tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16834765328886379692024-03-13T23:20:14.971-04:00I'm just ramblin' on...Mother and Grandmother, taking one day at a time!Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.comBlogger223125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-91571574575816845502021-01-12T20:18:00.003-05:002021-01-12T20:18:46.282-05:00An Elf Spinning Out of Control<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> It is a couple of weeks after Christmas, yet here I am watching another Christmas movie. Fred Clause. I've never seen it before. It came out in 2007. It stars Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti. It's a cute movie with a message of course.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When Fred Clause first arrives at the North Pole and Santa's village, you see the beautiful little town all lit up, snow, Christmas trees and oodles of elves dressed in green suits and pointy shoes. Man, does that bring back some memories!</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I was in the 4th or 5th grade at B.B. Harris Elementary School in Duluth, Georgia, we the students were to put on a Christmas play. We practiced our lines (those that had lines) and we practiced our songs, (O'Christmas Tree comes to mind) and we practiced our "dance". The dance consisted of us elves twirling and running around the perimeter of the whole "set" area.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Several weeks before the play, teacher asked for all the elves to bring in a plain white pillow case and white tights, which she died a Christmas shade of green. We added belts and hats (probably made from felt) and there we were, cute little elves!</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The night of the play, I was dropped off in front of the school. No, my parents didn't go park the car. They went back home or someplace. My mother never attended anything like this. Looking back, I am quite amazed I was allowed to be a part of plays, choirs, etc. But I was allowed, I just never had a parent - or anyone - to watch me. Or watch over me. I think now how that probably wouldn't even be an option...dropping a 9 or 10 year old child off in front of the school to find herself into the building and to the right place inside the building. But hey, it was 1970. Times were different.<br /></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But anyways! The show must go on! And it did. Our play went along as planned and we were cute. We sang and we danced. Well, as luck (or fate) would have it, THIS elf was running and twirling and at one point this twirling elf must have hit the glossy wooden floor just right, because I spun out! Yep! Just like a car on an icy highway! I hit the floor and slid and twirled and finally came to a rest just outside the path of all the other elves who came after me. If I had been on ice, it would have melted from the heat coming off my red cheeks. I was so embarrassed. A parent (not mine, of course) asked me if I were ok. I said yes and got up and joined the overly joyous elf parade again, but with much less enthusiasm and much trepidation.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My children have been in quite a few plays, choirs, sports, and other activities over the years. And I am grateful to say a parent (mostly me) has attended at least 98% of them. </span></span></span></p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="No photo description available." class="i09qtzwb n7fi1qx3 datstx6m pmk7jnqg j9ispegn kr520xx4 k4urcfbm bixrwtb6" height="403" src="https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p526x296/138346549_10224336907147794_1329706130860344311_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=2&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=KAkampOesFkAX9GAISM&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&tp=6&oh=70d08c5b0d420ab022bcdbd5bbe31b48&oe=6022ECB1" width="302" /> My own drawing. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-72516014681393067842021-01-11T16:14:00.003-05:002021-01-11T16:14:52.408-05:00Moonstruck<p> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> It
was the fall of 1987. Me and a friend decided to go out for drinks at a
bar near my office. I had been single now for five + years. The bar was
just a small place on Beaver Ruin Rd in Norcross. There was music and
dancing and I think most of the people there were regulars. It wasn't
crowded and seemed the people there knew each other. <br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We
met a guy, nice enough, sitting at the bar. He had a camera. (No cell
phones back then!) Did we take pictures? I don't remember. I remember
he went to the restroom and said, will you hold my camera? I guess that
was a way of getting us to stay until he returned. Not long after that
we did duck out though.<br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But
somehow, he ended up calling me. We exchanged numbers??? He called me
at work, so maybe I gave him my number at work or I told him where I
worked and he called and they patched him through to me. I don't know.
But he called and asked if I would like to go out to eat and see a
movie. I was single, he seemed okay, so I said yes.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
don't recall where we ate. But I know we went by his house and I went
as far as the entrance to his house. His house was very neat and he made
a point to talk about all the antiques he had in his home and how he
loved antiques.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Being at the movies with him was ok. He was nice and polite. I actually had a good time because of the movie.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
movie was Moonstruck. Starring Cher and Nicholas Cage. I was only 27
but for some reason I connected with Cher's character. She was a sad
figure. Older than she should have been. Brooding. But sassy. And why do
girls like those moody, nasty boys???? Nicholas cage was a jerk in this
movie. But you know...it got romantic. A girl likes those romantic
movies! But it was also funny and I enjoyed just laughing.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In
the next few days I think I heard from John once. He called me at work
again. I guess maybe I was a little cool towards him. Like, he may have
asked me out again and I said maybe. Well, in the next day or so there
was a call on a random phone line we had in our office. Like in a
cubicle no one sat in. I answered the call and a person asked me if I
were the girl who went out with John last week. Yes. Well, this person
proceeded to tell me he was gay. Okay.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Well,
at this point in my life I didn't have a ton of experience with gay
people. The person on the phone said didn't he show you all his
antiques? I was a bit naive and didn't know what that had to do with
anything. But I didn't think I should go out with him again. If he were
gay what in the world was he doing asking me out?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Things to ponder. Hmmmmmmmm.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But
dang! I loved that movie. It is still to this day one of my all time
favorite movies! And has one of my most memorable scenes...where she
slaps his face and says "Snap outofit!"</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><img alt="Moonstruck - Wikipedia" class="n3VNCb" data-noaft="1" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7d/Chermoonstruck.jpg" style="height: 386px; margin: 0px; width: 257px;" /> </p>Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-91849121892952591732018-07-19T13:08:00.000-04:002018-07-19T13:08:18.019-04:00Goodbye 2015! Hello New Year!<div style="text-align: center;">
Goodbye 2015! Hello New Year!</div>
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Wow! It has been a whole year since I last wrote on this blog! Where has the time gone? It has definitely been an eventful year. As always, some were really good things, some were really...not so good!</div>
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<b>February:</b> Amber and Chris celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary. Chris turned 38. We got our first 'ice' of the year in Metro Atlanta.</div>
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<b>March</b>: Greyson turned 4; we celebrated with a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle party at the park in Auburn. I turned 54. Jess turned 25. And I bought a house!<br />
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<b>April</b>: I usually go south for Easter, to spend with my daughter, Amber, and her family at 'Aunt Joy's' house, but this Easter I was moving into my new home. Thankfully, all my reliable family and friends swooped in and moved me in one day! A slip down the back steps of the porch really put a cramp in my rear, literally. I am very lucky I didn't break something that day. I still have residual pain from that fall.<br />
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<b>May</b>: This was an eye opening month. After much thought about signals my body was giving me, I went to the doctor for a stress test. I failed it miserably. My stress test was on a Thursday, the following Monday I was getting a heart cath and received a stent to open a almost totally blocked artery. Was out of work for one week. The doctor told me I was basically a heart attack waiting to happen. I have been dealing with high blood pressure and terribly high cholesterol for several years. But continuing pain in my shoulder and arm, shortness of breath, lack of energy, and tingling/cold fingers pushed me to get the stress test I'd been putting off for a very long time.</div>
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A couple of weeks after my surgery, I went on a hike with Lindon at a park in Panola Mountain and Arabia Mountain. It was an interesting place to visit and walk, but felt like I over did it some. I could definitely feel the winds of change coming at this time too.<br />
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<b>June:</b> I went on vacation with Amber and Chris and the boys to St. Simon's Island. Again, this was with Chris' job and is a blessing for me, for without it I would not have had a true vacation this year. We really enjoyed the beach, exploring the little town, eating at all different places for dinner. and just relaxing.<br />
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Upon returning from vacation, I knew it was time to end one chapter of my life, and that was with my relationship with my male friend. One of the last things my ex-husband said to me, was that I always expected him to be perfect, and he couldn't be perfect. I never felt I expected that. I do, however, hold people, especially those I am in a relationship with, to high standards. And if that person can't live up those, then I am sorry, but I can't stoop. And that is all I have to say about that.</div>
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<b>July</b>: I truly cannot recall anything notable happening in the month of July. Except, I got a molar pulled. Ugh. I went to the dentist with horrendous tooth pain and thought I would be getting a root canal. But the tooth cracked half in two and had to be removed. I know this isn't much to some people, but to me it was very traumatic!<br />
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<b>August:</b> Abel's birthday is not until September, but we celebrated a little early at the end of August, with a Minion Party at my house! Greyson started Kindergarten. Amber is homeschooling him with My Father's World program. He is doing great, and so is Abel, as he can do a lot of the lessons also!<br />
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<b>September</b>: Abel turned 3!!!! And this month started the year's Wedding season for me...first, there were two Bridal showers, one for Grace, one for cousin Alicia. Then, the end of the month brought my step-sister Cathy's wedding. Bonus: Got to see a cousin and Aunt at that wedding that I rarely get to see!</div>
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<b>October:</b> It was time for more weddings! First, Grace and Nick got married in a barn out in Covington. It was rustic and plain old fun! It was Abel and Greyson's first wedding, and we were a bit nervous, but they were good boys. And they enjoyed kicking up their heels on the dancefloor.<br />
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Then, cousin Alicia and her honey, Matt, were married right here in Winder, at the Community Center. They transformed the place into a cool 50's cafe complete with old vinyl records! It was so much fun dressing up in retro clothes and dancing and being with family!<br />
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I had a little Halloween fun...dressing up like a 60's Hippy Chick. My grandsons were the cutest little Pirates you ever did see! <br />
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<b>November:</b> I spent Thanksgiving with my daughter, Amber, and her family down south. We were once again invited to Chris' cousin's house and we were surrounded by the big, loving, family and tons of delicious food!<br />
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<b>December</b>: This month is always busy! The first Saturday of December is Granny's Girls Christmas Party, it was lots of fun as we wore our PJ's and had breakfast for dinner! I took a trip to the North Georgia Mountains with Amber, Chris and the boys. We hiked up to see Anna Ruby Falls. It was breathtaking! Then we celebrated my extended family Christmas at my brother, Bo's, house. We did Santa at my house for my Grandsons and then, to throw us for a curve ball for Christmas, my daughter, Amber, has to get her gallbladder out the day before Christmas Eve! She did great and I spent Christmas at their house.<br />
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All and all, this has been a pretty good year! My daughter, Jessica, announced she was starting a new job in January. Greyson has had a great year in school so far (and Abel is learning too!). I am in better health, mentally and physically. I can't wait to see what 2016 brings for all of us! </div>
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Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-80985285602000501052018-07-19T12:56:00.003-04:002018-07-19T12:56:41.905-04:00Warriors in the Making<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #ffe599; color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Great Warriors</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">My grandsons...are boys. All boy. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">They like snakes. They like lizards. Worms. Dogs. Chickens. Dirt. Mud holes. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">They enjoy turning over rocks and finding slugs, bugs and other 'icky' stuff. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">Climbing trees, sitting for hours in deer stands, riding bikes, chasing dogs and each other are fun activities for them.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">They may or may not enjoy fighting, but either way, they do a lot of it. And they are small, they cry when they get hurt. But before the tears there are raised voices, gnashing of teeth, balled up fists, punches, scratches, hair pulling, kicking. Then come the tears.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">My heart lurches when I get a message from my daughter...now don't get excited Mama...with that lead in, I know its going to be pretty serious. (A deer stand fell on Greyson's head...we are at the Emergency Room.)</span> <br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">I have to steal my nerves when my son-in-law posts a picture of the latest battle scar. (A smiling Greyson with a huge road rash on his forehead...the results of doing 'tricks' on his scooter.)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">I grit my teeth and squinch up my eyes when I hear my daughter describe how she picks ticks off the boys...including off their privates. Just the other night, Abel woke Amber up during the middle of the night saying he needed to 'check his pee-pee'. Sure enough, there was a huge tick on his private area. So at 2:00 a.m. she was pulling a fat tick off. AAAGGGHHHH!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">My grandsons...are boys. All boy. And boys will be boys.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">At a funeral this week, the preacher described the gentleman who had passed as a great husband, father, and grandfather. Such a great grandfather was he, that he often took his small grandson hunting. And not just any old hunting, but bear hunting!!!! I was astonished, shocked and awe-struck!</span> <br />
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<br />
<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">And then the preacher went on to say that the man's wife, the grandmother to this boy, was a good cook. She HAD to be a good cook, because she had to cook up bear! (I am sitting there with my mouth hanging open!) He stated that she had served up many a bear lunch or supper...sometimes just in the form of a peanut butter sandwich, but "bear", none-the-less! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">The preacher's point was that this grandfather was very good with this rambunctious little boy. Boys will be boys. He stated that boys NEED to be boys...with all the energy, roughness, excitement, fights, and hair-raising things that boys do, because without all this...how can they grow up to be <strong>Great Warriors</strong> in life?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f9cb9c;">So now on, I will encourage my grandsons to catch bugs, lizards, worms, and fish. I won't complain if they track in dirt, leaves, sticks and other debris. I'll try not to stroke out when I get that call...Greyson bumped his head on (insert object here)....Abel has another tick on his (insert body part here).....We are on our way to the E.R....well, THAT one will always get me stressed out!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #ffd966;">I will encourage these 'bitty boys' to grow up fearless of creatures found under rocks, of nerf bullets being shot at their face by their brother, to be a 'big boy' when their cousin accidentally whacks him in the face with a shovel while they are digging to China. <strong>Great Warriors</strong> endure things like this on a daily basis.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #ffd966;">My last visit to see these little rascals found me having to go into the darkened hallway to switch on lights for the smallest of the two to go find a toy in his bedroom. Hey! I guess even <strong>Great Warriors</strong> can be afraid of the dark!!!</span><br />
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<br />Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-18195867093792588982016-12-27T21:11:00.001-05:002016-12-27T21:11:29.440-05:00Christmas Loneliness...its real.The weeks leading up to Christmas, I saw several posts about how the holidays are not happy for everyone. That for some, the holidays bring sadness, loneliness, feelings of helplessness and despair.<br />
<br />
It is true.<br />
<br />
And this year is not the first time I felt those things.<br />
<br />
Way back when I was 22 years old, I was a newly divorced young woman, with a 1 year old daughter, facing my first Christmas as a single mother.<br />
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My marriage to my child's father was short lived. After three years of things not going the way I wanted or needed them to, I gave up on the union. There I was. A new mother, working part time, getting $50.00 a week child support, and facing Christmas 'alone'. It was rough. I was scared. Scared to be in our home alone with doors that wouldn't lock. Scared because I didn't make much money, and $50.00 didn't even pay for childcare. Scared because sometimes, I didn't know where the next meal would come from or if I could pay for propane for heat, what less Christmas gifts.<br />
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And then there was the loneliness.<br />
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I made it through for the next 6 Christmas' alone also. I had my daughter. And each year, I found a way to buy her gifts, and to have enough food. Enough heat. Enough spirit to celebrate Christmas and a baby who was born to save us. We certainly had plenty of love and smiles and laughter. But as the only adult, I did feel lonely during the holidays. And despaired. Hopeless. It was a struggle, but I wanted my child to feel secure and 'normal', so I hid these things the best I could. So really, no one knew.<br />
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Then I met my 2nd husband.<br />
<br />
He brought stability. Both emotional and financial. We got married. We had a child together, now there were two daughters. We made traditions as we went along. Some we kept year after year. Some were forgotten after the first year or two. But Christmas was . . . Warm. Safe. Love. Happiness. Fullness. Home.<br />
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After 22 years...it changed.<br />
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The few months leading up to our last Christmas together was...Cold. Quiet. Angry. Sad. Empty. Lonely.<br />
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After getting through that last Christmas, it was done.<br />
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What would the next Christmas be like? I moved to a much smaller and older home after the divorce. What I could afford. Would my kids like it? Would my grand kids want to come here? I didn't put up many decorations. Only a small tree and a few things here and there. My heart wasn't in it.I missed my home of 20 years...the house me and my husband had picked out together. It felt like I had moved my body and stuff here, but my soul was still back at my home there. Maybe it was wandering around that house, looking for me. Looking for my daughters. My grandsons. Listening for the laughter.<br />
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Luckily, after expressing my fear that they wouldn't like this new place, my daughter said, 'where ever you are mama, that is home to us'. And I realized, that where ever I was, and my loved ones come to me, that can be home to me too.<br />
