Stunned...

de·prav·i·ty/diˈpravitē/

1.Moral corruption

2.A wicked or morally corrupt act

I really don't have words for what happened to my co-workers last night.  I don't have the words for the fear that came true.  It may not be the biggest fear, but it's right up there.  

When you work in law enforcement, your goal is to help citizens, and have each deputy and officer make it home safely.

Sadly, that didn't happen last night.  I was off work, thankfully.

But, I can't imagine what my co-workers went through when those words came over the radio, that a deputy had been shot.  Not an hour later, another deputy from another county was shot by the same person.

There are no words.  Really.  You go day in and day out without anything happening, everyone going home safely, getting to see their kids, their wives/husbands.  You get that "nothing will ever happen to us" mentality, all the while knowing it can happen.  

Thankfully, the good Lord was watching over the deputies that were shot last night.  Both of them will survive, both are expected to make full recoveries.  One was hit in the arm, nothing life threatening.  However, the deputy from our agency wasn't so lucky.  First word of his injuries were frightening.  His injuries were bad, and the result could have been different.  But, it wasn't.  God put his hand over those deputies, guided the surgeons' hands. 

The power of prayer was proved last night

You hear people thanking veterans all the time.  There's even several days throughout the year that are set aside, just for the veterans of the military.  Do not take that as me saying vets don't deserve it, they deserve 100 times more than that.  What I'm saying is, how many times have you stopped to thank a law enforcement officer?  How many times have you even stopped to think about it?  They are the peace makers here at home, here on our streets.  Each traffic stop is dangerous, each call for domestic help is dangerous.  You never know what could be in that car, what could be in that house.  You never know what a human is capable of.

What I don't comprehend, how can someone be capable of that?  How does someone just gun down a peace keeper?  These men and women put their lives on the line every day, put themselves in harm's way to make sure even the criminals are safe.  They don't just look out for those whose only law violation is speeding or running a stop sign.  They look after all of us.  All walks of life, all levels of society.  

I'm always at a loss when it comes to random acts of violence.  But, when it happens to an officer, a deputy...

How can you do that?  I understand people are going to yell mental illness, I don't buy it.  The offenders actions seemed to direct, not impulsive, too well thought out.  

Because the offender happens to be a veteran (no idea yet why he was discharged), people are going to say he suffers from PTSD.  I'm sorry, I have a hard time buying that, don't know that I ever will or would.

I'm not one who listens to much psycho-babble.  I'm not one who cares for so-and-so's terrible childhood sob story.  Guess what?  You're an adult now, you make your own decisions and choices.  If you didn't like your childhood, your raising, change it now.  Fix what you don't like.  Don't excuse it.  You make your own choices.

Please, pray for quick healing for the two men injured.  Please pray for comfort and peace for their families.  Yes, they're alive, but their families faced a great fear last night.  They were confronted with one of the worst fears of a law enforcement officer's family.  The call that your loved one has been hurt in the line of duty.  I don't know if they will return to the streets, I'm sure they will.  Pray for their continued safety, pray for their families peace of mind.  Pray that they don't have anxiety each time their loved one puts on his uniform, to go out and protect you and I.

Thank an officer or deputy.  They certainly don't hear it enough.

Christmas Cat-astrophe

Well, not a catastrophe, not even a little one...I just liked the word...anyway.

J and I decided to put out more decorations this morning/afternoon before I left for work.  So, off we went to the storage shed and brought in more bins. 

Look what the cat drug in

You can't bring in any new box with out Clara climbing all over them, exploring them, trying to get in

I got busy, filling bowls and vases with ornaments

On the piano

On the bar counter

I made a cute table centerpiece for the dining room table, sadly I didn't get a picture before Clara got to it.  I looked over and saw her laying on the table, just in time to see her reach up and bat at the jingle bells lining the cake stand.  She batted one down, and was quite proud of herself. 

J is in charge of putting up outside lights.  He tried to get to them last night, but, again, Clara got to them before he did.  The lights worked last year.  This year, she decided they would be fun to lay on/play with...

