What it means to be a daughter of God

"You cannot imagine the gifts and talents each of you has. All women have appealing features. I do not refer to model-type appeal, but rather that which comes from your personality, your attitude, and your expressions. I urge you to enhance the natural, God-given, feminine gifts with which you have been so richly blessed. None of you should be so content that you cease to care about how you look or act. In his day, President Brigham Young encouraged women to get an education. This is still good counsel, but I hasten to add: in all your getting, do not lose your sweet femininity.

"You sisters do not know the full extent of your influence. You sisters enrich all of humanity. All human life begins with you. Each woman brings her own separate, unique strengths to the family and the Church. Being a daughter of God means that if you seek it, you can find your true identity. You will know who you are. This will make you free—not free from restraints, but free from doubts, anxieties, or peer pressure. You will not need to worry, “Do I look all right?” “Do I sound OK?” “What do people think of me?” A conviction that you are a daughter of God gives you a feeling of comfort in your self-worth. It means that you can find strength in the balm of Christ. It will help you meet the heartaches and challenges with faith and serenity."

[Read the full address by James E. Faust here.]

Remember that bread I made?

Well I finally have some pictures to show you that it really was as beautiful as it tasted. :)

This was all white bread. We made an all wheat version a few weeks ago and it was even more delicious.

Here is the cake in all its glory

The cake I made for the Relief Society birthday party. Photo credit: the amazing Bruce, of course.

It turned out beautifully, but I had to make a last minute substitution as I had forgotten to buy cream for the icing. I went ahead and used the remaining buttermilk (from the cake recipe) in the ganache. It tasted fine that evening, but a few days later the buttermilk flavor was rather strong (read: sour). Alack.

While we're on the subject of cakes, Bruce and I were in Idaho & Utah this last weekend and my sister-in-law Amanda made a rather delicious "strawberry shortcake" cake. Let's just say that if I had Bruce's metabolism she would not have taken home any leftovers... Yum!


[Strawberry Shortcake Cake recipe from Pioneer Woman here.]

Also, I'm baking a cake

Tonight is my church congregation's "Birthday Party" for our women's organization the Relief Society. Pretty much we're having dinner and 10+ cakes. I am making this amazing chocolate cake from Smitten Kitchen.

[Instead of coffee, I use raspberry extract to give the chocolate a richer flavor and to go with the raspberry filling option.]

Oh boy oh boy oh boy! It's going to be great! [see the results here.]

p.s. It turns out that Bruce isn't really that into cake. However, I knew this before marrying him. He still supports me in my baking efforts however by buying me 12+ boxes of cake flour for Christmas. You see, Marriage is all about Compromise.

Today is a good day!

A few reasons why:

• I got a new shirt at costco that I am wearing today and it is pretty cute!
• I went to my new GI specialist and I don't need to have any procedures / surgeries pretty much until 2015!*
• Bruce and I are taking tomorrow off to go visit family in Utah and Idaho - I'll be meeting a bunch of family that wasn't able to come to our wedding in California. I'm only sad we will only have a few hours in Utah for the in-laws there.
• I am feeling confident about some decisions I've made to simplify my life. I am making progress on learning to say no to things.
• I like my husband. He is my BFF.

*I don't know that I have gone into it on this blog, but in 2007 2008 I was diagnosed with the very glamorous condition of ulcerative colitis (UC)--in my case it is specifically proctitis--and I had to get some routine sigmoidoscopies / colonoscopies when I was first diagnosed. It's all incredibly sexy. Lucky for me, proctitis is a very mild version of the condition and for that I am very grateful. I feel 200% better than I felt before I was diagnosed and treated. The most common symptoms I have now are some fatigue & nausea, which is nothing compared to what it could be :)

To the Lighthouse

And all the lives we ever lived
and all the lives to be,
are full of trees and changing leaves,

she murmured, sticking her needles into the stocking. And she opened the book and began reading here and there at random, and as she did so she felt she was climbing backwards, upwards, shoving her way up under petals that curved over her, so that she only knew this is white, or this is red. She did not know at first what the words meant at all.

I finally finished reading Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse. I loved the passage above - I think it is a wonderful way to articulate the processing of any kind of art or media that we find beautiful without perhaps even understanding why or what it means. It may even sum up how I feel about this book. Maybe.

The book is definitely a modern piece and, as I've implied above, I haven't quite digested it yet. Not because it's shocking or bizarre or overwhelming, but because it is very much the style of that period (It was published in the late 20s) so it is more about what the characters are thinking and their own subjective experiences than it is about a narrative. That being said, there is a plot and the writing is good. It's just the author isn't leading you down a path but rather presenting you with the insides of the characters' heads in about as organized a fashion as she can. It's a short novel and I think I may reread it next month. It reminds me in some ways of Willa Cather's The Professor's House in both the style and my own response to it.

Okay, that's all.

Birthday Weekend

My birthday was on a Saturday this year, so I didn't have to take a day off of work. [Every year I take my birthday off out of principle.* It's very celebratory to not be at work on one's birthday.]

