As I sit to write these words, a stack of Christmas cards awaits being stuffed into envelopes that still need stamps and addresses, an ever-growing shopping list stares at me from the bulletin board, and boxes half filled with decorations sit strewn about my living room. The calendar on my refrigerator looks like a battlefield, littered with scribbled events, awash in smudged pencil and fighting valiantly for priority. Can’t forget to book the babysitter, and clear space on my camera before the kids’ recital, and while you’re at it, Amy, try getting the gifts mailed before Christmas Eve this year, ok? And where is Mr. Elf? Isn’t he supposed to come visit the day after Thanksgiving? Sheesh, get on that, and don’t forget to shop, and bake, and wrap, and sew, and clean…go, go go! Seriously Amy, get it together!
Isn’t it easy to feel overwhelmed right about now? As soon as Thanksgiving hits, it’s like a whirlwind of scotch tape and gingerbread crumbs blows through the door and leaves me bound, gagged, and wondering what in the world just happened. It’s Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year, so why do I so often feel like I’m sprinting through an obstacle course, fighting for sanity amidst nothing but stress? My challenge this month is a big one. My challenge is to cut through the twinkle lights and the cocktail dresses and the line at Costco, through the Pinterest boards overflowing with fluffy pumpkin mousse and burlap wreaths. My challenge is to find stillness, to find quiet reflection, to find that deep, enveloping joy…joy that could never come from a sweet deal on a flat screen TV or from getting Santa’s gifts wrapped a week in advance. A joy even deeper than seeing the looks on my kids faces on Christmas morning.
You know, it’s funny. I’ve gotten an overwhelmingly positive response to these personal challenges this year, but inevitably I have received a couple of emails from folks who “didn’t realize this was going to be a Bible study” or “could do without the scriptures.” One woman told me she thought I had a “nice quilt blog”, until I started posting about my faith. And you know, I pondered that feedback, and all I could come up with was an even stronger urge to keep it real and to write about what really matters to me. And I know that if I ignore that urge, and waste this opportunity to talk about real struggles, real questions, real life, when I have the chance to, then I would be a shell of a woman, hiding behind a facade of pretty quilts and perfect pictures.
So as our year comes to an end, and the season of light is upon us, I will speak what’s on my heart unapologetically. If you celebrate the Christmas that I do, the Christmas that started in a dirty, stinky stable, at the most humble of births, the Christmas that brings real hope to a real world in such desperate need of it….if that is the Christmas deep in your heart, will you bring it to the surface this year? This might look different for each of us. For me, it means finding that stillness, that clarity, and quite frankly, doing away with a few things as well. For me, it might mean spending less time trying to think of what the Elf on the Shelf could be doing, and more time helping my children to focus on what really matters. It might mean spending a little less money on Amazon and giving a little more to those with real needs. Perhaps it means a little less time on social media, and a little more time praying, reading, singing…and sometimes just being still and quiet enough to hear what God might be trying to tell me, but that I’m usually missing because I’m so darned preoccupied. The “still” for this challenge comes from Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.” Whenever I find myself struggling with anxiety or stress, whenever I’m begging for the answers to all of life’s problems, or am just overwhelmed at the pull between two worlds, especially during this time of year, this verse really grounds me. Just be still and know….
Nativity Art by Kate Cosgrove, available here
If you don’t celebrate Christmas at all, or are frustrated at the direction that this challenge is going, then by all means delete and move on to stitching up your block, but to those of you who are still with me, to those of you who feel this topic tugging at your heart, will you join me? Will you take on this challenge to intentionally make some changes this season, in whatever way that looks like for you and your family, in an effort to focus more intently and wholly on what Christmas is really all about? I think we’ve probably all heard “Jesus is the reason for the season” or “Keep the Christ in Christmas” a thousand and one times and for me, they grow more cliche and trite each time I hear them. This challenge is about taking that idea and making it real, making it actually mean something in your everyday life this season, and throughout the year. What does it actually look like to celebrate the birth of a savior, and how may it be different than the Christmas that we see celebrated in our culture? Do some of these social traditions and rituals celebrate what you really want to be celebrating? Do they fit what is really important to your family? Do you ever feel social pressure to make your Christmas holiday look a certain way?
I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas! What does your family do at Christmas to block out the commercial noise, and focus on the true meaning? What kinds of things do you think might be getting in the way for you? Do you have any special traditions? What stresses are the most hindering for you and your family, and what steps could you take toward getting rid of them? I’d love it if you’d leave a comment to join in the conversation with your thoughts and ideas on keeping priorities straight during this season. It has been such an enormous blessing to read your uplifting comments throughout this year, and I just love hearing your inspiring personal stories, experiences, ideas, and goals. What an amazing opportunity we have, as friends in quilting, yes, but also in life, to share our hearts and build one another up in such a meaningful way.
XO
Amy, I have enjoyed your BOM this year and especially like your December block. Thank you so much for all the time you have taken from your family time to share your talent in quilting. I will miss it next year. Now to get busy sewing the blocks.
Amy, I have loved the way you are staying true to your faith. I love the challenges that you have presented each month and also made me ponder on the direction of my life too. THANK YOU!!
I, along with my husband, have decided to do away with the commercialism of Christmas this year too.Instead of presents, we are giving of our time to each other. A weekend away with the eldest daughter and her partner. A day out bowling with the youngest followed by a great meal together. Too often in the hustle and bustle of our lives we don’t give of ourselves and make memories that will be with us for a long time. We are hoping to change that in 2015.
I look forward to continuing to follow your life as you post those precious photos of your amazing children and the wonderful life that you are giving them as caring, Christloving parents. That is the best gift you can give them. Blessings for a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy 2015.
