Hi, my name is Amy Kenney, I'm a stay-at-home mother of nine and a student in the University of Utah's Bachelor of Social Work program.  I am also a film maker. 

Through the gift of writing, I was increasingly inspired to turn my essays to a more powerful medium of film.  Film is the medium of our time.  The messages I've been inspired to share are stories of hope, faith, forgiveness and healing.  Another inspiration was to create films that unite Christians of all faiths.  The film projects feature the cooperation and collaboration of shared gifts and talents of people of numerous denominational and non-denominational backgrounds united in a common goal, that of leading others to Christ. 

 In 2009, I wrote and directed my first feature film, Stand Strong.  www.standstrongmovie.com Talented actors, musicians, and technical crew contributed their gifts and talents to the making of the film.  It was released in October 2011.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzn4ESrnlus

It is now endorsed by Dave Ramsey.

Here is the Synopsis for Stand Strong:

“If you lose it all, will you stand or fall?"

Matt Webster measures his success by his possessions. Though he appears to have it all, pride of ownership does little to fill the void of a purposeless life. Broken relationships, isolation and pain for himself and his family, are the result of his pride and selfishness.

Through a series of financial and family crises, Matt and his family are stripped of all they own and are humbled enough to learn what success is really all about.

On the first day of filming Stand Strong, I was inspired with the story for the second film, Uphill Battle, which was filmed in 2011.  It will soon be released on DVD.   View the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW3blu8nwbY   It is the story of a single mother raising two teens after a divorce due to her husband’s pornography addiction and infidelity.

True to form, I was inspired with the story for the third film on the first day of filming.  The third film may be the most important one yet as it has the potential to actually save physical lives in addition to spiritual lives.  It is called “The Gift of Grace.”  It is the story of a nineteen year old college athlete who becomes pregnant.  Faced with a problem that could destroy her future, she decides to have an abortion.  Through a series of moving experiences, she places her baby for adoption. 

The script is ready and it is nearly cast.  Filming is scheduled for Monday, May 20-Saturday, June 1.  It’s coming up fast!  I am writing to ask for your help in making it happen.  The first movie was completely self-funded.  The second was partially self-funded and funded by private donations.  The third film will need to rely on the generosity of private donations.  We need your help.

If your life or someone close to you has been affected by such issues as abortion or adoption, please help.  If you want to see more beautiful and inspiring media available, please help.  If you want to make a tax deductible donation to offset your taxes, please help!  Our production company, Illumin8ed Productions is a not for profit entity.  We need to raise $25,000 in the next ten days.  We can do it with your help. 

To donate to The Gift of Grace, please utilize Paypal.  All donations go directly and entirely to the project by donating to illumin8ed@msn.com  We are aware of Kickstarter as a potential donation site, but with so few days until filming, and the format of all or nothing funding (the full amount requested has to be reached to get any of the donations), it won’t be feasible at this time.  Every dollar counts.  Please contribute!   

For donations of $50, we will include a free Stand Strong DVD.  For donations of $100, we will include a DVD of Stand Strong and Uphill Battle.  For donations over $1,000, you can come spend a day on set as well as receive both DVDs!  For donations over $5,000, we can find you a part in the film!

Like the Facebook page for The Gift of Grace for updates.  https://www.facebook.com/thegiftofgracemovie?fref=ts

You can like Stand Strong, Uphill Battle, and Illumin8ed Productions as well!

https://www.facebook.com/StandStrongMovie?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Uphill-Battle/191072104271831?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Illumin8ed-Productions/101348116621267?fref=ts

Thanks so much for your time and consideration,.  I hope to see you on set!

Sincerely,

Amy Kenney

The Day to Day Miracles on the set of Uphill Battle: Part 2

Day 6:

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Last night's late wrap (1:29 AM) facilitated a late start time again today. Today was not an originally scheduled work day, though Rod and I both knew from the beginning working today was likely. Some of the crew took the day off. We were down a 1st AD and make-up artist. Shelby, that amazing miracle worker, scoured her contacts and friends of friends for a fill in make-up artist for the day. Less than two hours before the shoot, Tresia was hired! She did a beautiful job matching the looks Tara established. During lunch, Tresia let me know that the job had been a miracle for her and a direct result of paying tithing. She had paid it with the faith that doing so would bring blessings. She was so grateful for the work, and we were so grateful for her!

During lunch, I sent Taylor and Christian to run some errands. One of the errands was to buy three shirts for Aura for the rest of her scenes. She had run out of wardrobe. I gave Taylor the name of the store (a women's clothing boutique) and the address and these instructions "Buy something that looks, conservative, classy and cute, preferably in solid colors." He returned with a black shirt with a floral design around the neck, a red slim fit shirt, and a grey shirt with a baby doll type cut. I was astounded and impressed! He had been making the ladies on set happy all week with Dove chocolate and indulgent trail mix, but this was sensational!

The set had a peaceful feel and a lot of positive energy abounded. It was relaxed, unified, and "chill" as several people put it. It was probably just more "quiet" because the overall number of people on set was greatly reduced. We moved through scene after scene with relative ease and completed our day just after 8:00 PM. Finishing early was amazing, as it gave us time to completely break down the set and empty out the house. We'd be at a new location on Monday. When the house was empty, still and quiet, I said goodbye to it for the last time. I went in my grandmother's bedroom and slipped into the closet to offer a prayer of gratitude for all the miracles we had experienced to that point, and for the spiritual help my grandmother was providing.

Aura had a friend over when we got home that helped, along with Shawn and Taylor to completely empty the trailer and re-set the borrowed furniture and decor to its original position throughout our house. For the first night in days, we were in bed by midnight!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Though not a work day, several miracles took place today that are worth mentioning. As of noon, we still hadn't found Greg's car for the opening scene of the movie that would be shooting Monday morning. The script called for an Audi. The Audi from Stand Strong had since been sold. At church today, Shawn talked to one of his friends about his red Porsche. He agreed to let us use it in the morning for the scene that would be the opening shot of the movie. There was only one condition, that it not be raining because the convertible top was stuck in the down position. We prayed the rain would stop, at least between 8:00 AM and Noon on Monday!

