tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44167528614226894762024-03-04T20:54:26.359-08:00Absolutely Fabulous!Endless Chatter About My Life!Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-57350807414445888042011-02-26T14:21:00.001-08:002011-02-26T14:28:08.347-08:00And The Nose Just Keeps on Running . . .<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c43/ilu6691/?action=view&current=tissueboxxemilyy.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c43/ilu6691/tissueboxxemilyy.jpg" border="0" alt="tissue box" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>(photo credit: www.photobucket.com)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c43/ilu6691/?action=view&current=tissueboxxemilyy.jpg" target="_blank"></a>This tissue box is a whole lot fancier than I have here at my house . . . </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mine are just the boxes you get in a three pack at Target. Or WalMart. Or the local grocery store.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I digress.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The fluids from my nose are still flowing quite freely and I really wish they would just dry up, already!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Enough!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm tired of wiping and my nose is <b>definitely</b> tired of me wiping. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Colds are no fun, especially when they are caught from a certain little someone, who shall remain nameless at this time, but his initials are Ashton Stewart - cutest boy on the planet. He who is nameless is feeling better and is ready to play and be in a good mood, while his mama lays on the couch and groans and wipes her nose or coughs into her shirt for the bajillionth time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I repeat, colds are no fun.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">However, watching tv and movies is . . .unless you have a little someone who is up and can't watch it with you. Then it's not so fun.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Speaking of fun, my little someone is napping, so I should go enjoy some movie & nose wiping time until it's time for him to get up.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-18943992204893231792011-02-22T16:24:00.000-08:002011-02-22T16:30:23.664-08:00well, our first cold has hit . . . bummerAshton's first real/major cold has hit and boy, is it a doozy . . . <div><br /></div><div>Chest congestion, nasal congestion, sleepless nights, restless naps, oy vey! and I'm not even Jewish - ha!</div><div><br /></div><div>So - out comes the Baby Vicks, the eucalyptus essential oil for the: humidifier (soooo, glad we have one AND we named him Peter Penguin) and the bath; the steaming hot showers for helping to loosen the mucus (and oh! there is a lot of that happening!), AND last but not least, the vitamins! Elderberry, Garlic, Fish Oil, Alfalfa (not sure how that helps, but okay)</div><div><br /></div><div>We also have cough syrup, Baby Tylenol & Ibuprofen on hand - just in case.</div><div><br /></div><div>You would think that just by getting this stuff out, it would scare off the evil, evil germ that has invaded our home.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ummm . . . </div><div><br /></div><div>No.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nada.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not a chance.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, we wait. And hope that it doesn't get any worse.</div><div><br /></div><div>Grrr at you, Cold Season. I am definitely NOT "friending" you on Facebook, so don't even ask.</div><div><p><br /><br /></p><br /></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-54953883172822599372011-02-14T14:05:00.001-08:002011-02-14T14:41:10.370-08:00The Greatest Valentine<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee497/StewartGirl76/?action=view&current=holdinghands2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee497/StewartGirl76/holdinghands2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">photo credit: <a href="http://www.photobucket.com/">www.photobucket.com</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border="0" width="0" height="0" src="http://c.gigcount.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTI5NzcyMTA4MTQ5MyZwdD*xMjk3NzIxMTEyMzU*JnA9Mzg2MzYxJmQ9Jm49YmxvZ2dlciZnPTEmbz*wZDY1MWJkMGJhODk*/ODRhYWRkNWMwMzk*NmU2NjFhZCZvZj*w.gif" /><br />As I woke up this morning, I was filled with a sense of unmet expectations for this notorious day in February.<br /><br />Expectations I unrealistically placed on myself.<br /><br />Dinner was supposed to be fantastic, I was supposed to be dressed up with makeup on, ready to greet Tim as he walked in the door, the house should have been decorated for Valentines Day. . . .<br /><br />Yeah, none of that is happening.<br /><br />Here is what is really happening:<br /><br />Ashton is teething and is grouchy about napping (although he's still sleeping, thankfully!, as I write this post), the house is a wreck from the weekend, the carpet is still not vacuumed, the dishes JUST got done and I still have to wipe off the counters . . . .<br /><br />I am REALLY not feeling like getting all "dolled" up right now and so I am in a pair of casual pants and a top with hair and makeup not done . . . actually I'm feeling more like taking a nap.<br /><br />This is what Valentines Day is for me right now, in this moment . . . and I start to get stressed . . .<br />But then I remember what Tim did for me this morning:<br /><br />He kissed me with morning breath and bed hair and told me I looked beautiful.<br /><br />He gave part of his gift for me and wished me Happy Valentines Day before he left for work.<br /><br />He gave me our son, Ashton.<br /><br />And he has blessed my life since we were married almost 8 years ago. <div><br /></div><div>Perfect? Hardly, but God gave him to me as my husband so therefore, I am a blessed woman.<br /><br />I also take pause and remember our baby.<br /><br />We waited 7 years for this little man and this is his first Valentines Day.</div><div><br /></div><div> Not that he'll remember it, but still. He is ours and he has blessed our lives richly in the past four months.<br /><br />I still catch myself thinking about the day he was born and I get teared up. Like how I felt when they put my son on my chest for the first time or how it felt when I was the only voice he would listen to in the hospital when he was fussing and how he'd calm down or how it looked when Tim held his son for the first time . . . and yes, I could go on and on and on.<br /><br />Is he crabby from teething? Yes. Is he being stubborn about napping? Yes. But I wouldn't have it any other way, really. When I stop and think about it.<br /><br />Then I think about my Savior has done for me (which causes me to pause), who has indeed abundantly blessed me with more than I could ask or imagine.<br /><br />And I can imagine quite a bit. But in the end, it's all just stuff, really. Even a pair of the most gorgeous shoes imaginable (and I'm drooling, this is really quite embarrassing) is just stuff.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It doesn't matter when I think about spiritual things, like how I am to glorify Jesus in all my tasks, whether it's grocery shopping or mopping the floor or cleaning up baby/dog barf.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Or how I am supposed to love and serve my husband whether or not he deserves it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Or how I am supposed to do this: <span style="font-style:italic;">"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)</span></div><br />The reality is that Jesus gave us the greatest valentine possible: eternal life made possible only through himself and his work on the cross.<br /><br />Wow.<br /><br />Perfect dinners, all "dolled" up and valentine decorations pale in comparison.<div><br /></div><div>I will leave you with what I read this morning in "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"Do not give in to fear or worry, those robbers of abundant living. Trust Me enough to face problems as they come, rather than trying to anticipate them. <b> Fix your eyes on Me, the Author and Perfecter of your fa</b></i><i><b>ith,</b> and many difficulties on the road ahead will vanish before you reach them. Whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that<b> I am holding you by your right hand. </b> Nothing can separate you from My Presence!" (Scripture used: Hebrews 12:2; Isaiah 41:13)</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span">For I, the LORD your God,<br />hold your right hand;<br />it is I who say to you, "Fear not,<br />I am the one who helps you."</span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>~Isaiah 41:13</span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>So much for the unmet/unrealistic expectations. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hopefully dinner won't be burnt. But I have my Savior and Lord, my husband and my son to be grateful for this Valentines Day</div><div><br /></div><div>And who knows? Perhaps this will start a tradition in our house of Valentines Day pizza *wink wink*<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-48397973049835375432011-02-09T13:58:00.001-08:002011-02-09T14:21:32.273-08:00Was VERY Convicted by this . . .I was catching up on some blogs I follow while Ashton is asleep (I know! <b><i>I</i> </b>should be napping as well, but sometimes there are other things that need to be taken care of . . . )<div>
