Celebration

There were balloons, presents....

....and cake!

What a celebration....for Laser Boy's #2!

For me, it was different. To celebrate the precious fruits of the MMM challenge, I wanted to do something applicable.

Hoping for things not seen..I shopped for seeds. Cumin, lavender, and three different kinds of basil. I don't want to wait for spring to get my hands in the soil, and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate my mind expanding with sprouting words of faith. Some, I bought with perfect knowledge of their fruit; others, I will have to give place, that they may be planted and swell.

I celebrate the experiment, wait for enlightenment, and desire to pluck the fruit.

...that it may take root .......and ye shall pluck the fruit thereof,
which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet,and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

"O then is not this real? I say unto you yea....."

All about the Eyes

I got my eye one you!

This is my pets entry for this weeks iheartfaces contest.

He has his grandma's eyes!

This is my kids entry for iheartfaces this week.
Check out other eye popping pics at iheartfaces.

..and then there was Light

I have never enjoyed that part of the drive, coming up over the desolate hill only to view the prison. It is modern and well kept, but the stark walls and towers laced together with rolls and rolls of barbed wire always make me shiver.

This morning as I crested the hill, I sucked in my breath with awe. The prison was drenched in deep sunrise hues. The early rays catching the lengths of wire and increasing their brightness as they scattered their light on the gray walls. Instantly I fell in to an incredulous conversation with God.

"Really?" I said, and without waiting for an answer, I continued, "Beauty, here?"

I slowed and looked again, this time listening as He whispered, "Imagine what I can do with you."

Hearken and listen to the voice of him who is from all eternity to all eternity, the Great I Am, even Jesus Christ—
The light and the life of the world; a light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not; ~D&C 39:1-2

Taking one for the team

We were just a minute late getting to church on Sunday, and the meeting had already started which left us scrambling for an unfamiliar seat. Somewhere in the mix, Laser Boy (almost 2) escaped and before I noticed his absence he was up the isle and making his way up on the stage. Unfortunately, Sunshine (4) noticed also, and took off after him. They both dashed gleefully across the stage just behind the bishop, who was trying to open the meeting. I started up after them and then realizing they were headed to the other side, I went back around behind the congregation to try and head them off on the other side. I guess running across the stage once was so much fun they had to turn around and do it again. This antic put me on the wrong side again, and giving up all hope of being discrete, I crossed in front of the now laughing congregation, in hopes of grabbing them before they tried it again. Thankfully one of the bishopric reached out creating a barrier of sorts, just enough to slow them down so I could nab them. The ordeal was over but I was embarrassed.....and sweating.

With Laser Boy under one arm and Sunshine skipping along beside, I walked back to our bench. My hubby shrugged his shoulders and gave me a "what could I do?" look. After that, my kids surprisingly sat like angels as the scene played over and over in my mind. I tried to sing along with the opening song, but kept hearing the combined voices of all the disapproving parents I've ever heard...."that child is out of control"....."he needs a little heat on his behind"...."counseling and the proper dosage works miracles"...."put the fear of God in him"...."disrespectful"...."irreverent".....and on and on. Some of these have been aimed at my own, and some were whispered referring to others. But as the song progressed, I calmed a little, and even began to smile.

Disrespectful? Yes.

Irreverent? Yes.

Pretty darn funny? YES!

I feel fairly confident that the majority of church goers enjoy a little distraction once in a while, and if that distraction comes in the form of two giggling children (who aren't their own), all the better. Everyone needs to take a turn once in a while, just to keep it real.

Of course I will heighten my guard of Laser Boy, I will do all I can to train my children to be respectful, and I will hope with all I have that it never happens again....to me. In the meantime I can choose to be embarrassed or choose to laugh and learn.

I love to laugh.

Brothers

One of those days where the signs of winters coming are all around. All you can do to prepare for the cold, early dusk is to indulge in every last minute of daylight.

Brothers

Check out tons of other cute faces at iheartfaces.

Summer Breath

I didn't think it was so strange, until my neighbor drove by and suddenly I felt silly standing out in my front yard taking pictures of my clothes on the line.

I couldn't help myself. I had been cleaning my kitchen, minding my own business when I looked out the window and saw it blowing there, stretching in the breeze; making long winter shadows even longer.

I love how our laundry looks strung up between the two front trees....on a just warm enough day; a sent of forgotten summer breath.

My husband keeps encouraging me to hang it in the back yard...come on, it's not like it's dirty, (although we have plenty of that) and I'm not so bold as to hang our unmentionables. I think it looks so homey stretched across our yard, like a sign that says:

we live here, we laugh here, we get dirty and clean here; you're welcome to do the same.

Who knew laundry could be so vocal.

It would be so much easier to just throw it in the dryer, but then I would miss out on the cool, fresh air that mingles and lingers, and makes the folding and putting away almost bearable.

Snowy Day

This is my entry for the iHeartFaces weekly photo contest. I love face shots, so I'm thinking this will easily turn into a habit.

