Thursday, October 30, 2008

Blessings

I have so many blessings and happy things to share with you! This week, though it's been very busy, and wrought with major decisions, has also been full of blessings and God's workings.

First of all, I am now a buisness owner! After much pondering, we have decided to open up my private practice. This is coming after a week of very painful decisions and seeking of God's will. I was offered a wonderful job opportunity last week that sent me into a tailspin. I've been wearing my family and friends out for their advice and prayers on what to do. I finally asked God on Sunday to speak very plainly about what I should do. Monday was full of his overwhelming answer. Within hours of each other, I got a call that the job offer was not going to be as good for our family as we originally thought, that my position in Grand Prairie would not continue after Christmas and my builder in Granbury called to say that he could set me up with a small office, for half of my original price, including a month to month lease. It became very clear to us that God was trying to tell me to step out on faith and start my practice.

So, I've signed all the papers and have already placed an ad, for what from now on will be the Agape Family Center. The Center will provide individual, group and family therapy, play therapy, parent training and more to the children and families of Hood County and beyond. Thanks for all of your prayers and support, I'm so blessed to have such great family and friends who continue to seek God's will for my life.

Now for a blessing list of things I'm thankful for this week:
1. Brian, he has been unswerving in his support for me and desire for me to succeed in my career.
2. Feeling the presence of God so close to me this week. I literally feel like as I'm walking he's holding my hands above me, leading every step.
3. Email and text messaging. Monday was full of communication with my family & friends deciding what to do. Love living in the 21st century!
4. My new doctor in Granbury, she's a Christian, is super sweet and has a great plan to help my infertility.
5. Thursday night TV & the premiere of 30 Rock
6. Sonic Rt. 44 Vanilla Diet Cokes half off during Happy Hour
7. The warm sunny days and the chilly, starry nights here in Granbury.
8. The Beth Moore, Psalms of Ascent class I'm going to on Wednesday nights.
9. My new curtains and mirror in my dining room, and again my sweet husband for helping hang them up!
10. FALL!! Complete with 1/2 off decorations at Hobby Lobby, high school football (Brian's 10 year High School reunion tomorrow) & an 80's Costume Party with our Bible Class Saturday! (80's and Costume Party are consequently two of my all-time FAVORITE words, so you can guess how pumped I am about that!)

I really have felt so at peace about everything going on in my life right now. For the first time in a long time, I'm not worried about when I will be pregnant again. I don't know when it will happen again, but I feel so blessed to have been pregnant this year at all, it was a special gift that my Father gave to me. I'm not worried about the future and I feel so safe having God so close.

Isaiah 40: 29&31
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.


Here's some pics of the dining room curtains and some of my fall decorations!

I haven't hemmed them yet, but they're beautiful to look at until then! Look carefully at the dining room table. This is the emptiest it will EVER be. It's right by the garage door, so it becomes our dumping ground when we walk in.



I love my pumpkin!


Saturday, October 25, 2008

My Fun Friday!

Yesterday I got to spend the entire day with my best friend Rebecca, her sweet baby Hadley and the rest of the Ellis family (who let me crash their family night). Rebecca and I roomed together senior year in college and have been friends for almost ten years. I also grew up with a ton of good-looking, Christian men that I always tried to set up with my friends. Bec was no different, I knew of one of my friends that was just perfect for her. But when we tried to set them up, the timing didn't work out. The night Brian and I got back from our honeymoon, we were shocked to find out my bridesmaid Becca and my usher Marcus were on their first date! Seems they struck up some conversation during the reception, and my prediction was correct!

Now Marcus and Becca, two of my best friends, are married and live in Memphis. Becca and I have been through so much in our friendship: boy drama, sickness, family problems, marriage, grad school, careers and now parenthood. Marcus and Bec have a beautiful baby girl, Hadley Rene, who is the most fun, happy little thing you could meet. At first, I thought she looked like her Daddy, and I still do, from the nose, up. But Hadley's smile is all her Mommy's. She has a beautiful smile that lights up the room and brings everyone joy.


