Top Three
What were your favorite books in 2017? Here are mine! If you have not read them I highly suggest you do! They are soooooooooooo good!
Hello, World!
It has been a while since I wrote a book review and there are a number of reasons why, but first and foremost is life. It just happens sometimes and I just don't get to read as much as I like. Bum Deal! I know those of you who love a good book just as much as I do get this. It can be tragic actually. A good book to me is ALMOST as good for the soul as dancing is.....ALMOST. I just love to get lost in another world and a world I get to dream and imagine! So after a few friends approached me asking me where is my next book review, I thought I would recap my TOP THREE favorite books of 2017. One of them I STILL keep trying to imagine what is happening next! For real it was that good! I think you will LOVE it too! So here we go!
Third Place: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
People! Do you want a book that will make you think? Do you want a book that will make you angry? Want a book that will make you cry? Want a book that will make you smile? Want a book that will show you people can and do change?
Then this book is for you!
I mean seriously, some nights I found myself wanting to jump into the book and shake the daylights out of some of the characters and then other nights I sat up and really thought about some serious topics that are VERY real in today's world. This book had a profound effect on me and in a very good way...maybe it will on you too.
Second Place: Class Mom by Laurie Gelman
This book was down right knock your socks off funny! The book was actually PERFECT for me! I too, like the main character, have a kindergartner and two in high school so I could really relate to her and her thoughts.
This book is an easy read about a mom who has taken on the task of room mom. This is not her first rodeo either as she has two in College and little Max in Kinder. She makes no bones about what she expects from her classroom moms and dads and she is downright funny about it! GREAT book to read! ESPECIALLY if you have a desire to be a room mom, have been a room mom, are a teacher, a principal, or just want to laugh! I mean OUT LOUD laugh! HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book!
DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!!!!
First Place: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
This book was AMAZING! Remember the one I mentioned above...the one where I am still dreaming stuff up....This is it!!!! Oh my, I was in tears at the end and honestly I could NOT put this book down.
If you like a good love story, you will like this one. It's just you find that sometimes Love comes with a price. Oh my, I did not want this book to end.
I am so proud of Lily the main character, and I know you will be too. Do yourself a favor an order the book. I promise it will not let you down!
So there you have it! My top three books for 2017! What were some of your favorites? I would love to know! Please share and comment and maybe I will read your favorite book of 2017 in 2018!
xo,
Amy
Meet Sarah....A Little Girl With $14 and a Heart the Size of Heaven
Today I want you to meet an extraordinary ten year old girl. A ten year old that inspires me to be better and maybe she will inspire you too.
Today I want to introduce you to an amazing little girl. A little girl who is teaching me about love, forgiveness, acts of kindness, hope, and most of all faith. Her name is Sarah. Sarah is 10 years old and just the yummiest 10 year old girl. At first glance she seems like any other little girl her age, but dig a little deeper and you are sure to see why she is not.
Sarah is the youngest of four. She has three amazing big brothers. Two are in college and one is in high school. She is like any other kid in the fact that she loves her friends, school, and gymnastics. The thing that sets Sarah apart from most kids her age, is from a very young age she has had a love for the homeless. When Sarah was young, she, her Mom, and her siblings passed a (presumably) homeless man asking for help on a corner near their home. To her Mom's surprise, she realized this man was a friend of hers from high school who had suffered from a traumatic brain injury. Her mom was able to tell his story and they began to pray for this friend and help him whenever they saw him working that corner. Though not homeless, he was obviously struggling, and it gave them an opportunity to talk about loving others right where they are, whether you know all the facts or not.
Sadly, I found out that Sarah's parents are going through a divorce, but this is what I love: even though she is struggling, and having to process a lot in her own little life....God is helping her notice the needs of others and she is doing what she can to help someone else in their time of need. This to me is so beautiful!
The reason I am even sharing all this....Friday I wrote about the homeless and the movie/book The Same Kind of Different as Me. When my girlfriend read my blog, she called to tell me how that book played an integral part in Sarah coping with what was going on in their world. Together, she and Sarah read the book this summer and talked about everything that book offers: Hope, Faith, Forgiveness, Redemption, and the list goes on and on. She sent me a picture of a little baggie of coins Sarah had been collecting and had put on the refrigerator to give to the homeless ever since she finished the book. A sweet little 10 year old whose life was being turned upside down was collecting coins for others. WOW! That really spoke to me and touched me.
When I let my friend know that Ron Hall, the author and one of the main characters of the book would be there on Monday, of course she brought Sarah. Do you know what Sarah brought Ron? You guessed it! Her baggie of coins! $14 BIG ONES and she was so proud! I was so proud! My friend was so proud! Ron and Beth were so proud! It was quite a moment.
Sarah's baggie of coins for the homeless.
Ron spent some time with Sarah, which really touched my friend and I, and especially Sarah. I know that this little girl has such a future ahead of her. A beautiful future. Her struggles are real, but Sarah is not giving up hope and Sarah believes just like I do in the message of loving the unloveable, forgiveness, and redemption. So today as you think about my sweet little 10 year old friend would you pray for her family and pray that God will bless that $14 beyond measure.
One proud and happy little girl.....
If you too would like to give to this foundation alongside Sarah please go to https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/help-for-the-homeless9
Any amount is not too small! They are in a huge push this January to raise funds so anything helps.
If you would like to learn more about Ron and Beth's foundation please check it out at https://www.samekindofdifferentasmefoundation.org
To learn more about the book and movie, check out my post from Monday or go to https://worthyheart.com/blog/2018/1/8/same-kind-of-different-as-me
It is an incredible book, incredible movie, incredible foundation, and an incredible story of forgiveness and redemption which should give us all hope and help us all realize we are all worthy of love.
xo,
Amy
Forgiveness, Love, Acts of Kindness, Loving the Unloveable....Good Stuff!
The season of giving has ended, but the need still remains....Let us not stop giving. Let us keep the Wins coming in 2018! And let us remember, everybody is worthy of love!
In keeping with my Theme of "Winning in 2018" I wanted to talk to you all about a movie I watched in 2017 that really touched me. Some of you may have read the book, some of you may have seen the movie, and others might be like me and you like to read a book before you see the movie. I can tell you I did both. Both the movie and the book were incredible. My FIRST recommendation before I go any further is you get the book NOW and you read it and you go to see the movie. It will stir something in you. Something that is tremendous and maybe life changing.
The Book and Movie I am referring to is, Same Kind of Different as Me. It is a true story based on two men from two entirely different backgrounds. One is Rich and One is Poor. One is married, lives in a mansion in Ft. Worth, and one is alone living in the streets of Ft. Worth. One is an art dealer and one is jobless. One is an adulterer and one is an ex-felon and murderer. Both are bound together by one spectacular lady. A lady you or I will never meet, because her life was taken too soon by cancer. However, I promise you if you read this book and watch this movie you will wish you had known her and you will learn so much about love, forgiveness, acts of kindness, loving the unloveable, patience, and the list goes on an on by what we can learn from her.
Who does she remind you of? She reminds me of Jesus. Not saying she is Jesus by any stretch of the means, but I am saying we can all learn a lot from her. Her name was Debbie Hall and she had a mission and after reading her book and seeing the movie I would like to help when and where I can to see to it that her dream continues.
I have the fortunate honor of knowing Beth Hall, who is now married to Ron Hall. Ron is the adulterer I spoke of above. You have to read this book and watch this movie to understand why it is okay to say this. You see, Ron made a mistake. We all make mistakes. Some bigger than others. It is what we do with our mistakes that determines who we are. This is what I like to think. What did Ron do? He asked for Forgiveness. He asked for Forgiveness from God and from Debbie and from his family. You might be saying is that all it takes? In God's eyes I believe yes, however, on this earth I do believe when we hurt someone, and we all have in some capacity or another, when you ask for forgiveness and you receive it, what you do next is very important.
Debbie accepted Ron's forgiveness, but for a price. Not money, not jewelry, not trips, not anything material. She asked Ron to come spend time with her in her "Happy Place" as I like to call it. The Union Gospel Mission in downtown Ft. Worth. She asked him to feed the homeless with her and try to look into their eyes and see them. It took some time, but God works in mysterious ways yall and it happened! And it happened probably with the scariest homeless man there! Denver. He is the ex-felon and murder I spoke of above. As the book and movie progress you see a beautiful thing happen. You see someone learn to love the unloveable and the unloveable learn to open up and be loved. You see forgiveness. You see the power of forgiveness and you see what forgiving someone who truly wants to be forgiven can do for everyone involved and people you never ever imagined would be involved. You see the world change. And it is a beautiful site to behold. This movie is powerful and this book is incredible.
