With a (Liz) Wink and a Smile!!!

I wasn't going to post before Christmas, but this Liz Wink is just too darn cute to NOT share (ofcourse, what Liz Winks aren't cute...they are all just in God's perfect timing and Liz's unique ability to always put a smile on my face!! This Liz Wink involves my dear friend, Katie (my maid of honor). I think Liz and God were helping her out to help me out and she didn't even know it.

Well, God (and Liz) have a way of just "doing things" and continuing to bless me!! For the last few weeks, I was needing both a Liz Wink and a Calendar (but not at the same time or for the same reasons...LOL!)!

So, our friend Ryan (best man @ our wedding) went to the airport today to fly back home (Va) for Christmas. So, he dropped his vehicle off at our house while he's gone (since we will be picking him up from the airport next week). Meanwhile, we couldn't take him to the airport today so another friend of ours took him to the airport (so that Ryan could leave his vehicle here at our house). That friend came back and apparently left Ryan's car keys on the table on our front deck. So, I guess he called my hubby (Aaron) to let him know. So, Aaron called me and asked me to grab the keys out on the deck. OK. Well, I stepped outside to get the keys and low-and-behold there is a package for me from my friend with a PINK envelope (my Liz Wink...I needed that for this biochem class I'm taking, along with my job situation)!! I opened the present and was blown away by the contents! A 2009 calendar with pictures of me and Aaron!!!!!!!!!!! OMG..I have been "trying" to "make" a 2009 calendar with wedding pics for WEEKS now and have failed miserably (my inability to be creative)!!! But wouldn't ya know...Katie, God and Liz ALL came through (with help from Liz on this idea...no doubt)! She knew I needed both the PINK Liz Wink and the Calendar with pics of me and Aaron!!! How incredibly cool is that?!

Here are some pics of the calendar:

Thank you a million, Katie! I LOVE it and will treasure it forever!!!! I'm so fortunate to have a friend like you!!

Now, for those of you that do not know Katie...she is getting married in November. BUT...not just any day in November, she is getting married on November 14 (which is Liz's heaven Anniversary). I got married on Liz's b-day and my friend (and Maid-of-Honor) Katie is getting married on Liz's "heaven anniversary". Katie didn't even realize that was the date for Liz's anniversary until I told her, but it's so meant to be and we are so excited and know that Liz will be watching over Katie and her fiance' Nick for years to come!

Incase I don't update again before Christmas, I hope everyone has a VERY Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love,

Amanda

(Happy Advent) leading to a Merry Christmas/Happy New Year!

Hello Friends & Family,


Well, there is a fresh blanket of snow on the ground as I type this blog, so I thought it fitting to post my Christmas letter! :) Here goes:

Dear Friends & Family,
Greetings from the brand new Phillips Household!! As you all know, we were married on June 14 and now settled into our roles as husband and wife.

Our wedding was perfect. All of Amanda’s family came from North Dakota for the wedding and much of Aaron’s family joined us from Colorado, Kansas. Many of our friends that came to the wedding currently live in Colorado and we were blessed with all the love from all family and friends. One special friend, Katie (Amanda's Maid of Honor) flew in from Minneapolis with her boyfriend, Nick. Katie did everythin in her power to make sure that Amanda and Aaron had the perfect wedding. She flew in to Colorado on a few occasions before the "bid day" just to have some fun "hang out" time. She planned Bridal Showers and Bachelorette Parties all the way from Minneapolis and even flew in for Amanda's b-day in Jan to help finish up dress shopping and other "wedding stuff". She really is a God-send and we were so blessed to have a friend like Katie!! The wedding was a fun-filled day with a honeymoon in Mexico which we left for on the 18th of June and stayed for 7 days. It is so hard to believe that it has been 6 months to-the-day since the day of our wedding as this letter is being typed. Where does time go?!

Aaron is keeping busy with his business. He had a minor set back with his back. Thankfully, the Dr has agreed to watch this for a year and treat with Physical Therapy. If his back is not better in 12 mos, then he will need surgery. We pray this does not happen. He started his own business “AP-Rentals & Repairs, LLC”. He still does warranty work on homes and also helps out his dad as well. Even more so, Aaron will begin taking on an entire new role in January, 2009. Aaron will be going college taking up Radiology Tech. With the economy the way it is, he finds Radiology Tech to be a very secure area of work. He will do very well with this since he is so good with people and just genuinely caring. The program will take about 2 years and this is an adventure long in the works! We are both very excited for this journey that God wants us to take. He will continue to help his dad while he attends school.

