My weekend ramblings...

• We are sick. +  My sewing machine is still broken. = A few Christmas projects have been taken off the 'to-do' list.
  

• Mr. Wilson split his head open today. Scary. and Gross. Lots of hydrogen peroxide....lots of rags....and maybe some superglue.

•  Our spare bedroom is transforming into a beautiful workspace for me. I'm very excited. I'll have to show it to you when it's all finished.

• I held my studio recital last weekend and I was so pleased with my students and all their hard work. I got to perform as well....made me miss my old performing days.

• Last weekend I ordered something special online for Christmas for one of my best friends and I just got an email yesterday telling me that they cancelled my order. Boo! Thanks to Urban Outfitters for saving me last minute and having the exact something special I wanted AND jumping right on the shipping.
  
  
• Enjoyed a new little crepe place downtown with friends. Who knew that all kinds of food combinations taste divine in a crepe? I didn't know, but now I do.

• Saw Santa repel off the top of a skyscraper with an elf and Rudolf along with a Christmas firework show.
  Surprisingly entertaining.

Only a few more days until Christmas.....what have YOU been doing?

 

We have planned a few more fun acts of service to do before Christmas is here. You are welcome to join us!

1. Buy lunch for the car behind you at the drive-through.

2. Leave a present for the mailman in your mailbox with a note of thanks.

3. Leave a note of thanks on the bathroom stall for the janitor who cleans it.

4. Surprise the employee at the pharmacy who fills your prescription with a note of thanks and a candy-cane.

Christmas Joy...

I've got a 'to-do' list that emulates the 5 inch wide Children's Dictionary sitting on my green boy's lap.

There is so much to do and even more to catch up on.
And I can't seem to keep up.

I decided to start whittling away my Christmas 'to-do' list months and months ago so that I could enjoy the season and not be scrambling around to keep up with the disappearing days of December.

Unfortunately, I'm still feeling increasingly uneasy with each day marked off the advent calendar.

A few days ago, I was running around the house desperately trying to get some things checked off my list when my little blue boy fell apart at the seams. In reality, the ugly meltdown only looked like a great big road block to accomplishing my goals for the day.

Then, with his head buried in the tear soaked carpet, he pointed his chubby finger into the carpet fibers and said "Mommy, here".

I knew in that moment, what he really wanted.
So....I put down my armfuls of cleaning supplies and sat down next to him.
He didn't look up, but I put my hand on his back and just sat with him.
Somehow that was enough.

In that moment, I felt a peace and calm wash over me.

I realized that in-spite of my endless daily lists and constant plans, what was most important was to let go of the schedule and just be. To feel peace and comfort in the moment together.

Those feelings are what this season is really about.

We should be feeling peace and comfort as we approach the day we celebrate the coming of our Savior to this Earth to atone and sacrifice His life for each of us.

In that exact spirit, we have started some new traditions for this little Wilson family. We have begun a seasonal project to shine the light of Christ....the light of love, appreciation, and service into the lives of those among us.

We have started with small things such as these:

- drawing a picture, writing a note of thanks, and leaving homemade cookies for the garbage man
(he LOVED that....and wrote back!)

- carrying candy canes and baggies of cookies with notes of thanks in our bag and giving them to those who serve us and often go unnoticed.
i.e. the gas station attendant, the janitor who cleans the bathroom stalls, the fun ladies at the gym who play with the boys while I work out, the man who fills my up water bottle during spin class, the disabled boy who bags my groceries, the parking garage attendant....etc.
The list goes on and on!


- cooking dinner for a new Mom or just a busy Mom, like myself, who would appreciate a little break.


- buying a couple balloons and handing them to someone who looks like they might need a smile.


- Bringing a plate of cookies and a note of thanks to the firestation


- tape a few quarters on the vending machine or soda machine with a note 


- hold the door for someone

It has been such a joy to serve those around us...in small and simple ways.
It has been an even greater joy to watch my little boys learn about thinking of others, serving others, and loving others...Just as their Savior, Jesus Christ would do.

 Even though we are ALL overloaded with constant lists of things to accomplish....there is a more important reason for the season.
Go spread some Christmas Joy...

