Archives for July 2013

What I Wore Wednesday – 7.24.2013

July 31, 2013 by Amy Leave a Comment

It’s Wednesday when I share my outfits from the week.

I pair my outfits with inspirational photos. Read more about that here.

Email and RSS readers need to click over to the site to see the inspirational photos.

If you read my post Friday, you’ll see last week was a tough one. I didn’t have time to take too many pictures and one day, I just never got around to taking a shower. Just one of those days I’m thankful I work from home most days.

Most weeks, I highlight my every day casual style but I thought I’d show you the highs and lows of this week too. From lounge wear with a top knot, a dress for night out to dinner with friends and another style I rarely photograph—a business casual work outfit.

Clearly I wasn’t inspired by any colors in this outfit, but not everything in nature is colorful and happy either. This storm picture seemed appropriate, somewhat in color but mostly in subject.

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Linked with:

The Pleated Poppy’s What I Wore Wednesday

Sunday Style at Plane Pretty

What we Wore at Suburbs Mama

What I Needed When I Needed It

July 29, 2013 by Amy 1 Comment

One of my pastors always said God gives what you need when you need it.

I believe it.

Last week was hard and this week probably won’t be any easier. But this weekend was a pocket of rest in between where God gave me what I needed. It all came in the form of others, as he so often does.

While the weekend provided lots of rest—I really did take a Sunday nap—and fun moments there were 3 times where I felt like God was really providing what I needed.

On Organized Playroom

The first will likely sound like the least spiritual provision to anyone ever, but my mom spent hours upon hours Friday and Saturday helping to reorganize the kids’ playroom. You other moms will recognize this as the Godsend that it is.

I have spent hours through the years (here’s one iteration) doing the same—Barbies here, Polly Pocket here and American girl there—only to have them completely destroy it over and over. In fact, when it’s the most organized is when it’s the destroyed the fastest. The whole thing makes you want to bang your head on the wall incessantly.

The past few years I’d kind of given up on the whole deal. Everything got picked up off the floor and thrown in bucket and good luck, kids!

We’d gotten to the point where we’d just close the door. Each time I walked by, it mocked me reminding me what a failure I was and how entirely spoiled the kids were can’t you just get it together.

My organization loving mom wanted a good challenge apparently because she volunteered to come and give it another heave-ho.

I got really nervous for her when she kept dumping entire boxes on their end and Barbie shoes and chards of used crayon went flying everywhere.

By day two, Mom was laughing at the disaster but only because the only alternative was to cry.

It was bad.

She pressed on though and while there is still organization of each “station” to be done, there are in fact, stations in the playroom now—American Girl, Barbie, medical lab, houses, parking garage and crafts.

The kids are ooh-ing and ahh-ing at toys they haven’t seen in years. I haven’t seen them play this much with their toys in quite some time. With Emma 11 this November I know time is running short on their use and before we know it we’ll be transforming this room once again.

Needless to say, getting something DONE is just what I needed after a terribly hard and somewhat unproductive week. Thank you, Mom.

A Hug from a Friend

Lysa TerKeurst’s conference SheSpeaks happened over the last few days here in the Charlotte area and I happened to see a tweet from Holley Gerth last week asking who was going to be around. Although I would LOVE to go to SheSpeaks, I just haven’t been able to make it all work so I wasn’t attending. However, since it’s only 30 minutes away I immediately tweeted Holley back about crashing the hotel and meeting up with her.

You might remember, I spent some time with Holley in a few sessions this past spring so I was really looking forward to saying thanks in person.

I ended up heading up there Saturday morning and listening in to Holley’s session on God-sized dreams. It was just the encouragement I needed to hear.

One takeaway I thought I’d share was that Holley defines success not by a number or published book but by simple obedience. If we do what God calls us to do then we have succeeded, no matter the outcome. Guess how much I needed that simple reminder after last week?

Plus, it turns out Mandisa was at the conference too and I sat right behind her and then was able to snag a picture.

You know I love a good run-in with a celebrity.

A Well-Timed Word

And finally, this last one comes with unfortunate news. While I was meeting Holley Saturday morning, one of the pillars of our church suffered a heart attack after his morning run and died. It was terrible news to receive on Saturday afternoon.

