with HEAVY HEARTS!!!!!

This past weekend Andrew, Zac (Andrew's girlfriend/bff), and I headed up to Fayetteville for the BIG GAME!!!!  We spent all weeks looking for tickets, tickets that we wouldn't have to pawn my engagement ring for.  With Zac's dad working as a personality on 103.7 THE BUZZ, it wasn't too hard...... however, I was totally seperated from Andrew and Zac.  On Friday night we left Malvern around 11 p.m. and headed to NWA.  We arrived at Andrew's lil' brother's apartment around 4 a.m.  Zach (future bro in law) was such a gentleman and gave up his bed for me to sleep in... of course it helped that he had been sleeping in a tent all week waiting to get into the stadium.. 

As we arrived to the game. we notice TONS of amazing, fun festivities going on.  Being in attendance with two men who act like kids we were destined to find the game section.  I followed the guys from game to game to see who had the better arm or kick.  There were times where I had to drag the guys away from their little competitions to allow the line of 6 year olds behind them play. 

After we participated in recess we made our way up to the stadium.  Andrew and I some how ended up with the familys of the players in front of the Broyles center.  As we were standing there, a couple next to me complimented me on my jersey that I was sporting.  (Okay this is how the convo went....) 
Lady: Ma'am I really like your jersey....
Me:Ya!!! Thanks, I really don't know whose number it is though....
Lady: Oh that is my son!!!  Dearius Winston!
Me:  OMG!!!  That is awesome.... (as I look at Andrew)
Andrew: (With a stern embarrassed voice)  Amber!  That is one of our 5 star recruits, he is from West Helena.  He is GOOD!!! 
Me to the Lady: Oh yea!!! I am his number one fan!!! (THEN WE HIGH FIVED!!!) 
As we were standing there the players began their walk-thru and ended up by their familys and US!!!!  Yes, I touched BOBBY PETRINO and got my head knocked off and a little matted BIG TEXAS HAIR as Andrew tried to high five MALLET!!!

By this time we had a pretty exciting day so far!  As we were in the stadium you could just feel the electricity and excitement in the atmosphere.  An experience I will never forget.  Andrew and I parted ways as we both headed to our seats.  (Andrew and Zac seats were in the lower level in the Alabama section and mine was on the home side at the very TOP of the stadium...)  As I left Andrew and began my trek to my seat, I stopped behind the BAMA bench to take some photos.  While standing there snapping away, I got scammed by an Alabama couple and traded tickets... BIG MISTAKE AND VERY NIAVE OF ME!!!!!  BUT....... I have a very good friend that has season tickets on the second row so I ended up sitting on the front row right in front of them.... TOTAL UPGRADE!!!! I was on the 1st ROW at one of the biggest games this decade!!!! AWESOME!!! 

I wish I could explain the atmosphere in that stadium the last 3 minutes.... It was as if all the air was sucked out of the stadium and no one knew what to say.  I can say that the 2 guys I was with along with 77,000 other people were in utter disbelief of the outcome..... were shocked and felt as if their heart had just been ripped out!  I really believe we are all still recovering from a heart breaking loss... WE TAKE THIS STUFF SERIOUSLY!!!! 

But we did get to see Kris Allen, Natalie White (winner of Survivor), and Jerry Jones!!!  Pretty cool day!!! A day I will never forget!!!

August was NOT our month!!!!

It has been quite sometime since I have blogged, once again getting used to this is the main key!  So let me explain a little bit about the blog title.  I have been to every kind of doctor known to mankind and have every script that a pharmacist can fill.  I got some answers or diagnosises, but then again.. some left unanswered.  I found out that I have a HYPOTHYROID CONDITION (meaning my thyroid is slow and doesn't work properly) meaning even makes it harder for me to lose weight))  Welcome to my first UGHHHHH and frustration.... good news is that I started my meds a couple of weeks ago and I am just waiting for them to kick in!

August 21 was FAN DAY in Fayetteville, and if there is a question whether I love Andrew or not, let it go!  because I stood in line for 3 hours in a 100 degree weather all for Mr. Ryan Mallet's autograph.  Yes you heard me right all for a signature on paper.  I got to meet "Big Papa and Grandma" (Andrew's dad's parents) at their home.  They are some of the sweetest, nicest people I have ever met.  It made me only more excited about gaining the last name "Drake".  Andrew and I made it back to my parentals about midnight and we noticed our neighbors were partying it up.  As Andrew was about to head out, I heard our labs barking like crazy and I was interested of what the darkness held.  I stepped out on our front porch and saw a horse standing at our front steps with a man appearing out of the darkness.  The man informed me that the dogs had scared his horse.  Moments later 2 fire trucks pulled up in our driveway, 4 cop cars, 1 ambulance and a slew of volunteer fire fighters arrived.  Well to make the long story short the girl riding the horse broke her neck and the guy broke his arm.  (They ran into the guidewires coming from the utility poles)  LESSON: Don't ride a horse at midnight, on someone elses property, DRUNK!!!  Good rule to live by! 

On August 22, Andrew, Jewels (mother-in-law to be) and I went to the Arkansas Democrat Bridal Fair.  I was super pumped about this and Andrew not so much!  My mom was on her way to meet us, only after she dropped my father off at the airport for him to fly to Michigan.  About 30 minutes into the show, my mom called Andrew.  Andrew walked over to me with a face white as snow and grabbed me by the arm.  He led me the whole way outside without telling me what was wrong.  He looked me dead in the face and said "Amber, Uncle Donnie has died!"  I just fell a part!  A lil' background on my Uncle Donnie... He was my dad's younger brother only 48 years old.  My dad and him share the same birthday and were close.  My uncle spent a lot of time at our house and called me "Ber" all of my life!  He was one of the nicest men, I have ever known!  He was awesome, and it killed me inside to lose him.  It killed me even more to watch my father go through such pain to lose his brother... (Dad didn't show it on the outside, but you knew he was dying on the inside)  Andrew and I packed up and headed to Wickes to prepare for the funeral.  It was AMAZING to see how much the community adored and accepted him.  2 high schools were dismissed for his funeral and over 500 people were in attendance.  Needless to say he was LOVED!  My mom's family, The Piearcy's, were ASTONISHING.  My cousin, Bobbi and her husband Ricky, let Andrew and I live with her for a week and not to mention fed us!  All of my mom's family was in attendance for the funeral.  It is so awesome to have 2 families that are so amazing to be a part of! 


A question I leave with you is ..... what will you be remembered for?  are you making an impact for our God's kingdom?

Okay....... I guess I am going to have to start blogging more often....