E61 - Bonded Through Recovery: Ronnie and Amanda's Love Story

Amanda: 00:00:00

it can be done and you can do it together

2

00:00:01,859 --> 00:00:05,099

I think for us and for everybody

that we talk to about stuff like

3

00:00:05,099 --> 00:00:06,460

this is that it can be done.

4

00:00:07,195 --> 00:00:08,375

, it's not just a choice.

5

00:00:08,375 --> 00:00:09,515

It's a determination.

6

00:00:09,895 --> 00:00:12,345

And don't let them tell you that

you can't do it because you can.

7

00:00:12,395 --> 00:00:14,725

And you can have everything that you want.

8

00:00:16,004 --> 00:00:16,865

Do you have to work for it?

9

00:00:16,904 --> 00:00:17,604

Absolutely.

10

00:00:17,675 --> 00:00:19,785

But it can be done and

you can do it together.

11

00:00:38,113 --> 00:00:39,273

Michi J: Hello everyone.

12

00:00:39,273 --> 00:00:42,243

And welcome to a

prisoner's pardon podcast.

13

00:00:42,343 --> 00:00:43,533

. I'm Michi J your host.

14

00:00:43,533 --> 00:00:46,810

And I'm so happy to have you

here I know I always say it's a

15

00:00:46,810 --> 00:00:48,770

special show, but you know what?

16

00:00:49,135 --> 00:00:50,655

It always is.

17

00:00:51,275 --> 00:00:53,885

Today I have a couple on.

18

00:00:54,175 --> 00:00:57,725

Their name is Amanda and Ronnie Woodo.

19

00:00:58,305 --> 00:00:59,545

Yes, a couple.

20

00:00:59,665 --> 00:01:02,915

I never thought I would

have a couple on as well,

21

00:01:03,075 --> 00:01:03,495

but.

22

00:01:03,885 --> 00:01:09,185

I had to have these two on because

they are successful business owners.

23

00:01:09,425 --> 00:01:12,185

Traveling the country

together as a couple.

24

00:01:12,365 --> 00:01:16,445

It's an incredible love story,

this story didn't begin this way.

25

00:01:16,445 --> 00:01:21,664

It began with recovery looking

at what they're doing now,

26

00:01:21,695 --> 00:01:23,075

how successful they are.

27

00:01:23,555 --> 00:01:28,346

You would never think that they

had to go through a recovery.

28

00:01:29,006 --> 00:01:29,606

Yes.

29

00:01:29,996 --> 00:01:33,326

Both of them was hooked on drugs.

30

00:01:33,926 --> 00:01:34,586

But now.

31

00:01:35,366 --> 00:01:36,116

They're not.

32

00:01:36,434 --> 00:01:39,044

The incredible thing is how they did it.

33

00:01:39,414 --> 00:01:39,894

Together.

34

00:01:39,894 --> 00:01:42,264

Michi J: I'm going to let

them introduce themselves, and

35

00:01:42,264 --> 00:01:43,244

then we're going to get into

36

00:01:43,244 --> 00:01:43,484

They're

37

00:01:43,484 --> 00:01:45,250

Michi J: story, hi, Amanda.

38

00:01:45,270 --> 00:01:46,539

And hi, Ronnie.

39

00:01:46,747 --> 00:01:47,676

Amanda: Oh, hi.

40

00:01:48,667 --> 00:01:49,727

Good to be on the show.

41

00:01:50,347 --> 00:01:52,146

Michi J: Well, thank you so much.

42

00:01:53,007 --> 00:01:53,477

Okay.

43

00:01:54,047 --> 00:01:59,517

I want you to tell us,

like, how did you two meet?

44

00:02:00,897 --> 00:02:08,276

Amanda: So we actually met through

drugs, um, honestly, because, um, my

45

00:02:08,567 --> 00:02:15,277

ex husband and his ex wife were friends

and we all were in the meth scene.

46

00:02:15,817 --> 00:02:20,437

And, um, I had separated from my

husband, but was hanging out with

47

00:02:20,437 --> 00:02:24,687

friends of theirs still, and the

circles just overlapped, right?

48

00:02:24,697 --> 00:02:28,817

So then we ended up,

um, partying together.

49

00:02:28,867 --> 00:02:29,247

Yeah.

50

00:02:30,307 --> 00:02:32,167

And, uh, it kind of just went from there.

51

00:02:32,197 --> 00:02:32,716

And.

52

00:02:33,292 --> 00:02:38,562

Um, he and his wife ended up separating

and divorcing and me and my husband

53

00:02:39,392 --> 00:02:44,302

ended up separating and divorcing

and it just kind of, I don't know, I

54

00:02:44,312 --> 00:02:48,412

hate to say that it was meant to be

through the addiction because that

55

00:02:48,412 --> 00:02:50,112

was not a great way to start it.

56

00:02:50,122 --> 00:02:54,572

But had we not both been in that

scene, we would have never met.

57

00:02:55,702 --> 00:02:55,781

Michi J: True

58

00:02:55,781 --> 00:02:56,102

Ronnie: story.

59

00:02:56,707 --> 00:03:00,407

Michi J: Yes, you know what, that's

fine to say, because a lot of

60

00:03:00,417 --> 00:03:05,197

couples meet under, , less desirable

circumstances, but they do meet, right?

61

00:03:05,197 --> 00:03:07,537

So you

62

00:03:07,537 --> 00:03:08,707

Amanda: know,

63

00:03:08,757 --> 00:03:10,937

Michi J: So what attracted you to,

64

00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:13,700

Ronnie: amanda is beautiful.

65

00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:17,510

So I was just instantly interested

in her when I first met her.

66

00:03:18,713 --> 00:03:23,893

Amanda: And Ronnie's personality and humor

is what attracted me to him at first.

67

00:03:24,313 --> 00:03:27,303

He's just, he's always happy

and jovial and laughing.

68

00:03:27,303 --> 00:03:31,913

And it was nice to see that, , whether

it was drug induced or not, which by the

69

00:03:31,913 --> 00:03:33,773

way, it's not, cause he's still like that.

70

00:03:34,893 --> 00:03:35,993

Michi J: Well, good thing.

71

00:03:36,863 --> 00:03:37,323

Right.

72

00:03:37,353 --> 00:03:38,263

Absolutely.

73

00:03:38,575 --> 00:03:46,595

Now, what actually you, you met over

drugs and what happened after that?

74

00:03:47,031 --> 00:03:52,762

Amanda: So we, well, actually I got

in trouble on a few occasions shortly

75

00:03:52,762 --> 00:03:57,252

after we got together, uh, mostly

misdemeanor possession type of things.

76

00:03:57,372 --> 00:04:02,402

, and we're in Wyoming, so I don't know how

the laws differ from, , Wisconsin, but,

77

00:04:02,902 --> 00:04:09,182

um, Our department of family services

is pretty tight with stuff like this.

78

00:04:09,182 --> 00:04:13,782

So we lost our, well, I lost

my kids, Ronnie's kids weren't

79

00:04:13,782 --> 00:04:15,022

living with us at the time.

