Fighting a yawn and the ever growing pull towards bed - towards sleep, I turn on the lamp, settle onto the couch, situate my sweet daughter in my left arm, and pull the Bible onto my lap. My newborn likes to be held. And I like the quiet. I open the Bible and begin to read. Every word. Every story. Every message. The words on the pages draw me towards a growing relationship with Jesus. I see Him on every page. I want more. More of Jesus.

My fervor for Scripture was ignited during that season. I fell in love with Jesus with a baby in my arms and a Bible on my lap. And 22 years later, I crawl out of bed and tiptoe into my favorite room, fill my coffee cup, turn on the lamp, pull a blanket onto my lap and devour His Words. My relationship with Jesus continues to grow and deepen because of the story of a King and His Kingdom.

I am a daughter and sister. I am a wife to Hubs for 27 years, momma to Jacob, Emma Grace, Scottie, and Zoey. Auntie to 5 nieces and 2 nephews. Teacher. Friend. Disciple of Jesus.

22 years ago, I began to uncover what it means to abide in Christ. Spending time with my Savior and discovering what He loves and how He loves, I began a rich journey of abiding. Remaining. Spending time with Him. Throughout the years, I experienced joy and peace in the good and beautiful times and in the hard and messy times. Grief with the loss of babies due to early miscarriages. Continued reality of being the momma of an adult daughter with autism and intellectual disabilities. Birthdays and anniversaries celebrated. Carpools. Meals prepared. Date Nights. Sleepless nights. Misunderstandings. Friendship hurts. Job changes. And through all of it - joy and peace. Because I chose to abide - to remain in Christ. It was a personal, individual choice to abide.

All along the way, I gathered women. These gatherings looked different in different seasons. Dinners filled with laughter. Texts asking for prayer and advice. Rooms full of women while I taught biblical truths. Sitting around a table in my front yard studying, praying, and sharing. Humbly asking women in the Dominican Republic to join me for food as I ask them questions, seeking to know them more and encourage them to share their stories. Regardless of where I was located, the desire to gather women never went away.

My desire to gather women, to share scripture with them, and to encourage them to seek biblical literacy for themselves within a community has continued to be my passion.

I am wildly obsessed with my Hubs, our kiddos, people and their stories, reading, to-do lists, black coffee, nachos, obscure British tv shows, and my sweet pup, Daisy Jane.

XOXOXO

Amy