Category Archives: News + Updates

News and Updates on my life, my work, and most important of all, my books.

Dear -Santa- Jesus!

Dear Santa Jesus!

Can I sit on your lap and tell you what I want froe Christmas?  I want all the people I love to feel: loved, special, Important, Needed, Joyful, and most of all Healthy! So many people are struggling not just emotionally but financially, with health, and they lack Joy Even I am a bit lonely and lost. Life is far from easy; I was letting it take me for a ride and had quit fighting for what You have promised me. “Life, Abundantly” John 10:10

You my Lord gave me the best Gift any one can receive: Your son Jesus Christ! The Christ in Christmas!  Because Of Him we have Christmas, A day to celebrate our loved ones, to share gifts, and joy, with a thankful heart. How  Easy is it for us to Forget! Without Christ I would be lost, starved of Hope. But with Him I have all I need! ~Philippians 4:19 ~

So what else is there to want… I would like people to find ways to get a long, to discover the power of their words and lean how to speak Good instead of Bad over their lives. Help me be a better representation of Who you are! Help me Love others, forgive, Help when I speak and write so that I may glorify You! The Lord who has Given me Life literally! Help all who are lacking this season to find their needs met, now and in the New Year! Lead me, Guide Me, Teach Me! I mean that whole heartedly. I have needs in my heart only You need to know, and I give them to you. Please take care of the ones I love near and far, Keep them safe, Bless them with: Favor, Health, Joy, Mercy, Grace, Forgiveness, Money, Love, Peace inside and out, Perseverance, Passion,  Patients, and all else we need or are lacking.

And Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! For Another year full of experiences good and bad because they caused growth in areas I needed, for all the Love ones that have supporting me, and all the People who have blessed me in any way! I love you Lord, Abba Father!

Your Precious Daughter,

Amy Jane Sandberg

Twister Alert!

 Hello My  Loyal Friends and Family, 
 
Lately Life has been  for me like a Twister  and I don’t mean the game. I mean the big scary Tornado kind.  Fasten your seat belts,  your about to enter the vortex of Life!
 
Some Good, Some Bad. I don’t know where to start…
 
It  guess  it all started when I moved up north!  I had to lean to live out of a suit case, I had to lean not to plan  so much. That was hard, I greatly enjoy planing things,  I lost a love and gained a stronger better love then I could have hoped for! I had a small stroke.  Fiances have been tight but I have been lucky  enough to be blessed enough to still do things I enjoy, like get an Ice Tot-ti  and a slice of quiche  on the weekend at the local cafe. I’ve had several emotional break downs, while working on my book  and at other times, which I highly regret.  Among other struggles, life has been mostly good. God is always Good!   
 
Last month I went to Florida,  My dad and I  drove  for five days across the USA,  to see my sister, her son, her boyfriend, and other people we care about. It was a great trip, though I missed  a few planned  events with some people due to schedule differences. I was so happy to see my family, I miss them so much, though I don’t think I showed it well..  My nephew is getting so big so fast! My sister has some room mates with her right now and they have a son who needs a lot of attention, and is cute as a button. I wish I could have adoped him. He needs a good foundtion of rules and love. I would have loved to be the one who gave it to him, since his parents are lacking in that area. However they do seem to care about his well being. Where they lack  my sister has taken over and is doing a great job caring for him when they don’t.   I am so proud of her. She is a great Mother!
 
I also  got to go to an awesome drive through zoo with lots of  unique animals that one can not see at most  zoo’s.  We had a white rhino  stalk us and at one point we worried he would ram our truck!  EEKK!  Thankfully he decided to  go by with out a scratch.  We fed giraffes, man were they cool!!!  I wanted to take Cupid home, he was such a lover!!  
 