Both Debbie and Denver have gone to be with Jesus, but Debbie's mission and dreams of restoring the homeless, hungry, abused, and hurting still lives. I highly suggest you check it out at https://www.samekindofdifferentasmefoundation.org
JP was so excited to attend the Premiere of Same Kind of Different As Me and then to meet Ron....well that was just pure icing on his cake! He is on cloud nine in this photo!
While you are ordering your book and checking out the movie you can also help out by attending or donating to Dallas Dance Fitness donation-only class benefitting Same Kind of Different As Me Foundation on MLK Day in honor of MLK Day.
So many members of DDF and their families were moved and inspired when we had the opportunity to see the movie and hear the author, Ron Hall, speak about his experiences. The associated foundation, run by Ron and his wife Beth, who is by the way a DDF member, I am proud to say, has a stretch fundraising goal for January. Their foundation provides emergency support for those experiencing homelessness and the agencies that serve them. Alana our fearless leader and all of our team hope our fundraiser class will help them meet their fundraising goal and allow them to continue their great work in our community and throughout the US. Please join us for this family-friendly dance fitness class on Monday, January 15 from 9:30-10:30AM at Dallas Powerhouse of Dance. If you cannot attend or would like to make your donation in advance please do so here at https;//www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/help-for-the-homeless9
My dance family and friends along with Ron and Beth at the Dallas Premiere of Same Kind of Different as Me. Excuse the swollen eyes! Trust me, the movie will pull at your heart and your tears.
Thank you in advance for your support of this wonderful organization! An organization that truly understands Everybody is Worthy of Love!
Let's keep Winning in 2018!
xo,
Amy
Do you BulletProof Your Joe?
I know some of you have seen my morning instagram stories of putting butter in my coffee and I am sure you are like what is she doing? Matter of fact I am positive you are saying that, because I took a poll and the statistics said it all. Take a look at todays blog and see why I do this. Not only is it yummy it is VERY good for my brain and body and guess what?! It is good for you too!
I know some of you have seen my morning instagram stories of putting butter in my coffee and I am sure you are like what is she doing? Matter of fact I am positive you are saying that, because I took a poll and the statistics said it all. I only have a few friends out there who know and understand the benefits to this powerful morning cup of Joe. Today I wanted to share with you why I started and who knows maybe you will want to "Bulletproof" your cup of joe too!
About three years ago, my brother Chuck wanted to make me a "Bulletproof" coffee and I was like NO WAY! That just sounds GROSS! He told me to just try one cup and see if I like the benefit of how it suppresses my appetite. WAIT! It suppresses your appetite!? Sign me up! He knew EXACTLY what to say to me to get me to try it! So he made me my first cup and yall it was so creamy, yummy, and frothy! Bonus! Frothy! FANCY COFFEE! SOLD! So I decided to start drinking my coffee that way. What I began to notice was incredible.
A. Yes it does suppress my appetite
B. My energy levels rose
C. My thinking was sharper
Now I am no expert by any means in this coffee, but I can tell you it has worked for me and I will explain why In "Amy's Terms," but if you would like to dig deeper into the science behind it yourself, I HIGHLY suggest you checking out the following website: www.bulletproofexec.com
First let me tell you what EXACTLY I put into my coffee:
2 tablespoons Kerry Gold Grassfed Butter Unsalted (Silver Packaging)
1-2 tablespoons MCT oil
1 scoop of collagen peptides
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Sprinkle some Turmeric
Dash or two of Cayenne Pepper
dash of Black Pepper (this helps your body absorb the turmeric)
****And now I add one scoop or packet of my Revitalu coffee or cocoa depending on my mood*****
YES! This is what goes into my coffee and I love it! The key here is to have a hand blender and blend it up REALLY good and it is DELISH! Promise! The other note I would like to make is when you are starting out on BP coffee you will want to go slow. Only 1-2 teaspoons of butter and oil or trust me you will be making a lot of full on sprints to the bathroom! So start slow! Besides, slow and steady wins the race!
Now let's get into the nitty gritty of why and what this coffee REALLY does for me and CAN and WILL do for you. FIRST off, I DID NOT lose mega weight drinking this coffee AND I DID NOT GAIN ANY weight! I did lose maybe 5 pounds total. What I did start to see happen was my appetite was suppressed, my energy level went up, which increased my performance level in my workouts, which in turn brought on......guess......You GOT IT! Weight loss! Another thing I noticed was our mornings seemed to be running smoother. I am no longer waking up and getting my normal cup of joe that literally was helping me put one foot in front of the other. I am now getting my brain fed with these healthy fats and my thinking is sharper which in turn makes mornings a little easier and smoother. I am not about to sit here and say the Berry morning's are unicorns and roses, but they do seem to be easier to handle. So as you can see the butter in your morning joe is a good thing!
I will try to explain to you my understanding of why this coffee is so incredible, but again, I HIGHLY recommend you taking the time to research my brother Chuck's friend, Dave Asprey, and his web page and podcast I referred to above to really understand the science behind it. But, for today's purposes, here is the Amy Berry Scientific explanation of BP coffee.
Butter: Now YOU CANNOT USE JUST ANY OLD BUTTER! It MUST be Grass fed organic unsalted butter and all I have found is Kerry Gold. It is the one in the silver packaging. Benefits: The butter actually helps to turn off food cravings and provides MUCH needed HEALTHY fats to your brain AND this particular butter has extra anti inflammatory ingredients that normal butter does not. I am sure we will see that this alone will help ward of many inflammatory diseases if not help prevent them. Grass fed butter has all the extra healthy fats that have been proven to help sustain energy, balance your hormones, and boost your cognitive function. If you are ANYTHING like me, the balancing of the hormones is LIFE SAVING! Just saying!
MCT oil: this is basically a blend of coconut oil and palm oil and has incredible healthy fats that keep you going for hours! So that normal crash you feel around 10:30 does not happen! MCT oil is digested faster which boost energy and this can increase your chances of losing weight. It does, however, depend on how you expend this extra energy! Wink! Wink! The MCT oil is also what helps give you that "laser focus" and your mental clarity. MCT will helps raise your keytones which in turn helps you to burn off bad fats and sugar faster.
Collagen is the protein that our body relies on. It is so good for everything from your hair, nails, skin, tendon’s, cartilage, bones, and joints! When you dance as much as I do this is a huge game changer in helping to keep my body strong! Especially at such a YOUNG AGE! Ha!
Cayenne Pepper: This little spicy spice has been proven to help speed up your metabolism, stimulate circulation, eliminate acidity, helps regulate your blood sugar levels, and helps the digestive system move bacteria and toxins out of your system. We could all use that with what they are putting in our food these days!
Black pepper: I use a dash of black pepper because it has been proven to help in the absorption of the Cayenne Pepper.
Turmeric: This bad boy is natures ibuprofen and is a strong antioxidant. If you have achy joints and bones and inflammation this is an incredible spice to put in your coffee and in your food. We ALL need to ward of inflammation! This nasty stuff is what causes MOST if not ALL of our diseases.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a miracle worker for the body. In my opinion, cinnamon is the most delicious and healthiest spice on the planet. It can lower blood sugars, reduce your risk of heart disease, it is a high source of antioxidants, contains anti inflammatory properties, helps to ward off mental and cognitive decline, protects brain function, helps to fight infections and viruses, and can lower your risk of cancer. That is alot of good right there in a spice that oh by the way can freshen your breath!
And here is where I add the magic! My Revitalu coffee or cocoa. It honestly depends on my mood as to which I will add. The coffee is not nearly as sweet, but somedays I just need the chocolatey sweetness! Either way you cannot go wrong! But, why do I add? Because I believe in bullet proof and I believe in this product. The mental focus and the energy I gain is unbelievable. Yes I do add it to my coffee! Do you have to? NO! It was actually designed just for water which makes this a win-win because when I am on the road all I need is a packet of my revitalu and I know I am bullet proof! And I love that! I do tell my friends if you are sensitive to caffeine not to add it to your coffee until you know how you react, but I am telling you guys, when I add this to my bullet proof recipe…..well….all I can say is “WATCH OUT WORLD BECAUSE HERE I COME!” If you would like to try it you can buy it here or you can ask me for a free sample and I will send out to you. I promise you will love it!
So as you can see, this cup of joe I drink everyday truly is Bulletproof worthy! It is literally designed to resist the penetration of toxic bullets to the body! Who would not want to do this! And if it helps raise your energy level, you may or may not start to exercise and with that might come even more weight loss, a happier self, AND a healthier self! It's a beautiful thing I tell ya!
So won't you join me in this new year and make Bulletproof Coffee one of your staples in your life and see what happens! I bet it is a lot of good and a lot of wins!
