// API callback
readpostlabels({"version":"1.0","encoding":"UTF-8","feed":{"xmlns":"http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom","xmlns$openSearch":"http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/","xmlns$blogger":"http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008","xmlns$georss":"http://www.georss.org/georss","xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-04-08T16:17:48.529-06:00"},"category":[{"term":"Books"},{"term":"Reviews"},{"term":"Christian Living"},{"term":"Fun Stuff"},{"term":"print"},{"term":"Motherhood"},{"term":"Memories"},{"term":"Holidays"},{"term":"31 Days Of Writing Challenge"},{"term":"Homeschooling"},{"term":"Babies"},{"term":"Tips And How-To's"},{"term":"Bible Study"},{"term":"Christmas"},{"term":"Old Fashioned Blogging"},{"term":"Old School Blogging"},{"term":"Just Life"},{"term":"Old-Fashioned Blogging"},{"term":"Family"},{"term":"Homeschool Mom Thoughts"},{"term":"31 Days Of Memory-Keeping"},{"term":"Pregnancy"},{"term":"Update"},{"term":"Vacations and Trips"},{"term":"Parenting"},{"term":"Thankfulness"},{"term":"Blogging"},{"term":"Blogtober"},{"term":"Party Ideas"},{"term":"Recipes and Food"},{"term":"Toddlers"},{"term":"31 Days Of Old-School Blogging"},{"term":"About Me"},{"term":"Our Saviour"},{"term":"Quotes"},{"term":"Derek and Me"},{"term":"Seasons"},{"term":"The Wednesday Five"},{"term":"31 Days Of Small Things"},{"term":"Fashion"},{"term":"Birthday Celebrations"},{"term":"marriage"},{"term":"Guest Post"},{"term":"Currently"},{"term":"DIY Attempts"},{"term":"House"},{"term":"Photos"},{"term":"Sponsored Posts"},{"term":"Homeschool Chats"},{"term":"Homeschool Curriculum"},{"term":"Photography"},{"term":"Printables"},{"term":"Tea On A Tuesday"},{"term":"Social Media"},{"term":"Blog Tips And Tricks"},{"term":"Resurrection Day"},{"term":"Tommy Nelson"},{"term":"Blessings"},{"term":"Friendship"},{"term":"Goals"},{"term":"Tommy Nelson post"},{"term":"Beauty"},{"term":"Home Projects"},{"term":"America and Patriotism"},{"term":"2nd Baby"},{"term":"Blogland Home Tour"},{"term":"Homemaking"},{"term":"Monthly Reads"},{"term":"Music"},{"term":"Stuff I Like"},{"term":"5th Baby"},{"term":"Digital Minimalism"},{"term":"Health and Fitness"},{"term":"Cloth Diapering"},{"term":"How I Handle It Series"},{"term":"Men"},{"term":"Movies"},{"term":"Newsletter"},{"term":"Pro-life"},{"term":"Random"},{"term":"1st Baby"},{"term":"All The Things Guest Post Series"},{"term":"Creating A Home"},{"term":"Gift Ideas"},{"term":"Link-Up"},{"term":"Memorizing Scripture"},{"term":"Musings of a Bookworm"},{"term":"Politics"},{"term":"Prayer"},{"term":"Reformation Day"},{"term":"TV"},{"term":"Teaching Kids About Jesus"},{"term":"With Grit And Grace"},{"term":"4th Baby"},{"term":"Christian Book Vlog"},{"term":"Christian Mom Vlog"},{"term":"Five Minute Friday"},{"term":"From A Homeschool Graduate"},{"term":"Giveaways"},{"term":"History"},{"term":"Maternity Fashion"},{"term":"Watercolor"},{"term":"What Do You Think?"},{"term":"8-Minute Memoir"},{"term":"Anniversary"},{"term":"Bits Of Life"},{"term":"Bullet Journaling"},{"term":"Craft Ideas"},{"term":"Decorating"},{"term":"Little Letters"},{"term":"Sewing"},{"term":"Theology"},{"term":"Winter Fashion"},{"term":"3rd Baby"},{"term":"Christian Resources"},{"term":"Daily Snapshot"},{"term":"ENFJ"},{"term":"Evangelism"},{"term":"Freebies"},{"term":"Hebrews"},{"term":"Literary Society"},{"term":"Maternity Wardrobe Tips"},{"term":"Memory-Keeping"},{"term":"Morning Thoughts"},{"term":"My Outdoorsy Side"},{"term":"New House"},{"term":"Personal Study"},{"term":"Poll"},{"term":"Preschoolers"},{"term":"Project 52"},{"term":"Real Life"},{"term":"Screen Time"},{"term":"Sharpening Shares"},{"term":"Stories"},{"term":"Sunday Shares"},{"term":"Vlog"},{"term":"dogs"},{"term":"10 On The 10th"},{"term":"30-Something Style"},{"term":"Adoption"},{"term":"Blog Challenge"},{"term":"Blog Design Freebies"},{"term":"Chat Video"},{"term":"Christian Booktube"},{"term":"Coffee Chat"},{"term":"Creative Contentment"},{"term":"DIY Homeschool Conference"},{"term":"Four Somethings"},{"term":"From My Notebook Series"},{"term":"Grade School"},{"term":"Great Deals"},{"term":"Heaven"},{"term":"In My Songbook"},{"term":"Jesus"},{"term":"Letters To My Children"},{"term":"Links And Loves"},{"term":"Literary Inspiration"},{"term":"Morning Time Printables"},{"term":"My Creative Side"},{"term":"Neighbors"},{"term":"News"},{"term":"Picture Books"},{"term":"Rooted Article"},{"term":"Shopping"},{"term":"Snippets"},{"term":"Vignettes"},{"term":"how"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Through Clouded Glass"},"subtitle":{"type":"html","$t":""},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/posts\/default"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/-\/print?alt=json-in-script\u0026max-results=4"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/search\/label\/print"},{"rel":"next","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/-\/print\/-\/print?alt=json-in-script\u0026start-index=5\u0026max-results=4"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s91\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"http://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"132"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"1"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"4"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-5577181338818337706"},"published":{"$t":"2017-01-05T05:28:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-19T16:57:42.421-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Books"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christian