Sometimes I forget to let God show me the lesson He's teaching in "hiccups" that occur in day to day life. It's easy to let things snowball, and to make mountains out of mole hills, and give things more "weight" than they deserve. It's the nature human reaction, go into defense mode when being attacked.
I'm trying to set aside that normal human reaction, and take up the armor of Christ and react according to His wishes. That is not always easy to do.
Today it was really, really hard to do.
I won't go into detail, because details aren't necessary, but today I was made keenly aware that there is an individual out there that wants to destroy our adoption process. Before anyone gets freaked out, it isn't a big deal. There will always be people who are against you, your decisions, etc...I know who the person is and its just silly so enough about that. The point is, the "old" me would have been angry, resentful, and seeking revenge. The "new" me, the person my faith has made me become, wants nothing more than for God to touch this persons life and heal their heart of their sadness, or bitterness, or whatever painful feelings they have. It is not for me to judge or punish, God will handle that part. It's my job to pray for them.
So, today, I was hurt, and sad, and confused...but I learned to pray for and love my enemy. So, it was a good day. :)
Please remember, these blogs are amazing for fundraising, orphan adoption awareness, etc...but they are a wonderful ministry for showing Gods love, too. <3
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
"The better part of one's life consists of his friendships." -Abraham Lincoln
Hi everyone. :)
This is just a quick update to introduce you all to a new friend of mine! Her name is Jennifer, and she's adopting not one, but TWO gorgeous little girls!! Jennifer is going to need LOTS of love, prayers, and support...and I know that everyone who reads this blog is great at helping ME to feel the love, so I was hoping you might extend some of that love to Jennifer's family.
If you look on the side of my blog, below the pictures, above the page views....you'll see a little Amazon box, above it will say "Willis Family Fundraiser". If you are an Amazon shopper, please come to my blog, or Jennifer's (link will be at the bottom of this blog post) and do your purchasing through one of these Amazon search boxes, that way Jennifer's family will get a little percentage of your total purchase! Free for you, helpful for them, everyone wins. :)
Also, if you're in the mood to do something awesome like, oh I don't know, be a part of bringing a couple little girls home to their Mama...check out the fundraiser going on over at Jennifer's blog! It's pretty cool! $5 buys you a piece of a puzzle, and when all the pieces are purchased, the puzzle will be assembled and hung on their girl's bedroom wall. (awww!)
I already bought my piece! Go buy yours now!
Have a good night everyone! <3
Link to Jennifer's Blog:
http://jenniferloveslobsters.blogspot.com/2012/01/current-fundraisers.html
This is just a quick update to introduce you all to a new friend of mine! Her name is Jennifer, and she's adopting not one, but TWO gorgeous little girls!! Jennifer is going to need LOTS of love, prayers, and support...and I know that everyone who reads this blog is great at helping ME to feel the love, so I was hoping you might extend some of that love to Jennifer's family.
If you look on the side of my blog, below the pictures, above the page views....you'll see a little Amazon box, above it will say "Willis Family Fundraiser". If you are an Amazon shopper, please come to my blog, or Jennifer's (link will be at the bottom of this blog post) and do your purchasing through one of these Amazon search boxes, that way Jennifer's family will get a little percentage of your total purchase! Free for you, helpful for them, everyone wins. :)
Also, if you're in the mood to do something awesome like, oh I don't know, be a part of bringing a couple little girls home to their Mama...check out the fundraiser going on over at Jennifer's blog! It's pretty cool! $5 buys you a piece of a puzzle, and when all the pieces are purchased, the puzzle will be assembled and hung on their girl's bedroom wall. (awww!)
I already bought my piece! Go buy yours now!
Have a good night everyone! <3
Link to Jennifer's Blog:
http://jenniferloveslobsters.blogspot.com/2012/01/current-fundraisers.html
Monday, January 30, 2012
"Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop."
Fundraising. Ahhh how I've loathed thee these last few weeks/months.
After talking with a few friends who've held big fundraisers, we decided to follow suit. But what to do?
What to do....
Then a friend had an idea...
Natasha wouldn't be home with us to celebrate her 3rd birthday, so why not have an Alice in Wonderland themed 'un'birthday party for the fundraiser!
