Catching up

Hello, everyone! How has life been lately? My life's been pretty good. I'm not certain that I told you, but my sisters and I have been taking a speech and composition class since September. It's been fun, and challenging. Lots and lots of essays. :P We finished the first semester in December. But-- oops! I forgot! Starting a sentence with "but" is not allowed in the writing class! What I meant to say was, I've really liked the class, and improving my writing has been nice. The class is on Thursday (just finished my homework from last week today), so that's where I'm headed tomorrow, and I can't wait! I really like the class, because the teacher is nice, the classmates are nice, and we get to learn. :) Learning is always fun, right?

Speaking of learning and school, my sister Leah is graduating this year! I'm so excited for her! She has been a really great student, and my mom has been a really brave teacher for homeschooling through high school. Yay! Next year I'll be a senior. I'm still not sure what to do after high school. I was thinking of being either a hair dresser or something with animals. I don't really want to have a job where I have to do excessive math or algebra. I'm working on accounting right now, and it's kind of confusing. It's not that I hate math. I'm relatively good at it, and I can understand most of it. I just don't like it. What kind of schoolwork is your favorite? What about your least favorite? :)

Oh yes. How was everyone's Christmas? Mine was good. For Christmas, our mother and grandmother told my sisters and I that we were fat, ugly, and lazy.

No, not really, just kidding! The reason I said that was because of the presents they gave us: a pedometer (a thing that counts your steps), an apron and a cookbook, and some supplies to make mineral make-up. Yes, mineral make-up. Ever heard of it? Because I had not until last year. It came from Glory Bee Foods. Here's the link to the make-up kit we got. It's been fun to experiment with. You should really consider getting it too, if you wear make-up, because it's a lot healthier than normal make-up.
What did you get for Christmas? I hope your New Year was good too, because mine was. We went to our aunt and uncle's house and ran around with the cousins and had yummy food. :) And then we went home and popped balloons and watched fireworks and screamed a lot. I really like the New Year.

Also, this year is, for our family, a year of No Dessert. Because sugar is not very healthy for us.Yep, no chocolate, no cookies, no chocolate, no cake, and most of all, no chocolate. Except on special occasions. I've been getting through alright (ok, cheating just a bit) with some yummy dark chocolate-covered prunes from Christmas. They're healthy, because they're prunes and dark chocolate, right? Right?

Well, I should probably sign off, because it's getting close to dinner, and we're having salmon patties and quinoa (keen-wa) for dinner, yum! If you don't know what quinoa is, it's a sort of grain that's really healthy. :)

Have a wonderful week!

Grace be with you,

Abby :D

Tag (click now!)

Dezzy Louise tagged me! Thanks!
Here are the rules.


1) post these rules
2) you must post 11 random things about yourself
3) answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post
4) create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
5) go to their blog and tell them they've been tagged

Random things... Well, this could be a potentially loooong list. Let's do it. :)

1. I like to use words and phrases like congrats or BTW. But they seem too casual. So I don't.
2. I really love The Spinning Song.
3. I still like to watch Mister Rogers.
4. Precise is not my middle name.
5. I still imagine monsters under the bed and skeletons in the closet. And murderers behind the shower curtain. Yep.
6. How am I going to get eleven?!
7. When I make an argument in which I must offer an example, I can think of tons of examples till they ask me for one. Then my mind goes blank.
8. I love scrambled eggs.
9. Exercise is not my favorite word. Unless it has something to do with chocolate. Jaw exercising... It's possible! "C'mon guys, work those jaws! Keep eating!"
10. I love to swim
11. I have the sweetest baby sister in the world. No dispute.

 Now for the questions that the tagger set for me.

1. Silk or Plush? I think... silk.

2. Favorite Book series? Chronicles of Narnia. ♥

3. Do you wear your hair up or down most of the time? Up (up, and away!)

4. Bacon... do you like it? Yes, I love it! It's tasty.

5. Favorite quote? Um... well... I don't know that many quotes. So I really can't say.

6. Marker, crayon, or colored pencil? Colored pencil. It's easier to color with.

7. How many letters are in your full name? Full name, eh? Hmm... 19.

8. Got a celebrity crush? Nope, and proud of it!

9.  Mustache or Beard? Well. I don't really like facial hair too much. But I guess I'll say mustache.

10. Converse or Sneakers? What's the difference?

11. Hot summer days or Snow filled mornings? Snow! Snow! Snow!


Now for my questions:

1. Are you scared of flying in an airplane?
2. Do you know anyone that doesn't like chocolate?
3. Do you have a favorite style of hat?
4. If so, what is it?
5. Red hair or brown?
6. Owls or bats?
7. Purple or green?
8. Would you like to be taller than you are right now?
9. What's your least favorite color?
10. Would you like a pet elephant?
11. Is a cat relative equals to a orange guinea pig?

