What a blessing!!!

I know it's been a while since my last post. I'm officially done with school for two weeks and then summer school beings. I have only one class so I still will get my summer. So far, I have two grades post. An A in Heath Care Management and a C in Patho. I'm proud with what I have gotten so far. I have worked hard for those grades! Andrew's school is working him ragged and so has the new church building which leads me to the main reason I'm posting now.
The last two Sundays have been very exciting! Our church has finally moved into our new building. We went from a small building into a building with so much room we don't know what to do with all that space. It so nice to get to have everyone in one service and all the visitors we had!! Andrew, you should know by now is very techie with lighting and soun, has worked long hours the last few days to make sure everything was just perfect for the first day. I'm so proud of him and all the others who helped to get us in our new building. As a church, we have worked many hours to get ready for this day, and we all had smiling faces walking into the building for our first service together.
We had about 150 Palm Sunday, and Easter Sunday we had 202!!! We had 53 kids from babies to 5th grade. God is so good. I worked nursery, and we had some very sweet babies to rock. If we keep these numbers we may need to go to two services before long. We love our new building and worship is even more amazing!

Jake and Lucy, in the purple pictured above, have moved into the 2&3 year old room. They both love it! Jake has gotten so big! We are still working on him to say my name and at times he does call me "Bere." It's so cute!!
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After church on Easter, we went to Alabama to visit family that we haven't seen since Christmas. It was a great afternoon talking and catching up on life that we have missed. Lindsey, Andrew's older cousin, brought her boyfriend for us to meet. He's name is Brad and I think he fits right in with the rest of us. I hope we get to see more of him in the future.
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The weather has been crazy around here. Tornado warnings and all. I'm not liking it when Andrew's not here but that has only been one time. Brooke and I texted back and forth so that help me! Thanks Brooke!! Hopefully we can get some pretty weather soon! I also hope it's pretty for this weekend and Andrew doesn't have Memphis in Mud like he did last year. He also rode out a tornado last year. The weather guys say it's going to be pretty and warm. Casper doesn't like the storms either. He has sat right under us the last few days.
well, this has gotten you guys caught up with us. I will be posting a lot in May because my younger sister Carlie will be graduating!! I'm so excited for her!
Until next time!
Ambere

There's a light at the end of this tunnel!!

As school is rapidly coming to an end, I'm getting really excited about summer. My last day of school is April 18 that's only about 10 days away if I don't include the weekends and days I don't go to school. I have 6 test in these last few days. I'm stressed to the max, and I'm ready for a break.
School is changing as well. Everyone in the country that uses a particular board testing for nursing students is changing their curriculum for the better. This means that it's changing at Baptist. I don't really care about the changes because my graduation date will stay the same. My graduation date is set for December of 13. Two more years! Andrew and I can make it to more years. With all the changes that are happening at school leaves me with the uneasiness about what to do about summer school. I'm almost to the point that I should go ahead and take this class to get it out of my way and if I get a semester off before I truly start clinicals it would be this fall. I want a lot but I know God has a plan, and I may have to wait to make my decision. I would love for us to be able to go on vacation this year, but it may not be in the cards this year. I'm ready for both of us to finish school so we can move on with our lives.
However with the business of school for me and Andrew and work for Andrew, we haven't been to Tupelo together in almost four months. I feel the hurt and sadness that we all are feeling. I hope we can make it there soon. We want to get down there to see y'all as fast as we can. It looks like we are going to be able to come on Mother's day, but I know that's another month away.
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Last night at small group, we are in a study called Vintage Jesus. We are learning about how Jesus really showed His power to others and God's love to fulfill the old testament teaching of how Jesus, our savior, was to come into our world. Our lesson last night was on Mary and how important it is to have her be a virgin. She is wonderful example of faith, but she is not the object our faith. I also learned that we are adopted by God to become His. I didn't realize how much Christians practice this because of this example. Did you realize that Jesus was adopted by Joseph? I didn't realize it until last night. I mean I've heard the story since I was little but didn't really think of this in a new way.
Christ amazes me every day. I'm in nursing school and never thought I would be. I wake up everyday not hurting because He lead me to a place where I could get help. I love my husband because I see him trying to understand Christ as I'm trying to. I'm really enjoying the Vintage Jesus study and learning about Christ in a new way.

