Everyday Blessings...

Good morning! I have felt the prompting to share thoughts on these two parenting resources with you guys. The Power of the Praying Parent, in my opinion is the best prayer resource besides the Bible for raising your children. It has so many great thoughts and ideas on how to incorporate prayer for your children into your life and to help to teach them how to pray and how powerful it is. It also has great help on how to combat Satan in your children's lives and in our own. These little CD's called Seeds are pure scripture songs. They are children's voices mixed with a few adult leads. They are powerful, wonderful songs for learning scripture. We used them at a time when one of our boys was basically under attack and so fearful that he could not sleep or function well. We played these CD's over and over and it was such comfort to hear God's promises to take care of us right from scripture. Hearing scripture in song makes it easier to remember and plant it in our hear...

Please pray for this sweet little baby, Stellan. He is fighting for his life. Go here to read about him. http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ Also, pray for our sweet friend Madi Jones. She is going in today to find out what kind of surgery she needs on a hole in her heart. Believe me this hole does not detract from any love she has to give to everyone. She is a precious young lady and we love her very much. Please don't forget to send your red envelopes if you are planning on doing so. We need to get them in the mail tomorrow. Red about the Red Envelope plan on the right top section of my blog. Thanks for your help! There are so many people in pain and hurting with various problems. God is still good and still there waiting for us to lay our burdens down. For me it is an everyday process. Blessings on your day and may we all feel His everlasting comfort and share the joy of being His child even in the hard times. Amy

This is where it would be nice to be this morning. Dreaming of that water. Oops, did the sideways picture again. Sorry. I have not figured out how to take a picture off of a post after you have put one on. (No wonder I can't figure out the FAFSA! ha.) Wes with a starfish that Chance found. St. Martin. Good morning! My dear husband is off studying for his class for next week and I am home facing several chores that I HAVE to get done. I must complete the FAFSA application and get it in for Will. If you have not ever attempted this colossal task well... just wait. I seriously wonder if I am smart enough to do it right. :) Anyway, that task plus finishing some scripture signs for LTC and grocery shopping and trying to get inspired to write a lesson for Blue Haven. The boys are off on a church retreat and having a super time I am sure. Well, I hope that your day is a lovely one! Any hints of help for finishing the FAFSA will be welcome! Blessings. Amy

Snow, update Hang in there pretty little pink tulips! The snow is falling. Isn't it amazing that when you want your life to slow down so that you can savor and enjoy every minute that it seems to speed out of control? It seems like just a few minutes ago that we were watching the guys playing in their first football games for this year. Now, we are already in track and counting down until graduation for William. I am still refusing to get really blubbery (well once in a while I do) and let myself take any time to cry over things changing and him leaving. Someone asked Wes last night if he couldn't wait for Will to leave so he could have the run of things. They expected him in typical Wes fashion to say, "Yes, I can't wait!", but he said, "No, I am going to miss him." And I sat there and thought, "I am too." and I will miss our family like it is right now and has been for so many years. The four of us enjoying and walking through everyday life ...

Sorry to put you guys through this again today, but I am having too much fun looking at these old pictures. Love to my friends and family! Amy Michael and Patrick Swiss Family Robinson Tree House- Disneyland Aunt Glenna's house- California Granny Granny Mom, Dad , Donna and Ray Golden Gate Bridge The California Family...Rick and Cindy....you guys were THE cutest kids!!! At the tank for Brad's birthday What was I mad about? Brad, again, you are so cool! Love you! What a handsome couple! Can you believe we dressed Michael up like that? Sorry brother!

I found some old pictures in an album that I borrowed from Mom last year. We were getting ready for her and Dad's 50th Anniversary trip and we were looking for wedding pictures and such. Anyway, I found these this morning and had to post a few. One is not even straight on the page. Sorry. I barely know what I am doing. ha. The one above is of my Daddy. I have no idea how old he was in this shot but I would say about 35 to 40. We used to ski behind that boat! The family at Disneyland. Brad, you look so cool and Michael is the cutest thing ever! Man, my skirt was short. My mom must have lost her mind. ha. There were slits up the sides too! Wow, Mama you look gorgeous in this picture! Precious. We always drove out to California in the summer to see a lot of Mom's family. Disneyland was a must stop. So many great memories from out there. Well, that's the end of our small walk down memory lane for today. Have a blessed day! Miss you too Liz!! Love, Amy

Wes is entered in the Art Section for LTC. (Leadership Training for Christ) He wanted to draw a picture of Jesus washing the disciple's feet so he asked Will to volunteer his foot and we took this picture. I think it turned out quite beautiful. I will put up the picture of his pencil drawing when he gets finished. Man...I love these guys. I pray that your day is going great. We are struggling with a few things today and I won't go into it but this scripture is encouraging to us today. Eph. 6 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Good morning. I love spring. I love hearing the birds chirping away and I love seeing the flowers peeking through the dirt. I love sitting on the back porch and just for a few minutes soaking up the spring time sun. (Everyone needs their Vit. D!) There is such beauty around us. The spring beauty of course does not begin to compare to the beauty in the faces of our loved ones and our children. Life is but a breath. I have for so long taken good health and life for granted. I guess as we get older and see friends pass away that the reality of death hits us a little harder. Or, having gone through thyroid cancer even though it was not life threatening thank the good Lord, it was still very concerning and a wake up call. Don't get me wrong, I long for the day that I hear the trumpets . I pray that perhaps this will be the day that Jesus returns. I look forward to that great day or the day I am blessed to go to glory to see Him. Somehow it is not as hard to think of going yourself, a...

On April 15, be part of the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) party rally in your community On the day you pay your taxes, Wednesday, April 15, join others across the country and in your hometown who will be participating in TEA party rallies in front of their city halls. The TEA party rally will begin at 12 noon. Are you fed up with a Congress and a president who: *vote for a $500 billion tax bill without even reading it? *are spending trillions of borrowed dollars, leaving a debt our great-grandchildren will be paying? *consistently give special interest groups billions of dollars in earmarks to help get themselves re-elected? *want to take your wealth and redistribute it to others? *punish those who practice responsible financial behavior and reward those who do not? *admit to using the financial hurt of millions as an opportunity to push their political agenda? *run up trillions of dollars of debt and then sell that debt to countries such as China? *want government controlled health car...

Hey friends! We are back from our spring break adventures and I have downloaded WAY too many pictures but wanted you guys to see the beauty of Big Bend. We had a super time with the Spruell family. Here is a great scripture that I read this morning and then I will leave you to look at a million pictures if you want to. Blessings on your day! Amy Psalm 73: 23-28 Yet I am always with you; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from You will perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge: I will tell of all Your deeds. The mustang basketball team right before their state semi final game. They look very serious. Benjamin with Will's poster. Great ...