Give away over on Prairie Flower Farm

You can win this sweet clothes pin bag.



Just copy and paste the folowing address and mention where you read about her giveaway and I can be entered to win again.

http://prairieflowerfarm.blogspot.com/

I am not sure why I can not post links in my blog posts, no matter what I try it won't work. Anyone want to let me know what I am doing wrong??
Hugs
Amy

A wedding entrance to remember

I saw this and thought it was soooo cute, that I would post it for others to enjoy! You will want to scroll down to the bottom of the page to stop the music in my player before playing this video. Enjoy I did.

Still hanging in here

Every day lately seems to present new challenges. I often feel like asking God why he thinks I am so strong, or perhaps why he made me so strong. I feel like saying hey God today can I be weak, today can everything go RIGHT??? Please, please, please, with whipped cream and a cherry on top??? SIGH..... Okay so I guess not. The really cool thing is I keep learning so much more at our new church. I am so thankful to be in this new church. And actually some of my situation that I am currently going through has given me some new things that I am able to share with some people who need to hear it.

So for that I am thankful. I DO NOT like the situation that I am in and do not want a divorce. This is ripping my kids apart, and I hate to see them suffering. But I am thankful for the things I have been learning through all of this. God is good and most assuredly has a plan. So I am hanging on and waiting upon his timing. He will NOT leave me, or my kids, nor forsake us. He wants the best for us.

I am still amazed at the new things I am learning and at exactly how often, like daily, the bible is now relevant, thank you Lord. If the Lord was not a God of grace and mercy, he would surely have gotten sick of me years ago. I am still grateful for these gifts everyday!!

Thank you for all the prayers. I greatly appreciate them.
Hugs
Amy

Happy 4th of July

Comments
I hope everyone has a fantastic and safe 4th of July. I am thankful everyday that I and my children live in this country with all the freedoms we so often take care for granted. Yeah, right now this country has alot going on that I don't like, but still the alternative is nothing I want to consider so I am thankful everyday for being here.

God Bless America.
Hugs
Amy

A direction in life I do not want to take.

I have not posted much over the last few months as my life has been in turmoil. My husband of over 17 years has decided he no longer wants to be married. We have had a rough marriage I do not deny that, however we have finally begun going to a church where there is the help we need and the tools to head in the right direction. With hope in site, he decided to quit. At our previous church the Pastor decided coaching basketball was more important then doing our counseling. He quit and never even asked again how things were.

I have been struggling alot with fear, panic, hurt, sadness, anger, and so many other things. My children are also struggling with all of these things as you can well imagine I am sure. I am now working a full time job for the first time in ever. My youngest two, who are almost 6 and 7, have never been away from me much at all and now this is added to the fact that their daddy moved out.

Along with all of that, I have had some health concerns which praise God, just turned out to be stress, thought I was having a heart attack, spent time in the ER, had echo cardiogram run, and lots of blood work. All came back pretty much normal, yeah!! Praise God again. Still have some other tests run for a few other issues, and just yesterday found out I have a large bone spur on my spine. It is putting alot of pressure on some nerves, I am dealing with alot of pain, alot of the time, the chiropractor is helping me work at keeping those muscles relaxed and things where they should be as much as possible. Hopefully we will see and improvement, if this does not work then surgery becomes something to look at. SIGH.....

And then for some reason unknown to me someone wants to get into my suburban. Someone has tried at least 3 times and now one of the doors on the back no longer opens. I am not sure how much that will cost to fix, but at this point it really does not matter as I have no money.

Then I find out my husband qualifies for free legal aid, and I do NOT. He is living free with someone, and I have all the kids and bills and do not qualify. This makes no sense to me. He can just chose to move out and file for divorce and it's free, I have no choice but to respond and I can get no help at all, BUT wait...... I can make payments to them and after I pay it all off then within 6 weeks, I will get a lawyer appointed to me. 6 WEEKS??????? The whole thing could be over by then. I just don't get this. So I had to borrow 1200 to pay for a lawyer so now I will be unable to put new tires on my suburban which I needed a year ago.

But wait there is more......

The house I live in, the one we were supposed to be buying from someone who went to our previous church, the one who just pocketed our 740 a month, has finally been repoed, so now I have 3 months to either move..... which is a laugh... no one wants to rent to someone with 6 kids, someone who is recently divorced, has no long term employment history, etc.... OR try to talk the bank into working with me some how. We shall see what we shall see.

