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"The Weepies" Facebook Fan Page

The Weepies are awesome... How have I not known about them until now. Have I been living under a rock? hmmm..

FALL 2008

The Holidays are here! So much has been going on since I last posted. Keith and I had an awesome time for Halloween! We dressed up as redneck Nascar fans. Then we had a wonderful 1st year anniversary - we stayed at the Wynfrey Hotel (right here in B'ham...). Then it was Thanksgiving! So much to give thanks for! Here are some of our photos from all three events!

THANKSGIVING!
Keith and Dad - Mom and Dad being Mom and Dad - Nana & Papa and Dad.




Me and Allison - Me and Keith





Turkey! - Mom & Dad's beautiful Dining Room - Food






OUR 1 Year ANNIVERSARY!

We had a picnic
(all from Whole Foods)





Our beautiful Cake Topper.
A year old... Not too bad... in spots... :o)






HALLOWEEN!

Our adorable front porch with the pumpkin Keith carved
(next to the bowl of candy-we're good neighbors... even when we're gone)


Mom and Dad's pumpkin had ears!!!
So cute!


At work we dress up and all go out to eat. This year I dressed up as "The Beanstalk" Click on the last picture and look close - it's "JACK"! He's hanging on to the top of my stalk (or make-shift hat). Last year I was a Spartan Cheerleader but it wasn't quite as fun without Keith there dressed up with me.


Later that evening... :o)




Keith in my wig.
Such a goof-off. love it.



I love the Holidays! Now, on to Christmas and New Years!
(more photos are on my FacebookPage)
Abigail

OBAMA WON!

The United States of America has elected it's first ever African American President! This is for the books! And I voted for him!!! I love America!

VOTE! (Obama!)

Today is Election Day!!! I'm not shy about voting for Obama/Biden! We really need them to whip things into shape and soon! So, I hope everyone goes out to vote today. Even if you don't think your vote will count (like mine will... haa... I live in a very RED state... boo on that). Just vote! It's such a liberating feeling. Plus, if you go to Starbucks and show them your "I voted" sticker, you'll get a free cup of their house blend. See???!!! I love America... and Starbucks... and Obama!!!!!

Even though...

So....... you know..... our economy is closest to the Great Depression as it's ever been. Gas prices are still horrible. Alabama has decided to raise every residence's power bill about 10 bucks a month. We still don't have cable or internet (at home) and can't decide if it's worth our money at the moment. And and and...

However, in this horrid economic crisis, life is good. The cats are healthy and happy. The family is healthy and happy. Work is great! Keith's still enjoying teaching and grad class... My biological clock (which had started ticking like crazy) has slowed down - allowing me to just enjoy being married and decorate our home and the like... AND it's OCTOBER! One of my favorite months ever! I really needed Autumn. And it's here. Joy of all Joys!










Life is a blessing.

Abigail

Need a freelancer!? Anyone!?

Anyone need a freelance designer??? Anyone??? Logo design, illustrations, T-shirt design, whatever! email me! AbigailBrandenburg@gmail.com
DoubleDeckerDesign.com
(I'll be updating it really soon - Promise!)

Always looking for some extra work!
Wow, I've turned my personal blog into an advertisement. Well, whatever, I bet I'm the only one creating traffic at this site. haha.
So, it's not like it'll make a difference...
or will it... hmmmmm
~ Abigail

Summer Olympics "Beijing 2008"

Keith and I are planning to watch the Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremonies tonight. I've been waiting all summer for it! They've said it's the most expensive and amazing presentation ever. With the 12 hour time difference they're showing the taped version tonight. But... I've sneaked a few pics from MSNBC.com. Wow, tonight's going to be great.
(These two pictures were taken from MSNBC.com)
In fact, over this week, I've been watching occasional Today show tidbits in the morning while I getting ready for work. Several times I just have to sit down, toothbrush in mouth, and watch. They show The Forbidden City, and The Summer Palace, and Tienanmen Square. Keith, Dad, and I all were in Beijing (2005) with Samford's A Capella Choir (Dad's director).

Which leads to... Dad and Mom were in China in 1989 (with a singing group) when the Tienanmen Massacre happened. They were a day from traveling into Beijing. Thank goodness they didn't - however, they were kept quarantine until it was safe to send them home. They didn't tell me until we were older but officials had called my grandparents for dental records... just in case they needed some sort of identification... talk about a nightmare. And they told my mom they could try to get (just) her on a flight but she said she wouldn't go unless it was with dad. That story still gives me chills. I was 6 or 7 and had no idea of what was going on. I just thought my parents had done a really good job performing in China (which was the norm - they're professional musicians/singers) when we picked them up from the airport - all the news cameras... crazy.


all in all... My Dad and I stood in Tienanmen Square where he and my mom would've been standing had the massacre not taken place.

