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Monday, September 27, 2021

Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - September 27, 2001

Greetings, Dear One! 🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

It's the first Monday of autumn and the last Monday of September 2021...and time just keeps marching right on! I hope that your autumn is off to a lovely start! Christmas will be here before we know it! (Ohmygoodness! Has anyone else thought that thought yet?) 😱 

Fall Decor 2021

How was your week and weekend? My week and weekend here were good!

I worked on Monday, worked on my blog throughout the week, enjoyed a game night with a couple of the kids and their families, cleaned out the van and got it ready to sell, finished reading a book, GOT MY CAR BACK!!! (Have been without it since mid-May...something in the steering column broke and they ended up having to replace the whole steering column. Fortunately, my cousin had what I needed and, once they got to it, were able to get it fixed without any problems. I am soooooo thankful and am so happy to have my car back!!! Thank you, Lord!!!!)

In addition to that, I finally got the kitchen floor finished. It's far from perfect, but it looks so much better than it did...lighter, brighter, and cleaner! It feels nice on the feet, too. Now I just need to get everything trimmed and find a couple of those cute little rugs that go in front of the sink and stove. I want something that can be changed seasonally. 

Tile Laid in Bathroom, Hallway, and Kitchen

I decorated for fall (indoors) and pulled out the fall dishes on Friday. I also put up a new smoke alarm (the old one no longer worked), and got the weed-eating done.

Fall Decor 2021

Little by little I'm getting things marked off the to-do list, but, of course, for every one thing that I mark off, two more take its place. Getting stuff "done" truly is a never-ending process to be sure, but it sure feels good to be getting back into some sort of groove and getting a few things accomplished even if none of them, on their own, are a big deal. 

A Beautiful Early Autumn Morning

Okay...enough about all of that! Let's get started on this week's post...shall we?

Skipper Butterfly on White Aster

This week's master to-do list...

- work 💲
- clean house 🏡
- do laundry 👚
- figure October budget 💵
- go to the bank and post office 🏤
- pay bills 🖃
- go through several boxes of stuff that has been in storage and decide what to do with the contents 📦
- go on an adventure with my youngest daughter and her family (more about that later) 🚗

And that reminds me...I didn't make it to the cider mill with Buddy and his family on Saturday, but we have rescheduled that outing for a little later in the season. It will be fun no matter when we do it! 🍎

Fall Dinner Plate and Bowl

This week's menu plan...

Before I even start, let me say that I feel like a real bum!!! My kids are so good to me! Rudy and Angie had me over for supper and a movie Saturday night, Tony and Nicole had me over for supper, a game of Splendor, and a late-evening walk Sunday night, Patrick and Amber are having me over for supper tonight, and I will be having supper with Aaron and Amanda tomorrow night and Wednesday night. That means I don't even have to think about cooking until Thursday!!! My goodness!!! What am I going to do with these goombahs? (That's what John called them...our "kiddie goombahs." 😢 Lord, I miss him!) I love them all so much (and him)! 💓

Okay...so...here it is...this week's menu plan...

Monday - Out 
Tuesday - Out 
Wednesday - Out
Thursday - Turkey tetrazzini (freezer) and salad 🦃
Friday - Chicken enchiladas (freezer) with black beans and guacamole 🐔
Saturday - Turkey burger (freezer) and oven fries 🍔
Sunday - Leftovers

Yellow Mum

Well...that's it for this time. I pray that you and yours have a lovely week ahead and I'll be with you again soon!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Thursday, September 23, 2021

Autumn Bucket List 2021

Summer is officially over and, once again, my favorite season has returned...AUTUMN...in all her glory! Warm days, chilly evenings, falling leaves, bonfires, and all things pumpkin spice! How nice! 🍁


Picture Taken Last Fall of Migrating Geese

I've been thinking about some of the things that I would like to do this fall and, perhaps, accomplish over the course of it. I know that I won't get to all of them, but at least this list will help me to stay focused on the season and, hopefully, enjoy it to the fullest. Won't you join me as I dream? 🍁🍂🍁

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, 
and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day 
and night shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22).