Living"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"print"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Reviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"2016 Was A Weird Reading Year"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Qjy2CgSpjXA\/WG2TFcyAciI\/AAAAAAAATds\/ew3OqOTE-4cH2CMjNgPR7N1uvIEvSNRKACLcB\/s640\/September-2016-005blog.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnother year, another bunch of books! \u0026nbsp;Let's talk about the favorites from 2016, shall we? \u0026nbsp;Unlike publishers or crazy book blogs, I am not constrained to what was published this year. \u0026nbsp;No, this is a list of the favorite books that I've personally read this year.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy reading was kind of all over the place in 2016, partially because I unofficially decided somewhere along the way to try reading some books that I normally would not pick up, especially in fiction. \u0026nbsp;I'm not sure it was a success. \u0026nbsp;While I enjoyed exploring a little, it left me with less books that I am actually comfortable recommending, and definitely less on the favorites list. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Quick Side Tangent On Books And Politics\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(You may skip this section if we are not of the same political persuasion, and it won't hurt my feelings! *wink*)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELet me just go on a little side-tangent real quick, because if there is one thing I've learned this year through all my book exploring, it's that \u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eif you are going to be a responsible reader, you have to go into each book looking for the worldview that is being communicated through that book. \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;I was shocked\u0026nbsp;at how many of the more current general fiction books that I picked up insisted upon including subtle political or moral statements - and if I wasn't looking for them, I would have totally missed them, or been influenced by them without realizing it. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI think in 2016 there was a lot of backlash related to how biased the media generally is toward a certain political viewpoint. \u0026nbsp;For me personally, I realized how biased a lot of the general fiction that so many people in this country are reading is too - but the trick about fiction is that you usually don't notice it without looking for it. \u0026nbsp;Most people read fiction to relax and their guard is down. \u0026nbsp;It was all actually a little scary and discouraging to me. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA really good example is the way abortion is addressed in books these days. \u0026nbsp;You know I am strongly pro-life and have started volunteering at a pregnancy center, so I especially noticed this in my 2016 reading. \u0026nbsp;I was surprised at how it some of these more liberal authors can't seem to help themselves when it comes to supporting abortion. \u0026nbsp;The plot demands that the character keep their baby, and yet the author insists on making the character reference abortion as if that is what they should have done, but you know, \"it was too late\". \u0026nbsp;Why can't they just leave that out altogether? \u0026nbsp;Why do these authors have to try to subtly foist their own political viewpoint on us, as if a character choosing \u003Ci\u003Enot \u003C\/i\u003Eto have an abortion is a moral choice the author doesn't agree with, so some sort of disclaimer is needed? I abandoned several books this year for this reason. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnd book podcasts! \u0026nbsp;I tried listening to several different book podcasts this year, but I've abandoned almost all of them because I can't stand how they impose their own political viewpoints upon their listeners (some more obviously than others). \u0026nbsp;I basically can't even trust their recommendations anymore. \u0026nbsp;Some of these hosts even describe books that should be mostly neutral in political terms but they impose their own controversial viewpoints onto the book when they talk about them, and I'm just sick of it. \u0026nbsp;They do realize that there is another half of the country that doesn't necessarily share their political persuasion, right? \u0026nbsp;I'm looking at you, Book Riot.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOn To The Books\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo yes, 2016 was kind of a black hole of reading for me, I abandoned almost as many books as I finished, and I don't have a lot of great ones to recommend from my little reading experiment. \u0026nbsp;I've got eight that stood out to me, and as for 2017...I think I'm going to stick closer to authors I already like or classics. \u0026nbsp;You can't really go wrong that way.