Thanks for this series, Amy. I’m just getting back into quilting, and doing more reading than stitching so far. But I am feeling more and more that one real pull for me to come back to quilting is the connection of so many blogging quilters today – faith and family take priority, and that is wonderful. Even remarkable, considering our society today. So while I hope to catch up soon (retiring in May!) with all the blocks and quilting techniques I’m reading about, I’m truly loving the inspiration you are adding in this series. It is so nice to get a glimpse of the real you behind your beautiful quilts!
I have stopped sewing this month. If it isn’t done by now, it’s not going to get done and this is why there are stores.
Back in the day when my kids were home, we decided which things we really needed to do to make it feel like Christmas and which things were just adding to the chaos of the season. I began simplifying then. And now I give my grandchildren experiences during this season, rather than a lot of gifts. Taking them away for a couple of big activities helps my daughter get her holiday chaos done and gives them a memory with me.
The biggest thing I did when I first started a simpler, more quietly spiritual Christmas was institute a rule that only Santa brought toys. It caused much angst among my family at first, to be limited in what they could give my kids, but the lack of so many toys actually brought the insanity level on Christmas day down a lot. Worth all the hard talks with my parents and siblings.
Kim…I love what you do with your grandkids…making memories with them…you can’t buy that at Target, Walmart or Nordstrom. Such an inspiring thought for me. I need to talk to grandpa. ☺
Thank you for this post. It comes at a time when I’m feeling a bit lost. Some family issues financial and others causing much stress. I don’t go to church but think about it often. I have faith just not attending church at this time. I looked at the calendar – I too see WAY too many things on it for December. Between my two jobs, kids schedules, trying to do the baking and sewing (things I enjoy) for Christmas, I’m overwhelmed already and it’s only December 1. Not sure what to do about it all but I guess just pray things resolve and don’t get any worse. Thanks again for your thoughtful post. Just ignore the negative comments. They really aren’t worth your time or thought. I still believe in the….if you don’t have anything nice to say then just don’t say anything.
Hi Amy, I am at work via fill in the Email, etc. I have followed your success since your free Block of the Month on Craftsy, and was in your Sugar Block club one month; we spoke about your inlaws being in Virginia where my mom and sister live, and we even shared I have the same chandelier in my dining room that you have in your home. I see you have made some posts in Fons and Porters and made some awesome public appearances, etc., but most of all I Praise God for your sharing your faith, and all the turns, ups and down you and your family go through. God is so good, and people need to know this in our life today, because the world is becoming an extremely dark place. Keep sharing His light, you never know, that would you could lead to Christ and so on and so. Merry Christmas to you and your family, and Thanks for being you Amy.
“I have to” seems to be the refrain of the season. So last year I took those words out of my vocabulary. We don’t have to do anything. We can choose instead. So I did all the same stuff as always but I was so much happier. It was amazing how just a small change in thinking made me so much happier. I guess there really is something to be said for being mindful. I hope you have a Merry Christmas!
Amy, I may not be on schedule with my blocks, but will get there. I never miss your blog and love that you stay true to your faith. I am in the process of trying to sell our CA home and move back to the Midwest (IA) where we will eventually retire. It is hard to get the sewing out and putting it back, so everything is neat for showings. We are trying to ‘give’ more this year, as in pkgs to the soilders in Afghanstan, helping those in need, etc. My very best friend has told her family they would be having a ‘homemade’ Christmas this year, i.e. cookies, homemade noodles, etc. Or buying fruit to make their own fruit baskets, simple but thoughtful gifts.
As was stated earlier, never mind what others say, IMHO, you and your family are on the right track.
Amy, I, for one, truly enjoy your sharing of faith and family in the Personal Challenge posts. I look forward to reading what you have to say and what your family is up to. Your words are ALWAYS encouraging and uplifting, your attitude positive. I pray that will not change for you and you will not become discouraged by naysayers or the busy of this world. We had wonderful Christmas traditions while my mother was still alive, but we are struggling, still after a few years, to get the joy and traditions back. Each year gets easier and we continue to try to build new traditions without her, yet always remembering her.
Amy,
I always read your blog, and regardless of what others may say or think, please continue to speak what’s in your heart. You and your family are younger — my daughter-in-law and son’s age. My daughter in law says a lot of the same things you do. She also has been home-schooling their kids the last several years.
My favorite tradition? Putting out the many Nativity Scenes I’ve collected and been given. The traditional part of it??? I don’t put the “baby” in the cradle. Not until midnight Christmas Eve. It was something I learned many years ago, and while most people put out the whole set, I stick to my way. He wasn’t born until Christmas….so can’t be in the cradle. Our granddaughter knows this and when helping me set the scenes in the china hutch, knows that I’ve already taken the babies and put them in their “sleeping” place. Lillian is 9 and still likes that I do this. Hopefully the tradition will continue.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Karen
We do the SAME thing in our family. Baby Jesus comes out after midnight. That’s how I grew up with the nativity. My children -14 yeAr old twins are used to it.
First gotta say that the December block is gorgeous–my fave of them all!
Ahhhh…. Christmas! Can I just say I am sooo over the commercial aspect of it. I really don’t need more more more….in fact, I could, personally, do with less. In that spirit, my girls,all young adults starting families of their own, have started a tradition of handmade gifts. My oldest is the queen of clever, imaginative ornaments. One year she twisted wire into beautiful shapes customized for each recipient. Last year, I received a moose, cleverly constructed from, of all things, cork and wire, and it is so dang cute! My middle daughter specializes in home decor, and has fashioned beautiful scrapbooks, a grandchild photo hanger, and photo montages. My youngest, who specializes in fine art, paints for all of us. My husband, the cook of the family, bakes and cooks all season long, as well as giving us the gift of his amazing photography. I, of course, knit and quilt for the family.
