I’m going to tell you a story. I’ve actually told you this story in bits and pieces before. But now I’ve got an ending. Ready?

My whole life all I wanted to do was to serve Jesus. I loved working at our local church. My days were filled with puppet performances, Sunday morning skits for kids, missions trips with Youth Groups, dramas and oh yeah, cleaning up! When I went to college, I was involved with theatre, Big Sister programs and other weekly ministry. I always said I had no other skills but to work in the church with kids and families!

When I graduated from college (with a degree in Christian Ministries), my husband and I went on the road. We didn’t own a house. We just lived in hotels, our truck and with our parents when we were back in town. We traveled from church to church, camp to camp and performed. We did puppet shows, magic tricks and concerts. We were using our talents to teach kids about Jesus.

Soon we were invited to start a church in Celebration, FL. In light of my Disney Moms Panel-ness, you can imagine how awesome this was for me. I was serving Jesus in the sunniest, most magical place on earth! But when sin hit our leadership team, my husband and I had to leave. And it hurt. It still hurts.

We went home to lick our wounds and look for a new place to serve. We lived in a duplex that was the size of our current bedroom. In a few short months, we found a new job in Birmingham. It was at a mega church that desperately needed some love in the Children’s department. Maybe we were dazzled by the potential there and didn’t see the glaring red flags. But within two weeks we knew we were in the wrong place. We stayed for almost 3 years. We wanted to show that church what God’s heart was concerning kids. We wanted to help kids grow to love Jesus. We wanted to bring the life-change we experienced as kids to another generation. But it wouldn’t work there. So, we had to leave. And that one hurt worse than the first. It still hurts.

We moved back to Atlanta and were offered a rent-free home in the same neighborhood as my brother and one of my sisterchicks. It was a comfortable cocoon for us–we were able to rest, heal and just be a family.

photo by moosh in indy

Our first day in that house was Lydia’s 1st birthday party. And a couple of weeks later, I started ohAmanda.com. I remember the day. I was sitting in  our pink room at our Ikea desk looking out at our neighbor’s house because I was hijacking their internet and I wrote a little post that got the whole thing started.

Those first few months of ohAmanda, I wrote about how weird it was to go from full-time in charge of over 600 kids to beyond-full-time of just one. I felt like I was missing God’s call on my life. I thought I was wasting my talents and maybe even displeasing the Lord. And then one day God spoke to me. I still get tears in my eyes reading that post. God showed me that where I was is where He wanted. That somehow, even outside of the big plans I had made and prepared for, I was still doing something God wanted. And his plans could still be accomplished.

my fam. photo by me.

Since that time I have thrown myself into motherhood and blogging. I wave the banner high: I'm a Mommy Blogger! I hope my blog is a gift to my children one day as they see a window into their lives as children and a glimpse of their mother's heart. I pray Impress Your Kids has influenced other parents to raise their kids for the Lord.

But still. It's just a blog. It's just a little invisible spot on the world wide web. It's not big. Or deep. Or wide.

Then last Christmas I released Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands. It was my first eBook. It called parents to action--to capture December and use it to pull back the curtain on the holidays--to really see the LOVE and LIFE God gave us at Christmas. I wouldn't even let myself think about how many ebooks I might sell. I have about 2000 subscribers on Impress Your Kids and I quietly, secretly thought that maybe MAYBE I could sell that many. I mean, it would be a stretch--every single person who reads my blog would have to buy one!

By Thanksgiving there were 900 fans on the Facebook Page and I started getting nervous. Maybe this would get big!

On Black Friday I sold an ebook every minute. My pulse was racing. People were buying it! I ended up selling 6400+ copies of the book. (Let's stop now to pick me up off the floor.)

Just say only HALF of the people who bought the book actually did it. That's 3200 families! Not 3200 people! 3200 families! Do you know how many pastors would love to have a group of 3200 families in their church doing a family devotional every day for a month?! Do you know how many churches even HAVE 3200 families? (Answer: not many)

photos from the Truth in the Tinsel Facebook page

Over 4000 people were involved on the Truth in the Tinsel Facebook page during December. People from all over the world (literally--South America, Ireland, South Africa, Egypt and more!) were reading my words and doing my activities with their kids. Even now my heart feels flattened at the thought of it.

I've seen my dreams come full circle. I wanted to influence children and families in the local church environment. Instead, I was moved through two of them and able to give to more families than either of those churches have ever seen. How in the world did I get to be involved with something so awesome? Why does God use broken, unorganized, messy, impatient, selfish me to do something that big for Him?

It's what God does. He uses the foolish to shame the wise and the invisible to nullify the things that are.

I'm so thankful he took my foolish heart and my invisible blog and ebook to make Him more famous in the lives of kids around the world.

I told you I had to drop Top Ten {Tuesday} so I could devote more time to Impress Your Kids. But I can tell it's more than that. There is a God-sized dream in my heart with regards to Impress Your Kids. And I have to follow it. Build it. Dream it. Do it.

