Yes, Abby is really our dog!

We have a contest in our magazine every month. It's called "Abby Tracks" and is sort of like a 'needle in a haystack' kind of thing. You have to locate Abby's paw print in the book somewhere and then send in an entry, along with a paragraph or two about a favorite memory of some type, recipe, or short story. The instructions are in the book each month.

It still amazes me the number of people that talk about the paw print. Just last night at our Kiwanis meeting it was a topic of conversation between several of us. What also amazes me though, is the number of our readers that don't even know Abby is a dog, much less our dog!

When we started the contest in All Things Country, Abby was our only pet. She was just a puppy - and a big handful to us. I hadn't owned a bigger dog since I was younger - only poms and yorkies. So this 'someday 50 pound' ball of fire that joined our lives was a bit overwhelming at first. In fact, we tried giving her away a couple of times. The last time we tried, down at Green River during a camping trip, was about as close as we ever came. She was on their boat, just wanting to call it home. They had lots of kids! But, the mom on that very same boat vetoed the idea before the kids could even bat their big ole' eyes at her.

So, we came home from that camping trip with her - and remarkably, the very next day her whole attitude changed. She actually started to mind, somewhat at least. It was like she knew what we had planned and she figured she had found a good home, she may as well appreciate it. She is, of course, still a handful for us, it's the beagle in her. But she won't be here forever, so we'll just continue to put up with her.

We started the Abby Track contest after deciding the keep her for good. The contest is a real hit each month. I've only managed to forget to put the paw print in two editions since we started. Boy, did we get phone calls those months! One month I forgot to take it out from the previous month, so we had entries with two locations. I've definitely improved over the years, as it's been a while since I've forgotten it.

We've offered some pretty incredible prizes along the way too .... all thanks to our great advertisers! We've had cabin stays in the Red River Gorge area, jewelry from Dan's in Winchester, a gem mining gift package, dinner gift certificates, zip lining and paintball tickets. It's great fun to be able to spread a little fun around - and then present the winner with something fun to do!

If you are interested in sponsoring a prize one month, please contact us at 606-723-0478 for more information. You can even have the entries sent in to your business to see how many you get - and do the drawing from your business.

Thanks everyone - and have a great Friday!

Deadline week approaches

Good afternoon, wherever you may be in this wonderful world. We are busy here in Estill County, Kentucky getting the November edition of All Things Country Magazine ready for the printers. We've had lots of Abby Track entries this month, the drawing will be held at the end of next week. So, if you haven't gotten your entry in, do it soon.....

We've also had lots of great entries in our photo contest. I'm getting them ready for the judges over the weekend, so we'll know what our front cover will look like soon. Some of the entries are simply gorgeous. Well, all of them are. Some are more breathtaking than others, hows that for diplomacy?

We're now leaving bundles of magazines at the Welcome Center in Williamsburg, Kentucky - so we're looking for a few good realtors to advertise. Get those listings out to more than just residents in our area! Who knows, maybe a few more good people will move to this state - and learn what an awesome state we live in.

We're also offering holiday greeting ads for November and December. If you are wanting to tell your customers 'thank you' for their business this past year, this is the way to get your greeting out to several counties. Give us a call if you are interested!

Another thought with the holidays around the corner .... a subscription to All Things Country Magazine makes a great gift! Subscriptions cost $27.00 per year and the recipient will get their own copy of ATC Magazine delivered to their mailbox each month. We currently mail out subscriptions to about 12 different states.

Well, I'm not getting any ads built doing this blog, so it's time to get to work. I hope each and every one of you have a blessed day! And give us a call if you are interested in helping to keep our magazine free by taking out an ad....... 606-723-0478.

Change is a'coming!

The weather is gorgeous outside. Not too hot, not too cold. But the trusty ole' weatherdude is telling me that change is coming. Not too sure I'm ready for full blown winter yet. I've got too much to get accomplished still before the cold chilly days of winter arrive. But, alas, what I want isn't exactly what the good Lord upstairs wants. He's got his plan - and at times it just doesn't jive with my plan. I'm good at changing plans in midstream though, so it's all good.

Our deadline week is just around the corner - again! Time just flies by anymore. Why is it when you are younger it drags on, when you are older - you wish it would drag on. I remember when I was younger and would be waiting for dad to get home from one or another of his military missions. His time in Vietnam seemed like years, years he was gone and we were in Idaho just waiting for news from him.

Long before the thought of internet. Long before folks gathered at airports to welcome home our soldiers from the war. No, when my dad came home they were just angry he was even there. Like he had a choice! It was certainly not his choice to leave his family for years at a time. I would have loved to have been able to video chat with him while he was gone. We waited for letters! Or the sporatic phone call.  I could not have been prouder of my dad during his military years.

I continue to hold such a strong love of the armed services in my heart. The men and women protecting our country deserve every bit of our prayers and thanks for the job they endure every day while deployed. And the wives and husbands left behind. Goodness, my mom took on quite a job marrying a military guy - something I appreciate more every day.

We were hauled to Japan at a young age and didn't come back stateside for over five years. What my grandparents must have gone through during those years. I get to see Jocey anytime I want by logging onto a computer and chatting with her. My grandparents got to wait on letters.

Well, goodness, I don't know how my conversation went from the cold, chilly weather of fall/winter to talking about the military. Rambling along again I guess. I hope each and every one of you have the best day yet! And continue to keep our military in our prayers .... and the weathermen too....

Pam

So thankful to live in the United States

I've been watching some of the coverage of Amanda Knox this morning. Quite the story, yes it is. Although I feel back for the young lady that died and her family, I was just so happy when they called the verdict. I really figured that they would still consider her guilty. All I know is, I'm sure darned happy to call myself a resident of the United States of America. I certainly don't want to visit Italy anytime soon, that's for sure.

I just can't imagine what Amanda's friends and family have gone through for the past four years. The trips to Italy must have cost them a fortune. I was thinking this morning, when they arrive back in Seattle, what a feeling they will have - knowing that the trips to Italy are no longer a part of their lives.

How do you just put your life on hold for four years? You do it for the sake of your children. Amazing thing ... that thing called parenthood. It so changes your life, forever. I'm thankful every day of my life for so many things - my wonderful husband, my adorable grandkidlet, my family from church, my family in general. But nothing makes me more thankful in life than having had a daughter almost 30 years ago. I wanted tons of kids, well maybe 10. That wasn't to be. God had other plans I guess.

I was always the one that said my job when I grew up was to be a mommy. I guess instead of being bummed that God only gave me one, I should be thankful that God AT LEAST gave me one! The alternative is unthinkable.

Thankfully I've never had to travel to a foreign country to try to save her butt! She's been a pretty good kidlet - and for that I'm additionally thankful. But, hey, I'd travel to the lengths that the Knox family did. Just glad I haven't had to!

Have an awesome day everyone. God is good, and gave us this day to do good for somebody - whether it's just for yourself or for someone else.

Blessings ..... Pam