what i did today

What I’m Into – February 2013

February 28, 2013 by Amy 18 Comments

Last month I mentioned candles and have been so happy to find this scent at Bath and Body Works.

Mahogany Teakwood really should be called Abercrombie & Fitch Store. Smells just like it when you walk by!

I have another scent coming and hope to have that on the March list!

I’ll save all the books I’ve read for another post but I’m seriously into this book.

So far it’s really changed some of my perspective about prayer and looking forward to it finishing up in the next few days.

I know this one’s weird but I’ve been into recovery drinks. Last month I mentioned I’d been doing P90X.

We’ve continued through February but this month I started drinking a recovery drink afterwards. Makes such a difference! I don’t feel worn out or dehydrated anymore. The girls even like it.

I got these Lia Sophia earrings at a party recently and I just love them.

I can wear them with almost anything. Per usual, they look way better in person.

It’s interesting, I keep wanting to add some TV shows to this list because let’s face it, I’m usually into them. But really, I need a what I’m NOT into post for those. Nearly all my shows have been disappointing me lately—Once Upon a Time, Revenge, Nashville, even Modern Family! I think I’m ready to give many of them up.

One thing I have been watching but I’m not sure I’m into yet is Doctor Who.

I’ve watched 9 episodes of the first season and I’m still not hooked. Doctor Who fans, what am I doing wrong??

And finally for the techie folks, I’ve been really into the Genesis Framework for WordPress.

Which means, people, I have a brand new design waiting for you! Squee! It’s not quite ready to launch but I am just LOVING the framework. Makes designing so much easier!

What’s your favorite thing right now?

I’m linking up with LeighKramer.com

Thunder Snow and a Few Games to Survive

February 18, 2013 by Amy 2 Comments

Friday night we were headed to dinner and I announced that my favorite weatherman was calling for snow on Saturday.

Have I ever told you about my favorite weatherman? Brad Panovich is a weatherman in Charlotte and is a social media maven. I always can trust that if something weather-related is happening Charlotte, Brad is tweeting about it.

He’s great at engagement and will even answer silly questions like should I go to the mall at 1 or 3 this afternoon to beat the rain? Once, Lexi told me to “ask the weather guy in your phone” about a storm brewing.

I hope other cities have an equally awesome weatherman because it ROCKS.

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Everyone scoffed at the snow news as we had some snow flurries recently, but it was quite underwhelming.

Saturday morning came along and sure enough, there were flurries. It didn’t do much sticking though and the girls scoffed once again.

We moved on with planned play dates for the afternoon and I noted to the mother that I had heard (through Brad on Twitter) we were supposed to get another bout of snow that afternoon but none of it was supposed to stick.

Well, SURE ENOUGH, about 20 minutes before the girls were scheduled to finish up their play dates (we exchanged girls with a set of sisters), ALL THE SNOW fell out of the sky.

This picture is not more than 10 minutes after the snow started. Either I missed one of Brad’s tweets or he might have underestimated this thunder snow but we definitely had some accumulation.

Lexi got dropped off from her play date just a few minutes later and all the girls spent some time playing around.

Normally, people are running to the store for bread and milk 24 hours before snow but nothing this time. We had no clue it was going to be like this.

By Saturday evening, we had 2-3” and everyone was rushing to get home. Many churches canceled Sunday morning.

I heard (again, from Brad) that this was the most snow we’ve had in 2 years.

Sunday morning we got up and properly dressed in snow clothes. You have to hurry because snow never lasts long. You can see much of it was melting already by the time we got out.

Scott was at work and I could not find our one purple sled to save my life so no sledding for us but we did manage some snow angels

and snowball fights.

Did I mention that this was Tucker’s first snow and he was insane in the membrane about it?

He was running circles so fast and when it was snowing on Saturday he was jumping 3 feet in the air trying to catch the snowflakes.

As you imagine, these pictures only account for just minutes of our weekend. The girls and I spent most of it inside enjoying our weekend.

This post is so long already but really, I wanted to share a few games we played ad nauseum to pass the time indoors.

They’re all easy, cheap and actually fun to play.

Four Corners

I played this game YEARS ago in school but the girls had to remind me what to do.

One person counts in the middle of the room with their eyes closed. The others quietly pick a corner in the room and stand. The person in the middle, with their eyes still closed, picks a corner number. Whoever is in that corner is out. You keep doing that until one person has not been picked. The remaining person wins and counts next.

I love this game because it requires me only to walk quietly, stand quietly and count to ten. The girls think it’s hilarious though to try to walk quietly and stand quietly and get really excited when they’re not picked.

One Word Story

We started this game at dinner-time and while we don’t play it at every dinner, the girls LOVE this game. The game is simply played by one person starting a story with one word. The next person adds just one word to the story and it continues in a circle until you’re done with the story, whether from a good ending or boredom.

