Thankful

Well, I am laying in bed. It's almost midnight and I am just pondering something that's sadly normal for so many people. Tonight I watched an episode of "Teen Mom" on MTV. It used to be "16 and pregnant" but the babies are now here so it's a whole new show. Anyway, one of the teen moms, Maci, was discussing custody with her ex-fiance. They have an almost two year old named Bentley (boy) and she has him all of the time, except for every Wednesday and every other weekend. Her ex fiance, Ryan, wants more time with the baby. So, basically he went to a lawyer and put a limit on her moving away and wants to take her to court to figure out a new custody arrangement. Anyway, the part that really touched me and brought me to tears was the part where Ryan tells Maci that he wants Bentley to be with him for three days a week, and then with Maci for three days. I guess it's beside the point that Ryan's parents seemed to be pushing him to get more time with Bentley. I felt like he only really wanted it half-heartedly. But, I also understand that he hardly spends time with him and never showed any interest in the baby for his whole first year of life. Maci carried, gave birth to him and has cared for him (with the help of her parents) around the clock and seems to be a good mother. But the part that made me so sad was where she told Ryan that it's not fair for Bentley to move every three days, and that that is not a home. I just can't stand that. I can't stand that each parent is missing their baby while he's with the other parent and that the baby doesn't have a "home". I also cannot stand that this is so normal for our society. You're not meant to make a baby with someone that you love, out of that love, and then turn around and treat them as a stranger and fight over your child in court (And I am also aware that Bentley was probably made just as much out of teenage lust as he was love--but this just got me thinking of families in general). I know it happens and I know that it is common. I also know that because of it's abundance in our society we've become very desensitized to the broken family in general. Because I have not seen this situation day in and day out and didn't come from a broken family -seeing it on TV has made it so very real.
So, tonight I lay in bed, on the laptop looking at pictures of my sweet boys. I love them both dearly and believe that it is God's plan for us to be together as a family, through thick and thin as long as we each shall live. I can't imagine saying goodbye to Jake for days at a time. I can't imagine having to go to court over Jake ....playing tug-of-war with Jeremy (but believe me if there was reason enough for us to divorce I would FIGHT for that baby boy;) Are you reading this, Jeremy?). I do believe that there are situations where this is necessary- to remove yourself and your kids from a certain situation. I definitely believe, though, that the situations are few and far between in comparison to how many divorces and broken families there are in our society. I believe that divorce is the hardest easy way out that there is--especially on the kids.
My heart is aching for all of you touched by the tragedy that is divorce. Just because it is common does not believe that we should become worldly in our views, that it is right, or that we have to accept it in our homes, among our own family.
I will fight with all that I have for my family. I know that our problems have been and will be no less than that of any other family. My prayer and hope is that we will survive together. Actually, as I told Jeremy after we finished watching that show together..."Please don't ever divorce me. Please don't ever do anything that would make me want or need to divorce you...because you are stuck with me." I love my Jakey and my husband so much and I believe that we are meant to work through things and to stay together always. I can't imagine living our life any other way and I am so thankful for the family that I have and that I can see my boys together, any day of the week. I am thankful to be surrounded by lots of people who protect their marriages and families, and are a good example for me and my family. I feel sheltered in a good way from this sad phenomenon, and I know that I am blessed and that others are not so fortunate and have no control over what they have been put through by their parents and/or spouse.

I will say a special prayer tonight for those of you whose hearts, homes and families have been broken, my heart aches for you and I have a new appreciation for my own little family.

Always, Sometimes, Never

Saw this on another blog and thought it was cute!


I ALWAYS

love drinkin' a coke

love seeing Jeremy walk through the door

enjoy sleeping in

am up for shopping

love baking

get excited to travel

love a clean house

drive over the speed limit

love reading a magazine by the pool

have been a fan of hearts

want to be more like Jesus

think time flies too fast

like a cute, quality pair of shoes

like to play games with family and friends

use my daily planner



I SOMETIMES

forget to be thankful

miss Jake when he's napping

like to eat out

wish we had an upstairs to keep Jake's toys out of sight

use coupons

wish that we could travel more

want Jake to stay this age forever

(usually) have an opinion and something to say

love my alone/me time (what little there is)

think about my Daddy Joe and miss him so much

take too many pictures (guess who they're of?)

