Husbands :)

I love my husband! I love him! My heart and soul seems to burst when I think of him. He is my BEST friend!
Last night at MOPS we talked about husbands and their needs and the conversation could have lasted for several meetings, but it was a good topic to ponder. I have really been thinking about one question that came up - "if you were a man would you want to come home to you?"
Think on that! Some nights - probably NO. I can get VERY stressed out at times and so overwhelmed that I am not pleasant to be around. I don't know if that applies to any of you, but it does apply to me. I can be pleasant as well. For me I think that we have choices as to how we are going to be. I plan to make it a goal to CHOOSE to be pleasant towards my husband. When he gets home I want him to be excited to see me! God wants our marriage to be a BLESSING in our lives not a burden. He wants us to experience JOY and to have good experiences, to work together to make our HOME a haven.
I think too often I focus my time and energy on my children and the house that my husband gets sidelined. I think that if I were to turn the tables a little and focus more on him and what he needs from me I will become a better mom and wife. I will have more peace at home. I will enjoy my life more.
I know some of you may think - she is so naive! Marriage is not all roses and champagne! No it isn't, we have are struggles and our differences - but imagine if we as wives would focus more on his positives and not so much on the negatives; how our perceptions of our husbands could change. This in turn can bring so much positive energy to our lives!
I say all of this because I am not doing so well in this department. I tend to take him for granted. I tend to overlook his needs and focus to much of my energy on other things. This is not what I want for my marriage. I want to enjoy him fully, I want to lift him up , I want him to be happy and not fearful of my "mood" when he comes home. I want more from this marriage and I will lift it up in prayer and look at my actions and improve them. Our marriage is part of the foundation of our family - God first, then marriage, kids, family, friends etc. When that gets out of order - it can really tear apart our home.
I pray that you all will think of these words and say a prayer for your husbands today. Lift him up to our Father and bless him someway today!
Love;
Amy Q

Life Update

Sorry it has been awhile since my last post - life gets carried away sometimes. I was blessed with a 3 day weekend with my mom, sister, sister-in-law, and 2 cousin-in-laws for a girls scrapbook retreat! We had SO much fun. I missed my man and kids - a little :) But, they saw how much it helped for mom to take a break - my first in exactly 2 YEARS!
My grandma made it through her hip surgery great and told me she felt better than she has in over 2 years! (PRAISE GOD) My little man had his check-up and it was OK - he has lost some weight - 3 lbs to be exact in 3 months - Dr. is a little concerned because he was small to begin with. I am adding a little more protein in his diet and I will just watch him. We go back in a month for a follow-up. If he has lost more weight we will have some tests done. I am a little perplexed because little man is my BIGGEST eater! I would even put him up against my big man (14)! So we will see how it goes. My momma instinct says he is fine - just needs a diet change.
My big man turned 14 on Wednesday!!! Me and my man are so stunned at this! It just hit us like a ton of bricks! He has turned into a fine young man and is doing very well. It seems like yesterday that he was 7 at our wedding and I placed my vows to him to be there for him and love him unconditionally until the day I die. (In case you don't know he is my man's son from another marriage) I am his mom in every way and he treats me as such! I love him with ALL of my soul! I enjoy him and love watching him grow in the Lord and make decisions about his life. He is a JOY!
So there you have it. I am back off of my time off refreshed and renewed! Too bad my man is going to Lubbock for 4 days tomorrow :(
Love;
Amy Q

Pray for America

Pray for rulers and for all who have authority so that we can have quiet and peaceful lives full of worship and respect for God.
1 Timothy 2:2

Max Lucado has a Pray for President-Elect Obama button on his web-site www.maxlucado.com. I encourage all of you to read the prayer guide and continue to pray for America and our elected officials.

This is a nice little guide to help us all stand behind our country - at least in prayer.

Have a blessed day!
Amy Quinn

Being Fearless

But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. Psalms 55:16-17


Fear is such a hard thing for moms I think. It works alongside worry. Those kinda go hand in hand. I have struggled with the two all of my life I think, but since being married and having children it has grown into a burden really. I get consumed with finances, children, health, work, my spirituality, my husband, my marriage, my home, my extended family and on and on and on. It is a constant battle to just let it go and give it to God. last night I was up late - trying to work on my "home" and it happened. Right there in my living room as I was picking up the toys scattered from the evening I knelt down and wept. I did no cry, I wept. My whole body was shaking and I could feel my heart purging all that was bottled up inside. And then I heard it - "tell me your heart" I went to the couch and prayed. I confessed all of those fears to my Father. I went to my bible and just opened it up and Psalms 55 was there. I read it over and 16-17 stuck out.
I call out and he hears my voice! I slept better last night than I have in weeks. I feel better this morning. I prayed again this morning for God to help me overcome this battle. Help me to be fearless. God is my hope! I appreciate the comments from before.
My prayer for you today is that you will open your hearts to God and let him take over the fears and worries of your life. The we will do this everyday so that we can enjoy the Peace the HE provides. Have a blessed day!
Love;
Amy Q

I need You

I need anyone out here in web-world to pray for my weariness. I am so very tired and I am seeking hope. Please pray that my heart will settle down and that all of these emotions I am feeling will calm down. I am really lost right now. The last few days have compounded and I feel like I could just shrink up and cry for days. I know that this is one of those trials and I should seek the joy - but I just don't think I can do it. Any encouragment would be welcomed.