80

00:04:15,542 --> 00:04:21,221

Um, and we kind of went through the,

the whole rehab and out of rehab and

81

00:04:21,231 --> 00:04:24,832

getting the kids back and being okay

for a little while, and then right back

82

00:04:24,832 --> 00:04:29,052

into it again, and just like the cycle

just kept continuing, you know, and

83

00:04:29,052 --> 00:04:30,662

this has been, you know, that was over.

84

00:04:31,707 --> 00:04:36,520

Well, I've done meth off and on since

I was about 18, so I'm, you know,

85

00:04:36,570 --> 00:04:41,700

granted, it's been nine, 10 years now,

but it was a good 25, almost 30 years.

86

00:04:41,890 --> 00:04:46,390

You know, it was a long time, not

that it was always all the time.

87

00:04:46,490 --> 00:04:51,107

And I didn't lose the kids till

early thirties probably for the

88

00:04:51,107 --> 00:04:54,537

first time, but I did lose the

kids twice to this, you know?

89

00:04:54,537 --> 00:04:57,237

And so then there, like

I said, it was a process.

90

00:04:57,237 --> 00:05:00,077

And so we would clean up and

we'd go through rehab and we'd.

91

00:05:00,512 --> 00:05:04,782

Get the kids back and then we'd be

good for a while and then we slippery

92

00:05:04,782 --> 00:05:09,742

slope down again and it was just

like a, I was so tired of picking

93

00:05:09,742 --> 00:05:12,372

ourselves up out of rock bottom.

94

00:05:12,952 --> 00:05:13,842

It wasn't even funny.

95

00:05:14,302 --> 00:05:18,602

Ronnie: Amanda lived in Gillette

since she was a child, like, which

96

00:05:18,602 --> 00:05:20,132

is northern Wyoming, by the way.

97

00:05:20,132 --> 00:05:21,492

Amanda: And

98

00:05:21,492 --> 00:05:26,212

Ronnie: I'm from Rapid City,

South Dakota, South Dakota.

99

00:05:27,017 --> 00:05:31,197

And, uh, I moved up there to

work in the oil field anyway.

100

00:05:31,267 --> 00:05:34,397

Um, so me and Amanda are the

same age, but we didn't know each

101

00:05:34,397 --> 00:05:35,467

other from school or anything.

102

00:05:35,467 --> 00:05:38,037

Cause I moved up here

when I was 18, I guess.

103

00:05:38,097 --> 00:05:44,407

But, uh, anyway, um, we decided to make

a complete change and we moved, um,

104

00:05:45,377 --> 00:05:50,917

150 miles away from that town just to

get away from the people and everything

105

00:05:51,497 --> 00:05:53,697

surrounding that lifestyle, you know?

106

00:05:54,517 --> 00:05:57,127

Um, but, um,

107

00:05:57,497 --> 00:05:59,497

Amanda: You can find it

wherever you're looking for.

108

00:05:59,497 --> 00:06:03,257

Yeah, which we find out got

hung up on it again up here

109

00:06:03,357 --> 00:06:04,177

Ronnie: remove code

110

00:06:05,757 --> 00:06:09,317

Michi J: So What kind of drove you

towards drugs in the first place?

111

00:06:09,317 --> 00:06:12,087

Was it because it was what

everybody else was doing?

112

00:06:13,187 --> 00:06:16,487

What what kind of got you into that scene?

113

00:06:17,072 --> 00:06:21,682

Ronnie: For me, it was, uh, bikers,

uh, banditos, because he grew

114

00:06:21,682 --> 00:06:23,422

Amanda: up right outside of Sturgis.

115

00:06:24,072 --> 00:06:25,932

So motorcycle rally type stuff.

116

00:06:25,932 --> 00:06:26,232

Yes.

117

00:06:26,368 --> 00:06:31,188

And for me, I grew up in the

sheltered Christian home.

118

00:06:31,898 --> 00:06:34,888

Where I couldn't do anything.

119

00:06:35,448 --> 00:06:38,258

So that's what was kind of my outlet.

120

00:06:38,848 --> 00:06:43,488

Not that I got, you know, it was

mostly pot back then until after my

121

00:06:43,498 --> 00:06:46,957

first divorce and then it was kind

of the people I was hanging out with

122

00:06:46,988 --> 00:06:49,068

kind of experimental type stuff.

123

00:06:49,068 --> 00:06:52,328

And that's, that's one, once you

start experimenting and you find,

124

00:06:52,518 --> 00:06:57,573

if you find it fun, it's a quick,

Hey, let's do this more often.

125

00:06:57,573 --> 00:06:59,323

And then all of a sudden

you're doing it all the time.

126

00:06:59,483 --> 00:06:59,913

So,

127

00:07:00,873 --> 00:07:01,463

Michi J: right.

128

00:07:01,483 --> 00:07:04,363

So was that like a slippery

slope sort of deal?

129

00:07:04,363 --> 00:07:05,643

It kind of slipped up on you.

130

00:07:06,073 --> 00:07:06,893

Absolutely.

131

00:07:07,403 --> 00:07:10,223

Amanda: Every time we've gone back to it

has been like that, which is why we know

132

00:07:10,223 --> 00:07:15,173

we can't even try it once now because

we call it weekend warriors, right?

133

00:07:15,173 --> 00:07:17,913

So you pick a weekend, you're like, you

know what, we should just do, you know,

134

00:07:17,933 --> 00:07:22,223

meth for the weekend and clean the house

or just, you know, party and have fun.

135

00:07:22,483 --> 00:07:27,783

Well, in our area, it's not, it's readily

available, but you have to know the

136

00:07:27,783 --> 00:07:30,582

right people and it doesn't always hit

at the right time because we're not big

137

00:07:30,582 --> 00:07:33,173

city, we're rural small town, right?

138

00:07:33,174 --> 00:07:33,243

Right.

139

00:07:33,873 --> 00:07:38,543

So we would try to find it on a Friday

night and it would be like Sunday

140

00:07:38,543 --> 00:07:42,153

morning when we'd finally get it and

then you're up for 24 hours, which

141

00:07:42,153 --> 00:07:43,773

then puts you into the work week.

142

00:07:44,383 --> 00:07:47,303

And then, so then you're looking for

more because you're tired because you've

143

00:07:47,303 --> 00:07:50,053

been up for the weekend, you know,

and it just kind of all of a sudden

144

00:07:50,343 --> 00:07:54,753

perpetuated into instead of just an

every once in a while weekend, you're

145

00:07:54,753 --> 00:07:57,693

doing it three quarters of the week

and then you're doing it every day.

146

00:07:58,618 --> 00:07:59,698

Michi J: Oh, okay.

147

00:07:59,938 --> 00:08:01,018

So this is different.

148

00:08:01,018 --> 00:08:04,048

This is like looking at

it in a small town way.

149

00:08:04,048 --> 00:08:04,138

Yes.

150

00:08:04,138 --> 00:08:07,798

And it's not as accessible and

it kind of messed up your routine

151

00:08:07,798 --> 00:08:11,668

because you couldn't absolutely

imagine you guys absolutely are funny.

152

00:08:11,728 --> 00:08:12,088

Okay.

153

00:08:12,538 --> 00:08:13,648

That's hilarious.

