Stacks of Pi

Wishes Fulfilled

2010-02-09T12:24:00.003-05:00

I wanted to share something with all of you that I think will provide another perspective after a loved one dies, and one that I plan to do as well.

It also makes me think about the reasons for life insurance and the expenses and stresses involved with funerals, and that really it's just a business providing services for the community. Funerals are not for the dead, but really only for the living. I do want to say I sincerely respect anyone who feels a funeral home is the way for them to remember/bury a lost loved one because I think we all need to do what brings comfort and peace with death, and/or death of a loved one.

My grandmother decided years ago she did not want a funeral, and only graveside services. Then she decided she didn't even want graveside services. Being younger, at first I didn't understand, and I thought she was being selfish. Later I just accepted her wishes without really understanding.

The day I found out she was gone, even though when I saw her in Sept I knew she wouldn't make it much longer-she was getting tired of old age, still left me at first just blank, and then slow increments of thoughts, and what to do next, some spoken out loud some not. Then I remembered there would be no funeral nor graveside services, which filled me with so much peace and calmness, and so many funny, happy, loving memories of her as she was in life, and completely erased the sadness that surrounds death as I have known it before.

I quickly began to understand her wishes, and how much she wanted to make sure we were completely surrounded in comfort, peace, and love when her time came to pass on. She had already been through all the sadnesses of death with her mother, her siblings, her husband, and other loved ones. I too, can remember the uncomfortableness of the steely, cold, dark funeral home, all the people you haven't seen in years, strangers of funeral home directors walking around in formal suits, the dead body laying in the casket with death, tears, and the sounds of crying heartache all over it, especially at the last viewing complete with the sad music during the services, all of which was so gutwrenching for me to hear, see, and feel, and I had not lost my mother, any of my siblings, my husband, or anyone so close to me, so what I felt was not even close to what my grandmother felt- I will never forget.

I also will never forget when I was 11 yrs old the same thing, at my dad's brother's funeral who died fairly young at the age 50....the anguished cries of his mother, his children, and his wife hanging on to the casket and the dead body inside because that would be the last time they would ever see him before the lid was closed. I was waiting my turn on the very last pew in the building, and I was already filled with such heartache at what I was hearing and seeing I couldn't handle it. I didn't want to go for the last viewing I just wanted to flee! So I can only imagine what my grandmother went through at the funeral home when she lost those so very close to her adding on to the top of such loss and pain the stresses involved when a funeral home is involved, and then to leave the ones so loved that have passed on with those being the last memories.

Because of my grandmother's wishes for no funeral of any type she has not left us like that at all, and it has been such an incredible blessing, and shows that she was not selfish with her wishes at all, but in life was more concerned about us at her death because she knew those experiences intimately she had already experienced, which she did not want for us. She left us surrounded in her lovingcare, and our last memories of her are of her in life, which is so joyous, comforting, peaceful, and filled with so much happiness, and no sadness even though we do and will miss her. Instead of mourning her death, we are celebrating her life and the memories we have with her. Her wishes were fulfilled.

Thanks Nanny and I love you, and I miss you.

In memory of My Nanny

2010-02-03T12:17:00.002-05:00

July 27th, 1929-January 20th, 2010

I was blessed to have my grandmother for almost 40 years of my life. She passed away January 19. I wanted to remember her here on my blog.

I love and miss you Nanny, and you will always be remembered,

amanda

Thanks For Your Empathy!

2010-01-17T23:03:00.002-05:00

Thanks you all for identifying in some way with my raw mom heart in the last 2 post.

I think we as mothers....deeply caring mothers just try so hard to make life "perfect" for our children and homes that when upsetting and trying scenarios happen we tend to blame/fault ourselves. We think we have failed somewhere because in our thoughts we don't know where, or what else to possibly do, and we wonder and we compare, and we ect. (I'm saying "we," which may hold true for you, but is just my opinion, although I certainly welcome yours.)

We are nurturers first and foremost, while also juggling many other varied roles as mothers, and that alone an be overwhelming and consuming (most of) at times! So I'm gonna try to take it a little easier on myself, so that I don't let myself get so hurtfully RAW when she's repeating, whining, crying over and over again "I WANT MY GREEN BUCKET." Because that's all it is-she just wants her "GREEN BUCKET."

I hope you other mothers can try too,
amanda

The Last Post...

2009-12-20T22:14:00.003-05:00

....was just one of those really, raw, emotionally trying times of parenting...albeit the worst I've ever had. Thanks for listening and for your comments. It helps to know I am not alone, and it also helped...even though it was emotionally raw to just write out my feelings I was feeling that night. The green bucket is history, and hopefully there will not be a red bucket any time soon...unless it's related to the colors of Christmas, and with that I would like to wish each and everyone of you a Very Merry & Warm Christmas and a Very Happy Shiney New Year!

I WANT MY GREEN BUCKET

2009-12-02T23:19:00.005-05:00

I wish I could at least type about the title, but I can't because I've heard it for the last hour and a 1/2 over and over again like a broken record, and now there is a broken window, and my tears are about to break.

I see all these blogs where family and parenting life seems to go so smoothly and peacefully. It's 11:30 pm and she still in there crying this time over and over again "mommy.....mama........

and what so bad is I've done the no eye contact, no communication, calmly laying her back down in her room, and then I heard the glass break.

Parenting isn't a pretty picture if we are all honest. I hope. Not that other's have to be if the same rings true in their/your lives, but I find myself having to vent the trying, difficult, times of parenting, especially when there's this sweet little red headed girl who has a serious case of STUBBORNESS!!!, and that's all, which fortunately doesn't happen very often, but when it does it is NOT pretty in many ways. Wears me out mentally, and makes me feel at a loss, but I still am calm to the point of wanting to scream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even with a broken window, and breaking tears, the feelings of guilt/self-blame, and whatever else these tears are I can't name. Oh..a complete failure I've failed somewhere?! I just cant take this anymore. Why does my life have to be like this? I don't know what else to do. And I don't have just one girl, but 2, 2 yrs apart, and they have almost, no not almost, they have the 2 of them together drove me literally insane. At times. More often than not. And I don't know what else to do. or how else to explain all the negative I haven't even mentioned that comes with trying to be the best parent I can be for them. I just don't think I'm good enough. I'm doing something wrong. There's a 13 yr and a 15yr age difference between my oldest who turned 19 the 27th, and the experiences with him are totally different, and I'm in a lot of ways in some very uncharted territory where I feel totally overwhelmed, and in all honesty I wish I could just run away, but I can't because it's too heartbreaking to think of leaving them, but yet the fantasy of escape is tranquil for my frazzled self.

I do feel guilty posting this because of all the other blogs I read where parents have lost their children, and would probably give anything in the world to hear over and over again "I WANT MY GREEN BUCKET." But I cannot minimize the feelings I have by comparing myself to others who have lost babies because my feelings are just as valid, as all our situations and lives are so unique.

This is raw, and if anyone reads this please forgive me if I have hurt anyone because it's so not my intentions at all.. I'm just a frazzle of emotions right now and this is the only place I don't come because of the all consuming of trying to parent these children. My life is totally upside down, and everytime I right it it's always teetering on the brink only to turn upside down again. Like the game Jenga...that's my life. Over and over again, and I'm getting tired, but when the blocks fall I start again just like the game of Jenga, except I'm living it.

Am I thankful? Yes and No.

All is finally silent now, and my tears will break the silence until I fall asleep.

I'M SO EXCITED!

2009-10-16T18:27:00.001-04:00

This was my (and still is) favorite book as a child. We went to see Ice age a few months ago, and when the preview for this movie came on I knew exactly what it was or I was hoping it was, and it was!!!

WTWTA starts today in theaters, and I'm going with my children tomorrow. I can't wait:)

Hurricane Ike Eye

2009-10-15T08:35:00.001-04:00

Analogy of meditation

Designs and Directions..