I will tag:

Marelle @ Marelle's Wonderland
Mina @ Little Miss Sunshine(State!)
Miss Raquel @ God's Daughter
Shelley @ Being Shelley
Hannah @ my {beautiful} nutty life
Leah @ The Narrow Path

And anyone whose name starts with A.

Thanks for reading! (I tag anyone who read it through, all the way)

Grace be with you,

Abby :D

A New Leaf?

Everyone is posting New Year's resolutions, thoughts about the future, comments about how they can't believe it's already 2012. But I've never been good at that kind of post. So you're not going to hear it (well, possibly thoughts about the future. But nothing else).

I'm planning on doing my blog differently. Instead of posting giveaways and contests and tags, I'm going to post just about my life, though I will be trying to put it cleverly so it's not boring. I will not be posting "Today I did blah. Then I did blah. It was very fun." So you can put your mind to rest about that. :) Oh, and there will definitely be more photos. :)

However... (there's always a however)
I will be posting some theological thoughts and Bible verses. It's so important to me to show I'm a Christian by talking about it. I really want to have some deep, thought provoking posts. Ok?

I hope you'll join me in 2012. I'm hoping to be so much more interesting and (could it be so?) clever.

Grace be with you,
Abby :D
ps. what do you think about a new design? would it help?

The Randomful, Pictureless Post (not as boring as it sounds, truly!)

Autumn. The time of leaves, acorns, sweaters, and deliciously cool breezes. Oh yeah! And deliciously yummy baking. Seriously, why does Autumn trigger baking instincts in people? Not that I'm complaining, of course... anyone have some extra cookies lying around that they could send me? :) If I make anything, I will take pictures. Have you made anything lately?

Just kidding. Anyway, today we made some yummy ham-and-cheese sandwiches for dinner. They're baking in the oven and I can't wait to eat them! Also, our neighbor dropped by and gave us a chocolate torte... one bite=heaven. Maybe I can get the recipe to share. :)

Yesterday we did hand bell choir, which was SO FUN! I love it. Something about ringing bells is very magnetic. We're working on Do You Hear What I Hear and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. I have two notes, E and F.

Here is a list of things that I see right now:

1. A lamp
2. My brothers playing the piano
3. A science CD case :P
4. A music stand
5. A baby (my sister!)

And things I hear:
1. The piano
2. My brothers exclaiming
3. The TV going in the background
4. The baby pacifier being sucked on

I'm in the office right now, finishing this post. Today's been a busy day, with trips to the grocery store, dropping off my sis to babysit, that same sister's violin teacher coming over, and trying to get some school done. Lately I've been listening to bluegrass on Pandora while doing math. :) It's fun. Ooh, and Latin is fun too! Anyone learning that this year? Sum! (that means 'I am')
Oh yeah! Nearly forgot! I'm getting baptized on Sunday the 9th. :D I can't wait! I've been baptized as a baby, but I believe baptism is a public sign of faith, so I'm doing it again. I'm SO excited. :) :)
Well, that's all on the update of my exciting life. :)
Have a great week!!!

"Happiness is a full soap dispenser..."

Grace be with you,
Abby :D

ps. the sandwiches were scrumptious...

Hi, folks! Ready to go on safari?

Hello! I suppose you're here for the safari. Well, step right onto this bus and we'll get going. Today we'll be taking a tour of Abby's backyard! It's all right, you'll be viewing these perils from the comfort and relative safety of the bus. Here we go!

 On this steamy hot day, all the creatures are out and the grass jungle plants are growing big and green.

Sorry folks, it's a bit of a bumpy ride. There are no trails in this jungle grass.

All right, here we are at our next stop... the asparagus bed! Everyone pay close attention.
Look to your right, there it is.

 Look very closely... there they are! Do you see them?

The ladybugs!!!! It's all right, sir, we're safe in the bus.

Look at the beady eyes, the crawling legs...

And the most horrible of all, the mandibles of death! AHHHH!!!! AHHHH!!!

*shiver, shiver* Sorry, folks, got a little carried away there. Next, we will be viewing the bees. No need to scream, ma'am. Here we go!

Don't worry folks, it can't hurt you in here.