We did it!

Your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life. 

-Les Brown

Together as team squeezing it all in.....WE DID IT!!!

We met our goal to donate $100 to the Shine Project Scholarship Fund.

I couldn't have done it without you lovelies!

THANK YOU!

I can't wait to show you the student who is chosen to receive the scholarship YOU helped fund!

Today YOU helped change the future for a smart, young person with promise AND you showed that young person that anything is possible and ANY goal is achievable.

man....i'm in love with you guys.

change for CHANGE update

Do you remember the change for CHANGE project I've been working on the past few months?
If you are new here or you forgot....We are saving to give the opportunity for a college education to an inner city high school senior.

I wanted to give you the new status...

With the help of a few of you we've saved $62.05!  
I've pledged to save $100 by the 1st of October.
Guess WHAT?!?!
That means we only have 2 more days to come up with $37.95.

 

If we team up and all give just a little we can make up that $37.95 in a flash!

I can't thank those of you enough, who have already made the choice to sacrifice just a dollar or two (or some of you more) to make a BIG difference in one young teenager's future!  

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
MUAH!
(yes, I just kissed the screen ... it was meant for YOU!)

I know times are hard and budgets are tight ... really, I do know.

Since that's the case, here are a few ideas on how to contribute to changing someone's future for the better without hurting your wallet.

• empty out the change in your car, your couch or the bottom of your purse. Not only will it make your load lighter, that change has probably been sitting there untouched for quite sometime ... give it a purpose

• instead of making popcorn and going to redbox for your Friday night in, find something on Hulu, curl up with your computer and feel good knowing that redbox $1 went to better someone's life

• assemble a mean sandwich at home instead of hitting Wendy's $1 menu for lunch

• search here to find a super delicious meal to present to the fam instead of ordering take-out

not only will making these little choices save you some cash, some of them will save you some precious calories!
Who doesn't want some of that?!?!

Let's join together to show these inner city kids that they are of enormous worth,
they can dream BIG and shoot for the stars!

click on the change for CHANGE button on my sidebar to read more about the project.

for those of you inspired to make a difference ... that paypal button is calling YOUR name!

100% of the donations will go straight to the kids.
I can't wait to see which one of the kids get awarded the scholarship so I can share their beauty and grateful spirit with you!

Special Care Service Project

Today I'm SOOO excited to FINALLY tell you about my newest project! 

I've talked a little about my motivation for the project HERE and spoke a little cryptically HERE and HERE about my service project in the works...

but I couldn't give you the full rundown because I hadn't received approval yet.

But I have NOW!!!

And I can't tell you how EXCITED I am!!

I've been dreaming about this for a long time and I feel like I'm finally getting the right people on board and making it all come together. 

I hope you can all jump on board with me too because I know I can't do this alone!

"Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success."  ~Author Unknown

"No one can whistle a symphony.  It takes a whole orchestra to play it."  ~H.E. Luccock
 

Here are the details:

The Special Care and Obstetrics Unit at Good Samaritan Hospital specializes in caring for women with high-risk pregnancies who require additional care and may need to spend extra time or even live in the hospital. 

Depending on the circumstances, expecting mothers can be admitted into Special Care Obstetrics anywhere between six weeks and full term, making a typical stay range from hours to weeks. 

There is a long list of complications that could bring you into this unit - you can find them HERE.

This unit is a place I once called home. The doctors and nurses here saved my baby's life and I will forever be grateful! 

This is the one and only picture that was taken while I lived there. 

Since I have been one of their patients, I have experienced some of the same struggles their current patients are experiencing.

I know they are often forgotten in their struggles and grief…I felt the same and I want to change that. 

I want the patients to feel heard, understood and loved by someone who has been confined to the same bed and knows first hand the war that must be fought to save a life. 

I want to provide hope, motivation and encouragement to them in any way I can. 

I will be holding donation drives for books, puzzles, cards and envelopes, games, craft kits, etc. Anything and everything that these confined women can do to keep them busy, keep them learning and involved with their hobbies, families and other children. I will be organizing it all in a room that is easily accessible to the nurses to help serve the women.