To me, this is what Christmas is–the gift of self instead of stuff. Our Heavenly Father gave us his precious son, and He gave us His life. Why has His precious birthday become synonymous with shopping? Like you, Amy, I crave a peaceful, fulfilling holiday celebrating Him. For me, getting away from the material craziness the past few years, has been a very good start.
Your post tugged on my heart strings and I thank you for it!
Your’s will be a Merry Christmas, Amy, because you realize the importance and have reminded me of it also. Every year I make Christmas simpler – less decorations, less shopping, less expectations of myself. Some of it is easier said than done. All to often we let other people dictate how we should experience the season until we no longer enjoy it at all. We need to bring back to our lives the stillness you reference. That says it all. Be. Still.
Geez Amy, I can’t believe people would even say those things. You keep doing what feels right for you. They don’t have to keep reading do they? I for one enjoy your blog and your reality checks. A very Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family. I’m sure it will all come together in the end.
This year will be the first without my Mom. But I have a new grandson, that will be number two. They are the stars of our get together. And what fun children are. They make you laugh and make you remember what life is all about-enjoying each other’s company. May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.
Amy thank you for all the kind words , your blocks , your familiy may God bless you all .
This has been an emotional year for me ( you will relate). I lost a part time job that I had (fired by my daughter-in-law), sold the only home we have ever lived in and have moved permanently into our “snowbird” home. Space is small and funds are few, but it has given me pause to think and listen. Your posts have helped to keep my faith alive and strong. You posses a much wisdom for a person so young and I thank and applaud you for sharing. You always speak to my heart.
Good for you! I’m of an age when I don’t do much of the glitz and glamour. I’ve not decorated in a few years and I love it. I sew instead. No one drops by my house, so what’s the point? DH does some outside lights, but that’s him. I have stopped trying to shop til I drop, I avoid all the 3 a.m. shopping. I am buying this year a few gifts for my kids and their kids, but I’m writing checks to a couple of charities and doing some local get-togethers. I do get a warm glow doing as I please in the season and hope to continue it all through the year. Thanks for being true to yourself and sharing that with me. It does help. Merry Christmas.
Thank You for sharing and putting your Faith First! We too put Christ as the Focal Point! Our gift giving was kept to a minimum and our children knew that. We made it a lot of fun though. They made their wish lists, but knew they would only maybe get 1 or 2 items on there. One thing we started that they really loved, was always a gift of special goodies wrapped just for them. To this day they look for that. A few years ago our youngest daughter with her friends started to get together for a fun day of baking and ‘beautiful’ cookie decorating that I love to pass out to neighbors along with the card. We really try to keep the month of December relaxed and what doesn’t get done – well, might not be necessary. Again, thank you for sharing your wonderful thoughts – I loved it!
After reading your blog for this month I felt the overwhelming urge to comment. I have followed you all year and quite to my surprise each month I found myself sharing in your feeling and felt inspired to tackle each months challenge. I applaud you for your honesty and frankness in following your heart. No one can ever satisfy everyone else, so the fact that you stayed on the path that God laid on your heart is AWESOME!!!!! I love that you have found the courage and commitment to turn a deaf ear to the naysayers and hold on to what is true to you and your family. I say if they are not in agreement with your thoughts then they have two choices; don’t read it or they can go start their own blog. With that being said I wish you and your family the very best CHRISTMAS holiday and a happy and healthy new year. I for one will miss your BOM but am super happy that that time will be spent where you want to spend it. Love and hugs to you. Stay strong. <3 <3 <3 :)
Amy, I will really, really miss the SBC next year. This year has been so enriching! Your e-mails have been like a visit from a trusted friend. You have the best directions for your blocks – better than anyone else I have tried. The spiritual messages/meditations have been so enriching. I truly think I have grown by trying to incorporate them into my life – any many of them have been perfect timing for me. I hope you will find the time to do another SBC sometime in the years to come. If not, I will still follow your blog and wish you and your family the very best. Thank you so very much.
Cheryl
Amy,
I sincerely appreciate your words and challenge. I struggle this time of year with depression and anxiety more than any other time. And like you said “it’s Christmas, the most wonderful time of year”, those images and thoughts of how I believe it’s supposed to be swirl in my head like a tornado, ripping apart my strength, sanity, and yes, even my faith.
My family is like a patchwork quilt, I have pieced together in my “failed” stream of decisions and choices. It is beautiful, but I painfu pieced it together and am ever struggling to repair seams to keep everyone happy. I have 5 gorgeous children, from 3 fathers, two marriages. I also have several, (does 7 still count as several?), who I stil care for and see. I am currently married to my best friend and have finally found peace in love. But the struggles and strife of dealing with multiple exes, visitation schedules, extended family obligations tear at our vows daily. Our strong belief that God brought us together keeps us going even in the dark times.
At Christmas, we struggle with getting the right gift for everyone, especially the kids. Will they like it, what are the getting at their other homes? It is very easy to forget our faith. Although, I find myself praying more this year I have not shared that with my kids. I’m thinking now I should. And maybe, I need to focus my prayer in a different direction. Less on my failings and more on my blessings. It’s true I didn’t get a quilt made for each kid, plus a Christmas quilt, even though I bought all the fabric to make them. I will be hanging up their stockings I elaborately made over the years, adding each year as our numbers have grown. Our Elf, Clyde, makes his appearance today*, a few days late. I believe I will ignore some of the clever elf antics from social media and see if Clyde can point the kids to finding their faith this year.
Your post, blog, and life lets me know I am not alone in my struggle with my faith and balancing my life. For that I thank you. And as I search for the Christmas cards I know I bought on sale last year, I will try to find a moment to be still and know God.
