Berlin Ohio June 15th

So we left Chicago, found our way back to the airport to our rental car. We ended up with a 2008 Jeep Patriot, Nice huh...... Well it looks nice but we have no automatic ANYTHING!! Did you know they still make cars where you have to hand roll your own window up and down? No cruise control or power locks. So after about 10 minutes of laughing, we decided we better hit the road. We Made our way out of Chicago without getting lost, through Indiana and into Ohio. Mom has always wanted to go to an Amish country, so here we are in Berlin known to be one of the biggest Amish countrys in Ohio. As we were driving out, Mom found a nice Hilton to stay in outside of the Amish country. I thought, No, if you want to go to an Amish place, then we have to stay there as well. So we continued on our way. About 20 minutes into the drive, we hit gravel road and horses and buggy's. So i said, "Yeah your right, lets go back to that nice Hilton we passed". Mom then decided it was to far back and she wanted to stay in the Amish County. I was a little nervous not knowing what to expect. Let me tell you, I was happy to see lines on the road again :). We ended up finding an absolutely beautiful hotel and suites! We stayed in a beautiful room with a balcony overlooking a nice patio and green field! We enjoyed the pool and hot tub and layed in bed watching our 46 inch plasma TV. There was no Phone service here so we had to drive a couple miles away to let people know we were OK. The pool was nice, although on the side of the pool it said 8 feet. I was thinking man this is a deep pool, but sure doesn't look that deep. So I held my breath and tried to touch bottom, as i went down, i stopped before my head was under water.....yep it wasn't 8 feet, only 5! Oh, well we know for next time. I would highly recommend this hotel if anyone wants to stay in an Amish Country. We are going to spend a few hours shopping, and head to Pittsburgh PA later today.

Chicago June 14th

Well once again, we both slept very good and didn't get up till 9:30 :) We were very happy to open our curtins to find lots of sun shine! It was a beautiful day with no wind at all. For being the "Windy City", Tri-Cities is MUCH worse! We made our way to a local Cafe where we enjoyed a coffee and muffin for breakfast. We walked past Chicago River Walk towards Theater District and decided to get tickets to see Marry Poppins at the Cadillac Theater. We sat on the main level in Row M, right on the isle, so we had an amazing view! Man what an awesome show that was! Both Mom and I enjoyed it tremendously! We both had smiles on our face the entire time. The music, lights, costumes and actors were all amazing!! After the show, we made our way back towards the hotel and decided to eat at a highly recommended pizza place called Giordano's. We of course had to get the all famous deep dish Chicago Pizza. With that we each enjoyed a beer (or two). We asked for some garlic bread, but after finding out we got the entire loaf of bread, we decided to pass knowing that pizza would be more then enough. After Dinner we walked Michigan Ave a little more and then decided to call it an early evening being we are leaving early in the Morning. We sat in the Hot Tub for a little while and are now enjoy the wonderful sounds of sirens outside our room for the past 20 min! Chicago is a nice place to visit, but ready to move on to the next adventure. Please feel free to leave coments with your names so we know who we are responding to!

Chicago June 13

We both slept REALLY good last night, woke up to our alarm going off at 6:25 but we both went back to sleep until about 9:00. I think the massage did the trick! However we were dissapointed to look out the window to lots of rain, yuk! We didn't let that stop us though, we put on our tennis shoes and headed out to Michigan Ave to shop and sight see. You should have seen us, we looked like drowned rats running into the stores for a break from the rain. We decided to take the city bus to the field museum that was down by Soldier Stadium. Neither one of us were real excited to go to the museum but was told by many people that we should go see it so we did. You should have seen us, it was so funny!! We both looked like children being forced to do something they didn't want to do. We thought " lets just take some pictures to prove we were here and get out". I think we went through the museum in record time! By that time the rain was clearing up so we walked about a mile to the naval pier. That was really cool. There was tons of shopping and restaurants. We decided to go on a an architecture Cruise on the "Seadog". It was a huge jet boat that took us on a speed cruise first on Lake Michigan and then through the locks down Chicago River to learn about all the buildings. We came back and ate dinner on the Pier then took the trolley back to town were we walked to the Hard Rock Cafe. It was a great day, had lots of fun and laughs! Hoping for better weather tomorrow. We haven't even had shorts on yet.

