Secret Santa ain't so secret around here!

So my office drew names today for Secret Santa. I'm counting the days to see how long it takes before my best friend Patricia figures out who everyone has. Patricia makes it her mission in life to know everything about everyone. She's not a gossip, she just LOVES to know things! She'll come in and sit beside my desk, lean in, and whisper, "What don't I know?" It cracks me up everytime! And she's so sneaky about it! She can get ANYTHING out of you! You'll be talking to her and all of a sudden, you'll realize you've revealed all kinds of secrets without even thinking about it. I'm pretty sure she's got some kind of hypnotic powers that she uses on all of us!

I'm excited about the name I drew but I'm not really sure why because I haven't the foggiest what to get him/her! I'll have to do some snooping and see what I can come up with! On Wednesday we're going to put up the office Christmas tree! I repo'ed it from the warehouse. I was going to put it up in my apartment, but it's too big so I got permission to decorate the office! Of course, I'll be putting it up right in front of my desk so that I can stare at it for a month! haha! If everyone else in the office wants to see it, they'll just have to come visit me! Hopefully I'll have pictures to post of it too!

I have plans in my brain to do an entire post (or two) devoted to my work. I have the most awesome cork board behind my desk that I am QUITE proud of and I work with eleven of the most amazing people I've ever met. Seriously, I'm pretty sure the only reason I love my job is because of my coworkers! So they deserve a post all their own! I'll have to get my camera so that I can put pictures with them!

Okay, so anyway, we'll see how long the secret santa thing lasts! I already know four people in the office and there's only twelve of us! LOL

How are you doing?

Wow! It's been a while! I'm not really sure why I dropped off the face of the planet there.... I haven't been busy...I haven't had better things to do...so um, yeah. Here I am again. I know my many (ahem, five) readers have just been aching for an update. So here you go:

EVERYTHING'S THE SAME!

Nothing's changed. Nothing. Same old boring life. Looking back at how often I used to update my blog, it amazes me! Because everyone else's blogs are choc full of funny anecdotes about their husbands or children or shopping adventures. I am daily reminded that on the top of my to-do list should be:

1. Get a life.

and then,

2. Blog about it.

But in all seriousness, nothing noteworthy has occurred recently. I've done some fun things with friends and I've enjoyed life, I just haven't felt the need to publish it. I've gone to OBX for vacation and I saw Dane Cook live. That's about it. I am adjusting (very well, I might add) to living alone and learning how to just be with me. Which is SO incredibly hard! It makes me want to write thank you letters to all my friends and family who put up with me on a daily basis! HA!

I went on a walk with a dear, amazing friend yesterday and she asked me how I was doing. When I get that question, I always know exactly what they're referring to. They're not asking, How's your family? How's work? How're the dogs? How is your health? They are ALWAYS asking, How are you doing now that you're divorced? How are you coping? How are you adjusting to living alone? How do you think you're going to move on? I wonder when the time will come that that question will no longer mean that, when it will no longer be necessary to ask in daily conversation? (And my dear friend, if you happen to be reading this, please know that I was not in the least offended by you asking, but rather, I felt loved that you cared enough to ask!) I'm thinking I'll get it until I'm in another committed relationship...perhaps that will be a sign that I've moved on and I'm okay!

I've learned to embrace it though. This year has been hard. I've learned a lot but I'm ready for it to be over! Come on 2010! I have high expectations for you! I felt complete peace when I told my dear friend that I was great. I feel like I have finally adjusted to living alone and I can honestly say, I now enjoy it! The thought of a roommate makes me shudder now that I've been able to live alone! I can keep it SO CLEAN when there's no one else here to mess it up! Haha! And if you know me at all, you know I LOVE clean homes!

I'm excited to see what God has in store for me. I was going to say that I'm ready for change, but I won't be so bold as to say that quite yet! I'm ready to see some of my dreams come true. So I only want change if it means some of those dreams are heading my way. Otherwise, CHANGE, STAY AWAY FROM ME! I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU! :)

One of my bosses and I were laughing the other day because it seems like every year we find ourselves saying, Wow! What a year! Surely next year will be better! Well here's hoping right? Okay, enough rambling for now.

As always, I love y'all!
Amanda

Think on these things....

6Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

8And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:6-8

If you've known me at all in the past six months, you know that the past six months have been the most life-changing events of my life. At 25 years old, I've learned more about myself, my faith, life in general, and my friends, than I ever imagined. This has been an incredibly hard road full of struggles. Before all this, I thought all the bad stuff was finally out of the way and I could finally sit back, relax, and enjoy life for awhile. But it seems as though the rug is always getting yanked out from under me!