Cheers to Winning in 2018!
xo,
Amy
PS. This blog was updated as I have added two new things to my recipe. The collagen peptides and my Revitalu! I hope you will give them both a try! GAME CHANGERS!
Hello, World!
Guest Post: Brett East...friend and oily guru
This month, to kick off your new year and new you and some of Amy's wins, I asked my friend Brett to chat with you about her experience with oils and how they have changed her family's life. From cleaning supplies to health benefits.
This month, to kick off your new year and new you and some of Amy's wins, I asked my friend Brett to chat with you about her experience with oils and how they have changed her family's life. From cleaning supplies to health benefits.
Believe it or not, I am a big believer in oils and we do use them in the Berry house. I can't say I am 100 percent Chemical free like Brett, but I can say we use the oils and they work. When I was looking at my wins I discussed with you, one was health. Believe it or not and knock on some major wood, we were healthier in 2017. Less doctors visits and our pharmaceutical bill went down. I am sure there are a lot of reasons why, but I firmly believe one is that I have incorporated oils into our lifestyle. It took about 8 months, but now even the men, ALL THE MEN, in the Berry house believe in the power of the oils. So I asked Brett to share her story with you all in the event someone out there is looking to up their wellness game. Maybe this will be one of your wins for 2018!
Brett's Story:
I began my chemical-free journey a few years ago when I started wanting my kids to pitch in with the household chores. Being a mom of 3, I felt like this would be a wise move for my sanity. Every time they cleaned the bathroom with the cleaner I’d been using for years, they would complain about how the yucky fumes made it hard for them to breathe. It had never occurred to me that what I had been using could potentially be harmful to them (or me)! So I started looking around for cleaning supplies that were chemical free, or at least, safer for kids. I found some that I was mostly happy with, but I still felt like something was lacking. It took a while, but I finally found something I could be happy with when I unexpectedly encountered Young Living Essential Oils.
Cleaning products aside, a whole new world opened up to me of possibilities for my (and my family’s) wellness. I wasn’t really open to thinking that oils could “work.” I had no basis for my negative opinion—I had never even tried them! I guess I was simply happy with how my life was moving and how our wellness was being taken care of through traditional, albeit potentially dangerous, methods. The first time I tried a Young Living essential oil I was blown away at its effectiveness.
From then on, each time I tried a new oil for a wellness conundrum, I was amazed at how they actually worked and did what they said they could do. I still find myself wondering if there is, indeed, “an oil for that.” And each time I seek, I seem to find. I am so happy with what Young Living is doing for us. Not only is Young Living providing a way for us to have a chemical free way of life through each of their wellness lines, it is providing me an opportunity to stay at home with my kiddos and still earn some much appreciated mad money on the side! And a total bonus that I NEVER expected to come from it? I meet the most spectacular friends, like Amy. I am inspired daily by the amazing people who have come into my life through this oily endeavor.
I hope you can, like me, allow yourself a space where every tiny change made is a change for the better. And I certainly welcome any change-seekers on this oily journey of mine!
Brett
http//oily.life/oilypeopleoftheworld/
www.myYL.com/BrettEast
I hope you have enjoyed Brett's story and if you have any questions or would like more information as to how to join the oily train you can find her at: instagram: @oilypeopleoftheworld or her webpage is: https://oily.life/oilypeopleoftheworld/
xo,
Amy
How's That Working for Ya?
Got a New Year's resolution brewing? I don't and I have to tell ya I just can't. If you are like me and just can't set the resolution read on. If you have one....still read on, something might stir in you! You never know!
Happy New Year everyone! I can't believe it is 2018! Wow! The older I get the faster time moves! Does anyone else feel this way?
So it's a new year! How many of you have set your resolutions? How's that working for ya? I don't set those things! I hate those things! I mean seriously! Did you know that 80 percent of the population who set resolutions have already failed by this point! 80 percent! That is really sad considering all the negativity in the world today. Why add another layer?
Why do people set them? All they are doing is setting themselves up for failure in my opinion. I use to beat myself up when I failed on mine. So I decided a while back, "NO RESOLUTIONS!" Do you know what happened? It was freeing! It left me room to breathe and grow!
For example, I use to say, "Amy, this year you will go on a healthy diet. You will eat little to no carbs and you will take out sugar." I don't know about you, but the minute I say I want to go on a diet I EAT! EAT! EAT! I eat anything and everything I can put or find to put into my mouth! The word diet I swear triggers some chemical in my brain that says, "Amy, you are STARVING!" And when I throw in words like, little to no carbs, no sugar, healthy eating, what do you think happens? I run straight to Sonic and get a vanilla cream coke and a hamburger! I swear! It's the craziest thing! So I stopped dieting! Now my approach is eat what you are craving when you are craving it, but don't over do it. For me, it gives me permission to be bad IF I want. Want to know something even crazier. Now that I allow myself this freedom I don't want the bad stuff! Swear!
Exercise is another example. When I would set this as a resolution anything and everything that could be a roadblock would happen. I would get to the gym with the rest of the world and there would be no equipment available because it was all being used, classes would be jam packed, parking would be a beast, or I would work out like a bangee and be so sore the next day I could not walk! What did that leave room for? You know. It left room for me to say, "Screw it! I tried!" Want to know a crazy thing that happened when I took exercise resolutions out of my life? I became a dance fitness instructor! Crazy!
Spend less money and save more. This was a big one for me in the past and every time I set it, something big would happen that required money! NO LIE!
Hello, World!
The list as you see goes on an on. I don't know if it is because we set these resolutions and it is so set in stone that it makes it impossible to stick to because LIFE HAPPENS or if I am just lazy. But, what I do know is they did not work for me so I took them out of my vocabulary.
Did you know that the definition of resolution literally is a firm decision to do or not to do something? So what happens to our psyche when we go against it? For me it is not pretty and I realize this so I just don't do resolutions anymore.
Now every January, I sit down and really think about the past year. I write down my wins. NOT my failures or what I can improve on! We all have enough of that! For example my big win this year is I have stayed pretty solid with my 5:45 am wake up call. Monday thru Friday I get up at 5:45 and spend some time in the word. From this other wins have happened. I am more grounded. I feel more at peace with myself and my life. My children have witnessed my time with the Lord and I found my love for writing. I would say this is huge! With these wins in front of me I feel good about myself and I feel good about a new year! I feel like I can enter it with a purpose. I know life will happen and I know I will get knocked down, but it won't be because I set my mind to do something and I failed. So from now on it's about Wins in the past! Wins that I can improve on! Wins I will share with you and wins that I might even have a guest blogger or two to expand on and motivate you to add some wins in your life!
So Who is with me? No Resolutions Anymore! Only Wins! Try it for a year and see what happens! You might just open yourself up to a whole new you!
Happy New Year!
xo,
Amy
I miss you. Do you miss me?
Today marks the first anniversary of my mother's death. I have dreaded this day. Not near as much as the day I buried her, but I have dreaded it. To get through it, I decided to write her a letter. Dear Mom....
Dear Mom,
It has been 365 days since your last breath and it still feels like it was just yesterday. You know I still try to call you sometimes at 3:00 and I think to myself, Amy Irene, what on earth? I can't help it. I miss you so and I miss our talks. Boy do I miss our talks. And why didn't you have a personalized message on your voice mail? I hate that automated message! It would have been so nice to have your voice! I miss your voice. I miss our talks!
You were always there for me whenever I called. Never judging me and only giving advice if I asked. I so appreciated that about you. No matter how bad it was, you NEVER gave me advice unless I said, "Mom, what would you do?" or "Mom what do I do?" That is such a special gift you know. It seems like the rest of the world feels that they have to give you advice. I don't know why, because sometimes I just need to talk. You knew this about me. You knew me mom. You knew me inside and out. You knew what made me tick, you knew what brought me joy, you knew what brought me hurts, you knew my heart. I miss this. I miss you. Do you miss me?
The cardinal sitting outside the window while I was talking to Robin....is this you?
I feel you sometimes. I really do. Just the other day, Christmas morning actually, when I was on the phone with Robin I felt you. We were talking and crying about you. Was that you in the window? The red cardinal? I felt this strange peace wash over me and I told Robin I felt you. Was that you? I wish I knew.
One of your many prayer list.
There is a lot I wish I knew. Like did you know how much I loved you and still do? Do you know how proud I am of you and how proud I am that you were and are my mom? Do you know how amazing you were? Do you know that I think you were the funniest and prettiest red head? Do you know how much I loved your eyes? Do you know that you taught me the gift of forgiveness and kindness? Do you know you taught me the gift of prayer? Do you know this mom? If you don't I hope you do now.