Watch out for its poisonous stinger and mighty wings!

Of course, there is also the terrible mosquito and the disease-ridden flies. But we don't have time to see those right now. Would you like to see the plants now? All right, let's go!

This is the fire pepper. Don't try it folks, it'll give you heartburn for years.

Watch out for these! They may look like normal tomatoes...

...but they can actually eat you, just like Venus Fly Traps!

This is called the Seed of Death flower. NO! DON'T BLOW IT!

It may look like dandelion, but if you inhale the seeds, you'll get a horrible migraine. No, ma'am, I don't know why they call it the Seed of Death flower. It doesn't kill you.

Well, that's all for today, folks. Here's the drop-off point. Hope you enjoyed the tour of Abby's backyard! Come back soon. Watch your step. All right, bye now!


Grace be with you,

Abby :D

Finalists

Thanks to everyone that entered the contest! Five was actually more than I expected. Now it's time to vote! Here are the entries.

Hallie Jo

Sierra

Shelley

Leah

Mina

So now, vote! Polls on the sidebar. Winner will be revealed on the 16th.

Grace be with you,

Abby :D

I Have a Severe Case

of Blogger's block. Help! Whenever I sit down to write, I end up staring at this:

And I have no inspiration. Which of these catagories would you like me to post about?


My stories, poems, and other scribblings
Pictures (if you have any preferences of what they should be of, feel free to comment!)
Weekly Outfits  (or monthly, as the case may be)
Insightful and Encouraging posts
Quotes and Verses to grow on
Games and Riddles
Or All of the Above!




Thanks for taking the time to read!


Abby :D

(oh yes, and there is a giveaway coming up in the near future, what would you like to see for that?)

You asked, I answered...

 Here's the answers to the questions you asked. :D I had fun answering them.


Whats your favorite pastime? Hmm... that's hard... I do like to write a lot. But I also like to read and draw.

What's your favorite food? I love pasta. :D Just thinking about it makes me hungry.

What country would you like to visit most? America! Just a different part than where I live. Maybe Arizona.

If you could change your name, what would you change it to? I would probably change it to... either Corinne or Ruth.

When did you become a Christian and what made you want to become one? Well, I am growing up in a Christian family, so God has always been in my life. I haven't exactly become a Christian but rather grew into a relationship with Him.

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go? I wouldn't. I'd just stay home. :D But if I had to go somewhere, I might go visit the Grand Canyon.

If you could meet a celebrity or actor who would it be? I would like to meet the Duggars! That would be great. :D

What is your favorite thing to do with your brothers? I love to play outside with them. :D

Which do you prefer, to laugh or make people laugh? I like to laugh but I love making other people laugh too.



Thanks for all your questions! I never expected to have this many. :D (And sorry for the un-original title. I couldn't think of anything else)


Grace be with you,

Abby :D

An Award!

Here's a sweet blog award from Anna. Thank you Anna!

I award:
Marelle
Rachel
Mattie

And for anyone I might have missed, I award you too!

By the way, I'm thinking about getting a blog makeover, so if you know anyone who does them for free, please tell me. Thanks!


Grace be with you,

Abby :D

A Couple of Random Facts About Me ~a list~

A Couple of Random Facts About Me ~a list~

1.  I have a bad habit of making comments through out a movie, especially during scary or romantic parts. If you like complete silence during a movie, don't watch one with me. 
2. I absolutely LOVE spaghetti. That is why I love Italian Restaurants.
3. My favorite birds are blue jays, cardinals, and American Goldfinches.
4. My favorite color to wear is white.
5. I like chocolate chip cookies and sugar cookies equally. *gasp* 

                       {cookie picture from Wikipedia}

Thoughts... and people that were me...

Today's weather was so beautiful... blue sky, puffy clouds, and sunshine. I love it! I also saw a few yellow finches on our bird feeder. We had some rain a few days ago, it was welcome after a long day of heat.

We went to the doctor today as well, because we've had a virus. It's either a cold or the hand, foot, and mouth disease that's going around. I only have a sore throat, but my brothers have had on-and-off fevers, too.

We're still not quite done with school yet, we have only a few more days left. I can't wait! We will have a whole month off, which is quite a luxury to me. :D

I'm still reading Psalms in the Bible, because my reading is going unbelievably slowly. I don't know why. It's interesting seeing the sad and happy psalms together.

This is a picture from when I was ten years old.

Here's another one. I was about eight here. This was after VBS, I think. That's Maggie next to me. It's OK to think I look like a weird kid.