Amy Q

Family Trials

So, I am going to combine my devotional and my update into one.
We are all surviving I guess you could say. We had a MAJOR set-back with the city for our re-model. This has caused ALOT of friction around the house. I cannot do my laundry until the plumbing is re-done!! So the pile pile up and then I have to take them to the laundry mat all at once. This means that mommy is gone for a few hours. Not to mention how hard it is to do it all. My husband is trying to be positive, but that is not one of his better traits. On top of that my littlest has RSV. He cannot sleep laying down, so we have to hold him in the recliner all night. He has the coughing fits and that wakes him up several times a night. So mommy and daddy are TIRED and grouchy. AND then there is work. I told y'all before that my boss passed away. Well my work load has tripled! I have a huge mountain ahead and I am making it one step at a time. So, my sisters I ask that you pray for my strength to get through this time. We are all tired of the house being torn apart and the kids are ready for the work to be done so we can have a "normal" home again.

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
I Thessalonians 4:11&12 (NIV)
It is so hard to be quiet sometimes! This verse jumped out at me. Especially during this LOUD time in my life. I am amazed at how many times this has happened to me. God wants us to only depend on Him - not others. I need to make it my "ambition to lead a quiet life" I want to shout - HOW God?? But I know the answer already - trust in Him to lead us the right way. What we are going through right now is not easy - but it could always be worse! God is right here with us. He will hold me up and make me stronger for this. (my dear neighbor said to me - "hey you said you needed some time to yourself and look you got it - 2 1/2 -3 hours at the laundry mat!) I had to laugh - but she was right. I have been able to work on my quotes and sales stuff, read my bible, pray, and get ALL of my laundry done at once - for a price! ( it is not frugel to go to the laundry mat!)
I hope this verse speaks to your hears and help you to be quiet for God. Only depend on Him. I pray for all of you to be touched by His love.
Love;
Amy Q

My Shield

But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head. Psalm 3:3

Have any of you watched the news lately?? I live around Dallas, TX and we have had a lot of HORRIBLE crimes and deaths in our communities. It gets so depressing to watch - which is why I try not to. Top off that with all of the crisis's we are having it is hard not to be worried or scared or fearful. Not to mention doubtful. I tend to worry as most moms do. Then I came across this verse. "You, O Lord are a shield about me" what a blessing! We have a shield of protection around us. This doesn't mean that trials won't happen - but it is reassurance that God is with us to walk us through those trials. The verse also says that God is the "One who lifts my head" To me this means that when we are down or not looking to Him, HE will lift us up and let us see His Glory!
I hope that this verse brings you peace during these rocky times. I pray that all of you will hold onto your "shield" and look UP!
Love;
Amy Q

Purpose

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)

What is God calling me to do? What is HIS purpose for me? As I read this verse those questions came up. This is the time of year that I love. It is clean and new and I set my goals. My challenge today is to write the goals down and look deeply at them. Is this what God wants for me? I will pray over them and look at them on a regular basis instead of forgetting about them. I will focus on that purpose and try to listen to HIM direct my heart.
This verse is a powerful message that God does work for the GOOD of those who LOVE HIM. And I love Him! But, what works am I doing for the good of HIM?

I pray that all of you have a clean renewed heart and will have a blessed year.

Love;
Amy Q

New Beginnings

“Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord.”
Lamentations 2:19a (NKJV)
I am reading an older book by Max Lucado called Come Thirsty. This verse was in my morning devotion and I thought - wow! How often do we pour out our hearts to God? I pray many prayers and as I have said before they seem to involve others instead of MY hearts desires, hurts, needs, etc.
Yesterday was a hectic day and I was working in the kitchen preparing a meal for my in-laws. My daughter (4) was right at my heals telling me all of her wants. It was driving me nuts! She finally pulled on my shirt and said "Mommy PLEASE listen to me!" I said "what is it that you want??" She said "I am sorry for whining so much, I just need a hug mommy." I then was washed with guilt. I knelt down and hugged her tight and said I was sorry for not listening to her and that I loved her. She scurried off and was busy playing and I finished dinner up.
Last night I thought of that experience. I am so thankful that I have a Father who is never to busy and ALWAYS listens and is ready with His hugs of Peace and Comfort. He will listen to my heart at all times - whining, crying, angry, sad, hurt, happy, joyous, thankful, and many more needs.
I encourage us all to POUR out your heart to God and accept His hugs.

Love;
Amy Q