I *love* Alice in Wonderland, it's my favorite Disney movie so I JUMPED at the chance to be a part of such a cool idea!
As we started throwing out ideas, everything started to fall into place...
We are going to combine the 'un'birthday theme with lots of other fun Alice in Wonderland ideas...
We are going to have a raffle, a silent auction, a live auction, food, drinks, an art contest, lots of games and prizes, karaoke, a bake sale...it's going to be an awesome night.
Here are some of our ideas, let us know what you think!
After talking with a few friends who've held big fundraisers, we decided to follow suit. But what to do?
What to do....
Then a friend had an idea...
Natasha wouldn't be home with us to celebrate her 3rd birthday, so why not have an Alice in Wonderland themed 'un'birthday party for the fundraiser!
I *love* Alice in Wonderland, it's my favorite Disney movie so I JUMPED at the chance to be a part of such a cool idea!
As we started throwing out ideas, everything started to fall into place...
We are going to combine the 'un'birthday theme with lots of other fun Alice in Wonderland ideas...
We are going to have a raffle, a silent auction, a live auction, food, drinks, an art contest, lots of games and prizes, karaoke, a bake sale...it's going to be an awesome night.
Here are some of our ideas, let us know what you think!
an idea of what our inviations might look like :)
a friend of a friend has so graciously volunteered to make our cake!
we will have people dressed up as all of the characters from Alice in Wonderland...I get to be the Queen of Hearts! Whoo hoo!
Alison and I took a little trip to Hobby Lobby tonight to get ideas for decorations, etc...Red and black will be our theme, as well as hearts, of course! This garland was perfect!
heart shaped tealights! Love!
More pretty garland <3
PERFECT welcome sign for the event...I'm so glad Alison needed it for her house, and being the kind person she is she's going to let us borrow it! :)
These are all ideas for the bake sale...Little heart decorations for cupcakes, cute boxes and bakery bags, etc... *LOVE*
These would be PERFECT to hang on , or above our food and drink tables! One will say "Eat Me" and the other will say "Drink Me".....like in Alice in Wonderland!!
And of course no Alice themed party would be complete without pink flamingos! (Croquet anyone??)
And of course...a white rabbit is a must!
Red and black pails for one of many games!
centerpiece holders....
white roses for centerpieces....
white roses which, of course, must be painted red.... ;)
pretty ribbon that we'll definitely find a good use for!
and how much fun is this?! We are going to do face painting for the kids (and what the heck...the adults can get in on the face painting too if they wanna! lol)
Hope you can join us! We've had some great items donated for auction and raffle!!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Last but not least...look at what we're working on having DONATED for auction? AMAZING!
These doll houses are incredible!!
Have a great night...I'm off to bed <3
Sunday, January 29, 2012
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." -Helen Keller
What I'm about to write has weighed heavily on my heart for quite some time. I've started to write this blog several times, then decided to delete it because I was afraid of how it would be perceived by others, how it might be taken the "wrong" way, that it might come off as "preachy" and that is not my intent. It isn't about judgement, it's merely what I've thought, felt, and observed over the last month and half. So here goes...maybe I won't delete it this time...
The easiest way I can think of to describe how I've felt since being called to adopt (I truly believe that adoption is a calling, not merely a decision) is to compare it to the movie Schindler's List. That might sound extremely grim, and morbid, but let me explain...those of you who have seen it will know what I'm talking about. Near the end of the movie, Schindler, who has secretly helped to save several Jewish people from being killed during the Holocaust by essentially *buying* them, has a breakdown when he is given a present by the people he saved. A golden ring, made from melting down a gold tooth. He looks at the ring, and asks "How many more could I have saved with this?", he looks at his possessions, his car, etc...and instead of counting their value in money, he counts their value in terms of how many people he could have saved by sacrificing more of himself, more of what he had, etc.
When I think about Reece's Rainbow, about Natasha, about the innocent faces that stare back at me every time I look at the website, I can't help but to have my own "Schindler moment". I ask myself "what more can I be doing?" or "Why did I just blow $20 on something I didn't really *need* instead of putting that money in a child's grant fund?"
When I look at the waiting children on Reece's Rainbow, I see a lot of questions in their eyes too.
"Are you my mommy?"