Saturday morning / afternoon we...

• Slept in
• Took calls from family (Highlights include one singing of "Happy Birthday" by my mother-in-law accompanied by my youngest brother-in-law on the flute and my nephew Brady (now 3 1/2) telling me my birthday was "gonna be jus' won'erful!")
• Rode bikes on the coast in Pacific Grove (near Monterey & Carmel). 68 degrees, people!
• People & dog watched in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Saturday evening we...

• [I] blew out candles that Bruce crammed onto cupcakes for me. The one in the middle had like 10 in it.
• [Bruce] gave me balloons! I luuurve balloons. They were pink & red and also there was a sparkly/shiny one. 
• Watched Flipped per Merzy's recommendation (I especially liked that it is PG!)

Sunday my family had a birthday party for me. My dad made lemon chicken and banana cake (With fresh banana filling and cream cheese icing. Wowza!) It was so good to be with my family and to blow out candles again. Turns out that is a necessary party of birthdays for me.

Valentine's was equally if not more fabulous. Mostly it involved Costco lasagne, homemade salad by Bruce, leftover birthday cake, and a work call at 10pm with Singapore / Denmark. Ha! In spite of the work call it was chill and great.

xoxo
kt

*This principle was founded in 2007 -- the last time I did not take off my birthday. In that year, my birthday was on a Monday AND the night before I had JUST gotten my FIRST kiss from my new/pending boyfriend. I went into work that morning to find flowers from this love interest and then promptly left them (and him) to go on a work trip. Yes, the evening of my birthday I was on a plane to Denver (in February, mind you). And it just so happened that it was on Wednesday, February 14th at approximately 10pm that I returned from said trip. So both my birthday and Valentine's Day were sabotaged by work. And, I might add, a year later the client in Denver de-booked. Hence, the principle.

3 Things

1. My baby brother Stuart got engaged on Wednesday. Her name is Barb. The date is July 15th. She's pretty cool and we approve.

2. I cut the very tip (think fingerprint*) of my left index finger on Thursday night grappling with a butternut squash**. Bruce came home and took me to urgent care where they couldn't sew or glue it back together as it was no longer attached (Bruce found it on the knife when we got home***). 10 layers of surgicell later, my finger will be bandaged for approximately 2 weeks. Also, I got called to be the organist at church on Sunday. Have I mentioned how much I appreciate God's sense of humor? Because I do.

3. My older sister found out today that child #3 she is expecting in June is not boy #3, but a girl! This is the first granddaughter on both sides and my and Bruce's first niece. Needless to say, we're all very excited!


----------------------
*I may or may not have a fingerprint when it heals. I'll let you all know how it turns out.
**Yes, I know that Costco sells pre-sliced butternut squash.
***Yes, he took pictures.

I hope you enjoyed the clip art. Adds a bit of class to the blog, I think.

Of Things That Matter Most by Dieter Uchtdorf

When stress levels rise, when distress appears, when tragedy strikes, too often we attempt to keep up the same frantic pace or even accelerate, thinking somehow that the more rushed our pace, the better off we will be.

We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. They flood the open spaces in their time with lists of meetings and minutia—even during times of stress and fatigue. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives.

The wise resist the temptation to get caught up in the frantic rush of everyday life.

There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions.

Leonardo da Vinci is quoted as saying that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” 

I think most of us intuitively understand how important the fundamentals are. It is just that we sometimes get distracted by so many things that seem more enticing.

Printed material, wide-ranging media sources, electronic tools and gadgets—all helpful if used properly—can become hurtful diversions or heartless chambers of isolation.

We would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most.

If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most.

Strength comes not from frantic activity but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light. It comes from placing our attention and efforts on the basics of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It comes from paying attention to the divine things that matter most.

You can read the talk here.

What we did

on Monday, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, AKA HOLIDAY!

• slept in
• made waffles
• worked (boo) - I on work-work, Bruce programming a statistical analysis of the game Farkle so he can beat me at least once (hehe)
• blew zubbles - one of my Christmas presents from Bruce :)
• tasted the samples at Costco
• visited my parents and exchanged a fake Christmas tree for some of my dad's tasty food
• read a chapter of Silas Marner aloud.
• ate at Five Guys Famous Burgers & Fries for the first time (meh)

Word for the new year

This blog post inspired me to think of a word I would like to use for 2011:

happiness

I want to have happiness in spite of uncertainty, stress, and especially in spite of my own imperfections. I know happiness is possible in all of these scenarios through faith in Jesus Christ. That being said, I am deliberately choosing happiness as the word rather than faith, so that I won't be tempted to focus on the inadequacy of my faith and how I am falling short, but rather to keep my focus on the fruits of faith - which are always available!

A few things:

1. Bruce helped me put the strawberry in my header. It makes me happy.
2. Here are my goals this week:

• walk for 10 minutes (5 days)
• personal prayer daily
• work from home only 2 days - not all 5 :)

 3. Things from my list I want to accomplish this year:

• visit Yosemite
• visit Norway
• learn to code in python (changed this from javascript)
• learn calligraphy

 I'll probably start revising / adding things to the list this year, too.