Blessings to you,
Mary
*Bumble from the Rudolph fame, also appears with Clyde. Although Bumble has lived with us long before the elf tradition and was always getting into trouble. We’d find him hanging from chandeliers, in the fridge eating, in the pantry tasting the cereal. Bumble has been our mischievous friend for years which is why I didn’t jump on the elf wagon until last year. Bumble was not happy with the new kid and town and most mornings the kids found Clyde in a predicament only Bumble could be blamed for. My husband and I do find a warped sense of joy thinking up new scenarios for the twosome. Who knows, maybe this year the will be different. Maybe they will be friends.
Dearest Amy, keep on doing what you have been doing in your blog and every day life. Don’t let the secular opinions keep you down.
This year for Thanksgiving, I had my family say something they were thankful for instead of saying a traditional prayer. It was amazing to hear my young grandchildren give thanks for what is important to them. All of our thanks was about family and faith.
I am not sure what I am going to do for Christmas, but I assure you, we will certainly keep Christ among our midst. After all, if it wasn’t for his birth, death, and resurrection we would have not hope as a people.
Praying that you have a blessed Christmas season.
Carlene
I enjoyed the beyond the block. Weather or not I agreed with everything you said, I always found at least one thing that helped me; oftentimes it was more than one thing. I am sorry that you will not do a BOM in 2015 but since I am behind in my quilting I am going to dedicate 2015 to getting caught up and clearing away the cobwebs that have built up in my sewing room ( and in my brain). I look forward to following your blog in 2015.
I just read your blog & all the lovely comments. It has made me feel a little happier about this Xmas season. Have a wonderful one with your family.
Dear Amy, I so enjoy your Craftsy BOM, your Sugar Block Club, your kind words of inspiration, your blog and especially following you, your husband and them great kids. Thank you so much. You’ve help me fall in love with quilting! I’ve ordered your new book and can’t wait for its arrival
Amy, I have enjoyed having you share your faith and keeping life real on your blog. We have never meet in person, but I consider you a friend I can count on for encouraging words. THANKS!!! I used to have all my shopping done by the end of October that really helped. I do a lot of baking I love to share with others. I also enjoy making Christmas gifts. I put out the decorations this past weekend they remind me to remember the greatest Gift ever. God’s LOVE!!! Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas. Karen
My one goal right now is to go back and read your other posts. I have become so overwhelmed with getting last year’s Christmas gifts for our children which were quilts done during this past year, that I have stopped reading most of my quilting blogs that I follow. Yours was the first email I opened up this morning, and I am so thankful that I did! I loved your post and if you do not mind, I would like to share the link to it on my Facebook page. I want to also share the link to it on my blog http://teresasquiltjourney.blogspot.com. I could not have said what you did any better. You so touched my heart!! This year my husband purchased the “big” gift for our grown children and spouses, but I am making some smaller stuff for them. They received their “big” gift on Thanksgiving since they won’t be together on Christmas. I told them “no more quilts” for a long time because they were so late getting them, and I feel that I lost my way. But, I do what you to know that my husband and I have joined our first church in many years within the past few weeks. It is amazing what a sudden death to a cousin does. We met the pastor of this church and some of the members and decided to try it. We both love hearing the pastor preach, and the music is like what we grew up with and the people are so loving and friendly. I am thankful that we have grown closer to God this last half of the year. I was raised in a Christian/preacher’s home, but I’ve never read all the way through the Bible! My goal is to do just that. I have read more than ever already. I am hungry for the Word. I pray you will continue what you are doing in sharing your faith. I, too, have found that I do that more on my blog than I used to. I guess this is long enough. LOL I thank you for sharing your faith. The ones who do not like it are the ones who need it the most.
And I so love your quilting blog. I joined because you are not ashamed to share your love for CHRIST . I love that GOD is in everything we do. And you sharing with us strangers is a wonderful thing. Keep up the good work and never forget Psalms 46:10 For GOD is really all we need. All the rest is just stuff we enjoy. I also love the receipes you have shared with us. And I pray you and your family will have a very merry Blessed Christmas. Thanks for all you time this year. Being still and worshipping GOD is how we should do all things. Thanks again. A friend in CHRIST
Amy I say that psalm every am to start my day.I love all your posts and your BOM.I.m still working on 2014.Your are such a special person.
I am so grateful for the ” REALNESS” of your blog , just the way you are. Your heart is truly in the right place, Amy..for the negative comments shared about your faith, all I know to say is Jesus didn’t come to heal or walk along with the perfect or the healthy ..he came to live amongst those who knew/ know they aren’t perfect, and whose homes and lives are in need of Him..
As for me..December is a VERY emotionally tough month every year. My brother , just a year older than I am, died the day after Christmas..my father had a massive heart attack Dec 19, my best friend of over 38 years died Christmas Day. So far, my heart has not overcome the emotional upheaval of celebrating Christmas with joyful laughter.. It’s like Im standing outside in the Oregon snow where I live, shivering cold, watching family inside laughing while seeing growing excitement of what each loved one is opening..I’m just not there yet on the Dec. holidays.. I’m just doing the best I can though..and when the crumbs of life fall like my tears are now, I just close myself off with whatever fabric scraps and my sewing machine I have, and I make reminders in little squares of memories I keep adding to a memory quilt .
Amy, I just read through the comments already posted and am amazed at how influential and uplifting you have been to so many. In my opinion, you’ve hinted at your beliefs and I have wondered if I was drawn to your blog and challenges because of a shared faith. If others were offended, it’s ok, your blog is your forum for sharing you! If we live authentically, there will always be those who don’t agree. Please, take note of the overwhelming encouragement you have been to the majority and enjoy that you have been used in a far greater way than just quilting.
I’m thankful for the way you share; you have been a great encouragement to me this past year.
