by Amy | Feb 12, 2013 | Blog, The Art of Living
I’m back home in Minot now. I’ll be totally honest with you. My trip was very trying. I got some news that blindsided me. I was at a conference that was spiritually challenging. I know I’ve grown because of it…but all that spiritual growth can leave a girl exhausted.
So I was completely thrilled to be home. Completely thrilled to see Derek.
He knew I’d had a hard time of it while I was gone. Now, a good husband would have flowers for his tired, bent-out-of-shape wife. A great husband knows his wife. A great husband knows what lifts his girl’s spirit.
Derek is a great husband.
When we got home I flipped on the dining room light to find something much better than flowers. Sitting in the middle of the table {where a vase of flowers would normally go} was a bright red box of Girl Scout Cookies. I turned around, beaming. Then Derek said:
“I thought you’d like that better than flowers.”
He was so right. Which leads me to my title question: Who’s Your Valentine?
Valentine’s Day is two days away. You don’t need to plan anything extravagant or spend a bunch of money to have a meaningful holiday. The key is knowing who your Valentine is. Know them. Really know them. I know you do. This isn’t a day about flowers and candy and cards. It’s about love. It’s about remembering why you love. Whether that’s your BFF, your boyfriend, spouse, kids, whatever. Remember why you love them. Show them you notice the little things that make them tick…and make them unique.
Isolate something they adore and bring it center stage. For me…it’s cookies {anything sweet, really}. For others it’s flowers. For others it’s board games, or athletics, or great food, or wine. The point is…know your Valentine. And on Thursday, make a gesture that shows off your very own quirky love.
by Amy | Feb 8, 2013 | Blog
So here’s the thing. As I said yesterday, I’m in Shreveport right now. I tend to forget a thing or two when I travel, but usually that’s okay because whoever I’m visiting can usually hook me up. Well, on this trip I forgot my computer charger.
I love Apple. I love my MacBook Pro. What I don’t love is the fact that my spiffy new retina display computer has a different charger than any other MacBook out there.
Long story short…My laptop is dead. Now, that wouldn’t bee too crazy a crisis if I was a responsible blogger. However, if you read regularly, you know I’m not really that responsible. Or very hard core…so I don’t write my posts in advance. I pretty much roll day by day. Each evening I write to you. One of my goals this year is to get on a blogging schedule, but that just hasn’t happened yet.
What I’m saying is I’m going MIA. Okay, I won’t really be missing. I’ll be in Dallas, TX at a women’s outreach training conference. {Pinky swear, I’ll fill you in on that when I’m back in Minot next week.} While I’m there I won’t have the convenience of a borrowed computer, so I’ll just be going sans blogging. I will be updating the Facebook page. So check over there…you know how I get when I meet new people and interact with strangers.
One word: Awkward. One more word: Embarrassing.
That’s usually how encounters with new friends go. Seriously, think back to when we met. That’s what I’m talking about.
I’ll miss you dearly. I’m stoked to sit down and write to you all the amazing things that God is doing.
Until I come back here are some things to keep you busy. {#5, Cake Wrecks…figure out what that means, I dare you.}
1. Watch the Invisible Driver Prank if you haven’t already.
2. Watch some “Bad Lip Reading” videos. I recommend Twilight, Hunger Games and NFL.
3. Play Candy Crush Saga. So addictive. So awesome.
4. Get lost over at Copy Cat Crafts.
5. Crack up at professional cakes gone wrong at Cake Wrecks.
I’ll be back Sunday. See you then.
Amy
by Amy | Feb 6, 2013 | Blog, The Art of Adventure
Yesterday I took a trip. It’s been planned since Christmas, no whims here. But boy does it feel good to be down in Shreveport, LA! Let me tell you all something. Practically Canada is cold! It sneaked up on me gradually, so I guess I didn’t notice just how cold it is up there this time of year. Then I got off a plan in S’Port on February 5 and stepped into 68 degree sunshine. Holy cow, it felt nice.