I am so blessed to have a friend like Rebecca. I love our talks, whether they be about the little stuff like sno cones and Christmas music, or big stuff like relationship problems and career decisions, Bec always listens, is always concerned and is always there with great advice and strong support. I love you so much Rebecca and I can't wait to come see you in November!!

Here's some pictures of yesterday:






Wednesday, October 22, 2008

I love your blog!


Heather nominated me for the "I love your Blog" award! Yay! I love Heather Blevins and her blog!! She's my new friend and already I have made such fun memories with her! She has adorable sons, Reed and Hudson. Heather also is a gourmet cake maker, for a HOBBY!! You should totally check out her blog (link list on the right) to see some of her work. She is truly gifted, is a great mother, an awesome wife, a phenomenal Christian and a fantastic friend! So, thanks Heather!!!!
So here's my one-word answers to the I love your blog quiz....
1. Where is your cell phone? dunno
2. Where is your significant other? work
3. Your haircolor? brown
4. Your mother? loving
5. Your father? hilarious
6. Your favorite thing? house
7. Your dream last night? NKOTB
8. Your dream/goal? privatepractice
9. The room you're in? living
10. Your hobby? sewing
11. Your fear? barren
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home
13. Where were you last night? Cheesecake :)
14. What you're not? quiet
15. One of your wish-list items? wii
16. Where you grew up? Arlington
17. The last thing you did? shower
18. What are you wearing? comfy
19. Your TV? projector
20. Your pet? underbite
21. Your computer? wireless
22. Your mood? peaceful
23. Missing someone? parents
24. Your car? awesome
25. Something you're not wearing? bra...(i said comfy)
26. Favorite store? Anthropologie
27. Your summer? beach
28. Love someone? Brian
29. Your favorite color? pink
30. When is the last time you laughed? today
31. When is the last time you cried? today
there ya go! I nominate Andrea, Ashley, Becca, Maggie, Mindy and Rachel, Tanya and Taylor!!!


Monday, October 20, 2008

Hangin Tough, 1987 to "Summertime" 2008

So, last night I got the insanely awesome opportunity to go to the New Kids on the Block concert! I'm not ashamed at all to say that I am an enormous BLOCKHEAD. I've loved them since the third grade. I had the sleeping bag, the pillowcase, the buttons, the sleepshirt, and the People magazine. The 1991 People magazine that they were on the cover of. I got into a fight with the KMART cashier when I bought it. She said that New Kids weren't going to last much longer, and I not so respectfully told her that she was stupid and they were bigger than the Beatles. Or had she not been reading up on her TIGERBEAT?! My mom embarrassedly dragged me out of the store. So here's to you girls, ages 25-35, you moms who let your daughters drool hopelessly over these boys, to the Kmart cashier wherever you are, our boys are back, and man do they still got the right stuff! I'll be loving them FOREVER!

Rachel, Kara, Manda and me, rockin our New Kids shirts

Oh my gosh, are we the cutest sisters EVER?? As adults, we're best friends. When we were little, New Kids was pretty much the only thing besides God and the same parents that we had in common.



The five of us at House of Blues (thanks for the discount Holly!)



Manda and Me basking in our concert high in Victory Park



Ooohhhh, they're still sooooo good!!


There's the boys, singin in a circle in the middle of a mob of screaming girls my age acting 15 years younger.


The final bow after an Encore of Step by Step and Hangin Tough

I've got some video that I tried to post, but it took FOREVER to upload. So, if someone wants to see video, tell me an easier way to put it on here than just uploading it through blogger!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Welcome to Holland

I've been attending a ladies Bible study on Thursday mornings at our church here in Granbury. It has been such a blessing for me to get to know these women better. I've also learned so much from them already, some who have experienced hurts and trials much worse than I could ever imagine. They've all been quick to bring me in, give me their support and love. Their faith and strength is example to me. This was read by the study leader, Penny this past Thursday. It is intended for parents of special needs children, but I think it can apply to all of us who thought life was going to be one way, but it turned out much different than expected. I know I'm slowly learning to appreciate Holland.

