Amanda and the Hendersons

I turned 28 today, It was a good day. The transition was made slightly better by the fact that an oral surgery on Monday  left my face slightly swollen, seriously making me look 5 years younger(cant you see the humor in my insanity)....I woke up and said, "oh my gosh Devan, look how young I look."  he thinks I'm nuts, this I am sure. My boys helped with breakfast, I got the boots I have had my eye on, I was treated to lunch, and received a million Happy Birthday messages. I will be given a night away from motherhood this weekend, and  rest will come. Tomorrow my home will be filled with twenty people, I will be partaking in some wonderful Black Friday Shopping, What a week. The last 28 years have gone so fast. They have molded me into this woman I have become, this crazy, cooking, baking, dancing, singing, sewing, praying, crying, smiling, laughing, nut of a woman. I turned 28 today, it was a good day.

Maybe its because I feel like the past three years were so tough, or that I didn't get the chance to "just" be 25, 26, or 27 but turning 28 next week is freaking me out. (I'm sure the majority is because its almost 30) Life is just so funny.  I can remember looking down the road and deciding what I wanted for my life and taking certain steps to make it happen....guess what Amanda, you are NOT in control.  Don't let the whole "you control your own destiny" bit fool you....its rubbish. I chose my husband as he chose me, and seriously I believed that life would go as I had planned....far from the truth, we decided how many children we would have (it was 4 by the way...in case you forgot Devan) Where we would live, what we would do. It took an earth rattling shake for me to realize that life is nothing that you can plan....this is a super great thing to accept while you are still floating above water, instead of waiting until a wave comes crashing in f...

I would be flat out lying if I said, "today was AWESOME..."  It didnt start good......I have come to live on just a couple hours of sleep, Parklen gives me no choice in this matter.  I have even learned to cope with being soaked in poop.....(now there is something I never thought I would say.)  We didnt sleep, Parky and I...he was up sick.  Once the sun took its place in the sky we just stopped trying...It seems that he has another infection in his bowels.  No biggie, we are used to dealing with this.... The doctor has to make sure of which infection he has, so until then....he is in quarentine.....not to sicken any other children...we are blessed to have an immunity built up against most of Parky's illnesses. I will tell you something, (and if you have a weak stomach, you may wanna stop reading now)  It is not an easy task to get a poop sample from your three year old....and surely not fun.  The nurse at the doctors office reccommended...

My love, My partner, My number one fan...... We have seen more than some couples twice our age.... We have made it through some very deep valleys, Climbed some Steep mountains.... We have grown in our faith, We have grown in our understanding of love, We know that it is an action and not a feeling.... And we choose to love each other. We get fed up with each other, We get caught up in each other. You make me laugh, You make me crazy, and I know I do the same. God could not have chosen a better partner for me, We fit together.... Today I am celebrating you, its not your birthday, Its not our anniversary, Its just the day that I love you and am thankful for you as my husband.

I watched my friend today..... I watched her as she gave out hugs and handshakes.... I watched her smile, I watched her glowing pregnant face........... I watched as she held her head high, I watched her overflow with with God's love, I listened as people talked about her strength... I watched my friend today, It was a day to celebrate the life of her mother that has left us far too soon. For me, It was a day of affirmation, If you know where you going, Death is nothing to fear....... If you know the ones that you love are heading there also, Their death is nothing to fear... Sadness was in the room for the loss of a wonderful woman, But there was joy there also, Joy because we know where she is walking, We know the hand that holds on to hers. I was inspired by my friend today, Inspired by her faith and so thankful for people like her in my life. I will forever miss her mom, a woman that touched my life in many ways. A woman who, in life showed me many things, A woman who, in deat...

Sometimes we don't understand the plans of God, Sometimes life hurts....sometimes it hurts so bad that it seems unbearable.....I am thankful that we don't have to carry our own burdens....I am thankful that we can lay our pain at the foot of the cross. Thankful that God will catch us when we just cant go on.  Thankful that we don't have to stand alone in the face of our trials.  I am thankful for people that I love in my life, I am thankful that, even though my friend is so very sick...she has a love for Christ.  Thankful that she knows God.....Knows that he is the great healer.  I am saddened by the struggles that a family is facing....but encouraged by their faith.  I have seen miracles first hand and I am praying for more than that tonight........ Please pray for my friend....God will know who you are talking about. 

What a heck of a week.....I seriously went to sleep last Wednesday and woke up and a week has passed....I feel like the past week was a blurr.  This is typical of a busy schedule. Running every day and at rapid speeds keeps me in a haze.  ENOUGH already. I am starting a new....I am throwing out clothes....throwing out junk, toys and clutter....I am cleaning my car and vowing that there be no more snacks eaten en route...(I know that this is gonna be broken already....Parky cant stop eating for anything)   I need some organization, a more balanced schedule...possibly a planner....I forget a lot of things....  I am pretty sure this process may take a couple weeks....squeezing the new start into my old life is tricky....but it will be done. There is a lot stacked on my plate...medicine dispensing, therapy sessions, pre-school, play dates, Dr appointments...oh and I am a wife.....the list goes on. and HONESTLY my other responsibilities are slacking...my house ...