<br /></div><div>I was reading this blog: <a href="http://www.number17cherrytreelane.com/">http://www.number17cherrytreelane.com/ </a> and the author, Rachel, did a post on this topic <i>"</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; "><a href="http://www.number17cherrytreelane.com/2011/02/whos-it-really-really-for.html" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>who's it really for?</i></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); ">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: georgia; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">(</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: georgia; line-height: 18px; font-size: medium; ">see the February 8th post - just scroll down a bit)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: georgia; line-height: 18px; font-size: medium; ">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I thought to myself, "well, this should be interesting, I will keep reading". And keep reading I did. And I came upon some really hard questions, like why do I get dressed and put makeup on, why am I a stay-at-home mom, why am I striving to have a "perfect" child (which is really a joke, if you think about it, due to, well, sin), and many more.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">THEN, she hit me with this thought: "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Nothing matters apart from the Lord." </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">What a concept, eh?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 18px; "><b style="font-size: small; ">
<br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><b style="font-size: small; "> </b><span class="Apple-style-span">In all I do, every single day, whether it's doing laundry, tending to Ashton's needs, loving and serving my husband, etc... </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>ALL OF IT</b> should be done for God's glory. That's it. Just Him and Him alone. Nothing else should matter (although "worldly thoughts" creep in from time to time and mess with my head). </span></span></div><meta charset="utf-8"><meta charset="utf-8"><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I must confess that I don't think about this concept very often, in fact, maybe only once or twice every month or so. If that.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Wow. I call myself a Follower of Christ and yet often, He is that last thing I think of after myself, my husband and my child. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Not a great testimony, huh. If I were an unbeliever coming into my home, would I be able to say that Christ infuses everything I do? That it is an integral part of who I am, the way I conduct myself?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Probably not.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Sad.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Very sad.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">BUT, there is hope in Christ and after reading the post (thanks, Rachel @<a href="http://www.number17cherrytreelane.com/"> www.number17cherrytreelane.com</a> for writing such an excellent post and really getting to the heart of the matter - God really used it to speak to my heart), I am resolute in going about purposefully doing what I do on a daily basis for the glory of God. Hard to do and yet it really shouldn't be, now should it?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
<br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I will end this post with a verse that was used at the end of Rachel's post over at her blog: <a href="http://www.number17cherrytreelane.com/">www.number17cherrytreelane.com</a> (please! go check it out! )</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Not because I want to be a copy-cat, but because it was very convicting to my heart and it needs to be a reminder to all of us.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><b>
<br /></b></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><b><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span">Only</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> let your manner of life be</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> worthy<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 8px;">,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> that you are standing firm in one spirit, with</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> one mind<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 8px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, </span><span class="Apple-style-span">and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> a clear sign to them of their destruction, but<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 8px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">of your salvation, and that from God." ~James 1:27-28</span></span></b></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
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<br /></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-83774130917988232482011-02-09T08:57:00.000-08:002011-02-09T09:01:47.865-08:00Whoops!Bad me.<div><br /></div><div>I thought yesterday was Monday, hence the title of my post.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sheesh, you'd think I would be able to keep up . . . . . </div><div><br /></div><div>I did, however, in a delirious state of mind from being tired, come up with some catchy titles for future blog posts . . . are you ready?</div><div><br /></div><div>Here goes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Meltdown Monday (already used that one)/Manageable Monday/(insert a more positive title here)</div><div>Tearful Tuesday/Terrible Tuesday/Terrific Tuesday</div><div>Weepy Wednesday</div><div>Threatening Thursday/Thankful Thursday</div><div>Fearful/Freaky/Fantastic Friday</div><div><br /></div><div>Whoa! I am pretty proud of myself! Is it that obvious?</div><div><br /></div><div>Can you say - too much time on my hands? (should be cleaning the toilet right now)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><p><br /><br /></p><br /></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-85698191854594763212011-02-08T20:00:00.001-08:002011-02-08T20:02:42.425-08:00Didn't think I'd say this but . . .I believe I am tired of the snow & the cold<br /><p><br /><br /></p>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-28660412890686602512011-02-08T19:18:00.000-08:002011-02-08T20:02:17.881-08:00Meltdown MondayToday was NOT a good day.<div><br /></div><div>First, some sad news came when Tim called and told me that his Aunt Sharon had died from complications due to cirrhosis of the liver. </div><div><br /></div><div>My heart is sad for Grandma and Grandpa Murray and the remaining siblings (Tim's Mom, Patty, and her two brothers, Scott & Charles), plus Aunt Sharon's family, which include her husband Mark, sons Andy & Arnie, & daughter Alyson</div><div><br /></div><div>Then I watched a video of this family's day they went to get their baby from Ethiopia on this blog:<a href="http://teamalexander.blogspot.com/"> http://teamalexander.blogspot.com/ </a> and then another video about their little boy, Abe, who has to work so hard at normal stuff because he had a series of strokes in utero that left him unable to speak, feed himself, etc.... </div><div><br /></div><div>THEN, I was inflexible about going to dinner with Tim's grandparents, cousins, etc...</div><div><br /></div><div>Which made this a "Meltdown Monday"</div><div><br /></div><div>Lots of tears today.</div><div><br /></div><div>Didn't really have any tissues nearby so I used whatever I could (one of my t-shirts, a towel, one of Ashton's burp cloths) and needless to say, my nose is NOT happy due to not using Puffs Plus with Lotion (my nose is particular about such things)</div><div><br /></div><div>I firmly believe that God is working in my heart and spirit and my sinful self, i.e. my "flesh" wants none of it . . . </div><div><br /></div><div>so would you pray for me? </div><div><br /></div><div>I would appreciate it greatly.</div><div><br /></div><div>One thing that has helped is that I have been reading <i style="font-weight: bold; ">Jesus Calling </i>by Sarah Young and every day I read, God uses those words to speak to me right where I am struggling that day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is today's reading:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>"I am above all things: your problems, your pain, and the swirling events in this ever-changing world. When you behold My Face, you rise above circumstances and rest with Me in <b>heavenly realms</b>. This is the way of Peace, living in the Light of My Presence. I guarantee that you will always have problems in this life, but they must not become your focus. When you feel yourself sinking in the sea of circumstances, say <b>"Help me, Jesus!" </b>and I will draw you back to Me. If you have to that thousands of times daily, don't be discouraged. I know your weakness, and I meet you in that very place" (Scripture: Ephesians 2:6; Matthew 14:28-32)</i></span></div><div><p><br /></p></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-1944816753511126662011-02-05T19:19:00.000-08:002011-02-05T19:23:46.722-08:00I Knew We Had A Lot of Classical Music, But . . .I never knew quite how many we had UNTIL I put them all onto iTunes just to have them all in one place.