2009-08-21T14:27:00.001-04:00

Please excuse my blog construction and it's lack of directions.

What have You Done?

2009-08-21T13:53:00.004-04:00

Taken from "Tale Of Two Coins" blogspot.

Bought everyone in the bar a drink

No.

Swam with wild dolphin

I would LOVE to

Taken a Ferrari for a test drive

No

Been inside a Pyramid

No

Held a tarantula

Hell No!

Taken a candle lit bath

Yes

Said I love you and meant it

Yes

Hugged a Tree

Yes

Bungee jumped

No.

Visited Paris

Yes. Paris, Tennessee

Watched a lightening storm at sea

Yes

Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise

Oh yes.

Seen the Northern Lights

Yes..I will not ever forget that night!

Gone to a huge sports game

Yes

Walked the stairs to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

I doubt I would if I could

Grown and eaten your own vegetables

Yes

Touched an iceberg

No

Slept under the stars

No, I would like to in the fall/winter

Changed a baby’s diaper

Yes, yes, yes, yes.......

Taken a trip in a hot air balloon

No...I'm just a watcher

Watched a meteor shower

Yes

Gotten drunk on champagne

No

Given more than you can afford to charity

Yes

Looked up at the night sky through a telescope

No, but I would like to

Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment

Yes:)

Had a food fight

Yes...and it was soooo much FUN! Made the clean-up worth it

Bet on a winning horse

No

Asked out a stranger

No

Had a snowball fight

Yeah...a hit the face hurts

Screamed as loudly as you possibly can

Yes

Held a lamb

No

Seen a total eclipse

Yes

Ridden a rollercoaster

Yes

Hit a home run

Yes

Danced like a fool, not caring who watched

Yes

Adopted an accent for an entire day

I can't do the accent thing

Actually felt happy about your life, even for a moment

Oh Yes

Had two hard drives for your computer

Need another one

Visited all 50 states

No

Taken care of someone who was too drunk

Yes...and I didn't even know how to drive a stick shift-lol

Had amazing Friends

Yes

Danced with a Stranger in a foreign country

No

Watched wild whales

On TV

Stolen a sign

A trunkful...in high school

Hitchhiked in Europe

Not ever

Taken a road-trip

Yes

Gone rock climbing

No

Midnight walk on the beach

Bunches

Gone sky diving

No, but I want to

Visited Ireland

No

Been heartbroken longer than you were in love

Feels like sometimes

In a restaurant sat at a stranger’s table and ate with them

Yes

Visited Japan

Not physically

Milked a cow

No

Alphabetized your CDs

No

Pretended to be a superhero

Pretended NOT to be "Wonder Woman"

Sung karaoke

Yeah

Lounged around in bed all day

Yes

Posed nude in front of strangers

NO

Gone scuba diving

I would love to....but I'm too claustrophobic

Kissed in the rain

Yes

Played in the mud

Yes

Played in the rain

Yes

Gone to a drive-in theater

Yes

Visited the Great Wall of China

Not physically

Started a business

Thought about it

Fallen in love and not had your heart broken

Of course not

Toured ancient sites

Yes

Taken a martial arts class

Yes

Played a computer game for more than 6 hours straight

Almost

Gotten married

For 20 yrs

Been in a movie

No

Crashed a party

Yes

Gotten divorced

No

Gone without food for 5 days

R u kidding?

Made cookies from scratch

Yes

Won first prize in a costume contest

No, but I've always wanted to

Ridden a gondola in Venice

No

Gotten a tattoo

I am

Rafted the Snake River

No, just floated the Buffalo, which is just as 'Snaky"

Been on television news program as an “expert”

Got flowers for no reason

Yes

Performed on a stage

Yes

Been to Las Vegas

No

Recorded Music

Yes

Eaten shark

Probably so

Had a one-night stand

Yes

Gone to Thailand

No

Bought a house

Yes

Been in a combat zone

Yes

Buried one/both of your parents

No Thankfully

Been on a cruise ship

No

Spoken more than one language fluently

Not

Performed in Rocky Horror

No...don't like it

Raised children

In Proccess

Followed your favorite band/singer on tour

No..I wish

Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country

Reminds me too much of "Hostel" No Thank You!

Picked up and moved to another city

Yes

Walked on the Golden Gate Bridge

No, and won't

Sang loudly in the car and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking

All the time

Had plastic surgery

I want too in a few areas

Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have

Yes

Wrote articles for a large publication

Maybe someday?

Lost over 100 lbs

I WISH!

Held someone while they were having a flashback

No...I wonder if that would be possible because I would be startled if held during a flashback

Piloted an airplane

I wonder what that's like?

Petted a stingray

Yes..flying angels

Broken someone’s heart

Yes, and it broke my heart that I did

Helped an animal give birth

Many times

Won money on a TV game show

No

Broken a bone

Just one...my pinky finger

Gone on an African safari

No

Had a body part below the neck pierced

Never..unless I had a tummy before children

Fired a rifle, shotgun or pistol

Yes

Eaten mushrooms gathered in the wild

No

Ridden a horse

Yes

Had major surgery

No..thankfully

Had a snake as a pet

No

Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon

No

Slept for more than 30 hours over 48 consecutive hours

Almost

Visited more foreign countries than US States

No

Visited all 7 continents

No

Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days

No.

Eaten Kangaroo meat

Only ostrich

Eaten sushi

My favorite!

Had your picture in the paper

Yes

Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about

I don't know?

Gone back to school

Yes

Parasailed

Not yet

Petted a cockroach

NO

Eaten fried green tomatoes

YUM!

Read the Illiad

Some

Selected one important author who you missed school to read

I don't understand?

Killed and prepared an animal for eating

Never

Skipped all of your school reunions

No

Communicated with someone without sharing a common language

Yes

Been elected to public office

No

Written your own computer language

No interested

Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream

Partly I am

Had to put someone you love in hospice care

No

Build your own PC from parts

No

Sold your own artwork to someone that didn’t know it was yours

No

Had a booth in a street fair

No

Dyed your hair

One time..and never again depending on what my gray hair looks like

Been a DJ

No

Shaved your head

No

Caused a car accident

No

Saved someone’s life

Yes

Remembering Harry

2009-08-05T17:50:00.004-04:00

Harry passed away a few weeks ago, but his "smile" will always be remembered.

He was only 5 in cat years-a beautifully sweet persian.

Caught in a WhirlWind...

2009-08-03T14:44:00.002-04:00

....that's me. Caught up so much in a whirlwind for so long I didn't even have a name for what I have been experiencing, until my Dad and I had a talk while he was here a week or so ago visiting.

It's nice to have at least a word to describe...basically everything, including not visiting my blog that much.

I am in a whirlwind struggling to see the directions I must go...I'm called to go, but as Dad said the same happened to him years ago when he became closer in his relationship with God after God revealed Himself with such clarity.

There is an evil force that surrounds all of us everyday, but it's when 2 powerful forces collide I'm caught in the whirlwind.

There is a purpose for this whirlwind. I think it's because God is protecting me and making me stronger for the purpose He has for me that I feel called to. I get aggravated sometimes, but He takes care of me by providing the rest I need.

Whew....He gives me rest, but today I am spinning rapidly in the whirlwind.

2009-06-28T18:41:00.011-04:00

This is not a storm cloud. I knew it could not be a storm cloud when I turned the corner at my home that day, but I did wonder, could it be? The sights in my eyes made my mind run through a lot of "could be's," such as a plane crash? A military exercise that went wrong? A gas explosion at a gas station? A chemical explosion? None of those questions were even close to what I saw here in a photo that does not even begin to give justice. I have never seen a cloud as large, wide, tall, and as dense as this. I also had never seen the white parts of a cloud covered in such shiny irridescent colors. I quickly went inside simultaneously grabbed my camera and checked our local online news. This cloud was a smoke cloud created from an out of control wildfire here in Myrtle Beach that unfortunately made the news and caused many losses, but incredibly and thankfully not one life was lost.
This photo was taken from my front yard, and even though the cloud seemed to be so close I could touch it..the distance is approx 20 miles away, which is actually WAY TO CLOSE! If the winds had shifted like they were forcasted to do I sincerely doubt I would be sitting here at my computer sharing this with you. 76 homes were lost that day not counting all the cars burned to steel skeletons.

