Amy Fritts

Homework in the Shower?

2011-03-18T06:37:00.000-07:00

Spring Break has truly been an amazing break as a family. We have been productive and had wonderful play time. Yesterday, after washing the cars and working out, I was in need of a shower. Mistakenly, I was pretty confident it was going to be good relaxing shower experience. Josh was outside finishing the inside of the cars and the kids were inside still wired from playing in the water. Into the shampooing part of my shower I hear two voices outside the door of my bathroom and not sure what was wrong I invited them in. Garrison had his book report he had worked on earlier in the morning and was completing it but wanted to know how to spell "because". Once I spelled his much needed word, from behind the privacy of my shower curtain, I thought he would exit the bathroom and I would be able to finish my shower in peace. (or at least left with the thoughts and workings of my own--the shower is always where I think the most; or at least have the best conversations with myself) But-Oh, NO! Garrison decided to stay there and finish his homework on the comfort of... the sink. Just as I was getting a slight bit annoyed about my shower interruption--I was reminded of a passage of scripture. Jesus, having just heard of his cousins death was going off to a remote place to pray. I can only imagine his desire for some solitude to spend time with his father in light of the sad news. But, oh-No! he does not get quality time away. The crowd follows him there and they are sick and in need of his wisdom. And from his compassion we have his miracle of feeding the 5 thousand.
As a mother, my life is made up of distractions, but if I am not open to welcome them with open arms I could miss out on some precious moments, miraculous moments perhaps.
Jesus' compassion amazes me. May my compassion reflect more of his... even in the shower.

Preserving My Sweets...

2010-08-16T14:18:00.000-07:00

August 11th, 2010
For the last two years I have canned apple butter to remind me of our special years in Tennessee. The smell and the taste take me back to our first Christmas in Knoxville. Strangely, this summer I have a desire to can but to can something very different and even dearer to my heart.

I want to can the season that is my life right now. I want to can the flavors and spice of McKenna and her little voice, so that whenever life seems to be moving too fast I can open it up and hear the way she says “brother” and see the way her lips move with such intention to speak clearly what her heart wants to say.

She is to me a can of joy bursting with laughter and imagination.

I want to can Garrison in this time…his toothless grin and his cautious mannerisms. It would be a can of innocence and sincerity. It would be orange with the sweetest smell of comfort. That is what he is to me right now an orange dose of sweetness and comfort.

I will preserve this season of my life with prayers and pictures and my words…and place the cans on the shelves of my nostalgic soul. And when I need them in years to come…those memories will be found there and it will bring me laughter, comfort and the sweetest aroma!!

Garrison and McKenna I love you!!

Offering My Praise...

2010-08-16T14:15:00.000-07:00

Dec. 29th, 2009
Psalm 81:1 “Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob! Begin the music, strike the tambourine, play the melodious harp and lyre.”

I do not play an instrument and my voice is not what it used to be, so, for today this is my song…
My life has seemed as close to perfect (“complete”) as my heart can handle these last few days.. I now have a 4 yr old daughter (as of yesterday) and a six yr old boy who steal my breath every day. My husband is a great father and the love of my life.
My soul is satisfied with the Spirit that dwells within. It is renewed daily with Grace and mercy. God has given me the desires of my heart for today and amazing dreams for the future.
When darkness tries to capture my dreams with blame and guilt His perfect love reawakens my mind to press on…his scripture is my daily medicine for perseverance and confidence. My flesh is inconsistent and fickle…but He is trustworthy, faithful and strong. I am thankful to you God for my life. I am thankful for your pursuit of my soul, a relentless pursuit that does not end with a simple surrender of my heart but a pursuit for all things, great and small to be touched by your perfect love and perfect peace.

O God…thank you for capturing my heart. Thank you for this perfect day. May the song of my heart today rise up and give glory and honor to you, my King!

2009-12-24T07:24:00.000-08:00

All around me things are changing. Birthdays are coing to confirm the lines on my face. I can look around and see the people and places of my past...they are all different, they have all changed.
Time works that way.
But for today I can make the hours and moment last longer by breathin in deep. I can cherish them by allowing my eyes to be focused on the heare and now; not letting my heart and mind meander through the past or into the future.
Today my son is 6 years old and my daughter is 3 and that will not change today.
Today my son loves to cuddle love on me...at least for today, that will not change so I will enjoy it today!
Today my daughter plays in her imagination more than in the people and things around her...and for today, we will dream and imagine with her!
Today we are blessed!!
I will enjoy today!

I want the power!

2009-06-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

Acts of the Apostles...Acts of the beleivers
I am halfway through a thorough reading of the book of Acts and I love the passion and drive of the apostles in the first 13 or so chapters. These people who loved and followed Jesus, now finally were able to see what he was really all about. He had come to redeem them in death through his death and resurrection. Their eyes were finally opened to his mission, they were given the gift of the Holy Spirit and were sent out to share His message.

I cannot help but wonder where such boldness and faith are in my own soul?

See, I know from scripture, that I have the same Holy Spirit within me the apostles had within them. The same power that moved through them to preached and convert thousands. The same power that angered others for the change it was making in the hearts and lives of men and women.

Here is my hypothesis...my soul is polluted. The same Holy Spirit is at work in you and in me, but by various circumstances and time by soul has become clouded and crowded by things that hinder my ability to release or tap into the overwhelming power of the Holy Spirit.

I believe we all have a sense of pollution in our hearts that keep us from experiencing and allowing the complete power of the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.

...what is polluting my soul? What pollutes your soul?

Joy and Pain...written 2007

2009-04-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 12:2-3 "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God. for consider him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart."

I am constatnly intriqued and grateful for the many paradoxes christ has laid before us.
Choose to die and you will live.
The last shall be first.

For some reason they seem to bring me comfort and enjoyment. I really don't know why. Perhaps it is the comfort of knowing I will never truly understand the ways of God because they are so much higher than mine and enjoyment from my endless hours of trying to figure out the complexities.

Whatever it is...I love them. I love the paradoxes of my faith. Lately there has been one that I have become aware of in a real personal way. Joy and Pain. For the joy of us, his children, Christ was able to endure the pain. Lately with my two little ones I have felt pain. Pain like I have never known. They have both been sick and the Type A, control freak mother I am can't handle it because I want to fix them. But the pain I experience is only there because of the utter perfect joy I receive from my children. My heart breaks from worry fro them. But would I forfeit the joy to be rid of the pain of worry and missed memories? Never. For the rest of my life I will choose to experience pain along with my joy for the sake of my joy.

I will feel the pain of letting go so that I might receive the joy of their unsolicited embrace. I will feel the pain and joy of every moment of being a parent. I love the paradoxes of this life. But I love them even more for the understanding they give me into the confusing paradoxes of Christ's love and teaching.

Jesus, thanks for enduring the pain, along with the joy.
You had a choice and you chose the pain, for my joy