Monday, March 25, 2013
Oliver at 15 months and 3 weeks
Loving this little guy Oliver. He's nearing sixteen months and is loving the freedom of walking, playing ball with his Dad, would be read to for hours if we had the patience - he'll even bring a book to us and cry until we read (we keep the books out of reach), can recognize and identify colors, is developing shyness, continues to throw his food when done eating, and is now taking toys from other children and bringing them to his Mom.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Thoughts on Personal Spirituality
Spiritual goals are something of a personal nature and I hinge on whether such topics are suitable for public posting on a blog. However, where one draws the line between bearing testimony and crossing into the field of the sacred, I hope, is a line easily understood when encountered. Which is why I hope to express some thoughts on spirituality and my current areas of exploration on this blog - to record for myself and maybe one day my children who will hopefully have access to this recorded information.
At times when I sit in Relief Society I hear of all the spiritual benefits of following Gospel principles. Which really are more valuable than anything material. And yet, regardless of how shallow, I want to say hey, there are lots of tangible blessings too. Of course these things are given after faith and are seen with a spiritual perspective and not a cynical one. But God can give us all that we actually need, temporally and spiritually. Of course this brings to mind the scripture of the birds that they care not what they wear, when they will eat, and when they will next find cover and yet they have what they need to live. And I have to note that I refrained from using the word "survive" as one can live with only the necessities and still live a happy and fulfilling life. Of course I preach but have little experience with true poverty. And yet it is something that I truly believe, and when my circumstances have changed temporally I try my best to believe in and live this principle. But I digress, as I hope to eventually record the spiritual as well as the temporal blessings received in my life - as I see them. Other goals are present in my mind, such as understanding the twelve apostles of the new testament as individuals and to learn the differences between the Gospels. I'd also like a deeper understanding of the old and new testament. Which I hope in turn will help me to understand the God of the Old and of the New testament.
And finally I've heard of the book called "The God Who Weeps" by Terryl and Fiona Givens through another popular blog. At first I thought that this type of book wouldn't appeal to me, not to say that I don't believe in a God that has empathy and mercy for His children - because I definitely do. I just didn't think I needed to read a book about it. However, I have this urge to read it. I'm hoping to find it at the library, but if not I may have to make the investment and try it out. Here's to hoping that the two reviews I read were reliable!
At times when I sit in Relief Society I hear of all the spiritual benefits of following Gospel principles. Which really are more valuable than anything material. And yet, regardless of how shallow, I want to say hey, there are lots of tangible blessings too. Of course these things are given after faith and are seen with a spiritual perspective and not a cynical one. But God can give us all that we actually need, temporally and spiritually. Of course this brings to mind the scripture of the birds that they care not what they wear, when they will eat, and when they will next find cover and yet they have what they need to live. And I have to note that I refrained from using the word "survive" as one can live with only the necessities and still live a happy and fulfilling life. Of course I preach but have little experience with true poverty. And yet it is something that I truly believe, and when my circumstances have changed temporally I try my best to believe in and live this principle. But I digress, as I hope to eventually record the spiritual as well as the temporal blessings received in my life - as I see them. Other goals are present in my mind, such as understanding the twelve apostles of the new testament as individuals and to learn the differences between the Gospels. I'd also like a deeper understanding of the old and new testament. Which I hope in turn will help me to understand the God of the Old and of the New testament.
And finally I've heard of the book called "The God Who Weeps" by Terryl and Fiona Givens through another popular blog. At first I thought that this type of book wouldn't appeal to me, not to say that I don't believe in a God that has empathy and mercy for His children - because I definitely do. I just didn't think I needed to read a book about it. However, I have this urge to read it. I'm hoping to find it at the library, but if not I may have to make the investment and try it out. Here's to hoping that the two reviews I read were reliable!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The Foot of a Russian Ballerina
Monday, MLK day this year we celebrated my 28th birthday. And true to form John and I played the guess-what-my-gift-is game. It started as I sat at the dinning table snacking and watching Oliver play with his Safari figurine next to the sewing machine I inherited from my Grandmother Allen. And an idea hit me so I threw it out there. "Sewing machine" I shouted to John, "you got me a sewing machine"! John looked over and non-nonchalantly replied, "Nope". Each following guess received less and less notice.
Until later that evening. I begged for some clue, some inkling to tip me in the direction of what my gift was. After about half an hour of guesses John replies with the following, "each answer may or may not have been the truth". Sigh . . . so I erased my mind of the stockpile of clues I had saved up. By this point we're lying in bed, the sun had set, and all I can see is the outline of his figure next to me.
"You said you thought it was cool", says John. Eventually I gather that I had seen a similar item online, that it was purchased in New York, that we had never physically been to the store, that the item was purchased from a store in a reality TV show, and that the item was admired by all the other women in the postal office because John "had to take it out of the box to ensure that it wasn't broken" as it was somewhat of "an antique". Also, it wasn't clothing or furniture. And it was related to something I had an interest in and was fragile.
After this point much had become somewhat unclear as I believe the shock of what the gift was revealed as must have clouded my memory. "A skeleton?" I asked in disbelief knowing it was ridiculous - but the path of answers led me to this only one conclusion, as far as my mind could gather. And then he came out with it. It was the foot of a dead ballerina reconstructed in her pointe shoe encased in a glass box. Purchased from an oddity shop called Obscura and totally up John's alley. "You have to be joking John" and "you're pulling my leg" were the two phrases I repeated over and over again in disbelief. He dodged each of my jabbing inquiries with ease. "Who's foot?" and "are you serious"? I comfort myself with the thought that had the room been lit and his countenance visible I would have been able to tell he was fibbing up a storm.
And so it was, John used his tricky ways of half truths and a vague memory of a conversation two months ago to lead me to believe that he had bought me the foot of a dead ballerina for my birthday.
Much to my surprise and absolute relief I saw a sewing machine when I opened that box. So relieved. No dead lady's foot for my bookshelf!
Until later that evening. I begged for some clue, some inkling to tip me in the direction of what my gift was. After about half an hour of guesses John replies with the following, "each answer may or may not have been the truth". Sigh . . . so I erased my mind of the stockpile of clues I had saved up. By this point we're lying in bed, the sun had set, and all I can see is the outline of his figure next to me.
"You said you thought it was cool", says John. Eventually I gather that I had seen a similar item online, that it was purchased in New York, that we had never physically been to the store, that the item was purchased from a store in a reality TV show, and that the item was admired by all the other women in the postal office because John "had to take it out of the box to ensure that it wasn't broken" as it was somewhat of "an antique". Also, it wasn't clothing or furniture. And it was related to something I had an interest in and was fragile.
After this point much had become somewhat unclear as I believe the shock of what the gift was revealed as must have clouded my memory. "A skeleton?" I asked in disbelief knowing it was ridiculous - but the path of answers led me to this only one conclusion, as far as my mind could gather. And then he came out with it. It was the foot of a dead ballerina reconstructed in her pointe shoe encased in a glass box. Purchased from an oddity shop called Obscura and totally up John's alley. "You have to be joking John" and "you're pulling my leg" were the two phrases I repeated over and over again in disbelief. He dodged each of my jabbing inquiries with ease. "Who's foot?" and "are you serious"? I comfort myself with the thought that had the room been lit and his countenance visible I would have been able to tell he was fibbing up a storm.
And so it was, John used his tricky ways of half truths and a vague memory of a conversation two months ago to lead me to believe that he had bought me the foot of a dead ballerina for my birthday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)