right now

I'm listening to The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton.

I'm trying to learn how to get the results I want with my Polaroid.



I'm roaming around my yard with my 100mm macro appreciating spring.

I'm eating an otter*pop, feel like a kid again.

I'm thinking about my friends and how I can help.

I'm watching the puppy run circles in the yard.

I'm caught up with project life -- love this weekly project.

I'm preparing watermelon for our canyon cookout tonight.

I'm mending a few of Megan dresses.

I'm expecting the girls home any minute.

I'm wishing this cold sore on my lip would hurry up and heal already.

I'm loving the overwhelming fragrance of the blossoms.

I'm getting back to running in the early a.m.

I'm eating a carrot.

I'm debating weather to start of vegetable garden -- our pesky ground squirrels are making me think twice.

I'm using the last of my amazon gift cards.

I'm loving this day.

sunday thought

We had a special Stake Conference today, which turned out to be a wonderful reminder of many of the things on my mind as of late...my purpose, spiritual growth, strength through the Lord, family, what matters most, temple worship, and missionary work. I love it when all the thoughts in my head come together in one meeting and I leave feeling edified with strength and courage to try harder and carry on.



It all started with our Stake theme which comes from Mosiah 24:14

"And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions."

This is a very comforting scripture because if I know one thing about life, it doesn't come without it's challenges and if it did, I surely wouldn't be the woman I am today. It has taken me some time and some maturing to finally be grateful for the things I have faced, grateful to know it's purpose, and where it has lead me up to this point. So if we think about it this way, the question is not when will we face adversity, but how we'll contront it and what we'll become in the process?

The how is the part that I need to work on the most. Choosing to accept my struggles. Choosing to ask for help. Choosing to face it with a good attitude knowing that it's for my benefit, knowing it's what will help draw me closer to the Lord. There is a lot of power in our gift of agency...I guess I picked my word for the year wisely :)

Other stand outs from the meeting:
--"Do not focus on the pain, but what we are becoming in the process." -President Crocker
--"Nothing is worth the making if it doesn't make the man." a poem by Edwin Markham and quoted by Elder Packer
--"The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing."
--"The key is to love and serve one another." -Sister Nixon.
I believe whole heartedly that this is key to life. I can't tell you how many times I've been in a dark place and when I take the focus off of myself, serve someone else, I see the light and everything seems right with the world again.
--"Each day we are building upon experiences that are needed for our growth." Sister Nixon
--"When you are thinking about missionary work experiences will happen." Sister Winn
--"Prepare your heart and the Lord will provide opportunities." Sister Winn
--"We cannot only live on spiritual experiences of the past." -Elder Snow

It was a lot of "good stuffs" all at onces, a lot to think about, but it was exactly what I needed as I start this week full of change and welcome in a new stage of my life.

xxox,
amy

roses

I have a friend in my neighborhood who's almost twice my age and I'm not quite sure how we came to know each other as our lives are completely different. Perhaps it was the times we spoke about life and how much I valued her wisdom on motherhood or it could have been how much I admire certain qualities she possesses, namely the way she always sends notes to people just because. I noticed this from the beginning and decided to make her some cards for Christmas hoping she would get some good use out of them.

She in time, brought me articles we'd talked about, bread, even a birthday cake. Then the other day she asked me to make her some more cards. I, of course, was more than willing and last night dropped them off at her house. As I approached she came to the door, thanked me for the cards, offered to pay (I declined), and told me her friend had sent her a gift and told her to keep them for herself of share them with her friends. She then told me she wanted to give me first choice. I had no clue what she was talking about or what it could be until I walk into her kitchen a saw a box full of four dozen roses. I was sort of confused and in awe that she would want to share them with me (it must be in lieu of payment). I mean we're not that close and they were beautiful...beautiful enough that it must have been quite the decision to want to give them up. I tried to say I couldn't possibly take them, but she insisted. So I chose the pink ones because I've never had pink roses before and thought maybe it would be the last ones that someone else might choose. I walked away feeling appreciated and happy.







So today I have a dozen pink roses to remind me that even a little gesture (a thank you, a smile, a card etc...) can make all the difference in the world to someone. Another lesson I have again been reminded of by her.

Changing the subject...

Yesterday in the late afternoon hours I painted. It really is so therapeutic to just let my mind go and paint. Perhaps that is why I am prone to do it over other creative activities these days.



Have a fabulous weekend. :)

because I've been dreaming about the spring

I'm not sure why. It's not like I'm trying to wish away the winter, so contradictory to what I'm actually going for this year, but as I was walking through the grocery store early this morning I notice these beautiful pink flowers calling my name and I couldn't resist.



Oh and one of me.



I've got myself committed to doing 365 of these (sp) in a row (you can follow my progress along on my flickr). It's a daunting task, but one I think will really help me to challenge myself daily on a photography, creative, and personal level. So far I have really enjoy it and am finding it to be an excellent way to document my year.

it just made me happy.

this morning when I was pulling into my garage my eyes were drawn to this beautiful lone flower admits the piles of dirt.

I am sure there is tons of symbolism that I could talk about and metaphors to draw inspiration from, but right now it just made me happy.

Happy to see a flower in my yard since all I see is dirt. Happy that spring is coming. Happy it will start to warm up (i think). Happy life is good. Happy to be having some friends over. Happy to be a mom. Happy the house is clean and dinner made.

Happy I feel happy.