Chicago June 12

Well we finally made it to Chicago after starting our day at 3:00 am this morning. Our landing in Denver was a tad bit rough but the one coming into Chicago was horrible! We dropped several times, you could hear people gasping. We had the map of our trip in front of us to watch and we were at 40,000 feet and the next you know it said 27,500. It wasn't windy so I don't know why it was so bad except we were going through the clouds. We were on a huge Boeing 777. We decided to use the "Go" shuttle service to get to our motel. Well, we learned why it was called "Go". Holy cow the man went from 0 to 60 at every stop sign and red light. I think we got whiplash on the way here. We walked around the Magnificent Mile looking for a place to eat and found a really cute sidewalk cafe called "Rosebud". We were right on a very busy corner with cars all around us and most of them honking. The food and Columbia Crest Washington wine were great and we went walking and shopping afterwards. Because we both had headaches that I am sure we got from the whiplash we decided to splurge on a massage here at the Motel. That was the best I have ever had!! Amy and I waited for each other by sitting in the Jacuzzi so it has been a very relaxing evening!
We are having a great first day and looking forward to tomorrow.

2009 highlander

So this past weekend I got my car I have been looking at for quite a while! I spoiled myself with a 2009 Toyota Highlander, will all the additional options! It has so many buttons that i have not yet figured out how to use them all! :)
It is such a nice car, easy to drive, comfortable to ride in and will last me many many years!! I couldn't be happier with my new HUGE purchase!

50 things you may not know about me

I got this as an e-mail and decided to post it on here as well:


1: My first job was working at a Coffee Shop (Espresso World)
2: I have been working for 10 years and only on my 3rd job
3: I love driving my car with my window's down
4: If you ever pass me on the road- i will most likely have my music cranked up and rockin out! I like to sing VERY loud in the car when no one else is with me
5: I can't sing one note in tune- but that still doesn't stop me in my car :)
6; on my list of things to do before i die, i want to shave my head
7: also on that list is to ride in an ambulance (as a patient) but not seriously injured. I want to be able to remember everything
8: In 7th grade i won an award for best girl track star
9: i am slightly claustrophobic
10: I love the ocean
11: sometimes i wish i was not so stubborn (got it from my dad)
12: Not a day goes by where i don't think about my Dad and Miss him every day
13: I'm happy to say I am unmarried, because if i was married right now, i would have just been settling
14: i don't really like animals
15: at this point in my life, i think i could be REALLY happy not having kids, but i also think i could be REALLY happy having kids
16: My niece and Nephew are the world to me
17: In Track my favorite event was the 4x100 and disc throw
18: as a kid I wish i had brown hair so I didn't have to hear the blond jokes anymore
19: i love the color green...
20: waterfalls
21: and the rain
22: i truly believe my Dad still lives in the house with us ( i feel he is here) i still have not erased his phone numbers from my phone, or deleted his e-mail address
23: have a house by yourself is much harder then i would have thought
24: i have never ever done any type of illegal drug or smoked cigarettes in my life (and never plan to)
25: I like drinking Bud Light
26: the older i get the bigger fear i have of flying
27: if i looked at a chart for height and weight, i would be obese :)
28: i am happy most days
29: if i am not smiling, its not because i am unhappy- its just cause my face hurts from smiling all the time :) and needs a break
30: i like getting my hair cut cause i like my head being rubbed
31: i wish i could get a massage weekly....having my butt and calf muscles massaged is the best
32: i hate taking pictures and being in pictures....but i do it anyway so i can look back later in life and reminisce
33: i have my eyeliner tattooed on
34: got my first tattoo at the age of 25
35: i only went to one dance all through high school- my senior prom, at the Moore Mansion
36: I believe in God- but don't pray as much as i should :(
37: I don't make new years resolutions...i think that's just setting yourself up for failure
38: all the things my dad did to drive me CRAZY, are the things i miss the most
39: i would love to go out of the country- but the thought of sitting on a plane that long makes me freak out
40: i would love to live somewhere where its warm 394 days of the year....it can be cold on Christmas, thats it!
41: I love doing silly random things with my friends...it never gets old
42: i have never been on a diet
43: I don't know what i want to be when i grow up
44: i would either like to build a nice big one story home someday, or live in a condo.
45: i will try almost anything once (almost being it has to be safe)
46: if i'm really tired and busy at work and i need a 5 min break, i go to the bathroom (even if i don't really have to go :) )
47: Although the Tri-cities is pretty boring, i will most likley never move away- i couldn't stand being that far from my family
48: i believe "everything happens for a reason!"
49: i wear a necklace with my dads fingerprint 24/7
50: i truley enjoy getting up on the weekend, eating breakfest, and going back to bed for a couple hours! :)

The "Flu"

Well this past week I for the first time in my life got the Flu. I have always thought that having the flu consisted of some throwing up, a little diarrhea, body ache's and pains for 24 hours, everything is over and done with and life moves on! That is SO not the flu!!