"If you aren't my mommy, will you please help me find her?"
"When will someone FIGHT for me?"
There are so many people fighting for these kids...so, so many people. I've had the honor of getting to know some of them and let me just say, I've never met hearts so pure. People are working tirelessly to bring these children home, to find their mommies, to BECOME their mommies, and it's a beautiful thing.
But, it isn't enough. MORE people need to do their part. MORE people need to get in the trenches and WORK to bring these children home.
Raise money, repost pictures, cover an adoptive family with prayer, look at these children and NEVER forget that they are out there, don't let them remain forgotten.
It truly breaks my heart to see people plead for $1 donations on behalf of a child, yet the child's grant fund, chip in, FSP, etc stays stagnant. It doesn't move....
A dollar.
One dollar.
What can you even buy with a dollar nowadays? A pack of gum? Can you even get a pack of gum for a buck anymore?
It boggles my mind...to deny a request of a single dollar to a child who's life hangs in the balance, quite honestly, breaks my heart. Maybe I'm a bit "tender hearted" on this matter since I'm adopting myself, and I have an inside view of how expensive and stressful the process is, and I've heard inside stories of what these kids deal with on a daily basis. I fully understand that people are not going to be as emotionally invested in these kids as I am, but still...at the end of the day...it's one dollar...how emotionally invested in anything or anyone do you have to be to dig some change out of your couch cushions, ya know? Imagine if EVERYONE gave one dollar to a child in need. If you posted on your facebook, or twitter, or blog requesting ONE dollar to any of the kids in need, and EVERYONE actually gave a single dollar...how much money would that be? How many lives could we save?
Before anyone stops reading because they feel like this is nothing more than a plea for funding, there is more to the story. It isn't all about money. In fact, in my opinion, it has very little to do with money. Somehow, some way, the funding will show up when it needs to for the families who have been called to adopt. To me, the most important thing is EXPOSURE. Get people out of their comfort zones, rip those blinders off and make them look, make them SEE what is happening in the world.
147 millions orphans
Children being abandoned to die in asylums at the age of FOUR
Children being overlooked, forgotten, because they have down syndrome, HIV, CP, etc
Children living their entire lives never knowing love
This is really happening, and to know that it's happening, and to turn the other way and do absolutely nothing about it is shameful. It truly is. There is so much you can do, it isn't all about donating your money, if you don't have money, donate your time. Dedicate time to pray for these children, for the person out there in the world somewhere who was BORN to be their mother but just doesn't know it yet...repost blog links, Reece's Rainbow waiting child links, get their faces out there, make people LOOK at the children who NEED them. Have a carwash, have a yardsale, have a bakesale, whatever it is....DO SOMETHING!
I challenge everyone who reads this blog to make it a personal challenge to DO SOMETHING for these kids. I know most people who read this know me personally but that does NOT mean that you have to "pick" Natasha to fight for. Of course I'm partial to the baby girl I call my daughter, but that does not mean YOU have to limit yourself to her cause. There are SO MANY kids that need a WARRIOR in their corner, a prayer warrior, a fundraising warrior, maybe someone reading this was meant to call one of these kiddos their son or daughter...please, take me up on this challenge, don't sit idly by and watch as others fight for these kids...get in the game! It will be the most rewarding thing you'll ever do, I promise you that. Reece's Rainbow was started by ONE person who wanted to DO SOMETHING...and look at what she's done, over 500 kids home. What an awesome legacy. Every single person has the ability to have a similar legacy, all you have to do is decide that these kids are worth fighting for. That's all! So please, fight for these children. They need you more than you know.
Look at these faces, SEE THEM for what they are, kids...they're just little kids and they are facing hell on earth. That is not an exaggeration, that is a cold hard fact. Institutionalization at just 4 years old. Preschool aged children, facing a future in an asylum, where most of them will DIE within the first year they are there. Look at their faces, then let your mind go to the deep dark place you are trying to avoid. See the TRUTH, the DESPERATION of their futures.
DO SOMETHING.
