My most recent play on scrabble

33 points. I dedicate this play to my pirate parents:
note: I played the y-a-r to form the 2 words

Dad's Life Lessons (Installment #2)

My brother-in-law ran in a half-marathon in Park City on Saturday. When my father inquired after his performance, he replied that he was very slow. It was at this point that I joined the conversation:

kt: "well, slow and steady wins the race!"
dad: "no, slow and steady does not win the race."
family laughs
dad: "well, it doesn't."

Last Night the Rain Spoke to Me by Mary Oliver

Last night
the rain
spoke to me
slowly, saying,
what joy
to come falling
out of the brisk cloud,
to be happy again
in a new way
on the earth!
That’s what it said
as it dropped,
smelling of iron,
and vanished
like a dream of the ocean
into the branches
and the grass below.
Then it was over.
The sky cleared.
I was standing
under a tree.
The tree was a tree
with happy leaves,
and I was myself,
and there were stars in the sky
that were also themselves
at the moment
at which moment
my right hand
was holding my left hand
which was holding the tree
which was filled with stars
and the soft rain –
imagine! imagine!
the long and wondrous journeys
still to be ours.

Birthday Delights

Reija's Birthday (3/20):

MH's Birthday (3/23):

SS's Birthday (4/6):

JP's Birthday (4/11):

A Dream of Trees by Mary Oliver

There is a thing in me that dreamed of trees,
A quiet house, some green and modest acres
A little way from every troubling town,
A little way from factories, schools, laments.
I would have time, I thought, and time to spare,
With only streams and birds for company.
To build out of my life a few wild stanzas.
And then it came to me, that so was death,
A little way away from everywhere.

Doctrine & Covenants 110:9-10

Yea the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly rejoice in consequence of the blessings which shall be poured out, and the endowment with which my servants have been endowed in this house... And this is the beginning of the blessing which shall be poured out upon the heads of my people.

-------------------------------------------------

I have often thought how beautiful it is that any gift, ordinance, or blessing from God should be termed an "endowment." Financial endowments - often given to universities, museums, and other non-profit organizations - are substantial and great in that the interest generated from the gift is spent and consumed while the principal remains untouched (usually a portion of that interest is kept to grow the principal). It is a gift that grows and compounds over time and literally "keeps giving."

Doctrine & Covenants 103:36

All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith.

Emails from Mom

My friend Jocelyn just sent me my new favorite web site:

http://postcardsfromyomomma.com/

Here is my submission (hopefully we'll see it posted up there soon!):

Subject: Talk Like a Pirate Day

Yarrrrrr
Tomorrow be "Talk Like a Pirate Day," so shiver your timbers and avast, me hearties.

Mom aka "Cutthroat Mumsy"

04/09 Update: It got accepted! See here.

Of Cherry Blossoms and General Conference

I went to Washington, DC this weekend to visit Jocie, the cherry blossoms, and to listen to General Conference. It was lovely!

ps. Jocelyn had a new sidekick...


(I'm just saying...)

All I ever wanted is a plastic skull that lights up in the dark

Enjoy!

Being But Men by Dylan Thomas

Being but men, we walked into the trees
Afraid, letting our syllables be soft
For fear of waking the rooks,
For fear of coming
Noiselessly into a world of wings and cries.

If we were children we might climb,
Catch the rooks sleeping, and break no twig,
And, after the soft ascent,
Thrust out our heads above the branches
To wonder at the unfailing stars.

Out of confusion, as the way is,
And the wonder, that man knows,
Out of the chaos would come bliss.

That, then, is loveliness, we said,
Children in wonder watching the stars,
Is the aim and the end.

Being but men, we walked into the trees.