Dear Friends of AM~Erica (the hard post)

So anyway...

Many of you know that March was a very difficult month for our family. It still hurts from time-to-time. But, below, I am posting a version of what I posted on my FaceBook & MySpace pages recently about it:

"Hello to all of my friends.

I want to thank everyone who has shown concern for our family situation the last couple of weeks, as well as the prayers.In a tragic string of events that have come to light, Chris' 17-year-old daughter, Chelsea, has made the decision to move back to Las Vegas with her mother. It has been a gut-wrenching time & a lot frantic moments have been spent, a lot of tears have been shed.

I want to make a couple of pleas to those reading this:

1. to all of the teenagers who read this, your family loves you no matter what. They want to help you through any hurts & problems you may have or encounter. You are not alone. You are trying to show your independence by making adult decisions, but you must realize you still need guidance in doing so sometimes. We all make mistakes; no one is perfect except for Jesus Christ. Even if you don't want to admit it, your family is there to help you through no matter what it is. Pray through your decisions. If it feels wrong, or you know it's wrong...then...it's wrong. If you stumble, ask your family to help you back up. You are or will be a role model to at least one person or more whether you like it or not. Be the role model that you would like to have. This is my plea to you.

2. to all of the parents & adult mentors - it is a difficult job, but we love our children no matter what. Remind them ALWAYS! Never assume they are doing just fine - check, often. Get to know the friends & parents of your kid's friends. It may prove to be an important asset to posess. If your child gets into trouble, hopefully the other parents will have your back if they know the situation to let you know; and if you believe one of your kid's friends are in trouble, make sure their parents know. It is NOT ok to cover up the situation in ANY circumstance! Be as involved in your kid's life, even if they are teenagers, as possible. It won't prevent heartache, but it should help prevent a heart from breaking. This is my plea to you.

Continued prayers are appriceated for all involved: Chelsea, family & her friends. She will realize one day what she has done, and will have to face up to the hurts & wrongs of her (not-so)"adult" decisions.

Hugs & Blessings to everyone. It is now in God's hands."

We are so grateful for the support our friends have shown our family as we continue to get through this & heal.

Some of you may know that I love doing some of the random quizzes on FaceBook. I came across one about "What God wants you to know"....so, whatever - some random thing to read. I did it, and I would like to share here what was on my screen:

"Erica got a message that on this day, God wants Her to Know...
... that it is time to finally forgive yourself.You've carried the guilt, the shame for long enough. You've kept your wounds open for long enough. The time has to come to let go, to heal. Keep the lessons and let the pain heal. Yes, you know what we are talking about it."

Wow...that one hit hard. I have been talking about this still being a "wound". So, here is part of my attempt of "healing" as I continue to loosen my grip & let God just take it. Why is it so hard to let go??

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

What's Goin on with AM~Erica?

So, anyway...

I have a few things to put into this post. So, just bear with me.

Let me jump back a few nights ago to our church's annual auction (formerly MUMC Youth Auction, now Missions Auction which still helps the youth PLUS missions). This is an insane, fancy event! My hubby & I went to our first one last year, and we couldn't believe the amount of $$$ being put out there for items. There was a silent auction for a TON of stuff, then there's a oral auction with an auctioneer - a REAL one! We were so out of our league last year, we mostly went for the food & hoped we could participate in the silent auction. We did win a pair of tickets to see High School Musical at the Muny for my daughter's b-day...that was it. We spent the rest of the time eating and smiling & nodding (plus we enjoyed the company of the people at our table).

This year was different...very different. First, it was VERY scaled down & low-key. We are in a recession, so I know that had to hurt this fabulous even quite a bit. Plus there was a lot of other things going on during the weekend, so even the attendance was much less than in the past. No silent auction this year (WHAT...that's how we got to participate last year!), but still an oral auction with the same auctioneer - who, btw, has done the MUMC auction all 16 years it's been in existance. But there was a great change! People actually got to BUY for missions! The 4 major organizations our church supports had booths set up with displays of what they needed - then people could buy one of those things, or give toward it. Wow - it was so much more meaningful to actually see what you were doing for the organizations first hand. In return, you could get tickets, depending on what you spent, to go toward a donation RAFFLE. There was a few neat things we were deciding what to put our tickets toward - including the unbelievable safari package that contained jungle games, books, toys, stuffed animals, A YEAR'S MEMBERSHIP TO THE ST. LOUIS ZOO & BEHIND THE SCENES PASSES TO GO WITH IT. Amazing. We definately wanted to try for that one...especially with the kids. We put in a couple of tix for the "Girls Night Out" package that included 2 tickets to Hairspray at the Fox Theatre. I would take Liz, of course. Then, God Bless Betsy. Betsy is a wonderful woman of God with a GIANT heart. She & her hubby bought several items for the organizations & had more tickets than they knew what to do with...they were GIVING THE TICKETS AWAY!! She gave us about 12 more. So...we put a BUNCH more into the zoo bucket, another in the Hairspray bucket, and then a couple more into one called "All About Me" - a spa package. Why not...

We had a pretty good meal, the oral auction didn't have the money flowing as abundantly (it was all still too much for us), but we still had a fun table & glad we got to participate & get all dressed up. You will love to know that I wore a gorgeous dress that is bright turquoise with a touch of sequin & beading detail - an $8 find at Goodwill. I got more compliments in that crowd than I would have imagined. Glad I wore it! OH...and I, of course, had a scarf for my hair that happened to match.

As for the raffles, I won the "All About Me" package...you know - the "afterthought" one! YEA! Oh, darn - now I have to find sometime to USE it! OK - I have a year. There's bound to be a little time in there somewhere to get a pedicure & a spa treatment of sorts, right? We didn't get the others we were really pulling for, though. Oh well. It was a fun night! And, don't worry, I did thank Betsy for the spa package since it was her ticket that got it for me.

Today is Earth Day & also Administrative Professionals Day. Since I'm an "administrative professional", the guys at work got me flowers (which happend to match my outfit today - FUNNY) & they are taking me to lunch at the Brickhouse. YUM! I love my job!

And, I have caught a bug...the Twitter-bug! Seriously...you can follow @ http://twitter.com/iTweetAM_Erica. And it's connected to my FaceBook status updates.

This is what I have for now. I am trying to work up the courage for a much harder post. Pray for God to give me strength for that post to help with my healing. You will understand once I can get it posted...next time...

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

PS ~ you can follow me on my blog & on Twitter! Just hit the "Follow" button on either if you have an account or after you set one up. It's easy to do on BOTH! See you there!

AM~Erica is GOOD!!!

So anyway...

Today is a great day! My hubby & I have been married for 13 years strong!! Actually, the story of how we met is part of my testimony. You should ask me sometime!

What a busy day today, too. Church, of course, and we made sure to grab dinner (without the kids) & then a show ("Celebrate Life" musical from 1972 put on by the MUMC Chancel Choir). Wasn't that nice of the choir to celebrate our anniversary?

My gift FROM my hubby was, well, time: it started with 1 cute butterfly cuff watch, then since my hubby knows I like to accessorize, he brought out 5 more just like it...but in different colors. I was laughing hysterically! I loved them! Then he wanted me to have one more thing...a GORGEOUS Fossil watch that is brown & looks like a chocolate sunburst! I know - it sounds strange, but it is BEAUTIFUL!! So sweet!

Then, my turn to give my gift to him...

Let me first preface that it is a difficult thing to get my hubby ANYTHING. Either he already has it, doesn't want it, or (no matter how obsure it is) just plain figures it out. It so frustrating! This time, I had the most stellar gift! It is out of this world - just ask him!

I got my hubby an acre of land on the moon (seriously - the deed & all), had a star named for him, and gave him a small piece of moon rock! Needless to say (but I will anyway), I got him. He never figured it out & was enjoying studying the maps of where the plot of land was on the moon AND where to find the star in the sky. I am GOOD!

OH, after the concert...we are going to enjoy some yummy Starbuck's...without the kids!

I LOVE YOU, HONEY!! SHMILY!!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica's Backseat Driver...

So anyway...

I went to KC with the family over the weekend to see...family. On the way back home, we brought back two vehicles, so I obviously had to drive one. I had Lizzie & Christian with me.

My hubby was leading the way, but it was hard to keep up from time-to-time due to obstacles slowing me down...like other drivers cutting me off. It happened often. Grrr...

I think I must have sighed really big at one point, when from the back seat, I heard a "little" voice yell, "STUPID CARS!" What??

Yes, the little one was developing road rage as the trip was going. Everytime I'd sigh, grunt, growl, etc. everytime I was frustrated with yet another car cutting me off as I was ready to reset the cruise control, I'd hear a voice..."STUPID CARS!"

Then, when he realized that my hubby was in the other lane, he was yelling at me to get over into the other lane!

So I thought you might be entertained to know that, yes, I have a 4-year-old backseat driver with road rage. Awesome.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica: Point Taken

So anyway...

I know it's been a long time, but here I am!

I also know how much everyone seems to love the kid stories...so...here you go...

The other day, my 4 year-old son was dying to tell me something. He was tattling on the dog (as usual), but this is what I got:


"Hey, Mommy? I have to tell you something:
Number 1, (Comet) jumped on me.
Number 2, (Comet) jumped on me.
Number 3, (Comet) jumped on me.
Number 4, (Comet) jumped on me.
Number 5, (Comet) jumped on me."

Umm, by # 3, I had to put my head down on the table so the poor little guy wouldn't see mommy cracking up at his very serious conversation. I am still unsure if he was just making a very strong point, or if it was 5 different times, but either way - this was too cute & too funny not to share...

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

Life Change For Busy AM~Erica

So anyway...

What a busy weekend we have had at our house!

Friday was an "in-service day" @ work to get the classrooms ready for the summer switch over. This meant we had to clean & scrub EVERYTHING from the celings to the floors, plus any rearranging & updating of files, so we can be ready for a great new start for Tuesday AM.

Friday afternoon, we had to finish cleaning the house, get groceries & supplies for a birthday slumber party for my now 12-year-old daughter (on Wed) & 3 of her friends. Insanity.

Saturday AM, we had to get the girls out of the house (invites said 10:30 AM) so that we could get ready for a b-day surprise for Lizzie. My folks said they would be getting her b-day gifts to her by the weekend. Liz has been checking the mail & hoping for either UPS or FedEx to be showing up with SOMETHING! Just after 1:00 PM, my mom & dad showed up on the doorstep with b-day gifts for Lizzie. She was SO surprised!! So, this also meant my folks were staying Sat. PM.

Sunday, we all got up & went to church, then out to lunch before mom & dad headed back for KC. As we were eating, my hubby got a phone call that had him leaving the table @ the restaraunt...

Chelsea called from Vegas & was having a very hard time...her mom & boyfriend told her she was not to live with them & needed to come live with her dad, and that they had no respect for her. Normally she we would told from our side to let things cool down & see what happens, but...this isn't the first time she's been told that. So sad.

So...June 10th, we are getting a 16-year-old in our household, along with our 12, 10½ & 3-year-old children. WHEW!

This is another child in school here, updated chore lists, possibly another vehicle, higher grocery bills & less eating out. I'm sure there is a whole lot more that I am leaving out, but no matter how you look at it, it is going to be a BIG change for us...again.

Pray for Chelsea & her heart; she is hurting right now. Pray for us as we prepare for continued madness. Although, I know it is God's will that she needs this change in her life.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

P.S. ~ My voice is mostly back. YEA!

AM~Erica is Inspired (and reminded)

So anyway...

As a dancer & choreographer, it is amazing what inspires me...

I did my signing of scripture yesterday, and people asked me how long I've been signing. This is too funny since I learned the 14 verses in an hour on Wednesday. But, I had a fabulous teacher! People would be amazed at the way it flowed; I have been amazed watching Debbie (my ASL "teacher") doing her signing, and how easy she makes it look. I got thinking how beautiful it would be to incorporate it into some interpretive dance. My mind is racing!

