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I have really great friends which means my kids have really great friends too (little Calla is just one of many!). I can’t tell you what a blessing it has been to have friends who are like minded in their parenting…who encourage and support me as I raise my own kids. There isn’t much time for long talks over coffee like it used to be…but the play dates are just as needed!

Griffin is getting really sturdy on his feet and he thought this water table was the best thing ever. He loves water.

It was so hot, but I think he would have stood there all day.

Now that Griffin can stand he also can really mess up Levi’s plans. We are working on sharing and being kind to our baby brother. A lot. Levi is not a fan.

But oh how his mood can change so quickly and the next second he loves his baby brother again.

I love thinking about how the Lord is going to use these little friends in the future. I know they have moms who are praying fervently for their little hearts because when we think about sending them out into this world it is a little scary. That’s why we have to get together and give each other pep talks…and discuss arranged marriages so that we don’t have to worry about them dating either! 😉  But it is also exciting to think about. I just hope they don’t grow up too fast. I don’t think my heart can handle that.

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  • Mindy Harris - a day at breezy acres! lots of cute pics on that wonderfully chipped front porch swing. love these pics.
    wilder is almost FOUR and is still working on sharing and being gentle, patient, kind!ReplyCancel

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  • Briony - This is so cute! My little brother and sister love water too.

    I love these pictures and the fun stories they portray. You should get these printed.ReplyCancel

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  • Hayley - So glad I’m not the only one who “arranges” marriages for their kids. I have my daughter lined up for a couple of different little boys, pretty much all my friends have boys. You gotta back up your back up, right?! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Michelle from australia - Levi and calla sitting in a tree. K-I-s-s-I-n-g. I hope America has this rhyme like we Aussies do? what a beautiful pairing they would be. And can we betrothe griffin to china baby?? We can only hope and pray ???? God bless all of you beautiful people. M xxReplyCancel

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  • Mary Ann - Be still my heart….such cute pictures and their little friend is just sweet. The time does really fly by…where does it disappear to so quickly? It is kinda scary in the world but I think your boys and any other future children you have will be well prepared. Arranged marriages….I think you are on to something!! LOLReplyCancel

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  • Shana - I hate to break it to you Jess…but they grow up too fast.
    First day of 10th & 6th grade today – driving alone & going with a friend.
    It’s hard – but watching it and taking pleasure in the work the Lord has done through us is REMARKABLE.
    *sniff* gotta go cry in the shower now… 😉ReplyCancel

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  • CP - Such little cuties! I love those water tables 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Mary - Oh the joys that come with sharing ideas and playtime with their younger siblings. 🙂 Something that has really helped me with my time with children is to encourage the older ones to see how they can take that time to HELP and MENTOR their younger siblings. They really like the “Big brother/sister” name and I try to use that as often as possible. To be a good example for the younger siblings. My sister has 4 boys ages 7, 6, 4, and almost 2. I talk to them A LOT about what a blessing it is to have siblings and how important it is to use that blessing for the better rather than use it to put each other down. (I’m the youngest of 4 in my family.)

    I love seeing the boys playing in the water! Can’t wait to have my little one and see (it) playing next summer! We’re due 9/25/12.ReplyCancel

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  • Jane - What adorable pics of the kiddos!! It is such a blessing to find great friends….then if they have kids the same age as yours? AND you all feel comfortable letting your kids just be kids while they play?? Double blessing!! I spend time with them and think I hope to grow old with them just like a marriage blessing.

    Your photos are really adorable!!ReplyCancel

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A few weeks ago we were playing outside waiting for daddy to get home from work. It had been a long day and we were trying to pass the time. I got out paint brushes and cups of water to “paint” on the sidewalk. Levi thought it was super fun but he kept dumping out his water cup and asking for fresh water. I tried to convince him that he really didn’t need fresh water…the dirt was okay. We were just painting the sidewalk. He didn’t buy it. So being the fun lazy mom that I am, I filled up a bucket of water and told him he could get his own fresh water when he needed it.

