Let Me Humor You

I know a lot of people have heard this story before, but I have had some requests to share it again, so this is my last time sharing it, until I write my book (ha!), of course. :)

The Infamous Glasses Story:

This story goes back to my elementary school days, the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

I had a major crush on a boy in my class, and I would do anything to get him to like me. We came back from summer break and he had a girlfriend...with glasses! Also at the time, the tv show Life Goes On (with Corky & Rebecca) was popular, and she wore these huge red glasses and I thought she was beautiful, so with all these influences on me, I HAD to get me some big red glasses!

One problem, I could see just fine and didn't need them. So what do I do? mischievous little me decided to convince my mom to take me to the eye doctor because "everything was blurry".

So she takes me to the doctor and I proceed to lie on every exam I was given, and I ended up with some ridiculously thick coke-bottle glasses- Red Rimmed, of course!

I head to school the next day confident that the boy I liked, we'll call him Bob, would fall head over heals for me with my new hot glasses! Unknown to me, the Doctor sent a note to my teacher saying I HAD to wear my glasses at all times cause my eyesight was so drastically bad so fast.

So my teacher calls me out to do our first assignment of the day, reading outloud. This is it! I thought, I can show off for Bob! I look down and realize I couldn't see a thing! So I peaked through the bottom crack of the glasses and make it...phew!

Next assignment...math problems on the board. This was my chance, I could strut my stuff in front of Bob (he sat 3 seats in front of me)! I volunteer for the 1st question and head up to the board...prancing my little self right on by Bob. Of course, I couldn't see anything in front of me because of the glasses and I had no idea, but Bob's backpack was sitting out right in the aisle! I proceed to go crashing down to the ground as I trip over it with my new glasses going flying by, and I get rug burn on my face!

So humiliated, I actually went home "sick" so I wouldn't have to face Bob the rest of the day. Now, I was in a pickle- how do get rid of these death-trap glasses??!! The doctor MADE me wear them! Slowly day by day for a few months I convinced my mom that my vision was being "corrected" by the glasses, some how that worked!

Fast forward about 10 years and my roommate, Kelly, and I are sitting in our dorm, freshman year, about to pee our pants laughing as I admit this story for the 1st time to anyone. Bob happened to be at FSU with us, and she was friends with him, and so she made me tell him the story! He remembered that day!!! A few days later I finally admitted my story to my parents too, and my mom still had the glasses at home!

Do you have a mischievous story to share?

G-L-A-M-OR-OUS

Just sing the Fergie song....

I just did something I have never had to do before in my 2.3 years of motherhood....took a temperature- rectally! AHHHH!!! I am so disturbed now. It took everything in me to do it, I almost couldn't, but is the most accurate way to do it, and the Dr. made me. Our 2 year old, thankfully, never had a fever until he was older so I never had to do it before. The good news is that there is no fever, and our little one didn't seem the least bit phased (I have no idea how!).

Just had to share about the Glamorous life of motherhood.

American Idol 101

For those of you who know me, know that I am a fan of American Idol. (Nothing like my sister-in-law, Shelby, though, she is the expert on American Idol). Anywho my passion for this show began back in 2004 when I went to the Orlando Auditions with Shelby. That was quite the experience (I'll share stories later if you are interested). And some how the judges must have been on crack because Shelby didn't make it, but it's their loss, and one day they will kick themselves because she will blow all the American Idol winners out of the water in record sales combined.

So about the show. Can you believe it is Season 7?! That is just crazy. How and When will they end the show? I don't think people will stop watching or voting, always looking for that next William Hung or Sunjaya. I am still stuck a few seasons back baffled at the fact that people like Taylor Hicks, and Fantasia made it. (I still stand by my Rueben vote, even though he has dropped off the face of the earth and can now be found doing some ghetto Musical on tour through Tally. But they do have their successes when you look at Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.

So about season 7, tonight began the top 24 and the guys went. I see no hopefuls in this group. The only person that looks like a possibility is the one who sang last, Michael Johns, who isn't even American. But that is my pick for tonight and who I am calling to be the top guy. Let's hope the females pick it up tomorrow! Otherwise I will be disappointed in season 7 (which should be the prefect season).

Feeling the Heat

Lately we are feeling the heat, financially, so I wanted to share a few fun quotes from financial guru Dave Ramsey. I hope these inspire you as I hope they will bring inspiration to me to budget better and get ahead of the game!


"For a period of time you can win financially and later buy whatever you want."

“This is not a game, ... Debt has become a part of who we are. It's become that spoiled child in the grocery store with their lip stuck out: 'I want it. I want it. I deserve it because I breathe air.' And, well, that's an uphill climb in our culture right now, to go against that and say, 'Hey, let's be grownups here. Let's be mature, learn to delay pleasure, save up and pay for things.'”

“The average millionaire can't tell you who got thrown off the island last night.”

“Once you agree, then pinky swear and spit-shake that you will both stick to the budget.”


Oh yeah, and we are now officially part of his junky car club with our "Red Leopard" (our '96 Pontiac w/ over 100,000 miles). :) I encourage you to join the club, you get a cool bumper sticker! haha.

Hollow

I hold it in my hands,
my mouth watering in delight.
I thought it would be hard,
but there really was no fight.

It looked so good to me,
I was sure it would be filling,
but when I took a bite,
inside me, began the killing.

A hollow life I once did live,
so futile and disappearing.
My mind played tricks on me
until I started hearing.

His voice called out in darkness
words so soft and gentle
to turn and face my fears
is really all this simple.

Accepting Jesus as my Lord
and not just the same old thing,
changed my heart completely
now with praises can I sing.

No longer am I hollow
now I'm fulfilled inside
Join with me why don't you
in this life I freely ride.

A Word for this Generation

The following lyrics are to one of my favorite songs. It is by Bethany Dillon, written when she was like 15! It's pretty prophetic and exactly what my hearts cry has been this last year, especially for our campus. Literally every time I put this song on in my car and turn the volume up I inevitably start uncontrollably crying! So much so the last time I had to call Ross to get him to calm me down so I could see the road! haha. (that type of thing is not normal for me either) If you get a chance I encourage you to listen to it and pray for young people around the world. It's those last 2 stanzas that get me every time!

"A Voice Calling Out" by Bethany Dillon (Revolutionaries CD)

I hear a voice calling out
I hear a voice in this wilderness
Where darkness has reigned for so long
Ground is being taken

The trumpet sounds
And Your glory touches the ground
And we all stand in awe
Who is this?
This glory far beyond us
I hear a voice

I hear a drum beating
heaven's drawing near
The sky will open
Your people are being healed
I hear a voice

[chorus:]
Heaven's battle cry
Rise
See the sun light what was hidden
Heaven's heart beat
See is moving
What was a whisper is now
A voice calling out

I see a generation rising up
No longer accepting lies
Running to the battlefield
And losing their lives

I see a generation rising up
No longer accepting lies
As a band of worshipers run to the battlefield
They're finding their lives
I hear a voice

A Love Story

In honor of Valentine's Day I thought I'd share a story about the process of Ross and I getting engaged!

At the point of this story taking place we knew we'd be getting engaged soon because we had already talked about the timeline of graduating and going into ministry together, so I was pretty much on pins and needles just waiting for "the moment".

I got to the point where anytime he bent over I thought "this is it!!". One time that was funny was when Ross and I went down to visit my parents and we went to the beach. The setting was perfect, a breezy night, romantic music playing in the background (there was a wedding reception happening right near us under a tent on the beach). I went to sit down on a bench and all of a sudden Ross kneels down! "THIS IS IT!" I thought! He reaches into his pocket, hesitates, and pulls out......his cell phone! What?! (he wasn't even aware of this moment, or what I was thinking until after we really got engaged a month later and I told him). haha.

And if my anxiety wasn't enough for the moment, Ross ALMOST made it worse! The weekend he really did propose to me we were in his hometown. He actually came up with a FAKE proposal plan, the night before the real day he was going to take me to a romantic movie that they play outside on a wall, where you sit on blankets (like in the Wedding Planner movie) and he was going to do the speech and all and act like he was going to propose but not...just to "throw me off". Man was I lucky (Actually HE was the lucky one) that his sister, Shelby was in town and he ran this idea past her, and she knocked some sense into him so he didn't do that).

The NERVE! Moral of the story: MEN- Do not even THINK of messing with a girls emotion at that time, it won't be funny. haha.:)

Happy Valentine's Day- I hope you feel LOVED today!

No Whining Zone

Having a 2 year old in our house means hearing whining quite often. Whenever we find him whining we discipline him, or we don't give him what he is whining for so that he can learn the art of patience and thankfulness for what he does have.

One day his whining was particularly bad and no matter how many time outs we did it just didn't seem to stop. He would just follow me around the house and whine for my attention, whine for the toys he wanted, and whine for whatever he didn't have, it seemed. When all of a sudden I looked down at him and realized....

this is what I look like to God when I don't get what I want, when I want it.

WOAH....was that a wake up call for me! Here I was getting so impatient that our 2 year old wasn't learning patience, getting so frustrated that he just didn't appreciate what he did have, getting fed up with his discontentment when he had everything he needed. And getting especially annoyed when he asked for something and I would tell him he had to do something first (like clean up) before he would get it and he would sit there and whine for it. If only he would obey when I told him to do what he needed to do first then he would have it by now!

