tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25483879785519269362024-02-07T07:06:48.335-07:00Contolini Family and Geography BlogRamblings from Colorado and everywhere else we travel to...smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-79592685893101084972021-12-15T14:36:00.005-07:002021-12-15T15:45:00.575-07:00Christmas is coming - 2021<p>I just read chapter 1 of the Gospel of Luke, in which the angel Gabriel visits Zachariah, a Jewish priest, to announce to him the upcoming, miraculous conception of John the Baptist. Immediately following this account, Gabriel visits Mary, a young teenager, announcing to her the miraculous conception of Jesus. For the first time I noticed the parallel between the two stories, but also the different ending of the conversations. Gabriel’s first words to both are, “Do not be afraid”. Zachariah responds to Gabriel’s announcement stating: “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And because of that doubt he is temporarily turned dumb and deaf. Mary instead responds: “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” to which Gabriel responds with reassurance. </p><p>So, why was Zachariah punished while Mary was reassured? It took me some research to find out the answer. Read till the end to find out. No spoiler. </p><p> Upon reflecting about it, I realized that my doubts and fears about what has happened in our lives this year have been similar to Zachariah’s. God has poured incredible grace onto our family, especially me, in 2021. Why do I doubt God when he has showered us with such blessings, in particular, through unforeseen and miraculous circumstances, the purchase of our condo in Ft. Myers, Florida? (<a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/Wp8FJ5yAgbvTk17U9">https://photos.app.goo.gl/Wp8FJ5yAgbvTk17U9</a>). </p><p>Norine and I will be spending the coldest time of the year there starting in January. I can work remotely now (wow!). It had been a dream of mine for many years, one I never thought possible. It will also help with Norine’s asthma which, in 2021, combined with COVID, took a heavy toll. It’s a major life change and more changes are coming. And with changes, fear and doubt often linger around the corner. Isabella will know by February if medical school is in her future or if God’s plan is different. It has been a long and often rough journey for our oldest. Emma is graduating with a nursing degree this coming April and will move back to Colorado. Pietro has changed his major to business and Paolo must decide soon about college. Both boys are working and saving for their own car (or truck?). And when we come back from Florida, Norine will need a knee replacement. </p><p>This past year has also helped Norine and I to reflect more about the end of our lives and how we are preparing for it. After both our moms, we also lost a few friends in 2021. There is fear and natural suffering when somebody’s earthly life ends, but we should also rejoice, because, if we truly strive to live according to God’s will in good and in hard times, then a future free or sorrow and suffering awaits us in heaven. </p><p>So how do we explain Zachariah and Mary? John’s father is essential asking the angel: “How do I know I can trust you? How will you prove it?” On the other hand, Mary is not asking how she can trust God’s word. She is asking how it can be in a spirit or amazement and wonder instead of doubt. </p><p>Our wish this Christmas is that we can all recover that youthful wonder and abandonment in God’s actions in our lives, reject fear and to be able to confidently say, like Mary: “I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be onto me according to thy word”. </p><p>#############</p><p>If you made it this far, you deserve a few of our best shots from 2021. Enjoy and Merry Christmas to all.</p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPRXFG_IET-cRkISp96NKEpxHAvUuxnA40Kam95KJTylhD9c-7Gx43YSg5k9Rcct7IJe0KSd38oJ3wjLVEB7ktyOOVwnknBDKsb90E3sy0la72esGs-198pM_fxbe7wlh_Nd0ZfLrZgao3TRV9vZawVawNebcFl_c4Qs_DOe6aL9COWcdvA9GqRfzP=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPRXFG_IET-cRkISp96NKEpxHAvUuxnA40Kam95KJTylhD9c-7Gx43YSg5k9Rcct7IJe0KSd38oJ3wjLVEB7ktyOOVwnknBDKsb90E3sy0la72esGs-198pM_fxbe7wlh_Nd0ZfLrZgao3TRV9vZawVawNebcFl_c4Qs_DOe6aL9COWcdvA9GqRfzP=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3at_ov8G-RauTBbuLxTJW4Y9TUgRsC3dk-fIoQc027ZtMSnckHi7-oOZV8VPhSz6IWtAAdOJadd-KkRkjM-a7RuhMKDQ2Kf-jJpb3f3MZX_gcNiy_w6lAZ1ymw9N-HHFE5FKcbjIBBZ17XE_wLH3gRA1rGQmq3Xm0fkfYDspOQLxLa1GY2ESyQTro=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3at_ov8G-RauTBbuLxTJW4Y9TUgRsC3dk-fIoQc027ZtMSnckHi7-oOZV8VPhSz6IWtAAdOJadd-KkRkjM-a7RuhMKDQ2Kf-jJpb3f3MZX_gcNiy_w6lAZ1ymw9N-HHFE5FKcbjIBBZ17XE_wLH3gRA1rGQmq3Xm0fkfYDspOQLxLa1GY2ESyQTro=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOL</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXorMA0W6e1MIiZKdQ0REevSl_K_EmC9gz4MkbQ6YBJWsCyFN6QUCsfoSxfgSf0P6_aVtmUJZsd_t0z_IfdobnXWh38iq4NifoOjJmOG1pHIygtPva04B8XMhvoWL3MtUp4cnWF6d-jMjzo0d4rSSW2By2UBlVzJlGsY-rj68rjt1X_Qi3xSmQNdnQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXorMA0W6e1MIiZKdQ0REevSl_K_EmC9gz4MkbQ6YBJWsCyFN6QUCsfoSxfgSf0P6_aVtmUJZsd_t0z_IfdobnXWh38iq4NifoOjJmOG1pHIygtPva04B8XMhvoWL3MtUp4cnWF6d-jMjzo0d4rSSW2By2UBlVzJlGsY-rj68rjt1X_Qi3xSmQNdnQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZLprRivgs03b8ccNK7qWV5T4_o-kRxuDYoecrZqopX7ljpFqTz2xxXspc-13ziOI73xPblNSRbFutg_wuear7gBoZfSb5rc6blI8mGEQ0tug5L4Dtvilnjum2UiK7mWiqcwuFpYk2o_j8zhO1tev3IyRHOIsZK4siULGgV6fVIHYsw2S5sIOlXWEf=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZLprRivgs03b8ccNK7qWV5T4_o-kRxuDYoecrZqopX7ljpFqTz2xxXspc-13ziOI73xPblNSRbFutg_wuear7gBoZfSb5rc6blI8mGEQ0tug5L4Dtvilnjum2UiK7mWiqcwuFpYk2o_j8zhO1tev3IyRHOIsZK4siULGgV6fVIHYsw2S5sIOlXWEf=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLWfxICnaYc5J0B4_cwi41ClwX4kjRCMFra49Bmj6D19tG9pDMxwjvPJ6vonaDIL0tpqj1wzZDJXCs5l4QT2XoBb8n2aDNj6XUa2bBd4wTkDGLsgsTx4XIUm7lKI7QPpPePERj-nR6u-isff7W8hCe1hIOyI0slBARqsPG7c5vWXo1vRmGOwL95uKZ=s2576" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="2576" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLWfxICnaYc5J0B4_cwi41ClwX4kjRCMFra49Bmj6D19tG9pDMxwjvPJ6vonaDIL0tpqj1wzZDJXCs5l4QT2XoBb8n2aDNj6XUa2bBd4wTkDGLsgsTx4XIUm7lKI7QPpPePERj-nR6u-isff7W8hCe1hIOyI0slBARqsPG7c5vWXo1vRmGOwL95uKZ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoh9-MHfmpCXkaleSVzmufWGwUL6ifE3LR-qnhCnpEtypGmmIlYiX6DhW3qvnudhhQ9NfU_8DhKTsad1oUjMBhZILLcgFVhnsuBCH4YmiNz2KekJvj7ViZfmvvNGG703mukglgawdl1sBaYZP25-RQbH-W3cvaeXDWBYEdmft4YLIykakK9_N18y1e=s2576" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2576" data-original-width="1932" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoh9-MHfmpCXkaleSVzmufWGwUL6ifE3LR-qnhCnpEtypGmmIlYiX6DhW3qvnudhhQ9NfU_8DhKTsad1oUjMBhZILLcgFVhnsuBCH4YmiNz2KekJvj7ViZfmvvNGG703mukglgawdl1sBaYZP25-RQbH-W3cvaeXDWBYEdmft4YLIykakK9_N18y1e=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salem Sue</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibFE7Lh2mU0ueThKmrQb-MJAyziTQcmiKUU0aaDX48ILr-pfOZc-Q7EALYRNiVYo_y6gjTTJVCpVdG5nERN324nieuSEC4Zuc2YOixJJl4oIKqbXUDkKkA4591V5nxTOkrr1rSviRgGfTKNPTafWUKZ5fKZ_plNqqh7wKbbBoFSj2XXG9yhvNPrUjK=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibFE7Lh2mU0ueThKmrQb-MJAyziTQcmiKUU0aaDX48ILr-pfOZc-Q7EALYRNiVYo_y6gjTTJVCpVdG5nERN324nieuSEC4Zuc2YOixJJl4oIKqbXUDkKkA4591V5nxTOkrr1rSviRgGfTKNPTafWUKZ5fKZ_plNqqh7wKbbBoFSj2XXG9yhvNPrUjK=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The summer of "porcini"! Yum!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0PFQ9VaxJw28mOgT6P6U2j5lGShrQo6UwZ-egkgz60DhMzB3btskwVUSBC6cooNWq34YsSPmQ8acd9SHqQTRu1jAAoPKMCoURGJxkIf0Uf3STjowTaHWu1Qy7ARwvTECmvwl7SdaUyPwNzBOCIoKYXBN52y70Bb9lQjWrXsgipo5gH1Y3XjuzcCTw=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj0PFQ9VaxJw28mOgT6P6U2j5lGShrQo6UwZ-egkgz60DhMzB3btskwVUSBC6cooNWq34YsSPmQ8acd9SHqQTRu1jAAoPKMCoURGJxkIf0Uf3STjowTaHWu1Qy7ARwvTECmvwl7SdaUyPwNzBOCIoKYXBN52y70Bb9lQjWrXsgipo5gH1Y3XjuzcCTw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took mom to the mountains with me</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjZ39Hq5uOZu8ysJSYbIRsJXp2Lnsrl3ED8m_l2Bw9z4hZBMLASxkkl11djMHl0KWDG7PcOmVh7eSrbxWuT9YJzmCNv8yfnIdQNVMF5w9Kd48B_YijLFl11CMLxuBoPA4OrV-CvyPsgMU1uADvM5ja-2fF-G3vCEVLEJgAMAIMbGXcoZC6GkLOlpfE=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjZ39Hq5uOZu8ysJSYbIRsJXp2Lnsrl3ED8m_l2Bw9z4hZBMLASxkkl11djMHl0KWDG7PcOmVh7eSrbxWuT9YJzmCNv8yfnIdQNVMF5w9Kd48B_YijLFl11CMLxuBoPA4OrV-CvyPsgMU1uADvM5ja-2fF-G3vCEVLEJgAMAIMbGXcoZC6GkLOlpfE=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a field of columbines in Herman Gulch in early July</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibtDQ7w6KOPcJLoz39kUC-jUsJRvCDE5cYodN0nDJMTknyO0TsofsjY-ZJ-SDTw_mbNjzXuSUh0SuOWLNl1KjDzIujehkJWdX0hNFd4OsblgL5GaTe8727OfuZy0mOL17aAh5ZnB9T0PkbMssyQHw2pW2rCRpPnO90UIrI4GJYNWS-L8d7BaFcz9h4=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibtDQ7w6KOPcJLoz39kUC-jUsJRvCDE5cYodN0nDJMTknyO0TsofsjY-ZJ-SDTw_mbNjzXuSUh0SuOWLNl1KjDzIujehkJWdX0hNFd4OsblgL5GaTe8727OfuZy0mOL17aAh5ZnB9T0PkbMssyQHw2pW2rCRpPnO90UIrI4GJYNWS-L8d7BaFcz9h4=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9u3eyksyDa6oDMv3dp67DdlY5MwTDaZIYPLDdHuTO-7p5rXwXW5uJCqs3rmOJ9g7iBt_WG0ggCidCt3I7pIdCWQhbRP2atRHpqYo1Ttt7I468ckgWGvbmUMtoDH6qPdMu6Jku4oitkH_1McDhQ7j62SYwrZlaCUZ-bkWQubYS1IrXxq7ENBNtypUL=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9u3eyksyDa6oDMv3dp67DdlY5MwTDaZIYPLDdHuTO-7p5rXwXW5uJCqs3rmOJ9g7iBt_WG0ggCidCt3I7pIdCWQhbRP2atRHpqYo1Ttt7I468ckgWGvbmUMtoDH6qPdMu6Jku4oitkH_1McDhQ7j62SYwrZlaCUZ-bkWQubYS1IrXxq7ENBNtypUL=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norine's new hobby</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMNjSoE2R3okP6rWUDbiZGBlizqExyN26zI0afLeFuHo4Dfr1zhHdRf8sQOvh_q2LRgSbf1Nh0zjgyfk2RKRlWDrWohjRqG4E54dEU0bGc7nT_TxoJbI622rXJ44WiEtOgYEmiQvQAjZjgu5RjLiZSatsBR2Oncv8iPotnm6IgFNVk_DAFZxi9_RC1=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMNjSoE2R3okP6rWUDbiZGBlizqExyN26zI0afLeFuHo4Dfr1zhHdRf8sQOvh_q2LRgSbf1Nh0zjgyfk2RKRlWDrWohjRqG4E54dEU0bGc7nT_TxoJbI622rXJ44WiEtOgYEmiQvQAjZjgu5RjLiZSatsBR2Oncv8iPotnm6IgFNVk_DAFZxi9_RC1=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWXPOs0JyboWup27O4yokcvfRxprr5098s3WyrYGfe7uwsHHa7szSVVx40-28va2UFejK0pjdaTXPUGgi9pnqk7SuaOlf8y05-yjI5LY_LmlnlnGyCMvh5dzCuU1O1uDS3l0caJC1gAuur1WoeF17LcavJRyiU5FgcQsYet9SdjpLAKkVeZilJvUvY=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWXPOs0JyboWup27O4yokcvfRxprr5098s3WyrYGfe7uwsHHa7szSVVx40-28va2UFejK0pjdaTXPUGgi9pnqk7SuaOlf8y05-yjI5LY_LmlnlnGyCMvh5dzCuU1O1uDS3l0caJC1gAuur1WoeF17LcavJRyiU5FgcQsYet9SdjpLAKkVeZilJvUvY=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjD3bESTL2k38b4D1JTIYnusoOIb3ydnTlq_LNrOBv0FkeRh4xwURBEm6O2Uv-ppDi34nWLF6t7Ad0t85MPh8C4ZCAljRcrugdm-ZpaTMHDzleENOLXtZyGrOfHpJOZ4oTU7Q0uDdLPkN1xiS-gCEvkEsb7FS9PX5OmlQfpq6sTrXWkouoYNTQNjiQY=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjD3bESTL2k38b4D1JTIYnusoOIb3ydnTlq_LNrOBv0FkeRh4xwURBEm6O2Uv-ppDi34nWLF6t7Ad0t85MPh8C4ZCAljRcrugdm-ZpaTMHDzleENOLXtZyGrOfHpJOZ4oTU7Q0uDdLPkN1xiS-gCEvkEsb7FS9PX5OmlQfpq6sTrXWkouoYNTQNjiQY=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paolo and Rob... Yee boys</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifPkIf5u0Ywy9s_DTt1XOHpg0VP68SYa1lqY6GE5dTTq2QVBkL-iiQy_gIhZysO2q_f8adio37ZPeFktGr5wTrVyA4BXfFvTyikGihGxoTehPKNq18MLnvBs36T5D7nuie7ROjT3M5jGn99KoLGW9CPcpQzjpNTdY9PK2WE7MpuRGr5m0hqrq31KHW=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifPkIf5u0Ywy9s_DTt1XOHpg0VP68SYa1lqY6GE5dTTq2QVBkL-iiQy_gIhZysO2q_f8adio37ZPeFktGr5wTrVyA4BXfFvTyikGihGxoTehPKNq18MLnvBs36T5D7nuie7ROjT3M5jGn99KoLGW9CPcpQzjpNTdY9PK2WE7MpuRGr5m0hqrq31KHW=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new favorite spot</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; font-family: Calibri, "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 12.65pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqss2TlaweOGS6wtuQEX2jP6vs7m3PkBk8ckz2TDU8JLmP_mwITlnY2WnkQLI0gn5hgzhZekSyforpqfNMuMAs41Yzzg62Yqc4cNGTj0ip_w7-jNlVScuC6foEVB48tjg9ZkN2D1JEAJh1BaM37ldVMReIsH2GM_Z-DVIAGNNv9iBt3lEkYxMqkxAq=s4288" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4288" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqss2TlaweOGS6wtuQEX2jP6vs7m3PkBk8ckz2TDU8JLmP_mwITlnY2WnkQLI0gn5hgzhZekSyforpqfNMuMAs41Yzzg62Yqc4cNGTj0ip_w7-jNlVScuC6foEVB48tjg9ZkN2D1JEAJh1BaM37ldVMReIsH2GM_Z-DVIAGNNv9iBt3lEkYxMqkxAq=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite bird</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhHmBEXkXYjkWtgkBzwB2b9JlK65fShoi5hvrXm8s--caivpMjsPylLESZD6-8vJCr9nyNWw0-igsPQtQOVQDfjPz68li6db_3n70B1xCST-Xtf17b2eKROtxvHdS4jfh71MODloyB5RuECjdxnogLl-qejZ5T1h0qz_3o9AyAeiwD-9SRzVPN-TNU=s4288" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4288" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhHmBEXkXYjkWtgkBzwB2b9JlK65fShoi5hvrXm8s--caivpMjsPylLESZD6-8vJCr9nyNWw0-igsPQtQOVQDfjPz68li6db_3n70B1xCST-Xtf17b2eKROtxvHdS4jfh71MODloyB5RuECjdxnogLl-qejZ5T1h0qz_3o9AyAeiwD-9SRzVPN-TNU=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><p></p>smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-8138718436407496062021-03-13T15:06:00.000-07:002021-03-13T15:06:19.521-07:00Birds (Florida edition)<p>On an early February week in one of my favorite places I have ever been to, I was blessed to meet so many wonderful birds. I am glad I had my good camera and zoom with me. </p><p>They are elegant, colorful and so diverse. Some are small and fast moving, other large and heavy and slow. I love to observe them soar over the ocean waters. They do all remind of my desire to soar higher with grace. To be a better person, to reach for the Heavens and to run physically and spiritually toward our forever home.</p><p>Genesis, 1:20 - Then God said: Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIJCfkcrqsjhaFqrRNdvGRhse89JBZdcdbKlgSpUVM5gnV0B3QbzgyR8O7Q9sbUVL6IpIUhfKBhXSrEkHcJxYHlzhTm3VbVL7krk0w4vSHT3eFz5lFXJeoSJLnkjswuUhvTfBwTURzn0/s2048/_DSC0328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIJCfkcrqsjhaFqrRNdvGRhse89JBZdcdbKlgSpUVM5gnV0B3QbzgyR8O7Q9sbUVL6IpIUhfKBhXSrEkHcJxYHlzhTm3VbVL7krk0w4vSHT3eFz5lFXJeoSJLnkjswuUhvTfBwTURzn0/w640-h424/_DSC0328.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIXH3q4PLsE5ovNXRiUf3coqZJTjtPI2Ln0WUqER-9HYRHMuoPhXmQjLFFxAKrFyXVfU71jZTydVQkT2UBLu65TwlsAHJIlVDAOfaImaNf-EcdmtCKYtv_V8uz3wBDuI3s5BvNRkkq4A/s2048/_DSC0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIXH3q4PLsE5ovNXRiUf3coqZJTjtPI2Ln0WUqER-9HYRHMuoPhXmQjLFFxAKrFyXVfU71jZTydVQkT2UBLu65TwlsAHJIlVDAOfaImaNf-EcdmtCKYtv_V8uz3wBDuI3s5BvNRkkq4A/w640-h424/_DSC0493.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjpdwHyDPK2ZoAvjE_f2qc63BeONZngp4XN60-goDBTCC35JDdV30QRXLnoCMay-3k3TNzmVwAYWO3lj6vBqt9RZFQRFWLl1s3da7cmemQbYRo3EDtnL-rZfZoErAt0oA6DoInbQavrE/s2048/_DSC0500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjpdwHyDPK2ZoAvjE_f2qc63BeONZngp4XN60-goDBTCC35JDdV30QRXLnoCMay-3k3TNzmVwAYWO3lj6vBqt9RZFQRFWLl1s3da7cmemQbYRo3EDtnL-rZfZoErAt0oA6DoInbQavrE/w640-h424/_DSC0500.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Matthew 6: 25-27</div><div>“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?</div><div>Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?</div><div>Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?..."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-77543582634288241842020-12-12T20:39:00.002-07:002020-12-13T08:44:11.478-07:00The ups and down of 2020<p> This was a year ...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6QTK3fX_Zjmdf9zrE8yJOWx0DUjFERxYyqPB44yYZ-d5V_IhJBZOtSxnVHclM16VaMMLufSTs3IX6ktbPWHuuV_JUEKnT8sZ8keqvVxdWESXAObLfhAGnUIYIsS0hL3-c4vS_CFs8tQ/s4032/IMG_2939.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6QTK3fX_Zjmdf9zrE8yJOWx0DUjFERxYyqPB44yYZ-d5V_IhJBZOtSxnVHclM16VaMMLufSTs3IX6ktbPWHuuV_JUEKnT8sZ8keqvVxdWESXAObLfhAGnUIYIsS0hL3-c4vS_CFs8tQ/w486-h640/IMG_2939.JPG" width="486" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>During Advent I like to reflect on the Nativity and on which character I identify myself the most with. This year it is the donkey, the gentle yet stubborn animal that carried Mary to Nazareth and then likely helped keep Jesus warm in the manger and then again walked all the way to Egypt with the Holy family. I like the donkey not because I feel particularly holy or gentle, but rather because of the load I have been carrying. It's an important load to keep the family moving forward steadily especially in uncertain times, when securities and habits are taken away and rules change by the day, often without making any sense. I wonder if the donkey carrying Mary and baby Jesus felt that way. Led on at least two very long trips, without knowing where she was going, without knowing what tomorrow or the next hour would bring. I am sure those journeys involved many setbacks and probably some scary moments. The donkey had faith in Joseph. We also need to have faith that God will guide us through these uncertain times.</p><p>May the mystery and joy of the Incarnation that we celebrate every Christmas bring you true peace and hope this season and always.</p><p>Merry Christmas/Buon Natale/Feliz Navidad</p><p>Enrico, Norine, Isabella, Emanuela, Pietro, Paolo (and Rosie)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRCc8fQQKmu4Tf48_as_nZykJcjt9kLQCMTPdP_3SxTPWPjdRgivc-bBLh-9Lw2UPVrFPl8RUkAoV7KacxnoKgyrdktVyli9icqkhBYB0uGYSigH5sIxS_2CY-vMIqK3DZnOebZbaEBE/s4032/IMG_5329.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRCc8fQQKmu4Tf48_as_nZykJcjt9kLQCMTPdP_3SxTPWPjdRgivc-bBLh-9Lw2UPVrFPl8RUkAoV7KacxnoKgyrdktVyli9icqkhBYB0uGYSigH5sIxS_2CY-vMIqK3DZnOebZbaEBE/w640-h480/IMG_5329.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLXLVT_P8xxfLC-gkHMyTAojmi8GT_I7FctjwOycZflMFjoYyPeUR4-ydv68xR-bHZ2ufMAf_eP7Y4HEyWHh6WM5ZX7Yv6FLLC2-kUvqDhDuVr5d2OcE6NcXTCMME4tzJ6oJ_ozTKqrY/s4032/IMG_4072.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLXLVT_P8xxfLC-gkHMyTAojmi8GT_I7FctjwOycZflMFjoYyPeUR4-ydv68xR-bHZ2ufMAf_eP7Y4HEyWHh6WM5ZX7Yv6FLLC2-kUvqDhDuVr5d2OcE6NcXTCMME4tzJ6oJ_ozTKqrY/w640-h480/IMG_4072.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new beginning</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tzdFnePkXFDuZ2HMk17hhoGH00zizFzUYBvhRLsY82PDqN6NfiVSgyVKMZGMorD997ZqgHp_lAobCRnILiHx8I3XFt3akNuXJ0f4wCJA4sPyMNvavQlD3dbDmFeCaaEWN8575OGqwGc/s4032/IMG_4055.