Arizona, Utah and a Basketball game...

A couple of weeks ago my brother and I went to Arizona to visit some family, we had a great time, but like every other thing I didn't get to many pictures.... So enjoy the ones that I did get... we had a great time-- we had a lot of relaxing time, didn't get to go swimming because some of the pool equipment broke and drained the pool but flooded the yard, went to a Lacrosse game and saw Rango at the Drive Inn... Over all great trip!!!




I can't really remember but we also went to the Conference USA championship basketball game between UTEP and I think Tulsa.... It was a great game but sadly UTEP lost by 1 point... BOOO....




After all of that excitement I went to Utah to visit my friend and my sisters (for a very short time) for Spring Break... Delaney is just like my sister and its so fun that no matter how long its been since we have seen each other its just like old times when we get together... I had a great time being at her house with her darling baby girl and her husband Rod.... Also, before I went to her house I had the chance to see my sisters and have lunch with them... While I was there I also colored my hair... The dark was just getting ugly so I HAD to change it!!!

Oh The Bachelor........

So I am sure many of you know how much I love to watch the Bachelor..... This season I was a little skeptical as to how Brad Womack would be, but as the season went on I found that I actually like the guy and he was there for all the right reason.... Emily was always one of my favorites and I always hoped that he would choose her at the end.. and then HE DID, and i was so excited for them, I thought oh they look so cute and in love THIS one is going to last....

And then came the AFTER THE FINAL ROSE, and here is what I think........ What they have is REAL, and I think that reality has hit them both square in the face with some major issues, I can see his temper def. be a problem, but I can also see her being very stubborn and a "My way or the highway" type of gal.... BUT I can also see that if they think its worth it to work at their love and realtionship it would work... I mean I know its always easier to walk away and say that they gave it their best, BUT for their sake, and lets be honest my need for "Happy Endings" I hope they work it out... COME ON GUYS-- its not always going to be the 6 week fairy-tale you have become used too... WELCOME TO REAL LIFE SUCKERS! :)
The End.....





PS Update on Lent--- Still going strong, haven't cracked yet!!! Stay tuned for pictures of my upcoming trip to Utah...

Practicing Lent..... Day 1

So I am not Catholic but I have decided to practice Lent this year and give up something for 40 days or until Easter...... and much to the suprise of EVERYONE I know I am giving up FACEBOOK until Easter.... Is it something that I have to do-- NO, but I want to try to see if I can do it on my own... So here is to Day 1..... No Facebook.....
So far--- Mary, Gloria, Matt, and Mindi don't think I can do it....
and I have bets with a couple of them.... Thank you!

Gosh I need to post more....

Its seems that my blog has fallen victim to recent neglect in my life... I used to be so good and now it all seems to be catching up with me... But I need your opinion....

DO I #1 take a full load this summer so I can get done with school that much faster, OR #2 remember that Summer is a time to have fun and only take a few classes so I can go on not so lavish vacations!!! All opinions are and will be appreciated!!!

Lets see in other news--- Last night Donald and I went to the UTEP basketball game (GO MINERS!!!) and I got a flat tire, and I learned a couple of things.... #1 if I really REALLY had to change a tire by myself I know I could do it, I was suprised that I knew where all the equipment was in my car and what to do with it all... #2-- Thank heavens for my brother because he did most of the work.... #3 I hope I don't have to buy a new tire... the verdict is still out on that one....

Also, I am excited to go to Utah for Spring Break in a couple of weeks to see my bestest friend Delaney and her family.... I am so very excited to have a shopping day and just to hang out and do whatever we want, especially because I won't be in El Paso at school OR at work!!!

And last-- as part of my New Years Resolution I have tried to make it a point to attend ALL the activities and FHE in my singles ward... And I am the first to say that I drag my feet to a majority of them, but I must say to my suprise-- we have done some really fun things!!! We have made it to Carlsbad Caverns and gone 4-wheeling... So enjoy the pictures!

I love TEXAS......

I recently went to Dallas for my cousin Chris' wedding. Hannah and Chris look so IN LOVE and happy, and it only makes me what to have that even more. On Sunday my parents, brother and I went back to the town that I was born and where my siblings remember growing up. I how ever do not remember anything about Aledo but am convinced that I would move there in a heart beat or anywhere else in Texas for that matter. Well because pictures are worth a thousand words.. here you go....