Just the other day I was praying in my quiet time and started to chuckle as I looked down at my prayer "hit list." You know I never had one of these. Seriously! And it was around your birthday I started to take my friends and families prayers seriously. Sure if someone asked me to pray for them in the past I would. Right at that moment actually in case I forgot. Now, because of you, I write the prayers down until they tell me they have been answered! I learned this from you! And it is so amazing when someone calls to say the prayer has been answered. Sure at times I get not great news and the mystery is there as to "why God?", but, since I have started my daily ritual of prayer I have this peace about me. I have this because of watching you. Thank you Mom.
One of my prayer list.
One of your many recipe cards....I will cherish them always.
I wish I was as organized as you. Maybe you could sprinkle some of that down on me from heaven. Lord knows Trey would appreciate that. I do have the gift of cooking for my family that you had. Man you could cook! And this year I plan on tackling your recipes and trying the ones I remember out on the family. I will report back to you what we love and what we don't! It will be fun! I love looking at your recipe cards and seeing your handwriting. I miss your hand writing! I miss you!
I know Dad misses you too. We had a good cry yesterday. I went to Michaels to get fake hydrangeas for your grave. You loved blue hydrangeas and at this time of year I know they will die so Dad and I decided on fake. I hope you don't mind. I can hear you now, "Save your money, they will collect dust." But, I don't care. I am bringing them to you. I think it turned out nice. Dad loves it. He cried when I showed it to him after I made it. He misses you, but I promise we are all taking good good care of him. He is getting all kinds of attention and we keep up with his meds and doctor's appointments. Robin does a great job of getting him to Graham to get his hair cut, he still won't get it cut here, and he and I have a date once a week for lunch and I bring my friend Cathy. I think he really enjoys it. He comes to a lot of his grandkids activities and Robin brings him to church on Sunday and they brunch and I think he is very happy.
The fake flowers for your grave...sorry...real ones will die at this time of year.
Christmas was hard for him. Especially when we did Grubba Guitar. He would cry some, laugh some, and sing some. I know he wishes you could have been with us experiencing it and honestly I think he is scared he will not be able to experience it next year. It has to be scary knowing your wife is gone and you are aging. I promise we are all doing a good job of keeping him busy and making memories. You would be so proud of your kids and how we are all doing our part. That is because you taught us by showing us how important family is. Thank you.
Robin taking very good care of Dad on Christmas night. He is in Good hands mom. I promise.
Paul is taking great care of Benji too! He has to kennel him whenever blonde boys come over. That dog has a thing against toe heads, but for the most part he is content. I know he misses you too, but Paul has kept up his word and Benji is still alive and kicking and happy as can be. He actually has been good for Paul's dog Beau. Paul's cat might think otherwise, but Beau and Benji enjoy each other. I asked Erin if he sits with her in the mornings like he did you while she drinks her coffee and he does! She even keeps him pretty and groomed! So Benji is happy and pretty!
The house is in great shape! Vahid and Jeanette have been amazing in helping us with this as well as your cleaning lady, Magda. I still call her and she always says it is an honor and a privilege to clean for you. You had such a way with people mom. I think it is pretty special!
Will turned 16 on December 9 and Dad gave Will your car for his birthday. What a gift that was and is! Thank you!
So as you can see, life is still going on, but you are still very much a part of our lives and we all miss you so, especially me. You were my rock and my best friend. Life is not the same without you, but I feel you and sense you at times. I am still pretty sad, but I know you would want me to continue on and I do. I have found joy in my blog and maybe through it I will touch people like you use to touch people. It does bring me peace when I write, especially when I write about you. I am still dancing and that brings me so much joy. You know how much I love to dance! And I have discovered the gift of cooking for my family like you always cooked for us! Thank you! I know now how much work and thought you put into it. Life is not and never will be the same without you, but I will carry you in my heart always and I will look for you! I will look for your beautiful eyes in the bright blue sky. I will look for your smile that was radiant as the sun when the sun is out. I will look for your huge heart in the massive sky at night with all the beautiful stars that shine like you do. I will look for you everywhere mom and I will love you always!
All my love,
Amy
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year! I just love it! I love the magic it brings! I love the hope it brings! And I love the Love it brings!
I LOVE Christmas! I always have and I pray I always will! My friend Cathy use to make fun of me and say it looked like Santa puked in my house! I am serious! I just can't help myself!
Even last year, when my mom was so sick and dying, Christmas brought me joy, but when mom died on December 29, I honestly thought, well there goes Christmas. My best friend died during the holidays. How will I ever be able to enjoy Christmas again?
You guys! I am happy to report I do still LOVE Christmas! Do you know why? Because it truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Sure I miss my mom, and yes I have cried a ton this holiday, but, with each tradition that we Berrys carry on, I get a little spark of magic. A little spark of faith. A spark of hope. A spark of joy. And most importantly a little spark of Love. And I know that is what my mom would want. She would want me to feel the magic and the love. She would not want me to wallow in my sadness. She would want me to live and carry on all our fun traditions.
So today I am going to share with you some of what we Berrys do to keep the magic alive. It all starts after thanksgiving when our elf, Felix, comes to visit. He always brings a pair of pajamas for the family as a little, "I am back!" The kids love it, especially Graeme!
My beautiful wreath my mom made me with a little touch of Graeme's art from his preschool years.
Once Felix makes his presence known, that is our signal that the decorations can go up! Trey handles the outside and I handle everything inside. This works best for our family. This has probably been the hardest thing for me this year. When I went up into the attic to start bringing Christmas down, the first thing I got was the wreath my mother was making for me when her water broke and she went into labor with me! Yup you heard me! This wreath is 47 years old and it is a labor of love that I will ALWAYS cherish! So that kind of froze me a bit. Thank God for good friends. My friend Sarah, happen to call when I was in my rut and I had a good cry and she came over and I knocked out Christmas with her guidance and love! For this I will forever be eternally grateful!
Once the decorations are up and December 1 hits we to participate in our favorite Berry tradition! Gumdrop Picking! My Dad even got to this year and he LOVES it! He actually was quite confused and amazed at the same time! But once it slowly settled into his noggin, he got it! And he LOVED IT! So you might be asking yourself, "What is gumdrop tree picking?" Let me tell you.
When Trey and I moved back to Dallas in 2005, we were amazed by all the AMAZING lights! At that time Will had just turned 4 and JP was almost 3 and we use to take them to look at lights often. Trey kept calling the multi color trees, "Gum ball trees." The next year, I got the idea to hide gum balls in my glove box and when we saw a tree, one of us would jump out and pick one or two. What we learned here was gum balls is not a good idea! Trust me, but gum drops! BRILLIANT! So we switched it to gum drop trees! The kids loved it and still do! Even the teenagers love it now! Disclaimer: we have set ALL kinds of rules and if you start this tradition, you will want to too. For instance, if it is a busy street, the tree is not magical. If the tree is close to a window or house, not magical. A big rule is: 3-5 trees only per night! Santa does not want you to get sick! Trees are not magical until December 1 and only until Christmas! You know in Texas they start putting lights up in October! So as you can see, you MIGHT have to make rules that conform to your family and your needs, but I promise this is a fun tradition! So for us now we pick at least one night when all 5 can go, we go in our PJ's and we have a ball! My teenagers might not think so, but someday they will look back and be glad! Heck they may carry on the tradition with their kids!
Another tradition we have is the North Park Santa. This tradition started with my sister Robin. She and her husband took their kiddos there and they are in there 20's and would you believe it is the same guy! So we use to fly home for the holidays and go to see what we call "THE REAL SANTA." Now we live here and guess what, SAME GUY! I have all kinds of pictures to prove it! WE LOVE HIM! I have to say it is not an easy process because he is famous! Now how it works, which is actually MUCH better than when Robin and Ralph did it, is I go get in line at 8:30 am on the day I want to take Graeme to see him. I get my number and head back when they say is a good time. So the tradition has turned into: Whatever day I decide, I go to the mall at 8:30. Get my number. Surprise the kids at school (now it is just Graeme as the bigs are in high school) and take him to lunch and to see Santa and bonus....You miss some school! Shhh.......don't tell! He loves it! I have even roped one of my dearest friends Shirley into the tradition! So it has kind of turned into our thing!
Our Elf tends to carry on a lot of our traditions. He does all kinds of things from bringing an advent calendar every December 1, toilet papering the tree, zip lining in the kitchen, sledding down the stairs, to sitting in the manger Christmas Day to remind us that Jesus is The reason for the season. After all, it is Jesus's birthday! The day we were given the gift of eternal life along with many other gifts! What a wonderful day Christmas is! This is why I still LOVE Christmas!
