AMANDA KAY ZINN GOATES

is having the BIG 30 September 11th

Happy Birthday Amanda!

:)

As I write a blog for each of my children's birthday's, I close my eyes and I remember well the day they were born. My OB doctor told me on September 9th that if I did not have my baby by the end of the weekend I was to come to the hospital on Monday and he would induce me.  Well, I had a TERRIBLE experience with another child and did not want to repeat it but felt it just might be the reality.

The weekend came and I wanted everything prepared at home when I left on Monday to have my baby.  I cleaned and did laundry and shopped at the grocery store.  I walked and ran (as much as a 9 month pregnant woman could run) all over.  I wanted everything done so my children would be well taken care of when I went on Monday.  I fixed dinner, sat down to eat and realized once I stopped that I was in labor.  It was hurry through dinner, do the dishes, and yes, get my children bathed and the good old pink sponge rollers in the girls hair for Sunday.  Once all that was accomplished I went to the hospital and  Amanda Kay Zinn entered this world just a few hours later.  They actually had the doctor on call in the delivery room because my doctor had just left from another delivery and was out of touch with the hospital! (before the days of cell phones and only pagers.....can you believe we existed without cell phones!)

Amanda Kay Zinn entered this world Saturday evening and was PERFECT! What a beautiful baby she was and what a welcome addition to our family.  She was/is so loved by her older brothers and sisters. They came to the hospital to see her on Sunday and could not wait for me to return home with her (all they could do is look at her through the nursery glass)

Amanda has always been blessed with wonderful friends throughout her life.  About a month ago her friend, Jess wrote me and asked me if I could write thirty things about Amanda so she could present it to her.  Jess knew that Amanda was not happy turning 30 so she did a month long celebration with some kind of present or gift for her.  Mine was presented to Amanda last Saturday.  I decided when  I wrote it for her I would also use that for my Birthday blog.  YES, I know this blog is quite long and has lots of pictures but it is a "special" year for Amanda!
Here are my THIRTY THINGS about her! :)

9-11-12

Dear Amanda;

Happy Birthday!

I hope you find nothing but “joy and happiness” this day and for the coming decade in your life! :)  It is such an exciting time as you go forth to raise those two beautiful children, continue to grow in being a wife and a mother.  

I love you with all my heart and that love was so apparent from the moment you entered our lives.  You not only touched our family but touched everyone you came in contact with. 

I remember well, 30 years ago when you entered this world.  It was a Saturday evening and I was busy doing all the things a mother of four children does.  We had just sat down for dinner with the signs of labor came.  I hurried through dinner.  Got Melissa and Marnie bathed and hair curled so they would look nice for church on Sunday!  (even though I would not be there and all the more reason for me to do this before I went to the hospital)

As I was being taken to labor and delivery the attendant taking my information  asked my age and I said 35.  He said, “do you know how old you will be when this child is a teen ager?”  I wanted to say NO, I never thought of that but I just smiled and said “yes” I did!  I often laugh as I think back to him.  Today,  I would say to him, “do you know how much I would have missed out on if I had not had this beautiful baby girl?”

In honor of your 30th birthday, I would like to write 30 things I love about you.  They are in NO ORDER of importance, just thoughts that come into my mind when I think about the 30 years I have had with you!

1.Humble  there was the quality of being humble and none of your positive qualities went to your head.  You never see yourself in the same light others see you!

2.Gregarious you loved all the “social aspects” of life.  When you were little and we would go to the pool you would go about visiting with others.  If I showed concern that you were going off, you would say to me: “don’t worry mom they are my friends”!  Often they were adults, The Shelf’s were a prime example.  You would always go to talk to Debby & Jack.  Once Debby came to our house to see if you could come to her house and hang out with her!  You loved people and everyone was your friend! Grade school, middle school, high school and college, friends were an important part of your life.

3.Happy  you were a happy child and that turned you into a happy adult.  You always brought sunshine and life into our home.  I remember well, driving back from Ball State feeling more than I could share here and walking into our home with just a little less sunshine.  There were still three children at home but the void was felt by “all of us”

4. Smart  I am sure you are rolling your eyes as only Amanda can about now!  You would call me so often while at college and tell me “please pray for me mom.  I have this big test and I know I am not going to do very well”.  Our family would and often your older siblings would be asked to pray and then you would get an A. (praying did not hurt, but your studying, hard work and knowledge made those A’s)   You graduated from high school with honor cords and you graduated from Ball State and U of U with honors. Amanda, you are smart!

Graduation with honors from Snider High School

Masters from U of U

5. Ambitious you studied, had a social life and worked all during high school and college. Now, you serve in RS, work part time, create a beautiful home for Ben and your children.  That equals out “ambitious”.  