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESo here we go, in no particular order. \u0026nbsp;If you do end up picking one of these up, please read my full reviews on Goodreads (the titles link to my reviews) for a more detailed breakdown of some of the content that may have required more commentary.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-_7ur81jITAY\/WG2QIW-5U-I\/AAAAAAAATdY\/4XX9sMdKuNUl0KxkA_ihE_4R2hxXMDk8gCLcB\/s1600\/22889874.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-_7ur81jITAY\/WG2QIW-5U-I\/AAAAAAAATdY\/4XX9sMdKuNUl0KxkA_ihE_4R2hxXMDk8gCLcB\/s1600\/22889874.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/review\/show\/1534787978?book_show_action=false\u0026amp;from_review_page=1\"\u003EI'm Happy For You (Sort Of...Not Really) By Kay Wills Wyma\u003C\/a\u003E - This was probably my #1 favorite of the books I read this year. \u0026nbsp;I read it at just the right time and got so much out of this book, and it really made me rethink ways that I am still comparing too much on social media. \u0026nbsp;I thought I was getting better at not comparing so much (and I have improved), but this book opened my eyes even more to the kind of person I want to be. \u0026nbsp;I've been telling a lot of my friends and family about it because it was so good. \u0026nbsp;I highly recommend it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-77ii6PvcXiI\/WG2QRcvkm4I\/AAAAAAAATdc\/qtSPrspzy2MRmBgA-TIRcb40K0hek_zhQCLcB\/s1600\/12401556.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-77ii6PvcXiI\/WG2QRcvkm4I\/AAAAAAAATdc\/qtSPrspzy2MRmBgA-TIRcb40K0hek_zhQCLcB\/s1600\/12401556.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/review\/show\/1616145448?book_show_action=false\u0026amp;from_review_page=1\"\u003EThe Age Of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker\u003C\/a\u003E - The disclaimer is that this book does have some profanity and taking Jesus's name in vain, which I hate. \u0026nbsp;But other than that, I really liked this one. \u0026nbsp;The whole premise of the book is that the Earth has started a \"slowing\" of it's rotation...which lengthens the days and wreaks all kinds of havoc. \u0026nbsp;Obviously not biblically-based since we know this is not how the world will end - this book is purely secular. \u0026nbsp;But the underlying theme is one of a coming-of-age story, and I've just kind of realized that I am a sucker for a coming-of-age story. \u0026nbsp;Something about it resonated with me, and the overall plot of the earth slowing was just so interesting. \u0026nbsp;I think that's the science nerd in me coming out.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Y_ge79kNL3M\/WG2P_MS-EzI\/AAAAAAAATdI\/_xk7i1nHXSk8OMTC3bFPus5wf0aQXzjTACEw\/s1600\/13547180.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Y_ge79kNL3M\/WG2P_MS-EzI\/AAAAAAAATdI\/_xk7i1nHXSk8OMTC3bFPus5wf0aQXzjTACEw\/s1600\/13547180.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/review\/show\/1633240291?book_show_action=false\u0026amp;from_review_page=1\"\u003EBrain On Fire: My Month Of Madness by Susannah Cahalan\u003C\/a\u003E - Did any of you ever watch Diagnosis: Mystery when it was on TLC? \u0026nbsp;I LOVED that show, and this is basically that show in book form. \u0026nbsp;A lady starts to go crazy and they are trying to figure out why. \u0026nbsp;It's a true story that's written more like a novel, and I listened to it on audio. \u0026nbsp;It was really fascinating. \u0026nbsp;Some language in this one too.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-KUKIYXHwjF0\/WG2QF0H5WHI\/AAAAAAAATdU\/G9mgbsZLgjoLWHxaj1pVENNwzL07zT6DwCEw\/s1600\/6469165.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-KUKIYXHwjF0\/WG2QF0H5WHI\/AAAAAAAATdU\/G9mgbsZLgjoLWHxaj1pVENNwzL07zT6DwCEw\/s1600\/6469165.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/review\/show\/1699629411?book_show_action=false\u0026amp;from_review_page=1\"\u003EWhat Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty\u003C\/a\u003E - Some language and the Lord's name in vain in this one too, and I hated how it included the \"clump of tissue\" myth when it comes to unborn children. \u0026nbsp;So I hesitate to say I \"recommend\" this one. \u0026nbsp;I include it here because I have never gotten so much out of a fictional story and it really made me think about where I spend my time and energy. \u0026nbsp;If you have ever felt like you can't relate to people in other stages of life or wondered what your ten-years-younger self would think about the you of today, you might get something out of this book too (but please \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/review\/show\/1699629411?book_show_action=false\u0026amp;from_review_page=1\"\u003Eread my disclaimers first\u003C\/a\u003E).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-aT49OOKI5q4\/WG2P_EoEzpI\/AAAAAAAATdA\/7fUScB_iEushJDSa3UiRugkIPB1BAfMZgCEw\/s1600\/13509823.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-aT49OOKI5q4\/WG2P_EoEzpI\/AAAAAAAATdA\/7fUScB_iEushJDSa3UiRugkIPB1BAfMZgCEw\/s1600\/13509823.