If you would like to help the many victims who lost everything they had, except for the breath of life, you may do so by clicking HERE, or HERE. Thank you.

Update 8/9/09: One person and the first person to move back into his neighborhood and home just happened last week. Check it out here and click on "Back Home in Barefoot."

His Prom

2009-06-17T17:21:00.002-04:00

It hasn't been too long ago when I held him in my arms when he was a wee little one, and dreamed of the approaching years ahead. It only seems like yesterday.

Hiding & Peeking...

2009-06-17T12:37:00.002-04:00

....with a sparkle in her eyes with "Bunny."

Dirty Face Pose

2009-06-17T12:32:00.001-04:00

But the eyes have it!

"His Will Wednesdays"

2009-06-10T11:20:00.006-04:00

I don't post much on my blog, and it's not because I don't have something to say, or I am a fake...so far from that... I just don't have the words because my words are trapped in trapped emotions right now. Also what is me trapped I don't know what direction to go with it, and other people like me, their blogs are open. I just don't have the courage to do that, but I pray I do gain the courage because my words need to be spoken.

I really don't know where to begin exactly because this coincides in some kind of way with my last entry.

I guess I will begin with the first blog I checked on this morning, which had been removed, so I checked some other blogs to see what was going on. I did have doubts in the last 2 weeks, or maybe a little longer with the decision of a home birth with an unhealthy baby among a few other things, but it was extremely easy to give a huge benefit of a doubt, which slowly began to fade. I just made up my mind I had to stay with the benefit of a doubt because "What if it was?" until it was proven to me.

Since it has been proven to me, I do not feel whatsoever any negative feelings toward "B" or the "April Rose's" blog based on what I know. Let me explain if I can.

This is what I know and this is why I do not have any negative feelings toward "B." On mother's day I posted a comment on her blog wishing her a " Happy Mother's Day." The next post after mother's day on her blog, I totally assumed was about my wishes of a happy mother's day because she did not post my comment and was referring to the hurtful comment(s) she had received on mother's day i.e., something about being happy with a sick baby-I can't remember exactly.

I immediately emailed her, and explained why I only commented those 3 words on mother's day, and I was not trying at all to inflict hurt, and why I was only able to comment with those 3 words, and nothing else. I also told her mother's day was painful for me, and words were difficult for me to own, and a vague explanation of why, but regardless of deep pains many mother's live with, and the trials and tribulations of being a mother with all it's varied emotions we still should be HAPPY that we are mother's! and I wished this for her even in her pain. I also shared vaguely with her my spiritual struggles..remember I have a difficult time finding, freeing, and owning the words, so it was very brief. I didn't expect her to email me back, and she didn't, but....

The next "His Will Wednesday's" she had me posted for prayer-I needed direction in my life....I can't remember, I think something about seeking God's Will, or something like that.

Then, I see this morning April Rose's blog has been removed, and my previously held doubts I put aside were revealed to me, and this is what else has been revealed to me.

This person "B" does not need our anger, our disappointments, or any negativity, and the reasons why are because she desperately needs and deserves the LOVE, PEACE, ACCEPTANCE, COMFORT, from us through GOD who LIVES in us, so that HE maybe fully revealed to her. She NEEDS HIM and she NEEDS us. She never asked for a dime that I know of, she remembered with the help of the Misty Rice blogger so many people who desperately needed the love and prayers of God, and she even remembered me in my vagueness. I have never, ever on a blog seen so much pain remembered for other's to reach out to in a great time of need I saw in "His Will Wednesdays."

This is really what she needs, that's what she's asking for in the only way she knows how. She deserves it! We should all do a "His Will Wednesdays" and she should always be included,and remembered because obviously she is in some deep pains, and even more so now, and if she has a conscience, which I think she does....she can do without any of our negativity because right now she's in more than we could ever give.

The only thing negative I see in this...is the trust that has been, could be, and can be destroyed with fellow bloggers, and bloggers in general because it creates a "crying wolf syndrome," along with the people who have been deeply affected by such actions, and the overwhelming stress things such as these create for those directly affected, and other's as well.

I have only seen one other blog hoax, and it was really nasty because these people had stolen
money "crying wolf" very loudly seeking donations for their personal "sickness."

Just my thoughts, and finally a few words I can own.

Thanks for listening.

And for "His Will Wednesday's" please remember in your prayers all that are suffering, and all that are dealing with this issues, and any other issues we all face in painful, difficultm different circumstances and situations.

In His Love,
amanda

Listening

2009-05-17T11:36:00.002-04:00

I'm listening trying to find and own my own words. Until then just listen to my eyes at my photo blog link to the right.

Listen

2009-05-17T11:25:00.001-04:00

Listen or your tongue
will keep you deaf
~Native American Proverb

One Day....

2009-05-13T15:27:00.001-04:00

...I will have the words, even on "Wordless Wednesday"

Sweet Little Kayleigh

2009-05-12T22:57:00.001-04:00

Still lives, even though she passed from this world May 11th. Please remember her family in your prayers. I know their hearts are aching over the loss of this precious baby.

Thanks

We are Burning Up!

2009-04-24T11:10:00.003-04:00

I went to pick up my children Wednesday afternoon, and on the way back I saw this humongous cloud of smoke standing in the sky like a large skyscraper. I had never seen anything like that before, although I have seen smoke rise from fires, but not like that.

I was alarmed because I knew if it was a fire it was a big one! I at first thought military plane crash? Then my next thought was a wildfire, because the smoke cloud was just too large.

I take photos of clouds, and I did take some photos I haven't uploaded off of my camera yet.

A friend of mine's mother lives in that area, but she's on the other side of the waterway offering some protection, unless the fire decides to jump it, which it can, but hopefully not!

The last update 69 homes had been burned with 100 damaged. The fire has burned 20,000 acres. The fire is 50% contained overall, and 75% contained in the N Myrtle Beach area.

Yesterday the wind wasn't as bad as the day the fire started, and today we have had an increase in humidity, which has helped some, but the winds are supposed to increase to around 25mph mainly for coastal areas, but this will affect the fire and it is expected to increase and move toward the Poplar community on SC90.

The good news is there have been no fatalities or injuries, but there are many displaced residents whose homes that have burned to ash, and their cars are completely charred. There are pets that have been rescued. Pets are not allowed in shelters, and the Red Cross has requested a mobile canine unit at the shelters, which should just be mandatory if you ask me!

I know firsthand about the American Red Cross-They Are Truly Awesome! If you wish to help please call 1-800-GiveLife to donate to the American Red Cross.

I know all our firefighters are really burning up today with this humidity and a HOT, raging fire they are trying to battle that has a mind of its own.

This fire is a little too close for comfort for me, but the only affect we have is a smoky haze that hasn't been too dense, and also depends on which way the wind blows it the hardest. I have seen some ashes, and ashes have been reported even in Little River yesterday.

Pine trees like to burn hot, and that's mostly what we have with lots of undergrowth in undeveloped areas.

Roads are closed due to very low visability like at one time only a 1/4 mile visability.

Please don't burn when advised not too. It can wait! Or load it up and take it to your local landfill.

For Kayleigh She needs Urgent Prayers!

2009-04-22T11:37:00.007-04:00

I know not many people read my blog because I don't have the time I need to blog like I want because I have too many interests, but I do still read the stacks I like, and this I found on one of those stacks this morning.

