Amy :::

This was one of my summer projects this year....a queen size patchwork quilt for an auction coming up this fall.  I worked on this for about 7 hours total and was able to finish it in one weekend....one of my record-breaker quilts!

What projects have you done this summer? 

Psalm 100:1-3
"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the LORD, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."

Amy :)

My family and I enjoyed an awesome vacation in the Colorado mountains this summer.

Here are a few pics from our trip. 

This passage is one of my favorites....especially when traveling :)

 

Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
⁸ The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.

Amy........Summer project time!

This is a quilt that I am making for my king-size bed.  

I will plan to post another picture of the completed project, which will hopefully be very soon :)  

I am so thankful to have the space to work on it in our basement on our ping-pong table.

 
Psalm 19:14

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
    be acceptable in Your sight,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

Amy....Spring-time!

 ^"The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
    He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
The Lord helps them and delivers them;
    He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they take refuge in Him."

Psalm 37:39-40

These are all flowers from around my house...so beautiful!  I am really enjoying the spring-time....windows open, lots of rain, lovely flowers and wonderful 70-degree weather :)

Amy.......

The Lord is so kind to give us beautiful plants this spring.

These irises were a gift from a neighbor and they have many gorgeous blooms this year.  

We are enjoying them!

Psalm 74:16-17

"Yours is the day, yours also the night;
    you have established the heavenly lights and the sun.
You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth;
    you have made summer and winter."

Amy

 A personal testimony of something the Lord has been teaching me:

As a young lady, I often think that I need to make sure to build my life well.  As I have been reading through

the Psalms lately, I came upon this verse:

"Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain."  Psalm 127:1

My life is like a house that I am building little by little each day, and the final product of my life will last for eternity.  This verse shows that unless the Lord is doing the work, it is all in vain.  This encourages me to ask the Lord to be building my life in the fashion that He wants it and not try to micro-manage every detail in my own power.  I am reminded of this hymn, "On Christ, the Solid Rock, I Stand", because Jesus Christ is my stability and the only sure thing that I can put my trust and hope in.  He already knows every detail of my life and He will be with me through all things....Praise the Lord!

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Amy...another favorite website, just for fun :)

 Click here for Mr. Phillip's Blog

 Click here to visit Vision Forum's online store

God has really used Doug Phillips and his ministry to bring new vision and encouragement to my family.  

We are so grateful for their profound influence and example to so many people around the world.

 

2 Timothy 2:22

"So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart."

Amy.....Marie-Madeline

Hello Everyone,

I have enjoyed this family's blog and shopping at their online store...so many pretty things to look through!  They have some free tutorials on their blog for several different sewing projects; they are very inspiring.  I hope you all enjoy looking at their blog and store!  (My sisters and I had the opportunity to meet one of the Long ladies at a conference several years ago).

 click here for the Marie-Madeline blog

  Click here for their online store

"But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
    which shines brighter and brighter until full day."

 

Proverbs 4:18

Amy: Brown Sugar Biscuit Twists

As this week's theme is recipes, here is one of my family's favorites.  

I originally got the recipe from moneysavingmom.com.

We have made these often and really enjoy them!  

(We do like to add some cinnamon to the filling).

Brown Sugar Biscuit Twists

Biscuit dough:

• 3 cups flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 3/4 cup butter or 1/2 cup butter and 1/4 cup shortening
• 1 cup milk

Filling:

• 2 Tablespoons melted butter
• 3 Tablespoons brown sugar

Stir together dry ingredients of the biscuit dough. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add milk. Stir just until moistened.

Turn dough onto a lightly-floured surface and knead for 4 to 6 strokes. Roll dough out into a rectangle (approximately 1/4-inch thick).

Add the filling by brushing the dough with 2 Tablespoons melted butter. Sprinkle with 3 Tablespoons brown sugar.

Fold rectangle in half and cut into about 1-inch strips.

Twist strips and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

While baking, mix together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and a few teaspoons milk (enough to make the mixture of drizzling consistency). Drizzle over biscuit twists as soon as they come out of the oven.

You can freeze these fully cooked, or uncooked, or just make up the biscuit dough and freeze it to make these very simple to whip up when you’re ready to serve them!

 (Photo taken by my sister Kate :)

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!  Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"  

Psalm 34:8

Amy......seek first the kingdom of God!

Matthew 6:27-33

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 

yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

These are from our front yard...it is beginning to look more like spring around here!