The other miracle involved the home we would be shooting in the next day. The home was to be the "pre-divorce" home of the lead character. All of the pre-divorce scenes are seen as flashbacks throughout the movie. While writing the script, I could literally see in my mind's eye, the interior of the upper-end two story home where the character lived. In the opening scene, the lead character watches from a window above the driveway as her husband backs away. I saw it clearly and described it in words for the script. When looking for the home, I assumed it would be easy to find that type of set up and style of home, and that I'd know the place when I saw it. Several weeks ago, I thought of a friend whom I know to maintain her home beautifully and tried to get a hold of her. It was difficult finding her current number and when I finally got it and called it, there was no answer. I didn't feel that I keep pursuing it, and instead again started praying to find the right house. From that point, I kept thinking of a neighbor's home only a block from my own. I had seen the exterior, which is a beautiful two story home, but had never been inside. A friend of mine lived there a few years ago. To the shock of the neighborhood, my friend's husband shot her and then himself. The home was vacant for more than a year and then purchased by another neighbor. I kept thinking of the house and that it was the right one. I talked to the home owner who said we could film there. A week after scheduling it with him, Shawn ran into his wife at the park on Saturday. Shawn mentioned our coming to film on Monday. It was a miracle he ran into her because she had no idea of the plan. Her husband forgot to tell her. Shawn also asked if we could come by after church to look at the house and get acquainted with the space before showing up to film on Monday. She invited us over directly after church to look at it.

As we pulled up, I looked up at the window over the garage. I said "We need to use that room for the window. It has the perfect vantage into the driveway." Shawn said "I'm sure it's not the master bedroom, that floorplan isn't very common."

We were full of anticipation as we mounted the front stairs and rang the doorbell. When the door opened and I stepped inside, a phenomenal amount of "deja vu" overwhelmed me. I started to tear up. I followed the home owner up the stairs toward the master bedroom. Each step caused my excitement to rise. She opened the master bedroom door and I nearly fell over in surprise. The room was exactly as I'd mentally seen it when I described it for the script. The window overlooking the driveway indeed was in the master bedroom! Everything about it was perfect and was exactly what I'd seen right down to the decor! I was in complete awe of the literal vision I had seen of the home. I loved the realization of having had a literal vision of the home. I was so grateful to have experienced such an amazing miracle. I couldn't help but feel my good friend who had died there several years prior was helping me with the movie. Also at that time I was inspired to make the movie in her remembrance.

Day 7:

Monday, May 16, 2011

The clouds gathered in the sky and the wind increasingly picked up, threatening a storm. We prayed it would wait until after the opening scene with the Porsche. Shawn picked up the car and and brought it to set. It became quite a popular prop as many of us were photographed next to or inside of it!

I offered the thought this morning after the cast and crew prayer. I shared of the experience I had yesterday and how I know that many are working on the project not only here in body, but also by those in spirit. I've felt the influence and support of angels and ancestors on set every day. The inspiration received by cast and crew alike, and the ongoing help from beyond, has kept us engaged in the literal Uphill Battle.

Shooting the pre-divorce scenes was intense. We prayed over every scene and how to accurately portray the heartache of infidelity and addiction. One scene called for a display of anger that led to violence. The rehearsed violence was in one lead character grabbing the other by the wrist. By about the 4th take, the scene had escalated in intensity with each time. Instead of grabbing her wrist and pulling her to her feet as had been done in prior takes, he grabbed her hair without even thinking, just being in the spirit of the scene. It was intense and very real. When I called "Cut!" the first thing I heard was Shelby yelling "Unrehearsed! Unrehearsed!" as she clutched at the side of her head where clumps of hair were falling between her fingers. Everyone rushed in to see if she was okay and the other lead character fell all over her with apologies. He hadn't intended to grab her in such a way and was really sorry. The three of us had our own prayer for the scene right before we shot it, to be as true and realistic as possible. I know that prayer was answered.

One of the lead characters was catching a plane to LA at 8:00 PM and needed to be wrapped for the day by 6:00. We wrapped at 5:30! We were scheduled to use a local bike shop for scenes from 6:00-10:00, however, when we arrived, we discovered that our contact at the shop had gone home early due to an emergency and there were no arrangements made to have employees stay to keep the shop open. Disappointing, but I don't believe in accidents. We were able to reschedule the bike shop for Thursday night. Wrapping early let everyone catch up on much needed family life and sleep!

Day 8:

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

The rain, which gratefully and respectfully held off yesterday while we used a borrowed convertible Porsche with a broken top, poured with a fury all day today. The rain even turned to snow mid-afternoon! Miraculously, all our scenes were indoors. Even better, was the fact that we shot Erica's bedroom scenes in my home, in Aura's bedroom. Michael's bedroom was also shot in my home, in the master bedroom. This allowed me to be close to my little children whom I've only gotten to see briefly, late at night and in lots of pics and texts from Shawn for the past week, and whom I have missed dearly.

Shelby's truck wouldn't start this morning. She needed a jumpstart and to let it run for awhile when she first arrived on set. We scheduled Nathan's scenes and Shelby was given the day off. Out of the kindness of her heart, she stayed anyway and read lines with Nathan.

Because of the tremendous downpour of rain and snow, all the outdoor driveway and yard scenes of Michael as a landscaper, which was scripted as his profession along with photographer, were scrapped. The decision was made to eliminate "landscaper/photographer" and have Michael just be a photographer. His outdoor scenes were changed to indoor with the profession change. It turned out to perfectly suit the Michael character better!

During one of the first scenes of the day, Michael's office scene, as I looked into the monitor, watching the action, I was inspired suddenly with the scripture on which the next movie will be based. A very strong impression of Isaiah 1:18 "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" entered my mind during the scene. In between takes, I turned to Taylor, who was standing next to me to share the inspiration. The next take resumed and I found myself doubting the impression. I thought over the scripture and decided it was too overt a message. After I called "Cut!" I again turned to Taylor and told him that perhaps it was too overt a message and that I wasn't sure I'd use it. The take resumed again. This time, the prompting returned more powerfully. Again I heard the words of Isaiah 1:18 powerfully in my mind. When the take was over, I told Taylor that Isaiah 1:18 was the scripture the Lord wanted as the message of the next movie.