I’m so proud of you for taking 2015 off from a BOM challenge! Good for you!! In all honesty, this gives me another year to work on my 2013 and 2014 blocks.
Hi Amy
I know you’re busy but I didn’t get my e mail with the December block.
Can you send it again? Thanks, Love you, Have a great Holiday!
Praying you have a blessed, memory-filled Christmas! Looking forward to sharing 2015 with you!
Amy, thank you so, so much for the inspiration this morning! I have thoroughly enjoyed and benefitted from your challenges in the Sugar Block Club 2014. I appreciate and admire that you speak your mind and talk about what is important in your life. It is YOUR blog after all. Thank you for helping me to remember the importance of being still, especially this month. I love Christmas music, and it helps me focus on the reason. Good Christmas music is listening to hymns after all. Thank you again for your time and sharing your thoughts in an effort to help us improve the quality of our lives!
I’m proud of you for standing firm in your Christian faith, and remember you are planting seeds, God’s word will not return void. And now let me get sewing, I’m still working on October’s block!!!
I love this post Amy. I agree with you and don’t know how to explain my thoughts very well. In a nut shell for me celebrating Christmas is more fun and meaningful doing or giving to those who need a little help (all year long and Christmas time too.) It could be helping a family who is low on funds and needs a little help, or donating funds and/or time to a favorite charity, or serving food at a soup kitchen, or helping out and or donating funds to a local animal shelter. It’s about serving others.
I think you should write and share whatever is important to you in your blog. Not everyone will agree or like it and that’s OK.
I’ll be honest with you I look so forward to these monthly blog posts where you share part of your real life. I don’t always read every blog post but I make it a point to read these and this one was really good. For several years now I have dreaded Christmas because of the work and that all the hubbub about it has gone so commercial. Giftgiving with a large family has gotten out of hand and it takes the joy out of giving the gift. We are trying to focus more on family gatherings with games and food and make that our priority this year. But my very favorite part of Christmas is going to mass on Christmas Eve and when I first smell the church full of incense I know it’s Christmas. Please keep sharing these little snippets of your thoughts and feelings because they really do inspire me. Merry Christmas my friend.
I have to say we are so opposite in many ways, I am Jewish and not even that religious at that. I am the mom of 3 grown children and also a teacher (an art teacher) and see the ways schooling is important. But aside from all that, we are one and the same person! In my creative quests, I discovered your quilting blog after watching and falling in love with your Craftsy BOM. I am so interested in your philosophies and totally see how important your priorities are. For anyone to question your thoughts makes me wonder how complete their lives can be. Yes, my children went to a public school, but they worked with me at home all the time. It is those moments they remember most from their childhood, not so much their classroom activities. Yes, my family celebrates our holidays more as a reason for family to gather around my table and have dinner together than we do for the real meanings behind the celebrations. For me, it really comes down to family, a continuity of traditions, moral teachings, and a love for each other.
I am a beginner quilter and a long time fine artist and painter. My need to be creative has almost become my lifeline and what defines me most as a person. For that reason, I so enjoy the projects you share with us and more importantly how well you teach them to us. I took your lessons to heart and I am very pleased with my quilting skills so far, but what I really enjoy after the quilt top is complete, is hand quilting to finish. I want them to look homemade. I love how your quilts are always bundled into a basket and used lovingly by your family. They are not show pieces even if they are beautiful enough to be on display in that way, but are real quilts meant to be used and and cuddled. You have a beautiful family and a wonderful blog. Keep up the good work on all ends. Merry Christmas!
Amy, there are so many e-mails and blog posts that I delete and skip, but I always read yours – for all of the reasons that the other replies list. Thank you for being real, thank you for sharing your faith. Look at what a difference you make in peoples lives by being strong enough to speak out.
Amy, we don’t share all the same religious beliefs, but we do share the same heartfelt longings.I am not the least offended by the way you share your personal life in your blog. Indeed, I celebrate your voice and your heart and your willingness to describe your innermost thoughts. I, too, share the need for stillness in my life. As a Buddhist, I search for mindfulness to live in the moment and loving compassion to feel a connection with others in my family, my community and the world. Best wishes to you in your path to the life you desire and deserve. Have a beautiful Christmas filled with love, those still moments, those connections and activities that really matter.
Enjoyed reading your post this morning. Thanks for the inspiration!
Although I grew up attending a fundamental Baptist church, I’m not now a very religious person but I don’t mind, and instead appreciate, your comments about your faith and how you put it into practice. Until this past summer when he died, I had a cat who would come to where I was sitting and want to sit in my lap when I was trying to knit, or crochet, or cross-stitch, and I felt that he was trying to teach me to just sit and be still for a while each day. Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas for you and your family. P.S. I’m almost done with my quilt and will be giving it to my granddaughter for Christmas – will post a picture on Flickr when it’s finiished.
Thank you for sharing your feelings and beliefs with us along with your wonderful talents. For those who are “whining” about you sharing your faith we should all pray for them. You do not try to “push” any particular denomination or religion you simple state what you are feeling in your heart. I am old enough to be your Mother and am very proud there are some young adults around that are proud of their faith and are not afraid to speak their heartfelt thoughts and feelings. Thank you for being a bright light in a world that has so much darkness in it. May you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and may 2015 bring only the best of everything for you.
Amy, there are quilting blogs ten a penny but you always seem to come up with things or thoughts that make me try harder to be a better more thoughtful person while learning and enjoying my sewing. So you carry on just the way you are and if others don’t like it they don’t have to follow you. Love to you and all your family. Xxxx Happy Christmas
Hi Again Amy, I’m posting a way for those of us who may be planning to shop on Amazon to help a non-profit organization called Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs. Amazon will donate .05 percent of your purchases made through Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs website. There is no additional cost to the buyer. Here’s the link, just scroll down a bit to read about it. http://medicalservicedogs.com/donate/#/step1 This applies to purchases all year long not just the month of December. If you would like to watch a quick (3 minute 13 second) video explaining what Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs does you can watch it here. http://medicalservicedogs.com/ I’m not affiliated with Guardian Angels Medical Service dogs in any way. The work they do is special, meaningful and touches my heart.