<div><br /></div><div>Holy Beethoven, Batman!</div><div><br /></div><div>There's a lot of classical music in our iTunes library now - we just need an ginourmous (actually it's just a regular iPod) iPod with one of those fancy deck thingy's to go with it . . . </div><div><br /></div><div>Ashton will be so smart after listening to all the classical music we have . . . sheesh, I will be smarter after listening to ALL the classical music we have.</div><div><br /></div><div>It actually relaxes me and clears my mind, so it's not all boring. (okay, just sometimes the violin stuff gets on my nerves a bit, but the rest is great!)</div><div><br /></div><div>Moving on to Jazz . . . .</div><div><br /></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-24012451174695419022011-01-13T16:16:00.000-08:002011-01-13T16:32:50.873-08:0020 Minute Power Nap!I seem to gain perspective after a 20 minute Power Nap - they are the absolute best!<div>
<br /></div><div>This morning I grouched at everyone, and, after a cup of coffee (decaf), I put Ashton down for a nap and took one myself.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Never underestimate the power of a quick, but restful, nap!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>After a much-needed trip out to the grocery store (albeit Vitamin Cottage) and some "tummy time", I'm listening to Ashton "talk" to his mobile while Steve Green's "Hide 'em in Your Heart" cd is playing . . . </div><div>
<br /></div><div>The current song has made me take pause recently . . . . it's the verse from Scripture that says:</div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"<span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" Phillipians 4 verse 8</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>
<br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">My thought life needs an overhaul and the Lord ALWAYS uses His Word to remind me of the things that are important right now . . . </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">And it's not having a closet full of the latest fashion trends *sigh*</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">It's setting a good example for my son . . . </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>
<br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Even though my morning started off REALLY rough, I look forward to tomorrow, thanking the Lord for the breath of life and the ability to love and serve my husband, take the best care I can of my son, and do the dreaded tasks, like loading the dishwasher or sorting laundry.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><meta charset="utf-8"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85865/abigailcstewart/1c173d2db810a5c3efd0321076256c9c.png" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">p.s. I decided to try out a signature - we'll see how it goes. . .</span></div><meta charset="utf-8">Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-65825338238949741122011-01-13T08:54:00.000-08:002011-01-13T08:59:08.128-08:00Bad Day<div>Please bear with me.</div><div><br /></div>Today I'm having a bad day.<div><br /></div><div>Missing my family and trying not to think about my friend moving back to Wisconsin in March.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the middle of sleeping, I hurt my back - not sure how that works, but ibuprofen is my BFF today.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Baby didn't sleep well which means I didn't sleep well. Which means I was VERY grouchy this morning.</div><div><br /></div><div>Grouched at Tim this morning for various things. Shame on me! Had to confess and ask his forgiveness. </div><div><br /></div><div>Baby is napping now, so I'm going to try and catch some zzzz's before he wakes up and needs me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hopefully my day will get better on the other side of a nap.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-60806326636531657632011-01-13T08:25:00.000-08:002011-01-13T08:28:15.881-08:00Update on JoannePlease go to <a href="http://thesimplewife.typepad.com">thesimplewife.typepad.com</a> to get an update on how things are going<div><br /></div><div>And please, continue to keep Joanne, her husband Toben, her daughters Audrey and Emma, plus her parents and younger sister, Kristen & her family as well, in your prayers!</div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-42788266162196253562011-01-12T09:45:00.001-08:002011-01-12T09:53:43.493-08:00Praying...My dear friend Kay Friedenstein's daughter, Joanne, suffered a stroke while jogging on her treadmill yesterday morning. She has two young daughters, Audrey (who is 12) & Emma (who is 9)<div>
<br /></div><div>Here is the account her husband, Toben Heim, posted on her blog:<div>
<br /></div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px; "><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i> "Joanne suffered a major stroke this morning around 9 a.m. Emma found her on the floor in the basement where she was shaking violently. I was most of the way to my office in Colorado Springs when Audrey called with the news. We immediately called 911 and I headed for home. We also called Joanne's mom and she and the ambulance got there about 5 minutes after the calls.</i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Minutes later I met Joanne and the ambulance at Littleton Adventist. She was conscious but it was immediately apparent to me that it was a stroke. She was totally unresponsive on the left side of her body but had some use of her right side and was able to respond to commands.</i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>She was given multiple CAT scans and they were immediately able to see the clot, it's size, and where it was located. They started drug therapy but determined that they needed to go in with a catheter through an artery and into her brain. They were able to get to the clot and dissolve some of it restoring some blood flow to the brain.</i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Now we have to just wait and pray. She has not woken up yet but is still responding to commands on her right side. She has not opened her eyes or been able to verbalize anything but she can move her hand and foot on the right side. The next 72 hours will be critical. </i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Here are the specific prayer requests:</i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>1. There is a possibility of hemorrhaging in the brain because of the trauma it suffered. If she does hemorrhage that would be a very bad thing, although I haven't got a clear answer as to what exactly that would mean.</i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>2. No swelling of the brain. If it swells they will have to take significant measures to give her brain the room it needs. That would be a really bad thing too.</i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">3. Tomorrow they will run the catheter again back into her brain to check for blood flow. Please pray that she is getting the blood flow it needs."</span> </i></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">
<br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">For updates, information or just to leave a comment that you're praying too, you can visit Joanne's blog <a href="http://thesimplewife.typepad.com/">thesimplewife.typepad.com </a></span></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; ">
