tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-310265582010-03-15T07:17:15.849-05:00life & times :: humoring & happeningsamandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125AllAboutIthttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-38970573360932173902010-03-14T07:28:00.005-05:002010-03-15T07:17:15.860-05:002010-03-15T07:17:15.860-05:00

Yesterday I finished the day off thinking once again..."Thanks God...AGAIN! for NPC." Was great to be there with all the 2nd Sat volunteers doing whatever is asked of them. Met some fantastic women and their families from The Family Violence Center & APO who had portraits done after hair/makeup! I wanted to jump in there for some of that beauty treatment! Some hard working people went to haul

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com0http://www.amandarickman.com/2010/03/saturday-what-day.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-17281580095642447972010-03-12T12:00:00.001-06:002010-03-12T13:54:26.318-06:002010-03-12T13:54:26.318-06:00

We really struck gold!As we grow, we've learned that life together works best if everyone just chills out & lightens up! (It's all much more fun that way)Besides, I know there are few people on the planet that care more for me than these 3.

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com0http://www.amandarickman.com/2010/03/siblings-ilovethem.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-82584367286302200772010-02-06T09:34:00.004-06:002010-02-06T10:27:08.009-06:002010-02-06T10:27:08.009-06:00

I went home for Thanksgiving. It had been over 5 years since I had spent the 4 day weekend with my family. I always enjoyed where I landed here but spent a lot of time on the phone tapped into Ohio and the love wrapped in chaos there.Conversations would vary:To my Sis: "Aunt Dona & Robert are or are not coming? Well when is Cory gonna be home from school? Have you gotten any sleep this week with

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com1http://www.amandarickman.com/2010/02/finally-thanksgiving-with-them.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-62247594785563918752010-01-09T07:30:00.001-06:002010-01-19T13:31:28.249-06:002010-01-19T13:31:28.249-06:00

Jan. 19 is 3 weeks into the New Year ALREADY! Sheeesh...but instead of feeling guilty, I thought I'd just give a few of my year end favorites & move on from there. FORGET the guilt..., I'm working hard to do 2010 as guilt-free as possible.I believe my last post was regarding a GARAGE SALE! Well, we probably need to have another. It'll be in a new locale because I've found a wonderful roommate in

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com2http://www.amandarickman.com/2010/01/catching-up-end-of-2009.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-89567415169487899482009-09-25T12:00:00.001-05:002009-09-25T16:12:45.300-05:002009-09-25T16:12:45.300-05:00

I've been dreading this thing for weeks. Did I say dread? I meant, excited ...! Ok, I really meant dread but when it's over, I'll be excited! I'm trying to trim down debt, save up a nest egg & de-clutter my place; all pushing me toward the logical thing called: Garage Sale.I've been gathering and sorting for a while now. Well, honestly I've been thinking of gathering/ sorting for weeks now!

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com0http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/09/garage-sale.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-57204405939033882432009-09-11T14:45:00.005-05:002009-09-11T15:13:31.823-05:002009-09-11T15:13:31.823-05:00

I thought I'd had a long week until this afternoon. A friend and his wife have been waiting all week. They've been through the ringer since finding a lump in her breast that was definitely not there a month ago. Tests were scheduled & this was the week for the painful biopsy and the waiting. Everyone was holding their breath because negative results are NEVER a good sign. They were scheduled

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com0http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/09/no-day-for-granted.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-37175875818014628212009-09-08T16:30:00.004-05:002009-09-08T16:30:00.768-05:002009-09-08T16:30:00.768-05:00

Living alone has benefits.  Here's one: eating out of any food container you have in the fridge or cabinet. It's not a problem right?  The great thing is that there's nobody sitting at the table or across the room blurting out "Ewww, did you just eat straight out of that...? Sick."  A one-person fridge is great because you are your only Food Police! I try to keep my fridge very clean (beside the

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com0http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/09/spoon-surfing.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-21911590086855779922009-09-04T12:00:00.004-05:002009-09-08T12:21:40.262-05:002009-09-08T12:21:40.262-05:00

It's kind of an awkward holiday I do believe. For anyone working a regular work week, it's ALWAYS good to have a day off so bring it, right? For teachers & moms its good to have it off but it might be a pain cause you're just establishing a routing but for moms any day without waking cranky kids is a blessing! Growing up, we always spent a lot of this weekend at The Canfield Fair. I just

