Learning to Live Without Him...

Maternity Pictures

2011-10-12T14:47:00.001-05:00

As I posted a while back, I have been in a wonderful relationship with a man for over a year now. Along with this relationship I gained two amazing friends from his adult daughters.

One daughter (S) just graduated law school and we just received word last week that she passed the bar exam! Yay! S has an amazing boyfriend that I hope becomes a permanent fixture to the family someday.

The other daughter (A) is married also to a wonderful man, is completing her final semester of nursing school and is PREGNANT! Which thrills me silly! One being I love babies and I get to spoil it rotten along with filling my internal craziness of wanting more kids (which I don't but sometimes my body acts like it does around babies). So, I got the honor of shooting some maternity pictures for them. With that being said, here they are...

Home Alone

2011-08-09T09:49:00.004-05:00

Evie was 7 weeks old when Jim passed and now she is starting school. Time passes so fast! I can't believe my kiddos are both in school now. Today is my first day home ALONE! What is a mommy to do with herself? Oh yea, dirty clothes, cleaning house, grocery shopping, etc. And let's not forget the massive hill that needs mowing! Oh well, even though they are both in school now my life has not slowed down.

Love Happens

2011-02-18T18:12:00.002-06:00

Okay, so I haven't blogged in some time. I always seem to have a bad habit of taking time off but I have a wonderful reason why this time. I FELL IN LOVE again. That's right! I have met a wonderful man named David who won my heart. Actually, we sort of knew each other from church years before. It's funny how I look back on the time we first met and never thought I would look at him as being the man I fall in love with. God works in crazy ways but I sure do like his way of working. I will keep you posted but for those of you who have experienced the loss of a spouse, keep the faith. God knows...

2010-07-04T11:41:00.006-05:00

HELLO FIRST PHOTO SHOOT!

2010-07-03T15:19:00.004-05:00

Yea! I finally got to do my first ENGAGEMENT photo shoot! I am so excited with the turn out but I am going to do some editing before posting. However, I am going to give you a sneak peak of the BEAUTIFUL couple Emily and Matt! There was no way this shoot could go bad because I had flawless models! Thank you Emily and Matt for this opportunity!

Enjoy!

Five Favorite Things

2010-06-09T09:41:00.003-05:00

So over the past couple of days I have been talking with a new friend via text. One of the questions asked between the two of us was, name five of your favorite things. After I quickly responded, I decided that I would share them with you.

1. My kids always behaving

2. Money

3. Alcohol with no hangover

4. Food with no calories

5. Sleep undisturbed

Welcome back to my blog and stay tuned for more bitching, praising and random talking about ME!

A Battle Lost

2010-03-23T23:28:00.007-05:00

Have you ever come across people in your life that have to use hatred, rudeness, cruelty and many other "nasty" forms of expression to over come the pain they have endured throughout their life?

Well, I have lately. I even sunk to their level once and threw the nasty back to them but NO MORE. I felt worse from intentional trying to hurt them than I did from stomaching their harsh words. Now, I am the first to stand up and admit my faults. I know I can be extremely unbearable at times but I NEVER set out to deliberately hurt anyone.

I think the worse thing about people of this nature is I just want to embrace them and remind them that there are great doors that can be opened and true happiness does lie behind them. But somehow the closer you try to get, the nastier they become.

So, today I wave my white flag to all you nasty people who have displaced your pain. Please know that you are doing no one, not even yourself, justice.

A Single SuperStar!

2010-03-23T23:09:00.004-05:00

That's right folks, I am a single SUPERSTAR! I somehow made it to the famous iListPaducah.com page again as the iDate of the week. How fun is this?

You know what though, I feel like I have really conquered the single world in my life. Really! TASK accomplished! But somehow my grade got changed to an F and I am having to repeat it again. So with the help of Match.com and now, iListPaducah.com, I am bound to find my soul mate #dos!

Yeah right, I have this feeling I will be repeating this grade aka status, many times and mainly due to me being picky, but he's out there. I just know it. Until then, cheers to me for my Super Stardom in the Single World!

Operation Get Kids Healthy

2010-03-05T15:09:00.003-06:00

Okay, so every Wednesday the kids go to gymnastics for an hour. This past week I noticed Stetson huffing and puffing after 15mins of playing hard. I couldn't believe that I let him get to this point of being so out of shape at the age of 5. I haven't been the healthiest person in my life but over the past 8 months I have really changed. Now it is time for me to step up to the plate and help change my kids but mainly my son. I refuse to bury my son because he passed of heart disease so this is my full-time mission! This isn't a "I hope to succeed" mission, this is a " I HAVE TO succeed" mission!

