The Perfect Day

What could be more perfect than a day at the races? Not much, other than maybe getting proposed to .
I guess it’s official. Steve and I are going to get married. Not sure when, still trying to process the whole idea of it.
I’m completely ecstatic and he is wearing a shit eating grin, so I guess he’s pretty happy too.

Anyway, here are some pictures of my ring. In the next few days, I’ll post some pics of the race. It ended pretty cool too.

time to go racing again

2 more days until Martinsville. I can’t wait. I’m kinda dreading the ride down there (Steve won’t let me drive), but I can’t wait to see the race again. This year Jac is coming with us, I’m going to take bets to see how long it is before she is shitfaced. I give it until 2 p.m. Then again she might surprise me.
Less than a week until Amie day. I have to work until 9, but I have the next 2 days off, then I have to work 7 in a row. No biggie, it’s not like my job is hard or anything. I talked to my Mama today and she doesn’t even want to know how old I will be. Or let’s put it this way, she doesn’t want to be reminded that her "baby" is approaching the mid 30’s. Hard to believe my Mama will be 60. Then again, it’s hard to believe my son is 10. When I was younger, 60 was like an ancient age you hoped you lived to. Now 60 seems like it’s not that far away.
So all is well in Amie land. I’m bored out of my mind from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., but the rest of the day, I’m actually pretty busy. Steve made the mistake of telling me he had my birthday present and well, it’s pretty much been downhill from there. I have begged, pleaded and pestered and he won’t give up any information. I’m sure he’ll be glad once it’s past, that way he doesn’t have to listen to my pleading. I probably wouldn’t have been so intrigued, but he told me that he went to the mall to get it. Steven never goes to the mall. Well, ok, two times that I know of, once at the New River Valley one to help me find some shoes and once he met Le and I up there and he made it from Barnes and Noble to the chicken place (no idea how to spell it). So, knowing that it has been about to kill me to find out what he has. I guess I’ll know before long. I’m not allowed to ask any more questions. Not even batting my eyelashes is working. I think I’m losing my touch!!
Ok, everyone, hope y’all are doing ok. Nothing new on this end, just wanted to let y’all know I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth.

Blossom(ing)

We have a new member of the family, Blossom. I named her after Steve's friend, Bluma. (not sure how I got Blossom from Bluma, but somehow I did) She is a Chinese Dwarf Hamster. She's about 2 months old, 2 inches long and only several ounces. The cats are having a good old time watching her turn in her wheel. She stays in the wheel all the time, even to sleep. I hope it won't hurt her to stay there. She has eaten but I'm not sure she has gotten any water. Anyway, go check out my fur babies pictures to see her and the cats trying to "help" her out of her wheel.Work is going great. I am out of training and starting tomorrow, I am on my own. I am a little nervous but I know there are people who will help me. So far, it has by far been the best place I have ever worked. To me that makes a huge difference. I'd rather get paid far less for a job if I am happy than paid out the butt in a job I hate (hence my nursing career out the window). Anyway, there is room for advancement, so it's not like I will be in a dead end job. I start 8-5, then the 2nd week in April, I will go to my regular shift, which will be 12-9. Everything is going great around here, we have all settled into a nice routine. Steve has a 4.0 in school and is continuing to do well in school. Andrew goes on his first "real" fieldtrip this week. He is going to Monticello. He's so excited. Baseball practice starts here in another week, we just finished basketball. (I just realized I have turned into a sports mom!) We took him on his first bookstore excursion yesterday. He ASKED for us to buy him some books. Of course, we couldn't deny him a book, so we about broke our necks getting him to the bookstore of his choice. I could have gone broke in that place, it had so many first editions, lots of older books, etc. Heather subscribed him to a racing magazine, he loves it. Tommy sent his Highlights and Ranger magazine to him and he has read those cover to cover. I guess next payday, I'll try to subscribe him to those. Thank God, he is finally getting into reading. Steve and I were kinda bummed about the thought that as much as we love to read, Andrew might not like it. Steve has so many books that would interest a kid, I'm sure it won't be long before we are trying to pull his nose out of a book like our parents had to do to us. Our little family is finally blossoming into a "real" family. It's a nice feeling, something I haven't felt in a very long time. All in all, we are doing great. I have no doubt it can only get better from here.

Parking lot woes

When my Daddy told me I probably couldn't find my way out of a paper bag, I think he was right. Only this time it was a parking lot. Andrew wanted to see where I worked, so I drove up there. We had lunch at the adjacent golf course on Monday, so I showed him where that was. Only problem, it was dark, there were no signs anywhere and I had come up a hill to get into the parking lot. So, as I go to leave, I can't find the road anywhere. I mean it disappeared on me. Poof, gone. So, as I was trying to find my sense of direction, we did figure 8s in the parking lot. Now, most of you know I have a little bitty car that can turn on a dime. Yeah, well that thing might be all nice and cute, but the damn thing doesn't have any sense of direction.I finally find my way out of there, with no help from my kid who by this time is laughing so hard he's about to pee his pants. To make matters even worse, we get home and Steve says "And you work with maps all day long??"...well to my credit (if that is possible), I work with satellite imaging all day. I can find a gas mine in the middle of Smyth County, but not my way out of a parking lot. That's kinda sad, isn't it? So, it's not always good to have "intelligence", if you can't find your way out of a paper bag; or parking lot as the case may be.A shout out to the birthday people, Tammy & Louie. Hope y'all have a great day and Tammy, I'm sorry you had to listen to my voice! Love you both.