Spring is in the Air

Over the last week or so it's been very busy around here. I have had projects and test and more test. Andrew's work has been nuts, and school is just as crazy for him as it has been for me. We have managed to squeeze time in for each other.
For our anniversary, he did get me in to see Lady Antebellum at Harrah's on the 10th. Jennifer got to go with me, and we had a great time! Carter their lighting director was wonderful! Andrew really looked up to him. He worked for Alabama during their golden years I guess you could say.

The last picture is of the opening act. His name was Randy Montana. He was good. He did a lot of cover songs, but most of the people there and including Jennifer and I were there to see Lady A. They put on a great show! I learned that Charles and Dave wrote that song, "Baby, Do I?" It sounded better with their version but that's how the music industry is. Andrew knows the guy who wrote the song "Watching Airplanes" that is sung by Gary Allen. Jonathan Singleton wrote it! He puts way more soul into the song than Gary does! I'm a little basis because I know members of the band.
Anyway, moving on. On Saturday of last week, a dear friend who has been asked if she was my mother got married. It was such a happy day to see her get married. She has been waiting on this day for a long time, and we all are happy for her.

All us church girls so excited for Tina!!
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Jake and I have been having a lot of fun lately! He is growing so much! He has started to talk a lot more! We are working him to try to say my name, but he doesn't seem to get it. Oh well. We've even tried for him to call me "Ber" and "Amer." He doesn't like either of them I guess. I'll let him come up with what ever name he wants to call me. I've been called Amo. He and I made brownies together last week.

I think he loved it!
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Last night, Mary Beth hosted a paint party at her house. She's a great artist who wanted to share her talent with all of us. She, her husband, and a few other men from the church are going on a mission trip in a few weeks and this was a great way to raise money for the trip. It was a lot of fun. I hope she does it again really soon!

The model painting.

Jennifer and Jake listening to instructions.

Mary Beth talking us through the steps!

Jake coming to check out my master piece!

The beginning of mine!

Busy Lollie working. Mom, this is Jennifer's mom, Vicki, but I call her Lollie too!

Almost everybody's finished piece!

My master piece and I!
This was a lot of fun. If you get a chance to get to go to one! Go! It's so much fun and great time of fellowship!!

The best years of my life....

Eight years ago today, I started dating the man that I knew I was going to marry!! We have had our ups and downs, but I would give anything for the relationship that we have with each other. I met Andrew when I was in the 7th grade. He came to Verona to do a play with the high school drama team. I bet you can guess that he wasn't a part of the cast, he was on the production crew as always. He did sound. I thought he was just the cutest thing ever. I'm not shy as most of you know. I walked right over and asked him his name. He told me, Andrew, and ignored me for the rest of the time that I was there just watching him work. I never thought I would I would see him again.
I went to high school with the big idea that I was going to date around and date all that I could. I wanted to be popular and a cheerleader, and date a football player. Well, the other guys that I talked to were jerks to say the least!! I shouldn't have wasted my time!! You live and learn!! I went on several trips my freshman year. I went to Beta convention and met a guy, Michael. He was a Junior, and we emailed back and forth for awhile, and it didn't go anywhere after that. Andrew also went, but this other girl was talking to him so I left them alone. He thought I was crazy and that he would never date me! Ha!!
The next month was spring break, and I went to New York with the drama group. Andrew went also, but the girl at Beta didn't go on this trip. I was yet again talking to another guy and Michael! Well, the guy that I was talking to at the beginning of the trip and I were not talking by the end of the trip. He wanted to move on, and I didn't care. So, I walked around New York with one of my girl friends and Andrew hung out this us. I still though he was so cute!! So, I started to talk to him more. We sat on the bus together and had Dog Hots and Cola Cokas together (hot dogs and coke a colas). He even bought me some hot chocolate at the Statue of Liberty. He was so sweet!! He also let me sleep on his shoulder on the fight home!
We started dating on March 10, 2003. Then we were dating for six months and he got me a promise ring for my 16th birthday. He also took me to see Radio and to Outback for my first real date. I was able to group date but not one on one until I was 16. He made my 16th birthday so special.
He proposed the night I graduated high school with all my friends. He didn't get down on one knee, but it was still special. He had bought the ring months ago. He told me he was going to the mall to buy shoes, but he's not the guy to go to the mall by himself to buy anything unless it's go to like Best Buy! So, I knew that he got me the ring. We had been looking at a few, and I showed him my two favorites and told him to pick his favorite out of the two. He did ask my dad for my hand. I'm old school on that kind of stuff. It's the only right thing to do. I told him that he should take the ring with him to church on one Wednesday night and ask my dad there. My dad is a wonderful dad and can and will be intimidating!! My dad said yes, but told him that he didn't want him to move me off to very far. So, he asked and I said yes of course. We set the date for March 8, 2008. We tried to push for it to be earlier, but it wouldn't have worked out for when we wanted it. I really wanted a beach wedding, but I had a beautiful wedding, and I'm still happy with the way I did things!!
We had no idea that after only six months of marriage that he would have to work those sickness and health vows so soon. This is when I really started to have complications with my UC. He was there when I had my first scope two years before. This wasn't how I wanted to spend my 21st birthday, but Andrew always made it special! Live got the best of us for a while, but I would marry him again today! I haven't always been nice to him, but he knows I love him and would do anything for him! I love you, Andrew, and I hope and pray that we have many more years together.
Here are a few pictures of years past and our wedding!!









