Two Thousand Twelve Review

I haven’t really gone into too much of my personal life on this blog, but I’m in the mood to write about personal life tonight. Now if I actually post this or not, will be a whole other story, so if your reading this, I guess this means I went through with posting. J

I was told that the way you ring in the New Year is the way you spend your year ahead. I rang in 2011 sick with a nasty stomach virus and ended up sick probably 6 more times that year! My friend *C* said she started 2011 at work, running around, and not making any money (she works in a tipped position, as a waitress) and hardly made any money in 2011. So our group of four UPG girls decided we were going to ring in 2012 together. It just so happens that *J* and her boyfriend had a New Years Party! We had so much fun!  I had really high hopes for 2012, this was going to be a great year, with great things happening, but unfortunately, it just doesn’t seem to be in the cards. (Yes- I’m aware it is only October, however, this year has been filled with much more heartache and pain than happy memories. Read on to see why I feel justified in being ready for 2013!!)

It all started January 1, 2012 with my Grandmother, who has COPD, as well as a lung cancer survivor, woke up and could not breathe. My grandmother ended up in the hospital more than she was home in 2012 and sadly passed away May 9, 2012. Some days it does not seem real that she is gone and some days it feels like forever since I have talked to her. I miss her constant nagging over small things, yelling at me for only ever cooking frozen pizza for dinner, and her incessant use of the word “WHATEVER”.  I used to get annoyed with her constant questions, about everything!! I spent a lot of time watching her the beginning part of this year, and I’m very grateful for that time we had together, although there were some really rough times, as she became severely depressed, we had some laughs in there as well.

In March, I was able to take a fabulous vacation to Europe with Candy as my travel buddy! We went to Paris, France, then London, England (where we witnessed Amy and Andy say their vows to each other on the Tower Bridge) and ended our trip in the gorgeous Irish countryside.

In May, eight days after my grandmother passed on, and six days after we laid her to eternal rest, Matt and I flew to Barcelona, Spain to catch a Cruise to celebrate his younger sister marry Paul, our new brother in law. The cruise was a new experience for sure. I’m not sure if I would ever do another cruise in my life. If I did, it would have to be a Caribbean cruise before any other! I would also consider doing an Alaskan Cruise, as that is on my bucket list!!

In July my Grandfather was scheduled to have surgery to remove polyps from his colon. It was to be a few day stay in the hospital. It was apparent a few days into his stay things were not progressing as they should have been. He couldn’t eat and looked as though he was 9 months pregnant, as his stomach was that bloated with gas he was not able to pass. My grandfather is a small man and he looked miserable. The doctors eventually found out he had a kink in his Intestines and had to have a second surgery to untwist the kink. He ended up staying in the hospital well over 2 weeks. He missed witnessing my cousin Andy marry his lovely wife Rachel. I had a wonderful time at their wedding! Everything was so laid back and so well put together! They had a fun photo booth, adorable decorations, and used mason jars with your name on them for the favors/drink cup for the night! Oh and they even had a caterer who looked like Santa Clause and had my adorable (then) three year old niece on her best behavior!!

Two weeks after Andy and Rachel said their vows, Alex and Liz joined the ‘marriage club’.  Everything turned out wonderful at their wedding as well! It was stressful for ALL the last few days leading up to the wedding, but it all came together and everything was great! Everyone had such a good time!!

Sadly, Grandma was not the only loved one family members lost this year. My youngest brother lost his best friend, Ralphie, in a tragic car accident on October 3. That was one of the most horrifying nights ever. My brothers wife was on the fire call and didn’t know if my brother was in the car with Ralph or not, as they had been out together. My mom got a call to go look for him, and her and I found him, sleeping in his truck in front of Ralph’s house. Seeing the pain and anguish as the reality set in he had lost his best friend was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to watch. Any life lost is hard to handle, but a young life, in such an unexpected, tragic way is much worse.