I love looking at old photos.

Have a great week!

Grace be with you,

Abby :D

Things I Have Been Enjoying, and other matters

• Hershey kisses
• Having friends over
• Reading the Psalms
• Tuna casserole
• Almost being done with the school year
• And too many other things to count...

I hope you've been having a week as good as mine. :D How has your week been going?


Horrible?
Bad?
OK?
Good?
Great?
So wonderful you can hardly say how wonderful it is....?

I play piano, and I'm thinking about taking up a new instrument. Any suggestions? At first, I was thinking the harp, but since that is a gigantic instrument, my mother suggested flute. Does anyone out there play?

Also recently, we have been reading through the Bible. Right now I am on Psalms. My favorite is Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want... Psalm 23

I like this one too:

Hasten, O God, to save me; O Lord, come quickly to help me. May those who seek my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" turn back because of their shame. But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!" Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.
 Psalm 70

On Friday we are going to have some friends over. I think it will be fun. They have three older girls and a boy who is six. I can't wait to see them! :D


Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you...
Luke 6:28

Have a great weekend!

Grace be with you,

Abby :D

Hi!

Hi everyone!

We went to this mock trial on Monday, it was really fun! The program was called Journey through Justice.First we had a pretend law class, like you would have in law school. The topic was homicide, and we went through lots of cases and tried to decide what category they were in! Then we went into this room that had an $80,000 table in it (and a $600 trash can!).After that we went into the courtroom (it wasn’t a real courtroom, it was what our guide called an appeal courtroom, I think the only difference is that there is three judges) and had a (pretend) trial. I was part of the jury. It was the Big Bad Wolf against Curly Pig. They had lots of witnesses, let's see, there was The Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe, Pinocchio, a Blind Mouse, Miss Piggy, Goldilocks, Bob the Builder :D, Sylvester, and Georgie Porgie. They had a real attorney come in. She was the attorney for the Wolf! After that we watched a movie and talked over some true cases, like the Lindbergh Kidnapping. Then we got these District Attorney for the Day certificates. It was so fun!
Tuesday was sort of a blah day. We still haven't finished the school year yet, so we did some math and piano practice. Leah was sick that day, so she didn't do any school.
Wednesday (today), we did school, and our great-grandma came over for the day. She just had a pacemaker put in.
Tomorrow we have piano lessons. :D
On Monday I got some really cute earrings from a catalog. They are these sweet little giraffes, I can't wait to wear them! :D
Our grandma is taking a trip on Friday to visit some relatives in California. Also, our cousin is having surgery on the same day for a ripped tendon (trampoline accident).

How has your week been going? Are you doing anything exciting this summer?

Have a great rest-of-the-week!


Grace be with you,
Abby :D

Updates...

Today I need help answering a question:

Should I do my giveaway now or wait until my 100th post?


Anyway, today we have a piano recital. Fun! I am playing:

The Spinning Song
The Music Box Dancer
Bagatelle

I am a little bit nervous, but not too much.



**********

I just got back from the recital. It was fun! I did pretty well, and so did everyone else. My piano teacher had some cookies and some other yummy stuff after the recital.

How is your day going?

Have a great day!


Grace be with you,

Abby :D

Can you guess what I got at Claire's?

Today I went to Claire's, and... can you guess what I got?

I will give you three guesses...

1. I got a necklace for a giveaway.
2. I got my ears pierced.
3. I got my hair cut.

I'll tell you tomorrow!


Grace be with you,

Abby :D

Ask Tappi

Here are the questions for Tappi this week:


Tappi, I'm having trouble. I can't answer this question. Maybe you could. What came first? The chicken or the egg?
~Anonymous (:


Anonymous, I think the chicken came first. After all, if there wasn't a chicken, there wouldn't be any eggs, right? Hope this helps! -Tappi

My telephone keeps ringing and when ever I answer, a person is trying to convince me to buy something. I always end up buying what they're selling!

I don't want to be rude and not answer the phone, but when the caller ID say it is THEM I really don't want to answer.

What should I do???
-Anonymous


Anonymous, Don't worry about being rude. If you don't want to talk then you shouldn't. You could try having a friend call and pretend to be them. Then practice saying 'No'. Next time the phone rings pretend it is the friend you practiced with. Hope this helps! -Tappi



What do you think? Should Tappi start her own blog?


Grace be with you,

Abby

Ha ha ha....