2920 Days

2010-03-01T12:23:00.007-06:00

Although I didn't get to sleep through February, I did however survive it. Today is March and I have 365 days until I have to do it all over again. March 1st just might be my favorite day of the year. For some reason, this year has been harder than last year. I pondered on why this could be, and I am thinking my life should be more "together" by now and you know what, it is so far from it. Had you of asked me 4 years ago where I thought my life would be by now, I would have said, stable and secure with a job, kids and hopefully a new love. So far, I have accomplished the mere task of making sure my kids are well, and that in fact has been hard by itself. As for the other two, I am unemployed and unloved by a special someone. So I wonder, is it going to take me 3 times longer to accomplish these goals? Lord, I hope not. If so, I can expect to be employed, loved and well kids in 2920 days. That within itself can make me depressed and knowing that I will be 39 before this happens, well, I think I might just go back to bed now. Goodnight...ugh...

Half Way There

2010-02-14T17:29:00.003-06:00

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH! The weather matched my attitude and emotions on this dreaded V day. So, what did I do? Hmm...I woke up, visited with my parents for a few, came home to take a nap, order a pizza, painted with the kids and made mimosas. Honestly, I acted like the holiday didn't even exist. The only good thing that comes from this day is I know February is half over. Thank goodness it is the shortest month of the year.

Cheers!

Super Woman

2010-02-05T11:50:00.006-06:00

So as you all know, I hate February. I just want to take the strongest sleeping pill and wake up in March, but unfortunately I don't have that option. So, I deal with it. I relive the pain of losing Jim all over again. My sister-n-law said it best once, "there is just an irie feeling that comes over me in February." And bless her heart, she had to experience the pain of losing her brother on her birthday. The day he was buried, she celebrates another year of life. Ironic, huh? Either that, or just another one of God's tests. I have had a lot of people call me "Super Woman" but she is truly a "Super Woman" to me. So cheers to you Sarah and happy birthday!

I curse you February!

2010-02-01T08:46:00.008-06:00

It is hard to imagine that my 7 week old is now 4 years old and my 16 month old is now 5 years old. Those were the ages of my children 4 years ago when their dad passed away. It is so hard to imagine that it has been that long. Yet at the same time, I can't remember raising children with him. I have learned to do it all for so long that actually having someone around is, well, a bit incomprehensible.

February is hard and dreaded every year now. Jim had his stroke on February 1st, passed away on the 3rd and buried on the 6th. He proposed to me on the 14th and my birthday is only to follow on the 28th. So now, I CURSE this month!

Here Are My Bread Pictures!

2010-01-17T16:30:00.002-06:00

Keeping my fingers crossed and...

HERE WE GO!

Some Things I Never Learned

2010-01-15T16:14:00.006-06:00

OKAY GUYS, I AM BACK! SORRY FOR BEING GONE FOR SO LONG!

Jim was the cook in our family and he was a great cook. He actually did all the grocery shopping for the family. I did the occasional baking cookies, pies etc but to actually cook a piece of meat was never in my "wife duties." Since his death, I have cooked chicken nuggets, chicken breasts and meatloaf. Everything else was salads, precooked meat, pastas etc. So today was a break through for me. I cooked pork chops with a wine reduction sauce. Go ME!!

Along with pork chops, I am making potato bread. I know all this isn't extremely healthy but I am having fun. The bread is still rising so you only get to see this part. Hopefully I will get a picture of the finally product. Crossing fingers!

Now, what in the world were the kids doing while mommy was cooking? Well, here are those pictures too. I have a mess in my house but we all had a blast!

Check out where I have been the past two months!

2009-10-05T21:51:00.003-05:00

http://www.energyfitnesspaducah.com/makeover_amanda.html

http://www.ilistpaducah.com/ifit/3months

Ten Guilty Pleasures

2009-08-05T09:02:00.002-05:00

1. Pizza - I love pizza! Thin crust pepperoni and pineapple. This combine makes me weak in the knees!

2. A KID FREE NIGHT - I love my kids but boy, I love them being away for the night.

3. Grey's Anatomy - Even though I cry like crazy at almost every episode, I love that show!

4. Wine - RED WINE

5. Web Window Shopping - I know...crazy, but love the thought of possibly buying one day.

6. Beach bumming - Nothing but sun!

7. Photography - LOVE!

8. Traveling - especially last minute trips

9. Chick Flicks - Corny movies

10. Manuals - I love to read manuals. I know, I am strange but I want to know how everything works.

Failed

2009-07-29T21:54:00.009-05:00

I have failed at a lot of things lately. One being my 30 day challenge, another BLOGGING, and last but not least, dating. So, I apologize to you for not blogging, I apologize to my ass for not working out and I apologize to the guy who let a great girl slip away.