I'm just in awe at the Chinese people. With all their struggles they still hold such pride and love for their culture. Being there made me really appreciate the Chinese heritage and that is why I can't wait to watch these ceremonies tonight. Wow... a long story out of nowhere. I was just going to say we're gonna watch 'em tonight after we go to Costco... Yay! Ok, that'll do :o)

Patience.

I've been down a lot lately. Tears just come out of nowhere... And, no, it's not just pms. There's just not enough time to get things done. I've been so down on myself because my goals seem so far out of reach. However, my mom gave me some great advice the other day. She told me to look back over the past few years and recall what all has happened.

1. Internship in London
2. Graduated from Samford
(then went to China with AC...)
3. Interned at Cooking Light
4. Got engaged!
5. First Graphic Design job at Passport
(been there about a year and a half).
6. Had the most amazing fairytale wedding!
- These are just to name a few...

Whoa Girl! Through all the chaos (even though it's been great) I've taken on this mentality that I have to keep it all up! What's next? What's next? Gotta get it done! - In my last post I was determined! Determination is an amazing feature but when it starts to cause panic and frustration, that's when we have a problem. I occasionally get on a roll and when things don't work out the way I want them to I feel so discouraged. Boo on that! So, I've adopted this scripture as my current mantra: Lamentations 3:24-25 - I say to myself "The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him." God has his own timing. I can't control that. It is my life but I can't force things to happen when it's not time. So, the "Plan" that I created for myself won't be thrown out... I'll just have to let God revise it throughout everyday. It's an amazing relief to know that my "plan" isn't in my control. I am to work hard and use God's gifts to fulfill it but will not try to take it over out of panic and frustration. I'm relearning how to be patient.











Side note: Geri is huge now. and Vito is as adorable as ever.
My life is good.
I am thankful.

Determined!

I have this goal (more like a dream that must happen) that I've declared for myself within the next 3 t0 5 years (I won't say because it is still in the making and I don't know who all is reading this - talk about a life shifting idea). I've always wanted to reach this "goal" but new I would have to pace myself and inch towards it slowly. I was always okay with that but lately I can't think of anything else. It's driving me crazy. And, because I can't stop thinking about it, I have decided to shorten my "inching along" time frame and MAKE IT HAPPEN! So, basically, I need as much will power and prayers as I can get. I am determined to do this "thing" :o)


for now,
Abigail

Our Kitties!

Keith and I adopted Vito from The Greater Birmingham Humane Society (such an amazing place - I really encourage adoptions - pet stores selling pets for profit should be outlawed). He has been the best cat. He's actually like a dog, which suits me just fine (I grew up with dachshunds). He loves playng with sticks. Once he gets it from you he'll drag it under the porch to hide.













"Geraldine or Geri": My mom and Dad recently called me in a panic. Dad had rescued this little kitten outside their house. It had fallen down into the retaining wall (separating their house from their neighbor). So, I went over there and fell in love. The vet checked her out and she appeared to be extremely healthy - about 2-3 weeks old.And so.... we decided to keep her! Now she's about 4-5 weeks old and has doubled in size. She's so adorable :o) One of my favorite TV shows is the British comedy "The Vicar of Dibley". The Vicar's name is Geraldine Grainger - such a great character.

... and there was... blog.

Ok, so I decided I needed a blog. Mainly to post pictures and links and all that mumbo jumbo for my family and friends to see. I get tired of using facebook for everything. And so... here we go...

November 3rd, 2007, I married the love of my life, Keith Brandenburg. We met at Samford University where I earned my degree in Graphic Design and he earned his degree in Instrumental Music Education (he is continuing his grad studies (still at SU) in Church Music and Music Education).

Currently, I work for Passport, Inc. (a non-profit, non-denominational missions based youth and kids camp), as a graphic designer, while balancing freelance designing (I hope to go completely freelance one day). Keith teaches k-8 elementary music and middle school band at Brighton.

We have an adorable condo right across the street from Homewood Park and have two wonderful cats. Vito (as in the Godfather; 8 months) and Geraldine "Geri" (as in The Vicar of Dibley; approx: 5 weeks-I'll explain her story soon). Our families are healthy and happy. Life is good. That's all I can say right now.

:o) Abby