154

00:08:14,028 --> 00:08:16,323

Okay, so that's, that's good to know.

155

00:08:16,968 --> 00:08:21,648

And, you know, people are, you know,

doing this and they need to hear this,

156

00:08:21,648 --> 00:08:24,498

and this is just what, what's going on?

157

00:08:24,768 --> 00:08:25,173

So yeah.

158

00:08:26,118 --> 00:08:32,508

And when you were doing it and

you, you slipped up and how, how

159

00:08:32,508 --> 00:08:34,178

did you, you get out of that?

160

00:08:34,278 --> 00:08:37,788

You know, you, you just woke

up and look, I'm tired of it.

161

00:08:37,988 --> 00:08:38,227

Amanda: What

162

00:08:38,278 --> 00:08:38,477

Michi J: happened?

163

00:08:38,928 --> 00:08:42,298

Amanda: This final time, or like the

times before, before we went back

164

00:08:42,298 --> 00:08:44,148

into it, because they're different.

165

00:08:45,728 --> 00:08:48,788

So when we got in trouble

earlier, the last time, uh,

166

00:08:49,978 --> 00:08:56,618

Ronnie: That we did it, um, it was,

um, after the SWAT team busted down

167

00:08:56,618 --> 00:09:02,828

our door and pointed a laser sights

at everybody and we went to jail.

168

00:09:04,198 --> 00:09:05,128

Amanda: But we were ready.

169

00:09:05,228 --> 00:09:12,238

So the other thing about where we're at

is that, so we hit, we started dealing

170

00:09:12,248 --> 00:09:15,768

it because we were being ripped off

by the people we were buying it from.

171

00:09:16,498 --> 00:09:21,683

But in order to do that, we had to

drive to our nearest Large metropolitan

172

00:09:22,183 --> 00:09:24,433

city, which happens to be Denver, right?

173

00:09:24,853 --> 00:09:26,703

To acquire it, right?

174

00:09:26,953 --> 00:09:29,983

So now all of a sudden we're

drug running and drug dealing.

175

00:09:30,953 --> 00:09:33,133

So that's where this

kind of all tripped up.

176

00:09:33,183 --> 00:09:38,023

But on top of that, It was

the, the quality back then.

177

00:09:38,023 --> 00:09:40,853

So we're talking nine and a half

years ago when we got busted.

178

00:09:41,033 --> 00:09:45,223

So about 10 years ago, I would say we got

to a point where we were, we were done.

179

00:09:45,233 --> 00:09:46,503

We were tired of doing it.

180

00:09:46,873 --> 00:09:49,403

We, it wasn't doing

what we wanted it to do.

181

00:09:49,423 --> 00:09:50,543

It was garbage.

182

00:09:50,553 --> 00:09:52,003

It was expensive.

183

00:09:52,073 --> 00:09:54,273

You know, I mean, it was just,

everything was going wrong.

184

00:09:54,643 --> 00:09:56,183

We couldn't keep jobs.

185

00:09:56,193 --> 00:09:58,043

It was just one thing after another.

186

00:09:58,303 --> 00:10:01,063

And we got to a point where we both

looked at each other about six months

187

00:10:01,063 --> 00:10:05,118

before we got busted and we're like, Hey,

We need to stop because this is crap.

188

00:10:06,178 --> 00:10:10,268

But the problem was is that we didn't

have jobs except for, for dealing drugs.

189

00:10:10,328 --> 00:10:13,948

And so we couldn't get jobs

cause we couldn't stay off the

190

00:10:13,948 --> 00:10:15,268

drugs long enough to get them.

191

00:10:15,978 --> 00:10:20,608

And, um, it just ended up being one of

those things where we were ready to quit.

192

00:10:20,768 --> 00:10:25,338

We just didn't know how, and

as we were deciding to quit.

193

00:10:25,883 --> 00:10:31,693

I had a medical bill, like a

large one for a neck issue I had

194

00:10:32,323 --> 00:10:36,333

that went to collections and they

started hitting our bank account,

195

00:10:36,343 --> 00:10:37,903

like right before rent was due.

196

00:10:38,653 --> 00:10:40,773

So we were like, okay,

well we're done doing this.

197

00:10:40,823 --> 00:10:43,193

And then they took

everything we had for rent.

198

00:10:43,203 --> 00:10:45,073

So we had nothing to

provide for our family for.

199

00:10:45,463 --> 00:10:49,033

So we made one last trip

to Denver to get more.

200

00:10:49,273 --> 00:10:50,503

And that was when we got busted.

201

00:10:50,513 --> 00:10:50,853

Well, that's it.

202

00:10:51,493 --> 00:10:53,763

Like two days afterwards, we got busted.

203

00:10:54,173 --> 00:10:58,843

So it was, I want to say it was

a blessing in disguise because it

204

00:10:58,843 --> 00:11:02,263

was, it was a little bit more of a

kick than what we were expecting.

205

00:11:02,283 --> 00:11:02,523

Yes.

206

00:11:02,524 --> 00:11:06,473

Ronnie: I wish I wish it could have

happened with two less felonies.

207

00:11:07,983 --> 00:11:08,283

Amanda: Yeah.

208

00:11:10,033 --> 00:11:14,063

But either way, I mean, the

end result was what we needed.

209

00:11:15,103 --> 00:11:15,263

So

210

00:11:15,683 --> 00:11:16,703

Michi J: for sure, for sure.

211

00:11:17,043 --> 00:11:19,273

So this is like.

212

00:11:20,313 --> 00:11:23,873

You're both you what you came

into agreement together like,

213

00:11:23,883 --> 00:11:25,663

Hey, this is not for us.

214

00:11:25,813 --> 00:11:31,013

So you both were on board because normally

I shouldn't say normally, but sometimes

215

00:11:31,013 --> 00:11:36,993

a lot you do see people where one wants

to get off and the other one doesn't and

216

00:11:36,993 --> 00:11:40,653

you two were together on that as well.

217

00:11:41,058 --> 00:11:43,818

So how, how did this happen?

218

00:11:43,818 --> 00:11:47,298

It's just like, you, you nudged

each other and like, I was already

219

00:11:47,318 --> 00:11:50,658

thinking that Amanda, I was just

waiting for you to say that.

220

00:11:50,728 --> 00:11:50,958

What?

221

00:11:51,858 --> 00:11:52,168

Amanda: Yeah,

222

00:11:52,328 --> 00:11:54,728

Ronnie: it's getting older

and tired of, you know,

223

00:11:54,978 --> 00:11:55,228

Amanda: it's

224

00:11:55,408 --> 00:11:55,758

Ronnie: kind of

225

00:11:55,768 --> 00:11:57,458

Amanda: wasting our lives on what?

226

00:11:57,558 --> 00:12:01,628

I mean, we were renting this

like shoe box house for.

227

00:12:02,058 --> 00:12:06,688

There was crap, you know, and it was, we,

we'd always kind of, we would peak and

228

00:12:06,688 --> 00:12:10,318

then we would valley and then we would

fall off the planet and then we would

229

00:12:10,328 --> 00:12:14,478

peak and we would validate, it was just

like, there were people our age that

230

00:12:14,478 --> 00:12:18,808

were, you know, had great careers and they

were traveling and they had, you know,

231

00:12:18,808 --> 00:12:21,158

all this stuff that we wanted, right.