In years past i have never received the flu shot cause i always thought, i can handle a little stomach bug i don't need a shot. Well after this week, i will most likely get the flu shot every year! It started Sunday night where i was a little light headed, dizzy, felt like i got hit by a truck sore. So i just took it easy and went to bed early thinking i would wake up and feel fine. Monday morning at 4:00am i woke with i thought was a little head cold and body aches and pain. After about 2 hours of just laying on the couch cause i couldn't sleep, i decided for fun that i would take my temperature. I figured i could still go to work if don't have a temperature. At 6:30am i am yelling at my mom to find out if our thermometers are accurate cause I had a temp of 99.6. Which isn't much but for me who is usually at 96.8-97.2 and can't remember the last time i had a temp. So i figured i would not go to work and for the first time in 4 1/2 years, called in sick.

By Monday at about 11:00 am, i thought I had been hit and drug by a bus! I started feeling so horrible! Tuesday I have a temp of 101.6 so i stayed home again. By about 12:30 Tuesday, I was pretty sure I was hit and drug by a train, my jaw was becoming detached from my face, i didn't have enough energy to sit up, i could barely breath and i thought my life was going to end. I was pretty sure i was going to die!!! I have NEVER felt so horrible in my life!! My mom calls from work and i told her i didn't think i was going to live...(which made her a little nervous) so she came home. My Asthma was pretty bad so i went to the DR to get a new inhaler. My chest was so tight i could not cough, so when i did it hurt so bad and would almost throw up! I got tested at the Dr and sure enough it was the flu virus (which by the way that was not a fun test). I have never felt so drained and sick in my life! I finally made it back to work Thursday for only 6 hours before i had to resume position on my couch again! Man what an expierence! I will now reccomend everyone gets the flu shot from now on!! In the mean time, i hope no one i know gets this crap!! Oh what a week- at least tomorrow is Friday and our office is closed! So I'm happy to say i worked 6 hours this week :)

Happy 50th Birthday Dad!

Well, We all made it through yet another hard day! Sunday March 22nd was my Dad's 50th birthday. I think by the grace of God, we all made it through, and was even able to have a Chinese Dinner (something he really enjoyed) as a family. We lit his Candle that we got at the funeral, and hung out at home and had a relaxing day. This is something so new to me, i never really know what to expect or how to handle things as they come up, but some way, things get handled and mostly more smooth than i would have thought. I am finding that I miss my Dad at random times, for instance, I missed him so much the week i was having a lot of trouble with my ex/boyfriend, the week prior to his birthday- but on his birthday i did much better then i was expecting. Whenever i am having a bad day, I'm usually not the only one who is having a bad day/week. I think those are the day's he's closest to us. I'm sad to say that going through this has changed me and I don't think all for the good, but in the mean time i also lost a close friend. The pain i was going through was to hard for her to see, so she will no longer contact me or have much of anything to do with me. Although it hurts, i have to know that this is my new life and i have to move on. In the end, I am learning so much more about myself, family and friends then i ever knew!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WITH ALL MY LOVE!

I'm getting old!

So I have started to realize how old i think im getting!
*On most Friday nights I'm in bed by 10pm, cause i had to get up and go to work that day and I am exhausted,
*when i do go out, i like to just sit at the table and talk (unlike most of my friends who are constantly trying to get me to dance),
*I think all the new techno/rap/dance music is ALL CRAP,
* I'm so tired of the bar scene! I wish there were better things to do, and places to meet new people. (Any ideas? )
*I wake up every morning hurting (which i think is not supposed to happen till at least 40),
*I'm waking up BEFORE my alarm goes off (which has never happened till just the past couple months),
* i am already talking about retiring and being tired of paying bills.......
* I can't figure out any of the new technology anymore (something i used to always be good at)
* I can't handle being around kids for longer then a couple hours
* I say things adults used to say to me when i was little for example " Do you ever have school anymore, it seems like your off a lot". or "Man look at you, you are getting so big, you sure have grown a lot", "I can't believe how fast time flies" (as i kid i never thought i would finish school)
*I want to get rid of my very fuel efficient compact car for something bigger, more comfort and better for my back......


I think the list could go on!
All this and I'm only 26! I can't even imagine what its going to be like when i am 40!

