Planting A Seed

    I am a global learner, which means I look for the bigger meaning, and when I study the scriptures I look for connections between chapters to see themes and patterns. This produces insight for my life and often answers questions that linger in my head. I find such connections between Alma 28-42.
   At the end of chapter 28 I hear the editor Mormon make a strong statement.
   "And thus we see how great the inequality of man is because of sin and transgression."
   I hear much about inequality due to education, monetary status, and race but our society ignores the idea that sin and transgression might lead to the inability to lay hold on blessings much greater than education, wealth or status.
   Chapters 30 and 31 tell of an anti-christ who seeks to destroy faith in Jesus Christ and of the Zoromites who set themselves apart with pride and also deny a possibility of a savior. These teachings cause a group of poor souls to wonder how they can possibly even worship since they are outcasts in their community.

   Enter the planting a seed story. The seed is not just a hope in being acceptable, it is a seed that leads to faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the great equalizer. His power brings strength to the faithful and repentance to wayward one. When Alma grieves over his people's iniquities he is inspired to start with his own seed, his sons. I feel that his sons benefit from their father's counsel and become strong enough to go forward in faith. They grow and become able to serve. The answer is always the atonement and I marvel at how many ways and how many times this doctrine changes the course of families and even nations.

Blazing Needles

   I love avoiding malls and visiting small businesses nestled among the natives. One of my favorites in Salt Lake City is Blazing Needles in the Sugarhouse area. This is more than a yarn shop; it is an social pause in your day. 

   The yarns are exquisite and the help is exact and vastly knowledgeable. 

   If you come in without a project you can leave with one just right for your ability. If you bring your project with you they will assist your process and give you a place to work until you feel like you can continue on your own.

     Come sit down at the project table. Take a deep breath. Have a cup of herbal tea and just be. I had two hours of bliss while my daughter talked shop with the owner. It was a highlight of my trip.

    On the car drive home I started this poncho. Each evening I sit and crochet away the stress of my day. 

    I intend to finish by September or sooner and wear this handwork through the Fall and Winter.

Here

    Being in the present, right here, is a gift or maybe an ability. I don't do well staying with the now and what is in front of me. Futurizing what could be gets me into trouble. I have hurt people I love because I futurized an outcome and based on my future story canceled my plans. At best, I have deceived myself into thinking I was preparing for unseen events. At the worst, I see that I have worried the future into what is here.

     On a recent trip I wanted to stay more mindful of what was. Letting go of what could happen allowed me to see my family and friends more clearly.

   

My brother performing in front of his vocology students took my breath away. His students were fabulous and so open with their emotions.

    Ivan Nielson invited us into his home to share his affection for my aunt. He brought out a cookie jar which sat in her kitchen. I don't remember cookies in the jar but I remember her trying the American custom of having a jar ready for kids.

   Distant cousins showed up at a family reunion and I became acquainted with men who were boys once and tormented me. In the here and now they turned out to be kind, loving fathers and husbands.

    And here today, I have two granddaughters staying with me. I should close this post before they wake up. They will want to see my eyes on them, here, now.

The Thanksgiving Point Gardens

      Completely ignorant of the beauty I would encounter, I set off for Lehi, Utah to explore the gardens at Thanksgiving Point with my family.

I have visited Buchart Gardens in Victoria, Canada and they are fantastic, but these gardens, though smaller in scale are equal in whimsical beauty.

There are breathtaking vistas. 

                        Colorful bouquets of surprising hues were at our feet and in front of our eyes.

                        Metal installations added shine and texture as they imitated the natural flowers.

                    New species, to me, some delicate some more robust waved me over to their bed.

      There were small pools and waterfalls to delight our children, but always reminiscent of gardens in other settings.

   
                               The carousel garden had metal horses prancing around and around.

    When we say "flower bed" I now have a visual to illustrate that description. Maybe this was even a feather bed.

      The children were excited about the "Secret Garden". As we came through the dark corridor of vines swirling around trellises we entered through the gate into a enclosed oasis.

                         The artists who designed this paradise are to be praised and applauded!

   
    The Monet-like waterlilies were my favorite and I watch the light glisten and dance on each lily and then spark the water to capture more fire. I'll certainly come again.