***SPOILIER FOR ZORRO THE DRAMA***
I got to  finish the Disney Zorro series with a beloved friend! I love that Zorro!!  (hums the them song, he marks them with a Z! )  He had some awesome outfits, moves, I really loved most the characters,  especially Zorro, Bernard, Sargent Garcia,  and His loyal friend..   I  didn’t care to much about the sudden ending, I had hoped he would have settled down with a woman……. I guess he Knows that he is mine  ;p (Just Kidding) I will look into it latter especially the books.. Besides The Xmen, Spider-Man, and Superman!, He is one of my favored hero’s!
 
I also  went to Florida to get my first Dog. The family has had dog’s before but this one is all Mine. A  female,  A Pure,  Blue Harlequin Great Dane, with one blue eye and one gold eye. My parents own her half brother, that part was not planed.  I fell in love with her before we knew the blood line. She is a hand full. She is  headstrong, very very smart, sneaky, a climber, and has a attitude, but she is also sweet,  playful, loving, and great with children, and other pets.. She is a real gift from God. She has a real way with people too.. It is hard to stay  sad with her around, I call her my little healer! I  don’t know how I made it with out her. She is growing so fast too!  Lily Belle is about 15 weeks now, about 40lbs, and is up to my knees already..  I’m 5 feet and 1 inches tall by the way…  Thankfully she is now mostly house trained, at least at my house!  ;p  Did you know puppy poop  smells much worse then a  baby’s dirty dipper… EWW!!
 
It took us 7 full days to  drive back to Washington!! Sheesh!!!!   We had to avoid snow storms, my  Nitro  does not have snow tiers, and is not a 4X4. On the way back home we saw my other brother and his girlfriend,  one of my dearest friends  with her family including my god children. I was so happy to see them! I wish they lived closer! I will make an effort to not wait so many years next time!!  I got to taste the great salt lake flats, and man was that good salt! It reminds me we are the salt of the earth… Says the Bible.. we saw a huge tree farm that went on for about 15 miles and probably covered over 1000 acres from baby to adult trees! It was a unique site to behold!
 
We stopped at my grandma Nanna and Baca’s house for one night and got to experience my first snow of the season there in my birth town. It was amazing! I am so thankful for that!!!  We also stopped at a Cherokee town, and I got to learn more about my heritage.  Along the way we went through:  a few  small snow storm’s, a sand storm, salt smog,  city smog, saw a coyote  run across our path, saw  lots of: Antelope, Buffalo, Deer, and  lots and lots of cows… Not including the road kill of: frets,  beavers, skunks, badgers, coyotes, foxes, Porcupines, Muskrats, nutrias, bob cat, a lot of some kind of animal that was a ball of fur kind of like a big hamster not sure what it was, and much more…. It really saddened me to see so many  dead and that I saw a wider verity of dead animals then I did live ones!!  http://roadkill.michaelgeraci.com/ here is a site of  some of what I saw, it is not for the queasy  to look at…      
 
Next time I think I wanna take a train! 
 
When we finally got home, we had to a lot to do especially me, I had to finish settng up  the guest room / office, and other things around the house before the holiday visits began….  I was all excited and motivated to work on on my books, when I got done with thr chores a few days latter only to find out my free word  trial  had worn out. Boo.. 
 
Two weeks latter, For thanksgiving my other sister  with her husband, and other brother with his girlfriend with his children our other nice and nephew. (Yes I have 4 siblings,  there are five of us all together.)Came with five dogs all together and nine people it was a mad house..   Yet it went much better then any of us had hoped. It was very hectic, but the time together seemed to flow nicely by.
 
Now every one is gone and I am left alone once more at my house, with a sink full of dirty dishes, a bunch of torn peppers around the house, and Christmas around the coroner…  My head and body feels like a whirl wind of emotions, pains, aches, thoughts, and it is all making me dizzy…   I can’t believe how much has happened this year, with the move, getting a story published, my new house, ect.. It feels like it happened so fast and at the same time this year feels like it has been several years in the making.. It has been one struggle and blessing after another!!
 