Sorry the pictures are out of order....

Dear Santa,

You can have your sore throat, runny nose, and ear-aches back-- I didn't ask for them...
Thanks for nothing,
Amanda

She isn't crazy....but I MUST be!!!

So a couple days ago I read a friends blog about how she finds herself looking at other peoples blogs reading about their own weddings and having kids- dreaming of her own wedding day.... and she wanted to know if she was crazy for doing that.... I promptly wrote her letting her know that it was COMPLETELY normal because I myself find me doing that ALL the time as well......
Today as I got home from church and tried to grasp this whole world of he likes me/he doesn't like me game- I found myself thinking maybe I shouldn't have given my friend such a comment... Because maybe (at least for me) I AM CRAZY for wishing and hoping for that... And I know that all of you have been down that road, but DATING SUCKS... sure going on a date is fun but that's not dating or getting to know each other or whatever the heck you call it, but it SUCKS.... Yes and I know guys don't think that and they are clueless to things, I get that but it certainly doesn't make it any easier... It seems to be the same thing over and over again, people around me giving me the ole "it will happen when its supposed too" speech, and the "its not you its him, he is just a guy"... Well then somebody go slap him till he does realize so we can get this show on the road!!! Maybe they are taught this game in elementary school, who knows!
I am a good catch gosh dang it!!! Anyways- I am just venting because dating is overrated and that's all I have to say about that... So for my blogging friends viewing pleasures... The new ME-- dark hair and all!!!

At this point any sort of update right?!?!?!?

I feel like I am on this road and don't know where the exit ramp is..
Has it really been 2 months since I updated?? Alot has happened since then and I feel like I would need about 10 posts to give you full details of everything.... but in intrest of time here is a shortened version for you.....

1. I got a new job-- I no longer work at Western Tech., and its the best decision that I could have done. I now work at El Paso Hearing Aid and Audiology Center doing their billing, and I love it. It gives me more flexibility especially with......

2. School--- I started school 2 weeks ago and its great, even though my classes are boring but hey you have to do what you have to do right.... EPCC is nice because the classes are small and for me I do better in that setting. I am taking 14 credit hours right now and its alot but with my new job it works out perfectly.....

3. There is this boy, but I don't know what to do.... I met him at FHE and we talk everytime we are there and such, a couple weeks ago he got my number but nothing.... We have texted back and forth a couple of times and I keep hinting at going out but no bite.. his famous last words are "if you go and do something, let me know" and I have invited him places and he always says no..... so all of your imput would be great... do I just drop it or continue to invite him places.... let me know what you all think.... i hate dating...

4. I am loving this new water called "AquaMantra". Here is what you do... You can buy either the I am Lucky, I am loved, or I am healthy-- and on the bottle it talks about how when you surround yourself with positive thinking it will come true but you have to tell yourself positive things.. So every time you take a sip of this water you tell your self I am..... which ever bottle you bought... It seems to be pretty good, and for a cheesey as it sounds the I am lucky is pretty good.... I have noticed a difference-- EVEN IF IT IS JUST IN MY HEAD.. which I know it is, cause lets be honest-- water doesn't do that to you!!! Anyways-- head to your local Albertsons and try it!!!

5. Football season started and I am loving it....


OK well thats all for now... but please fill free to leave your comments about this boy situation... they will be greatly appreciated!!! :)

I wish.....

I wish that just for once in my life, it would be easy.... And by that I mean trying to go to school and work.....

I wish that something would happen....

I wish that a boy would ask me out on a date....

I wish that I wasn't so tired today after going to see the new twilight movie at 3 am this morning....

I wish that I was already done with school...

I wish that I didn't feel like I was stuck in a rut...

I wish I knew the way to get out of it....

I wish that just one day would go as planned....

I wish that my legs were tan..

I wish that oneday I can go sit on a beach for days on end and get a tan....

I wish that my smile and laugh will come back out of pure joy...

I wish I could win the lottery.. (I guess that means I have to play)

And lastly,
I wish that I had pictures to post!

The End.

25 things....

Since I turned 25 I thought I would start this post with 25 things I have learned in the last year.

