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Meet Amy Bayliss

Photography by Tracy Jackson / Shots from the Heart Photography

Are you trying to get your life in order? Learn how to be more creative? Stock your pantry and freezer with the staples? Maybe you want to make your home beautiful? Wanta know about those couyon Cajuns? Then there is the gray hair episodes: find out how to get your kid out of a tree; how not to pack for a trip; and why my boys make weapons with paper and tape.

If any of the above interests you then you are definitely in the right place. Unless, of course, you are one of those blog soap readers who just like to people watch. In that case I have plenty of drama for you too! :)

Hi there! I am Amy Bayliss. I come from a long line of Cajuns and I am blessed to have been taught the secrets to enjoying and living a fulfilled life.  It isn’t a persona. It is a real tried and true frame of mind. If you don’t believe me just read my blog. I should be bald or in a looney institute somewhere but thanks to my Jesus and my heritage, I’m not.

The scoop on moi:

I am a follower of Christ, a 30-something years young mother of 4 rough little boys (*Carsten-14, Maxon-12, Andrew-10, and Matthias – 1!) and married to the love of my life, Ryan. We have a rowdy Boxer dog named Sarge. He is my loyal friend nemesis. They give me lots of great writing material and I use it to my full advantage – when appropriate. ;o)

I’m creative and a bit of a DIYer. We always have a project going on; we are currently renovating our home; I’m always making new printables to give away; and I just love trying recipes. You can experience it all with us! In fact, you can subscribe to our free updates so you don’t miss anything.

Through my life experiences, God has given me a desire to help others to overcome their circumstances and enjoy their life. Do I love life every day? Not quite. I’m human and I have bad days too but I don’t let those days define me. I didn’t let my past write my future. It simply gave me the opportunity to make my future better.

From my first marriage I have a special needs child with dwarfism (Cartilage-Hair Hypoplasia) and two more sons. Several years ago their father and I divorced. I spent a year or two finding myself and rekindling my relationship with God. Two years later I met Ryan and 2 years after that we were married. We have one son from our union. We struggled as a blended family. Not because Ryan and I couldn’t blend with the kids but because blending with their father wasn’t easy. After three years of chaos, myself, Ryan and my boys’ dad, Mark had finally come to a place of love, respect, and even friendship. We were a family. Giving up all of the pain and bitterness gave us a relationship that we were excited about. That ended on October 18, 2010 when Mark passed away quite unexpectedly.

We still hurt. We still cry. We are still walking through it, together.

I write because I can’t not write. This blog gives me the freedom to share our story, our life, and our testimonies.

This is not an “extreme” anything blog. There is a balance to all things and that balance comes from our own standards and expectations. I get so exhausted just hearing about some of the extremes of living that some talk about and goodness gracious don’t get me started on reality TV. Who writes that stuff? I like to know how the average person enjoys and lives their life well so I decided to write about it myself. It is the balance of little things that can bring us daily joy. Mixed in with that you will find the stories of the reality I live with each and every day.

One of my hobbies is learning new skills and gaining knowledge. I’ve taken many continuing education classes and use what I learn there and adapt it to fit my lifestyle and wants. Some of the subjects I’ve learned about include: nutrition, culinary skills, organization, interior design, and holistic health. You can be sure that I will blog about how I apply that to my every day crazy life.

In my community:

I serve my community as a meal coordinator for our church’s Helps Meals and Cancer Ministry. We serve meals to those who are ill, recently had surgery, have new babies, or any other reason that one might need a meal. We deliver it! I post lots of recipes and make ahead meals so you can deliver meals to those in need too! If you are in the Baton Rouge area and are in need of meals then just give us a call: (225) 753-2273.  In addition to that I am an advocate against sex trafficking and volunteer time and services to Trafficking Hope. We serve our community in various other ways too as we see a need arise.

My Online Projects:

I started blogging in January 2006 when I can across the blog of a fry thief named Sprittibee. She inspired me to create my first blog called In Pursuit of Proverbs 31. That is now the title of my first bible study (edited, formatted version soon to be re-released). At that time I also began my first online business, Split Decisionz where I designed blogs and offer blog coaching. Not long after that I co-conspired with Amy Stults to bring you Heart of the Matter Online and the Heart of the Matter Online Conference. I also partnered with Lori MacMath to revive and redesign Internet Cafe Devotions. Those projects soared and I am proud to say that my ideas, networking, and knowledge helped to bring them where they are today. Over a year ago I also founded and inspired HomeMakers Challenge. Maybe I should call myself the “web site start up girl”. I have retired from HomeMakers Challenge, HOTM and ICD but I love watching what Christin at HC, Amy & Angela at HOTM and Lori and Jennifer at ICD are up to. What can I say? I’m like a proud mama.

Amy Stults was also co-owner at A Woman Inspired. When we split our mini-empire I became sole owner and operator. A Woman Inspired now hosts one large online conference per year in April (tentatively). It is in a bit of a transition period right now.

Other projects I have recently taken on are DIY Ministry with Lisa Boyd: a one stop place to get all of your blogging, WordPress, and social networking help.

Professionally speaking (and writing)…

For the past 12 years I have enjoyed speaking at various conferences, events and small groups. You can regularly find me speaking at the A Woman Inspired online conferences and occasional workshops that are hosted online. I’m a professionally trained speaker and also a graduate of She Speaks 2009. You can find information about my speaking services here: Invite Amy Bayliss to Speak or be an Instructor at Your Event.

I was cover girl and feature story for Christian Women Online (CWO) Magazine in August of 2008, my household binder was featured on Inside Out television program, and I had a small feature in an article released in the February 2010 edition of Woman’s Day Magazine that highlighted my idea for a “fast food” snack / lunch basket in the refrigerator.

In addition to that, I have been featured on the following fine websites:

Fun Facts about me:

On the background operations of this blog:

I believe in giving credit where credit is due. I am not a one woman show. I am not capable of nor do I stress myself out trying to operate and run this blog on my own. My technologically savvy husband helps in many areas so that I am free to create and write. Yes, I did marry the most amazing man in the world and yes, I am sorry that you thought that you did. ;)

I am a self-taught graphics designer and I did design my own blog but I did not code the hard stuff and I have help maintaining it. Lisa Boyd is a rock star when it comes to bringing ideas to life through code. I love that woman. She has a heart of gold and a brain full of fluent html and css code. I want to be like her when I grow up. You can find her at LisaBoyd.com.

Most of the guts of this operation: SEO, editing, interlinking and the like is done by two of my bestest friends: Jami Kelly and Holly Smith. They are like the two halves that make this thing whole. I know the math is off but you get the point. They have patience and know how beyond my own.

The fantabulous professional photos you find of my family were shot by a woman with some mad photography skills, Tracy Jackson. She owns and operates Shots from the Heart Photography. I HIGHLY recommend her. She also teaches a Mommytography class where she can teach you some mad skills too. I heart her.

And because I can’t possibly find out everything I need to know about running a successful blog, my girl Darcy from Graphically Designing coaches me and helps me to think outside of my own brain. That is a tall order, y’all.

Dianne Godwin is my grammar ninja. She knows all about what to do with this stuff: ” , – … :., and she won’t let me use double negatives. Or, something like that. She sends me page after page of red marks known as “edits” and I have to say that I love it because she makes me look good. If you read my blog then you know I can’t self edit: grammar or content. *laughs*  I adore, Dianne. She is kind and forgiving and just an awesome example of Christ’s love. I appreciate her so much.

*For those of you who know us yes, we are using pseudonyms for the boys in order to protect them. :)

Anything else you want to know?

Read my FAQs page.



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