Our pastor scrapped his sermon for Sunday and taught on suffering. I know that family is suffering way more than I ever have, but I love how God can use his word to comfort many of us in our myriad of circumstances all at the same time.

He reminded us that God uses our hardships to draw us closer to him, not to push us away.

So it’s with all that, that I come into another tough week with a renewed spirit and reminder that God is good, he loves me and I can make it through.

I hope your weekend provided the rest you needed and I know God will give you what you need when you need it.

Five Minute Friday: Broken

July 26, 2013 by Amy 9 Comments

Work is just that–work–and it’s to be expected. But this week, the whole summer even, has provided one of the most challenging of my career. Between a high visibility, high pressure project and managing an intern–or any person–for the first time, my brain has been in overdrive leaving little for any creative, thoughtful adventures.

The girls’ sitter is on vacation and instead of finding backup, I decided to have them home with me while Scott worked. Cue the boredom and consequential fighting.

And how about we had Emma’s new expander mid-week which is causing more difficulty in eating and just being. Yes, a child in pain is just what this week needed.

Finishing projects from the water leak remodels have been all but stopped but hang heavy on my to-do list.

And how about we throw in some sleepless nights with a few night terrors from a child and all night play sessions by a certain puppy.

I don’t mean to complain. It’s all just life and all blessings but I do feel a bit broken this week. I know enough to know I’m not alone. This summer has thrown many of us curve balls and tight schedules, leaving us all a bit broken inside.

This too shall pass, I remind myself.

There’s nothing to be done but leaving the to-do lists and taking extra naps and giving extra hugs and letting in help. Broken, yes, but left stronger.

What I Wore Wednesday 07.24.2013

July 24, 2013 by Amy 4 Comments

It’s Wednesday when I share my outfits from the week.

I pair my outfits with inspirational photos. Read more about that here.

Email and RSS readers need to click over to the site to see the inspirational photos.

Let’s connect! Like AmyJBennett.com on Facebook. Follow me on Pinterest,Instagram or Twitter.

Linked with:

The Pleated Poppy’s What I Wore Wednesday

Sunday Style at Plane Pretty

What we Wore at Suburbs Mama

When I Doubt

July 22, 2013 by Amy 4 Comments

Every so often, I doubt my faith.

I was raised in a Christian home in the Bible belt and have spent most of my life following Jesus. By 10, my journals would show I was concerned for the eternal fate of my friends. I never experienced a rebellious streak where I turned from my faith. For those that get to know me, it doesn’t take long to put me in the “Christian conservative” box.

But sometimes, I ask myself Is all this Jesus stuff real?

I’m a logical, well-educated person. I’ve worked in the corporate world for 15 years, connecting with people from all over the world with many different faiths. I’m Internet savvy. I’m not small-minded or close-minded.

So if I’m going to be all in all the time, of course I have taken a step or two back and considered whether it’s all malarkey or not.

I thought I’d share my thoughts when I doubt.

I’ll warn you I’m not the one that studied religion in college. I never left the church and tried life without faith. I don’t read a ton of theological blogs or books.

Certainly these steps do not encompass all the facets of my faith. These steps are meant to give a high-level view of my thought-process when I work myself out of doubt.

Remember Nature

When my doubt is the worst, I not only doubt Jesus as God’s son but God himself.

But all it takes is a quick walk outside, a reminder of the ocean, a few pictures and facts about the solar system or some thoughts about how the human body functions and I’m back on track.

There’s just absolutely no way that this world and the people in it are by accident. Nature sings of a creator.

Remember Jesus Lived

Since I’m so entrenched in Christian culture, at times I look around and go wait a minute, this isn’t a fairytale or just a story. Jesus is a historical figure. He actually lived. Forget the Bible, there’s enough evidence he walked the earth.

But, a lot of people also walked the earth and I’m not following their religion. What’s the difference? Let’s move on to the next few points to see. The point here is you can’t ignore the fact that Jesus lived.

Remember the Prophecies

What always blows me away when I think of it, are the hundreds of prophecies that foretold Jesus’ arrival, death and resurrection.

