX0LJK_B2AljqwRfy-HcegomXQIXdeaNmSDOxcSqZeznOkLNGCDRgt12_k2yRxMTGr5Q6-kh14mlpJ-1HbhEZ7aLnP2VECIFgq_yOFFq8lb0CcqHf5_KwLRHO9lX3XaXleJaHTCY/s1600/cuddle+post.jpg" />He also loves to cuddle with his dogs...</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4Q2nc_97Xi6QcVWF_1GXKjoQwDGX_RiYc_WI_ghV-74Q66A7mr6wN7MdkxY0iBvZtBi410pdqEENzAQr9RNjJX07ibR7r_leZ_S6XzjCxZMpMJ8ysssQUfiUZAVa9wBmxW9pHRAaHbQ/s1600/IMG_2379.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOzGIhRHKSbdTutHlMgyM-zyfXSCMrzVEHtAM7wsvjVBjEaf9VNXe7gs4qKDf8PrFes7SSsW6Uoyw34u4d4voqiOToudqp5GyrkkdOfPHG03GXETMYlrZ4oCnGlTGImgQzprXkTdH8KE/s1600/IMG_2384.JPG" />Who wouldn't want to sleep with this squishiness?....</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnfmatCbT5XYh2R6NdlZRSBlQBGbNAQvX_9SRtmZ-af1hi3B4-Azy58vf_j6oNwLgiJhYBoKpyoSZOaLn6olESe0hlqJwsEc3SOAuBdsx0ig2i7Xtp2vGDwBqrmTHcyV9BON-NP6veHA/s1600/photo+3+copy.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAEGUuk3DD2Tp3fchnOvQuOfwgdcuqe1fVJFN1n34ZedLo-9XjsRa_isMD0qoaIiZ59wg6sdyLaj-2-c2E3cvuPNj97MIP_q9kPX9FX-8lVb81c6bvbzzgKFMtteI9_qdf3_4icvyhvI/s1600/photo+4.JPG" />Oh yeah...his dad.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i></i></span></div>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-46263090827445437712015-02-06T12:04:00.000-08:002015-02-06T12:04:04.361-08:00Swenson Christmas...Now That It's February<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, now that it's February, let's talk about Christmas again. Like I said, our Christmas this year was actually three Christmases, so this is the last and final post on the topic....hallelujah! This was the Christmas with my immediate side of the family. So, here's some pictures, and we'll wrap this up with a few highlights.<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMV-SAgvX0MD8CzFltG1gxIJ5l-uGzcxNPTyvsNCuRtKo0sRYKoQpJk5Y-nQIZGyu0Uhxps7jlbd4qL2xwxJSrtLLSuOVcNhucs_ij3XSdxRozVVdVvE7PIpZ8KUWZ3vfn8tsxaWP-Ohs/s1600/IMG_2059.JPG" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZa7G8cyvdMO2YeBFXMFSuxt_hmj32tI-UAC7Ry9xPQ38KrGJZusGwqzVrCt3s6HSCbvKXwXCQ1GZH9R5odKzAFbzfplJDgaMNiKs2d28iqRzqu2mmDRKMTg_j-18iQpgchXc1kwpLZdo/s1600/IMG_2075.JPG" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16F1jjtlJS3k_rxtoWhMJkBBA73q0wZUzViJ8ZuLj0j9fEjYbVqG73kDrKX79dIGtYNPn4_5Z5WDCQ_zl6SBNK76c2zYMizn77dMOC2Ad4z9lPGya4GKgi4UZe9TCNij_QcMlCNlHMe0/s1600/IMG_2053.JPG" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rE_cvM_-0YdDXhcw6T4HE593Bpg_BglRwVabCH9b5yW2OOAhXLK0LtZqNHI7ZJWKgYi19isilAoCG6ESsPzfY75gNTDc93-JkL34QUTTemiv9gx3rvyGkRcUJenQ_VSz5tGkverc6ZU/s1600/Fam+Christmas1-001.jpg" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUVRMY-H28t6e9y2VP9Asrwt9NToubW6D2nk_vp-EfpYl_LrgSEQHWc_abtQqDU3y6k45xJqMQujBVbVNdxM4KeoF1B7ncOaLri_vEZVjKy_YKgAORBFi5js250Y6JgBd2Vz3GSFzFtM/s1600/IMG_2068.JPG" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEpk333jWlQIRkxG6xNfoSOdQ8whhxilTxBMGtCWbjueXVPBz2v4Xh08dfdC6COZCtcnD_LfVgakBSsKDBWgF31HxTZk-QXmc6rqud_6Ghe-wOvrX8H57KSheQYGu9fXAuDYGD6CHmVw/s1600/IMG_2069.JPG" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGqX4FnVKrWxbgKymMtLmtHN-QaZFieu_yFgScMJcVPiL7Y_ue3Te3EBwdVFcY8QaVK-4A3LeGmNyNpdyecwHsAmaDWRxh8117MdI7jHIGBOC9GtKA5dwpF3ODhJ6cGapwaPjySOhyphenhypheneMQ/s1600/Fam+Christmas.jpg" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpl2hBXF9mOSFFinXSQ-GeDgnXLFLAAgAZN4qE_PnHN3sqFpbemmDe_lod0nswuPbbg-OCSdd9r2ISV9_CISa9Fpqm3Vn1fSruDTHDBeNI17axgIuZzuIgycPm91AqVyBykNQTPPouQs/s1600/IMG_2057.JPG" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNShtJnJUoM_v3LWJc5BpHw62ynl8KRGrHRFtZsNvwjdOrQAcQnkXeJA8mdzlMrf7Egw8Tc_tI53ZHHX0S4Yuhu7Tyj_r4HBYXaJD8cI_ZrgLXWWJOJ0zcBS8nZBQEzr4SArj-V4qgu4/s1600/IMG_2073.JPG" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEeg0OAr2Cz7gzYte3yUFtMjL0OpMGOJ65YIGYRGpU_OHnbikoensqC5Ew9jG0Amm13pDPFr7BArdwnFQg-BUJY5VvaNqhqCQ-kAUHIfMLuX9xXs6p8J__37An3TnkGVMKnCPZIu7TSY/s1600/IMG_2066.JPG" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1I-sLKxNDue6IzJdJLZ-eZE4b-6qYsgtnUSCGpAvMtFPEx-hhPS3ltVyfPJPaFnNJrmU1ntl3rspG5Ej5v5G4Ad43PzjjdCVGx30qM-rYgNq9L8ahpxxNs8TruvZ0_aC2l30MV1RHqc/s1600/IMG_2076.JPG" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHAXOlSVbL80lZtkwZ5sLEVZVpqe79B9L6JtpeNc0ZcOjAh3ufRFiS5SQTq_y8hwaEyzPD3ifwwDmHwPizmOq7NdpVs1vDK5FMHf_bqP2KKo1pT0GqRMD416szmRni3NjG6H6R_r-7VE/s1600/IMG_2051.JPG" /> Highlights:</div>
