got wake?

i received the nicest card today.  a co-worker thanked me (yes, me) for being patient and kind.  i consider myself a "bull-in-a-china-shop" most of the time, so to hear this made my day.  i need people like her to slow me down.  after all, life is a big balance beam.  we all need one other to keep steady.  thank goodness for the amazing people in my life that balance me out!  (oh, and if you have seen my new profile pic on facebook, she also gave me the precious pink, heart-eyed, full of fun koosh ball!  wow, does she know me?!)  smiling as i type this...

have you considered your "wake?" you know, like the waves that follow a boat.  it ripples out into this beautiful "pattern."  everything you do & don't do matters.  everything.  thank you my friend for reminding me of that today.  i am honored that my "wake" has made a difference in your life.  sigh.

i pulled this pic off of pinterest because i love the words.  "the fruit of the spirit...peace, joy, love, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self control and gentleness."  it is mostly Galatians 5:22-23 as it says, but there are a few extra yummy words in there.  <3

we all need reassurance, but know that YOU matter.  everything you do and don't do affects those around you.  i am so grateful for the amazing people in my life.

heart hands and smiles

hold tight...

of all you love.

life has a "funny" way of reminding you.

listen to life... love is all there is.  (along with being gracious and kind and patient and a million other "little" things)

hold tight.  hug huge amounts, it helps.  i have first hand knowledge.

heart hands <3

(sending prayers and love to c, d, s, mm & h.) xox

color me happy...

can color make you happy?  i know so!  (no scientific evidence here, just the way i feel)

i LOVE pink!  i especially love the feeling when i get to wear it!  look at the f.a.b.u.l.o.u.s. shoes i got to wear at work that happen to match a new TCS shirt  (love my Danskos!)  i smiled ALL day!

my new shoes are called "poppy," which is meaningful for many reasons...we named Daddy "Poppy" for the grand babies AND i have poppies growing out front in his honour!  (just saw the heart as i was proofreading-do you see it?!?)  <3

then, this pretty pink rose greeted me at the end of my day at Callie & David's house...

spring brings so many yummy colors...i hope you stop and "smell the roses" of colors in your day today, and everyday.

grateful for colors that make me happy and the little things in life.

heart hands and smiles :)

childlike...

childlike, the definition...

i got to thinking (and Siri was here to help) what does the word "childlike" mean to you?  i think about the sound of laughter.  <close your eyes and think of it.>  if you hear giggling, you've got it!

i giggle A LOT.  especially about the little things.  maybe because i want to or need to.  maybe i'm childlike.  i'm okay with whatever the reason, i just enjoy giggling.  pretty sure it's good for my soul.

like her definition says, it's simple.  just laugh.  belly laugh.  giggle.  it's such a yummy treat in life.

wishing you childlike smiles... <3

meow...

as i mentioned in a december post, we adopted our cat from Feral Friends.  his name is Chez (he came with that name and we decided to keep it.  you may pronounce any way you desire...cheaze, shay, etc.  he doesn't mind, really.  we say kitty or kitten.  well, Martin says kitty, i say kitten.  giggle)

as i move around the house this evening, he is there.  always.  just there.  sometimes in the way (trip....meeeooowwwwww) but mostly just there.  it's like he's watching over us.  i believe he is our kitty angel.  we rescued one another.  look at his angel face...

isn't it funny if you really stop to think about it, that we are meant to be in one another's lives?!  from your pet to the people you meet everyday, your facebook friends and the blogs you choose to read.  deep, i know, but really think about it...i believe we are walking on certain paths for a reason.  the yummy part is paying attention and interacting with the puzzle pieces of your path.  sometimes the pieces fit, and it feels perfect.

give yourself a moment to breathe it all in and appreciate the path and the people you are presented with.  i believe there is a reason.  i have faith in the journey and i hope you do too.  you will smile more, i promise.  and after all, smiling is stupendous.  and contagious.  test it out...it's a fact.

wishing you sweet dreams.  heart hands <3 , amy :)

p.s.-Chez is sleeping/purring on my desk, 1mm from my pc.  i'm such a pushover for cuteness.  xox

best day ever!

oh my goodness... what a wonderful day we had!  we got to be a part of "parade of giants"!  (google it~pretty awesome stuff!)  just look...

dallas, texas was one cool place to be today for the bridge celebrations!

What a view!

I got to be "left-handed" today.  :)  Meet Victor Considérant, the puppet we helped carry in the parade...

gonna be hard to top this day, but I look forward to the adventures! 

heart hands and lots of smiles <3

love...

do you believe in love?

i do.  i married him 15 years ago.  valentine's day.  i'm a hopeless romantic kinda gal.  <sigh.>  he puts up with my antics, my drama and me; just as i am.  we are complete opposites and completely the same.  how does that happen?!?  it is the gift of marriage.  two people become one.  we choose to be kind to one another, love unconditionally and kiss (on the lips) every day.

happy heart day to you!  i adore today for so many reasons.  fifteen to be exact.  <3

why, what?...

...what is my path in life?  why am i at The Container Store?  what angel brought me to my Martin?  why do I "feel" things???...  

i'm not sure.  but i KNOW I am here for a big, big purpose.  (please let me know if you have figured all this out, cause i'm still trying!)

the journey is life, right?  (life brings death.  still struggling with that one.)  

