Wednesday, August 6, 2008

From my heart, August Rush and Ali Edwards remind me....



Must See Movie!! AUGUST RUSH....

Last night I watched the movie August Rush. I loved it! I am sure many of you have already seen it long ago but I hardly ever watch TV or movies. I love movies that touch my heart. I love movies that make me think. So while I was watching it Ali Edwards came to my mind. I know crazy isn't it? She is someone who I admire for her work and writings. I have met her twice now and think she is even cooler in person each time I have met her. But why did she pop in my mind while watching this awsome movie? In the movie this child/boy hears beautiful music that others miss hearing. It is out there but we do not hear it like he does. He took the time to listen deeply! Listen with his ears but also his heart. It was so amazing how beautiful sounds can be in every day life if you take the time to listen. So this is where Ali came in.... I hope she will inspire you like she has me. I take her CAPTURE THE MOMENT saying to heart! Let me explain by telling you the story from CHA summer 2008.

( now to look at this picture and know she is pregnant in it is so cool!)


You all know meeting Tim Holtz was huge for me at this show since I missed him at the winter show. I just so admire his work and wanted to meet him in person. Not only did I get to meet him but I spent about an hour watching him create beauty with his products! Did you all know you can form grunge board with heat? I had no idea and I sell lots of grunge board. I will post more on this forming of it in another blog. I now have tons of Tim Holtz products on their way to fill my store and for my personal use. I will be listing lots today in the store. If you have not play with Tim Holtz products it is a MUST! No need to be scared! Go to his blog and see his online classes to use his products. You can find his products in the AMR store. If there is anything I am missing you want from his line let me know and I can get it in for you.

SO anyway to make a longggggg story short, he had Ali Edwards come in and show off Alcohol inks while he took a much needed break. She was so funny and so REAL with this. She picked up the ink bottles and said "OKAY we are just dropping today!" Oh and she meant it! She had sheets of acrylic from Hambly and a cut out acrylic "Simon" name book from Clear Scraps. She picked up the inks and just went for it. Dabbed with a dadder, dropped from the dropper. All along I am thinking I would never in a million years do that. NOPE! And if I had I would have tossed it out thinking it was not good enough that it was way to random. She pointed out how beautiful it was and how cool the colors were. She had us watching the colors mix together and move on their own on the acrylic. You have to see this blog of her's to see some of what she ended up with by doing this... It really turned out gorgeous! I remember standing there thinking, wow how cool is she that she could stop to see the beauty in it. If you read her blog you will know she see's beauty in things we all often miss. So how the movie and Ali come into my mind at once is, I need to stop and be still more often. Stop and really listen to the music out there that I am missing being to busy and hurried. Maybe missing just simply by talking to much and not being quiet and listening. Watching that movie touched me to slow down and listen. Then Ali came to mind to remind me to slow down and SEE!!! Really see everything out there. CAPTURE THE MOMENT. Sometimes I sit on my front porch and I can now say I bet I miss so many beautiful small things right in front of me. When I am done with this blog I plan to get a refill on my coffee, and sit in my favorite chair on the front porch and SEE and LISTEN. Can you take a moment to do this today? Ali and August Rush to me remind me to slow down and enjoy each day, each sound, each item and hear and see the beauty around me.

Life has been so busy for my family this summer. My Father inlaw (Tom) had been ill with ALS for the past year. I went to CHA in July, had a wonderful time and learned lots. Came home that Sunday after the show to go straight to my FIL's party. We had a party to celebrate his life with him there, still very much alive. It was one of the most beautiful days of my life. He said before going to bed that night it was the best day of his life. My Father inlaw passed away that following Tuesday with all of us around his bedside. As sad as it was it was the most beautiful and touching moment of my life. I can so clearly remember, hearing his breath get so slow and so quiet. The wind was slightly blowing outside. We had the window open and you could hear the sound of the aspen leaves rustling. The birds were singing and if you listened hard enough you could hear the heartbeats of everyone in the room while we held my father inlaw and watched him leave the earth. It took something so huge for us to all stop and SEE and LISTEN to the beauty that surrounds us. Since that day I have been moving on keeping super busy and missing SEEING and HEARING. Watching that movie, thinking of Ali, and remembering July 22nd when my father inlaw passed reminded me to STOP and slow down! We all need to do this as often as possible. I am going to take my first cup of coffee every morning now and be still and listen, and be sure to capture the moment with my eyes wide open so I can SEE also. I wish this for all of you...

From my heart,

Stacey


Ali's new book will be here any day, be sure to preorder yours and it will ship right away. This is a wonderful book on mini albums and one we will all cherish having in our collection.


Meeting Tim Holtz was a wonderful experience.