By the way my sister got me office professinal from work, but now she can’t find th code. I pray she finds it soon I’m itching to write!!!  ;p  
 
I love you, Be safe, God Bless you all!
~Amy Jane
 

New Song News

Hi Everyone,

I recently heard some good news from Jim Haskett, our printer.  He is saying that the books should be finished by Dec. 1 and he will deliver them to me at my house.  I have asked him for the first 100 copies and will be happy to send those out to you if you’d like your complementary copy in advance of your order. I don’t know yet what the cost of sending one book will be, so when we get the books, weigh them and find out the shipping costs to your area, I’ll let you know.  This has been a long but very eventful year for me and I thank all of you so much for contributing your best to my praise to the Lord Jesus.
Look for my next email, the arrival of the books!!!
Sincerely, Diane

New Song changed the Printing Press

Hi Everyone,

A few days ago, Georgia Herod, our New Song assistant editor, flew in to visit me and other friends in northern Utah.  She had a wonderful suggestion — that she and I meet the printer and see the setup as the book is being produced.
So I called about doing that and this morning, we met with Jim Haskett of Watkins Printing, just outside of Logan, Utah.  He said because the coverstock was heavier than the original press machine could handle, they moved the entire project to the offset press (see photos below).  This will give us a more professional look but has not added to the costs!

Allowing for the Thanksgiving holiday, the forecasted release will be around Tuesday, November 29th.  He will verify this with me as time goes on. When complete, he will be delivering all the copies to me and I will then take them to our church bookstore.  As soon as those books are available at the bookstore, you will all be hearing from me!  If you have any questions, please let me know.
Here’s how the book has been advertised by some of you.  Thanks so much for all you are doing to get the word out!
• One of our writers sent a copy of the cover and the preview copy (attached below) to people in his address book and several responded, sending me an email to order a one or more copies.
• Others with web and blogsites have added these same attachments to their sites to inform their friends.
• Those with writers’ groups have already ordered copies for their book tables.
• Those who go on the road for speaking engagements have also made their orders.
More later,
Diane
If you would like to use these items, please add this splash from our website:  Following the example of the psalmist in Psalm 40, the writers for this collection have remembered their histories with God, describing His rescue, their salvation, His comfort in a time of crisis, or leading when they needed a new direction.  They hope that their collective hymn of praise will be an encouragement to you. For questions or to place an order, send Diane Kulkarni an email: dinahwriting09@gmail.com. Checks and credit cards are accepted at www.mscbc.org — click on “A New Song.” 

Inspirational

A New Song (update)

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to give you the update as I heard it just now from our printer, Jim Haskett of Watkins Printing.  The inside pages of the book are ready and they are waiting for the cover stock, which was on back order, to be delivered either today or tomorrow.  Once the right machine is chosen for the binding (the cover stock is heavier than they normally use), they will go forward and finish the project.

So we are so very close to having this book in the mail to you!  I can’t wait to see the packages on their way.

Thank you for your patience and as I said earlier, I will notify you when the books are in our church bookstore and the shipping costs can finally be determined.

Sincerely,

Diane

The Book Has been Published!

Hello My friends and Family,

I am so excited to tell you “A New Song” Has finally Been published!!!

I am not sure where to start. When I was asked to contribute to this book, I became excited at the opportunity to share my story, God’s story!   But as I actually sat down to write it, I became afraid, that I would not be able to convey the message properly and that I could disappoint those who may be expecting me to write a masterpiece. I am presently struggling with some books that I also am writing.  I am sure God is using this opportunity as a push. He is telling me to just do it, while using this opportunity to boost my confidence too. I know God wants me to share this story in any way that I can. He is opening new doors daily, not just for me but for you as well. We just need to walk through them – even if at times we have to crawl through.  Whatever it takes for us to move forward, keep growing, and to help others do the same.

Any ways!   Here is a note from the main editor, with the book Poster below.

Hi Everyone,

I just heard from our printer about the book’s final price for 192 pages with contributions from 53 authors, 17 photographers/artists, and a beautiful color cover with semi-exposed Wire-0 binding that allows the book to open flat.

If we order 500– the cost will be $15/book
If we order 1,000 — the cost will be $13/book

So far, I have received orders for 237.  Please let me know how many you plan to order so that I can get the best price.

Thank you,

Diane Kulkarni

A New Song Poster

I’m  so happy that is is finally here!!  There are so many awesome stories besiides mine in this book. It is a great Testament of God’s work!!! Please  check it out for yourself!  Email Diane or call her and place your order. I don’t thing it is selling online anywhere.. 😦

I can’t wait to share my story with you all!!   I love you, and God Loves you too!!

 

~Amy Jane

whew!

Talk about an adrenalin rush!! I  just cleaned out my office ( for the most part) in  under an hour!!!  Along with unpacking 3 boxes,   dishes,  sweeping,  and watching an hour show!!  I got more  done in this hour then I have had time to do in weeks!!!   Do you have  times like these too? It is so amazing how much you can done when you work like that.  Yet it happens; I moved so fast. I felt like the woman from “No Ordinary Family” with her super speed!! Seriously, WOW! If I had a before and after picture of that room you would be amazed.

It seemed like; Every time I started working on just that room, something would always come up…  Good thing,  my aunt and uncle surprised me and are coming in the morning!!  They will be the first relatives to see my house besides my baby sister, and my parents since I moved in…  I though I had more time like til the end of the month when my Nanna and Baca (grandma n’ grandpa) are coming; and soon after my boyfriend early October .  Good thing I started doing the other chores yesterday and this morning. My house has not been so clean since my sister visited. It is not hard to clean but I was pet sitting and and not putting things away, not folding, kind of adds up ;p

I am glad they are coming. I meant to sleep but didn’t wanna leave the main stuff  for morning.. Now I just have lil things to do…  shower, and clear off  dining room table, and hopefully finish folding the clean  cloths ( in 3 garbage bags…)  That is the chore I hate most!  folding, boo!  I don’t have a dryer, it is in the lease that the washer and dryer belong to the land lord. Even if I could get one I can’t afford one, so thankfully I can wash my stuff at my beloved parents house not to far from here.  God is so Good!

In the last 8 months I have really leaned to treasure the little things, the pleasure of a shower, a cozy bed to sleep in at night, a vehicle to get around,  doctors,  pots n’n pans, dishes, silverware, hot water, soap, loved ones, a helping hand, patience, joy, health, food, internet, a phone! Praise God I have them! After living out of a suitcase for 5 months travling back and forth from  family homes, it is so nice to have a place to be proud of, a place God has blessed me with to keep me safe, and where I can share my time with people who are important to me!!

I had this whole other blog I was gonna write, but it will have to wait till latter, sleep has finally come and now I am saying  good night! God bless you, and take time to remember and treasure the people and little thing in your life that are important.

~Amy  Jane

A New Song – Update

I just revived an e-mail, the book is just about finished…. WOW!!!

http://www.mscbc.org/pdf/a_new_song_preview.pdf Here is a brief preview of the book!!!

Here is the poster!!!

https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment?ui=2&ik=2988b70419&view=att&th=13125d7b454525e7&attid=0.1.1&disp=inline&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P-HfONp_lG1_0DqFeXxF3fN&sadet=1310600835432&sads=mx8VDsJrXYzlFtcWh8wNJ2r0Pps

SOOOO EXCITING!!!!!

~Amy Jane Sandberg

When God does something for you, He goes all out!

Dear Friends and Loved Ones,

Hello,  I am on my way to my new home tomorrow, I am a bit nervous… It is exciting too though. I have lived on my own before, but this is different…. I can’t explain how. Not just because it is a house, but I guess I feel my life is starting a new season, a new chapter.  It is still the middle of my story. But the plot is thickening… It seems when I turned thirty, the story is becoming more interesting and the twists are coming more often.

I did not think my life would change as drastically as it has… I knew when I moved up here God had a plan for me. I knew I was to be up here in Washington, but not exactly sure where till recently, nor why. I was not sure how I would survive…  I have been trusting God blindly, no knowing what would happen or where I would be each week.  Sometimes life calls for us to do that. It is far from easy, because trusting blindly, means you have to have COMPLETE trust! And I do have Complete trust in My God, His son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit!

