Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Good-bye Good Stuff...Hello Healthy Stuff

Many of you know me and some don't know me "well", so let me fill you in...I HATE WATER!! Yes, I know it's healthy for you and yes, I know it makes you feel more alive and yes, I work for a water company. In the years past, every time someone (mom) would say, "Amanda you really don't need to be drinking that, you will feel a lot better if you cut back on soft drinks", it was all just an annoying buzzing in my ears!! I didn't care and I love my soft drinks. I've tried "Diet" and it made me want to vomit....NO THANK YOU! Well, I have suffered from migraines for a couple of years. I've tried everything. Even went to a Specialist. He gave me some medicine and told me to cut back on soft drinks. Well, I did and the pills seemed to work somewhat but at the same time I was getting a different kind of headache, I was guessing it was from the lesser lack of caffeine. Well, I eventually eased back into the same amount of soft drinks and eating how I wanted. I am not an incredibly bad eater but I do eat more pizza and fried things than I should.

Well, long story short, I have changed my ways! I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago and he wasn't at all happy with me. 1) I've gained more weight then I should, 2) My blood pressure was out the roof. My blood pressure was 160/116 (not good at all). I can say that I was very nervous about this appointment but still that bp just isn't good....I know that! I don't want to die so I've got to get it under control. I was told at 19 that I had high blood pressure and that they needed to put me on medicine. I had a really bad attack at work at 19 and they had to call Kyle to take me to the doctor, after that I was supposed to take a pill every day. High Blood Pressure is something I get from my Dad (and about 100 other things!!) I took the pills like I was supposed to, then everything stayed where it was supposed to so they winged me off. Now, I am back on them for good. So I determined after this doctor's appointment to say bye-bye to soft drinks and hello water!! I've not had a soft drink since Saturday and I've been drinking my weight in water. (I actually think a little too much). I've cut back on my meals, replaced snack foods with grapes, bananas and apples...Mmmm!! I've got to go back to the Dr on March 9 and I am hoping to be a few pounds lighter. Even if the pounds don't fall right off...I am HAPPY, feel more alive and I am taking control!!! PS, Checked my blood pressure today (She actually checked twice because it wasn't normal for me) 100/84 (Yay me!)

I realize I need to be around for a couple of years!! If something would happen to me, who would you all pick on??

GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (just added for my friends)

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Something I swore I would never do....

...Would be to attend a Carolina Themed Party. But the bad thing is...I helped throw the party!! Today, my best friend of 20 years had a baby shower!! I am so happy for her and so blessed to have her in my life. I can't wait for little Clayton Thomas Lowe to come into this world. He is going to be so spoiled and so loved!!! Michelle (another good friend from school) and Joy's 2 sisters and I got together to throw her a party. It went very well. She got some much stuff...and a lot of it was Tarheels *YUCK*!

JOY AND THE UNC TABLE

AMANDA, JOY, MICHELLE

UNC TABLE
UNC PASTA

I love this girl so much. She is my very best friend, the girl who know EVERYTHING about me, and the girl that makes me laugh and smile no matter what. She has been there for me since 1st grade...She's had my back so many times (not talking about fights, but talking about bailing me out of Spelling tests)! I couldn't imagine my life with out her. When I got pregnant, she never judged me and never turned her back on me. Same with her parents...they are as "real" as it gets! In fact, she throw me a baby shower at her house and then we had a sleepover....Oh the fun we had!! Although she played a horrible game at my shower and I wasn't allowed to play it at hers...The guessing of the string around the belly!! I think her string was
5' long!!!
ME, DAD & JOY-2ND GRADE

Anyway, I had a wonderful day with my very best friend!! I love you, Joy!! And Clayton, I love you already!! *Joy you will always be my PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY, PINNAPPLE, CHOCOLATE MILK, CHEETOS, OATMEAL COOKIE, CAROLINA LOVIN' FRIEND!!!!!!
JOY AND I ON TWIN DAY


CRAZY HAT DAY


PHASE 10 CHAMPIONS



Saturday, February 14, 2009

Little note from me...

Happy Valentine's Day!!! Remember to dwell on the real reason for love....Jesus died for us!!
Enjoy your day with your special loved ones!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

God's Love, Man's Love

As Valentine's Day is approaching I can't help but think about love. This day is set aside each year for love. I use this day as a reminder of the greatest love and the greatest gift anyone can receive. Many people only think about this gift and this great love at Christmas time but why not at this holiday? If it wasn't for God's love, I wouldn't be here and I sure wouldn't know where my future lies. So my one true valentine is Jesus my Lord.

