Amy Writes

Yesterday morning, I was grouchy. First, I woke up with a headache. A shower always lightens my morning mood, but I didn't shower first thing because I was planning to a) exercise or b) clean house or preferably c) both, but when I emerged from the bedroom the housework for the day seemed an insurmountable task. Both kids woke up whining. Neither kid was moving at a pace adequate for making it out the door before noon. Matt was not home to help. My eyes brimming with tears and my head pounding, I sat in the rocking chair and held my face in my hands - reminding myself to breathe for a few minutes. Knowing that nothing in the world was wrong, except my attitude. Having (sort of) collected myself, I made it into the kitchen to get lunches made. Here I found Eden, silently marching past me holding this sign she'd been working on while I was having my silent little tantrum: Instead of snapping back at me, or just robotically doing whatever she had to do to stay out of the way of my...

I'm sure you know how it goes... "MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY!!!!! Mommy's Back!!!! I missed you!!!... What'd you bring me?" We were still standing on wobbly sea legs when the girls demanded their gifts from abroad. We were prepared, but barely. See, before we leave our daughters, we ask what they'd like for us to bring them. This is a good strategy for a few reasons. One: it gives us direction as we scour gift shops. Or, it keeps us from having to scour gift shops because we can just reach for the first candy/coloring book/art project/(but it's always candy) that we see. Two: It gives the girls something to look forward to about our return. Let's face it...mom & dad are no grandparents. But mom & dad with gifts - that's something to anticipate. There's one more reason that asking for suggestions is a good plan: The suggestions can be pretty darn funny. Por ejemplo, from this cruise, Eden requested "a picture of a ship" so that sh...

I fear very little. At least, I think I fear very little. Flying. I fear that. My children making self-destructive decisions. I fear that. Spiders. Showering at home alone. But the normal stuff - the stuff that all the "no fear" sermons are about - no sweat here. The future? Nope. Change? Bring it on. Public speaking? Not a bit. (okay, maybe the sermons don't address public speaking, but it's always at the top of all the lists). Failure? (ahem) Failure? ... (...crickets chirping...) Well, er, uh, that's the thing I am trying to figure out. Do I fear failure, or do I fear success? As I've mentioned before, I am full of ideas . Full of them. And every last one of them is brilliant. I'm sure of it. As I've also mentioned before, I would like to write a book. I even have an idea for one. It's brilliant. And it is brilliantly lodged in my head. Recently, the prospect of attending a writers' conference has entered my thoughts. Just a fun weekend wher...

Today, I had squash for lunch. Hamburger for dinner, light bun, no cheese. No chips, potato salad or watermelon. Extra corn and tomatoes. Yogurt and granola for breakfast. Yesterday, I baked a cake and didn't have one lick of batter. Or icing. Not. One. Lick. I had a spinach and egg white omelet in the morning and pea & barley soup for dinner. Strawberries for dessert, instead of ice cream. I made a tuna salad for lunch last week. Not a tuna salad sandwich. Tuna. On Salad. Last Tuesday I started Weight Watchers (again), and this has been me ever since. Bragging? Not really. Just...mystified. Here's the deal. My body is involved in some kind of intense love affair with about 20 pounds. No matter what I do to separate the two, destiny brings them back together. I'm so used to these stowaways that I sometimes believe that they belong there. In 9 doctors' appointments last year, not once was I told to lose weight. I can run a mile (or more, but I get bored) without gett...

Several months ago a few of us bloggy people got together weekly for some bloggy chats , and we made some wonderful bloggy friends. Like Photoqueen . And Scott the Crazy Disciple . And Brenda. And, of course, the Cool 'Rents . There was a lot of silliness (we are a funny bunch, if I do say so myself), but from time to time, we were able to encourage each other and, even help one another out. Enter Raquel. Raquel was the youngest of our cool chat regulars - a high schooler who held her own with a chatroom of mostly thirtysomethings. (I'm sounding geekier and geekier, aren't I?) Without saying too much more, let's just say that God had Raquel and I in the same virtual place at the same time for a reason. PLEASE, go read Raquel's post and see what God is doing through the ministry of First Priority in South Florida!

There's something about that second child. Something that is just...so...different. You think you've got this parenting thing all figured out. You've analyzed your firstborn, figured out where all of her traits and quirks come from. You fully expect your second one to follow suit, because it is so obvious that "we have strong-willed/compliant/gifted/accelerated/laid back children." And then #2 makes her entrance, and God shows you a thing or two about how much you really know. So here is our second one. Our little scene stealer. Why smile for a photo, when you can SMILE for a photo? Her older sister is all about the mechanics - Making the s'mores. Counting the s'mores. Serving the s'mores. This one is all about enjoying the s'mores, and anything else she can find to enjoy. Photoqueen posted a link to this Messy Faces contest (along with a precious picture of Photobaby!). I'm sure you understand why I felt compelled to enter this photo. Visit ...