Sugar and Spice

I hope you didn't think this was a cooking blog, y'all know by now I don't cook!!

Snips and Snails, Sugar and spice

Snips and snails,
And puppy dog tails,
That's what little boys are made of.

Sugar and spice,
And all things nice,
That's what little girls are made of.

As I stood in the shower listening to the radio, I heard a song called I Saw God Today. At first I thought George Strait was singing about his wife. (Lyrics below) My first thought was "aww, he's standing by her side in the hospital". Immediately, my thoughts went to Richie and Lisa. Richie has been down in Richmond with Lisa as she goes through her chemo treatments. Then, as the song was almost at the end, I realize he is talking about being with his wife during labor. He is seeing his daughter for the first time.

There was a pull in my soul that I cannot fully describe. Being only 33 and incapable of ever having children is hard at times. Yes, I realize had I not had the hysterectomy, I would be dead by now. And yet I also see what I don't have and would like to. A daughter.

I read Heather's blog the other day about helping Katie with crafts and I see Dale with Madelyn and I'll admit; I'm jealous. I'm not a girlie girl by any means but I would like to have a daughter to share all the things that I shared with my Mama and Mom. I would like to have a daughter who looks like Katie (she favors her Uncle Steve). I have that yearning for something that can never be fulfilled.

The closest I have ever come to truly knowing what having a daughter is like is with my nieces, Cheyenne (Belle,Belle), Erin and Caitlin. It wasn't the same but at that time, it filled a void in my life. I look at my niece Belle Belle and I wonder if I had any influence whatsoever on her life or her view of life. At almost 16 years of age, I doubt she would even realize what an impact she has made on my life. Those 3 girls are the closest I'll ever come to having a daughter. And they are growing up and away from their Aunt Amie.

I should also qualify this rambling with the fact that I am grateful for the life I live now. I am blessed beyond measure when it comes to family, Steve and my son. I would not trade my son for anything. I might get overwhelmed at times when dealing with him, but I think all parents feel that from time to time. And to be completely honest, I'm not sure I could handle having another child. I'm very selfish with my time and with Steve. I want our time to be OURS. But that hint of longing is still there.

I mentioned earlier about Richie and Lisa. For those who don't know, Richie is my 2^nd to the oldest brother and his wife Lisa is one of my best friends. She is battling Hodgkin's Disease and is staying at MCV (Medical College of Virginia) while she is having a stem cell transplant. What she is going through is on a level I could never attempt to describe. They have created a page for her updates.You may have to log in, I'm not really sure. It can be found here: Lisa's care page Please keep her, Richie and their kids in your prayers.

As for other comings and goings in our life right now; things are going good. I'm slowly adjusting to a rigid schedule of 5:30 a.m. to whenever I can finally sleep. I enjoy my new job and have met a very diverse group of people. All is well in Amie (and now Steve)land.

I hope everyone has a good week. I'm off to check my eyelids for holes. More soon.

I Saw God Today

Just walked down the street to the coffee shop
Had to take a break
I've been by her side for 18 hours straight
Saw a flower growing in the middle of a sidewalk
Pushing up through the concrete
Like it was planted right there for me to see
The flashing lights, the honking horns
All seemed to fade away
In the shadow of that hospital at 508
I saw God today.

Chorus:
I've been to church, I've read the book
I know he's here but I don't look
Near as often as I should (Yeah I know I should)
His fingerprints are everywhere
I just slowed down to stop and stare
Opened my eyes and man I swear
I saw God today.

Saw a couple walking by
They were holding hands
Man she had that glow
Yeah I couldn't help but notice she was starting to show
Stood there for a minute taking in the sky
Lost in that sunset
A splash of amber melted into shades of red.

Chorus:
I've been to church, I've read the book
I know he's here but I don't look
Near as often as I should (Yeah I know I should)
His fingerprints are everywhere
I just slowed down to stop and stare
Opened my eyes and man I swear
I saw God today.

Got my face pressed up against the nursery glass
She's sleeping like a rock
My name on her wrist wearing tiny pink socks
She's got my nose, she's got her mamas eyes
My brand new baby girl
She's a miracle
I saw God today...

Hi-Ho Hi-Ho, it’s off to work I go

I was sitting here thinking a few minutes ago about tomorrow. I'm nervous in some aspects and in others, I can't wait to start on a new adventure. I am nervous because it's an environment where you will be dealing with the public, via telephone. I'm used to dealing with the public face to face. But the cool part is, I'll still be somewhat connected to the construction industry, which I love. I would love to be a contractor. Anyway, I'm not on here very much anymore and I'm sure my time will be limited even more once I start work. Unless of course, I have internet access and then I'm sure I'll be on here more, due to boredom. I hope everyone is doing well and had a good Valentine's Day. We had an excellent one. But then again, any day with Steve is excellent. I'll update everyone once I get settled into something resembling a routine.

You’ve come a long way, baby.

A few weeks ago, my best friend Tammy, told me she was getting married. Awww....I am insanely jealous and extremely ecstatic for her and Kenneth.
What seems like a lifetime ago, we were two women bonding over spoiled relationships. Now, we are two women who have it all. Great men, beautiful families and the friendship of a lifetime.

Tammy, it seems like yesterday we were bemoaning the fate of growing old alone. Tomorrow, I will stand by your side as you take your vows. We truly have come a long way, haven't we? I'm so very proud of you and how far you have come. I miss our hours long conversations, our moments of insanity and riding around in the little red ride. But I wouldn't change a moment of what we have become. I love you and wish you all the best in your new marriage.