BEATS

ISO 100 50mm  f2.2. 1/1600

the worst Christmas present I ever gave...

what were we thinking?

she can never hear me-

but she does LOVE to get lost in a world of music.

AUTHENTICITY

ISO 320 135MM f8  1/1600

(why was my ISO @320 when my shutter was 1/1600!?)

“...the older I get, the less impressed I become with originality.  These days, I’m far more moved by authenticity.  Attempts at originality can often feel forced...but authenticticity has quiet resonance that never fails to stir me” -Elizabeth Gilbert in BIG MAGIC

These words seemed to jump off the page as I read them in the bleachers at Sophie’s swim practice yesterday. My mother-in-law has to be one of the most authentic people I know. She lives true to herself and will take my girls to the park with all four of them in pjs...in the middle of the day...just to make them happy...which makes her happy. ❤️ 

(This photo was taken in Hawaii just after she jumped into the water off a cliff)

SLEEP

50mm f2.2 1/100 ISO1250

When she asked Friday night if she could sleep in the bathtub I didn't think she would really do it.

CREATE > CONSUME

35mm 1.4 ISO 400

Photo taken on March 31, 2017.  Danny and I (with Michel + Jimmy) rose early our first morning in Hawaii to watch the sunrise over the ocean.  On our way back to the house (oh how I long to be there every morning!) I caught my shadow as I approached the lawn. Rising early to capture the sunrise over the ocean is one of my favorite examples of living the concept I learned today.

I LOVE the podcast BOLD NEW MOM by Jody Moore.  (I can't find the episode on her blog right now.  It may be the very newest that was posted yesterday and not on the blog yet.)  Today she taught the concept of CREATE MORE THAN YOU CONSUME.  It was EXACTLY what I needed and what I have been praying to understand.  As a stay at home mom with 3 children in 10th, 8th and 5th grades I have a lot of time on my hands.  Time that goes quickly to be sure, but time that is really flexible to fill however I choose.  I have felt really unsettled the last few years...really unsatisfied truly.  I have this desire to be more...produce more...give more...

The concept of CREATE > CONSUME pierced me!  Many of my days are filled with approximately  80% as CONSUMER and 20% as CREATOR.

Some of my CONSUMER choices:

social media: especially IG.  I check IG ALL DAY LONG.  Most of the people I follow are people I know personally.  I check in on them over and over and over.  Photo posting then stories, then look by again in case I missed anything.  Then I head to "explore." anything there...?  Facebook.  Honestly.  I hate FB.  I love people that I know on there which has been a great excuse to check in...but I really don't like "being there."

audible...LOVE
podcasts...LOVE
shopping...LOVE
eating...LOVE

reading, Netflix, listening to music, magazines, YouTube (brilliant!), TedTalks (YES!), blog reading, NEWS (UGGGH), movies, TV.

Jody explains...and I am in complete agreement that none of these things are bad.  The trick is to make sure that we create  MORE than we consume.

Some CREATE choices that I love (and don't do enough of):

write, play, art, cook, serve, walk, yoga, bike, swim, travel, photography, hugs, budget, FHE, calligraphy, yard work, cleaning, piano, guitar, blog....

I have a new plan.  I am done living under a rock of consumerism.  Why have I been afraid to be me...to live...to grow?  Why have I been standing on the sidelines observing others living?  I am grateful for this new vision.  Thank you Jody Moore!

Sunday swinging

 I think our backyard is our favorite spot at home

Kate noticed a few beautiful blooms and picked them for her room.  

I smiled when I saw them in a bud vase in her window sill.  

 These hammocks have been a hit this summer and fall!

We keep trying to talk Quincy into moving in with us-

she just smiles :)

BIOLOGY>CHEMISTRY

As we were driving to Sunday dinner Ellie was in the passenger's seat.  We were actually attempting to tow the VW bus truck to Nana's to store for the winter...or longer, but that is a long story for another day.

She reflected...

isn't it amazing how all of our bones, muscles and ligaments work together?

As we drove down the hill toward the round-about we agreed--- the amazing intricacies of our bodies, even those that don't function perfectly, testify to the reality of a God who created us, a Father who has a plan for us.  Every cell in our body has a function.  Our bodies were created to fight for life, to protect from illness, to heal.

On the way home our discussion continued-

humans are the most dominant animal on the planet.

Jungle Book reminds us that man has the tools of fire and invention.  The animals told Mowgli, DON'T USE YOUR TRICKS.

it would be fascinating to be a researcher-

BIOLOGY>CHEMISTRY

I love listening to her thoughts.  It is interesting to me, that as she is gathering truths from school, literature, movies and personal experience, I get to reflect on one of the greatest testaments of the reality of God...the moment SHE, my first baby was placed into my arms.  I knew that this precious baby was more than x/y chromosome - zygote - baby.  She was a MIRACLE.  A literal miracle.  A spirit filled the room that wasn't there before.  I felt immediately that she was filled with light and wanted knowledge.  That spirit in her continues today.  I could never deny after March 4th, 2002 at 5:13 a.m. that not only was there a Heavenly Father with a plan for me, but that HE is greater than I ever imagined.  

MARCH 4, 2002 @ LDS HOSPITAL, SALT LAKE CITY, UT

science project

She has missing assignments and a grade to attest to the dread she felt having to complete an 8th grade science project.  To her surprise, as she rolled up her sleeves today to do the experiment-

she REALLY ENJOYED it.

It helps that her back yard, plants, water and sunshine were involved.

It didn't hurt that her favorite assistant was available too.