standing on His promises today

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned ..
For I am the Lord your God.

Isaiah 43:1-3

soul tenacity

As life keeps reminding me -- it takes tenacity, soul tenacity, to keep moving forward in life.

"When you are rightly related to God, it is a life of freedom and liberty and delight.  You are God's will, and all your commonsense decisions are His will for you unless He checks.  You decide things in perfect delightful friendship with God, knowing that if your decisions are wrong, He will always check; when He checks, stop at once."  Oswald Chambers

Peace!
amylee

Trusting to open the windows wide, wide, wide

So - Tuesday, we meet again.  Yesterday I was still in denial that the weekend is over.  But today, and on each Tuesday, I am reminded of all the tasks that need to get done in this glorious week ahead.  And the weekend seems so far away.  Tuesday.

Does anyone else feel this way?  For some reason, Tuesdays are my days for self-doubt.  They are the days I question every change in my life.  Tuesdays I absolutely LOVE familiarity.  If you have something mundane for me to do, most likely, I'll cherish doing it on a Tuesday.  It's like I want to be in "robot mode" on Tuesdays.  Did I mention all the self doubt on Tuesdays?  I don't know if it is because I am making lists in my head of all that I need to do -- and I realize there's not enough time in the days ahead to do it all -- that I doubt and fear.  But that seems logical, right?

And this is why on Tuesday I have to be extra tenacious to keep plugging through to the ever-changing end game, digging pretty deep to walk forward midst all the doubt.  And how?  Only one way -- TRUST.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.  

My favorite poet, Ruth Harms Calkin, wrote this lovely poem about a time when she just opened up her heart and the Lord filled her heart with so many truths.  I can only imagine that she was bogged down by doubts, stress and an endless to-do list.  And I can imagine she stopped her running around, opened up her Bible and she prayed.  I absolutely LOVE it.

You Did All The Rest
O Lord God!
I did what You asked me to do:
I just opened the windows
Wide ...
Wide ...
And You did all the rest!
You poured into my heart
A blessed, blissful contentment.
You saturated my mind
With gigantic thoughts of You.
You struck an artesian well within me
Until sheer joy sprang forth.
You led me out of the valley of despair
Into a succession of incredible happenings.
Problems which seemed insurmountable
Melted like wax before my eyes.
Fears faded away like threatening clouds.
You startled me
You amazed me
With the glory of Your revelation.
It is true
Gloriously true --
I have literally walked and breathed with God.
I just opened the windows
Wide ...
Wide ...
God, You did all the rest!


Peace!
amylee

everyday circumstances lead to His truth

John 15:1-2

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."

Scripture shows us God's will if we allow His Holy Spirit to apply His truths to our everyday circumstances.  The Bible is not a book you open and ask -- "put some magic into these words, fill up my soul."  There is really only one way to understand His Word ... and that is while you are wrestling with your everyday circumstances, you open up His Word to find answers and guidance.  God will take you through things no one else has to go through because He wants you to understand the deep secrets of His word.   Remember - whatever the circumstances of life, Jesus is sharing with you His truth.

Open up His Word today to find answers to your everyday questions.

Peace!
amylee

everyday images: 2/22 - 3/8

I love to take photos of my house, objects in my house, sometimes people -- and maybe even a dog. You know, those everyday images that in the moment I call clutter, but in the future when I look back, I'll call it all precious!  AND those moments where you just seriously want to freeze time.  Here's a few from 2/22 - 3/8 ... year 2012.  ;-)

Kit & the Barbies

my boots, ashley's backpack,
chair & a bit of the
most awesome afghan EVER! 

the hawkeyes, wine glass,
my girls in pics, and a
thermometer

sleeping dog

Ash & her self portrait at dance class

Morgan & her whiteboard
design at dance

Ash hand on mine during
nightly snuggle time

my little helper: ashley

Today, for Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for my darling daughter, Ashley.  She's 6, going on 7, years old.  Now normally, this girl gives me a run for my money.  She is smart, stubborn, funny, and independent.  If you ask her to do something for you, she'll do it.  If you demand she do something (clean her room, help us pick up her mess), she'll pitch a fit.  She is, in essence, a mini-me.  And we battle. ;-)  Oh how I love her.

So when I woke up on Tuesday morning, hardly able to stand up because my head hurt so badly, I didn't know how I was going to get the girls up and going to school.  In my mind, I thought I'd have more trouble with Ashley than Morgan.  But Ashley's bunk is the bottom bunk, so I tried to wake her up first.  And when she opened her eyes, and I told her I wasn't feeling well and that I needed her help this morning, she was more concerned about me than she was with the fact that she was going to have to do more for herself that morning.  And then she held my hand while we walked to the living room - making sure I was okay.

