Christmas 2014

 What a difference a year makes!  Last year Christmas time was a little rough on a couple of  fronts, nevertheless, it was still fun and my babies were happy.  This year was a whole different story!  Better planning and less stress made for a Christmas full of smiles and surprised boys!

 

Now, the boys have a long tradition of filling out a wish list.  They are very thorough to include websites and item numbers.  They are not too crazy with their requests, so it is always fun to see their faces light up as they open their packages.

This year I was so busy with my classroom and events for Amy's Monkeys and making products that all the Christmas decorating fell to the men of the house.  This translates into a tree with no ornaments, but approximately 1 million twinkle lights controlled by a micro-controller attached to the computer.  Of course that's exactly what every systems engineer dreams of at Christmas time!

My husband was giddy with this tree.  He had always wanted a Christmas tree just full of lights.  It's so silly and simple that it just fits!

This Christmas was not about a ton of gifts or decorations or any of the other things that make people crazy this time of year.  It was all about our little family enjoying each other, getting some fun new things to build, eating way too well, and just being content.  

To me we nailed what the season is supposed to be about!

Until next time,

Amy Lynne

Merry Christmas

I hope you all have an amazing Christmas day 

filled with love and laughter!

Until next time,

Amy Lynne

The ART of Doing Nothing

I never thought in a million years my first post on my new blog would be about something heavy, but here I am because this is on my heart big time right now.

I worry about something so silly that I can't believe I'm going to say it out loud to the world.

I worry about people thinking I'm lazy.

I know in all reality that I am not lazy, but the fact that I'm not more productive drives me to that conclusion. Not that fact that I teach in a classroom all day, make goodies for my shop, or take care of my house and my people.  Nope, that has no bearing on how I see the use of my time.  The scariest thing is I am probably not alone in feeling this way.

 But here's the thing, when did we make the switch as a society that we had to be doing something every blessed moment of our waking day?  

When did we start glorifying busy?!?

I remember my grandpa coming home from driving a big truck, taking a shower, making a giant bowl of popcorn, and wait for it...just sitting and watching a movie or a show on T.V..  Never once did I think, "Wow, why isn't Pap mowing the yard or making something or fill in the blank."  It never occurred to me that he wasn't being productive every waking moment and guess what?!?  That was both normal and acceptable for someone that had just come home for work.

One of my most favorite books and movies, "Eat, Pray, Love" has an amazing scene from Italy where the characters talk about the sweetness of doing nothing.

Isn't that an amazing idea?  The sweetness of doing nothing.  

Permission to just be in the moment without some purpose or agenda.  

So here's my proposal, especially as we enter the crazy holiday season, 

take time each day to just chill, regroup, rest, whatever you want call it.

Stop the glorification of busy.  Stop comparing your life to all the other bloggy moms.  Stop worrying about what other people think about your productivity because in all reality they probably aren't even thinking about what you are doing.  Poor things are too busy worrying about what you are thinking of them.

Let's give ourselves and everyone around us a break and just enjoy all the blessings we have been given.  I know we all have stuff to accomplish, but hanging with your people while you all enjoy a movie is a better memory than getting one more load of laundry folded and put away.

I know it may not be easy to flip the switch, but I am betting it will be totally worth it!!

Until next time,

Amy Lynne