Thursday, January 17, 2013

labor.




I watched them tearing a building down,
A gang of men in a busy town.
With a ho-heave-ho and lusty yell,
They swung a beam and a sidewall fell.
I asked the foreman, “Are these men skilled,
As the men you’d hire if you had to build?”
He gave me a laugh and said, “No indeed!
Just common labor is all I need.
I can easily wreck in a day or two
What builders have taken a year to do.”
And I tho’t to myself as I went my way,
Which of these two roles have I tried to play?
Am I a builder who works with care,
Measuring life by the rule and square?
Am I shaping my deeds by a well-made plan,
Patiently doing the best I can?
Or am I a wrecker who walks the town,
Content with the labor of tearing down?

– Unknown

Monday, January 7, 2013

Post nap love

Today calls for
A list of things i love!


•i love my new down/feather pillow that i just drooled on as i napped

•i love using expensive toilet paper

•i love going to bed with wet hair

•i love hipster film photographers

•i love instagram because i really love to look at pretty things

•i love feeling peace and harmony and security

•i love filtered, clean, ice cold water

•i love having warm feet

•i love the gospel of Jesus Christ of latter day saints

•i love lucy dunn, even if she does live far away

•i love more daylight in my evenings

•i love to spin/cycle without a shirt on (rarely do i get caught)

•i love when someone else serves me dinner

•i love homemade caramels

•i love all white bedding, lace, and shopping for throw pillows

•i love dreaming of travels and adventures

•i love humble people

•and i love negative space

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

life is good.

some days are just heavy.
my heart aches.

some days i look at those days and think they are so small. and everything is just wonderful.

but not today
today is a heavy day.  and i took the time to write.
and i took the time to listen to the scriptures.
and i took the time to read about other peoples thoughts and life.
and i took the time to look at pretty things.

and i am reminded how this life isn't a time just to get through. its not meant just for work. or just for play. its not meant to be sad and painful either.

it is meant as a time to prepare.
to prepare to meet God.


and honestly every goal we have, everything that occupies our time—we should be able to link to this sole purpose.



on a heavy day, like this rigidly cold one, i loved hearing my mothers voice. and i appreciated caring words that a dear friend texted me. and i got to make my man breakfast, even if i did burn it.  and i got to cry to my best friend.  and she called quickly and listened.  and i didn't feel alone today.
and my heart was full with gratitude for my teaching job, and for my photography.
i beam with passion when i think about the blessings in my life.



paul and i made it a goal some time in september to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year.
we both made it within the last few hours left of the year.
i will admit there was some speed reading going on at points for me, but i am grateful for our dedication to this goal.  i love that book.  it holds mysteries that i don't and may not grasp in this life.  it holds truth and also simple things.  simple ways to live life.
and i know that this is a true book.

i need to remind myself:
life is ALWAYS  better when it is in alignment with God's will.

sometimes i forget that. and i try to do it a different way.
silly me.
i'm learning.  and i am grateful to Jesus Christ for giving me a way to always realign,
that one day I may dwell with Him and my Heavenly Father again.