So you see, Christmas is such a wonderful time of year even in my darkest moments. I do miss my mom so much and sometimes I do feel guilty for enjoying the holiday magic, but I know she would want this for me. She use to get a kick out of our daily calls and the stories I would tell her of what we were doing so I know she is now too! I might not can call her to talk about it, but I do feel her with me at times. Not always, Lord do I wish it was always, but I feel her when I need to! And that is what matters!
This was my mom's absolute favorite picture of Graeme! I can hear her giggling still when she would look at this and saying, "That Graeme is something else!"
So if you find yourself in my shoes this holiday season....mourning the loss of a loved one, know they are with us. They are in our hearts and they want us to feel and experience all the faith, hope, love, and joy the holidays bring.
Christmas Morning 2016
Merry Christmas my Friends!
xo,
Amy
The Clock is Ticking
The Count down to Christmas is on! Have you finished your shopping or are you in a wee bit of a panic mode like me? If so I have some options! Together we can make the magic happen!
Last year at this time I found myself sitting in a hospital room with my mother daily. I am not complaining about this by any means and Lord knows I wish she was still here! But, my point is, the clock was ticking on days left to shop, and I was in a hospital room. This is when AMAZON became my best friend for anything and everything! I know this is hard for some people as they fear Amazon is taking over the world, but trust me, when your mom is dying and you have three kids at home, 18 nieces and nephews, teachers, and in laws, and the list could on and on....you start to get creative on gifts! Amazon became my go to for gifts and groceries! They saved my life last year and for this I will be forever grateful!
This year I am not sitting in a hospital room, but oddly enough I find myself in the same boat and I am having to get creative. So this post is all about what I am ordering today. It includes ideas for stocking stuffers, gifts, hostess gifts, and even some household items. One thing: DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I DID! ALWAYS CHECK THE SHIPPING DATE. TRUST ME ON THIS! IT MIGHT NOT MAKE IT IF YOU MAKE THAT MISTAKE!
TODAYS CART WILL INCLUDE:
These leggings are AMAZING! I wear them to dance, I wear them around town, I wear them everywhere! And they fit so good and they look amazing. They come longer because the Yogi's in our lives like to cover their feet and I like this because it brings extra warmth around my ankles which is a plus for me! Santa does not know it yet, but he is bringing me one or two more pairs! Gotta love that guy!
This Shirt! Oh my yall! I got this for myself and it is one of my favorites! It fits amazing and it is great with jeans or with my leggings! Especially the ones above! I have this shirt in grey and I wear a medium, but I assure you Santa will be bringing me a few other colors this Christmas because EVERY time I wear it someone comments on how great it is!
For the Cooks in your life this cookbook is GREAT! Especially for families! I use it on average once a week! And we pretty much love everything from it! This is a great gift for any female in your life from a teacher to your mother to your boss! The same author also has a slow cooker cookbook I just got in the mail and I just made my first dish from it as well! LOVED it too! See below! Perfect gift for busy moms in your life!
My big boys will be finding these in their stockings! They are GREAT and the teenagers can always use another headset! Trust me on this!
These are fun for little girls to get in their stockings! It is a bath bomb with a treat! My nieces loved them last year!
Bath bombs for the boys too with toys! GREAT stocking stuffer! Especially for a little minion named Graeme!
Candles are always a good go to gift! For a hostess, for a friend, for a sister, or for yourself! I love how clean this one smells!
Anyone who really knows me knows I LOVE MY DARK CHOCOLATE SEA SALT CARAMELS. I am kind of a snob about it actually! Up until I found these I only liked Central Markets in their bulk section. This is now my go to for a hostess gift or an extra little something to add to any chocolate lovers gift. These things are the bomb! I may or may not have one or two every night! Just saying......they are that good!!!!! I have even started leaving a canister of these by the bedside of our guest! They love it!
Really not sure what all the rage is about on this, but Graeme loves these things so this year he might get a shiny one in his stocking.....:)
Yet another fascination I do not understand, but it will be in a stocking I assure you! Probably JP's!
And I can't leave my Will out so he will probably get this one!
Came across this while looking for the bath bombs and got this for Graeme. He loves all the "Surprise" stuff! Not sure I do, but hey! It makes him happy!
This is perfect for Trey's stocking! He loves coupon books of love and things like this.
So there you have it! That is what will be in my Amazon cart today along with toilet paper and paper towels! What will be in your Amazon Cart?
Happy Shopping!
xo,
Amy
Stuff
I keep dreaming about my mom. It is so strange. I am not in a fog or depression, but I do keep dreaming about her and that does make my mornings a little tougher. I have to process the dream and cry a little.
I keep dreaming about my mom. It is so strange. I am not in a fog or depression, but I do keep dreaming about her and that does make my mornings a little tougher. I have to process the dream and cry a little. I think if I did not do this I would be depressed, but I just roll around in the dream and try to decide what it was about.
Last night I dreamt of her funeral. It was so odd because I was in her closet with greasy hair and had not showered. My best friend Ginger said we had 15 minutes and I kept thinking I have no clothes here but this black jumpsuit. I could see all my mom's perfectly white tennis shoes. She LOVED white tennis shoes! She had a ton. I kept talking about how we needed to donate them because that is what she would want.
As I sat drinking my coffee and doing my QT, I realized, that is it! It has been almost a year since her death and everything is just how she left it in her closet. Maybe she is telling me, "Donate that stuff Amy Irene!" For those of you who know my mom I GUARANTEE that is what she is saying!
She was THE HARDEST person to buy a gift for. She did not want STUFF! She would say, "Don't get me anything that collects dust!" She did not wear jewelry and she was quite the little spit fire golfer/active mom so she was not into "the trends" of style. She was so basic and so simple! QUITE OPPOSITE of me or my sister! Kind of funny actually!
She wore only mascara and deodorant. For those of you who know me, I wear makeup and perfume EVEN to dance in! Heck I have been known to wear my pearls to dance! So VERY OPPOSITE! And people I love me some stuff! Have you seen my house? It is a dust freaks nightmare! I feel bad for my kids when I die. It will be harder than heck to get through all this. Maybe that is my take away from the dream. Maybe I should start cleaning out.
I promise you my moms house will be so easy to go through. She was sooooo organized and did not hold on to anything. And honestly, now with her death I see why. She could not take it with her and she definitely did not send it ahead, so why keep it. Only keep and use what is needed. RIGHT? But, who am I kidding? I LOVE MY STUFF!
So my take away for today....I need to talk to my siblings about what we should do with my mom's stuff, but I shall keep on keeping on with my stuff and not beat myself up for it! I like it! I like my house and I like my things and if you do too, I say ENJOY them! It does not make us any less of a person. Just might make it a little more work for those we leave behind. But then again, they may like our stuff!
xo,
Amy
My Triple Threat....
Today I will make a heartfelt confession and one I hope other moms can learn from....
As I sat watching my beautiful JP recently during one of his brilliant performances, I got a little sad. Not sad because of my mom, not sad because he was growing up, but sad because he is 14 years old and I was JUST REALIZING who he is and HOW MUCH TALENT HE HAS.
In the ARTS, I guess he is called a "TRIPLE THREAT". The boy can play three instruments that I know of and he is only trained in one. He can Act like you would not believe. When he is on that stage he transforms into whatever character he is and it is so fun to watch. He can sing, Oh my lord the boy has some pipes, and now I realize he can dance....and what a beautiful site to behold when he is dancing.
My first point is, doesn't that make him a quadruple threat? We are talking about a instrument, acting, singing and dancing....my calculations say that is a quadruple effect... Just sayin......but my real point here is I am so sad that it took me so long to figure this out. I will tell yall, people quite often would say to me when he was young, "JP is meant for the stage!" I would smile and say, "He is quite the character." But yall! He IS meant for the stage! Why didn't I listen?
I will tell you why. This is an honest heart felt confession.
Because I had an image of what being a boymom was and it did not include the stage. It included soccer fields, football fields, basketball courts, baseball fields (even though I despise baseball), golf clubs, track, and the list goes on and on, but you get the point. It did not include an instrument. It did not include a stage and costumes or god forbid make up, and it really did not include tights. Why? Because I selfishly had an image of what I THOUGHT A BOY SHOULD BE OR DO.
It is kind of odd really, being that I grew up acting with plenty of boys and even dated them.
As I sat there watching him move gracefully across the stage, I thought to myself, "Did I hold him back? Where would he be today had I listened?" I don't know and no one does. What I do know is I could have had a professional coach on JP at the age of two for any sport and it would not have made a hill of beans. JP did not like or want to play sports. He did not have the mind or desire to learn a game. His mind loves the stage. His heart loves the stage. Not some field or court.