Amanda is still with UAP however, things are ever changing for her with the company. Last December (2007) UAP was bought out by Agrium and through these last 12 months since the announcement, Amanda’s job has been up-in-the-air. It was finally announced in October that her position is being eliminated. However, thanks to her wonderful colleagues at UAP, she was able to transition into a brand new role with the company as an Inventory Accountant. She is very excited about this new challenge and welcomes this opportunity. Amanda’s health (Sjogren’s) has been a roller coaster all year long with many rounds of prednisone and chemo to keep things under control. This is nothing new to us, so we continue to go through the motions and Fully Rely on God to get us through each flare-up.

We look back on 2008 with a variety of emotions and events from weddings, to health, to job changes and school. We cannot wait to see what 2009 brings and whatever happens we know is God’s Glory so we must do His Will and keep smiling!! We pray that you find yourselves doing the same thing remembering this time of year what life is really all about. How Mary must have felt as she gave birth to the Savior of all. We think of those who eternally celebrate Christmas with Jesus each year as they are no longer on this earth. We rejoice with the hope that we will see them again because of the birth of Our Savior! May God Bless You All and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love,
Amanda & Aaron


Aaron and I are staying put in Colorado this year for Christmas. We are spending our first Christmas as a married couple alone...just the two of us and I find a sense of peace and calm with knowing that.

Well, it's time for church so I better wrap this up. Take care and hope this finds everyone having a very Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Amanda

Learning More about Blogging Everyday!

Hello Friends & Family!
Well, I seem to always learn more about blogging and the websites associated with it, etc. Recently I came across TheBlogFrog.com. In short, TheBlogFrog shares a tiny excerpt from your blog (if you wish) and then can link you to others with your interests or even those from your school's, etc! Pretty neat! :) I'll update shortly with another post...so much going on lately and lots to update on before Christmas! :) Love and prayers to all!
Amanda

Tis the Season...

Hello friends!
Well, once again it has been a while since I've updated. I just feel like there's so much to write on that I guess I get a little overwhelmed with it all. First...Aaron had his appt with the back surgeon on Nov 26. The verdict on surgery..."yes and no"! The dr said surgery is needed. Aaron asked if he could try PT. The dr agreed to that, so Aaron will have PT 2x/week for a year with x-rays every 6 months. He will be re-examined at the x-ray dates and if the vertebrae has moved at all, then surgery will be a must...but it gives us both a year.

Now, Thanksgiving! I just LOVE this time of year! Aaron and I help out with the Turkey Trot (5k run to raise money for heart disease). The Northern Colo Medical Center Cardiac Dept puts this on and Aaron and I work the Timing/Scoring side of it. Sure, we have to wake up early on a holiday, but it really is a lot of fun! There were over 2,000 runners and the entire race from start to finish lasted about 2 hours...not bad. Then we went to Aaron's parents to eat and the food was wonderful! Aaron's sister, brother-in-law, nieces, some cousins, his aunt/uncle and parents were there. Ate a lot and then watched football...always fun! :)

I ended up gettging really sick the rest of the weekend, so I didn't even get out of bed Friday-Sunday. I was glad to be feeling good on Turkey Day itself. :)

Now we are onto Advent and preparing for Christmas. We are getting new carpet this year (on Sunday), so I have to wait with the decorating until after that. But that's OK because this week is finals week for me and that has be busy to my very core. So, I will decorate when finals are done.

And speaking of blessings and thanksgiving, I'm just reminded how very blessed we are! There are blessings happening all around us! One of which I might mention is going to happen on Dec 26th. Our dear friends Ryan and Janie will have their marriage blessed in the church. They have been waiting for an annulment to go through and they finally got word in October that it indeed has been approved and they will be getting their marriage blessed! We are SO excited for them! We have been praying for them non-stop for the last 2 years and our prayers have been answered! And speaking of blessings and marriage, my dear friend Katie got engaged on Nov 5th! :) No date set yet, but she deserves all the happiness in the world and I am so glad she has found someone who is so right for her! We rejoice that the prayers have been answered for Ryan and Janie, and for Nick and Katie!

Ryan and Janie (on the left ofcourse) :)

Nick and Katie

Aaron and I are thankful for so much! Especially during this time of official "recession". We both have full-time jobs, a warm house and food to eat. We get to celebrate Christmas and the REAL meaning of it and on top of it...our first Christmas as a married couple! It's so wonderful!

Ok my dear loved ones...this has been quite the update. I hope to post with some pictures soon once the house is decorated. Until then, enjoy this time with those you love and count your blessings (whatever they may be).

Love,
Amanda