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I bought a house over a year ago. Its not as big or as nice as the home I had, but its becoming home more and more with each passing month. The grand kids are growing and making memories here. My daughters come and spend a few nights here and there. My oldest daughter, the one with the boys, comes more often. My youngest daughter comes with her dog, and can sleep in peace I suppose. (She lived with me right after the divorce, and slept in the next room. I know many nights she heard my wails as my heart broke and knitted back a little, then broke again.)<br />
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I won't lie and say I don't miss my old life, my old home, my old
Christmases. And after the kids go home, Christmas can still be a bit
lonely.<br />
<br />
So yes, when you see those Facebook posts about praying for those who will be hurting at Christmas, do pray. The sadness and loneliness is real. And it may effect someone you never would have dreamed would feel that way.<br />
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Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-82927405073422349812016-10-17T21:03:00.000-04:002016-12-27T21:14:36.053-05:00Like Prairie Dogs October 17, 2016<br />
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I have not written a story in a very long time. This one is a true story...<br />
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Many, many, many years ago (about 32 to be exact), I was having a meal at Steak n' Shake with a man that I was dating at the time.<br />
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I had a steakburger and fries. As you probably know, SnS has very skinny fries. While eating them, I had one go down my throat, unchewed, where it got stuck half way down and half way up.<br />
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When I realized I had a fry stuck in my throat, I popped up. Like a prairie dog. I was still sitting inside the booth. You know, those booths where the seat is bolted to the floor and you can't slide the seat forward or back? But back then, I was a little tiny skinny thing and I could stand almost straight up inside the booth. And I popped up.<br />
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The fry moved a bit and I sat back down. But as soon as I sat down, it felt stuck again. And I was having a hard time breathing around it! So... I popped back up!<br />
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At this time, my dining companion asked, "What the ^&%$ are you doing?" Finally, that fry went on down and I could breath! So I sat back down. I explained I was choking on a fry. "Well don't do that. You are embarrassing me!" He replied. (!!!!!!!)<br />
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Fast forward about 22 years or so.<br />
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My husband had a pair of shorts that me and my daughter affectionately (sort of) called Dicky Dukes. They are the male version of Daisy Dukes. They were cut off blue jeans with the frazzled edges. Each time they were washed, more of the frazzled edges would frazzle and they became shorter and shorter and more and more embarrassing.<br />
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Much to mine and daughter's horror, he wore them to the movies with us one night.<br />
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This daughter is one who is not one to draw attention to herself, and sometimes might be called just plain shy. She would rarely do anything that would make herself stand out in a crowd or cause her embarrassment.<br />
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But her Dad wore the Dicky Dukes to the movies that night.<br />
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Our movie had not started yet. In fact, we were a bit early and was forced to sit in the lobby while the previous showing finished up and the theater employees cleaned up a bit.<br />
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Several young girls stood nearby where she and I sat. Dad was standing close by. In his Dicky Dukes.<br />
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The young girls took notice of this nearly white headed man in his fifties wearing frazzled cut off blue jeans that showed way more thigh then his wife and teenage daughter wanted to see even around the house, what less out in public. They at once started bending over and whispering in each other's ears, giggling and pointing.<br />
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Daughter popped straight up off that bench. Like a prairie dog.<br />
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I looked up. Way up, because she is tall. And I saw the fire in her eyes and the tightness in her jaw. I looked at her and I looked at the girls. She thought twice and sat down. But the girls pointed and giggled again. And she popped up. Again.<br />
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"Don't do it!" I hissed to daughter. "But they are making fun of my dad!" she exclaimed. "Let it go!" I urged. "But it's my dad!" She hissed back at me.<br />
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I think the girls realized they were barking up a very tall tree, and they moved on. Thank God! Because I was beginning to get embarrassed! And he, of course, was oblivious to all this going on.<br />
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After the movie, we scurried on to the car, dragging dad with us, trying to avoid any more run ins with judgemental teeny-boppers and anyone else who might find humor in dad's attire. For the most part, he was never none the wiser.<br />
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Daughter and I discussed it later, and she said she really wanted to tell those girls off. But I told her I was quite sure if he were not her dad, and she saw a man in his fifties with greying hair and frazzled edge cut off blue jean shorts that went way up to there, she would probably giggle and point with her girlfriends too.<br />
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And she agreed.<br />
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<br />Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-14832974167326165222015-02-20T21:10:00.002-05:002015-02-20T21:16:06.718-05:00The Granny NewsletterThe Granny Newsletter...From January, 2005.<br />
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<img align="left" alt="Text Box: The Granny Newsletter
January 2005 Happy New Year! Issue #14
" height="233" hspace="12" src="file:///C:/Users/Jess/AppData/Local/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image002.gif" width="706" /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Curlz MT"; font-size: 26.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">The </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Curlz MT"; font-size: 26.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Granny</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Curlz MT"; font-size: 26.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> Update</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Hi Everyone,</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I hope
everyone had a Merry Christmas and has a Happy New Year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granny is doing good these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stacy (Moon-Richardson) attended Granny’s
CarePlan meeting at Winder Rehab with me on Tuesday, Dec. 28<sup>th</sup>. They
said that Granny is doing really well. This time we agree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granny does seem to be doing quiet well
right now. She has not been sick except for a little bit of runny nose from
allergies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has lost one pound
recently, and is currently at 101 lbs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They have moved Granny from the ‘Prompting Table’ at mealtimes, to a
‘Feeding Table’. This means there is a person assisting Granny in eating
instead of just ‘prompting’ her to eat on her own. They said they had noticed
Granny is eating less and less on her own. Sometimes she just forgets what the
fork and spoon is for. And sometimes she just has a hard time picking up the
food with her fingers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When me, Bo, Fay
& Cody visited her on Christmas Day, she was using a spoon to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I guess sometimes she still can do it
herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granny is still getting ice
cream with almost every meal, Carnation Instant drink three times a day, and a
calcium supplement. She also gets Tylenol three times a day for arthritis pain
(she gets it crushed up in applesauce).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She gets Zantac once a day for heartburn, and a pill to help with sleep
about once every other night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also
gets robitussin and milk of magnesia as needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also has that ‘sitting sore’ as we call it, (instead of a bed
sore) on her bottom, and they put something called Xanoderm (sp?) on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Compared to a lot of people her age (and
younger), she is not on a lot of medications at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granny can still be ‘walked’ with assistance some days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has received a new wheelchair with big
bars that come out in the front and back to prevent her from tipping herself
forward or backward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She still loves to
‘ride’ up and down the halls and hold her baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think Granny had a very good Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got a new sweat suit from one of the
head nurses, a sweat suit from Secret Santa and several other new articles of
clothing from different family members. She got a new lap throw & candy
from Mary & Hollis and a new quilt from Michelle & Shane & boys.
She got new PJ’s from Debbie and a new robe from Carolyn (Little Bit).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got one of the goody-bag (fruit, candy,
cookies & other stuff) that Mama (Kathleen) and her friend Debbie Helton
put together for all the residents on the bottom floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially thrilled to get one of the
baskets was Grady, the only male resident on Granny’s floor. He was so excited
about a sock-cap in his goody-bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
still had it on Christmas Day when I saw him in the cafeteria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s amazing what can bring a smile to their
face…things we take for granted!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granny
also got some cash donations for her account to help pay for her out of pocket
expenses….thanks to Patsy, Bob & Fay, Dorsey & Pauline, and one
anonymous giver, for the donations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
may have got more stuff that I don’t know about!</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bodoni MT"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Reminiscing With Granny</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">By Carolyn
Chapple</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">At the dawn of
each New Year, most people start thinking about what they can do in the
upcoming year that will improve their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>New Year’s Celebrations originated some 4,000 years ago in Babylon,
where as in the Western world it has probably been celebrated for about 400
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some common New Year Resolutions
these days are to lose weight, quit smoking, find a new job, find a new love
interest, make more money, etc. The Babylonians resolved to return all borrowed
farm equipment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Tournament of Roses
Parade began in 1886 when folks decorated their carriages with flowers to
celebrate the ripening of oranges in California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1902, the first Rose Bowl game was played (football).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are all traditions we still follow
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost every New Year’s Eve
finds me dreaming of paying off a credit card or other bill…it usually doesn’t
happen, but each New Year’s Eve I find myself thinking about the same
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember Granny talking about
what to do and not do on New Year’s Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She believed that whatever you did on New Year’s Day, you would do <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">LOTS</b> of that same thing through out the
New Year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, she <u>didn’t</u>
do laundry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess she hated doing
laundry as much as the rest of us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
believed, like people all over the world, that certain things you eat on New
Year’s Day could bring you good luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Black-eyed peas bring you wealth, and hog-jowls or ham bring prosperity,
and cabbage or collard greens represent paper money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other countries believe eating something ‘round’, such as donuts
symbolizes ‘coming full circle’, and others believe eating rice brings good
luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granny usually had some black-eye
peas with ham & collard greens simmering on the stove on New Year’s
Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another New Year’s tradition all
over the world is to sing the song, “Auld Lang Syne”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This song was written by Robert Burns in the 1700’s, and became
more popular around the early 1800’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The title of the song means literally, “old long ago” or “the good old
days”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This song is fitting for New
Year’s Day as we remember the past year and the happiness and sadness it has
brought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have lost family members
and friends, should they be forgotten?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Read the words to this song and remember the ‘good old days’ with Granny
and Papa, and family members and good friends who have gone before us, and in
the new year take the hand of a loved one, or friend, and share a cup of
kindness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May you all be blessed with a
Happy & Prosperous New Year!</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 8.0pt;">Auld Lang Syne <br />
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</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 8.0pt;">Should auld
acquaintance be forgot <br />
and never brought to mind? <br />
Should auld acquaintance be forgot <br />
and days of auld lang syne? <br />
For auld lang syne, my dear, <br />
for auld lang syne, <br />
we'll take a cup of kindness yet, <br />
for auld lang syne. <br />
<br />
Should auld acquaintance be forgot <br />
and never brought to mind? <br />
Should auld acquaintance be forgot <br />
and days of auld lang syne? <br />
And here's a hand, my trusty friend <br />
And gie's a hand o' thine <br />
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet <br />
For auld lang syne</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Book Antiqua";">Prayer
List</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jeff Glass – Continued prayers for health – started Chemo in
early December, has gained some weight back.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tracey Glass – brain tumor & treatment for it</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Andy Knight – motorcycle wreck in early December…broke 3
vertebrae</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Helen Knight – continued chemo treatments</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hollis Mahaffey – diagnosed with diverticulosis & getting a
biopsy on a mass on lower rib</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Mary Mahaffey-spine problems, causing leg pain</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tyler Barrett (Michelle’s son) – Surgery on Eardrums 12/15</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Paula Knight Barrett – tests for Sleep Apnea</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Bob & Carolyn and their families<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>= Daddy (Robert Hutchins) died 12/16 (Thanks for all your kind
words & cards during this time)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Libby Hunter (Granny’s friend) – Health Problems</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Randal Helton’s Mother – Health Problems</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><img height="68" src="file:///C:/Users/Jess/AppData/Local/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image010.jpg" width="26" /></span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Praises</span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Amber-was granted an internship with Gwinnett County – in the
Juvenile Probation Division. Starts Jan. 24.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Todd Davidson – Still Tobacco Free </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Cody Hutchins – gained a few pounds back!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Larry Knight – tests show blockage in neck improved</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><img height="63" src="file:///C:/Users/Jess/AppData/Local/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image012.gif" width="52" /></span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12.0pt;">Congratulations!</span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Gayle & Mike Grooms have a new Granddaughter…Samantha Elizabeth,
born Dec. 27!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">(Parents: Michael & Jodi Grooms)</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><img height="54" src="file:///C:/Users/Jess/AppData/Local/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image014.gif" width="49" /></span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt;">Birthdays & Special Dates to Remember for January, February
& March:</span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Heather
Mosley – Jan 4</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Pearl
Black – Jan 5</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Danny
(Dee) Knight – Jan 13, 1980</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Lucas
Bennett – Jan 19</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Kathleen
Trusty – Jan 22, 1938</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Regina
Knight – Jan 22, 1949 (deceased)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Barbara
Knight – Jan 29, 1940 (deceased)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Hugh
Dorsey Knight (infant son of Cassie & Belvie Knight) Feb 7, 1940 (deceased)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Jean
Knight – Feb 13,1998</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Teresa
Mosley – Feb 16, 1973</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Stacy
Moon-Richardson – Feb 20, 1971</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 9.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Belvie
Knight – Feb 23, 1915 (deceased)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Christopher
Friend – Feb 27, 1992</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">David
Knight – Mar 2, 1963 (deceased)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Timothy
Bennett – Mar 3, 1978</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Scott
Richardson – Mar 9, 1971</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Jimmy
Knight – Mar 11, 1985</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Elaine
Knight – Mar 14, 2000</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Carolyn
Chapple – Mar 17, 1961</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Billy
Manis – Mar 18, 1992</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Rodney
Mosley – Mar 18</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Jessica
Chapple – Mar 27, 1990</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Gayle
Grooms – Mar 27</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Edward
Trusty – Mar 28, 1946</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Sharon
Friend – Mar 28, 1969</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Nikki
Mahaffey – Mar 31, 1987</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Tara
Grooms – Mar 31, 1990</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Please
note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still don’t have birth dates
for the following people:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grant<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>& Zoe Knight, Willis Manis, Stephanie
Moon, Shane Smith & Linda (Larry’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>girlfriend)</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 9.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Volunteering </span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Judy, Phyllis
and Fay joined me on Wednesday, December 8<sup>th At</sup> Winder Rehab to help
with the Christmas Store for the Residents. We had a lot of fun setting up the
store, helping residents shop, and wrapping their gifts for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They enjoyed shopping for themselves and
their loved ones so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sweaters and
Sweatshirts went fast…and so did stuffed animals and dolls!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we all got a lot of personal
satisfaction just helping out with the ‘old folks’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to everyone who was able to donate merchandise or
