The Messy Middle

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China, Cross cultural, Learning lessons, Relationships

All good things must come to an end

What a week! It’s been wonderful to connect with old friends and make some new ones. Thanks to all of you who commented, wished me well, and have gone down memory lane with me. If this was your first week at The Messy Middle, thanks for stopping by, I look forward to getting to know you.

It’s been a full week and just to be sure you didn’t miss anything, here’s a recap:

Day one —Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start

Day two —Coming to China, boy did she step in it

Day three —Modern Day Foot-Binding {aka How do they walk in those?} 

Day four —Four life lessons from the summer of 1992

Day five —So, China how have the last 20 years fared?

It’s good to pause and reflect on a lived life. To acknowledge the hard parts and celebrate the good, taking time to see God’s hand at work in ways we simply can’t when we are in the middle of it. It truly has been a rich twenty years, leading me to wonder what the next twenty will hold. I certainly didn’t foresee all of this or all of you! To say I am blessed is putting it mildly. Richly blessed it is. And grateful, oh so grateful.

Amy, young and eager has become Amy, mid-stream, wiser for the bumps and bruises, more humble through the growing pains of life, more tender for the stories I’ve been invited into, and more amazed at the lengths God will go to for humanity. I know I have already over used the word rich, there simply is no other word to describe the last 20 years. Rich does not mean easy, Lord, no. You know it, I know it. Rich does not mean all fun and games. There is a depth and a value to rich, so as it rings in this writing, it rings in my soul.

Rich, rich, rich.

Blessed, Blessed, Blessed.

Beloved, Beloved, Beloved.

One more time. Thank you. For loving me. For celebrating with me. For being an integral part of the richness of life. Dear reader, fellow sojourner, thank you.

In other news, I have recently completed my first ebook: Regaining Eden Lost. {And am super excited!} I’m looking for people who would be willing to read it and give me feedback — if you are interested, leave a comment saying something like, “finally, my big chance to tell me what I really think of your writing!” or “Count me in!” and I’ll email you a copy. I love being in this journey together!

To those in Canada and America, have a wonderful three day holiday.

To those in the rest of the world, have a great weekend.

Amy

 

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44 Comments September 1, 2012

About Amy

My name is Amy and I live in the messy middle of life. I have been Redeemed from permanent muck and live with the tension of the Already and Not Yet.

Comments

  1. Amy F. says

    September 1, 2012 at 6:52 am

    I finally get to read your first e-book! {Hint} ^_^

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 1, 2012 at 7:32 am

      You got it! … twill email promptly … and Amy, you are always such an encouragement to me!

      Reply
  2. Andy C says

    September 1, 2012 at 6:57 am

    I love nitpicking, correcting and reading about your life and thoughts. Sign me up!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 1, 2012 at 7:33 am

      You are one I can count on to have my back :)

      Reply
  3. Lorna says

    September 1, 2012 at 6:57 am

    You are awesome, an inspiration :)

    Loved reading about your 20 yr anniversary this week – can’t believe its been that long.

    Think about you often – anytime we see sheep or sheepy things :)

    x

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 1, 2012 at 7:35 am

      I KNOW! Can you believe I met you before I’d ever been to China. Now if that doesn’t put things in scary time perspective :). Lorna, my life is SO much richer (see, I CAN NOT help myself from using that word) because of all my Scotland time, friends, and memories. Any time I see something sheepy, I think of you too :)

      with love, Amy

      Reply
  4. emily wylie says

    September 1, 2012 at 7:21 am

    would love to read your ebook and give feedback!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 1, 2012 at 7:32 am

      You got it! … twill email promptly

      Reply
  5. Laura says

    September 1, 2012 at 10:03 am

    I would love to read your ebook because how cool to read a book written by my big sis :) I’m so proud of you.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 1, 2012 at 11:33 am

      :) Thanks Laura!

      Reply
  6. Erin H says

    September 1, 2012 at 11:53 am

    Count me in!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 1, 2012 at 12:13 pm

      Thanks! I’ll email it soon! :)

      Reply
  7. Katherine says

    September 1, 2012 at 12:48 pm

    Would consider it a great honor to be one of the first to read it! :) Love you girl!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 1, 2012 at 1:48 pm

      Love you too … love you too. {and thanks!}

      Reply
  8. nancy petrie says

    September 1, 2012 at 4:29 pm

    Amy, I have loved being with you (virtually) this week and George & I would love to read your book. Believe me anyone whose path crosses with yours is richer for it. We love you!

    Reply
  9. nancy petrie says

    September 1, 2012 at 4:30 pm

    Amy, I have loved being with you (virtually) this week and George & I would love to read your book. Believe me anyone whose path crosses with yours is richer for it.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 1, 2012 at 10:24 pm

      And just like that, I’ve gone international! Now if only I could non-virtually travel and be with you and George today. Ahhhh, that would be so lovely. So lovely.

      Reply
  10. Sharee says

    September 1, 2012 at 8:06 pm

    Amy, I would love to read your ebook and give you feedback! I am pretty sure you have my email address already. :)

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 1, 2012 at 10:18 pm

      Thank you thank you thank you!