232

00:12:21,238 --> 00:12:24,238

And, and it wasn't, it

wasn't just a drive.

233

00:12:24,248 --> 00:12:26,318

It was more of a, what are we doing?

234

00:12:26,598 --> 00:12:26,708

Yeah.

235

00:12:27,788 --> 00:12:30,553

So, but, but on, on top of

that, really, really late.

236

00:12:30,763 --> 00:12:31,448

Yeah, really late.

237

00:12:31,573 --> 00:12:32,113

Really late.

238

00:12:32,113 --> 00:12:35,053

Because we were, you know, Yeah.

239

00:12:35,113 --> 00:12:36,313

Late for late thirties.

240

00:12:36,853 --> 00:12:37,543

Late thirties.

241

00:12:37,543 --> 00:12:40,793

But, uh, you know, and, and our

kids were getting older too.

242

00:12:40,853 --> 00:12:41,633

That was the other thing.

243

00:12:41,843 --> 00:12:44,123

Our kids were watching what we were doing.

244

00:12:44,363 --> 00:12:44,723

Michi J: Mm-Hmm.

245

00:12:44,753 --> 00:12:47,873

Amanda: And we had grandkids coming

because my son had already had

246

00:12:47,873 --> 00:12:50,743

Myra, right when we got busted.

247

00:12:50,743 --> 00:12:55,483

So we had our first granddaughter that

was like a year old when we got busted.

248

00:12:55,923 --> 00:12:57,633

And it, I just, I didn't want.

249

00:12:58,838 --> 00:13:00,378

I didn't want, you know,

I didn't want that.

250

00:13:00,378 --> 00:13:02,278

I didn't want the family.

251

00:13:02,828 --> 00:13:05,268

There was, it wasn't even

necessarily a status thing.

252

00:13:05,268 --> 00:13:10,598

I just didn't want the, the grandkids

and our kids to not want to be around us.

253

00:13:11,653 --> 00:13:13,713

And I didn't even want to

be around us half the time.

254

00:13:13,713 --> 00:13:14,703

I mean, we were dumb.

255

00:13:16,403 --> 00:13:20,063

Michi J: That was, you know what,

that I was going to ask about that.

256

00:13:20,063 --> 00:13:20,923

What about the kids?

257

00:13:20,923 --> 00:13:22,353

Did that kind of rob you?

258

00:13:22,353 --> 00:13:25,463

But you say, you know, you

automatically went there.

259

00:13:25,463 --> 00:13:26,413

Thank you for that.

260

00:13:27,313 --> 00:13:28,553

The grandkids.

261

00:13:28,563 --> 00:13:32,103

So, you know, I kind of liking

you guys to Bonnie and Clyde.

262

00:13:32,163 --> 00:13:33,433

So I don't think the great.

263

00:13:36,493 --> 00:13:37,703

We have five now.

264

00:13:37,923 --> 00:13:41,493

Oh, Congratulations about that.

265

00:13:41,643 --> 00:13:43,923

So that's good that you stopped

when that first one came.

266

00:13:43,923 --> 00:13:45,963

Cause you would have had

a lot of explaining to do.

267

00:13:46,253 --> 00:13:46,653

Well,

268

00:13:46,693 --> 00:13:49,043

Amanda: you know, I just wish we

would have stopped before the kids

269

00:13:49,043 --> 00:13:52,323

came because they we've put our

kids through way more than they

270

00:13:52,323 --> 00:13:53,583

should have ever had to go through.

271

00:13:54,423 --> 00:13:58,233

We, we really have now they've,

they've mostly, mostly turned

272

00:13:58,233 --> 00:13:59,513

out to be really good people.

273

00:13:59,573 --> 00:14:05,868

You know, some of them still have a little

ways to go, but you know, um, My son's

274

00:14:05,868 --> 00:14:08,458

been through Ronnie's my fourth husband.

275

00:14:08,528 --> 00:14:09,648

I'm his third wife.

276

00:14:09,748 --> 00:14:10,008

So

277

00:14:10,248 --> 00:14:10,478

Ronnie: together.

278

00:14:10,478 --> 00:14:11,488

We're lucky number seven

279

00:14:14,118 --> 00:14:19,808

Amanda: But you know, so I put my my

son who is now he'll be 29 and in August

280

00:14:20,508 --> 00:14:26,873

and you know I put him through three

failed marriages And, you know, the

281

00:14:26,973 --> 00:14:28,673

whole time pretty much drug addiction.

282

00:14:29,423 --> 00:14:32,523

When I was with his dad, it was mostly

pot, you know, and I don't really consider

283

00:14:32,523 --> 00:14:36,703

that an addiction, it was just what we did

at the time, you know, and then after that

284

00:14:36,703 --> 00:14:41,123

it was, you know, meth and coke and pretty

much anything I could get my hands on.

285

00:14:41,493 --> 00:14:43,493

Not to mention a lot of

alcohol back then, too.

286

00:14:43,803 --> 00:14:45,703

And not that I don't

drink now, because I do.

287

00:14:45,873 --> 00:14:47,963

Um, but I'm very responsible about it now.

288

00:14:49,008 --> 00:14:50,968

Because we have driving jobs and whatnot.

289

00:14:50,968 --> 00:14:55,528

So, um, but, but it, you know, when

the grandkids came, it kind of put

290

00:14:55,528 --> 00:15:00,298

a different twist to it because my

son was basically like, Nope, we're

291

00:15:00,298 --> 00:15:04,458

not doing this, you know, and I'm,

I'm extremely proud of him for that.

292

00:15:05,078 --> 00:15:06,028

He's tried it all.

293

00:15:06,733 --> 00:15:10,293

He used to have a problem with,

um, well, he used to have anger

294

00:15:10,293 --> 00:15:11,923

issues too, but behavioral issues.

295

00:15:11,953 --> 00:15:15,543

But, um, but alcohol was his big

thing and he doesn't even do that now.

296

00:15:15,623 --> 00:15:16,013

So,

297

00:15:16,433 --> 00:15:19,563

Ronnie: but, but he does do

kratom and it's a problem for him.

298

00:15:19,903 --> 00:15:20,563

Amanda: Yeah, that's true.

299

00:15:20,573 --> 00:15:21,823

But it does keep him from drinking.

300

00:15:21,843 --> 00:15:22,863

So I guess there's that.

301

00:15:23,378 --> 00:15:27,298

And, you know, he's got a mine job,

so, you know, he has a very, you know,

302

00:15:27,478 --> 00:15:31,798

he does, he does what he needs to do

and he provides for his family and I

303

00:15:31,938 --> 00:15:33,358

couldn't be prouder of the two of them.

304

00:15:33,438 --> 00:15:36,718

Ronnie: He calls his mom all

the time for advice about, uh,

305

00:15:37,008 --> 00:15:37,828

Amanda: about life, financial

306

00:15:37,828 --> 00:15:38,268

Ronnie: issues,

307

00:15:39,138 --> 00:15:42,998

Amanda: taxes, and car titles and

just, you know, stuff like that.