I was talking to my best friend today and I was telling her that sometimes, the thought of going through this life for 60 or so more years, exhausts me. It breaks my heart. Believe me when I tell you that I keep my sights set on Heaven! And right now, assuming I die of old age, Heaven is a really long way away! Now please don't read this wrong and assume I'm suicidal or depressed. I'm just being painfully honest right now about what it feels like to be in the middle of a storm and wondering when it's going to pass.


For the most part, I'm happy. I'm very happy. For the most part, I'm loving life in a major way. And the only reason for that is because I've built a solid foundation around God. As soon as I turned back to Him, everything starting falling into place. But it's still a struggle for me to stay focused sometimes. Sometimes I get started on a pity party and I don't want to stop! The past few weeks have been really hard on me and I'm not really sure why. I became overwhelmed when I really stopped and started thinking about everything that has happened since February. It's amazing. It's hard to believe! I have to keep reminding myself that I absolutely, should be feeling this way! It's only natural and it's to be expected when my entire life has flipped upside down and completely changed.

But honestly, I'm tired. I'm exhausted. I'm brokenhearted. And I'm wondering when my turn is coming. And I know that the reason I feel this way, is because I've lost sight of my purpose. I've turned my eyes away instead keeping them focused on the cross. I have an amazing life, amazing friends, an amazing family, an amazing job, an amazing apartment, two amazing dogs, (catch my drift yet?).....so, I've got to just let the pain in and accept that this is simply a dark time in my life. Instead of ignoring it, I'm going to embrace it. I'm going to let it break me and mold me into a better person. All the while, keeping my heart set on Him.

And I know, without a shadow of doubt, that I will look back on this miserable time, and be soooo incredibly thankful for it. Thankful for the many things that I learned and for the opportunity to grow closer to my Savior and to build lasting relationships with amazing people.

So I'm going to stop pretending that everything's okay, and I'm going to hurt when I need to hurt and cry when I need to cry. But throughout out it all, it is my prayer that I keep my thoughts out of the depths of despair and instead focused on my One, True God!

I love y'all,
Amanda

Busy, Busy Weekend!

I'm not really sure how I ended up with so much to do this weekend, but either way I'm glad! I'd much rather be spending my weekend with great company and having a good time instead of sitting in my apartment being bored!

Last night after work, Pippa came over so that I could color her hair again. If you could see her hair, you'd understand what a massive undertaking such a project is!! She has shoulder-length, extra curly hair! And LOTS of it! So I have to straighten it, then pull it through a cap, then color it, then wash it out, then condition it, and then VOILA! She's a redhead! LOL Oh the things we women do for beauty!!! (haha, I should probably do more!)

Pippa is my friend who acts in community theater all the time (I blogged about her musical she was in a few months ago about the 80s) so I've been her official Line Lady. About once a week we run through her lines and practice blocking and stuff so that she can impress everyone at rehearsals. I can't wait to see the play. It's a murder mystery and even though I know "whodunnit" it's still going to be really fun to watch!

This morning I went to a little seminar/conference/presentation (not sure what you'd call it) by a very well known Doctor here to listen to her approaches on behavior modifications for individuals with Autism. It made me miss work directly with them! I had forgotten how fun/challenging/rewarding it is to work with them and see progress! Now, I just train others on how to do it.

This afternoon, Miles went with me to....ADOPT A NEW DOG! I don't know what got into me but I just really wanted another one. I think it'll be really good for Tango to have someone here with her. I just hope that he behaves himself! He's a little 4 pound black chihuahua. He has cradle cap on the top of his head but hopefully it'll heal soon because right now, he looks kinda rough! lol Hopefully I'll get pictures of him up soon. I haven't come up with a name for him yet but I'm hoping I'll have an epiphany before too long! Pippa thinks he's terribly ugly so she suggested I name him Frank N. Stein! Ha! I'm seriously considering it. Frank. Hmmmm....

And tonight, Girls' Night! I've got a date with Olive Garden and a movie here in just a little bit! I'm excited because I don't get to hang out with Leah and Lori without kiddos very often anymore so it'll be fun!

Tomorrow, I'm going to cook up some stuff to freeze for the rest of the week, hang out with the pups, and drop in on a one-year old's birthday party!

It's funny to me that last weekend, a holiday weekend, I was bored to tears other than when Pippa came over to hang out, and this weekend, I barely have a free moment!

Anyway, not sure you really cared for the moment by moment synopsis but, there you have it anyway! :)

10 weird things about me

1. My memory is almost non-existent when it comes to books and movies...really! I certainly get my money's worth when I buy them because after I watch/read them, about a month later, I can't remember them and they're like brand new again!