So, ohAmanda is going into hibernation. It might be back at Asa's birthday party--in September. It might be back if my husband makes us move to the farm he wants us to buy. But for now, it's going safely to sleep so I don't have to worry about it, check on it or get validation from it anymore. I need my (bloggy) heart to be focused in one spot for now.

I'm kind of terrified. I have done Impress Your Kids for years. But not having the crutch of ohAmanda is frightening. I don't know how to be a niche blogger. I don't know how to do a "ministry" blog full-time. I don't know how to accept money (or decline money) for my time there.

I don't know how to do the hidden things I think God has for me.

Will you pray for me? With me? That God would continue to lead me, just plain old Amanda as I follow His will? Not the plans I thought He had. But the new journey he has?

photo by me.

Thank you for making ohAmanda what it is. Thank you for reading, commenting, sharing and loving. I never thought I'd write this post. In all actuality, ohAmanda has brought me every fun and exciting adventure (outside of my kids!) in the last 5 years! I really believe ohAmanda was the preparation place for where I'm going now. You have been more than readers and blog community. You've been real friends, my biggest fans and the pick-me-up I always need. For once, I don't have enough words to tell you how much I love this place and all you've given me here.

Thank you.

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{And for those who need to KNOW MORE! Of course, this isn't good-bye. I'm on Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter (probably on @oohamanda with less frequency and @impressyourkids more). Plus, I'll be at Impress Your Kids every day. And you can always subscribe to ohAmanda so you'll get an update if I post!}

My Blog Story is a post from: ohamanda.com

I’m not insecure about most things. I’m a fairly confident person. But the one area that gets me self-conscious is my skin. My mom let me suggested I wear foundation when I was in the 6th grade because I was already breaking out everywhere. I got facials regularly in Middle and High School (my mom worked at a salon!).

I just knew that by the time I got married my skin would be clear. No such luck. My skin was broken out on my wedding day. Every year after that I just assumed my skin would get better. I mean, what adult has acne? My skin has been so oily for so long, my skin should like great in my 30′s! Preserved, right?!

Notsomuch.

When I turned 30, my sisterchick Mandi gave me a gift certificate to her sister-in-law’s (and my long-time friend) salon. Not a hair salon. Or a nail salon. An all-natural skin salon called Skin Solutions! I was ecstatic.

I made my appointment for a blueberry smoothie enzyme peel and walked away with an additional Jessner peel because I’m pretty sure Rebekah, the owner saw my skin and said, “Oh my. We’ve got some work to do.” She warned me that my skin would start peeling in the next 3-5 days. Which just happen to be in the middle of my 30th birthday Sisterchick Cruise. And when it started peeling off, it PEELED OFF! I was like the nastiest snake you have ever seen. When all the skin was off, I felt like an inch of my face…rather an inch of junkiefied, nasty, dirt had come off my skin. I literally shed my skin revealing new baby skin beneath!

You may have had a peel before. But you probably had a CHEMICAL peel. This is a natural enzyme peel. A Blueberry Smoothie peel is actually a BLUEBERRY enzyme peel. Your skin is being cleaned by natural ingredients in God’s world!

{Before: Bad skin.}

Since then I’ve been using only the skincare products and make up recommended by Rebekah at Skin Solutions. And even when my skin looks bad (because I haven’t been cleaning it as I should, etc.), it looks better than it’s ever looked.

Skin Solutions is a good little trek from my house so sometimes I’ll run out of a product and go a few days (or weeks, yikes!) without part of my skin care routine. And I don’t notice that my skin looks bad but when I get my product and start the full routine again, my skin looks better after one application. I hate to be trite but to this problematic skin girl, it’s a miracle!

{After: Good skin*}

I’m super excited that Skin Solutions has started an online shop because now when I see I’m getting low I can order what I need and it will show up on my doorstep. You know I’m a fan of that! In fact, I placed an order this week and got it in one day! Woot! My husband saw the box on the counter and said, “Uh-oh. I see Skin Solutions. How much did that set me back?” It is expensive. But considering all the junk I’ve bought from the drugstore (and probably poisoned my skin with) and trashed over the years, this probably doesn’t even compare!

For the record (if anyone wants to get their own), I use:

Purity Clean (use it twice at night and once in the morning)
Purity Balance (a spray “toner” after the Clean)
Clarity Serum (to control oil)
Define (an exfoliating moisturizer I cocktail with the Serum at night)
Pure Enzymes (a mask used every once in awhile)
Serious Protection (daily sunscreen)
LaBella Donna Compressed Foundation
Visions of Mineral Light (blush)

If you’ve struggled with your skin–breakouts, aging, dryness, etc. you really need to check out Skin Solutions‘ line of skin care and cosmetics. If you’re in the Atlanta area, Skin Solutions is worth the drive to Cumming, I promise! Rebekah will treat you fabulously and work hard to get your skin looking–no actually BEING healthy!

