What Ever Happened To.......

It's official - I am no longer an "Aflac-er". After several begs and pleas, a nice raise, incentive bonus and much more - I have been bribed back into the world of real estate. Yep - you guessed it - I am working back for my old place of employment as a paralegal. I must admit, things have truly been different this time around. I am so much happier than I was before. We will be opening our new office soon and I will be heading it up and I can hardly wait!!!! I'll keep you all posted on how it goes..............

Nope, I didn't forget my old blogger friends, just for the record. I've been pretty busy with Andrew and our new church. We are absolutley loving the new church that we are attending and serving at. The people at our new church have really taken us under their wing and loved us like neither of us are used to! It's truly wonderful!
I know you are all probably wondering about my new job and how it is going. Well, I can't say I am as excited as I was 3 months ago. Actually, I'm no where close to as excited as I used to be. I have found that I have a lot of down time - way more than what I am used to or comfortable with. I am the type of person that needs to be needed.....................and right now, I don't feel needed at all. I feel as if I were to just walk out today everything would go on as usual and I would not even be missed.
I have found myself in a very discouraging seat lately. 6 out of the 8 hours that are in a day I personally do not feel as if I have done anything that is worthwhile. My boss may disagree with me - but that's just where I am right now. I feel like I am in a completely brainless job and that and me just don't go together.
I also am finding that finances are tighter than I would like for them to be. Our bills are getting paid and we aren't struggling however if something were to happen and we needed a lump sum of money we wouldn't have it. Whereas in the past it would not have been a problem. Again, it's just very discouraging.
I have thought about asking for a raise however becuase of the reality of my earlier statement, I just cannot merrit asking for a raise when I do not feel like my position is valid as it is. I truly believe that there could be 1 executive assistant for every 2 or even 3 vice president's and there would still be down time.
I am just sitting in limbo right now - waiting paitently to know and understand what the reason is for me to stay here and continue this day in and day out boring way of life. It's like I just can't wait to leave in the afternoon so that I can do something that amounts to something. Does that make sense?
Well - just keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I have a plan under my belt - but you'll have to check back in after a day or so to see if I am ready to unleash it!!!

Wow - I can't believe it's almost been a month since I have written on here! I thought I should give a quick update on how things are.
This next coming week will be my 5th week at Aflac. I can hardly believe it! My new boss is so wonderful! He is by far the best one that I have ever had - - - and I've had some goodies! He has been so helpful and so patient with me. I literally went from knowing everything there was to know in my previous job to not knowing hardly anything at all in this one - but I still wouldn't trade it for anything. It's been great. My co-workers are pretty awesome also. Every time I have a question or don't understand something, they are right there to push me along. The only thing I can say that I wish I had done differently is I wish I had started Aflac way sooner than now! I believe it would have saved me a lot of stress and gray hairs!!!! (which by the way, my hair dresser told me today while washing my hair that I am too young to have the little silver things that she was seeing!!! I AGREE! I'M NOT READY TO TURN GRAY!)
Andrew started his new job this past tuesday as the Minister of Music and Education. He really loves it. I have seen a side of him that I have missed for a very long time and I'm glad he's back! Andrew definetely belongs in full time ministry. That's where his calling is and that's also where his heart is. I believe that this was a good move for us also. We will most likely be here until God opens up a door for us to go into full time pastoring.....which probably means we'll be here for a while because he hasn't even started seminary yet. We are hoping to get that going this year. I don't see anything other than finances holding us back at this point and we can always find a way around that. Especially to better ourselves for the Kingdom.
Christmas was wonderful in case you were wondering. It was busy, but we sure did enjoy spending time with our family and friends. There were several that we were unable to see because time ran short, but they know we love them anyway.
New Year's was also nice. We spent some time with Dad, Karen & Cherish part of the time and then my brother, Jeremy, mom and step dad Tim came over and we all met Christy, Michael and Chandler out to eat. Later they all came back over here again and we just had a real nice time of fellowship.
Andrew, myself and Jeremy have challenged ourselves to read the Bible through this year. Andrew has made it through already with his cousin. While we were dating, I tried to make it through with him, but around Deutoronomy, I called it quits. Andrew thinks it is easier to read cover to cover, but I totally disagree. I bought a One Year Bible that skips around - for instance, through most of January, I am reading each day in Genesis, Matthew, Psalms and Proverbs. It's really nice. I have really prayed this year that God would help me to become the child of His that he meant for me to be so that others will see Him in me, along with the wife, daughter, sister and eventually mother that he intended for me to be. I am genuinely trying to make several changes in my life for the betterment of myself and for Him. My desire is that when people talk to me that they will automatically know that I am a Christian......and if they need prayer for one reason or another, that they will know that when they ask me to pray for them that without a doubt, it will be done with complete and total sincerity.
Well, that's the update of my life for now. If any of you reading this now would like to take on the reading through the Bible in a year, just let me know. Leave me your email address and I will send you the verses for each day. I mean, what better way to start the new year than in God's word...............Amen?