Later that afternoon several miracles took place. We finished with all the Michael scenes earlier than expected and had time to move downstairs to Erica's scenes. Shelby was already on set despite her day off, so we were able to transition seamlessly to her scenes, though they were previously unscheduled. The inspiration of Isaiah 1:18 was miraculously underscored in an experience I had directing one of Shelby's scenes. In the scene, Erica was to question God about what He wanted her to do, pick up her scriptures, hold them out and drop them on the bed. There were to fall open to Proverbs 3:5 which she would read as the answer to her question. As we rehearsed the scene, Shelby asked me to show her what my vision for how the action was to play out. I picked up the scriptures, closed my eyes and plopped the scriptures out in front of me. They fell open to Isaiah 1:18! I had shared with Shelby the inspiration about the scripture at lunch, so we both gasped in awe as we saw where the scriptures opened to in the drop! We looked at each other, amazed, and laughed with delight!

Once we were ready to shoot the scene, a reverent and peaceful calm canvassed the room. The presence of the Spirit was strong as Shelby performed the action of the scene. She closed her eyes, held out the scriptures and dropped them before her on the bed just as we'd planned. They fell open to Proverbs 3:5, the very place they were "supposed" to!

Day 9:

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Cold and raining again today. We were able to get a good start on the Erica scenes yesterday afternoon. Because we could technically finish with Erica's scenes early, I started seeking out a location for the Sunday school scene since the scheduled location fell through. It was surely a miracle that I was able to find a location willing to get us in later in the afternoon during a brief window of time the church had between activities. I solidified our reservation and then prayed we could make it.

We started out the day with our cast and crew prayer and thought. Tara, our very talented make-up artist, offered the thought. She shared a beautiful metaphor that she had realized on her drive to set. She had been feeling off about some problems in her life and was tempted to feel discouraged. Just as the dark gloom of sadness threatened to block her joy, the same as the dark storm clouds had been darkening the sky, a strong beam of light broke through the clouds, revealing the sun. In that moment, she realized that though the cold feeling of disappointment and pain had crowded her life like the storm clouds covering the sky, the sun had never left. It remained constant behind the clouds and it broke through bringing a brilliant radiance and warmth with it. I was very touched to hear her observation and grateful for that thought, especially since there were problems on set this morning. There had been some tension between several crew members that disrupted the unity on set and a subsequent coldness followed. This beautifully shared, and definitely inspired thought, cleared the way for the bright sun of unity and friendship to burn through the storm clouds of discontent that had been present. We needed that unifying and healing thought to make it through the otherwise hectic day.

The time allotted for the Sunday school scene meant that we would leave Erica's bedroom scenes mid-day to get to our appointed location. We decided that it was to make only a partial company move to maintain continuity in filming Erica's bedroom scenes. Only a few lights were to be transported and the dolly and track would stay assembled in Erica's bedroom awaiting our return. We prayed we would be able to get the shots we needed with minimal equipment.

The first scene we shot in the church location was the recovery group for a montage sequence. Since we had no dolly, Rod asked Taylor to scout out the building for some kind of cart on which to wheel the camera. Taylor returned with a rubbermaid garbage cart from the church kitchen that worked beautifully. We were glad he found a cart, as we had considered part jokingly, that we could use a piano in the room as a dolly!

The recovery group scene, though a silent montage, was beautiful. Nathan shared a heartfelt testimony with the group of men who assembled in the circle. The extras for the recovery group circle was comprised of all the men on the crew. I was very grateful that they agreed to sit in front of the camera, especially on such short notice. I think my crews are learning that they will be actors at some point in the movie every time!

Scaled down equipment and a time dealine for use of the location were not our only concerns. Because of the short notice of same day scheduling of the location, there had been no previous scheduling of extras for the scene. We were in need of 6-8 teens to fill the Sunday school class. I had Aura begin calling and texting her friends the moment school let out at 2:45 PM. We were to be at the location from 3:30-5:00 PM. I also began calling Christian, who was at school and who was to play Jake, the long haired boy in Sunday school. Aura had some success in making contact with a couple of friends. Taylor also got on the phone trying to enlist the help of his cousins who lived nearby. I got a hold of Christian, who was with several friends. He asked them to come take part in the movie, to which they scornfully denied his request and told him what a "loser" he was for being in it. He no longer wanted to be in it. I begged him to get to the church and prayed he would come.

When he arrived, there were still no other teens in attendance for the scene. He was skeptical, doubtful, and upset that I wanted him to play the part. He adamantly stated that he just did not want to do it. He kept saying that nobody was even going to come and that we couldn't shoot it anyway. With no time to re-cast the part, nor the spiritual confirmation that I needed to, I silently retreated to a desserted corner for a fervent prayer. My mother, Frances, arrived to play her part as the Sunday school teacher. She suggested we call my sister to see if her daughter Kya, Christian's close friend and cousin, could come. It just so happened that Kya was riding with three friends just a few blocks away. She asked if they wanted to be a part of a movie and they did. They showed up, along with several of Aura's friends and Taylor's cousin, for a total of 10 teens in under an hour of searching and literally 10 minutes before we filmed the scene! This miracle, along with Kya's encouragement, changed Christian's mind about the part and he agreed to do it!

We were able to finish at the church right on time and get back to my house and shoot out the rest of the scenes in Erica's bedroom. While watching the monitor in the closet of the bedroom on the final scene of the day, a sudden and powerful impression came to me that Shelby was to play a teen pregnancy counselor in the next movie. I was overwhelmed with the feeling of truth and tears came to my eyes as I felt the Spirit. I told Shelby about her part as soon as I called "Cut!" She too felt the same spiritual confirmation.

Upon completion of the scene, we were ready for a company move. Everything was loaded up in anticipation of the move for tomorrow's shoot at the bike shop. Because we don't have access to the bike shop until closing, we will have the day to rest. We'll need it. Tomorrow's shoot is an overnighter, scheduled from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM because our locations are businesses that keep regular business hours.

The Day to Day Miracles on the set of Uphill Battle

Just a few days prior to the first day of filming, we still didn't have a location to serve as the lead character's home. I had a vision in my mind of a red brick home since the time I started writing the script. Though several homes had been offered as a prospective option, none were right. The stress of not having a location was beginning to mount. In desperation, I prayed fervently to know where to film. While working on other aspects of the project, a whispering so clear that I practically heard her voice, the inspiration "Grandma's house" came to me. I halted all activity in the moment and pondered the idea. It was brilliant! My grandmother Karen passed away last February. Her home was still owned by her children and was currently vacant in preparation for sale. A vacant house that we would not displace anyone for six days of filming, was ideal, along with the fact that it was red brick! I jumped up and ran to Shawn to tell him about the inspiration. His only concern was the fact that it was vacant because we would have to stage furniture in it. The benefits far outweighed that inconvenience and we agreed that the idea was inspired. We prayed about it and felt that my grandmother wanted us to film there and that she was anxiously helping our cause. My uncle, who is the trustee to her estate, agreed to let us use the house. After it was set up inside, it was just as I had envisioned.