      Reply
  11. Amy L Sullivan says

    September 1, 2012 at 8:50 pm

    You know I’m in.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 1, 2012 at 10:17 pm

      You bless me girl!

      Reply
  12. Amy says

    September 1, 2012 at 9:01 pm

    Me too, me too! I love the title!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 1, 2012 at 10:13 pm

      :) well, that’s at least a good place to start! Now if you’ll love beyond page 2 :)

      Reply
  13. Erin @littlesacredspace says

    September 1, 2012 at 9:10 pm

    Although I’m a new reader, I’d love to learn more about your book and read a bit if you’ll allow me. I’m also truly inspired to hear you’ve lived two decades in China (and some of the things you’ve overcome)! Amazing!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 1, 2012 at 10:12 pm

      Thanks Erin, I’ll email it to you … I love your blog and writing. I’m so glad we’ve found each other (sorry to sound so cheesy! but it is true.)

      Reply
  14. Kim says

    September 2, 2012 at 7:15 pm

    Hey Amy – Twenty years…where has the time gone? Back then I was living in Scotland and you in Lawrence. God has certainly taken us to many destinations unknown that were filled with great joys and sorrows, fun and stress and everything in between. It’s been a privilege not only to walk these years with you but also to have you walk with me. Send the book…Steve and I would love to read it.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 2, 2012 at 9:03 pm

      I know! I think visiting you in Scotland was a great “first step” towards what has become an amazing journey. Thanks for having a look at the book!

      Reply
  15. Stephany says

    September 3, 2012 at 10:33 am

    I would love to read your book and give feedback! Your way with words, depth of experience, and spiritual insights so often make me laugh, or prick my conscience, that I can’t imagine your book being anything but invigorating! Blessings.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 3, 2012 at 4:22 pm

      You bless me. it’s humbling.

      Reply
  16. Patti Filak says

    September 3, 2012 at 9:48 pm

    I would just love to read your e book! Thank you for the offer.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 4, 2012 at 10:03 am

      and thanks for your help!

      Reply
  17. JoDee says

    September 3, 2012 at 10:32 pm

    You know I’m in…can’t wait to read your thoughts!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 5, 2012 at 5:09 pm

      Thanks JoDee :)

      Reply
  18. Erin O says

    September 4, 2012 at 1:46 am

    Count me in too! Looking forward to reading it.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 4, 2012 at 9:37 am

      Yippee!

      Reply
  19. sandy says

    September 4, 2012 at 7:05 am

    would love to be a reader for you. just know that i can be a harsh editor =) but i do it in love. and i do love you, so it can only be good.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 5, 2012 at 5:04 pm

      Harsh is welcome! I do know it will be done out of love :)

      Reply
  20. Nita Kulesa says

    September 4, 2012 at 10:57 am

    I will be delighted to read your book! Send it!! BTW, when do you sleep?? Blog, book, job …. Just checking!!!!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 5, 2012 at 5:07 pm

      At night :) … and I am sleep freak, so no worries, I get at least 7.5 to 8 hours! But, always good to check!!

      Reply
  21. Karin (an alien parisienne) says

    September 4, 2012 at 12:03 pm

    **LIKE**

    Well it goes without saying that you know I would love to read anything that you have written. :) For the longest time, I had the dissertation you had written for your MA in my stuff! (I’m pretty sure that’s what it was…) I read that a couple of times and loved it. I confess it may not have made it into the major down-sizing I had to do a few years ago. But I do appreciate your written words very much. So if you are not already overburdened with too many volunteer readers, I’m in. :)

    Thank you for a wonderful week of writing, and once more, many congratulations on your Chinaversary. What I think is going to be REALLY cool is when you are celebrating your 40th. *grin* Not that 20 is anything to sneeze at. But I hope you make it to 40, if that is your heart’s desire.

    Thanks, Ai Mei.
    Karin

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 5, 2012 at 5:12 pm

      Oh Karin, surely you had better things to read than my MA project :) … but I will say that I was super proud of it and still love the idea (for anyone who cares: using cartoons to teaching inferencing skills in reading. I just think learning can be fun! And there are so many things that cartoon require us to infer. OK, I’ll get off my soap box). Karin, thanks for going down memory lane and then taking me down it a bit too :)! Who knows how many it will be, but 40 sounds like something to aim for! Amy

      Reply
  22. Jen Miller says

    September 5, 2012 at 10:54 pm

    I’m definitely interested in reading it. Feel free to shoot a copy my way if you still need readers!

    Reply
  23. Jolene says

    September 12, 2012 at 8:07 pm

    Me!! Me!! Me!! I’d love to read it!
    If you still need another pair of eyes.
    P.S. Congrats on 20 years too–that’s a biggie!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      September 12, 2012 at 8:10 pm

      Thanks … and there’s always room for another reader! (until September 23rd, that is :))

      Reply

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Meet Amy Young

My name is Amy and I live in the messy middle of life. I have been Redeemed from permanent muck and live with the tension of the Already and Not Yet. Read More…

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