Please visit this little girl Kayleigh and her family here. She needs our prayers and so does her family. If anyone happens to read. Please.

Special Olympians are Olympians!

2009-03-28T16:46:00.018-04:00

Yes I am referring to his style of bowling he mentioned on the Jay Leno show. Obama says he bowls like he was in the Special Olympics. He should be proud because that means he is an exceptional bowler. He should be proud because that means he defies great odds stacked against him. He should be proud because that means he owns courage. He should be proud because that means he believes whole heartedly in himself and owns a strong self-confidence of "I can do anything" or I can become anything." He should be proud because he never gives up and works tirelessly to overcome, and never succumbs to defeat. He should be proud because he owns determination. He should be proud because he sets goals and reaches them, and owns the examples of preseverance and endurance He should be proud of all the encouraging example(s) he owns and sets for all to see and learn from. He should be proud to own the spirit of a Special Olympian, and should be proud to own the title of a Special Olympic bowler.

He also should be proud that his uneducated and shallow comments can be applied in so many areas, and in so many ways on such a grand scale for all the Special Olympians in the world. He should be proud, and give himself a big hug because his comments have facilitated the uneducated to become educated, and think about how they react to Special Olympians in thought, in stares, in speech, and in any stigmatizing behaviors. His should be proud that his comments will facilitate personal and interpersonal awareness, and that this awareness will facilitate more aggressive action oriented approaches for all our Special Olympians. Who knows one day we might be on the same team, but if not I will be cheering from the sidelines.

This is dedicated to my Special Olympian Hayden "He talks to Angels" Warren and all Special Olympians past, present, and future.

MyPersonality.info Badge

2009-02-24T02:18:00.001-05:00

Cheesedoodle Rants

2009-02-23T07:46:00.003-05:00

Good Morning...

I was just over at Nate's blog http://cfhusband.blogspot.com. I enjoy his blog so much because it just isn't about what all they have been through, but about so much more and all they have been through with the so much more together..if that makes sense. If you've never visited "Confessions of a CF Husband it's worth your time to travel over there and check it out. He also has links to other relevant blogs such as his wife Tricia's blog, his photo blog, and others that are just as god to visit.

A few weeks ago he posted some photos of his cute little daughter Gwyneth holding and looking at a cheesedoodle, and then she decided to take that orange looking thing to her mouth to check it out. The photo's of her cute exploration can be found here. Unfortunately...there are comments from a few that make me want to have a cheesedoodle rant, and that's what I'm gonna do here on my blog.

Get OVER it! We only live once! Enjoy life and live it to the fullest. We are all dying this very second, and none of us are guaranteed the next second whether we smoke or not, drink or not, take vitamins or not, follow the food pyramid exactly or not, or eat cheesedoodles or not. None of us are perfect. None of us eat perfectly. None of us have the ability to eat, exercise, and/or do everything perfectly to prevent us from dying or being healthy. All that we can do is do the best that we can and there is nothing wrong with trying, but none of us are going to do those things needed absolutely perfectly.

Maybe you don't eat cheesedoodles, or you don't agree with a father feeding his baby daughter a cheesedoodle because it's "unhealthy," or the doodle contains too much sodium, but do you eat a diet of foods perfectly? Do you avoid all those foods that are considered unhealthy? Of course not. So stop being so critical of someone else and what they do, and mind your own business.

And be thankful. Be thankful there are cheesedoodles to eat. Be thankful there is food to eat. Be thankful there is freeedom to eat, and quit trying to make such issues out of food choices because there may, and let's certainly pray and hope there's not, be a day where cheesedoodles is all anyone can afford to eat, but since they have been deemed unhealthy and unfit for human consumption, and banned there will not be anything to eat.

Cheesedoodles may be feeding children that otherwise may starve because that's all their families can affor to purchase right now.

During the Great Depression people literally starved to their deaths, and I am sure would have appreciated cheesedoodles.

I'm disappointed in you people that keep making such a big deal out of these things, and can't mind your own business because little do you know that you are taking your own freedoms of choices away as well as our own, so please....GET OVER IT!!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

2009-02-13T10:27:00.002-05:00

Happy? New Year

2009-01-07T10:48:00.003-05:00

I haven't been blogging lately. I don't know if anyone even reads because I rarely recieve comments, but my blog gives me an outlet when time allows, and time doesn't allow much. I also have been on a painful, frustrating, lonely grieving, path filled with many overwhelming at times insights of wisdom. I know this path doesn't only effect me, but others who know me, even here on this blog due to my lack of posting, lack of words, and ....I forgot the rest of my post because my cable was interrupted, and all that I typed wasn't saved:(, but I do remember it ended in HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all...

...And the baby's 3 today!

2009-01-07T06:17:00.007-05:00

Happy Birthday Madison!! 3 years already! We Love You!!

My Photo Blog

2008-11-29T11:57:00.004-05:00

Just an update...I dropped my camera in the surf!! a month or so ago. It still is operable, but my LCD looks like an unchanging cloud that doesn't dissipate. I am about to send my camera off for repairs, but I don't know if it can be repaired or not because salt I believe is corrosive, which really sucks.

I have updated my photo blog some with cell phone photos I have taken when I did not have my camera with me. I'm not that big of a fan of cell phone photos, but some of them I think take pretty good photos.

I do want to change my photo blog around, but then there are some pages I want to remain, and just add to. I may add other pages, and or take some pages away depending photos captured out there somewhere, and where creative thought my lead me.

I hate to be away from my camera, and I have delayed sending it off for repair because of that. What I hate I am about to do...I think, and I wonder if it's even repairable?

I could just kick myself, and I was so pissed when I dropped it at the beach that day. The tide was out, but the wet, saturated sand was enough to do the deed even as quickly as I reached down and picked it up!!! BUMMER!

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-29T11:49:00.004-05:00

To Everyone, and a Happy Holiday Season to All! I wish you Peace, Love, and Happiness, and that we not forget the sick/suffering/starving (including unwanted animals), the less fortunate, our men and women who serve us, and have served us, and to not take for granted what we see and have all around us. Be the LIGHT in the World for all to see.

Love,
Amanda

He' 18 How did THAT Happen?!

2008-11-29T11:37:00.005-05:00

From this: To this:

And This:

His Love Steph:

From Lil man Cute to Handsome:

Always my baby helping to prepare for baby (sister):

To the Loving Protective Brother Always:

We LOVE you Son-You're The Best-HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY!! But How in the World Did that Happen?

But always remember what the Buddha says: "Your Work is to Discover Your World and Then With All Your Heart Give Yourself To It."

Love,

Your Family..

She's 5 Now

2008-11-17T09:32:00.008-05:00

She turned 5 on Veteran's Day November 11th, a day I'm happy that she shares with the many in uniform who served and sacrificed for a better world for her to be born in before she was ever born, and for those future veterans who are serving and sacrificing for all.

She's always been a mover and a shaker even before birth. I felt her wiggles at 9 weeks, and being my 2nd pregnancy I was sure of, but amazed/skeptical I felt so early, until she grew more. As those baby wiggles grew stronger I began to know the baby inside me better, and I knew I had felt her at 9 weeks. By 14 weeks she was thoroughly enjoying her boundless freedom. As the pregnancy progressed, and her boundless freedom was becoming more and more threatened she fought for room. My bump seemed to always be a moving, contorted bump more than just a bump.

She did not like to be "monitored" when Dr's or nurses strapped the belts around her when she was the bump of my tummy. She had to have her freedom as much as possible, and with the added restraint of the belts she was determined to fight fiercely for what little freedom she had left.