Day 1:

May 9, 2011

It was so exciting to be back on a movie set again. All the night before, I felt as though I were ascending the world's biggest roller coaster. That anxious exhilaration that forms in the pit of my stomach and the thrill that follows, was just the same! I brought a journal on set to capture the miracles that we experienced as cast and crew on "Uphill Battle."

Day 2:

May 10, 2011

Aura, Taylor and Sierra drove the Nissan pickup to the set that morning, a 35 minute drive on the freeway from Draper to south Provo. They noticed a strange bumpiness about the ride. The steering seemed to be shaky, though they could not tell what the problem was. Later that morning, Taylor went to get food and ice. He backed attempted to back out of the parking stall at a gas station. Suddenly, the front driver's side tire completely fell off! In his words:

"Aura and I noticed steering bumps from home to set, but we ignored it. Later, I was running errands, and the bumps just got worse--the wheel would wobble even at slow speeds. Pulling out of a gas station parking space, the right front wheel fell off the axle! I wasn't even out of the parking space. If that had happened at 70 mph, the tire would've flown off. The tire people (at the fix it shop) said that the car would have flipped seriously injuring or even killing me! Even at 40, 30, or 20 mph I would've been seriously bounced around and hurt, possibly hurting the car pretty bad too. Couldn't have been a better time to lose that wheel. Guardian angels. -- Taylor P."

Apparently, when the tires had last been rotated and balanced a month prior, the tire shop inadvertently tightened the lug nuts too tight. The friction caused by driving caused the lug nuts to become completely shorn off. There was literally nothing holding the tire in place. What a blessing no one was injured or killed. Taylor gave the thought after cast prayer this morning. His thought was about using your talents to bless the lives of others and doing God's will, and of the power of joining with others who are doing the same. By the avoidance of a near fatal accident, it is obvious his life mission is not yet fulfilled.

Day 3:

May 11, 2011

We ended shooting down by five scenes on Day 2. We were falling behind and the stress was mounting. The morning cast and crew prayer was a plea for efficiency, organization and order. Levity on set was huge yesterday and all our silliness was taking its toll. Saturday was not originally scheduled as a work day, but I knew we'd use it. It was obvious we'd need it. Yesterday, Shelby's cycling helmet was missing. She didn't have it for a scene. I was bothered about the fact that I remembered packing it but it was nowhere to be found. I went on a bike ride early this morning before our 8:00 AM call time. I made another scan of the garage for the helmet as I got my bike out. No luck. I prayed I could find it and asked to know where to look. Not but two minutes later, as I mounted my bike in the driveway, I happened to have a bird's eye vantage into the back of the moving trailer we'd been using. It was empty, except for a plastic tote that was lying on it's side, open side facing me. Down in the corner of that tote was the missing helmet! What a miracle! Three times on set today, someone was asked to change their wardrobe choice just prior to shooting a scene because the actors kept inadvertently picking matching outfits! It was funny! The matching for this scene was intentional!

Day 4:

May 12, 2011

Aura gave the thought after the prayer today. The thought she shared was about nothing being impossible with God. She quoted Phillipians 4:13 which states "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." Exterior shots today. One great miracle is that the weather cooperated. It has been raining non stop for the past three days and that has been okay since all our filming was interior. Today needed to be sunny, even dry would work, but miraculously, we got both! On the first shot of the day, Shelby (Erica) was to clip into her bike and ride away. She did it beautifully. On the way back to do it again, she had a bit of a struggle unclipping and tipped over. Miraculously she landed on Will, the sound technician while she was simultaneously steadied and righted by Jon, the 2nd AD. At lunch today (and this is significant, since disruptions on set can ruin the scene while the camera is rolling) several women stopped by and I met them on the front porch. They turned out to be a realtor, a home buyer and her friend. They had just put my grandmother's house under contract. Tears welled in my eyes as I remembered back to a conversation I had with my uncle when I asked him if we could use the house for filming. He was worried that we'd tie up the house and make it unavailable for showings and thereby hold up the sales process. I was inspired to tell him that I knew that my grandmother had inspired the idea to use her home and that I was sure that if we used it, she would help to get it sold. It was true. She had indeed done just that. The buyer had experienced many miracles in finding the home and securing financing. I walked them through the house during our lunch break. As I talked with them, I felt very strongly, and told them so, that my grandmother had hand picked her as the new home owner. My grandmother took meticulous care of her home inside and out. lt had been her mother's home before that. She purchased it from her family's estate at her mother's passing some twenty years ago. I couldn't help but feel that she really wanted the home captured and immortalized on film for the family's sake before it changed hands to a new owner. The buyer and realtor and I shared a tear welling moment before lunch was up.

After lunch, the sound technician, Will, found out that his father had just had a stroke. A group of us had a prayer for his father. The weather was perfect for the water fight scene. Not only was the weather perfect, but the take itself. It was our first "one take" miracle. All we had was one take because once Aura and Taylor (Stacie and Lance) were wet, there would be no "retakes." It was tricky also in the sense that the water fight action outside was being filmed on a 7D camera, while the scene of Shelby (Erica) watching the water fight from inside the front window. We had a prayer just before the scene started that the water fight would be perfect. It was beautiful! That seems like a strange word to describe a water fight, but it was! It worked out perfectly in one take and the height of the action occurred when Aura dumped the bucket of sudsy water on Taylor's head, exactly as Shelby drew the curtain and peered outside! Late in the afternoon, extras started arriving for the party scene. Kelly Steele did a beautiful job staging the party scene and set up the food and fed the cast of extras. She even got the BBQ going for the scene.

Though several neighbors seemed to be purposefully causing problems throughout the week as they were annoyed with the extra cars in the neighborhood belonging to cast and crew, several neighbors kindly ceased lawn mowing during the dialogue portions of the party scene. That was much appreciated as we were scrambling to beat the setting sun to catch the takes before the light was gone. As a bonus, we were able to fit in a family picnic montage scene just as the sun went down.