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tzdFnePkXFDuZ2HMk17hhoGH00zizFzUYBvhRLsY82PDqN6NfiVSgyVKMZGMorD997ZqgHp_lAobCRnILiHx8I3XFt3akNuXJ0f4wCJA4sPyMNvavQlD3dbDmFeCaaEWN8575OGqwGc/w640-h480/IMG_4055.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun in Florida</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsI3co502pmPjaOUKvjAf1-4HGtNPkkUOo930RkbskcclBlB7wKEEGZT-tWKjw7zI-M7OeDYaCPX8vxGu04dlxkBIf-u3Nn_ZlMD9nIvTXBSh_iAIRYoWMCOEMNFNrdQ-AGHUyVXXRrA/s4032/IMG_3961.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsI3co502pmPjaOUKvjAf1-4HGtNPkkUOo930RkbskcclBlB7wKEEGZT-tWKjw7zI-M7OeDYaCPX8vxGu04dlxkBIf-u3Nn_ZlMD9nIvTXBSh_iAIRYoWMCOEMNFNrdQ-AGHUyVXXRrA/w640-h480/IMG_3961.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajPMtCE5E-pG6cEpTEPm76i6ZfF1ILoUn9BImIj8oPgVXbroQ_O7XH-ieL0LxTxR8700e_DI78naFJXTmx0EqvMjQmINNb1FYBAgkJnf8xrhKzr0N0MOGLnoehnTHp8ge3fOQ-DqT8KA/s2576/IMG_3938.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="2576" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajPMtCE5E-pG6cEpTEPm76i6ZfF1ILoUn9BImIj8oPgVXbroQ_O7XH-ieL0LxTxR8700e_DI78naFJXTmx0EqvMjQmINNb1FYBAgkJnf8xrhKzr0N0MOGLnoehnTHp8ge3fOQ-DqT8KA/w640-h480/IMG_3938.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwQu1JF8MKmM2ZkR8WsMDRySUfWiV3bCQj-pbgjt3pQ-bKPGKDKzCZ42HW9TkaWEClcw8saBXYmGHc2MjnBKJsSn_5L8Q-PNlZ2M2R5fzBrJlb2W8dF8OOflkxIEqPJRL3tHAgtMcO7I/s4032/IMG_5237.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwQu1JF8MKmM2ZkR8WsMDRySUfWiV3bCQj-pbgjt3pQ-bKPGKDKzCZ42HW9TkaWEClcw8saBXYmGHc2MjnBKJsSn_5L8Q-PNlZ2M2R5fzBrJlb2W8dF8OOflkxIEqPJRL3tHAgtMcO7I/w640-h480/IMG_5237.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma turns 21</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoon0qEr3xj3m3ZmWv4cnBMPzrZjj2UTP2XyLF4f-9iz0e-3jOukyu55QAIPCihTRysVNVVVR-mxYwEAr5dZwaQjJqzi8DW_4z9kx025BTH7SElHnrUcsuUK3i8ldbIQt7jxTFocDAtBk/s1600/280ac190-e426-4f7c-8a62-0021e1797a68.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoon0qEr3xj3m3ZmWv4cnBMPzrZjj2UTP2XyLF4f-9iz0e-3jOukyu55QAIPCihTRysVNVVVR-mxYwEAr5dZwaQjJqzi8DW_4z9kx025BTH7SElHnrUcsuUK3i8ldbIQt7jxTFocDAtBk/w480-h640/280ac190-e426-4f7c-8a62-0021e1797a68.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">college life</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8Nbcum9okMiqEA0V2V92WQT_CMDHJaIEDfwRIZxW4kVdLAVUix2ixoFhv5doT01x1NOBEo3IJrTuHj9-AUyZ7mx5L4SE_pO7KyVTRfftqDmrsuJIVYr36SU9LWFTwY_whFNu9Iv9_Fc/s2576/IMG_3706.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="2576" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8Nbcum9okMiqEA0V2V92WQT_CMDHJaIEDfwRIZxW4kVdLAVUix2ixoFhv5doT01x1NOBEo3IJrTuHj9-AUyZ7mx5L4SE_pO7KyVTRfftqDmrsuJIVYr36SU9LWFTwY_whFNu9Iv9_Fc/w640-h480/IMG_3706.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fun in the woods of Colorado</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mRGQBBuvKAFMKxhjOrK8fZyl_5dHIGgaix9JyJtXf9Enr3OvX1elenPIlnvf9QNxHGpesoJFBsH1nfyP3MFRsRUEQChpgNyKZF6iqFO8150A7dsaWUKt3YJ_FdIq0QfVKhS9dry5CgM/s2576/IMG_3515.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="2576" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mRGQBBuvKAFMKxhjOrK8fZyl_5dHIGgaix9JyJtXf9Enr3OvX1elenPIlnvf9QNxHGpesoJFBsH1nfyP3MFRsRUEQChpgNyKZF6iqFO8150A7dsaWUKt3YJ_FdIq0QfVKhS9dry5CgM/w640-h480/IMG_3515.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWQtteHVj1vYDGM_rzYoJRgRjD6oag4HpOsSd61ZBVAClchCFAariv8hj9hjY76XLTzzZlNUZQuQu16JMX3dFdJdjDKHZbg0rrHKTo4q-ptHhDg2pxjIDOwwS_Mq72Z21eRoBA5gu9wI/s3088/IMG_0084.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWQtteHVj1vYDGM_rzYoJRgRjD6oag4HpOsSd61ZBVAClchCFAariv8hj9hjY76XLTzzZlNUZQuQu16JMX3dFdJdjDKHZbg0rrHKTo4q-ptHhDg2pxjIDOwwS_Mq72Z21eRoBA5gu9wI/w640-h480/IMG_0084.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7My6xGx6GKrIhaxkgLSgiPoM7OFMtrVH8DHNugefo7CwemTeXWREylt_lWLxLS_MFwnMOuDCUMftOFTZ5kd7yl2LNp1dQxpaWHOJp6-TiuVqfFhmzdj5pACCSgRJQmCm8VPmxamTjfXw/s1008/IMG_4198.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7My6xGx6GKrIhaxkgLSgiPoM7OFMtrVH8DHNugefo7CwemTeXWREylt_lWLxLS_MFwnMOuDCUMftOFTZ5kd7yl2LNp1dQxpaWHOJp6-TiuVqfFhmzdj5pACCSgRJQmCm8VPmxamTjfXw/w480-h640/IMG_4198.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">14er</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrHJevb9noWFQ_l-0b2g26eNEJHyVZhXVZnKQXa-sQah0H9DH2kSJR6QX0fKcIXde3onKV-UKipn6Zejcm7kVQzfARqlqBYaws444naO46FHWKa0c-ym2qNJ2WKikvJjjHkThJGunWRY/s1008/IMG_4194.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrHJevb9noWFQ_l-0b2g26eNEJHyVZhXVZnKQXa-sQah0H9DH2kSJR6QX0fKcIXde3onKV-UKipn6Zejcm7kVQzfARqlqBYaws444naO46FHWKa0c-ym2qNJ2WKikvJjjHkThJGunWRY/w640-h480/IMG_4194.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVErIcQdDIUPGgVWqWSbJtHssroPgeDqx32ER62tstk6Rrci580O6wM6CxHgYLnlJGIZWoxpRUkCEi3XWC3foAJarro-IO3ZjDZio4AGXM-B6xGp2N0TawBouKw9KVhcwTFjt4z9nJOOg/s4032/IMG_3553.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVErIcQdDIUPGgVWqWSbJtHssroPgeDqx32ER62tstk6Rrci580O6wM6CxHgYLnlJGIZWoxpRUkCEi3XWC3foAJarro-IO3ZjDZio4AGXM-B6xGp2N0TawBouKw9KVhcwTFjt4z9nJOOg/w480-h640/IMG_3553.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">still running</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6acZpMjN4uND5mu0ArOlOM6uQUk_BHW1ePiYGDb4e9XR10cKjfL1Yi6zGt77rc_7YX3s0wLxyr_CuDkPbAPeoaeI7hV-MXs7j7jeiQd_rWElwa61isshxsED5xyDnalEkt_20u7t9Ek/s4032/IMG_3132.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6acZpMjN4uND5mu0ArOlOM6uQUk_BHW1ePiYGDb4e9XR10cKjfL1Yi6zGt77rc_7YX3s0wLxyr_CuDkPbAPeoaeI7hV-MXs7j7jeiQd_rWElwa61isshxsED5xyDnalEkt_20u7t9Ek/w640-h480/IMG_3132.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">COVID madness</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3v8CWNdsbJ352hnWpUlwr4Dfy8XJoOLEAJ-sigYAgpxzISzdISsdvvXJI6Ffm-xHGDhE4mBtgD8DxV6kA8Ff5P3Fl8WywLFy-X6ZQX4VWCslFbb4QFujjhvVPnBVni8aNl6HolO_kOMY/s3506/IMG_4344.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2630" data-original-width="3506" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3v8CWNdsbJ352hnWpUlwr4Dfy8XJoOLEAJ-sigYAgpxzISzdISsdvvXJI6Ffm-xHGDhE4mBtgD8DxV6kA8Ff5P3Fl8WywLFy-X6ZQX4VWCslFbb4QFujjhvVPnBVni8aNl6HolO_kOMY/w640-h480/IMG_4344.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We lost both our moms this year...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlUzRm0-VrRdlq4gRico1sMyeLqVexhrTDWdGsTGqf9RVy4xJmtoRuRivhMyyx9itgxHZPwfNXS6S_DBTyAFMDrfxUSoFYGusLSDhNHHgU8NJ2gNiaDUhXLwlzQuonGnM2KC59wywbh8/s4032/IMG_2130.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlUzRm0-VrRdlq4gRico1sMyeLqVexhrTDWdGsTGqf9RVy4xJmtoRuRivhMyyx9itgxHZPwfNXS6S_DBTyAFMDrfxUSoFYGusLSDhNHHgU8NJ2gNiaDUhXLwlzQuonGnM2KC59wywbh8/w480-h640/IMG_2130.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...may they rest in peace</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVZagJJBH19LLJEDWHsDeN3R5CkOCS67L4v3_2c-4GYX4c9a2zypGW7yMyHLRPkM-7yz9f6cUMxbsmwOPf0xOv4FJH13x2VlvqRiJqca8XvDL1epy0W9G5BEOYOqQTW4_emTd8um4ZD8/s2576/IMG_4303.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="2576" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVZagJJBH19LLJEDWHsDeN3R5CkOCS67L4v3_2c-4GYX4c9a2zypGW7yMyHLRPkM-7yz9f6cUMxbsmwOPf0xOv4FJH13x2VlvqRiJqca8XvDL1epy0W9G5BEOYOqQTW4_emTd8um4ZD8/w640-h480/IMG_4303.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Italy with the cousins for the funeral</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMzq6pMLPiTCMgEi_XJU1X84hyphenhyphenfdT6YQjKQOKJR_Ym9NhvdnSV2ampm625JBGCSShKU62uqcXNpgNzP4jv87wdW1l8BddTCOJkFtJgkoPyHBo7QLXTTEQGu61hRqQcappsA_AOzzSuVs/s4032/IMG_3029.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMzq6pMLPiTCMgEi_XJU1X84hyphenhyphenfdT6YQjKQOKJR_Ym9NhvdnSV2ampm625JBGCSShKU62uqcXNpgNzP4jv87wdW1l8BddTCOJkFtJgkoPyHBo7QLXTTEQGu61hRqQcappsA_AOzzSuVs/w640-h480/IMG_3029.JPG" title="Free speech board at Justice for All Event" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The free speech board with Justice for All in San Antonio</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMNZZ3MkCiKlHRQqG_e5l5q-My0klDAa6esSG2UPZtawpn-tQ5NsSHRu-Sou_jls2McZ3rCW-cXzx3CuRyewWwFwdU8AElOcPWW_1d3iySjPru4ID5llM0iznW35_8ROwm4ug1PcxNUQ/s4032/IMG_2989.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMNZZ3MkCiKlHRQqG_e5l5q-My0klDAa6esSG2UPZtawpn-tQ5NsSHRu-Sou_jls2McZ3rCW-cXzx3CuRyewWwFwdU8AElOcPWW_1d3iySjPru4ID5llM0iznW35_8ROwm4ug1PcxNUQ/w640-h480/IMG_2989.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the Justice For All displays</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZP7wMBjEAu_NDrcshmjb-STb9S7_tIoGLdCjduH9JiVBtHZ7qJhQ4D6niYE2QjecLFTwL2FwAIGb2NmLmsUcZcPV3qC37TwLS7yg87-n2MNHeKPP8_liA7nIai4g4Jx8NcsiOv20Qfig/s4032/IMG_2733.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZP7wMBjEAu_NDrcshmjb-STb9S7_tIoGLdCjduH9JiVBtHZ7qJhQ4D6niYE2QjecLFTwL2FwAIGb2NmLmsUcZcPV3qC37TwLS7yg87-n2MNHeKPP8_liA7nIai4g4Jx8NcsiOv20Qfig/w640-h480/IMG_2733.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We start the year with solar panels and...</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtmGEOUlhZbp10ov06MmVzCDjqp7L5aMoQ-VSX0vqDXgCou9h_9b_SrUofCZIR5PcJl_G8q1ag6hhJnDcDdaZwmyyNkzM5d7j6rQw4onn3YybROHpfXd8vM2FGNsh-77tiS217FLEBtc/s4032/IMG_2652.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibtmGEOUlhZbp10ov06MmVzCDjqp7L5aMoQ-VSX0vqDXgCou9h_9b_SrUofCZIR5PcJl_G8q1ag6hhJnDcDdaZwmyyNkzM5d7j6rQw4onn3YybROHpfXd8vM2FGNsh-77tiS217FLEBtc/w640-h480/IMG_2652.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...an unexpected visit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_jiamlLFqZ7X4JCWf-d59_J6z2McDZL-dGAsHVNu_tiugHHvhmfb53B_TryfzQ30fZIt38CbAh419j3GLHBLSB8N_kDSWYuV06FEUik80XAf1Ck8In6gRoAIi8eRyKMT6rp3shCg-p4/s1600/a6772a28-7dd1-42f7-8bc9-b5a8a2676d0b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1202" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_jiamlLFqZ7X4JCWf-d59_J6z2McDZL-dGAsHVNu_tiugHHvhmfb53B_TryfzQ30fZIt38CbAh419j3GLHBLSB8N_kDSWYuV06FEUik80XAf1Ck8In6gRoAIi8eRyKMT6rp3shCg-p4/w482-h640/a6772a28-7dd1-42f7-8bc9-b5a8a2676d0b.jpg" width="482" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">COVID's restrictions can be fun too</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpExv22JVCfh30-ae-lCTDtBZa2-vfH32dsPKLB99hS2GSzIlma-fWvJIx3sizUdbaJzkbYEnLrNk8H7O2SCDoNfTF-goYZrBnFYU34Ygz9SIvGjJY9LidOs0ehbp_t7UPqiRuh9mO7k/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpExv22JVCfh30-ae-lCTDtBZa2-vfH32dsPKLB99hS2GSzIlma-fWvJIx3sizUdbaJzkbYEnLrNk8H7O2SCDoNfTF-goYZrBnFYU34Ygz9SIvGjJY9LidOs0ehbp_t7UPqiRuh9mO7k/w480-h640/IMG_0775.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and finally... "Sherman" the donkey (look up the book "running with Sherman")</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-6191799181990147422020-10-24T22:06:00.004-06:002020-10-24T22:07:32.775-06:00Another incredible homily<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pi1pHExl6Ug" width="560"></iframe>smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-78536389618177900652020-10-12T17:42:00.004-06:002020-10-12T18:49:48.204-06:00The Great Paradox: King Cyrus and President Trump<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Two posts in 48 hours. What's happening at the Contolini’s? Probably just an answer to prayers… For some time, I have been looking for and even been asking popular Catholic apologists to address the conflict that many Christians have in voting for Donald Trump. Today, finally, a good answer came as an email.<o:p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"> </o:p></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I am posting below in its entirety the message I received from Steve Woods, who leads the organization Family Life Center International, which runs the website dads.org. Thank you, Steve.<o:p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"> </o:p></span></p><p class="xtext-build-content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">The Great Paradox: King Cyrus and President Trump</span></b><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><o:p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"> </o:p></p><p class="xtext-build-content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; color: #55575d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px;">Note: This article is not a political endorsement or a voting recommendation. Instead, it is a scriptural and theological commentary on past and current events. </i></o:p></p><p class="xtext-build-content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">Many are having conflicting thoughts about President Trump. On the one hand, he has said, Tweeted, and engaged in things deeply troubling to Christians. On the other hand, Trump seems to be the most pro-life president we’ve ever had.</span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p class="xtext-build-content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">Trump:</span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><ul style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">Is the first president to address the March for Life in person</span></span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">Is the first President to single out Planned Parenthood for defunding</span></span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">Asked Congress to pass legislation to end late-term abortions</span></span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">Reinstated and expanded policies prohibiting international aid from funding oversees abortions</span></span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">Signed joint international statements stating that there is no international right to abortion</span></span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">Proclaimed to the U.N. that, “Americans will never tire of defending innocent life”</span></span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></li></ul><p class="xtext-build-content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">How important is the pro-life issue to 2020 voting? Despite the confused and misleading statements of a few church leaders, abortion is the preeminent moral issue of our generation.</span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p class="xtext-build-content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">The question still remains, How can a leader do so much good in defending pro-life and yet do and say so many negative things? I believe that the answer to this disconnect that’s puzzling so many Christians is found on an Israeli coin I recently purchased.</span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p class="xtext-build-content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">May 1948 was the founding of the nation of Israel. In honor of the 70th anniversary of the modern state of Israel, President Trump proclaimed the United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and instructed the U.S. Embassy to move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.</span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p class="xtext-build-content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">On a commemorative coin in recognition of this 70th anniversary event, the images of King Cyrus of Persia and President Trump overlap each other. You can </span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="http://r.dads.org/lnk/AUwAABEL1mIAAcpjbr4AAEHLzXoAALTsVQcACtcWAAIm0ABfhMDRm3kctA2jRViBD4q6dtyG-QACD7Y/2/JEY_odkp_wCKNdJ-M-avRw/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGVtcGxlLWNvaW5zLmNvbS9wcm9kdWN0cy90aGUtNzAteWVhcnMtaXNyYWVsLXJlZGVtcHRpb24tdGVtcGxlLWNvaW4tc2lsdmVyLXBsYXRlZD92YXJpYW50PTM0OTc4OTY4MjQwMjc4JmN1cnJlbmN5PVVTRCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPXByb2R1Y3Rfc3luYyZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvb2dsZSZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1zYWdfb3JnYW5pYyZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2FnX29yZ2FuaWMmZ2NsaWQ9Q2owS0NRandrOGI3QlJDYUFSSXNBQVJSVEw0TldJbWVhWVhOZnVqNzRSeE01dXlZNnoyR0hOcFFpUzl1S" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">see </span></span></a><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.temple-coins.com/products/the-70-years-israel-redemption-temple-coin-silver-plated?variant=34978968240278&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=Cj0KCQjwk8b7BRCaARIsAARRTL4NWImeaYXNfuj74RxM5uyY6z2GHNpQiS9uKeVna4b5mpedYY_pxfgaAqOyEALw_wcB" target="_blank">a picture of it here</a></span><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p class="xtext-build-content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">As a result of God’s sovereign plan, King Cyrus became the founder of the Persian empire. Having conquered the entire ancient near east, he allowed the Jews suffering in captivity since the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem to return to Israel. In addition, he ordered the rebuilding of the temple and the temple vessels plundered by the Babylonians returned. To top it off, funds from the royal treasury would help pay for rebuilding.</span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p class="xtext-build-content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">This is the biblical record describing this pagan emperor:</span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p class="xtext-build-content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">"Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem.'”</span></i><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><o:p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"> </o:p></span></p><p class="xtext-build-content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">2 Chronicles 36:22</span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p class="xtext-build-content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p class="xtext-build-content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">“[God] who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose'; saying of Jerusalem, 'She shall be built,' and of the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid.'