Ethan

This is my conversation with my almost 4 year old nephew while laying on the floor cuddling:

Ethan: Hey Amy, you know What? I really love you!
Me: well Thank you Ethan, I love you
Ethan: I love you more
Me: I love you even more
Ethan: I think that's not possible (something i used to say all the time to him)
Me: I think it is
Ethan: I think its not
Hey do you want to bite my finger?
Me: No i don't want to bite your finger
Ethan: You can be gentle
Me: No i don't want to bite your finger
Ethan: Ok, then can i bite your chin?
Me: No! I don't want you to bite anything on me...you just picked your nose and i don't want to bite anything on you either. Do you know what love means?
Ethan: yeah, its something you feel in your heart.
Me: That is so cute!


Oh man how fun it is to be with a 4 year old. We are sitting in the DARK cause Ethan wanted it to be like a movie theater while watching Wheel of Fortune.

The Shack part 2

I just finished reading this book today and absolutley loved it! It is a very thought provoking book with a great story and lots of inspiration! Theses two quotes are my second and third favorite quotes in this book. Although there were many others, these were the ones that stuck out the most to me!

".....Nobody know what horrors I have saved the world from 'cuz people can't see what never happened. All evil flows from independence, and independence is your choice. If I were to simply revoke all the choice of independence, the world as you know it would cease to exist and love would have no meaning. This world is not a playground where I keep all my children free from evil. Evil is the chaos of this age that you brought to me, but it will not have the final say. Now it touches everyone that I love, those who follow me and those who don't. If I take away the consequences of people's choices, I destroy the possibility of love. Love that is forces in no love at all". -God



".....Paradigms power perception and perception power emotions. Most emotions are responses to perception- what you think is true about a given situation. If your perception is false, then your emotional response to it will be false too. So check your perception, and beyond that check the truthfulness of your paradigms- what you believe. Just because you believe something firmly doens't make it true. Be willing to reexamine what your believe. The more you live in the truth, the more your emotions will help you see clearly. But even then, you don't want to trust them more then me." -God

Starting again

Hello All!!! It's been so long since i have written anything but i would like to start again. Although all of you know, I had a rough year last year and haven't felt like writing much. Although I should have been writing all along, it may have been therapeutic for me, I choose not to. On August 2nd, 2008 I lost my Dad in a motorcycle accident. My mom was on the bike as well and she came out almost unharmed. With a few minor scratch and bruises she has healed and is doing well. December 1st, I lost my Grandma (my Dad's Mom) to Emphasize, COPD and everything that comes with it. She was a strong lady and I will try to model my life after hers. With my family all doing healthy and well now, Mom and I are taking a 3 week, yes THREE WEEK trip in June! We will be leaving the Tri-cites and flying to Chicago. We will spend 3 days there and head up to NY and all down the East Cost to Florida. I will be trying to blog on this page everynight while we are gone so you can also enjoy the journay with us. I will send out an e-mail as time gets closer to remind eveyone.

THE SHACK

"........evil is a word we use to describe the absence of Good, just as we use the word
darkness to describe the absence of Light or death to describe the absence of Life. Both
evil and darkness can only be understood in relation to Light and Good; they do not
have any actual existence. I am Light and I am Good. I am Love and there is no
darkness in me. Light and Good actually exist. So, removing yourself from me will
plunge you into darkness. Declaring independence will result in evil because apart from
me, you can only draw upon yourself. That is death because you have separated
yourself from me: Life."
-God


This saying is one of my favorite's in the book i'm reading called "The Shack" by WM. Paul Young.

When I first started reading this book, I wasn't to interested, but the further I got, the more I started to like it. This story is based off of true facts, and is placed in Wallowa, Orgen. Even more, they talk about Imnaha Highway, wich for thos of you who don't know, is where my parents accident took place. They talk about driving through the George and all the mountians and even Mutnomah Falls. This book is so absalutly amazing and would recomend everyone read it! I don't want to go into detail about the book becasue I don't want to spoil any of it! If you do get a chance to read it, I would love to know what you think of it :)

Tell Me About the Stars

I received this poem the other day and I loved it so much, I felt I needed to pass it on! Please enjoy!