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com0http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/09/laborless-weekend.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-54822388269703618672009-09-03T16:00:00.001-05:002009-09-08T12:21:54.801-05:002009-09-08T12:21:54.801-05:00

I'll never forget it...everybody was psyched. The Indians were in the World Series for the 2nd time in 3 years. It was '97 & a bunch of friends had gotten together to watch. They didn't win the series but that's beside the point. P.Scott & Lori always had us at their house. We crashed in the 'downstairs room' (that had every color couch grabbed from neighborhood garage sales) with tons of food &

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com0http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/08/homeruns-cause-chips.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-74398758213016845432009-08-14T07:43:00.002-05:002009-08-14T23:28:47.037-05:002009-08-14T23:28:47.037-05:00

It's been 5 days since I turned off mobile updates for Twitter & Facebook. It's also been 5 days since i checked email, FB or twitter. It's amazing how much I've gotten accomplished at my 'day job'!!! I dont have internet at home or a convenient laptop so it's been the NOTHING side of 'all or nothing'. I love to multitask but I believe it's been so good for me to bite the bullet & force myself

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com3http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/08/it-been-5-days-since-i-turned-off.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-55543288137616526092009-07-31T12:12:00.021-05:002009-09-08T12:22:22.336-05:002009-09-08T12:22:22.336-05:00

In yesterday's post, I talked about my Mad-Multitasking-Skills. While I'm so NOW focused, I wanted to address long-term. This is where it gets juicy. Busy-busy causes me to forget about long term but when I am pausing...I'm thinking, "Ugh, where is God in all this? Where's He taking me?" An email speaking directly to this was waiting for me in my inbox Monday a.m. from a close friend. This

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com0http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/07/taking-long-time.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-74968563032587367972009-07-30T07:00:00.004-05:002009-09-08T12:22:50.734-05:002009-09-08T12:22:50.734-05:00

Busy, busy. I don't do 'down-time' very well. Seems like a reoccurring theme in my life but I spent a few days away this past wknd. It was wonderful but I even booked something smack dab in the middle...so what did I do? Drive back & forth! It usually turns out fine & I chalk it up to mad-multi-tasking-skills but is there really no end?! It has to stop somewhere. I've trained my brain to work

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com0http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/07/mad-multitasking-skills.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-48671479513931774672009-07-29T08:00:00.015-05:002009-09-08T12:23:10.282-05:002009-09-08T12:23:10.282-05:00

Too young to be smoking? Yeah, I think so too...but what kid hasn't smoked a sucker stick? This is obviously his stage right now cause he's been caught havin' a few 'smokes'. This lil' man is ornery as they come. He's growing like a weed & never ceases to amaze the whole fam with his antics. His big sis is the same way. I realize, these apples haven't fallen far from their trees! Back to 5

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com0http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/07/smoking-in-walmart.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-29346411801724457082009-07-24T12:04:00.002-05:002009-09-08T12:23:30.289-05:002009-09-08T12:23:30.289-05:00

 I doubt any weekend this summer could top last weekend in Houston with my Evangel girls (photos/comments forthcoming).  This wknd will be great in a whole new way.  The Jones' & Lombardo's invited me to Big Cedar with them this weekend & I'm counting the minutes until I'm in the car heading that way.  Meeting my dear Lori Bruegman (mom, church planter extrordinaire & mentor/friend for 15 years

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com0http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/07/big-cedar-weekend.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-56697577523179013742009-07-21T14:18:00.003-05:002009-09-08T12:24:15.053-05:002009-09-08T12:24:15.053-05:00

Kids grow. It's really inevitable. Especially when you're not around them day after day. Maureen & Matt's boogies...I love these kids like they are family. I am always glad I was able to see them start out their lives. They're growing and growing each time I call or get pictures. Some recent ones I was lucky enough to get my hands on. Too cute. At Gold Water Lake 2 days ago Eli feeding

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com0http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/07/baby-love.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-81195471718533933242009-07-15T12:00:00.004-05:002009-07-15T12:38:10.338-05:002009-07-15T12:38:10.338-05:00

Met a friend for early a.m. silver dollar pancakes. It left me with a stomach full & some inspiration to boot. I've got things to do, places to go, blah-blah (I DO leave for Houston in the a.m. people) but wanted to jot some thoughts. I sat listening to G-money touch on ideas from his entrepreneurial brain. That dude has it going on. Not sure my synapses click as rapidly as his but I left

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com0http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/07/life-over-pancakes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-40243327702227424362009-07-10T07:55:00.001-05:002009-07-10T12:38:03.486-05:002009-07-10T12:38:03.486-05:00