<br /></p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; ">Please join in prayer!</p></span></div></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-65785610161593419942011-01-10T13:19:00.000-08:002011-01-10T13:34:56.547-08:00January Reflections: Stuff<span class="Apple-style-span" ><i><b>Stuff:</b> Do you like stuff? What stuff do you have that you could do without? Is your stuff well used? Organized? Burdensome?</i></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I am a "stuff" person. Mostly because I'm nostalgic. I love to remember.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Dolls from my childhood, toys my siblings and I played with and now Ashton will play with, mementos Tim has given me throughout our marriage together and even before, birthday cards, Christmas cards, pictures from years ago, baby clothes that Ashton outgrew WAY too quickly. . . .</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I'm still upset my parents got rid of a dresser my younger siblings had stuck stickers all over (granted, it was falling apart and didn't hold much . . . but still)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >In the middle of all the remembering there are some "stuff" I could live without - old books I don't read anymore, plasticware we will NEVER use again, old furniture collecting dust and who-knows-what-else in the garage (and it's not the cool antique kind of furniture either), old appliances, and I have to say, old magazines that I probably won't ever cut articles out of for later use.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Some of my stuff is well used - mostly the pictures and the toys. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Everything else holds a memory and therefore I can't bear to part with it. Ever. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Okay, well, perhaps the Easter basket grass can go. And maybe even a puzzle or two.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I would have to say that my stuff is 50/50 organized. Some is, some isn't. Storage is an issue. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Hello, Container Store!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Some days it gets burdensome, some days it feels comfortable. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" > Sometimes I feel if all my stuff was neatly organized I wouldn't feel as comfortable as I do when it's all over the place. And sometimes I hate tripping over piles I need to sort through and find "homes" for.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Weird . . . I know.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >It's a battle between good and evil. Darth Vadar and Luke Skywalker. Magazines versus Wrapping Paper/Gift Bags. Expired Coupons versus Healthy Living Articles.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I think there's a fine line, at least for me, between being organized and being obsessive. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I feel that I have the obsessive capability and don't want to give in. But I don't want to live with tons of piles either. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Hmmmm . . . . Seems there is a dilemma. I know there is a solution, I just haven't found it yet. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-2768539723708957502011-01-07T16:15:00.001-08:002011-01-10T13:18:21.557-08:00January Reflections: Homemade<div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; ">Homemade:</strong> Tell us why you like store-bought or homemade things more? Share with us anything that was homemade by you this year?</i></span></span></div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div>I absolutely love homemade gifts. They are a reminder of how much my family (and me) are loved.<div>
<br /></div><div>I do not know how to sew and I can knit, a little, but not very well. So when someone gives me a gift they made themselves, I am always astounded and overjoyed at the love and craftsmanship that went into making the gift. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I am very nostalgic. I have always been this way, to fault I suppose. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>For me, it's the remembering that is the best part. Probably because most of my family and friends are far away and the remembering helps ease the ache that feel in my heart.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>God has blessed me abundantly with loving friends here in Colorado and some days I'm torn between wanting to be closer to my family and wanting to cultivate the relationships I have made here.</div><div>
<br /></div><div> </div><div>In writing this post, I have been amazed at the homemade love I have received in the past year, mostly for my son, Ashton. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>My excitement comes as I think about how I will get to tell him about my dear friend, Kay Friedenstein, knitted him the most beautiful blanket and hat or my other friend, Georganne Klein quilted him a blanket with a turtle on it; that his Grandma Stewart made him a blanket out of his daddy's old t-shirts and how my far-away friend, Katie DeVries made him a burp cloth with his name on it and how his Aunt Sarah made him a wall hanging with his name on it or that his Grandmommy Brammeier had a friend of hers quilt a blanket for him with Beatrix Potter characters on it. </div><div>
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<br /></div><div>I tear up just thinking about it.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>So for me, homemade is a reminder of love.</div><div>
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<br /></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-82811304286598940112011-01-07T16:04:00.000-08:002011-01-07T16:14:19.152-08:00January Relections<span class="Apple-style-span">My fabulous friend, Corrin Schlect has come up with an idea called "January Reflections"</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">It's purpose is to have: "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size: medium; ">A month of reflections. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size: medium; ">Contemplating last year. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size: medium; ">Planning for the future. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size: medium; ">Thanking our Creator. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size: medium; ">Improving our writing." </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size: medium; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size: medium; ">I personally think it's brilliant. Then again, my friend is brilliant. Every Monday and Thursday, she posts prompts for writing/blogging on her website: thegloriousimpossible.com</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size: medium; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size: medium; ">As soon as I figure out how to get her badge thingy I'll post that as well. (Corrin is a great photographer and she also took photos of our wedding!)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; font-size: medium; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">I'm excited to start writing!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 22px; font-size: medium; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 22px; font-size: medium; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span><div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-73816911791824920482011-01-04T12:28:00.000-08:002011-01-04T13:25:26.604-08:00Christmastime!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JCSMROt9ZsKotfAAdoKV6pLsYJVd75sRC6le3O3j3EC9k1qNssdxC4XW-ZfDm_nbj4VuyP39qZuhy-RGC0QWLir8YjXIpqDbQqbCweWqvkR-sACbw9Ni6leh_nC8cN6cDzLwtoAZxgU9/s1600/photo-3.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JCSMROt9ZsKotfAAdoKV6pLsYJVd75sRC6le3O3j3EC9k1qNssdxC4XW-ZfDm_nbj4VuyP39qZuhy-RGC0QWLir8YjXIpqDbQqbCweWqvkR-sACbw9Ni6leh_nC8cN6cDzLwtoAZxgU9/s320/photo-3.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558444885080301650" /></a>
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; "><i>"Christmas time is here</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Happiness and cheer</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Fun for all that children call</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Their favorite time of the year</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>
<br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Snowflakes in the air</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Carols everywhere</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Olden times and ancient rhymes</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Of love and dreams to share</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>
<br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Sleigh bells in the air</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Beauty everywhere</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Yuletide by the fireside</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>And joyful memories there</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>
<br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Christmas time is here</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>We'll be drawing near</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Oh, that we could always see</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Such spirit through the year</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Oh, that we could always see</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Such spirit through the year..."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>
<br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>~from<b> A Charlie Brown Christmas</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i><b>
<br /></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Christmas was wonderful this year! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I know I'm late in posting for Christmas but I figured I should do it before I started on any of my January posts *grin*</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Being with my family was truly a wonderful experience - mostly because my brother, Andrew & Alex with his wife Sarah were home and that meant everyone got to meet baby Ashton for the first time! Including my "adopted" brothers, Chris Gomes (he is a friend of my brother, Aaron and is over at my parent's house all the time because his own home situation is not so good) & Jason Mansfield (who is my brother's friend and whose home situation is not so good either)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
