my little sunshine

climbing

at the perfect time: 7 this morning

with favorite people: Angie and Dane

still a bit weak: in the arms

Nothing beats climbing outdoors in perfect weather with good company. I hope to go one more time with Angie before she moves away in a week and a half. I'm so glad we're somewhat related; her sister is my sister-in-law.

Thanks Dane-o and Bird for the lovely start of today.

tee he he

Just looking through the old pictures in photo booth.
Found this gem taken in Jerusalem. Made me smile.

book talk

It always makes me happy when someone loves a book I've recommended. My parents both read Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner in the course of their trip to Ireland for two weeks. They both thought it was amazing. Makes me want to read it again. Makes me want to tell everyone about it. Stegner's writing is gorgeous and the story even more so.

I told Nat to read The Help by Kathryn Stockett. She loved it. Another good one to read, especially since I hear there's a movie coming out.

Anyone read True Grit? I'd like to read it, watch the original film, and then watch the film that recently came out. If someone tells me it's worth it, I think it'll be more likely I'll read it.

I finally read The Princess Bride. It was such a fun read. We watched that movie all the time when we were kids, but I'd never read the book. I love the lines that come straight from the book to the movie. The back stories (not presented much in the movie) are also pretty awesome.

I've also read another book of late: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I really liked it.

Next book? I started The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card with Andrew on our little road trip this weekend. I don't know if I'll finish it. We'll see. I also checked out a couple from the library, but don't know what I'll crack open next. I'm sure you'll hear about it here, though, since I like to blather on and on about books.

Happy week and happy reading!

old words

Sometimes I come across lines I've written in the past and they surprise me. I vaguely recall writing them and that's what astonishes me. How could I forget words I strung together?

As I read through some old ideas of mine yesterday, I came across the following. I wrote it 7 November 2008. And I'll leave it without a title for now.


Sketch of a bird.
Snatch of conversation.
A broken button.

You turn the pages.

Pencil captured the bird.
Mind remembered words.
Tape holds down the pieces.

The feathers remind you of a rainy morning.
Clouds hindered the sun as you looked out the window.
You held your cup of tea and upped Neil Young’s volume.

The assumed dialogue becomes a soliloquy.
A man and his dementia battle it out.
One voice. Two tones.

The three uneven pieces beg you to finger their crags.
One hole remains intact.
Makes you ponder your own heart’s shape.

trying to be a woman of God

I came across this quote this week:

"When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses? When the surf of the centuries has made the great pyramids so much sand, the everlasting family will still be standing, because it is a celestial institution, formed outside telestial time. The women of God know this."

These words come from Neal A. Maxwell and the whole talk may be found here.

This whole talk has soothed me and inspired me to be and do better. I'm so grateful to be a woman. To be a daughter, sister, wife, and mother.

a new month

New month. New hair. New shoes.

Stake Conference begins in 20 minutes. Eamon is asleep. Andrew already left with Tawna to procure soft seats, so I wait for the babe.

It's June. Can't believe that we've been back from Jerusalem almost 11 months now. Insanity.

I chopped inches off my head of hair yesterday. I'm never quite sure what to make of my hair when I do this--reduce it to what feels like almost nothing--because I'm used to having it long.

Me just minutes ago.
(And my new hair length.)

As far as the new shoes go, I like them. I think I'll write a separate post about this because I'm cheesy like that. It's just hard and weird to replace a pair of shoes one has been wearing and cherishing for eight years. Yes, cherish I do certain shoes.