WELCOME TO HOLLAND
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Emily Perl Kingsley

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

In the Savior's arms

Today, October 15th, is the National Day of Remembrance for Pregnancy and Infant Loss. Please continue to keep those of us who have lost little ones in your hearts and prayers today. So many of you have encouraged me through our loss as you have experienced losses of your own. I pray for God's everlasting peace to cover you today and that you can seek comfort that our Savior himself is holding our loved ones in his arms and that we too will see them face to face someday.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
Psalm 139:13-16

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

My rock

Since Bobcat man came Friday and scraped away all of the blessed weeds and the top inch of layer of ground from our backyard, Brian and I spent the last three days handpicking up each blasted rock and throwing it into what will soon be the "Firepit Patio". I have no earthly idea how to build a patio, but Brian has had some experience with it at his mom's house and he's a mechanical engineer, that should count for something, right?
Back to the rock transplanting: Yesterday I was mostly in charge of picking up rock, as Brian was trying to seed the ground that had just been "tilled". He came over and observed a load I had just dumped into the pit, picking up one rock after another and claiming: "This isn't a rock, Amy, it's clay. We don't want to put this in as the foundation of our patio. Clay shrinks and expands, rock stays firm. We don't want all of the gravel, sand and then flagstone to buckle under us, or the patio to not be straight."
Yesterday, I got frustrated with that statement. Why can't I just leave all those Rock-imposter clay lumps in there? They're hard like rock! But I was tired of bending over for 10 straight hours, so I was a little grumpy.
This morning, I was thinking about it as I was looking at the 16x16 hole in our ground that will one day soon be a patio, complete with fire pit. I'm looking forward to the end result of patio furniture, some potted cactus, roasting marshmallows on a chilly evening, singing devo songs under the stars. Then a song popped into my head:
Jesus, You're my firm foundation. I know I can stand secure.
Oh Jesus, You're my firm foundation. I put my hope in Your Holy Word, I put my hope in Your Holy Word.
I have a living hope, I have a future. God has a plan for me, of this I'm sure.
Your Word is faithful, mighty with power, God will deliver me, of this I'm sure.
Jesus you're my firm foundation. I know I can stand secure.
Oh Jesus, you're my firm foundation. I put my hope in Your Holy Word, I put my hope in Your Holy Word.
Building this patio is a lot like building my life. I can be like the wise man, who built his house on the rock: lining my life first with God's word and constantly communicating with Him. Or, I could be like the foolish man who built his house on the sand. I can line my life with what I think looks like religion, or being holy, or even with comforts that I enjoy every day. But when the rains come in and the floods come up, my little life is just going to go SPLAT.
I feel like God has carried me through a SPLAT. He has given me a second chance to rebuild my life on what is important: HIM, my husband, my family, my church, my friends, my job. My priorities were out of whack and I was using building materials that were not going to stand the test of time. I only feel alone when I am not looking up at Him. I only feel lost when I'm not responding to His hand on my shoulder, guiding me. I only feel like the ground from underneath me is cracking when I have not stood on the ROCK.
Once again, my sweet husband has taught me an invaluable lesson, even though he was talking patio. I'm so grateful for that man, God has blessed me so much by putting Brian in my life by using him to speak to me.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

The Clean Dream Team

I'm not so much of a "deep" cleaner. Actually, I'm not much of a cleaner. Word of caution, if you show up to my house unannounced, beware that there will be a layer of dog hair coating the floor, cobwebs in every corner, and dust on every piece of furniture. But, I am obsessed with dishes, I love doing them (weird huh?), so you will probably not see a dish in my sink.
Today was my deep clean day. I got tired of "spot" mopping. Bec taught me this art form when we lived together in college and I've tried to perfect it ever since. But today was the day for the mopping. I HATE HATE DOUBLE HATE mopping. But in Canton, Heather told me about the Swiffer Wet Jet. She said it makes mopping wayyy easier. Today was also the day for the shower to be cleaned. I HATE HATE DOUBLE HATE cleaning the shower, (really the whole bathroom). My mom told me about the Mr. Clean Magic Reach and that it changed her life in bathroom cleaning.
So yesterday I packed into Walmart and purchased what would soon change my life in regards to house cleaning forever. May I introduce you to, the Clean Dream Team:
Dottie Dyson, Slick Swiffy and Baldy McClean
We got Dottie when we lived in our last house. It got old really fast using two different floor tools to clean carpet, hardwood and tile. It was the best investment in a cleaning tool we've ever spent.