2. I can't stand for my elbows to be touched. Don't ask.

3. I fall asleep every night with FRIENDS playing on my DVD. I have all 10 seasons. Once I'm done with the last episode, I just go back to season 1 and start all over again. (I have a very justifiable reason for this behavior but I don't feel like explaining it this early in the morning!)

4. I'm very jumpy. It's incredibly easy to simply walk up to me, tap me on my shoulder, and say, "Hi Amanda" and then watch as I scream in terror as though you were about to kill me. Much like this woman:




5. I love having a clean home. (Okay, I'm sure this isn't all that weird!) I'd rather come home to a clean home than just about anything else in the world. It makes me so relaxed and peaceful! And I love the fact that anyone can show up at my door and I won't be embarrassed to let them in!

6. I have an uncontrollable fear of moths. Yes moths. They terrify me. I had one in the car one night driving home and I'm lucky to still be alive.

7. I have a red razor scooter that I ride around on at work. When I'm having a bad day or I need a break or I'm bored or I'm happy or I'm just lazy, I ride the scooter up and down the hallways. Fun times!

8. I've worn the same pair of shoes to work almost every day for the past two months (somebody take me shopping!!!!)

9. I have absolutely have NOOOOO sense of direction. Spin me around 3 times in my living room and I wouldn't be able to find my front door. It's frustrating and embarrassing but luckily, (for the most part) my friends and family find it endearing! And they're always willing to help me when I call them freaking out because I'm lost. Now I have a Garmin though! Praise God!

10. I find extreme joy in unwrapping gifts. Seriously, I get SO excited about unwrapping presents!!! I don't care what's in it, I just have so much fun tearing into them! You could wrap up an empty box with many many layers of wrapping paper and I would be ABSOLUTELY THRILLED!

***This post is dedicated to my darling coworkers who helped me come up with this list! Ashleigh, Matthew, Pippa, April, Patricia!!!

Ode to August

My darling August,
It has been so hard for me to love you all these years what with your scorching temperatures and dreaded back to school mania. But this year, ah yes, this year! You have treated me well! No back to school drama for me. No scorching hot temperatures. Instead, cool, wonderful, magnificent, beautiful days filled with outdoor fun. Oh how I've loved you!



I had a picnic today at lunch and it was wonderful! I wish everyday were this beautiful, but I guess, if it were, it would become so normal that I wouldn't appreciate them quite as much, huh?

I had a great, very quiet weekend and some much needed rest. I always like it when I've had a quiet weekend so that I can come back to work on Monday rested and ready! And Lord knows with this job, you better be rested and ready!

It seems as though the weather has everyone in good spirits though and I hope it lasts! With 14 women and 1 man, this office can go from happy to INSANE in a matter of moments! I love the days here when I get to ride my office scooter and laugh and joke around with everyone and my phone's not ringing every 3 minutes! Good times people!

Well my dear friends, enjoy this weather while it lasts! I hope we have a miserably cold winter so that I can snuggle up in my wonderful winter clothes and enjoy plenty of snow days!!!

I hope your Monday has been as great as mine! Tata for now!

Love y'all!
Amanda

Near death experience...well, kinda.

As soon as I sat down to start this post, I choked. Literally. No breathing, just choking. Scared tha bejeebus outta me!!!!!!!

I had this vision of Pippa finding me sprawled out in the floor in my apartment, asphyxiated (totally had to look up how to spell that word!), and dead. And the really sad part would be:

Here lies Amanda. She choked on air. Rest in peace. 2/19/84-8/28/09

You know, that would be fairly typical, lol! I tell Patricia all the time, "Only me." Meaning, that could only happen to me. And when you come up with the most outlandish story and you think it's crazy, if it's going to happen, it'll happen to me! Leah always says that my life has been so crazy that a soap opera wouldn't even buy my story because they would say it's too out there. Oh Lord.

Okay, I'm still coughing. This is sad.

Anywhoo. Moving on.

I'm soooo glad it's the weekend. I've got lots of fun stuff to do with some of my very favorite people and I can't wait. And the best part, I'm SLEEPING IN tomorrow morning (I'm sure I've just jinxed myself. Tango will probably be dancing on my head at 6:00am needing a potty break)!

Tonight's a girl's night with Pippa. I colored April's hair last night and Pippa decided she wanted her's done too. So we're going to go have dinner and then watch a movie while I color it. I'm gonna start charging if this keeps up! I might be able to get a second income!!!

Well Pippa just walked in (to find me alive and well, thank you for asking!) so I need to wrap this up.

So you guys have a fabulous, fantastic, fantabulous, fabtastic weekend!

One bit of advice before I go: Be careful when breathing this weekend. That air's dangerous apparently!

Love you guys!
Amanda