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<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><meta charset="utf-8"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVZ8sWqvhXqIYuVYSq6OhE1_0h8thH60nZnvMTMTtPH7Uqs91ouUI_M6GwyPrM1aXN6qewIcFFDu763gpDuNOsXIADLBmYrMalPo8l0A7Y-4-PSmJyZIwdwKoF0y5Hnm7gjtDu2EqjrZ7/s320/photo-7.jpeg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; ">Ashton with his "uncle" Chris</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
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<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><meta charset="utf-8"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZycTPX0Os32bVR-CKX5cgOh1d2soO9s0kphQ1RkCRscE_v-yq5iC76XkfE2hW6tpNCnueFHeM_mInmZ4P0QInzJjkfxJMsdDHqzomTcwolhY1Tthx3V6Mr1UCbySKjJvQVVLfgvxg6ZK/s320/photo-5.jpeg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">here is Ashton with his Aunt Anna, just chillin' to a band called Rilo Kiley before Bath Time</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><meta charset="utf-8"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb8u-9rzSz3Zi2FYZ2PgqrfSNAFbuFlsX-WqaJ41_N8olSzSX7PGo-5DYEAzp49QDhwXYlvh4iDDxyJlnJsXbLRiSwN0xY9bB1GuMO0IdLCXhLMKX9Vk2gUJGh16Lvs0KULQ_RGneuN1G/s320/photo-6.jpeg" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
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<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">Ashton did really well being passed from one set of hands to another and now that we're home, I have a sneaking suspicion he wants me to hold him just as much as when he was in WV ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
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<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Ashton with his Grandmommy again </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
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<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">(my sister got a camera for Christmas and took these great shots!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">As soon as I get the other pictures of my family holding Ashton, I will DEFINITELY post them!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Baby Ashton & I left on the 15th for WV and that meant that we were there to put up the tree and help decorate it, plus, I helped bake Christmas cookies and coffee cakes - YUM! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> Not so yummy for my waistline, but let's not dwell on things past</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Tim flew in on the 23rd and then flew back with us yesterday (January 3rd, 2011) Since we had gone out for my sister Anna's graduation he had a limited amount of vacation time, so he was able to have 11 days off - great for reading and cuddling with his son!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I have noticed that as we get older, our presents get smaller but I was very pleased with the gifts I received this year! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> I basically had a cookbook Christmas! The cookbooks I received from Tim were a Betty Crocker 1950's edition & The Pioneer Woman Cooks</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span>My mom also gave me two spiral bound cookbooks she picked up at a church fundraiser!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Tim mentioned that he should take a good look at his pants because with all my cookbooks he won't be able to fit in them again :) </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Did I mention I think food is fun?? So do parts of my body that shall remain nameless. . . </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">One touching aspect of our trip, aside from everyone meeting and bonding with the baby, was the fact that my two brothers, Alex & Aaron, decided to take steps to reconciling their relationship</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Which made me cry. Not that it's all about me, but I just thought I'd give it a mention.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">God works in mysterious and wonderful ways! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
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<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">More to come . . . </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
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<br /></b></i></span></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-4908369373632367442010-12-02T12:30:00.000-08:002010-12-02T12:33:36.733-08:00Me & My Tigger<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u>
<br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><dd style="text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">I couldn't resist posting these pictures - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">the classic Tigger is from his aunt Anna :)</span></dd></span></div><div>
<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzamfFTxz32wHoU3SdfcYh9trlJge4moAqPzD5gk2sa1bTCy7QuEahdcyX7Wd20AGkeG-rhzWoHMqACdg5mhErvHT5WVnadZNDnt86x8pVjKRasGTfTmfjei0mo5h6XLtKaRPnHiWFIISE/s1600/DSCI0208.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzamfFTxz32wHoU3SdfcYh9trlJge4moAqPzD5gk2sa1bTCy7QuEahdcyX7Wd20AGkeG-rhzWoHMqACdg5mhErvHT5WVnadZNDnt86x8pVjKRasGTfTmfjei0mo5h6XLtKaRPnHiWFIISE/s320/DSCI0208.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546182526206838050" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtcSfXV3MvxFeZI3aPVdQWhOqs6-LUIlv8uhGnXH67aEE5uTggykXWTJgSsoWeAMdE9dAGo7hlWpj4ZEX12aRJeFPMRUO_qQTg3TSaf_Xi8KoF9pFSOnVMcn0L3ZkgIHC9i62_RE37j-3/s1600/DSCI0207.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtcSfXV3MvxFeZI3aPVdQWhOqs6-LUIlv8uhGnXH67aEE5uTggykXWTJgSsoWeAMdE9dAGo7hlWpj4ZEX12aRJeFPMRUO_qQTg3TSaf_Xi8KoF9pFSOnVMcn0L3ZkgIHC9i62_RE37j-3/s320/DSCI0207.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546182521857058210" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatGlqvvkdwudRh-Ak9hDxWfWbA_yEmG38tCeQjzHu2rKSROEpBbNce42mvBeNGQlOdxqRn88PvQyPOCX5yVmyPcnp6lUl69-UhHQCb-fPywqx2gN7l2jM7jmpIzcyrBob-tpiK_ussoh4/s1600/DSCI0205.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatGlqvvkdwudRh-Ak9hDxWfWbA_yEmG38tCeQjzHu2rKSROEpBbNce42mvBeNGQlOdxqRn88PvQyPOCX5yVmyPcnp6lUl69-UhHQCb-fPywqx2gN7l2jM7jmpIzcyrBob-tpiK_ussoh4/s320/DSCI0205.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546182519955939090" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQplWQN7zG32Wbn03_EuvEjAWEIwqDuGaDjloo4oRoRAurxc_w2W49Z7gUs_-aQltVucrStUh1HbCvjyAdlSeZ4OJy6Q1feaFLhYGaeB2elO9NYyyGsKr911fv6Pjdk_IjoGRr1MdfEUWx/s1600/DSCI0204.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQplWQN7zG32Wbn03_EuvEjAWEIwqDuGaDjloo4oRoRAurxc_w2W49Z7gUs_-aQltVucrStUh1HbCvjyAdlSeZ4OJy6Q1feaFLhYGaeB2elO9NYyyGsKr911fv6Pjdk_IjoGRr1MdfEUWx/s320/DSCI0204.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546182514922022354" /></a>
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1osl37EDJg2QiFoMt04z4PfRHsaUHifVfh-uLNWDeJUgfPLgRB61btPjruIFVMWtuEQcaRCMnNEOYipX-Vko_yzpw6izIu8Hzjv2WkZdlNBpQDH0TIRgZEFc87C9L32BqjKPbv42w_zX/s320/tigger12.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546185473392948722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 103px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; "><dd>"Hallo, Pooh", said Piglet.</dd><dd>"Hallo, Piglet. This is Tigger."</dd><dd>"Oh, is it?" said Piglet, and he edged round to the other side of the table. "I thought Tiggers were smaller than that."</dd><dd>"Not the big ones," said Tigger." </dd><dd>
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<br /></div></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-11990895104881314962010-11-30T15:05:00.001-08:002010-11-30T15:13:36.577-08:00Pictures of Our Boy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AsTM9j3qNybDGxLem2rcl0XYvD309PooJHhw2LMaSBu55Akr1tYbiMvEuv1GKJpNgzzIbxirReGpFUHiO9sfZJOHIkknvhAUP11jbM3r7-L5ST3PtPzi542OSyHchB1y5B67cRzh0uD-/s1600/DSCI0165.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AsTM9j3qNybDGxLem2rcl0XYvD309PooJHhw2LMaSBu55Akr1tYbiMvEuv1GKJpNgzzIbxirReGpFUHiO9sfZJOHIkknvhAUP11jbM3r7-L5ST3PtPzi542OSyHchB1y5B67cRzh0uD-/s320/DSCI0165.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545484240638824626" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">cutest kid on the block!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2rv10H2qmyTkC7yKxsbmRr0aPR5cvXV2hV8EAPI937D4MyVzfBPPDOHdznvkor8HO6w42C4tLY4tfxn2Hw7q5ccr1vGpbWHRmc3JLYTQTZHZ9hc7w-nougWn1kAU7_DxHlq1PvPdjA4d/s1600/DSCI0168.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2rv10H2qmyTkC7yKxsbmRr0aPR5cvXV2hV8EAPI937D4MyVzfBPPDOHdznvkor8HO6w42C4tLY4tfxn2Hw7q5ccr1vGpbWHRmc3JLYTQTZHZ9hc7w-nougWn1kAU7_DxHlq1PvPdjA4d/s320/DSCI0168.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545484234637114978" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">waiting for Mom to hurry up</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVKXLFCEFp3BS9q2vBpnxqhRJisHQLjr9c7Js46LR-AubaG50LHAa3OqpCKPdgrXBTrM1s0JJZTFWNYNRfDFpXZ1r97JxnLhvEhAyyUgpjuzAGoCSdeU3RapkflxHmouWY_Ew-lEPM2e4/s1600/DSCI0172.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVKXLFCEFp3BS9q2vBpnxqhRJisHQLjr9c7Js46LR-AubaG50LHAa3OqpCKPdgrXBTrM1s0JJZTFWNYNRfDFpXZ1r97JxnLhvEhAyyUgpjuzAGoCSdeU3RapkflxHmouWY_Ew-lEPM2e4/s320/DSCI0172.