Shameless Plug

First off, before I get to the shameless plug, I noticed I have been getting a lot of traffic recently today from this site. I don't know how they got word of the bittersweet story of Abigail and Madison, but nonetheless, they have added our button to their blog and requested prayers for our baby Abigail...and for that, I am grateful (and quite humbled if I am being honest). If you go to their site and scroll down to this past Sunday's entry, you will see the request. It is also in their sidebar. Like I said, I don't know who they are or how they heard of us, but certainly, they are doing us all quite a service with their blog. So, please check it out.

No, ehem, that was not the shameless plug, in case you thought it might be.

Secondly, last night we went to the Angels game. This officer and gentleman sang the National Anthem and God Bless America. I wanted to ask him if I could take a picture of him with Abby, but I was so afraid she might toss her cookies all over his crisp, white uniform, that I didn't ask. Instead, we just snuck a picture of her right behind him.



We actually did speak briefly to his wife, and she was very sweet. But he seemed a little preoccupied with the whole singing-in-front-of-thousands-of-people-in-his-uniform-on-Memorial-Day thing, so we didn't want to bother him.

Thirdly, if that's even a word, I have been meaning to write a series of posts that I think I will call "Reflections". You see, I recently realized that I wrote very little about the birth of our girls, and the weeks leading up to their birth while I was in the hospital, without the internet. And now that I look back and see what I did write, I realize it didn't make a whole lot of sense. The grammar is terrible. And what's with switching back and forth from "I this and that" to speaking in the third person? I'll tell ya...those were some serious drugs I was on at the time. And although the memories are fresh in my head like it was yesterday, I know in time, they are bound to fade, and I want to be sure I have documented the actual events for Abigail to read someday. So soon...when I can put on a brave face and talk about those days, and when Abby allows me the time to do it, look for my Reflections.

Now. With all the business out of the way, it is time for my Shameless Plug. Once upon a time (until yesterday, actually), I could never really get behind multi-level marketing and direct sales. Not that there's anything wrong with it, I mean, I know lots of people are very successful with Partylite and The Pampered Chef and Cookie Lee and all that, it's just never something I thought I could do. I am not really a go-getter type. I've always sort of lived by the motto "I don't want to buy anything sold or processed. I don't want to process anything sold or bought. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed" (yes, that's a quote from the movie Say Anything). Honestly, I have never wanted to sell anything. Period. No, I would rather fix things. You know...like problems...other people's problems. No wonder I've always been in customer service, training, etc. I'm a problem solver. A happy-people maker. That's right. I admit it. I like people to be happy.

So recently, I've been thinking about what would make me happy. Selfish, isn't it? One thing I know that makes me happy (besides the obvious husband, daughter, roof over my head, family...you get the idea), is wine. Yes, I admit it, wine makes me happy. I find it relaxing to have a glass of wine now and again. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't abuse the wine, but I do find a nice glass of vino refreshing and enjoyable every now and again. .

Have I gotten totally off the subject?

Well...I've mentioned MLM and direct sales, and I've mentioned wine...so No! I guess I haven't.

(here comes the shameless plug)

Drumroll pleeeeaaaassseeee....

I have signed up with a direct sales, multi-level marketing company called WineShop at Home. That's right folks! I have become an Independent Wine Consultant! I have been contemplating work for some time now, trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to do. Something that would give me the freedom to work when I want to work, and something that I am actually interested in. Again...no offense to The Pampered Chef (although I don't cook much), and none to Cookie Lee either (although I don't wear much jewelry...they are a jewelry company, right?).

Anyhow, on with the plug...as a consultant I get my own little business website, which I have decided to call My Branch of the Vine.

"We" do in-home wine tastings.

"We" offer personalized labels to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, you name it.

"We" have a premier wine club that allows you to get these fabulous artisan wines delivered right to your door every month, and for a very reasonable price, I might add...compared to some of those other Napa Valley wineries.

So, if you are interested in wine, in any way (i.e. hosting a party, joining the club, designing a private label for an upcoming special event), please, visit my website. If you are someone looking for a way to bring in a little extra income to the household, please, please, visit my website. Or, if possibly, you are a stay-at-home-mom looking to go back to work on your terms, please please please, visit my website.

You can email me too at mybranchofthevine@hotmail.com. I can't wait to hear from you!

Now...how's that for a shameless plug?