I kept a miserable cold from the 5th month until birth at one time being hospitalized I was so sick. Each day the pregnancy progressed the worse my misery became. Antibiotics or any medications or breathing treatments did little to quell my misery. I cried. I coughed. I couldn't breathe. I threw up. She never stopped moving. I was desperate for RELIEF. I call my ob crying, went to the ER. I went to my OB. I went to my MD. I went to the ER again, and was admitted. My sweet ob I heard out in the hallway ask "Where's my girl?" He came in,
and I begged him to get this baby out of me, because everyone seemed to think that whatever this cold was was not to go away until after she was "free." He checked my cervix, which with none of my pregnancies every cooperates until the end of time. So, here I am very pregnant, with a mover and a shaker fighting for her freedom, can't breathe, sore, tired of coughing, just tired, lying on my head to be prepared for lasix treatment, and subsequent breathing treatments, which helped very little. I just resigned myself to my fate. Cameron did not. I think all of that was her way of demanding her freedom!

2 weeks later we barely made it to the hospital before she won her battle for her freedom. She let me have the best rest I had had in months, and then she snuck up on me without me knowing. When she did let me know it was flurry of activity there-after, and then her sweet little calm self was lying in my arms, looking at me contently because she was free.

Not much has changed.

Please Visit this Blog

2008-11-07T14:37:00.004-05:00

The disease of alcohol has many sufferers the drinker and the drinker's loved ones. If you know of anyone who is suffering from this disease, and they want help in their recovery process as they stop drinking this is a wonderful blog for them to go to for support! I haven't had the time to read all of it, but there is also a post titled "Tough Love-A Solution or a Problem? Addiction and Anxiety of the Sufferer and Loved one Will Bring Into Play."

He writes about who to turn to to survive the horror and depression of alcoholism, the multiple anxieties an alcoholic faces, do's and don't's of surviving the anxiety of alcoholism and depression, and many, many more resources, support, and through his own battles with this monster his willingness to be open, honest, and share that it is possible to be a recovering alcoholic instead of an alcoholic. He describes in detail the battles he has waged, fought, and won even with humour saying "it's not all dark." His sobriety counter says he's been sober now for 2,666d 12h 45min 38s. An Accomplishment indeed!!!!!! His blog is under Stacks I like to the right "Alcoholism-A Life Sentence" Check it out!

One of my Favorite Quotes Ever

2008-11-07T14:33:00.004-05:00

Question with boldness even the existence of a God, because if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear...Do not be frightened from this inquiry from any fear of its consequence. If it ends in the belief that there is no God, you will find incitements to virtue in the comfort and pleasantness you feel in its exercise.
~Thomas Jefferson

20 yrs Later (See Post for below)

2008-10-22T17:10:00.009-04:00

Some classmates from 20 yrs ago having a good time at the reunion! Tim is still Tim!

20 yrs ago

2008-10-22T16:44:00.008-04:00

I graduated 20 yrs ago (WoW) from SouthSide High School, and the 20 yr reunion was held the last week end in September. I was unable to make the 20 yr, but we have a web-site where I was able to re-connect with some classmates, and see some photos of some I haven't seen since we graduated that were not at the 10 yr. Here are some of the photos of mine and from the 20 yr reunion a few weeks ago. I so wish I could have been there!

P.S. Watch out for the "Big 80's hair!!"

Featuring.....

2008-10-17T16:39:00.005-04:00

work by Artist Cameron age 4

Sassafras Tea

2008-10-17T16:29:00.005-04:00

Sassafras Tea

My Dad

used

to make for me

Just like the icicles

He picked

that grew from trees.

The tea

was

hot and sweet

The icicles

were

crunchy and cold

Both

were the

Greatest treats

My Dad

ever

told.

agm09/08

Dancing Queen Dentist

2008-10-14T01:00:00.001-04:00

Girls Rule!

2008-10-14T00:53:00.000-04:00

Cell Phone Sunshine 4 U!

2008-10-13T16:21:00.007-04:00

You may see more at http://www.photographybyamanda.site.shutterfly.com/

Adult Thrush

2008-10-13T10:03:00.005-04:00

Tiny babies are tough! I've been in the emergency room twice in my miserable experience of oral thrush. I hope to not ever have this meat grinder tongue/throat experience again, but on the positive end I have lost about 7 lbs because all I have been able to consume is plain yogurt and finely crushed ice ships because everything else BURNS! or I feel like I am choking whether trying to get something down or not.

My adult thrush was caused by a combination of factors-an antibiotic for a cough, advair to help with my cough, stress, and lack of sleep combined with traumatic memories and mother nature, all interacting upon each other and actually causing the thrush.

If any of you have never had I sincerely hope you never do. Nystatin oral takes time to work of course, but it wasn't working fast enough for me-lol Actually it seem to grow faster because the outside parts of my lips begane to burn/itch. Clotrimazole dissolvable tabs are doing better for me. I will be gald to get rid of this gag! That's what I call it. You women out there you never want it in your mouth! Trust me!!

Invite

2008-09-29T16:49:00.005-04:00

To my fellow bloggers in blogland:

I have added more to my shutterfly account if you'd like to visit. It will always be a work in progress-there are still other pages I want to create and re create, and 100's more photos to add. The address is http://www.photographybyamanda.site.shutterfly.com/

Thanks,
amanda

Einstein on Optical illusion of Separateness

2008-09-28T11:13:00.004-04:00

A human being is a part of the whole called by us "the universe," a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the rest-a kind of optical illusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening the circle of understanding and compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty-Albert Einstein

Meaning

2008-09-28T11:05:00.005-04:00

Do not seek fame, do not be a storehouse of schemes, do not be an undertaker of projects, do not be an owner of wisdom. Embody to the fullest what has no end and wander where there is no trail. Hold on to all that you have recieved from heaven but do not think that you have gotten anything. Be empty, that is all. -Christina Feldman, from the book Compassion

"In many chapters of the Tao Te Ching, Lao-Tzu describes himself through a figure called "the Master," the mature human being who has gone beyond wisdom and holiness to a world-including world-redeeming sanity. There's nothing mystical or lofty about the Master. He (or she) is simply someone who knows the difference between reality and his thoughts about reality. He may be a mechanic or a fifth-grade teacher or the president of a bank or a homeless person on the streets. he is just like everyone else, except that he no longer believes that in this moment things should be different than they are. Therefore in all circumstances he remains at ease in the world, is efficient without the slightes effort, keeps his lightness of heart whatever happens, and, without intending to, acts with kindness toward himself and everyone else. He is who you are once you meet your mind with understanding."

Duality

2008-09-24T07:10:00.006-04:00

"A Native American Elder once described his own inner struggles in this manner: 'Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time.' When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment and replied, "The one I feed the most."

"I See You"

2008-09-24T07:07:00.000-04:00

Cell phone clouds

2008-09-24T06:48:00.005-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2008-09-24T06:45:00.002-04:00

Bottle Fed Kitten

2008-09-24T06:44:00.003-04:00

Surreal Sunrise

2008-09-24T06:35:00.004-04:00

"7 Things" idea from Confess of a Cf husband

2008-09-17T23:43:00.005-04:00

"7 Things about me."

1. My oldest child is 13 and 15 years older than my 2 others. Wasn't planned to be that way,
but that's how it works sometimes. At one time I had all the bases covered-a teen, a
"todd," and a newborn. Glad that's over with in some ways!

2. My long/short term goal is to finish my college education. In college my major's were
Psychology/English, and my minor was Art. I wanted to be an art therapist, which still
holds an interest, but another interest is as a criminal profiler and/or Forensic
Psychologist.

3. I love fairy's, and I have since I was a small child when I first was mezmerized by them
in a children's book I had.

4. I like to write poetry, draw-any kind of media, paint, write, color, think-sometimes too much, explore, learn, read.

5. I broke my pinky finger in 9th grade P.E. The school was too cheap to have baseball
gloves for everyone, and the coaches were stupid enough to let us just play without
gloves-no big deal. And us students were just as stupid to do so or to try and catch a
ball without a glove on! Yes it was casted, and then it stuck out when I was gripping
the handlebars on my 3 wheeler. My broke pinky finger snagged a vine, but luckily I saw
in time to slow down/stop.