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545484224488764386" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">can you see my dimple?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOYaP54XyBNsnchPDIqsMQzc306hpU3CrTCxRmxNL5qK6eUMof7HZ2nPIlMVh2hhWOLCbEI8Zt-bGK0o5ec7ZThiajrrWqQ7o-A2m9QIyqwMG4TBEoBnendVYWp6cN6MtNDfHA8LkbrWv/s1600/DSCI0174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 170px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOYaP54XyBNsnchPDIqsMQzc306hpU3CrTCxRmxNL5qK6eUMof7HZ2nPIlMVh2hhWOLCbEI8Zt-bGK0o5ec7ZThiajrrWqQ7o-A2m9QIyqwMG4TBEoBnendVYWp6cN6MtNDfHA8LkbrWv/s320/DSCI0174.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545484220842357826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">are you done with the picture yet, mom?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOs_wjaNK7ZHfVpYxw63KBm1jH_INNd8kislQnYXqQI8yQ-Ru8IH8m2cJWZ4ywuJ73TvK6Tx2XtET7RPWmzbtLU6DedYn1QAGoE3ydTqaN4ARWhfDZqubwO-cUJrFNYWyXtqAREZ16lem/s1600/DSCI0177.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOs_wjaNK7ZHfVpYxw63KBm1jH_INNd8kislQnYXqQI8yQ-Ru8IH8m2cJWZ4ywuJ73TvK6Tx2XtET7RPWmzbtLU6DedYn1QAGoE3ydTqaN4ARWhfDZqubwO-cUJrFNYWyXtqAREZ16lem/s320/DSCI0177.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545484214273692930" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>hug?<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></div></span></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-29683613842687346342010-11-30T14:52:00.001-08:002010-11-30T15:04:32.182-08:00Thanksgiving!!I know that Thanksgiving is done, but these are updates . . . and since I was a bad blogger and haven't update since JULY I thought I would go easy on the reader and go in order . . . at least the order I have in my head.<div><br /></div><div>Shame, shame on me! "Bad llama bad!" (from "<b>The Emperor's New Groove"</b> in case you were wondering where that random quote came from)</div><div><br /></div><div>It's a good thing my sister, The English Major, doesn't read my blog because she'd keel over from all my elipses and random ramblings. And for any of my other followers who are/were English majors, I humbly apologize.</div><div><br /></div><div>Moving on . . . Thanksgiving was really fun this year because it was Ashton's first - even though the poor kid didn't have a clue what was going on and his mother even went so far as to put him in a first Thanksgiving outfit.</div><div><br /></div><div>I will post a picture as soon as possible! For some reason I can't find the Thanksgiving outfit photos . . . </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On a side note, <i> </i>I am eating cookies (homemade oatmeal to be exact) and dipping them in milk so this could get messy folks!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Cookie eating experience is going well and so I shall move on to posting pictures of the boy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-78677365117003974862010-11-23T16:47:00.000-08:002010-11-30T14:51:43.802-08:00Catching Up . . .<div>Whew! *wiping brow*</div><div><br /></div><div> I'm out of breath<div> <div>Could be because I haven't exercised in 9 months plus . . . but let's not go there.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>Time for me to catch up on all that's been happening here at la maison de Stewart ;) </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanksgiving has gone and it's now time to bust out the Christmas decorations, but first let me update you on what the youngest member of the Stewart family is doing . . . which is all you really care about anyway (if you are honest with yourself and take a deep look inside *wink, wink*)</div><div><br /></div><div>Ashton is now 9 weeks old . . . (pics to follow) which is incredible!</div><div><br /></div><div>That means he's been breathing oxygen with his little lungs now for 63 days! (that's if my math is correct but then again, math has never been my strong suit)</div><div><br /></div><div>Make that very strong and loud lungs filled with oxygen, but I digress.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are the things he can do right about now:</div><div>Smile</div><div>Coo</div><div>Kick his legs VERY energetically (not very ideal when it's diaper time)</div><div><br /></div><div>Move his arms just as enthusiastically as his legs, except he hits himself in the face gets a puzzled expression and moves on . . . </div><div><br /></div><div>Hold his head up a little bit more than he could, say, last week (we're working on the whole "tummy time" thing . . . he's not a big fan right now . . . would much rather stare at stuff on his back)</div><div><br /></div><div>Notice when mommy's head pops up over the side of the pack 'n' play (which doubles as our bassinet) and follow her head as she tries to stay out of range ;)</div><div><br /></div><div>Get fussy when it's naptime and he doesn't want to nap but then have the nerve to smile a big, toothless, heart-melting smile . . . who's kid is this anyway?</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are some things he CAN'T do right now:</div><div>Sit up unassisted</div><div>Crawl</div><div>Walk</div><div>Eat solid food</div><div>Drive a car</div><div>Have a credit card</div><div><br /></div><div>More to come . . . </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-83541231264313151622010-10-26T10:27:00.000-07:002010-10-26T10:37:07.613-07:00Pics that make you go "Awww"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLUKUvzbYWkAa2abMAxfF-EYkzTtDsVgbWfW601_AUxm3-7Q2-D93zy_OZ-EeonejcafMao9pElxUUu4i6_nEB3VJMrMj3nGYcMFddghsOIVAoSbcKpX-9zdXJ85zrE7bRT9IahDPN7ay/s1600/37189_453531843152_698268152_5360998_7671076_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLUKUvzbYWkAa2abMAxfF-EYkzTtDsVgbWfW601_AUxm3-7Q2-D93zy_OZ-EeonejcafMao9pElxUUu4i6_nEB3VJMrMj3nGYcMFddghsOIVAoSbcKpX-9zdXJ85zrE7bRT9IahDPN7ay/s320/37189_453531843152_698268152_5360998_7671076_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532408831975813506" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ashton with his Mommy & Grandmommy Brammeier</div><div style="text-align: center;">during a visit to the great-grandparents. </div><div style="text-align: center;">He was 5 days old</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPvRr4_qZNW7k5KtOyn0KAa513_HGm0sAh3kBg4oa_Zebb0zs2ohoPGBeLwh_IvqleeG0wfrh8FDI2LfiqwiAJoro0dLu8wrCPYszAkoJTm1qJzinKEFpaJSHmJ25DLkGFanXI-lTz_CT/s1600/33769_453531838152_698268152_5360997_625733_n.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPvRr4_qZNW7k5KtOyn0KAa513_HGm0sAh3kBg4oa_Zebb0zs2ohoPGBeLwh_IvqleeG0wfrh8FDI2LfiqwiAJoro0dLu8wrCPYszAkoJTm1qJzinKEFpaJSHmJ25DLkGFanXI-lTz_CT/s1600/33769_453531838152_698268152_5360997_625733_n.jpg"><img style="text-align: center;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPvRr4_qZNW7k5KtOyn0KAa513_HGm0sAh3kBg4oa_Zebb0zs2ohoPGBeLwh_IvqleeG0wfrh8FDI2LfiqwiAJoro0dLu8wrCPYszAkoJTm1qJzinKEFpaJSHmJ25DLkGFanXI-lTz_CT/s320/33769_453531838152_698268152_5360997_625733_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532408826401243874" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ashton with one of his namesakes, Thomas Murray,</div><div style="text-align: center;">who was nervous about holding the baby, but gave in </div><div style="text-align: center;">and held him anyway and then couldn't give him up :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Notice they have the same hairline ;)</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKE2FfYXEELub0634i50t0eybaWoYuHq-wlE3d1YKO0CUtfhdfNyqLYGFJ7eMMfAioXMYcnQ1meqotsZO3mFgC-RjdkLLR15_c3Zo9aXYjadZX-aoEmCX9r5CxoKrTFQ-pP5zsMGtKOH7/s1600/IMG_20101019_185822.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKE2FfYXEELub0634i50t0eybaWoYuHq-wlE3d1YKO0CUtfhdfNyqLYGFJ7eMMfAioXMYcnQ1meqotsZO3mFgC-RjdkLLR15_c3Zo9aXYjadZX-aoEmCX9r5CxoKrTFQ-pP5zsMGtKOH7/s1600/IMG_20101019_185822.jpg"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKE2FfYXEELub0634i50t0eybaWoYuHq-wlE3d1YKO0CUtfhdfNyqLYGFJ7eMMfAioXMYcnQ1meqotsZO3mFgC-RjdkLLR15_c3Zo9aXYjadZX-aoEmCX9r5CxoKrTFQ-pP5zsMGtKOH7/s320/IMG_20101019_185822.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532408818500026850" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ashton and his daddy watching TV together.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I believe it was "<b>Jeopardy!"</b>, so at least he'll be smart!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamMtynh2FNk5fweTOGyBcxCKtRC89THSLlMmqgYsvpsXDJ-zc_RJGgJzUHRjsXhKJR3IB-1o5cTVdmNY0mA1S27jFC2oiIUwWDybWyfwOTw7xmM22ILKYthft1BpHOaaGYUlaLk4DXrWS/s1600/IMG_20100928_192108.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamMtynh2FNk5fweTOGyBcxCKtRC89THSLlMmqgYsvpsXDJ-zc_RJGgJzUHRjsXhKJR3IB-1o5cTVdmNY0mA1S27jFC2oiIUwWDybWyfwOTw7xmM22ILKYthft1BpHOaaGYUlaLk4DXrWS/s320/IMG_20100928_192108.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532408816345266018" /></a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; ">Tim & Ashton bonding in the hospital - I love this one!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; ">It makes my heart melt.