Shawna and Michael Finally Got Married!

Shawna finally became Mrs. Michael "BooBoo" Erminger! After being delayed by Ike the wedding took place at Agave Road in Katy on November 28th. It was a beautiful wedding with lovely decorations and all their friends and family were in attendance.

We didn't get too many pictures, guess we were having too much fun...but a few of my favs that we took are below.

To see the awesome pics that the photographer took:
1. Visit http://www.solarisstudios.com
2. Click on "View Your Wedding"
3. Enter in the following password. 67021wrichardserminger

Congrats to my Baby Sister!

Back in Blogg-Land

So, it has been forever since I've blogged myself and forever since I've read my favorite blogs. I just spent the morning reading all the blogs I missed. Phew, I missed alot! So, why so long since my last blog you say? Well, life has been different for me and I'm still adjusting, I've had an interesting month and 1/2...

I lost my job. It is very sad b/c I loved my job, and I was so spoiled and I loved working w/ my Dad every day and my friends and took my duties very serious. I do that w/ a job/task/responsibility. I throw myself in 100% and take pride in my work. So, I now have no job, which for 2 & 1/2 years has been a major part of my identity. Now what?

So that is one reason I haven't done the blogs as much, I am not staring at a computer all day. Which is probably a good thing.

I also had a surgery that took forever to recover from, then Shawna's wedding, filling in at Butler's here and there and then this week was sick w/ flu or something.

But I'M BACK! Since there is so much to blog about I will get my computer sorted out & pictures organized and come back strong. For now, I'm going w/ Mike all the way into Houston to a grocery store that has his Irish food. Poor fella...

Stay tuned....

Election Day '08

I finally voted! All the hype and all the excitement...now it is over and we just watch CNN and wait.

As I was walking in to vote, and saw all the signs lining the street and sidewalk to the voting location, and all the people out in their t-shirts with hats and buttons and handing out flyers and explaining to voters why the candidate they support (both for local and national election) is the best, I wanted to shout THANK YOU JESUS. I didn't of course, for fear of looking like a lunatic...haha, but I felt it in my heart, and he heard me.

As I've been talking to my friends and peers lately I am saddened by the fact that the awesome privelage and right to vote seems to be lost on so many of them. It is just seen as something "older people" do and "right now I'm not into politics but I'm sure I will be when I'm older". That angers me! It will be too late then.

The Presidents from the past have formed our present and the President elected in the present will form our future, and our children's future. I will not ever tell anyone who to vote for, I believe it is a personal choice. I know it was a hard one for me. When taking the online tests that supposedly tell you who you agree with most, I always land in the middle. I leave it up to my prayers and my gut and even take advice and guidance from my family members (mostly my Dad and Uncle). But the decision is mine and I made it for myself and so should you. The point is, I don't care who you want to vote for, that is up to you, I just want people to vote. I just want somehow to express to my friends and peers how important voting is. "What is one vote" you say...well, ok, so maybe your one vote doesn't make or break an election...maybe...but shouldn't you want to vote just b/c you can?

As I was walking in to vote, all I could think about is how amazing it was to see all those people, of all different ages and races and lifestyles coming to vote...men, women and young adults! What an awesome responsibility and right we have as Americans. I don't think when our military is serving and fighting they are doing so b/c they want Republicans or Democrats to win the vote...they are doing so b/c they want We the People of The United States of America to win the vote.

So, whoever you want to vote for, just vote. It takes no time at all, you are able to take off work and it excercises one of your greatest rights as Americans. If you don't use the right to vote, you lose the right to complain. If you are reading this too late and missed your chance to vote, get registered and pay attention to the world around you and vote in 2012.

I feel great, I feel like I contributed to Democracy today and mostly, I feel extreme joy and gratefulness for the Men and Women who have gone before us and who serve us now to give us our rights as Americans. Sounds cheesy...but man...am I proud to be an American!

Nutter Butter's first picture

Below is a picture of Nichole's baby...aka Nutter Butter. I am so excited to meet her!! (See post below titled Other Mother)

Oh, and the name is being chosen so if anyone has suggestions let me know!




Looks like she is drinking a beer already!! Definitely Nichole's daughter...haha

Dude...Where's My Boat??

I've been wanting to put these pictures up since Ike. This was a problem all around here...these pictures are some we took on the Island of Clear Lake Shores where my parents live...random boats everywhere! On streets, in yards and even up against and crashing into houses! I only imagine after the storm there were alot of...Dude...Where's My Boat? haha

Other Mother

I have been so blessed in my life to be surrounded by strong Christian women. My Nannie, my Mom, my Aunt Verna, my Youth Leader Mel, Cecilia, other friends of my Mom and many other women. I think it has been a true blessing and gift to have these woman as examples and leaders and show me what it means to be a Christian wife and mother.

