About Me — Amanda Jean

Many things you’re probably dying to know about me. 😉

Hi, I’m Amanda Jean!

Being excited to write about myself feels strange.

I’m a quiet person but an open book despite struggling with social anxiety for as long as I can remember.

Ask, and I almost always tell.

Heck, I’ll tell you things without you asking — no need to thank me for the warning.😜

It’s funny, I remember my dad often speaking about the disdain he had for untruthful people (liars!) throughout my childhood. He was just venting, but I was of course all ears… the last thing I ever wanted to become was a liar. 😆

I hope you find some of my facts and true short stories enjoyable!

Please do comment and say hello — and if you’ve written an About Me article, please mention that so I can get to know you, too!

Facts You May Want to Know — Or Not

Medium member since: December 2020

Location: Outside of Seattle, Washington (the Pacific Northwest), USA

Age: 39

Ever married or divorced: Married twice, divorced twice. Reunited with my high-school sweetheart after being apart for 20 years (not married)

Children: 4 sons —ages 18, 15, 10, and 2 — my world, of course!

Main Gigs: Being a devoted mom and partner, homeschooling, aspiring blog writer, freelance proofreader and content creator (I have yet to land my first client, but have volunteered for a Christian Camp ministry helping their marking department write and edit articles).

Medium Goals: Sharpen my writing skills, refine my writer’s voice, grow an audience, and achieve my financial goals so I can make my biggest dreams come true!

Coffee or tea: Both

Favorite meal: Sirloin steak and twice-baked potatoes

Favorite dessert: Philadelphia cheesecake — my late Grandmother made it best, so thank God she taught my sister how to make it! ❤

Morning or night person: Night — I keep trying to force joining The 5 am Club (have tried and failed on several occasions — maybe someday!)

Pets: Marley, a lab mix (10), and Mandy, an Arabian horse (27)

Cats or Dogs: Both. I especially love schnauzers — I love all animals!

Favorite hobby: Riding or being in the presence of horses — have been crazy about them since I was five

Other hobbies and activities I enjoy: Reading non-fiction (obsessed with books about personal growth and entrepreneurship), crocheting, trying to keep house plants happy, walking or hiking, swimming, creating graphic designs in Canva, and being a lifelong student (learner) of YouTube YOUniversity (that’s what I call it)

Topics I Love Writing About: Personal growth, motherhood, childhood, and unschooling (a method of homeschooling that is child-led and interest-focused). I plan to also write about my pursuit of financial freedom and the process of creating multiple income streams (with a focus on passive income).

Three (True) Short Stories

Horse Crazy Girl Writes a Letter

When I was ten, I wrote a letter to Mr. Howell — a neighbor my family had never met. I offered to care for and ride his horses. He invited my family over and introduced me to one of his horses, Bob.

To my amazement, despite my little experience with horses, he had me over to ride many times. What a kind, generous soul he was!

I still have photos of a childhood friend and me living the life, riding Bob the horse. Those precious memories were made possible by a letter I wrote to a stranger.

One Phone Call Can Make Your Dreams Come True

When I was thirteen I’d grab a copy of the Little Nickel (a free local newspaper) from the local grocery store, nearly every week. I was searching the classified ads section for a horse my parents could afford!

My parents didn’t have the means to buy and keep a horse, but I was determined to make my dream of having one come true.

Over the summer I had earned some money babysitting. One day I found an ad for a 2-year-old horse — for only $750! — and mustered up the courage to call the number. I asked the man who answered if he would take $85 for a down payment (and offered $20/mo. for feed) until my mom could pay the balance.

A girl could hope — or be totally delusional.

He said YES!

My mom did, too — she’s the most incredible mom a child could ever have. Raising a large family, it wasn’t easy for my parents to come up with the money, but my mom made sure it happened. I worked in exchange for the cost of keeping my horse at a local ranch.

Twenty-six years later, my dream horse is still with me! She’s had to live with my sister for the last few years. That’s her in the photo — Mandy (short for Mandy’s Pride and Joy). When you’re thirteen you come up with very original names for your beloved pets! I had a rat named Mandy, too. Not embarrassing, not at all.

Love At First Sight & Happy Ever After — With 20 Years Of Hard Lessons In-between

It was nearly summer break when I was eating lunch outside of our high-school building and he came walking around the corner. Our eyes met, and we were both instantly in love. Crazy, I know.

Sadly, my wild boyfriend got into some trouble and I decided it best to go our separate ways. It’s easy to be reckless when young!

Twenty years later— and two divorces, three kids, turmoil, and a lot of soul-searching — we reunited! I felt like we hadn't been apart for a day!

We have a precious little boy — that makes four sons for me. How amazingly blessed I am! If someone would have told me things would have gone this way, I wouldn’t have believed them in a million years.

Life definitely has a funny way!

My Dreams and Big Reasons Why

To afford enough land where my family can enjoy life to the fullest and I will eventually start a horse rescue and sanctuary (within the next three years).

To provide my younger sons greater opportunities for playing and learning (especially outdoors).

To retire my amazing mom a few years early and also retire my sweetheart from the construction work he does.

That’s a Wrap

I’d love to share more, but… it’s 3:00 am! 😅

I look forward to getting to know you, too, so please do comment and say hello — and let me know if you’ve written an About Me article, too.

As always, thank you for reading! Until next time…

❤ By Amanda Jean

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