gift-wrapping supplies! (see photo</span><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> page)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><img height="51" src="file:///C:/Users/Jess/AppData/Local/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image015.gif" width="64" /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #339966; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Christmas Party for Residents & Family/Friends</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">On
Saturday, Dec. 4, a small group of us got together and had lunch with Granny at
the nursing home. (Included me, Judy, Jessica, Michael, Nicholas, Benjamin
& his friend). The home provided lots of good food – buffet style…boiled
shrimp, chicken fingers, spinach dip, finger sandwiches and desserts galore!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And some very good punch!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granny enjoyed us all being there. We went
to the front lobby and watched the birds for a while and visited with her.</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><img height="35" src="file:///C:/Users/Jess/AppData/Local/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image017.gif" width="83" /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Announcement</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Beginning with
this issue, I am only going to be sending out a newsletter once every 3 months,
and then a Christmas Issue: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next
one will be in April, then July and October and then the Christmas Issue.</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><img height="43" src="file:///C:/Users/Jess/AppData/Local/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image019.gif" width="36" /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Please mail
any cards or notes to Granny to: Winder Healthcare &</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rehab Center/P.O. Box 588/Winder, Georgia
30680</span></div>
<div style="border: double windowtext 5.25pt; mso-border-alt: double-wave windowtext 5.25pt; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-border-alt: double-wave windowtext 5.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Call me, write me or email me with any
questions, comments, stories or family news or if you want to be removed from
the mailing list:</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-border-alt: double-wave windowtext 5.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; font-size: 9.0pt;">4623 Pine Drive/Loganville/30052</span></b></div>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">770/466-2261 <a href="mailto:chapster13@yahoo.com">chapster13@yahoo.com</a></span></b>Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-4206882437369839942015-01-01T13:17:00.001-05:002015-01-01T13:28:19.144-05:00Adios 2014!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Adios 2014!</span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> (My year in review)</span></b></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mu-swCXl34Y/VKVvl-nqAvI/AAAAAAACeNQ/0oCrWl-V-mY/s1600/January%2B6%2B2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mu-swCXl34Y/VKVvl-nqAvI/AAAAAAACeNQ/0oCrWl-V-mY/s1600/January%2B6%2B2014.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">January 2014 - Happy New Year!!!!</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nMaBzXN_a7Y/VKVwW4s7fVI/AAAAAAACeNY/tUxYV4eq9cE/s1600/downsized_0302141337a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nMaBzXN_a7Y/VKVwW4s7fVI/AAAAAAACeNY/tUxYV4eq9cE/s1600/downsized_0302141337a.jpg" height="200" width="189" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Granny's Baby Tiny</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">January 2014, started the year being expensive. The first week of January the transmission went out in my Honda CR-V. Can we say Ka-Ching??? My mama celebrated her 76th birthday. Other than that, the start of the year was rather uneventful.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That's Crash. Hopefully she will last a few more years!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jess' Baby Kolbi!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">Then February rolled around, bringing with it, the snow! We got a dusting in January, but got several inches in mid February. I got to stay home for a few days because Gwinnett County actually closed! It was awesome! I even built a snow man! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">February is also when I started talking to someone on Facebook...Lindon! We began talking on Facebook and he quickly became a good friend!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My Snowman!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">March 1st was mine and Lindon's first face to face meeting. We had a great time exploring Athens and getting to know one another.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Me and Lindon.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">March is full of birthdays for us! March 23, my grandson, Greyson, turned 3 My daughter, Jessica, and I both had birthdays too.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy 3rd Birthday Greyson!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">In April, me, Amber and Chris, did the Color Run at Road Atlanta. We had a blast!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">Spring brings hope and renewal, but also, some sadness. Our good family friend, Debbie Helton, passed away. With happiness and joy, there must also be some heartbreak and tears. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">We celebrated Easter at Chris' Aunt Joy's. She is so gracious to open her home to all of us that we may celebrate Easter together!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">Abel, Greyson and lots of cousins at Easter!</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">Lindon introduced me to a group of wonderful young men, a gospel quartet, called The Old Paths. Over this past year we have seen them in concert several times and I have gotten to know them and they are just an awesome group of young men who praise God with their music!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">Also, Lindon and I begin going hiking. Over the course of spring and summer, he and I started going to different Georgia State Parks and county parks, hiking the trails, getting in better shape and just enjoying nature!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #a2c4c9;">June brought more sadness along with the warmer weather. My step-brother, Tony, passed away early June. It was sad to see him go because we had just gotten re-connected a couple of years earlier after many years of no contact.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #a2c4c9;">June also brought VACATION! Once again, we were able to join Chris on his Rescue Rodeo through his job with Georgia Power, to St. Simon's Island, Georgia. Lindon joined us and we had a great time at the beach and exploring St. Simon's!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Me, Lindon and the boys in Jekyll while on vacation.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">Lindon and I celebrated the 4th of July at a festival in Auburn, Georgia. July also found me in the E.R. one day with gall stones. I opted to NOT have surgery to remove it. So far, so good. We'll see if 2015 brings back gall stone problems! Hopefully NOT!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Greyson and Abel, St. Simon's Beach!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #bf9000;">In August, Lindon I hiked Talullah Gorge. Out of all the hikes we've been on, this one has been the best so far! It involved crossing the river by jumping from one boulder to the next, getting on all fours to cross rocks and boulders, sliding across a sheet of rock that goes almost straight up and slick from rain, and getting rained on. That was one of my all time best days of my life! We also went to the Garlic Festival near Cleveland, GA this year!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #c27ba0;">September 4, my grandson Abel turned 2! We celebrated him with a party in the park! It was fun to get the family together! Lindon and I went to the Jug Tavern Festival and enjoyed a good concert.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aunt Faye helping Abel blow bubbles!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy 2nd Birthday Abel!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Flo</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #e69138;">We went to the Georgia National Fair in Perry, GA, in October. Lindon and I headed up to the North Georgia Mountains to see the changing leaves. I transformed into Progressive's spokes lady, Flo, for Halloween. Also, my sister-in-law, Faye, hosted a Memorial Cookout to honor my brother, Bobby, who passed away last year.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Color North Georgia Mountains!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;">November brought much to be thankful for! We celebrated Thanksgiving down south with Chris' cousin Andrea. She welcomed all of us into her home and we had enough food to feed an army!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our bunch...enjoying Thanksgiving Dinner!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">Granny's Girls celebrated our annual gathering of Granny's blood daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters for the 10th year, I think. Stacy hosted this year, and she had us all meet at Master Mixers and we painted our own picture for Christmas! We had a blast!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys and their dogs, Foxy and Henry.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">Granny's Girls - 2014!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">Other happenings in December...Lindon had a birthday! Our family got together at my brothers to celebrate Christmas and the year ended with me home on the couch sick!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">This year my son in law, Chris, changed jobs. Amber continued to stay home with my grandsons. My 'adopted daughter', Grace, got engaged, got a new job, and bought a house. Jess and Justin moved in to a new home and continue to do well in their jobs. All my children seem happy and content with their life. My grandsons are growing like weeds and are so intelligent and have so many positive influences in their lives. I have a good person in my life with whom to explore the world with!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">It has been a fairly decent year, with some sadness sprinkled in with the happiness. I am looking forward to a New Year with new opportunities and more places to explore. I am hoping God continues to bless us as he has, and that we find even more favor with him. I am not really making any 'Resolutions' for the new year, but do have a few ideas for change. I would like to pursue purchasing my own home. Maybe work on my degree again. Hopefully be physically active again this year. With God's help, all things are possible!</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rbNpMLWQddQ/VKWOzKAYEqI/AAAAAAACeSg/8E2YK-HNIJU/s1600/10423959_10205569228975826_8369700160245300844_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rbNpMLWQddQ/VKWOzKAYEqI/AAAAAAACeSg/8E2YK-HNIJU/s1600/10423959_10205569228975826_8369700160245300844_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys and their truck from Uncle Bobby and Aunt Faye!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: lime;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>God Bless 2015!</b></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rvK53XAVxRU/VKWJYE_RaHI/AAAAAAACeRU/lwklqMT1fDY/s1600/IMG_4144-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rvK53XAVxRU/VKWJYE_RaHI/AAAAAAACeRU/lwklqMT1fDY/s1600/IMG_4144-002.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my brood...2014!</td></tr>
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<br />Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-86712063888120260552014-08-10T21:27:00.001-04:002014-08-10T21:27:34.795-04:00Revelation (aka: AHA! Moment)<div class="snum" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Revelation </span></span></span></div>
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(aka: AHA! Moment)</div>
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<img height="240" id="irc_mi" src="http://onlinemarketingwithvince.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/aha-moment.jpg" style="margin-top: 160px;" width="180" /></div>
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<u>Revelation </u>-<span class="ssens"><em class="sn"></em></span><span class="dbox-pg"><span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available"><em> </em>noun</span></span></span><span class="def-number"><span><span class="oneClick-link"> 1.</span></span></span><span><span class="oneClick-link"> the</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">act</span> <span class="oneClick-link">of</span> <span class="oneClick-link">revealing</span> <span class="oneClick-link">or</span> <span class="oneClick-link">disclosing;</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">disclosure.</span></span><span class="def-number"><span><span class="oneClick-link"> 2.</span></span></span><span><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available"> something</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">revealed</span> <span class="oneClick-link">or</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">disclosed,</span> <span class="oneClick-link">especially</span> <span class="oneClick-link">a</span> <span class="oneClick-link">striking</span> <span class="oneClick-link">disclosure,</span> <span class="oneClick-link">as</span> <span class="oneClick-link">of</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">something</span> <span class="oneClick-link">not</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">before</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">realized.</span> </span><div class="def-set">
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;"><span class="Head" id="dnn_ctr500_TITLE1_lblTitle">The Catholic Sacraments </span></span>
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The
traditional definition of a sacrament is this: "A sacrament is a
visible sign, instituted by Christ, to give grace." Within this
definition there are three important statements: </span></span></span></div>
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<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">A visible sign </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">An action is performed by a minister (usually a priest). </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">For example, when a baby is baptized in the church the priest pours <br />
water over its head and at the same time says the words "I baptize <br />
you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." <br />
That is a visible sign. </span><br />
</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Instituted by Christ </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Lord Jesus Christ instructed His church to offer the seven <br />
sacraments to His followers. For example, His directive to His <br />
disciples in Matthew's Gospel (28/19), "Go then, to all peoples <br />
everywhere and make them my disciples; baptize them in the name <br />
of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey <br />
everything I have commanded you." <br />
</span> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">To give grace </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Grace is God's free gift of Himself as the controlling influence in <br />
our life and the decisions we make once we have committed ourselves <br />
to Him in faith. </span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In
summary, a sacrament is one of the means God has chosen to influence
our life in the direction of his purpose for giving us life.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The seven sacraments are </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.stclementcincinnati.org/FaithFormation/The7CatholicSacraments.aspx#Baptism"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">Baptism</span></u></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://www.stclementcincinnati.org/FaithFormation/The7CatholicSacraments.aspx#Confirmation"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">Confirmation</span></u></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://www.stclementcincinnati.org/FaithFormation/The7CatholicSacraments.aspx#Eucharist"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">Eucharist</span></u></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://www.stclementcincinnati.org/FaithFormation/The7CatholicSacraments.aspx#Confession"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">Reconciliation</span></u></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://www.stclementcincinnati.org/FaithFormation/The7CatholicSacraments.aspx#Annointing_of_the_Sick"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">Anointing of the Sick</span></u></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://www.stclementcincinnati.org/FaithFormation/The7CatholicSacraments.aspx#Holy_Orders"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">Holy Orders</span></u></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, and </span><a href="http://www.stclementcincinnati.org/FaithFormation/The7CatholicSacraments.aspx#Matrimony"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">Matrimony</span></u></span></a></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="ssens"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="ssens">(The above excerpt was copied from this website: <span style="color: blue;"><u> http://www.stclementcincinnati.org/FaithFormation/The7CatholicSacraments.aspx</u></span>. It is being used only to give explanation of the Seven Holy Sacraments of the Catholic faith. I am not claiming it as my own writing in no means, way, or fashion.)</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="ssens">Today, I had a revelation. But first, some history.</span></div>
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<span class="ssens">This December, I should be celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary. But I will not be. It has been a bit puzzling to me the past year and half, as to why I won't be celebrating any more wedding anniversaries with the father of my youngest child...</span></div>
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<span class="ssens">When I met him, he informed me he was Catholic, then he watched my face. I am sure my face did not change with this knowledge, for I had very little understanding of the Catholic faith. When he saw I did not grimace, faint or scream, he continued on with his courtship.</span></div>
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<span class="ssens">I had always heard, all my life, not to marry 'outside of your faith'. To the best of my knowledge at the time, I was Baptist, as I was essentially un-churched. Oh, I had attended church. I was FULL ON Christian, as I had accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior early on. I had been baptized too. In a church. A Baptist church. When our courtship turned into an engagement of sorts, I did have my reservations. But honestly, he was so much more religious than I was, and he was so much more devoted to God and so much more knowledgeable about the Bible than I was, I couldn't see anything wrong with us being married. We did, as far as I was concerned, worship the same God. Just maybe a little differently. In fact, the only thing that seemed different was that he not only prayed to God, but he could also call on Mary, the mother of Jesus.</span></div>
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<span class="ssens">Early on in our marriage, I learned about the Seven Holy Sacraments of the Catholic Church. He told me these were things he learned about and had drilled into his head during his 12 years of a private Catholic school student. He said of all things he learned about in his faith, the Seven Sacraments were the things he felt most led to follow. Especially holy sanctity of marriage. (He also did not believe in abortion, but he definitely believed in birth control!) I bought a children's book about the Sacraments, as to have more understanding of what my husband believed.</span></div>
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<span class="ssens"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.catholicsupply.com/books/90995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.catholicsupply.com/books/90995.jpg" style="margin-top: 150px;" width="254" /></a><span class="ssens">From this little book with it's colorful drawings that appealed to young children, and from my husband's own mouth, I learned that marriage is held in the highest esteem (for lack of a better word) in the Catholic world. </span></div>
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<br /><i><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span>Matrimony</span></u></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>All
love comes from God, and all love reflects the love that God has for
His creation. The Sacrament of Marriage is, first and foremost, a sign
and symbol of this love. Marriage is a sacrament of the self-giving love
which two people offer to each other. The love which a couple have for
each other mirrors the love God has for men and women.</span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
The minister of the Sacrament of Marriage is the couple themselves. The priest serves as a witness.</span></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
The joy and mutual support of married love can be a source of strength
which enables married people to serve others in a very powerful way. It
should spill out to their children and to those around them and become a
source of life, hope and comfort for others. This is reflected in the
blessing which the priest often gives the newly-married couples, saying:</span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
"May you always bear witness to the love of God in this world, so that
the afflicted and the needy will find in you generous friends and
welcome you into the joys of Heaven."</span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Again, this is borrowed from the website </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="ssens"><span style="color: blue;"><u>http://www.stclementcincinnati.org/FaithFormation/The7CatholicSacraments.aspx</u></span>.