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></div></span></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-68679508118771401422010-10-26T10:22:00.000-07:002010-10-26T10:37:35.796-07:00Photo Shoot<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcg_E8gLSdOKLNMWLsIo7uvyCeIaSmQzbBHpl8F7TUdy1hiy7nzjsDQ6GiWz85QMKrLmkXZffSkS1plj84gdosswL-zEUgG85StsUHOwuhGMiaP6t_Lo4hI4uFgUmW8EQvMILi28tYKPI/s1600/IMG_20101020_171351.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcg_E8gLSdOKLNMWLsIo7uvyCeIaSmQzbBHpl8F7TUdy1hiy7nzjsDQ6GiWz85QMKrLmkXZffSkS1plj84gdosswL-zEUgG85StsUHOwuhGMiaP6t_Lo4hI4uFgUmW8EQvMILi28tYKPI/s320/IMG_20101020_171351.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532407724094380994" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPfsJmDgcRtDDUjnUy5GE5Urv2V-_Z_vQTrzdWNsy2eo4ZfhoryiAV4lGtrLogjZ8epIjhIGm3xVYgzBbXsMB9xo3XiY-mrPcEW8EO6VebWpWnUblDoSCDdpjZ3i6nxAxk-xiTKOfwXjU/s1600/IMG_20101020_173720.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPfsJmDgcRtDDUjnUy5GE5Urv2V-_Z_vQTrzdWNsy2eo4ZfhoryiAV4lGtrLogjZ8epIjhIGm3xVYgzBbXsMB9xo3XiY-mrPcEW8EO6VebWpWnUblDoSCDdpjZ3i6nxAxk-xiTKOfwXjU/s320/IMG_20101020_173720.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532407380078148802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4q4jduwHoz6dWZRpR6CfAcm5wO4fRWRLL1F_6KLF8FWjN6hLA3ze1ILsGxRfAQKN8EfP6dFlVAgO1QaEWLvJhqLxoWNjC3ieNFyU-pQCcc6IkmluaA3wZiPkrmCKA1vhv83TbMbSwqMS/s1600/IMG_20101020_173706.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4q4jduwHoz6dWZRpR6CfAcm5wO4fRWRLL1F_6KLF8FWjN6hLA3ze1ILsGxRfAQKN8EfP6dFlVAgO1QaEWLvJhqLxoWNjC3ieNFyU-pQCcc6IkmluaA3wZiPkrmCKA1vhv83TbMbSwqMS/s320/IMG_20101020_173706.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532407371852869266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpe-4XYh2YLWpVHHlqUDCWZmiP07kGMQaaOlLY4F9Yt-t1PwxQnfPn2uFtdI61lw5IFt4n8TRXKVDU8jJDXwWzDEk8PsbRAz370ZI67Dp897tVdFUfGLG9fCoE6KcNekXUJeERcbyCORCh/s1600/IMG_20101020_172819.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpe-4XYh2YLWpVHHlqUDCWZmiP07kGMQaaOlLY4F9Yt-t1PwxQnfPn2uFtdI61lw5IFt4n8TRXKVDU8jJDXwWzDEk8PsbRAz370ZI67Dp897tVdFUfGLG9fCoE6KcNekXUJeERcbyCORCh/s320/IMG_20101020_172819.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532407366134458994" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ashton's "Auntie" Erika, one of my good friends, gave him the cutest sleeper - it has crocodiles on it and her daughter, Marcy has a matching one . . . one of these days we will get the two of them together and take pictures, but for now, I tried getting Ashton to cooperate while I took pictures to show Erika . . . it seemed to work better AFTER he was nice and full from eating :PAbigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-54343651971237736892010-10-23T08:23:00.002-07:002010-10-23T08:33:54.247-07:00Birth Announcement!<div style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the world, Ashton Thomas Stewart!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKd7WXFEBn0GtGVNZdye145-xZAtOJoZRXez1xSMvKXop4wKq4POczZR8xhUhoa0VhA9xJFLJ-2dyuK3L4RrTAyITDxILIV5S9oFqhlVW9jVvRLLCF8sltIrCsdd8VHo2inGh4lGCl2Yta/s1600/69511_1410758750609_1281698533_30963164_3226214_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKd7WXFEBn0GtGVNZdye145-xZAtOJoZRXez1xSMvKXop4wKq4POczZR8xhUhoa0VhA9xJFLJ-2dyuK3L4RrTAyITDxILIV5S9oFqhlVW9jVvRLLCF8sltIrCsdd8VHo2inGh4lGCl2Yta/s320/69511_1410758750609_1281698533_30963164_3226214_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531264290094388178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEW9579UkcmzPebbcX3SeaWbivtnmCagoNRc-_Xs4BvBy8P-KznINYMVhveoRjbPJEYfL7aaPxPB0ALol89dC_NIEd_wvMo4l91x0MHlJFsLr-3wanKG-neyYPzeHiFQ4XsAChKLCW5h2/s1600/65314_453531758152_698268152_5360995_4465645_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEW9579UkcmzPebbcX3SeaWbivtnmCagoNRc-_Xs4BvBy8P-KznINYMVhveoRjbPJEYfL7aaPxPB0ALol89dC_NIEd_wvMo4l91x0MHlJFsLr-3wanKG-neyYPzeHiFQ4XsAChKLCW5h2/s320/65314_453531758152_698268152_5360995_4465645_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531264282233375298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvDVcr2tepOT1th8kFtMchhlfGyoiJ274SyKxhrBwElYLAyRXrHqmSMG5RmCxpUJMUIIj7keEyGdAhbWcyZ4HGurmEEWID9Ou1o7uHwIwNfPqGny4pz9FSZx5OAIs_t0M_kd5XTjK9JuR/s1600/36156_453531753152_698268152_5360994_2661770_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvDVcr2tepOT1th8kFtMchhlfGyoiJ274SyKxhrBwElYLAyRXrHqmSMG5RmCxpUJMUIIj7keEyGdAhbWcyZ4HGurmEEWID9Ou1o7uHwIwNfPqGny4pz9FSZx5OAIs_t0M_kd5XTjK9JuR/s320/36156_453531753152_698268152_5360994_2661770_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531264275036604066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1h2rIF6W_2-EkfLftMn1WMeFd7Oocn7Fc_8tQCV59zg1y1G9b6141rqIdF_8PmqsPvSPFgEIurDTni1W3WkKph5MnF9KiZimm-pDgbjd4v69d1WAOEETVc-maI0MJjurhh1amAgy9ZRG/s1600/33769_453531838152_698268152_5360997_625733_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1h2rIF6W_2-EkfLftMn1WMeFd7Oocn7Fc_8tQCV59zg1y1G9b6141rqIdF_8PmqsPvSPFgEIurDTni1W3WkKph5MnF9KiZimm-pDgbjd4v69d1WAOEETVc-maI0MJjurhh1amAgy9ZRG/s320/33769_453531838152_698268152_5360997_625733_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531264273135754802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5uinHMzRg1XLZYgOlROq4kgDgW_JllSKb9sP-WQynd0_pVxqsGoiVpNJnV9WlQmF5ZCDbXJyIulGzCVVMcZNVHMyphat4F8p97KaLx3Mi0SW1-wj3_Bdg6GFJ8Pjw_O4GTB3BIeKHfPY/s1600/36064_453531723152_698268152_5360992_4308430_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5uinHMzRg1XLZYgOlROq4kgDgW_JllSKb9sP-WQynd0_pVxqsGoiVpNJnV9WlQmF5ZCDbXJyIulGzCVVMcZNVHMyphat4F8p97KaLx3Mi0SW1-wj3_Bdg6GFJ8Pjw_O4GTB3BIeKHfPY/s320/36064_453531723152_698268152_5360992_4308430_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531264265972612178" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Our beautiful son was born on September 28th, 2010</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>at 8:50 am at Rose Medical Center in Denver, Colorado</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>He weighed in at 8 pounds and was 21 and 1/2 inches long</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>He has dark hair and dark eyes.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>He is here, we are his parents, and we can't believe it!!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Praise be to our Lord and Saviour for the blessing He has bestowed upon us!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>May we seek to raise this beautiful child in the nurture and admonition of our God!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><b><div><br /></div></b></span></span></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-11680614147682133462010-09-23T09:39:00.000-07:002010-09-23T09:50:31.225-07:00Eviction Notice Served<div>Our little boy is getting an eviction notice served to him :) </div><div><br /></div><div>To<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;"><b> Ashton Thomas Stewart: </b></span> <i>please take note that on September 28th you will need to take up residence with your parents, Tim & Abigail Stewart. Take some time to sort out your affairs and make the necessary arrangements to give up your warm, comfy home in your mother's uterus . . . </i></div><div><i>Sincerely, The Management</i></div><div><div><br /></div><div>He has today, tomorrow, & the weekend to get his act together, which includes packing up his belongings, and moving on out!</div><div><br /></div><div>My midwife wants to induce starting Monday evening and into Tuesday morning. I'm not super crazy about the Pitocin, but it does mean that we get to see our boy and that I'm super duper crazy about!! </div><div><br /></div><div> I really can't wait to meet our little one and see who he looks like. If I was a betting woman, I would say that my bet is on Tim, but we won't know until he appears either this weekend or on Tuesday.</div><div><br /></div><div>He will be the only boy born at church - all the rest of the babies will be girls - that's 6 girls to our one little boy! whoa! Even my cousin, Lynsey, is having a girl. </div><div><br /></div><div>That is just way too much estrogen to handle, so Tim & I thought we'd be the ones to add a little testosterone to the mix - haha!</div><div><br /></div><div>Excitement & joy are very palpable at our house! </div><div><br /></div><div>If you are in need of some excitement and joy, please make your way over to our home and we will be glad to provide you with some.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416752861422689476.post-87151696397761777302010-09-20T09:38:00.000-07:002011-01-12T09:57:47.003-08:00Blogging TipsIt's not even the new year yet and I have a resolution to make (and probably break) . . . I need to be more faithful with blogging. We'll see how that pans out once the little munchkin is here and I have zero time *wink*<div><br /></div><div>I faithfully follow a blog called "The Pioneer Woman" and here are some tips she gave:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; "><h6 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 18px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(86, 144, 170); font-family: Arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">"</span>1. Be yourself.</h6><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">Write in your own voice.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">Write as if you’re talking to your sister.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">Unless you don’t get along with your sister.