My Inspiration

Amy Sams

My Grandma Amy, who I was named for, was the epitome of class. We had so many things in common, it's not a wonder that we made such a connection.

She had eight sisters (girls, girls, girls) and one baby brother. She too had five children, four boys and a girl, my mom. She also, was smack dab in the middle, the center, of the pack. She had a love for food and serving others and I think that she did it just naturally and unintentional. (She was obviously my inspriation to attend Culinary School. And as luck would have it, she lived in Colorado when I was learning to be a chef and she taste tested everything I made) Charisma and beauty flowed from her being and presence, and now we are treading water that I've never swam in.

As a young lady she and her sisters spent much time singing together and playing the piano.

She married a unique, strong, and handsome man. He was one of the world's first "professional" televised wrestlers. They together raised four, Paul Bunyon like, strapping men who learned the family trade of masonry. Then along came their princess. All the while raising her brewd, she worked in her own and other family members restaurants. She has been the best cook that I've ever been in the presence of.

I want to tell the facts accurately, and it wouldn't do justice if I didn't let you know that she enjoyed her social times. She made the best seven and water you could ever enjoy at happy hour. And her unmistakable laugh got louder after a few.

The thing that I take away more than anything, especially when I reminisce, is that her family was everything to her. She didn't do anything that her family wasn't the center of. She didn't step foot into a place her children couldn't go. Even in her elder age, when she wasn't able to live alone and had completely lost her eyesight, she insisted that she pull her weight and still provided us with meals and a house cleaner.

It seemed as though she was perfectly positioned, for me. She was in KS as I grew up. She moved to CO when I was in college. She moved back to KS when I had Ammorae and we lived together when I really started to mature and needed direction.

I could only strive and try to be anything like her. People flocked to her presence and her family adored her. She taught me so much, and as I continue to grow I understand her more and more. I believe that she is a beautiful spirit and an angel that watches and guides me through my life. And I couldn't be more happy to name my blog after her and start this new adventure with her in mind.

Grandma Amy, I love and miss you. All I need to do now, after raising my finger, is say "Absolutely"

Snowy Day

It's so exciting to think about having another Family Day. It's obvious that most families don't get to enjoy much quality family time together, but today God blessed us with some more, unexpected time to do all the fun winter activities that we look forward to doing.

I expect that I will be seeing and reading about how most of my friends and family took full advantage of the snow and are outdoors today showing the youngins "How it's done"

Jeff just walked in and told us that he gets to stay home, one more day. That will make three days in a row, including tomorrow, and that hasn't happened in over a year!!! Don't even question it, we WILL take full advantage of it.

And in light of that, I've gotta go, because Addy just walked up to me with one of our cozy blankets and said, "Mama, I want to snuggo" and that comes first!

A Fresh Start

Today is a fresh start. My sister and I agreed to each start a blog this week. Today is my first entry. Welcome! I am so excited, and for SO many reasons!

Let's just start off with a BANG! It is blizzard weather out and our family braved the elements to go to the infamous 20 week sonogram appointment. This is the one that promises to unleash several excited squeals, a ton of texts, a plethera of phone calls, and the answer about the sex of our FIFTH baby.

Jeff asked the technician if when she got to that point, would she please allow him a moment,to make the determination himself. You know that he is a self proclaimed obgyn now, right. She agreed and when it was time she let him take his turn. What do you know, he did a bang-up, spot-on job. Jeff is going to be a daddy of FIVE little girls! If you were there you would have thought that he was being awarded at the Golden Globe Awards, I truly think that he actually bowed, and he DID have prepared an acceptance speech. WOW!

This blog will be attended and nurtured everyday with love and enthusiasm. I want to serve others who might be walking on some of the paths that I've been on. God has blessed me with such an adverse life story and testimony, that I hope you tune in to hear it and maybe take something away that will add to yours. I love to read my friends' journals and they've inspired me and blessed me so much.

I've been labeled "CRAZY" many a time! You get to see first hand what wacky extremes I will go to. This is the life of a conservative artist, a typical professional male (who would have to question his masculinity)and four (almost five)growing daughters.

My blog is called Absolutely Aimee, which is very significant. I was named after my Grandma Amy Sams. She influenced the largest part of my life. We lived together for quite awhile and she inspired me in many ways. She was the most picturesque classy LADY that ever lived. She waved her perfectly red polished finger and said "Absolutely" in a manor that no one will ever forget. And so shall it be that I carry on her legacy with a smile, a giggle, and an finger rearing "ABSOLUTELY"