talk too much

let my closet get out of control messy

want more than 3 kids



I NEVER

want to miss anything my Jakey does

try to hurt anyone's feelings

want to go back to work, as long as I have young kids

am ready to wake up (even if it's 9:30, like it was today)

want anything to harm those I love

get bored

like to see a fight

drink enough water

like to sleep without a fan

go to bed before Jeremy

have been so happy

care how things work, just want them to work

am cheap, I like the best of the best (which is not always good)

pass up a roller coaster ride

want to take for granted the richly blessed life I live



(Check back for pics from our Port A/Sea World trip soon!!)

Photo Meme!!

I got this from Stephanie's Blog and Laura's Blog!

Here's a fun meme! Answer the questions below. Take your answer to Google Images and then post the pictures that answer your questions. Make sure there's a picture for every answer. And to make this more fun, don't use any of your own pictures. Find them all from Google. Then tag some of your friends to join in the fun!

1.) A place you'd like to travel: Venice, Italy - Someday!

2.) Favorite Food:BREAD (Outback to be specific)

3.) Favorite Dessert: Chili's Molten Chocolate Cake- YUM!

4.) Your Name: Amanda (not really a fan of her's)

5.)Favorite Animal: Otter! They're so cute!

6.) Your pets: Dogs! Love them!

7.) Favorite Singer/Band: Taylor Swift!!

8.) Your City: Tomball, TX

9.) Current Job: Sr GIS Analyst (aka Mapper)

10.) Favorite Author: Dave Ramsey (I don't read too much!)

1.) Favorite Color: GREEN (Al Gore- yuck Haha!)

12.) Bad Habit: Speeding...yikes.

13.) Favorite Object: My blankey...I still sleep w/it!! Shhh.

14.) Favorite Actor:Brad Pitt (not as a person, just to look at LOL)

15.) Favorite Song: Clumsy by Fergie

I tag anyone who wants to do it, and hasn't. Any takers? :)

Thursday 13- 13 songs I have on my ipod

In honor of my new, cute little ipod shuffle I thought I'd post 13 of my favorite songs of all time. And because it's almost lunchtime and I'm taking a break from packing up to move floors at work.

1. You're the Inspiration- Chicago

2. Clumsy- Fergie (current fav song)

3. Tequila makes her clothes fall off- Joe Nichols

4. First Date- Blink 182 (or any blink song)

5. Save Tonight- Eagle Eye Cherry (heard this in the car our last night before Jeremy left for college :( )

6. The Sign- Ace of Base (yes, a little embarrassing)

7. No One- Alicia Keys

8. Jessica Simpson- A public Affair (again, not so proud!)

9. Rascal Flatts- I'm Movin On (Love it!!!)

10. Trace Adkins- You're Gonna Miss This (You're gonna miss this- You're gonna want this back- You're gonna wish these days- Hadn't gone by so fast. Love the lyrics and so true)

11. The Flys- Got you where I want you

12. David Kersh- Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton original version)

13. Dierks Bentley- My last Name

Happy Thursday! :)

Getting to Know Amanda- 2008!!

1. What time did you get up today? 5:20

2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds, although I love my pearls I got for Christmas...I'm wearing the earrings today.

3. Last movie you saw in the theater? Juno

4. What is your favorite TV show? 24

5. What do you usually have for breakfast? nothing

6. What is your middle name? Jayne

7. What food do you dislike? sweet potatoes, choc milk, syrup, DOUGHNUTS......eeeeekkkk!!

8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Juno Soundtrack, Jeremy got it for me for Valentine's Day

9. What kind of car do you drive? Chevy Trailblazer & Honda accord coupe

10. Favorite sandwich? chicken salad or turkey

11. What characteristics do you despise? dishonest, fake, lying, victim attitude

12. Favorite item of clothing? SHOES...does that count?

13. What color is your bathroom? blue, taupe, rust, green

14. Favorite brand of clothing? no favorite brand, I really like unique stuff at boutiques

15. Where would you retire? near the water

16. Most memorable birthday? 10th - I FINALLY got my ears pierced after years of begging and I got to have a big party! Also my 23rd. My mom surprised me and had friends out to their house to cook out and play softball!