My Autumn Bucket List 2021

1. Write my autumn bucket list 🍂
2. Plan my autumn menus (this will be done weekly through my Master List and Menu Plan Monday posts) 
3. Seek to find my footing as I continue to walk out this new role of "widow" and adjust to living alone ("find my footing"...I'm not even sure what that means exactly, but I guess I'll find out as I just keep putting one foot in front of the other and taking one day at a time...it's all I can do) 🗓
4. Celebrate autumn birthdays with the grandlittles 🎂
5. Enjoy a juicy red apple 🍎
6. Visit the Louisburg Cider Mill 
7. Enjoy a cup of Louisburg cider (it's THE best!) 🥃
8. Enjoy a Louisburg apple cider doughnut (always a real treat!) 🍩
9. Host or attend a wiener roast 🌭
10. Visit a corn maze 🌽
11. Order in some fall scented dish soaps and liquid hand soaps from Mrs. Meyer's 
13. Observe the autumnal nighttime sky ⭐🌠🌟
14. Listen to a cricket sing 🦗
15. Clean closet and switch out summer clothes for winter 🧥
16. Enjoy a walk in the woods 🍁
17. Make a batch of Mini Baked Pumpkin Cake Doughnuts 🍩
18. Enjoy a cup of pumpkin spice tea ☕
19. Pick up pecans in my backyard (if the squirrels don't get 'em first!) 
20. Enjoy an autumnal full moon (Harvest Moon - September 20th, Hunter's Moon - October 20th, and Beaver Moon - November 19th) 🌕
21. Go on a "Heart of Little Dixie" tour with youngest daughter and her family 💓
22. Visit the graves of several notorious characters connected with Civil War history in Missouri ⚔
23. Visit a state park or state historic site that I've never been to before 🏞
24. Visit a pumpkin patch 🧡
25. Get back to geocaching - log twelve new locations 🧭
26. Watch falling leaves 🍁🍂🍁
27. Light an autumn-scented candle 🔥
28. Listen to the honking of geese as they fly high overhead 
29. Observe and record (sketch, photograph, or note) at least a dozen new or interesting things found in nature 🍄🐾🍁
30. Visit Fort Osage
31. Carve a pumpkin 🎃
32. Go on a hayride 
33. Enjoy a cool and rainy day ☔
34. Purchase an almanac and learn to read it 🕮
35. Make a batch of Pumpkin Streusel Muffins 🧁
36. Observe a flock of migrating birds 
37. Listen to a pack of coyotes sing across the prairie
38. Go to the lake for a much-needed get-away ⛵
39. Get the old van cleaned out and sold (doesn't run) 🚙
40. Bake a pumpkin pie 
41. Lead an impromptu frost flower hike to observe frost flowers in the field 🥾
42. Make a pumpkin roll 
43. Change batteries in smoke alarm (or put up a new one)
44. Walk (or dance the equivalent of) 75+ miles 👟
45. Celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends 🦃
46. Weatherize my home before cold weather arrives ❆
47. Clean heating stove and make sure that propane tank is full  
48. Clean up the yard (cut trees, trim bushes, put the garden area to bed, etc.) 🏡
49. Put up a new bird feeding station in the back yard 🐦
50. Do a winter food and supply stock-up 🥫

That's what's on my autumn bucket list. What's on yours? 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Wisdom Wednesday - Proverbs 22:4

 

"By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, 
and honour, and life." (Proverbs 22:4)

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Summer Bucket List 2021 Update

As Summer 2021 draws to close, the autumn season stands poised, and ready to take her place, as the continual succession of seasons march on without fail.

I must admit, with the death of my husband, as well as others near and dear to my heart, Summer 2021 has proven to be the worst season of my life, and it certainly didn't go as planned. Nevertheless, here is my Summer 2021 Bucket List update.

Please note, that I am posting this post as originally written with completed items marked through with a line and notes made in bold type where appropriate.