Why do I share this with you? I share this story with you simply because I don't want people to make the same mistake I did. I don't want to see others put their "idea" or "image" of what a particular kid should do on them. I promise you it will not work. And in this broken world it will only add yet another layer of stress to our poor kiddos. Trust me JP told me it was awful when I kept signing him up for football and not listening to him.
I consider myself one of the lucky ones. JP was secure enough in who he is to basically push back and FINALLY get to his love. Some kids are not that confidant. I don't think I was at that age. So in this day and age, when our kids are already stressed out and trying to fit in, lets all work harder on not pigeon holing our kids into what WE THINK IS RIGHT OR BEST for them. Instead let's empower them to be who they are and to do it to the BEST OF THEIR ABILITY and TO SHINE!
xo,
Amy
For The Men in your Life
I am not an expert when it comes to girl gifts, but if you have men in your life, I think I can help you out. Check out these ideas and let me know what some of yours are.
Christmas is Closing in and I am scrambling and my hunch is you might be too. Today I have made an easy list of what my little guy is asking for as well as somethings for the bigs as well. Hope this helps make your holiday shopping a little easier!
First up is the World of Nerf. We have about 10 little boys on our block alone and Nerf is all the rage, specifically this gun! It shoots 3 bullets at once!!!!!! What kid would not love that!
Don't forget your bullets! Lord knows we go through the bullets!
Another toy that has been all the rage on this street is the Hover Board. Santa is bringing this particular one along with knee pads, elbow pads, a helmet, and bubble wrap! Ha! Just kidding! Kind of! But we all know boys will be boys!
And last but not least the Garmin Jr to help Graeme tell time, know how much activity he has been doing, and bonus it helps to teach chores!
The teens in my world have been a little harder to buy for this year and I am really struggling as all they want is cash. I know that would make my life so much easier just to do that, but I want to wrap SOMETHING other than cash for under the tree. So far all I have come up with is the following few items. If you have ANY ideas for a teenage boy, PLEASE put in the comments below. I will be forever grateful!
Now on to my better half! Trey is so hard to buy for and I believe I will get him the fitbit above, but for anyone who knows my spouse all he wants is the gift of time and touch! There, I said it! But, I LOVE to wrap gifts and watch him open them so he will probably get the watch along with a coupon book full of "love gifts" and a funny gag gift! Here is what I have come up with:
Yep! A salt gun! Trust me! If you know Trey Berry he will be digging on this! Honestly all the Berry Men will!
So there ya have it! A complete list of gift ideas for the dudes in your life! Hope it helps and let me know if you have any I can add to my collection!
Happy Shopping!
XO,
Amy
The Day my Water Broke
It is my sweet boy's birthday.....and it has been 16 years of miracles and growth and love!
December 8, 2001 is a day that I will never forget. I was pregnant with our first baby, Will, and my water broke.
At the time, Trey was a pilot in the Navy and we lived in Oxnard, California. It was a gorgeous day I remember. My mother in law was staying with me as Trey was in Mississippi house hunting for our next move. I remember she made the most delicious lasagna, because my brother in law Marc had come to visit.
After lunch, I went for a walk on the beach. I walked for almost an hour. When I returned, Marc and my mother in law were having what appeared to be a serious conversation, so I decided I would go lie down. When I woke up about an hour later I went to the restroom and my water broke! I was shocked as this was my first baby and I had ZERO clue what was going on. Will was not due until January 27 so I was not quite sure what to do as this was only December 8.
I called my mother in law into the bathroom and very calmly said, "I think my water just broke." I remember her reaction like it was yesterday. Her voice kind of went up a notch and she said, "Your water cannot break! It is too early! You must of gone to the bathroom on yourself!" I remember thinking she is crazy! I did not do that! But, before I said something rude, it happened again. All this fluid rushed out and I was wearing a dress. She looked down on the floor and I looked at her and she yelled, "Your water broke!"
Long story short, one of Trey's friends, Ben, happened to stop by right at that moment. My mother in law explained what was happening. I remember Ben went into a little bit of panic and literally said to my MIL, "Boil some water and get some towels I am going to run to the bathroom right quick!" I started laughing and said, "Ben, its ok, we are not going to have this baby right here, right now, but could you please take us to the hospital?" He was like, Oh right!
My Wonderful Driver and Dear Friend Ben with Will
Sweet Ben drove 10 mph all the way to the hospital as I made a gazillion phone calls filling everyone in on my big news and asking for prayers as it was so early. When I finally got a hold of my husband to tell him the news I remember very clearly saying, "Honey, my water broke, I need you home ASAP and WHATEVER you do, DO NOT FLY SOUTHWEST!" Would you believe he is a pilot for them now!? I was scared if he did he would NEVER make it due to all the stops they make! Now he flies for them! Funny how life works!
Good news is, Trey did make it to the birth of our first born and William Geary Berry IV was born at 2:10 am on December 9, 2001. He weighed 5lbs 10 ounces and was 19 inches long. All in all he was in GREAT health considering he was so premature and after an 8 day stay in the hospital we got to bring him home.
16 years ago today God blessed us with the most beautiful gift. Will. He has grown into such a fine young man. Ever since the day he was born I have tried to be the best parent I can be to Will and his brothers. Having a baby changes EVERYTHING! Namely your priorities. Now my priorities are Will and his brothers and our precious family.
Priorities of helping them feel important, empowering them, teaching them about Jesus, finding time for the things that matter. Laughing with them, crying with them, growing with them, and all the moments in between. Sure we disagree and my biggest fear when this happens, do they know that even in disappointments I love them? I ALWAYS LOVE THEM. No matter what, I love them!
So as I reflect back on these past 16 years, I am humbled and I am blessed and I am so in love with my boy! Happy Birthday Son! You are a treasure and you are a gift! I am so proud of who you have become and cannot wait to see what the future holds for you!
All my love, Mom!
Guest Post: My Web Designer - Shay Paulson of Merit Media
I keep getting so many questions about who designed my site and helped me launch my blog that I came up with an idea. A guest blogger! And that guest would be the my social media coach! Meet Shay! I think you guys will love her! I know I do!
Hello, Worthy Heart readers! I’m honored to be guest posting for Amy today. We were introduced through a dear mutual friend several months ago, and hit it off - of course. I mean, who doesn’t feel like they’re best friends with Amy?!
Amy and I were finally able to meet in person with Lyndsy, who introduced us. We enjoyed a fun evening eating and chatting at Rise. I'm sure you'll come to know our girl Lyndsy soon, but you may know her by the Berry Family's nickname, "Blizzard."
Shay, Amy and Lyndsy (aka Blizzard)
Amy and I quickly connected over our love for building relationships and so much more. She’s a hoot. I’m not a dancer, but it’s on my list of things to do soon - go to one of Amy’s dance classes.
Amy’s been through a tough season after losing her mom and caring for her dad, but the beautiful thing is that she’s looking for an outlet to use her pain for good to encourage others through this blog. I love that!
Once Amy pitched her idea to me on wanting to start a blog about motherhood, grief, life, and everything in between, I knew it would get a great response because she’s already so relatable. In just the short time since we launched her site, so many people have commented, liked and shared, which was exactly what we'd hoped. Definitely the power of community.
Amy asked if I’d be willing to share a bit about what I do for a living, since she’s getting so many questions about who designed her site and helped her launch her blog. (Insert the girl raising her hand emoji here - that’s me!)
About My Business - Merit Media
I own Merit Media, a marketing and public relations company that specializes in web design, social media strategy, managing relationships and media. I started my company about four years ago when my husband and I moved to Jacksonville, Florida for him to attend graduate school. We’re moving back to Dallas next week, and I’m thrilled to be back in my hometown and the land of Tex-Mex.
It was risky to start just as we moved, but I had four clients who believed in me, and I went for it. That is my biggest piece of advice - just go for it!
So many times we want things to be perfect before we put them out in the world. You know what? Life’s too short and too precious for that.
A Little Background & My Experience
I have a degree from Baylor University in Journalism and Public Relations, and for the first part of my career, I worked for the March of Dimes as a fundraiser and event coordinator. Their mission to have healthy moms and healthy babies is near and dear to my family’s heart, because I spent three weeks in the NICU with bacterial spinal meningitis when I was a newborn.
It’s because of prayers and miracles and my time in the NICU that I have no complications from this disease. (Unless you count not being able to navigate a map very well. But thank goodness for Google Maps! I figure that’s the least of my concerns.)
After the March of Dimes, I had a short stint as a communications director for a trade organization, and then we moved to Florida. I was crazy and started a business two weeks before we moved.
Who Do I Work With?
It is one of my greatest joys to grow this business and work with a wide array of people, companies and causes.
I spend quite a bit of time reading, researching and staying up-to-date on the latest social media trends and news, in order to convey to my clients what’s happening and what is most important to focus on. Social Media is always changing, and I know it can be overwhelming. That’s where I come in to help!