My mother lost her father when she was 16 years old in a car accident. Her father, James, was a twin to John, who lives in Alabama. My mother found out that John’s wife (her aunt), Willodeen, passed away on October 15, 2012 (Coincidentally the two year anniversary of my Great Grandmother Frye‘s death, whom I still miss everyday).   The circumstances surrounding her she found out about Willodeen are quite unique and what has prompted me to write this post!

There was rumors told to my Maternal Grandmother after my Maternal Grandfather, James’, death. It was rumored that he and his twin were not in fact the biological children of his parents James and Kathryn.  My mom had tried to research it a few years ago, but all she could come up with was a birth certificate issued for her father with James and Kathryn as his parents. The odd things was the birth certificate was issued at the age of three. That couple with the fact there were no pictures of my grandfather and his twin until they were about 3 years old made my mother and her family very suspicious, however, they never proceeded to investigate further.

On Sunday, October 21, 2012, my mom received a call she never expected in a million years. The man identified himself as a Trumbull who lived in Virginia and he called to say he was calling because her father had been adopted at the age of three and his biological sister was trying to find him. The gentleman explained that he had met, Maxine, at a Trumbull family reunion over Labor Day, and he himself was a retired genealogist and still liked to compile family trees in his spare time. He was very intrigued by Maxine’s story about how she found all of her siblings except for her twin brothers, who were a year younger than she was.

The guy from Virginia was able to trace that Walter and George Armstrong had their first names changed at the time of adoption as well as their last names. Once he found they were changed to John and James Hess- he found my mother and contacted her.
My mother has since spoken to her Aunt Maxine and we will be meeting that side of the family on November 11- Eeeeeek- Neevous but really excited!!!!

{Does anyone else think this sounds like something out of a movie?}

So, although much of 2012 has been less than ideal- I'm quite looking forward to the last two months, and I'm ready for 2013- now to just bring on the New Years Resolutions!!

Holiday & On-Line Shopping!

If anyone out there needs a Halloween Costume check out Amazon's Selection! Order now and you can have it in time for Halloween- but HURRY- time's running out!!

Amazon Halloween Shopping


P.S.- Any suggestions for me if I decide to go out?


Don't forget its never too early to start thinking about Gifts for the Winter holidays! Start with Amazon- everything is shipped right to your door (or theirs) without the stress of the crowds at the mall!! Click below to start shopping now!!

Shop Amazon- 2012 Holiday Toy List

Until Next Time,

Amanda

Life gets in the way of Blogging

It's hard to believe it is October already! Not only October, but the 18th already!!! Time sure does fly!!

I have started probably 5 blog posts to update on the house, and never finished a single one of them. My saying lately has been 'I suck at life' and I'm pretty sure my lack of follow through for posting is another notch in the 'Suck' column!

We ARE living in our unfinished house! Woo Hoo- maybe?!? I'm so grateful to be living here finally, but I'm also frustrated because none of my closets have shelves so I can't put anything away, so I have boxes and stacks of clothes everywhere! I only have one finished countertop in my kitchen, the rest are going to be pored concrete but I need to go with Adam to order the edging and stain, but we never have time, I have been eating microwaveable and toaster oven food for the past two weeks--- BLAH! I can't wait to get my DOUBLE ( yes,TWO!!!!!!) oven hooked up and my kitchen Island built and the cooktop installed on top!

While so much progress has been made, there is still so much more to go!!

In news other than the house, I've been busy working for Alex up at Monticue Sales and Service! I'm starting to learn more and more- which makes me more productive around the shop! Anyone need a tractor? Now is the time to buy!! End of the season Sales happening now!! If you know anyone who is in the market, tell the to call me!
In addition to working at the shop I'm still watching my 4 year old niece 'Sparkles' every other Tuesday and every Thursday! Tonight Sparkles and I are going to meet my friend April and her little guy H for dinner. Yummy Pizza!! That's all for now! More updates soon!