A growing fondness

Previous installment here.

When Bruce and I went running at the Baylands, I was surprised by how easy it was to talk to him. When we were alone together, he spoke more openly and was not as reserved as he was in our monthly home teaching visits.

I was very pleased when later that same week I got a text from him: "Been running lately?" I felt that I wasn't just a home teaching 'duty' and that he had also enjoyed our time together.

And so we went running that next Friday instead of going to the Mid-Singles (30+) conference. He ended up coming over to my house after our run and watched a movie with me. After the movie ended, we talked and talked into the wee hours of the morning.

That night when he left, I wondered why he had stayed so late talking to me. I wondered if he was even slightly interested in me. And then of course I wondered if I was even a little interested in him. My mind couldn't quite put us together, but I liked him. I felt rather fond of him, even. I decided that I would continue to spend time with him and not create a forced crush. That meant NOT talking to my girlfriends about him.

Even though I knew better than to talk to my friends about him, I just liked him a lot. So the following (abridged) gchat with my former roommate RM was, I suppose, inevitable.

She was already engaged to marry a redhead, so the segue was simple: I confided that I was, "rather fond of a red-head myself -- and rather fond is about its level."


gchat excerpt from 28 September 2009:

RM: 
why are you fond of bruce?
btw
his hair is not red
it defies color definition
it's like.....
orange
yellow
red
blue
green

me:
yeah
it's awesome
well we run together twice weekly
and I am just rather fond of him
that is all.

RM: 
oh yeah
is he fond of you?

me: 
oh, I think so.
we hug often
and we hung out the wknd of mid-singles conference
and he stayed until 2:15am talking with me
but I think it is simply mutual fondness
but I just find that I really look forward to seeing him
I had been wanting to tell someone but there isn't anything to tell
and I am okay with that, too
I mean I don't have anything I am driving towards
if that makes sense
in my head
or heart
no experiments

RM:
yeah
that makes sense
just growing fondness/attachment
sometimes that's a lovely way to go /feel

me: 
yes, it is good to have a friend
and I know he is my friend. so that is a great thing to me.

I think that my decision to just "wait and see" was possible because I had wiped my slate free, so to speak. In previous months or years, I think I would have just made a decision immediately and either have fed a premature crush or just blown him off. It was very pleasant - and refreshing - to have a simple affection for my new friend with, of course, just the tiniest bit of curiosity. :)

Next installment here.

Unstructured Time

One of the things on my mind quite a bit summer of 2009 was how to have more unstructured time in my life.

I had been working long hours, traveling for business, teaching a summer institute course (including writing my own lesson plans), teaching gospel doctrine, and tutoring. I had finished my third move for the year and had just returned from a trip to Europe. I was burned out.

I have always struggled with giving myself alone time and not over-committing myself. I have also always struggled with exercising regularly. I felt that perhaps these two things were connected. I wasn't prioritizing exercise enough because I was crowding it out with other things.

I remembered a church conference address that had given counsel to parents to not structure their kids' schedules too much and I realized that if I couldn't do that for myself now, then I couldn't expect to do it for my (theoretical) kids.

I spent much of the summer trying to change and found it extremely challenging. I decided I had to retrench socially to get my life in order. Many of my friends were concerned that I wasn't prioritizing my social life (I was, after all 27!) but I knew that I needed to slow myself down. I felt good about skipping social activities to attend my yoga class and go to bed early.

In August, when my home teachers asked me if they could do anything to help me, I confided that I was struggling to find a way to run regularly. I told them I had always struggled with making time to exercise - and now I was concerned because it was starting to get dark and that was just another barrier to overcome.

My home teacher Nathan suggested that I just do what I could each day - even if it's just a 5 minute walk or jog. My home teacher Bruce, the quieter of the two, offered to run with me.

I was pleased with both of their answers - and promptly accepted Bruce's offer to go running together. We ran the next evening in the baylands.

--------

Postscripts

--------

Bruce's motives
I felt instinctively that Bruce's offer to run with me was not an attempt to pursue me, but just a way to help me and at the same time be more physically active himself. I felt that and so I trusted him. I had never run with a man before (nor had any desire to), but I felt at ease with him.

(By the way, Bruce confirmed later that he really did just want to run to help in his training to hike Mt. Rainier. HA! I was right!)

How this changed me
I know I would not have had time for a relationship prior to giving myself more unstructured time. I might have made formal dates a priority, but I simply would have been too busy for the casual shared time that is required to build the friendship that should be the foundation of any strong relationship.

Next installment here.

p.s. the bread is delicious!

Tabula Rasa

I've been thinking about the past year and a half - already so many of my memories of my and Bruce's dating, courtship, and engagement are starting to fade. I've decided to blog about what I learned from those experiences to document them. If along the way any of you few, but beloved, readers have questions, feel free to post them in the comments and I'll do my best to answer them.

Dating Bruce was easy, natural, and simple, but it also required a lot of change on my part. I had no idea of this up front, of course, and some of the changes took place before we even started dating.

