Mama's Birthday!!

Yesterday was my AMAZING Mama's Bday! I am sorry I forgot to post this yesterday, but she is still accepting presents. This cute pic of my parents was taken last year at a wedding. I probably could have found one where she was actually looking at the camera, but I think this is how everyone thinks of her...Always laughing and dancing! She has always been an awesome mom to not only me, but to my three siblings,to 4 foster kids that we kept in the past, and to anyone else who walked in our door and needed a mother. She never made anyone leave and provided for them in ways she will never know. I am now old enough to start appreciating her friendship, and as Luke could tell you we talk a lot! I miss her now that I am so far, but appreciate everything she has done for me as a Mom and as a friend!

I LOVE YOU!!!

Jen's Twins!

Luke and I went home this weekend (well, for 28 hours) for my cousin Jennifer's baby shower!

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We are so ready for Maggie and Evie to get here...and doesn't Jennifer look great? She is 35 weeks & counting! These little girls are loved so much already! My mom and I both got the girls monogrammed stuff...I think we are subconsciously scared that we aren't going to be able to tell them apart :) On the way home, we stopped at a gas station, & I went in to potty. I came out and mae Luke go into the bathroom (it was unisex) and take the camera. He was like what the heck, but I told him he would know when to take a pic. He thinks I am crazy, but this sign is even crazier! Please dont hit yourself with a baseball bat in our bathroom. Thanks! Right before we headed back to Texas, I found a surprise!! The Easter bunny had been to Collierville early just to leave me a happy! Easter is one of my favorite holidays! YEA for the Big Bunny!

Spring has Sprung!

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Hello all! I apologize for not posting in several days! I know yall are on the edge of yours seats wondering what happens next in the lives of Luke and Amanda. Two weekends ago, Luke and I met Darrow and Sissy in Hot Springs,AR. They were on Spring Break and we stayed in a quaint (read small) cabin on the water (read inlet). We had a wonderful time cooking, playing Phase 10, hiking, and looking around town. Darrow is Luke's BFF from high school, and he and Sissy are getting married on 7-7-07 at 7! They live in Olive Branch, so it will be nice and close to home, and we are having OB Catfish Company at the Rehearsal Dinner. My FAVE catfish! Good Choice guys! Last week, I had Orientation on Wednesday and Thursday, and watched safety videos for 7 hours on Friday for work. I worked Monday and Tuesday, and I work again tomorrow. I will let you know if it gets any better! Last week also, Luke's Mom and Sister (Ms. Amy and Katie) came to visit for their Spring Break! They were our second apt guests! My family came in December (a day after I came back after Christmas), but there were so many they had to stay in a hotel nearby. It was so much fun to have them here for a few days, and we were able to celebrate Ms. Amy's Birthday! Luke and I gave them gift certificates for manicures, and I think they were able to relax for a few days! We (especially Bandit) were sad to see them leave, but I am sure they will be back soon for some wonderful hospitality :) We are going home this weekend! WOOHOO! We are having a shower for my cousin, Jennifer, at my parent't house on Saturday. She is having twin girls, Maggie and Evie, and I can't wait until they get here. I will have some shower pics after the weekend! This pic was taken after April won in Jr. Barrels at the Dixie Nationals. GO APRIL!! I taught her pretty much everything she knows about horses :) Luke gets to experience so many new things now that we are married! I think that is all for now! P.S. Laurette, when are you going to join the blogging world?

The Granola Maintenance Man

About a week ago, our fire alarm started buzzing sporadically about 3:17 am. Luke got up to investigate, and I was sure the midgets had followed me from the attic in Collierville (more on that later), and were pushing the button. He pulled half off it off the wall, and we went back to sleep. I went by the main office yesterday to figure out how we can get this fixed, and the shower head in our guest bathroom sprayed like a sprinkler. The maintenance man came today, and while fixing my shower and replacing our smoke detector taught me eight things: 1. Our water is positive. God made negative water, and the processing and pipes make the water in our faucets positive. To get your water back negative you should get a stereo magnet (a what?), a pickle jar from Schlotzsky's, and put your water in the jar and the jar over the magent. 2. Our fruit can be tested (as can water and any other food) to see if it is good, or dead. Take a chain (such as the one I was wearing with my cross necklace), and put it directly above the food. If it swings clockwise, it is good. If it swings counterclockwise, it is bad. Thank goodness my plum caused a clockwise rotation of my cross necklace. Whew! 3. Peppermint oil kills all microbes, microorganisms, bacteria, etc, and we should all keep some incase of biological warfare. 4. Hawaiian Kukui Nut Oil will keep your skin soft. I applied some to my hands and face, so I will let you know how that turns out. 5. Shiatsu- pressure points in your feet can relieve problems internally in your body. I got a demonstration so that Luke and I could take turns in pushing on these spots on each other. (What was going on??) 6. Your microwave is killing you. 7. Dogs can be healed through frequencies. and 8. (because I hate ending on a prime number) Have the maintenance man come when you aren't at home.

