On oceans and skies

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I’m obsessed with the sky. I look at it often. I think about it often. I write about it often. I CANNOT HANDLE how AMAZING it gets when it changes colors. COLORS! So many COLORS. I know, most of the day it is blue. Loyal and blue. But have you ever taken in a yellow morning? The ones that practically butter your toast? Or what about purple nights? The ones that seduce you? Or silver afternoons? Did you notice how careful they seem to be, how still? And at night time! The sky goes BLACK. BLACK! It’s as if it opens up, undresses and flashes us all what’s underneath its colorful robes. Naked skies have stars. They are endless and mysterious. Deep. Vulnerable. Maybe that is why man is always connecting with it in dark hours. We relate to that feeling of being exposed. However, we have a choice. The sky does not. But then again, the sky cannot really be hurt by us and all of our insanity. She is what she is. And she has never changed. Nothing in the existence of earth has ever been so dependable, so constant, so honest. People- we look up and are told a story everyday! We can always look up and see color. We can always look up. I think I’d like to be more like the sky. Be open and honest about what I am feeling. If I’ve got clouds, why not show them? Sunny day- share it with everyone. Why should I try and hide my tapestry? (I'm sure if you talked to Buck about this, however, he would say that I am plenty open about what I'm feeling when I'm feeling it...)

So let’s talk about the ocean. Some (or maybe none) people may wonder why I love the sea so much, especially since I grew up in Idaho. Maybe they just assume that I’m blond and want to lay around and tan and feel cool and trendy. And while I love to lay on a beach and be warm, that’s not the whole story for me. Because I’m weird. And I feel like the ocean is one with the sky. It’s massive and blue. But it reflects the sky. So when the sky is grey, so is it. When it is pink, so are the waves. At night when all goes black, so is the water. Have you ever seen a full moon’s light reflecting on each ebb and flow? Stars. It seems just as endless and deep as space. So many mysteries. When you’re in it- you’re weightless. I swear, each time I get into the ocean I feel like I’m diving into the sky. The world flips upside down and for me, that’s as close to heaven as I can get.

Call me cheesy. Call me weird. Call me lame. Tell me that I think too much or that I’m trying too hard to be poetic.

I don’t care.

I’ve thought this for years. This is not a new thought for me. Just one that I figured nobody would really care much about. What, with politics and such going on.

But there it is.
Did anybody read this?

Rainbow Loungers

Yep. You read it right. Here is June and Miso lounging in the rainbows.

Random photo dump!

My Favorite Photo

Can we just talk about this photo? Well, before we do, let me explain/confess a little bit. When I was serving in Armenia there was a family there that we were teaching. They showed us all their photos one day and I came across this one. I had never seen such a marvelous photo in all my life. This was it. My favorite photograph- and it was taken, I'm sure, by some unknowing soul seeking a snapshot. Yet it said so many things to me without speaking a word. I was in love with it.

So I asked them if I could borrow it and made plans to photo copy it and give it back. I really did. Next thing I knew they weren't home and stopped showing up for meetings. I never saw them again. And then I was transferred. And so, in a way, I feel like I stole this photo. Especially because I'm not terribly sad that I ended up with it. But I feel bad regardless...

So without further adieu, HERE IT IS!
COMMENT and tell me your opinion of this photo

Complicated

I see so many quotes about simplifying life.  I always hear speeches and sermons telling me that life is only as complicated as I make it. That, in the end, the choice is up to me. Simple or not. What do I want? Well, I'm here to declare that this IS A LIE. Sure, somethings this applies to- okay- A LOT of things this can apply to. But some- it simply cannot. Here are a few I am encountering:

For example. Gardening. What in the world? Why can't I just simply put some seeds in the dirt, water them, and watch them grow? But no- I have to fertilize, get expensive dirt, kill bugs with chemicals, do things at the precise time and season, or start growing food with fancy sun lights in my house. Put the right things next to each other, weed, prune, but not too much but not too little. Graft in things. Soil, water. Pray like crazy and hope you get ONE tomato. People- it's COMPLICATED.

Or what about sewing? Why can't I just put some fabric together in the shape and I want and sew it? No- there are patterns and special scissors and bobbins and math equations. There are different stitches for different things. There's matching up and bunching up. There's rules and rules and rules. I've only began to learn to sew (I've been going over to my grandma's and she's been teaching me a bit since she's a pro) and I know that it will get easier as I learn but that doesn't mean that it's any simpler.

And what about the world of couponing and grocery shopping? BLAH. Go here for this and there for that. Spend five hours gathering the information to price match and save 23 cents. Check that fine print. Does not include, expires now, only to be used during one hour of the month. I don't know. Sell this back, get this NOW. Hurry and run and go EVERYWHERE.

Money is so temporal. Sometimes, my time seems more precious and valuable. Sometimes I feel like I'd rather spend the extra bills for the convenience. Yes, I am that person the grocery stores target. They love me. I want to get in and out. And I'll do what it takes, give them what they want, to ensure the smoothest trip I can. Don't get me wrong- I'm a fan of Western Family products and anything else that is cheapest (except tin foil. money=quality here apparently) and I use plenty of coupons for other things- just maybe not grocery shopping. It stresses me out. It seems too COMPLICATED.

Am I the only person who feels this way?

I'm just saying. Don't believe every quote you see on Pinterest.

Minerals and Gems

Friday during the day we went on a little family date. There was a free mineral and gem convention of sorts in Spanish Fork. So of course we had to go.

Sparkly!

Pink! SO PRETTY

June got her own rock souvenir. And, well, she wanted to eat it...

Glow in the dark rocks!

Then afterwards we stopped at little diner in town.

Determined baby

Good day.

Green

You know me. I am a busy girl throwing parties all the time for everything possible. So when we got invited to a couple St. Patrick's Day parties I was actually relieved that somebody else would do the celebrating for us. First off, we went to my Uncle Edwin's house and partied there. Green food, great decorations, gold coins, and a crazy green leprechaun. Success.

Erin claims she is wearing green. The world says this is blue.

The second party we were invited to was from some people from our ward. We ate more good food and played a game of Irish Jeopardy. And then June won the prize for "best dressed" (of course) and won us a box of Lucky Charms. And I didn't take any pictures because I was too busy being socially awkward.

But I hope that everyone had a great day of green! It's nice to have a holiday sometimes that's not religious. (for us...) Days like St. Patrick's Day you can just celebrate the way the stores tell you to and not feel guilty or hear a bunch of people complain about commercialism. I kind of like commercialism. So there.

Pinch free family. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 

 

June Bug

I just realized that I never put these wonderful photos of June up on the blog. What a sin. I shouldn't keep such cuteness from everyone. Having photography skills doesn't hurt, but come on- June makes all her photos what they are. And just you wait, there are some new one and a half-tooth photos coming soon.