Baby White Scalloped Squash Growing in Our Garden

"...ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand." 
(Luke 21:30)

1. Write my summer bucket list
2. Plan my summer menus (these will be posted weekly in my 'Master List and Menu Plan Monday' posts)
3. Wish my husband and our sons and sons-in-law a Happy Father's Day 👴 (my husband passed away shortly thereafter) 
4. Attend our youngest daughter's wedding 👰 (the date was moved up in hopes that Daddy could be there...he was) 
5. Celebrate summer birthdays with the grandlittles (there are a bunch of them!) 👧🎂👦 (it wasn't much, but I did what I could with each one)
7. Eat watermelon 🍉
8. Celebrate Independence Day 💖☆💙 (again...didn't do a lot, but did what we could)
9. Observe a full moon 🌕
10. Make red, white, and blue jello 💖☆💙
11. Make homemade ice cream 🍨
12. Catch a lightening bug 🐛
13. Enjoy a banana split 🍌 (the kids made homemade banana splits for my birthday)
12. Take a vacation (even if just for a few days and is somewhere close by) 🚗
13. Enjoy the Perseid meteor shower ⭐🌠🌟 (laid out in the yard with daughter and granddaughter...got to see several good meteors)
14. Get together with my friend, Dorothy, to celebrate our 60th birthdays together 🎂🎉60th🎊🎈 (sadly Dorothy passed away before we got the chance...just 19 days after my husband's death...I'm telling you...this has been a rough year) 😢
15. Make notes throughout the season on this year's garden and use them to help make a plan for next year's 🌱
16. Sort ministry materials and start a study schedule 📚
17. Go stargazing 🌟
18. Grill burgers on the grill 🍔
19. Take a night hike 🌜
20. Play in cool water on a hot day 🤽
21. Go camping ⛺
22. Visit a state park that I've never been to before
23. Enjoy fresh produce and herbs out of our own garden 🍅
24. Take a walk in the rain ☔
25. Visit a botanical garden 🌸
26. Start sorting old pictures and putting them into albums 📷
27. Purpose to find what I've got in the house that can be used to create an income 💵
28. Enjoy a summer storm ⛈
29. Hike a new trail 🥾
30. Host or attend a bonfire 🔥
31. Observe, sketch, or photograph at least a dozen new and interesting things found in nature 🐢
32. Collect, tumble, and polish rocks and gemstones 💎
33. Preserve what I can of the summer bounty 🌽
34. Cut flowers fresh from the garden and make a bouquet 🎕
35. Continue with efforts to go-through, use-up, clear-out, clean-up, re-purpose, recycle, and give-away ♲
36. Get my car serviced and back on the road 🚗 (my car has been down since May; it's in the shop now and, hopefully, will be back on the road very soon)
37. Wash, level, and reset the bird baths (and keep them filled with water) 🐦
38. Trim and de-weed the flower beds 🌼
39. Lay tile in kitchen, hallway, and bathroom ▩
40. Reroof the house (at least check into the costs of doing so and coming up with a plan) 🏡

That's what's on my summer bucket list. Now...what's on yours?

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Monday, September 20, 2021

Master To-Do List and Menu Plan Monday - September 20, 2021

Greetings, Dear One! It's Monday! 💗 (In fact, it's the last Monday of summer! 🌞 And I am so looking forward to fall!!!) 🍁

Right now it's warm...72 degrees with a high of 90 expected, but, tomorrow and Wednesday are supposed to be really nice...highs in the lower-70's with overnight lows in the upper-40's. I love it! 😆

How are you? And how was your week and weekend?

Monarch on Dogwood

I'm still working on the kitchen floor here. I honestly thought I had enough tile to finish it, but ended up about a half-dozen tiles short. Once again, I am awaiting delivery. The tile was scheduled to arrive on Saturday, but was delayed; now they're saying Tuesday. Hopefully, by Wednesday, at the latest, I'll finally be done with it. Then, I can start think about trim-work.

I did lay the new rug and didn't like it all. I returned it to Home Depot and got my money back. The floor looks so nice with the tile that I don't think I need a rug now anyway...other than maybe a cute little seasonal rug to lay in front of the sink and stove or something like that? We'll see.