</span></i><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><o:p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"> </o:p></p><p class="xtext-build-content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and ungird the loins of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed:</span></i><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><o:p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"> </o:p></span></p><p class="xtext-build-content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">‘I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut asunder the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I surname you, though you do not know me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I gird you, though you do not know me.’”</span></i><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><o:p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"> </o:p></span></p><ul style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">Isaiah 44:28 – 45:5</span><o:p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"> </o:p></span></li><li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s amazing that God calls this pagan emperor, who doesn’t know God as he should, “my shepherd” and “my anointed.”</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">Israel’s religious leaders and kings had fallen down on the job. In an irony of ironies, God calls a pagan emperor to do his work.</span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s my view that the 70th-anniversary Israeli coin perfectly depicts the great paradox that was King Cyrus and is President Donald Trump. God can raise up the most unexpected person to accomplish his will, especially when others in responsibility have fallen down on the job.</span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></li></ul><p class="normal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"> </o:p></p><p class="normal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">###########################################################</o:p></p><p class="normal" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And since you are still reading, another item I would like to share, from a different and unrelated source than the article above, are the strong but necessary videos recently published by Fr. James Altman, from Wisconsin. I am pasting below the link of his first one. He then released a Part II and (just 2 days ago) Part III, which are also worth watching.<o:p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-7eoTN2vNM" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-7eoTN2vNM</a><o:p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"> </o:p></span></p><div><span color="inherit" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><o:p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><br /></o:p></span></div><p><br /></p><br /><br /><p></p>smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-9120442995219945712020-10-10T14:08:00.000-06:002020-10-10T14:08:28.981-06:00The preeminent moral issue of our time<p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px;">As American Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979) once said: “</span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px;">The refusal to take sides on great moral issues is itself a decision. It is a silent acquiescence to evil. The tragedy of our time is that those who still believe in honesty lack fire and conviction, while those who believe in dishonesty are full of passionate conviction</em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px;">.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px;">That is why I decided to publish this post. It is an understatement to say that our upcoming elections are divisive, yet so important. I will vote the side of life! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px;">Yet, instead of using my own words here, I am pasting below those of somebody I deeply respect, apologist Trent Horn. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px;">Of course, I am happy to lovingly discuss this, if anybody reading this post would like to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">(The words below are from Trent's video, whose link can be found at the bottom of this post) </span></p><div data-v-23ca151a="" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">It’s the 1860 presidential election and you have four candidates to choose from. Three of them want to allow the new states in the West to practice legal slavery. The fourth, Abraham Lincoln, says that the federal government should prevent these states from ever making it legal to enslave a human being. </span></p></div><div data-v-23ca151a="" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin-top: 15px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Whom do you vote for? I bet it’s the candidate who opposes legal slavery.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Does that make you a naïve, “single-issue” voter? After all, voters in 1860 were concerned about many important issues, including poverty, tariffs, women’s rights, and secession.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Yet out of all those issues, only one of them, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">slavery,</em> was <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">preeminent</em>—far and away the more important social issue of that time.</span></b></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">It wasn’t abortion—because although abortions did happen then, they were illegal and rare. Those who broke the law and performed abortions were condemned by groups like the American Medical Association. This made abortion less important an issue than the four million Americans—13 percent of the population—who were legally enslaved.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Today, however, the situation is very different.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Slavery is illegal, though some criminals still practice it through human trafficking. But abortion is legal, and in this country alone it kills 850,000 pre-born children every year. Ten percent of these abortions take place after the first trimester and use a procedure called dilation and evacuation, in which fetuses may be decapitated and dismembered.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Most people today think they surely would have opposed slavery in the nineteenth century, yet they ignore or defend the legal killing of children in the womb, citing the “right to choose.” Yet abortion is the “slavery issue” of our time, the preeminent issue, and, just like slavery, it can be fully defeated only once the evil laws that uphold it are overturned.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Martin Luther King Jr. once said</span> that laws “may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless.” [...]</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">You can watch the whole video (and series) made by Trent Horn on this subject here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxDWKA8Wyp8&feature=emb_logo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxDWKA8Wyp8&feature=emb_logo</a></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">And if you are one of my catholic readers, please read about the 5 non-negotiables issues for Catholic voters.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2478" data-original-width="2142" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTdbUCKKBUvPX1gElspdiTWEjXRx3V6u7lVSNVIhPbHhlmqU6kHmgv9HQk6RtSG8Pwvy8tUvqO4RI17kDBduW6i9nlg4h5VV9ZThrgK5sBpS_R7Gm6eYMHedceQ_ENr7Knjc_ZRKIBm0/w346-h400/IMG_4890.JPG" width="346" /></div><br /><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p></div>smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-2175159325372121922020-07-19T12:45:00.002-06:002020-07-19T12:45:52.943-06:00The beach... a reflection<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;">We recently came back from a week of vacation on the beach. In the middle of COVID, we flew to Florida to enjoy the vegetation, dip our feet in the warm waters of the gulf, collect shells and just plain relax. We booked the time back last September, so, when we were given the green light to go, we jumped on the opportunity.<o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;">Shell collecting by calm, warm (86F) waters seems to have a mesmerizing effect on humans. At any hour from before dawn to after dusk people of all ages and backgrounds walked on the beach looking for some little treasure, consisting of striped, ridged, calcium carbonate ‘pods’ – shells we call them. These used to be the house of small mollusks; they have washed onto the beach and are now destined to be ground down into sand by erosion and crushing along with billions of other similar remains. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;">What is it with this activity that captures the imagination and time of young and old alike, man and women, rich and poor? I tried to think of another human activity that attracts all category of people in a similar way. I could not think of one.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;">Sanibel Island, where we spent our week of vacation, it’s a heaven for shell collecting. Because of its location and currents of the Gulf, millions of new shells are dumped on its shore every single day. Not many other beaches in the world are so lucky. I felt speechless and humbled by the beauty of life in the oceans that these shells represented. The ones I saw, the ones we collected are just a tiny fraction and reflection of the many more that reside under water, most of which nobody will ever see and enjoy. Yet, the mollusks still produce them, with colors, ridges, with interesting and varied shapes and sizes; and this process has continued for the whole life of the oceans. Each of these shells is a testimony, like each of us, of a unique life which God created, knows and cares for. While this is not a solid argument for the existence of God, it is hard to fathom that all of this bounty and diverse beauty could just be the result of random, small changes from an initial chemical soup. (Job 12, 7:9). I’ll leave the scientific arguments to books like “Signature in the cell”, “Darwin’s doubt” and “Darwin Devolves”. In the meanwhile, I awe at the beaches and ocean floors covered with millennia’s worth of crushed shells, reduced to dust size particles. It makes we wonder, “Was there any sand on the beaches when the oceans were first formed?” </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;">I learned that it takes anywhere from 1 to 6 years for a mollusk to build its shell and grow with it to full size. Fascinating! They are surely small work of art, so insignificant it seems, yet so detailed, precise and precious, if we take the time to observe them.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;">Our family lives in a beautiful place, right at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Yet, I have wondered before how incredible it would be to live in a tropical resort and walk on the beach every day. <span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"> </span>Who knows, maybe when I retire, I can spend a couple of the coldest months of the year in a place like this. I know my aging sore joints and body (which gets cold so easily) would thank me for that. The appeal and my enjoyment would come from spending time outdoor observing flowers and animals. Living in a tropical resort seems appealing; the beauty of nature, the warmth, the relaxation of a beach lifestyle. I could get use to that very quickly, I am sure. I do wonder though if it would make me more self-centered and selfish. There is nothing wrong with comfort, for sure, but living in a place that, in addition to the warm weather, is designed to maximize our pleasure at all times seems to bring us further away from the realities of this world, where there are people that have very little and struggle for basic necessities every day. Why are we here and what is the meaning of life? Surely not to just satisfy our own desires. Maybe I now better understand the meaning and purpose of vacation. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;">I ran a few miles on a couple of days during our stay in Sanibel Island. Running is part of who I am and I like to experience it wherever I get to travel to. I also wanted to find out how different it felt to run at sea level after living at altitude for more than 20 years. Honestly it felt just as hard, but I think part of the problem was the 90+ degrees temperature and 80% humidity. It was summer after all in Florida. Anyway, I did collect three Strava CRs and a second place on another running segment. I could have grabbed a couple of more on the last morning of our stay, but instead decided to go watch the sunrise on the beach and I was reworded by a beautiful spectacle of sun and clouds and by ibises looking for a morning snack in the sand and a large group of pelicans still resting on trees. A perfect goodbye gift to an almost-perfect vacation. See you again soon Sanibel, I hope.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZPhKNVCx-rluhoE7u8b1uICSiIVpm1VpL3pmVInw9tRg0yFejqjz6tv7NRmjvZCyKRDn3ufoYooY0zHxpyfEBXaISLcZBpoHN9VpXiK15PlYsQH-EYBIvFEQP40aZeBq3jzbLjvCC0s/s1600/IMG_4039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZPhKNVCx-rluhoE7u8b1uICSiIVpm1VpL3pmVInw9tRg0yFejqjz6tv7NRmjvZCyKRDn3ufoYooY0zHxpyfEBXaISLcZBpoHN9VpXiK15PlYsQH-EYBIvFEQP40aZeBq3jzbLjvCC0s/s640/IMG_4039.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite bird on the beach - the Ibis</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVqJY2RP6RBhcW-UplymJfzFz7cKnC_ZNJX3oOHO361ASA6Oj3d-O2_oqMcWdHfyjpymTGJiXvqijDb1bk3e1a4PV0pRjRJtLDaVX9_1mvKZ8HHr8ixMIrBOJ_GWlQFu3vcUDBOUrbBo/s1600/IMG_3937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVqJY2RP6RBhcW-UplymJfzFz7cKnC_ZNJX3oOHO361ASA6Oj3d-O2_oqMcWdHfyjpymTGJiXvqijDb1bk3e1a4PV0pRjRJtLDaVX9_1mvKZ8HHr8ixMIrBOJ_GWlQFu3vcUDBOUrbBo/s640/IMG_3937.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset at Bauman's beach</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Pnu-qJcfxB8mT-R4EqTK36nZ9sBvg_UVi2lDMuRir-pmkt60dN_l3J2lvjSipi-FMmIRZB6rfVrj0aYjmFh7QBBJLtz2g4KzmOP18i94SxG6gFJJeoo4snBUkegX6as-0gApaNR8Plo/s1600/IMG_4080.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Pnu-qJcfxB8mT-R4EqTK36nZ9sBvg_UVi2lDMuRir-pmkt60dN_l3J2lvjSipi-FMmIRZB6rfVrj0aYjmFh7QBBJLtz2g4KzmOP18i94SxG6gFJJeoo4snBUkegX6as-0gApaNR8Plo/s640/IMG_4080.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvqw3A03ocvqwjJpJc3xHvqkIJ0cGrp8IRZhcthM4rNJ5cLqhfqavd_TIhFzvWV17HuTS2dapAUYiBtr81o0WkrvKxuUkz2bQseLr4S_rrcDOONRZSwa_LWN3Ob3oyGTiHFeZWfkCkc4/s1600/IMG_4077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvqw3A03ocvqwjJpJc3xHvqkIJ0cGrp8IRZhcthM4rNJ5cLqhfqavd_TIhFzvWV17HuTS2dapAUYiBtr81o0WkrvKxuUkz2bQseLr4S_rrcDOONRZSwa_LWN3Ob3oyGTiHFeZWfkCkc4/s640/IMG_4077.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pelicans hang out on this tree when not fishing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7vKWL33W4yntCBHDGUFOY4v03EIBVGy_aZjvkJ-uGoqJPpiaSNLcSlhDEAIq0Tbyn-VLs7Hwdh7zxmnc-KQ8MtWN20z_F-THc6KsQ7AdLVM-eVAS432szdr8Yf_AlSqhqvpgjhhOmA0/s1600/IMG_4072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7vKWL33W4yntCBHDGUFOY4v03EIBVGy_aZjvkJ-uGoqJPpiaSNLcSlhDEAIq0Tbyn-VLs7Hwdh7zxmnc-KQ8MtWN20z_F-THc6KsQ7AdLVM-eVAS432szdr8Yf_AlSqhqvpgjhhOmA0/s640/IMG_4072.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise on the last morning</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pAZaOi5cpwFVXvvRMfMl9tqggEECfF2R5lAnoW9u7aQDVIdmC8DBSIkBcXjnkdlOcBp4M8f88HqNpcH_82GdKncbQYmVtH4duCsiTMlogaet-_-iXG9d5CxwVswAmw3oulrH66eH8s8/s1600/IMG_4068.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pAZaOi5cpwFVXvvRMfMl9tqggEECfF2R5lAnoW9u7aQDVIdmC8DBSIkBcXjnkdlOcBp4M8f88HqNpcH_82GdKncbQYmVtH4duCsiTMlogaet-_-iXG9d5CxwVswAmw3oulrH66eH8s8/s640/IMG_4068.jpg" width="640" /></a></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX34J2Xc8lKDFbzm1ZEiKoMHI6K-pAHT7RiUAOKUS0JVwsWsAUlP04-sfIfdf_XdhgVlLJTNylsggqlej2LWDz4ZXMwLUsfmv4OUWPbZNM2qdrxzLeci8y_XXjgTckDwFT9v4O09RoC0A/s1600/IMG_4056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX34J2Xc8lKDFbzm1ZEiKoMHI6K-pAHT7RiUAOKUS0JVwsWsAUlP04-sfIfdf_XdhgVlLJTNylsggqlej2LWDz4ZXMwLUsfmv4OUWPbZNM2qdrxzLeci8y_XXjgTckDwFT9v4O09RoC0A/s640/IMG_4056.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The family with one missing...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Y5y9ehy1PLnNaSR6OmxWvcfWC74fWIVQo9notzX7NFCd-ksODSsLwvCpUX8UYtbl08S-R1JyIshWazx7wogm8SDb5_-3IQia9lgxOdTF0T7C53B1pPIb1dPOGjLg8JbNarVFyaXNQQc/s1600/IMG_3990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Y5y9ehy1PLnNaSR6OmxWvcfWC74fWIVQo9notzX7NFCd-ksODSsLwvCpUX8UYtbl08S-R1JyIshWazx7wogm8SDb5_-3IQia9lgxOdTF0T7C53B1pPIb1dPOGjLg8JbNarVFyaXNQQc/s640/IMG_3990.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">so many shells</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtP2R8FhFjtICqYLAOKruI67B7J9b6VOCkQ751GswAsoDJHzCbA6wydt69ajeZDyarQpKqXcicH6QT4uVM38meMVWAA4022uIVnzPIPeoHfRR8s-g6oTIcqvemLE81s6ZntA8QDp0QRKo/s1600/IMG_3973.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtP2R8FhFjtICqYLAOKruI67B7J9b6VOCkQ751GswAsoDJHzCbA6wydt69ajeZDyarQpKqXcicH6QT4uVM38meMVWAA4022uIVnzPIPeoHfRR8s-g6oTIcqvemLE81s6ZntA8QDp0QRKo/s640/IMG_3973.jpg" width="640" /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskXtIO6jxzMdtsLpj_lwMeWeJ2dSnwMjlYOZEILFcmSN4trqVHzjlCpZkDJ8VGwk6O-vkuh9yw2CMx6vfsCP1AZ8twdodEXRV0999sINle59is7RI4f0SbQf7we_Dit6WHtMqdkma3qM/s1600/IMG_3962.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskXtIO6jxzMdtsLpj_lwMeWeJ2dSnwMjlYOZEILFcmSN4trqVHzjlCpZkDJ8VGwk6O-vkuh9yw2CMx6vfsCP1AZ8twdodEXRV0999sINle59is7RI4f0SbQf7we_Dit6WHtMqdkma3qM/s640/IMG_3962.jpg" width="640" /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ye11lr-vLWnhQnY_I7CW0y0e5C2IIfdoWxdf6c-fJUnmsSHsipfkRw3E-sTsyaXW-9aXpl49qVzg0WlZZkLKvqwF0ycpxvXXwe_zYM0gXGam3cIHMtE2IVZL3DhKmOTggdIxCTGng-M/s1600/IMG_3954.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ye11lr-vLWnhQnY_I7CW0y0e5C2IIfdoWxdf6c-fJUnmsSHsipfkRw3E-sTsyaXW-9aXpl49qVzg0WlZZkLKvqwF0ycpxvXXwe_zYM0gXGam3cIHMtE2IVZL3DhKmOTggdIxCTGng-M/s640/IMG_3954.jpg" width="640" /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzY7XsfLK5BvYnsqIuPXyPiizlqe0adWnCTTSXvvF97NN-q5KlL80NbXqe5SRzQjPOKXsX29NJhdAvg1wEj7RInBSur3rLnoCPCdgxk2cUfR61qg9BDmqW10Ri1mkjaGkxuL-rBkmN1vc/s1600/IMG_3945.