BUT!  i adore life!  i love being happy, silly, smiling and fun. i adore sharing that with others!  i just wish i had more time to share the silliness with Mom & Daddy.

one of my favorite greeting cards (framed of course) says, 

it actually sits right by the back door to remind me every day.  "I came to live out loud."  
facebook is such an amazing resource (yes, really).  i was lucky enough to see and read this tonight...i only hope i can follow her example of living out loud... 

peace and love my friends.  heart hands and smiles.

by Giselle Fernandez

One of my great passions in life is seeking out women who live out loud—the brave and daring dames who connect deep to their yearning and purpose, shunning paychecks and predictability, courageously leaping into the abyss to make their dreams reality.

I seek them out perhaps because it is my great longing to be among them.

My initial thought that they all just woke up one day—self-realized, and fully awake to who they are. But I have discovered that it doesn’t just happen. It is a journey of the soul. It is a series of experiences, waves, and roadways traveled. Until one gets to a point where the old ways just aren’t working anymore. It’s like a light switched on inside that can’t be turned off. A light that’s bright and powerful, like a jolt of lightning, that this is your one life—your  blessed, precious shot to live and do exactly as you believe, feel, and make real, each precious day.

So many of us put off, silence, ignore, or rationalize that voice, every calling us to be less “human doings” and more “human beings.”

These extraordinary women, when I find them, invite us all to ask ourselves, “Are we being exactly who we are born to be?” and “Are we doing exactly what our being is born to do?”

Across the globe, I have encountered numerous such phenoms that have awakened to their highest path—their “True North,” exemplifying that acting on a dream not only becomes a sense of fulfilled destiny, but almost always involves profound work that invariably makes the world a better place.

I know myself how difficult it is to detach from fears and habits that bind us—despite their stagnant waters. I know the allure of the possible, and the closeness of a dream. I also know the the fragility of commitment that draws one to the edge of the cliff, ready to jump—then pulls you back not to dare once more. But no matter how many times I’ve retreated from the mighty calling, no matter the sense of resignation—that, Will I ever be bold enough to jump? or should I just make peace with what-is and just settle?—there is always a voice whispering my name, smiling from within, a knowing that just will not go away. Like so many of you, I know I was born to change the world—in my own way, in this life, with my unique gifts. I just don’t know when that “one day” will be. But my dream is to do it with my eyes wide open, just as the inspiring women mavericks across the globe that have inspired me. They invite a spirit of urgency to get on track, on purpose, to live our lives out loud.

wind chimes...

...two in particular touch my soul.  Mom sings out back and Daddy dances out front.  (we gave Mom the wind chime for Christmas several years ago & Daddy gave us the one out front.)  i actually talk to them, no really.  "hi mom!" and "lovely day daddy." it's as if they are watching over us with the wind.  well, that's what i choose to believe.  it helps to keep them close.  sigh.

it's really windy out tonight.  they are singing and dancing.

heart hands for my amazing Mom & Daddy.  <3  I miss them so.

much much love, your amy leigh

happy new year...

celebrate!  just because you can. 

love the amazing day to day things that make you smile.

happy new year!  heart hands and smiles...

Christmas spirit...

...what is Christmas spirit?  I'm guessing we will have a similar definition...

Here is my question to ponder...why is it Christmas spirit?  Why don't we have yummy, merry spirit EVERY day?  Wouldn't the world be a happier place?!  (not that we aren't happy, but you get my drift)

I am generally so tired of Christmas music (I work retail, and we get to start that in mid-October.  That's my birthday time people!! :), but this year I cannot get enough!  I LOVE pandora!  I adore Michael Buble's Christmas CD!  (yes, i bought an actual cd)  I am obsessed with stretching out the Christmas spirit this year.  Not sure why, but it feels smiley and wonderful and good.  I love feeling smiley and wonderful and good, don't you?

Let's stretch the spirit of happy loveliness...just because we can.  Hug the ones you love.  Tell them how much you adore them.  Smile a.l.o.t.  It gives you gorgeous laugh lines (I am rare and love mine).

Merry merry Christmas.

heart hands and smiles to all, and to all a good night.  :)

Look at this lover that we got from Santa.  He has purred his way into our hearts.

twinkle lights & traditions

Why does it become more "possible" to be patient and kind during the holiday season?  I'm not sure I even need an answer to that question...I just love that it "is."  <sigh>

Maybe the twinkle lights help?!  I know that my spirit is lifted from all the Christmas deco's that were hung in our home today.  Smiling from ear to ear admiring the wonderment that surrounds me tonight.  :)  What a wonderful tradition of decorating we have here.  <3

One tradition in particular makes my heart smile a mile.  My Mom's "snoopy tree."  It stands with pride in my kitchen aglow with every ornament she admired.  She loved her tree so much, it even stayed up year-round sometimes.  Ho Ho Ho, my Paw-paw would say!

Wishing you joy & love this holiday season.

Make it magical.

heart hands and smiles. xox

thx...

thx.  thanks.  THANKS.  thank you.  Thank You.  no really, thank you.  you.

sooooo many things to be thankful for.  i need reminding of that sometimes, i guess we all do.  today for some reason was one of those days.  it's Thanksgiving though, why am i in need of a reminder?  (been pondering that question all day.)

i'm thankful for such a loverly day with family.  the giggles were bountiful with the kiddos, and it makes me a whole new person when i get to soak them in.  sigh.

blessings to you and yours.
signing off with a thankful heart...love, auntie amy

best.walk.ever!  please notice the bucket, which we chocked full of acorns, pecans and leaves...otherwise known as "nature."  :)