Then, my son, Ethan, has been talking about this freaky "Elvis cat" that sings in this freaked-out play. He was referring to the Rum Tum Tugger from "CATS". Ah, CATS...the dancer's musical; the one that every dancer wanted to be a part of when I was taking classes growing up - the pinnacle of plays, the benchmark of what we all wanted to be as dancers & performers. Ethan had me watch the Rum Tum Tugger song on youtube this evening...then I had to start watching several scenes...amazed by how each "cat" moved so beautifully & gracefully. My son was so sweet to tell me I should be in that play - however, if I did & moved the way they moved at this point in my life & fitness level...I would need a paramedic @ every show.

It did stir all kinds of thoughts in my head...the grace & energy of "CATS", the beautiful flow of sign language...

I think God is letting me know I need to get going on my dance ministry...

Oh...on a side note: I have a little more voice. Maybe a couple of sheep have returned from the flock. I'm still searching for the rest...

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Has No Voice

So anyway...

I have been asked to help with the Pentacost celebration service this week at church. I am supposed to get up in front of the 10:30 contemporary worship for my part. So, while I am preparing for it, I have lost my voice. It has run away somewhere, and I cannot find it. I feel like Little Bo-Peep & her stinkin' sheep!

If anyone wants to try to call me, consider me unavailable. You wouldn't be able to hear anything I was trying to say anyway. There isn't even a gilmmer of raspy or squeaky anything. When I say "gone", I mean G-O-N-E - GONE!

I guess I should feel a little better knowing that my part during the Pentacost worship service is sign language. I have learned sign language for John 1:1-14; there will be English, ASL, German & Mandrin versions done simultaneously. So cool!

However, none of this helps my voice besides not using it.

So, stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica is Frustrated!

So anyway...

GRRRRR!

This potty training thing has me in a tizzy. I've been through this twice already, but I don't remember EVER having this much trouble.


My 3yo little guy is doing great peeing in the stool - no prob! It's the other that is not going so well. I feel like we've tried almost everything:


* stickers/candy
* big boy pants (no more pull ups)
* silly songs
* a book was made for him with his name in it about pooping on the potty - he won't go anywhere w/o it


Anyone out there who can help out? He knows when he needs to go, he just won't tell anyone until he's already done it. And he refuses to do it on the toilet! He has done it in the last year & a half, but I can count those times on 1 hand.


Any ideas? Anyone...Anyone...? HELP!!


Stay tuned...


God Bless, AM~Erica

StL Weather 'n Stuff 'n AM~Erica

So anyway...

Since we have moved to St. Louis, we have experienced some interesting/strange things. I have noticed that when the wind blows, SOMETHING is blowing in (i.e. snow, rain). There was one day when the day got up to 60º & sunny, got cloudy, started raining, started snowing, then started sleeting, and ended up around 30º...all in about a 2-hour timespan. INSANE!!

Then, if you look at my last post, there is the fact that it snowed on Easter. CRAZY!

We have, also, had so much rain, it has closed down highways due to flooding. Streets have been turned into waterways. We have gotten some water in our basement, but nothing that would require flippers & a snorkle.

Then, we were awakened just after 4:30 AM on yesterday morning to the house shaking. We didn't know what to make of it; since there is usually a lot of wind, we thought that's what it might be...but it kept going. We silently pondered the thought of an earthquake, but passed off that thought as a silly idea. Well...it was an earthquake. It happened on part of the New Madrid fault about 130 miles away from StL. It sounds so weird to say that we had an earthquake. I can still feel my insides vibrating when I think about it. It sounds more like something out of a movie.

I remember in junior high & high school, talking about the New Madrid fault everytime California had yet another large earthquake, and talking about the possibility of one happening in Missouri...but never thinking I would ever actually experience it. So, here we are, about 20-years later, and, BINGO! I have been through my first earthquake.

It's so weird & scary to think about. What if it had been bigger...or closer. We would have been woefully unprepared! This can actually happen, folks.

Now, I guess we just wait to see what next great weather/natural adventure St. Louis has in store for us...

And on another note, today is my 12-year wedding anniversary with my wonderful hubby. Happy Anniversary, Honey!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica