<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391750987516128794</id><updated>2011-06-03T01:15:14.663-04:00</updated><title type='text'>mel's musings</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplysloniker.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5391750987516128794/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplysloniker.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>melissa</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/04446154892610172038</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OoXSOAa52iA/TWH7LBFsIlI/AAAAAAAAAAM/AfUSWqeolbE/s220/scavenger%2Bhunt%2B036.JPG'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>3</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391750987516128794.post-1543965112269125592</id><published>2011-06-03T01:11:00.004-04:00</published><updated>2011-06-03T01:15:14.671-04:00</updated><title type='text'>The Desires of My Heart</title><content type='html'>Dear Lord,&lt;br /&gt;You know the desires of my heart. You know better than anyone the ONE thing that I desire above all else. I don't understand why my dream is not coming true. What do we have to do to please You? What do You seek from us?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Is it our finances? Is it our organizational skills? Is it our children? Is it our lack of faith in You?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Please show us Your way. Show us what You want from us. Show us what we need to do to make this happen.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I cry at night because I want this dream. I daydream during the day of what we could do with this fantasy. I want it so bad that I can taste it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do you not want the same thing for us? If not, why?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Show me, Lord. Show me Your way.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Please....&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5391750987516128794-1543965112269125592?l=simplysloniker.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplysloniker.blogspot.com/feeds/1543965112269125592/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simplysloniker.blogspot.com/2011/06/desires-of-my-heart.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5391750987516128794/posts/default/1543965112269125592'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5391750987516128794/posts/default/1543965112269125592'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplysloniker.blogspot.com/2011/06/desires-of-my-heart.html' title='The Desires of My Heart'/><author><name>melissa</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/04446154892610172038</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OoXSOAa52iA/TWH7LBFsIlI/AAAAAAAAAAM/AfUSWqeolbE/s220/scavenger%2Bhunt%2B036.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391750987516128794.post-2052449371279859627</id><published>2011-04-05T13:01:00.002-04:00</published><updated>2011-04-05T13:06:54.149-04:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal" align="center"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:180%;color:#3366ff;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;25 things about me&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;1. I do not like extreme weather – not too hot, not too cold. Fall and Spring are my favorite seasons. Throw in a nice thunderstorm and I am a happy girl!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;2. I obsess about whether people read what I write – and what they think about it.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;3. My dad started the Cumberland Covered Bridge Festival in Matthews, IN when mom was pregnant with me.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;4. My social life seems mostly dependant on my children’s interest.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;5. I love being a Girl Scout leader and take great pride in my work with Girl Scouts.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;6. I love that Brad is an organized person, but it drives me crazy when he comments on our unorganized (cluttered) house.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;7. I traveled with an international theatre company for five years – four of those years were spent in Central and South America.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;8. I love sitcoms - but only when I'm alone.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;9. I do not understand selfish people. My dad taught me to give at all times.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;10. I like most kinds of music – except bluegrass and hard rock.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;11. Bethany’s stubbornness will be the death of me….right after her “the world is out to get me” attitude does me in. I love the girl, but – my gosh! Get over it!!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;12. Olivia will have me laughing in my grave – she’s a nut!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;13. Cale had me more scared than I’ve ever been in my life when he was born with heart problems.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;14. I had a breast lumpectomy in Paraguay – and I assisted with the surgery.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;15. Brad and I met on a blind date. His sister-in-law set it up with another girl and she backed out – I was the stand-in.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;16. As a young child, the first funeral I went to was my grandpa’s. One of my aunts climbed onto/into the casket – yelling, kicking and screaming the entire time. It took several of my uncles to carry her out of the funeral home. Brad and I have taken our children to funeral homes since a very young age and answer all questions that they have regarding death. I do not want them to have a tragic memory of funeral homes.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;17. I would love to scrapbook and sew, but lack the space/time/motivation.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;18. Brad and I put our marriage above our children’s happiness – which ultimately results in their happiness. I think that is an odd concept in today’s society.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;19. I love lasagna, but have only made it once in my life. It was good too – maybe it’s time to make it again.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;20. I enjoy watching The Andy Griffith Show – but I’d rather see Brad and the girls as they quote the lines as they watch it. Yes, we have the entire series on DVD.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;21. I think that all babies are gorgeous, even if they’re not.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;22. I once had an EMT license, but it expired while I was overseas.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;23. I’ve never met a stranger – I was born an extrovert.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;24. My tonsils were removed during Christmas break in kindergarten - I was five. When I came home from the hospital I got to tear a loop off our Christmas chain and watch Elvis perform on TV. A classmate, Telly Symms, brought me a get-well present – a book titled “My Favorite Book” – I still have the book.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;25. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="mso-ansi-language: EN;font-family:Tahoma;color:#333333;" lang="EN"  &gt;&lt;span style="font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span style="color:#3366ff;"&gt;I was stung by a scorpion in Nicaragua.&lt;?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5391750987516128794-2052449371279859627?l=simplysloniker.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplysloniker.blogspot.com/feeds/2052449371279859627/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simplysloniker.blogspot.com/2011/04/1.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5391750987516128794/posts/default/2052449371279859627'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5391750987516128794/posts/default/2052449371279859627'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplysloniker.blogspot.com/2011/04/1.html' title=''/><author><name>melissa</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/04446154892610172038</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OoXSOAa52iA/TWH7LBFsIlI/AAAAAAAAAAM/AfUSWqeolbE/s220/scavenger%2Bhunt%2B036.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5391750987516128794.post-4654292475015926503</id><published>2011-02-21T00:47:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2011-02-21T00:49:02.961-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Time to Blog?</title><content type='html'>&lt;p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia"&gt;I read several blogs. Well, I guess, technically, I lurk at blogs. I never comment. I never tell anyone that I read their blogs. I play stupid when someone tells me something - and I've already read it on their blog.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Wonder why I do that?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Afraid to commit to a relationship? Scared to appear nosy? Easier to follow a conversation?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yeah, I think it's the relationship part.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So...I think I'll start blogging. I just need to think of things to say. I'm sure that won't be a problem!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I guess I'll find out how it goes ... care to ride along with me? Even if you're just lurking, come along! You can lurk all you want, comment as often as you please, and pry your heart out! Who knows - maybe I'll meet some new friends.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Til next time...&lt;br /&gt;mel&lt;?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5391750987516128794-4654292475015926503?l=simplysloniker.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplysloniker.blogspot.com/feeds/4654292475015926503/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://simplysloniker.blogspot.com/2011/02/time-to-blog_21.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5391750987516128794/posts/default/4654292475015926503'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5391750987516128794/posts/default/4654292475015926503'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplysloniker.blogspot.com/2011/02/time-to-blog_21.html' title='Time to Blog?'/><author><name>melissa</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/04446154892610172038</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OoXSOAa52iA/TWH7LBFsIlI/AAAAAAAAAAM/AfUSWqeolbE/s220/scavenger%2Bhunt%2B036.JPG'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