·         I will put together a gift bag for each of the women who are required to stay for longer periods of time.

I would like them to receive a gift bag containing items that I treasured while I was battling for my baby’s life. 

They would include inexpensive items, but items that I know would be treasured....A shower loofa, body wash, manicure set, nail polish, ear plugs, eye mask, lip gloss, notebook and pen.

Each of the long-term patients as well as the short-term patients will also receive a card introducing them to a new way of seeing their world at this difficult time…a practice that was introduced to me when I was in the same situation. 

The same "little things" way of seeing the world that I have introduced to you HERE and a lot of you have shared with us HERE.

I'm SO excited to hit the ground running with this project ... I'm now on to planning book drives, fund-raising opportunities and possibly selling handmade items to benefit the cause.

I will be keeping you all updated ... I would LOVE to have you help out in any way you can! 

You will be blessing the lives of some REALLY special women!

you can contact me here:

squeezingitallin@gmail.com 
(please excuse all the weird font issues....not sure what's going on today!)

change for CHANGE update #1

Good Morning my pretties! 
Ooh, that makes me sound like the wicked witch of the west! Haha!

I want to give you the status on our change for CHANGE project.

We've saved $50.00 even! 
WHAT?!?!
Yeah, that's right .... we're half way already with 2 more months to go!

I can't even tell you how EXCITED that makes me!

I can't thank those of you enough, who have made the choice to sacrifice just a dollar or two (or some of you more) to make a BIG difference in one young teenager's future!  

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
MUAH!
(yes, I just kissed the screen ... it was meant for YOU!)

I know times are hard and budgets are tight ... really, I do know.

Since that's the case, here are a few ideas on how to contribute to changing someone's future for the better without hurting your wallet.

• empty out the change in your car, your couch or the bottom of your purse. Not only will it make your load lighter, that change has probably been sitting there untouched for quite sometime ... give it a purpose

• instead of making popcorn and going to redbox for your Friday night in, find something on Hulu, curl up with your computer and feel good knowing that redbox $1 went to better someone's life

• assemble a mean sandwich at home instead of hitting Wendy's $1 menu for lunch

• search here to find a super delicious meal to present to the fam instead of ordering take-out

not only will making these little choices save you some cash, some of them will save you some precious calories!
Who doesn't want some of that?!?!

Let's join together to show these inner city kids that they are of enormous worth,
they can dream BIG and shoot for the stars!

click on the change for CHANGE button on my sidebar to read more about the project.

for those of you inspired to make a difference ... that paypal button is calling YOUR name!

Change for CHANGE project

I have a new project to share with you today and I'm sooo excited,
but I'm going to need YOUR help to make it happen!

My friend, Ashley from The Shine Project, is raising money for a scholarship fund to award to 4 lucky inner city high school students who have great potential to succeed in this world, but need someone to see their potential and give them a little boost.

These amazing students are attending Cesar Chavez High School in Phoenix, Arizona and even though I'm miles and miles away I am absolutely THRILLED to have a chance to show them that there are people in this world who will band together to love and support a stranger in need.

Ashley has plans to raise $20,000 to split among these 4 students.

What is MY part in this project?
Ashley is looking for 100 people to pledge to raise $100 by October and I am one of those "pledgers".

this is how it works:
I have made a change jar and will fill it with my spare change for the next 85 days.
I know you can do the math, but that's $1.17 a day.
Here she is ...

How can YOU help?
You can visit Ashley at the Shine Project and pledge to start your own $100 change jar OR you can help me fill mine! 

If you (my beautiful readers) and I team up and give just $1 a person,
we could fill that change jar immediately! 
All you have to do is click on that little "DONATE" button under the change for change button on my sidebar.

 

Can you imagine what this will do for these high school students?

Receiving this gift will open a door for them that has been slammed shut, 
it will give them an extra boost to succeed ... 
it will be something they will NEVER forget ...
and I'm sure it will land on the top of their "little things" list for the rest of their lives!

If you feel inspired to motivate and pay it forward to one of these wonderful kids please email me at squeezingitallin@gmail.com and 

LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN!!!