And then I guess the other thing that is bothering me right now is it seems there is no one, besides our pastor, not a single friend of his, not even his band, a christian band who is willing to hold him accountable and say NO this is not right. Most people in our church do not know us yet nor do they know the situation. I have heard from him that people, CHRISTIAN people, have said well hey you stuck it out longer then anyone else would, you deserve to be happy...... Well you know what I do want him happy, but we need to let God fill those places not count on someone else to do it.

Now before you think all is lost.... there are some good things going on.

I have been truly blessed in my job, during a day when I was falling apart, the CEO and the administrator, took the time to talk to me, to encourage me and to even pray with me and hug on me. Both of these ladies are fantastic. I have been so blessed. The job is going well. And I have finally been able to make some changes in my home that were needed.

There has also been tremendous spiritual growth, thank you God. It has been encouraging to here people say that you can tell I am a christian woman because of my actions, or someone else say there is just something different about you. It is all due to God. I have finally been able to let go of alot I needed to let go of and he has done some astounding work in me. I am amazed by everything I have learned at the new church. I can see the growth. I was stunted for so many years. I went no where. I was busy trying to give myself direction, when I did not even have a map. I was frustrated about how long it took, like all my life, but have some to accept it is all in Gods timing. I have also come to understand that many of these changes that He has made in me would not have been possible with Tony here.

I would have been very content to be where I was. Up until about a week ago, I would have said that no matter what I want Tony here. I want him to come home right now. But due to growth and my eyes being opened. I do not want what we had. And my husband is not there yet. I am still praying for him, but I do not want him no matter what the cost anymore. DO NOT GET ME WRONG, I do not want a divorce. I want my children to have both of their parents at home at night. But I also realized that I want more for my kids, I want more for my marriage, I want more for my husband. I want us to be RIGHT with God not just here no matter what anymore.

I think this is enough for now. I have no intention of defaming my husband so saying much more might head that way. Just know that I so appreciate all of your prayers and your good thoughts. I do know that no matter what God has plans to bless me and my children, I just need to keep doing what I need to do. God is good.

Hugs
Amy Ellen

Hello

Hello

I have not posted in quite a while it seems.... Lots going on. I do not have much time to post at the moment. However, this evening, I will finish up on another post and it should be here...... Thank you all of those who are praying for my family and myself. Those prayers are greatly appreciated. So many changes in life right now.

Grateful Hugs until later

Amy Ellen

Neat things about blogging

One of the neatest things about blogging for me is being able to see how many people are interested in what is going on way out here in Kansas. I get quite a few visitors from California, which is really cool. I grew up there and alot of family is there. So hi everyone!!! There are also quite a few visits from other countries!! I am so glad you stop by! Also other bloggers visit now and again. There are some fantastic ladies out there with some wonderful blogs, thanks ladies for stopping by. I hope everyone has a fantastic day.
Hugs
Amy

Grace

As you might have noticed by my songs, I am big on grace lately. I am so thankful for Gods grace. I sometimes took it for granted I think. I have been a christian for ever really and was saved many years ago. I thought okay I am doing what I should .......... Well lately after going to this new church, I realized how many things I have missed and or messed up. I have just been astounded by all of my mistakes and I still am. I am thinking what if God had been impatient or just got fed up with me. Thinking okay she has had enough time, how dense can one person be?? LOL!!!! I know that looking back at it I would have gotten impatient with my mistakes. I would not have been so kind to myself. Frankly I really get mad at myself sometimes. Thank you Heavenly Father for you grace. I do not deserve it. I guess that's why it is called grace.

Humbly thankful
Hugs
Amy

I am so behind

Hello

I have meant to post for a few weeks now. We have been so busy. We have had many changes in the past few months. As I mentioned we have begun going to a new church and I have been astounded by what I am learning. So many things that no one has ever said to me before. It is all so simple and is like WOW for me, I feel this way every week right now. It feels like I have known nothing. In ladies group, church and the conversations with the Pastor, I have learned so much about the way God made me and who I am and SO MUCH about God word that I feel like I have never been in church before. I kinda feel bad a bit, as I have been in church my entire life. I was saved many years ago, and have gone no where. Praise God I am in the process now.

