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

So Long, Summer!

My favorite time of the year is slipping away. I love all the seasons and have favorite parts about each, but summer is the best!

I gained my love for it as a child. From sun up to sun down, my sisters and friends and I roamed the wide world of Payson, UT, engaging in such activities as catching worms for my road-side worm sale business. We hunted night crawlers, barefoot, in the mud of the neighbor's garden after 10 PM each night by the light of cheap flashlights. Nothing says summer like fat, wriggling worms between my fingers and mud between my toes. We especially loved floating, and racing sticks, and better yet, our jelly shoes, in the ditch to see if they would come out of the culvert on the other side of the road. My mom stopped buying those amazing plastic shoes because we lost too many. We had rotten tomato fights, threw eggs at cars (bad idea, I know), made neighbor kids eat or drink strange "concoctions" composed of all sorts of random organic materials, made up dances, chased the ice cream truck for blocks, walked downtown to go to the park or the movie and played truth or dare. Days and days were spent collecting and selling golf balls, spending our quarters at Mendenhall's Market on the table-top Pacman game, swimming at Payson Pool, riding bikes, playing every variation of tag, having massive water fights, sleeping out on the trampoline so we could go toilet-papering the neighbors and the homes of the boys we liked.

My childhood was really good. In fact, it was great! I really didn't start to hate living in Payson until high school when it suddenly seemed so distant from any real action. Life in Payson as a teen wasn't nearly as cool as in the happening town of Provo, thirty miles north. As a teen, I always complained that there was nothing to do in that small town. But, that's another story.

Because of those lax and playful summers of my youth, nostalgia has surely guided my parenting decisions about summertime fun as a mom. I live and love the summer the same way as I did as a child, with the exception of childish vandalisms. I have never allowed nor encouraged, and certainly, ever taken my kids to do any toilet-papering. As a parent, I have taken a more mature approach to summertime fun, but I still engage in it whole-heartely. This time I get to enjoy it with Shawn and nine amazing kids! We've had lots of fun without doing any toilet-papering!

Since childhood summers come only once, I vowed to make them count. Here are some highlights from this summer:


Triathlon season.

Sierra jumping from a 40 foot diving platform at Lava Hot Springs, ID.


Fishing at Flaming Gorge.

Cooperative play in a great mud hole at our weekly homeschool park day.

Ice cream while wearing bright colored clothes and pink flip flops.

Cycling a morning ride on a highway in Idaho.

Playing with friends.

Jet skiing at Jordanelle Reservoir for Christian's birthday.

Rope swings at Burston Ponds.

Swimming!

Floating the river at Lava Hot Springs, Idaho.

Christian jumping his dirt bike.

Goodbye summer! See you next year!

The Power of Creativity + a Plan = Amazing Results

Every amazing event, pursuit, action or result I have ever witnessed or experienced was the natural result of a masterful plan. Life itself is God's greatest plan, specifically designed for the ultimate happiness, growth and eternal progression of each His children.

I am so inspired when I witness the creative power to impact eternity, carried out through a purposeful plan. Nothing inspires me like the creative process, and the result such creativity brings. The purposeful design and beauty of everything from the universe, to nature, to animals and people and their raw potential for greatness, stir within me an unparalleled rapture and awe as I recognize the hand of the Creator in all. It is difficult for me not to feel moved to the point of tears as I walk through a crowd of people . I am touched at the beauty and diversity of the size, shape and color of each individual. God's artistic expression is evident in the face and physique of each person. We are each, basically, a purposeful, planned, and unique work of art. My heart also swells when I view beauty in the handmade works of man, knowing that these works too are a gift from God.

As we are each patterned after God's image in both form and function, we too are creators. Creativity is our birthright. Creative expression comes as naturally and deeply to each soul as the experience of emotion. This life offers each of us ample opportunity to discover or role as creators, insight into our individual gifts of creative expression, and a boundless canvas to impact our surroundings. All that is needed to bridge the gap from potential possibilities, to completion, is purposeful action taken on a plan. A plan is the tool to enact and unleash creativity from its potential state and bring it to a state of completion; the result.

Since creativity can be used for good, or evil, according to the will and application of the creator, intention and motive are critical. I have often pondered such results as the Holocaust, and the purposeful actions of terrorism, genocide, and abortion and traced the results back to the origin of thought, which is always the first step in the creative process. Thought always precedes action. When the thought is dark, wicked, corrupt and vile, the result created will always be as well.

The power to create good or evil is given to each of us. The creative power is meant to be used with wisdom, discernment, and an eagerness to please God. When our creative intention is anything other than the desire to please and glorify God, especially, when it is self-serving, it is subject to all manner of corruption. Enlightenment or entrapment directly result from the correct or incorrect application of creative expression.

With boundless potential to impact eternity, and the gift of creativity to do it, we are each prepared to complete God's will and build His kingdom. I am especially excited when youth recognize their creative capacity and engage in such a process. I got to witness such an action, on a grand scale, even, this summer.

One Thursday morning, July 15, to be exact, I watched as two teens created a plan that impacted their lives, my life, and the lives of the rest of my family. Aunts, uncles, cousins and friends also joined in the fun. They essentially impacted eternity for good. The result was such a memorable and enjoyable month, that none of us will ever forget it. The planning session took three concentrated hours that consisted of making a list of fun activities and experiences they wanted to do. Once their list was complete, they systematically fit the activity list into specified days and times on a calendar. Because the plan was so well thought out and incredibly fun, the whole family got behind it and greatly benefitted from it.

Planning session.

The calendar:



Highlights:

Rope swing at Burston Ponds.

Water fight.

Horsey rides.

Dirtbiking.

Zip line and Alpine Slide at Snowbird.

Jet Skiing and boating at Jordanelle Reservoir.

Hiking, backpacking and camping in the Uintah's.

Taking pics at Temple Square.

I love it when today's youth exhibit so much faith, vision, creativity, attention to detail, unity, cooperation and purposeful application. It inspires me, and reassures me that the leadership of tomorrow rests with the wise and the capable. The upcoming generation is powerful, good, strong, intelligent and fun. We were blessed enough to get to experience a preview of their power this summer. I can't wait to see this generation serve missions, pursue an education, assume leadership positions, rear children, and impact the world for good. It won't be long before they set out to work. They are creating their plans now...