A close second is Slick Swiffy. Thanks Heather for telling me about him! He's given me new hope in clean floors!


And Mom, I LOVED LOVED LOVED Baldy McClean! Sweet Goodness did my shower look fantastic after I was done!


Welp, that's what I did today! Hope everyone had a great Saturday!!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Fun with Bunnies

Last weekend while I was in Canton, Brian brought home 3 new additions to our little family. Yes, I agreed to it, I know some of you are thinking, "Amy, you can't complain about this because you brought it upon yourself". And I just want to let you know, I hear you, and I'm still probably going to complain about the smell and the poo. So, Brian brought home 3 bunnies. More like, rabbits. Like the kind that they pull out of magic hats, though they have creepy red eyes that scare the begeezus out of me. One is a male, two are females, who Brian so wonderfully informed me are both knocked up. So, even though I'm dying to be a mother, it looks like I'm going to be a grandmother first. Super. I don't know the first thing about birthing baby bunnies. But at least I'm hoping their super-fertility will rub off on me!
So, without further ado, let me introduce you to:
FLOPSY (surrounded by his two new best friends)





MOPSY
And COTTONTAIL


Needless to say, the bunnies have gotten a lot of attention. Lewis just wants to be near them non-stop. They always stay in their cages, but Flopsy (the boy) gets to have his cage on the grass when we're home. So Lewis likes to lay next to him and watch him. We got Gracie again last night, and she's just down right obsessed with them. She cried for 30 minutes last night when we went to bed because she wanted to be out with them. And our neighbor dog, Emma, Lewis's girlfriend, comes over all the time to hang out in our little stockyard.




Today we're having the "Bobcat Man" come over and scrape the back half of our lot so we can lay out grass and form flowerbeds, build a fire pit, patio and gazebo. So, Brian and I were out surveying the lot and laying out stakes for Bobcat Man. Usually the dogs are at our heels chasing the millions of rocks that are the reason for our inability to mow and thus our weedfest in the backyard. But they were so into the rabbits, they didn't even care what we were doing.



Here's before pictures of our backyard. I really regret not having a catalogue of before/after pics of our last house since we did so much work to it. So, we are making sure we do that with this house. Though, there's not much to do, thankfully. And I threw in a picture of our front yard too since so many have asked me about it.



WEEDFEST '08!


For those who've stuck with this ridiculously long post to the bitter end, I'm taking a poll and need your votes. I've been debating on whether or not to paint our bedroom and other rooms in the house. I'm not painting the living/dining/kitchen area because it's all one big room and already a great color. But the rest of the house is the same color, on the walls, and ceilings. It's pretty and I don't mind it (I love art and bright colored curtains as you can tell), but also don't want to be boring. So, vote please...to paint or not to paint??

Monday, October 6, 2008

Some wonderful things...

This weekend I got the wonderful opportunity to go away for the weekend with some new friends. A few of the girls in my class at our church in Granbury invited me to go to Tyler for the weekend for the sole purpose of relaxing AND shopping in Canton! I had such a fabulous time with these girls and I am so blessed for my new friends!!


And for another wonderful thing...I finished my kitchen curtains!! Yay!! I'm really happy with the way they turned out, since I have never made any curtains like this before! Brian was a little unsure, he didn't know those qualified as curtains since they weren't long. I guess we learn something new every day! Enjoy the pics of my kitchen, I'm super excited!!


Wednesday, October 1, 2008

lcwwqgxn

That is the code I had to type in to leave a comment on Heather's blog. I'm about done with these little codes in the stupid encrypted font that you don't know if you're typing a q or a g or a t or a f. Booo Blogger, now you're just TRYING to be difficult.