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">Or don’t have a sister.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><br /><br /></p><h6 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 18px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(86, 144, 170); font-family: Arial; ">2. Blog often.</h6><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">Whether you write a sixteen-paragraph essay about the cosmic implications of a free market system, a one-paragraph description of what happens to your soul when you walk into your godforsaken laundry room, or a simple photo and caption, consider your blog a precious bloom that requires daily nurturing.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">And watering.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">If you water a plant once every two weeks, it will shrivel.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">Unless that plant is a cactus, and then it would thrive.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">And to tell you the truth, I really can’t figure out how a cactus fits into this analogy, so forget I brought it up.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><br /><br /></p><h6 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 18px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(86, 144, 170); font-family: Arial; ">3. Be varied.</h6><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">Change things up.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">Offer a smorgasbord of content.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">Unless you’re, say, a fashion blog.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">And in that case, you should probably continue to blog about fashion.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">But never blog about the same top twice!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><br /><br /></p><h6 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 18px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(86, 144, 170); font-family: Arial; ">4. Exercise more.</h6><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">Blogging is an insidiously sedentary activity, and if you blog daily you should take steps to markedly increase your daily movement.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">Unless that movement involves eating coffee ice cream.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">In which case it would be better not to markedly increase your daily movement.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><br /><br /></p><h6 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 18px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(86, 144, 170); font-family: Arial; ">5. Allow your boundaries to set themselves naturally.</h6><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">Don’t feel like you have to sit down and set rules about what you will and will not blog about from day one. Just blog, and see what feels comfortable for you.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">I did that.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">I’ve found, over time, that I tend to blog about the same things I’d talk to my sister about.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">I’ve also found, over time, that I tend not to blog about things I wouldn’t talk to my sister about.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">For example, I don’t blog about hanky panky.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">I also don’t talk to my sister about hanky panky. If I did, she’d cover her ears and say, “Okay, gross.”</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">And you probably would, too.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><br /><br /></p><h6 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 18px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(86, 144, 170); font-family: Arial; ">6. Bring back retro phrases like “hanky panky.”</h6><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">But only if it feels right to you.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><br /><br /></p><h6 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 18px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(86, 144, 170); font-family: Arial; ">7. Don’t be afraid to embarrass yourself.</h6><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">On this website, over the course of the past five years, I have burped, performed Britney Spears songs in Ethel Merman’s voice, misspelled words, posted typos, and talked about ways I humiliated myself as both a youngster and an adult.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">At times I’ve wondered if maybe the burps were too much.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">But they’re a part of me.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">At least they were…until they came out of my esophagus.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">But you know what I mean.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><br /><br /></p><h6 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 18px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(86, 144, 170); font-family: Arial; ">8. Try your best to spell words correctly and use proper grammar.</h6><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">You don’t necessarily have to wig out about it.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">But do try.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">It’s important.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">And if one or two of your readers emails you alerting you to a typo, don’t be offended. Thank them profusely and sing praises for the day they were born.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><br /><br /></p><h6 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 18px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(86, 144, 170); font-family: Arial; ">9. If you have writer’s block, push through and blog anyway.</h6><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">I posted the first chapter of <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/blog/category/black-heels-to-tractor-wheels/" target="_blank" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: initial; outline-style: none; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(86, 144, 170); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Black Heels</a> on a morning when I woke up with the most raging case of writer’s block, I couldn’t even type my name.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">I was sure you’d hate it, but I posted it anyway.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">I went on to write forty-plus more chapters.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">What if I’d given in to my writer’s block and decided not to blog that day?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">I would never have written my Green Acres-meets-War and Peace romance novel.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">And my bottom would likely be a little less jiggly.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">Please see #4 above.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><br /><br /></p><h6 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 18px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(86, 144, 170); font-family: Arial; ">10. Value every person who takes time out of their day to stop by your blog.</h6><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">Tell ‘em you love ‘em. Regularly.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><br /></p><h6 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 18px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(86, 144, 170); font-family: Arial; ">11. I love ya.</h6><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">More’n my luggage.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); ">Mean it.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><br /><em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">P-Dub</em></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><br />(Sorry. That was eleven things. Please see #1 above.)"</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">For more "Pioneer Woman" got to:<a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/"> http://thepioneerwoman.com/</a> The blogging tips she just gave were taken from a segment she wrote on September 8th, 2010 (I think you can search her Archives for that post)</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">She will make you laugh until you cry and then make you laugh some more! </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">She's very "down to earth" and writes about real life on a ranch :) </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Plus she's got great recipes! </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19px; color: rgb(95, 97, 97); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> You should go over to her blog right now!!</span></p></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So we'll see how the blogging resolution goes . . . </div><div><br /></div>Abigail Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969900378036144916noreply@blogger.com1