Just like the inspiration for another movie came while filming "Stand Strong," the inspiration for another movie came today on set. It will have a pro-life message. I'm praying about the scripture it will be based on.

Day 5:

Friday, May 13, 2011

Today was a scheduled late start so that we could get the true exterior night scenes. Call time was 1:00 for actors with 1:30 PM being the time for the first scene in front of camera. Today was also a big day for important and demanding scenes. Because of this, opposition was strong. Before the cast prayer, I felt oppositional about the scheduled order of the scenes as they seemed to have been arranged inefficiently and it already looked like we'd be using Saturday to catch up on the five or so scenes we were down so far. If it weren't for the cast and crew prayer, and the thought offered by Taylor on doing God's will to lift and strengthen others, I may have stayed in an oppositional mood. I was able to re-focus on praying for the Spirit to be on set. Shelby prepared well for those scenes and brought a strong feeling of reverence to the set. She asked that the set be cleared so that she could fully immerse herself in the emotion of the scene and be more receptive to feeling the spiritual guidance necessary to carry the powerful impact of the scene. The set was silent, peaceful, and the Spirit abounded. I found myself saying "Amen" to the prayer at the end of the first take and I was moved to tears. Many eyes watered by the time the perfect take and coverage were complete.

We had several miracles during the filming of the Shelby and Keegan's scenes. Keegan's coverage was perfection on the first take. Just as I called "Cut!," the 4 x 8 that was darkening the window came crashing to the floor. There was loud knocking on the front door too by a neighbor who wanted a crew member to move their vehicle from the street in front of their home. Also on "cut," the set filled again naturally as Keegan's family arrived as well as several others who were arriving on set for the first time that day. The timing was nothing short of miraculous as the reverence and Spirit present as well as the actual takes themselves would have been thwarted had we not finished exactly when we did.

The mood lightened after those scenes. When Taylor arrived from running the morning errands, he mentioned that he narrowly escaped a car accident--twice!

The afternoon wore on and soon it was night. We prepared exterior lighting for the many front door and front yard scenes that were scheduled. At 9:55 PM, opposition struck. A neighbor had called the police to complain about the bright light streaming into their front window. The police asked to talk to me. I was polite, at first. The policeman became threatening despite the fact the filming was occurring on private property. I affirmed "You can't make me shut down." He threatened to arrest me. Other cast and crew were more compliant and were quick to assure him that we'd dispense of the lights and handle it another way. 30 minutes later, we were again on track and Rod was inspired with how to light up the yard by flooding the house with light. It worked beautifully and we continued with no more problems. We were again racing the clock to completion. Our wrap for the day needed to occur by 1:30 AM, twelve hours from call time. We wrapped at 1:29 AM!

Choosing Faith

A few weeks ago I visited a specialist about my left shoulder, the one that was broken in a cycling/auto accident in May. There has been pain in it ever since and my range of motion is limited. Over the months, I became aware of the fact that my clavicle on the left side was lopsided and sticking straight up into the air. What the specialist told me, that I had not even considered, was that it was not my clavicle sticking up, but my whole shoulder and arm drooping down. Apparently my ligaments were shorn through in the accident and my shoulder is no longer suspended at the attachment point on my clavicle. The only way to correct it, facilitate healing, and end the pain, is surgery.

I can't describe how much I hated hearing that. I gasped in shock as the specialist explained the problem and solution. The healing time after the surgery is six weeks of wearing a sling. I immediately thought of all that I would miss out on in wearing a sling for six weeks, activities like carrying the baby, holding my other children, cycling, snowboarding, and the small day to day things like dressing myself. The decision essentially came down to suffering along in my current condition, making do as I have been, or choosing the temporary pain and setback of surgery and the healing time associated with it in order to properly heal my shoulder.

I left the office heavily contemplating the choice. Of course it is obvious that total healing is the most desirable, but it is always hard to voluntarily give up freedom, even temporarily. By the time I got home, I decided to schedule my surgery for the dead of winter. The baby turns one year old on January 20 and hopefully will be walking. I can ride a stationary bike indoors from the end of January through March when I can start outside again. Hopefully I can get a few good snowboarding days in before the end of January as well. Shawn even suggested we take our bikes out to Red Rocks, NV to ride the weekend before the surgery.

Like all of life's experiences both good and bad, I immediately started looking for the symbolic meaning and spiritual lesson. I know that life is first spiritual, then temporal, so unraveling the temporal experience for the spiritual meaning is one of my favorite pasttimes. The thought that came to mind was the proverb Christ used in Luke 4:23, Physician, heal thyself.

I've spent some time pondering that statement and reading talks and articles discussing the many meanings and applications of that simple phrase. My mind settled on a visual image of a tangled mess I recently spent hours sorting out.

Let me preface the reason for sorting the tangle. Despite my aversion to handicrafts due to my sheer incompetence with making things with my hands, I agreed to join in a preschool activity exchange. Each participant was to make 23 identical lessons to exchange with the rest of the group. One of the activities I made was incredibly simple for those who are capable with their hands. For me, it was a nightmare. I had to shop for the craft materials and assemble "fishing poles" made of bamboo sticks, yarn, and magnets. Easy enough, right? Wrong. I procrastinated and dragged my feet at every stage of the making. Finally after several weeks of cajoling from the rest of the group, who rightfully needed the lesson I had not finished, I forced myself to take it on.

After assembling and gluing my fishing poles in place, I left them in the corner of the room to dry. Relief was sweet when I finished this project, so sweet that I forgot all about the fishing poles for a few hours. When I went to put them in their respective activity bags, what I found nearly sent me into a frenzied rage, and a whirlwind of tears all at the same time.

Yes, this was the nastiest yarn tangle I've ever seen in my life--worse than any failed yo-yo, cat's in the cradle, or knitting attempt combined. The reason it was worse was because of the magnets that all stuck to each other all throughout the tangle. My two and three year old children had a better time doing this than I think they'll ever have doing the actual preschool fishing activity.

It took me a few minutes and a few prayers to regain my composure. I was at that place, the one I recognized again at the doctor's office a few weeks later, the place I had to decide what to do. I could throw them away and start the process all over, try to cut the yarn and reattach it, or do my best to untangle it.

I forced a deep sigh to clear the negativity from my mind and sat down on my bed with my little ball of useless fishing poles. Shawn looked up from his book, gawking with morbid interest. "Why don't you just throw it away? It's too messed up," he said. "I put some serious effort into creating those poles, no way I'm just going to toss them. They are worth salvaging, to me. I'm gonna fix it," I said. Then he sighed the "whatever" sigh and shook his head.

Where to start? The line on each pole was 2 feet long and there seemed to be only an inch of wiggle room left on each fishing pole. The rest of the line was caught up in the tangle. All the magnets hugged tightly to each other, making any sorting difficult. It was close to midnight and the kids were in bed. Concentration at this level would have been nearly impossible otherwise. Determination took hold and I set about picking and pulling at numerous little knots.

An hour later Shawn said, "It almost looks like you're doing some weird Chinese puzzle." He was fascinated with the intensity on my face and the clicking of the sticks as the yarn bobbed over and under my hands. It must have been mesmerizing, because he was asleep and snoring long before the first pole came out from the tangle.

Once that first pole was freed, my determination doubled. My faith in the possibility it could be fixed doubled as well. My mind turned over the many applications of this experience. I remember thinking that I'd recall this visual whenever I was in a seemingly impossible, difficult, or hopeless situation and gain courage, faith and perspective from it. Several hours passed as my eyes became heavier. Progress was slow. I thought of my many ancestors who were better at handicrafts than I and prayed for their help. Finally another pole emerged, then another. Three hours from taking on this task, it was finally complete.
I couldn't help but feel at the time I finished that the experience was metaphorical to one or more upcoming trials or experiences I'd face. Whether my surgery is one, or any other number of problems in my life or the lives of my family, I have the faith that full recovery and an overall joyous resolution can be achieved. Faith, patience, and dogged persistence do a lot in creating positive results.

Now these stick and yarn fishing poles hold a special place in my heart. I learned an amazing lesson from them. Here's to surgery! :)

Battle for Souls

While writing Stand Strong, I kept receiving inspiration for themes, scenes, and songs, that had absolutely no place in the movie. It finally occurred to me as I cut scene after scene of unrelated material, that I was receiving inspiration about another film entirely. I filed these impressions away, adding to them from time to time.

The ideas that came all generated around the central theme of the literal battle for souls. Life is a battle between good and evil, from moment to moment, and in every choice, decision, experience and action. From scripture, we know that a great war in heaven ensued, and that Satan and his angels were cast out, down to earth, where the battle has been raging ever since.

Revelation 12:7-9

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

In March, after much prayer on the story line for the movie, I was inspired with a rough outline of the plot. "Battle for Souls" was to be about a single mother, divorced due to the infidelity and subsequent abandonment by her husband because of a pornography addiction. Just after receiving this inspiration, I read an article from a church magazine that told the true story of a woman in an identical situation. The profession I had chosen for the character to have to support her family was even the same for the real woman in the article. I again received a spiritual confirmation that this was the story line that needed to be told to communicate the message.

Since that time, inspiration has come in bits and pieces, as mental visuals, images, words, and feelings have flooded my mind on many occasions. Some nights I have not been able to sleep as inspiration poured in rapidly and seemingly without end. Other times, inspiration was not forthcoming at all, and I waited through long periods, wondering and praying I'd be able to put it all together in time.

What I learned from Stand Strong and from numerous other projects, experiences, and life, is that faith is everything.

In the last month, I have experienced my own temporal battle for souls, in that my life has been literally spared on at least five occasions of which I am aware. I have had so many near calamities lately, and through no "fault" of my own, that I have started to wonder if I am experiencing lessons designed by God to teach me, or if the devil is trying to physically destroy me. I feel it is a little of both, along with the reminder that there is no need to fear, but to continue with faith, knowing that I won't regret pushing forward until my time is done. What I do certainly have, is a testimony of guardian angels for protection and in an appointed time to die. The fact that I am alive and able signifies to me that I am not done yet.

Ephesians 6:11-13
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The battle for souls is both spiritual and temporal, and the only saving armor is the full armor of God. This reminder and illustration is the purpose of the "Battle for Souls" movie.

Like "Stand Strong," "Battle for Souls" is a volunteer project comprised of Christians of all faiths united in Christ. All participants consecrate their skills, gifts, talents and abilities to glorify the Lord and to lead people to Him through the medium of film.

"Battle for Souls" will shoot August 2-14, with the exclusion of Sunday the 8th. The next week will be devoted to pick up shots for "Battle for Souls" and "Stand Strong." "Stand Strong" will premiere later this fall, and "Battle For Souls" will premiere next spring. At least, those are the target dates. We have learned that everything is ultimately on God's own timeline.

Keep the project in your prayers!

4 Days Post Crash: Again Enjoying the Ride

So, initially I said it would be 4-6 weeks of "at home on an indoor trainer" before going back outside to ride. Since I have never been hit by a car and broken my clavicle before, I honestly thought that 4-6 weeks of healing sounded reasonable. But, that was before I knew what Heavenly Father wanted me to learn from the crash experience and that the position of my arms on the handle bars actually HELP the healing of my broken clavicle. I didn't know that 4 days would be sufficient. With that said, it is easy to see why I decided to return to my outdoor ride today.

I'm still high on the experience as I just got back from my regular 20 mile ride. I started out on the trainer, and I tried to stay content with it, but it was all wrong. Sunny days and good health are meant to be spent OUTSIDE. Heck, I ride on the blustery, cold and gray days where I seldom see another rider, so looking out the window on a gorgeous day like today and knowing that I have the physical capacity to ride, I couldn't stand being restrained any longer. Having mentally ridden my route as I pedaled on the trainer yesterday, and knowing that my shoulders can handle it, there was just no other reason to remain stuck on an indoor trainer another day. It was just time to get back outside. There is just no replacement for the sun, wind, hills, people, all that natural beauty beyond the walls of my living room.

Shawn was skittish and offered his concern over my decision to have him take my bike off the training block. I know that he could see the passion and determination in my eyes and conceded with a question. Are you sure you can do it? Of course I was. He lifted the bike off the trainer and brought it out on the lawn for me. He waved half heartedly as I pedaled down the street, head bowed and shaking, probably praying silently. I was. I thanked God for His goodness at granting me physical health. I was also shining the broadest smile I've mustered this week.