308

00:15:42,998 --> 00:15:43,588

And I love it.

309

00:15:43,588 --> 00:15:45,488

I love the fact that

I'm his go to, you know.

310

00:15:45,938 --> 00:15:46,248

That's

311

00:15:46,318 --> 00:15:46,888

Michi J: awesome.

312

00:15:46,898 --> 00:15:47,718

That's awesome.

313

00:15:47,748 --> 00:15:53,218

I'm so proud of both of you, um, in

making, you know, looking at the kids

314

00:15:53,218 --> 00:15:58,408

and the grandkids and, watching those

little eyes watching you and knowing that.

315

00:15:58,818 --> 00:15:59,528

Hmm.

316

00:15:59,903 --> 00:16:01,833

I don't want them to see that.

317

00:16:01,903 --> 00:16:06,993

So in making those changes, so

that was when you two made those

318

00:16:07,003 --> 00:16:10,693

changes again, you said that was

right when the grandkids were there.

319

00:16:11,083 --> 00:16:16,263

And one of the things that you

did, you said you, you moved away.

320

00:16:17,073 --> 00:16:19,973

Amanda: Well, so we moved a

couple of years before we quit.

321

00:16:20,313 --> 00:16:26,263

So we moved in moved in 2012,

July, June, June of 2012.

322

00:16:27,053 --> 00:16:29,363

Like I said, about two hours

away from quote unquote home.

323

00:16:30,088 --> 00:16:34,788

And started new and that lasted about

a year before we got right back into

324

00:16:34,788 --> 00:16:42,532

it again, we got busted in March of

2015, and have not touched it since.

325

00:16:43,085 --> 00:16:45,475

Michi J: So why, why haven't

you touched it since?

326

00:16:45,495 --> 00:16:47,295

Is it you didn't move again did you?

327

00:16:47,610 --> 00:16:49,860

Amanda: No, no, we got

busted in this town.

328

00:16:50,830 --> 00:16:52,700

Ronnie: We thought we were

done when we left and let, and

329

00:16:52,700 --> 00:16:54,060

then they fell into it again.

330

00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:57,020

And then after we got

busted, I mean, that was,

331

00:16:57,430 --> 00:17:00,390

Amanda: well, we, like I said, we

were, we already knew we were ready.

332

00:17:00,450 --> 00:17:01,470

We were ready to be done.

333

00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:03,210

And I think that that's

the key for addiction.

334

00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:04,680

You, I don't care.

335

00:17:05,085 --> 00:17:09,555

How many people tell you you need to

quit or force you into this or force you

336

00:17:09,555 --> 00:17:13,845

into that, you know, yes, going to jail

helps because it makes you, you know,

337

00:17:13,855 --> 00:17:18,885

clean up for a while, but until you are

ready, you are not going to quit, period.

338

00:17:19,444 --> 00:17:20,655

I don't, I don't care who it is.

339

00:17:21,535 --> 00:17:26,305

It has to be that ready to quit

thing, which we both were, we just

340

00:17:26,305 --> 00:17:30,815

didn't know necessarily how, and

then I ended up, you know, and I

341

00:17:30,815 --> 00:17:32,515

only spent like three weeks in jail.

342

00:17:32,515 --> 00:17:36,285

Ronnie had like two, but I had an

eight to 10 year sentence over my head.

343

00:17:36,585 --> 00:17:37,445

That was the other thing.

344

00:17:37,705 --> 00:17:42,645

I didn't want to miss out on seeing the

grandkids grow up and our kids graduate.

345

00:17:43,410 --> 00:17:46,150

We had at least one that hadn't graduated

from high school yet, you know, and it

346

00:17:46,150 --> 00:17:50,160

was still pretty little and, you know,

there was just all these things in life

347

00:17:50,250 --> 00:17:53,780

I didn't want to miss out on because

I was sitting in prison somewhere.

348

00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:57,670

Michi J: So, I would like,

rationalize this to be

349

00:17:57,670 --> 00:17:59,820

something like, it's, it's love.

350

00:18:01,010 --> 00:18:01,500

Amanda: It is.

351

00:18:02,180 --> 00:18:04,900

For each other, for ourselves,

for our kids, for our

352

00:18:04,900 --> 00:18:07,610

grandkids, for a better life.

353

00:18:07,660 --> 00:18:08,610

And, and you know what?

354

00:18:08,610 --> 00:18:09,890

And we have that now.

355

00:18:10,665 --> 00:18:14,595

And now we're switching gears again, but

because we had, we got what we wanted

356

00:18:14,595 --> 00:18:15,815

and now we want something different.

357

00:18:15,815 --> 00:18:16,355

You know what I mean?

358

00:18:18,705 --> 00:18:20,355

Michi J: Ronnie, you are

about to say something.

359

00:18:22,832 --> 00:18:23,602

Ronnie: I don't recall.

360

00:18:26,172 --> 00:18:26,532

Michi J: Okay.

361

00:18:26,532 --> 00:18:27,692

I'm sorry about that, Ronnie.

362

00:18:27,962 --> 00:18:29,012

Um, yeah.

363

00:18:29,012 --> 00:18:35,202

So I like what you said, Amanda,

that you have to be ready and people,

364

00:18:35,442 --> 00:18:41,312

it depends on the person, what

makes them ready for you, you too.

365

00:18:41,332 --> 00:18:43,662

It was the grandkids.

366

00:18:44,227 --> 00:18:48,107

You were paying attention to what

they were paying attention to.

367

00:18:48,677 --> 00:18:51,427

So that's, really significant.

368

00:18:51,847 --> 00:18:57,597

So after you're ready, then the

necessary steps was it hard to do

369

00:18:57,677 --> 00:19:01,517

did you feel, , some sort of pressure

after you, you were ready, but you

370

00:19:01,517 --> 00:19:03,597

still had to make some changes.

371

00:19:03,687 --> 00:19:06,607

Everybody does like you,

make some small changes.

372

00:19:06,637 --> 00:19:10,247

Of course, you weren't hanging

around and you weren't, you know,

373

00:19:10,287 --> 00:19:13,627

Amanda: we severed ties with

everybody except for, um, my best

374

00:19:13,637 --> 00:19:16,987

friend who happened to be one of

the people we used to party with.

375

00:19:17,667 --> 00:19:22,107

Um, but they were extremely respectful

in the fact that we said, do not

376

00:19:22,467 --> 00:19:25,977

bring it over and do not come

around if you're on it, period.

377

00:19:26,407 --> 00:19:28,127

And we had to do that

for a really long time.

378

00:19:28,437 --> 00:19:33,267

Nowadays, it's not as big of a deal for

us because we're, we're comfortable in.

379

00:19:33,897 --> 00:19:39,937

Being clean, so we could be around it and

not be tempted by it now, but for a good

380

00:19:39,937 --> 00:19:43,797

probably four or five years, it was like,

nope, and if we showed up anywhere where

381

00:19:43,797 --> 00:19:49,607

it was happening, we just left, we had

to, because we know we can't do that one

382

00:19:49,637 --> 00:19:51,567

time without it becoming an issue again.

383

00:19:52,632 --> 00:19:54,142

And we have too much to lose now.

