Greetings!

Hello there my fellow bloggers!  This is something new for me.  I used to blog in "Yahoo 360 land" but haven't had an outlet since.  I truly believe that blogging, or putting your words down somewhere is extremely therapeutic and allows people into your life. 

I'll begin by sharing a bit about myself in case we're just meeting.  My name is Amy.  People usually call me, "Aim".  My brother Dan however, has special privileges to call me "AC".  lol  I come from a divorced home, raised by my single Mother-who I might say so myself did a fantastic job!  She had to endure a lot and I put her through a lot, but we made it.  I have 3 brothers on my "Mom's side" I call it...Dan, Rick, and Chris.  On my "Dad's side" (note: I do not really know any of them, sadly) I have 6 brothers.....Randy, Chuck, Robin, Barry, Brian, and Darren.  My brother Barry has unfortunately passed away at a very young age.  That would be a total of 9 brothers.  Yes I am the only girl out of both parents.  My dad left when I was about 4 years old?  Not sure on that though..around there anyway. 

I grew up (physically-lol) and married my best friend, Mike.  We've known each other since I was 5 years old.  My Aunt and Uncle were very good friends with his Mom and Dad.  All of Mike's parents families live in Southern Illinois, so they always came to our Holiday picnics and such.  Then of course, I'd see him here and there throughout life...at the Morris pool...then in high school, he attended Grundy Area Vocational Center during the same time block as me.  He was a big teaser/joker.  Still is.  One of the main reasons I love him so much-you need laughter in your life!  We began dating after my cousin Erica, (my Aunt and Uncle that Mikes parents were friends withs daughter) got married and the whole family attended the wedding...except Mike.  He was visiting family in S Illinois and drowning in his sorrows over the end of a previous relationship.  When he returned from his trip, he was informed that I was at the wedding without a date and so it began.  He called me, we hit it off right away, and we went out on our first date, August 20, 1993 and never looked back.  We dated for 5 years, were engaged for 2 1/2 years, and were married, October 10, 1998.  Best day of my life!  It was absolutely beautiful!   Mike had saved for a down payment on a house...so we had purchased a house a few months prior to our wedding together...he also had gotten a dog a couple months prior to our wedding...our family was all set! 

Our dog, "princess" and "spoiled rotten" Brandy, was a beautiful red/cinnamon coated Chow Chow.  Mike got her for FREE from a neighbor.  Poor girl had been passed between a couple owners and was only a year and 1/2 old.  It was definitely an answered prayer because she fit right in with us!  She has recently passed, Friday, October, 8, 2010.  She was 14.  She lived a very happy life (we think..) and we enjoyed her companionship, dictatorship (haha-she ran the show around our house!) , and funny antics very much! 

We also have been told we cannot...I cannot...bear children.  We got pregnant in 2002 and had a miscarriage at 7 weeks.  We went through lots of obviously unsuccessful fertility treatments and now have decided it's all in God's hands.  Whatever His will may be.

Which brings me to who I really am.  I am a Christian.  I believe...wait, I know that I know, that I know...I am saved by grace through faith in Christ.  I will spend my eternity in Heaven.  My Savior, Jesus Christ, died on the cross for my/your sins so that I/you could have this "eternal life" in Heaven.  Being a Christian, I'm certainly by any means NOT perfect.  I make mistakes, I sin...BUT I have forgiveness and mercy and grace and the Holy Spirit, Who has been sent to dwell inside me by Jesus Christ until His return, to guide me and convict me and change me to be more like Him and to share Him with others..so YOU can have this too.  Without Him, I don't know how I would EVER have gotten through my miscarriage...the loss of our beloved Brandy...and just everyday disappointments and struggles.  He died for me, so I should live for Him! 

That about sums me up for now.  I will be back.  This has helped already!  Yay!  I look forward to meeting some great new friends! 

Thanks for reading my "going's on"......

Keep on goin' on!

~Aim