Thank you so much for posting this Lea!!! What a great cause, and so easy to give via Amazon shopping!
Amy, though I haven’t been able to sew along this year, I have really enjoyed each of your Be…posts. They have all been so thought provoking and interesting. Thank you for sharing them. Thank you for sharing your faith, for allowing us all to see the real woman behind the blog, and for not pretending that everything is perfect all the time. No one can relate to a person who pretends nothing ever goes wrong, but we can all relate to a woman with struggles and doubts. Thanks for being real.
Dear Amy, I am glad you choose to listen to God and not to those who have chosen to omit Him from their life.
I have truly enjoyed walking with you through these BOM projects and reading your struggles and positive reflections.
I am a caregiver for my 91 year old mother and the best activity I have is quilting. I have made quilts for all 6 of my children, 10 grandchildren, my Mom and 2 sisters and a brother at least once! I have made so many BOM quilts I cant remember! Plus mystery quilts and so on. It is a gift God has given me and I love sharing it with my family.
As I grow older, my focus is more on pleasing God rather than others. I want to bask in the glow of facing Him in eternity knowing I tried my best to be pleasing to Him with my life. I hope you will continue to do this with your life because you do not know whose life walk you are strengthening for the better. You will hear God’s Word say “Well done, good and faithful servant”.
God’s richest blessings to you and your family and I hope someday we will receive news of a new class we can share.
Just as we are always told “it’s your quilt” when we’re trying to figure out if what we’re doing is right or wrong, this is “your blog” and you can write whatever is in your heart. If someone doesn’t like it, they can move on to the next blog.
I’ve been trying to get my family to agree to no gifts at Christmas except for the little ones. So far I’ve gotten them to agree to buying each person they have to or want to shop for just one nice thoughtful gift. My husband and myself are giving the big kids money and the littles get actual gifts. I’d someday like to cut it back to gifts for the littles only. Because, throughout the year I usually find something (or make something) I think one of my kids would like (and my “kids” are adults) and I like to give it to them “just because”. So Christmas could be any day of the year!
I found this post incredibly calming to read – loved it! I love that you share your faith on this blog. Have a Merry Christmas!
Dearest Amy………You, my dear girl, are a breath of fresh air. Oh if only more people were like you and Mr. Dock, I do believe, the world would be a better place. May your family be blessed by God this Christmas season and may you always “Be still and know that HE is
GOD.” I read in a devotional this week or last that stated worry is saying that GOD is not bigger than the problem/trial that you are facing. Always remeber when a negative comment GOD will open a door or window to drive it out. Stay true to your belief and values and definitly what you and Mr. Dock feel is right for your family. Prayer will always bring the right answer, but we must be still and know that HE is GOD. Merry Christmas and Happy 2015. Smiles,
Tana
I so resonate with everything you spoke from your heart in this post, Amy! As a Christian, I LOVE that you boldly share your struggles AND your faith in this space, and can clearly see why you do! Would love to meet up with you someday – I live here in CO, too (mtns above Boulder). Perhaps if you do another class at Fancy Tiger. Until then, will pray for you and your sweet family in all the ups and downs of life. Keep giving God all the glory!
Dear Amy: I enjoyed very much your BOM series this year. More than the blocks, I enjoyed your thoughts, the wonderful stories you share about your family and your simple life, accomplishments and experiences. I have also liked posts by Mr.Dock and love the wonderful couple you are, and how are you raising so happy family. Do not worry about the negative comments, we can never please everyone. But with whom you should always be pleased, is with yourself. Never bow down your beliefs to others, specially when you have God in your heart so strongly.
I congratulate you for your creativity and integrity, and I hope to follow you again next year. Sending my best wishes to you and your family. Merry Christmas!
Hello -Thank you for this post… even though I agree with everything you said in this post, sometimes I get ‘caught up’ in the hustle and bustle. THANK YOU for the sweet, gentle reminder of truly what Christmas is about. I went to the store today, and I had never realized how stressed all the clerks seem to appear. My emphasis this month is to show the TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS to all the clerks, wherever I shop. I also want to thank you again for helping me with my baby gift project last month. I am amazed how quickly you responded to me. Just shows that you really have your HEART in your blog and your readers. THANK You and May God Richly bless you.
I will pray for whoever it was that commented in a negative way to your posts. I too have received insite and inspiration whenever I read your e-mails. I wait for them each month. I especially love when you share about your family and show photos. I do not know how you do it. You are truly an inspiration to me. I am long past the time of little ones at home. ( I remember the times well) In fact my husband (2nd) and I have just retired and moved out of S California to St. George, Utah. What a relief to be gone from California. There was so much stress and hastle and bustle with the too many people. I love the smaller town life. I am a new sewer and quilter. I am working on my 4th quilt. It is an embroidered and pieced quilt (block of the month type from my local Bernina store). I almost have the top finished. Now just the borders, which are also pieced. I will see if I can share it with you. You have been such a great teacher and I have been a member of your BOM group too, since Craftsy BOM. I have purchased all the fabric for your quilts too and plan to eventually make them. Piecing is still difficult for me, but I am getting better and more comfortable.
I love your spiritual sharing. It grounds me and makes me think more. We need more God and spirituality in our lives not less. Please don’t stop. It is so refreshing to have you not afraid to share your faith and your life with us. You are a real GIFT to all of us. I wish there was something that I could do to give back to you as you have given me.