My other sweet valentine is my very best friend, Kyle Phelps!! He stole my heart 6 1/2 years ago and I find myself each day falling more and more in love with him. I am still falling head over heels in love with him. And I know that I couldn't have this love for him if I hadn't learned the true meaning of love. My God did not only teach me love but He showed me love and He introduced love to me. Even though I made a mistake 8 years ago, He forgave me and then created a pathway for Kyle and I to meet. I am so thankful that the Lord had a marvelous plan and in that plan was the meeting of Amanda Koonts and Kyle Phelps. I am one lucky girl!

My Little Valentine is none other than my baby boy...Oops, my big boy!! Without Logan, I honestly can say I would be lost. I grew up so much when I found out I was going to be a mommy. My life changed that year...but it changed for the better. I remember Valentine's Day 2001, when I thought that no one loved me because I sinned, but then my daddy took me out on a date and the whole time we were gone, Logan was kicking in my belly. At that moment I felt loved, needed and forgiven. And I knew that everything would be okay.


So this is why I chose to reflect on God's love...not Man's love. Because if it wasn't for my Heavenly Father, there wouldn't be any love in this world. God loved me, forgave me, loved me again and blessed me with a WONDERFUL family.
I am one LUCKY girl!!! I have four wonderful men in my life...My Lord, My Dad, My Husband, My Son....THANK YOU LORD!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Never leave your partner behind.....


Yesterday was an awesome day. The Lord blessed us with great weather (70 degrees in Feb) and it just turned out to be a wonderful day. We started out the day by going to lunch at Longhorn. Kyle's mother's birthday was on Thursday and the family decided to take her out to eat and she wanted to go bowling. So we all met at the restaurant for lunch. After a long time at the restaurant and several mistakes on the bill, we finally got out and headed to Creekside Lanes. I had reserved two lanes, one with bumpers for the kids and then one for the adults. Thank goodness they put us in the lane beside the tv...DUKE was playing!! The 3 grandkids and Grandma Donna bowled on the one with bumpers. Logan doesn't need the bumpers, he is actually really good (must be from the wii). Logan ended up beating everyone on that lane. I only bowled one game...I was to busy watching the Duke game to pay attention. Even though I was putting all my attention to the Duke game, I was still able to beat Kyle!!! That was all that mattered to me!! Kyle bowled in the second game and his ending score was still lower than mine....So I am the winner!! Oh yeah...Duke won too!

Later that night we headed to the showing of Fireproof that our church presented at North Davidson High School. We had already seen the movie but couldn't pass up the chance to watch it again. The demand for the movie was so overwhelming that Union Grove had to show it twice. I find that amazing. The 3:00 showing was full but the 6:00 was packed, no entry without a ticket!! I know that the Lord was glorified and that lives were touched and marriages were saved last night.

Kyle's sister, Amanda had offered to keep Logan for us. So Logan went home with them after we left the bowling alley. Logan had a great time playing over there. When we got there to pick him up, we got suckered into playing Phase 10. Phase 10 is our favorite game!! So we stayed and played. It was a great ending to a great day!!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

The title of my blog says it all....



Moments + Family + Memories = Blessed beyond belief.



I love my son more than words or actions could ever express. On Wednesday, February 4th, I chose to take a vacation day. It snowed the night before and I called off not because I couldn't make it into work but because I wanted a day of peace and a day to enjoy my son. My son is almost 8 and he is growing up so fast. I've come to realize and understand that God may not give us another child so I need to spend every possible time with the one that He has given us. I know that I was probably talked about at work or I figured I would catch some grief today but that was a price I was willing to take. As I look at it, they are my vacation days and I can use them however I please. I've never called in just to be off. It was a choice that I am so happy that I made.

There wasn't a lot of snow and it sure didn't pack very well but it was enough to have fun in. We got all suited up and headed outside, just the 2 of us. I tried to snap some pictures but it was rather hard to do because I was trying to dodge snowballs. Like I said, it didn't pack very well so he had to stand very close to me to hit me. We had so much fun!! Logan made snow angels, loved going down the slide, chased me around the house. We were pushing each other down in the yard...Just acting like kids! He tried to swing on his swing...And believe it or not, it broke!! I told him it was because he was fat...He died laughing at that! So don't try to swing on a swing after it's been frozen!!

I just had a wonderful, peaceful day making memories with the one that I love!! I am so thankful to God for giving him to me. I know that I wasn't worthy to be his mother but I know how blessed I am! I am living every day to it's fullest...camera in hand! Thank you Lord for my blessings!