WHEW, I made it! My first week at Aflac was fabulous! The first three days I spent in orientation. It was quite overwhelming. I learned about all of the different types of policies that Aflac offers and had to choose the ones that I was interested in within less than 48 hours. I made several jokes about how you can't beat orientation becuase we were allowed 2 hour lunches (some days longer) and even got to leave early! But, then on thursday, I started my new job. It is so wonderful. I truly believe that I am going to LOVE working with my new boss and co-workers. I have not looked forward to getting up early in such a long time, but now I am finding myself waking up in the middle of the night just to see how much longer I have to wait before I can go back. This was definetely a good move for me. I have now begun my journey of my life-long career and cannot wait to be able to tell people that I have been there for 30 years!

I believe the end of this year is definetely going to be "our year." It seems like things just keep falling into place right where we want them. Monday, I start my new job at Aflac as an Executive Assistant and I can hardly wait!
Yesterday, Andrew and I went to Concord Baptist Church in view of a call and we got voted in there! So, beginning in January, we will move our membership there. It was so awesome being there. In the 2 services that we spent at Concord we both felt more at home than we have felt anywhere in a very long time. That is also a full time ministry position which is really what he has been wanting to get back in to. God is so good!
I am just so excited becuase it seems like we are both getting a fresh start! Now, if we could start over with the financial end and get out of debt, we'd be even better! Ha! Ha!

I got the "official" call from Aflac last night offering me the job as Executive Assistant and I am so excited! I went today to sign the acceptance letter and have to go back next week to get my badge and car decal. I'm almost completely there! My start date is December 11th and I will be in orientation for the first 3 days, but that's ok.
Thank you all so very, very much for all of your thoughts and most importantly, prayers. I am almost speechless because of the overwhelming feeling that I have right now...................and for those of you that know me, that doesn't happen very often!

I feel like I am absolutely playing a game with Aflac at this point. I went for the testing, then I had an interview with the HR departmnet, then an interview with Tamara, then another with Ken and today Melissa from HR called me to go back tomorrow for ANOTHER interview with Ken and his team!! I am so excited, but this is exhausting all at the same time! It is exciting to me becuase I feel like each time I get a phone call, I am one step closer. Melissa told me today to go in tomorrow and "WOW" them and I may get an answer from them while I am there. So, do realize that if I leave without an answer, there is a very good chance that I will leave balling my eyes out!!!!
PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!!!!!!!!

I just finished reading Liza's blog for today that was a list of things that she is thankful for. WOW! I thought of copying her becuase I thought it was such a wonderful idea, then I stopped and said wait a minute, let's approach this a different way.

I am without a doubt one of the most impatient people that has ever stepped foot on the planet. I will not pray for patience in fear of having anything and everything thrown at me at once!

Well, as I was reading what Liza wrote, I started thinking...........you know, I really have more than I can handle to be thankful for. I think all of the time how I wish that we lived closer (although we have a wonderful brand new house that there is nothing wrong with - other than our lack of flowers in the front), or that we had more money (which really isn't necessary becuase our bills are getting paid and food is on our table each night), and that we had a baby (which I'm sure one day will happen) - - - and I could go on, and on, and on - - - BUT, what would that accomplish other than completely insulting the people and things that I do already have and love and cherish more than life itself. I mean, what an absoultely selfish person I must be to think things like that.

Thank you Liza for helping me to see that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. I have a wonderful life, husband, family and friends that I love and I know they all love me. What in the world do I dare for one second more to ask for..................absolutely nothing. Thank you God for being the absolute Lord of my life and for putting up with my daily wants, desires and occasional needs.

Well, yesterday, I had my interview with AFLAC for an administrative assistant position.

Oh it went really awesome! When I was leaving, my interviewer looked at me and told me that she was extremely impressed with me and was going right then to hand deliver my information to the lady that is actually in charge of that position.

So, I left and didn't get very far down the road at all. I was on the phone with my builder because he had called while I was in there and someone was beeping in. The number didn't show up so I didn't answer it but when I checked my voice mail, it was the lady that Theresa (my interviewer) said she was going to tell about me. (Melissa) Melissa started telling me over voice mail that 2 people now have voiced how perfect I would fit in there and she said that there would not be a need for a 2nd interview but that the job was going external next week and for me to be expecting a phone call!

YIPEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Isn’t this exciting??? I’m really going to get out of real estate! I can hardly wait!!!

Life can be so weird some times. Most of you reading this know already that I have had some health problems lately, all of which were related to stress. Last week, I went in and told my boss basically that I have had enough of the paralegal world in real estate and would be looking for another job.
The weird part...................................since I did that, I feel like a HUGE load has been taken off of me. I feel happy again, my abdomen pains are not nearly as frequent.....and I mean not even close, my heart palpitations are not happening as frequent (except for last night when I was watching a really good movie on Lifetime), and the most annoying one, my throat closing up problem seems to be going away. WOW! It's really incredible!
I thank God first for all of these things going away. For if it were not for Him, I would not have had the strength to go in and talk to them in the first place. Secondly, I thank my husband for being so very patient, loving, kind, understanding and most importantly, for praying for and with me. Last but not least, thank you to all of my friends and family for "being there". I know that sounds so junior high, but it's the truth. I genuinely feel like I am getting my life back. I feel like I am going to be able to live like a normal 26 year old - - - which, for the most part, should be stress free!!!!!

I have not been a "blogger" for all that long, but I have been reading other peoples for quite some time. Andrew somehow found a lady named Amy who is a pastors wife that has a blog that is actually called "Not Your Typical Pastor's Wife". When I read that title, it kind of shocked me. The, I looked at her brief personal profile and it said "I'm Amy. I've got issues and I'm the pastor's wife." WOW! That is almost unheard of! LOL I mean, at this point, I was probably thinking - pastor's wives aren't supposed to let on that they actually have issues too. I mean - we live in a glass house, don't we???
I got more curious at that point and decided to read on. I have been reading her blog for several months and although she has absolutely no clue of who I am or even that I am reading her blog, she has truly ministered to me in several different ways.
I am writing this today becuase I went onto her blog today and saw that she has decided not to write any more postings any time soon - - - if even at all again. That really broke my heart, but I do understand that she must do what is best for her and her family. She has 3 little ones - - - I envy her already. :-) Anyone that knows me knows that my dream is to have 5 but that if I can talk my darling husband into it, I would settle for 3.
Anyway, you should check her out if you get a free minute. She has written several things - many of which are very inspirational. She is very "real". You can take a look at http://www.withpurpose.com/.

Can you guess why this is named "Excitement"? Well, I'll tell you. This morning, I went into my boss' office and told him that I am no longer happy with my job and that I will be actively pursuing other jobs. I also told him that today I was going to AFLAC to take the computer test and hopefully be considered for an interview.
So, I got to AFLAC, took the test, and thought that I completely bombed out on 1 particular part of the test. POWERPOINT! I have never in my life worked on Powerpoint before. The good news?!?!?!....................after the test, a lady from HR came out and told me that I had done very well and passed EVERYTHING and I am scheduled to go interview tuesday! YAEEEEE!!!!
I am so very, very excited about this. I hope so very much that I get the job. I actually thought that I was interviewing for the recruiting specialist position, but when I got there, I was told that I was actually interviewing for an administrative assistant position. I'm not real sure what it entails, but I really don't care. I just want out of here and in there!
SAY A PRAYER!!!! Hopefully, everything will work out!

Well, it's been some time since I've had a chance to write anything on here. I'm glad to be back! Yesterday was mine and Andrew's 2 year anniversary of being married! We really had a nice time. We originally were planning to go to Gatlinburg, but with my miscarriage and various other things, I didn't have any vacation time left and Andrew just started a new job so he didn't want to take a whole week off - - - SO - - - we just decided to take yesterday and today off to spend together. It's been very relaxing to have a couple of days just to hang out at home. We did go out yesterday for a couple of hours, but there's still nothing like not being at work!
The past two years for us have been incredible. We've had some ups and downs as far as jobs and health go, but we kept on keeping on and we made it through. I love Andrew more today than I did yesterday and tomorrow it will be even more than today. He is my everything. He is the reason that I get up in the morning and continue through the day. Andrew, if you happen to read this - - I LOVE YOU SWEETHEART AND LOOK FORWARD TO ABOUT 500 MORE YEARS WITH YOU!!!!

Oh dear - here we go again! After little thought and many complaints around the office, I have asked to keep the job that I currently have but was supposed to give up tomorrow. This afternoon, a co-worker and myself were talking and she was very unhappy and even more overwhelmed about everything that has taken place this week because she was going to be the one to mainly feel the "brunt" of it all. She expressed the fact that she was most likely going to take a job somewhere else because she didn't want to handle everything. So, me, her and one of our attorneys decided to have a meeting. After much discussion, we called in the main attorney and I announced that I would like to keep my job. We then called in the girl that I was supposed to be switching jobs with, had a long discussion again and the bottom line is that I am staying where I am under whatever stress I am under. UUGGGHHH!!!!! I do really love my job, but on nights like tonight, where it is 7:00 and I still have not left becuase a closing is still taking place (that started at 5:00) I really do wish that I did something else. Oh well. I do still have my week off to look forward to..............

Well, as if there hasn't been enough drama in my life to last me a lifetime, it seems there has to be more. The last 3 months have been very interesting, different, happy, sad and stressful for me. Andrew resigned from the church that he was previously at, then we found out that we were pregnant, then we lost the baby and now my doctor tells me that I must quit my job becuase it is causing so much stress on me that it is causing heart palpiations, acid reflux, heartburn and causing my throat to spasm in and out making me feel like I am suffocating. My goodness!!!!! That wears me out just reading it!!

I have had several meetings with my boss this week and my new role has finally been decided. I do not want to quit my job because I truly do love where I work. We have a GREAT team here and we all work well together. So, after many different suggestions and many more conversations, we have decided that it will be best for me to switch jobs with another lady that I work with. Her title is "post closer" and mine is "closer". Basically, in a nutshell, I'll be under less stress just by doing that job.

I did tell my boss also that if I do not get a break that I am going to just lose my mind. He so very graciously has agreed to let me take next week off. It will be without pay of course because I have ran out of vacation time............and it's ok with me - - I'm just grateful to have the time off!!!

If you have a free minute, please pray for me that things will get better in life!!!

I thought that today I would show pictures of our happy family......Andrew and I have 2 yorkies that we are very proud of. The oldest one is 2 and her name is Grace. (Elizabeth Grace) Her brother (not by blood) is named Blake and he is 1. (Austin Blake) They play very well together despite their very different personalities. Grace is very wild and crazy while Blake is extremely calm and a HUGE momma's boy! (Andrew can't stand that) He's the cutest little thing though. When he gets in trouble or does something he knows he isn't supposed to, my lap is where he comes running to!

This is almost the comical part of our wedding.....Andrew and I seriously had VERY LITTLE to do with our actual wedding. Because we didn't actually want the ceremony and we were only going through with it because our mothers wanted us to we pretty much just let them handle it. My mom was hilarious. She would call me every day, some times several times in a day, and asked me if whatever she had found was ok with me. My answer was always the same...."Whatever you think is fine with me." The only actual request that I had was that we have magnolias in it. Christy was my only maid of honor and Andrew's dad was his best man. Christy even picked out her own dress! Ha! Ha! I look back and see how funny the whole situation really was but then I was pretty upset about it all. By the time November 6, 2004 rolled around, we were ready to get it all over with!

After I moved back down to Columbus, Andrew and I got to see each other every day. It was wonderful! We had a few family members that became quite jealous of our time, but it all worked out fine in the end. We dated for almost 2 years before he proposed.
WOW! It was awesome! I worked that day and was used to talking to him several times a day - but this particular one, he didn't call me at all. I was so worried all day that he was planning to tell me that we needed to see other people - - - or make up some other excuse to get rid of me.

I lived in a townhome at the time and when I got home from work, I walked in the door to a puddle of rose petals at my feet. I did not see him anywhere but when I looked to my left, where the staircase was there was literally a trail of rose petals leading up the stairs. So, screaming "ANDREW, THIS IS NOT FUNNY AND IT'S NOT A VERY NICE JOKE!" all the way upstairs, I kept walking. When I got to the top, there was a note on the door that said "Do not come in until you read the computer." So, I walked over to the computer to find the most precious and awesome love letter that a woman could have ever been given. At the end, it said "Now, open the door....." I opened the door to find the true love of my life bent down on one knee asking me to marry him. I was so completely shocked and speechless! It was absolutely incredible!
Now, you have to know that my husband is not the romantic type - so for him to have gone to all of this trouble just to see me smile basically (because he already knew my answer!) was just so special to me! After many tears and a big fat "OF COURSE I WILL!" we called all of our family and most of our friends to tell them our news and went out to eat together to celebrate.
That same week, we decided that the date of our wedding would be in just a few months on November 6th!

Alright, for anyone reading this that doesn't know already, I SELL MARY KAY!!! I am an independent beauty consultant and am hoping to one day do that full time. I have just about anything that you would order in my Mary Kay room at my house. I originally ordered about $5000 worth of inventory so that my customers would not have to wait and have steadily increased that amount each time I make a sale. If you are interested, please visit my website at www.marykay.com/afountain11 or give me a call and I'll give you one of our new catalogs and go over anything that you need. I look forward to working with you!!!

So here we are again. We left off with me telling you how Andrew and I met. After I heard him sing that time over the phone and decided that I was going to marry him, I figured it was about time that we meet. Dad called me and invited me to their debut singing at Lakewood Baptist Church in Phenix City. So, I went.
Andrew was running late for the concert so I didn't see him until The Advocates were announced to go to the stage. WOW! He was all I expected and more!!! After the concert was over I introduced myself by saying "Hi. I'm Dwayne's favorite daughter, Amy." He laughed, my goal, and then we started talking a bit. We went out to eat with the group afterwards at Applebees and I asked 20 questions at least just trying to get to know him. (he says now that he felt like it was an interrogation!) That night, we swapped numbers. I was not raised being allowed to call boys, so I drove back to Atlanta and did not call him. Surprisingly, he did not call me either.......................until 2 WEEKS had gone by!!! (I was heartbroken in the very beginning! LOL)
Well, when he finally did call me, I acted like I didn't even care that he had not called. He had just gotten home from a baseball game that he was coaching (Babe Ruth) and proceeded to tell me why it took him so long to call. EXCUSES, EXCUSES! Ha! Ha! From that night on, we talked and talked and talked every single night for hours on end. I tried to make frequent visits to Columbus becuase it was painfully obvious that he had absolutely no interest in going to Atlanta.

The name of my blog "What Ever Happened To......." I thought was completely appropriate. I have wondered on several occassions what has happened to people that I have worked or gone to school with in the past and thought I would use this as a way to let people know what is going on with me.
WOW - where in the world do I start? How about just after high school? Ok - after school, I ended up working for various real estate compaies and attorneys around town. I was lucky enough to receive "hands on training" from a local attorney and that allowed me to get my foot in the door for what I currently do. I am a real estate paralegal.
After a while, I decided to make a big move and headed up to Atlanta. I lived there by myself for about 2 years. I actually lived and worked in Buckhead. I had the most awesome apartment there! It was beautiful and I loved just about everything about it. I made more money there than I knew what to do with and so I took up a very dangerous habit - - - SHOPPING!
While I lived there, I made very good friends with a little man that worked in Ann Taylor. He would call me in the middle of the day and say "Ms. Amy, I have the most PERFECT outfits for you to come try on when you get off of work." And, without fail, I never even tried them on becuase he knew my exact size so I just bought them. One thing is for sure, when I lived up there, I knew how to dress!
I did make frequent visits back home. Mom would call me every now and then to drive to their house and have dinner and I always did. Sometimes, I would come down and stay with Dad for a weekend.
One weekend while I was down, Dad told me that he started a new southern gospel singing group called The Advocates. I was SO excited for him becuase I knew he was doing what he loved. The group practiced for several weeks before their actual debut. Over these several weeks, he would call and update me. One time though, his update when like this "Amy, you've GOT to meet my boy! You are going to LOVE him!" "His boy" was a guy named Andrew. Andrew then sang lead for the group. So, I told Dad to record their practice and send me a copy of it. When I heard Andrew sing Lighthouse, it was love at first sound! I told Daddy - "I'm going to marry that boy!"
For anyone that knows me, you'll find this story quite humorous becuase I at this point had never even met this mysterious boy with an awesome voice. I have been known to be somewhat of a brat at times and I typically get my way...........

More on this tomorrow....