6. I love a full moon, and head down to the beach to take photos-so awesome to see even
when there are clouds. I love moonlight, and I have driven down the road by a bright
moonlight.

7. I just recently designed my own tattoo, and I have a nose piercing. I would like to have
more of both, but not where I look like a pin cushion or a piece of walking art-lol

Black & White but Full of Color

2008-09-17T23:43:00.003-04:00

"Fay"

2008-09-04T20:20:00.008-04:00

These are photo's of "Fay" I took with my cell phone, and I hate those ugly garbage cans, especially when people choose not to use them!! Nice size waves that surfers like.

Now here comes Hanna...

2008-09-04T19:59:00.004-04:00

and hopefully Ike won't! That's the one I'm worried about-it's small, but packing alot of power! Perfect center circle! Your not welcome here Ike-GO AWAY!

I wanted to take some photos of "Before Hanna," but I dropped my camera on the surf edge!! My new one should be coming soon..

The last few days here have been pleasant. No humidity, sunny, clear skies, and warm. If you didn't know you would never think that there is a storm coming your way. Today I felt the humidity, which lets me know it's getting closer, and by the afternoon the clouds had packed the sky, and just a few minutes ago it looked as if it could rain, and it will, and will, but hopefully it will continue to move out on the forecasted fast track.

I'm 5-6 miles from the beach, and it's really amazing how much difference it makes as far as the weather during a storm. When Gaston came through we were able to go down to the beach, and lay in the wind that pulled the air out of your nostrils, but nothing here but just regular thunderstorm like winds. Charley was a different story, and he did unnerve me a little, and he took two of my trees. He also blew leaves/debris all over my house and vehicles. Flooded our street on both ends, and our backyard and he wasn't around long.
There were a couple of more that same year that stayed offshore more than these, but Fay...

We just got the outer band, and I'm telling you the winds were strong, and reminded me of ones of those, I can't remember which, that was a small hurricane or a trop storm a little offshore. Fay was packing some punch in that outer tail band.

It looks as if "Hanna's" stronger north side we will not get, but our neighbors in NC will. Tornados are a possibility, and you can't prepare for those as you can tropical weather. I've seen emotionally firsthand what a tornado can do.

I hope our power isn't lost, and I really don't like the fact that the strongest will happen at night because I will not sleep, or maybe the wind howling will lull me to sleep. I doubt it-lol

Just Madison. Before Fay.

2008-08-21T18:32:00.003-04:00

Throwing Sand.

Tea Party

2008-08-18T01:50:00.002-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2008-08-13T15:17:00.002-04:00

Summer Fun Photo Contest/"Catching Bubbles"

2008-08-13T14:46:00.000-04:00

"Warriors in Pink"

2008-08-13T13:23:00.005-04:00

I just saw in a magazine that whne you buy a "Warriors in Pink" woven scarf 100% of the proceeds goes to support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The scarf is beautiful. To buy your scarf go here. My sweet mother-in-law lost her life to breast cancer 2 yrs ago or 8 yrs after diagnosis and treatment. My 21 yr old cousin lost her life to breast cancer-now that's young, and then my dermatologist told me a 13 yr old he knows had a double masectomy!! Now, something is wrong with that picture, and I asked him how?! why?! He said it is due to dairy products, and that breast cancer is an epidemic. I asked him why we had not heard over the news, and he said we would, and he was also writing a book. He also said Harvard had a release, and that it was surpressed about dairy products causing cancer. I know hormones, and steroids are giving to livestock to produce more, make more money ect., which I certainly think should not be approved by our FDA!!!

I haven't had the time to research information for myself, but a 13 yr old having to have a double masectomy, and knowing more and more people personally battling the disease something is terribly wrong! This is in a way off the subject, but young girls are entering puberty much earlier, and also babies are not babies long at all, and it makes me think it has to be the hormones and steroids in our foods, and probably other things as well.

Is it all about money/politics! I sure hope not, but it looks that way to me.

Weeke Wache Mermaids

2008-08-13T12:44:00.004-04:00

These photos are not that great. I only had my cell phone to take pics with, and it was still a little dark to get good ones with it. At least it will let you see, and give you and idea. In one you can see how they breathe while they are under water-they breathe air out of a hose that's in there hands at all times. One photo is the dolphin dive water ballet move, and another one is the purple mermaid waving at my daughter. It was so crowded that I was behind a photographer who happened to be the renowned Andrew Brusso who also shot the mermaid's upcoming calendar for this year.

World Famous Weeki Wachee Mermaids..

2008-08-03T01:45:00.006-04:00

...are at Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, SC. We went and watched them perform today, and it was very entertaining/interesting. This is the first time ever in their 61 year history they have performed outside of the Weeki Wachee springs, and instread of swimming in spring waterwith gators, they swam in salt water with rays and sharks.

Princess Ariel came to life today in a magical way for all the children enchanted with her story, and dream's came true with photos with the mermaids, and also a chance to actually swim/splash around with the mermaids in ray bay.

I didn't take my camera, and only have cell phone shots, which I will post soon. Check them out at http://www.ripleysaquarium.com/ There is a link to their web-site that has lots of photos and history.

I MISS YOU Mr. Pinky!!

2008-07-27T17:05:00.006-04:00

My precious, sweet cat I've had since he was born was euthanized July 24th due to renal failure. He was 9 yrs old. I miss him so much!! We all miss him so much!! He was so great with my kids-never once did he scratch and make them bleed or even break the skin.

He was a cuddler! He loved to cuddle. When the kids played in the floor he would lay and cuddle beside them, rub on them, and even be a baby doll for them to wrap up in a blanket or he would let them cover him in blankets on the floor. When I reclined in the recliner that was his cue, and he would jump up on my stomach and lay on his water bed-lol. I miss that. I miss being able to pet and love him.

He would always greet us when we came home, and he would always greet any company that rung the doorbell. Even the big, macho servicemen that visited the house, and people who didn't like cats would comment on how beautiful and sweet he was with one guy saying he didn't even like cats. He was a talker, and would rub all over you wanting to be stroked.

He was a beautiful cat, and had the softest hair ever felt on a cat, and had many comments about how soft his fur was from the boarder/groomer's business for cats only called "The Cat's Meow." He only had a bath once a year-lol. His eyes were as blue as the font color, which I was always trying to capture with a camera, which didn't do the color justice. He wasn't a true ragdoll breed, but he looked like he was and acted like he was.

He is deeply missed and always loved.

We Love You "Maow-Maow" forever

Wordless Wednesday

2008-07-02T13:15:00.004-04:00

Shutterfly..

2008-07-02T12:00:00.005-04:00

I just recently opened a shuterfly account if you would like to check it out. I will be posting photos there that I want be posting on this blog, and some posted on this blog are posted on shutterfly.

Here is the address: www/photographybyamanda.site.shutterfly.com

Circles cont..,which they do

2008-06-08T13:46:00.018-04:00

I watched a program about savants several nights ago. One savant featured was Daniel Tammet. He is a high functioning autistic savant, and he can calculate a large array of numbers in his head at the speed of a computer. He calculated many lines of numbers correctly of the never ending Pi (TT) directly from his head. Truly Awesome!

It's also awesome what the definition of Pi is. Pi is the mathematical term for the circumference divided by its diameter. What's so amazing about that is is it doesn't have an exact number only an approximate number, and the reason for that is it doesn't matter how many digits is calculated it never ends. Click here if you want to see a calculation of 200 million digits. It's also the same number for any circle. Pi is infinite and there's never been any repeating numbers. In 1768 Johann Lambert proved that there cannot be any repeating patterns.

How did I become obsessed with circles? At the park one day with my new camera in tow to play around with some shadows of circles interested me, and I began to look around and I realized there are more circle shapes in our environments than any other shape-they are everywhere! 2nd place would go to the square I think.