The easiest way I can think of to describe how I've felt since being called to adopt (I truly believe that adoption is a calling, not merely a decision) is to compare it to the movie Schindler's List. That might sound extremely grim, and morbid, but let me explain...those of you who have seen it will know what I'm talking about. Near the end of the movie, Schindler, who has secretly helped to save several Jewish people from being killed during the Holocaust by essentially *buying* them, has a breakdown when he is given a present by the people he saved. A golden ring, made from melting down a gold tooth. He looks at the ring, and asks "How many more could I have saved with this?", he looks at his possessions, his car, etc...and instead of counting their value in money, he counts their value in terms of how many people he could have saved by sacrificing more of himself, more of what he had, etc.
When I think about Reece's Rainbow, about Natasha, about the innocent faces that stare back at me every time I look at the website, I can't help but to have my own "Schindler moment". I ask myself "what more can I be doing?" or "Why did I just blow $20 on something I didn't really *need* instead of putting that money in a child's grant fund?"
When I look at the waiting children on Reece's Rainbow, I see a lot of questions in their eyes too.
"Are you my mommy?"
"If you aren't my mommy, will you please help me find her?"
"When will someone FIGHT for me?"
There are so many people fighting for these kids...so, so many people. I've had the honor of getting to know some of them and let me just say, I've never met hearts so pure. People are working tirelessly to bring these children home, to find their mommies, to BECOME their mommies, and it's a beautiful thing.
But, it isn't enough. MORE people need to do their part. MORE people need to get in the trenches and WORK to bring these children home.
Raise money, repost pictures, cover an adoptive family with prayer, look at these children and NEVER forget that they are out there, don't let them remain forgotten.
It truly breaks my heart to see people plead for $1 donations on behalf of a child, yet the child's grant fund, chip in, FSP, etc stays stagnant. It doesn't move....
A dollar.
One dollar.
What can you even buy with a dollar nowadays? A pack of gum? Can you even get a pack of gum for a buck anymore?
It boggles my mind...to deny a request of a single dollar to a child who's life hangs in the balance, quite honestly, breaks my heart. Maybe I'm a bit "tender hearted" on this matter since I'm adopting myself, and I have an inside view of how expensive and stressful the process is, and I've heard inside stories of what these kids deal with on a daily basis. I fully understand that people are not going to be as emotionally invested in these kids as I am, but still...at the end of the day...it's one dollar...how emotionally invested in anything or anyone do you have to be to dig some change out of your couch cushions, ya know? Imagine if EVERYONE gave one dollar to a child in need. If you posted on your facebook, or twitter, or blog requesting ONE dollar to any of the kids in need, and EVERYONE actually gave a single dollar...how much money would that be? How many lives could we save?
Before anyone stops reading because they feel like this is nothing more than a plea for funding, there is more to the story. It isn't all about money. In fact, in my opinion, it has very little to do with money. Somehow, some way, the funding will show up when it needs to for the families who have been called to adopt. To me, the most important thing is EXPOSURE. Get people out of their comfort zones, rip those blinders off and make them look, make them SEE what is happening in the world.
147 millions orphans
Children being abandoned to die in asylums at the age of FOUR
Children being overlooked, forgotten, because they have down syndrome, HIV, CP, etc
Children living their entire lives never knowing love
This is really happening, and to know that it's happening, and to turn the other way and do absolutely nothing about it is shameful. It truly is. There is so much you can do, it isn't all about donating your money, if you don't have money, donate your time. Dedicate time to pray for these children, for the person out there in the world somewhere who was BORN to be their mother but just doesn't know it yet...repost blog links, Reece's Rainbow waiting child links, get their faces out there, make people LOOK at the children who NEED them. Have a carwash, have a yardsale, have a bakesale, whatever it is....DO SOMETHING!
I challenge everyone who reads this blog to make it a personal challenge to DO SOMETHING for these kids. I know most people who read this know me personally but that does NOT mean that you have to "pick" Natasha to fight for. Of course I'm partial to the baby girl I call my daughter, but that does not mean YOU have to limit yourself to her cause. There are SO MANY kids that need a WARRIOR in their corner, a prayer warrior, a fundraising warrior, maybe someone reading this was meant to call one of these kiddos their son or daughter...please, take me up on this challenge, don't sit idly by and watch as others fight for these kids...get in the game! It will be the most rewarding thing you'll ever do, I promise you that. Reece's Rainbow was started by ONE person who wanted to DO SOMETHING...and look at what she's done, over 500 kids home. What an awesome legacy. Every single person has the ability to have a similar legacy, all you have to do is decide that these kids are worth fighting for. That's all! So please, fight for these children. They need you more than you know.