Thank you Amy, for your recent post. I love your blog and the Spiritual aspect you’ve brought out from you, your life, is just that: YOU. It’s YOUR blog!
I encourage you to please doing what you’re doing Girlfriend and don’t “hide it under a bushel”. God loves you!!
Your posts always put a smile on my face. Your God-given talent of writing is even more special because you remember to “go back” and thank God, (as in the one out of ten lepers who were cured…Sorry, didn’t mean to call you a leper) :) I’m so glad you decided not to change. Don’t hide your light under a bushel, let it shine, girl!
My story about Christmas: My large family used to get together Christmas Eve to celebrate together, complete with some trying to squeeze Mass in before or after the party, crazy materialism, etc. As the kids grew and married, they had to begin the hectic dance to their in-laws and our party had to either occur weeks before or they would not be there. Some of us were very upset that we had to give up the Christmas Eve party, but, as time went on, I have come to realize it is a blessing. That real reason becomes so much clearer without all the chaos. My husband and I and our boys now spend the night at home, and the peace and reason fill our house. We no longer attend the “Children’s Mass” on Christmas Eve because everyone’s focus is on getting to parties to open gifts, not on the miracle that we are remembering and praising. We now attend the Sunday morning Mass which has a MUCH calmer, reverent feel.
God bless, Amy.
P.S. Honest, I just read the post above me about the bushel, too. Must be important for you to know.
I love your post Amy!! Don’t second guess yourself for a second. It might be trite… but Jesus is the reason, not just for the season, but for our whole lives! My 5 yr old daughter and I are reading a bible study on Advent during this crazy , busy time of our year! God Bless you and yours!
Hi Amy, great post. Goodness you poor thing! This is why God makes us able to have children at a young age…because you need that energy! Just reading your post makes me stressed. (Don’t worry, I can hang!) I know I’ve mentioned Flylady.net to you before and she has a great series on Flying Through the Holidays with a free downloadable control journal to get through the season with ease and NO stress. Sounds like you need her now more than ever! This series began back in Oct, but you may still find her system helpful. As she always says, “I don’t want you to feel behind. It’s not too late, just jump right in!” http://www.flylady.net/d/br/2014/10/18/11-steps-to-cruise-stress-free-through-the-holidays-2/
What have I done to ease the stress? No Christmas cards this year. None. Not one, nada, zip, zero. No expense on cards or stamps. No signing each one or stuffing envelopes. That saves me an entire weekend of time and about $75 between the cards and stamps. I use social media with the people I love all year long and the folks who send me cards, I never hear from any other time of the year and after Christmas, they get stuffed into a box to be stored in the attic until I toss them next year so what’s the point? I’m refusing the commercialism of cards.
Here’s a direct link to that Holiday Control Journal. This is freedom in the form of a .pdf. :)
http://www.flylady.net/i/pdf/hol_coj.pdf
I so agree with you! I find myself stressing about lists and what I still have to do and buy and make…then I try to step back and tell myself to take a breath and remember what the season is all about. Your words are so deep and meaningful. Your challenges have been great and I’ve certainly enjoyed your voyage. I always think how sad it is that Christmas has become so commercialized and a way for big companies to “hit their profit margins”!! I personally feel that since we’re no longer permitted to mention God in public it’s been a downhill spiral. More of us need to stand up and show our feelings too. Merry Christmas!
So glad to see that your post is flooded with positive comments. Stay strong and never doubt that it’s the right thing to do. Your faith will keep you in good stead throughout your life. I am a witness to this truth for 70+ years. Blessings to you and your family this holiday season. Merry Christmas, and may your New Years to come be filled to overflowing with all the good things God has in mind for you and your family.
Amy: I have enjoyed all of your BOM series and your Personal Challenge posts. You are living your life in a good way. Wishes to you and your family for a Merry Christmas.
Amy, I am so thankful that I found your site. I find your posts rich in meaningful content and after reading them feel challenged to be a better person and Christian. This past year has been an interesting one for me personally, with many ups and downs, but God has blessed me during this time with more people in His family to encourage me and come along side. You are one of those people, so thank you for sharing your faith and your life. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.
I’m not religiously affiliated, but I appreciate your challenges in their own right. Whatever the inspiration (biblical in your case), these are great challenges! We’re so bogged down by outside forces telling us to live this way or that, and it’s nice to just reflect on where we are and what is truly important in life.
Simple as that.
Cheers to you and yours, and a very Merry Christmas!
For the past few years, after reuniting on facebook with a childhood friend, we both posted for every day of Dec. a comment for a Joy-filled day. It gives me pause to acknowledge each day for something to be grateful. For example the last few days have been old friends, the word comfortable, or abundance…etc Even though I am not finished with gift purchasing, my house is in a ‘painting the dining room/hallway mode’ (What? Now?) :) This is my reality and I am ok with it because each day we are given is a gift.
Yes, I agree. Here is the original essay where that quote comes from. Whether it is religion or some other source of moral code you follow, it is so important to make the most of every day. Amy does this with her very full life.
Imagine there is a bank account that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day.Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course?
Each of us has such a bank. It’s name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to a good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no over draft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours. There is no drawing against “tomorrow.” You must live in the present on today’s deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success! The clock is running!! Make the most of today.
To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.
To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who just missed a train.
To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask someone who just avoided an accident.
To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal at the Olympics.
Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with. And remember time waits for no one.
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why its called the present.
Thank you, Barbara L. I had seen bits of that post here and there, but never the whole thing. It is so easy to get caught up in the ‘rush’ of the holiday or the every day and forget to live in the ‘now’. Yes, Amy does live her life/faith fully. What a bundle of talent she is! It has been a pleasure to read/follow her posts/classes. I pray that I too, bring honor to the Lord for the life He has given me. Have a wonderful rest of your day!