The next thing I knew, I looked up from my painting to see that someone had decided that climbing into the bucket was much more fun than my idea of filling up his cup.

He would stand up and then jump down. Water was splashing everywhere and he thought it was great. Way better than painting I guess. 🙂

We have a little pool but I think he had more fun in the bucket than he has had in the pool all summer. I was really tempted to get mad at him…after all he did totally soak his clothes and had ditched my art time.

But instead, Griffin and I sat and watched him. We cheered and laughed when he made big splashes.

I think Griffin really wanted to get in the bucket too. He’s always getting left out of the fun these days…

…and this is how he feels about that.

 There are so many great ideas floating around of things we can do with our kids…and creative people who generously share their ideas. I am thankful for blogs and sites like Pinterest because we like to do special activites around here too. But I think sometimes we forget to just let our kids be kids. We forget to play into their ideas and imagination. We forget that they don’t need special toys or a planned craft to have fun. We forget to laugh and cheer for them when they are soaking their clothes and splashing water everywhere. At least I do.

Sometimes it is the simple things…like water in a bucket…that bring them so much joy.

*In case you are concerned: Levi was supervised every second he was playing in the bucket. I fully understand the dangers of children playing in buckets of water. Believe me, I worry about everything when it comes to my kids. 🙂

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  • Jenn - Aww, that looks like super fun! Boys will be boys, right? My crazy guys would do something silly like that, too. 😉ReplyCancel

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  • Carla - What is it with little people and water. My 2.5yr old would play in water all day long. He adores it. You’re so right about just letting them be. Sometimes I think the greatest thing we can do for them is just stand back and let them make a mess, which probably explains the state of my house!!
    Love the new blog format!ReplyCancel

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  • Janie - You are so right about just letting them be! Whenever I try to be all crafty or attempt something from a blog or something online, I get so OCD about my 3 year old doing it correctly, that nobody has fun! Which is totally a realistic expectation for my 3 YEAR OLD SON to do a perfect internet inspired craft. Not even close. If nothing ends up in his nose, I will count it as a success. I really have to check myself when I immediately start to correct him and wonder if it is really necessary. Why is it so tough to let go? I mean, don’t even get me started on mixing paint colors. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Carolyn Dewey - I have a photo of one of my sons in a bucket of water too – just about the same age! Fun memories! He’s 41 now!ReplyCancel

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  • Katie - I have a one year old and a two year old daughter. We’re elbow deep in potty training for our oldest and one night after she had an accident in her panties while outside playing, I decided to just throw her in the tub while the little one was still outside playing with daddy. I finished up the oldest in the bath thinking I’ll leave the hot water in the tub and just throw in the baby next. I get the oldest dressed and during this process my husband and our youngest come inside. She heads for the bathtub and right as I’m walking into the bathroom to undress her and get her in the tub, she’s already gotten into the tub full of water with her clothes and diaper still on. I wanted to get angry, but it’s just water and wet clothing and she was having a ball so all I could do was take a picture and send it to all of our close family.ReplyCancel

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  • Kelly - So sweet. What I love is how much I can relate to this. I’m not a mom yet, but a proud aunt. My 14 month old nephew came over this weekend and discovered how fun the water bowl was for the dog, so I found a big rectangle Tupperware that fits under the bed and emptied it out. I took it outside to him and filled it with water and like that we had a free pool! It is indeed the simple things. Toys are fun, but they have just as much of a flood time with things we have all around already.

    I so enjoy your blog. You have such a genuine and kind heart. The world needs more sweet souls like you!ReplyCancel

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  • Jessie - These pictures are so adorable! I love seeing your little boys. Levi looks like he is having the time of his life. I so agree with just letting them be sometimes and create their own fun. They can be so creative!ReplyCancel

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  • Mindy Harris - your boys are just so cute…i just can’t handle it! eeeeee!ReplyCancel

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  • flowerpowermomma - such joy and delight on his face. good for you. this reminds me of when my firstborn was 14 months old. he found the sprinkler and proceeded to run back and forth, cooling off and giggling. his clothes and shoes were drenched and muddy. my first thought was to be angry, but then realized why? he was being a kid and that was good. besides i certainly had run through my share of sprinklers!
    i’m glad all three of you enjoyed levi’s escapades.ReplyCancel