17. Favorite sport to watch? Basketball and Softball

18. Favorite saying? Be kinder than necessary for everyone you run into is fighting some sort of battle

19. When is your birthday? April 3rd

20. Are you a morning person or a night person? definitely night!

21. What is your shoe size? 9-9.5

22. Pets? Sadie and Cassie :) Our girls!

23. What did you want to be when you were little? Stay at home mom, Marine Biologist or Physical Therapist

24. What are you today? Sr GIS Analyst (not too far off, right?)

25. What is your favorite candy? laffy taffy, nerds, or reese's peanut butter cups...Oh, and those huge Jaw breakers...yum!

26. Your favorite flower? daisy or yellow rose

27. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? July 12- our 5th anniversary and Hawaii trip :)

28. What church/synagogue do you attend? Woodland Oaks Church of Chirst

29. What are you listening to right now? silence and typing

30. What was the last thing you ate? dinner last night, 2 tacos from Jack
in the box and one cupcake from the night before

31. Do you wish on stars? Nope. I'm not too supersticious. I do pray for things I wish.

32. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Green

33. What is your pet? dogs, boston terrier and boxer

34. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Haley (Text)

35. Do you like the person/people you are sending this to? I don't know who's gonna read it!!!??? So some of you probably not, haha! ;-)

36. What music do you listen to when NOBODY else is around? Acapella- not that many people are familiar with it and I sing along. It keeps my car attitude more pleasant, too.

37. What's your favorite drink? Coke...y'all know that by now! :)

38. Name one item on your Bucket List (things to do before you die or get too old to do them:) travel Europe, go to Africa, maybe skydive? :) I really want to skydive but somebody would have to sedate me and push me off the plane! It'd be cool if I could wake up on the way down!

39. What was the best day or event of your life? Marrying my BFF

40. Any strange obsessions? Where do I start? :) Vacuuming, juices in foods not touching, matching things, people's noses.......... I'm weird!

I got tagged thru email, but decided this was easier than sending out an email. Anyone else who wants to follow...join in!