So, I must say a big thank you to Clara for her help in decorating.  It just wouldn't be the same without you dear. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving ya'll!

I hope everyone is having a great day.

Thank you citizens of my fine county for staying quiet and keeping work slow today

lol

J and I went to his parents's house for lunch

we were in charge of green beans

My green beans are pretty famous with the fam...lol

Since I needed to get ready for lunch, and work, J took over

Yummy...am I talking about him or the beans? ;)

J decided to play with the camera while we were waiting to eat...

Dinner was fabulous, I filled my belly and came to work!  

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

I'm thankful for all of the blessings in my life

and...just because:

a photo mistake by my father-in-law, and when I went to remove the red-eye, I ended up with possibly the creepiest pupils ever...lol

A wonderful Thanksgiving Eve

I know, most folks don't call it Thanksgiving Eve...but I just did!

J and I had the pleasure of taking his deeply Southern Baptist Grandmother and Aunt to our Episcopal church for services today at noon.  What is usually scheduled as a regular mid-week service was turned into a Thanksgiving Eve service.  J's mother joined us, but she's been to Episcopal services before, so she wasn't lost.

Service was great; I loved watching J sitting next to his aunt, helping show her the way through service as I helped his grandmother.  I can only imagine that they were just as confused and lost as I am when I'm in a Baptist church.
The lessons today were perfect for Thanksgiving...of course.  Since they're more than just a line or two, click them to read them if you're interested.  They're great.  I hope you'll read them
Deuteronomy8:7-18
II Corinthians9:6-15

After church, we all went to Cracker Barrel for lunch.  Man, that place was crowded!  I guess working the way I do, right through holidays, I don't think about traffic being heavier more this day than that, or more foot traffic here because of this or that.  We got to sit down and got our food quickly, which was better than 90% of my Cracker Barrel experiences. 

The matchy-matchy was accidental! lol

J stayed with his mom, to run some errands, and I left with his aunt and grandmother to get  back home to get the car so I could go to work.  On our way out, I managed to get through the crowd first and stopped at the fireplace to wait for them.  Some random guy in his 50s was standing there, about 4 feet from me.  If you ask me, 4 feet is out of the personal bubble and it's only required to give a friendly half-smile or head nod. 
Did this guy follow the same personal bubble rules as me?  Nope, of course not.  "This fire place is great isn't it"  What do you say but, "Yes, it is"...give the half smile and walk on.  We got in line to pay and who ends up behind me?  Yup, Mr Fireplace. 
What does he do now?  Smile real big at me, and apparently decides now is a great time to finish the awkward conversation he attempted to start earlier at the fireplace.  "Do you eat here often?" he says.  "No, no I don't" half smile, hoping that would be the end of that.  "Yeah, me either, it's too expensive to eat here too often", continues Mr Fireplace.  Oh boy.  Thankfully, J's aunt noticed what was going on and so rudely butted in the conversation about expense.  LOL.  THANK YOU AUNTIE!  I used her talking as  my escape route and we headed right on out.  Think that's the end of it?  No.  Luckily, the next time he sees me, I'm in the back seat of the car as we're pulling out of the parking space.  J's aunt is laughing at me because I can't seem to get away from this strange man.  We pulled out and got into that awkward you-go-no-you-go car dance in the parking lot.  Thankfully we went the opposite way from him and got away.  Aunt laughing that whole time.  Thanks for the sympathy.  LOL 

Maybe he was just trying to be nice, but oh deary.  In many ways I'm just awkward, and that happens to be one of them.  I never know what to say.  I never know what to think in those situations.  Other than, "Where is that darn husband of mine?!  This wouldn't be happening if he were right next to me!"

Mr Fireplace aside, wonderful day.  Work hasn't been too bad either....
Happy Thanksgiving Eve folks.

I had an amazing weekend!

Yes, I realize that "weekend" typically means Saturday and Sunday, but alas..

My weekends are Sunday and Monday

Church Sunday was great.  I love feeling that refreshed feeling.  Like your soul has been washed.  I can't describe it very well. 

I'm excited that Advent is almost here!  It was a really special time for me as a kid.  We had an Advent Wreath and my brother and I would get so excited as each Sunday in Advent passed and we could light another candle.  3 purple candles, 1 pink, and finally on Christmas Day, one white candle.

Just something special about being able to celebrate the holiday of Jesus's birth.  

I had found potatoes on sale at Kroger for $4.49/10 pounds Saturday night.  I decided we'd have potato soup Sunday!  So, after church and lunch with the in-laws (at Red Robin...yuuummm.  Sorry, had to), J and I headed home to wash, peel, and cube 10 pounds of potatoes.  

Fun stuff, let me tell ya

Taught J how to make potato soup, he was a fabulous help and did most of the work.  It turned out delicious! 

One pot was too small!

It's pretty much all gone.  I think there's enough for maybe one big bowl left. YUM

Then it was off to the in-laws to take them our Season 4 Big Bang Theory and have a marathon and popcorn pig out!

Favorite show...EVER

Yesterday, I woke up and decided I wanted to be able to put up at least one tree with J.  You see, working law enforcement is a 365 day a year operation.  If your off days don't fall on a holiday, you better be the first the request off, of you're working.  So...I'm working until my next off day of Sunday.

J loves Christmas, like a kid loves Christmas.  And it's not the present part, it's the decorating part.  He loves it.  He gets the cutest smile on his face whenever he hears Christmas songs, sees a Christmas commercial, sees Christmas decorations.

J would have put up our trees and lights November 1st!  Luckily, we live with his grandmother and she was my backup and we were able to get him to wait.

So, off J and I went to dig our stuff out of the storage shed.

I wanted "my tree" put up, because I knew he wouldn't enjoy putting up mine.  He calls it "plain".  I call it, simple and beautiful!  lol.

See, I prefer clear lights, and a color theme.  This year's theme?

Blue and silver

Simple.  Clean.  Blue and Silver

J's mother got us a cute little Santa Fairy last year and I figured out the perfect place for him!

He's cute huh?

Off we went to a spur of the moment date.  And guys, get this...our first movie date.  Yes, we've been together over a year, married nearly 11 months (yes, we were together 3 months before getting married...when you know, you know), and we have never been on a movie date.

We decided to hit the dollar movie, and I'm so glad we did!  

The Help was still playing, and I've read the book but not seen the movie.  J had done neither, but graciously agreed and went with me.  Thank you, honey, little things like that mean the world

{via}

We laughed, and I nearly cried...even though I knew going in what was going to happen to each character.  J loved Minnie, and I loved listening to him laugh out loud.

We went from there to 

and got this amazing dessert:

{via}

We had an amazing date night.  Absolutely amazing.  

There is nothing better in this world than quality time spent with my wonderful husband!

This is NOT our Christmas card! lol

Yeah...I got a bit picture happy.  LOL

A Freebee I found

I found a Freebee! 

I mean, a $50 value Freebee!

While surfing Twitter

Follow me

I found where Mrs Monologues retweeted a great deal from 

{via}

It's a $49.99 value 8x10 canvas photo.  You only pay shipping of $14.95.  Does it get better than that?  Can you say CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THE CHEAP?!  

But, of course, I'm going to get us one too hehehe

I picked one from when we got married

One of my absolute favorites of us

You don't have to worry about a promo-code or anything.  Just pick the 8x10, it'll say FREE out beside it

I HAVE BEEN VINDICATED!!

In one of my first blog posts, I wrote about my OCD (diagnosed by Dr J, of course), especially concerning towels and the loading of the dishwasher...don't remember?  Catch up here.
I like to read the Yahoo headlines and saw this one: 10 dishwasher do's & dont's
Of course I read it.
As soon as I read #2, I emailed the husband...who thinks I'm crazy for being so OCD about the dishwasher!