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzY7XsfLK5BvYnsqIuPXyPiizlqe0adWnCTTSXvvF97NN-q5KlL80NbXqe5SRzQjPOKXsX29NJhdAvg1wEj7RInBSur3rLnoCPCdgxk2cUfR61qg9BDmqW10Ri1mkjaGkxuL-rBkmN1vc/s640/IMG_3945.jpg" width="640" /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBwEyvZDnimwqrMy7jGsoHYbOz_3xCur-xiiu-2B27wBgvDTHyUK_8Wf_VKBbqTjU8W_6QSDSaH9b7OylMTDtHMOqUtCwlz2-w52ho94RyfJZbvHV793G10v7VVV0XvkgKKMJKYQ56ro/s1600/IMG_3944.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBwEyvZDnimwqrMy7jGsoHYbOz_3xCur-xiiu-2B27wBgvDTHyUK_8Wf_VKBbqTjU8W_6QSDSaH9b7OylMTDtHMOqUtCwlz2-w52ho94RyfJZbvHV793G10v7VVV0XvkgKKMJKYQ56ro/s640/IMG_3944.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduvUhMhZn7eeJKSCVunhwa5s5eDGVa4CnIzlob-sM0WY4_8qSRNu2gxHYjikK7xYjAD5OS4wsYM8qS8yXtOGhqR3Mnu3jcaGfI3Xa5MtcTAF9joxn3hSObatRwOo_z70WbORgNmDn17A/s1600/IMG_3938.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduvUhMhZn7eeJKSCVunhwa5s5eDGVa4CnIzlob-sM0WY4_8qSRNu2gxHYjikK7xYjAD5OS4wsYM8qS8yXtOGhqR3Mnu3jcaGfI3Xa5MtcTAF9joxn3hSObatRwOo_z70WbORgNmDn17A/s640/IMG_3938.jpg" width="640" /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hdKBZVxq5MnqDnZYnY-1ZxmhnjLohSefdw1mgXSsF2lP_NXK91KSfv0k4iY_uPqxfw5BO_6Qm5EA2XF5iH3uKDzyh652ixI8D0lIb_iF5Ex3tPzEfzTIfAZl71t-Nuqc9TbqJQcZceQ/s1600/IMG_3904.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hdKBZVxq5MnqDnZYnY-1ZxmhnjLohSefdw1mgXSsF2lP_NXK91KSfv0k4iY_uPqxfw5BO_6Qm5EA2XF5iH3uKDzyh652ixI8D0lIb_iF5Ex3tPzEfzTIfAZl71t-Nuqc9TbqJQcZceQ/s640/IMG_3904.jpg" width="640" /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4w7O1wpmBHD1LRzuWolzDXEaVosVUF0aFXSc-9knj-Y1VQCf6beSjigO0YqIFIrtXo6GTE0xAj1uyZOatsouz_kkHva66r0fiQAl2IqU753wSzy91YMlbCMjzJ9GNlDi7_kf94Dad3dc/s1600/IMG_3880.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4w7O1wpmBHD1LRzuWolzDXEaVosVUF0aFXSc-9knj-Y1VQCf6beSjigO0YqIFIrtXo6GTE0xAj1uyZOatsouz_kkHva66r0fiQAl2IqU753wSzy91YMlbCMjzJ9GNlDi7_kf94Dad3dc/s640/IMG_3880.jpg" width="640" /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzLw7O8sE1zg9qHsV88eHxnX6qv41k-yK1kcIOHJ7b0de3guQzVg9CjfO-eaSkXSTFJaANw4IOSqRN_qu5nA75uCFTSpFRVEhp9t2afV0ASxZe_nD4Ly2Kzf4N_1fnuJNIWvtPQ0iSZ4/s1600/IMG_3879.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzLw7O8sE1zg9qHsV88eHxnX6qv41k-yK1kcIOHJ7b0de3guQzVg9CjfO-eaSkXSTFJaANw4IOSqRN_qu5nA75uCFTSpFRVEhp9t2afV0ASxZe_nD4Ly2Kzf4N_1fnuJNIWvtPQ0iSZ4/s640/IMG_3879.jpg" width="480" /></a></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7zLHNO4zectW6BoYNczLhTeKXtwZBcEPyfqfXut_9ABApKFVKZWUC1LmabEiP1nC9_5tNWyuwly8nrSaetlW7geRb7vAI9aTbPuPKFM9ZndegMTO053tZGMgivOAGNGFn7x-EVlv63E/s1600/IMG_3878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7zLHNO4zectW6BoYNczLhTeKXtwZBcEPyfqfXut_9ABApKFVKZWUC1LmabEiP1nC9_5tNWyuwly8nrSaetlW7geRb7vAI9aTbPuPKFM9ZndegMTO053tZGMgivOAGNGFn7x-EVlv63E/s640/IMG_3878.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sausage tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5tL99kGg4MHDEZnPAC5lBlzXr8qNmeCbH-hsxV39Kim1QJGdepFc3idlN-d6yeSLUbWXzR9bDoqexOXHcOMCZliLlg74a__nWKpTqdcXtfEJRCsmOk0i3cDnz4iqJdIpu7J0a5uYFkE/s1600/IMG_3868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5tL99kGg4MHDEZnPAC5lBlzXr8qNmeCbH-hsxV39Kim1QJGdepFc3idlN-d6yeSLUbWXzR9bDoqexOXHcOMCZliLlg74a__nWKpTqdcXtfEJRCsmOk0i3cDnz4iqJdIpu7J0a5uYFkE/s640/IMG_3868.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ygritte</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-ojc6p8v5yrlHuuNaUw7G4-1tV5uV0Bh-hIn29l_xkQNsnTNKucK86FsQOhLrj19S2sY09gfujgRH-rwZ4tgqjMUoVr0QuHHze9TDYX0LsNGXnMixBDHzO___MYIcVA2z_lLkSH_uXI/s1600/IMG_3853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-ojc6p8v5yrlHuuNaUw7G4-1tV5uV0Bh-hIn29l_xkQNsnTNKucK86FsQOhLrj19S2sY09gfujgRH-rwZ4tgqjMUoVr0QuHHze9TDYX0LsNGXnMixBDHzO___MYIcVA2z_lLkSH_uXI/s640/IMG_3853.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mangrove forest</td></tr>
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smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-67358849509465150702019-12-31T16:14:00.003-07:002019-12-31T16:14:58.686-07:00Best moments and photos of 2019<br />
In no specific order.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnGDtJVRZ5Jsrau_ueDtP2QIIXp_vlYrFauWEqewDwJLqx5vkpYBPl2DVRLhoA2eRixgSJ4nlY2py15U_cI3sesw60nB5BBORuk6VPidovpqYhVE1_pwlUyB_ldrVd0WgbFrUEB632Nc/s1600/IMG_0361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnGDtJVRZ5Jsrau_ueDtP2QIIXp_vlYrFauWEqewDwJLqx5vkpYBPl2DVRLhoA2eRixgSJ4nlY2py15U_cI3sesw60nB5BBORuk6VPidovpqYhVE1_pwlUyB_ldrVd0WgbFrUEB632Nc/s640/IMG_0361.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UMary at sunset</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMEVtjn59tX1hehPIe33F3nMNCb02-q0xaDMU10Swg187adtjb5IkGi0M1VTmnAqGE-gn2cqzpQtc73ZqIbAzWLncBbA5iad6_bi26CBhmmLja-bYVrbMVjaIjw14cqvZSVb5PgmwduU/s1600/57135761648__3CF3F126-0C9E-48E8-B278-79DBF5B7F69B.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF6vQiNI4j6-YZ03f-mOKT2iHoFlf-rRVk4R_z-JW_clH09a9MbSazXW7z4ifd2Qxz0SLKdWJqVwz8u6NeGCv52XoT-6Ypo1_s8DnzLonUnrpP3S0rAA2WUCIBfKcW9fLFRrTS656osI/s1600/57135761648__3CF3F126-0C9E-48E8-B278-79DBF5B7F69B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF6vQiNI4j6-YZ03f-mOKT2iHoFlf-rRVk4R_z-JW_clH09a9MbSazXW7z4ifd2Qxz0SLKdWJqVwz8u6NeGCv52XoT-6Ypo1_s8DnzLonUnrpP3S0rAA2WUCIBfKcW9fLFRrTS656osI/s640/57135761648__3CF3F126-0C9E-48E8-B278-79DBF5B7F69B.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cancun with the boys</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3U9tbtmroKdsmbstYbDGd1kIqCBWdnikXeNjEn5qekfm6ezAuDr7PIvA_LfE56oR4gDFh5xfdxo6-QlaWo7488cCbtXPvxyx_CaGpRD1EvTA1Vzq8vZUL-aqmbXyABSe8ycmjTmOBZE/s1600/IMG_0402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3U9tbtmroKdsmbstYbDGd1kIqCBWdnikXeNjEn5qekfm6ezAuDr7PIvA_LfE56oR4gDFh5xfdxo6-QlaWo7488cCbtXPvxyx_CaGpRD1EvTA1Vzq8vZUL-aqmbXyABSe8ycmjTmOBZE/s640/IMG_0402.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missouri river walk in Bismarck, ND</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJRaO6pI-gVTx7y8Rm3SOaOrQE0ysW7M_N4w0NZ4NnNePNqUX5KoV4X6OaPuMK2lG3uL7QBhCzJOuo1It3cUhv8YHbEJN8r8w5slC8itHUbM278cGYfGPW0XJPaOS5OnzQ6XsvS_-kqY/s1600/IMG_0682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJRaO6pI-gVTx7y8Rm3SOaOrQE0ysW7M_N4w0NZ4NnNePNqUX5KoV4X6OaPuMK2lG3uL7QBhCzJOuo1It3cUhv8YHbEJN8r8w5slC8itHUbM278cGYfGPW0XJPaOS5OnzQ6XsvS_-kqY/s640/IMG_0682.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK6fdyOQY4Q20strRLREE3Mnz61S1tYGmV7SyqWL1yJ1IgSSL6-wxJYgYAu8zhnyYZHaOSLnbT2sHcHA1MdUf3w8zAVfcRP40GASbcpIlretQXzjrgyMVNev6DIIVuOfNw-AvEwmPpcc/s1600/IMG_0955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK6fdyOQY4Q20strRLREE3Mnz61S1tYGmV7SyqWL1yJ1IgSSL6-wxJYgYAu8zhnyYZHaOSLnbT2sHcHA1MdUf3w8zAVfcRP40GASbcpIlretQXzjrgyMVNev6DIIVuOfNw-AvEwmPpcc/s640/IMG_0955.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">working at the bakery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqh2Pf2u7Q9rR9_jY1-f4cE2RQjIoL7V5BH8FzsRIrPbB9WG3Gy7WZdSnnmbIwIBpXpKxawCwrAQcOC3rPo5ok9tX62d_EfHS5cMlP1_KggNoNdkeMQoy3MGRZsmgajeDHBLXWoOAR_ZI/s1600/IMG_1220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqh2Pf2u7Q9rR9_jY1-f4cE2RQjIoL7V5BH8FzsRIrPbB9WG3Gy7WZdSnnmbIwIBpXpKxawCwrAQcOC3rPo5ok9tX62d_EfHS5cMlP1_KggNoNdkeMQoy3MGRZsmgajeDHBLXWoOAR_ZI/s640/IMG_1220.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyPpQ4zKRJdO8cfVVWeCvzuxLZl0aDS7yR2n-AokGRIZgd748LiKQrndV9Sikis0jkAwA4ppz38rwMZRC9HCpDJ-e5H6Zv4-xNWmkuyS5hEZXFyJC0ekQ7DPuRvONmoV_H9oMxOyvFv8/s1600/IMG_1301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyPpQ4zKRJdO8cfVVWeCvzuxLZl0aDS7yR2n-AokGRIZgd748LiKQrndV9Sikis0jkAwA4ppz38rwMZRC9HCpDJ-e5H6Zv4-xNWmkuyS5hEZXFyJC0ekQ7DPuRvONmoV_H9oMxOyvFv8/s640/IMG_1301.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mount Snikau</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpKyMBeqLiccQLUR8sNbxilLiskXZ0XvBmGGwLYVC4tjkmpHegctii5H6VNnBnCt7GAcJnbN26NsQY1hLVvDpzCddX3A2fbOiijRN2cljPrILz-iHNOk5_vwUOU8StD35VW2KT7-zKPc/s1600/IMG_1417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpKyMBeqLiccQLUR8sNbxilLiskXZ0XvBmGGwLYVC4tjkmpHegctii5H6VNnBnCt7GAcJnbN26NsQY1hLVvDpzCddX3A2fbOiijRN2cljPrILz-iHNOk5_vwUOU8StD35VW2KT7-zKPc/s640/IMG_1417.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_HI369doEZLfTPfaA0XOuyOQu7hnRVvIui4lPyUj4O8i0oRPDKG6XZgsSwPBOhzr2VMpqNbTY7K5WCBzZ_7n140b1u-V0LjJG-WrVSTENWoOBMEzDqr44iOvWlMmuSnqivd0U2S1nJ8/s1600/IMG_1444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_HI369doEZLfTPfaA0XOuyOQu7hnRVvIui4lPyUj4O8i0oRPDKG6XZgsSwPBOhzr2VMpqNbTY7K5WCBzZ_7n140b1u-V0LjJG-WrVSTENWoOBMEzDqr44iOvWlMmuSnqivd0U2S1nJ8/s640/IMG_1444.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many great hikes...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKslc0ImWhlrlf3v9UGDb8zbYZTBNSvuMRcZH9p39Cp_kEK-H4vpDNqKVf33WWH0mh1J9vI3ARM6j_T5Q90gudlpnVsHTLl3rZZTCPHTjKaCW16mRKuVrAtqbAqtLhB7vAgD1WOoFIj0/s1600/IMG_1682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKslc0ImWhlrlf3v9UGDb8zbYZTBNSvuMRcZH9p39Cp_kEK-H4vpDNqKVf33WWH0mh1J9vI3ARM6j_T5Q90gudlpnVsHTLl3rZZTCPHTjKaCW16mRKuVrAtqbAqtLhB7vAgD1WOoFIj0/s640/IMG_1682.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mass at 12500 feet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEKL2sprIC3q7t_d5qfpji6-5Cf3GXSJx09DJODo8-ssK2E4xbg5PYTV0PAE57lDOSAMeBs19iIggjEzGPNHQT2gUz-lXFfF_RZTw3Jx8BGjyzCCYFuDSsbO-FIb5xU4z3psBSthF_nQ/s1600/IMG_1687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEKL2sprIC3q7t_d5qfpji6-5Cf3GXSJx09DJODo8-ssK2E4xbg5PYTV0PAE57lDOSAMeBs19iIggjEzGPNHQT2gUz-lXFfF_RZTw3Jx8BGjyzCCYFuDSsbO-FIb5xU4z3psBSthF_nQ/s640/IMG_1687.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMigahi5mJqdmDkNWslHrfIz4o3EA1gxkjer5a2NwOaE3vv4rZ4uNEhtWoN6TF90aBC1ZJDvO4chYjmW_KjvJX19z_FKlC3BqetgobhY-lmPSDCJf7WCHo48IPjDNBqukYo8gkj5xUb8/s1600/IMG_2038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMigahi5mJqdmDkNWslHrfIz4o3EA1gxkjer5a2NwOaE3vv4rZ4uNEhtWoN6TF90aBC1ZJDvO4chYjmW_KjvJX19z_FKlC3BqetgobhY-lmPSDCJf7WCHo48IPjDNBqukYo8gkj5xUb8/s640/IMG_2038.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">college fun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0LIJfjofJAaTUycIBI1dpQxBhys_-81dyfQjFNKQ-paTEsTIrYHuxiXRe8_TV3e3X0T88Dnl8RmrF1QT9s7tsliQTgJQ_ZEPs45_2DoWIBhGUhAncHmP9gWwbTBciJ-JQqE3gh-DewM/s1600/IMG_2074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0LIJfjofJAaTUycIBI1dpQxBhys_-81dyfQjFNKQ-paTEsTIrYHuxiXRe8_TV3e3X0T88Dnl8RmrF1QT9s7tsliQTgJQ_ZEPs45_2DoWIBhGUhAncHmP9gWwbTBciJ-JQqE3gh-DewM/s640/IMG_2074.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isabella on the Incline</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJCyfkkGyOMig7sbgT9yYNwpoK44diQoUjBXAUuqhitcqKZRlTVWi0C23x8MftyuPLF58G9Q22OC9tgj5zuFJeZceUpiQ9TKQz4gHxnum1ZJEEuTzaFhSvVY-iT9p18lcbGPnViX5epg/s1600/IMG_2114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJCyfkkGyOMig7sbgT9yYNwpoK44diQoUjBXAUuqhitcqKZRlTVWi0C23x8MftyuPLF58G9Q22OC9tgj5zuFJeZceUpiQ9TKQz4gHxnum1ZJEEuTzaFhSvVY-iT9p18lcbGPnViX5epg/s640/IMG_2114.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla3ID-WSDkTzHP6Rpg1kWgpqNI53B4TZqX-UXoOiTGXTEFPqC4sU68iaHE00ncOoari7jgILGrXEzgRMAulObxMCKbO-nOhSvKdZS4uWNNr1jWVb6SIDLyLs3kraPZMMdD3SbiXSd3LI/s1600/IMG_2130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla3ID-WSDkTzHP6Rpg1kWgpqNI53B4TZqX-UXoOiTGXTEFPqC4sU68iaHE00ncOoari7jgILGrXEzgRMAulObxMCKbO-nOhSvKdZS4uWNNr1jWVb6SIDLyLs3kraPZMMdD3SbiXSd3LI/s640/IMG_2130.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgOl1xi94GmasUs5W58CWiZdpCUuMjVpcthL4jynZWeLDCEqajSiVaZJOhPGjeSjqCHhvJUlb-jE8gceFqEIfSLf69N-l-J2g1L6HCzzwhFtQqxu3sts1U14CH67GxL6mKGLPYqyc1YM/s1600/IMG_2182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgOl1xi94GmasUs5W58CWiZdpCUuMjVpcthL4jynZWeLDCEqajSiVaZJOhPGjeSjqCHhvJUlb-jE8gceFqEIfSLf69N-l-J2g1L6HCzzwhFtQqxu3sts1U14CH67GxL6mKGLPYqyc1YM/s640/IMG_2182.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norine completes the Incline</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh974ds7mbHhNO5PQkvo0eaQzx-HNBAK-EkSAlIp-nGfi_l4oMZn52T4qm40a_C0_KrSjf7CQsRE190uhHJ6RwZeViJ1wbFpeqFPYUjBYgogeufGFthkZR11Cpe3Rlq-pyOZCByDyAonvs/s1600/IMG_2337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh974ds7mbHhNO5PQkvo0eaQzx-HNBAK-EkSAlIp-nGfi_l4oMZn52T4qm40a_C0_KrSjf7CQsRE190uhHJ6RwZeViJ1wbFpeqFPYUjBYgogeufGFthkZR11Cpe3Rlq-pyOZCByDyAonvs/s640/IMG_2337.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanksgiving</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfFAZSB3JIDtrp_geFKiXJEiUCm2Tj2KNEvqYuH-bpijjnTiSjyCXoYd8o8glOzHTsdIubq68MI3zHwluSLf3A6LTREBmNCYZjdZNiJRmnjVCo2y6bzFers2OAcbbrJgICjG4ILebd1E/s1600/IMG_2354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfFAZSB3JIDtrp_geFKiXJEiUCm2Tj2KNEvqYuH-bpijjnTiSjyCXoYd8o8glOzHTsdIubq68MI3zHwluSLf3A6LTREBmNCYZjdZNiJRmnjVCo2y6bzFers2OAcbbrJgICjG4ILebd1E/s640/IMG_2354.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tree - attempt #1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFlzCSuDjyhLe6o8gWwxkmTJClPixkj-xDNwsUgDsdqzwJuOThro_i9uLs9cnEshQ-fs7BWc4rDt0LR7bqf08bTEEif_ajQVTAPYO5JgQpn1oI6Ur_0flDWwfk1tJa5nriXwvNVvhsdU/s1600/IMG_2362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFlzCSuDjyhLe6o8gWwxkmTJClPixkj-xDNwsUgDsdqzwJuOThro_i9uLs9cnEshQ-fs7BWc4rDt0LR7bqf08bTEEif_ajQVTAPYO5JgQpn1oI6Ur_0flDWwfk1tJa5nriXwvNVvhsdU/s640/IMG_2362.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tree - attempt #2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuHojc1ydAd-MPLn3mfk07iA53ERtcqhzdOCpu472GTG5Kc_jqMo_xLuwiJ5vjflXDxNmjl5nvWTx9qhfS47dCMlD5Z9SwXTgc_isEDYpB34ONd71sqzYN8_MHLOktOCd3UQVybyIxqk/s1600/IMG_2433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuHojc1ydAd-MPLn3mfk07iA53ERtcqhzdOCpu472GTG5Kc_jqMo_xLuwiJ5vjflXDxNmjl5nvWTx9qhfS47dCMlD5Z9SwXTgc_isEDYpB34ONd71sqzYN8_MHLOktOCd3UQVybyIxqk/s640/IMG_2433.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During a run</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVhe1EiIX9YvAOMOQEyA8BcorIM70sy8xAGma-9tdObByWgbjrXLmHebVXsWsdVqhv7aO6jeOFkP9YBiaHSlyM5B4UFJ0IEbzJ1wjRux0OIz4pGYtXhsh0LD3DAQWZHxbw_mV9JutClc/s1600/IMG_2448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVhe1EiIX9YvAOMOQEyA8BcorIM70sy8xAGma-9tdObByWgbjrXLmHebVXsWsdVqhv7aO6jeOFkP9YBiaHSlyM5B4UFJ0IEbzJ1wjRux0OIz4pGYtXhsh0LD3DAQWZHxbw_mV9JutClc/s640/IMG_2448.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isabella in Guatemala</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYJdF5wEVcDFTQmd0Q5eHno6TX6RblTNI9d3861XMeAL7UqTq1BrYlz_2meV9pkPDfNPDYKSJ1f6wV5jvq1sSPOpYMiYNLFmHLAFXEGkc49lTdXbjFd_EeTc1fbjg3TID5Cilm4C9Fws/s1600/IMG_2562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYJdF5wEVcDFTQmd0Q5eHno6TX6RblTNI9d3861XMeAL7UqTq1BrYlz_2meV9pkPDfNPDYKSJ1f6wV5jvq1sSPOpYMiYNLFmHLAFXEGkc49lTdXbjFd_EeTc1fbjg3TID5Cilm4C9Fws/s640/IMG_2562.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn-0YqPj-SxvcIKuK6WgyDB0OA2llly8P42EqEhRa4a2ILAYA1OSUdvsVVMbyXTrJYBwtz9AWdMZVzhWZWv4TGUIhBELSLprwj6nh6arMYJmkcqWLAouKEZ-HbAmTf7r6CUQzHxUR2Hg/s1600/IMG_2672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn-0YqPj-SxvcIKuK6WgyDB0OA2llly8P42EqEhRa4a2ILAYA1OSUdvsVVMbyXTrJYBwtz9AWdMZVzhWZWv4TGUIhBELSLprwj6nh6arMYJmkcqWLAouKEZ-HbAmTf7r6CUQzHxUR2Hg/s640/IMG_2672.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Mountain with Pietro</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tCUmiNMSbtMlQacu9NDu9DORlB-q7_P_-_6O3_PIKfKPpX1XaIQZI0oJzrI-gkS0DFxsZkBJeDgV4kXBz8wLlf4GffzDXQ8aG4DGeuSdbPj9JojvnZy2hOreN0lP6PQxJ5dDU9FDTLc/s1600/IMG_2694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tCUmiNMSbtMlQacu9NDu9DORlB-q7_P_-_6O3_PIKfKPpX1XaIQZI0oJzrI-gkS0DFxsZkBJeDgV4kXBz8wLlf4GffzDXQ8aG4DGeuSdbPj9JojvnZy2hOreN0lP6PQxJ5dDU9FDTLc/s640/IMG_2694.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmm...</td></tr>
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<br />smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-16680507691672215222019-12-29T12:36:00.002-07:002019-12-29T12:36:36.047-07:00Christmas, running and suffering<br />
Christmas, running and suffering are three words that I reflected a lot upon recently.<br />
What if they had something in common? I finally made a connection I had never made before and that now seems so apparent. Life brings with it a lot of suffering and hurt that can reveal itself in many ways: sickness, loss of a loved one, rejection, loneliness, loss of a job, uncertain future, etc. Our western society tries to eliminate suffering; it considers something to be avoided at all costs. But is it? Running (and many other endurance sports) is characterized by suffering too, both physical and mental. Yet, we don’t shy away from it, we actually look for it and “enjoy” it. Tougher workouts, longer races in extreme environments or conditions, less sleep, stricter diets to perform better, injuries (well, we don’t actually search these out) all consume our thinking, energy and time. We look forward to some of them and endure others; all for that goal we have in mind, for that sense of accomplishment, to be better and stronger. Suffering in sport is OK then, because it has a bigger meaning, because it is a stepping-stone toward something better.<br />
Ah! What if the other forms of suffering we experience in our life were meant to also have a deeper purpose, to sharpen the iron, to make us better people, more compassionate, more holy maybe. What if our suffering was for the good of somebody else (like when we donate monetarily to the needy)? As a Christian, I have heard this concept many a times, but I often struggle with it. After thinking about what I put myself through to be a stronger runner, I got a better insight into the mystery of suffering.<br />
Sport is interesting, because we can dictate the time and intensity of the pain we endure when we exert ourselves and we can decide when it’s too much. Pain in life usually does not give us that privilege. Suffering often comes unexpectedly. But we can control our attitude and how we face it; we can feel angry, call it unfair, or we can confront it the same way we confront a tough race or workout when our brain says that we should give up. The mystery of the Incarnation we celebrate each Christmas brought with it a lot of suffering for somebody who did not deserve any of it; yet he endured it for a greater purpose; he endured it for us. Can I do the same?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFuk0F_h5Upi9sRnahedpLDRJcp-nrQ_r9CPwFW64vH73LqlKbs56bX78lPREOddqp27IcbNwfppJ72IjbHRNg3gnQqUkuklZyS0b2rTW2zlfLvHNkONJTAxekvnKyPBqrhbPPtyhmBU/s1600/IMG_2451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFuk0F_h5Upi9sRnahedpLDRJcp-nrQ_r9CPwFW64vH73LqlKbs56bX78lPREOddqp27IcbNwfppJ72IjbHRNg3gnQqUkuklZyS0b2rTW2zlfLvHNkONJTAxekvnKyPBqrhbPPtyhmBU/s640/IMG_2451.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #242428; font-family: "maisonneue" , "segoe ui" , "helvetica neue" , , , , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif , "apple color emoji" , "segoe ui emoji" , "segoe ui symbol"; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span>smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-64008965046888238202019-04-13T09:19:00.000-06:002019-04-13T09:31:49.425-06:00Remembering the Geography Bee<div style="text-align: center;">