It is being used only to give explanation of the Seven Holy Sacraments
of the Catholic faith. I am not claiming it as my own writing in no
means, way, or fashion.)</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ssens">Therefore, one can only imagine the confusion, disappointment, and heartbreak I felt when I learned my marriage to this man would fail. Yes, many times over the years, I did want to divorce. Yes, there were times I thought if I could only run away and not look back. But every time we had challenges, we overcame them. I thought we always would. I thought, I am married to a man where divorce is not an option. Maybe that was part of the problem. I thought no matter what sin I committed, or he committed, divorce was not an option. But there it was. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ssens">Hindsight is 20/20. Heard that saying before? Well, as Paul Harvey would have said, here's the rest of the story...</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.trunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/OsteenTie03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.trunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/OsteenTie03.jpg" style="margin-top: 99px;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ssens">About a year or more before I knew our marriage was seriously endangered, my husband ventured out into the world of 'faith other than that of Catholicism' . He went to a Christmas service at 'my' church, a Methodist church. He began to listen to Joel Osteen, the televangelist. I can honestly admit, I was tickled pink! I would walk through my living room and he would be on his stationary bike, pedaling like a mad-man, and listening to Joel Osteen preach! I was amazed by this, because he has always been very critical of the Baptist church. But now he had CD's of this man's sermons, offering them to me to listen to.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ssens">One night I overheard Joel stating that a man should love and honor his wife, and show her in different ways how he loves her. I stopped and asked my husband, 'When exactly are you going to start doing these things you are hearing in these sermons?' I was joking with him, and he joked back.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ssens">In one discussion about his listening to Joel Osteen, I asked my husband, 'Why would a Catholic man listen to him?" He stated, "I am not sure I am still Catholic". He had told me from the day I knew he was Catholic, that he was not a practicing Catholic. He also told me that he had not always agreed with every single teaching of the Catholic religion he had received in church or Catholic school. And now, it seemed he may be doubting his Catholic 'religion' and was ready to broaden his faith horizons.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ssens">Now....the Revelation. The AHA! moment I had today...If you are no longer 'Catholic', perhaps you no longer have to believe, or at least, no longer have to uphold The Seven Holy Sacraments of the Catholic faith. Including the one of matrimony.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="ssens">Well, that explains that.</span></span></div>
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Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-60984163502577261352014-04-16T22:30:00.002-04:002014-06-01T23:03:51.441-04:00Why Do the Birds Go On Singing?<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5orGzWWNS4/U08nYVK4snI/AAAAAAABgK0/fAZiAGYVNNY/s1600/Singing+bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5orGzWWNS4/U08nYVK4snI/AAAAAAABgK0/fAZiAGYVNNY/s1600/Singing+bird.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Why do the birds go on singing? Don't they know its the end of the world? " Asks Brenda Lee in her song "The End of the World".</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is true, when you have love and lose it, it is absolutely devastating. You are trapped inside a bubble with only your hurting thoughts, feelings and emotions, and you cannot fathom why other people are walking around, smiling and laughing, and carrying on like your heart isn't absolutely smashed to pieces! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a really sad state of being to live through! It is a miserable way to feel. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">****INSERT SOUND OF SLAMMING BRAKES HERE****</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">If you thought this was going to be a sad post, you are, I am happy to say - WRONG!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As you all know, readers, I have had my fair share of sad and sappy Brenda Lee-like songs ringing out of my keyboard for the past couple of years. But! That has come to an end!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am singing a NEW SONG now! I am singing 'Happy' by Pharrell Williams! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Why am I so happy? Because I have found the answer to Brenda Lee's question...Why do the birds go on singing????</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's because, even though having love and losing it, and feeling like you are going to die, it really IS NOT the end of the world! It may be the end of the world <i>as you know it</i>, but the sun does go on shining! The stars do keep glowing above! The sea does continue to rush! Your heart does go on beating! And yes! You will cry tears and people will go on about their business - - - because the world keeps going! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The reason it does, is because you heal, you find new reasons to smile and laugh, you see the world through different eyes, you learn there are new (or old) reasons to live! And there the world is, continuing on and waiting for you to catch up!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you have loved and lost, or are hurting for any other reason, do not give up hope! Pray to God above to heal you! Ask your friends and other loved ones to pray for you! Post prayer requests for an 'un-named' person if you are too shy or embarrassed to ask for yourself...God KNOWS who they will be praying for! God listens. He cares. He will heal you! I am living proof of this!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My 'help me cry' song of choice for over a decade was Evanescence 's 'My Immortal'. If you truly listen to the words to this song, you will feel the heartache of a person who loved someone, helped them through things, was there for that person, only to have their loved one turn their back and leave. And for the longest time, I felt broken like the person in the song. But I have listened to that song for the last time. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am happy because God has lifted me up. He heard my cries and felt my pain and he has eased it! He has helped me realize all my blessings...including my daughters, my grandsons, my extended family, my friends, my job, the list goes on and on! He has put a new person in my life that makes me smile and laugh, and makes my heart skip a beat! God wants us to be happy! God LOVES a good romance! (You don't believe that? Find the book (called the Song) of Solomon in the Bible and read it!)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So pick your song now...will it be Brenda Lee, </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">or Pharrell Williams? </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Sad Songs:</span> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. Brenda Lee - The End of the World </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. Evanescense - My Immortal</span></span><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGKRXhmFQlw"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGKRXhmFQlw</span></span></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">Happy Songs:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. Pharrell Williams - Happy </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=y6Sxv-sUYtM"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=y6Sxv-sUYtM</span></span></a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Others that are uplifting and Happy...</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. Jamie Grace - Hold Me </span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISgr8SgCYbY&feature=kp">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISgr8SgCYbY&feature=kp</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">5. Toby Mac - Get Back Up</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX5OqyBYKh4"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX5OqyBYKh4</span></span></a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And here is a link to the top 10 'Happy' Songs of all time! (not sure I agree...but you might!)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/list/5915801/top-20-happy-songs-of-all-time"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">http://www.billboard.com/articles/list/5915801/top-20-happy-songs-of-all-time</span></span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-22376755815620233332014-01-01T21:36:00.002-05:002014-01-01T21:36:40.765-05:00Goodbye 2013!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Goodbye to year 2013! I am really not too sad to see you go. I have not written on this site in ages...so much has happened and I'm trying to get caught up with my life. Here is a little bit about 2013...and a bit about the past 23 years too!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-awjvYzuIZaA/UsTNaXHZz2I/AAAAAAAAHjs/Tgl7jctsQ10/s1600/happy+Abel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-awjvYzuIZaA/UsTNaXHZz2I/AAAAAAAAHjs/Tgl7jctsQ10/s320/happy+Abel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were happy times!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sl6sJZNwVUs/UsTNao4B_TI/AAAAAAAAHjw/3n_1_GmHFvM/s1600/sad+Greyson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sl6sJZNwVUs/UsTNao4B_TI/AAAAAAAAHjw/3n_1_GmHFvM/s320/sad+Greyson.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And there were sad times.</td></tr>
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I don't remember too much about <span style="font-size: large;"><b>January, 2013</b></span>. I just know it was cold. The weather was cold. My life was cold. My husband of 23 years continued to not speak to me though we lived in the same house and slept in the same bed. He had not spoken to me in months and we crept about the house avoiding each other. I avoided him because it was painful that he would not look at me or speak to me. If I asked him a question he would shrug, nod, shake his head, and sometimes give a one word answer. We were on different work schedules so it wasn't too hard to avoid him most of the time. He avoided me, because, from my own deductions, he just didn't love me or want to be around me anymore.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>February, 2013</b></span> wasn't just cold, it was frigid! It rained, snowed, iced over. The coldness inside our home continued to freeze also. Trying to talk about the situation only brought anger, yelling, and more coldness.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow, February 2013. Rabbit Farm Road. Loganville, GA.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A visit from Amber, Abel, Greyson and Jessica. February 2013.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>March, 2013</b></span>, was a time for decisions. I decided I could not take my life as it was anymore. I informed my husband I would be moving out in one week for a formal separation. I think he was very relieved. I moved into a small, three bedroom house that was built in 1936. My daughter, Jessica, moved with me. She had just graduated from UGA in December and moved back home. Having her with me during the move was a blessing. </div>
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Right from the start, moving out was a challenge. For 23 years my husband had paid all the major bills we had. He was 100% an excellent provider in the way of a home, cars and repairs, and so much I cannot even list it all. My part was providing our health insurance, groceries, car insurance, cable bill, my own and my children's extracurricular activities. But now I had to pay rent, all the utilities, food, etc. for me and Jessica, as at the time she was not working. It was tough.</div>
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Thank God for my family, who swept in with trucks and arms and loaded up all my furniture and belongings I needed immediately and brought it to my new home. They also cleaned the new place and helped clean the old place. I did not take everything from the house. I took a bed that was Amber's when she lived at home and the dresser that goes with it. I took the love seat and a tv that my husband had given me for our bedroom years ago. I took the kitchen table and chairs and a few odds and ends furniture that my stepdad had built for me. I left him the rest of the living room suit (couch, book shelves, end table). I left him our bedroom suit. He had his own tv and computers and other odds and ends furniture. Jess had stuff we could use from her apartment in storage. We brought her microwave oven, toaster oven, big screen tv, and other items that we could use. </div>
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Slowly, by careful management of my money and being very frugal, me and Jess made a new home in our little bitty house.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine and Jess' new home. March 2013.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Amber, Abel, Greyson and Chris. Easter 2013.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Grandson, Greyson, celebrated his 2nd birthday with a party at Burger King.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>April, 2013</b></span> brought with it the news that my husband was filing for divorce. We only had communication through texting and a very few emails. We worked out the details of our divorce that way, as my attempts to call him were ignored. </div>
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I tried very hard to stay busy. Trying to cram a three story house and over 20 years of collecting stuff into a one story house kept me quite busy. I took stuff to Goodwill. I gave stuff away. I had a yard sale. I tried to find a place for everything I couldn't bear to part with. Whew!</div>
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In the meantime, I tried to have a normal life and tried to make things normal for Jess and my older daughter, Amber, and her family too.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jess, friend Paige, Amber and me - The Color Run Atlanta. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greyson and Abel. Abel trying to catch up with big brother!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weiner Roast at my house to thank my family for helping me in my move.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />In <span style="font-size: large;"><b>May, 2013</b></span>, my brother Bobby, and his wife, Faye, have a graduation party for their son, my nephew, Cody. It is a happy time for Bobby and Faye, in an otherwise hard time for them. Bobby was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer in 2012. It was his wish to live to see his son graduate high school. No one knew for sure he would make it. He did, plus got to be at his graduation celebration!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cody and Faye at his graduation party.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Jess at the little free zoo in Athens.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sc819DU-lGU/UsSeKf-4c-I/AAAAAAAAGW8/mAJI96o58n0/s1600/DSCN7502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sc819DU-lGU/UsSeKf-4c-I/AAAAAAAAGW8/mAJI96o58n0/s400/DSCN7502.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greyson looking at the bears at the free zoo in Athens.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OfXzqTDxa2M/UsSe2tFJ6cI/AAAAAAAAGXw/NUnaoJOUxlk/s1600/IMG_0347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OfXzqTDxa2M/UsSe2tFJ6cI/AAAAAAAAGXw/NUnaoJOUxlk/s320/IMG_0347.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful flower...me and Jess visited the Athens Botanical Gardens to try out her new camera.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mAy6phO35kw/UsSejq8SgmI/AAAAAAAAGXY/Se7jqKmnekA/s1600/DSCN7527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mAy6phO35kw/UsSejq8SgmI/AAAAAAAAGXY/Se7jqKmnekA/s320/DSCN7527.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abel at a kids' play zone at Athens Square Mall.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <b>June, 2013</b></span>...the divorce is final. It's weird to think about saying vows and at the time, you mean everything you say. Till death do we part. I guess at the time you beleive it and you mean it. He really seemed to. You feel like you let God down. But what choice did I have in the matter. I had asked him to go to counseling and he said no. </div>
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I got to go with Amber and Chris to St. Simon's Island for a week. Jess went along too. We had a lot of fun going to the beach, the pool, site-seeing, shopping and eating. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AVMUNWAThMs/UsSiXZefccI/AAAAAAAAGcM/0fxWcYpuNFc/s1600/DSC01018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AVMUNWAThMs/UsSiXZefccI/AAAAAAAAGcM/0fxWcYpuNFc/s320/DSC01018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amber and Jess at the beach, St. Simon's Island.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q5kjJzUTtFg/UsSidxmEQPI/AAAAAAAAGcg/B5v1JgL5M4E/s1600/DSC00986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q5kjJzUTtFg/UsSidxmEQPI/AAAAAAAAGcg/B5v1JgL5M4E/s200/DSC00986.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greyson on the beach.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4EYhxBWfso/UsSiujDkVqI/AAAAAAAAGc0/Io2A4XEu3qg/s1600/DSC00980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4EYhxBWfso/UsSiujDkVqI/AAAAAAAAGc0/Io2A4XEu3qg/s200/DSC00980.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abel on the beach.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BZ7jUCC_rag/UsSi_YPMS6I/AAAAAAAAGdQ/qvzcOgQ7Nao/s1600/DSC00880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BZ7jUCC_rag/UsSi_YPMS6I/AAAAAAAAGdQ/qvzcOgQ7Nao/s320/DSC00880.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bobby. 48 years old.</td></tr>