6. Creative  you drip with creativity as you look at yourself, your home, your children! 

 7. Anxious  You could get anxious over many things but of course storms come to my mind when I think of this.  Always, as a child you would be anxious when a storm would come.  I remember when you were at Croninger and Val told the teacher you did not like storms and she let you go to the office and call me. I would suspect that “anxious” is still a little part of your life.  (not storms but other things like raising your children:)

8. Generous Throughout life you have always been generous with your family and friends.  Two stories come immediately to my mind when I think of this word and you.  I remember when you were at Ball State and working hard to support yourself.  I had been sick and my winter coat did not fit me and you came home from Ball State one weekend with a new winter coat (grey p coat) for me.  I thought about the sacrifice it took for you to do this. Another story was when you were waitressing and you found $100. under your table.  You gave it to your manager and he told you to keep it. You did not feel good about this (heaven knows a $100. to a poor college student was A LOT) but you wrote me a note and said the only way you could keep it was to give it away so you gave it to me!  Generous, Yes you are with everyone and everything.

9. Family You love your immediate family, including siblings, nieces & nephews  You enjoy being together with everyone and how important it is for family to be a part of your events and life.

10. Traditions traditions of our family, traditions of Ben’s family and traditions you are creating for your family are important to you.  (and might I say I see the rewards of traditions since my children have all grown to adulthood.

11. Reliable if you say you are going to do something you do it! You “talk the talk but you walk the walk!”

12. Sympathetic you a good listener to everyone!

13. Peacemaker  “Blessed are the peacemaker” and Amanda you are a peace maker.  You always want to please and make others “happy” :)

Just could not resist a little fun as
we are split in this home of
BYU
U of U
(that is being a real peace maker)

14.  Energetic just being in the room with you makes “energy”

15. Beautiful:  I would tell you how beautiful you were and you would say, “it  is because you are my mother”, but we would be out and other people would say “you are beautiful” and you would brush them off, roll your eyes at me and go on!  You are beautiful!

16. Friendship   “to have friends you have to be a friend” and that describes you.  You always had/have a circle of friends.  Once we were talking and you told me about your college room mates and the git they gave you was a bottle of glue stating: “Amanda you are the glue that keeps us together”.  I would say that describes you in most situations.  You are the glue to your friends and you are the glue to your family!

17. Healthy I know you are now laughing because you have had so many health issues during your life time, but what I mean about “healthy” is that you are conscious of what you eat, if it is good for you and you make sure your family eats healthy!

18.Determined  It did not matter what you did as a child, teenager or adult, you faced every situation with determination!

19.Talented Amanda you rolling your eyes again. :) As I thought of the things I was going to write I thought about your ballet years.  It was when you did the RAD and your scores were phenomenal.  You were a natural and your music appreciation with the dance was as if you had years of music! (this is what the scores said, not your mother).  This is just one example.... your talents run far and wide!

20.Honest   in everything you say and do

21. Caring you had this quality from a very early age.  I was going through some pictures and memorabilia a while back and I kept many of the notes you would leave for me on my pillow when I would come home from work late at night.  I loved receiving them from you and you always cared about me and how I might be feeling after work!  :)

22.Spiritual you make the Lord a partner with you in all the decisions you make and they are prayed over and fasted over.  You will serve the Lord in any thing he asks you through His leaders

23. Joy you are a joy to me, to your family and to all who come in contact with.  You fill your home with joy, you have joy in your children and your husband.

24. Gratitude You show gratitude for everything you have

25. Integrity ”is consistency of actions, values, methods, principles, expectations & outcome.” One example comes to my mind is when you were in middle school and you were at Val’s cousin’s home.  They were getting ready to watch an R rated movie.  You called me later that Friday evening and asked me if I would come and get you.  I did not understand because you were going to stay all night at Val’s house then changed your mind.  When I picked you up you told me why you wanted to come home!

26.Curiosity you have just enough of this to try new things, to want to improve or to change situations, to create.  You pass this onto your children as you give them a sense of possibilities in this world.

27.Faith Alma tells us: “If ye have faith you hope for things which are not seen, which are true. “ Fait is a principle of action and power. You demonstrate Faith every day of your life!

28.Love sums up who you are....you demonstrate love on a daily basis.  It is said that “love gives without through of receiving, it is to consider the safety, growth, and happiness of another.  You do this through every thought, action and deed in your life.

29. Caring Sometimes caring is just a smile, a note, a phone call, a word of encouragement.  You demonstrate caring every day to someone, somewhere!

Amanda is always with a SMILE! :)

30.Testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ  This attribute pretty much is the sum of all the ones I listed. Our goal is to become like our Heavenly Father & our Savior Jesus Christ with all the attributes they have.  You love the Lord and desire to please and serve him as you develop these qualities

Amanda's baptism day

THIRTY things that remind me of AMANDA KAY ZINN GOATES

Each of these adjectives are who you are and there are many more.

I hope you have a wonderful birthday, I hope you know how much I love you and I hope you know how happy I am Heavenly Father allowed me to become your mother thirty years ago.  You give so much to the world and I look forward to seeing what the next decade holds in store for you.

Love

Mom

Amanda, I have no doubt you will have a wonderful birthday because you make things "happen"!
"THIRTHY-SOMETHING" will be even better than "twenty-something" for now you have an even larger family that loves you, Ben's family, Ben, two beautiful children.  You will do great things and make "thirty something" all that and then some.  Have a GREAT day!....... and remember how I feel...

"EIGHT "plus" is ENOUGH to FILL my HEART with LOVE

Posted by Barb Zinn