I got a nice surprise Thursday evening when Amanda (youngest daughter) and her family showed up late. They were on their way home from a mini-vacation and weren't ready for the trip to end, so they drove way out of their way to come here and spend the night. We met up with a couple of the other siblings and enjoyed a lovely lunch at Mary's before Amanda and Aaron ended their trip and returned home Friday afternoon. It was a wonderful surprise!

Grandsons' Silas, Isaiah, and Dante joined me for supper Friday evening and we went for a drive through the park (Prairie State Park). We enjoyed observing the bison herd from the road and ended up taking a short night hike under a nearly-full moon on Sandstone Trail. It was beautiful!

Bison Silhouetted Against Darkening Sky

The two older boys and I returned the next afternoon to hike a little further in the daytime to see what we could see. The very late-summer-season prairie was gorgeous!

Hiking Sandstone Trail @ Prairie State Park

Saturday evening I joined the family up town to check out our town's annual fall festival. By the time we arrived there wasn't much going on. We took a quick tour of Main Street then watched the parade. Afterwards, I came home and collapsed. 😆 

Now, here we are...it's Monday and time to get on with a brand new week. One filled with it's own set of adventures, blessings, and challenges, I'm sure! Let's get on with it...shall we?

Hummingbird on Yucca

This week's master to-do list...

- work 💲
- clean house 🏡
- do laundry 👚
- walk 👟
- clean and organize the fridge 🍅
- read 📘
- do some card and letter writing ✍
- blog 💻
- enjoy an evening of games with family 🎲
- finish tiling the kitchen floor ⬜
- celebrate and enjoy the first day of fall 🍁
- visit the Louisburg Cider Mill with son, dil, and grands 🍎

New England Aster

This week's menu plan...

Monday - Stuffed banana peppers in sauce over spaghetti squash (freezer) with odds and ends from the fridge (a leftover oven-roasted carrot, mini-cucumber slices, and a biscuit)
Wednesday - White Chicken Enchiladas with avocado slices and sauteed spinach
Thursday - Broiled salmon with baked sweet potato, sauteed spinach, and a slice of homemade French bread
Friday - Breakfast for supper
Saturday - ? 
Sunday - Leftovers

Well...that's it for today! As soon as I wrap things up here, I'm headed to work. Have a nice day and a great week ahead and I'll be with you again soon. 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Wisdom Wednesday - September 15, 2021 - Proverbs 15:13

 


Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Tuesday, September 14, 2021

The Widow's Mite

Since losing John to pancreatic cancer in July, I have spent much time seeking the Lord as to how to live, and walk out, this new role of widow. It hasn't been easy on any front, but, little by little, I'm finding my way. I have a feeling that I've a long way to go.

Part of my seeking has included searching the Scriptures. I've looked up every reference to widows in the Bible that I can find and have discovered that widows hold a very special place in the heart of our Lord. It is expressed by His special love for, and tender care of, them. Realizing that, and taken along with the admonition found in I Thessalonians 4:13 to “sorrow not as those who have no hope” has helped immensely.

Some that I have talked with...some that are in a similar place as myself...have trouble referring to themselves as a widow and don't like the reference at all, but, to me, the word “widow” is a Biblical term that the Spirit Himself uses throughout Scripture to describe a woman who was married, but whose husband has died. Therefore, to me, the word and reference is totally appropriate. My apology to those who disagree.

In studying the many references to widows in the Bible I find that a couple of my favorite Scripture passages are among them...the entire book of Ruth and the story of Elisha and the widow woman with the vessels of oil (2 Kings 4:1-7). Both of these passages are exceptional and are profitable for study on multiple levels...but...that's not where I'm headed today. I do recommend that you read and study those passages though. They are both very good!

There are so many directions that I could go with this, but, believe it or not, widowhood is not the focus of my writing today. It is through the study of it, though, that led me to where I am headed and that is to the story of the widow's mite found in Mark 12:41-44.

