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As most of you know, Craig, Cooper and I just got back from a family reunion. We had a great time. The family members that put it together did an amazing job! Thank you so much! I won't name names because I don't want to leave anyone out, but you all did awesome and I appreciate you so much.

Being around family was really great and really trying on me. I'm very exhausted mentally from the trip. I need prayer for my anger. Thankfully I have a wonderful husband who is extremely supportive and a wonderful Aunt that I can turn to for much needed guiding words.

The drive was rough. Cooper did great most of the time. He had a couple of melt downs, but Craig and I were prepared for them. I'm actually most surprised at how well Craig and I got along during the drive. I mean, we get along really well all the time, but I expected that since we would be in such close quarters for such a long time it would be tough. I was wrong! We had a great drive and I think it only brought us closer together. We had a lot of time to talk about life. Changes we want and need to make were the biggest discussions we had. I hope that we don't let little things get in our way moving forward and we can act upon some of the changes we've discussed. I also know that we need to continue to pray about these changes and make sure that they are really and trully what God wants and not just me running away from life and trying to change it to fit what I think it should be.

Please pray for my family and I if you think of us.

Love,

~Amy

"Praise You in this Storm"

Yesterday as we were driving home from our small group I heard this song on the radio. I've heard it a million times before, but for some reason instead of singing along, I listened to the lyrics. I started tearing up. The words seemed to fit my situation so well.

The even funnier thing was that our small group study was about how God is always with us. Here are the lyrics,

"I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down

and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Chorus

I'm so thankful that He is always with me. I needed this reassurance and have a little more peace now that I've got it.

Have a blessed day!

~Amy

Nail Polish

Weird fact about me...I love painting my toe nails. I hate painting my fingernails. I always try to paint my fingernails whenever I'm paingint my toes, but I always remove it before it finishes drying. Not sure why, but I just don't ever like it.

People in the Party... HOT, HOT, HOT!!!

Being born in Michigan I sometimes miss the distinct changing of the seasons. Weatherwise these 4 things are great to experience every year in the Midwest:

1) The first snowfall of winter
2) The first really warm day in spring
3) The first day you can swim in summer
4) Any day when there are leaves changing in the fall

We don't get that progression much in Seattle. We get the following:

1) Going to work and the sun is still down and leaving from work and the sun is already down. 7 hours of daylight in December sucks!!!
2) 3 straight months of drizzle and 45-50 degrees. Monotonous.
3) From June- September where everyday is sunny, dry and 70-80 degrees. Perfect!!! The reason I love living here.
4) Football season!!!

I love this time of year in Seattle. The things I don't miss about Midwest weather are when there is 2 feet of brown dirty snow that lasts until April and when it is 100 degrees, humid and mosquitoes rule the outdoors.

In a couple of weeks, we leave for central California for a Garza family reunion and I will certainly be reminded of the brutally hot weather of my youth. I'm going to wilt like a flower in a sauna by the time we reach Sacramento on the drive down. It will be great fun, but I'll be sweating like Michael Jackson at a Chuck-E-Cheese the whole time.

Mahalo.