Thursday, July 21, 2011

J Quotes


J- "mama, mama, guess what?"
K- "what?"
... (silence)
I guess he hasn't figured out that you're supposed to continue speaking after you've gotten someone's attention.

J- "go in clouds to see Hannah."
He asks to see Hannah (or Maggie as he sometimes calls her) just about every day.

J- "you drive me crazy."
K- "don't repeat that to anyone!"
Perhaps I have used that phrase in front of him one to many times... gulp.

K- "be patient J.! be quiet J.! shhh!"
J- "no patient! no quiet! no shhh!"

We have been really amazed lately at J's growth in the vocabulary/sentence making department. He's a hoot. He's also quite the little singer. Stay tuned for a video in the near future.

Pictures: Sunday morning stroll on the beach: Golden Gardens, Seattle WA 6/26/2011


Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Desiderata- Max Erhmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

This poem was first introduced to me many years ago by an art teacher. A crazy, bearded, high-school pottery teacher. He, I think, was frustrated with our class, which was full of rowdy juniors and seniors (mind you I was a junior and far from rowdy, just in case you thought otherwise). Out of the blue he started quoting this at a rapid pace. The class became quiet and listened. After his lecture I asked him what it was. He told me and gave me a copy which I have to this day. Once in awhile I read it. Now you my friends can read it also (if you haven't already that is). I think of this teacher quite often but only when I use watercolors. My watercolor bowl was a bowl he gave me in exchange for one of my prints. So, sometimes when I'm painting I think of Desiderata and highschool...

Monday, July 11, 2011

utah 2011


Some pictures for ya'll. I may or may not post about my recent trip so enjoy the pictures they might be all you get.







Love

I've been experiencing a strange phenomena lately. Now you might wonder what this phenomena could be... or perhaps the title of this post gave you a clue. That's right folks it is love. Not romantic love, or familial love (well perhaps a little), but the more platonic variety. Brotherly love. For me this is a phenomena. Phenomena being described in this instance as an extraordinary event.
I am not a bad person. I have often felt that I might even be a good person but I have not often felt true un-adulterated brotherly love.
For some unexplained reason (or at least unexplained by logic or science) when I have been surrounded by large crowds of strangers (i.e. Disneyland, Lagoon, or visiting a sister-in-law's ward), I have felt this warmth and love for said strangers. A love that makes me feel bound to them. A love that makes me feel they are truly part of me, and I of them, that we are in literal fact, part of one enormous, incomprehensibly large, family. A family with a Father who knows us individually and loves us individually. Who does not see our race, or wealth, or status but loves us regardless of them. Regardless of any of our man-made categories. I hope that with time I can make this phenomena more ordinary. It would be amazing to feel that love for everyone I meet instead of these strange flashes that only occur broadly for a crowd.
Just something I have been thinking about. Ignore this post please and thank you.

with platonic love,

k