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Meet Amy
I have struggled with the answer when asked, "What do you do?" and it isn't work-related. Ultimately, we settled on that I find things and untangle things. But I also read (a lot), pretend to wake surf, and watch Hallmark films.
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We like to consider ourselves outdoorsy and campers.
Our girls have their own fishing poles. Scott gets a fishing license every year. Many years he even gets a duck hunting license.
When Scott and I were dating, really early on we invested in waders so that I could go duck hunting with him. (Don’t worry, I never shot a duck and the one time I tried I landed flat on my bum – into a large puddle of mud. Talk about a way to impress the man of your dreams).
Part of our honeymoon was spent camping at the Sand Dunes.
A big chunk of the money we received as wedding gifts went to camping supplies.
We’re “campers”.
Yet, since we’ve had kids I can list every single camping trip we’ve done.
1. Sand Dunes with my nephews when Jade was four months old.
2. Mirror Lake when Ivy was 18 months old. (Notice a 4 1/2 year break between camping trips?)
3. Father-Kid outing for church (Just Scott and Jade 2008)
4. Father-Kid outing for church (Just Scott and the girls 2009) (What kind of dad doesn’t take a picture, messing up my whole post?… sigh).
5. Yuba Lake for our first time “boat camping” this summer.
I don’t think we should call ourselves campers any more. Or if we are going to take on that label, we should maybe go camping a little more often.
Life is about taking risks, placing your bets and hoping that this time gambling pays off.
Right now, I’m placing all of my chips on 3 winners. All three of these bets have the power to win, but I’m just hoping that I have put them in the right order and that in the end, I’ll win the trifecta. I call it the “Family Trifecta”.
I originally started blogging after my brother and sister-in-law spent the year traveling around the world and documented their travels and experiences through their blog.
Six in the World was the first real blog I had any experience with. I didn’t realize until the next year that I could have my own blog and share my own story. I started out with simply documenting our life. It helped me remember all of the great times we were having and also helped me push through the hard times. My simple blog about our family served as an important reminder that FAMILY is one of the three great winners that I needed to gamble everything on. Every night that I would sit down at the computer and go through pictures, I felt stronger that I needed to focus more of my efforts on strengthening, enjoying and improving my family.
I mentioned I have 3 winners. This is where those other two winners fit in.
FAITH – I am a believer of Jesus Christ. I know that through Him we can be saved. I also know that if we are not living a Christ-centered life, all other areas of our life suffer. For a couple of years, I was forgetting to place my bets on my faith. All of my balance was off. I was working long hours, many of those hours were on the road. I was putting faith in my power to earn money thinking that would make us happiest.
LIFE – This one sounds vague and it kind of is. Life is too short to not really live it. When my balance was off, I was forgetting to enjoy the little things. I had forgotten how to get on the floor and have tickle fights with my girls. I realized life was too important NOT to live it to the fullest. I don’t ever want to say, “I’d love to make a memory but I have laundry to do so we can’t go play.”
I still work full-time, some weeks more than 40 hours. I still do my own laundry and house cleaning. But every day I strive to focus on the three winners with the best odds. Each time I place my bet, I cross my fingers and say a little prayer.
Now I’m also crossing my fingers that I am selected to meet with the producers of “Project Mom Casting” while I’m in NYC for BlogHer ’10. I’m placing my bets for a Superfecta and being on their reality show. Check out their facebook page and other entries. But for sure let them know you like me for one of the cast members.
PS- My husband says I’m equal parts crazy and cute. That has to count for something, right?
For “Camp Grandma” my mom has buried a bunch of jewels and charms in the sandbox. Each day the kids search and search to see what they can find. Ivy constantly insists on wearing this purple necklace. So, when I was taking some pictures of the girls, I noticed that darn purple necklace was still on her. But, at least it makes it fit into this week’s category for “I heart faces“. Be sure and check out some great entries.
As part of this great 31 Day Challenge to Build a Better Blog, I’m supposed to write a post that shares some link love. I always love going to other blogger’s “link love” posts and I’m super thrilled when I find one of my posts included. So this week, and who knows, maybe it will become a new thing for me, I’m going to share some of my favorite posts from this week…
She just got the most amazing job and shares with us the details.
She just got a new computer and she’ll be doing great family home evening lessons again. (Thess lessons teach gospel principals in a way that even the little kids can understand).
I would love to throw a Wizard of Oz party like she does. Actually, if only I could throw any party like she can.
This post sums up girls camp perfectly, and reminds me why I am glad I’m no longer in the young womens organization at church.
If you are in need of a good laugh I highly recommend this vlog from Depressions and Confessions
Are you for or against vaccinations?
A divorced mom has many challenges to deal with, Camille lays it out beautifully and filled with faith.
Lastly, if you are trying to help your daughters determine their path for life, Kristina gives some wonderful words of “advise”
Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!!!
I love my life. I love my family. I love blogging. I wish that they weren’t so darn fragile.
Today has brought my family some bad news. My sister-in-law is in the hospital. We are waiting to hear more following additional tests and likely surgery. We don’t know much and I’m not at liberty to say more, but the news has left us all fasting and praying that everything will turn out okay.
While we fast and pray for her, we have to continue with our lives. But as we continue with them, we also have to remember how fragile every aspect of our life is. Our relationships are fragile and require nurturing. Our health is fragile and requires a lot of us to take care of it. And, I’m learning blogging is touchy and requires a lot of time and effort to grow it.
For the 31 Day Challenge, our task today was to read several articles about how to grow your blog, monetize your blog, get more comments on your blog, how to improve your writing and so much more. It was really overwhelming for me to read them. But, I did finish with several things to look at closer with my little space on the web.
My favorite articles where by Liz at Successful and Outstanding Blog(ers). Her lists were easy to follow and I totally agreed with her points. First one was about why people are not commenting on your blog. Her statements were exactly why I don’t always comment. The other article I really liked was about how to connect with other bloggers. But gosh, from so many things I read, I feel like it is so easy to screw up and be left with a blog that even your family won’t read.
Saturday will be filled with playing more with my girls. Tomorrow I will focus on enjoying all that is good with my life, my family, my job and my blog. Because, who knows what the next day will bring. What about you?
*** In our church, when someone is in need, we believe that fasting (going without food) accompanied with prayer can provide us help and guidance from God.
Please, if you would like to join us in fast and prayer, we would truly appreciate it.
Join in the L.E.N.S photo contest over at Home is Where You Start From.
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