Interestingly enough, in the verses just prior to this passage (verses 38 through 40) Jesus was warning His followers to beware of the scribes (religious leaders) who seek recognition, honor, and prestige and who “devour widow's houses” (take advantage of unsuspecting and lonely widows).

Jesus had just finished warning His followers about this, when what does He see, but a certain poor widow throwing her two mites into the temple treasury. He calls his disciples over and makes note to them that the poor widow had cast in more than all the others. He said that they had cast in of their abundance, but that she, of her want, cast in all that she had.

As noted here by Jesus, the rich often give only a token from the abundance of their wealth that involves neither sacrifice nor generosity. Though the widow gave only a small amount, her giving represented a heart of extravagant generosity. She cast in “all the living she had.” She gave as much as she possibly could.

From this and other passages we can clearly see that the Lord doesn't evaluate our lives and ministry by outward success, but by the quality of our love, faith, and extravagant giving of ourselves to Him in sincere devotion.

Are you an extravagant giver of yourself to the Lord? Do you, of your want (of what you lack), give all that you have, or all that you possibly can (your hopes, your dreams, your talents and abilities, your substance), to Him...His service...His people? I'd like to encourage you today to seek the Lord on how to use what, you appear, to have little of to do great and mighty things for the Kingdom of God.

Now...just for fun...what is, and exactly how much is, a mite?

According to Google, “the mite, also known as a lepton, was a Jewish coin and the smallest used in New Testament time. At the time of Mark's writing, it was worth 1/64 of a denarius. A denarius was a day's wage for a common worker. In today's terms, it would be worth about 1/8 of a cent.”

The widow put in two mites. According to our passage (Mark 12:42), two mites equal a farthing. A farthing equals one-quarter penny.

I recently acquired a real mite that would have been in circulation between 100 B.C and 60 A.D. I can't help but wonder if it wasn't one of the very two that the poor widow observed by Jesus and His followers put in the temple treasury that very day. It's not probably, but it is possible!



The widow's mite coins above are replicas of those originals that were used in the Holy Land. May they serve to remind you of Jesus's teaching in Mark 12: 41-44 concerning the story of the poor widow and her extravagantly generous heart.

May we all have such a heart when it comes to the things of our Lord and Saviour in these end of days in which we live!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

Scritpture references: I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Mark 12:38-44; 2 Kings 4:1-7; Ruth Chapters 1 through 4

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Monday, September 13, 2021

Master List and Menu Plan Monday - September 13, 2021

Greetings, Dear One! 

It's a beautiful Monday morning here on the tallgrass prairies of southwest Missouri...63 degrees and sunny right now with a high expected of around 90. 

Beetle on Rough Blazing Star

How was your week and weekend? My week here was full; my weekend busy. 

I got the hallway finished mid-week and most of the kitchen before running out of tile. Had to stop where I was and order more. Am having trouble with a few of them sticking in one area, so have ordered some adhesive, as well. As soon as it arrives I can resume work and, hopefully, get it finished up this week. Then, it will be time for trim. Not sure when that will happen, but soon. 

Spent a fun evening playing games with a couple of my children and their families Tuesday night. I'm stuck on SPLENDOR and, now they've introduced me to another new one...CODENAMES. I'm not sure which one I enjoy playing more, but both are a lot of fun!

On Friday Amber and I checked out a new-to-us Amish store that is really close by. Come to find out, it's been there for eight years, but we didn't know about it. It carries the majority of the bulk foods that we buy regularly and all kinds of other things. I stocked up on boxes of cards and stationary and even did some Christmas shopping while I was there.

I worked Saturday. It was bison hike day and the boss was going to be out of town working a special event at another state park, so I filled in and ran the nature center while the summer seasonal led the hike. It was the first day that I've worked when the nature center was open since opening April first (after being closed for months due to COVID) and it's the first full, eight-hour day that I've worked since mid-March. It was good to see people and visit with visitors to the park again, but I'm not ready to do it on a regular basis yet. 

This is one of two big bulls that met me on the road on the way 
to the nature center Saturday morning. Isn't he handsome?