100 Things About Me... (in no particular order)

1.) I am the oldest of four kids
2.) This year will be 5 years of marriage to Jeremy (11 together)
3.) We started dating when he was 16 and I was 15
4.) I majored in Geography at Texas A&M.
5.) I am a huge dog lover- mine are my kids and make my life more full.
6.) I am (very) opinionated :)
7.) At different times in my life I have been told I look like Jessica Simpson (college by multiple people), Trisha Yearwood, and Britney Spears (eeeekkk!)
8.) I am always on the go, but love relaxing
9.) Shopping is something that makes me happy (yup, that's shallow)
10.) I am missing a vertebrae and have always had back problems
11.) I played softball from 2nd grade- High School year round
12.) I hate drinking water and love drinking Coke (regular)
13.) I am picky about who my friends are and have high expectations of them
14.) I am horrible at being fake...what you see is what you get
15.) I am very loyal
16.) Before I got a real job after college I made Jeremy do a sleep study b/c he wouldn't stay up until midnight with me :p /(there MUST have been something wrong with him!!
17.) I collect Department 56 Snow Village and Willow Tree Angels
18.) In college I always beat Jeremy at James Bond Golden Eye on Nintendo 64.
19.) I love making lists
20.) I LOVE the sun...tanning, laying out, being at the beach
21.) I have a huge imagination
22.) I want 3 kids; girl-boy-girl
23.) I like to dress up my dogs
24.) I have green eyes
25.) I am the tallest of my mom and sisters by at least 2 inches
26.) I worry about everything but am so laid back no one would know
27.) I cherish my friendships, they each bring something special to my life
28.) Jeremy is my very best friend
29.) I used to be a major dare devil but am getting more scared of heights
30.) Me and both my sisters have broken our pinky finger on our right hand (weird!)
31.) I miss all my great grandparents and wish they were still with us
32.) Jeremy was on the A&M bonfire when it fell and was featured in people magazine
33.) I was born in Dallas
34.) I LOVE Taylor Swift
35.) Jeremy and I both cried the first time we watched 'The Notebook' and it's still one of our favorite movies
36.) I am a girly-girl. Even when I was little I cared about matching and my mom couldn't get me to wear jeans, only dresses
37.) I am scared of having non-athletic, nerdy kids
38.) I love Jesus and try to be like him
39.) I love vacuuming and freak out if anyone walks on my marks (I've actually made Jeremy carry Cassie out the back door)
40.) I'd rather have quality over quantity in most situations (shoes, purses)
41.) I love to bake and know the recipes to several cookies, cakes and brownies from scratch off the top of my head
42.) I'm Indian and Irish
43.) I can have a bad temper
44.) I don't like acquired tastes...beer and coffee...yuck!
45.) Most of the time I'm non-confrontational
46.) I didn't swallow a pill until the 6th grade
47.) In school I was always a bad test-taker
48.) I hate when people die that were not living a "good" life and all of a sudden people claim that person was courageous, religious, noble, perfect, etc. just b/c they are dead
49.) I'm not a reader
50.) My favorite game as a kid was candyland
51.) My middle name is Jayne, after my aunt Melissa Jayne
52.) I love decorating and planning/hosting things
53.) I think smoking is nasty and selfish
54.) I think most people get divorced too easily
55.) I am legally blind in one eye
56.) I am addicted to avocados and guacamole
57.) I am DEATHLY afraid of needles. Whether it's a shot, giving blood, cholesterol test, IV- I always get blurred vision, dizzy, nauseous...it's awful
58.) I LOVE scary movies, especially the Halloween and Saw movies (even though I'm so scared afterwards I make Jeremy go to the bathroom with me!)
59.) I don't like my foods to touch
60.) I eat my foods one at a time
61.) I hate (and always have) when girls use Halloween as an excuse to be SLUTS!!! It's pathetic...
62.) I decorate for every season and holiday. Valentine's, Easter, Halloween, Fall, Christmas
63.) I love snow skiing and snowmobiling
64.) I always won the races on Friday nights at the skating rink when I was little, but put me on Rollerblades and I so much as hit a crack in the cement and I'm gone...
65.) I'm scared to shower when I'm home alone
66.) In HS I played softball on a fractured ankle for 3wks before going to the Dr
67.) I have a high pain tolerance/am tough (except needles, of course)
68.) I am unprepared for someone close to me to die
69.) I'm a third generation aggie on my dad's side
70.) I'm the first child and grandchild on both sides
71.) I was a barbie and doll freak when I was little
72.) I was a Mommy for my 1st Halloween- my choice! :)
73.) I love the water- Jeremy calls me a "water baby" and I even have a shirt that says that
74.) I had a heart murmur as a baby
75.) I like to talk politics
76.) I can be a ditz!!
77.) Sports make me emotional
78.) I'm more competitive at my little brother's games than I was at my own games
79.) I had to save $1000.00 on my own before I could get a car
80.) My philosophy prof in college told me that I got married too young and that if it worked out it'd be good luck rather than a good choice
81.) My sister Courtney always beat me up when I was little, even though I was 2.5 years older
82.) I am not the typical bossy/motherly oldest child
83.) I don't like being the center of attention
84.) I don't really like football
85.) I love 80's music
86.) I love hearts to this day. In 2nd grade I won a contest on Valentine's day for having the most hearts on my outfit! What a nerd :)
87.) I love fat babies and fat dogs
88.) I've always wanted an English bulldog
89.) My dream wardrobe would be the 40's style clothes of Rachel McAdams in 'The Notebook'
90.) I love Texas, and I love the South (people, weather, cooking, hospitality)
91.) I feel blessed to have been born in this country
92.) I have long and skinny fingers and toes
93.) I love food and have always eaten a lot
94.) I hate to exercise
95.) I would not want a runner or gymnast's body...I like curves
96.) I hate know-it-alls!
97.) I like gold jewelry, and think white gold is a short-lived trend
98.) I HATE HATE HATE Houston drivers- jerks!
99.) My favorite time of day is dusk
100.) In my first post-college interview I ran smack into a glass window, thinking it was a glass door. And yes, the interviewer was just on the other side!! :p

Hope you people that asked me to do this enjoyed it...it was hard work ;)