This one of my favorite songs that represents us:

Kid in a Candy Store!!

The name of this post is literally what Andrew has been like the last few days!! The reason is because of a purchase that he made on Monday. I was fully aware of what he was about to do and stood behind this because I know how bad he wanted to make this purchase.
First off, I want to go back a few years. We were in Kansas City, MO for a new Christian Band Competition. He and the group didn't make it into the final groups but were fourth in their division. The competition only went for the top three of each category. They were so upset that they didn't win the $10,000 prize. They were going to use that money to buy each of the band members a new instrument! We even went to the Guitar Center. It was our first time there, and it's very over-whelming to be in this store!! The store had Andrew's dream drum kit!! His dream kit is a DW set of drums. He has wanted a kit like that for as long as I've know him. The set was just over $6,000. We had talked them down to about 3. This included the stands, a custom snare drum, and all the cymbals!! It was perfect!! Well, we left the store with heavy hearts and very sad because we did not purchase that kit!! I told him over and over that he should have gotten it. They even started to put us on a payment plan to get them. I was almost in tears that we didn't get it!!
Since then, he hasn't stopped talking about getting a DW kit. The drummer at our old church had this type of kit and each time Andrew got a chance to play it, he glowed! You could tell that he's in love with drumming and wants to get better at it!
Well, we have come into a little bit of money because we sold an older kit of Andrew's. He went Monday and got his dream kit! He loves it!! It is the performance series, and it's cherry red!! It is a really beautiful kit!!





He hasn't had much time to play with them since he got them due to work and school, but I know that it's going to get loud in my house once he gets time to play them!!





I'm not sure if this is going to be a good thing or a bad thing! I wonder if I'm going to get any sleep now! He loves this kit and I'm glad we could finally get it for him! His dad is a drummer too! He is just as excited about the drum kit as Andrew is! He might even be a little bit more excited than Andrew! Ha!! He's coming up as soon as he can to play them! I can't wait either!! It will be great seeing father and son doing what they love!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Good evening!! I had some surprise for Valentine's Day! I have been telling Andrew that I could use more help around the house and would like for him to be a little bit more romantic! He hates Valentine's day. I hadn't asked for anything because of all the wonderful gifts that he gave me for Christmas! (MacBook and Canon Camera!) I didn't want anything other than a nice dinner and time together. He had to work on that day, and I was at school until 9. I didn't get home until like 9:30 or so.
I get in the house and put my ID up. As I'm about to walk out of the living room, I turn around and see some beautiful flowers! I was shocked! I love roses no matter what color they are. It's was wonderful. The card told me to look in the fridge. Once I opened the fridge I found a dozen chocolate covered strawberries!! Once again, another one of my favorites!!


Dinner happened tonight because of school, I grilled steaks! They turned out wonderful!! This weather also made it enjoyable to grill! We finished dinner, and Andrew went to work on homework because his been so busy with work that he hasn't had time to do it. He means the world to me, and the last few days he has really shown it to me by really helping out around the house! I hope all of you had a great Valentine's day as well!!