Every ten years, the monks in the monastery are allowed to break their vow of silence to speak two words. Ten years go by and it's one monk's first chance. He thinks for a second before saying,"Food bad." Ten years later, he says,"Bed hard." It's the big day, a decade later. He gives the head monk a long stare and says, "I quit."
"I'm not surprised," the head monk says. "You've been complaining since you got here."
-Reader's Digest

At a supermarket, I noticed a woman with four boys and a baby. Her patience was wearing thin as the boys called out, "Mommy! Mommy!" while she tried to shop. Finally, she blurted out, "I don't want to her the word mommy for at least ten minutes!" The boys fell silent for a few seconds. Then one tugged on his mother's dress and said softly, "Excuse me, miss."
-Reader's Digest

I thought these were funny. :D



Grace be with you,

Abby :D

Busy...

We have been very busy this week. Here is our schedule:

Monday was an art class from 9:00 to 11:30

Tuesday was the art class again.

Wednesday was the art class again (it was a three-day art class)

Thursday (today) We went to our piano lessons and Leah is babysitting.

Friday: We are going to our volunteer classes and a Daddy/Daughter Dance.


Unfortunately today we went to the store but we couldn't find anything for the dance. Oh, well.

Plus, my birthday is in April. At the art class, which was taught by Barry Stebbing, we learned a lot, and plus I got an art journal from my mother for my birthday. Mr. Stebbing is a great teacher, and he kept some art journals which were really cool.

What have you been doing this week?


Grace be with you,

Abby :D

"Remember... this conversation never happened."

These are from my friend Mattie's blog. I thought they were funny!


Things to do to make the Pizza guy feel nervous:

1. While you are you are making an order, randomly start pressing the numbers on the phone and tell the guy to stop doing it.

2. Make up a credit card name and ask if they accept it.

3. Ask for diet water.

4. Finish the order with: “Remember... this conversation never happened”.

5. Tell him you’ve got another pizza delivery on the other line and you’re buying from the one who offers the lowest price.

6. Just give him your address and say “Surprise me”. Then hang up.

7. Answer his questions with other questions.

8. Spell the ingredients.

9. Stutter every time you say something with the letter “P”

10. Ask him if they have pizza.

11. Say “Hello” and act as if he called you.

12. Make your order being very decided and secure, then when he asks you if you would like a drink with the pizza, act as if you were confused.

13. Change your accent every 5 seconds.

14. Ask for 56 pepperoni slices followed by an equation.

15. If he repeats the order to make sure, say “OK, it’s $17.90, please proceed to the next window to pick up your order”.

16. Explain him that you want to rent a Pizza.

17. Ask if you can keep the box. When he answers yes, make a huge sigh of relief.

18. Ask him if he wants to keep the pizzas that he delivered to you.

19. Tell him to make sure that your pizza is dead.

20. Imitate the voice of the guy taking the order.

21. Eliminate the verbs of everything you say.

22. Tell him that there’s a surprise party at yours and that you would appreciate if the delivery boy could hide behind the couch until the celebrated one comes in to surprise him/her.

23. Ask if you could see the menu.

24. Warn them that they have no idea of what they are dealing with by supplying this order.

25. Ask him which ingredient is better for a meal with a specific type of wine.

26. Burp and then tell your cat that he should be ashamed.

27. Ask only for one slice.

28. Act mad at the guy taking the order.

29. Complain about the service. Call again two hours later saying that you decided everything was fine and that you are sorry about what you said.

30. Tell the guy taking the order to tell the one in charge to tell the supervisor that he’s fired.

31. Randomly start screaming at someone who is apparently next to you.

32. Stop speaking every 10 seconds and start playing an instrument.

33. Tell a secret code to the guy taking the order and tell him to memorize it for orders you’ll make in the future.

34. Ask for mushrooms as the first ingredient, then before you hang up, say “No mushrooms please”. Then hang up before he can say anything.

35. when he repeats the order, correct him changing an ingredient, then correct him again, and again. The third time ask him if it’s his first day working there.

36. Breathe loudly.

37. Ask him how many whales/dolphins had to die to make that pizza.

38. Avoid using the word “PIZZA” by any means. If the guy taking the order says it, hang up saying “Please, don’t use that word”.

39. Make the order during a car chase on TV. When there are gunshots, yell “Aaarghhh”

40. If the guy taking the order doesn’t take any of the previous jokes, ask him if there’s any other who would take them.



Grace be with you,

Abby

A Craft Project

This is a craft project that I worked on today. It was fun to make. When we went to the craft store I also purchased the feather boa that you see there. I love peacock feathers!!