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My brother Bobby celebrated his 48th birthday.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>July, 2013</b></span>...Summer is in full swing. Me, my Aunt Judy and Mama went to the fireworks celebration in Auburn, Georgia. I guess that was the high light of the month. Still trying to get used to being a 'single' person again. I did venture out to bars with friends. But nothing and no one interests me.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iVY5mE1XDjk/UsSnz5XyejI/AAAAAAAAGms/XeZstqR67PE/s1600/2013-07-269511.42.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iVY5mE1XDjk/UsSnz5XyejI/AAAAAAAAGms/XeZstqR67PE/s320/2013-07-269511.42.19.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abel and Greyson looking out the window into the back yard of their home, which is the woods.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>August, 2013</b></span>. The hottest part of summer arrives and Jess and I do well keeping our house at a comfortable high 70-something degrees. We are still learning how to live on the cheap. We rarely splurge on anything. If we do, its usually a meal out or a movie. </div>
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Even though Jess graduated in December, she is still taking classes over the summer. She is taking classes required in order to apply for nursing school. This is what she is shooting for. So a couple of times a week she is in class and on line classes too. And she got a job! It's her first 'real' job and she got a good taste of how it is to work with a bunch of women of different ages, different ethnic backgrounds, and different stations in life. </div>
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I have my good moments, and my bad moments. Then I have my really, really, bad moments. I am not sure it is my husband I miss, because he had become so distant and shut off from me, how can I miss that? </div>
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I did and still do miss the man I married. The man who worked so hard to earn a good living so we could have a nice home and nice things. I miss the man who liked to go to movies and out to eat with me and the kids. I miss just having him in the house, not so much to do things with, but just feeling safe, even if he is upstairs in his office half the night. </div>
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I miss my bedroom at my old house. I had painted it blue. Three walls a beautiful, ocean inspired blue. The fourth wall a darker shade of the same blue. My picture 'The Meandering River' over the bed. My bird pictures on the walls. The closet I hated because it wasn't big enough, and the bathroom, because it was big enough.</div>
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My husband, since early in our marriage, stayed away from the house during the times we were mostly awake. He slept late in the mornings and got up after we had all left for work or school. He worked late and mostly didn't come home until we had all turned in for the night. During the times he did come home before our bedtime, he stayed in his office upstairs working on some project or another and didn't come to bed till we had all been asleep for hours. Sometimes, it felt as if I were not married at all, except he provided us a nice home and kept everything in working order and good repair. </div>
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I'm not saying he wasn't EVER home when we were. Except for certain times during our marriage, he was always at home at night. I had given up years ago trying to stay awake until he got home. It woke me up when he came to bed at 10:00pm, 11:00pm, midnight, or later. But in the last few years, it no longer woke me. I didn't know if he had come home or not until I woke the next morning.</div>
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Friends and family said they could never live that way. I would have said that too, except the changes were mostly gradual, so that you really don't realize it's happening until its too late. And then, when you bring up the fact you don't like how things are, you are asked, Why is this a problem all of a sudden? I guess that's a valid question. </div>
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My girls played sports and were involved in all kinds of activities and clubs over the years. Amber played basketball from the time she was in 3rd grade to 8th grade. Jess tried many sports...soccer, swim team, basketball, tennis. She was also in scouts and school choir. My husband rarely attended any of these events. I mentioned it to him one time, he said he didn't mind them being in sports and clubs and stuff, but he never cared for sports and had no interest in watching sports. Ok.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BCXj1KvrmFM/UsSubxwIAlI/AAAAAAAAGxk/bo7vM29ojyg/s1600/2013-08-30_11.55.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BCXj1KvrmFM/UsSubxwIAlI/AAAAAAAAGxk/bo7vM29ojyg/s400/2013-08-30_11.55.47.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greyson and Abel play outside on a hot August day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P01HqBFL69A/UsSudBG878I/AAAAAAAAGx0/LSk4nCABgek/s1600/2013-09-019514.05.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P01HqBFL69A/UsSudBG878I/AAAAAAAAGx0/LSk4nCABgek/s320/2013-09-019514.05.17.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catawba worms. Gross!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xP2e2s3Kw0Q/UsSuiA8yGtI/AAAAAAAAGyA/ubzQ8p2fImY/s1600/0825131739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xP2e2s3Kw0Q/UsSuiA8yGtI/AAAAAAAAGyA/ubzQ8p2fImY/s320/0825131739.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least something good comes from disgusting caterpillars!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jApu4nxcv9c/UsSulSPDf_I/AAAAAAAAGyQ/g6wcLDPGX6c/s1600/0827131834b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jApu4nxcv9c/UsSulSPDf_I/AAAAAAAAGyQ/g6wcLDPGX6c/s640/0827131834b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fascinating spiders abound in August...Cellar Spider. Or as we called them as kids, Writing spiders.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>September, 2013</b>.</span>..We celebrated Abel's first birthday at Chik-filet. It felt good to have friends and family around us again. With all the sadness going on in my life...a divorce, the death of a new friend, my brother battling cancer, it was nice to have some happiness going on. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wR17KtG4T9s/UsSw3rDsGfI/AAAAAAAAG2U/5fhY1bRS_uw/s1600/DSCN7909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wR17KtG4T9s/UsSw3rDsGfI/AAAAAAAAG2U/5fhY1bRS_uw/s640/DSCN7909.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday to Abel, with Poppa Mahaffey, Chris (Dada), Cow, Amber, Greyson and Granddad Tim.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-43SGKp4T-Sw/UsSw8dF8h2I/AAAAAAAAG2o/TI0kFHuryL8/s1600/DSCN8152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-43SGKp4T-Sw/UsSw8dF8h2I/AAAAAAAAG2o/TI0kFHuryL8/s320/DSCN8152.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greyson, Amber and Abel on the paddle boat at Fort Yargo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vNiSfNCRlGY/UsSxJXJkkjI/AAAAAAAAG28/KkdC1GkoReM/s1600/DSCN8126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vNiSfNCRlGY/UsSxJXJkkjI/AAAAAAAAG28/KkdC1GkoReM/s320/DSCN8126.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greyson and Poppa at Poppa's house.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-den7EIHjLvc/UsSxUGwG6MI/AAAAAAAAG3Q/OkeQLpvZxXo/s1600/DSCN8104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-den7EIHjLvc/UsSxUGwG6MI/AAAAAAAAG3Q/OkeQLpvZxXo/s400/DSCN8104.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abel enjoying time with Poppa!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> 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<b> <span style="font-size: large;">October, 2013</span></b>. Things were going okay in October...but things changed. My brother's cancer had, over the summer, seem to be under control. But in late September he got news that the trial drug he had been taken had not been able to stop the cancer from growing. He had tough decisions to make. Stop all treatment and live as long as he could without being sick from treatments...or try a new, stronger chemo, that would make him feel bad, but might help him live longer? I know he struggled with this decision. But I think the desire to live and to be with his wife and son longer helped him decide to try more treatment.</div>
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Me and Mama had decided to go to Faye and Bobby's house that Sunday. We took them a meal I had made for them. Bobby lay on his cot in the living room and he never got up while we were there. He would respond to questions with a nod or smile, but he never really sat up, opened his eyes, or talked. Faye explained to us he was weak and tired. The chemo had made him very hoarse and he had a cough. When we were leaving I heard him cough and commented on how terrible it sounded. I thought maybe he had pneumonia. </div>
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The next morning my sister-in-law had to call 9-1-1. Bobby was not getting oxygen. By the time she saw him in the E.R...he was already turning a dark color. When me and Mama got there, I was shocked by the dark grey and black his skin was, especially around his eyes and mouth. They were just going to start to intubate him when we arrived. The hospital in Winder got him stabilized and he was transported by ambulance to Athens Regional Hospital. Shortly after he arrived there, he passed away. It was one of the hardest things I've ever gone through. But for my sister-in-law, Faye, it was the WORST thing she had ever gone through.</div>
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My brother was buried on October 17th. Again, the family gathered, but more of them, and from farther away. Bobby and Faye's friends gathered. Friends of all members of our family gathered. We cried. We laughed. We remembered.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-InSihR_iE04/UsS05VAUXfI/AAAAAAAAG9U/ncriUWKviBU/s1600/SCAN0109-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-InSihR_iE04/UsS05VAUXfI/AAAAAAAAG9U/ncriUWKviBU/s320/SCAN0109-001.JPG" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brother Bobby, about 3 years old.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bobby, Christmas 2012.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WAAD3mRLQRc/UsS1EVZyHdI/AAAAAAAAG9g/HJw87CAP_9s/s1600/2013-10-279509.25.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WAAD3mRLQRc/UsS1EVZyHdI/AAAAAAAAG9g/HJw87CAP_9s/s320/2013-10-279509.25.11.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greyson and Abel...growing so big!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abel at the pumpkin patch.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qJrADSftnzU/UsS1nACp58I/AAAAAAAAG-U/MPer1Nq0-WQ/s1600/DSC02795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qJrADSftnzU/UsS1nACp58I/AAAAAAAAG-U/MPer1Nq0-WQ/s320/DSC02795.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greyson and his silly self!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>November, 2013</b></span>. A time for Thanksgiving. Amidst all the pain and hurting, there is time and opportunity to forgive others and to forgive yourself. Did I hurt someone? Did I do enough? Did I make the right decision? And what if....what if....what if? If only...</div>
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Jessica found a new job...a really good job, doing something in her field that she went to school for (Biology). Her new job is about an hour and half away from where we live in Winder, so she moved to be closer to her job. And closer to her boyfriend. I am a true empty nester now. </div>
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Again, I struggled with losing someone. But no young adult wants to live with their parents forever, and I totally understand that and totally support her in her move. </div>
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This is house is small when people come to visit. It is big when you are home alone. I can hear every creak, bump and rattle. I have a very hard time sleeping at night. I stay up as late as I can, watching shows on Netflix. (I cannot afford cable right now. Netflix is only $8.00 a month and its powered by the internet I already have in order to have the computer). I watch Frazier every night. It is my routine and it helps me keep my sanity. I don't know what will take Frazier 's place once I have watched all the episodes. I will deal with that when it comes. </div>
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I am trying to continue watching the stuff me and my husband watched together, and stuff me and Jess watched together. It is sad, but comforting too. </div>
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Me and my girls celebrated Thanksgiving a week after Thanksgiving, in the North Georgia Mountains. It was nice staying in a cabin and getting out and roaming about during the day. Jess came for one day, I was there three. Amber, Chris and the boys stayed the week. We ate T.G. dinner at Glenda's in Cleveland. We walked around Helen and Dahlonega. We did a tiny bit of Christmas shopping.</div>
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I also went on a one day girls' outting to the mountains with my cousins in November. We ended up in Cherokee, N.C. and I spent $5.00 at the casino, but found some good Christmas gifts in shops on the way there and back.</div>
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The cold weather came with November. I cannot afford a big heating bill, so I keep the thermostat low. Amber and Chris like that! I walk around with sweaters and scarves on. But the bills get larger and the paycheck does not, so I don't mind throwing on extra clothing and a heating blanket.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abel playing with train set at Georgia State Fair, Perry.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greyson at Georgia State Fair, Perry.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greyson and Abel at cabin in Cleveland. Thanksgiving.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys in Helen, GA.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zAKV4FeFP-U/UsS83RA9VMI/AAAAAAAAHKY/VzjAKQppu3A/s1600/DSC01408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zAKV4FeFP-U/UsS83RA9VMI/AAAAAAAAHKY/VzjAKQppu3A/s320/DSC01408.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jess and Amber. Helen, GA.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pOi68sH-WZ8/UsS8-mrEHmI/AAAAAAAAHKg/6F5A5_4JnWs/s1600/DSC01376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pOi68sH-WZ8/UsS8-mrEHmI/AAAAAAAAHKg/6F5A5_4JnWs/s320/DSC01376.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amber, Chris and Greyson. Thanksgiving dinner at Glenda's in Cleveland.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cherokee, NC - mid November.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>December, 2013</b></span>. Christmas. A time to celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. A time to hurry. A time to use your credit card. A time to spend with family, more family, your other family, and friends. </div>
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We started the month with Granny's Girl's Christmas Tea at my daughter, Amber's. She lives in South Georgia so we all trekked down there with sleeping bags and pillows to party and slumber. It was a lot of hard work but it was all worth it because we laughed, ate, and had a blast.</div>
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The weekend before Christmas, Amber, Chris and the boys, and Jess came over and we celebrated Christmas. Then we visited with Mama so the boys could see 'Granny'. We finished off the weekend with Christmas dinner at my brother Edward (Bo) 's house with a visit from Santa (which scared the boys half to death) and everything.</div>
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I spent Christmas day with my Mama and brother and sister in law came over too.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jess, me and Amber</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p7KGciLxGNU/UsTGvotmTII/AAAAAAAAHYQ/UIOEqKy6MnM/s1600/DSCN8528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p7KGciLxGNU/UsTGvotmTII/AAAAAAAAHYQ/UIOEqKy6MnM/s320/DSCN8528.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Santa Clause</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o09g4zzAgTw/UsTGktCml9I/AAAAAAAAHYA/0akVoxxS_rI/s1600/DSCN8495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o09g4zzAgTw/UsTGktCml9I/AAAAAAAAHYA/0akVoxxS_rI/s400/DSCN8495.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris, Greyson, Amber, Abel and Mama</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B1GX2O36tlQ/UsTHEc9zbeI/AAAAAAAAHYs/v2nwp2sugho/s1600/DSC01503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B1GX2O36tlQ/UsTHEc9zbeI/AAAAAAAAHYs/v2nwp2sugho/s320/DSC01503.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amber, Grace and Jess</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ldAuz5C0tuI/UsTHD7hpMSI/AAAAAAAAHYo/k6UWxMcwpSI/s1600/DSC02854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ldAuz5C0tuI/UsTHD7hpMSI/AAAAAAAAHYo/k6UWxMcwpSI/s320/DSC02854.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greyson and Abel...Santa came to Mimi's house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sHxijpss9qE/UsTHShmhfCI/AAAAAAAAHZQ/jVGza3sexYU/s1600/DSCN8411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sHxijpss9qE/UsTHShmhfCI/AAAAAAAAHZQ/jVGza3sexYU/s640/DSCN8411.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Granny's Girls Christmas Party, front row, me and Stacy, Middle Row Amber, Jess and Annette, back row Michele, Judy and Sharon</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AI2FdPYGcEI/UsTPxOBr22I/AAAAAAAAHnk/GlN2KIHmD0A/s1600/Bobby%27s+ornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AI2FdPYGcEI/UsTPxOBr22I/AAAAAAAAHnk/GlN2KIHmD0A/s320/Bobby%27s+ornament.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My brother's Memory will live forever in our hearts.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zGYGAVfNroU/UsTHIgCsEKI/AAAAAAAAHY8/BTvat3P1qsY/s1600/1211132224a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zGYGAVfNroU/UsTHIgCsEKI/AAAAAAAAHY8/BTvat3P1qsY/s320/1211132224a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Trigger Thumb Release Surgery was in early December. All healed up now!</td></tr>
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I am finally kind of getting used to having the house to myself. I watch what I want to watch on t.v. I eat what I want to eat and don't cook if I can avoid it. I took over the bedroom Jess used when she lived here. I keep the heat on very low and it's helped the cats fluff up a bit. I rarely have visitors, but its ok. I have always been a bit of a loner. By choice? By nature? I don't know. Maybe I learned it?</div>
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I celebrated the New Year at home by myself under a heated blanket and having a Breaking Bad marathon. I'm on season 5. I was supposed to be in South Georgia with my grandsons for New Year's Eve, but my car broke a week ago. It's in the shop waiting for repairs. So I am home.</div>