384

00:19:54,672 --> 00:19:59,542

I mean, we have, we have a nice

house and we've got great jobs

385

00:19:59,612 --> 00:20:04,022

and we just bought an RV and are

hopefully semi retiring in four years.

386

00:20:04,042 --> 00:20:05,892

Ronnie: It's not an RV,

but it's a motor coach.

387

00:20:08,582 --> 00:20:09,082

Amanda: What's the difference?

388

00:20:10,242 --> 00:20:13,592

We have a huge 39 foot bus, basically.

389

00:20:13,942 --> 00:20:16,562

Like one of the really big, it

looks like a tour bus, basically.

390

00:20:17,347 --> 00:20:17,677

Michi J: Wow.

391

00:20:17,687 --> 00:20:21,957

Amanda: So, and you know, I never in a

million years would have dreamt that we

392

00:20:21,957 --> 00:20:23,697

could have gotten to where we are now.

393

00:20:24,172 --> 00:20:26,832

In like nine, 10 short years, really,

394

00:20:27,732 --> 00:20:28,052

Michi J: from where

395

00:20:28,052 --> 00:20:28,572

Amanda: we started.

396

00:20:28,892 --> 00:20:29,992

Yeah, 10 short years.

397

00:20:30,702 --> 00:20:31,642

We've got retirement.

398

00:20:31,792 --> 00:20:36,132

We've got, you know, we have awesome,

awesome, we've got great credit scores.

399

00:20:36,132 --> 00:20:37,402

We've got brand new cars.

400

00:20:37,452 --> 00:20:42,062

We have four wheelers and motorcycles

and we take vacations and, you

401

00:20:42,062 --> 00:20:44,137

know, it was everything we wanted.

402

00:20:45,937 --> 00:20:47,987

We just took a long time to get here.

403

00:20:50,707 --> 00:20:54,867

Michi J: Well, 10 years is not that

long compared, you know, looking

404

00:20:54,867 --> 00:20:56,787

at how much you accumulated.

405

00:20:57,367 --> 00:20:58,277

Amanda: Oh, absolutely.

406

00:20:58,527 --> 00:21:01,807

I, I could have never dreamed we could

have done it in 10 years for sure.

407

00:21:01,997 --> 00:21:02,617

But we've worked

408

00:21:02,667 --> 00:21:03,117

Ronnie: to do it.

409

00:21:03,147 --> 00:21:08,057

Our next step is going to be also

for, The grandkids and ourselves.

410

00:21:08,137 --> 00:21:13,867

Um, we're going to early retire and

that's kind of what the bus is for.

411

00:21:14,017 --> 00:21:17,487

Um, but so that we can visit

family and grandkids and things

412

00:21:17,497 --> 00:21:20,307

that we don't have time for right

now because we work way too much.

413

00:21:20,437 --> 00:21:21,397

We do work a lot.

414

00:21:21,637 --> 00:21:22,317

We work a lot.

415

00:21:22,917 --> 00:21:25,667

Amanda: And they're growing up

without us because we work too

416

00:21:25,667 --> 00:21:27,032

much now instead of, you know.

417

00:21:27,522 --> 00:21:28,512

Do drugs all the time.

418

00:21:28,552 --> 00:21:28,932

So,

419

00:21:30,122 --> 00:21:30,392

Michi J: well,

420

00:21:30,392 --> 00:21:32,032

Amanda: yeah,

421

00:21:32,212 --> 00:21:34,282

Michi J: it's a big difference.

422

00:21:34,282 --> 00:21:39,272

You went from very, unproductive

lives to very productive lives.

423

00:21:39,662 --> 00:21:45,052

And now you're transitioning to where

you want to make sure you're in.

424

00:21:45,402 --> 00:21:49,352

Even more productive because you're,

you're looking at your grandkids and

425

00:21:49,362 --> 00:21:53,502

you want to, , establish relationships,

better relationships with them because

426

00:21:53,502 --> 00:21:54,872

you realize the importance of that.

427

00:21:54,872 --> 00:21:56,012

Am I getting that right?

428

00:21:56,352 --> 00:21:57,172

Amanda: Absolutely.

429

00:21:57,232 --> 00:21:57,832

Absolutely.

430

00:21:57,852 --> 00:22:01,492

Because, you know, well, our oldest

granddaughter just turned 10.

431

00:22:02,112 --> 00:22:04,922

She, she plays soccer and she's.

432

00:22:05,377 --> 00:22:06,407

Fantastic at it.

433

00:22:06,607 --> 00:22:10,387

And they travel and she plays

soccer games all over Utah.

434

00:22:10,427 --> 00:22:13,387

And it's, I, I've gotten

to see one practice.

435

00:22:13,397 --> 00:22:16,047

She's played for four years and

I've got to see one practice.

436

00:22:16,047 --> 00:22:19,137

I have yet to see a game

because she's too far away.

437

00:22:19,147 --> 00:22:22,827

And we have like 36 hours off on a

weekend, except for the one week a

438

00:22:22,827 --> 00:22:25,907

year, we get off together because

that's all we get off together.

439

00:22:26,947 --> 00:22:27,407

Right now.

440

00:22:28,387 --> 00:22:28,817

Michi J: Okay.

441

00:22:29,127 --> 00:22:29,487

All right.

442

00:22:29,497 --> 00:22:35,097

So you two, it just looks like in,

you know, I was around you to you

443

00:22:35,127 --> 00:22:36,957

to have an awesome relationship.

444

00:22:36,957 --> 00:22:39,327

You're laughing, you're talking

together, you're engaging.

445

00:22:39,677 --> 00:22:42,127

I mean, I, I do call you

guys, Bonnie and Clyde.

446

00:22:42,137 --> 00:22:46,897

You all are so well matched,

you know, so well matched.

447

00:22:48,737 --> 00:22:51,417

And it's really hopeful with someone

that probably been through some

448

00:22:51,417 --> 00:22:53,067

relationships that didn't work out.

449

00:22:53,357 --> 00:22:57,612

And, and now, you know, You know, giving

them the hope that they can get to that

450

00:22:57,612 --> 00:23:00,082

place where they do have that individual.

451

00:23:00,492 --> 00:23:04,992

So I do applaud you be, you know, being

together because like I said, you got

452

00:23:05,042 --> 00:23:07,422

couples that fall apart under the.

453

00:23:07,872 --> 00:23:11,792

Way less of pressure than you

guys did having SWAT teams come

454

00:23:11,792 --> 00:23:13,032

into the house and stuff like

455

00:23:13,032 --> 00:23:14,162

Amanda: that.

456

00:23:14,162 --> 00:23:16,942

You've had relationships fall

apart for way less than that too.

457

00:23:17,312 --> 00:23:20,392

And the other thing was, is when

we went through treatment, they

458

00:23:20,392 --> 00:23:21,822

almost didn't let us do it together.

459

00:23:22,382 --> 00:23:27,822

Because, because of the fact that

most of the time one or the other of

460

00:23:27,822 --> 00:23:31,382

the couple will fall off the wagon

and then it takes the other one with.

461

00:23:32,412 --> 00:23:32,742

Michi J: Right.

462

00:23:32,752 --> 00:23:34,792

Amanda: So a lot of

times they separate them.

