When Dean and I were dating and first married, our holidays were spent putting hundreds of miles on our cars as we drove to where his family lived for a couple days, journeyed an hour and a half to my family’s Christmas Eve gathering and back, and then spent time with some of his family before making the trek back home.
After we moved to the Northwest for seminary, we added plane travel to the itinerary, often driving an additional five hundred miles or more to make sure we got to visit as many people as we could. There was a lot of hurrying and scurrying, and not much in the way of peace or rest.
Continue Reading »
Though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37:24 NIV
“Spencer! Spencer!” Amy called around the house looking for her son. Hearing stumbling from above, she walked to the stairs. On the top stair was Spencer – seizing. In distress, he had been searching for his mother. He knew she would help him through this storm. Like a dance they rehearsed, each knew their parts – neither chose them. His head drawn, voice gone, and arm jerking; he tried to take a step.
And fell – into the arms of his mother.
Continue Reading »
I’ve been exhausted lately as I’ve been pulled in so many different directions. Working full time, staying up late, getting up early, helping with homework, shopping, menu planning, house cleaning (well not really, I’m too tired), juggling finances, ministry and relationships. There just never seems to be enough time in my day to do it all. I find myself getting further and further behind and it appears that I will never catch up. Not to mention I’ve had a headache for three days. My kids need my attention, but I can barely move. My house needs my attention, but I have no motivation.
Continue Reading »
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. – 1 Timothy 6:6-7
“If only we lived near ski slopes again, then I could be a professional skier,” said my son, presenting a fair argument for packing up and moving back to the cold.
I didn’t want to dash his hopes by being utterly logical; instead, I explained that this is the location where God currently has our family. The best place to be, no matter if it goes against your wishes, is where God puts you.
Continue Reading »
Written on
November 10, 2011 by
Amy in
Blog
Are there days you feel you could be a better parent? Do school and church mornings start like a circus at your house?
Earlier this year, I vowed our morning “getting ready” time was going to run more smoothly – you know, to avoid the three-ring circus. I began to pack lunches and book bags and lay out clothes the night before.
“I’ll have more patience,” I promised myself. “I won’t be so quick to yell.” Unfortunately, the promise was broken. Even with the advance preparation I carefully executed, I still had to raise my voice to the level of surround sound for my children to listen and obey.
Continue Reading »
Have you ever tried to talk God out of using you? You long for Him to use you. You pray for Him to do mighty works through you. And then an opportunity comes your way, and panic worms it’s way into your heart.
Me? Are you sure you want to use ME, Lord?
When I start giving Him my long list of reasons why He shouldn’t use me, He reminds me that all He’s asking for…is my lunch.
My lunch? Okay, not my soup and my sandwich. But my gifts, my talents, my abilities, my personality. God wants me to give Him all that I am and then watch what He can do.
Continue Reading »
Rev and I celebrated birthdays last week. We’ve reached the point in life where we are thankful for another year, but cringe just a little at adding one more number to the total. Whew!
We were born just four days apart and baptized on the same day. Since the day we met he’s been my best friend. He makes me laugh more than anyone else I know, and his love for the Lord and our family is evident in every decision he makes.
Which is why there was another date on the calendar last week that was even more precious than our birthdays.
Continue Reading »
I was reading this blog post and it reminded me of my own pre-wedding trauma and I just had to write about it. It was 1998 and I was getting ready for one of the most exciting time in the pre-wedding planning — registering for all of the things that will ensure a great start to marriage which are blenders, towels, and silverware, right? I was just beginning to get excited about decorating our royal palace, which took the form of a 1960’s rental trailer for $350/month, when we began the registry process at WalMart. Now my fiancé and I were registering at a time before the cool little scanners existed.
Continue Reading »