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/review\/show\/1778469769?book_show_action=false\u0026amp;from_review_page=1\"\u003EAdam And Eve After The Pill: Paradoxes Of The Sexual Revolution by Mary Eberstadt\u003C\/a\u003E - I picked this book up because ever since I quit the pill all those years ago, I have been interested in the effects birth control (and the sexual revolution) has had on society. \u0026nbsp;This book was \u003Ci\u003Efascinating\u003C\/i\u003E. \u0026nbsp;It's published by a Catholic publisher, but the book itself isn't geared toward Catholics but toward anyone who is interested in this topic. \u0026nbsp;I had heard a lot of the data before, but the author had so many insights into our current culture. \u0026nbsp;I generally think we need to think a bit more deeply about what we are doing to ourselves in this department, and I highly recommend this one. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-MlksNuUWfKs\/WG2P_XAjBNI\/AAAAAAAATdM\/2-OCWFV4jXIp_GVWb-nuzgjm3uK2KKmTQCEw\/s1600\/25813601.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-MlksNuUWfKs\/WG2P_XAjBNI\/AAAAAAAATdM\/2-OCWFV4jXIp_GVWb-nuzgjm3uK2KKmTQCEw\/s1600\/25813601.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/review\/show\/1624420070?book_show_action=false\u0026amp;from_review_page=1\"\u003EFlirtation Walk by Siri Mitchell\u003C\/a\u003E - I just really like Mitchell's historical fiction - I feel like it's usually really well researched, and I generally like her characters. \u0026nbsp;This wasn't my favorite of hers because I felt like it took about a quarter of the book to get into it, but I still enjoyed it. \u0026nbsp;And the short story you can get if you sign up for her newsletter relates to this story and was so fun!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nTC0mtDiYhs\/WG2QCp8EgjI\/AAAAAAAATdQ\/znw6cs45YjgqMBkszzTbo4JXInkXlkQfQCEw\/s1600\/29527160.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nTC0mtDiYhs\/WG2QCp8EgjI\/AAAAAAAATdQ\/znw6cs45YjgqMBkszzTbo4JXInkXlkQfQCEw\/s1600\/29527160.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/review\/show\/1866175186\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003ELarger Than Life Lara by Dandi Daley Mackall\u003C\/a\u003E - I wrote a full review on this book a couple months ago, so I won't go into too much detail here, but I really liked this one. \u0026nbsp;It's a middle-grade novel, but I enjoyed it as an adult. \u0026nbsp;It's a quick read, and the characters have stuck with me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003ESo what did you read in 2016 that stood out? \u0026nbsp;Do you keep an eye out for the different worldviews in your fiction?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI hope you had a more joyous reading year than me. \u0026nbsp;Here's to 2017!\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/5577181338818337706\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=5577181338818337706\u0026isPopup=true","title":"12 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5577181338818337706"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/5577181338818337706"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2017\/01\/2016-was-weird-reading-year.html","title":"2016 Was A Weird Reading Year"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s91\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Qjy2CgSpjXA\/WG2TFcyAciI\/AAAAAAAATds\/ew3OqOTE-4cH2CMjNgPR7N1uvIEvSNRKACLcB\/s72-c\/September-2016-005blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"12"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-8940932380862168679"},"published":{"$t":"2016-12-31T05:31:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-19T16:57:42.453-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christmas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fashion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Holidays"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"print"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Winter Fashion"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Winter Style: New Year's Eve Outfit"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-tgtft-5ciiY\/WFHtyeFAMaI\/AAAAAAAATWQ\/oGX1McXrKwYhGZhRi_zB6QpcKwbVtu04wCLcB\/s640\/December-2016-040blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EDoes anyone actually go to New Year's Eve parties?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've honestly never been invited to a New Year's Eve party, not even before I had kids with a bedtime before midnight. \u0026nbsp;What does one wear to a New Year's Eve party?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWell, this is what I'd wear.