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Full written article: <a href="https://www.du.edu/news/du-student-reflects-childhood-geography-bee-wins">https://www.du.edu/news/du-student-reflects-childhood-geography-bee-wins</a><br />
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And old memories: <a href="https://magazine.du.edu/campus-community/geography-whiz-finds-herself-back-in-the-winners-circle/">https://magazine.du.edu/campus-community/geography-whiz-finds-herself-back-in-the-winners-circle/</a><br />
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smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-8329024990877609622019-01-10T12:18:00.002-07:002019-01-10T12:21:25.033-07:00SEEK2019<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_IqZKu6Q-YuP3MA6lu22ktCHWREwRlgkx7OC-uZhObniYaOe67nb6DHHwJeUAtLU8C6BP4ybG-05s4Zd3rpSK_8vNjA7Zlugf5vGFzjLeMS0aCyMo2NGN0IRSmXv2W_mTkkb9vpNdH8/s1600/IMG_2630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1334" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_IqZKu6Q-YuP3MA6lu22ktCHWREwRlgkx7OC-uZhObniYaOe67nb6DHHwJeUAtLU8C6BP4ybG-05s4Zd3rpSK_8vNjA7Zlugf5vGFzjLeMS0aCyMo2NGN0IRSmXv2W_mTkkb9vpNdH8/s400/IMG_2630.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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This is a blog about our family and travels, correct? Then we need to share about Isabella and Emanuela's opportunity to attend the 5-days SEEK2019 conference in Indianapolis last week. Thank you to all those who made their trip financially possible.<br />
17,000 Catholic college students met to pray and to learn about truth and be energized as 21st century disciples by hearing from many of the most prominent Catholic speakers in North America.<br />
What a blessings to be able to take some time to reflect and be strengthened in our faith. We are made of body and soul and need to feed both daily to experience true joy and to be the best version of ourselves.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpIM3QlRm5AIUL9n3B29VlrlS0q6AsDUhcDJUvh3Pd87qUxVXJgibk6nmJAgNyphXoWL4Oegl61hlM6AVvFHEKxjTwVTZsojyAWc1_wqjDCOJjVXdYekIfl-8ORFV3ZYMv0ZbyBVz7WQ/s1600/IMG_2640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpIM3QlRm5AIUL9n3B29VlrlS0q6AsDUhcDJUvh3Pd87qUxVXJgibk6nmJAgNyphXoWL4Oegl61hlM6AVvFHEKxjTwVTZsojyAWc1_wqjDCOJjVXdYekIfl-8ORFV3ZYMv0ZbyBVz7WQ/s640/IMG_2640.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old friends met among the crowd</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopYAoK0-H4oD3MfPHEl1-bN-fOIHU7yAdBV0NPdCEm58CogGgr1SjQYZbVkPLblrJ5t1ogCk631wKkx4Mmvc7SxKQun8IrqaPt58ji4yG6h-i6VZOqjcNayF6n3VrCzdaRQfzrjW0Pds/s1600/IMG_2652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopYAoK0-H4oD3MfPHEl1-bN-fOIHU7yAdBV0NPdCEm58CogGgr1SjQYZbVkPLblrJ5t1ogCk631wKkx4Mmvc7SxKQun8IrqaPt58ji4yG6h-i6VZOqjcNayF6n3VrCzdaRQfzrjW0Pds/s640/IMG_2652.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Kevin and Lisa</td></tr>
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All the talks were streamed live, but it will take weeks before we can watch them all.<br />
Which one to recommend then? They are so many amazing ones.<br />
I am going to pick Scott Hahn's "The 4th Cup" because ... Well, my words won't do it, just watch it. You won't regret it. (The video below will automatically start with Scott's talk, but it does contain the full 12 hrs of streaming from day 3, in case you want to see more ;) )<br />
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God's blessings in 2019!smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-62265417198990524462018-12-05T15:42:00.002-07:002018-12-05T15:42:58.721-07:00Contolini 2018 Advent message<br />
Since we did not post much this year, below are 12 photos that try to summarize what has happened to us in 2018.<br />
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And for those of you that will not receive our Advent/Christmas letter via email (we apologize for not having your email address), here it is:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dear Family and Friends:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">We hope this letter finds you and all of your family well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Christmas is an amazing season of comfort and restoration. Christmas is a reminder that our desert time is over and that we are the <span style="color: #c00000;">“darlings whom God has chosen”</span> <span style="color: red;">(Isaiah 44:2). </span>Salvation comes through our Infant Lord! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This year it’s Norine writing the Contolini Advent letter. I am inspired because I have been learning about the Prophet Isaiah in year 3 of my Catholic Biblical School studies. I am experiencing such joy through scripture by learning that no matter how bad things get, or how bad we’ve been, Jesus always wants us to return to him. He gives us countless opportunities no matter how many times we refuse him. In our busy game of life, it’s like Jesus says to us, “Ready or not, here I come!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This Advent season we are excited because our boys are enjoying soccer together and are starting a new endeavor, a basement band. Paolo is a drummer and Pietro a guitarist. Isabella and Emanuela are coming home from Scotland and the University of Mary respectively on the same day. We have missed them, but know they have joyful adventures to share with us all about how God has blessed them in the last few months away from home. <i>Are you excited about something this Advent?</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">We should all rejoice because <span style="color: red;">"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). </span>This is Christmas. This infinitely loving guest is coming to see us. How can we be ready for Him? As St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta told her sisters, just enter in an adoration chapel this Advent season and say, "Here I am Lord, love me". Ask him to reveal himself to you, whatever your frame of mind might be! Jesus is waiting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Merry Christmas,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Norine, Enrico, Isabella, Emanuela, Pietro and Paolo.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0XxkUikBYmlK-POhT0Q_xgCMrWiTd3rVJ7u02xSYkWU7_HgdkQg17MjmjdEYnIjogGqJ2fCYveB6aMCxPznF2N2dPSD4B8iyy-dOfIreOm6rLlLYQgU4EBhVPO3YCkxdlOf-QD-FePI/s1600/Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0XxkUikBYmlK-POhT0Q_xgCMrWiTd3rVJ7u02xSYkWU7_HgdkQg17MjmjdEYnIjogGqJ2fCYveB6aMCxPznF2N2dPSD4B8iyy-dOfIreOm6rLlLYQgU4EBhVPO3YCkxdlOf-QD-FePI/s640/Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paolo's drums captured by Pietro's photography</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2adUAN3x_HArAHbvmFwB7TL-5PgQi6tzg7MkmgBrREL7EqsohyphenhyphenvuW95dk8ajHRA7HtTEcKhF1FlzPlT3_IY1kRVkPdRa2nIS1SJJeTGEohrMl-PGpxiljR85gjdmd6rcTOgznvG0M-X0/s1600/IMG_0668.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2adUAN3x_HArAHbvmFwB7TL-5PgQi6tzg7MkmgBrREL7EqsohyphenhyphenvuW95dk8ajHRA7HtTEcKhF1FlzPlT3_IY1kRVkPdRa2nIS1SJJeTGEohrMl-PGpxiljR85gjdmd6rcTOgznvG0M-X0/s640/IMG_0668.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning to fly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjXZ390me1jQcBkNBSsjDG5td1OLmkVXuCX0wWhN3BTfysJdv6OtTIh2q2UEQFyEZpssVoLTBh6wW02BXXZJ2-fJZMmIo5TD_cnccBHF9k0kFYJs7cVlvLoajgW8xVetTifmX4eRWDZg/s1600/IMG_0989.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjXZ390me1jQcBkNBSsjDG5td1OLmkVXuCX0wWhN3BTfysJdv6OtTIh2q2UEQFyEZpssVoLTBh6wW02BXXZJ2-fJZMmIo5TD_cnccBHF9k0kFYJs7cVlvLoajgW8xVetTifmX4eRWDZg/s640/IMG_0989.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prom together</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRHwXNY_nI1u5wIRO2m972gjsHvpmS4cFUHxEaMA4wfC8raIcUy88nE7LZCyIXLu_XnhbKx1gkRfQzc6PjgXXjSFQRj4bed2jixexdVlgXzeSWOPQp7OQrok2QVpdD12ctVJeBRPXywU/s1600/IMG_1871.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRHwXNY_nI1u5wIRO2m972gjsHvpmS4cFUHxEaMA4wfC8raIcUy88nE7LZCyIXLu_XnhbKx1gkRfQzc6PjgXXjSFQRj4bed2jixexdVlgXzeSWOPQp7OQrok2QVpdD12ctVJeBRPXywU/s640/IMG_1871.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking Emma to college</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08QsRptcPxtWTyj-WNw6OZKYLHWLglX3HQY0UJ7XMvWTk4pH2XCBuLyg8bLLZgVEJIJWpP90Uv1i9wuNu4JhvCj8NH1WeYLzpU6UM-Ly1YwD5necjpD3pOlGElAR_ywopKjWXSPfjwYg/s1600/IMG_1933.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08QsRptcPxtWTyj-WNw6OZKYLHWLglX3HQY0UJ7XMvWTk4pH2XCBuLyg8bLLZgVEJIJWpP90Uv1i9wuNu4JhvCj8NH1WeYLzpU6UM-Ly1YwD5necjpD3pOlGElAR_ywopKjWXSPfjwYg/s640/IMG_1933.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day of college for Emma</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoO0WBC9w43Pyhi96lQJ2Ob1y7ziUUcv9wYjUhHU0Dhk2eTizrmYsqb79WtxAi28V-czY4Z18Fqo5BFAfass_moVQVwlJuj2RQ0oo85jeHWfirJkJ8-h5m51aLHKO0UXUVDtuwwb36_0/s1600/IMG_2007.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="682" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoO0WBC9w43Pyhi96lQJ2Ob1y7ziUUcv9wYjUhHU0Dhk2eTizrmYsqb79WtxAi28V-czY4Z18Fqo5BFAfass_moVQVwlJuj2RQ0oo85jeHWfirJkJ8-h5m51aLHKO0UXUVDtuwwb36_0/s640/IMG_2007.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pietro rediscovers soccer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_VrpdNTxQKQyoFR4HefFvPTghpPpNJBjVHWb8qvH7z2BBKnDKgbLBHqdd1s63xF3VXA1MDU7Ctu83Z3maEq2H7OKVg-FktQ18pY5fkGkjY6_zDiNxPvcyzsmCk-AF4U_yu8UPFddXYQ/s1600/dapics-3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_VrpdNTxQKQyoFR4HefFvPTghpPpNJBjVHWb8qvH7z2BBKnDKgbLBHqdd1s63xF3VXA1MDU7Ctu83Z3maEq2H7OKVg-FktQ18pY5fkGkjY6_zDiNxPvcyzsmCk-AF4U_yu8UPFddXYQ/s640/dapics-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enrico is still running (fast)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOl7nlLLFPHOb_eDwJBPI_uZICAEJNswhOrJcvfoSq5QGIW80bNGwCsc8ylUdHOsDbZkzsy8joI9otlGOrwE4N6_87LmSLFp7ghevi63ZveKHiAXnX3Qsc6dcrfhn_EqxzJLbIAg1Nu0/s1600/IMG_2275.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOl7nlLLFPHOb_eDwJBPI_uZICAEJNswhOrJcvfoSq5QGIW80bNGwCsc8ylUdHOsDbZkzsy8joI9otlGOrwE4N6_87LmSLFp7ghevi63ZveKHiAXnX3Qsc6dcrfhn_EqxzJLbIAg1Nu0/s640/IMG_2275.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't believe college could be such a great place</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFGxdboZwnOVidGd2RVvA39iHniC_6HTPCGidlwvhjzueO9ZywmptqB37GgT0bwoth4kiPT3y0M55vzyJ0WWzap-3n9CBKPVuL9BUgadk77xzGRu_t_r8fxkX6bTnNII4COENOeTKxCQ/s1600/IMG_2227.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFGxdboZwnOVidGd2RVvA39iHniC_6HTPCGidlwvhjzueO9ZywmptqB37GgT0bwoth4kiPT3y0M55vzyJ0WWzap-3n9CBKPVuL9BUgadk77xzGRu_t_r8fxkX6bTnNII4COENOeTKxCQ/s640/IMG_2227.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Con i nonni e lo zio e i cugini a Londra</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56o7cbBa3THSDKCxGNcfQwzAjATVISd77UcNDyAnWW0vHkkmHI-4c4L_N5YAUu9h1JHAMN-BE02M62y_mc4BQgDp1PSMGhcRocbUdqgvNUulmNV9Iulmjo-0mChdtnxi_MyRty41N58I/s1600/IMG_2356.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="960" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56o7cbBa3THSDKCxGNcfQwzAjATVISd77UcNDyAnWW0vHkkmHI-4c4L_N5YAUu9h1JHAMN-BE02M62y_mc4BQgDp1PSMGhcRocbUdqgvNUulmNV9Iulmjo-0mChdtnxi_MyRty41N58I/s640/IMG_2356.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isabella's quidditch team in Scotland</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkQWDwn9p2FzX4MIu5ySpyBf7P8Tg2F1ANkVi7yKyA_3c9uhP_dlG3RIJKLvm3wY-CHtDAZVDEe_KYtJGOI1OgzPOE4Q0DFmet7yXfWGYmNb45JhHbHDjXtUfGRSzOaCcvLf7XyO920E/s1600/IMG_2368.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkQWDwn9p2FzX4MIu5ySpyBf7P8Tg2F1ANkVi7yKyA_3c9uhP_dlG3RIJKLvm3wY-CHtDAZVDEe_KYtJGOI1OgzPOE4Q0DFmet7yXfWGYmNb45JhHbHDjXtUfGRSzOaCcvLf7XyO920E/s640/IMG_2368.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing Thanksgiving dinner for the Catholic Chaplaincy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5KTNb0hMfqhsGTRX34RX__sDrOZQk_KiB8tK6zaaEgCx4dGmyL5YGG8PTBWu2SWw8L3yeIf0jwnnEPanWvlj8MqUJJ9qPwIOFT6KqqQEPozuFLXf9zD0UY7vs77lGxd6FxKiAepFo74/s1600/IMG_2444.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5KTNb0hMfqhsGTRX34RX__sDrOZQk_KiB8tK6zaaEgCx4dGmyL5YGG8PTBWu2SWw8L3yeIf0jwnnEPanWvlj8MqUJJ9qPwIOFT6KqqQEPozuFLXf9zD0UY7vs77lGxd6FxKiAepFo74/s640/IMG_2444.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have a Holy Advent and Christmas!</td></tr>
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<br />smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-48582338014755199272018-11-20T15:20:00.004-07:002018-11-20T15:20:57.144-07:00"Lovely"We should use this word more often in our daily vocabulary. It adds kindness and peace to conversations and to an often too busy lifestyle. It helps me to stop and think and notice the small details.<br />
The time in London with my Italian family and Isabella was short and intense but also <i>lovely.</i><br />
We spent time sightseeing, sitting and talking and eating good food, tasting an English tea and visiting a few pubs. We spent time to reconnect. Thank you mom and dad for making the trip. Thank you to my brother and his young family for coming as well. It was short, but I am glad we decided to do it.<br />
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I had not been in London for almost 20 years. I forgot how crowded and frenetic it is. I love the challenge of moving around the city on the Tube (the underground network of London). It is surely an amazing feat of engineering, but it is stressful to move around crowds of people and noisy cars and streets. Next time I want to visit this museum and learn more about its history: https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/<br />
And it's not easy to navigate a group of 10 people, ages 6 to 70+ up and down escalators, museums and crowded streets without getting lost.<br />
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I met a long time friend that hosted me in her house when I spent time in England learning the language during high school. We spent 3 hours together to tell each other about our last 30 years of life. 1 hour for 10 years. It felt like time had not passed. Her voice is gentle and slow. A kind and lovely reminder for this efficient engineer to listen more, to slow down, to appreciate listless time having tea and cookies... We walked and ate gelato and talked about past and future.<br />
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While in the UK, I was also introduced to the Netflix series "The Crown". It's fascinating, especially by using it as a tool for a history lesson of the British monarchy. Watch an episode and then check the facts. I am learning a lot that way. We don't have Netflix, but the DVDs can be found at the local Public Library.<br />
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The whole trip helped me remember why I fell in love with the UK when I first visited it a loooong time ago. It's a country with a fascinating history and culture and beautiful parks of which I hold lovely memories. But it's always the people that make a place special and I have more special memories to treasure of this place now. Until the next time, God willing!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SHIw1PxY3NZ2bGI5cB4ep0hSeFDitwYqUJS_VeFD8jdyBLVOODoqQjxQAXkNwpJ354WR3TS8Zf_lCZ7McAWiQtVZzRM31743Lv45YSrACSwdUtyFNTtGN-zpEydNXxXVRagVqrDrOUw/s1600/b24960a2-b891-47fc-a233-396ee4b0b58c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SHIw1PxY3NZ2bGI5cB4ep0hSeFDitwYqUJS_VeFD8jdyBLVOODoqQjxQAXkNwpJ354WR3TS8Zf_lCZ7McAWiQtVZzRM31743Lv45YSrACSwdUtyFNTtGN-zpEydNXxXVRagVqrDrOUw/s640/b24960a2-b891-47fc-a233-396ee4b0b58c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hyde Park rest</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg358GBv0jzCFpkM4xAtIC-J44ZSIXtuetPPQVphfssYKj5jQEKd3DV6qiXsEunB6dHb3npZsNEc9bjYS2BOZpeLfbZPnCPzDvPxCJZSOXZOIHkxgYSY8L1LYcipkGBp5IDk8hZqAIHMt8/s1600/88125561-270d-43ac-9d1d-e73d6c4ec934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg358GBv0jzCFpkM4xAtIC-J44ZSIXtuetPPQVphfssYKj5jQEKd3DV6qiXsEunB6dHb3npZsNEc9bjYS2BOZpeLfbZPnCPzDvPxCJZSOXZOIHkxgYSY8L1LYcipkGBp5IDk8hZqAIHMt8/s640/88125561-270d-43ac-9d1d-e73d6c4ec934.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting friends after 30 years - truly lovely</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JVLzu9g6ZmdfxVxU1CRXwkQZQBiiSLE74RyVXJOw9QtIHFUaVbBZ0aDsqF_oSIfjFmk7t5LOg0IlWp0oETKld0ann4ggJY3wxgUvOejXpBJ57hPshIa34GLk2APV7Wgbsw3YpLXyeuM/s1600/ee7d2a97-b117-4845-a27a-9657621a1a15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JVLzu9g6ZmdfxVxU1CRXwkQZQBiiSLE74RyVXJOw9QtIHFUaVbBZ0aDsqF_oSIfjFmk7t5LOg0IlWp0oETKld0ann4ggJY3wxgUvOejXpBJ57hPshIa34GLk2APV7Wgbsw3YpLXyeuM/s640/ee7d2a97-b117-4845-a27a-9657621a1a15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having fun</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish and Chips</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning jog in Hyde Park - almost empty - a real treat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tube</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iLbUafRmcAl57CfgwpXEjjTh6oMadwAhNBX25YYRWh1aUX0eSRfz8RZ5gLhuM_ry8l5itdkyn_zbjECOC87ZcSi88-86mn0W8jKXijuYGT9SFgHGbN8p_soO1xsPkKYRd6U5I3YD3ds/s1600/IMG_2243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iLbUafRmcAl57CfgwpXEjjTh6oMadwAhNBX25YYRWh1aUX0eSRfz8RZ5gLhuM_ry8l5itdkyn_zbjECOC87ZcSi88-86mn0W8jKXijuYGT9SFgHGbN8p_soO1xsPkKYRd6U5I3YD3ds/s640/IMG_2243.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gigantic crucifix inside the incomplete London Catholic Cathedral</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLSXln06PYji6wNimlB5ZLeIbLQZRhQy4ooMRbuYb5dnhVAHO23ZpRA5EhD7vbRVfnsAMD9g3vrMGaNoUuMjyxWvIssIpnirfA0p4I29fgayJzaoimQg8_59ofrlrkgDTi3M6LjJX4zE/s1600/IMG_2254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLSXln06PYji6wNimlB5ZLeIbLQZRhQy4ooMRbuYb5dnhVAHO23ZpRA5EhD7vbRVfnsAMD9g3vrMGaNoUuMjyxWvIssIpnirfA0p4I29fgayJzaoimQg8_59ofrlrkgDTi3M6LjJX4zE/s640/IMG_2254.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virgin Trains - great travel option</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnIUNl2yvxyTGWFINeOXoGw9o8bXp3KW1Qs8OSGBsyj5iLDgSzzHuizwDxIQx4_NnhgORRHUATvwCNFXYjLDL-_GYkiuI81n8JpmglzOx3VxutctBPmlGGLsXUI_NRCrzmeFFsaCBdyE/s1600/IMG_2261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnIUNl2yvxyTGWFINeOXoGw9o8bXp3KW1Qs8OSGBsyj5iLDgSzzHuizwDxIQx4_NnhgORRHUATvwCNFXYjLDL-_GYkiuI81n8JpmglzOx3VxutctBPmlGGLsXUI_NRCrzmeFFsaCBdyE/s640/IMG_2261.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portobello Road on a week day. </td></tr>
