A new chapter is coming...

I'm being confirmed tomorrow!!!!  As I sit here on Good Friday (it has been a long day), I can feel the excitement rising within my being. 

When I first learned I would have to go through the RCIA classes with folks who were coming into the Church and had never been baptized, Catholic, received the Eucharist, etc., I was beside myself.  Why couldn't the Bishop just confirm me?  I was a Catholic, for crying out loud!  My family re-located 3 times (cross-country) while I was in high school, so I had not been confirmed.  Why wouldn't my Church just put their hands on me, and give me the Sacrament I still needed?

The Deacon who is in charge of the  RCIA program at my parish was adament.  This is the way you must do it, he said. 

And now, as the Easter Vigil Mass approaches, I am ever so grateful that I had to go through the process of RCIA.  I have met so many people, shared my conversion story (which moved the whole room to tears and brought hugs from complete "strangers", ((not strangers any longer)), and learned so much about humility and the power of community that I must once again thank the wisdom of the Church for standing firm in the Truth and demanding more from Her members. 

Pride...when will I be done with you?  You are like a bad relationship, and I can't get rid of you. 

My anticipation for all that is to come has brought reflection of the recent past, and has made me want to share my conversion story on here.  Not that anyone actually reads this...the thought of starting a blog about myself is sort of nauseating to begin with.  Who am I?  Just another human who knows the truth.  And wants to share it.  In hopes that someone will see it, and come to know the happiness and fulfillment that I have found in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 

Conversion story to come...In the meantime, Happy Easter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First Post?

Allow me to introduce myself.  I'm Amanda, a 29 year old woman living in North Georgia.  I am married to the man God chose for me, and I have 3 children (so far ;).  This is not to lead you into thinking I am one of "those" women who is trying to have a million kids, but I am a realist.  My mother had 8 kids, and her mother had 10 kids.  Oh, yeah.  And we aren't exactly not trying, either. 

I'm pretty sure I'm the luckiest, most blessed woman on the planet.  My husband is sort of perfect (except when he's not) and my kids are awesome (except when they're not).  I love my life.  This might sound cheesy but I go running and I look up at the sky and literally praise God and thank Him for this day, these gifts, this life. 

This wasn't always the case.  A few years ago I was different.  Vastly.  I did not appreciate anything.  I was pessimistic.  I did not love my husband and threatened to divorce him often.  I drank and smoked a lot. I only cared about myself. I yelled and got road rage and cursed God and I was stressed out.  I want to say I hid my pain by going out drinking and dancing and having a good time, but honestly, I didn't realize there was even a problem with the way I was living.  This blog is going to recall that life and this life, and the transition between the old self and the new.The in-betweens, the a-ha moments, and the OMGs.