Along this journey, I have met some nice people, made some good friends, and got a good deal of writing done. I have been a little lonely. It has not felt like home for a long time. However it has mostly been a fun adventure… But it has also stressful, not feeling like I had a place… I can because of this imagine what it would be like to be homeless… I have more compassion then I thought. I have a better understanding of Walking in faith… I have a strong faith, but each situation is different and calls for different control over different emotions…

I am so glad I had a roof over my head and food on my table.. For a while I worried where I would end up… What would happen to my cats. My mom’s realtors didn’t want me there, because I have not so good credit due to health bills… And I refused to sign their contract. My sister and her new husband are egger to live alone together in one house. Though work locations has kept them apart and not my presence..  I was still an extra body in the house when he was there and I know they longed to start their own lives together ….  No one resented me living with them and they love me. I know they all longed for their lives to become orderly and regular… Just like I have. We all have been far from regular since October 2010… Things have been hard, not just for me but for every one in my family, In their own ways…. This transmission has been done in complete faith, not known what will happen next, good or bad, we trusted God and took a major leap! Most of the time, in order to grow, we have to leave our comfort zone, our safe secure life, and take a risk. When Jesus asked the apostles to join him, they left everything to join him.

Matthew 19:27-30    27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?  28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.  30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Getting back to the story, A few months of going back and forth between my mom and Sister Amanda’s place, my mom found a house in a tiny town, called Klickitat. It is an old valley logging town that has been mostly abandoned.  But the faithful town folk have been loyal and stayed there not for just five or ten years, but for thirty to sixty years. The town has one of the top schools in the state, prek-12th grade, two churches, two small grocery stores, one restaurant – bar, a new deli shop,  a fire / emc station, and a post office… It is next to the Klickitat River.   It is a beautiful place, very peaceful and has the feeling of home.

As soon as I visited them, I feel in love with the place.  I was at the end of my rope happy for mom and dad, but beginning to feel the pressure of finding a place of my own, and the worry about how I would pay for it…. I only get so much per month and that goes fast to car and other bills… God told me to get a PoBox in This town. I was shocked, why get a PoBox there when I probably won’t be living there….

Once mom was settled into her place Amanda and I visited her again, My Parents have the river in their back yard.  After  a long talk and prayer mom and I heard we were supposed to ask about housing in town. One thing I need to mention, because of the great school the small town has few places to live, most people rent apartments because houses are hard to come by…  Also, for being one of the top pet friendly states in the US. most places do not allow pets.  It took my mom months to find a home that allowed both cats and dogs…

Yet we had to try. Thus we went to the small general store and we asked the store keeper after browsing for a little if he knew of any apartments available… He said none that he knew of. He had a friend with who stood up and said “I have a house that just became available.”  “How much per month would you charge? We can’t afford much.” My mother replied. “500.00 Would you like to see it?” he responded. That seemed very fair, and we agreed. It was not far and the place was a huge mess… But God told me this was it!  My mom and sister also herd the same thing. He asked when we would be interested to move in, we said June. There was one other couple he had offered the house to. So we had to wait and see what they said. If it was of God, then it would work out. After we took a tour of the house he mentioned he was also looking for someone to care for his mother when he was not around. So if we see people don’t worry. So I told him about my years of experience caring for the elderly, and he offered me the position. I was in shock…. But it gets better.. He told me he would definitely fix up the place for me, and he said since I would most likely be the one to move in, he showed me the paint he had picked out, and asked me what rooms would I like the colors in… And the paint he chose, were my colors!! ❤ WOW!! When God does something for you, He goes all out!

So here I am two months later, getting ready to move in to the newly renovated house tomorrow. It will be my first house, thought I have lived in apartments before…. I am more nervous than I have ever been about a move. But I know this was all God’s doing, so I will be fine. It is amazing seeing the favor, mercy, grace, and love of my father God at work!! I pray you all have at some time in your life, an amazing experience of God’s mighty handy work. Proverbs 3:6  “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. “ Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

We need to remember the power of Praise and Worship!

Take a few minutes and watch this video, This is an amazing song based on truth of God’s love!

http://youtu.be/5YBwMQwr8AI “God Will Make A Way”

God will make a way
where there seems to be no way !

God will make a way
God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way
He will make a way

Lyrics are on these videos

http://youtu.be/7x2IpLSfqp8 “I surrender All”

http://youtu.be/g5hN_m55uoM “Here I am to Worship”

http://youtu.be/yiFwnE1IuIU “Draw me Close to You!”

http://youtu.be/vBezK_v_FqY “Lord I lift Your Name Om High”

http://youtu.be/zC617kE1maU “You are my All in All”

http://youtu.be/I71XhjqoHvs “Shout to the Lord”

http://youtu.be/COQ6cni_TG8  “Lord I Lift Your Name On High”

God Bless you all!! Stay safe!!

~Amy Jane Sandberg~

Ant Flavored Coffee

Hello My Friends And Loved ones!

Well I did it, we loaded up my mom’s expiation with the last of my stuff, and arrived in my home town yesterday! When we got here it was dusk, so we ate dinner un-packed some, and went to bed early…

My cat Boa Bear greeted me right away, Rosa came out let me pet her a few times and has mostly hid from me since.. I am so happy to be back with them!!!

As soon as I woke up my day was busy. It started with a hearty steak, eggs, and hash-brown breakfast. No time for coffee, went to run errands with my dad. First stop was to see my house. It has come a long way when I first said I’d rent it.  I wish I had taken before pictures. It is sad the woman who lived there before left so much stuff, the house was in desperate need of repair… In a months time he has replaced the floors, fixed the wiring, cleaned out almost everything, repainted, added some fans, cleaned, added new doors, re-did the bathroom completely, built a new back porch, and fixed up the yard…. The house is still not done, he needs to finish the upstairs, new windows, and window air- conditioning units… But wow!! He has done an awesome job so far!!!

While there we unloaded the car load of stuff, met some neighbors, heard some gossip, and talked about the lease…  My land lord says I should be able to move in this week…. I am excited, but enjoying time with my parents!! I have internet here, but won’t be on it much. I have a lot to do with moving into my home, ect. I’ll miss you all!

When we got home latter that afternoon I decided it was time for coffee and found Ants in it!!! WHAT!!???!!   EEEKK!!!!  If you don’t know me I have an un-natural fear of ants and freaked out…  They are only sugar ants, but still……. They should not be there!   We made two pots of plain water and still they are full of ants…. Some point in the past few days they nested inside the big coffee pot… Thankfully the filter has blocked them from pouring into the actual cup, however they are in the coffee…. So my poor mom has discovered she has been drinking ant flavored coffee… EEEWWWW!!! Poooooooor mommy!!!!! That was the worst part of the day….

Dad stated a painting project while we women folk worked in the household chores, and other tasks outside… It was a great sunny / windy day.. If  you do not know this my parents have a river in their back yard. So we had the pleasure of watching people kayaking and rafting all day. We found a beaver dam! And mom saw a few Kangaroo Squirrels!!!

Kangaroo Squirrel

As it got dark we made dinner, I played with my cats, as I sat down to type this my mom’s dog was barking at something outside, my dad and I went out to see what, in hope that  it was deer, but it was a box my dad had just crated for his chain saw.  I didn’t believe that was what had scared Linus,  so I went out to test that theory, and sure enough when I picked up the box Linus barked slowly approached the box and went towards it. Dad explained to me that Linus notices anything out of place and lets them know…  That is one pretty smart dog!!

Today was one busy but good day, and I have a nice sunburn!! ❤

Good Night, sleep good, Be safe!!! Until next time!!

Happy Fathers Day!!

~The Still coffee less Amy Jane

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