A Scarf a Day

Camy here! Some of you may know that I am the coordinator for the ACFW Genesis contest for unpublished writers. The Genesis would not even exist without the hundreds of judges who volunteer their time to judge the entries each year. This year we had over 550 entries! Each entry is judged by 3 judges. Our judges agree to judge anywhere from 3 to 21 entries each!

Because I’m so grateful to our judges, I decided to try to make scarves for all of them who are going to be at the ACFW Conference in September. I’m guessing about 200 judges will be at the conference, and I have five months. I figure, if I do a scarf or two a day, I’ll make enough for all my judges who will be at the conference. As of today, I have a dozen or two scarves already made.

I’m not making really intricate scarves, but I’m using some neat yarn from my stash and making quick scarves with large needles (size US 35). I’m also using a size S crochet hook for some Tunisian crochet scarves. Most of the scarves I’ve made take less than an hour per scarf, even the ones with a lace pattern. The big needles help the work go quickly, but the scarves still look really nice and squishy.

My point? What can you do to show someone your appreciation? It doesn’t have to be anything big. Each of these scarves only takes 60 minutes of my time, and I make most of them when I’m in front of the TV. But I know the judges will appreciate the time and the thought that went into making scarves for them.

Who would you like to say thank you to? What can you do to show them your appreciation?

Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. Out now is her humorous contemporary romance novel, Single Sashimi, and her romantic suspense, Formula for Danger. In her spare time, she is a staff worker for her church youth group, and she leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service. On her blog, she ponders dogs, knitting and spinning wool, running, Asiana, and other frivolous things. Sign up for her newsletter for giveways!

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One Thousand Gifts

Reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp has changed my world. Altered my thinking. Shaken up the way I perceive life. Just watching the video moved me.

I finished the book a couple of days ago and passed it on to someone else. I underlined something on almost every single page.

A friend challenges the author to try and make a list of one thousand things she's grateful for. Doing this changes her life--as well as so many others.

Just watch the video...see what you think.

Love,
Julie

My Favorite Things

I've been thinking a lot about what really matters. And you know what matters to me? People I love.

I blogged last time that my girls and I were getting together December 13th to make Christmas cookies. We did and guess what? This year we all wore matching pajamas.

My daughters are grown now, but when they were little, we gave them matching pj's on Christmas Eve. The past couple of years, I've started buying matching pj's again. AND this year I bought me some too! We all wore our pj's to the Cookie Making Party. I think it's my favorite Christmas activity--and it's such a simple thing to do. Simple but with much love. That's where my heart is.

One more simple thing. My husband and I have started sitting together on our front porch every morning really early. 6:30 a.m. It's still dark outside. We have our coffee and just sit in rocking chairs. We don't talk about anything all that important. This week, we've turned on the white Christmas lights that go around our porch. Today I said, "You really matter to me." He said, "You really matter to me, too."

Is there anything more valuable than spending moments with those we love? That's where my heart is this morning. If anybody else is feeling this exquisite gift of connecting with those you love, please share.

Love,
Julie