463

00:23:36,002 --> 00:23:36,432

Michi J: So how

464

00:23:36,722 --> 00:23:38,252

Amanda: did you

465

00:23:38,252 --> 00:23:41,032

Michi J: get them to

let you do it together?

466

00:23:41,472 --> 00:23:42,872

Amanda: We, uh, pled with them.

467

00:23:43,032 --> 00:23:45,122

We said, Hey, you know,

we need to do this.

468

00:23:45,192 --> 00:23:47,202

You know, this is something

we need to do together.

469

00:23:47,632 --> 00:23:51,542

Um, we're both all in and if it's

going to work, it's going to work.

470

00:23:51,542 --> 00:23:52,682

And if it's not, it's not.

471

00:23:53,022 --> 00:23:54,762

But then they gave us a shot.

472

00:23:54,912 --> 00:23:57,432

They also told us that if it

wasn't going to work, they would

473

00:23:57,442 --> 00:23:58,932

separate us out after that.

474

00:23:58,982 --> 00:24:03,492

But, you know, they w they didn't want

us to, at first they almost, they've

475

00:24:03,502 --> 00:24:05,352

tried to make us separate completely.

476

00:24:05,352 --> 00:24:07,972

They tried to make us

live in separate houses.

477

00:24:07,972 --> 00:24:08,422

Yeah.

478

00:24:08,422 --> 00:24:09,322

Ronnie: My judge,

479

00:24:09,322 --> 00:24:11,302

Amanda: my judge tried to do that twice.

480

00:24:12,112 --> 00:24:13,902

Um, you know, tried to make us.

481

00:24:14,572 --> 00:24:18,192

Before we were married, when I got in

trouble, they tried to, to separate us,

482

00:24:18,192 --> 00:24:21,872

we were, um, engaged and they're like,

no, you need to, you know, break up

483

00:24:21,892 --> 00:24:23,712

with him and I'm like, we're engaged.

484

00:24:23,722 --> 00:24:24,542

It's not going to happen.

485

00:24:24,582 --> 00:24:25,022

Sorry.

486

00:24:25,632 --> 00:24:27,982

And then this last time when,

you know, we'd been married

487

00:24:27,982 --> 00:24:29,482

for years and years and years.

488

00:24:29,582 --> 00:24:30,212

Say what's our,

489

00:24:31,342 --> 00:24:33,062

Ronnie: what's our anniversary is here.

490

00:24:33,732 --> 00:24:34,842

Amanda: What do you mean

what's our anniversary?

491

00:24:34,902 --> 00:24:35,492

What number?

492

00:24:36,212 --> 00:24:37,062

You don't know what number is?

493

00:24:37,102 --> 00:24:37,162

I

494

00:24:37,162 --> 00:24:37,752

Ronnie: can't think of it right now.

495

00:24:37,752 --> 00:24:39,367

Amanda: Twelve.

496

00:24:39,367 --> 00:24:40,982

Twelve.

497

00:24:42,732 --> 00:24:45,372

We've been married 12

years as of end of July,

498

00:24:45,972 --> 00:24:46,112

Michi J: we've

499

00:24:46,112 --> 00:24:47,512

Amanda: been together for 17.

500

00:24:48,202 --> 00:24:48,962

Michi J: Wow.

501

00:24:48,982 --> 00:24:50,322

This is an incredible story.

502

00:24:50,322 --> 00:24:53,442

I really, that, that is

what I was talking about.

503

00:24:53,452 --> 00:24:55,192

It's very unusual.

504

00:24:55,312 --> 00:24:59,912

It's usually one day fall off

and the other one,, want to stay,

505

00:24:59,922 --> 00:25:06,912

you know, so it's like, but I'm

glad to hear that it is possible.

506

00:25:07,122 --> 00:25:07,862

It is possible.

507

00:25:08,502 --> 00:25:09,232

Together.

508

00:25:09,282 --> 00:25:10,862

And it just depends on the people.

509

00:25:11,192 --> 00:25:13,212

So, and, and they gave you a shot.

510

00:25:13,222 --> 00:25:16,582

So I hope, people are listening

to this then to understand that

511

00:25:16,582 --> 00:25:20,702

family does need to, if at all

possible, keep them together.

512

00:25:21,072 --> 00:25:21,422

So

513

00:25:22,172 --> 00:25:27,012

Amanda: definitely, Oh, that was just

give the hope and give the extra chances

514

00:25:27,012 --> 00:25:32,192

because it's not like my biggest thing

was I was, when we left Gillette.

515

00:25:32,622 --> 00:25:37,462

I had had the kids taken away twice, and

then this third time, when they, Gillette

516

00:25:37,472 --> 00:25:41,462

DFS, Department of Family Services,

told me this is your last chance.

517

00:25:41,932 --> 00:25:46,997

If she goes away again, it was my youngest

at that time, because my oldest was Old

518

00:25:46,997 --> 00:25:48,627

enough to go with his dad at that point.

519

00:25:49,217 --> 00:25:53,317

Um, and my, our youngest is autistic,

so it was a different kind of case.

520

00:25:53,847 --> 00:25:58,017

Um, but they're like, if, if they

take her away again, she's gone.

521

00:25:58,407 --> 00:26:02,197

So when we got busted with our

felonies, I immediately was freaked

522

00:26:02,197 --> 00:26:03,667

out because I thought we were done.

523

00:26:03,737 --> 00:26:05,262

I thought she was gone for good.

524

00:26:05,792 --> 00:26:09,212

And that they were going to place her in

some foster care, you know, she'd end up

525

00:26:09,212 --> 00:26:13,092

being part of the system and I, it was

not going to be okay one way or another,

526

00:26:13,642 --> 00:26:19,832

but I tell you what, the biggest thing

for me with that too, was that the DFS

527

00:26:19,852 --> 00:26:25,232

system in where we live now worked with

us immediately and they're like, we're not

528

00:26:25,452 --> 00:26:27,412

trying to take her away where we live now,

529

00:26:28,122 --> 00:26:30,022

Ronnie: where we moved from,

they were, they were the

530

00:26:30,022 --> 00:26:31,452

ones that said, uh, it's over

531

00:26:31,625 --> 00:26:35,525

, Amanda: Like made this jump through hoops

for years and gave her back finally.

532

00:26:36,100 --> 00:26:40,190

Here where we're at now, it was like four

or five months, and we did everything we

533

00:26:40,190 --> 00:26:43,890

were supposed to, you know, we were daily

UAing, and everything was good, and we

534

00:26:43,890 --> 00:26:46,900

were going to classes, and we were doing

everything we were supposed to, and we

535

00:26:46,900 --> 00:26:51,230

had her back in like four or five months,

and they're like, no, we're planning on

536

00:26:51,230 --> 00:26:56,140

reuniting, because I had given up hope as

soon as I went to jail, because I thought,

537

00:26:56,930 --> 00:27:00,680

our daughter's gone, she's gone, I'm,

you know, I'm never gonna see her again.