The last thing Derek and I did before I left town {early Tuesday morning} was attend our weekly curling night. It’s been a while since I told you about our introduction to curling…the great north sport. So I thought I’d take a little time to fill you in on what’s happening.
Curling is so fun. We absolutely love it. Derek and I are now official members of the Minot curling club. We play each week with a father and son duo who are pretty much curling masters. They’ve both played competitively, and Kyson {a senior in high school} has been to junior nationals and competed on the Junior Olympic team. Pretty legit, right?
Here are the things I’ve learned about curling in the last two months of playing:
1. The place where curling takes place is called a “Curling House.” Not a rink. {That was a weird moment.}
2. There are four people on each team. Team members throw two rocks each, the rocks closet to the center of a bullseye {called the House} score points.
3. A curling game consists of six “ends.” An end is each player throwing their rocks.
4. Before a game starts players shake hands and wish each other luck. Players may simply say “Curling,” to one another. Which is short for saying, “Good curling.” That was really confusing at first too.
5. The curling house is cold. A crisp 25 degrees on the ice.
6. The Minot club has a lodge-like clubhouse on the second floor. It’s cozy up there. There are some tables…and coolers of beer. Fridges of beer. Beer on tap. And beer in another cooler. Oh…and a few sodas on tap too. But I’ve quickly learned that curling and beer go hand in hand. We played in a tournament last weekend. When we arrived at 9:30 to begin most of the other players had already settled in to breakfast {doughnuts and beer.} Another player explained the allure of curlers to beer to me this way: “You’ve got to take advantage. It’s the only sport will keep a beer ice cold while you play.”
7. Maybe this last item is the most important thing I’ve learned about curling. Do NOT sit on the toilet in the curling house. Like I said, there is a lodge upstairs. It’s fully heated and there is a bathroom there. On Monday I used the bathroom on the unheated main floor. Let me ask you this. Have you ever sat on a block of ice with your drawers down? Because that’s about what it felt like. Lesson learned. Won’t happen again.
Welcome to my world. The land of icy toilets and refrigerator sports.
I’m glad to be in the south again. But to be honest the weather has nothing to do with it. I’m here with my bestie and that the most important thing. {Seeing blooming flowers is a nice bonus though!}
Amy
by Amy | Feb 4, 2013 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
Last Sunday I had the fun privilege of photographing maternity portraits for a dear friend of mine…who just so happens to be the cutest little pregnant gal I’ve ever known. Remember when you were a kid and you put a ball or a balloon under your shirt and pretended to be pregnant? Yeah, she pretty much looks like that. Just so precious. Without further ado, please say hello to Tiffany, Kyle and Wiley.
Since the weather warmed up to positive 20 degrees {F} we even took a few shots outside.
I told Tiffany to bring along anything she wanted featured in the photos with her. To my wonderful surprise she and Kyle showed up with Wiley in tow. He is so cute and spunky. Adding him to the mix in these portrait was so fun. I’m pretty sure I laughed until I cried at some of his antics. Oh, and let me be clear…I didn’t tell the dog to get on Kyle’s shoulders. They told me that’s just where he likes to sit. What a ham!
Thanks guys! I had a great time. Can’t wait to meet that sweet baby girl!
Amy
PS–Love this session? Check out the full gallery at the Amy Allender facebook page. And while you’re there…you should like it, so you don’t miss a thing!
by Amy | Feb 2, 2013 | Blog, Prayer, The Art of Faith
We think of prayer as a safe place. Am I right? I know I am. It’s tranquil, peaceful, reflective. Prayer makes us feel like we are actively doing something when the world give us situations that are straight up out of control. And we are. Prayer makes a difference. I’ve never been more serious about anything than I am about prayer. It’s so legit.