The first time we played this game, Emma was in stitches. We were writing stories like “Once there was a dog who jumped over a house and died.” So silly but I think the girls enjoy being silly and seeing US be silly too.

Rat a Tat Cat

Rat a Tat Cat is a card game of numbers that the girls got as a present. I can’t explain it all but basically each player gets four cards, 2 of which you can look at. You go in rounds trying to get the lowest sum of cards. When you think you have them, you say “Rat a Tat Cat” and everyone adds up their cards, seeing if their unknown cards played well for them or not.

Usually the games go fast and there’s not a lot to fuss over so it’s a good family game.

I hope those help you finish out this winter being stuck inside. Hurry up, summer!

How was the weather like this weekend for you? What are your favorite family games/

Forever Valentine

February 14, 2013 by Amy 1 Comment

Scott and I have celebrated 18 Valentine’s Days together. I’m not big on flowers and while I love chocolate, I’d rather have a Reese’s cup over a bon-bon any day.

Sometimes we go out to eat and sometimes like today, he simply had a card and a 4-pack of Starbucks coffee waiting on the dining room table. It was perfect.

I’d much rather him show me love throughout the year than force tokens of love on one day without backing it up the other days.

I realize that many couples have it backwards. They’re married and getting flowers and chocolates today, but tomorrow they’ll go back to feeling alone and unloved.

I’ve been there.

This year I’ve watched another couple whose struggle hasn’t had a restorative ending. I’ve seen what it’s like to not only feel alone and unloved but to then end up being alone. God has certainly been busy catching her tears this year.

Statistics say half of you have or will experience this. I don’t wish it on anyone. My heart hurts for my friend today and for all of you that are alone or just feel alone most of the time.

I don’t mean to say that everyone without a significant other is lonely and sad. Many are single and are totally happy and that’s great. I just have a heart today for those that are or have been married and ought not feel alone but do.

The true message on Valentine’s Day is that although man fails us and we feel alone, we aren’t. It sounds trite, but I can tell you first-hand when I have felt unappreciated, alone and unloved, his unfailing, undivorcable love not only filled in the gaps but overflowed until I cried at the immensity of it all.

I posted these verses last year but they’re worth posting again. Consider it His Valentine’s card today.

Ten Ways God Loves You

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1. I know you intimately
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Matthew 10:30
The LORD knows the thoughts of man. Psalm 94:11
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1:5

2. I think you’re beautiful
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy 4:4
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:31

3. I delight in you
The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. Proverbs 12:22
The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Psalm 147:11
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

4. I will fight for you
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

5. I forgive you
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.Ephesians 1:7

6. I want the best for you
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

7. I see and appreciate you
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness.Zephaniah 3:17
How amazing are your thoughts concerning me. Psalm 139:17

8. I will protect you
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me. Psalm 50:15
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11

9. I want to give you the desires of your heart
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. Psalm 145:19

10. I’m jealous for you
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 2 Corinthians 11:2

Printable list

You have a forever Valentine and he loves you so, so much.

Bare

February 8, 2013 by Amy 11 Comments

Writing with Five Minute Friday on afraid. No editing or backtracking. Just writing for five minutes.

This one’s for the writers or the ones that ought to be…

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We writers lay bare our lives. At times, it’s hard work–all that bleeding onto a page.

But the truth? The truth is there’s so much we’re dealing with that we can’t write about. It’s not our story to tell. Or, it is our story because we are a character of the story but it would lay another bare—cause them to bleed onto a page they don’t even know about.

Just in my small circle of influence there are people

unable to find a job,

on the brink of divorce,

dealing with wayward children,

losing their homes,

fighting depression,

miserable in their marriage,

having thoughts of suicide,

It’s disheartening that I could go on.

Some of you know those problems intimately. Even if you aren’t dealing with these individually, you’re dealing with them. We’ve all got family and friends that are struggling.

How can I lay bare in the writing to say I know how you feel? This is how we handled it. There’s no Pinterest board to pin “Top Ten Ways to Pull Your Mortgage Payment Together so You Avoid Sleeping in Your Car Tomorrow Night.”

Sure, we dance around it, but so many times we’re missing the heart of what everyone is REALLY struggling with.

I don’t have easy answers but I’m tired of people struggling so deeply without help or hope. I firmly believe we, as writers–as beacons of light–could provide that hope and must figure out a way to share it.

To the writers I say: bleed when you can and put down the pen when you must, but for goodness sakes, will you finally accept that we need your words–those deep ones that make you bleed–so desperately? If you have the freedom to write about it, but can’t seem to squeak it out, will you be brave and finally gift us with them? This world needs you. We really do.

