Its Been a Long Time, I shouldnt have Left You.... Without a Story to Tell you.... ((Timbaland Style),

Hey Guys!

SOOOOOO!!!!! Since we last spoke I acquired my AA Degree, It only took 10 years to procure, but hey, its done right?

I decided to go ahead and add the proof for everyone's viewing pleasure.

So, Since I was on a roll, I decided to go straight into my Bachelors and "supposedly" I only have about 18 more months to go. So when I am not doing homework, Im thinking about all the homework I have to do. It sucks, but it will be worth it in the end.
Its important to me for my future children to know that I went to college and completed it. I now have horror stories to tell them why they should not take 12 years to get a bachelors. Sigh!

Otherwise Life has been pretty ok. I have some more updates up my Sleeve coming soon, but I thought my Degree should get its own blog!


Signing Out
Deanna Amarica

Deanna On Board- Tenn/Al Edition

As some of you may or may not know. My first year out of college I went on up to Chattanooga, Tennesse to attend Bible College for a year. I didnt live in the dorms I lived with my godmother and godfather Sharon and Kenny. They truly treat me like of of their own and I had cause to go see them this past weekend.
It was a quick trip and unfornately not for a happy situation. See, when I lived in Tennesse it was mandatory to attend church (school rules) but I really didnt want to attend Highland Park which was the church for the school. Instead I got permission to go to church with my godparents. Kenny works for TVA (huge powerplant for the Tennesse Valley Area) and its located in this tiny town of Stevenson, AL, right next to Stevenson is an even smaller town called Bridgeport Alabama. Kenny and Sharon were attending at the time the First Baptist Church of Bridgeport. So yes me and my godsis Tiffany would pile into the car with them and drive 45 mintues and a time zone away to go to church.
Here enters Brother Jim. I never ever met a pastor that went by Brother and not Pastor or Reverend before. hmmm....I mean he was a head taller that most everyone with piercing happy blue eyes a smile on his face and a constand WHOO HOO for all things Wonderful and Christlike. He was pretty amazing. He was known to ask the choir to sing the song again and requested me to sing a lot in church. I saw something in that church I havent seen before, that was driven by the gentle giant that oversaw the church. Depth of Compassion.....
Never before had I seen a pastor call down people to touch agree and pray over people at the altar call. I remember thinking. Wow this is Biblical and hes acting this out! I became passionate about serving. I did Childrens Church every other Sunday (Sharon made me) I was on the Youth Staff and Sang Solo's and in the Choir. I LOVED going to church! I havent been that excited about a church since that time.
Over the years I have to admit I havent always fosterd my relationship with God as I should have, but as God is now teaching me more and more the depth of who he is and how to be more like him. I have to admit that the beginning of that for me started at First Baptist of Bridgeport Alabama Where I saw God Acted out. I learned to Love God there, because I saw how Brother Jim loved Him so transparently. His impact on my life is lasting.

RIP Bro Jim......I know you are much happier in the arms of God.


Signing Out,
Deanna Amarica

Just a Little Pensive

Hey Guys,

Sorry its been so long since the last time I wrote something substantial, I realized that my problem with blogging is that there's just way to much to share!! My Second Mom says something major happens in my life on average every 5 hours.... I think shes right!

I am writing tonight because I cant sleep, and because I have been dealing with a lot of anxious feelings recently. Which brings me to really what this blog will be about. In the last month there has been a LOT that has happened, way too much to share here and a lot more coming. I feel like I have been in constant transition, for someone that is a homebody and loves the feeling of concreteness its so uncomfortable, and I am not talking little change I am talking major changes.

There are stress tests that you can take online that judge the amount of stress you may be under due to specific and major life changes. Mine immediately said...High Stress and the following.

Take action now to reduce and manage your stress. Stabilize the amount of changes in your life, and avoid unnecessary stress. Evaluate how you communicate, manage your commitments, and prioritize your time.

Um Hellloooo! Who said I asked for change??? Psychiatry can be really dumb sometimes.

With all of this being said, My devotions this week have been kind of geared toward the consistency of God and how his Word is Accurate, Real, Truthful and Everlasting. And I had to remember that what He promises He will see through.

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Its so easy to feel alone when things are going crazy around you, but sometimes you must ask yourself. Why is God putting me in solitude right now. I mean even my radio went out in my car...Ummm Deanna the music queen with no radio???? Even in that I must remember to be thankful.

Its very important that when we read the Bible we are not "part B" readers. ( You remember when you were in Sunday School and they only made you memorize the second half of the verse because the verse was so long??)

It seems that I run into people that always want to quote part of a verse. Its great to say, Yes the Lord Said Be anxious for nothing! but theres more to it than that. He also tells us in EVERYTHING through prayer and Petition.....ok STOP!

pe·ti·tion [puh-tish-uhn] Show IPA

noun

2.a request made for something desired, especially a respectfulor humble request, as to a superior or to one of those in authority; a supplication or prayer: a petition for aid; a petition to God for courage and strength.

Wow, even Dictionary.com got it right. So we must humbly ask, AND give thanks. Its just an awesome reminder to me that its not just prayer, it’s the way we ask, and what we give Him (praise) that actually helps ease the anxiousness. Isn’t it good to read an entire verse?