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<br />smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-9546842655542722752018-11-04T10:55:00.003-07:002018-11-06T08:17:27.512-07:00Driving on the other side of the road<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A blog is a valuable tool to share ideas, feelings and one's life in general, but only if I actually take the time to write it. I just realized I have not posted on this blog since last April... Wow!<br />
Unfortunately our western life is often so busy and frenetic that, even with the latest tools for communication and efficiency, we feel overwhelmed and never have enough time to get to do many things we want to. Computers were supposed to render our life easier and give us more free time. In reality they have made it more stressful and less human. We walk or run past each other without noticing, without paying attention.<br />
I get reminded of that often, especially when I get to fly somewhere and spend time at an airport. Airports are fascinating places. So many people standing in line next to each other for security and check-in, ordering food, all going to such different places for so many different reasons. While we are sharing very close spaces for a few moments, in just a few hours, we will be so many miles and time zones apart, living very different experiences. Someone will enjoy the sun on a beach, somebody will nervously be preparing for a job interview in a <i>cold </i>hotel room, somebody, after years of separation, will visit relatives in a far away country where customs, rules and way of lives are nothing like ours. For many years I have thought about spending a whole day at the airport, asking people about where they are going and why, and writing a book of short human, travel stories. Maybe now somebody reading this blog will decide to steal my idea.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeP6fS80G7GNjAwTw0OtB1KeHLfUKhQknHSddj8C0qUyUh6KiQqZ0j8O2IPy0c0bSUUjaP9bYXv5XyMnJv2VT1FvBxRbC5hoA9eaDcxOS13-JXFFlx0dlpMHEf0kQRv4ZviLtlrJGLvI/s1600/IMG_2076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeP6fS80G7GNjAwTw0OtB1KeHLfUKhQknHSddj8C0qUyUh6KiQqZ0j8O2IPy0c0bSUUjaP9bYXv5XyMnJv2VT1FvBxRbC5hoA9eaDcxOS13-JXFFlx0dlpMHEf0kQRv4ZviLtlrJGLvI/s640/IMG_2076.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe...</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjjjlvcHKZVKoo-3bGVFdip1J_fNxLCLD3UsV5bEEK3Bd7TfhNxne5yDsgYdH_PEGW9qU2TNW3JYEVgJ3AOKLTqM6oFWJSxDkCLVTEI8vTcsnUvb9A1OQThSlB6OIbxjXx5lNZE3SV3w/s1600/IMG_2092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjjjlvcHKZVKoo-3bGVFdip1J_fNxLCLD3UsV5bEEK3Bd7TfhNxne5yDsgYdH_PEGW9qU2TNW3JYEVgJ3AOKLTqM6oFWJSxDkCLVTEI8vTcsnUvb9A1OQThSlB6OIbxjXx5lNZE3SV3w/s640/IMG_2092.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKQz8qE_or7HrB4I4L7SNbGN4Nfr32v42D4-1QgHwOK69jro3oG42lXNjobBmyG48kZkb3QXoqO-pyMMI8RO3739S4DVQLKBG4Pa9rreoQch0nT6biwGJ4lJGXKi0R6OQkC0lr2bLgpI/s1600/IMG_2108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKQz8qE_or7HrB4I4L7SNbGN4Nfr32v42D4-1QgHwOK69jro3oG42lXNjobBmyG48kZkb3QXoqO-pyMMI8RO3739S4DVQLKBG4Pa9rreoQch0nT6biwGJ4lJGXKi0R6OQkC0lr2bLgpI/s640/IMG_2108.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQelINjuubGxw8M7KP28fvoR2R5p4w_2P8TOwG5kEhqXLGUfNWYgpD0IehrhNpakVMxYOBQRnVo-7g7HJ_R6Vnk1ghSKtvepWerF75u_ZI5gVM_cJ6lcT8KZtYI5Eui6HQv6aW9MMdNQ/s1600/IMG_2109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQelINjuubGxw8M7KP28fvoR2R5p4w_2P8TOwG5kEhqXLGUfNWYgpD0IehrhNpakVMxYOBQRnVo-7g7HJ_R6Vnk1ghSKtvepWerF75u_ZI5gVM_cJ6lcT8KZtYI5Eui6HQv6aW9MMdNQ/s640/IMG_2109.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the moss in the center of the road</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7f7nWPAAKpLZB8UKu8G2BDYEaWUWPpq_7S852iiiJJ72prmcTHnouGoMdc5OQXupfz-8kTltvFqSdbKWaZ31ZBTEzgtEzxDrL6VUWKy9yhCXbyzbyA8Dl3nVcG2IrXPbOFiQabJAATA8/s1600/IMG_2116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7f7nWPAAKpLZB8UKu8G2BDYEaWUWPpq_7S852iiiJJ72prmcTHnouGoMdc5OQXupfz-8kTltvFqSdbKWaZ31ZBTEzgtEzxDrL6VUWKy9yhCXbyzbyA8Dl3nVcG2IrXPbOFiQabJAATA8/s640/IMG_2116.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Back in mid October, I was one of those lucky people getting to fly away for a while. I visited Isabella who is studying for a semester in Glasgow, Scotland. When I was young, I spent many months in the southern part of England, but never visited Scotland before. What a blessing to share with Isabella a short moment of her life as she is growing into a beautiful young woman.<br />
We drove a rented BMW on the other side of the road and learned the historical reasons why our British friends do that. Do you know why?<br />
We visited the only pumpkin patch in Scotland and learned how people there carved (and still carve) turnips.<br />
We jogged together through the busy streets of an old European city.<br />
We spent time with the Catholic community of the University of Glasgow, enjoying a simple meal together in a large, unpretentious room and listened to a splendid talk about Chapter 6 of Gospel of St. John. It is the Gospel about the bread of life and the Eucharist, that so many felt scandalized by and left Jesus because of it. <i>Will you leave as well? </i>There were local students and many others from countries all over Europe and beyond. All together receiving the body of Christ. A truly Catholic, universal, church.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLSqVGuJeKAEjSTgsbH2eHmaa33TiAGkSnpKm9wcEnXPS3kQL13I16ggYnkypsnGe_mmtLo2PpjW6drK1bta4HHYwwtYMHtIwOWcaxRM64n-gzHLUnu31tVHFwX1P5rt9-ytjCmdvRs8/s1600/IMG_2138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="1600" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLSqVGuJeKAEjSTgsbH2eHmaa33TiAGkSnpKm9wcEnXPS3kQL13I16ggYnkypsnGe_mmtLo2PpjW6drK1bta4HHYwwtYMHtIwOWcaxRM64n-gzHLUnu31tVHFwX1P5rt9-ytjCmdvRs8/s640/IMG_2138.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edinburg</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIU8SdEAUQl3-uL-TZiM9Wp4cI8l9HoSL2NMzndhtpv2RT1dlGq0NvLc8f3Xxq7rhyOSW2EiKhL3zrksaHAjVFnte1_BgKK1bGNG2-_vBrkWB4j25UBLczEGgkXuER1jEjlStwxB1lKE/s1600/IMG_2141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIU8SdEAUQl3-uL-TZiM9Wp4cI8l9HoSL2NMzndhtpv2RT1dlGq0NvLc8f3Xxq7rhyOSW2EiKhL3zrksaHAjVFnte1_BgKK1bGNG2-_vBrkWB4j25UBLczEGgkXuER1jEjlStwxB1lKE/s640/IMG_2141.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Isabella and Judy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzqaOUQmgkTc4VfykXsQOo9DPYpVb8jwqcfN4-53vnYUTk4IgI8FZMgPRqtJQlLAUWjme6Yl-jlLnUiPX6GK1PH4aCU_X8erqnR6DZ7-jk5KVjd6sf6-C1DM3T0UHX6Y8lISUi9zkuf4/s1600/IMG_2144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzqaOUQmgkTc4VfykXsQOo9DPYpVb8jwqcfN4-53vnYUTk4IgI8FZMgPRqtJQlLAUWjme6Yl-jlLnUiPX6GK1PH4aCU_X8erqnR6DZ7-jk5KVjd6sf6-C1DM3T0UHX6Y8lISUi9zkuf4/s640/IMG_2144.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">XI century chapel in Edinburgh's Castle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Stuart - Queen of Scots</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cAmkyBBq9ByTzqVMp4lUMxiKVtUucNLKdf00DROh-HCS6CKxu29UpiQSElvsNXnsh54mGq6HcesZn19Fofhw-hbTHo5Nr6eQiUeZIYDtyEE-yptFuTmiwaDIqguRyIL6vx1Z7gds4Nk/s1600/IMG_2168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cAmkyBBq9ByTzqVMp4lUMxiKVtUucNLKdf00DROh-HCS6CKxu29UpiQSElvsNXnsh54mGq6HcesZn19Fofhw-hbTHo5Nr6eQiUeZIYDtyEE-yptFuTmiwaDIqguRyIL6vx1Z7gds4Nk/s640/IMG_2168.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern Glasgow at sunrise (8AM)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">students apartments</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2MEAtiLiB7v_GPsMlNUcj3uXqXvI2MkblSjvASGTeTeF8jWsxoTCfBoqbDjbiPpdtvFkkHHcQ2R1g-7PQvpvL_JV-ofrlbj0jraXq2RpRCOVZUOADOgX2eQItnr8logKajhbFZzCiDA/s1600/IMG_2176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2MEAtiLiB7v_GPsMlNUcj3uXqXvI2MkblSjvASGTeTeF8jWsxoTCfBoqbDjbiPpdtvFkkHHcQ2R1g-7PQvpvL_JV-ofrlbj0jraXq2RpRCOVZUOADOgX2eQItnr8logKajhbFZzCiDA/s640/IMG_2176.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">jogging together</td></tr>
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When I visit a new place I always try to imagine life there. What would it be like to live here? What would I miss the most, what would I enjoy the most? Would I be able to adapt to the differences? I am reminded that I am adaptable, and realize I don't need the security of all the things I hold so dear at home and I am so scared to leave. Being with those I love, experiencing life and learning together is what I treasure. It helps me get out of myself and open up to others more. I wish Norine had been there with me. <br />
I could live in Scotland. I love the slow and narrow country roads, the stone walls dividing properties, erected by hand who knows when and I particularly love the ever-present sheep, lazily grazing. It was nice to enjoy clouds and some gentle rain as well.<br />
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After a few days in Glasgow we took the train to London to meet with the Italian part of the family, but I will keep that for another post, hopefully very soon.<br />
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<br />smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-87900189460283211212018-04-23T21:39:00.000-06:002018-04-23T21:39:00.362-06:0024 hours with Justice for All (JFA)<br />
I have not posted for such a long time, but this is a great opportunity to start again.<br />
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Our family spent the last 24 hours with our missionary friends of Justice for All, who travel the country ministering on college campuses. They engage students and the general public about one of the most controversial human rights issues of today.<br />
But what is different about JFA is their approach, which is based on listening, patience, finding common ground and loving those they converse with.<br />
Not many people truly listen to others anymore and even fewer listen with love. Thank you for your example Steve, Jon, Rebecca, Susanna, Grace and the whole team.<br />
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<i> If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal … Love is patient, love is kind … it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. - </i><i>1 Corinthians 13 (excerpts)</i><br />
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We had some very interesting encounters today, but I would like to leave you with a touching story from a JFA event held in 2017.<a href="http://www.jfaweb.org/sam">http://www.jfaweb.org/sam</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VFc7Ogj239tuKDeYNoVTtY3qEejivT6IjGHP3DCnOiGRJ1OCZJqLcmzMqk_G20Y-1woclD4txYuQ9xX13bmxskixoTi0bOoWB8vyqtqP7tz1rcPK7Sk0HwxU21ZsR2-7EY8vd62SYOE/s1600/DSC_2479.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VFc7Ogj239tuKDeYNoVTtY3qEejivT6IjGHP3DCnOiGRJ1OCZJqLcmzMqk_G20Y-1woclD4txYuQ9xX13bmxskixoTi0bOoWB8vyqtqP7tz1rcPK7Sk0HwxU21ZsR2-7EY8vd62SYOE/s640/DSC_2479.NEF" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our small display, side 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoEJzKGzCBpz46Jra7u0XlAuCzPTH3sxM3kG2CjzXTh9jQgrt4UZMJ-CPlUfEMLiVfcEFYcak5N55PzvGn2p8D00sFnuOflbVNejVvPdMosw8ny3pp07TWj13Asj6r-_RwU-7EXsJMA8/s1600/DSC_2482.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoEJzKGzCBpz46Jra7u0XlAuCzPTH3sxM3kG2CjzXTh9jQgrt4UZMJ-CPlUfEMLiVfcEFYcak5N55PzvGn2p8D00sFnuOflbVNejVvPdMosw8ny3pp07TWj13Asj6r-_RwU-7EXsJMA8/s640/DSC_2482.NEF" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side 2</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isabella, Anna and Norine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmilbw8nBcY7b_Mt_SqXj3Cir1H2FNcrhcuU2hAJzrFpnqJHAp4Z80MHhDjDfrlAYppVZwzlNJKAikp8w9EXC_nTtOTgP8z5Xebp7pukWMKJSOQ0vwEaWtVtVj-kLFgwoL_tsSB07AxJk/s1600/DSC_2494+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmilbw8nBcY7b_Mt_SqXj3Cir1H2FNcrhcuU2hAJzrFpnqJHAp4Z80MHhDjDfrlAYppVZwzlNJKAikp8w9EXC_nTtOTgP8z5Xebp7pukWMKJSOQ0vwEaWtVtVj-kLFgwoL_tsSB07AxJk/s640/DSC_2494+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">listening</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More listening</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fellowship at our house</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">what do you think?</td></tr>
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<br />smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-26274443094196481992018-01-08T18:36:00.000-07:002018-01-08T18:37:34.608-07:001500m indoor running race --> 5:07:14<br />
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Well,</div>
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What a way to start 2018. A friend, who is a very fast runner, invited me to an indoor track 1500m running race at the Air Force Academy. How could I say no. I feel so blessed. I am 46 and after a couple of years of some back problems, I have been able to come back to running and doing it somewhat competitively as well. Thank you Lord for this gift and, as somebody once said, <i>"To give less than your best is to sacrifice the gift"</i>. Yes, I did my best and will continue to do that.<br />
I also have some other good reasons to continue running in 2018. A few months ago I signed up with LifeRunners (http://www.liferunners.org/) and I feel it is an honor to wear their shirt and run as a testimony that every life is precious, no matter how small. Age has also brought some regular physical pain that I did not experience when I was young. So running also becomes a way to feel in communion with and to think about those who suffer daily. </div>
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As for the race:<br />
Well, my friend ended up sick so I went alone. I was hoping to run the 1500m in 5:05 and I did almost that (5:07:14, which equates to a 5:32 mile pace). The AFA (Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs) indoor track is 274m (or so) long, so it is hard to keep track of your pace during the run and the GPS does not work in the facility. </div>
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I ended up as the only master athlete in the 1500m race. All the other runners were teenagers. So, I felt a little intimidated. Yet, they were nice to me. I ran in the first, faster heat and finished last. <i>Kids</i> went out way too fast. That threw pacing completely off. I could have probably battled for victory in the second, slower heat, as their winning time was around 5:02.</div>
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Overall, I am satisfied and I think I can soon get to a 5:00 with proper pacing. Here the video shot from a phone. The last 10 seconds are missing as the phone rang... Bummer. I am in a blue shirt if you are wondering.<br />
My two comments:<br />
I had never been filmed before and I have to say that I look really slow from this angle. Yet, 5:07 is a good pace....<br />
I also like Norine and Isabella's comments. Thank you for your support ladies. I love you.</div>
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<br />smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-90838283372518282017-09-03T20:33:00.002-06:002017-09-03T20:34:37.050-06:00Lake Isabelle<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwLZnzl4nBSq2mo0DwI62HhBpHFDEOS7lrHUGH9uXzd2vDiVxsdfQzXwSeOdxHDLgKQ2LF-JEIH_yx4vkgIxo5Dc5sYsOMcndunHJvFMyWiaGwqQ0H-qLU2H-sTAlvO57B-0vxXU3a80/s1600/DSC_4717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwLZnzl4nBSq2mo0DwI62HhBpHFDEOS7lrHUGH9uXzd2vDiVxsdfQzXwSeOdxHDLgKQ2LF-JEIH_yx4vkgIxo5Dc5sYsOMcndunHJvFMyWiaGwqQ0H-qLU2H-sTAlvO57B-0vxXU3a80/s640/DSC_4717.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the background: Apache Peak, Shoshoni Peak, Pawnee Pass and Mt Toll, all close to 13 thousand feet</td></tr>
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Having Wednesdays off has its advantages.<br />
Norine and I dropped off Paolo at school and then headed to <i>Brainard Lake Recreation Area</i>. Look it up and consider visiting it, if you live in the Front Range of Colorado, because it is fantastic.<br />
For us it is surely one of the most beautiful hikes in the area.<br />
A moist forest, soft walking path, the sound of water, a peaceful high mountain lake, plenty or mushrooms (even edible ones) and wildflowers and my best friend forever.<br />
Many more peaks and trails to discover. Maybe next year we will come camping here.<br />
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Here is a link to the hike profile:<br />