Amy..........

 ^{I was reading this in my devotion time today and it was very encouraging to me.}  

^{I have heard that Psalm 119 should be called the "Delight" chapter and it is true....this my prayer to the LORD that He would be giving me this kind of heart.}  

 ^{Psalm 119:9-16}

How can a young man keep his way pure?
    By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
    let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O Lord;
    teach me your statutes!
With my lips I declare
    all the rules of your mouth.
In the way of your testimonies I delight
    as much as in all riches. 

I will meditate on your precepts
    and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes;
    I will not forget your word.

 

 This photo was taken on my birthday (& my brother Andy's 18th birthday) with all my siblings and my Aunt Mary too.  I am officially 23 now :)

Amy....piano!

"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!" Psalm 100:1

 

Piano is one musical instrument that I have learned to play and I have recently been taking lessons again, so my playing has been sounding much better! 

Our piano is a Clavinova from Yamaha and our family purchased it many years ago. 

It is an electric piano with all the benefits of a real piano such as weighted keys & accurate sound. 

It sits in our family room, right in the center of our home.  

I am so thankful to have the opportunity to learn how to use it better. 

 

 

""I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to You, O LORD, I will make music."  Psalm 101:1

Amy

In December of last year, my siblings and I made a kids' trip to Branson to stay with some friends (my brother Billy joined us for the trip but stayed with our friends while we went to Silver Dollar City).  We had such a great time at this fun theme park....it was amazing to be there during Christmas with all the lights!  

 I am so thankful to be part of our family :)

"My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you;

keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;

bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.  

Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call insight your intimate friend."

Proverbs 7:1-4

Amy :: trees in the snow

I took this photo outside of our church after our 2nd snow of 12 inches a few weeks ago.  

It was so beautiful...now it is almost all gone, but we enjoyed it while it lasted!

For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.

^{Proverbs 2:6-8}

Amy

     One of my grandmother's favorite hobbies is china painting.  She is teaching my sisters and a few cousins and I how to paint wild roses.  This is a picture of my plate that is partly finished.  (After you paint the first time, you fire it in a kiln-something like an oven that reaches over 2000 degrees farenheit.  This makes the paint stay on so it won't wash off.  After that you paint another layer, fire it again and then paint and fire it a third time too.  Quite a process for beautiful china :)

I am so thankful for my grandmother and her willingness to work patiently with us and teach us something that she loves to do!  It is so special to have time with her. 

"But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;

let them ever sing for joy,

and spread Your protection over them,

that those who love Your name may exult in You.

For You bless the righteous, O LORD;

You cover him with favor as with a shield."

Psalm 5:11-12

Amy......Snow!

Here are some snow pics from our neck of the woods.
We had a snowstorm last night that brought a new foot of snow for us on top of the
11 inches from last week!
The snow is sticking to all the trees and looks beautiful!

My brother Andy was the photographer of these as I stayed inside today :)

"Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, 

fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling His word!"

Psalm 148: 7-8

Amy

 "Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,

who walks in His ways!

You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;

you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house;

your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.

The LORD bless you from Zion!

May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem

all the days of your life!

May you see your children's children!

Peace be upon Israel!"

 Psalm 128

 This photo is from last summer during our family vacation.  

We spent some time in the Colorado mountains and we all enjoyed it!

Amy

Last year, my family & I enjoyed doing some blueberry picking at a local farm.  

We enjoyed going together and having the fresh blueberries :)  I hope we can do it again this year! 

The Lord is so kind and gracious to give us so many good things for food.

Psalm 104:14

"You cause the grass to grow for livestock and plants for men to cultivate,  

that he may bring forth food from the earth."  

Amy's Favorite Book..........

One of my favorite books (or series) is the "Elsie Dinsmore" series by Martha Finley. 

I have enjoyed reading and re-reading these books and I would recommend them to anyone.

I am so thankful to my parents for instilling in me a love of reading.  

Reading is such a wonderful gift! 

 

Here they are on top of my bookshelf:

 

Amy...............

 

My mom, sisters & I are preparing to give 2 baby showers in the next two weeks....one for a friend and one for a cousin.  This is a picture of part of one of the gifts.  I crocheted the edges of this flannel blanket.  It is very cute and soft :)

 

 

 

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

are the children of one's youth.

 

Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."

 

Psalm 127:3-5