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-XCdmm6v14L8\/WFHo_wNOYfI\/AAAAAAAATVw\/134SliEJhm4QMKf-Bj_641pfSQpyYD2ZQCLcB\/s1600\/December-2016-031blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-_01zA7pn8W8\/WFHo4gOH9TI\/AAAAAAAATVs\/4HkyDQvY6jYPk6vLn0sMGegx2jmdPj6SwCLcB\/s1600\/December-2016-034blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ENwwvZL9EcA\/WFHozgDf7HI\/AAAAAAAATVo\/6qiYjgH8d8AL3n4kSIsgO7W0nelfR3vbwCLcB\/s1600\/December-2016-040blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-QeZx0kYG7D0\/WFHphjfLe7I\/AAAAAAAATV8\/lTQdwNGR0FYPIPtSrkSsQI9A6JSXy5r2ACLcB\/s1600\/December-2016-049blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-KmKvAvtasyc\/WFHpOfWpnnI\/AAAAAAAATV4\/l0G11d4sbrEfjWlALte2yJcGqEG-1PdfgCLcB\/s1600\/December-2016-044blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-nh_-lgH3KsI\/WFHpKvZA7MI\/AAAAAAAATV0\/fZWQG54c63wxeUNffOQZNC0z1C47V82UACLcB\/s1600\/December-2016-047blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-NnGxtGucF7s\/WFHpmGy7ElI\/AAAAAAAATWA\/jr2HwQlmjS8J2KSsalpOD73V6Gdlxtt1gCLcB\/s1600\/December-2016-050blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Some affiliate links below.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWe are actually thinking about having a New Year's gathering, we'll call it, this year. \u0026nbsp;I really want to have a game night, and isn't New Year's Eve a good excuse? \u0026nbsp;Especially with young kids, because we could do it early in the evening, have New-Year's-Eve type foods, and quit in time to get the kids in bed - and no one will think we're lame, because they will be leaving to put \u003Ci\u003Etheir \u003C\/i\u003Ekids in bed too. \u0026nbsp;See how that works?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAnd here I am, writing this ahead of time to schedule for the day before New Year's Eve, and I don't know if we're really going to get our act together enough to get some people over here! I should get going on it.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEarrings:\u003C\/b\u003E ?? Probably Charlotte Russe, probably 7 years ago? \u0026nbsp;When I like an article of clothing or accessory, it stays with me.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EShirt:\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.forever21.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EForever21\u003C\/a\u003E, bought when I was pregnant one of those times, because this is long and stretchy and can be bunched up to fit around a belly.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESparkly Sweater:\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.forever21.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EForever21\u003C\/a\u003E, and I had no idea how cute it would be when I ordered it a few years ago. \u0026nbsp;It's a winter holiday staple, whether we are talking Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's. \u0026nbsp;It's never leaving my closet.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELeather-paneled leggings: \u003C\/b\u003ETarget, a couple years ago.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESocks:\u003C\/b\u003E Target\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBoots:\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.justfab.com\/invite\/20388316\/\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EJustFab\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDo you do anything special for New Year's Eve?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/8940932380862168679\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=8940932380862168679\u0026isPopup=true","title":"12 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/8940932380862168679"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/8940932380862168679"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2016\/12\/winter-style-new-years-eve-outfit.html","title":"Winter Style: New Year's Eve Outfit"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s91\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-tgtft-5ciiY\/WFHtyeFAMaI\/AAAAAAAATWQ\/oGX1McXrKwYhGZhRi_zB6QpcKwbVtu04wCLcB\/s72-c\/December-2016-040blogcrop.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"12"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-1540513337680288389"},"published":{"$t":"2016-12-30T01:04:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-01-19T16:57:42.388-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Derek and Me"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Movies"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Politics"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"print"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Reviews"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Why I Didn't Love Rogue One"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q0Mmcuj51cs\/WGYUB3vPT2I\/AAAAAAAATao\/gBD_3ch889oBay5QXNsJm4QiZm4gL35egCLcB\/s640\/IMG_0511blog.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"-webkit-font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"-webkit-font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(Warning: There are Rogue One spoilers below! \u0026nbsp;Read at your own risk. \u0026nbsp;Also this is me at the theater last night.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"-webkit-font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"-webkit-font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"-webkit-font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EBefore I start into\u0026nbsp;my opinions about the new Star Wars spin-off, Rogue One, you should know that Star Wars pretty much runs in my blood.