I did go back out after church and lunch Sunday afternoon and worked on the fall bulletin board. The summer season was skipped entirely and the spring board that I had put up in March was still up. No one had changed it. While I was there I cleaned the nature center and did some work on the computer. It was nice to hang out on my own, take my time, and be creative.

Question Mark Butterfly
(Note the distinct silver question mark on the hind wing. Thus, it's name.)

Now, here it is Monday morning, and a new week lies ahead of me. I don't feel that much changes from week to week. I'm just kind of in a lull as I try to find my way in this new and uncertain season. Such as it is, let's get started on this week's post, shall we?

This week's master to-do list...

- work 💲
- clean house 🏡
- do laundry 👚
- walk 👟
- read 📘
- do some card and letter writing ✍
- finish tiling the kitchen floor ⬜
- lay new area rug 
- maybe go to the parade and attend the town's fall festival 


Wednesday evening view from my front porch. The
crescent moon was so lovely and I 
enjoyed observing it every chance I got. 

This week's menu plan...

I have a lot of fresh vegetables to use up, so will be focusing on those this week.

Monday - Broiled salmon with baked sweet potato (topped with sautéed spinach), fried cabbage, and baby cucumber slices 🐟
Tuesday - Lentil soup with baking powder biscuits and zucchini brownies 🥘
Wednesday - Turkey sausage with sautéed veggies (sweet potatoes, peppers, mushrooms, celery, and onion) 🦃
Thursday - Turkey tetrazzini (freezer), sautéed vegetables (whatever is left on hand), and homemade French bread 🦃
Friday - Burgers with macaroni and cheese and oven-roasted carrots 🍔
Saturday - Breakfast for supper 🥓
Sunday - Leftovers

Saturday Night's Crescent Moon

That's it for today, Ladies! Have a great week ahead and I'll be with you again soon.

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Monday, September 6, 2021

Master List and Menu Plan Monday - September 6, 2021

Greetings, Dear One! Happy First Monday of September 2021 and Happy Labor Day! 🍎

How was your week and weekend?

Ashy Sunflower

My week here was good...better than last for sure! I ended up going back to work on Monday and was greeted right off by the bison herd. It was the first time I had seen this year's calves and there was a late-born one that was still orange. Bison calves are orange up until about three to four months of age. Most calves would have been born in April and had already turned brown, but this one was most likely born in late-July or August. It was still fairly small. I was so excited to get to see it! 💗

Young Bison Calf

On Thursday I went with daughter-in-law, Angie, to see my oldest granddaughter's new home. While in town we had lunch together and got in a good visit. I enjoyed it very much! 

Siamese Fighting Fish
(Taken @ Granddaughter's)

I ran errands, paid bills, and took a short hike at the park on Friday. Friday evening Anthony (youngest son) and I got the bathroom floor tiled and I started the hallway on Saturday. I hope to get it and the kitchen finished up this week. 

Well, I'm getting a later start than planned, so I better be moving things along. Let's get started on today's post...

This week's master to-do list...

- work 💲
- clean house 🏡
- do laundry 👕
- do some reading, writing, and journaling ✍
- finish laying tile in the hallway and kitchen ⬜

Buckeye Butterfly

This week's menu plan...

Monday - 3 Ingredient Chicken Tacos with corn tortillas made into taco shells topped with avocado slices, spinach, alfalfa sprouts, shredded cheese, and plain yogurt 🐔
Tuesday - Turkey Tetrazzini with green beans and homemade French bread 🦃
Wednesday - Salisbury steak (freezer) with sautéed  mushrooms, baked potato, and oven-roasted carrots 🦃
Thursday - Turkey sausage with sautéed veggies (sweet potatoes, peppers, mushrooms, celery, and onions) 🦃
Friday - Broiled salmon, baked sweet potato, sautéed spinach, fried cabbage, and baby cucumber slices 🐟
Saturday - Turkey burger with avocado and mushroom slices and sweet potato fries 🦃
Sunday - Leftovers

False Foxglove and Bur Marigold

That's it for today! I hope that you and yours are having a wonderful end-of-summer weekend! Enjoy your day and have a great week ahead! 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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