The remainder of the morning she reveled in the fact that she was my helper.  She made it her job. Whatever I asked her to do, she did with a smile on her face continually asking me if I was okay.  We worked like a team all morning -- getting her ready for school, helping out Morgan and the dog.  She helped me make the lunches, turn off lights, etc.  I don't know how I would've been able to handle the morning without her!

I know that when I prayed and asked God to help me get through the morning, he touched Miss Ashley's heart with such a tender spirit.

Now, you may wonder -- where was Ryan?  How did Morgan react?  What about the dog?   Well, Ryan had to leave for work early.  Morgan didn't react well to any of it -- she hasn't been feeling well either. And the dog -- thankfully we brought her back inside before we left the house.  I had no clue she was still out roaming around the back woods all morning until I saw her at the front door while we were getting ready to leave!!

Peace!!!
amylee

PS: And a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the dog.  She turns 12 today.  ;-)

it's a tenacious tuesday!!!

My word for today is: tenacious.

te·na·cious/təˈnāSHəs/

Adjective:

Not readily letting go of, giving up, or separated from an object that one holds, a position, or a principle: "a tenacious grip". Not easily dispelled or discouraged; persisting in existence or in a course of action: "a tenacious legend".

It's a sick day for me today.  My head is full, I'm super dizzy -- and I feel awful.  But I'm at work today.  I'm being tenacious!  Why, you ask?  Because I've been MIA so many times here.  And right now, I've made a commitment to be the best I can be at all jobs.  And there are a lot of them right now in my life.

So I sit here, with my sniffles and sneezes and head pounding -- re-reading one of my favorite verses ... Lamentations 3:22-41.  It is, to me, the definition of tenacious.


The Lord's love never ends; 
       his mercies never stop. 
They are new every morning; 
       Lord, your loyalty is great.
I say to myself, "The Lord is mine, 
       so I hope in him." 

The Lord is good to those who hope in him, 
       to those who seek him. 
 It is good to wait quietly 
       for the Lord to save.
 It is good for someone to work hard 
       while he is young. 


He should sit alone and be quiet; 
       the Lord has given him hard work to do. 
He should bow down to the ground; 
       maybe there is still hope.
He should let anyone slap his cheek; 
       he should be filled with shame. 


The Lord will not reject 
       his people forever. 
Although he brings sorrow, 
       he also has mercy and great love.
He does not like to punish people 
       or make them sad. 


He sees if any prisoner of the earth 
       is crushed under his feet; 
he sees if someone is treated unfairly 
       before the Most High God;
the Lord sees 
       if someone is cheated in his case in court. 


Nobody can speak and have it happen 
       unless the Lord commands it. 
 Both bad and good things 
       come by the command of the Most High God.
No one should complain 
       when he is punished for his sins. 


Let us examine and see what we have done 
       and then return to the Lord. 
Let us lift up our hands and pray from our hearts 
  to God in heaven:

I hope you, too, have a hope in your heart that you won't give up on.  Remember His words ... it is good for someone to work hard while he is young.  Persist.  Be tenacious!

Peace!!!
amylee

my "must-have" list for this week

below is my must-have list for this week*.

1. kleenex
2. bobbie pins for morgan's duct tape bows
3. self control to stay on our new budget
4. sleep to get over this cold that is looming
5. flip flops - it's going to be 67 degrees tomorrow!!!

**always on every list -- Bible.

what's on your must-have list for this week?!

motivation monday

And here is your motivation for today ... enjoy right along with me singing this in your head all day long!!!  You can thank me later.  ;-)

It's just another manic Monday (oh-woe)
I wish it was Sunday (oh-woe)
'Cause that's my Funday (oh-woe)
My I don't have to runday (oh)
It's just another manic Monday.


Peace!
amylee

behind the scenes: routing the nail holes

As I promised, a behind-the-scenes look at just one of the many steps that goes into making these perfect art blocks.  Everyone- meet Ryan, the man behind the highest quality art blocks known to mankind. And no, I am not biased one bit.

Ryan is a finish woodworker by trade. He is also a perfectionist when it comes to his work.  If you want something done for your house by someone who cares what the end product looks like and performs, Ryan is your guy.  So when I shared with him my vision for my art to be on art blocks, he took to the task of creating high-quality wooden blocks.