Different Views

It's late and I had a full day, but I don't want to miss my chance to write about memorizing on Monday....I love alliteration.

As it goes, memorizing is tough, but very rewarding. The theme of my passage is faith, and since it is constantly running through my brain, I find its views everywhere. This is what keeps me going...cleaning out the spare room in my brain to make room for this vision.

Yesterday in church I got a view from a forgotten angle. I often think of faith as the beginning....before all else, there must be faith. But to begin with faith in something that isn't real is only wishful thinking. Plant a seed, care for it and it will grow into a plant; plant a chocolate chip and care for it with all you have, and it will never grow into a cookie....bummer, I know.

Even before faith, there must be knowledge, a reason for your faith. Where did your faith start? Can you remember it's beginning? Was it a result of small drips in a bucket or did it come on in raging force? All things are a witness of Him; beginning could happen anywhere....and it continues to happen whenever we take time to acknowledge Him.

And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know,...... is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect? .......Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good..... Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

We acknowledge and continue to grow, hoping for what we can't see; knowing He is real.

Fragmented

Thoughts bumping around inside....where did they come from, and where do I put them? What am I not hearing? All of these ideas...gifts from on high....and I can't put them together. Guided by distraction; I search for focus.

Pieces of worn clothes, some worn through, some too new...to unused, to be sliced into pieces. Cutting up the physical remnants of life that is dearly missed. Piecing them together hoping to connect in some way with life passed on. Feeling His direction through her memory, and it begins to come together. More than a quilt...

My own fragmented emotions that have felt so undone...beginning to come together. Refocusing, reassuring, connecting with lives removed.

...and so it begins, or continues...

Talk about turning over a new leaf...or many old and decaying leaves. Yes, spring is still months away but I feel the fever coming on strong.

Last spring I started a compost pile with the hope of planting my garden in soil instead of rocks. Slowly at first, it grew to a pile about two feet high. My hope still strong, I picked up some old wood pallets and talked my hubby into putting them together into some bins....and the pile continued to grow.

I knew if it was all to be usable by planting time it needed a little disturbance...mixing, chopping, adding air....

....as it is with all my new beginnings, I have strong hopes for success or at least progression, and so I keep turning them over for a new prospective. Mixing in new ideas and encouragements, chopping the bulky habits, and adding the air of experience and insight.

I have big hopes for spring and the muck merging into flourishing fruits.

Monotonous Memorizing

Over and over in my mind, or out loud when I can. Trying to make the words stay, to make sense, and apply. Deeper into the mass of words, and still only beginning. I slow, and forget.

Then a call from the depth "awake and arouse your faculties.....exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words."

I am awake, I desire, and I have a place ready.

New Year's Indulgence

There is a reason Thanksgiving comes first in a season of celebration. The opportunity to look around with wide eyes and be amazed at all our blessings; even discovering love where before had only been pain. With eyes lifted, acknowledging the fount of every blessing, we are prepared to fully celebrate the the Father's gift of his son; the birth of our Savior. Like the magi, we spend the season coming to Christ. Instead of offering gold and fragrance, we give up our sins to know Him more completely, setting the stage for a New Year striving to become more like Him.

For myself the struggle to be like Him begins with loving like Him. During Thanksgiving I wrote this in my journal:

"I am thankful for all things. For every moment and every breath. Now I will show my gratitude by being present in every moment. Look into their eyes, hear what they need, share their joy and pain, and be so happy to be the one they chose as their mother."

This may be a little selfish, as little effort pays big dividends, but I'll be the first to admit my tendency to get caught up in the goal of getting things done; with the best of intentions and missing too much of the important.

To flip the coin, I want to strengthen my resolve to reach those in my life who seem unreachable. To not be hurt when I am blocked out again. To celebrate every crack of light....every word, touch and glance that is real.

To give structure and even hope to my goals, I want to be more consistent in searching His word. Not just a set time or place, but to completely indulge in whatever time or place I am in.

A Ready Meal

Language doesn't naturally flow through me. Words come slow when I want to be sure of their surety, and when listening or reading, the process to understanding can be even slower. There have been times that I have seen this as a weakness, but now I see it as a blessing in a world where so much is hasty. It aids in my conscious effort to slow down and be present, to ponder and feel His guidance in the opportunities I would otherwise miss. For this, I am extremely grateful for my "slow talking farmer" genetics.

So, in the spirit of pondering more, taking more time to chew, and having a meal available when I'm hungry; I memorize.

It's hard to memorize anything without coming to greater insight of the passage, so I have chosen a a bite of scripture in which I always find new and applicable meaning, no matter what I hunger for. Since this is the largest chunk of anything I have tried for since the Gettysburg Address in forth grade, I thought it would be nice to have it's aroma be.....oh, so familiar.

Before this desire falls behind with the lost momentum of other New Year ideas, I need to take this challenge, and commit myself in word to memorizing Alma 32:21-43...

And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not
to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true......

....ok, so I already had that verse memorized...now for the other 22.