Sure, this takes some faith in the Old Testament but Jesus himself predicted his own death. I don’t spend much time here because it doesn’t take much convincing for me to know it’s true. Many different people, hundreds of years apart all predicted many different aspects about Jesus’ lineage, life and death and then Jesus fulfilled all of them. It’s truly amazing to me.

Remember Jesus

Beyond all that, I remember who Jesus was and who he said he was.

In fact, you could forget everything before this and just sit here in your thoughts.

Jesus healed the sick, loved those in the margins, spoke truth to the legalistic Pharisees, walked on water, turned water into wine, said he loved all of us and said he was going to die for us and then he did.

As I’ve heard many times: when faced with Jesus, you only get to decide three conclusions: he’s either liar, lunatic or Lord. You can not. CAN. NOT. read about the life of Jesus and just decide he was a good person.

Either he was another liar pretending to be a Savior or a blasphemous lunatic as the Pharisees claimed, either of which makes him NOT a good person. Or, he really is who he said he was–the Son of God.

Remember Our Relationship

Throw out nature, historical books and the Bible, all I need to do is remember my personal experiences to remember that my faith is authentic.

I’ve had too many personal experiences with a holy God to believe he’s anything other than real.

I’ve been moved physical, spiritually and emotionally by some mysterious force that no one can explain, and no one should. There’s more to life than what you can see and touch. I’ve experienced it, can name it and for those, I give my life to this Jesus.

And that’s when I find myself back to my faith. I make the decision over and over again that He’s Lord.

I don’t write this to start a debate but perhaps encourage another believer in their doubt or maybe encourage someone in their utter unbelief.

I am curious though, what helps you believe? What’s hard for you to believe?

In Which She Turns 35

July 18, 2013 by Amy 10 Comments

When I turned 30, I took 10 days here to talk about each year from my 20’s. If you want to recount my college-graduating, marrying, having-baby days, they’re quick reads. Just remember they’re written from the 5-years-ago Amy at 29.

20th year / 21st-year / 22nd-year / 23rd-year / 24th-year / 25th-year / 26th-year / 27th-year / 28th-year / 29th-year

If you remember the original posts, you get 1000 extra bloggy points today! Thanks for traveling this road with me.

I wanted to pull out a section from that last post where I document wishes for the decade I’m exactly halfway through today (Yes, I’m 35 today!).

In the next ten years, I hope to be a better Amy, closer to God than ever before, raise two precious little girls as best I can and make the most of every single opportunity I have. Try not to be so busy I miss out on precious time I have with my family and yet seize fun opportunities as they come along.

I’m 5 years in and I can see I have changed. The 30’s have been teaching me who I really am.

I’ve shed a lot of my insecurities, settled into “the middle”, captured my role as a homemaker and have been gripped more than ever with love for Jesus.

At 40, there won’t be a list of long life-changing events like there were in the 20’s but the changes internally in the 30’s have been astounding.

I ran into these verses and they couldn’t be more appropriate for today:

Psalm 39.
4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.”

My life is just a moment, but a moment nonetheless and I’m celebrating at this milestone all that God is doing.

Thank you for being a part of that. Esther’s words ring in my ear, for such a time as this. How fun that we get to share our lives across these wires, unlike any other generation ever? YOU are my gift today.

What I Wore Wednesday 7.17.2013

July 17, 2013 by Amy 7 Comments

It’s Wednesday when I share my outfits from the week.

I pair my outfits with inspirational photos. Read more about that here.

Email and RSS readers need to click over to the site to see the inspirational photos.

I’m still in my shirt-shorts-sandals uniform this week. We have been getting so much rain I can’t convince myself to get in one of my dresses or skirts. The last two days have been nice though so maybe this week?

This outfit makes me excited just because I only spent $12 on both the shirt and shorts at Old Navy thanks to sales and rewards. And I’m proud of myself for buying a colorful print, even if it is geometric.

My computer ATE my pictures from this day and this is the only one it saved. Not the most flattering, but I just had to show you I wore my latest Stitch Fix shirt!

I wanted to dress it up more but I think I was home most of the day and just couldn’t get myself to do much more than the bracelet I have on.

I’m most excited about the earrings in this outfit because I thought the kids had lost one of them but we found them amongst all the room clutter. I wear these all the time and was happy to have them back.