What I’m Into – January 2013

February 7, 2013 by Amy 9 Comments

MyFitnessPal

I decided a week into January that I’d quietly start counting calories. Losing weight wasn’t a New Year’s Resolution, but the new year did give me a fresh start. I had let the holidays completely overtake any semblance of health. I was feasting off cookies, cakes, white mochas, and ice cream sundaes…daily. My weight aside, I needed some accountability on my sugar intake.

I downloaded the LoseIt! app to journal my food but found a few weeks later the food database in MyFitnessPal is a lot better. While I’m not bent on counting calories, keeping a journal has helped me limit my sugar intake. Only 50 calories left? You gotta choose something healthier than a cupcake.

I still entertain a dessert every day, but I’m staying within my day caloric intake. Four weeks later, I’ve lost 4-5 pounds and I’m into that.

MyFitnessPal has an app but don’t worry if you don’t have a smart phone. Everything can be tracked on their web site.

P90X

On top of counting calories, I’d been wanting to work out but just could not get it together. I hate working out in the morning, I don’t want to take any more time in the evenings away from home. I don’t like getting sweaty in the middle of the day and normally my lunch break is needed for errands.

Scott decided about two weeks ago to start P90X on his own. He asked me to do it and I immediately said no. I’ve heard way too many complaints on social media about how hard it was. I wanted to exercise, but not go crazy or anything.

The first night he put in the DVDs, I jumped in. I figured I would do what I could and bow out for the rest. The first night I made half the night. I was able to keep it together the other nights and guess what? I’m into it.

I love that every night is something different. I love that Scott and I are doing it together. I love that the girls are home with us and jump in when they want. If they aren’t doing the DVD, they’re hanging on to the chin up bar or playing around us. I feel like I’m getting the exercise I need without sacrificing family time.

Blue Diamond Smokehouse Almonds

The hardest part of letting go of sugar is finding good replacement snacks. I’m not a big vegetable fan, try to stay away from too many carbs and being gluten free doesn’t leave you with too many options. Cheese anyone?

Almost every nutritionist will tell you to snack on almonds but I cannot stand plain almonds. I stumbled on Blue Diamond Smokehouse Almonds one day in the store, desperate to find a good alternative and y’all, these are so good. I’m into it.

Have low calorie, whole food snack options for me? Let me know!

Candles

My aunt gave me a soy candle for Christmas and last month I started keeping it at my desk and lighting it every day. Turns out I love the yummy smell and dare I say it, the ambiance it creates.

I tried replacing the candle with one from Walmart and y’all, do not waste your time. The candle was gone within a week. I’m all for saving a buck or twelve but the more expensive candles really are worth it.

Here’s the candle my aunt bought me from a school fundraiser. If nothing else, you have to go check out the scent names. Some will certainly leave you scratching your head!

Vine

The latest social media site is out. It’s called Vine and you share a 6 second video with a caption. A video Instagram, if you will. People are doing some super creative things with the way it lets you capture short frames to come up with your 6 seconds.

I’m enjoying getting a new kind of glimpse from folks when normally video would scare them away. Download the app and find me as amyjbennett.

Cake Boss

It’s been about 6 months and we’re still surviving without DirecTV. The kids have most recently found Cake Boss on Netflix and it’s tranquilizing. You start watching one episode and with Netflix’s automatic start into the next episode, you get 3 or 4 episodes in without blinking. Amazing what those guys do.

Any of these familiar to you? What’s your favorite thing right now?

Makes Me Wanna Jump, Jump

February 5, 2013 by Amy 2 Comments

Do you read The Pioneer Woman?

I hope you do.

I can’t imagine you don’t. I’m pretty sure she’s got the market on lifestyle blogging.

But if there’s a small, even tiny sliver of a chance you don’t read her, you need to get familiar with her Charlie posts. I mean, she wrote TWO books about him.

I was thinking about Charlie today. Poor, placid Charlie. In her last post about him, she was encouraging him to move.

I was thinking that maybe, just maybe, I should introduce him to Tucker.

Because Tucker likes to move.

Scott was outside playing keep away the other day.

Tucker gets really excited when Scott plays keep away.

He likes to jump.

A lot.

I’m sure Charlie would be so inspired he’d at least, you know, move.

So, PW, if you want to set up a play date. Or jump date. Or, you know, just a move date, let’s hook up.

Lessons from Maureen

January 28, 2013 by Amy 4 Comments

Have you ever felt like you were exactly where you were supposed to be? It doesn’t happen often, but I surely felt it this weekend.

If you follow us over at our Facebook page, you would have seen me post a link over to Kristen Welch’s blog We Are That Family this week. For those of you who have been reading for awhile, you know I love Compassion and Mercy House Kenya, a ministry that Kristen started after her first Compassion blogging trip.

Well, my friend Jenny saw my post and tells me that Maureen, the co-founder of Mercy House, was scheduled to be in my town speaking in just a few days. I could not believe it.

