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

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...

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

By Request...The Weight Room

Adam and I walked down the stairs and entered the dreaded "weight room." There were several men there working out. Not a surprise as it was a Saturday morning. I told Adam that I didn't want to bulk up I just wanted to be strong and toned. My main concerns being arm strength and abdominal strength...especially abs strength as I currently have next to none. He proceeded to take me around the room introducing me to the machines. "This one will work your upper arms and pecks, and when you use it be sure to engage your abs, and release slowly..." well, anyway, you get the picture. We then went over to a machine that has a long bar on which there are several handles for different styles of pull ups. Adam tested it out... though I think he really just wanted to show me his muscles and man strength, he might have also been showing off his height because I required the top step of the stool nearby to reach them. So, I think many girls out there know my plight when facing a pull-up, it's nearly an impossible task (for me it is currently IMPOSSIBLE). While I hung there embarrassing myself a strong looking, well versed in the weight room, black man walked over and said "You shouldn't use that one, go over there and use the chin-up machine." Adam agreed and we went over to it. It looks kind of like this:

Essentially this machine somehow through physics (weights and pulleys I think) makes it easier to do a chin-up (pull-up) or a dip-down. Adam helped me adjust the weights so that the machine would be taking off 85 lbs from my weight while doing pull-ups. I climbed up the steps, carefully stepped onto the foot rests, and began the easiest pull-ups of my life. While the machine made up the difference for the lack of strength in my arms I had a profound thought (to me anyway) that THIS was the atonement. The atonement is the machine that makes it possible for us weak and imperfect humans to rise. While the pull-ups I did were easier with the assistance they were still challenging. But possible. Where before, with out that machine they were not, and would not have been possible for a long, long time, and only after a lot of work. That is the beauty of the atonement in a nutshell. Making something impossible (or nearly so) possible. It was beautiful, there in the weight room, the sweaty, stinky, intimidating weight room. I'm grateful for Adam my husband/weight room instructor and the black man for helping me have such a beautiful moment.

But my deepest and most sincere gratitude is for my savior, Jesus Christ, the only one that can truly make up the difference.

The Y

So, remember a while back when I said I was going to join a gym? Well I did. The YMCA to be precise. When A. and I were considering what gym I should join we were hesitant to chose the Y because it seemed like a very expensive option. We came to the conclusion that for a membership that includes childcare and as many classes as I care to participate in (with no added charge) it was the best deal.

It is now my third month with a membership. I have to say that I am in love (who knew that an hour to myself, for myself, could make such a difference). I was nervous to leave J. for an hour with people I don't know well, and have to trust that he would be okay...thankfully they screen their childcare workers and they are all trained, otherwise this trust thing would have been an impossibility. The days that I go to the Y are marked by a better mood. It's trackable. A. will come home from work now and if I'm a grump his first question is "did you go to the gym today?" Ninety percent of the time the answer will be "rude...but no, I didn't" (there are those days that even an hour at the gym can't compensate for). It is unnecessary to say that A. is very encouraging of my Y excursions, but there, I've said it anyway. The other day A. even came with me and gave me a tour of the weight room... but that is another story for another time.

Some people I love came to visit us. I'm very grateful that they took time away from their various schedules to come for a visit and to babysit! Thank you <3

My Loves

A post from this old piece-o-poo is in my opinion, long overdue. I sit here by my lonesome after a long long day of work while my sweetie is out with a friend, and think to myself how very blessed I am...

My Bride

Katie, I love you. The last four years have blown by in what seems to have been an extended honeymoon. Ironic though, because within this honeymoon of sorts, we have managed to graduate college together whilst living at five different addresses, having a baby, and buy a house, all while having fun and growing along the way. I appreciate you so much and am more amazed by you everyday. I hope I can do right by you sweetie.

So much I could say, but all I can manage in this moment is, you are the reason I wake up in the morning, and the air I breathe.

You have bewitched me body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you...

-J-

What can I say, you are my son and I love you as well. Not like I love mommy, but I love you nonetheless. You are a wonderful son and you amaze me with how much you are learning. I love when you are sweet to mommy and I, but you can sometimes be very naughty. I am amazed that your mama can not only watch over you all day long, but can also manage to do four loads of laundry, read, and draw, all within a day... you drive me crazy after 40 minutes. It seems as though every single day you grow bigger in mind and body, and though sometimes I wish it go faster, time itself will no doubt seem to have slipped through your mother and I's fingers in no time at all. I love you buddy.