The Scarlet A

Shawn, I am sorry for cheating on you. I will hopefully never have to go to another hair salon again. Curl Up and Dye left a lot to be desired when compared to Gould's. First, I will compare ambience: Gould's: Spacious, free standing, wooden stations, offered a drink when you sit down, nice real plants, painted walls Curl Up and Dye: Individual cubicles, fake, purple stucco walls, pictures of Merna (my girl's) kids, cousins, and insurance agent posted on wall behind me (which was two feet from my face and I had to face) Next, Hair Wash: G: John, the hair wash guy, is like a massage therapist of the scalp. The hair washing part is absolute heaven. CUAD: Let's just say she had really long fingernails. Product: G: I leave and I feel like my hair smells very expensive. CUAD: My hair smells like a mixture between Love's Baby Soft, and Off (like the bug repellent) The Cut: G: Shawn is a miracle worker. When I went in and aked for 10 inches cut off, he made me look like I was meant to have ear length hair. CUAD: I will let you know once it has dried. I think that has been the hardest part of moving from home. Not being lonely, not getting lost, but not having that loyal hairdresser with his scissors in hand ready to make me feel like a million bucks. I think that our past weekend was better told in pictures, so enjoy without having my commentary:

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24

A month from today I will be 24. I remember when I thought 24 was so old, and I would definitely be married with two kids by now. Thank goodness only one of those is true!! A week from today my Mom, Dad, and brother Jake will be headed to Mexico via cruiseship. When I explained to my nine year old brother that when I was in third grade, my spring break plans consisted of Chuccalissa Indian Village, a scavenger hunt around Memphis, and a Happy Meal, and he is going to freakin Mexico, he explained, "Sissy, it is a different time, and I NEEDED to go to Mexico. Mom and I need to take a load off." Ridiculous. My sister left for Cancun today. The land of half naked debauchery. I wish I was back on my Senior Trip on the Sensation. Tear. This will be the first time in 18 years that I have not gotten a Spring Break.I realize I am not working now, but it is not the same when you can't look forward to the time off starting in January. I am mourning the loss.

Calling all Cooks!

My Aunt Tracy (Dain) has a very close friend whose son has brain cancer. Brandon has been battling this awful disease for almost two years. His mom is collecting recipes to be put in a cookbook. Here was her email: Dear Friend, I am putting a cookbook together through Morris Press Cookbooks, morriscookbooks.com. 100% of profits made from the cookbook will go to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Program. The cover is not finished, but I am putting Brandon on the front cover in his Chief outfit. Can you get me the recipes by the end of March or as soon as possible. If you want I can mail you a form or if you live local I can give you some.Email me your entire recipe with directions and I can type it in myself. (sbkling@bellsouth.net) Please make sure you write your name how you would like it to appear by your recipe, if you want to add a recipe note that is non-recipe content pertaining to the recipe, it should not exceed 4 lines. Recipe notes are printed after the directions paragraph and separated by one return. I included the web address if you are interested or need ideas. This is a great site! Example: nutritional information, suggested uses, recipe history, or in honor or in memory of someone with cancer, or a bible verse. You can send me as many recipes as you want. If I receive several of the same thing, I will write the recipe one time and add all the names so everyone will be shown who contributed. I just copied the instructions from the page on what I am doing, some of the info is what I just wrote. Thank you so much! Susan Ling sbkling@bellsouth.net I just wanted to give everyone an oppurtunity to help out. Please submit a recipe or two! Also, keep Brandon and his family in your prayers.