One woman I would particularly like to mention is Janice. She is my Mom's Best Friend and Business Partner and my OTHER MOTHER. Having someone to turn to no matter what, who loves me unconditionally just as a mother does, and someone that does not judge me or lecture me or ridicule me but just listens to me, let's me vent, and when asked gives me gentle guidance and advice without giving demands and without forcing me into a decision that she wants. She gives pros and cons for both sides and has a way of being supportive of either decision while using her experience and knowledge, and her strength and God's word to guide me into the right choice. As a young lady with a rocky relationship with my mother, it is nice to have someone who is sort of neutral and loves both my Mom and me and can sort of be in both corners and we can stand on her neutral ground.

I have told Janice repeadedly that she is an Angel to me and to my family. I love my Mom and Janice does not replace her. But to have Another Mother to turn to is such an amazing thing. The lifting up, the support, the advice, the love, the friendship, the guidance and example, mixed with the the prayer that she provides - on top of that my own mother does is just amazing! (Janice does alot of other stuff too that will remain between us!! HAHA)

So...where is this reflection on my relationship with my Other Mother? We found out Wednesday that my Best Friend and Soul Mate, Nichole, is having a baby girl!! I can't wait to be someone's Other Mother!

I have something to say to my Nutter Butter (that is her nickname already)...I will ALWAYS be there for you no matter what and I hope that our relationship is strong and good and you will know that I love you like my own and that I am here in times when you feel you can't turn to your Mom, when you feel you need Another Mother...I am here and I love you already and I am so excited for you to join our friendship and our family! It has already been a blessing for me to be part of your tiny little pre-birth life, and I can not WAIT to watch you grow into the intelligent, beautiful, strong, loving Christian woman I know you will be. You have already blessed with an awesome Mother and hopefully I can live up to the high standards Janice has set and be an awesome Other Mother! I hope I am as much a gift from God to you as you and your Mom and My Other Mother Janice are to me!!

Derek's B-Day Video Message

Hope you enjoy this Derek...I had fun filming these 3 crazy drunk people A day late and worth the wait!!



Not bad for the first movie I've ever produced!

Happy B-Day Derek!

Mike's little brother Derek celebrated his Birthday yesterday! We text him and I got to IM with him for a few minutes to wish him Happy B-Day. I know the distance from our family is now a fact of our life, but I don't like it! If we live here there is distance from Mike's family...if we live there...distance from my family. Either way, we have to adapt. It would've been nice to hug him on his B-Day and go to dinner or something.

I took a video on Saturday night in the RV (thanks Michael and Regina for the evacuation home!) where we stayed in during evacuation and again when we didn't have power. Dan and Shawna came over to have a belated celebration of my B-Day and I recorded their B-Day wish for Derek. I will work on figuring out how to post the video. It is funny

Fionn and the cats really miss you alot! Come stay with us soon so they can get some attention! We need a pet sitter if you are looking for a career change...haha!



We love you Derek and hope you had a great B-Day...as soon as Mike gets a paycheck your present is on its way!

Ike by Mike

Sorry, couldn't resist the rhyming! These are some pics Mike took of our view of Hurricane Ike. Some of them my Dad took of our junk. The ones on top are of the junk pulled out of the garage, then below are of the garge while still full of the junk. Thank God we only lost things. Our family was so blessed compared to many of our neighbors. How in the world did all of that junk fit in that garage? The pics below are Butler's Courtyard. Every tree, limb, leaf, and branch that could fall did!

1st Day Feeling

Today Mike started his new job and our new life officially began!




It isn't with GE like I originally told everyone...guess I was overzealous...he was offered an even better job the same day he accepted the GE job. Thanks to Tom Hayne's kindness once again! He told me months and months ago that a good friend of his had an engineering firm and Mike should contact him when he is ready to get a job. So, Mike did, and he got an interview and was hired the same day! He is now a Nassau Engineer!! It is way more money than he thought he'd make, it has good benifits, paid holidays and sick leave, the office building is right next to mine, the guys he are working with are good friends of Tom and great Christians, a guy on his soccer team just started working there recently too...the list goes on!! Most importantly, he really liked it today and it is so important to me that he do a job he likes and is challengeing in an environment that he is comfortable and happy in.

I am so proud of him and so excited to officially be an Engineer's Wife!! HAHA This is definitely a new start for us and such a blessing as we will not have to struggle to make ends meet, and we get out of that nasty debt and even get to save money to buy a house soon!!