16 comments:

angie worthington said...

stacey, whew, deep breath here...this post has me crying...been in a slump lately and this is just the kick in the rear that i have needed...everything you said is so true...i am terrible about getting caught up in the day to day "problems"...it is all just "stuff"....i MUST slow down enjoy life and not take anything forgranted...i am blessed with a wonderful hubby and sweet & fun daughter...great family & friends, a home, food, something to drive...so, stacey, thank you for the beautiful, touching and thought provoking post...
;)

Anonymous said...

That was just beautiful. You tied all the elements together in the perfect way to make us see your point....slow down and SEE and HEAR. I'm so glad your FIL went peacefully and at a time in life when he was truly happy. Thanks for sharing all that with us. I don't think many online store owners take the time with their blog that you do. Just wonderful...and appreciated.
~Erika/journeyfan

Anonymous said...

it amazes me how we forget to appreciate the things that are most important to us! Thank you so much for the reminder! Your blog is just terrific Stacey and so heartfelt! Thank you for all that you do! You are amazing!

Sandy/tx-nana-scraps said...

As the saying goes, "Stop and smell the roses!" Thanks Stacey. :-)

Anonymous said...

Wow Stacey you've nailed it on the head. Thank you for the reminder that we all need to slow down, look around, and capture this moment because it will pass too quickly. Thank you so much for sharing your heart again- thank you for your reminder to capture the moment.

Anne Marie said...

Beautifully written post Stacey. The best gift my Mom ever gave me was her ability to stop and appreciate the beauty in everyday life -- the chirp of a bird, the buzz of cicadas, the whisps of clouds, how green everything looks after a rain. My morning cup of coffee used to be my time of reflection and "taking in", but I've lost that since DH started working from home. Your post reminded me that instead of lamenting the loss of my privacy, I need to carve out a new chunk of time in my day to rejuvenate my soul. Thanks for the blessing you are in my life!

Jen said...

WOW that movie looks amazing!!!! I'm gonna have to find that movie!!!!

As far as slowing down, I've been trying to take in as much of a day as I can. Through the deaths in my family and Randy Pausch my life is slowly changing. You realize how short life really is and how much you have taken for granted, and I can say I'm ashamed. There is so much beauty to see and hear and I've missed soooo much. Thank you for reminding me again to slow down, sometimes I need reminders!!! :)

Anonymous said...

This is another post that should have the "Hankie Warning" on it. Thank you so much for sharing. Thank you too for all of your reminders. I needed to hear them!

Jingle said...

Beautiful. That's all. Just beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Stacey your words have touched the heart and soul of so many people,including myself.To stop and enjoy the quietness of the world is wonderful, to see,hear and smell what God created and what we create when we craft/scrapbook is an art itself. To many of us are just wondering through this world without ever really knowing what we miss,aren't we. God gave us one mouth to talk with but he gave us two ears to hear what is going on around us and to eyes to see his creations.
Your fil's death has caused you to grow and have a lot of insight, for which I am sure he is looking down and smiling about, because this is what he has taught you ,to do things from your heart....Jo

ScrapbookingPrincess said...

Amen, Stacey! I'm about in tears after reading that. So very true. Life goes by so fast and we all take it for granted. That was my New Year's Resolution...to slooow down! Oh, I have some, but nothing compared to what I should. I don't mean slow down by less running around here and there, but exactly what you said! As a photographer and scrapbooker...appreciators of those little moments, we should know better! Thanks for the touching reminder! Now, you know we'll all be thinking of you everytime we do slow down and listen!

Jen

MichelleRN said...

What a beautiful reminder....Thanks Stacey!

Drea said...

WE have a saying at our house: Everyday is a Do Over. I think for all of us, that means we can attempt to do better on THIS day. Almost losing my dad this past winter has made me realize that No one is guaranteed a "Tomorrow" so I try to not sweat the small stuff and attempt to live in the NOW!

Hugs me dear. Your post just makes me want to make sure that I do live in the NOW!

Anonymous said...

touching.

I haven't seen this movie yet, but now I really want to rent it.

Thanks for sharing this. I have always admired Ali, but even more so now seeing her through your eyes.

Anonymous said...

I loved your post. I had the same realization right before summer started. I was running around like a crazy person, barely able to remember what I did that day, or what the heck was going on in my life. So at the beginning of this Summer I stopped answering my cellphone. I gave my family members a special ringtone and only answered my phone when I heard it. We turned off our answering machine and turned the ringer off. We have caller ID, so before going to bed, I could still glance at the calls received. Anyway, this has been the best Summer ever...things truly slowed down for me, and I have enjoyed every minute of it.

Dee said...

amazing post, stacey! thanks for the reminder to savor every moment!!