\u0026nbsp; My dad saw the movies as a young teen and when my siblings and I reached an appropriate age, we all gathered around the TV, and a new family tradition was born.\u0026nbsp; We watched those movies countless times growing up, and I will always remember going to see Episode One when it came out in the theaters.\u0026nbsp; We watched the movie as a family, went to Taco Bell and discussed it endlessly, then drove straight back to the theater and watched it again.\u0026nbsp; There are many Star Wars enthusiasts, and dare I say even experts, in my family.\u0026nbsp; They may not all share my opinions, but this is what I thought of the latest installment.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EFirst, when I say I didn't \"love\" it, I don't mean I hated it either. \u0026nbsp;I thought the plot was really well done, and I loved all the references that tied into Episode Four (the Star Wars movie that comes right after Rogue One).\u0026nbsp; I thought the connection between Jyn and her father was well-formed and added a sweetness to that part of the story.\u0026nbsp; The ending was bittersweet, as was fitting since we knew from Episode Four that “many fighters died to bring us this information”.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThere were a few small irritants in this film, such as the lack of backstories and making the Force too “religious”, but there were a couple things that bothered me more, and I think are a reflection of some of the ways our culture is changing, so I want to talk about those here.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThe first point may seem petty, but I think it’s worth discussion - and that was the flatness of the characters in this movie.\u0026nbsp; Do you remember the variety of personalities in the original Star Wars trilogy?\u0026nbsp; We had Princess Leia, with all her spunk and conviction.\u0026nbsp; We had Han, with his arrogance and recklessness and lovably absurd connection to his ship.\u0026nbsp; We had Luke, the whiney farmer turned introspective brooder turned indispensable Jedi.\u0026nbsp; What tied it all together, what made these movies classics, was the color of their personalities, the sense of history, the development of relationships.\u0026nbsp; It was their tenacity in the fight, their grit, the conviction that the Empire was evil and must be stopped, but it wasn’t only that - their personalities were what made it fun, their flaws were what made us laugh, and you got the feeling that they couldn’t have finally defeated the Empire without being exactly who they were, flaws and all.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI didn’t get that in Rogue One.\u0026nbsp;I was disappointed that many chances to give the characters more depth were not taken. \u0026nbsp;Not only did we get too much Luke Skywalker brooding and not enough Hans Solo reckless and arrogant determination, but the characters in this movie didn’t even really seem to know why they were fighting (except for a brief speech from Jyn on the need to fight against an Empire “this evil”, a mark in her favor).\u0026nbsp; The scene that was most frustrating to me was the monologue from Cassion that was supposed to be inspiring as he pulled all his buddies back into the fight, but the whole speech was really rather depressing.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E“We’ve all done terrible things in the name of the rebellion - without the rebellion all those terrible things will be in vain.” \u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the whole speech goes against the reason why my family got hooked on Star Wars in the first place.\u0026nbsp; I’ll tell you why I have loved Star Wars so long - and \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003Eit’s because Star Wars has always been about good versus evil,\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E and there was no confusion between the two.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIn the original trilogy (Episodes 4-6) we have the classic fight between good and evil.\u0026nbsp; It was the dark side and the light side, tyranny and freedom.\u0026nbsp; In that world, you either gave in to the draw of power at the expense of the innocent, or you fought against those who would oppress others for their own gain, or you were one of the countless rabble of spineless bystanders.\u0026nbsp; It made you want to choose what was good, and never give in and let evil win.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIn the second trilogy (Episodes 1-3) we see how good intentions aren’t enough by themselves, how you need a strong grounding in what is right and wrong to avoid being seduced by the desire for power.\u0026nbsp; How a hunger for control can twist easily to justify terrible evil, and how governments can slide so easily into tyranny when too much power is willingly put into one man’s hands.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIn Rogue One, we have an evil Empire willing to destroy planets to reach it’s ends, and we have a well-established rebellion…who apparently has no idea what they are fighting for, except to make past “atrocities” worth it.\u0026nbsp; And I’m sorry, but that just doesn’t cut it.