I KNOW we can do it!

I can't wait to hear from you!

How do YOU pour your gift?

How did YOU pour YOUR perfume yesterday?
I want to show you how I pour...

with a little sifted cake flour...

Glossy white frosting...

and ... a little someone who learned along the way

This is what I ended up with...

What do you think ... You hungry now?

I'm not a really wonderful baker....especially of cakes.
I've learned the art of embellishing a cake mix to resemble something pretty darn delicious.
But this little beauty was meant for something greater.

She was made with patience and love.

She sure surprised our neighbor when she greeted him at his door.

We found out that our neighbor has been diagnosed with colon cancer and has spent months and months on end (without our knowledge) battling for his health.
Now that we know the situation we've had the privilege of serving him and his family,
but there isn't much we can do.

I felt like what he really needed was someone to just think of him ...
Put a smile on his face ...
give him a "little thing" to treasure.

I spent a lot of time trying to decide what to do...
My decision to make cake was inspired by the book I'm reading right now called Eat Cake.
It's a fun and delicious read!

Anyway, I LOVED making this cake!
I LOVED surprising Mike with it ...
and let me tell you, he was speechless!
(he's not normally a man of few words)

In the end ... I walked home with my little men a happy girl because Emerson was right!
"Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

How did YOU spread your gift?
Big or small, we would LOVE to know!
squeezingitallin@gmail.com

Join me in my goal this week!

updates ...

 I've had some questions lately about stories I've started here and then proceeded to leave unresolved.
Why?
Not because I've forgotten about you, or I enjoy unfinished things.
It's because they are still unresolved.

My knee
You know we all have a part of our bodies that we don't really love...and often try to hide.
I know I'm not the only one!
I'm going to let you in on a little secret ...
I really don't like my knees.
I try to hide them every possible chance I get.
I know that might sound silly, but I'm NOT lying.
Let me tell you ... I'm not loving them, but I'm actually learning to appreciate them (even in their nonfunctional state) now more than EVER!

Unfortunately, even after multiple trips to the doctor, an MRI, and physical therapy, I STILL don't know exactly why my knee can't function and hurts so bad sometimes I feel like I'm going to lose my lunch.
I've heard a few different possibilities

Which, to me, means that...
No one has any idea!

I've gathered that it could be one or more of these options:
Torn meniscus
Chondromalacia of the Patella
My femur grinding against my Patella
A beat up Patella that needs to be surgically smoothed out again
Some kind of cartilage damage

So...none of those sound good to me, but for now, I'm just going to go to physical therapy, take my pills, and unfortunately do what the doctor says: The least amount of weight bearing activity as possible.

You'd think I would be pretty accepting of this considering I've racked up months and months, in my life, lying on my back unable to move at all!

Well...I'm a mover, pushing my body to actively perform and constantly move are things that make me feel alive, but I've obviously pushed my body right into an injury.

So right now, I'm waiting, hoping someday soon I'll be able to move fast enough to catch my little blue boy, and trying to heal.

My service project proposal
I've finally heard back from Good Samaritan Hospital and my project is still being reviewed by the directors, so it hasn't been rejected ... just moving slowly.

I have to go through a volunteer background check and training so while I'm waiting to hear from the peeps in charge I'm going to get that going.

Those of you who are waiting to serve alongside me ... please don't stop waiting.
This thing WILL happen!!!
I'm going to MAKE IT HAPPEN!

So those are my additions to the still unfinished stories.
Stay tuned for more ...

Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY !
Tomorrow, we have a "little things" list from a pretty talented lady - your going to want to meet her!
So, I guess I'll see you with the sun rise!

soooo excited!

I finally found the person I desperately needed to contact to discuss the project
I talked about HERE !

I've been dreaming this up for way too long...
I can't even tell you how excited I am because I now have one important person on board with me
and that's a perfect place to start!

Seriously...SOOOO EXCITED!

My project includes this wonderful place...

source

Now on to proposals, meetings, etc. to get the balls rolling!

Oooh....I can't WAIT!

and I can't wait to tell you all about it!