Tell Me About The Stars

Raise your eyes and look above
After the sun has set
The sky is filled with twinkling stars
Covering the world like a net

No two stars are just the same
In size or shape or light
But each one shines and glimmers
Twinkling with all its' might

Ever wonder how they got there
Ever wonder what they're for
Ever wonder if there's room enough
To squeeze in just one more

I think I know the reason why
Those little stars are there
And if you'll give me half a chance
My thoughts, with you, I'll share

Each of us has borne a loss
Of a loved one close and dear
Someone with whom we shared a life
Someone that is no longer near

But though this love was taken
And in Heaven they now live
Each has now become a star
And a Twinkle to us - they give

Copyright 2000 by Mr. Doug
http://groups.msn.com/PoetryStoriesfortheYoun

The Great Debaters

After a long hard week, I decided to treat myself to a nice movie tonight. One that I have wanted to watch for some time. The Great Debaters was an outstanding movie, and still has me thinking about it. Directed by Denzel Washington, who also stared it, is a debate coach at a black school in the 1930's. Denzel (Mr. Tolson) works at trying to get the blacks, and the whites on equal level. Does he succeed? Check out the movie and find out.

This movie had me in chills at one point, laughing, and by the end left a little tear in my eye. If you get a chance, check out this movie! I enjoyed all 2hours and 9 minutes of the movie!!

School

So in case you haven't already heard, I'm going back to school starting next Monday the 23rd! I have been out of school for a while and I am very nervous and scared to be going back!! I know its what I really want to do, but its hard to get back in the game! I plan to continue on to get my Physical Therapy Assistant degree! I'm very excited to be getting going with it, but still a little scary! Any words of wisdom or encouragement is much appreciated! Please keep me in your prayers as I work hard to get into the Program!!! Thanks a lot!!

Da' Grind

Well, This weekend I competed in my first canoing race of the season! I traveled and stayed with four other girls from my team to Alki Beach in Seattle, where we had lots of laughs and entertainment!! Me and 5 other girls battled our way around a 9 mile course, taking us 1 hour and 28 minutes, and coming in 4th place in our devision! We came in 7 minutes behind the first place team, so overall, we did quite a bit better then last year, and we all finished feeling very strong and happy with our performance! On the second turn, he hit some pretty major waves, filling our boat up to our ankles with freezing cold Puget Sound salt water!! After completing the turn, the girl in seat 5 was able to bale some of the water out, then letting me (sitting in seat 4) bail some more water out. I was able to get the water down from our ankles, but it was still covering the top of our feet. After struggling with all the water in our boat, (and our toes FREEZING) They let me bail some more water out, and then also letting seat 3 bail more water out! By the time we were done bailing, the water was at least below our toes enough and also aloud our canoe to plane one the water better, we were back in the game! After the race was over, i was unable to feel my toes for about 1 1/2 hours.

Across the beach from where we were set up, there was a fish restaurant, so us girls sent the boys off on there race, and ran for beer! We sat at the bar and enjoyed some great stories, some wonderful girl time and of course, beer. We made friends with the bartenders and he let us try a cucumber that was soaking in Vodka, that they use for Mojetos. It was the most disgusting thing i have ever had, but he followed it up with a real shot of vodka (which i couldn't have after the cucumber) and some fantastic bread and butter! We ran out as the guys were coming around for the first lap, yelled and cheered them on, and went back for more beer...but we made it back for the finish of the race. The guys also did well placing 2nd in there devision and taking them 1 hour and 12 minutes. We all went and enjoyed some fantastic Seattle fish and Seattle coffee, and hit the road back home.

Overall we had a wonderful time, lot of good company, and really nice hotel to stay in and some wonderful Seattle Food!!

Thanks to all of those who thought of us and prayed for us and our safety.

A day at the park!

Saturday was so nice, Mom, Gretchen and I took the kids to the park for a picnic! After spending about 2 1/2 minutes at the playground, Ethan wants to go to the water to throw rocks!!

What a goof ball!



Seeing how cold the water was! (its around 45 Degrees!!)

Our picnic! We had Quiznoes! Yummy!!

My little Miss Leah! She enjoyed being outside watching what was going on! What a great way to spend the weekend!!

Ethan and Leah

What a cute pair these two are!!!
Ethan 3 Years old
Leah 5 Months old

I can't believe how the time sure does fly!! They have grown up so much! When will it ever stop?!!

My New Hobby!

While I was off on my Surgery In January, My friend got me hooked on puzzles!!!

She brought me over a box with 1o puzzles in it and i started with the medium puzzles and worked up. I got so addicted to them, i was staying up way to late at night, not getting enough sleep, and then waking up early to try to finish it before work!! My co-workers were happy to hear that i had finished the puzzle so i could get some good sleep!! :)

This was the last puzzle i just finished that took me a few Weeks. I had to leave it alone for a while and come back to it. I was so frustrated!!! What a fun way to spend my evenings while watching American Idol!!