Every Now and Again...

You are pleasantly surprised.

The kids and I dined at one of the fine local eateries near the mall (ok IHop) today.  We were there in the after-lunch-not-yet-dinner (Senior) time frame.

The nice young man serving us had long hair and a tattoo (or 3).  I admit - such appearance leads me to certain expectations - young, rowdy-ish, perhaps disconnected from my POV, did I mention young? (Gosh now I feel really old).

Today I GLADLY say I WAS SO VERY WRONG!  I listened to this young man speak with tenderness and care to each older customer he was serving.  He asked, in earnest, the man behind me about his time in the war - REALLY wanting to know; it was clear that the young man wanted to befriend the gentleman (who was dining alone).  To my shame (and his credit) I am deeply touched that this (or any) young man took time out of his serving to sit and make someone feel less alone.

I hope that my children grow to be as caring and kind as this man is.  I pray for myself to be less judgmental.  Until then - I hope we are all pleasantly surprised more often.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Heaps of Grace

I am extraordinarily hard on myself.  It's only now that I realize (mostly) that my standards for myself (which I constantly fall short of) are, in fact, impossibly high. 

I begin to remedy this constant feeling of failure with much prayer and heaps of grace bestowed to myself.  It isn't easy after 38 years of constant practice, but I am beginning and you know what I find?  I find JOY.

So I encourage each of you to allow YOURSELF heaps of grace - especially during THIS season.  Please try and remember that Christmas is about Christ and love and hope and GRACE.  The rest of it - the gifts and the mall and the parties and the obligations are all contrived; not real.  In the long run the contrived bits are not even important and they certainly are not CRITICAL - regardless of what stores lead you to believe.

This Christmas and in life don't be fooled - love and grace for others and maybe most importantly for ourselves are the things that are critical.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Slowly...

Slowly - that's the mantra I keep repeating to myself.

I am working hard at keeping a slower pace these days.  Working at letting things go.  Working at being reasonable with my expectations.  Working at looking at what I have done instead of what's left to do.

I have to work at remembering that life is about moments; when I stay so busy and focused on the "To Do" list I miss those moments.   I am such a Martha.

Not Casey - he's a Mary.  He's always aware of the fun and joy of life and he's right in the middle of it most times.  I am learning to follow his lead.

Dishes and chores will wait.

This won't:





Remember to take things slowly this week.  It is NOT easy in a world that wants everything to be RIGHT NOW, but your life is worth it. YOU are worth it, so am I!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

For Clarification

Thank You so much for the positive responses to Riley's Hats!  Your generosity is overwhelming and much appreciated.

For Clarification:

Knit OR Crochet is just fine

Made for girls OR boys

DEFINE "SOFT" - If you'd put it on a baby - that's soft enough.  I am using lots of Michael's & Hobby Lobby brand chunky acrylics as they are soft, washable, and insanely bright colors that I think the kids will like.  Just be sure and test it under your chin (for softness) as not all acrylics/yarns are created equally.

Deadline:  Please have the hats to me by 12/15/2011

If you have any further questions please leave them in the comments - I'll get back to you I promise (sometimes it just takes me a bit).

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Thank You and Hats...

HUGE THANKS

to all who commented or wrote personally to send me love and prayers.  It means so much - truly.

I am doing well and remembering that I can only do one thing at a time and THAT'S OK.

Now on to hats.

Earlier this summer my nephew Riley was diagnosed with Leukemia.  He is 5 years old.  He's been going through Chemo and as such has lost his hair. 

I am participating in a team project over on Ravelry called Nerd Wars (geekery and knitting fun combined).  As part of the challenge I have committed to making 12 hats for Riley and his friends going through Chemo.

I have also committed to requesting donations from my knitting friends for at least 8 more hats.  I'd love for all of you the help me blow that number out of the water.

DETAILS:

The deadline of having the hats to me is 12/15/2011

The hats need to be kid sized (any pattern - the sillier the better) and made of very soft MACHINE WASHABLE yarn.

IMPORTANT: These hat must come from healthy, non-smoking homes. These children are immuno-compromised and must be protected from all germs and contaminates; what might be the sniffles to you is life-threatening to them.

Please leave me a comment or email me directly for more information and most of all Go Make Some Hats!

Thanks again guys - you ARE the best!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

A Fresh Start

Impossible Expectations.

Impossible Standards.

Self Imposed Deadlines.

Overwhelm.

Abject Failure.

Depression.

This is a personal emotional cycle I am desperately trying to break.  It's a struggle I don't talk about. It's not something others want to hear.  Mark Twain said "We are like the moon, we all have our dark side that we never show to anybody."

Medicine is helping.

Giving myself a break is helping.

Sharing my struggle (which is SO VERY HARD!) is helping.

Putting myself on my own 'To Do' list is helping.

I spoke with an older man on the flight back from Seattle recently and asked why he was away from home so often (he was in Seattle for 2 months and headed home for ten days before venturing to Jamaica).  He joyfully replied "Just living Life!"   I surprised myself by responding "Well no one else is going to do it for you!"  And it's true.  No one else is going to live my life for me.

So I start fresh.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Round em Up! Head em Out! Move em On! Rawhide!!!

Sorry - I got a little carried away there.

I am busy this week finishing my challenge quilt for the Atlanta Modern Quilt Guild.  And since I cannot show you pictures I give you a little list of things that are inspiring me and touching my heart this week.

Why Our Parents Put Us to Shame - this one really strikes a chord about how I want to live with my children

Geography for Children and a New Map - Geography is NOT my strong suit - this will help.

Crumbs Scraps and Strings - Doesn't this look like tons of fun?  I can't wait to try it with some of my new sewing buddies.

Action Kivu Wrap Up - Congrats to Alissa for meeting her fundraising goal.  Thanks to all who helped and Pryers for all the women and children this money will provide for.  What's your favorite Grass Roots charity - please leave me a link.

Living the Millionaire Life - This is what life is really about and theirs is such and interesting and methodical approach.

There's my weekly round up.  It's been quilting quilting quilting on the Kona challenge project and lots of blog reading for distraction.  I should finish up quilting and binding today just in time for the challenge deadline.  What's inspiring you this week?  Leave me links in the comments so I can check them out.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe