still here

Here I am (rock you like a hurricane - which reminds me of guitar hero right now). Anyway, everyone's like, "Amber where are you?" "Amber where have you been?"  I'm right here. No need to cry.

 This is my last semester! yay!  And I'm getting married the week after I graduate lol.  On Tuesday, February 5, I have my recital in Cornwell Reed rm 211 at 7pm.  All are welcome. Let me know if you plan to come! (My aunt is making cookies for the after-reception.) It's an open invitation.

Wedding planning is going pretty well, there's really not that much to plan right now since we're having such a simple wedding. Just have to get our pictures done so we can send out our invites.

Right now Shayne and I are pretty much dropping some bows, taking names, that sort of thing- ok, we're not, but we are starting to do some kick-butt exercises. My abs have been sore everyday this week. I'll be excited to fit back into all my clothes again.

I'm looking for a part-time job and I've applied at a couple different places, so we'll see what happens. The last one I had (the rehabilitation center) just wasn't for me. It was like being a nurse, some aspects of which I like, and many of which I know I am not cut out for.

That's pretty much it. love you all

and one more thing to discuss: is tupac really gone? i mean, is he really gone? "that's just the way it i-i-is..".

xanga revival

tabby says we need a xanga revival. this note is automatically blogged to my facebook, but oh well.

so...an update. I'm getting married in 5 months, and about 25ish days! I can't wait, I am so excited to be with shayne and get to see him everyday and not have to leave each other all the time. I couldn't imagine ever spending my life with anyone else. yay! love! I'm excited about thanksgiving and the holidays coming up. It's the most wonderful time of the year....(cue music)

in other news, i've been hacking up my lungs the past couple of days b/c of some viral infection/cold. I'm singing in missy's wedding this saturday, so I pray and hope that my voice will sound better in 2 days!!!

I'm almost finished with my senior seminar paper about the church's response to the AIDS Africa crisis. I'll post it on here if anyone is interested. I've also been working on the music for my recital, which will be tuesday, February 5th. Things are coming along pretty well.  i'm having my heart surgery on dec. 19th ( a little reminder that my birthday is the 5th. the big 2-1. just throwing that out for free). what a Christmas present!

i've started working at the rehabilitation center, but i can't work there until i'm better so i don't infect the clients. Hopefully I can work a couple shifts the first few days of next week.

pray for my sister. i love her.

that's it. love you all

both a physical and emotional update on my heart

So, I guess it's time for me to update. Basically, I had to wear a heart monitor for about a month and a half this summer so the cardiologist could try to pinpoint my "episodes" where my heart speeds up to 2 or 3 times its rate and then thuds back into normal. They've been going on for probably about ten years, I just didn't really mention it to anyone until recently. Probably not the best choice.

Anyway, turns out I have and extra electrical valve/circuit in my heart which causes the rate to do double (or more) time. It's not life threatening, but it could cause a lot of complications down the road. It could especially cause problems someday when I'm pregnant since it seems to act up more then and there's not a lot of medication they can give you.

My options are (1) medication for the rest of my life, which could get rid of most symptoms and keep my heart regulated, or (2) a surgery called a catheter ablation where they go in and either burn or freeze the valve shut so that it flows through the normal one only. It's a low-risk surgery, considered to be outpatient, and the success rate is 95-99%.  However, it's still a bit scary to think about a heart surgery. I go off my parents' insurance in May, so if I have the surgery, I will most likely have it this fall. Please pray for direction that I know what I'm supposed to do, and what is best for my physical self.

Emotionally, I am probably the happiest I've ever been :)  Camp was a wonderful experience, and I'm excited about the different retreats and stuff I'm going to be helping with this year. I'm very peaceful and yet excited about life, and where God is taking me, and that includes a certain someone. I thank God for you, Shayne - I love you so much!!!   I'll tell the whole world if I can.  I wish I could talk to you while I'm gone, but you know how I feel. Just don't ever forget.

I'm leaving for Honduras today. Actually, at 5 in the morning, but the group is leaving today to stay at Josh and Rae's church in IL overnight.  I'm sure we would all appreciate your prayers very much for safety and health and good attitudes. Love you all, amber

indian creek