How many times is that us in the eyes of God. He told us to do something, yet we continue to whine/complain/be ungrateful when we don't get it when we want, or the way we want. How many times when God is just trying to work on our character and build patience, endurance or a thankful heart in us do we just continue to whine.

Thank God that He is patient with us, and faithful still! My prayer is that I recognize when I start to whine/complain so I can have a thankful heart and receive what he is doing in me!

Philippians 2:14 "Do everything wihtout complaining or arguing..." is what you are going to hear if you walk in our door these days.

My 15 Minutes of Fame

So this funny story takes place back in 2000, when I was an offical FSU Batgirl (cue Batman theme song). I had the opportunity to work with the FSU Baseball team my freshman year, which was really fun, as a Batgirl- doing marketing things and assisting with different things during the game.

The team would pick a few Batgirls to travel with them for away games and tournaments, and lucky me, I got to go to Regionals with them in South Carolina.

So I was assigned to work in the dugout and bring baseballs to the umpire when he was running short. The game was going well, and I was doing good keeping up, when all of a sudden my world came to a crashing halt!

The Umpire called for 5 more balls. As I was running up the dugout's steps I tripped as I got to the top stair. I went face down and balls went flying everywhere! I was so embarrassed.

If that wasn't enough, of course the game was being televised on ESPN, I didn't even think of this until we got back to the hotel later.

A bunch of us Batgirls and baseball players were hanging out afterwards watching the highlights on ESPN when they started running the Baseball Tonight Top 10 plays.

And guess who was #8???? ME!

They played my awesome display of athleticism back and forth in slow mo as they laughed and kept saying "Batgirl goes down!"

I Should Get Paid For This!

Here I am to promote the worlds greatest stain remover!

After making the mistake 2 years ago of only using Dreft stain spray on Aiden's pooped on clothes I finally discovered the product of all stain removing products! Oxi Clean Baby Stain Soaker!

This stuff works like magic! I actually used to get so frustrated with the poop stains from Aidens baby clothes I would throw them away, but so far Eli has had more poop explosions than Aiden, (I am actually impressed with his ability to get it everywhere) but just a scoop of this in warm water and it disappears! I never would believe those infomercials about Oxi Clean, but now I'M A BELIEVER (cue Monkees song!)!

I know this blog isn't relevant to half of the readers, but I had to share this, it makes my life easier, and one day you will say thank you!

On Motherhood (part 1)

Since becoming a new mother of 2 the topic of motherhood has been on my mind a lot lately. It's amazing how my perspective has changed so dramatically in the past 2 1/2 years!

I always wanted to be a mom, when I was little I even set age goals in my mind of when I wanted to be married and have kids by (I'm sure a lot of little girls do). By the grace of God I have actually met those goals (not by my own will either!). But to be honest, what it looked like to be a mom didn't seem so desirable (except for having cute kids).

What I mean by that is I almost had a fear that after I had kids I would have to "stay at home all day" and basically lose all of who I was during the younger years. It didn't look like anything I wanted, I thought I would get bored, I thought I would be a basket case in not knowing what to "do", with my day, and in actually raising a child, I even thought I would be missing out on so much!

And WOW has my perspective changed! While yes I did lose some of who I was (selfish, somewhat lazy, not motivated a lot of the time), it is a GOOD thing I lost a lot of that in my life! It is amazing how God uses having children to refine you. And sometimes, yes, I am a basket case in many different aspects (haha) but usually resulting in me having to trust God more and depend on Him more (GOOD thing!) It's taken a lot of give and take to figure out what to "do" with my day, but now that I have worked a lot of it out I find myself MORE motivated (cause I have someone more to live for), much more busy than I ever thought I would be (this is a 24 hour job, not just a "full time" job!).

Even though I may "miss out" on some social event or meeting because I have to "stay at home with kids" I find so much worth in that now and so much satisfaction in that because I know I am discipling the next generation, and I know that every action, word and move I make is being watched by my kids, so it forces me to be more loving, have a better work ethic, and depend on God to a whole new level.

I LOVE MOTHERHOOD now, and I wouldn't give it up for anything in the world because I know ultimately it is leading me more to Christ, it is showing me new things about God, and his love and compassion for us, and it makes me a better wife and friend I believe because I have to die to myself more and more every day.

All that to say, this job is not as easy as it looks, and I have learned day by day that I have to be sure never to judge someone else's job/whatever they do based on my own perspective because until I walk a day in their shoes (or get multiple perspectives), in the words of the MTV tv show Driven:
"You think you know, but you have NO idea!" haha

Attempt at Poetry

So I used to dabble in a little bit of poetry...I realize I am not that good, I just like to use it to communicate what I feel sometimes. Maybe I'll look into this again.