This morning it felt like the 1st day of school at our house. The morning was full of excitement and nerves, and hope for the future. Mike had a new outfit on...new pants, new top, new shoes and new belt. He looked so handsome I had to take his picture. He had his portfolio ready to go to fill with papers and notes. I feel so blessed to have married such an intelligent man with such possibilities! I love you Mike and I'm proud of you! Enough mush...go out there and bring home the bacon baby!! OH yeah new shoes for Amber soon...whooo hooooo!! HAHA

First day of new job = first day of new life!

It does exist!!

So yesterday we went over and helped my parents clean out their 1st floor. It was a HUGE mess!! Mike misplaced our camera (eyes rolling) so I don't have any pictures downloaded yet. I did take the one above on my iPhone though. The boat was in the neighbors yard/driveway. The city had to come over w/ 2 big bulldozers and move it over. The whole city just looks like a big junkyard/war zone with everyone getting their mess out. It stinks too. More pics to come when Mike finds our camera.

I wanted to take a few minutes and blog about the blessings we've been given lately and share my lesson in what it is to be a good Christian, friend, neighbor and American. The biggest blessing of course is that all of our friends and loved ones were safe, the other is that none of us has lost our home.

It is always so amazing to me in these times of desaster and suffering to see the American spirit. So many wonderful people, both paid and volunteer, have been working round the clock to provide the basic needs of those in this area effected by Ike. Serving food, passing out water and ice, working all night to repair power lines. I take electricity for granted...and I definitely take refrigeration for granted.

Yesterday while cleaning out the crap, seriously just wet, muddy, gross junkie crap, from my parents house we were shown kindness by some friends. Tom Haynes who does many jobs, but for us he handles all of our radio and television advertisig for both Oak Creek and the Bridal Symposium. He and my dad have worked together for years with his company/companies working with ours. I always knew he was a great Christian w/ a huge heart, and any time he visits our office he brings big smiles and an unmatched energy, but I had no idea what he'd bring to my family yesterday. We had worked for hours in the garage, we were tired and really just feeling exhaustion (both physical and mental) when we looked up and here comes Tom and his wife and 2 daughters. They were not asked to come help, just knew we were there working. They jumped right in and just worked so hard! Not only did we appreciate the physical help, the energy they brought to us was not measurable! This was not a fun job, by any means, and they kept a smile on and kept the energy high, and just gave us such a HUGE blessing!! The example they portrayed as Christians and Americans was just SO AMAZING! I thought, what a lesson they are teaching their daughters (16 and 14) and what a lesson they've taught me. Their daughters are already upstanding people I can tell just from meeting them a couple of times. I know if I was 14 or 16 I would not be as happy to be doing that task.

I wanted to post this blog so that others out there might see that kindness and friendship and chivalry do still exist!! The American spirit can not be crushed! It is too bad we only see it in times of disaster and tragedy, but I will carry my memory of the Haynes family and the kindness they and others have shown my family and Butler's Courtyard with me forever! I will, and already have begun to, "pay it forward" as they say and help others less fortunate than myself.

Thanks Haynes family!! You are amazing and there is no way we could ever repay your kindness and hard work!! THANK YOU and GOD BLESS YOU!!

Email to Cousins

I emailed my cousins today, and thought it would make a good blog entry. As I see such a mess all around and feel the sadness that many people I know must be going through, all I can seem to think about is my family...my immediate family, and my cousins and my Aunts and Uncles.

My Cousin Ben has the same B-Day as me...Sept 15 so I'd like to say Happy B-Day to him!


Hello Family,

Hopefully everyone is aware now that the Richards have survived yet another hurricane. We were in Katy where Shawna's wedding was scheduled and we had hotel rooms. Mom and Dad's house on the Island of Clear Lake Shores was definitely blessed compared to many of their neighbors. The downstairs is really pretty bad, but only had garage sale junk in it really, and just things. We believe the pictures and valubles that were down there were high enough to have survived, unless something banged into them. The island is still w/out power like alot of our area. The main clean up for us has had to start at Butler's Courtyard. None of the buildings had damage, but every tree, limb, leaf and branch that could fall did, and we have 3 weddings that must go on this weekend. Shawna and Michael live a couple streets over from Mom and Dad and their downstairs which only had a laundry/storage room was messed up pretty bad, and Shawna's car...but she's not too upset as she's hoping for a new one...haha. My apartment was totally fine.

As you probably know by now...Shawna and Michael chose not to get married under these circumstances. It just didn't feel right to them as Michael's parents were not there and non of their friends. The wedding is going to be rescheduled for the Friday after Thanksgiving. (Official word will be sent later when pieces are officially put together) We really hope that everyone can make this date, and maybe we can have some sort of family Thanksgiving together. Just a thought.