\u0026nbsp; I don’t want to see a movie of people who are just fighting to justify past misdeeds.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI resent the attempt to muddy up the side we all want to root for.\u0026nbsp; I resent the attempt to give Star Wars shades of grey.\u0026nbsp; I resent the attempt in our culture to remove heroes and cut them down to size.\u0026nbsp; They do it with historical figures all the time, and now apparently we can’t even have fictional characters that are good and right and true, and know why they are fighting.\u0026nbsp; I resent the segments of our culture that say there are no more heroes.\u0026nbsp; Because I don’t buy that.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003E I think there are still heroes who take risks because they believe in what is right - \u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003Eand they don’t have to be perfect but they should know what they are fighting for and believe in it’s goodness.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E I think there are heroes hiding down in many, waiting to come out when they find something good that is worth fighting for.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EI want to see a movie where the good guys know that there is right and wrong, good and evil, and they fight to defeat that evil and preserve all that is good in the world. \u0026nbsp;They fight precisely because they recognize that good and evil exist.\u0026nbsp; That is what Star Wars has always been about to me, and it resonated so much because I think it touched down on that truth in the human heart.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIn Rogue One some of the main “heroes” are muddied up and cut down to size, and die simply to undo their own or other’s mistakes or to assuage their own consciences.\u0026nbsp; Some may say that is more true to real life, but the reason I watch movies like Star Wars is for moral clarity, not moral ambiguity.\u0026nbsp; It was not inspiring, it was disappointing.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"-webkit-font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EWill Rogue One ruin Star Wars for me?\u0026nbsp; No, because it’s only a Star Wars story, a side plot.\u0026nbsp; I can dismiss or overlook the parts I don’t like. \u0026nbsp;Should you still go see it? \u0026nbsp;Yes, because there were a lot of tie-ins and themes that were worth the time.\u0026nbsp; But will it be a Star Wars favorite for me?\u0026nbsp; No, because it missed the boat on portraying why I love Star Wars in the first place.\u0026nbsp; I just hope Episode Eight doesn’t continue down this same path, because in a culture where morals are muddied, Star Wars has stood out for making good and evil crystal clear.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"-webkit-font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; line-height: normal;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"-webkit-font-kerning: none;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EP.S. I reserve the right to change my mind, but this is my initial reaction. \u0026nbsp;What did you think of the movie?\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/1540513337680288389\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=1540513337680288389\u0026isPopup=true","title":"6 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1540513337680288389"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/1540513337680288389"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2016\/12\/why-i-didnt-love-rogue-one.html","title":"Why I Didn't Love Rogue One"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s91\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q0Mmcuj51cs\/WGYUB3vPT2I\/AAAAAAAATao\/gBD_3ch889oBay5QXNsJm4QiZm4gL35egCLcB\/s72-c\/IMG_0511blog.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"6"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7707747118752962942.post-3678649619327996818"},"published":{"$t":"2016-12-22T08:00:00.001-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-02-10T10:06:12.299-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Christmas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Family"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fun Stuff"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Holidays"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Parenting"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"print"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"How We Do Advent"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-LCJ9Kn9TghM\/WFIA3eP_7LI\/AAAAAAAATXo\/gL8uv6V0wFkIKS49y1cZKqDrHOr-erjLACLcB\/s640\/November-2016-926blogcrop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EAdvent season is almost over, but I really wanted to do a little spotlight on our Advent Calendar this year. \u0026nbsp;I've had a few friends ask me this year what we do for Advent as a family.\u003Cspan id=\"goog_1374014206\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan id=\"goog_1374014207\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe year we had Wyatt, Derek's brother, Jeff, and his wife, Rae, sent us this Advent calendar! \u0026nbsp;My sister-in-law is a master potter who is so talented, and she made the jars - and Derek's brother fashioned this cool rotating display for them.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-85Da9ocN8ek\/WFHwjVyweYI\/AAAAAAAATWc\/Ig85T1QbO4USP1zo_OCcp4oxgL8xkLoowCLcB\/s1600\/November-2016-930blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWe have one pot for each day of the month up to Christmas. \u0026nbsp;Every year before December 1st, Jeff and Rae send us a box filled with goodies to put in the calendar! \u0026nbsp;It's their Christmas gift to the kids each year, and it makes it so easy for Derek and I to do Advent, because we don't even have to think about putting everything together.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-M4PzQHDIU9A\/WFHwyj-yaKI\/AAAAAAAATWk\/vv1P0MuaWU4kXNSbcj2IsNeOERXBMwePgCLcB\/s1600\/November-2016-929blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-OgAfa2BC4UI\/WFHxq4wUTqI\/AAAAAAAATW4\/owqWDVtUD-EVubXRexnPrHvBKj46Tm9AACLcB\/s1600\/November-2016-938blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EEach jar contains a paper with a verse on it and a chocolate for each of the kids. \u0026nbsp;I usually let the kids eat their chocolates while we read the verse and then talk about it (or sometimes we'll work on memorizing the verses, now that the kids are getting older). \u0026nbsp;And then some of the days also have an extra surprise in the jar. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-9iwjEDFrF-E\/WFHxoYFwflI\/AAAAAAAATW0\/FYra3GodtpgfwvEbdw0ye5uHQlxdS95-QCLcB\/s1600\/November-2016-939blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q7sxkBrWu6Y\/WFHxV6B7wHI\/AAAAAAAATWo\/wNo8eCNqyDUsxECPkO_hq-WUnzZN2jkiwCLcB\/s1600\/November-2016-934blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis year so far the kids have been surprised with coins for their piggy bank, a charitable gift in their names (which is great for talking about giving at Christmas time), and if it's a present day they will get a little card with a present number on it. \u0026nbsp;In the box of stuff, Jeff and Rae send numbered presents for each kid, usually four or five of them! \u0026nbsp;The kids get so excited about doing Advent each night, and when it's a present night everyone cheers!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZBNEPZI-1Os\/WFHxWV3wBqI\/AAAAAAAATWs\/0MD7aqmd3goUkxvd4iu8VGPGXx8JkzazwCLcB\/s1600\/November-2016-935blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-i-E362B98m0\/WFHxfSKlPPI\/AAAAAAAATWw\/qDW71O1rWFUIo_jUtDxs14Yw4g7AexdaQCLcB\/s1600\/November-2016-931blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E(The kids got these jammies as one of their presents this year, and they were so excited! \u0026nbsp;I let them wear them exactly one night before I stashed them away for Christmas Eve. \u0026nbsp;You know, so we have fresh, clean jammies for Christmas morning? I didn't buy Christmas jammies this year, and my kids seem to ruin new pajamas after two nights, so I'm\u0026nbsp;saving them.)\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI love our Advent calendar, and I am so grateful to Jeff and Rae for putting it together for us every year. \u0026nbsp;It's a great way to focus on Jesus's birth and have some Christmas fun each night with the kids, and I honestly don't think I would be organized enough to do this every year without their help!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-OC44kr1PFII\/WFHwtibafuI\/AAAAAAAATWg\/yy7sTODZlMw6cua17P4gIb1CkfT-L2vXQCLcB\/s1600\/November-2016-926blog.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat do you all do for Advent, as a family?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"104\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tK1Uh7XEt9w\/WFH_2RUApYI\/AAAAAAAATXc\/EuZS-iUlx-MboYu2z888tvSAGbGmPhu_gCLcB\/s200\/pin-it.png\" width=\"200\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ffCPLDxWaWU\/WFIAD9Ac53I\/AAAAAAAATXg\/X-j-htqPuhodhytSwplEJCEkvPmhQQK_QCLcB\/s1600\/advent-calendar.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/feeds\/3678649619327996818\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/comment.g?blogID=7707747118752962942\u0026postID=3678649619327996818\u0026isPopup=true","title":"8 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/3678649619327996818"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/7707747118752962942\/posts\/default\/3678649619327996818"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.throughcloudedglass.com\/2016\/12\/advent-season-is-almost-over-but-i.html","title":"How We Do Advent"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Callie"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04177545285954715021"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"30","height":"32","src":"\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-dnQFjk7bQfo\/Vm0BRoMDQEI\/AAAAAAAARyk\/FpB7e1FouEM\/s91\/October-2015-077%2Bcopy.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-LCJ9Kn9TghM\/WFIA3eP_7LI\/AAAAAAAATXo\/gL8uv6V0wFkIKS49y1cZKqDrHOr-erjLACLcB\/s72-c\/November-2016-926blogcrop.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"8"}}]}});