I work with personal bloggers, non-profits, restaurants, interior designers and musicians, just to name a few. It keeps me hopping! I love it. (Have I mentioned that?!) Because each client is unique, I start with a general inquiry email and then schedule a time to talk on the phone. If we’re in the same city, I’ll do my best to meet up with you in person, too. I have clients from the east coast to the west coast, so I am able to travel a fair amount.
If you’re curious about the Marketing & PR Services I offer, here’s a short list. I’d love to talk to you personally if you think I might be able to help you grow your idea or company.
- Graphic Design
- Logo Design
- Web Design
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Social Media Management
- Media Relations
- Start-up business consulting
- Non-profit consulting
- Event coordinating - weddings, events, fundraisers, media days, etc.
I’m booking 2018 dates and would love to help you grow your business or manage your event.
Here is my Merit Media website or you can email me directly at shay@meritmedia.net.
I hope to hear from you soon!
Salty but Sweet!
Thanksgiving 2017 at the Beach did not disappoint! It was VERY sweet and salty!
I was really worried about Thanksgiving this year with it being the first year without mom, but I have to say it was really ok! It was Salty but sweet! Luckily for me, we have been doing Thanksgiving with Trey's side of the family for over 6 years now. It is kind of what I am use to so mom really was never with me. Maybe that made it easier. I don't know, but I can tell you I am just thankful for how wonderful it was.
Typical family photo for us!
We took the boys out of school early....shhhhh....don't tell! And we headed to Inlet Beach, Florida. For those of you not familiar with Inlet, it is in the 30a area and right next door to Rosemary Beach. You guys it is GORGEOUS! The entire area is stunning and really a neat place.
This is what I woke up to for 6 days! Heaven right!
The water is AMAZING and you can see 10 feet down! I swear! The stingrays would swim right up to the shoreline and it was so fun to watch! We got lucky with the weather this year as it was warm enough to swim. We spent most of the 6 days on the beach with our toes in the sand building all kinds of unique sand objects and making all kinds of memories. Graeme, our six year old, made a little friend the very first day and they had so much fun the entire week! This trip was just what my soul needed as my heart has been missing my mom so much.
I did not know how I would feel about not cooking the "traditional" Thanksgiving dinner, but let me just tell you, IT WAS AWESOME! There was no stress and the food we ate was UNBELIEVABLE. We ate at Fish out of Water, which is part of the Watercolor Inn and Resort, on Thanksgiving day and they knocked it out of the ballpark. It was not necessarily traditional, but it was so good! Take a look at some of these photos of our dessert options! Delish! If you ever go to Watercolor I highly suggest Fish Out of Water.
We may have not of had the traditional Thanksgiving meal, but in true Berry form we carried on our tradition of "Grubba Guitar!" Grubba Guitar is a holiday tradition The Foley side (my side of the family) and the Berry side started doing after every family holiday gathering. I am proud to say we have been doing it since Trey and I were married in 2000! So 17 years of this amazing family memory. Everyone looks forward to it and it is really a great time full of lots of fun! Here are some pictures of "Grubba Guitar" Thanksgiving 2017.
So as you can see from my pictures above, Thanksgiving this year was spectacular. Sure we had moments, but all and all, this Thanksgiving is one that will go down in the record books. We swam, we fished, we ate, we sang, we shopped, and we made memories! Now that is something to be Thankful for and I am so Thankful! Especially for my Party of 5!
Berry....Party of 5
xo,
Amy
The First Family Tree
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE ADVENT CALENDAR, I HAVE FOUND THE PERFECT ONE.
Have you ever heard of the Jesse Tree? I had not until just recently when a friend gave our family the COOLEST advent calendar EVER! It is LITERALLY the genealogy of Christ, so essentially the first family tree. I am so excited about this that I just had to share it with you!
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY:
Jesse was the father of King David and known for being the first person in the genealogy of Christ, hence the name The Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree has been used over many years through art to explain the genealogy of Christ from the time of creation up to Christ birth. They say you see it in stained glass art in windows. Originally the design showed a branch of a tree growing from a reclining figure of Jesse. Throughout the tree the various branches had pictures of old and new testament figures who were ancestors of Jesus. The top of the tree were figures of Mary and Jesus.
LITTLE BIT ABOUT ADVENT:
Advent literally means: The arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. In the Christian faith it is the first season of the Christian Church year, leading up to Christmas and including the four preceding Sundays:
Do you see why I love this Calendar? It is not just a calendar leading up to Christmas with a piece of chocolate, or lego figurine to build, or a tiny gift, it is truly the story of God's Salvation Plan beginning with creation, continuing through the old testament, all the way to the coming of the birth of Jesus.
Isaiah 11:1 a shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit
The art and idea for this beautiful calendar was literally born from this verse from Isaiah and it is literally showing us the Royal lineage! How cool is that?
This advent calendar and this beautiful tree does not have all the lights and garland that your typical tree has. It does not have the candy and the treats your typical advent calendar has. What it does have is a beautiful ornament that you hang daily to your tree. Each ornament is a symbol that points to the Coming Savior. Each day you can take time with yourself and your family to really reinforce and emphasize the true meaning of Christmas. What a beautiful gift! And just think, you can unwrap this beautiful gift together as a family and draw closer to our Lord and Savior everyday. Won't you join me and my family this beautiful season as we unwrap the Wonder of Christ?
Our Jesse Tree
What do you do with your family at Christmas to remember Jesus is the true gift and the reason for the season? I would love to know.
xo,
Amy
Grateful for Family
It was thanksgiving last week and we were suppose to be Grateful Right?! So then why oh why do we get so stressed!!!!!
It was thanksgiving last week and we were suppose to be Grateful Right?! So then why oh why do we get so stressed!!!!! I mean seriously people! We spent Thanksgiving at the beach! You heard me, the BEACH! Who gets stressed at the beach? We did and sometimes you could feel the tension....inside of me...inside the room...or inside of one of my family members. Why?
Well, after Church at the Chapel of Seaside, I realized why. The sermon really put it into perspective for me and I think it MIGHT help me at any family gathering in the future. OPERATIVE WORD here is MIGHT! We are human after all and we tend to forget things when we are stressed or mad or angry. And let's face it people....that is what sometimes comes out when we are all together as a family.
Think about all the family dynamics that are coming together....In my family on The Berry side alone I think we have 7! SEVEN! Lucky seven maybe? 7 different ways we all were raised, 7 different ways we celebrate, 7 different ways we discipline and the list goes on and on! Imagine how many if we had included the Foley side! Holy Guacamole! But thankfully this week it was just the Berry's. We had the dynamics of:
Grubba (my father in law)
Gramzee (my mother in law)
Trey and Tom (husband and brother in law) and the way they were raised
Me
Jobeth (my sister in law)
The way Trey and I raise our boys
The way Tom and Jobeth are raising their girls
Do you see how it could get sticky here and there? Lord Love a Duck it can get sticky! Throw in the fact that we had a six year old blowing snot rockets, an eight year old little Shirley Temple twinky dink, an 11 year old who LOVES to sit in her corner and read (God love her she was the sweetest and quietest one), and TWO TEENAGERS! To say it was GLORIOUS 24-7 would be a LIE! TOTAL LIE!
I decided after hearing the amazing Sermon by Pastor Gary Wingo that I would dig in deep in my QT and really focus on what I could do now that I understand why it gets Sticky. What I came up with and what MIGHT help you and I in the coming weeks is to remember it will be "Weird" and "Stressful" at times. It can't help to be. So together, lets challenge ourselves in the following.
A. Patience and Love-this is probably the hardest. Especially when you are tired and all you want is to be quiet or to read and someone in your family wants to talk to you. Practice it here. Breath and smile and remember this time together is oh so brief in the grand scheme of things. Talk to them. Make them feel special and show them you are listening....this will go far.
B. No Complaining in your head or outward-Yet another hard one. Especially if you feel like you are the only one participating in whatever (Cleaning, cooking, errand running). What I have learned this week here is we all have our strengths. One person's might better at laundry, dishes whatever while the other person might actually be better at calming situations just by their smile and laughter and crazy sense of humor. Sometimes someones beautiful smile is all you need to calm the tension, but both help in stressful times.
C. Don't be critical of anyone-Only Encourage one another, build one another up-Yep, you guessed it! This is hard too! What happens when you encourage and build someone up is so much more beautiful than when you tear someone down. Especially when you do it when you are angry, hurt, or irritated by someone....SERIOUSLY try it! Build that person up and watch the miracle work between you both! I dare you! You might be in for a pleasant surprise.