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  • Toni :O) - Just too cute for words! You captured some really great photos and then Levi laying down on the patio cracked me up. Being spontaneous is a beautiful thing!ReplyCancel

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  • Mary Ann - So cute….at the end of our driveway there is a little spot where water collects. My grandson (2 years) loves to have us put water in that area so he can sit and splash. Does he have a pool? Yes, but playing in the water in your clothes is just the funest thing for kids. I love the picture of Griffin laying on the pavement. He’s thinking “Gosh mom. Can’t I get into the bucket too?” Those two boys are going to be good pals. In a few years, what one won’t think of, the other one will. Enjoy them to the fullest. You are such a good mama. I can tell you and your husband have carved out a good life for each other and your children, which is the way it should be. After what you went through with your daughter, I can only imagine how wonderful it is to smile, laugh, play, and love your boys. Take care and enjoy the rest of the summer — it’s been a hot one here in Salt Lake City.ReplyCancel

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  • tara - how fun! :]ReplyCancel

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  • Melanie Martini - I LOVE the expressions on Levi’s face when he is splashing in the pail. And, Griffin could not be any cuter. So sweet how he watches his brother and lays down as if he is saying, “he is exhausting!” 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Natalie - This is so cute! I’m trying to get better at going with the flow when my girl changes my ideas into her own! I love the picture of G laying down, just watching! Don’t you wish we could just lay down and watch! Love this! Thanks for sharing!ReplyCancel

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  • Kayla - You are so right. The simple things. When my 3 year old was younger, he had a toybox full of toys, puzzles, and activities but his favorite thing to play with were my metal mixing bowls and some wooden spoons. Life’s a little chaotic for me right now with a 3 month old, a 3 year old, a husband whos away on work and me juggling a part time job… I needed that reminder on simplicity. There is simplicity in Christ, thank you 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Nichole Duenke - That looks like a BLAST! And totally something my little guy would do too! I loved your last paragraph about sometimes just letting them be kids. Love that! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Nancy - Oh my goodness. They are TOO cute.ReplyCancel

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  • Lauren - They are too precious!ReplyCancel

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  • Bryn - The pictures of Levi in the bucket could win photo contests 🙂 It is like the remindere we all need of pure joy.

    Love it.ReplyCancel

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Right before we left for Colorado, Griffin started to belly crawl. He has gotten up on his knees a little bit since then but most of the time he just drags that big belly of his along the floor. He definitely has to work hard to get anywhere!

He was cracking me up with his faces. He is at the stage where he knows he can get where he wants to go by himself but it is still really hard work. Sometimes he perseveres and other times he just lays on the floor and throws an awesome fit. And the worst is when he finally gets where he is wanting to go and his brother snatches up the toy he was going for. All that hard work for nothing. It is rough being a little brother. I think he will be much happier when he masters a real crawl or learns to walk…then he can finally keep up with big brother. 🙂

Posted in: family , griffin
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  • Sarah - My son did the same type of crawl at first; it’s amusing to see. Before you know it he’ll be chasing after his big brother! Love the pictures 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Jaclin - Made me smile today, I needed that! LOVE the faces and the whole hearted attempt to get going! Made me remember the days of my own little belly crawlers…they are now almost 13 (YIKES!), 6 1/2 and 4. Life was so much simpler when they couldn’t get too far, too fast! Now they are like three boy tornadoes through my house every day! Enjoy every moment!ReplyCancel

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  • Sarah W. - Fantastic shots! Those faces he’s making are adorable!ReplyCancel

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  • Karen - You take the best pictures! Do you mind me asking what type of camera do you use? I am always missing the shot with mine and am looking for a new one…ReplyCancel

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  • Michelle from Australia - LOVE the photos Jess!ReplyCancel