Hey Amy!! I just wanted to say that I’m still very grateful that I stumbled into quilting via your Craftsy BOM in 2012. I had only barely dabbled in quilting before then and have come a zillion miles since then. I have participated in both your sugar block samplers and I hope you will continue this tradition. I call it a tradition because it’s been two years and I’m so excited on the first of each month to open my email and find you there for me!
Please please please can we have another sugar block club???!
Thanks
Danielle
Hi Amy,
I just wanted to say Please Keep Sharing Your Faith! What a blessing to so many, that you do. Don’t listen to the nay sayers, His love shines through your posts.
Your quilts are beautiful & He has blessed you!
I appreciate you sharing your faith and philosophy. While you and I come from different places religiously (I’m a Buddhist), I’ve really enjoyed the encouragement each month to think about different aspects of life more intentionally. This time of year, I always want to create more of a sense of contentment and peace, but it can be challenging. I try to focus on being thankful and holding on to those moments where I catch myself feeling joy or sharing joy with others. Those simple moments really are the sweetest and happen so spontaneously. Trying to be mindful of staying present helps me to hold on to them and not miss out on what makes the holiday season special.
Thanks for putting this together. It has been a lot of fun. In the spirit of being “Still” during this holiday season, I will be working on the November and December blocks after Christmas. I am excited to put all the blocks together in 2015. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
HELP! Today I wanted to print out the block for December, but all I get is a message that it is blocked. Can you help me? I am signed up for it and have the others printed out. But I wasn’t able to get to printing out this block until today.
I love your verse this month Amy, it is one I turn to when I am having a melt down kinda day. Thank you for being true to yourself, isn’t that what blogging started as? Sharing yourself and connecting with others. I happy to see you can be true to yourself and still be a commercial success! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Hey Amy! Just got your reply! I’m sad to hear that you can’t make the sbc work for next year. But I totally get it. My hat’s off to you for managing as much as you do with your young family!! I only have one daughter and can’t imagine what it must be like to shoe horn things into your life! You have my eternal respect. I thank you again for taking away the fear of seeing for me in 2012–I have since replaced my first machine and have never put this one in the closet!! I use it all the time now!!
Have a great 2015 and we’ll see you again in 2016!!
I love your Blog entry this time. It is great. I have grandchildren your children ages. I remember how busy it was when my own children were the sizes of your children (twins included in my life also). The quiet times you spend will be the memories of your future. Take time to share the nativity story with them and you will have the call I had today. Mom do you still have the small wooden nativity set that we played with as children? I would like to share it with my daughter if I could. It was a wonder phone call!!!
We’ve sold our house and are packing. I resigned, but just not yet. My home looks like a storage locker and chaos abounds. In the midst of all this, I stop to read and catch up on email. Thank you for your challenge. Be Still.
All of your quilts and home decor ideas and yummy recipes are beautiful and appreciated, but they are temporary things. Important, but temporary. Sharing what God is teaching you from His Word, now that’s eternal. It’s obvious when a person is a child of God, because the temporary is no longer enough to satisfy, it must be intertwined with the eternal. And those who persecute you for it, well in essence they are simply being used as a reminder that you are doing well, and obviously they are fueling your fire. So I say, send them a thank you note. Ha! Remember, it isn’t you they are rejecting, it’s Him. His Word never returns void. Keep proclaiming Truth!
We don’t do much Christmas shopping, we simply give our adult children money and a couple small gifts. They enjoy shopping for themselves after Christmas and getting what they need. Our home is the only home they visit during Christmas where the story of Jesus coming to us in order to die for our sins is shared, so we make sure that happens before Christmas Eve dinner, and we pray in Jesus’ name for them. Our only grandchild is 13 months old and she’s being inundated with the culture and all it has to offer this time of year. We may not end up being her favorite Christmas location each year, but we will do our best to begin now to introduce her to the gift of Jesus and pray she receives Him as her Savior and Lord one day in the future.
I too wanted to say what a wonderful year it has been for me getting your patterns each month. I am not very religious but I found myself relating to the sentiments you expressed each month. Even a none believer could feel something after reading your thoughts. Anyway I enjoyed it for myself and I was hoping to see another BOM next year but not to be… Merry and safe Christmas to you and your family and best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year. xx Michelle in Brisbane Australia
Hi Amy, I have done your sugar block one for both years. ( well I am behind on this one but that’s okay I will catch up) and I have enjoyed each and every single one of them. I am not the most religious person (would love to be more) but have enjoyed every single word you have wrote this year. Each month it has been like you have read my mind with each challenge you have put out there and it has been exactly what I have needed. I missed reading this blog post right before Christmas because I had to have surgery and found out that I have thyroid cancer and sitting here this morning reading this it really rung true to me this year with getting that diagnosis and having surgery right before Christmas I really needed to sit back and be a little more “still” and quiet this year and really put in perspective of what really matters instead of all the commerialized hype we get roped into these days. You are such a wonderful and inspiring woman and amazing at what you do and teach. You are my mentor and inspiration to me to be a better person. I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with for 2015 and your continued inspiration. Happy new year to you and your wonderful family. XOXO
I’m sorry that you are not doing a SBC for 2015, but then I will get the chance to catch up on the previous year. I am WAAAY behind.
I liked reading your blog, challenges and recipes each month. Never apologize for writing what you feel. The peeps who didn’t want to read the”scriptures” could always bypass; they knew what was going to happen before they joined. I love the personal stories and you being “real”, many of the things you wrote about hit home for me.
I do hope that you will keep us all informed if and when you come up with something for this year; or next! Have a wonderful 2015.
Thanks for sharing your heart. This was so well said!
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