As I was looking around my apartment to evacuate it was really clear what is most important...that is family. I didn't take any of my junk that I've acquired, non of my new wedding presents still in the boxes...not my TV or my computer. What was most important to me was our family things...Nannie's trunk, family photo albums of us in Galveston...even that silly fiber optic ball thing. Mike thought I was nuts for wanting to protect it, but that has my memories. Memories of us just dying to touch it and no matter what room Nannie was in she knew when we touched it! I guess where I'm going with this is...we need to take some time, whether it be Shawna's wedding, or other, to get together and continue to make family memories. Today when I returned to work and had internet for the 1st time, the 1st thing I did was get on your blogs to check things out. You are all much better at that then me, but I love that we can stay connected through the blogs, but I also hate that instead of calling to chat and ask how everyone is I just get on there. Anyhow, I sometimes think like...how would Nannie feel knowing we haven't all been together as a family unit since her funeral. I am just as much to blame...the phone works both ways I know. I also know how busy everyone must be. I mean, it is just me and Mike and I feel like we never stop being busy, I can't imagine those of you that have children and church involvement and so many things going on. Guess I'm just taking some time to let you all know how much you mean to me...being able to get online and read your blogs was such a relief and my 1st sign of normalcy in life. Even though Ike didn't hurt us as bad as others, it has been very stressful, just even getting gas and food and wondering if we can drink water that comes from our home sink!!

Also, I wanted to say Happy Birthday to Ben. Sorry I didn't call yesterday but as I said, it has been an interesting few days. Also...it was my B-Day yesterday too!! Hope it was great for you Ben!!

Anyhow, I will work on getting some pics on our blog of the sites around town. Don't know when I'll have a chance. I hope everyone will try to make it down for Shawna's wedding. It would be awesome to get together with everyone. If not, maybe our family leaders (RONNIE AND TOM!!) will get together and figure out a time we can all just reconnect. I love seeing the kids grow in blog pics, but don't want to only know them through pictures (even if it is just a couple of nights and doesn't have to cost much)

So, Happy Birthday to me and Ben and thanks for the prayers and thoughts over our time w/ Ike

Love you all!! Amber

Farewell to our Danish Friend

This is a really sad day for me, as someone who I've become very close to is leaving. Michael "Danish" Jensen has to return home to Denmark.

When we met him, I didn't expect to become so close. I thought well, he's replacing Michael Anderson (the original "Danish") on the soccer team and as a drinking buddy. But he quickly became more. He and Mike and I became close pretty fast and have had so many good times together. When Mike left to go back to Ireland Michael is who helped the most with pulling me through. He would force me to get out and do things and took me to the soccer games so I could still be involved. I don't think I would have come through that as well as I did without him and Kathrine. His awesome amazing, beautiful girlfriend Kathrine. She is one of the kindest most genuine girls I think I have ever met, and I feel we just clicked. The two of them have just been such great friends and I know will always be there for me and Mike as we are for them.

I knew this day would come, but what I didn't expect is how sad I would be. It is really hard to find such awesome friends, and it really stinks that they live so far away! I know we will see each other, and I can not WAIT to go to Denmark. It is only an hour plane ride from Ireland so that makes it even easier on us to get to them when we visit our family, and hopefully they'll come over to Ireland. I know they will also come back here to Texas some day, since they made so many friends here. I am also thankful that we are living in the internet age. I mean, how terrible to make friends and have to write letters that take forever for delivery! We can and will stay in touch through emails, IM, blogs, and Facebook.

As sad as today is for those of us who are losing our good friend, I am happy for Michael and Kathrine that he is returning home. I know Kathrine and his family must have missed him, and as his friend, I know what a jewel he is and I can't even imagine how much his friends missed him! I think Kathrine is an amazingly strong woman for dealing with the distance with such strength and grace (I know how hard long long distance is). I think it really shows how strong their relationship and their love is. If he ever takes my advice (and the advice I've heard many others give him) he'll marry that awesome Kathrine as soon as possible to make certain she never gets away! HAHA (No pressure Michael...hehe)

So, Kathrine and Michael, remember your friends here in Texas, and remember that we love you and we miss you...I think I will miss you the most and I can't wait until we can see each other again! Thanks for being such awesome friends and for all the good times we had and for helping me through my bad times. The two of you show the world the true definition of friendship and love. And you are always so cheerful and happy!! I will try to be more like you in that respect. You have made a major impact on my life, and the lives of many others. I hope you know that.

I love you both!
Amber

oh, Fionn will really really miss his Uncle Danish, always there to give him pets and love


Halloween Party 2007




Going Away Party and Beer Pong Tournament

Michael is self proclaimed Beer Pong Champion of the World