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  • Beth Ann - My Holden belly crawls (“army crawls”) as well. After doing it for a month or do he mastered real crawling…but sometimes e still army crawls. He can go FAST with the army crawl- really funny to watch! Griffin is so cute!ReplyCancel

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  • Jess - Karen-Thank you! I have a Canon 50D. I use a Tamron 2.8 28-75 lens and a Canon 1.4 50mm lens. Hopefully I’ll be adding this info to the FAQ page soon!ReplyCancel

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  • Natalie - He is super cute! It may be hard work but he still looks like a happy fella!ReplyCancel

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  • Becca - I love this boy! He is so serious minded, he will go far.ReplyCancel

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  • Cristin Heard - Just noticed my comment didn’t post.

    I think the 3rd picture looks so much like Levi. Precious babies!ReplyCancel

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  • Deborah Pruden - My guess is you were on your belly too! Beautiful photos of a beautiful boy 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • CP - Such a cutie! I love all his hair 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Mary Ann - So cute!!! I like the two pictures of him looking down. Such concentration and determination. I love little boys – they can be a handful but they say and do the funniest things!! I sure love your blog and you continue to be an inspiration to others with your positive and loving attitude. Your children, all 3, are just so precious.ReplyCancel

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The winner of the 16×20 canvas from Canvas Press is….

Jennifer

Congratulations Jennifer! Check your inbox for an email from me. 🙂

* * * * * * * * *

And don’t forget, Canvas Press is offering a 15% discount to my readers. The 15% off can be used through October 31st. To get your discount enter promo code: themacs15

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  • Vicki - Man that picture of Levi makes me smile every time:)!ReplyCancel

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  • jennifer allen - Im a Jennifer is it me? My email is all screwwy lately 🙁ReplyCancel

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  • PinProfits Got Leaked - KaciKennedy PinProfits got leaked….

    Click the link to download it. Your objective with Pinterest is to gain many targeted followers that can help you with your marketing efforts, this can be taught in Kaci Kennedy’s Pin Profits. What that means is you have to figure out as many ways to …ReplyCancel

This weekend I finished up a few more things on the blog. Not quite finished…but close. So, I thought I would take you on a little tour today.

1. If you are new to The Macs this is a good place to start. You can learn a little more about me. 🙂

2. I love talking about my daughter Cora and would love to tell you her story. I am hoping to add a few more links to this section…Cora’s memorial service, audio of me sharing Cora’s story, and maybe some resources that have been helpful to me as I have grieved. I’ll let you know when I update this section.

3. Don’t worry, it’s not just you…you can’t click on these buttons yet. I will slowly be working on the “favorites” and “faq” sections. Again, I’ll keep you updated.

4. If you need to contact me this is where you should click. I read every email, but unfortunately don’t have time to answer every one. My little boys come first! I would like to be better about responding to emails though…something I am working on. So, if you have emailed me in the past and I never responded feel free to try again…I’ll do my best to get back to you!

5. Click on this button to peek into my house. Actually, you will only get to peek in Levi’s room. 🙂 I will work on adding a few more room tours in the future.

6. Click on this button to see some of the parties we have had around here. We like to celebrate!

7. Click here to see some of my projects.

8. Check out my new social media buttons by Heather at Life Made Lovely. I am not on Twitter or Facebook but you can follow me on Pinterest and Instagram. And now you can subscribe to The Macs and get my latest posts delivered right to your inbox by entering your email address in this box.

9. You can follow me on Instagram (@jessmcclenahan) or see my latest pictures right here on the sidebar.

10. My new logo was also created by the talented Heather at Life Made Lovely. My favorite part is the pink C for Cora. Love it. You can grab my button here.

11. There are a few new options at the end of each post. You can tweet the post, share it on Facebook, or pin it.

12. At the bottom of the blog you will find archives, a list of recent posts, and my disclosure statement. I do occasionally receive products from various companies and am a member of several affiliate programs just in case you are wondering. All opinions are my own and I only share products that I love myself. This allows me to giveaway things I love to you too. That is the fun part!

13. I am going to try something new and respond to comments directly in the comment box. So if you have a quick question go ahead and leave a comment and check back in a few days for my response. We will see how that goes!