Now I do believe that God also was the author of Xanax and Lexapro (joke people), but no really, there are times when our physical bodies just can’t keep up, and its so very ok to ask for help. But in moment of freaking out when we don’t know what to do next, or feel stuck and alone. Next time you ask God for help… Follow the steps and see how it works for you.

1. 1. Remind yourself not to be anxious
2. 2. Pray for strength and courage
3. 3. Humbly ask for your hearts desire
4. 4. Remember to ask His will be completed through you
5. 5. Praise and Thank Him (Its ok to thank Him in advance)

That’s all I got.

Signing Out,

Deanna Amarica

LOL :-D

So me and my mom went on a lil adventure in shopping land yesterday and I saw this cup and it made me laugh. Anyone who texts with me on a regular basis knows my love of the big smile and I probably lol way too much. She thought it kinda captured my personality and on top of that what better way to start your day but with a smile and a cup of coffee. LOL ;-) :-D

Signing Out,

Deanna Amarica

Late Updates

6/16/11

So its been quite some time since I put fingers to keyboard and gave everyone another glimpse into my life. This year has been tumultuous thus far to say the least. Who knew when I blogged about not feeling well, it would actually turn into something serious. I had a fever that was high to the point of almost feeling delirious. Ever felt like a fever alone would kill you? Yea it was like that.

To make a very long and complicated story as short as I can, I was very lucky and my wonderful doctor had the forsight to just have me checked into the hospital and no more ER, in where they found out I had an infection in my liver that had spilled into my bloodstream. Hearing the words Your septic isn’t very encouraging and seeing fear in my parents were even more worrisome.

After two weeks I went home with IV meds but after about 3 weeks I had to be checked back into the hospital for an additional week for another Fever, After a liver biopsy, lung aspiration and being diagnosed with a blood clot I was sent home again.

I was hoping I was on the mend and had to wait two weeks to see my transplant docs in Orlando where they decided I needed to check into the hospital in Miami to determine whether or not they wanted to do surgery to fix the problem. So the following week I went to Miami where they determined that they didn’t want to do surgery now but just play a waiting game and prayerfully this was just a one time occurrence.

All and all I am on the mend. I finally get to tend to a knee injury that didn’t get properly addressed in January when I hurt it. Im tired all the time which is completely contrary to my personality. Its like ok heres a bunch of time, but you will spend most of it laying down resting your knee and sleeping. Its funny what God will do to make you sit and listen. Ive learned a lot in these past few months and hopefully the wisdom and lessons learned will come forth in more blogs to come. Im just happy to have the chance to still be alive.

Signing Out,

Deanna Amarica

**I wrote this a few weeks ago and just am getting to post it. I'm such a slacker, but I have a whole lot more to say so I had to start somewhere**

Temporary Issues

This week's edition of On the Brown Couch has been cancelled due to Fevers, Illness, and Bugs, and just an overall..."dont have the energy" attitude. So in liu of randomosity. I give you a picture... of the Actual Brown Couch.

Deanna on Board-Phoenix Edition

Im in Phoenix, which for some reason I keep transposing the O and E...But Oh Well. Im blessed to be able to take this little bit of time away and boy do I need it.



Im spending some time out here with my friends Richard and Robin. For those of you who may not know my Richard story. Richard was one of the first people I EVER met on the internet. I was 16 years old, on good ol dialup up late at night just trying to get through the next day and waiting on my new liver so I could live. I found a "Christian Young Adults" Chatroom on AOL and jumped in. I still remember the little side chat we had and from that day on we became friends. When I went into surgery for my transplant he was on my "to call" list for my mom to have people pray for me. I think thats when he realized I wasnt psycho.

Well 11 years plus later Hes married to a awesome woman named Robin, and has 4 kids. Somehow in a time like this when I feel like I need to run and be under someones Rock, they just seemed like the right place to be.



Robin is an amazing cheerleader, and I am throuroughly enjoying my time here getting to know her better. Their children are amazinig and their 3rd child Leah has seemed to take a liking to me. I call her Hunny Bun, and it makes her laugh. Alexander their oldest was born on my birthday and is such a sweet boy. Matthias plays shy but hes not which I think is cute. He drew me a picture earlier today. The baby girl Paris doesnt let anyone forget thats shes there. Shes so bossy to only be 9 months old! lol.



They keep apologizing for the noise of children running around and Leah wanting to play Barbie on the computer in my lap but to be perfectly honest this is the happiest time I have had in the past few months. Watching the kids play and just be themselves is so downright beautiful to watch. I want that in my life one day.



Im tired you guys. Not sleepy tired but an inside out kind of tired. Im really not sure what time it is anymore on this whole coast change thing. But truthfully, Im already starting to feel a little perk on the inside. Maybe just a visit to the desert was all I needed. I love it here so much I am already trying to plan another trip back.



Anyways I still have another day (hopefully two) here and I will keep you updated.



Thanks for listening to the first travel edition of my Blog which I will affectionally call "Deanna on Board"

Signing Out

Deanna Amarica