<a href="https://go-wellness.epson.com/neo-run/user/view/shareWorkout.html?shareId=138071024438768100000000000">https://go-wellness.epson.com/neo-run/user/view/shareWorkout.html?shareId=138071024438768100000000000</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"<i>porcino</i> mushroom - the best to find"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wbCZx71NNdtshYfmxoBCbXsz7VCFggXaKjIVDRssJFpWhL0vGx1YVeo6hpkPe4AqFFEPqDPex-3z1A_a-__BMDHFmxFHMOqsutT1qPVd3uw38ndYwmhtWNjbfjX0te9pN7GI0CLJ9u4/s1600/DSC_4720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wbCZx71NNdtshYfmxoBCbXsz7VCFggXaKjIVDRssJFpWhL0vGx1YVeo6hpkPe4AqFFEPqDPex-3z1A_a-__BMDHFmxFHMOqsutT1qPVd3uw38ndYwmhtWNjbfjX0te9pN7GI0CLJ9u4/s640/DSC_4720.JPG" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Isabelle, 11,000 feet</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeEsOF6KyqiBwNu77GK8qZ_zI08X6BsTZKOyrf3iFnzIkyD_A-d8_YXtI7es9bASTgVndpv_fBzU3VAhHFgzsNO8IYX8AVPUnC3uOTwuL92nDUDhLXUhYDTVTExIHpyG-VdG0UudjQR0/s1600/DSC_4725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeEsOF6KyqiBwNu77GK8qZ_zI08X6BsTZKOyrf3iFnzIkyD_A-d8_YXtI7es9bASTgVndpv_fBzU3VAhHFgzsNO8IYX8AVPUnC3uOTwuL92nDUDhLXUhYDTVTExIHpyG-VdG0UudjQR0/s640/DSC_4725.JPG" width="424" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFcoxXP3L4lF6cdpdTcR6v1i1Qy6dF0ykdgSqHIWQfT-BNOD0wlzG70_Q24HtnH9VsxXvQWTXQwgdvpWefTaN3TA0a2RH4PmrVu52VQ8Pq4-XplL_8jFtxDN4Oshg4VoQoHl6bez-U4I/s1600/DSC_4705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnL20JWEV1xc_iZuZOZXHElQe4zw24TXNfdqUyhFhXj0QJ9gFHFRf-LEBH9tsG3nA9QdkkBll4epDHHpv-qmDhMDBLwUo3h1YM5hvOUaz5g2dcwjSlrvuEfAv7euVJmA8yerD8pPvWv5A/s1600/DSC_4726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnL20JWEV1xc_iZuZOZXHElQe4zw24TXNfdqUyhFhXj0QJ9gFHFRf-LEBH9tsG3nA9QdkkBll4epDHHpv-qmDhMDBLwUo3h1YM5hvOUaz5g2dcwjSlrvuEfAv7euVJmA8yerD8pPvWv5A/s640/DSC_4726.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"goodbye for now"</td></tr>
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<br />smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-47972567770841838542017-08-23T21:13:00.002-06:002017-08-24T06:15:54.623-06:00In the path of totality - August 21, 2017 - Nebraska<br />
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Isabella and dad
decided to brave the forecasted terrible traffic and drive to Nebraska to watch the total solar eclipse. This is the tale of their short adventure.<br />
Alarm sounds at 2:45am in order to meet with Kirk and his children at 3:30.<br />
The morning air is brisk but pleasant. Food and water were prepared the night before but we want to get an extra container of gas, just in case. The first gas station pump I try does not dispense gas. Maybe they turn it off at night? So we get gas at a second one.<br />
We meet our friends, cram 5 people in a Hyundai and are on the road toward the Scottsbluff area by 3:40am. Surely one of the earliest departures ever.<br />
We have plenty of food, water and entertainment, a full tank of gas as well as three full 5-gallons gas containers in the trunk. Unfortunately, one of them has a tiny little leak next to the cap and the smell comes into the car. So we spend the day opening and closing the windows <i>for fume control</i>.<br />
As we drive up E470, there is a steady stream of red car lights ahead of us and we wonder how bad traffic will be. Yet, our fears never materialize. We reach Fort Morgan, then head up country roads to Nebraska. The young people in the car sing: <i>"Take me home country roads, to the place I belong...."</i><br />
The stream of car continues but it's the fog in northern Colorado, not the traffic, that slows us down to 40mph for a while. We cross I-80 and stop in Kimball, NE for a break. About twenty people are in line for one bathroom at the gas station in town, so we decide to keep going and stop by the roadside on a small country road instead. <br />
The Nebraska radio station we tune is talks with excitement about "Nebraska being in the path of totality" and says that the stadium in Scottsbluff is getting filled with eclipse watchers. It's 7am, so we decide to head for the country instead. We turn onto CO RD 88 and then north to stay out of town. In the meanwhile the radio features the daily value for corn, hay, wheat, alfa-alfa and other vegetables on the <em>farmers' stock market</em> (<em>corn $22.50 up 2</em>...) along with the list of people that will be selling cattle this morning at the market. Quantity, price and breed are all mentioned. I wonder if anybody will buy cattle today....<br />
4 1/2 hours after our departure we drive over a large rail road crossing and enter into Morrill, NE (population 912 according to the 2010 census). It is small, quiet and rundown. The local gas station does not have a line for the bathroom. Plus they still have plenty of eclipse glasses for sale along with eclipse T-shirts. It seems like the right place to stop. Besides, there is a well maintained, green park in the center of town. So we set up camp for our observation point. <br />
The sky is blue, not a cloud in sight.<br />
Coal trains stream by next to main street with a loud whistle about every 20 minutes; full trains come from Wyoming to the west and empty trains come from the east. There is a pattern. <br />
The town seems to be in existence because of a "bean plant", but apart from that there is not much life here.<br />
The police station has two cars that drive loops around the few streets and the green park.<br />
We play some frisbee and tennis, do some homework, Isabella naps on her portable hammock while people start trickling in. By the time the eclipse starts at 10:30am there are probably 60 to 80 people mostly from Colorado and some from Wyoming, where we hear the traffic is terrible.<br />
Ha, ha, good choice not go there.<br />
The viewers include a group of 4 Asian people (Chinese?) each wearing the equivalent of a homemade, full body suit including gloves, hoodies and face masks. Then they lay on the ground on their blankets to watch the natural show. <br />
An older man from Fort Collins sets up a telescope with a 90 degree lens that projects the sun onto the bottom of a cardboard box. Very simple but ingenious. A line of curious people quickly lines up to see the setup. We can see the sun spots that way. He says he observes them regularly and they usually last from a few weeks to a few months.<br />
A woman gets out from a Colorado SUV wearing a low cut shirt which says something like: "Stop staring here, look at the sun instead". I did NOT stare, so I am not sure of the exact wording, but we get the idea. :)<br />
I did not want to drive all the way to Nebraska for a two minutes total eclipse. I thought: "how different can 93% in Denver really make?" Well, it did make a big difference. Only when the sun is almost fully covered does the lighting really changes and super interesting effects take place. Isabella and her friend see "shadow snakes", a 360 degrees sunset happens within literally a few seconds. The temperature drops, the corona of the sun becomes visible and people start applauding...<br />
I am so glad I came. Thank you Isabella for insisting. My only wish is that the full eclipse would last longer, in order to be able to observe all the effects more closely. We may have to go chase another one somewhere. By the way, did you know that other known planets do not experience such perfect full eclipses as we do on earth? The dimensions and relative distances of sun, moon and earth allow for that to happen. God surely knows what he is doing (for more info on this see: https://evolutionnews.org/2017/08/perfect-eclipses-coincidence-or-conspiracy/)<br />
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When light returns we say goodbye to Morrill and head back south. Fearing traffic again, we decide to go through gravel roads all the way to I-80. The result is a lot of dust but not one car for about 54 miles.<br />
Once we reach good pavement again is time for saying the rosary and then there is still one more exciting event. The traffic slows down right at the border between Nebraska and Colorado. I look at Google maps which predicts that the drive home will take another 10+ hours. I freeze and everybody in the car panics. But the traffic eases again and I look at the phone one more time. Google maps direction for set for <i>bike</i> instead of<i> car</i>. We all breath a sight of relief. It will take us 5 hours to get back. In total 9 1/2 hours in the car for a two minutes nature show.<br />
It was all worth it. Thanks Isabella for convincing me to go. Thanks Kirk for driving and thanks God for such an amazing design, once again.<br />
We all learned a lot today.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ffT-tiPyl5T-9ZEpc09iAC7f3gId2vKjCSbOuOOurzFFEFfKdWJr92id0usUUUCQ03z0-v69uUodq_ho9ggztdW0XuTN2Br7YA_aw1FbQH03zEcD4L76R24u6tzd2Y10m0PLuaJObdI/s1600/DSC_4642.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ffT-tiPyl5T-9ZEpc09iAC7f3gId2vKjCSbOuOOurzFFEFfKdWJr92id0usUUUCQ03z0-v69uUodq_ho9ggztdW0XuTN2Br7YA_aw1FbQH03zEcD4L76R24u6tzd2Y10m0PLuaJObdI/s640/DSC_4642.NEF" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the exciting time</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTGJGG0IYagDHnuWJlF9wwjewYlkyYE5zrRO85M0fVh95WsdqrVjbozCHDr2Gm6Dg9S9983cJ3POArPgnJYMOIdKTRLThJHhswsUo7r8p1BdjGgqXNhi5PdWJCnsTsBNqgHyZJcz9a6A/s1600/DSC_4645.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTGJGG0IYagDHnuWJlF9wwjewYlkyYE5zrRO85M0fVh95WsdqrVjbozCHDr2Gm6Dg9S9983cJ3POArPgnJYMOIdKTRLThJHhswsUo7r8p1BdjGgqXNhi5PdWJCnsTsBNqgHyZJcz9a6A/s640/DSC_4645.NEF" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fashionable</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dKPAYRORxpjwvTEl1CSP7sc41MzVQ28pt6PJKudebwYkhi-tRv6eCcp50NeRIVyeBlAFaltcIY7Wlh-eygueYcwfFdIYSHoRDCvKPmn8piGfvQm8QkRhvo8OwJ-LPZ5xvrW-RhOLpY0/s1600/DSC_4649.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dKPAYRORxpjwvTEl1CSP7sc41MzVQ28pt6PJKudebwYkhi-tRv6eCcp50NeRIVyeBlAFaltcIY7Wlh-eygueYcwfFdIYSHoRDCvKPmn8piGfvQm8QkRhvo8OwJ-LPZ5xvrW-RhOLpY0/s640/DSC_4649.NEF" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun spots</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4cTV9fcaV8zuhtKBuT3fq9vOIFp8YYLJD2bfMPkJDcQ-4PawaHmbavFO_PcJKWGQoSnEZL0Mn0x3sUs0XvLsk7MRAMFV110_5wl0AljFWzhZvM_4a-g8mWxGXtwP1Skn_mBGU72SSLI/s1600/DSC_4653.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4cTV9fcaV8zuhtKBuT3fq9vOIFp8YYLJD2bfMPkJDcQ-4PawaHmbavFO_PcJKWGQoSnEZL0Mn0x3sUs0XvLsk7MRAMFV110_5wl0AljFWzhZvM_4a-g8mWxGXtwP1Skn_mBGU72SSLI/s640/DSC_4653.NEF" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This projections were made with a telescope, a deflector and a cardboard box</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXyu7hIzATCrU7khCQtJhBP3i6cJGll3OaRfoSUrGGjXO0iAbx36MoMNG-sJtC4-HoEzx7aqLm9taNXaGWiFOS-B4CmM1wFdj0Sov7qDDAgz7RA_qK1hW91Q1pNx-QkkTDTNda0ztxjI/s1600/DSC_4657.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXyu7hIzATCrU7khCQtJhBP3i6cJGll3OaRfoSUrGGjXO0iAbx36MoMNG-sJtC4-HoEzx7aqLm9taNXaGWiFOS-B4CmM1wFdj0Sov7qDDAgz7RA_qK1hW91Q1pNx-QkkTDTNda0ztxjI/s640/DSC_4657.NEF" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">total eclipse moment - camera - no filter - no magnification</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67465OjXwgysd9szZdaSW3PpWb_RBf4vcPmgEEoa4mcjxePcO33PEPO7FylTuFHkkxBh4Wxakuqo3Vtb4UEjd5fA06HOSWJCWeN8kjbSlBQkRI6w265P1GiFKx9FsZI1rhEBsdKEkZFQ/s1600/DSC_4658.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67465OjXwgysd9szZdaSW3PpWb_RBf4vcPmgEEoa4mcjxePcO33PEPO7FylTuFHkkxBh4Wxakuqo3Vtb4UEjd5fA06HOSWJCWeN8kjbSlBQkRI6w265P1GiFKx9FsZI1rhEBsdKEkZFQ/s640/DSC_4658.NEF" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">total eclipse moment - no camera filter - full zoom</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPdOjILQvF5ItXZdx9h9CODS-FqyIigErV-aaxYrLjE-_IxK6Xot9CpXpRoVZdxjeG1zL60i4_FD8mLRx80AuDfIJFWVSsF2LDswolMbHxCLeElCZqnvAbNUFTs0N1A7V0FG7bI4d0UE/s1600/DSC_4658+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPdOjILQvF5ItXZdx9h9CODS-FqyIigErV-aaxYrLjE-_IxK6Xot9CpXpRoVZdxjeG1zL60i4_FD8mLRx80AuDfIJFWVSsF2LDswolMbHxCLeElCZqnvAbNUFTs0N1A7V0FG7bI4d0UE/s640/DSC_4658+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">picture above cropped</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrAlemK9KWZQCK57xT60nV5UVRF9_nfR_AKE7CCnl6JVx0WDnU2sUc48_M1-ZDO3Yabc85Ai6Qqk9y3fDixPLlzO2QdCC6MuMuhYiQNlMs1s-T7n5yJTl8VsKsJbjw7E1j5Ogd9TMy_U/s1600/DSC_4641.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrAlemK9KWZQCK57xT60nV5UVRF9_nfR_AKE7CCnl6JVx0WDnU2sUc48_M1-ZDO3Yabc85Ai6Qqk9y3fDixPLlzO2QdCC6MuMuhYiQNlMs1s-T7n5yJTl8VsKsJbjw7E1j5Ogd9TMy_U/s640/DSC_4641.NEF" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cool sign for a very tiny village in Nebraska - Thank you Morrill, NE</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9Dbj8heVNX-okymoBnTqW4xSfOnxlK6GVrXQyg1K8sVBWYWJZrJ2rWB0ZUf8RUEH1g3xt_SwoPyPyLXr8RfccPdzEjUlE8YCbJE0fK96EbIC4GYy9kIxE9fbHV-qnDt4qFfOhD_tQd4/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9Dbj8heVNX-okymoBnTqW4xSfOnxlK6GVrXQyg1K8sVBWYWJZrJ2rWB0ZUf8RUEH1g3xt_SwoPyPyLXr8RfccPdzEjUlE8YCbJE0fK96EbIC4GYy9kIxE9fbHV-qnDt4qFfOhD_tQd4/s400/photo+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morrill's sights</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ81ZG3oYjC87JZgcIdaqWLfQztA3QsHLBWpYN2rWQKePgUYYdviAPUfjOX9x-LQP2YWR2EngwGG1A4m5R-glKmPqWzVhTLCRa64uSDTZ9TDvDdKYWA2E-pZEM-8xWwW3qiS15Gjw9N9o/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ81ZG3oYjC87JZgcIdaqWLfQztA3QsHLBWpYN2rWQKePgUYYdviAPUfjOX9x-LQP2YWR2EngwGG1A4m5R-glKmPqWzVhTLCRa64uSDTZ9TDvDdKYWA2E-pZEM-8xWwW3qiS15Gjw9N9o/s400/photo+4.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Morrill's sights</td></tr>
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<br />smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-36383673175514029782017-07-01T09:30:00.000-06:002017-07-01T09:30:02.333-06:00Gloria Dei est vivens homo!<br />
<i><b>"The glory of God is man fully alive,"</b></i> so said St. Irenaeus many centuries ago and this is what Pietro, Isabella and I experienced yesterday as we climbed Quandary Peak (14,265 ft - 4347 m).<br />
While, as St. Paul reminds us, we will only experience our true fulfillment in Heaven, it is also true that God is glorified when we live the life of grace he has called us to live here on earth.<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">So, climbing a mountain and using our human gifts to praise Him and do His will are activities we should enjoy and share with others. I am convinced God smiles when we do that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The highlights of the climb:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">- meeting mountain goats along the way</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">- 360 degrees view of snow covered peaks from the top</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">- bragging rights of climbing 3500 ft elevation over 3.5 miles</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">- just being together in God's peaceful nature</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early start - 6AM on the trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise on the high mountains</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close encounter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyirr8gahYjikkJO4mg8OLaqwFOzta5roHHlTWG-lBLYzmC1i9dKGDt95cCFQPS_AzGrPca6Y0d37Qv0Nswor3FTax9d85YunIjj5VqY9lZM4fWgqbk4ojz_jXrCDfjSsVdd73_H4KgE/s1600/DSC_3821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyirr8gahYjikkJO4mg8OLaqwFOzta5roHHlTWG-lBLYzmC1i9dKGDt95cCFQPS_AzGrPca6Y0d37Qv0Nswor3FTax9d85YunIjj5VqY9lZM4fWgqbk4ojz_jXrCDfjSsVdd73_H4KgE/s640/DSC_3821.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the top... what was he doing there? There is no vegetation at 14200 ft elevation</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4th 14er for Isabella and daddy. 2nd 14er for Pietro</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proof of having reached the top - time, elevation and heart rate</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #272727; font-family: "georgia" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-25076786331986964382017-05-29T13:51:00.002-06:002017-05-29T13:51:51.716-06:00Devil's Head Trail - Sedalia Colorado.<br />
Beautiful hike with Isabella for her (belated) birthday.<br />
Devil's Head is a Fire Observation point for Pike's Peak National Forest. There is 360 degree view that goes from Pike's Peak on the south to Longs Peak on the North.<br />
Than you God for such great beauty and our bodies that allowed us to experience it.<br />
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<br />smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-54576546432533803222017-04-05T19:48:00.000-06:002017-04-05T19:48:14.903-06:00Benedictine college, Atchison, KS<br />
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Why many of the most orthodox catholic colleges are located in small towns? We wondered about that while driving for 9 hours in the rain to Atchison, Kansas, home of Benedictine College.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Monastery</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atchison is on the Missouri river, at the border with..... yes, Missouri</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campus view from the river</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ravens</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-cPoGdnTQHyQinDDbXX8OY4eNNtypCY0fAl3HLljHTTuw5M6tnHh26Bb1slrnflcEQf1a7He7Pw-uxV2BBvjsnNwMWmfYZ27S_G7LHW8MaF1Cj_K3AIc3MpRuDEjXf_VsKWrgwBkK3M/s1600/image2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-cPoGdnTQHyQinDDbXX8OY4eNNtypCY0fAl3HLljHTTuw5M6tnHh26Bb1slrnflcEQf1a7He7Pw-uxV2BBvjsnNwMWmfYZ27S_G7LHW8MaF1Cj_K3AIc3MpRuDEjXf_VsKWrgwBkK3M/s400/image2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campus church</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0BxQHeKMVCBZzSQl8GqVT_SClHBVkFV_m3moTjZJXtN7DEndkgBWWsUXDrlAjObxLjVkyAIXVb0yifyYc5m9NqQctOZ9aLgHEZPow3quA0veO08MbW1E_iw-zK9opO3Ej8uRUlExYJc/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0BxQHeKMVCBZzSQl8GqVT_SClHBVkFV_m3moTjZJXtN7DEndkgBWWsUXDrlAjObxLjVkyAIXVb0yifyYc5m9NqQctOZ9aLgHEZPow3quA0veO08MbW1E_iw-zK9opO3Ej8uRUlExYJc/s400/image.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stations of the cross in the woods</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking on campus</td></tr>
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What did we learn (or were reminded of) on this trip?<br />
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- You can truly perceive the virtues and the development of the whole person are at the core of the education on these campuses. The openness and love are palpable in people's smiles, their demeanor and the type of activities and events that are offered.<br />
