ADORABLE MODEST SWIMWEAR

I am so excited. I just bought my swimsuit for this season. It's adorable, it's totally me, it's modest, and best part: it was $30 with shipping and handling. Check out this website http://www.limericki.com/.

Obedience

So I know, anyone who has recently seen me, has noticed that there has been a change. As of recently, I am one-third of the person that I was when Grayson was born. This post is to tell you why. I didn't run four miles a day, eat nothing by gummy bears and ice cream, get gastric bypass, take alli, and do 1000 stomach crunches a day. Although all of those are things that I have either done or thought of, OK so the gummy bears and ice cream are the only thing I actually did. No, what really happened is truly the grace of the Lord. After Grayson was born I had a funky rash that showed up under my nose. It itched and was red and scaly. I have never had skin problems, so of course I freaked out and then went to my Dr. After trying several topical treatments and nothing working, he diagnosed it as seborrhea, a severe form of psoriasis. I was told that it would never go away and that it would probably just flair up from time to time. Not satisfied with that answer I did some research and discovered that a fairly common cause of psoriasis is a systemic yeast overgrowth. On yeastconnection.com they have a test to find out how likely of a candidate you are, and I scored pretty high. I knew a program that had worked for someone I knew, so I did some reading. Come to find out the supplements were going to be really expensive; since Wade had just quit his job and started fire school, we knew we had to pray about this. This is where it becomes awesome. During my quite time, the Lord would take me to scripture after scripture pertaining to yeast. I had no idea yeast was mentioned this many times. After several days of this, Wade and I knew that the Lord was calling me to do this. Most of the supplements were given to me for free. Now it was just down to doing it. The diet itself is very strict. It requires that you consume absolutely no dairy, sugar, yeast, grains, vinegar, chips, french fries, pork,or even dried fruit for the first nine weeks. Then you gradually add foods back in and figure out what works with your body. Wade was a little skeptical since I have never stuck to a diet that long before, and a that time, sonic was my second favorite hang out. The Lord gave me the strength to do this. I seriously thought that I was doing this to get rid of a rash, but what happened was so much more. I learned what food is. The Lord gives us food to nourish and heal our bodies, and I was totally abusing that. It was a comfort to me. Once I was stripped of all the foods that I sought solice in, God began to reveal so much to me about the responsibility I have to take care of this body. God should be the only one to meet all of our needs. I still have a lot to learn, and even though I am back to regular food, I still am messing up from time to time. (I had 6 cookies the other night.) I just thank the Lord for such a visible sign of the growth that He has done in me. Oh and the rash is completely gone, too. I want to say this, too. I have tried to control my weight without retraining my thoughts. I remember my senior year of high school; I worked out for three hours a day. I would only eat a chicken sandwich, a bag of Reese's pieces and a Dr. pepper. I was starving my body and over-exercising and was still bigger than I am now. I eat so much food. I am never hungry. The Lord has just taught me what foods MY body needs. I can tell you what worked for me, but your body is uniquely different from mine. If you are not satisfied with what you are doing to God's fearfully and wonderfully made creation, please don't come to me. Take it to the Lord. Let Him search you and know your anxious thoughts. He promises us good things to eat and good things to drink. He promises His provision is daily. Please know that my pants size has nothing to do with me. I just stepped out in faith and obeyed what the Lord asked me to do. The number on my scale has just been the fruit of this journey. But don't get me wrong, I AM VERY EXCITED!!!!!