2. Do load systematically according to manufacturer's instructions.
In general, the most effective way to load the washer is with plates in the bottom rack facing in toward the sprayer unit, glasses along the sides of the top rack, and flatware in the utensil basket. Nesting dishes or flatware to pack in more will not allow spray to clean them fully. 

VINDICATED!  (though, what up with dude's outfit?!)

And the email I sent to J as soon as I found the article...

OMG, Thank you, Yahoo!!
I am NOT crazy, I am NOT overly OCD!  and here is my big fat to you

http://shine.yahoo.com/cleaning/10-dishwasher-dos-don-8217-ts-181800671.html

And our ensuing conversation may have gone a little something like this:

J: Crazy

Me: What?

J: The yahoo thing

Me: I'm not crazy!!

Oh, and our holiday cards came in!!  After I went to work, however, and my dearest husband tells me they came.  I asked him to send me a pic, and nnnooooo, apparently I get to wait until I get home from work.  He did say he likes them, though!  Check out how we got our FREE photo Christmas cards, here.

Fact Friday

Fact...I'm an addict....a coffee addict.  If I don't have my cup of coffee in the morning, I do not wake up right and that just makes for a grumpy Amanda.

Fact...I'm passionate about what I believe in and how I feel.  Sometimes to a fault.

Fact...I'm loyal. No need to expand on that, I think the definition of loyal is enough

Fact...I'm sarcastic, it's hereditary; and I'm afraid I got a double dose

Fact...unless I'm driving, I'd rather text than talk on the phone. 

Fact...I take too many pictures.  I'm going to be devastated when my computer eats them all and they're all gone forever.  I really need to back them all up, again, soon.  Like, today

Fact...the hubs and I are pretty silly, add the dog in the mix and we're really silly...you want proof?

how did I end up in the bottom of this pile?

Fact...I've decided to become crafty.  I blame pinterest.  I enjoy it, a lot. 

See what I can do with hot glue and some pine cones? I'm pretty proud

Fact...I don't feel like I'm in my late 20s.  Holy crap, where does time go?!

Fact...I support my husband 1000%, no matter what he does.  I know that I am always his biggest concern and he just wants to do what's right by me and us.  I just want him to be happy and fulfilled in his life.

Fact...I'm a homebody.  I don't enjoy going out, I'm not much into drinking any more.  I never really drank that much anyway.  I seriously had 2 beers Sunday night and had tummy issues the entire next day.  #beerfail

Seriously Thursday

 

 I'm going to have one Seriously today...

And since I'm in the holiday spirit, making Christmas gifts and all, it fits.

Some form of this quote is floating around Facebook, I found the proper quote from Ben Stein here.  And, I love it.  It's pretty interesting, and entertaining...please read it all

Herewith at this happy time of year, a few confessions from my beating heart:

I have no freaking clue who Nick and Jessica are. I see them on the cover of People and Us constantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They never know who Nick and Jessica are either. Who are they? Will it change my life if I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why are they so important? I don't know who Lindsay Lohan is, either, and I do not care at all about Tom Cruise's wife.

Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if I am a subversive? Maybe, but I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are. Is this what it means to be no longer young. It's not so bad.

Next confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was  Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him?

 I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

Yeah, this was written in 2005, but it still screams so many things I want to scream.  GET OVER IT, it is, always has been, always will be, a CHRISTMAS TREE!  

America is known to be a mostly Christian country, so Christmas trees will be more predominant.  

Anyway, I won't go on and on, I think Mr Stein said it very well! 

What I'm loving Wednesday

{via}

What I'm loving Wednesday...My guys

 Sullivan was being really snuggly with his daddy this morning.  Sat like this all snoodled up with J for about 20 minutes.  If you knew my little Sully, you'd know that little monster doesn't sit still very long.  He's rather hyper active.

I love these two...they kinda make my world go 'round

Absolutely sharing this with ya'll!!