The step we are sharing today is when the nail holes are routed.  It is not the first step -- and it is not the last step.  It is one of many steps he does before passing the blocks onto me.  The pics below show Ryan routing the nail hole in the same spot on each block.  It makes hanging these art blocks a breeze!

Peace out!

amylee

in the studio: art blocks

Looky there!!!  What is that, you say?  ;-)  It's a new design for the back of my art blocks.  I couldn't be happier.  In the past I've glued on my business card.  This proved to be a painful last step in the process --glue is messy, messy, messy.  I don't know when the lightening struck -- but suddenly my smart brain thought, "why not labels?"  Wow - it sure did take me a long time to come to THAT conclusion.  I put the task on my pinboard -- and when I had a few moments, I played around with a design.  I finally came up with what you see.  And I am SO pleased.  For now.  Because guess what?   Yes, I am a designer.  I am an artist.  And my "what looks good" opinion changes as time goes on.  Or I just get bored.  But for now, if you order an art block, THIS is what you'll see on the back of it.  And there's even a place for me to sign!!!

I also worked on the insert I place at the front of each block when all packaged up.  For this, I thought a repeat pattern of my logo would look great -- and it looks nicely with the back label showing through.  Again, I went with black/white coloring -- leaving the fun color to be enjoyed on the block only.

Tomorrow, the theme is "behind the scenes" -- and I plan to introduce you to my amazing husband and his ultra talented work on our art blocks.  Stay tuned.  For now, enjoy these lovely photographs!!!

{{back of block}}

{{back of block all packaged up}}

{{front of block all packaged up}}

Peace out!
amylee

foodie friday ... instant oatmeal

There are those in this world that are blessed to be "foodies." I am not one of them.  That's why it is SO funny that I am starting a weekly section on my blog for "foodie friday."  

ha

rofl

lol

tehe

What "foodie friday" will be is the food in my life that is making my life easier.  Or food I am obsessed with.  It will NOT be amazing recipes.

So ... the story behind the instant oatmal?  Not only do I make the BEST instant oatmeal, it also holds so many warm memories.

Nanny.

Kitchen.

Council Bluffs.

And Nanny made the BEST instant oatmeal.  Here's how I make it.

1. Put 1 pkg oatmeal into bowl

2. Add cinnamon (this is a REQUIRED ingredient)

3. Add 8oz of HOT water

4. Stir it all together

5. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes

6. Enjoy your runny* instant oatmeal. 

*disclaimer: runny oatmeal is the best oatmeal -- but it does take practice to get it "just" right.  don't worry if you don't get it right the first time.  it just takes practice.  luckily quaker oats is nice enough to include many packets of oatmeal in each box.

What food holds a special memory for you???

Enjoy!!!

thankful thursday

You'll start to notice a few new "themes" in this blog.  Today's theme is #thankfulThursday.  It is good for the soul to just be thankful.  Be grateful.  Find the moment.  Savor that moment.  Be grateful for it -- and play it over and over in your head.

I have so many to choose from this morning ... silly sock day for the girls made getting dressed fun today, holding hands with Ash this morning on the couch, carrying Morgan from her bed to the couch this morning, blowing kisses from Ashley and waves from Morgan after dropping them off at school, and lunchables that make packing lunches SO easy.  But the winner for today's #thankfulThursday => Ryan being Ryan.

Scene:  Ryan and I talking this morning while getting ready for the day.

Ryan: Are you excited for today, Amy?
me: Why? (I'm very pleasant in the morning)
Ryan: Because it is a new day!  Anything can happen.  Good news could come at a moment's notice.
*disclaimer: probably not his exact words -- but the jist is there
me: {{big SMILE}} good one!

But he is so right.  And I am so thankful for a husband that reminds me of this.  Look on the bright side -- what fun is it to look at the dreary, underneath, muddy side of the world???  Yes - sometimes we have to live in that mud for a while when bad times come (because they do) .... but there is always SONlight.

Hebrews 13:5

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

{{pic of ryan & ash at the dentist yesterday with their laser glasses on!}}

Peace out!

amylee

challenge ....

I'm participating in 30 Days of Lists.  I don't know what bug crawled up my nose (gross) -- but I signed up.  And today is the first day.

First list is CHALLENGES TO ACCEPT.

What challenges am I going to accept in my life right now?  I'm off to go write them in a book.  My list book.  I urge you to do the same.  Challenge yourself.  Write it down.  And then take the steps it takes to just DO IT!

Amazing things can happen.

Peace out!

faith

{{a little bit of driveway fun a few years ago}}

Fear knocks on the door.  Faith answers.  No one was there.