Try

 I'm trying to write today without using my laptop and only my I-Pad. Pictures don't load on this device so my words must suffice.
   Trying to connect this week has been a primary goal. I visited family and had long meaningful discussions. A highlight was meeting with a family that took care of my beloved aunt the years and months before she died. They were such good stewards of her land. What I learned from my visit is that they were so very loving and still hold her memory sacred. I felt that her natural family could learn from their devotion.
   A touching story was told by one of the daughters. She lived in my aunt's house after her death. The move from their old home was unwelcome for this teenage girl. Throwing her shoes angrily into her new closet, she became aware of a presence in the room. She felt it was my uncle, long passed away. He seemed to communicate with her the assurance that this home was a sacred place to my aunt and uncle. He admonished her to be at peace and value her opportunity to stay there.
  The Nielson Family taught me to remember and honor my family. Making a yearly visit is a way I try to accomplish that goal.

Ten

   I'll give you ten reasons why I love the word ribbistrate.

1. It is not in the dictionary.
2. My friend introduced me to it in the middle of a women's meeting lesson and then we all ribbistrated together.
3. I chose it as my word for 2015.
4. People do it when they are extra, extra excited.
5. Nature does it best in the Spring.

      6. Songs incapsulate it within their lyrics.

                         Hello Sunshine, it's been too long since I felt your warmth on my face.

                                                   Oh, my lovely, shining for me

                                                    Let my eyes see all the beauty.

                                             Beautiful Dawn Album by  Mercy River

     7. Ribbistrating is really fun in the rain.

                                               I did something you would not have thought

I grabbed my polka dot umbrella

And I opened the door

And I danced in the rain 

I let my dreams know I hadn't forgotten them 

I let my heart take the lead and 

I told my hopes to get themselves up again

And I danced, I looked, yes I danced in the rain

I invited my worries to step aside

I needed room to see in front of me

As the raindrops fell on my overcoat

I let em roll right off of my back

And I waited for the rainbow

Cause Heaven and me we both know

This storm's gonna pass.

                                         

        
        8. I love to do it on a trampoline.

        9. You do when you feel good and it feels good to do it.

       10. Snoopy does it the best.

I write on Fridays with a large group who inspire me. Only five minutes and without much thought to perfection. I write, prompted by one word that sends my thoughts to the keyboard and hopefully make sense.

Buried Treasue- My Recycled Board Book

This post is buried treasure from my posts a year ago. I love the subject matter and sometimes I wish I hadn't sold it at the gallery show where it was displayed. That is why the pictures are a treasure.

From October 2014
 Some weeks back I was invited into my friend's art studio to work on a new project. With recycled children's board books we created new journals.

    My theme was easy to identify because I'm reading 'Daring Greatly" in a women's group online and offline with my daughter and friends. I wanted a little journal to remind me of the most important messages of both "Daring Greatly" and "The Gifts of Imperfection".

      I started off with the three gifts, courage, compassion, and connection. These gifts truly are real.

   I want to remember that compassionate people are also those who honor boundaries around themselves and those around others.

   "We are wired for connection." I find that connecting to others who may seem different or far away from us brings unexpected joy. The best treat of doing my online class was making a friend from Michigan who reached out and surprised me with her interest and openness.

     I don't see myself as a perfectionist but this definition encompasses my response to many things in life. Perhaps another way to look at it is a process of self-justification. Perfectionism moves us along a path of suffering. Riding the "hot wheels" of perfectionism is grueling.

Simplify! I need these words as I head into the next two months of holidays.

   Perfectionism rides with shame.  Shame is a big subject. I want to remember that a shaming experience becomes bigger when we don't talk about it. 

    Solving problems is a God given gift. After all, when Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit God gave them options to solve their problem. Part of being creative is seeing another way to make the whole beautiful.

    Staying humble and vulnerable is something I must take in small steps. I do a lot of backsliding and getting back in the game.

   Wow! Numbing is big for me. This week I tried to eat at the table at every meal to avoid numbing feelings with food at the TV. I only made it once a day. I will try again this week.

   And, lastly, my mantra for the next while. Courage over comfort may be the hardest thing I have ever tried to embrace.

     I love my little board book. Thank-you art friend for sharing your idea and time.