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The fireworks at 12:00 a.m. freaked my two cats out and they turned on each other and had a hissing and growling and howling match. Fun Stuff!</div>
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It is time to let go of 2013 and embrace 2014. I am hoping to continue to heal from my divorce. I'm hoping to line my empty nest with soft and fuzzy stuff to make a more loving, enjoyable home. I'm hoping to get a raise at work this year. It is my goal to get my car is good working order and spend the rest of my life paying off the credit card bills it will take to do that. I plan to spend more time with family and friends. I hope to help my sister-in-law recover from losing her husband, my brother. I am looking forward to 2014 with hope, healing and great expectations! </div>
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And finally...last but not least....our Pets, 2013. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bInJpHTrEYU/UsTI7_JXZpI/AAAAAAAAHb4/CdeWPwITUGY/s1600/DSCN8465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bInJpHTrEYU/UsTI7_JXZpI/AAAAAAAAHb4/CdeWPwITUGY/s320/DSCN8465.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam. Was Amber and Chris' cat, came to live with me, Summer 2013.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gnppzVh7j7E/UsTJDIs56oI/AAAAAAAAHcA/1psW2LXLu7k/s1600/DSCN8464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gnppzVh7j7E/UsTJDIs56oI/AAAAAAAAHcA/1psW2LXLu7k/s320/DSCN8464.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lex. Jess' cat. He lives with me now that Jess has moved out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p7DzOFxcVJk/UsTLNDTvmNI/AAAAAAAAHf4/qa_IKMppXyg/s1600/Buffy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p7DzOFxcVJk/UsTLNDTvmNI/AAAAAAAAHf4/qa_IKMppXyg/s320/Buffy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buffy. Amber has had her a LONG time! LOL!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WUvZNJ4DFwU/UsTLOLxSI8I/AAAAAAAAHgA/uTWEqdwB2ck/s1600/Henry+and+Foxy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WUvZNJ4DFwU/UsTLOLxSI8I/AAAAAAAAHgA/uTWEqdwB2ck/s320/Henry+and+Foxy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foxy, and her pup, Henry. They joined the family in the fall of 2013. Greyson and Abel's dogs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rMqUSve70Eg/UsTJ7rVEGWI/AAAAAAAAHdk/pPiQoxIORBU/s1600/1511249_10152514279857818_661658714_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rMqUSve70Eg/UsTJ7rVEGWI/AAAAAAAAHdk/pPiQoxIORBU/s320/1511249_10152514279857818_661658714_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kolby. Jess got her for Christmas!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q5I4PG3-_ZE/UsTMsfaJK_I/AAAAAAAAHic/YcuhQxRpR80/s1600/Stormy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q5I4PG3-_ZE/UsTMsfaJK_I/AAAAAAAAHic/YcuhQxRpR80/s320/Stormy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stormy. Sweet, gentle, a boy's best friend. Hit and killed by a car in the summer of 2013. God rest her soul.</td></tr>
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Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-4928004841297588512013-07-24T20:04:00.001-04:002013-07-24T20:11:22.216-04:00His Choices<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was three when my brother, Robert Hutchins (Bobby), was born. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't remember a whole lot about Bobby, or myself, when he was a baby. Except one day, Momma told me to 'watch him' while she went to the bathroom. I watched him alright. I watched him scream when I squeezed daddy's aftershave lotion in his eyes! And then he watched me get my fanny tore up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me and my brother were very close when we were little. We slept together, bathed together, and played together. And we got in trouble together. When something got broken or messed up, neither of us would admit guilt, so Mama would spank both of us to make sure she 'got the right one'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PbFgwW4a3-g/UfBqq3a3OYI/AAAAAAAAFo4/P2w4ujUYnbU/s1600/Judy+12+and+Bob+3-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PbFgwW4a3-g/UfBqq3a3OYI/AAAAAAAAFo4/P2w4ujUYnbU/s1600/Judy+12+and+Bob+3-001.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We played such things as cowboys and Indians, school and house. We went out the door early in the morning, and played outdoors all day long, only coming in for dinner and bedtime. We built forts, jumped in piles of leaves, rode bikes, played hide and seek in the tall grass in the field across the road from our house, and played cars in the dirt, using bricks as road scrapers and houses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We slept in the same bed until I was about ten. Our dachshund, Poochy, slept between us or at our feet and we would fight over who got to put their cold feet on her. But one night Mama said we now have separate rooms. That night, in the wee, dark hours, I heard something dragging on the floor and I lay still as I could because it was coming right towards me. Then it touched the bed. It was my brother, dragging his blanket, sneaking back into the bed we shared before that night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eventually he got used to sleeping alone, and we both grew up, and grew away. As teenagers we didn't always agree or see eye to eye, and didn't have very much in common. I started liking boys, and he started liking cigarettes. He moved in with Daddy, and I moved out and got married.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For years and years, we didn't have very much contact at all. I was married, had a baby, got a divorce, and was trying to make a life for myself and my child. He lived with Daddy, worked, moved out from Daddy's and finally met his wife and had a child himself. Our paths usually only crossed at a few holidays and birthdays or family reunions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HEnZO1TAB0M/UeV_437ecFI/AAAAAAAAFoI/zWIkp4KS2fM/s1600/Bobby+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HEnZO1TAB0M/UeV_437ecFI/AAAAAAAAFoI/zWIkp4KS2fM/s320/Bobby+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just over the past couple of years have our paths crossed more often. Our step-dad became terminally ill and our whole family rallied around him. Then he passed and finally life started getting back to normal, or as normal as it could.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then another blow came. My brother Bobby had a heart attack. He had surgery for that and pulled through it well. Again, life started to seem 'normal' again. But yet another blow was to fall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now my brother has been diagnosed with lung cancer. So many questions come from us. What? Why? How? Why is it that seemingly innocent or undeserving people get these horrible things. Why are we having this hurt and pain in our family again?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am happy to say, my brother is taking this all better that I thought he would; better than I myself would have taken it, if it were me. Yes, he has his sad moments, and though I don't see them, probably angry moments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bobby has been diagnosed with stage 3-b lung cancer. I don't know what the 'b' stands for. It is in his lung, near the bronchial tube. It is inoperable. But he has taken radiation and chemotherapy. He is now on a trial drug that does not promise cure. It only gives hope for more time. So far, so good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDjnCPoP038/UeWBDInfxEI/AAAAAAAAFoY/erggJhzMMzM/s1600/Bobby+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDjnCPoP038/UeWBDInfxEI/AAAAAAAAFoY/erggJhzMMzM/s320/Bobby+2013.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Again, as with my step dad, I declare this is not about me. This is about my brother. This is his journey. We cannot take the driver's seat from him, we can only be a passenger. We can try to assist with kind words, with help of some kind, with prayers and hopefulness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a song my brother has chosen. The song is for his memorial service, when the time comes. I think it takes a brave person and a good person to choose his own song for his own funeral service.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The song makes me think of the choices I have made myself. Some good. Some not so good. <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some</span> I would like to go back if I could, and choose differently.</span> </div>
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<em><strong>God, bless my brother on his journey. Hold his hand through out and wrap your arms around him in love and protection. Guide him along the path you would have him go. Let us assist him in any way you see fit and any way that he asks us. Let us learn from him how to be humble and how to accept your will for us. Amen.</strong></em><br />
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>I've Had Choices, by George Jones</strong></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">Since the day that I was born,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">There were voices</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">That told me right from wrong.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">If I had listened, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">No I wouldn't be here today.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">Living and dying </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">With the choices I've made.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">I was tempted.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">By an early age I found</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">I like drinkin'.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">Oh, and I never turned it down.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">There were loved ones,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">But i turned them all away.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">Now I'm living and dying </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">with the choices I've made.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">I've had choices</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">Since the day that I was born.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">There were voices</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">That told me right from wrong.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">If I had listened, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">No I wouldn't be here today.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">Living and dying </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">With the choices I've made.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">I guess I'm paying</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">For the things that I have done.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">If I could go back,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">Oh, Lord knows I'd run. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">But I'm still losing</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">This game of life I've played.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">Living and dying</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">With the choices I've made.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">I've had choices</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">Since the day that I was born.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">There were voices</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">That told me right from wrong.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">If I had listened, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">I wouldn't be here today.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">Living and dying </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">with the choices I've made.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">Living and dying </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">With the choices I've made.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">(watch George Jones sing this song by clicking on this link: </span><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQMI7TksYo0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQMI7TksYo0</a></span></strong><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"></span><br />
<br />Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-90566760090491190822013-07-16T12:19:00.000-04:002013-07-16T12:19:05.019-04:00Abel - 8 Months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Growing leaps 'n bounds! </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qCeWgKH6MRw/UeVx9QrVaCI/AAAAAAAAFnQ/puivme96pfY/s1600/Abel+04-09-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" iya="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qCeWgKH6MRw/UeVx9QrVaCI/AAAAAAAAFnQ/puivme96pfY/s320/Abel+04-09-2013.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning all about toys.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eoMT3_ZTD38/UeVyBDBagEI/AAAAAAAAFnY/oiAVtaW7X-Y/s1600/Abel+05-02-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" iya="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eoMT3_ZTD38/UeVyBDBagEI/AAAAAAAAFnY/oiAVtaW7X-Y/s400/Abel+05-02-2013.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting bigger and bigger!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3y3rfG1qqm4/UeVyFoARXSI/AAAAAAAAFng/gz9lbc6G9m4/s1600/Greyson+and+Abel+04-10-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" iya="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3y3rfG1qqm4/UeVyFoARXSI/AAAAAAAAFng/gz9lbc6G9m4/s640/Greyson+and+Abel+04-10-2013.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loves learning things from big brother Greyson!</td></tr>
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Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-6533688046311039002013-07-16T12:13:00.005-04:002013-07-16T12:13:21.571-04:00Abel - 7 Months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Abel is 7 months old now!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YuxXip7Nk2E/UeVwWkMKRjI/AAAAAAAAFmo/7s2zUPwe4Pc/s1600/Abel+03-08-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"><img border="0" height="240" iya="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YuxXip7Nk2E/UeVwWkMKRjI/AAAAAAAAFmo/7s2zUPwe4Pc/s320/Abel+03-08-2013.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Nana-nana-boo-boo!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Y5RJkP89aw/UeVwbd0xPrI/AAAAAAAAFmw/Sb8MSnfO008/s1600/Abel+03-11-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"><img border="0" height="640" iya="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Y5RJkP89aw/UeVwbd0xPrI/AAAAAAAAFmw/Sb8MSnfO008/s640/Abel+03-11-2013.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">So proud of himself for pulling up at Greyson's mini-trampoline.</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A3QuAF49fcs/UeVwhDoD-4I/AAAAAAAAFm4/-ZLWpqd0V1E/s1600/Abel+03-15-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"><img border="0" height="320" iya="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A3QuAF49fcs/UeVwhDoD-4I/AAAAAAAAFm4/-ZLWpqd0V1E/s320/Abel+03-15-2013.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Hellooooo! Do you see me down here?</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5IVMRDIH6nI/UeVwk6EvDTI/AAAAAAAAFnA/s7Ps6v7ZXK8/s1600/Abel+03-26-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"><img border="0" height="400" iya="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5IVMRDIH6nI/UeVwk6EvDTI/AAAAAAAAFnA/s7Ps6v7ZXK8/s400/Abel+03-26-2013.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Big boy learning to drink from a cup!</span></td></tr>
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Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-51477758531723114032013-07-16T12:04:00.003-04:002018-07-19T13:04:48.948-04:00The Many Face of Abel - 6 months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;">Abel is such a good boy! He has a laid back personality and easy to get along with. That doesn't mean he NEVER cries or fusses, it just means he does less of it!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KUNPr6LqzqA/UeVs47AIdzI/AAAAAAAAFlc/QMM2jxT_Ams/s1600/Abel+02-10-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" iya="true" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KUNPr6LqzqA/UeVs47AIdzI/AAAAAAAAFlc/QMM2jxT_Ams/s320/Abel+02-10-2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excuse me! Are you talking to me?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-92qExO75WY8/UeVtFP1qlVI/AAAAAAAAFlg/SFBpvcyNWhg/s1600/Abel+02-13-2013b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" iya="true" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-92qExO75WY8/UeVtFP1qlVI/AAAAAAAAFlg/SFBpvcyNWhg/s320/Abel+02-13-2013b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm sweet. I'm innocent. I'm irresistible!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a9476bGT-d0/UeVtdHgmjMI/AAAAAAAAFlo/Zd3l94G7idg/s1600/Abel+02-14-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" iya="true" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a9476bGT-d0/UeVtdHgmjMI/AAAAAAAAFlo/Zd3l94G7idg/s320/Abel+02-14-2013.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh! You startled me!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i8MrMNtjVlI/UeVtjgao9hI/AAAAAAAAFl4/Q_j52MV_wuo/s1600/Abel+02-26-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" iya="true" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i8MrMNtjVlI/UeVtjgao9hI/AAAAAAAAFl4/Q_j52MV_wuo/s320/Abel+02-26-2013.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why do you have a funny voice when you talk to me?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dSjl3EKDSuk/UeVtoPsl1YI/AAAAAAAAFmE/YrmvIbe0FV8/s1600/Abel+02-26-2013b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" iya="true" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dSjl3EKDSuk/UeVtoPsl1YI/AAAAAAAAFmE/YrmvIbe0FV8/s320/Abel+02-26-2013b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum! That ice cream cone you have looks yummy!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E8FEqOUhWBM/UeVuDxyUdCI/AAAAAAAAFmI/sbhruQXBGS4/s1600/Abel+02-26-2013c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" iya="true" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E8FEqOUhWBM/UeVuDxyUdCI/AAAAAAAAFmI/sbhruQXBGS4/s320/Abel+02-26-2013c.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peek-a-boo!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AihtOOzuohI/UeVuILH8GGI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/gRdKZMOKRSY/s1600/Abel+02-28-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" iya="true" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AihtOOzuohI/UeVuILH8GGI/AAAAAAAAFmQ/gRdKZMOKRSY/s320/Abel+02-28-2013.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning to sit up...propped up of course!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXYImKWBOew/UeVuMXWVEHI/AAAAAAAAFmY/rHsBzYIiL0Q/s1600/Abel+02-08-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" iya="true" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXYImKWBOew/UeVuMXWVEHI/AAAAAAAAFmY/rHsBzYIiL0Q/s320/Abel+02-08-2013.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting to get this sitting up unassisted thing down pretty good!</td></tr>
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Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-37444384754897926582013-07-12T10:34:00.002-04:002013-07-12T15:46:42.779-04:00Abel - 5 Months<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HYcL2M6VF48/UeAUTXky-1I/AAAAAAAAFkY/jqR0W-drmaU/s1600/Abel+01-07-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nya="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HYcL2M6VF48/UeAUTXky-1I/AAAAAAAAFkY/jqR0W-drmaU/s320/Abel+01-07-2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Mimi thinks I have a toad-froggy belly!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9qmQjhLJPuk/UeAUduiByKI/AAAAAAAAFkg/lrsoo-X2UnE/s1600/Abel+01-08-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nya="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9qmQjhLJPuk/UeAUduiByKI/AAAAAAAAFkg/lrsoo-X2UnE/s320/Abel+01-08-2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmmmm! Tastes like chicken!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UF0V30VIdaw/UeAW2hOawPI/AAAAAAAAFkw/c45lBvhRjmk/s1600/Abel+01-16-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nya="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UF0V30VIdaw/UeAW2hOawPI/AAAAAAAAFkw/c45lBvhRjmk/s320/Abel+01-16-2013.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok, I'm upright. Now what?<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dJkQUkL_kQo/UeAXQ2RGoSI/AAAAAAAAFlA/p7LQweX88Ws/s1600/Abel+01-25-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nya="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dJkQUkL_kQo/UeAXQ2RGoSI/AAAAAAAAFlA/p7LQweX88Ws/s320/Abel+01-25-2013.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweetest little face I ever did see!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cUqnELsI23Q/UeAXCH3ZJzI/AAAAAAAAFk4/Vf7tUH6kfvc/s1600/Abel+01-18-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nya="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cUqnELsI23Q/UeAXCH3ZJzI/AAAAAAAAFk4/Vf7tUH6kfvc/s320/Abel+01-18-2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did you see that???!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7awf_vcZCP8/UeAXSqqpLeI/AAAAAAAAFlI/szaf08T04UY/s1600/Abel+01-30-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nya="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7awf_vcZCP8/UeAXSqqpLeI/AAAAAAAAFlI/szaf08T04UY/s320/Abel+01-30-2013.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Num-Num! Food is good!</td></tr>
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Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-84799476115053601912013-07-12T10:32:00.003-04:002013-07-12T14:08:42.404-04:00Abel at 4 months oldAbel continues to grow. He is such a laid back, happy-go-lucky baby...until something doesn't go his way!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NOjgY8uuLbc/UeAQpZSxt3I/AAAAAAAAFi8/L6FGKdNNrDc/s1600/Abel+12-04-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nya="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NOjgY8uuLbc/UeAQpZSxt3I/AAAAAAAAFi8/L6FGKdNNrDc/s320/Abel+12-04-2012.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chillin' with his 'rents.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KfAOGVVp60E/UeAQ0Iww0fI/AAAAAAAAFjE/tiQ0aDfXJJE/s1600/Abel+12-10-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nya="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KfAOGVVp60E/UeAQ0Iww0fI/AAAAAAAAFjE/tiQ0aDfXJJE/s320/Abel+12-10-2012.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to get this sitting up thing down. Whoa...there goes the ol' bobble head!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imitating Mommy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7p_lQ_JngT8/UeASF_JBpcI/AAAAAAAAFj0/Yw9RiVLBlGA/s1600/Abel+12-26-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" nya="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7p_lQ_JngT8/UeASF_JBpcI/AAAAAAAAFj0/Yw9RiVLBlGA/s320/Abel+12-26-2012.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know you can't resist my smile!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bps93jZDtJ0/UeASSGsUKJI/AAAAAAAAFkA/VwLHE-gELcM/s1600/Abel+12-30-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nya="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bps93jZDtJ0/UeASSGsUKJI/AAAAAAAAFkA/VwLHE-gELcM/s320/Abel+12-30-2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another new trick - laying on my tummy and raising up for more than a second!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vyvBU-ie8KU/UeASfZrE2GI/AAAAAAAAFkI/RbB53DZlIZo/s1600/Abel+12-20-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nya="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vyvBU-ie8KU/UeASfZrE2GI/AAAAAAAAFkI/RbB53DZlIZo/s320/Abel+12-20-2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch me wiggle!</td></tr>
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Still enjoying Abel's many expressions! He definitely has a personality all his own and he is adorable! These pics were taken during his 4th month, during the month of December 2012. The last picture is our little Christmas Candy Cane!Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-31741688137595243552012-12-31T19:49:00.002-05:002012-12-31T19:49:22.853-05:00Abel - 3 Months Old (the past month in pictures!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Abel is three months old!!!!</div>
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My! How time flies when you are having fun - - - it is so much</div>
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fun watching this little guy go from a mostly eating and sleeping machine, </div>
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to a happy, laid-back, giggly little fella!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abel is the KING of expressions! Here, he looks 'satisfied'.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B2kzl3uNSrE/UMYa6h6BwnI/AAAAAAAAFOo/X1vTJWsM2Xc/s1600/Abel+11-20-2012a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B2kzl3uNSrE/UMYa6h6BwnI/AAAAAAAAFOo/X1vTJWsM2Xc/s400/Abel+11-20-2012a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He was asleep...must have been SOME dream!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1CU3vYZCFG8/UMYbFT2Cz4I/AAAAAAAAFOw/v35jHnuzHAg/s1600/Abel+11-20-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1CU3vYZCFG8/UMYbFT2Cz4I/AAAAAAAAFOw/v35jHnuzHAg/s320/Abel+11-20-2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping again...so content!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet boy trying out a tasty thumb!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bEC9AWFcEmY/UMYbQhvml_I/AAAAAAAAFPA/XnImRqA551Q/s1600/Abel+11-23-2012a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bEC9AWFcEmY/UMYbQhvml_I/AAAAAAAAFPA/XnImRqA551Q/s320/Abel+11-23-2012a.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's a stern look Abel!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HMNMGTOjuyk/UMYbZFZFz5I/AAAAAAAAFPI/xDUEqGe9SpA/s1600/Abel+11-29-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HMNMGTOjuyk/UMYbZFZFz5I/AAAAAAAAFPI/xDUEqGe9SpA/s640/Abel+11-29-2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Giggle-Munster!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uqr2RroOSi4/UMYbhEuxkyI/AAAAAAAAFPQ/CbTILondhJY/s1600/Abel+12-04-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uqr2RroOSi4/UMYbhEuxkyI/AAAAAAAAFPQ/CbTILondhJY/s320/Abel+12-04-2012.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serenity. Happy in knowing he is loved!</td></tr>
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Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-53384119386570897992012-12-31T19:41:00.001-05:002012-12-31T19:50:11.189-05:00Greyson - 20 Months - In Pictures!<br />
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Greyson at 20 months!</div>
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What a wonderful and delightful boy he is! He turned 20 months old</div>
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on November 23rd. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greyson sporting his Halloween P.J.'s.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VNvT86IzIF8/UOIu26FBw7I/AAAAAAAAFQk/4V54mOn3Trs/s1600/DSCN6190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VNvT86IzIF8/UOIu26FBw7I/AAAAAAAAFQk/4V54mOn3Trs/s320/DSCN6190.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's a cowboy for Halloween!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-za66HuUrWrk/UOIt_UGPlhI/AAAAAAAAFQU/Ii7W6iEGaiM/s1600/DSCN6099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-za66HuUrWrk/UOIt_UGPlhI/AAAAAAAAFQU/Ii7W6iEGaiM/s320/DSCN6099.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutest little Cowboy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pP6A0Sg0HIs/UOIttwGV6uI/AAAAAAAAFQM/3SgZHwt-wQw/s1600/DSCN6007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pP6A0Sg0HIs/UOIttwGV6uI/AAAAAAAAFQM/3SgZHwt-wQw/s320/DSCN6007.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding high in the tractor!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OtKSfMrcB1g/UOIteFOdLoI/AAAAAAAAFQE/Y_-azUj6FNU/s1600/DSCN5922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OtKSfMrcB1g/UOIteFOdLoI/AAAAAAAAFQE/Y_-azUj6FNU/s640/DSCN5922.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His first maze!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He loves taking walks!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lv5svtYOPS8/UMYXE5Nf1EI/AAAAAAAAFN4/VFn6K3S61fM/s1600/Greyson+11-07-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="132" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lv5svtYOPS8/UMYXE5Nf1EI/AAAAAAAAFN4/VFn6K3S61fM/s200/Greyson+11-07-2012.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He loves playing outdoors! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hcS-NYOhMbA/UMYZSQ2LQQI/AAAAAAAAFOA/NUrTiLB8pNE/s1600/Greyson+11-11-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hcS-NYOhMbA/UMYZSQ2LQQI/AAAAAAAAFOA/NUrTiLB8pNE/s320/Greyson+11-11-2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's so loving! He loves giving kisses!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's athletic! Here he demonstrates his tether ball skills!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O_ZW1Wqv77g/UMYZc7gBPvI/AAAAAAAAFOI/Z84CIL0TpmI/s1600/Greyson+11-16-2012b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img bea="true" border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O_ZW1Wqv77g/UMYZc7gBPvI/AAAAAAAAFOI/Z84CIL0TpmI/s320/Greyson+11-16-2012b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got Milk????</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He might still be a 'tiny bit' jealous of baby brother, but Abel is growing on him!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-10090957816382634082012-11-07T19:49:00.002-05:002012-11-07T19:49:42.667-05:00High Triglycerides/Low Carbs<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Okay, my cholesterol is sky high again. And my kind of cholesterol is caused by my consuming 'white' foods. White, as in pasta, bread and other flour products, potatoes, and sugar. My cardiologist tried to explain it to me. I don't really get it, but when the normal range for triglycerides is 0-199, and yours is 952, it's high time to do something about it! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My triglycerides have been high before, but nothing like this number! When I had my blood work done this time last year, my numbers were pretty good. But I was at the tail end of a 4 month cycle of low-carb dieting. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I take medication (metoprolol) for high blood pressure and 'undetermined' chest pain (angina). It seems to be working because my blood pressure was great! I do have chest pain usually daily. But it's not detrimental pain. It's 'hey! I'm here to aggravate you' pain. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am considered 'overweight' according to some weight/height charts I have found online. I am 133lbs and 5'2" tall. Some sites tell me that for my height, I should weight no more than 122 pounds. According to Weight Watchers on line healthy weight range table, I am OK. (the range for my height is 109 to 137). WW is definitely nicer to me!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I would like to just lose some belly fat. I am not really worried about the number on the scale so much as the number around my waist! Right now I am 32.5" around the waist. According to the site WebMD, a woman with a waist measurement of 35" or more is at risk for high blood pressure (have it), high cholesterol (have it), Type 2 diabetes, (don't have it) and heart disease (don't know if I have it). So 32.5" isn't in the 'danger zone', but it's inching on up there! Gotta get that number down too!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I come from a family with several generations of apple shaped body types. People I know who have this body...my mama, my grandmother, my aunt, several cousins. I don't want to say we are 'doomed', but I want to say we are 'challenged'. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I started my low carb eating plan last Wednesday. So today is one week. I have actually come down three pounds, so I am now at 129. I've been 129 for a few days. I took stock of my carb intake this afternoon and am shocked that I am probably having a whopping 30 to 60 carbs with just my morning coffee! I make a homemade version of a vanilla iced coffee and have learned that the skim milk I have been putting my coffee has 13g of carbs per cup and my flavored creamer has 5 gram per tablespoon! I guess I used about a half to a cup of milk and then probably 1/4 cup of creamer...then some sugar free, calorie free, carb free vanilla flavoring. And the goal of this low carb diet was to start with just 40 grams of carbs or less per day! Ooops!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To remedy this I google low carb coffee drinks and found a cool site, http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/ , that advises using the sugar free vanilla flavoring I already have with whipping cream to make flavored creamer for my coffee. The whipping cream is supposedly zero carbs. I hope so! And I hope it tastes as good as the author of this mentioned blog says it is! I am going to give it a try tomorrow.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Breakfast is usually coffee and a scrambled egg from McD's, or two boiled eggs I make at home. I sometimes throw in a strip or two of bacon. But not always.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lunch is usually a salad with grilled chicken or a burger patty. Today I ordered from The Peachtree Cafe in Lawrenceville, the tuna salad sandwich with no bread - which means they put a HUGE scoop of tuna on the plate. NICE! and it came with a pickle spear (yum!) and an itty bitty cup of cole slaw. Then I had a glass of water with lemon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snacks are usually half an Adkins bar. (Some of these are quiet tasty - some are kind of bland). Sometimes I will have about an ounce of cheddar cheese with a handful of sunflower seeds.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dinner tonight was a lean hamburger patty cooked with mushrooms and onions. Then I had about a cup of steamed broccoli and baby carrots in chicken broth. Happy tummy!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Because I am used to having something sweet after dinner I had to have a bite of something. I guess I was a little miffed my husband ate all his cookie cake...but I it's hard to take a half inch square of something that good, so it's probably a good thing. Instead I had a teaspoon of sugar free strawberry preserves with a teaspoon of peanut butter mixed together and just ate it off the spoon like a lollipop! Satisfied!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So my goal now is to 'fix' my coffee, drink more water (as it is supposed to help you feel full and keep you from being dehydrated and help you lose weight) and hopefully squeeze in a minute of two of exercise! Hope I can do it!</span></span></div>
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<br />Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-87871711980433795332012-11-06T10:33:00.004-05:002012-11-06T10:33:23.115-05:00Abel - 2 Months (In Pictures)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Abel is two months old now (on November 4).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wow! He is growing like crazy!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At his 2 month appointment he weighed 11 lbs, 10 oz. and was 23.5" long. Almost two feet tall already!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What can I see about this sweet baby boy who has</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7M_CUWix6Gg/UJhuDd4cLzI/AAAAAAAAFIs/AuFhFVOjNlI/s1600/2012-10-089514.19.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7M_CUWix6Gg/UJhuDd4cLzI/AAAAAAAAFIs/AuFhFVOjNlI/s320/2012-10-089514.19.23.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In his carseat, out for a ride. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BoN-IMtq4lY/UJhuJvdBPYI/AAAAAAAAFI0/XgHmF1MBbX4/s1600/2012-10-079516.19.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BoN-IMtq4lY/UJhuJvdBPYI/AAAAAAAAFI0/XgHmF1MBbX4/s400/2012-10-079516.19.27.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yawning...cuz honestly, we are just boring to him sometimes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-owM6lCNaJ7U/UJhuKSGlKmI/AAAAAAAAFI8/qrpse8hqGjY/s1600/2012-10-099520.02.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-owM6lCNaJ7U/UJhuKSGlKmI/AAAAAAAAFI8/qrpse8hqGjY/s320/2012-10-099520.02.33.jpg" width="299" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So happy to see all the world around him!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QEi5zBCIj6s/UJhuaK7_mZI/AAAAAAAAFJE/RNY0SszWl54/s1600/2012-10-169512.17.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QEi5zBCIj6s/UJhuaK7_mZI/AAAAAAAAFJE/RNY0SszWl54/s320/2012-10-169512.17.47.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Slumber Munster!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XLAzwmQsKVM/UJhua24r6HI/AAAAAAAAFJM/9Jsa1chE-cg/s1600/2012-10-199508.03.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XLAzwmQsKVM/UJhua24r6HI/AAAAAAAAFJM/9Jsa1chE-cg/s320/2012-10-199508.03.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kickingthose legs like no body's business!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-986tS7tuFQo/UJhucLQKQLI/AAAAAAAAFJU/UTn-TA-QSCs/s1600/2012-10-239518.35.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-986tS7tuFQo/UJhucLQKQLI/AAAAAAAAFJU/UTn-TA-QSCs/s640/2012-10-239518.35.46.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making new friends!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fo5GoRPFMNM/UJhudVlbmtI/AAAAAAAAFJc/CH5V_vFtVyw/s1600/2012-10-259512.02.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fo5GoRPFMNM/UJhudVlbmtI/AAAAAAAAFJc/CH5V_vFtVyw/s320/2012-10-259512.02.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copying Mommy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-apFR0BY8laQ/UJhuefIZBTI/AAAAAAAAFJk/nqz5nBJmXd0/s1600/2012-10-299512.56.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-apFR0BY8laQ/UJhuefIZBTI/AAAAAAAAFJk/nqz5nBJmXd0/s320/2012-10-299512.56.38.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting up and looking around at all there is to see!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zDl66y5oy4w/UJhul2fwNJI/AAAAAAAAFKE/uyZxdCePIjU/s1600/Abel+10+25+2012-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="351" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zDl66y5oy4w/UJhul2fwNJI/AAAAAAAAFKE/uyZxdCePIjU/s400/Abel+10+25+2012-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's a serious little character sometimes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_iwSCbW2kdU/UJhvR6tDs9I/AAAAAAAAFKg/aPudzPGeMZk/s1600/2012-11-019519.53.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_iwSCbW2kdU/UJhvR6tDs9I/AAAAAAAAFKg/aPudzPGeMZk/s320/2012-11-019519.53.44.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, so loved by his big brother Greyson!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X11gc1REI_I/UJhvG1ypHBI/AAAAAAAAFKU/FXR7i7fIBo0/s1600/DSCN5856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X11gc1REI_I/UJhvG1ypHBI/AAAAAAAAFKU/FXR7i7fIBo0/s320/DSCN5856.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Baby!</td></tr>