My sister joined me and Jenny Saturday to hear Maureen tell her story and the story of Mercy House. I have heard the story of Mercy House many times, as I’ve followed Kristen through the years, but I had never heard all of Maureen’s.

Maureen was rescued by Compassion from the slums of Kenya. Her house was made of mud. She couldn’t sleep on rainy nights because of the muddy floor. She sometimes wouldn’t eat for 3, 4, 5 days. They had no sanitation. Many girls were forced into prostitution—by their mothers.

Compassion breaks in at age 7 and begins to help her family with food, rent money, school fees and of course shares Christ. She gets her family out of the slums, goes to University and is in the Compassion leadership program. Eventually, her story collides with Kristen when Kristen takes a Compassion blogging trip to Kenya and Maureen serves as their tour guide.

It’s just an amazing story of God’s redemption.

We sat listening for over an hour and it felt like we were the only room in the world. I could have listened to her all day telling stories of the women in the Mercy House and the ways God had moved.

I took away a few points from her talk and thought I might share them.

Be a Vessel of Honor

We were pretty much wrecked from Maureen’s opening prayer.

There have been few moments in my life where the Holy Spirit has moved so quickly and powerfully in just a few sentences of a prayer. You could hear her reverence for God and her faith. It truly brings me to tears just thinking of it.

She prayed one sentence that is still sticking with me. In her Kenyan accent she prayed, “Oh God, make me a vessel of honor.” A vessel of honor. I don’t know if that hits you like hit us in the room, but that prayer will always be with me.

Your Past Doesn’t Define You

As she spoke about her past, she shared something someone told her and it is, “Poverty shapes you but it doesn’t define you.” We all have things in our past that could define us. We easily label ourselves as broken, cheaters, liars, poor, etc, but our past does not define us. It simply shapes us. Of course Maureen is impacted by the slums of Kenya, but I can tell you first hand she is not defined by the slums of Kenya. She is free, grateful and joyful.

Find God In Your Dreams

I know this is an odd one to include. We know God spoke so many times in the Bible through dreams. I’ve personally had at least two dreams I’m convinced was God speaking to me. But there was something about hearing Maureen speak about how God had spoken to her through dreams that confirmed it for me.

Say Yes First

As she was sharing her story, she knew that God was calling her to ministry before Mercy House was even a thought in anyone’s mind. She didn’t know what God was calling her to but she said she told God “yes” before she knew what it was.

So many of us get this backwards, including me. We want the plan, the name, the vision, the dream—all of it—before we weigh the risks and decide to say yes.

I think we need to say yes and THEN God will show up.

Be The One

If you ask Maureen, she traces back her rescue to one person that chose to sponsor her through Compassion. One. It only takes one person stepping out and making a difference in someone’s life and you can impact an untold number of others. Be that one.

If you need an idea, support a child through Compassion.

When the speaking was over, I was able to talk with Maureen. She immediately recognized my necklace as a Mercy House Shop necklace and wanted a picture to take back to show the girls someone wearing it.

Even in that, I was reminded that this is the real deal. It’s not the latest Internet fad to support. There are real girls with real babies that are really being rescued. And they need our support.

If you can support Mercy House, please do so. You can become a monthly supporter for just $3 a month or support them through their shop. 100% of the funds go to the girls making the products.

Maureen prayed Saturday to be a vessel of honor and her prayers were surely answered. Thank you, Maureen.

3 Ways to Have a Stellar Day

January 22, 2013 by Amy 5 Comments

Days like yesterday don’t happen often in the dead-center of winter, but yesterday? Was stellar.

And the best part is I think you could have one too.

Take a Risk

For several months, perhaps years, I’ve been reading and listening to training on this whole blogging business. Every single one recommended guest blogging.

I knew it was the way to go but Inadequate told me I wasn’t good enough–I didn’t deserve to be published elsewhere. It was a risk to me to send in the guest post to MoneySavingMom.com that published yesterday. But the risk paid off.

And I can’t tell you what a good day that made. Risks don’t always pay off but when they do? Stellar.

Where do you need to take a risk? A conversation? Application? Do it! It will make for a stellar day!

Be Creative

Yesterday morning the girls and I decided to make some homemade play-doh. I did the making and yes, even the playing.

What is it about homemade things that provide so much satisfaction? Perhaps because God is quite creative and he put that inside us too. When we tap into that, it feels right and good and dare I say, sometimes stellar.

Get Active

Scott and I don’t get many days off together so yesterday when we were, I was determined to do something as a family.

We landed on laser tag and bowling. And let me say, running through the dark with fake guns with your 10 year old, chasing down your husband and 8 year old? Makes for a stellar day.

How can you get active? Maybe you need to sign up for that 5K or pick up your dusty tennis racket.

And as a bonus tip, order a StitchFix and perhaps they’ll tell you they shipped it on the same day as your other stellar-ness is happening, making your stellar day downright giggly.

What makes your days stellar?