Look at these faces, SEE THEM for what they are, kids...they're just little kids and they are facing hell on earth. That is not an exaggeration, that is a cold hard fact. Institutionalization at just 4 years old. Preschool aged children, facing a future in an asylum, where most of them will DIE within the first year they are there. Look at their faces, then let your mind go to the deep dark place you are trying to avoid. See the TRUTH, the DESPERATION of their futures.
Daddy's Corner - Good Friends, Great Ice Cream and 2 Awesome Cows!!!
Hi Natasha, It's Daddy!!!
So as I am sure you know by now, we had a fundraiser for you over at Maggie Moo's ice cream shop earlier in the week. Wow!!! We had an awesome turnout and were blessed with the opportunity to meet a lot of really loving, caring people. We even met a few people that can't wait for you to meet their kids and have a play date with you. Pretty cool, huh? You're not even home yet and you already have friends. You're awesome!!! But then again, who wouldn't want to be friends with a great girl like you? So, I've got to tell you what your big brother and little brother did at this ice cream event...Dylan made sure that everyone was having a good time. He was going up to everyone and telling them that he's your big brother, telling them about you and making sure that Jack was being good. Jack was in love. Yes, your brother would not let Maggie Moo out of his sight all night. Maggie Moo, or as Jack likes to call her...Moosie....was a huge hit with young and old at the event. Heartfelt thanks go out to Amber and Alison who braved the costume and took lots of pictures all in the name of good fun!!! Now for the really exciting news, baby doll, at this point it looks like we are less than 2 months away (keeping my fingers crossed) from coming to see you for the first time. Mommy and I are going to bring you lots of presents and we're even going to bring some for your friends over there too...that's just how we roll!!! We can't wait to see you and shower you with love and kisses and see you smile. You're forever home is waiting for you....oh, and I really hope you like to play dress up because your mother has got a lot of really cool clothes for you to wear. I know I kind of bounced around in my letter to you tonight, Natasha. I'm just full of energy and really getting excited knowing we are so close to seeing you and bringing you home to meet your brothers and all of the really cool people that have been pulling for you each and every day. I know you are with me Natasha, when I say to those cool people reading this.....THANK YOU!!! Each and every one of the wonderful people that have shown you love and support, be it monetarily or through prayer or in some other way are like your guardian angels, sweetheart, and we are blessed to have them in your corner. As I close this out tonight my darling daughter, just keep remembering that when you look at the moon and the stars and are thinking about us, we are looking at the same moon and stars and thinking about you and praying for you with all of our hearts!!!...Oh, before I forget...I really hope you like Elmo from Sesame Street, because your brother Jack won't stop listening to his songs on our phones..lol. My love to you darling Natasha, and I will talk to you soon. I love you and sleep well!!! Love, Dad
So as I am sure you know by now, we had a fundraiser for you over at Maggie Moo's ice cream shop earlier in the week. Wow!!! We had an awesome turnout and were blessed with the opportunity to meet a lot of really loving, caring people. We even met a few people that can't wait for you to meet their kids and have a play date with you. Pretty cool, huh? You're not even home yet and you already have friends. You're awesome!!! But then again, who wouldn't want to be friends with a great girl like you? So, I've got to tell you what your big brother and little brother did at this ice cream event...Dylan made sure that everyone was having a good time. He was going up to everyone and telling them that he's your big brother, telling them about you and making sure that Jack was being good. Jack was in love. Yes, your brother would not let Maggie Moo out of his sight all night. Maggie Moo, or as Jack likes to call her...Moosie....was a huge hit with young and old at the event. Heartfelt thanks go out to Amber and Alison who braved the costume and took lots of pictures all in the name of good fun!!! Now for the really exciting news, baby doll, at this point it looks like we are less than 2 months away (keeping my fingers crossed) from coming to see you for the first time. Mommy and I are going to bring you lots of presents and we're even going to bring some for your friends over there too...that's just how we roll!!! We can't wait to see you and shower you with love and kisses and see you smile. You're forever home is waiting for you....oh, and I really hope you like to play dress up because your mother has got a lot of really cool clothes for you to wear. I know I kind of bounced around in my letter to you tonight, Natasha. I'm just full of energy and really getting excited knowing we are so close to seeing you and bringing you home to meet your brothers and all of the really cool people that have been pulling for you each and every day. I know you are with me Natasha, when I say to those cool people reading this.....THANK YOU!!! Each and every one of the wonderful people that have shown you love and support, be it monetarily or through prayer or in some other way are like your guardian angels, sweetheart, and we are blessed to have them in your corner. As I close this out tonight my darling daughter, just keep remembering that when you look at the moon and the stars and are thinking about us, we are looking at the same moon and stars and thinking about you and praying for you with all of our hearts!!!...Oh, before I forget...I really hope you like Elmo from Sesame Street, because your brother Jack won't stop listening to his songs on our phones..lol. My love to you darling Natasha, and I will talk to you soon. I love you and sleep well!!! Love, Dad
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Quick Update
Hey everyone :) This is just going to be a super quick update to let everyone know what's been going on the last couple of days.
