an afternoon tea

Grandma Sally invited us over for an afternoon tea.  Part of the afternoon she taught us about color; putting up large swatches of colorful fabric to determine colors that are most flattering on each of us.  It was delicious food and a fun afternoon.

auditions

2nd year of auditions for Utah Youth Junior Symphony

a birthday in DC

A quick trip...celebrating two birthdays... (Danny and Alex)...seeing family...and friends who are just like family...ate amazing food (a small portion of which is pictured)...visited Dumbarton Gardens (LOVED!)...saw our favorite monuments...walked every inch of Georgetown...basically we LOVED every minute of it!

ISO 800, f 1.4, 1/100: 35mm

Miles above the earth, flying around 600 mph is where I recently found the insight and inspiration to BE STILL.  I was sitting in the middle seat on our flight home from Washington DC.  Danny and I had enjoyed the most wonderful time.  I was anxious to get home, hug our girls, check on Mozart and dig into the crazy schedule of the coming week.  My book was boring me so I turned to the monitor in front of my seat.  After a few games of Solitaire (and frankly not playing very well) I continued to browse the monitor.  I found TEDtalks, which almost always interest me.  I sat in my seat and listened to THIS talk.


"So, in an age of acceleration, nothing can be more exhilarating than going slow. And in an age of distraction, nothing is so luxurious as paying attention. And in an age of constant movement, nothing is so urgent as sitting still."  -Pico Iyer


I have recognized the value of stillness many many times...a heart of peace after attending the temple, a clear head after a yoga session, prayer, enjoying a quiet walk.  One of the stillness ideas that inspired him was an Internet Sabbath- a full day completely unplugging from electronic devices.  As I listened to him, I was re-energized in taking stillness seriously.  Lately I have felt distracted and busy, feeling like my wheels were spinning at maximum speed, yet I was staying still.  In seat 40F I made some quick decisions to put this into practice in my life and not just recognize it as a good idea.  Some ideas I want to experiment with---

Internet Sabbath- I will turn off electronic devices on Sunday, my family is already with me and it is the weekday I already enjoy recognizing as the Sabbath.

Device schedule- 
wake up-until kids leave for school...leave devices alone and use cell phone on a need basis (no internet browsing)
3:00 p.m. (when the girls get home) and later just use my cell phone as needed (texting, communication, etc...)
9:00 p.m.  turn my devices (iPad and phone) in for the night.  If my phone rings or a text dings attend to it...but other than that leave it alone (aka don't waste an hour browsing Instagram, Facebook, Pintrest, etc...)

Morning routine-

wake up, do morning pages (I love these and learned this practice from The Artist's Way and I have let it go lately), prayer and scriptures (study by topic with paper scriptures and journal instead of iPad)

We are going to watch this talk as a family tonight.  What everybody needs as far as creating stillness in their lives is COMPLETELY different.  I look forward to learning what Danny and the girls feel like they can do to apply this for them.  

This morning my scripture study was STILLNESS.  I found Exodus 14:3.  The Lord turned the hearts of the Egyptians against the people of Israel so that they would know that HE is the Lord.  The children of Israel flee with Moses into the wilderness.  They feel trapped, the Egyptians have "marched after them."  The children of Israel lamented to Moses- they would rather live in servitude to the Egyptian than me killed by them!  Moses gave them the reminder I found on the plane last night-

"Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord...The Lord shall fight for you and ye shall hold your peace."

I may not walk across the Red Sea on dry ground BUT I will be led, protected and guided if I like Moses-

fear not

stand STILL

SEE the divinity of the Lord

update:  Danny loved the talk but the other girls weren't sure if they understood it.  They did come up with an idea after we discussed the talk...
Danny- spend more quiet time while driving, find time to step away from his phone
Ellie- create alone time every day
Kate- spend time in the backyard every day
Sophie- spend time reading

so lucky to be their mom

in the gardens

We spent a few hours in the yard tonight...

it is our happy place.

UYJSO

strum