A short time later circles became personally significant, and I share a few with you here. The circle of life, which never ends. It's eternal.

Soeren Palumbo Fremd HS Speech 2/28/07

2008-05-17T16:44:00.003-04:00

This is in honor of dear to my heart nephew Hayden, and my Uncle Dwight-the most gorgeous man I've ever seen only in photos, and to the countless others who are special blessings.

These are our thoughts and feelings exactly. For me it wasn't difficult to learn because my dad taught us different from an early age by his example. And for as long as I can remember he would and still does talk about his memories of his dear brother who contracted polio during the polio epidemic, which severely crippled him. To listen to my dad share some of the cruel ignorance he saw his very dear brother subjected to is heartbreaking, and these are the only times I have ever seen my daddy cry. I'm thankful for those times because my dad knew firsthand what a blessing it was as he and probably the rest of the family were subjected to the stigmatization from those years, and those times when company came and my grandmother would remove my uncle to another room-Oh the anguish she must have felt at having to do such a thing, not because she was ashamed of her son she loved with all her motherly heart, but all because of non-acceptance and stigmatization. It wasn't about shame, it was about protecting.

And then we were blessed with Hayden-He talks to angels, because I saw him do it once. The most beautiful baby born I've ever seen whose almost 9 yrs old now.

This video is almost 10 minutes long, but well worth listening too, and I so hope that you do. Own it and share it because he speaks for us all.

Thank you and love to all,

amanda

Wordless Thursday?

2008-05-15T10:50:00.003-04:00

Circle of Life

2008-05-05T11:52:00.007-04:00

If you look around what shape do you see most of? For me it's circles. I see them everywhere, and I think there are more circles in our environments than any other shape.

Here are some of my photos of circles and there will be more because like the circle's path it is endless.

As I have been noticing and photographing circles they have taken on a more significant meaning connecting me, and enlightening me in many ways spiritually.

"A circle is an open doorway to eternity, where perfect wholeness begins to be a reality. it's continious path reminds us of our ceaseless attentiveness to well-being. As all becomes attuned, the song of the universe is surprisingly familiar-here life is complete. The circle's oneness is always enough to embrace all, just as a shower of light contains the whole spectrum. Finally, we learn to live in the eternal now."

Wordless Wednesday

2008-04-30T09:57:00.006-04:00

Living on The New Madrid Fault

2008-04-19T02:56:00.007-04:00

I lived on it all my life, except for the last 4 1/2 yrs. I remember only one time as a child feeling everything in the house shake, and my parents not saying anything of what it was. Jerry Lee Lewis was on tv banging his piano and belting out "A Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," and that it was, everything in the house. We didn't have a clue because media communications were more limited back then. I grew up there never knowing, until 1990.

My firstborn was born at the end of November, and Iben Browning decided to make my 20 yr old, first time mom, post partum nerves go over the edge by making a prediction. He predicted a 50-50 chance of a major early December earthquake on the New Madrid based on peak gravitational pull on the earth's crust from the moon and planets. My first thought was how I was going to protect my very newborn baby, which terrified my fragile state. It was a relief when the time came and went without incident, but I now knew I lived in an earthquake zone, and it's amazing how the mind can protect your sanity-lol "Aaah-if it happens in Dyersburg an hour way that's a long way away-NOT! Mr. Madrid never left my thoughts again, but he also wasn't very prominent either.

Until he shook my bed one day telling me it was time to get my lazy butt up! I thought it was my husband at first, but he wasn't there, and then I was freaked out-"was it an intruder hiding at the foot of my bed?!" Relief, when I lazily, realized it was only Mr. Madrid as I drifted back into slumber land, freaking later when I heard the news reports of an earthquake-lol ONLY! MR. MADRID-what were you thinking!?

April 18, 2008 Mr. Madrid decides to rumble and shake to wake up Southern Illinois at 5.2 on the Richter scale making the news rounds. As I have been paying attention because my beloved family still lives there many are surprised that an earthquake happened here in the midwest section, and I have been surprised as well that many are surprised about yesterday's events happening in this section of our country. Not many know of Mr. Madrid. I've met him so let me tell you some about him.

Mr Madrid is a bad ass. A very bad one. Worse than an intruder at the end of my bed. He produced the strongest earthqauke on record in the lower 48. Actually there were 3. It happened in Dec. 16, 1811 thru Feb. 7, 1812. An infamouse series of quakes that measured 8.1, 8.0, and 7.8 A lady from Colorado stated she was about to move to the area, and she wanted to stay away from the shaking by staying in Colorado. Well, I hate to inform her, but if she lived in Colorado in 1811-1812 she would have been shaking, or at least moving or feeling. These quakes were so stong that they were felt in most of the country as far away as Boston, and damage was reported as far away as Charleston, SC, and Washington, DC.

These earthquakes are what formed Reelfoot Lake through liquefication of the ground-large areas sank into the earth, and the Mighty MissIssippi River flowed backwards due to the shifts filling the lake, fissures opened and closed causing river tsunamis, and their were permanent geological changes of the riverbed due to all of the above along with landslides.

Church bells rang in Boston, MA., and the quake was also felt in NYC.

The strongest of Mr. Madrid's quakes was 10 times, now that's something, 10 times more intense than the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, say scientist.

The Top 10
Here are the Top 10 U.S. earthquakes for all 50 states, according to the USGS:
1. Prince William Sound, Alaska 1964, 9.2

2. Andreanof Islands, Alaska 1957, 9.1

3. Rat Islands, Alaska 1965, 8.7

4. East of Shumagin Islands, Alaska 1938, 8.2

5. New Madrid, Missouri 1811, 8.1

6. Yakutat Bay, Alaska 1899, 8.0

7. Andreanof Islands, Alaska 1986, 8.0

8. New Madrid, Missouri 1812, 8.0

9. Near Cape Yakataga, Alaska 1899, 7.9

10. Fort Tejon, California 1857, 7.9

Top 10 for the lower 48 according to USGS:
1. Cascadia subduction zone 1700, 9.0
2. New Madrid, Missouri 1811, 8.1
3. New Madrid, Missouri 1812, 8.0
4. Fort Tejon, Ca 1857, 7.9
5. San Francisco, Ca 1906, 7.8
6. Imperial Valley, Ca 1892, 7.8
7. New Madrid, Missouri, 1812, 7.8
8. Owens Valley, Ca 1872, 7.4
9. Landers, Ca 1992, 7.3

10. Hebgen Lake, Montana 1959, 7.3

Mr. Madrid is felt over a more larger area, and the damage is more widespread east of the rockies due to geology, and also the differences in fault lines. The San Andreas fault is visible. Mr. Madrid cannot be seen. The San Andreas fault is 2 major plates and an earthquake happens when these collide. Mr. Madrid's plates push upward like what happened on the ocean floor in Southeast Asia. The quakes in and around the New Madrid fault are like tapping in the middle of a drum, and the quakes in California are like hitting on the edge of a drum the way the faults are, and that's why there is so much more dispersal of energy from the quakes, and more widepsread damage east of the Rockies from the New Madrid. The New Madrid fault isn't straight persay, but runs in several different directions deep beneath the surface.

I hope one day earthquakes can be more closely monitored/tracked as a thunderstorm, hurricane storm, or tornado storm.

Worldless Wednesdays

2008-04-16T16:01:00.005-04:00

My ABLED Nephew..

2008-04-14T20:33:00.012-04:00

Hayden-he's such a blessing and a joy to our family. I love him so much! One of the first things he was able to reach for was my long hair, and I let that kid pull me bald-lol! Not anymore-he's too strong! He walks now with assistance, which is something he was "supposed" to never do. How can you ever say someone isn't "abled" because no one is never disabled!