Quick to listen

So I have a confession to make. I am quick to listen. I know this sounds like boasting, but it's not. I am quick to listen to the wrong voice. My thoughts, my feelings; not my Savior or those He has compassion for. I hate this about my self. Usually I have formed my opinion about something or someone, before I have sought the Lord or asked any questions. This gets me in trouble all the time, but I am just recently allowing the Lord to retrain me in this area. It hurts so many relationships when I do this. I realize I can not fully love people, if I am judging their motives before I listen to their heart or thoughts. How can we as Christians that love and study the Word of God, slap truth on someone's actions if we haven't taken the time to listen to what motivated them. If, for example, a beautiful young woman is walking around in a very low cut shirt, capturing the attention of every young man she walks by; I cannot assume that she has no concern for her brothers in Christ. She may truely not know that this doesn't please the Lord. She may have just looked in the mirror and thought that she looked great in that outfit. The Bible tells us to be "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger"(jas 1:19). Anyone has been around children, knows that if they are talking, they are definitely not listening. The Lord is showing me that even as a parent, in order to train my children in Godliness, I need to take the time to listen to what they were thinking. Only then can I retrain them into Godly motivation. Are we as believers supposed to hold each other accountable to right actions, or right hearts? I pray today that I would close my mouth first; then listen, then pray, and finally speak. Do you find that you are trying to think of what to say to someone, when you should be praying or listening? Luke writes in 21:12-19 that He will give the words to say in the face of persecution. So we have nothing to worry about. Wow! Father, help me to live out this truth. AMEN

So, I have been walking through a pretty difficult situation with some one I love very much. In an act of love, my husband told me to just go take a walk and let him take care of the kids for a while. As I was walking the Lord prompts me to start picking up garbage. So I did. With every step I took there was more and more litter, and long before I got home, my hands were completely full. I was wondering what the people passing me on the street were thinking. So I asked God why I was doing this. He asked me to turn around. I could see much more beauty, than when I walked through it. Like the path behind me was more beautiful because I had walked it, but then when I looked ahead, I could see so much more trash. I said, "Lord, my hands are too full to pick up any more." He said, "Why are you still holding on to the trash in your hands. Give it to me." This was so perfect. I realized that I need to be letting go of the things that litter my life, so that I can continue to bring His beauty to the path before me. There will always be "trash" up ahead. He gaurantees trials and persecution, but He also doesn't want us to hold on to it. He tells to cast our cares on Him, for His burden is light.

Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light

James 1:2 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

The Lord is faithful to grant wisdom when we ask. I hope this speaks to you as it does me.

Forgive them Lord

Father, forgive our nation. They know not what they do. Forgive them for putting the value of a dollar above the sanctity of life on the ballot. Forgive them for putting the housing market above making the sin of gay and lesbian marriage illegal. Lord protect your people. Let our voice be heard. Thank you Father that Sunday we will still get to meet in your house with your body. Thank you Father that I can praise your name and not be imprisoned. Thank you Lord for granting peace and wisdom when ever we ask for it. Thank you Lord for allowing me to walk in your truth today. Thank you Lord for the joy that comes in knowing that because of you I am a new creation, and my salvation is secure. Father, thank you for this nation. Guide our leaders. In your name. AMEN.

Happy Anniversary

Monday was a very special day in this household. Wade and I got to celebrate our seventh anniversary. < < < < We didn't get to celebrate it quite as we wanted to. Wade had planned to take me to Barneyville (a beautiful peice of land that a precious couple from church owns) and pack a picnic dinner while sat on their dock and fished. It would have been so romantic and peaceful, but instead we spent the morning at the chiropractor. Wade woke up Monday morning and couldn't move his head or the muscles in his left arm. So fishing was out of the question. Instead we spent the whole day making Wade comfortable and wrangling three little boys. Our celebration instead was taking the boys to a drive-thru for ice cream. They loved that. < < < < Then once we got the boys to sleep, we sat up in bed and played "Phase 10". It is probably my favorite card game. < < < < Thankfully we will get a do-over, but dispite all of that, this has been the best anniversary ever. We have seen God work so many miracles this year. Grayson was definitely one of them. The Lord restoring my body. And certainly, most resently, the Lord restoring Wade to himself. In the last 6 weeks, I have seen my husband blossom. He is amazing. He has truely become the leader that God has called him to be. His gentle, servant's heart has done more to bless this family, than I ever knewn was possible. I have seen the Lord plant him in a field that has truely become Wade's passion (fure school). I have seen God's hand on Wade in an entirely new way. We have been showered with hugs, kisses, and giggles, that I didn't even realize had been missing. I have felt comfort and protection. But most of all admiration. < < < < Wade, I love you. You are such a blessing to me. I am grateful for everyday that we have had together. I praise the Lord for every day that is to come. I can truely look to the future and laugh. You have renewed my faith in prayer and in the Lord. Thank you for continuing to remind me, with such quiet confidence, that the Lord is our provision. I am so blessed to be one to get to serve along side of you, and to be the one to hold your babies. Thank you for seven years and three beautiful boys. Thank you God for this man. May our marriage continue to sanctify us both for your glory.

