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Transform

For the next 3 months I am sharing EVERY WEEK.

People ask me ALL THE TIME a) do I miss what I used to do and b) will I ever go back……..

I spent a LOT OF TIME prepping my life to DO WHAT I DID. I LOVED what I did. I was prepared in my head to spend all of my working days in an office surrounded by amazing teachers and out in the field with amazing kids. I enjoyed talking to parents. And working with teams. And hands down I am to the heart of the living core a life long learner. But No.

I will never go back.

Ever.

And not because I can’t or because I don’t have to or because I don’t want to……

I won’t go back because as much as we “plan” or think we know what is BEST for ourselves….. sometimes we don’t AND we have to let something else “take the wheel”. For me that’s HARD because I have always been the driver. The one in control. Or so I thought.

However- There really IS a MASTER plan. No matter what you believe in spiritually.

For example….do you really think people wake up each day and say “you know….. today I’m going to x,y,and z even though I’ve never EVER thought of doing this before IN MY LIFE?! I don’t think so!!! SOMETHING has conditioned OR has influenced them to get to that point of waking up- and to do something that may or may not reflect who they truly are.

I hands down believe that if you were to look back and REALLY analyze the path you’ve walked- it’s not a surprise or shouldn’t be a news flash of anything NEW.

There are hints.

There are signs.

Our past successes and of course our failures and/or experiences DO impact our future successes and/or experiences. It’s allllllllll about being that life long learner. That person that can reflect, analyze, be self-reflecting and GROW…….

…….transform. ?

We are in the second quarter of 2019. If the first quarter was rough.

Start again.

Make a change and

TRANSFORM.

If you are better than the person you were the day before…. you are WELL on your way TO the best version of yourself.

Because, Who doesn’t want that?

Xo

Amy

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God Left a Thumbprint

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God Left a Thumbprint

And yes, they are everywhere.  Everywhere I turn and look.  He left me a thumbprint.
After my parents died, I lost my “rocks” and I am living through my greatest fear EVER in LIFE… but it happened so incredibly fast.   My fear ever since a little girl has never been of me dying, but in my parents dying.  Unfortunately I thought about it way too much as I was growing up and I perseverated On it.  All the time.
Lucky for me, God gave me a pretty decent internal compass.  I appreciate everything I have.   I’ve never been one to point fingers.  But in the heat of a world that’s painted gray, I’ve always been more content with answers in black and white.  More on that later.
I know what my strengths are.
I know what my weaknesses are.
I’ve always embraced my weaknesses and I’ve used my crutches for a LONG TIME.
  But the truth is even the strongest people with perhaps the strongest “crutches” will fall.
 There is no crystal ball but THAT is a guarantee.  So then what?  What do you do then?  Blessed am I that in the last 5 years while my rocks were removed from my daily interaction in flesh, I’ve kept my eyes OPEN, my ears OPEN and most importantly my heart OPEN to where to go so my internal compass could follow.
         His thumbprints……
Coming from a girl who has done almost everything to beat the demons there is something so rich and powerful to be said for this, that I now fully understand the direction of where I’m going.
If you are scared, silently grieving, afraid to speak up, or lost- stay tuned for what’s to come because I want to make sure I’m able to share what I’ve learned and continue to learn.  I’ve had some wake up calls.
 You can hit snooze or get up and GO…..
If I can even help just one person….?
#onechance
#powertoempower
#notacoincidence
#youcanfalloryoucanwalk
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Managing Peace

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Today I had coffee with my mom.

For the last 18 months I slipped away from sharing this blog but I can tell you that I have learned MORE in the past 18th months than I ever could have imagined and its quite possibly the greatest blessing I could have ever received. I have decided that there is too much to share NOT to share…

Before kids I used to drive to my parents house on Saturday mornings and have coffee with my mom. I also showed up at their house all the time just to be near her.   I talked to her on the phone 3-4 times a day. It always started around 8:00 in the morning. Even Matt got so used to the calls that even he “knew” when it was Trudy calling ME on the other end.

4 years ago this day my dad called me at sunrise to tell me that she had passed. I remember that morning drive back to the hospital for the very last time like it was yesterday. I honestly thought I was going to have a few more days left with her. I even thought it was possible I would have a couple of weeks left with her. It was surreal to think that she really was no longer alive and I couldn’t begin to imagine what I was going to see for the very last time. As much as I raced to get there I remember walking in as if my feet were attached to the cement. As I walked closer to her room the staff had placed a blue butterfly on her doorframe to notify those around her of her passing.

When I walked in- she took my breath away.

There she was. She was still. She was asleep. She was gone.

As I cried out loud “ohhh mom……” I sat down next to her, I weeped and wrapped my arms around what was left of the warmth in her body for the very last time.

More often than not I feel like only a part of me is really present on this earth since her death because my world has continued to get jolted around. There is no other way to describe it other than being tossed around in the middle of the ocean. Fortunately I made the choice to swim towards the shoreline and when it was in sight, I was also able to realize that by trusting in God and by trusting the journey, I was provided with an anchor. This continually keeps me from getting swept back to sea and losing sight of the shoreline. Along the way, there have been at least a dozen people who inevitably were meant to cross my path during this time in my life. Each one of them has thrown me a life preserver when the waves got choppy and encouraged me to keep swimming. Some days the waters are rough and other days they are as smooth as glass.

Peaceful, calming and still.

Those are the days I can catch my breath and recapture my strength so I can continue to swim.

I plan on sharing more about what I’ve learned because I whole-heartedly believe in sharing with the universe much like it has shared with me. It has been nothing like I ever could have imagined. But, I continue to trust that this is exactly where I am supposed to be.

Today, I had coffee with my mom.

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Finding Inner Peace

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It seems most appropriate that I would be sitting down to blog this on Christmas night. With a candle, my moms favorite drink and the magic of the holiday season and peace on earth.
If it seems like you haven’t heard from me in a while, it’s because you haven’t.  I had to get through these holidays. Again. Only this time, with the reality of what my life has become.  Last year I was VERY pregnant and wondering how on earth I was going to give birth to my 4th baby on the same floor I lost my mom on.  I hadn’t been to that hospital, let alone THAT floor since the day I saw her pass. How could I feel any sense of peace? I couldn’t.  Last year was by far the hardest year.  The year before happened so quick that I was just in shock. Watching both my parents leave this earth in two very different circumstances 4 months apart left me having experienced what I can only hope and pray are the worst experiences of my life.  It left me at a heightened sense of inner turmoil.  Anyone who has been there can certainly relate.  And anyone who hasn’t, read on and make sure you take note.  Because the bottom line, is that IT IS LIFE. And everyone, at some point, will have their inner peace completely shaken.  More than likely it will happen again. Maybe even again.  But….
As you already know, this year has been a year of new beginnings for me. And it started with the birth of my baby boy, Brady on January 2. This year was a year of healing, acceptance, growth, renewal, and I believe I can say this now…. INNER PEACE.
Maybe I have found it.   MY Inner peace.  It wasn’t without God – my faith in God- or the countless numbers of friends and family who have supported me throughout my journey.
Inner peace is a strength everyone needs to make sure is in “check” at all times throughout their life.  If it isn’t one of your strengths, you need to make it one of your strengths. Now. Today. This year.  Maybe it can be your goal for 2016.
How? For starters- I believe that inner peace must start with happiness in oneself from within. You cannot rely on anyone- not ANYONE but YOURSELF- to make you happy.  If you aren’t happy, you have to find out what makes you happy. Don’t wait for it to come to you, go out there and get it. All the happiness you can find. Get it.
That sounds too rosy cheeky easy because the truth is that many people- too MANY people are in pain.  They are hurt. Broken. Run down.  Speaking from experience- don’t let that take you down.  Every DAY EVERYONE has a choice. It doesn’t take much to go out there into the real world and realize real quick the blessings you DO have in your life.  YOU HAVE A CHOICE.
But the secret, is acknowledging that what ails you is REAL. You cannot fight it. You cannot sweep it under the carpet.  You cannot push it away. In fact, if you try do to that, if you ignore it, it will only come back more fierce and knock you down even harder.
Acknowledge that pain.  That panic. Any uncertainty.  Any question. Any loss of hope. And put it in a place where you can attend to it and nurture it.  Then, count your blessings. Remind yourself and thank the Lord above for what you DO have.
Most importantly. Soothe your soul. Soothe.  Funny how the terminology that has moved me through this year comes from only my absolutely FAVORITE premium skincare products. ???
Seek to soothe your soul, strike balance and create inner peace-
It’s up to you to pursue it and give it everything you’ve got because tomorrow isn’t a guarantee —–but today is a GIFT.
Come to peace. Meditate. Pray. Smile. Spend time with people who make you feel loved. Who make you laugh. Who support you and help you grow.
Peace. Inner peace.  You owe it to yourself and EVERYONE around you- to find that peace so that your inner beauty and the best version of YOURSELF shines through daily.
 PEACE.
~Amy
You can follow me @myjourneyamy
Blog Post About Me

Finding Inner Strength

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Adversity makes you stronger? Ya well guess what….From the age of 4 when my mom had her first major stroke… So began my journey of growing up with fear and that only grew bigger and developed into the FEAR of change. There were too many times that change and fear combined had paralyzed me. I knew “change” meant the end of one thing…. And I never embraced that it also meant the start of something new.

I recently heard someone very special tell me that the saying “God never gives you more than you can handle” is a lie.  I’ve learned it’s what you do with it, who you turn to, who you rest your hope and belief on, and the choices you make daily.  But I never really understood that until now.

I grew up believing that “no matter how bad you think it is, someone’s got it worse”.  My dad said this often to me growing up.  It’s good to be a fighter.  It’s good to pick your chin up and move forward.  You don’t give up. While this quote is undoubtedly true, the fact remains that you must honor and acknowledge what it is that is ailing you.  You can only bury it and sweep it under the carpet for so long before it finds its way back and challenges your strength.

So sure…. For every hardship we endure in this life, one hopes that they can grow and learn from it so that those skills can not only apply to future circumstances but can also be used to help support others and transfer to other situations… Making you stronger.

Adversity makes you stronger?

Maybe…

It does have POTENTIAL to make you stronger based on how you handle it and how you move forward from it. It can also bring you to your knees and debilitate you forever.  Sounds like a simple and positive spin but it takes a LOT OF TIME and a LOT OF INNER STRENGTH to get there.

I’ve had many many supports throughout my life get me to where I am today. Including and probably THE MOST important supports I have ever had; my parents.  Now with them both gone, my learning curve the past 2 years on HOW to move forward without them has been incredible.

I’ve mentioned it before.  It’s a constant battle and it’s in my opinion one of the biggest and most challenging battles ever…. life and death.  A topic hard for many people to talk about and a topic that’s on my mind every single day from the moment I wake up.

My inner strength has shaped in a way that I never knew would unfold because no one is ever prepared for life and death.  They are matters completely out of our control.

So when creating a picture in YOUR MIND for “INNER STRENGTH”……

Make sure you have a “Fight Song” to play.  These are the words that you can stick inside your brain to get you through it.  WHERE EVER YOU ARE.

These words in particular feel like they were written for me… And that’s how your “Fight Song” should sound too.
FIGHT SONG

By Rachel Platten

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xo1VInw-SKc

Like a small boat
On the ocean
Sending big waves
Into motion
Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion
And all those things I didn’t say
Wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?
This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I’m alright song
My power’s turned on
Starting right now I’ll be strong
I’ll play my fight song
And I don’t really care if nobody else believes
‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me
Losing friends and I’m chasing sleep
Everybody’s worried about me
In too deep
Say I’m in too deep (in too deep)
And it’s been two years
I miss my home
But there’s a fire burning in my bones
Still believe
Yeah, I still believe
And all those things I didn’t say
Wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?
This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I’m alright song
My power’s turned on
Starting right now I’ll be strong
I’ll play my fight song
And I don’t really care if nobody else believes
‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me
A lot of fight left in me
Like a small boat
On the ocean
Sending big waves
Into motion
Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion
This is my fight song (Hey!)
Take back my life song (Hey!)
Prove I’m alright song (Hey!)
My power’s turned on
Starting right now I’ll be strong (I’ll be strong)
I’ll play my fight song
And I don’t really care if nobody else believes
‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me
No I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me

Blog Post About Me

Finding Inner Harmony

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Adversity makes you stronger.

The next 3 messages are going to focus on:

Inner strength.

Inner peace.

Inner beauty.

Today I spent some time in the Fertile Grounds Cafe.  I saw and hugged Dr. Kiltz, the doctor that helped create Eva and Jack after years of unexplained infertility that included 10 failed IUIs and 4 failed IVFs.  Looking back now, were they really failures or was that in God’s plan all along?

He asked me what it could have been. I shrugged my shoulders and could only come up with the first thing that came to mind… Stress.
RJ Journey

 

That 5 years of “unexplained infertility” was a diagnoses at the time that offered us no direction for specific treatment other than textbook trial and error.  But it was during that journey that I learned more about myself and what I thought I could handle and little did I know that it would help me become a survivor down the road.

It was the tools I learned, just like in education or any profession that continue to serve me well.  It was the yoga, the acupuncture, the Chinese herbs, the essential oils, the Reiki, the breath, the sounds, the prayer and the meditation that bring me life…..and bring me inner strength, inner peace and inner beauty.

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Time For Change

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Everybody NEEDS something.  Change needs change.  To accomplish anything, you need tools. And better yet, if you really want to have options and opportunities, it’s a good thing to have a tool box you can choose from.

In a year that I have committed myself to change, the metaphors and analogies that my new business venture has brought to my life has been crucial.  I’m a visual person and I like to SEE results.  One of the first things you can do; is look into the mirror, and using our solution tool, “decide today how tomorrow looks”.  Think this is only skin deep?  Guess again…. It goes FAR beyond just what others see on the outside and the image you reflect of yourself.

There is nothing to lose when you take the solution tool.  In fact, it has been an incredible reference for me in all areas.

You identify your TOP 2 concerns.  When you look in the mirror, what is it most that you would like to work on FIRST.  Then after targeted approach backed up by years of dermatological practice and study, a recommendation for you is provided by the doctors as your PRESCRIPTION FOR CHANGE.

I love it… And it works. (Remember you get 60 days to try it risk free)

Wouldn’t you love to apply this to all aspects of your life? Well…. You can.

Email me at [email protected] so we can do your solution together.

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Step One: Identify Your Top Two

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Before you can put your best self forward and be the best version of yourself that you can possibly be, it’s necessary to identify your Top 2. What is this?  Get ready for it….

Your Top 2….. CONCERNS.

Sound easy?   Well sure, many of us could probably identify at least 20 top concerns!! But we need to focus on our TOP 2.  Beyond that only gets overwhelming.  This actually can be more difficult than it initially appears.

Identify the TOP 2 things that hold you back, bring you down, or prevent you from being your #1 version of yourself.
Doing this NOW, October 1st of 2015, is going to help you establish some direction on how you can improve your 2016.   It’s going to help you put in place what it is that you should acknowledge in your life as being a consistent setback and use that as a catalyst for setting your OWN New Years Resolution…. 3 months from now!!
R+F5
So think about it…. Identify the Top 2 concerns in your life so you can stop wasting time letting them bring you down, and instead find a solution tool to help you identify them, learn from them and help you put them behind you.

You can do this.

Personally, I’m a work in progress. Aren’t we all? I did this in January…. And I have 3 more months to continue on my 2015 journey before I can reflect on my success.

 

Redefine

Take Control Of How You Age

One of my biggest fears as I was growing up was getting older and the thought of losing my mom.  This fear transcended from years of watching her fight back from strokes and seizures.  Too many times we were reminded how fragile life was and how quick someone could be taken from us.  Truth be told, the more people I meet, the more I’m learning that this is a common fear and even more scary because we are never really given the tools to necessarily age gracefully.

This is the first year ever that I have felt like I am taking back some control in that aging process and gaining a better understanding of those fears and how to live my life daily without letting them paralyze me.

For starters, did you know that 80% of how WELL you age is within YOUR CONTROL? That’s right…. Only 20% of it hereditary.

 

Best yet, if you don’t start to see improvements in your first 60 days you can return your empty bottles and get your money back.

 

Blog Post About Me

Where do you start?

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THE ANSWER IS ACTUALLY QUITE SIMPLE. YOU START WITH YOURSELF.

It might sound selfish, but if you want to be the best parent, sibling, child, spouse, employee and friend you can be, you have to start with YOURSELF.

You have to wake up each morning with a drive, a motivation, an appreciation, a zest, and most importantly …CONFIDENCE.  It really does start when you look in the mirror.  It’s also the first thing others notice about you too.  It’s your posture. It’s your outlook. It’s your passion.

Each year for the past 5 years, I have set for myself a New Year’s Resolution. And I have kept it.

4 years ago it was to start my day with a devotion to God because my resolution was to grow spiritually. I bought a devotional book for my mom and one for myself. I gave it to her on her birthday. January 3. Each morning on my way to work during our “first call of the day”, we talked about it together. Looking back, I’m so glad we did that because as she neared closer to death over the final 18 days of her life, I re-read so many of those devotions and scriptures out loud to her.  This was comforting to us both and brought us both to tears many times throughout that journey. Many of those scriptures I had highlighted and so many “un-coincidental” occurrences took place around that book as she took her final breaths.

You need to feel good about yourself and take care of yourself.

As part of my resolution this year to take care of myself, I wanted to begin a skincare routine that invested in my skin. (After all, I’ll be wearing it for the rest of my life.)

I didn’t have time or money to waste on something that didn’t work and my husband and I believe whole heartedly in spending our hard earned money on things that are high in quality and sometimes those things are hard to find.

A former college teammate, Katie Wood introduced both the products and the company to me.  I knew right away, just from the sample she so kindly shared with me, that this was going to help me look better, and likewise FEEL BETTER.

My husband treated me to this. Of course he wanted to do anything that would help me feel better and he could tell how these products were impacting me. After just a few short weeks of my regimen working OVERTIME with the birth of our 4th baby, Brady, my results spoke for them self. I was excited, encouraged and felt renewed. How could I NOT share this with others??!!!!!!

 

My face after just 1 month of using my favorite brand of skin care products

And it only keeps getting better…..