I don’t seem to be accomplishing nearly as much this summer as I thought I would. I dreamed of organization and cleanliness with a dash of fun thrown in…it’s going to be school time again before we know it, and the whole summer will have passed by in the same chaotic way that time always passes. I am happy, though, that today there is sunshine…
June 11, 2009
Today’s Gift:
Tonight we looked out the window after a rainstorm and this is what we saw:
This was no ordinary rainbow. For one thing, it was not just one, but two FULL rainbows. The bottom one was bright and clear, the top was somewhat blurry, but all there, nonetheless. I’ve never seen a rainbow like this one. We could see every color of the rainbow distinctly (you know, ROY G BIV). It was amazing, and truly a gift amidst all the rainy and cold weather June’s been giving us.
June 11, 2009
Each Day Brings New Gifts
I read a book over the weekend that really made me think–the tag line on the back of the book said, “A young woman with nothing to live for. An old woman with very little time left to live. What can they possibly learn from each other?” It was just a silly novel–but I enjoyed it. The old woman (Gabby), in an attempt to help her granddaughter figure out how to live, shares the story of being in hiding for two and a half years during WWII. She was alone in the attic of a kind seamstress, and had to stay perfectly still all day so that the seamstress’s customers wouldn’t hear anything above them when they came to drop off or pick up their mending and get suspicious. Gabby said it nearly drove her insane and after a particularly difficult day, she “couldn’t bear to be in a prison any longer, each day darker than the one before.” The woman Gabby was staying with said to her, “There are times when it seems everything good in life has been taken from us. Now is such a time. But I promise you, little one, if you open your eyes, your heart, you will find there are still gifts waiting for you each day. Sometimes it will not be an easy thing to see them, sometimes you will have to work to find them.” Gabby had no idea what this kind woman meant, but as the days went by, she was able to see the gifts. Sometimes it was a dream of better times, once it was a bright yellow butterfly sunning itself on the window ledge. Other times it was a glimpse of sunlight through the crack in the roof, the sound of rain tapping on the window. Gabby made it a habit to look for the gifts each day, and began writing them down on whatever scrap of paper she could get her hands on. She encouraged her granddaughter to do the same, and gradually, her granddaughter was able to see the daily gifts in her life, and this gave her the power to emerge from her depression and regain the desire to live and experience each day’s gifts.
We in the Church call this counting our blessings–do we realize the power of a grateful heart? After reading this book and then having a wonderful lesson on prayer in R.S. this week, I’ve been pondering on the joy that expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father can bring. I have a new resolution to look for the gifts of each day–the simple things that make my life good and sweet–and record them, then thank my Heavenly Father for all that he gives me. Of course I’m thankful for all the major blessings–family, the gospel, good health, etc. but I know I have so many things I take for granted. I’d like to focus on these more.
What are you thankful for today?
June 9, 2009
Did You Know…
The history behind the name “Capitol Reef” is interesting. This park got its name, in part, from the white sandstone domes that are said to look like the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.:
Reef is a term that early explorers gave to the rugged and colorful cliffs of folded rock because they blocked westward movement much as a coral reef blocks ships. Who knew??? Have you ever wondered why the name “Capitol Reef?” Well, now you know.
I’d recommend this as a fun weekend trip–we’d like to go back someday and do some of the hikes. Slot canyons, natural arches, it’s another beautiful part of the great state of Utah.
June 7, 2009
Love These Guys!
We spent the weekend at Fish Lake with the Childs side of the family–it was pretty cold and windy, so we didn’t do as much fishing as we thought we would. We spent a lot of the time in the cabin relaxing and enjoying each other’s company. Saturday, instead of going straight home we decided to drive 40 miles out of the way to Capitol Reef. We’d never been and I sometimes think we need to spend more time seeing Utah. Anyway, while I thought Capitol Reef was fun to look at and interesting to learn about, the thing I loved most was the time in the car with these guys:
They are fun and funny and just all around great people to hang out with. Thanks for making my life so amazing! I love you all.
April 21, 2009
Pictures of Our Trip…
I know this is Lame, and I hope Caroline will forgive me, but if you want to see some amazing pictures of our trip, click here. I’ll try to post about the trip in person soon…
April 21, 2009
Overheard…
While walking on the pier in California, I was privy to the following conversation between cousins, which made me smile…
M: You can hold my hand anytime you want–my hands are always ready for anyone to hold….except boys. Boys’ hands are GRODY because they lick them and burp on them and stuff.
J: Yeah…except your Daddy’s hands. Because your Daddy is nice and polite.
M: Yeah!
I wonder how long the opinion on boys’ hands being grody will last–hopefully for many years yet…
March 25, 2009
And the Results are In…
Alex won 3rd place in his division at the science fair yesterday–Way to Go, Alex!
March 22, 2009
Does Your Life Ever Feel Like This???
The days flow into each other and before I know it, weeks have passed. Everything blurs together and I don’t know if I’m coming or going, or whether I have accomplished anything. I remember sitting on the Merry-Go-Round in elementary school and watching, mesmerized, as the world spun around me. I try to regain focus and clarity–but my efforts seem feeble when I am so dizzy….