14. If you are looking for something, try the search box at the bottom of the blog!

* * * * * * * * *

I decided to migrate my blog from Blogger to WordPress mainly because I was having so many problems with the comments (when over 200 were left on a post). I hired Joy at 5 J’s Design to do the blog migration and she was fabulous! She helped me get my WordPress account set up and then when I finished the blog design she did the migration that same day. She was so helpful and I highly recommend her!

I am self hosting through BlueHost and using the ProPhoto theme so I have a little more flexibility with doing some of the design work myself. It has taken me a little while to learn everything, but I think I am going to really like it.

And I already told you that Heather at Life Made Lovely designed my blog logo and social media buttons. She is awesome. Thanks Heather!

I also want to give credit to the awesome photographers who took my header pictures. Gina Dreher at Gina Dreher Photography (Cora’s 2 month pictures), Meg Duerksen (Cora’s 6 month pictures and the most recent pictures of the boys), and my friend Laura (the cute b&w picture of the boys). Thanks ladies! I cherish these pictures of my kiddos.

 * * * * * * * * *

Wow. That was a lot of information. Let me know if something isn’t working or you have any suggestions…nice ones of course. 🙂 Is there something else you want to see? Also, don’t forget to enter the Canvas Press giveaway. Leave a comment in Friday’s post (not here!) to enter. Giveaway ends tonight.

Have a great week!

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  • Mindy - Jess ~ hi I have left several comments and sent you an e-mail.just wondering if you were getting them ? My blog is not really going 🙂 but,I have email.Anyways I was just telling you about my daughter,Brooklyn and was wondering if you still sale cora’s dresses.also can we not watch the links of her video,memorial service anymore ?? It’s not working.sorry so much..lol.I have sent several different things and was hoping to fit it all in this comment .ReplyCancel

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  • Hannah - i tell you that i am so thankful, taht you’re publishing your story, your life, cora’s story on this blog. all the things you write about your kids, especually about cora are helping me to get over the lost of my two little sisters… i am glad that you decited to share what you love and what inspires you and what you do… so jess, keep your head up, i do too and lets go through the blogging world!
    Kinda really love your new blog design and can’t wait to read the favourites and the faq’s…ReplyCancel

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  • Vera - LOVE you new blog look! So, so adorable. Your three kiddos are so gorgeous, I think I could just sit and watch that header slideshow all day <3ReplyCancel

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  • Erin - I love the look of it. Especially the rotating pictures of your kids in the banner! So cute 🙂 If you get a sec, I’d love to hear your thoughts on my latest posts and enter to win my giveaway!

    peacelovedecor.comReplyCancel

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  • Gina - Love love LOVE the new blog look!!ReplyCancel

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  • ranee - i love the new look and had fun checking out the new tabs. i love the intro to your celebrate section…i feel the same way!ReplyCancel

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  • Meg - Swanky new look! I love it.ReplyCancel

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  • creole wisdom - Looks fantastic Jess!

    I love all the new stuff. I’m looking forward to seeing more room tours (you have great style) and hearing more about sweet Cora.ReplyCancel

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  • Mary Ann - I like your blog. You are very creative so I am not surprised the blog is fantastic. Keep posting my friend. You have lots of followers and many who have come to love your postings, your pictures, your family and you. I just keep being amazed at your strength and trust in the Lord. Your desire to do what is right in His eyes and to never forget your daughter inspires me to be stronger and to be a good example. Have a wonderful day.ReplyCancel

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  • Emilee - I love your new look!!! The only thing that hasn’t been working for me is the mobile version….but that’s no biggie 🙂 thanks for sharing your life online!ReplyCancel

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  • Jess - Mindy-Sorry I haven’t gotten back to you! No, we are not selling Cora dresses anymore. If we ever decide to start making them again I will post something on the blog. The links to the memorial service do not work anymore because it was taken off our church website. I am working on making the audio available again. I’ll let you know when that happens.

    Emilee-The mobile version wasn’t working at first, but it should be now!ReplyCancel

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