With my sister's permission to share his condition- he sustained a birth injury, which caused slight brain damage on the top, and frontal lobe of his brain, and he also has a congenital brain abnormality with no syndrome called cerebellum hyperplasia, but to us he's just our Hayden, and our miracle. I'm so thankful that God placed him in our lives, and that he chose my sister and his dad for his parents because I wouldn't want anyone else to be his parent or for Hayden to be anyone else's child.

So, "without further adieu (sp)" please welcome Master Matthew Hayden Warren to bloggerland;)

Storm Clouds & Beaches

2008-04-14T18:15:00.008-04:00

The pictures don't do it justice, especially when the sun started peeking through the storm clouds out over the ocean. It was something to see, as if the ocean was brightly glowing in those areas-very beautiful!

Circles

2008-04-14T17:36:00.008-04:00

I believe there are more circles in our environments than there are any other shapes. Here are just a few I've captured, and there will be more later.

My oldest..

2008-04-14T17:20:00.005-04:00

He's 17, a junior in high school with a job, and he's very social, so I'm lucky to get the photos of him that I do. Here are the most recent of him being the Easter Bunny to his little sister's who adore him!

The 2 of him holding the baby he was 15, and the baby is the baby of the family who is now 2. Time flies!

It's Been Awhile...

2008-04-14T15:22:00.005-04:00

Hi~

I've neglected myself, but that's ok-I've been hitting other more important blogs here lately.
Thank you to the commenters on my pictures-I appreciate that.

I have taken more pictures, and when time allows I will be posting more pictures with different themes, which I hope you enjoy viewing, as much as I like taking them! I'm still trying to get my blog going, and I want to post more regularly, so please bare with me-I'm still reading to learn the ropes, as well as looking at all the wonderful bloggers blogs out there. There are some really good ones!

I will be posting some more pics soon, until then Good day to everyone who happens on my blog;)

Amanda

"Hard Rock Theme Park" An older post I forgot to post

2008-03-07T20:08:00.013-05:00

The "Hard Rock" theme park-"The World's First Rock 'N' Roll Theme Park" is getting ready for it's grand opening June 2nd & 3rd right here in our beach city of Myrtle in South Carolina. The Eagles will be playing live on the 2nd, and The Moody Blues will be playing live on the 3rd.

We went last weekend and took the "Backstage Tour," which was free, and worth every penny of it! We had a blast. It was like a museum type set-up introducing all of the themes that will be in the park. There was interactivity and surprises around every corner. If this was the "backstage tour" and it was that interactive, which immersed us in the experiences I can only imagine what the rest will be like! Check out the web site-it's interactive and fun as well, plus you will find all the information that you need. http://www.hardrockpark.com/

Here are a few pics from our experience!

The New Camera

2008-03-07T19:05:00.007-05:00

I finally decided to invest in a better camera, which I have wanted to do for ages. I didn't make the concrete decision though, until I dropped my canon and broke the door on the battery compartment.

I tried with some success to tape it shut-not with duct tape because I still had to have access to replace the batteries. So, I used scotch tape. You know-the tape used for wrapping presents when as wiser, but still excited children we learned how to carefully pull back the tape, take a peek, and "wrap" the present back again never being noticed. Scotch tape worked, but it didn't hold as well as duct tape would have.

I had to push in the battery door, depress the shutter, get the string/fingers out of the way, find the subject, which was always moving, and try to snap the picture. The canon became too much work, and those disposables. Cheap, no battery required, "rugged," decent pictures, and disposable-what more could I ask for? Well, I've said for ages, especially when I've seen a subject I wanted to photograph "I wish I had a "good" camera to capture what I visualize, which is beauty, intimacy, life, delicate, detailed, angled, shadows, patterns, and once a bright, warm, sunny, clear blue sky, fields of sunflowers on a street I used to live on! Awesome!

So, I finally bought me a better one, a nice one, and one of these days I want a better one, but I'm satisfied for now.

I have taken some pictures I would like to share. When I took these I didn't know if I had captured what I had wanted to share, if they would be out of focus, or if they would look as good as what I wanted to share, which is what I saw, so I didn't even bother to change my date settings so the date wouldn't show. I think they turned out pretty good if I do say so myself, and it was a beautiful, relaxing afternoon.

The most important for me is that you the viewer enjoy them!

Now-if I can just figure out how to post them on my blog-lol

"We are Here To Make Music"

2008-02-28T02:18:00.005-05:00

The title is a quote made by the music conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, which is on location in Pyongyang, North Korea. I watched transfixed as they played "The Star Spangled Banner" flanked by the North Korean flag on one side of the stage and the United States flag on the other side of the stage.

There was a mix in the audience of North Korean dignitaries and Americans, and the orchestra was a mix of different nationalities also with some displaying Asian charatersisitcs who are Americans for the North Koreans to see.

Lenny Kravitz is on tour now. He is starting a "Love Revolution" through his music because he says as we all know it's what the world needs now more than ever "Love, Love, Love." I couldn't agree more.

If people would just turn on their radios during rush hour or during traffic "jams" and jam it out maybe it would reduce traffic accidents/fatalities and road rage. I have mine on all the time and my babes in the back seat tell me to "turn it up" if I happen to turn it down. Here we go "bumping" pleasantly down the street, and when the beach weather's nice the window's are rolled down, and the sun roof is open. We recieve wierd stares as we sometimes are dancing and/or singing, but hey "Music saved my life." Lighten up people. You only live once. Have Patience! Relax and enjoy the ride of life because there's only one!

Music transcends all things and brings people together, so let's make more music so we can make less war. "We are here to make music"

"Evil Eye Look" Too Cute!!

2008-02-21T19:22:00.001-05:00

Have Patience

2008-02-21T15:59:00.007-05:00

Hi and Welcome to my Blog!

I am new to the blogging community, and my blog is still under construction, so please be patient with me as I play around here and figure this thing out.

I've uploaded a pic of my 3 children, and hopefully it is where I think I placed it to be here in this post. If not I will try again.

This is the most recent picture I have on my computer of them, which was made Sept 07. Tyler is 17, Cameron is 4, and Madison is 2. I was 20 and my husband David was 23 when Tyler was born. About 4-5 years later we decided to try for another baby, which obviously didn't happen because of secondary infertility, until we reached our 30's and things changed rather quickly.

Have patience. The older I get the more I learn what it means to have patience because some times I have to summon everything in me to be just patient. I started really understanding after the birth of my 3rd what it meant to have patience, even to have patience with myself to have patience!
After Madison was born my lesson really started. Everyone was saying I had a built-in-babysitter, ect. Not true. Parenting is our responsibility and that isn't to say Tyler wasn't to help be a big brother, and I don't think anyone saw my situation for what it really was. I had all of the bases covered-A Teenager, A Toddler, and A Newborn all at the same time!! A 15 yr old, a 2 yr old, and a baby. Patience, Patience, Patience, and Patience. Talk about being pulled in all directions- that I was, and on top of that Madison didn't want to sleep the first 3 nights home, which was so unlike my other 2. They would wake, feed, sleep, ect. Not her. It was wake, feed, doze, wake, feed, doze until I was delirious.

I never slept with any of my children until her. After her feed she would not sleep in her bassinette, swing, car seat, but only on me, which I wasn't comfortable with. I didn't want to suffocate/roll over on my baby, but I had to get some sleep, and that was the only way I could besides sitting up and falling over while she breastfed `ha. So, we slept in the recliner for the first month. She slept on my chest, and I took a flannel sheet and pulled it tight across us and tucked it under me so she could not slide off of me. One morning I woke up and she wasn't there, and I freaked until I realized I was only having a nightmare. Another morning I woke up and she really wasn't there-she was on the foot of the recliner!!! After that it was the bassinette regardless, but luckily she didn't have a problem with it, and the adjustment became easier.

I love/adore my children. They have had me running in opposite directions at once, maxed my patience, and exhausted me, but they also have brought such joy, laughter, beauty, love, and hope to us, and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.