Think about it. Prayer allows us to speak our thoughts and concerns, joys and praises to the One who created everything we’ve ever known. Or will ever know in our lifetime or eternity. Pretty crazy thought. He created the universe…which we have yet to find an end to…yet He allows us to speak to Him. There are mortals who have accomplished much less that wouldn’t let me chat their ear off about my anxious heart. It just blows my mind.
But if you read the title of today’s post you may be wondering what I mean by “dangerous prayers.” Isn’t prayer a safe haven? When we are filled with the Holy Spirit and in contact with our Savior what can be dangerous? Please let me elaborate. The danger of prayer is that it is, without a doubt, real. God hears the prayers of His followers and He answers.
And that my lovelies is the danger. He. Will. Answer. Dangerous prayer are the prayers that change your life. They require you to do something, to commit, to be active, to work.
When we go to God in earnest, sincerely seeking Him, seeking His will, He is more than willing to answer us loud and clear. Not to say that the answer will always come in bolts of lightning and messages in the stars…but when we seek Him out {without clouding our hearts with our own agendas} we will get answers.
Which leads me to dangerous prayers. Are you really ready to hear what the Almighty has to say? There are many dangerous prayers we can pray. Maybe someday I’ll write about them again. However, for tonight, I’ll focus on one. Maybe the most dangerous prayer of all:
God, I’m here. I want to do your work. Can you use me? How can I use my life to bring you the most glory possible?
A prayer like this is only dangerous if you mean it. If you really are willing. If you really are ready.
The danger is the answer. Are you ready to accept the answer? The answer could be anything. Literally anything. God has used His people in some wild ways. They’ve gone far from home. They’ve died. They’ve run in to trouble. They have lived in poverty. They have sacrificed comfort.
Again, I tell you prayer is real. And God knows when you are serious. A dangerous prayer like that could change your life. It will change your life.
About two years ago I discovered the meaning of life in its most simplistic form. Although I’ve been a follower of Christ for more than 10 years it wasn’t until then that I really got it. The meaning of life is this: using our existence to glorify God. Giving our lives fully to Him to accomplish His purposes. Simple as that. Difficult as that. For us humans this is a difficult way to live. Accepting that our lives are not created for our own happiness is confusing. It is so tempting to be comfortable and make a beautiful life here for 9o years or so.
But I’ve got a secret…our souls are created to be never ending. When our 90 years is up we’ve still got an eternity to live through…in comparison our time on Earth–in these bodies, with these things around us –will seem like the blink of the eye.
Dangerous prayers are scary. We have no idea what will come of them. But they are vital. When we pray a dangerous prayer we accept the meaning of life, the meaning of our existence. We accept that we owe our lives to the one who gave His to save us. It’s scary, but oh-so-worth it.
God rejoices in these prayers and answers them in profound ways. He loves a child who is brave enough to earnestly pray a dangerous prayer. He loves a follower who is courageous enough to be used. He adores a follower humble enough to say, “I could never have done this. This is God’s work.” When we ask God how He can use us…He will take matters into His hands and use us to accomplish works that could never be done on our own.
That way when people see our work they will be forced to recognize that God is true, He is glorious. Others will understand that the LORD we follow is the one true God. And that’s just how He likes it.
Six months ago I prayed a dangerous prayer. God answered. He answered in a way that I never saw coming. He had something in mind. A way that my tiny life in Practically Canada could bring Him glory. The answer was scary. It took me nearly half a year to come to terms with it. But I’ve never felt better. Braver. More certain. More protected. More in love with my God, my Savior.
This is my challenge. Quiet your agenda. Set aside the hope you have for yourself. And embrace the honor of serving the God of heaven and earth. Pray boldly. Pray dangerously.
Your soul will never be safer.
Amy
PS…more on my dangerous prayer next week. And thanks to all of you who know my prayer and have been supporting me in this new adventure. I love you deeply my family in Christ.
by Amy | Jan 31, 2013 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
Last week I posted a sneak peek of Danica and Robin’s photo session. Here is the full deal. Two sweet sisters. One sugary baby–one spicy three year old. I had a blast setting my “mobile studio” up in their very own living room so Danica could be entertained while we did Robin’s photos and Robin could nap while we shot her big sis’s portraits. It worked out great.
Before I unleash the cuteness, I’ve got to thank their wonderful mother, Wyrene for being a guinea pig and letting me test my new set up in her home. She’s the best.
For even more of these cuties, be sure to go over to the Facebook page tomorrow. I’ll be posting the full session there. Oh, and you might as well click the “like” button while you are there. That way you won’t miss anything awesome.
Amy
by Amy | Jan 30, 2013 | Blog
Just to be clear, in today’s post I’m going to say things that even a year ago I never thought I would utter. Three phrases to be exact. It’s a night of firsts. Let’s dive in.
I’ll start by saying that I ran a lot of errands today. I wanted to be sure that I got them all done today because tomorrow the high is -15. {That’s the first thing I never imagined saying. High, -15? What. The. Heck.}
Which brings to to phrase number two. One of the items on my to-do list was stop at the thrift shop to look for a pair of sweat pants for Derek to wear curling. {Me, Derek, curling? Never thought I’d say that. Ever.} Not like a gross pair {my sis thinks it’s disgusting to buy athletic wear at the thrift shop} just some general cold-weather swishy pants.
I found a good warm pair. Hope he likes them.
Now, if you know me you know I can’t simply just get one thing at the resale shop without having a gander around first. So I did. And lucky me…I scored a super cute cardigan from Ann Taylor Loft. $2.50 with 25% off, yes please. I was just about to take my great deal and run when I spotted something unlike anything my eyes have ever seen before.
It was long and dark and so incredibly awkward I knew it would be worth at least $5. {Happy day…it was $2.50 as well.} I knew I couldn’t let this gem go. I’ve been kicking myself for not buying that magical Unicorn Clock. I’ll just show it to you.
Yes friends, I’ve laid my hands on the mother of all awkward sweaters. Seriously, I’m pretty sure this sweater has given birth to all other crazy corny sweaters. There are so many weird things about it…where to begin…
It’s so weirdly long. My friend Katie rightfully dubbed it a sweater gown instead of a sweater dress. {That’s my third phrase…sweater gown.}
The design is also on the back.
While we are talking design, let’s focus there. Look at those skiers! When Katie first saw it she asked if they were squirrels. I think they look like they are hovering over a toilet.
It’s made to fit someone my size. Although the length is so weird…it’s form fitting.
Maybe most troubling…it’s from ESprit brand. At one time this was a legit item by a major brand. Yikes!
The high placement of the skier design really accentuates the roll under my belly button {ladies, you know what I’m talking about.} I look like a 45 year old who has had 5 kids and no desire to get her figure back.
I have no desire to rush this year…but man I wish it was time for sweater parties. Next year not only will a wear a sweater, but I will show up proudly cloaked in an ensemble of sweater. Oh, for the love of thrifting this has been a great day. I’m sure it’s one of the last of its kind, so I’ll probably be fending off runway offers and messages from fashion editors. Tyra who? Amy’s got a sweater gown. Look out.
If any of you know a backstory of this sweater gown, I’d love to hear it. Is it a cross country ski dress? You tell me. Your guess is as good as mine. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever seen at the resale shop?
See you tomorrow,
Amy
by Amy | Jan 29, 2013 | Blog, The Art of the Kitchen
I live by the theory that if we only had good days we’d never really appreciate them…because we wouldn’t know the difference. So every once in a while it’s okay to embrace a day of complete chaos where nothing turns out as it should. Then we can really understand the value of a good day.
Okay, with that said, I bet you can guess what kind of tale you’ll see here tonight. That’s right. Another awkward, silly, can’t-believe-that-just-happened story of my life. Like I told you last week when I shared my jeans and biscuits and gravy tales {didn’t read them?…you need to} when something embarrassing happens my first thought is anger/never-tell-anyone. Then I cool off and realize just how entertaining it was. To be sure that this was worth relaying to you I tested it out on my classes today at the gym. Their reaction assured me that you too will enjoy this nugget of crazy.
It all happened on Saturday. The spouses from Derek’s squadron were getting together for our monthly social at a paint your own pottery place downtown. {Margies. If you live in Minot, you really need to go.} Everyone was asked to bring a dessert or appetizer to share. I volunteered on the dessert side {greedily thinking I’d be able to binge on the leftovers with a white russian late at night.}
I found an awesome recipe for snicker-doodle blondies. {The recipe is pinned to my get-togethers board.} So I whipped them up put them in the pan and into the oven. Obviously I licked the bowl. Boy was that batter a delight.
While the blondies were baking I decided I’d turn the kettle on and have a cup of tea while watching some Dateline online. No big deal. I should also mention in here that we have an electric range. I prefer gas. Why, you ask…one primary reason: You can immediately tell what burner you’ve switched on. Yes, my friends…I’m foreshadowing.
I got so into the Dateline mystery that I didn’t even think about my tea. That show is good. Am I right? The timer went off and the blondies were done. I pulled them out. They were truly a vision of perfection. I sat the pan {a glass 9×13 pyrex} across the burners on the stove to cool. I went back to the couch. A few minutes later I remembered the kettle and wondered why it hadn’t gone off. About this same moment, Derek asked if I smelled smoke.
Yes…yes I did.
Into the kitchen we ran to see the blondies smoking. I grabbed a towel and lifted it above my head. Sure enough, I flipped on the wrong burner. The kettle was stone cold, and I had sat my pan on a very hot burner. Through the glass on the bottom of the pan I could see a perfect circle of black, burnt blondies. Woof.
To get the smoke out I took the pan outside and set it on the deck. Once the kitchen was clear I brought the pan back in. You think the story’s over? Not even close.
As the glass cooled further something awful happened: the pan exploded. Glass and sugary delight went everywhere. Pan ruined, dessert ruined even more.
Being quick on my feet I pulled a carton of strawberries out of the fridge and chocolate chips from the cupboard. I was taking a dessert, darn it. I put the chips in a small bowl and put them in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. Well, the bowl got too hot on the last 30 and the chocolate burned into gross clumpy ball.
It’s now 10 minutes until I need to leave. I’ve given up on dessert. When my friend Allison arrived to pick me up she stepped inside and said, “Uh, did something burn?” She’s too sweet…she should have said, “What the heck, it smells like burnt hair and black marshmallows in here.” Not to even touch on the fact that the whole house was still very cloudy and hazy from the disasters that had just occurred.
Pottery painting was fun. And there was so much food my single dessert wasn’t missed and I didn’t offer up an explanation for why I showed up empty handed. {I was still in the never-tell phase.}
I got home and decided to make potato soup for dinner. {Yes, the madness continues.} Everything in the house smelled like burnt sugar; my hair, my clothes, the couch cushions. Yuck. But we must persevere. So I peeled potatoes. No big deal. I’m sure even a well trained monkey can do that…let alone a college educated 26 year old wife. I picked up my last potato. Peel, peel, peel, rip.
I caught the peeler on my middle fingernail and ripped it. Not like, “Oh I broke a nail.” I’m taking seriously ripped. Blood gushing. Nail torn 1/3 of the way to the nail bed and half way across. That was it. Cooking fail number three in less than twelve hours. I couldn’t even believe it.
The story has a happy ending though. The potato soup {minus one bloody potato} was delightful. The blood finally stopped. We had friends over to play euchre and Derek and I won. Then we played rummy and I cleaned up on that too.
Not that this story will change your life, but as always when I share these moments from my life I hope they bring you a little smile and some laughter. The value of days like this is priceless because it really does teach us to cherish our “average” days.
Amy
PS…Are you guys watching Downton Abby? I couldn’t even believe last night’s episode!! Yikes!