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Oh my, and those expressions! He has so many cute and unusual ones! They make smile, laugh and giggle!</div>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f1qJMRJBHhE/UJhugaAP2dI/AAAAAAAAFJ8/C-x6Ef2rskc/s1600/2012-10-309512.18.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f1qJMRJBHhE/UJhugaAP2dI/AAAAAAAAFJ8/C-x6Ef2rskc/s200/2012-10-309512.18.45.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This being a baby is serious business!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0pnnE0DSfM/UJhufrFsv_I/AAAAAAAAFJ0/aOCfkcQf-WI/s1600/2012-10-309512.18.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0pnnE0DSfM/UJhufrFsv_I/AAAAAAAAFJ0/aOCfkcQf-WI/s200/2012-10-309512.18.35.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Yeah, well, someone 's gotta be the boss of this house! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, really! Don't look so shocked!</td></tr>
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Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-64077627904607493042012-10-24T12:20:00.000-04:002012-10-24T12:20:11.911-04:00Greyson - 19 Months in Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Greyson is now 19 months!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">At this age he is going wide open...talking more, doing more, getting into more trouble!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">But with a baby brother in the house, it's to be expected.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">As he continues to grow and do his daily stuff...he also has a few 'firsts' this month!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nHAEnDGSWJw/UIccZ4BE8pI/AAAAAAAAFFQ/8NKMDyd8Wjs/s1600/2012-10-049517.05.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nHAEnDGSWJw/UIccZ4BE8pI/AAAAAAAAFFQ/8NKMDyd8Wjs/s320/2012-10-049517.05.43.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">"Old Stuff" - getting into every box, bag, container he finds around the house!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XX4ap10VPP0/UIceBo0bm3I/AAAAAAAAFFY/ksf6W_UUOeA/s1600/2012-09-279518.08.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XX4ap10VPP0/UIceBo0bm3I/AAAAAAAAFFY/ksf6W_UUOeA/s320/2012-09-279518.08.37.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">"Old Stuff" - fighting nap time!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V3ymIAs23iU/UIgPjBRpd7I/AAAAAAAAFGI/z8olCLY83m8/s1600/Greyson+10-14-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" oea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V3ymIAs23iU/UIgPjBRpd7I/AAAAAAAAFGI/z8olCLY83m8/s320/Greyson+10-14-2012.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">"Old Stuff" - going to church with Mommy and Daddy on Sunday morning.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gmCvP6N1HCs/UIgP6KRwO3I/AAAAAAAAFGQ/xGUZnWssBEw/s1600/Greyson+10-09-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" oea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gmCvP6N1HCs/UIgP6KRwO3I/AAAAAAAAFGQ/xGUZnWssBEw/s320/Greyson+10-09-2012.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">"New Stuff" - having his 'Happy' attached to him with a ribbon so he won't lose it. Because he loses it many times throughout the day!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uE1hZm2xlsM/UIgQMsoCwgI/AAAAAAAAFGY/QDBSCXyta3A/s1600/Greyson+10-17-2012+first+haircut+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" oea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uE1hZm2xlsM/UIgQMsoCwgI/AAAAAAAAFGY/QDBSCXyta3A/s320/Greyson+10-17-2012+first+haircut+3.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">"New Stuff" - getting his first haircut and maybe his first sucker!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HAMSVfWpvXw/UIgQlv8nXCI/AAAAAAAAFGg/EJzfUTccD2w/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="180" oea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HAMSVfWpvXw/UIgQlv8nXCI/AAAAAAAAFGg/EJzfUTccD2w/s320/054.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">"Old Stuff" - liking stuff on FB. . .whether we like it or not!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c5OkmjciIf0/UIgRGTtc3DI/AAAAAAAAFG4/NKLyFH8DBqc/s1600/078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" oea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c5OkmjciIf0/UIgRGTtc3DI/AAAAAAAAFG4/NKLyFH8DBqc/s320/078.JPG" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">"New Stuff" - visiting the pumpkin patch.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G1wMVZ7evJ8/UIgQz49zHaI/AAAAAAAAFGo/JgFP7MDUmyQ/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" oea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G1wMVZ7evJ8/UIgQz49zHaI/AAAAAAAAFGo/JgFP7MDUmyQ/s320/096.JPG" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">"Old Stuff' - making Auntie JJ do stuff with him. In this case, jump in the big inflatable cow at the pumpkin farm!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iknt3yGqqQc/UIgQ8twHJyI/AAAAAAAAFGw/qQLAFiTv-hs/s1600/120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="180" oea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iknt3yGqqQc/UIgQ8twHJyI/AAAAAAAAFGw/qQLAFiTv-hs/s320/120.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">"New Stuff" - riding the cow train!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dIT3Rb7iyJk/UIgRPT1uVyI/AAAAAAAAFHE/dZt8gGoLiiI/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="180" oea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dIT3Rb7iyJk/UIgRPT1uVyI/AAAAAAAAFHE/dZt8gGoLiiI/s320/103.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">"New Stuff" - doing the maze at the pumpkin farm.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ciXSeWwefg/UIgRc-IW2vI/AAAAAAAAFHM/Kbll2RVtlJo/s1600/212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" oea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ciXSeWwefg/UIgRc-IW2vI/AAAAAAAAFHM/Kbll2RVtlJo/s320/212.JPG" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">"New Stuff" - playing 'pick up ducks' at the fall festival.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RmrGZReKudQ/UIgRvnRROvI/AAAAAAAAFHc/ikyUPa2jqRY/s1600/189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" oea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RmrGZReKudQ/UIgRvnRROvI/AAAAAAAAFHc/ikyUPa2jqRY/s320/189.JPG" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">"Old Stuff" - expressing his love of tractors!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">"New Stuff" - learning how to play the bean bag toss!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sto96BMSJfg/UIgSfGSrCjI/AAAAAAAAFH0/ayeXjIGbZMo/s1600/Greyson+10-20-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" oea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sto96BMSJfg/UIgSfGSrCjI/AAAAAAAAFH0/ayeXjIGbZMo/s320/Greyson+10-20-2012.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">"Kind of New Stuff" - only his 2nd pony ride in his whole life!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-guNNc7JwFm4/UIgRpkD59VI/AAAAAAAAFHU/gW-72VW1pdE/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="180" oea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-guNNc7JwFm4/UIgRpkD59VI/AAAAAAAAFHU/gW-72VW1pdE/s320/066.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">"Kind of New Stuff" - learning to share his loved ones with baby brother and learning to love baby brother more and more!</span><br />
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Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-1959330658857201622012-10-11T12:32:00.003-04:002012-10-11T12:32:37.187-04:00Abel - his first month in pictures!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Little Abel is one month old as of October 4, 2012!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">He has brought much love and joy into a world already made happy by </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">his big brother Greyson!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">We feel so honored and blessed to have him join our family!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">2 Days old...A little cap to preserve his body heat, and little mittens to keep him</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HPhejyHI94o/UHbxUGq9UuI/AAAAAAAAFB8/acwBflIEytI/s1600/Abel+09-07-2012+at+doctor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" nea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HPhejyHI94o/UHbxUGq9UuI/AAAAAAAAFB8/acwBflIEytI/s320/Abel+09-07-2012+at+doctor.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">At the doctor's office at 1 week old. Sleeping happily!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Two weeks old and already captivated by those colorful things floating over head!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c9npqBSXLJY/UHbxytG9QtI/AAAAAAAAFCU/WMrI_EdR8RE/s1600/Abel+10-02-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" nea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c9npqBSXLJY/UHbxytG9QtI/AAAAAAAAFCU/WMrI_EdR8RE/s320/Abel+10-02-2012.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Taking a snooze on the sofa.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eeT5jhM52d8/UHbyAaQy2EI/AAAAAAAAFCc/__OkvJHT0G0/s1600/Abel+10-04-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" nea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eeT5jhM52d8/UHbyAaQy2EI/AAAAAAAAFCc/__OkvJHT0G0/s320/Abel+10-04-2012.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">He is wide awake and very alert! He loves for you to talk to him and make silly face (says his Mimi).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uboydbc5KN8/UHbyOWh2M_I/AAAAAAAAFCk/MFnAkG_EmRk/s1600/Greyson+and+Abel+09-28-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" nea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uboydbc5KN8/UHbyOWh2M_I/AAAAAAAAFCk/MFnAkG_EmRk/s320/Greyson+and+Abel+09-28-2012.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">He shares chest space on Mommy. I know he will grow up loving</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">his big brother Greyson. He seems tiny next to Greyson now, but a year from</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">now they will be close in size. Greyson better enjoy ruling the roost for now, for </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">I have a feeling when Abel gets older, he might try to take over!</span></td></tr>
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Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-38666175333670088342012-10-11T12:06:00.004-04:002012-10-11T12:35:02.234-04:00Greyson - 18 months (in pictures)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Greyson is 18 months old as of September 23 - one year and one half old!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The world as he knew it came to a screeching halt on September 4 when his</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">baby brother came into the world.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He no longer has Mommy and Daddy exclusive attention, though they do try</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It has been an adjustment for Greyson!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e69138; font-size: small;">Yikes! They brought that baby home from the hospital!!!!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e69138; font-size: small;">A secret toy drawer he found in his bathroom.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e69138; font-size: small;">He loves his bus Mimi got him.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e69138; font-size: small;">He still loves his Fisher Price barn...he uses his blocks to fill the silo.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e69138; font-size: small;">He imitates your every move! Amber better enjoy the sight of him vaccuming. That won't happen once he gets older!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e69138; font-size: small;">He still likes Mickey Mouse Club and some other children's shows.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e69138; font-size: small;">Sitting in Abel's toy tub is fun!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e69138; font-size: small;">Music is one of his favorite things!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #e69138; font-size: small;">Even though the birth of Abel threw his world into a tail-spin, he loves</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-size: small;">his baby brother and is proud to get to 'hold' him. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-size: small;">He has gotten into trouble when he's gotten rough</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-size: small;">with Abel...squeezing his arm or leg when he's frustrated, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-size: small;">swinging him extra high when he's sleeping in the swing, being loud</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-size: small;">with his toys and waking Abel (he might get a pop on hiney</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-size: small;">and put in time-out) - but he's learning</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-size: small;">the right ways to behave around baby brother!</span><br />
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Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1683476532888637969.post-31151269803754779202012-09-10T12:13:00.004-04:002012-09-10T12:14:18.485-04:00Welcome Baby Abel!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is Abel Manning Keene before he decided to come out and visit!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was born on September 4, 2012 at 4:04a.m.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He wasn't supposed to be born until later that day, but he decided he couldn't wait another minute!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sonogram technician predicted he would be a 'whopper'...weighing 8 lbs or more.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He weighted 7 lbs. He is 19" long.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've waited for what seems forever to meet this little fella.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now he's here, and we can't stop kissing and loving on him!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">This is Abel the day he was born! A little hat to keep his head warm. A little blanket to keep his body warm. Little socks on his hands to keep him from scratching his eyes and face!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-535-6Fiam7U/UE4O7h97SiI/AAAAAAAAE-E/w-TL4uR6hLo/s1600/Abel+09-05-2012a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-535-6Fiam7U/UE4O7h97SiI/AAAAAAAAE-E/w-TL4uR6hLo/s320/Abel+09-05-2012a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">"Yikes! Who is this crazy woman talking silly to me???!!!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">Mimi had to talk baby talk to him and get him used to her voice!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9M3o0-Hc5vU/UE4PA97-2XI/AAAAAAAAE-M/WBf-_3vIJ_o/s1600/Abel+09-05-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9M3o0-Hc5vU/UE4PA97-2XI/AAAAAAAAE-M/WBf-_3vIJ_o/s320/Abel+09-05-2012.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">"Okay...she talks funny but she gives me lots of hugs and kisses. It's ok."</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;">It didn't take long for Abel to discover big brother Greyson's secret to happiness...a pacifier!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqL6vCYxLs4/UE4N6tYLa-I/AAAAAAAAE90/eSYPGc4ikNQ/s1600/Abel+09-07-2012+at+doctor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; color: black;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqL6vCYxLs4/UE4N6tYLa-I/AAAAAAAAE90/eSYPGc4ikNQ/s320/Abel+09-07-2012+at+doctor.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; color: black;">First visit to the pediatrician...sorry Mom and Dad, I'm pooped! I'm taking a nap!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N9D7FLQvS1c/UE4N-iH33pI/AAAAAAAAE98/QFH6t8UnmYE/s1600/Abel+09-10-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N9D7FLQvS1c/UE4N-iH33pI/AAAAAAAAE98/QFH6t8UnmYE/s320/Abel+09-10-2012.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;">Right now I mostly want to sleep. Better let Mommy and Daddy and Greyson get used to me before I really start raising a ruckus!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big brother Greyson is so proud of his baby brother! He has heard about Abel for half of his life, and now he can finally see him, touch him, hear him, hold him, smell him...well, you get the picture!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could not be more happy or proud than I am when I see these two baby boys. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d5a6bd; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking forward to wonderful days ahead with them!</span></td></tr>
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Carolyn Chapplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11217840623349565535noreply@blogger.com0