About your Teacher....

I thought that before I got to writing blogposts about lessons I've learned, or am still learning, I would let you know I little bit about me. It isn't anything grand or magnificent, but it is me. And for the longest time, I thought I was the only person out there like me, but since then, I've learned that there are many women struggling to find their outlet, their niche. So, without further ado, here goes.

I am Amy--the 27 year old wife, to an amazing husband who just so happens to be a youth pastor/music director, and we are mostly polar opposites of each other. I grew up an only child of a broken home, and have since come to terms with the phrase "Everyone has a story." My parents separated when I was four, divorced when I was nine, and there were always weekends with one parent or another. I really enjoyed the weekends with my dad. We went fishing, to the beach, to a festival. We were always doing something fun, but when I got older, all of that stopped. While I loved my father a great deal, he would constantly berate me about my weight, or my grades, or his wife would put down my mom. Not the greatest of situations. I lived most of my high school, college, and years afterward not having contact with my dad. We don't speak to this day.

I definitely have my mother's stubbornness and personality, but it's what keeps me going. My mom had to deal with my father's abusive nature, and later had to deal with an emotionally abusive boyfriend, whom we lived with for many years. I'm proud to say she finally got out of that oppressive relationship, and is now back on her feet, has bought a house, and is engaged to a wonderful man who will treat her right. She has overcome so many things in life, and I'm proud to call her 'mom.' We don't always get along, nor see eye to eye on things, but she is usually the first person I run to for advice after consulting God and my husband. Love you, Mom!

Growing up, I didn't always do the right things. I struggled much with my music, my words, and my thoughts, much like any other teenager. In my senior year, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). My doctors didn't do a great job of explaining the risks to me or how to fight it, so they just popped me on some birth control and sent me on my way. I lost weight, had my first period, and life was okay (still struggle is infertility today, partly because if long-term use of birth control pills.) Any-who, I attended a Christian school k5-12 grades, but didn't receive Christ as my Savior until my senior year. I had made professions of faith, I was a leader in the youth group, but it was all for show and I had not truly asked forgiveness of my sins and asked Christ to come into my heart. After high school, I attended a Bible college in North Carolina. I had no idea what I was doing there. It was small, which I liked, but so many upperclassmen were dating or engaged; I honestly thought I would never get married because, in a Bible college, who would want something with such a background I had? Or who would want someone overweight like me? I was broken and had little self-esteem. But out of my problems, I grew to be someone who liked to laugh, make jokes, have fun, which is still my personality today. 

Halfway through college, I began to date this guy, my best friend. He was charming, funny, and athletic with a knowledge and passion for the things of God. I enjoyed spending time with him, and he with me. We dated for 2 years, were engaged for 10 months, and now we've been married over four years. Time flies, and we have our tiffs (is that a word?), but I wouldn't trade this life for anything. The Lord has given us much more than we ever deserved, and has placed us in a church with a people that we never imagined, and we are incredibly happy. I'm thankful for Christ's power to mold and shape us into what He wants.

I'm still learning how to be a housewife, how to save money, how to conquer PCOS, how to make pancakes, oh and how to make my bed on a schedule. At 27, I have by no means learned it all. That's why your "teacher" on this blog is writing as she is learning. I'm not your average pastor's wife. I think many expect me and my husband to be "perfect." We're so not. We have our struggles and sins like any other person. Be patient with me...blogging is also a learning experience!

So, just a "little" about me turned into a brochure. Sorry! Hope you can relate. Any comments or questions are gladly accepted...so are donations...

Just kidding ...

I think. Until next time...

In the Classroom...

Well, I’m finally doing it! Writing my first blog post. This is something that I’ve been thinking about for quite a long time. Names have run through my head (“Graceful Wit”, “Laughing with Grace”, etc) but none of them seemed to take hold in my daily life. For those of you who know me personally, I am not a graceful person. In fact my dad used to say, “Way to go, Grace” as a method of taunting me when I would drop something or trip over air. I think my parents thought I would grow out of it, but, alas, I still stumble, and usually keep an extra shirt in my car just in case I happen to spill food on my shirt (yes, I’m serious, and yes, it happens almost weekly).

Ok, back on topic. Just this week, the name of this blog came to me. Our church’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) began Wednesday. With this being our first VBS with the church we’ve joined, I was ready for new experiences, new kids, and a new way of doing things. But, I was not ready for last night. Just as VBS began, so did the torrential downpour, thunder & lightning. A usual southern afternoon thunderstorm…nothing to worry about. Only, it didn’t stop. The rain just kept coming down in sheets, turning our parking lot into a swimming pool fit for the high dive. I am a floater (no pun intended) during VBS, helping out wherever necessary. My husband walks up to me to say, “The drain in the parking lot is completely stopped up. I’m doing the craft time and can’t leave.  You’re in sandals. Can you go fix it?”

……What?…..

I stand there for a split second trying to process what he said, and I go do it without a second thought. That second thought came when I walked out the back door in pouring rain and was trying to find the drain, but to no avail. So I ran home (we live behind the church), grabbed my rain boots and a broom, went back down, and a man from our church is barefoot, digging in the drain. The two of us dig, and sweep, blindly trying to clear the drain. Cups have blown everywhere, cones and pool noodles are scattered about, even a chair got blown about 50′ away. Long story short, we finally cleared the drain, my friend and I are soaking wet, and I go back home to dry off. While I’m home, a thought springs up in my heart and in my head. My husband sent me, a woman, to go clear a drain, by myself. I felt it was unfair and kind of rude to send a lady (ha!) into the storm. But after thinking about it last night, I jokingly said to him, “I guess I’m still taking ‘Life in the Ministry 101′.” He knew that I would get the job done, no questions asked. I’m fresh to this life called “ministry”…putting Christ, the lives of others, and the church in general above myself. Digging a drain was about letting go of my pride and embracing the service that God has called my husband and me to do. Whether it’s singing in church, teaching a class, or apparently digging a drain, keeping my focus on Christ rather than myself is a lesson that I’m constantly learning. VBS still went on, and I was able to lead a tender-hearted teenager to Christ. And that, my friends, is really what it’s all about.

In the next blog post, I’ll let you in on a little bit more about me, my pretty awesome husband, and our crazy, wonderful life.

Until next time,

Amy