My ride was a phenomenal, incredible, awesome, amazing...all the great adjectives! I beat my previous best time on my 20 mile route by five minutes and burned more calories than usual. I know it was because I was so excited, grateful, and fired up about riding; about experiencing freedom after the temporary loss of it.

It is nothing short of a miracle that I could be hit by a car on Tuesday and experience a broken clavicle, and be able to return to my normal rides on Saturday of the same week. I have experienced and am grateful for the Lord's tender mercies. I feel very blessed indeed. At the time of this writing, my normal range of motion has almost completely returned for my left arm--the one with the broken clavicle. Pain is minimal and I feel an overall presence of healing.

Part of my decision to get back out on my bike so quickly after such an accident was about being an example of faith and fortitude to my children. I am all too aware of the fact that example is the best teacher, far more powerful than words. There was so much I wanted to convey to them about pressing on with a good attitude, especially in the face of pain and misery. What better way to teach this lesson than to live it? I know they will be required to do difficult things over the course of their lives and I want them to look back and draw on past experiences for strength, especially if I'm no longer here to teach them. My example of living a miracle is meant to teach them to believe in miracles too.

The rest of the reason was to fulfill my purpose, to be the best instrument I can be in the hands of the Lord. As long as my heart is beating and there is breath in my lungs, I will do all that is required for good to complete His will on earth. My capacity to perform the tasks He needs will continue to enlarge as I put my faith to use.

Amy Kenney

The Existence and Assistance of Angels

I have always believed in mortal angels--those who are inspired to meet the needs of others, thereby doing the Lord's work on earth. Today was another reminder that heavenly angels are in great supply as well and are actively working in my life.

At 6:15 AM, I set out on my bike on my morning ride. Despite the clear skies and sun, it was cold for a day late in May, so I made sure to wear my full gloves, rather than my fingerless ones, a long sleeve shirt under my riding jersey, and thick cycling pants. 12 miles into a 20 mile loop I like, I met with disaster.

I was going 23 miles per hour in the bike lane on Redwood Road, just north of Bangerter Highway, when suddenly, a car in the lane to the left of me made an abrupt turn into the bike lane, careening into me on my left side. The driver was attempting to pass a slower car in front of him by passing on the right and using the bike lane as a driving lane. He didn't look before swerving and sent me and my bike rolling toward the curb. It all happened so fast, I scarcely had time to think "uh-oh." I eventually landed on my back in the parking strip above the curb, still clipped into my right pedal.

I sat up, felt a burning pain shoot through my left shoulder, and laid back down. The driver came running to me, apologizing all the way. Two other motorists who had witnessed the accident sat down near me as well. One called the police and paramedics, who arrived shortly to assess my condition.

Upon removing my helmet, it was discovered that it was completely dented in on the right side and was broken through in large cracks in three places. My helmet was obliterated, I had obviously bounced on my head, but I did not have any head, neck, or back trauma. Even the paramedics marvelled at the miracle they were witnessing. Because of my thick cycling pants and jersey, there were no abrasions on the places I landed, only rub marks and light snagging of the material. Now I understand the purpose of those ugly cycling clothes. :) My elbow was the only place road rash hit as the long sleeve shirt I was wearing wasn't as protective as the cycling clothes I had on everywhere else.

Because I was lucid and "ok," I felt it an expensive waste to be transported by ambulance and refused ambulance service. I know it was going on the driver's insurance, but it was unnecessary and would be very costly, so I waited for Shawn to arrive to ride with him to the hospital instead. During that time, the driver, who was an 18 year old high school student on the way to school, told me that he'd gotten his first ever speeding ticket the day before. I told him that our experience was life telling him to learn patience. :) I felt so bad for him, as he was extremely distraught and apologetic. I assured him that "we were cool" and not to worry as I knew I'd be fine.

When Shawn arrived, he checked my bike and told me it had a tilt to the frame, as well as broken shifters, and brake handles. He put it in the back of the truck and helped me get into the front seat comfortably. After getting insurance information and the police report, we headed to the hospital. It was a 2 hour emergency room visit to get x-rays and my elbow bandaged. I awaited the news that I had a broken clavicle. I was so glad to hear that's all it was. If it was dislocated, I would have had to be sedated to have it popped back in. If the muscles were torn badly, I may have had to have surgical interventions and in both those cases, months, even years of pain. I really did have the best case scenario considering the scope of possible injuries. I felt very blessed and grateful. A broken clavicle is a 4-6 week healing time through the wearing of a posture-perfecting sling.

It was obvious I had been cared for by angels who protected me. It was ironic that Shawn had been listening to the Lance Armstrong autobiography on his ipod the night before. When he turned it off, he recounted some facts from the story. He said that Lance had been run off the road and hit by cars more times than he could count, as well as having broken his clavicle as many times. I remember thinking on the possibilities and odds of getting hurt as he told me about it. Little did I know I'd learn first hand the next morning. When I was sitting on the curb chatting with the witnesses, one remarked "It looks like you'll be okay. You just won't be surfing for a little while." It was such an off-hand remark. I remembered something. We had been scheduled to go to Hawaii on May 27 for a family trip, which would have been just two days after the accident. At the beginning of the month, for other minor reasons, we decided to reschedule it until September. What a miracle! I would have been miserable not being able to hike volcanoes, zipline through the jungle, or surf!

While waiting for the results of the x-ray, I pondered over the events of the morning. I don't believe in "accidents." I think the word "accident" describes an experience or event we would not necessarily choose for ourselves. Accidents and the lessons that come from them are an integral part of our learning and growth process in mortal life, and are individually crafted to suit each of our needs. I was texting Aura telling her about what was going on. I told her that I got to be the instrument of a young man's progression as well as my own that morning. She asked me what I learned. I said "I am profoundly grateful for life, family, health, home, attitude, agency, the Gospel, and am again acutely reminded of the literal battle for souls." After further thought, I elaborated "I also realize it was an opportunity to be tested on forgiveness or bitterness. I sincerely am forgiving. I love that young man and pray he forgives himself." Aura said "Thank heavens for helmets. Oh, and angels!" to which I replied "Amen! :)"



It looks like I'll be cycling on a stationary bike for the next 4-6 weeks either at the gym or with the winter trainer we have at home. Maybe Shawn can even set it up outside for me. :) I don't want to lose the strength acquired in my legs and heart that I've been building over the past 10 weeks since I started cycling, nor disrupt the positive effects of cycling on my weight loss plans. In the last 10 weeks, I've ridden 754.18 miles and lost 24 lbs. Can't wait to get back outside, on the road again!

