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	<title>Valentines Archives | Flowers&amp;Rust Co.</title>
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	<title>Valentines Archives | Flowers&amp;Rust Co.</title>
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		<title>Blog Encouragement and Happy Valentines!</title>
		<link>https://flowersandrust.com/blog-encouragement-and-happy-valentines-2/</link>
					<comments>https://flowersandrust.com/blog-encouragement-and-happy-valentines-2/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[ThoughtfulEscapes]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 10 Feb 2024 21:38:39 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[linky party]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Valentines]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>I hope today is unexpectedly wonderful for you.  Regardless of whether you are celebrating traditionally or not.  If today’s holiday...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://flowersandrust.com/blog-encouragement-and-happy-valentines-2/">Blog Encouragement and Happy Valentines!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://flowersandrust.com">Flowers&amp;Rust Co.</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oec10uULrrM/TzoOLbaT6-I/AAAAAAAAAFM/s4ne_NCyqrg/s1600/flowers.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" border="0" height="240" src="https://flowersandrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/flowers.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Big Caslon';"><br /></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: 'Big Caslon';"><i><span style="color: #990000;">I hope today is unexpectedly wonderful for you.  Regardless of whether you are celebrating traditionally or not.  If today’s holiday is one you would prefer to skip, please remember, you can always go to God the Heavenly Father.  He wants a personal, loving relationship with you – Always and Forever.  You can be a daughter of the King of Kings, a princess, just for asking and believing in Him.  {John 3:16}</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Big Caslon';"><o:p><span style="color: #990000;">~~~   ~~~   ~~~</span></o:p></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: 'Big Caslon';">This post is meant to be an encouragement to those we are inspired and encouraged by.  I’m only going to list two because otherwise I’d be here all night!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Big Caslon';"><img decoding="async" alt="---" height="1" src="file://localhost/Users/akeller/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_image002.png" v:shapes="_x0000_i1027" width="432" /></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qn1sQebwzdA/TwymwKgYpfI/AAAAAAAAQf8/M69xa1WnTIc/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-01-10+at+12.58.53+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img decoding="async" border="0" height="74" src="https://flowersandrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Screen-shot-2012-01-10-at-12.58.53-PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div><span style="font-family: 'Big Caslon';">Of the two, the blog I have enjoyed the longest (and it’s not really a secret) is Donna at <a href="http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/">Funky Junk Interiors</a>.  I love how she decorates and puts so many different things together.  Each project she shows is wonderful!  We are fellow single-moms and I’m so inspired by her honesty and willingness to share the hard times in life as well as the good times.  When there is something she doesn’t know how to do – she learns how.  Then she posts about it and it all seems so easy – but she often reminds readers so quickly, with such perfect word pictures, that we are only seeing what has been “put out there” and not everything is as easy as it can seem when we read about others’ lives.  Which is so true, not just for her blog, but for all of us as bloggers and readers.</span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Big Caslon';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Big Caslon';"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="---" border="0" height="1" src="file://localhost/Users/akeller/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_image006.png" v:shapes="_x0000_i1025" width="432" /></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WWuxo37-dhU/TwHMhM2Rp_I/AAAAAAAABxk/YCYF58PRFVg/s1600/simplylivingheader.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="84" src="https://flowersandrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/simplylivingheader.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div></div>
<div><span style="font-family: 'Big Caslon';">The second one I’ve only known about for a short time {I think it’s only been one week} is Karen at <a href="http://www.simplylivingforhim.com/">Simply living…for Him</a>.  I haven’t even begun to read enough to satisfy…I am a homeschool mom and I really appreciate all I have read so far. {including her two e-books as well}  I appreciate Karen’s passion to encourage “younger” moms in the homeschool field too <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">{by “younger” I’m only meaning those who haven’t home-schooled as long as others}.</i>  She is also all about Simplifying.  So far every post I’ve read, I feel as if I’ve known her for a long time, or at least as if I had read her blog for a long time so I feel like I “know” her.  </span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Big Caslon';"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="---" border="0" height="1" src="file://localhost/Users/akeller/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_image008.png" v:shapes="_x0000_i1026" width="432" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Big Caslon';"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Big Caslon';"><i>{see that really cute button off to the right under encouragement?</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Big Caslon';"><i>&#8230;it&#8217;s supposed to be here, but it isn&#8217;t working}</i></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: 'Big Caslon';">I am participating in the “<a href="http://inmyownstyle.com/2012/02/i-have-a-secret-blog-crush-on-you-link-party-2.html">I have a Secret Blog Crush on you!</a>” linky party that Diane at <a href="http://inmyownstyle.com/">In My Own Style</a> is hosting.  It is just amazing what the internet has provided so many of us.  We are able to communicate with others about similar interests when we don’t even know where the other lives.  Also, with the craziness of schedules these days – we can connect on “our own” time – for me it is evening when for someone on the East coast it is in the middle of the night, and when we get more than that 4 hour difference we are into being on different days even.  </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Big Caslon';"><span style="color: #990000;"><i>Diane, thank you for providing this opportunity for us to share and encourage others.</i></span></span></div>
