Day 8: Photo Challenge

Day 8: A picture that makes you laugh.
This Picture was taken at Dollywood right after Wes and I got married in June 2008. These are our friends Dustin and Bekah.


I remember this being absolutely hilarious at the time, but for the life of me it escapes my memory on how this all got started. But I am certain that not one of us actually peed our pants! Maybe Bekah can help refresh my memory! 

Day 7: Photo Challenge

Day 7: A picture of your most treasured item.

     The posting says ITEM so since I can not pick a person, I am picking my wedding ring. I treassure the ring not because of it's monetary value, but the deeper rooted meaning behind it. This ring was picked out for me by a man who loves. A man who had no obligation to love me because of family ties or threat to his life, but a man who CHOOSES to love me everyday out of his own free will. 

     To me, this ring symbolizes that commitment. The commitment to love each other freely and according to our own free will. Our commitment to be there for each other through ALL of life's journeys...the good AND the bad. Our commitment to the Lord that we will do everything possible to make this marriage last and make it glorify Him. The rings symbolize our Trust and Honesty between each other. They symbolize our Love.  

     I had so many people tell me when I got my wedding band that I would want a new one in 5 years or so after marriage. That the one I had would no longer be big enough, or that I simply would want a different design. However, I believe that I will be content because I am a little to emotional over the sentimental value of the ring to ever just replace it.  

Day 6: Photo Challenge

Day 6: A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.

This is a picture of my mom holding Noah in January 2010. 

     Let's be really honest I really don't want to change places with my mom. She has a hard situation which I am sure I wouldn't be able to handle with an ounce of the patience that she does every day all year long. She is a true testement of loving someone else "for better or for worse, in sickness and in health..." 

     However, I would love to trade places with my mom for a day so that she could be with her grandson. Her love for him is so apparent even though they are 5000 miles away and she has seen him for less than a month of his life over the last 13.5 months. She tells him she loves him almost every day on the phone and talks to him like she is right in the room. I know that it breaks her heart to not be able to stop over and see Noah, or spend a day with him just because. I would love for her to just have a day with him to herself to share her laughter with him and him with her, to take him where ever she wanted, to share stories with him, and rock him and kiss him goodnight. 

Day 5: Photo Challenge

Day 5: A Picture of Your Favorite Memory

 I know some explanation is needed on how this photo is my "favorite memory." This picture was taken at the Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg, TN. in Oct. 2007. Wes and I had taken a road trip up to Tennessee so that I could meet his parents and he could visit with them. He was so nervous because he had never brought a girl home to meet his folks before and I was nervous because his father, who I had been calling Bob the whole time I had been talking to him, had recently informed me that he would appreciate being called "Mr. Sutton." I thought his father was joking at first, but after joking about it a few times I figured out he was dead serious. While we were visiting his parents we had a mandatory "family fun day" upon which I was able to go. The Aquarium was beautiful and I would highly recommend it if you are ever in the area. Wes and I had been having a great time and I remember as we were walking in the tunnel that went through the tank and we were surrounded by the fish and sharks and all kinds of sea life I wanted to tell Wes.... "I Love You!" I had never said those words to him before, or any guy for that matter, and I wanted to shout it from the roof tops, or maybe in this case the bottom of the "sea". However, I am beyond stubborn and was slightly afraid of what he would say, let alone if his family heard, plus I wanted him to say it first! Yes that is right we had been talking and dating for basically a year and we had never said those three little words! Both of us took those words seriously and believed they should only be said if you meant them with your whole heart.
     So after a day of family fun, it was time for bed. I had crawled into the twin bed in the basement of Wes' parents house and Wes had come over to tuck me in and give me a kiss goodnight and as he was kneeling there he asked me if he could tell me something. I said "of course." and Wes replied with " I Love You!" Without any hesitation or reservations I sat up and said, "I Love You Too!"

Day 4: Photo Challenge

Day 4: A Picture of Your Night.

My night was spent doing many things including making dinner for my family, bathing my son, baking two types of Banana bread, doing dishes and cleaning the kitchen and studying the above. I decided that I really want to try and read the Bible everyday. I know, I know, I should have been doing this all along, but I haven't been so faithful. I have tried many times to read the Bible and in many different ways. I usually make it until about March and for whatever reason fade out after that. That old saying that if you do something for 27 days in a row it becomes habit....don't believe it. This year is a prime example. I didn't miss a night of reading the Bible until...yup you guessed it...day 28! Things happened that day, and I am making up for the lost day and not letting it get me discouraged, but it is funny how much faster "habits" are lost than they are made. 

So tonight I spent some time in the Word and the Good Word it is. As you can see, I am also doing Beth Moore's study on the book of Daniel! What a GREAT Bible study it is! This is the type of Bible study that I have been longing for since forever! This study teaches you the Word of God. The History. The Story. And after the Explanations then it relates it to modern day life! This isn't a Bible study that is all about me and "what can I get from it?" This is simply a Bible study about God's word and what it means. Powerful stuff and I highly recommend it to anyone no matter how much you know about or understand the Bible. You will learn a great deal from this study and the way it is put together. 

Day 3: Photo Challenge

Day 3: A picture of the cast from favorite show

Well I guess this is probably the show I watch the most often. Don't get me wrong though I don't have to see it. TV for me is something to pass the time at night when I am to tired to use my brain for much else. It is by no means a must and I am trying to cut back on TV altogether, but it is hard when you stay at home all day and have no "adult" conversation. I find myself using the TV a lot for background noise. I would choose the radio more often but I actually pay attention to those songs and it seems to be the same ones over and over. Maybe I should invest in some newer CD's or just learn to live without the "noise" all together. Time will tell. Honestly I wish this picture and post had more meaning. This seems to be the only picture that isn't more meaningful throughout the 30 day challenge.

Day 2: Photo Challenge

Day 2: A picture of you and the person you have been close with for the longest.


     So I could think of many people who fit this description in different ways. I could put my mother who I love hanging out with and is a great blend of a parent and a friend. I could put Elaney my best Friend since middle school and I can pick up the phone after weeks of not talking and it feels like we have never been apart. 
     However, I have chosen my Grandmother, Florence. My Grandma has been there every step of the way since before I can remember. She gave my mother, brother and I a place to stay when we were little and my mom was buying a house. She willingly watched us every night Monday through Friday from 330pm -midnight while my mother reluctantly went to her 2nd shift job cleaning schools. Grandma watched us on the weekends when my mom needed some adult time and a breather from being a single parent. She taught us lessons about everyday life, instilled morals in us through good old sayings like "do onto others, as you would have them do onto you." Grandma gave us endless love, numerous cookies and treats, and good old discipline when we needed it. I remember her letting me "help" her cook, even though she could have done it faster by herself. There were sleepovers with countless musicals and other "shows", all the records we loved playing on her record player, building tents and forts in her living room and outside, climbing her apple tree and picking lilacs from he bushes. My grandma taught me how to crochet when I was 4 years old, and to sew cross stitch and many other crafty things and she did it all with the patience of an angel. My Grandmother also attended EVERY event throughout my life from school functions and dance to my college graduation...she even traveled to Texas to see me graduate from Air Force Boot camp and to Florida to visit me at my first duty station! There is never a time in my life I don't remember her being there! 
     Thank you Grandma for everything thing that you have taught me throughout the years! I love you more than you will ever know! Can not wait to come home to visit with you again. 
     Love Always, Amanda


The picture of my Grandmother and me was taken on my wedding day 14 June 2008!