 

 Becky, over at From Mrs to Mama, posts fabulous deals that she finds.  Since she has a little one, and I don't, I don't usually find her deals to personally help me.  However, I still read them.  Thank goodness I did today! 

We're on a tight budget right now, who isn't in these economic times, so I wasn't thinking we'd send out any cards this year.  Well, folks, FREE fits into our budget.  And by free, I mean 100% absolutely totally free.  

click here

Seriously, go to mypublisher.com, it is so easy.  At checkout, put in HAPPY10FREE

It worked, and was so so easy.  The hardest thing was to choose which pics I was going to use!  I'm excited!  The envelopes come....free...they even print your return address on the envelope for you!  Does it get any better than that?!

I'm going to go back to the site later, another pay day, and order more.  And actually pay for them lol.  I will always visit a place that will give me something free without having me pay for anything! 

Week 2, 30 Days of Thanks

 

7.  My job.  Yeah, I know, everyone has complaints and I know I do too.  But, my self imposed blog-rules keep you from knowing those complaints!  LOL  No, really.  In all seriousness, I'm thankful for my job.  I get to do something I love, something I truly enjoy.  My job challenges me, teaches me, forces me to see that the world isn't just what's right in front of my face, in my little world. 

yup, me hard at work

8.  Coffee...without which, I can be a raging bitch unpleasant.  And I'm not a coffee snob...I'll drink just about anything unflavored and caffeinated...with sugar, no cream, thanks.   Seriously, it helps me function.  I'm like a crack-addict.  I was surfing facebook the other morning, waiting on my coffee to brew and I read my bff Ashley's post about Veteran's Day.  I swear to you, I read, "I remember seeing the guys in their white dress"...talking about seeing the guys on the Naval Post near our old home town.  So, I left a comment, saying that I was totally confused.  I look at the post today, and clear as day it reads, "guys in their dress whites"  So, you see...prior to my morning coffee, I'm apparently dyslexic.  And a grumpy witch.  But that's another story

9.  I am thankful for any military serviceman or woman.  Without these people, we wouldn't have the freedoms we have.  I wouldn't be able to blog about being thankful for freedom!  lol  Even those who, like my husband, attempted to join, made it into boot camp and were sent home for medical reasons.  I still applaud any of them who were sent home, because they TRIED...which is more than a lot of people can say.  

10.  My cell phone.  Yeah, it's the little things.  Haha.  I can't say I'm thankful for my phone service provider, but hey, who loves their service that much?

11.  Pistachios.  Yup.  I'm pretty thankful for pistachios.  SO delicious.  I think I could eat my weight in pistaccios. 

{via}

12. (totally cheating here and going to go with another nut) Boiled Peanuts.  OMG, those things are amazing.  thebomb.com amazing.  Yup, I said it.  thebomb.com. 
I made J turn the car around when I saw a gas station with a sign, "We sell boiled peanuts".  He'd never had any.  You've-lived-in-Alabama-all-your-life SAY WHAT?!  I marched in the store, opened the crock pot...yes, I dipped boiled peanuts out of a crock pot full of black water, in a convenience store.  I can't believe it either.  Spooned my treasure into a Styrofoam cup, paid the lady $1.some, and marched happy self back out to the car.  I was SO excited, ya'll!  I promptly cracked on open, and gave it to J.  Very hesitantly he put it in his mouth and chewed.  Verdict?  He couldn't stand them!  HAHAHAHAHA.  I ate them, and loved them.  I was so stuffed.  Amazzzzzzzing.  

13.  My past.  Yup, I'm thankful for all of the mistakes, all of the stumbles, all of the missteps.  If I hadn't experienced it all, I wouldn't be who I am today.  And, that person, is someone I'm happy with.