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*My brother-in-law Sean's new cat shirt</div>
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*Nerf Guns</div>
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*There's a black and white picture up there with four of us busting up laughing on the couch next to my brother-in-law, Ben. That hilarious moment was courtesy of my sister Amy, who exclaimed the instant Ben opened his present, "Oh he loves it!" It was funny....but maybe you had to be there.</div>
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*There's a couple other pictures of my sister Kristina and me laughing hysterically. Sean shot Kristina in the face with the nerf gun, which was also one of those funny things you probably had to be there for.</div>
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*Pickles</div>
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*Silas and Trevor and more toys than they know what to do with</div>
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*Printed out pictures of presents, because even when we celebrate Christmas two weeks after Christmas, we still buy presents the day of, then print pictures of what is coming.</div>
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This is a really cool family we've got.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></center>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-39996517594330908102015-02-03T22:09:00.000-08:002015-02-03T22:09:39.543-08:00Keep Calm and Eat Cake<center>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So Silas is 17 months (how the crap did that happen?), and the topic of our next child is a more common discussion these days. We are still undecided as to the route we are going to take for said child, but something dawned on me the other day. When an imaginary biological child comes to my mind, it is always a girl. I literally have no imagination for a biological son. And it makes sense, because I have a living, breathing, dreamboat of a baby who has far exceeded my wildest dreams and imagination for a son. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I do not know what the future holds for our family. I learned a long time ago that that part of our life is out of my control. What I do know is this....I already have the VERY best family. Anything else is just icing on an already delicious cake.</span></span></div>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5537420320725314260.post-58574811174667182432015-01-28T08:59:00.000-08:002015-01-28T09:06:25.032-08:00We're in a Video!<div style="text-align: center;">
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Over the summer, our church interviewed us for a video they were doing with campus updates. I kept wanting to post it but couldn't figure out how to post just our portion of the video instead of the full 10 minute one (there was a story from each of our 5 church campuses). I eventually gave up, because I couldn't figure it out. But then, this morning, when I sat down to my computer, the video just popped up out of the blue....just our portion. So weird! So, I guess I'm posting it now. This is obviously an extremely short, very condensed version of our story, which is far more complex and emotional than the video lets on. We had to share our story plus something about how our church helped us along in the adoption process all in under two minutes. We did our best, but they had to edit out some of what we shared of our story. I'm still happy with how it turned out, and I think they included the most important parts. Also, Silas's hair has quadrupled in size since this video was made! </div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="438" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/100766536" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="780"></iframe>
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A little disclaimer....the intro of the video makes it sound like we did fost-adopt. We didn't, but other families in our church have.</center>
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Mindy Swenson Kinnierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11511083744644878700noreply@blogger.com2