Hey, we are still here.

Wow! I can't believe how much you have missed of our lives in the last few months. As you can imagine, we have been quite busy. But oh, so blessed. Here is an update on the Amy family.

Grady is still busy as ever, and still very much in the "why" phase. This isn't the typical why phase though. You see, Grady is brilliant. He is so close to reading, that I can't believe he hasn't picked up a news paper, yet. But the questions he asks are very deep. Thought provoking. Like. . .

"Daddy, what kind of hawk is that?"

Daddy, "I don't know son."

Grady, "Probably a mo-hawk."

"Mommy, if Jesus had to die on a cross to get to Heaven; will I die on a cross?"

"Why does Raka Obama want to be our president?" This last question provoked a conversation, that inspired Grady, to ask his class in church on Sunday morning, to pray specifically for Barak Obama. Grady wanted to pray that he, Barak Obama, would come to know Jesus. (This is not an endorsement by the Amy Family, by any means.) The sad thing was, I didn't even know how Grady knew he was running for president in the first place. The child is constantly stretching and growing our thinking, and unfortunately testing our patience too. Here is a hint though, the answer that ends all questions is, "That's just the way God made it." Aren't children fun.

Will is now 18 mons. old and is very quickly on his way to the two's. We are in constant training mode with him. Who can blame him though. He is the middle child to a 5 mon old that refuses to sleep and a 4 year old that talks non-stop. Will doesn't say a whole lot, but his vocabulary is growing steadily. Ball is probably his favorite word. He saw one he wanted at Wal-mart today, and 5 miles down the road looked up with his beautiful brown eyes and sighed "Bawl". He is so precious and the best snuggle bug.

Grayson is the most smiley baby I have ever known. He will give a grin to anyone who asks. His little grin lights up his face, and usually whatever room he is in. He is rolling all over the place and thinks Grady and Will are the coolest. He has started boycotting sleep and the carseat, but other than that, he is the sweetest, most easy-going baby.

Wade is my hero. We have had a very difficult year. Wade's job began really picking up last year. The hours that his job demanded were on the average 70hrs/wk. He worked five, 12-hr days a week, usually 7 hrs on saturday, and was on-call every other week. He also had several out-of-town trips, where he would be gone all weekend. This was very hard on him and on our marriage. Wade didn't have much left by the time he got home, and what little energy he did have, went straight to the boys. Wade would usually fall asleep putting the boys to bed. After a lot of prayer though, Wade decided to leave his job. That is huge. He loved what he did, but when he realized the sacrifices we were making, he quit. I am so proud of him. He is currently looking for a new job, and studying to become a fire-fighter in the mean time. Wade begins on-line-fire-school on the 5th. He will be done on Sept. 20th. He is so excited.

As for me, it has been amazing to see God move mightly in our family. He has healed a lot and blessed abundantly. That sounds pretty crazy coming from a family with no income at present, but God is big. His promises are true. I am very excited to see what all will unfold in the weeks to come.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and dust destroy; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” ~Jesus [matthew 6.19-20]

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single day to his life?"

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like on of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" ~Jesus [matthew 6.25-30]