- All of our children need to take some theology classes before they graduate from college, even if they decide not to attend a catholic college.<br />
- There are plenty more FedEx trucks on I-70 and I-80 than there are UPS trucks (Paolo's count was 105 to 35).<br />
- Mom and dad like the small town atmosphere and simplicity of life.<br />
- According to some locals we talked to, the legalization of marijuana in Colorado has made the small towns along I-70 in Kansas less safe. That's very sad.<br />
- Daddy can drive for long hours on uncrowded highways. He likes to <i>space out</i> and he enjoys even the flat landscapes.<br />
- We love traveling together and we missed Isabella not being with us, but the boys probably did better in the car without her.<br />
- Paolo decided that one of his goals is to play at least one game of bowling in each one of the fifty states. In Kansas we played at the West Lanes bowling center. His score was 93. He can only improve from here.<br />
- Daddy said he wants a US political map on the wall and highlight all the highways we drive on. There are already a lot of them.<br />
- Next stop: University of Mary, in Bismark, North Dakota, probably in September.<br />
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<br />smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-76230886383624466592017-03-08T14:50:00.001-07:002017-03-08T14:50:05.006-07:00Undeniable - a book about Intelligent Design<br />
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I recently read a fascinating book about Intelligent Design. I wanted to make sure not to forget its content and main arguments so I wrote a review of it that I am now pasting below. A week later, I found out that the author had just made a presentation of the book at a church in Texas. So I watched the recording. If you do want to spend the time to read the book, but this subject interest you, take an hour to watch his presentation.<br />
I hope to write more about this again, as it is a subject I want to learn more about. Maybe it is because I am getting older. :)<br />
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<b>Book-review:</b><br />
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What will Heaven be like? Will there still be room for learning or will we grasp and know everything instantly, the very moment we wonder about things? Learning is such a part of who I am that it is difficult for me to imagine living without it. I have so many questions for God and for the people I want to meet once I get to Heaven. One of those questions surfaced again recently after reading a new book about Intelligent Design (ID). Despite the criticism it received from darwinistic, evolutionary websites that ID is dead and that the arguments made by Douglas Axe, the author of “Undeniable, how biology confirms our intuition that life is designed” are old and unscientific, I found the book fascinating. Mr. Axe’s book claims that random, accidental evolution is fantastically impossible and it also cannot explain how life came to be in the first place, even before it started to evolve, if it ever did. I think it is sad that the attacks I read made toward Mr. Axe, a microbiologist Ph.D. and to his book are so emotionally charged, full of angry words but themselves lack scientific evidence. Engineers (as I am), physicists and scientists always need to prove their discoveries and their theories with facts. We thrive in the satisfaction of testing a hypothesis and finding that we were right. And, we all enjoy the challenge and energy that is needed to defend such discoveries from being disproven. Yet, it seems to me, that, when it comes to the origin and the presence of life on this earth, our scientific approach often goes out the window and Darwinism becomes a religion that cannot be challenged even though it is not proven and actually relies on very many assumptions. Douglas Axe tries to point out exactly that in his book relying on his scientific experience working with proteins, on statistics and on common sense. After all, aren’t experience, statistics and common sense \well-respected tools in the intellectual world? </div>
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So what are his main points? I summarize them below, mostly for my own benefit. I don’t claim to be exhaustive in my summary nor that these short bullets can be a substitute for reading the book, but I hope they may encourage you to pick it up.</div>
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·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Our experience tells us that “anything genius can only exist because of a genius mind”. </div>
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None of us has ever experienced food ingredients randomly mixing together to create an appetizing meal. None of the inventions that exist today have been created by pure chance of random parts getting together to make something function. Yes, sometimes ideas and discovery happen by what we call “accident”, but they are no accident really and they still need our human mind to give them form and bring them to life. The discovery of penicillin on a petri dish left by mistake in a laboratory is a good example of that. No bestselling book has ever been created by the random typing of pages and pages of words. Books, sculptures, paintings, music, all require painstaking hours of work, revision and touch-up. Even scientific articles do (yes, peer-reviews).</div>
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·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All life forms present an incredible level of what Douglas Axe calls “functional coherence”. They are not just made of a blob of matter that somehow exists. They are all made of several layers of perfectly shaped, positioned, highly sophisticated and inter-correlated functioning parts. Can all of these parts truly have come to be by accident? Could they have come to be, not independently of one another, but all together and coordinately to form each and every single existing organism? If evolution is truly random as Darwin claimed, then each part should not know about the other parts developing concurrently and coherently. Mr. Axe points out that if, sitting at a dinner table, we were presented with an alphabet soup showing words rightly formed and positioned, our common sense would tell us that somebody has arranged such letters. Even scientists would. Yet, evolutionists do not question complicated organs and parts getting formed and organized into highly efficient organisms. Simply Google cyanobacteria to see how intricate unicellular organisms are.</div>
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·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Even if evolution were able to create more complicated organisms from simpler organisms, there would still be no explanation for how simple organisms came to be in the first place. And what does “simple organisms” refer to anyway? As mentioned above even unicellular organisms are made of innumerable parts working seamlessly together. </div>
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·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mutations are permanent changes that affect an organism or one of its part (macro mutation) or a molecule inside an organism (micro mutation). For example, the change in length in the beak of a bird can be considered a macro mutation, while the change in how a cell can defend itself from a certain bacteria can be considered a micro mutation. Mr. Axe acknowledges that mutations are indeed possible, but points out that the following points about mutations are usually overlooked. In fact, the fact that a mutation might happen does not mean it will survive or “evolve the population”, in fact, for that to happen:</div>
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·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The mutation needs to happen independently in enough individuals of the population to be able to be transmitted to the next generation.</div>
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·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It needs to become dominant to the point of taking over within the existing population.</div>
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·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In order to improve a species, it also needs to represent an advancement with respect to the existing characteristic(s) it is replacing (after all if mutations are random, then a mutation does not necessarily have to be an advancement. It could also be a regression, which would move the species in the wrong direction).</div>
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·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The advancement needs to be significant enough to cause a change in the population. A mutation could be so small and insignificant as to promote no change. For example, a protein within a cell could mutate how a cell perform a certain cellular process without actually affecting the outcome of the process.</div>
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And all of these things, of course, need to happen…. Not just one of them.</div>
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·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mr. Axe is a protein biologist. Proteins are large molecules that can be considered the basis of life, as they perform many (or most) of the basic functions that happen inside living cells. Proteins are made of long chains consisting of hundreds to thousands of smaller molecules called amino-acids. Break or change one of the links or one of the amino-acids in the chain and the protein will not work properly. Only estimates exist for the number of different proteins existing inside a human body. Those estimates range from tens of thousands to millions. Douglas Axe and other scientists with him have tried to mutate a protein in a non-intelligent way, trying millions of different random mutations without success. This work has been published in scientific journals and, according to Mr. Axe, it is not usually questioned by evolutionary biologists. Apparently, this is because many of these people claim that proteins have now evolved to their most perfect state and so we are no longer able to mutate existing proteins into new and better working ones. <i>(I’ll have to do some more research on this subject to see if this what many affirm)</i></div>
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·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Based on the possible combinations of amino-acids, the likelihood of accidentally generating just one good protein sequence was estimated by Axe to be 1 in 1074, or 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. Any experiment, which has such a likelihood of success would be considered by any world scientist statistically impossible. In comparison, the likelihood of randomly dropping a pin from space exactly over any random place on the earth surface, for example over the Four Corners (the exact intersection of Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico) is 1 in 1020, or 100,000,000,000,000,000,000. You can try to do that yourself here: www.geomidpoint.com/random. Good luck!</div>
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·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>For any macroscopic level mutation to happen, very many coordinated microscopic level mutations need to happen. How can significant evolution at a macroscopic level even be considered feasible when the likelihood of a protein level mutation is biologically impossible? </div>
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·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Human life consists of more than just the cells that make up our bodies. Our brain is the interface between the material world and thoughts, feelings and desires. These are all non-material realities, but the materialistic view of the world wants to reduce humans to “clump of cells”. Yet it is not able to explain how the brain can, among other things, store memories and provide emotions.</div>
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·<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And finally here is a basic calculation I came up with. It is not meant to prove anything, but simply to present another numerical consideration about the arguments surrounding evolution. Estimates for the number of cells in the human body range between 10 and 1000 trillions. On the other hand the age of the earth is estimated at 5 billion years. This means that at least 2000 changes a year (10 trillion ÷ 5 billion) each adding one cell would have needed to happen to evolve a single cell organism into a human over that period of time. Of course, this does not take into account any cell specialization or functional coherence and microscopic mutations. Nor does it account the huge number of animal life forms that exists, all of which would have to also have evolved during the same time period. </div>
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It seems that many people feel that evolution and faith in God are completely irreconcilable. Or maybe it is that evolution supporters are concerned about moral limitations on their freedom of research that an acceptance of God would impose. Or, are we humans too proud to admit that we cannot explain and control everything? </div>
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To me, the existence of God, science and evolution are not necessarily incompatible. If God exists, then science is just God’s tool. God could have created the creatures we now know as they are, without a need for evolution. Or maybe evolution did actually happen to some degree, but it was not random and accidental. Instead, God could have created creatures over a long period of time, starting from unicellular life forms and moving toward more complicated life forms. He could have decided to promote microscopic and macroscopic mutations at specific time points. See the Cambrian explosion of species for example… A touch of humility is helpful in so many aspects of our life. It may actually even help us to become better scientists. <i>To be continued...</i></div>
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smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-73771288127923692752016-12-15T17:17:00.003-07:002016-12-15T17:17:50.001-07:00Merry Christmas 2016<br />
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<b><span style="color: #008061; font-family: "" "comic sans ms" "" , "serif"; font-size: 24.0pt;">Rejoice!</span></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "" "comic sans ms" "" , "serif"; font-size: 24.0pt;"> The Lord is
coming!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt;">We are all looking for true joy and Christmas is a time when
many of us try to find it in parties, special foods, presents and decorations.
Yet, the only gift that gives us lasting joy is Jesus Christ. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt;">To find Him we need to head to the quiet warmth of the stable
where he chose to become man. <i>The LORD is not in a the strong wind, in an
earthquake or in a fire but in the silence of our heart</i>. </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">(based on 1 Kings 19:12)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt;">We pray that the<b> </b></span><b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: "" "comic sans ms" "" , "serif"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Lord
may grant you the light of Christmas, which is faith, the warmth of Christmas,
which is love and the gift of Christmas, which is discovering true joy in Him.</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 18pt;">Enrico, Norine, Isabella,
Emanuela, Pietro & Paolo</span></b><span lang="IT" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Christmas in July?</div>
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<br />smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-24786762534999297252016-10-22T16:12:00.001-06:002016-10-22T16:20:31.547-06:00Steubenville - God is on this campus -<br />
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A small and poor town in a rural eastern Ohio, which not many have even heard of, is home to a wonderful catholic university. Emanuela and I paid an overnight visit to Franciscan University of Steubenville last week. It was a touching experience.<br />
<i>God is present on this campus and we hope that you will feel that today</i>, told us the Admission representative on a foggy Midwestern morning at the beginning of our tour. He saw right... We both felt a joy and a spiritual energy and strength while we were there that is difficult to describe. I wish our whole family could enjoy such beauty more often. Thank you Steubenville and all those that helped make our visit so unique.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porziuncola chapel of Perpetual Eucharistic adoration</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYN3Zl_IPLqhyphenhyphenBittMtgBolXCvIG9xZcxRi8mncGDSMokFJY4Y8oSf1Qs4SijPbggEEkepMmAjlnl1vf4T43-hOxSfDojU2DLAulcSb1ChS4BsTnxqLsEeWnBXdGuLG01de8EP8YLbJCY/s1600/IMG_4631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYN3Zl_IPLqhyphenhyphenBittMtgBolXCvIG9xZcxRi8mncGDSMokFJY4Y8oSf1Qs4SijPbggEEkepMmAjlnl1vf4T43-hOxSfDojU2DLAulcSb1ChS4BsTnxqLsEeWnBXdGuLG01de8EP8YLbJCY/s640/IMG_4631.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parting shot.... I hope we can come back again.</td></tr>
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Enjoy a full view of this campus on this video:<br />
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<br />smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2548387978551926936.post-24266585869415719412016-10-12T12:43:00.003-06:002016-10-12T12:43:47.352-06:00October in Colorado<br />
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<br />smeekohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06848502802075198194noreply@blogger.com0