Seriously Thursday

 

Seriously...Things are looking up for J, opportunities are starting to unfold.  Please keep praying for direction and guidance for us.  Soon enough I'll fill everyone in...as soon as the unfolding occurs!  Lol.  I don't want to jinx anything

Seriously...J is hilarious.  I told him that something will shake loose out of these opportunities.  He said, "I don't count my chickens before they hatch...I don't count them until they have feathers.  And not that chick fuzz either, real feathers"  

Seriously...I'm really missing my true friends right now.  I'm tired of wishy washy people who get their feelings hurt or wear their feelings on their sleeves.  

Seriously...I just have days where I want to be left alone.  The older I get, the less I want to deal with people.  I think I'm going to become a hermit in my old age.  I'll just want my husband and my dog.  LOL

Seriously...Don't take it personal

Seriously...Will my hair ever grow to long enough to be able to do these too-cute-hairstyles on pinterest?  My hair is anywhere from half an inch to two inches too short for 90% of the haistyles I want to try.  

Seriously...My arm is bothering me again...aaaahhhh, the glories of Ulnar Neuropathy.  Sadly, if I have to have more surgery, that will mean more scars on my arm and these would be more noticeable because they'd be further down on my arm.  Bleh.  I guess I need to make and keep an appointment with my neurologist if this keeps up.

Seriously...DANG it got cold all of a sudden this evening/tonight!!

Seriously...Taylor Swift, CMA Entertainer of the Year?  Really?  Over Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, and Blake Shelton?!  Are you kidding me?!  I could live the rest of my life perfectly content without hearing her poppy, nasally, crybaby songs.  UGH!  SHUT UP TAYLOR SWIFT!  Kanye may have been rude, but he wasn't off base.

Seriously...If it isn't obvious, I'm a big country music fan.  Male country artist mostly, I like very few female artists.  Loved Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton's performances

Seriously...We had unannounced house guests that ruined my CMA viewing.  Amanda was not a happy camper.   Boo

Seriously...I'm tired of watching people get things that they haven't earned.  That's all I'm going to say about that, because then I would violate my own rules of blogging

Seriously...I found this today on Pinterest, and wow is it the truth or what?!

{via}

Ponytail weekend...Part 2

Ponytail weekend Part 1 here

J and I were slow to get up Monday morning, but knew we wanted to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather.  We've been wanting to go hiking for some time, but always have something come up.  Usually weather of course!
We headed off to a trail I've hiked twice before and he had never been to.  It's not a hard hike up the mountain, but it's still slightly challenging...something we both like.  It was early afternoon, but with the time change, we wanted to get to the top and enjoy the view and spend a little bit of time on our walk down.  The hike up took about 45 minutes, we sat up top for about 30 minutes and took our time coming down.  We beat the sunset!  I wish we could have stayed up there to watch the sunset, but I'm just not a fan of the idea of being in the woods in the dark!  Maybe we can take a few flashlights next time!

beautiful fall leaves...made for a slippery trail

other than this being a phone pic, I have no idea why it's blurry like that

My love found a rock and climbed on it.  I love his enthusiasm for life

 And, tell me how it is that J and I both got up, just threw on clothes: me mascara only hair in a ponytail, a long sleeved tshirt and old blue jeans, and him a flannel button up and ball cap...how is it that he looks great and I look, well, less than fabulous!  AAAAHHH, men!  lol

At the top, on the east side of the mountain

East side of the mountain, wish I could edit out the power lines

You can see into the next county, it's gorgeous

West side of the mountain, and my favorite side

I love the sun's rays

We decided to climb out on a few rocks that jutted out on the side of the mountain, as you can see, we were pretty high up.  We were above all of the trees below us. 

J climbing down to climb up

I love him!

He really enjoyed himself, he's so content out there

While we sat there, we counted 8 ladybugs on us!  If you don't know the story of ladybugs being good luck, read here. 

legs dangling over the side, lady bugs all over, but this is the only one I snapped

Not sure what happened with this pic, but J really enjoyed hanging out up there

Last pic before getting back in the car

We really enjoyed ourselves, and are hoping to get to go every weekend, weather permitting. 
I hope I didn't break anyone's computers with my less-than-made-up-face LOL!!