I finally got my rear in gear and made a budget. I *hate* math with a passion, but I must admit I DO feel a lot better knowing exactly where we stand down to the very last dollar when it comes to the adoption, and that's what this blog is focusing on.
As you can see, we have a new chip in widget. No we didn't hit our goal on the old one (but 60% ain't bad!) but the thing is, when I made the original one, I just threw out a random number for a "goal"...this time we have a REAL goal!
$1854 (and eleven cents but it wouldn't let me add that...I *LEGIT* budgeted down to the penny...)
If we can somehow, someway raise $1854 through the chipin button, we will be fully funded all the way THROUGH our 2nd trip!! That means that our yardsale or flea market fundraiser, any other "nights" we're given at local restaurants, and our BIG Alice in Wonderland themed 'un'birthday bash will ALL go to raise money for the final leg of this journey...the trip to bring our daughter home. WOW!!! That's so incredible to me!
So, please, if you feel led to donate anything, or if you want to buy a wristband, or enter the gift basket giveaway, use the chipin button so we can all watch TOGETHER how each dollar kicks the chip in ticker a little to the right, and brings us a little closer to bringing our girl home.
I'm excited! Let's get it done so we can move on to saving for trip #3!!!
I'll get out of the way now so David can post his daddy's corner.
Good night blogger. <3
I finally got my rear in gear and made a budget. I *hate* math with a passion, but I must admit I DO feel a lot better knowing exactly where we stand down to the very last dollar when it comes to the adoption, and that's what this blog is focusing on.
As you can see, we have a new chip in widget. No we didn't hit our goal on the old one (but 60% ain't bad!) but the thing is, when I made the original one, I just threw out a random number for a "goal"...this time we have a REAL goal!
$1854 (and eleven cents but it wouldn't let me add that...I *LEGIT* budgeted down to the penny...)
If we can somehow, someway raise $1854 through the chipin button, we will be fully funded all the way THROUGH our 2nd trip!! That means that our yardsale or flea market fundraiser, any other "nights" we're given at local restaurants, and our BIG Alice in Wonderland themed 'un'birthday bash will ALL go to raise money for the final leg of this journey...the trip to bring our daughter home. WOW!!! That's so incredible to me!
So, please, if you feel led to donate anything, or if you want to buy a wristband, or enter the gift basket giveaway, use the chipin button so we can all watch TOGETHER how each dollar kicks the chip in ticker a little to the right, and brings us a little closer to bringing our girl home.
I'm excited! Let's get it done so we can move on to saving for trip #3!!!
I'll get out of the way now so David can post his daddy's corner.
Good night blogger. <3
Friday, January 27, 2012
Paula Deen Giveaway!!
Ok guys, here are the Paula Deen giveaway recipients :)
Bakeware set drawing- the name pulled was: Michelle Marble
Cookbook drawing- the name pulled was: Rosanna Michalski
Congrats! Please send me your addresses and I'll get your things right out!
Bakeware set drawing- the name pulled was: Michelle Marble
Cookbook drawing- the name pulled was: Rosanna Michalski
Congrats! Please send me your addresses and I'll get your things right out!
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