Speaking of slipping away, I think I am going to slip away from the dating world once again. I really can't take many more first dates. I am wanting to start making up stories just to mix it up a little bit. I feel like I am at a new doctors office filling out a medical questionnaire. I try hard to get through it as fast as possible because I know that I never have nor never will have prostate cancer! That is how I am with a first date. Seriously, I get so tired of talking about my favorite foods or what I like to do for fun. It sure as hell isn't going out on first dates!

However, you can tell how good I am on keeping my word (cough, cough), that if anything changes I will keep you posted. For now...AHHHHH, no more first dates! Stupid Cupid!

30 Day Challenge

2009-07-05T21:36:00.002-05:00

So, I am starting the 30 day challenge on July 5, 2009! My goal is to lose at least 15lbs and increase my energy. The weight is important but the ENERGY is extremely important. I will log everything I eat, drink and all of my workout time, etc. I will also bitch a lot along with brag a lot when my pants start fitting better. So, if you are not up to my challenge, then you might want to refrain from coming to my blog for 30 days. I will however, keep posting pics and blogs in conjunction to this challenge.

A Miracle!

2009-06-29T20:46:00.006-05:00

Some of you know but for those of you who don't, my brother was in a wreck this past weekend. He is a semi-truck driver and as you can tell from the picture, he is one lucky man to have only walked out with a few cuts and bruises. The good Lord was seriously watching over him. I believe he may have even had a very special Angel holding the truck to keep it from falling off the overpass. My brother is a best friend to me. He has been by my side ever since Jim's death and more than anything, a father figure to my kids. I have to say, this accident really scared me and I am sending kisses and prayers to the heavens above for keeping him with us.

Not so much a Master of his own Domain

2009-06-24T12:59:00.006-05:00

*Please note that this blog is for adults 18 and older.

Ok, so I haven’t blogged in awhile and mainly because I have bee

n on vacation. My mother treated me and my kids along with my future sister-n-law and her son to Gulf Shores for a week. We had an amazing time. I love going down there for many reasons. One being, the beaches are extremely private compared to Destin or other places. The waters are calm and the sand is white. Another reason is I feel no obligation whatsoever to spend tons of money eating out. Mainly because the thought of seafood makes my stomach turn and we can cook in our condo for a lot less. As you can tell by the picture below, this trip was memorable. Also, please note how “HOT” my mother looks for 63yrs. (I am saying a small prayer to the Lord above asking to make me this HOT at 63yrs.)

But there is a part of this vacation that was jaw dropping experience. I do have to say this was a first for me and I am sure many of you.

So when we arrived, we got our stuff unpacked and heading straight for the beach. After a couple of hours baking in the sun, the kids grew tired and were ready for bed. Not long after, my mother and Lindsey (future sis-n-law) followed behind them. Well, I am the type of person that wants to take in as much of my vacation as possible, awake. So, I stayed up and indulged in a few adults beverages. Enjoying the breeze on the deck, I decided to give this guy, Ken, I have been dating, a call. (Please refrain from asking questions about him...LOL) Anyways, we had been talking on the phone for some while when I heard a single moan. My first initial thought was: “Really? I have only known this guy for a few weeks.” HA! But I soon learned that it was not coming from him on other end of the phone but from the swimming pool.

Now, the condo we stayed in was extremely nice and somewhat remote from the other condos in Gulf Shores. The pool was heated and well lit for night time swimming. However, at 9:30pm this evening there was only one guy that seemed to be utilizing the pool. And I understand why after seeing him. Yes, you guess it! This young man was spread eagle on the steps with lights shining on him, pleasuring himself! I gasped in shock that I couldn't even work up the nerve to say something to him. When I told Ken about what I saw, the laughs started coming and were almost uncontrollable. However, it didn't take this young man to finish...hard to imagine, LOL! But I did learn something new...after a young man pleasures himself in a swimming pool, he has to capture the deposits which float and dispose of the them. (UGH!! I know, extremely gross!)

I think I am now scarred for life and I am sure after reading this, you are too! My apologizes but I had to share.

Movin' Up

2009-06-08T14:29:00.008-05:00

So, I spent the past weekend in Chaffee MO. As some of you know, I grew up close to the area but can honestly say I don't remember ever stepping foot in Chaffee. And when I say foot, I mean foot! This town isn't large enough for both of your feet. Although, it is quite small, it does have a comforting charm to it.

During my visit I was given the "grand" tour. The city center (cough) had an adorable little gazebo in the middle and of course, I had to snap a shot. Now it still needs some more tweaking but I am proud to say that it will soon hang over the toilet of a well know Chaffee celebrity! Yep! That's right! So, for those of you who had little to no faith in my photography future, HA! Just take a visit to the bathroom next time you are in Chaffee and you will see my work above a porcelain god.