In that place between cold and warm,
chills are all I feel.
Your peace is somewhere to be found,
somewhere near, somewhere warm.
Quiet these voices inside my head,
Bring focus to listen to what you've said.
In this static I hear a knock.

GK Chesterton is brilliant

What- Amy is posting 2x's in one day?! wow! Must be something good, hopefully.

So if any of you know Pastor Chip Buhler you are familiar with the name GK Chesterton. He was a famous author in the late 1800s- early 1900s. He actually was a big influence on CS Lewis and many other well known authors.

Well, last night I was watching a show on CBS and they ended the show on a GK Chesterton quote which led me to then go and look up some of his quotes on the internet...I read so many that were so right on that I almost want to start a GK Chesterton weekly thought on this blog! haha. (Pastor Chip would be proud!)

Here are a few of my favorites:

"A true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."

"In the struggle for existence, it is only on those who hang on for ten minutes after all is hopeless, that hope begins to dawn."

"A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it."

"Men do not differ much about what things they will call evils; they differ enormously about what evils they will call excusable."

And finally, the quote from TV last night:
"Fairy tales do not tell us that dragons exist. We already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell us dragons can be beaten."

Chew on that!

Music Recommendations

I just had to share with you 2 CDs that I cannot stop listening to! They are the Hillsongs United: United We Stand and the Hillsongs United: All of the Above.

So if you haven't heard them yet please go take a sneak peak at iTunes or amazon.com. I encourage you to buy the CDs if you don't have them! They have such powerful words and it just makes it so easy to get in God's presence when you listen to them.

My favorite worship songs right now are:
on the United We Stand CD- From the Inside Out, Came to the Rescue and None but Jesus.
on the All of the Above CD- Lead Me to the Cross and Hosanna

There are some great praise songs on there too that get you all pumped up. :)

What are you listening to lately that you can't stop? Please share!!

A case of Deja Vu

Is that how you spell it? Well, Deja Vu has been something I have contemplated for years now. I used to have it A LOT back in college and I'm starting to notice it again. What in the world causes Deja Vu??? Here is my theory- and feel free to contest it and tell me your thoughts!

I think Deja Vu is God's way of revealing and confirming you are right smack dab in the middle of His perfect will at that exact time. It doesn't happen only in the good moments, it happens to me when things are good and peaceful, and also when something is crazy or even scary.

I don't really have any biblical basis to back that up with but I have no other explanation. But in the Bible I do know that God is omniscient, and that he has a plan for everything and every person, and in Psalms and Proverbs it always talks about a "path" you have a choice of being on. In Isaiah 46:10-11 (NCV) it says "From the beginning I told you what would happen in the end. A long time ago I told you things that have not yet happened. When I plan something, it happens. What I want to do I will do. I will make what I have said come true; I will do what I have planned."

So whether or not you agree with my theory you can have confidence that God has a plan and His plan will prevail. This gives me a peace and trust in a good God, no matter what the circumstance. I think Deja Vu is cool.

Random phone calls

So I figure I'd start with a funny story. For some reason ever since we have moved into our new house (over a year ago) I have gotten many random phone calls...some of which led me to have the police visit at 4am while I was armed with a sword (ok daggar); another made me panic that my mother fell and pushed the "help, i've fallen and I can't get up" button at 5am (even though she doesn't have one); and the latest was a booty call! All of these have been calls to the wrong number!

But, that's right...I got a booty call! The other morning I was up early feeding the little one when the house phone rang. I picked up to hear a guys voice that sounded quite tired and out of it (so did I). Here is the conversation:

Random guy: "hey, it's me, remember from the club last night"
me: "huh? what? I think you have the wrong number."
guy: "no, baby, it's me, I danced with you at the club!"
me: "nope, sorry haven't been to a club since 2000, wrong number."
guy: "come on baby, you're the big booty girl I met last night at the club."
me: "what? Um, NO, I am sure you have the wrong number...is this a prank?"
guy: "no, you're that big booty girl that's so fine I met last night..."

me: silent (waiting for him to say it was a prank)
So I ended up hanging up and going back to bed.

A few minutes later- the phone rang again...

Same guy: "hey baby, you're that big booty girl from last night."
me: "No I am NOT, please stop calling here."
I hang up.

Not 1 minute later the phone rings again
This time I had my husband answer it and it was one of his friends...I made him ask if he pranked us, but no...I still have no idea who this big booty lovin' guy is!

Moral of the story: get caller id :)

Since 2005

I haven't touched this blog site since 2005, but I think it's about time I start back. I'm not sure where this is going to go, but I am going to venture into the wild world of blogging for real, not just pictures, or family updates like I have in the past, but I plan on putting funny stories, thing God is teaching me and hopefully words that will challenge you on here. Let's see what happens!

Feel free to let me know what types of things you would want to read. I find I do better at these things when given topics to talk about. :)