1. Somehow life always turns out the way you plan.. Maybe in a little bit of a different way, but the same none the less.
2. Go with your first instinct.. It usually is always the correct choice.
3. Saving money for a rainy day is a GOOD thing.
4. Going to school online SUCKS.. :)
5. I still don't know what I want to do with my life... (interior design/ or teaching)
6. Redecorating my room is fun.. (pictures coming soon)
7. I miss my neices and nephews ALOT!!!
8. Singles dances are just as weird when I was in YW...
9. Having 2 callings isn't that fun.
10. You can't always please people, so you just have to make yourself happy..
11. Lookin for love in all the wrong places.
12. Movies can be the best Friday night date.
13. McDonald's Icecream Cones are the best $1 item EVER!
14. Everyone needs a vacations.
15. Thank Heavens for days off.
16. Passing a certification exam is alot of hard work, but worth it.
17. I make homeade treats too much!
18. People always seem to make a big deal out of EVERYTHING!
19. Sometimes I fill like I work in a High School.
20. Drama is so OVER-RATED.
21. Betting other people's money at a cake auction is FUN!
22. You can't always get what you want.
23. Despite what all my friends are doing, I am not getting married or having kids this year!
24. A movie about a love story never hurt anyone!
25. There is always room for improvement, but you have to be willing to get out of the comfort zone to get it!!!

Stayed tuned for pictures of my room-- I am working on re-doing it and so I will have a big reveal soon!!! :)

Be still my beating heart...............

Growing Up.....

You know for the last couple years I have considered myself an adult and have been able to make somewhat of adult like decisions.... No I don't have kids or am I married but I have a sucessful career and feel like I am good at it.... Well today came one of those adult decisions that made me realize that growing up isn't all that its cracked up to be but something that EVERYONE has to experience...... After working full time for over 5 years and trying to limp along with my own schooling, today I made the choice to start working only part-time and go to school full-time..... I had been trying to take classes online and feeling like I was only giving it half of what I could, it was just something that constantly was at the back of my mind....... So with that in mind, on June 25th I will finally start what I came here to finish-- which is my schooling, but going to EPCC to finish with my associates ( I should only have about 1 or 2 semesters) and then transfer to UTEP to finish my Bachelors in Elementary Education..... I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders by making this choice and finally going for what I have wanted to do for a while now... So may the force be with me!!! But its still no fun when making tough decisions, but its going to be so rewarding for me!!! yay for me! :)

If there is one thing I can't stand its when 1.) people make a bigger deal out of things then what really needs to be.... 2.) when people metal in each others business and really shouldn't.....

Thats it for now... Thanks for letting me vent!!! :)

Kenneth

SO I know this is late in posting but last Friday, March 5th was 11 years since my brother passed away.. So here is a little story my sister Kristin sent to us that happend on that day. Every year on his birthday everyone in my family releases balloons to Kenneth, and its just our way of letting him know we are thinking of him and love him, and really miss him!!!!




I got this message from a girl, Marcia, that I went to school with, she and I were in the same classes at Eastwood Heights, Knolls and then she dropped out our Junior Year of HS. I haven't talked to her in YEARS, probably since even before she dropped out. We are friends on facebook, and today she sent me this message, so I thought I would share with you! Kenneth touched lives we didn't even know about!
LOVE
Kristin
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Hi Kristin,

I never had an opportunity to express my condolescences to you and your family.

I would like to share something with you that perhaps you didn't know. I met your brother in highschool. Yes. Highschool. See, Kristin, I was dropped out of school in Spring 1993. I had my son in October of that year. I'll fast forward to 5 years later where I was granted special permission by Mrs. Matthews, YISD and the State of Texas (I was 22 at the time) to return to highschool to finish my senior year. While in school in the year of '98-'99, I had the priviledge of meeting your brother in the tutoring center. He was so welcoming, so smart and had a smile that only he could inhibit. I knew he was your brother and to be honest with you I was embarrassed to ask about you.

I remember that day very well. I was in Spanish class when Mrs. Matthew's voice came over the intercom and in a very broken and heartfelt tone informed us all of Kenneth's passing. I will never forget it.

I truly am sorry for that loss you and your family had to endure. And I too, will release a balloon in his honor.

Sincerely,
Marcy