I put this challenge into place with myself last week and no it was not easy and no I did not "Nail It", but it did bring me much more peace and calm. I truly think I enjoyed my week so much more just by TRYING to apply these three things and I am going to Challenge all of us to apply them in the future. You might be surprised at the JOY you bring to your heart and to your family!
And always remember: HOME IS WHEREVER A BUNCH OF CRAZIES ARE!
Just kidding! Home is your story of who you are and a collection of all the things you love.
This is Us....And boy do I love Us!
xo,
Amy
Gift Ideas
Christmas is such a magical time of year and if you are anything like me you love to find the PERFECT gift for each person in your life. I honestly hate the idea of giving a gift card or cash, but my teenagers seem to think the latter is the perfect gift. I still however, strive to find the PERFECT gift even for the not so fun at times beast we know as a teenager.
Christmas is such a magical time of year and if you are anything like me you love to find the PERFECT gift for each person in your life. I honestly hate the idea of giving a gift card or cash, but my teenagers seem to think the latter is the perfect gift. I still however, strive to find the PERFECT gift even for the not so fun at times beast we know as a teenager.
Today I have put together a few things I am giving this year and maybe just maybe this will make your life easier as you are putting together your Christmas list.
FOR THE RENTS:
Parents and Grandparents are so hard to buy for. Let's face it....nine times out of ten if they want something, they just go out and buy it. This year I am giving a gift that will last for ages and will bring joy, laughter, and maybe some tears to the entire family. It is a book that ask questions so you can learn who they were as a kid, teenager, young adult, etc. I have been doing this book with my father and I so wish I had it when my mother was alive. I have learned so many fun, interesting facts about who he is was and how he came to be the man I love and adore. The book title is: Tell Me So I Know and you can find it here:
FOR THE WIFEY OR ANY FEMALE IN YOUR LIFE REALLY
JEWELS! I mean come on! What Women does not like a new pair of earrings or a necklace? Now if you are on a budget and you can't afford the real deal I have the next best thing! B Stellar! Her stuff is AMAZING and so different and PRETTY! If you find something you like on her site type in the code AMYBERRY and you will get free shipping! Bonus! Here is a pair of my favorite earrings that people always comment on!
www.bstellar.co
TEENAGERS OR YOUNG ADULTS
Like I said early, I realize they all want cash, but I have found the perfect gift that you can give along with that cash if your heart so desires. It is a small, simple, easy read....and it even has large type! LOL! It is a written by a former Navy Seal and it was actually a speech he gave to a graduating class. The book is so inspiring and gives the reader simple things to do to change his or her life and possibly the world. GREAT book for any teenager or young adult, honestly it is a great book for anyone in general who wants to make a difference. You can get it here at:
THE HUBS OR MEN IN YOUR LIFE
If your husband or significant other is anything like mine, Christmas revs him up, but not in the sense of Tis the Season. More in the sense of OMG look at our pocketbook! LOL! Mine is always saying, "Amy do not get me ANYTHING!" And yall he sincerely means it. So I am always on a quest for the perfect gift. Last year I surprised him with an enormous canvas photo of our three boys! I must say I nailed it! This year I am struggling....So far all i have come up with is a coupon book that I bought! (I have ZERO CRAFTING SKILLS!) So if you have any ideas for me I would love to hear them and in the meantime if you are not a crafter like myself here is the link for the book and the neat thing about this is, if your husband or significant other likes it the last coupon is a coupon for another coupon book! ADORABLE!
THE LITTLE MALE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE:
So this is the area where I do go crazy and I do need help! I could buy toys all day everyday! This year however our little man/child has asked for the minecraft x box and a bike. Jury is still out on which he will receive. It is up to santa, but I have included the links below along with some other things he wants.
FOR THE LITTLE FEMALES IN YOUR WORLD
I don't have these personally in my house, but I do in my family and boy do I love buying for them! So hear are some cute ideas for you:
So there you have it. A little bit of inspiration to get you jump started on your holiday shopping. Do you have any inspiration for me? I would love to hear it!
xo,
Amy
Are You in the Club?
It's Thanksgiving...do you find yourself in the "firsts" club like me?
It is thanksgiving! Today is a day that is suppose to be full of love and gratitude, but for some today will be empty, lonely, or dark. For all my friends who are in the club of "firsts", know you are not alone.
Some of you are asking yourself, "what does she mean." I am talking about the first thanksgiving without a parent who has past within the last 365 days. For me it is my mom and for one of my best friends it is her dad.
It is not a club you want to be in, unfortunately, it is a club we all find ourselves in eventually. It is a sad reality, but there is hope in this reality. Hope in Jesus Christ and hope in the beautiful reality we will all be together again in Heaven and what a glorious Thanksgiving that will be.
For some of us in this group, this hope will be what gets us through this day. Others of us might still be doubting and this is ok too. Trust me, after my mom died I was in the trenches of doubt. Lean on your family and friends if you find yourself doubting. Some of you might even find yourself downright mad. That is ok too. Trust me when I tell you I was not just mad, I found myself pissed off at God, for lack of a better word. Seriously! So if you find yourself there, it is ok too.
Wherever you find yourself, it is ok. Go easy on yourself. Trust me on this. Don't expect today to be anything, matter of fact, my advice is take each minute of the day as they come at you with zero expectation. Then you won't be disappointed in someone or yourself. This has been a huge coping mechanism for me. ZERO EXPECTATIONS!
Most importantly my dear friend and reader, know your loved one is up their in the mysterious place known as Heaven and they are watching over you. Look for them today. Listen for them. You will be so surprised when you hear their whisper from heaven, it will bring you a peace that overcomes your soul. Trust me. They are with us and they will reveal themselves to you at the oddest moment and you and only you will know, "Ah, this is my loved one".
Happy Thanksgiving and much love and hope and joy to you today and always.
Amy
Option 3!
I had a dream last night and when I woke I could not remember ANY OF IT! Has this ever happened to you? It is so annoying! Especially if you are like me and remember your dreams. As I laid there trying desperately to go back to sleep, thoughts of my mom washed over me.
I had a dream last night and when I woke I could not remember ANY OF IT! Has this ever happened to you? It is so annoying! Especially if you are like me and remember your dreams. As I laid there trying desperately to go back to sleep, thoughts of my mom washed over me. This happens from time to time. I guess it is all part of the thing they call GRIEF.
The day my mom said she was not scared....
This night, for some reason, all I kept thinking of was one particular day when she was in the ICU at Presbyterian Hospital. This particular day was haunting me. LITERALLY. My heart started racing, I tried my breathing techniques I had learned from lots of different sources, and nothing was working. I decided I had a few choices:
I could get up and read or watch a TV show
I could keep breathing in and out like I was, but I was getting dizzy!
I could just really go back to that day and let whatever it was that was bothering me work itself out.
I chose option 3. If there is one thing I have learned from the grief from the loss of my mom, it is that you cannot control it. You cannot bury it, you cannot swipe it under a rug, you cannot put your head in the sand like an ostrich. It will not let you! Trust me. You might think you are running from it, but the rest of the world sees you and it is there. So I have learned somedays or nights you just got to roll around in it and get dirty!
As I laid there I really focused on that day that was coming to mind. I could see the two of us in her ICU room. She was sitting up which was a huge success and we were talking. I remember her saying, "I think I am dying Amy." Very calmly and very matter of fact. I didn't know what to do with that I remember. I recall saying, "Are you scared?" She calmly said, "No, everyone has to do it sometime."
It was all very surreal. We did not say much more, but I remember holding her hand and just looking into her BEAUTIFUL blue eyes willing her not to die. Have I ever told you she had the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen? I miss those eyes.
Thinking back on it that day I wish I would have said more. I wish I would have asked her more. She was such a spiritual person and so close to God that I wish I would have pushed more on why she thought she was dying, why she was not worried, or what would she miss the most. Maybe if I had I would not be so worried about her. I don't know.
Dying is a scary and uncomfortable thing to talk about. ESPECIALLY with your mom while she is recovering in ICU. I feel like I was not finished with that conversation with my mom. I feel like maybe she came to me in my dream and forced me to deal with that day. I don't know. I somehow fell back to sleep because the next thing I remember is my alarm going off. I think my mom came to me that night and sat with me until I finished our conversation in my own head and came to some kind of peace that she was ok.
I am still so sad about losing my mom and I still find myself really wondering if she can hear me and see me when I am struggling. What I am learning through all this though is you have to choose option 3. You have to face it dead on (for lack of a better word) and look it square in the eyes and deal with it. Then and only then can you live your life to its fullest and I know that is what my mom would want for me and I am sure that is what your loved one would want too.
Won't you choose option 3 and Choose life along with me?
xo,
Amy