538

00:27:01,525 --> 00:27:09,575

And just, I think that hope, hope and

ambition and something to work for

539

00:27:09,855 --> 00:27:10,855

Ronnie: that day, a lot of them,

540

00:27:11,825 --> 00:27:16,885

Amanda: they allowed us because it was,

you know, I, I really was at the point

541

00:27:16,885 --> 00:27:19,665

where I was like, we're just, we're just

done, we're just done, we had to be done.

542

00:27:22,215 --> 00:27:26,205

Michi J: So that's good that, um,

I'm just gonna say that alluded to

543

00:27:26,845 --> 00:27:29,755

forgiveness and them giving you chances.

544

00:27:29,755 --> 00:27:29,825

guys.

545

00:27:30,345 --> 00:27:37,595

To rectify that situation, so we

do need to have that compassion for

546

00:27:37,595 --> 00:27:41,815

people to give them chances, of course,

protecting them and the kids at the

547

00:27:41,815 --> 00:27:45,355

same time, of course, but also allowing.

548

00:27:46,135 --> 00:27:49,605

Or that family to be reestablished.

549

00:27:49,685 --> 00:27:53,505

And so many times, like you said,

department of family services, , some

550

00:27:53,505 --> 00:27:58,375

of them, they do work to, they have like

the wrong mission is to take the kids.

551

00:27:58,445 --> 00:28:02,135

And when they should be looking at

how we can keep the kids with you,

552

00:28:02,165 --> 00:28:04,335

that's a whole different perspective.

553

00:28:04,675 --> 00:28:08,155

And that means you'll be doing

things a lot differently.

554

00:28:08,555 --> 00:28:11,175

So that is just a miracle.

555

00:28:11,555 --> 00:28:15,455

You guys, that's, that is a miracle that

you were able to get the kids back because

556

00:28:15,455 --> 00:28:22,445

normally DFS is, it's the entity unto

themselves and they have different rules.

557

00:28:22,805 --> 00:28:24,485

It's a whole nother court system.

558

00:28:24,485 --> 00:28:24,995

So

559

00:28:25,685 --> 00:28:26,230

Amanda: it definitely is,

560

00:28:26,645 --> 00:28:28,445

Michi J: definitely is

definitely different from

561

00:28:28,445 --> 00:28:30,485

the criminal justice system.

562

00:28:30,490 --> 00:28:34,385

They have their own system and we

do really need to bring them to have

563

00:28:34,385 --> 00:28:36,215

the some standards and keep it like.

564

00:28:36,675 --> 00:28:39,485

Not just, you can do this over

here and then you go to the

565

00:28:39,485 --> 00:28:41,165

next county and it's different.

566

00:28:42,545 --> 00:28:43,455

So then we're

567

00:28:43,455 --> 00:28:46,025

Amanda: at now that we were

fortunate to the fact that they

568

00:28:46,025 --> 00:28:47,925

have funding that helped us.

569

00:28:47,995 --> 00:28:53,635

They, they put us through rehab and

they paid for stuff like that, where it

570

00:28:53,635 --> 00:28:57,945

was, you know, when we were unemployed

and straight out of jail, we didn't

571

00:28:57,955 --> 00:29:02,405

have to try to figure out how to pay

for everything on top of all of that.

572

00:29:03,125 --> 00:29:05,526

So they provided treatment for us.

573

00:29:06,315 --> 00:29:09,935

Michi J: That is not

done in a lot of places.

574

00:29:10,835 --> 00:29:13,405

Amanda: Like I said, small

town, small town, which I guess

575

00:29:13,465 --> 00:29:14,705

is the fortunate part of that.

576

00:29:15,225 --> 00:29:17,365

Ronnie: He says it's a small

town, but this is the second

577

00:29:17,365 --> 00:29:18,715

largest city in our state.

578

00:29:20,505 --> 00:29:24,205

Michi J: Well, we're going to be

wrapping this up now, but what is

579

00:29:24,735 --> 00:29:29,685

the main thing you want the audience

to take away from this conversation?

580

00:29:29,905 --> 00:29:33,365

Both you and Ronnie, you can

say two different things,

581

00:29:33,815 --> 00:29:35,095

or you can do it together.

582

00:29:35,095 --> 00:29:36,025

Whichever you like.

583

00:29:37,165 --> 00:29:38,055

Ronnie: Buy a motorcycle.

584

00:29:41,325 --> 00:29:45,505

Amanda: No, I think for, for us and

for everybody that we talk to about

585

00:29:45,505 --> 00:29:47,175

stuff like this is that it can be done.

586

00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:51,320

You know, it's not just

it's not just a choice.

587

00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:52,460

It's a determination.

588

00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:55,290

And don't let them tell you that

you can't do it because you can.

589

00:29:55,340 --> 00:29:57,670

And you can have everything that you want.

590

00:29:58,950 --> 00:29:59,810

Do you have to work for it?

591

00:29:59,850 --> 00:30:00,550

Absolutely.

592

00:30:00,620 --> 00:30:02,730

But it can be done and

you can do it together.

593

00:30:03,530 --> 00:30:04,380

Michi J: Together.

594

00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:05,220

I like that.

595

00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:06,010

Together.

596

00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:06,610

Together.

597

00:30:06,610 --> 00:30:08,330

You can do it together.

598

00:30:08,350 --> 00:30:11,700

Ronnie: Okay,

599

00:30:11,780 --> 00:30:13,440

Michi J: well, thank you so much.

600

00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:19,420

Amanda and Ronnie, this was a pleasure

and you are my Bonnie and Clyde.

601

00:30:19,770 --> 00:30:24,550

I really thank you for coming on and

sharing your experience and sharing

602

00:30:24,550 --> 00:30:27,210

with the audience how to stick together.

603

00:30:27,500 --> 00:30:31,760

I say, not just through beauty,

because yes, Amanda is very beautiful.

604

00:30:32,340 --> 00:30:34,740

Ronnie is very funny as well.

605

00:30:34,780 --> 00:30:40,520

So it's, you need those things and

beauty is from the inside out humor.

606

00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:41,980

Everybody needs humor.

607

00:30:42,380 --> 00:30:42,710

So.

608

00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:44,420

Amanda: That's true.

609

00:30:44,670 --> 00:30:45,090

Michi J: All right.

610

00:30:45,110 --> 00:30:46,290

Well, thank you all.

611

00:30:46,300 --> 00:30:52,010

You all have a blessed evening and thank

you for being on the show again and again.

612

00:30:52,010 --> 00:30:53,400

I thank you again and again.

613

00:30:53,780 --> 00:30:55,020

So that's all.

614

00:30:56,030 --> 00:30:56,600

Oh, wow.

615

00:30:56,600 --> 00:30:57,070

Yes.

616

00:30:58,050 --> 00:30:58,950

It was a pleasure.

617

00:30:59,360 --> 00:30:59,650

So

618

00:30:59,970 --> 00:31:02,360

Ronnie: I was going to say thank

you for the opportunity also.

619

00:31:02,740 --> 00:31:03,890

And this was fun.

620

00:31:05,390 --> 00:31:05,970

Michi J: Thank you.

621

00:31:06,230 --> 00:31:07,750

Well, that's it, everyone.

622

00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:10,910

Thank you for listening and may you

have a week filled with blessings.

Share Episode

Shownotes

Transcripts

Follow

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube