Twenty-five moves, 17 homes, 1 stint of homelessness, 32,730 miles driven, 25+ round-trip flights, 14 ER visits, 13 job changes, 11 schools, and 10 court hearings. These numbers from 2016 to present remind me how life is inconsistent, but books are a constant. These are the numbers I’d do over to watch my daughter repeatedly read her favorite book with a smile. These are the numbers it looked like for me to manage a fair as possible custody situation (and it worked out!). These are the numbers that run through my mind anytime I begin to feel ungrateful or overwhelmed. No roots, lost relationships, debt, stress, and worry of the impact all of this would have on my sweet girl. But God. Oh, how He loves to keep turning the page.
No roots? Now your strength is in being malleable.
Lost relationships? You're not a people pleaser. Be a peacemaker. Apologize to those you've hurt and embrace those around you.
Debt? Now you know how to be content with what you have and be a good steward of it.
Stress? You were pressed and squeezed to see what would come out. Your perseverance produced character!
Worry of the impact? Can you shield your children from everything, or can you love them using the tools and knowledge you already have?
Evaluate every difficult circumstance from a different perspective; one of hope, encouragement, and joy. Run to the cross with childlike faith, and He will make your paths straight.
Ammy is the real-life strawberry blonde character in the Adventures of Ammy and Kiwi book series. Kiwi, a half-heeler, half-chocolate lab, obtained her name due to being small, cute, brown on the outside and "green" on the inside (her eyes). She was a source of comfort and always gave big doggie smiles!
Ms. Jamie's grandmother largely inspired her to perfect the art of a good story. She was a master at telling made-up bedtime stories on the fly, full of imagination, adventure, and a call to action. There was always a "moral to the story" at the end that she would explain. May this legacy live on, one book at a time.
Ms. Jamie grew up the eldest sister of four, providing her the practiced dream of becoming a passionate teacher and adventurous author. Now, a mom to four amazing kids (one of her own and three bonus), she is determined to address the growing need for encouragement, hope, protection, and confidence in children.
Read With Ms. Jamie
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