I've often thought that I want to leave life used up, spent, burned out, full of experiences and living in my years, complete. I don't want to leave with regrets of what might have been. I love this quote by Abraham Lincoln, "In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." Getting hit by a car is just another one of those experiences, and gratefully, another opportunity to spend a morning with the guardian angels that have supported, uplifted, and literally saved me on numerous other occasions. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for a brush with death any time soon, I've actually had too many this year so far, but I'm so grateful to those angels!

Amy Kenney

Miracles in the Mundane

Simplicity is the basis of, and for, all miracles. When I learned this, I found miracles everywhere.

While cycling yesterday, my mind flowed over the memory of many small miracles. Aura attended a high school prom last night, which facilitated not only the need to get a prom dress, but to make it match her date's attire. Countless texts, with photos of ties and dresses, passed between them in an effort to coordinate such a feat. The day before the prom, I spent a happy, yet miserable, (as I had my 3 youngest children age three and under with us) two hours at a dress shop while Aura tried on dresses. She found one, actually two that worked, which was great because she has another prom this Saturday. Did I mention that we were renting the dresses and that due to last minute preparation, selection and "matching" attire was very limited? We were locked in to a certain color scheme as he was wearing a royal blue tie and already had purchased a matching corsage. In the scramble, all I could think about was the fact that I have four daughters, innumerable proms and four weddings, with all the dresses that go with them, in my future. That's another post in itself! I felt like it was a miracle when we finally left the store with a dress that worked! Here is the result of all that effort: They look great, and they match! The miracle I thought of however, is one of complete serendipity--an effortless, happy "accident," completely unplanned, but perfect. Actually, I thought of several and they progressively became grander in scale as my mind became aware of the principle. The first was this small miracle of serendipity. Shawn and I went on a double date with Aura and our friend, Taylor, to see "Savior of the World" last November. On the way in to the Conference Center, I stopped them on the sidewalk to take a picture:

In that moment, as they stood next to each other, I said "Hey, you guys match!" It was the first anyone noticed as it was very random and completely unintentional. It was just a funny little "coincidence." There was no pre-planning. In fact, Aura was even running late and threw on her hurried ensemble in a ten minute rush. To find that Taylor's tie and pants matched her outfit perfectly was just uncanny. After spending all that time purposefully trying to create the same "matchiness effect" for prom, I see that it was one of those simple miracles. It reminded me of another. While filming "Stand Strong," we needed to get a family photo of the main characters to hang on the wall for the ending scene. We had a very limited time schedule to get it and the actors all had very busy schedules. I sent out an email to each actor detailing the day and time of the pics, praying they could all make it as it was just two days before filming began. The only instructions I gave were to wear a bright colored, solid shirt and jeans. I repeat, that was the only instruction. With no further coordination on my part, or from one actor to another, this is what we got:

A rainbow! Take that, "Pride Movement!" was what went through my mind as they assembled on the sofa. If you can believe it, I was actually wearing a purple shirt that day. This was just one of the many miracles we witnessed on the "Stand Strong" project. I saw how small, seemingly insignificant occurrences like matching clothing can really mean something on some grander spiritual level. Obviously miracles occur in more than just matching. The principle of finding miracles in the mundane is broader, universal, and eternal. I noticed the presence of a small miracle when my ipod was stuck on random play. By miraculous design, I always got the right song at the right time while running up a steep hill or pushing the final two minutes of exercise where I was attempting to finish strong and I really needed something energetic and inspirational to make it to the end. I couldn't have chosen the songs better had I been able to scroll them and select them myself in the moment. I would laugh until I cried as I crested the hill. I've also seen these small miracles at work in potluck dinners. Nearly each month over the past three years, there has been a potluck dinner for LAW Night, a women's support and social group I started to learn homemaking skills. With each month's invitation I have asked for a potluck item to be shared at a meal the first hour. Without fail, month after month, I have witnessed what I've come to term as the "power of the potluck." Every time without any further instruction than to bring your favorite main dish, salad or dessert, a balanced meal always arrived. All were amazed when one woman brought tortilla soup, another, chili, several brought salads, desserts, and someone brought cornbread. It was a totally perfect meal. No one coordinated what she would bring, only felt inspired to bring the item she brought.

I noticed the same principle at work the the large scale decisions of my life, including family size. Shawn and I made an early decision to trust the Lord about the number of children He chose to send into our family, as well as the timing He chose for us to finish. I internalized the reality that the witnessing of miracles is completely conditional upon faith. Otherwise, things that happen seem "coincidental."

Also in contemplating all these small miracles, another principle became clear. They can't be forced or over-planned. That is exactly what makes them miraculous, their unseemly, totally timely perfection that is better than expected, or what one could have created through their own best plan. That's the whole purpose of the miracle, to lead one to a Higher Source, a recognition that one could not have planned it better if they purposefully tried. Miracles always point to Divinity.

I noticed that in each case where a miracle was present, there was some plan in place, but never a very strict, over-scheduled, or forced plan. I like to call it a "vague plan." I am a huge fan of the vague plan. Plans that leave no room for serendipity make us miss the best part of life, the recognition of the hand of the Lord in it. Don't get me wrong. I am a natural planner and I love details, but I have learned that the Lord has better plans than I do and that if I have a plan that is tight enough to give me peace and allow for progress, but loose enough to let Him fill in the details, that it is the best kind of plan. Sometimes MY plan has been delayed, changed, or completely obliterated because the Lord has something else in mind entirely. Learning to seek, listen to, and trust His guidance brings the greatest peace and joy. He will make more of our gifts, talents and lives than we could ever do on our own.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding.
In all thy ways, acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.

Another favorite:

"The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common."

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

The way I conceptualize that quote is to look for miracles in the mundane. This synonym to Emerson's famous quote has a little more alliteration to it and is consequently quite catchy to recall. :) There is nothing so mundane as to not contain a miracle. Consider a spider's web or a busy ant hill.

Moses 6:63

And behold, all things have their likeness; and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things that are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me.

Miracles bear witness of Christ, not only His existence, but His love for us as He helps direct all for our individual good. This is demonstrated by all those little "coincidences" that happen to each of us. Miracles are nods of approval from a loving God. Look for them. They are abundant!