"Mala-malo?" you say. Yeah, that's what I said too. It's Blake speak for "Guatemala". You can always say his version again & realize how he might have gotten there! Guatemala. Can you blame him? I've been spending time with my Springpatch fam who've been preparing for a Missions trip to Guatemala. Well, Mark & Meg are going but it's been a family affair.This girl has had numerous

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com1http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/07/off-to-mala-malo.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-33927942175840203182009-07-08T12:24:00.000-05:002009-09-08T12:25:50.611-05:002009-09-08T12:25:50.611-05:00

This post is for my dad...Happiest of Birthdays. Daddio... belated but still Happy! My dad & his twin Dona turned 50 beginning of July. Don & Dona--matching names. Cute, right?! It's official: 50 enables Dad to continue his plight in 'paininthebutt-dom'. There are many days where we just have to say, "Ahhh...he's just a pain isn't he?" Aunt Dona can attest to this but we're always amazed at

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com0http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/07/young-50.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-52682543384723896612009-05-29T07:55:00.004-05:002009-08-06T10:48:22.748-05:002009-08-06T10:48:22.748-05:00

Sunday was fun! Baby J was the center of attention. 12 babies were there but to our table of 12, he was it. Amber's mom & dad came from Topeka. They're leaving on a summer missions trip to Bangladesh the first of next week. Way cool. Everybody else was from Springfield...I made it just in time. Sunday nap got the best of me. Both parents took turns holding Mr. Antsie Pants until it was

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com0http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/05/dedication.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-35841591573680542752009-05-27T19:55:00.011-05:002009-07-21T13:59:28.259-05:002009-07-21T13:59:28.259-05:00

Inspiration comes with Passion. Passion comes with experience and I love spending time in the company of those who have both. Things I've gathered as I look at their lives makes me ask myself these things: These are all questions that I force myself to look at regularly. I get discouraged when I have terrible answers or seem to fail miserably but even in that, I'm learning more of myself and as

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com1http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/07/those-hard-questions.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-40824678838654090792009-05-26T07:55:00.042-05:002009-05-26T07:55:00.575-05:002009-05-26T07:55:00.575-05:00

A year ago last Friday, I found myself on a plane, India-bound. With a mountain of expectations & some borrowed salwars, I could never have understood the change that was about to take place within me.  A change as to how I see our world. I hadn't realized it had been an entire year...but it has.  Somehow this never made the cut so as an 'Anniversary Post', here 'tis. Couldn't find who I quoted

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com0http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/05/poorest-of-poor.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-85119163954709035982009-05-23T08:00:00.003-05:002009-07-15T13:01:25.549-05:002009-07-15T13:01:25.549-05:00

At the start of the year I promised I'd try reading 1-2 books a month. All you professional readers out there...BACK OFF. 1 is better than none - 2 makes me feel productive. Trying to get away from tv & expand the mind. [You see, my addiction started early. Mom would stand in our way as the Saturday morning line-up came to a close & would say "You're not going to sit here all day in front of this

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com1http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/05/my-book-challenge.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-65729224597314996242009-05-22T07:55:00.005-05:002009-08-05T15:34:57.723-05:002009-08-05T15:34:57.723-05:00

Weekly, I sneak over my S-town fam's for a midweek sleepover. I usually catch them mid-life: homework, Taekwondo, Piano, babysitting, dinner...you name it...they're doing it. One's coming & another's going. Reminds me of home when I'd only see family before 7am & after 9pm & on wknds. Noah always had dinner on the stove for us, but I digress.I try blending & help where I can. Any way it happens

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com1http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/05/barging-ini-think-not.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-56097122772789421122009-05-18T12:00:00.003-05:002009-08-06T10:47:59.769-05:002009-08-06T10:47:59.769-05:00

This picture made me think. I couldn't help but expound. Beautiful among beauty.First thoughts ~Oops, how did THEY get in there? or ~Mistake! or ~Really? How did that happen?~ but wait a moment and beauty shines through and you begin to actually like the differences, seeing them as the most striking aspect.When looking at ourself, we rarely look in this light. If we do, we'll only admit it in a

amandarickmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398563328107691482noreply@blogger.com4http://www.amandarickman.com/2009/05/shut-up-say-thank-you.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31026558.post-80361166020428724172009-04-16T16:28:00.001-05:002009-04-16T16:28:38.845-05:002009-04-16T16:28:38.845-05:00