Plus, Skin Solutions is offering $10 off any facial or body service for my Atlanta area readers! Just print the coupon below. Score!

And if you are (sadly) not in Atlanta, they are offering a free (2oz) Save Your Skin spray with any purchase (a $7 value). I have some and it is lovely to use after a sunburn! Order via this link and it will be shipped with your order!

*Headshot by the dazzling Darcy. And ok, she may have photoshopped me a little! *wink*

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. But I’ve been going to Skin Solutions for years before they ever asked me to write for them!

All Natural Skin Solutions is a post from: ohamanda.com

It’s here, folks: my last Top Ten {Tuesday}. In case you missed the big announcement, you better click back to last week! Let’s get to this week because honestly, I’ve been wanting to write this post for awhile. I love Top Ten {Tuesday} and I think it’s a really good carnival. And I think everyone ought to know why!

{Don’t you like the new button?! Angie’s post today is fabulous, too: Tips for Writing & Promoting a Top Ten {Tuesday} post!}

OK, ready?

The Top Ten Reasons Top Ten {Tuesday} Is The Most Fabulous Carnival EVER

1. Anyone Can Link Up

You do not have to be crafty, a hard-hitting writer, a homeschooler, a professional blogger or any niche to link up with Top Ten {Tuesday}. You can write about anything under the sun and still link up! Top Ten {Tuesday} can expand your bloggy horizons!

2. Not Just Anyone Can Link Up

(I am the queen of the paradox, no?)

If you wanna link up with Top Ten {Tuesday} you have to write a list. You can’t just find a post you did this week and randomly submit it. There are many carnivals I visit that are like “Hey, whatever you want to post about, link it up because I wanna say that I had 800 links!” which is fine, but that means that many of the posts were not written FOR the carnival. Top Ten {Tuesday} folks write their post knowing they are going to link up. We are one prepared group!

3. Easy to Share 

I would say 90% of the posts each week are easily sharable. They are not full of “meh”. They are stumble-worthy, pin-worthy posts! They are easily google-able and seo-friendly. I am astounded by all the great information, creativity and passion in our Top Ten lists!

4. Easy To Monetize

Because most of our lists are easy to share, they are also easy to monetize. If you write a Top Ten list about your favorite books every single item can be linked with an affiliate link to Amazon. If you’re looking for a good affiliate link type post, a Top Ten post comes in super handy.

5. #toptentues

We have our own hashtag. And people use it. And I love it.

6. Sometimes You Need a List.

Lists are just nice. They change up the normal everyday format of your blog. It’s like a little surprise for your readers. ProBlogger even suggests writing a list on Day 2 of his 31 Days to a Build a Better Blog, so you know it must be a good idea!

7. Flexibility.

Wanna post ten words that make you ill when you hear them? (Coagulate! *shiver*) Then next week you feel like writing ten mini-dissertations? The week after that—ten photos from your vacation? DO IT! Top Ten {Tuesday} is flexible and works with any and every kind of subject!

8. Scannable

Remember, you only have seconds on a blog post before a reader turns away. Lists are easily scannable and somehow fill that self-help desire that keep people reading (What?! I can change my life in 10 easy steps?!! Sign me up!).

9. Interactive

How many times has someone commented, “YES! I totally do #3 and #5!!”? People can remember what you wrote and respond to your list or add their own item!

10. YOU

You make Top Ten {Tuesday} fabulous! Your creative, insightful, shareable lists make this a great carnival. Thank you again for being a part of this community! Each and every one of your links is a gift to me! THANK YOU! I’m honored you’ve linked up with me the last four years. I’m sure I’ll be visiting Many Little Blessings to say hello on Tuesdays, so I’ll see you there!

And on that note, this better not be good-bye! If you only stop by for Top Ten {Tuesday}, please make sure you’re subscribed to ohAmanda (via feedreader or email) or connect with me on Pinterest, Twitter or Facebook! Don’t leave me now!

Ooh, and come back tomorrow for an important to me post that includes a great deal for you!

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OK! Today’s link up is a little different. When you enter your permalink below it will also show up on Angie’s blog, Many Little Blessings! If you enter it at Angie’s blog it will show up over here. You don’t need to enter it at both places--that would be weird.

So, go ahead WRITE a fabulous Top Ten list. LINK back to me Angie in it (she’s got the HTML in her sidebar). PASTE the url to your post in one our linkies. Start LOVIN’ on the rest of the particpants with visits, comments, stumbles, pins, likes and tweets (#toptentues)!

Next week Top Ten {Tuesday} will begin it’s new life at Angie’s blog, Many Little Blessings.
(I’d love to see it be the biggest link up ever! Show her some #toptentues love, ok?)

Why Top Ten {Tuesday} Is So Fabulous is a post from: ohamanda.com