<p>The post <a href="https://flowersandrust.com/blog-encouragement-and-happy-valentines-2/">Blog Encouragement and Happy Valentines!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://flowersandrust.com">Flowers&amp;Rust Co.</a>.</p>
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		<title>One week from today</title>
		<link>https://flowersandrust.com/one-week-from-today-2/</link>
					<comments>https://flowersandrust.com/one-week-from-today-2/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[ThoughtfulEscapes]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 10 Feb 2024 21:38:39 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[choices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[linky party]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ThoughtfulEscapes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Valentines]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>{deep breath} Can&#8217;t you just smell them? One week from today will be Valentines Day.  This is typically, at least...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://flowersandrust.com/one-week-from-today-2/">One week from today</a> appeared first on <a href="https://flowersandrust.com">Flowers&amp;Rust Co.</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kiqBB-R578E/TzI_UG-bYuI/AAAAAAAAAD8/6E3c2NeQi4k/s1600/DSC01588.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="240" src="https://flowersandrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/DSC01588.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>{deep breath} Can&#8217;t you just smell them?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div>
<p>One week from today will be Valentines Day.  This is typically, at least in our American culture (I don&#8217;t know about others), a day of expressing love or appreciation for others.  I saw the button for &#8220;I have a secret blog crush on you!&#8221; link party and I followed it to see what it was about.  Diane at <a href="http://inmyownstyle.com/">inmyownstyle.com</a> is the one I know of who started this.  I read her <a href="http://inmyownstyle.com/2012/01/i-have-a-secret-blog-crush-on-you-link-party.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on what this linky party is about and really appreciated the idea of giving encouragement to others via this link party on Valentine&#8217;s Day.</p>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iQ7ecXmWjQg/TzI_c2v_yNI/AAAAAAAAAEE/RnQ5eUkFEgg/s1600/DSC01581.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="320" src="https://flowersandrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/DSC01581.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>{I LOVE flowers, but roses are my absolute favorite &#8211; in particular the brown ones}</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div>
<p>We all need encouragement.  I know as an adult I started to think I didn&#8217;t <i>need</i> it, but would <i>like</i> it.  I tried to trick myself into believing I was fine without encouragement &#8211; but that just isn&#8217;t true.  I&#8217;m changing my thoughts on this, I <i><b>need</b></i> encouragement and I am guessing you could use some too. </p>
<p>This idea bears repeating and it&#8217;s very difficult for me to write; especially knowing I am going to publish this and I don&#8217;t know who all will be seeing it.  I&#8217;m making myself write it out again.</p>
<div style="text-align: center;">I <b>need</b> encouragement.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Life is hard.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Things don&#8217;t go the way we planned.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">I don&#8217;t understand God&#8217;s ways (and I&#8217;m not supposed to).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Life is full of hardships.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Bad choices.  Wrong decisions.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">But, when we encourage each other we help each other carry those burdens.</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nGawYkemphI/TzI_nHiQ8CI/AAAAAAAAAEM/q8ysBhP5OkA/s1600/DSC01589.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="320" src="https://flowersandrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/DSC01589.png" width="205" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LwYxn6ZLVU/TzI_qT2NmqI/AAAAAAAAAEU/dmYw0O0RQuc/s1600/DSC01579.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" border="0" height="320" src="https://flowersandrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/DSC01579.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>&#8220;Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>just as in fact you are doing.&#8221;</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>I Thessalonians 5:11</i></div>
<p>I am really looking forward to participating in this group encouragement &#8211; one week from today!  Why don&#8217;t you take the challenge with me? </p>
<blockquote><p><span style="font-family: Times;">~ Choose to think about why you like to read each blog you do.</span><span style="font-family: Times;">~ Choose to tell that blogger why you are inspired or encouraged.</span><span style="font-family: Times;">~ Choose to be purposeful in what blogs you read, and how you spend your time online.</span></p></blockquote>
<p>The post <a href="https://flowersandrust.com/one-week-from-today-2/">One week from today</a> appeared first on <a href="https://flowersandrust.com">Flowers&amp;Rust Co.</a>.</p>
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