DFL

2009-06-03T15:02:00.006-05:00

DFL. You are probably wondering what the heck I am talking about. Right? Well, let me start off by emphasizing on the "D" aka the "BIG D." The “BIG D” is drama. We all ask for it, yet it seems inevitable to keep it from coming into our lives and turning everything up side down. But really, do I believe that it can be prevent from time to time? Sure! Some people just thrive on it as if it excites them, even though they would never admit it. Little do they know, it really takes it toll on those of us around them.

Now, I am not going to say that I am "perfect" at keeping this from happening to me and disturbing others but I do try to prevent at all cost. Like Jim's death, I was unable to prevent that and God knows I would have had he giving me the power. But calling everybody and their mother's to bitch about spilling M&M’s all over the floor? Geez, just pick the damn things up and go on with your life. (FYI...I have seen this example in person, not fun!)

Speaking of going on with your life, I truly believe one thing that can cause the big "D" is rehashing the past. I know people go through some really horrible times. But reliving it on a day to day basis is only going to cause pain which will only make you become a person no one wants to be around. I really wonder if these people ever think about this? Would you want to sit at a bar listening to Sue cry over her boyfriend or would you want to listen to Jenny make fun of her ex-boyfriend? It is the same thing about your past. Nobody wants to hear me talk about Jim all the time and have me cry about him and the pain his death caused me and my kids. That is why I do it here. You can choose not to read my DRAMA!

So here today, I declare my goal is to live the DFL (Drama Free Life)!!

Sink or Swim

2009-05-28T08:26:00.003-05:00

I have officially signed back up to the world of online dating. I have tested these waters once before and either became overwhelmed or disqusted with it...not sure which one. Maybe it is the smell of Summer in the air or just plain boredom that leads me back down this road. Either way I am out there again.

I go back and forth on the concept of online dating. Does it show desperation or is it genuinely a great invention? Uh...don't know. What I do know that sitting at home on a Saturday night watching movies is never going to "get me out there." FYI...I do this not by choice hence the two pictures on the right of this blog.

So, you know what I do like about internet dating? I can meet men in my PJ's and they have no idea. I don't have to put on makeup, Spanx's, high heels, and everything else to met someone. Which honestly, I do thank Dr. Phil greatly for this! Way to go!

But really, for the desperation side of this, I don't understand what guys are thinking half the time. I get amazed at the number of them who truly think that emailing me to say "You're Hot!" is really going to get them a second look. Yeah, I'm hot...pshhh...in my PJ's with apple juice spilt all over me while inhaling a corndog watching SpongeBob. Yeah, that's hot. Come on, can't you come up with anything better? Seriously? If I can't carry on a 5 min conversation with me via email or phone, what makes you think I want to live the rest of my life with you? (ok, jumping the gun a bit with that statement) Or even have an hour dinner with you? Really?

Either way it is perceived in my mind, I am out there again. I know that I will either sink or swim and I am crossing my fingers that it is swim but if not, have a towel waiting to dry me off!

Man Projects

2009-05-24T10:47:00.001-05:00

You take for granted the little things when you have to do it all yourself. But most of all, I miss not having to do my "man projects." These projects consist of taking the garbage out, changing a light bulb, fixing a broken door knob or even chasing a bird out of the house. YEP...that's right, a bird. Never did Jim and I have animals come in or around our house, but for some reason after he passed they seem to flock towards me.

When I first moved in the house, I was wakened every morning but a rooster. My first thought was, "Who in the hell would have a rooster at their house in a sub-division?" Until I noticed it hanging out in MY backyard. Like I didn't have enough problems to deal with, now I have a wild animal waking me every morning a 5:30am. I have a 1 year old, an infant, insurance companies, a new house, depression and SO ON...COME ON!

One morning as I was dropping the kids off at daycare, I started talking with a neighbor. I asked her if she knew who the rooster belonged too. She started laughing and told me the whole neighborhood thought I brought it with me. Knowing that Jim just passed, they were being nice not to say anything. I was so embarrassed! Why would I want a roaster (aka a mean fighting cock in my eyes)?

So, knowing that it didn't belong to anyone, I called animal control and you know what they told me? I had to catch it and they would pick it up. ME CATCH A ROOSTER, HA!!! That was pretty funny. After many phone calls, they finally sent someone out to catch him or at least try to catch him.

When they showed up, he came out of the truck carrying a shot gun, yes a shot gun and a net. I knew I was in Kentucky! What animal control carries a shot gun? LOL

After chasing the rooster for 2 hours and missing his first shot, he finally got him. I have to say it was my first time experiencing the statement "Running around like a chicken with his head cut off."
Let's just say, rooster's do the same!