I have also started a job. This is the first full time job ever. I have never worked much out of the house. 17 years of being home with my kiddos. We are going through some major transition here. The littlest kiddos are not happy campers. Frankly they are pretty mad at me. But it has come to the point where it has become necessary for me to work. We are still homeschooling which this year will go through most of the summer probably as we have had some tough days recently.

The new job is going well. I am working at a nursing home, in a homemaker/hospitality
sort of position. I will be serving dinner to residents, sweeping dinning rooms after dinner, visiting with residents, reading mail to them, reading to them, doing activities, answering doors in the evenings taking visitors where they need to be. And a number of other things. So far it is going well. I am enjoying the residents and the people I work with. It is a wonderful Christ centered place. The atmosphere is unlike many retirement homes I have visited.

This month promises to be busy. We have mothers day next weekend. We will not be "going" to tea this year, but will be having a tea party at my sisters house. We plan to have it outside and each bring tea foods, etc. It should be lovely. Also we are hoping that by having it at my sisters house, my other sister and my nieces will come. They are not big on the tea room idea.

Then we have my Elijah's 7Th birthday near the end of the month. He wants to go to the zoo, the park, the movies, out to dinner, a picnic, LOL. We need to kinda pin down exactly what we are doing. I am thinking not everything will happen. Then we have fathers day and so more birthdays and 4Th of July. We are just a busy family with all the get togethers etc.

Well gotta run
Hugs
Amy

Happy Easter

Hope everyone has a Fantastic Easter today.... I MAY have something to post tomorrow, but we will have to see. I still need a couple more to join in on the Pay It Forward. Please join in it should be lots of fun!!
Hugs
Amy

Giveaway over on Country Pleasures

There is a giveaway over on Country Pleasures blog, just click on the title of this post, and you will be taken there. Please stop by and enter and if you mention my name I will get another entry, so feel free to mention it, LOL. ; ) Also be sure to stay awhile and visit over there she has such a lovely blog.
Hugs
Amy

A smile for your day

I found this wonderful video over on A Sparrows Home, link on the left in favorites, or just click on the title of this post. I just could not help but smile. I thought other might need a smile as well today. Please be sure to scroll to the bottom of my page and stop the player down there first. You will enjoy this to the very end.



That would have been so fun to have seen in person. Anyone want to go to the train station with me??

Hugs
Amy

Pay It Forward

I have an opportunity to participate in Pay It Forward thanks to Madrekarin at One Perfect Little Miricale(a link is in my favorites or just click on the title of this post). If you also want to join in, but haven't had the opportunity to yet or you want to enjoy the fun once again, then this invitation is for you!

Here's how Pay It Forward works:

I've signed up with Madrekarin and committed to send the next 3 people who sign up here with me on my blog a handmade item and goodie package within 365 days.
By accepting my invitation, YOU agree to Pay it Forward to the next 3 people who sign up with you (on your blog) and send them something within 365 days. An easy amount of time in which to get it done! ; )

Want to join the fun and Pay It Forward? I'd love to have you sign up with me!!
Please leave a contact email so I can confirm the details with you. Let's keep the PIF going strong!

Okay, everyone, who wants to play?

A Sunset

Hello I have been so bad about posting. I have had alot going on around here. I am still not quite ready to post about it. I am sure I will eventually. I have had some good things happen and some not good things happen lately. I am trusting God to take care of the not so good things. He made everything. The world, the rain, the feet of snow we had over the weekend, the sun rise and yes even the sunset. He is always and forever faithful. He is working on us and for us before we even know there is a problem. We had to drive in to Hutchinson, Ks today for some doctor appointments. As we were driving home this evening two of my boys and my daughter and I were so blessed to see such a lovely sunset. We stopped and took the first 5 pictures and then we headed farther toward home and then decided we wanted to watch the rest. So I turned back of the highway and we pulled over and watched the lovely sun set. What a blessing to have had the freedom and time to just sit and enjoy the art that God placed here for us. I hope you can enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed taking them.
Hugs
Amy

SNOW and small update

Things here are obviously cold and wet. I am so wanting spring to finally get here. I am waiting on many things right now. And am looking at a whole twist to my life. God has already blessed me in some of what is to come. Just need to hold on and keep trusting and have that faith that God has a plan and he wants only good for us.
Hugs
Amy