My first attempt at pattern mixing. I know it’s really only two colors but you have to start somewhere right? I already had the shirt when I bought the shorts. The older I get the more I believe the idea if you just buy what you like, it’ll all go together. Well, not ALL but you know.

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Linked with:

The Pleated Poppy’s What I Wore Wednesday

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What we Wore at Suburbs Mama

Bedroom Updates

July 16, 2013 by Amy 8 Comments

It’s been nearly a month since I updated you on progress in the girls’ rooms post-water leak.

We left off the week before we went on vacation. It feels like an eternity.

We were trying to get the painting done so we could have the carpet replaced before we left. We ended up very last minute getting the popcorn ceiling removed (totally worth it).

However, that pushed the carpet installation until after we got back from vacation.

So, after we got back from vacation, the white board had cured, the carpet got installed and finally, we were able to start putting the room together.

Over the July 4th holiday, Scott installed the new closet system.

If you just even KNEW what this closet looked like before the water leak, you would be so impressed. The whole reason the water leak had gotten bad is because you couldn’t see it for all the clothes and stuffed animals in there.

The stuffed animals have moved to Lexi’s room and we really cleared out Emma’s clothes.

Tip: paint your closet walls. My mom insists it makes the biggest difference and it really does. It makes the room feel bigger and the closet more “done”. I really regret not painting our master closet.

Emma doesn’t need it all this closet storage now but it will be great for her as she grows and I think will be great for resale value.

Once we got the closet settled, we put the bed and dresser in.

The last big piece was something to hold all her school stuff.

She’s currently obsessed with all things teacher-related. She has notebooks and binders and papers and pens and textbooks. She needed a serious storage system.

As soon as I saw these bookcases on The Pleated Poppy I just knew they were perfect for Emma’s room.

So, I bought the crates and then stained and painted them like she did but we ended up with a different configuration so we could put a top on them and use it for more steady desk space.

It’s still in-process, but this is how the room is looking now.

I’m telling you, there’s no way I could have organized the school stuff without my mom. I’m admittedly horrible at organizing and we had four big moving boxes full of stuff from their previous room that just about did me in at just the thought of unpacking.

My family was over for Scott’s birthday dinner this past Sunday and Mom stayed over to help empty every single bit of it. Left up to me, it all would have been trashed or in unorganized piles.

One thing to note in the pictures above are the bins under Emma’s bed.

The shoe system we had in the closet before was just not working. The shoes rarely made it into the closet and then it was like torture getting them to actually put the shoes on the shelving.

So, we bought two plastic bins that slide under her bed and neatly arranged the shoes in there. It’s been working beautifully for Emma to be able to throw them in and hide it under her bed.

Emma loves the white board but admits it’s hard to erase. I wish we would have done more sanding of the wall before we painted anything to give it a smoother surface. Still, it’s a ton of fun. We had a family game of hangman just the other night.

We have a lot more decorating to do. In fact, I’ve already been painting to get rid of all the black stuff in the picture above.

I’m hoping to hang a few things above the bookcase, add something cute above her bed and call it done!

Meanwhile, we’ve started the heavy-lifting changes in Lexi’s room.

Here’s the inspiration picture for Lexi’s room:

Isn’t that so cute? As you can see, it’s a big task for Scott.

He worked on it all weekend, even working on Sunday on his birthday, while I painted the walls. Isn’t he the best?

This is where it stands today:

Lexi’s main goal is to make it like a jungle—as long as there are animals involved, she’s happy (note the rabbit she added to the tree house already).

She wants to add these leaves that you get at IKEA and possibly paint some grass near the floor.

We’re working on more bookcases for her too.

Oh, and we added a reading nook in her closet including a rope ladder that I’ll have to photograph when we do another update for her room.

Whew. So. Can you tell I’ve been painting a lot? Organizing a lot? Going crazy a lot?

And did I mention our regular house cleaner has been having family issues and hasn’t come in a month?

While redecorating has been a ton of fun, this summer has felt totally off-kilter with these two makeovers thrown in unexpectedly. But make no mistake, I love the process.

I’m hoping everything will be back together before school next month and I’ll be back to update you on the progress then!