For instance, in the spring of 2009 I felt very strongly that I needed to either walk through or close the "open doors" I had with various men in my life. I felt this so strongly that I went through a process of taking steps to walk through those open doors -- and each time I approached each one, either something in my heart or something I observed in him closed it for me.

It wasn't easy, but opportunities arrived. I saw some of my ex-boyfriends who were still single, spent time with some with whom the timing had never been right. In all of the cases, I consciously felt that I wasn't interested and neither were they. I let those "possibilities" go and by the time Bruce and I were spending time together in September, my heart was a blank slate, and as a result, I think, ready.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I've baked my first loaves of bread!

In honor of my dear friend Kate, who encouraged me to achieve this goal and I know would have liked to be a part of it, I have finally baked my first loaves of bread! They are beautiful, I will be posting pictures soon, and we will see if they taste as good as they look. :)

Thank you. Thank you. I'm so happy!

Christmas Eve

Bruce and I spent Christmas Eve with my parents, all of my siblings, in-laws, and nephews. It was a full house, but as my 3 1/2 year old nephew Brady remarked just before we sat down to eat, "This is a lovely dinner!"

My dad made our traditional Christmas dinner. And we had our traditional English Crackers to open. The toys & jokes were great this year, but I miss the colorful tissue crowns. This year's were silver and they were not silly enough for me.

Starter:
Mushroom and leek soup
Cheddar and dill scones (this year the scones were served with honey butter)

Entree:
Prime rib with creamy horseradish sauce on the side
Roasted red potatoes
Steamed asparagus with Hollandaise

Dessert:
English trifle (fruit, lemon cake, custard)

After dinner we sat around the fire and my dad read Dylan Thomas' "A Child's Christmas in Wales," after which my brother-in-law Brock read Dr. Seuss' "The Grinch." We then sang Christmas carols with my dad on the guitar, and then Alli sang Suo Gân (a traditional Welsh lullabye). It was gorgeous.

Quote of the Day

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
Corrie Ten Boom

The Hunger Busters

I went with Bruce to buy food for Second Harvest
on behalf of Google this morning - it was pretty awesome.
We got $300 cash to buy food at Costco.

My office is having a little 'competition' to collect canned food. We have four teams and since no one else volunteered, I am the team captain of Team 1 AKA The Hunger Busters.

The CEO stopped by my cubicle yesterday with concern that my team's barrel was lagging behind the others (to be fair, on one of the office floors we are in the lead!). He offered to match our team's donations for the next week to encourage us in our donations AND, if he judges us to be taking advantage of that match, he'll continue it through the end of the competition (December 30th).

If you have any brilliant ideas on how to increase donations, I'd love to hear them! Right now I'm going to each person's desk to personally plead with them to donate something.**

If you haven't had the opportunity to donate to your local food bank, or if you would like to donate even a dollar more to the Second Harvest Food Bank, you can take advantage of my CEO's match by donating on behalf of my team! (Don't worry, he WANTS this to go beyond the employees.)

How to donate funds online:
o Go to www.VirtualHarvest.net
o Choose: Companies - under 250 employees
o Choose: Intacct Corporation
o Choose: Hunger Busters

** So, you might say, why do you care so much? You love the food bank? You love winning? Well, yes, but also I know the CEO will heckle me all year long if I fail. Ouch.

Quote of the Day

“Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.”
William Barclay

The debut of the shelves!

Read Bruce's blog post about it here.

yessssss

Bruce and I finished the shelves last night & put them up - they are the most attractive shelves I've ever seen. I'll post pictures as soon as I get them.

Meanwhile, one of the most unusual wedding gifts Bruce and I got were a set of spices from The Savory Spice Shop -- and I love them! It was fun to get both gifts from our registry as well as things we didn't even know we needed / wanted. This is the set we received.

Do You Believe in Magic?

 For our family it happens every Thanksgiving.

This is where the magic happens:

Recipe here.

And this little guy ate about half of it in between hunting ghost(es) of the striped, paisley, houndsteeth, and seersucking varieties.

Introducing: Our Apartment

So, for the second time in my life, I live with a man.* And I feel that I should tell you that we live on the street of ROCK.

As awesome as it is living our rock and roll lifestyle, it has been a herculean effort getting our apartment in order. In fact, the kitchen is the only room that I'm going to show pictures of today. Mostly because it's the only place where we have won the battle of the boxes. Everything is unpacked and everything is in order. The only things we have left to do are to get a mat for in front of the sink (getting that at Target today) and to finish painting and mounting our custom-made, er, home-made spice shelves. (Which Bruce and I are ridiculously giddy about. I'm sure I'll post it later. hehe.)

My sister-in-law Amanda asked me in my last post if we have a kitchen color, which question inspired this post. I am going to answer in pictures. The answer is yes. Er, I mean no.

Introducing, Our Kitchen

This is me greeting you from the kitchen when you walk in the door. That is, the front entry is in the far left. You can see the dried orange chinese lanterns I mentioned yesterday on the table with some clementines and, yes, some half eaten brownies. Thank you, Ghirardelli.

We use the bookshelf on the left for storage of most of our serving dishes since we have almost no cupboard space in the actual kitchen. I LOVE the red clock and still haven't sleuthed out who sent it to us as a wedding gift. I'm trying to bully Bed Bath and Beyond into telling us since they are the ones who neglected to include a packing slip... Regardless, I am delighted with it and its currently undisclosed donor.

 

I forgot to take a picture of the actual cooking area... sorry. But as consolation here is a close-up of one of our more attractive cupboards. We didn't go for any special china or place settings, but just did bright, happy colors. I already owned the bowls and my sister thrifted the orange juice pitcher for us. Did everyone have one of these in the 70s / 80s? Our family did :)

Over the sink is the stained glass that Bruce made in our stained glass with Tom Stanton & Holy City Art Glass this fall. We LOVED the class and as you can see, Bruce is good (he's soldered before).

My magnet collection is on full display on our refrigerator. Poor Bruce. There's always some 'surprises' they say when you get married. This was one of them. hehehe. (He admits, however, that he likes the strawberry. Everyone does. It looks real!)

And, of course, I brought my little salt & pepper shakers. Love these little guys.

They reside over the stove. Just above their heads is where we're going to mount our spice shelves when they're completed. (Hopefully this weekend).

That's the grand tour documented for posterity and the interwebs. Until next time!

love
kt


*When I graduated from college and moved into my first real apartment with my first real job, my older brother Gordon and I were roommates. So different from living with women, but not in a bad way. Just different. One thing I do like about living with a man is being the primary feminine influence in the home. So awesome.

Hello. Greetings. Hi There.

I wanted to let you know that after pretty much no blogging for a-number-not-to-be-named months, I will likely be blogging again.

or something.

maybe.

p.s. I just got some dried orange chinese lanterns for our kitchen table. They make me happy.

Wedding Pictures

We just got our pictures posted. Check them out here.

Guess what

I'm getting married on Saturday

(!!)

After approximate 7 weeks of stress my week of giddiness has arrived!

pics to follow later....

Quote of the Day

“When in situations of stress we wonder if there is any more in us to give, we can be comforted to know that God, who knows our capacity perfectly, placed us here to succeed. No one was foreordained to fail or to be wicked. When we have been weighed and found wanting, let us remember that we were measured before and we were found equal to our tasks; and, therefore, let us continue, but with a more determined discipleship. When we feel overwhelmed, let us recall the assurance that God will not overprogram us; he will not press upon us more than we can bear."
Neal A. Maxwell

A Late Walk by Robert Frost

When I go up through the mowing field,
The headless aftermath,
Smooth-laid like thatch with the heavy dew,
Half closes the garden path.

And when I come to the garden ground,
The whir of sober birds
Up from the tangle of withered weeds
Is sadder than any words

A tree beside the wall stands bare,
But a leaf that lingered brown,
Disturbed, I doubt not, by my thought,
Comes softly rattling down.

I end not far from my going forth
By picking the faded blue
Of the last remaining aster flower
To carry again to you.

oh, by the way...

Bruce and I are getting married in October!

January 2010, Santa Barbara, California

The Life that I Have by Leo Marks

The life that I have
Is all that I have
And the life that I have
Is yours

The love that I have
Of the life that I have
Is yours and yours and yours

A sleep I shall have
A rest I shall have
Yet death will be but a pause
For the peace of my years
In the long green grass
Will be yours and yours
and yours.

Quote of the Day

Happy people are beautiful. Especially happy ones.
- Stephanie Nielson

Quote of the Day

“There seems to be a superstition among many thousands of our young [men and women] who hold hands and smooch in the drive-ins that marriage is a cottage surrounded by perpetual hollyhocks to which a perpetually young and handsome husband comes home to a perpetually young and [beautiful] wife. When the hollyhocks wither and boredom and bills appear the divorce courts are jammed. …
“Anyone who imagines that bliss [in marriage] is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.
“[The fact is] most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. …
“Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.
“The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”
- Jenkins Lloyd Jones  (“Big Rock Candy Mountains,” Deseret News, 12 June 1973, A4).

Quote of the Day

When we pluck the roses, we find we often cannot avoid the thorns which spring from the same stem.
- James E Faust

Quote of the Day

When we enlarge our capacity to love, other people become real individuals, not merely functions. Gospel duties cease to be mere routine and become, instead, doors to delight. Every doctrine of the gospel is a door to delight that, when opened, exposes us to a vista of things we have not yet fully comprehended. Joy not only helps us do our gospel duties but increases our individuality. It is sinners who reflect such a stale sameness. Righteousness lends itself to individuality.
- Neal A. Maxwell

Quote of the Day

When we are racked or harrowed up or tormented by guilt or burdened with grief, He can heal us. While we do not fully understand how the Atonement of Christ was made, we can experience “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.”


We know that some anxiety and depression is caused by physical disorders, but much (perhaps most) of it is not pain of the body but of the spirit. Spiritual pain resulting from guilt can be replaced with peace of mind.

We all make mistakes. Sometimes we harm ourselves and seriously injure others in ways that we alone cannot repair. We break things that we alone cannot fix. It is then in our nature to feel guilt and humiliation and suffering, which we alone cannot cure. That is when the healing power of the Atonement will help.


The Atonement has practical, personal, everyday value; apply it in your life. It can be activated with so simple a beginning as prayer. You will not thereafter be free from trouble and mistakes but can erase the guilt through repentance and be at peace.

- Boyd K. Packer

Emotional Integrity

Emotional integrity is the personal achievement of emotional strength, discipline, and completeness that remains constant no matter what others say or do. It includes both a control of emotions and an honest acknowledgement of them—pleasant or unpleasant. When we achieve emotional integrity, we are steady, consistent, and resilient. Our actions are not determined by the actions of our companions. We are emotionally resilient within ourselves, more enjoyable to live with, and easier to communicate with. We have put our own emotional “houses” in order and are thereby prepared for effective communication with others.

The Savior’s life is the one true, complete example of emotional integrity. The Latter-day Saints whom I have watched attain emotional wholeness have, of necessity, studied and strived to emulate the life of Jesus Christ. He lived in this world and experienced mortal emotions. He celebrated with friends and relatives. He experienced temptation in the wilderness. In righteous anger he drove greedy men from the temple grounds. He wept with joy at the purity of little children and with sorrow at the death of friends. Weary from teaching and healing, he withdrew to recuperate. In the closing scenes of his mortal life, he yearned for companionship as he suffered unspeakable pain for others’ sins. Viciously abused, he still forgave the soldiers who killed him.


Christ’s mortal experiences demonstrate an integrity that remained unchanged even when he was left without spiritual comfort and cried, “Why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46.)

His perfection ought not discourage us. Rather, we should be encouraged that he knows, perfectly well, what we are going through. Obedience to his laws helps us gain master of our emotions, and we, in so doing, are able more fully to express and receive love.

- Victor L. Brown

Quote of the Day

Some of the greatest battles we will face will be fought within the silent chambers of our own souls.
- Ezra Taft Benson

Pour some Skittles on Me !!

My FHE group did this video for our ward activity music videos. Enjoy!

How much larger your life would be

How much larger your life would be if [you] could become smaller in it. . . . You would begin to be interested in [others]. You would break out of this tiny . . . theatre in which your own little plot is always being played, and you would find yourself under a freer sky, in a street full of splendid strangers.
- GK Chesterton

This reminds me of the scripture in Matthew (10:39), "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."

I have found that the times I look beyond the 'cell of my circumstance,' I am kinder and happier.

I have heard that children believe their experience is everyone's experience -- they believe everyone knows what they know and sees the world as they see it. I think that this is true often for adults (or at least for me), but I also know that God intends us to broaden our view, and open our perspective.

While God wants us to be childlike, he also wants us to be wise and increase the scope of our understanding. When I begin to see myself and others as we truly are, instead of players in the 'kt show,' I know I come closer to true wisdom, true compassion, and true love.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

-1 Corinthians 13

Quote of the Day

There is a mighty power of healing in Christ, and that if we are to be His true servants we must not only exercise that healing power in behalf of others, but, perhaps more important, inwardly.
- Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Healing Power of Christ"

Did you know ... ?

...that you can do anything in the strength of the Lord?

Sometimes I get intimidated or discouraged. I have so many weaknesses, I've made so many mistakes, and there are some very daunting things that I think (maybe?) I want to do in my future. How is it possible that I could ever do these hard things?

Not to mention God wants me to be happy -- which sometimes seems like the hardest thing of all.

But God has told me that he will strengthen my mind and heart -- maybe even give me a new (braver) heart -- and that I can have joy.

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40: 28-31)

I think sometimes that the last line is very relevant to our own happiness -- that we can sometimes be weary and discouraged, but if we wait upon the Lord we can still have happiness even when it seems 'hard.'

I'm so grateful for the scriptures which provide so much strength and for the gift of prayer. 

Quote of the Day

Let the Savior be your “lead” in life. He has said, “I am … the Rock of Heaven … ; whoso cometh in at the gate and climbeth up by me shall never fall.” The Redeemer will safely lead you over the most difficult obstacles of life. His laws are absolutely secure anchors of protection that dispel fear and assure success in an otherwise dangerous world. Such a life will certainly provide you peace and happiness.
- Richard G. Scott

Quote of the Day

With consistent practice, faith will become a vibrant, powerful, uplifting, inspiring force in your life. As you walk to the boundary of your understanding into the twilight of uncertainty, exercising faith, you will be led to find solutions you would not obtain otherwise.
- Richard G. Scott

Quote of the Day

When sore trials come upon us, it’s time to deepen our faith in God, to work hard, and to serve others. Then He will heal our broken hearts. He will bestow upon us personal peace and comfort. Those great gifts will not be destroyed, even by death.
- Russell M. Nelson, "Jesus Christ--the Master Healer"

Quote of the Day

No matter who we are or where we live, there is much about our daily lives that is routine and repetitive. As we go about this dailiness, we must be deliberate about doing the things that matter most. These must-do things include making room first for the minimum daily requirements of faithful behavior: true obedience, humble prayer, serious scripture study, and selfless service to others. No other daily vitamins strengthen the muscles of our faith as fast as these actions. We also must remember that genuine fasting fosters strong faith. This is especially important as we faithfully seek to fix deeply embedded character flaws which go “not out but by prayer and fasting.”
- L. Whitney Clayton, "Help Thou Mine Unbelief"

The Firefly by Ogden Nash

The firefly's flame
Is something for which science has no name
I can think of nothing eerier
Than flying around with an unidentified glow on a
person's posteerier.

The Great Commandment by Joseph Wirthlin

The scriptures tell us that “if any man love God, the same is known of him.” What a wonderful promise—to be known of Him. It makes the spirit soar to think that the Creator of heaven and earth could know us and love us with a pure, eternal love.

Love is the beginning, the middle, and the end of the pathway of discipleship. It comforts, counsels, cures, and consoles. It leads us through valleys of darkness and through the veil of death. In the end love leads us to the glory and grandeur of eternal life.

Sometimes the greatest love is not found in the dramatic scenes that poets and writers immortalize. Often, the greatest manifestations of love are the simple acts of kindness and caring we extend to those we meet along the path of life.

True love lasts forever. It is eternally patient and forgiving. It believes, hopes, and endures all things. That is the love our Heavenly Father bears for us.

We all yearn to experience love like this. Even when we make mistakes, we hope others will love us in spite of our shortcomings—even if we don’t deserve it.

Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us—even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will.

We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming.

The most cherished and sacred moments of our lives are those filled with the spirit of love. The greater the measure of our love, the greater is our joy. In the end, the development of such love is the true measure of success in life.

Read the full talk here.

Quote of the Day

Let us recognize that fear comes not of God, but rather that this gnawing, destructive element comes from the adversary of truth and righteousness.
Gordon B. Hinckley

Happiness is

• sleeping in (but not too much!)
• June sunshine
• airplanes flying overhead
• family arriving from far away
• chubby babies
• flip flop Friday at work
• going to the Temple

Hooray!

Yesterday morning I woke up and paid off my car loan - before I even got out of bed to run!

It will process tomorrow and I should have no more debt by the end of the month!

I am so excited and now I just need to meet my OTHER goals (see previous post).

Goals

I have two short term goals that I am focusing specifically on right now:

1. Lose 10 lbs by July 1st.
2. Pray morning and night - aloud and on my knees.

I sometimes get bogged down by all of the ways that I want to improve, and my sister wisely suggested I pick two and let myself enjoy some success :)

Quote of the Day

“Often the deep valleys of our present will be understood only by looking back on them from the mountains of our future experience. Often we can’t see the Lord’s hand in our lives until long after trials have passed. Often the most difficult times of our lives are essential building blocks that form the foundation of our character and pave the way to future opportunity, understanding, and happiness.”

- D. Uchtdorf

I have found that this is true in my life. The times that I have consecrated the anguish that I've felt due to heartbreak, grief, depression, or any other cause, I have emerged humbler, more flexible, more compassionate.

I want to do this better with the day to day things that frustrate me - consecrate them, bear them cheerfully, and be the better for them.

Quote of the Day

"If you are going to win any battle, you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do... the body is never tired if the mind is not tired."

George Patton

Quote of the Day

“God never bestows upon his people, or upon an individual, superior blessings without a severe trial to prove them.”
-Brigham Young, as quoted in "The Sustaining Power of Faith in Times of Uncertainty and Testing"

Quote of the Day

"All that is not eternal is too short, and all that is not infinite is too small.”
- inscribed in Stanford University Memorial Hall

Quote of the Day

While wholesome pleasure results from much we do that is good, it is not our prime purpose for being on earth. Seek to know and do the will of the Lord, not just what is convenient or what makes life easy.
- Richard G. Scott, "First Things First"

Happiness is

• fresh navel oranges
  
• sunshine
  
• gummy bear vitamins
• early mornings
  
• roses

Another video :)

This one is of my cousin and his wife who were in a plane crash a year and a half ago.

Video

I have been in Mormon Messages a lot the last week or so and am remembering how great these are. Enjoy!

Quote of the Day

"The pillars of my faith are still intact, but the roof has blown blessedly off the structure to reveal a whole sky full of stars."
- Emma Lou Thayne, about writing as a Mormon woman

French Horn by Jane Hirshfield

For a few days only,

the plum tree outside the window

shoulders perfection.

No matter the plums will be small,

eaten only by squirrels and jays.

I feast on the one thing, they on another,

the shoaling bees on a third.

What in this unpleated world isn’t someone’s seduction?

The boy playing his intricate horn in Mahler’s Fifth,

in the gaps between playing,

turns it and turns it, dismantles a section,

shakes from it the condensation

of human passage. He is perhaps twenty.

Later he takes his four bows, his face deepening red,

while a girl holds a viola’s spruce wood and maple

in one half-opened hand and looks at him hard.

Let others clap.

These two, their ears still ringing, hear nothing.

Not the shouts of bravo, bravo,

not the timpanic clamor inside their bodies.

As the plum’s blossoms do not hear the bee

nor taste themselves turned into storable honey

by that sumptuous disturbance.

Quote of the Day

"Never eat more than you can lift."

Miss Piggy

Quote of the Day

Learn to love those who sin differently from you.
- Unknown

Quote of the Day

As you know, continued exposure to loud sounds will, in time, damage delicate organs of hearing. In like manner, if you overindulge in loud music, you will more likely become spiritually deaf, unable to hear the still, small voice.
- Russell M. Nelson

Kind of a big deal

Yes, I am cheating and back-dating these posts. Give me a break! I have had a lot on my mind!

Why?

Because on Monday, February 22nd I gave notice at my current job and I am starting a new job on Monday, March 15th!

I'm so excited, but making the decision was an agonizing process. (AGONIZING).

I'm extremely happy with this decision, the 2 weeks off I have between the jobs, and my ridiculously wonderful boyfriend. life. is. good. (!!)

Quote of the Day

The little things of life, sweet and excellent in their place, must not be the things lived for; the highest must be sought and followed; the life of heaven must be begun here on earth.

L.M. Montgomery

via Rachel

40 Days of ...

Tomorrow kicks off 40 days until Easter, and so I'm going to do the following:

• Purge my Google Reader of the superfluous design, fashion, and other blogs that distract me. (DONE!)
• Purge my iTunes of music that is distracting from good things.
• Blog daily (watch out!)
• Give up sweets (Bruce and I are doing this together).

Happiness Is

• space heaters
• tweed
• wassail
• Christmas lights
• rain
  

oh my dears

let me tell you how much fun I have had with the holidays this year!

Baking
1. Chocolate cream pie - made this for Thanksgiving and again for our church Christmas party. So delicious even though Gordon went overboard on the shaved chocolate garnish :) Love him. (ps: make this pie!)
2. Wassail - I just finished my second batch so far this season and it is warming my soul.
3. Chocolate chip waffles with peppermint stick ice cream - it was Sunday and we didn't have buttermilk or chocolate chips, so we had to settle for some rather dense waffles with chocolate chunks, but Marianne's ice cream more than compensated for it!
4. Chewy Gingersnaps - this recipe from my cousin Alice is the best I've ever tried and I will never, ever give it up!

Decorating
1. Dot garlands - my first attempt anything Martha Stewart and I have been SO happy with these! My friend Jess was the arm of this important operation.
2. Christmas Tree - my roommate and I decorated this with white lights while a third roommate made beautiful snowflakes to hang on and above it. I must learn how to make the snowflakes - they are amazing!
3. Wreath - I bought one from the local boy scouts and it is hanging just next to our front door (rather than on the door itself). It's rather fragile, so it will hold together better, I think.

I just attended my first Christmas party this year as well as the Creche Exhibit! AND I've been spending lots of time with this little nevvy of mine:

Journey of the Magi by T S Eliot

"A cold coming we had of it,
Just the worst time of the year
For a journey, and such a long journey:
The was deep and the weather sharp,
The very dead of winter."
And the camels galled, sore-footed, refractory,
Lying down in the melting snow.
There were times we regretted
The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces,
And the silken girls bringing sherbet.
Then the camel men cursing and grumbling
And running away, and wanting their liquor and women,
And the night-fires gong out, and the lack of shelters,
And the cities hostile and the towns unfriendly
And the villages dirty, and charging high prices.:
A hard time we had of it.
At the end we preferred to travel all night,
Sleeping in snatches,
With the voices singing in our ears, saying
That this was all folly.

Then at dawn we came down to a temperate valley,
Wet, below the snow line, smelling of vegetation;
With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness,
And three trees on the low sky,
And an old white horse galloped away in the meadow.
Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel,
Six hands at an open door dicing for pieces of silver,
And feet kicking the empty wine-skins.
But there was no information, and so we continued
And arrived at evening, not a moment too soon
Finding the place; it was (you may say) satisfactory.

All this was a long time ago, I remember,
And I would do it again, but set down
This set down
This: were we lead all that way for
Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly,
We had evidence and no doubt. I have seen birth and death,
But had thought they were different; this Birth was
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.
We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation,
With an alien people clutching their gods.
I should be glad of another death.

Happiness Is

• The color orange
• Ginger ale
• Flat screen monitors
• Roses
• A new book

Happiness Is

• cashmere scarves
• a fresh manicure
• kissing my nephews
• bright colors
• fog

Quote of the Day

There's the country of America, which you have to defend, but there's also the idea of America. America is more than just a country, it's an idea. An idea that's supposed to be contagious.
- Bono

Miss me?

Dear Reader,

I haven't forgotten you, I've just been shy. I have remembered how fortune favors the bold, however, and so I've returned. Truly a Thanksgiving miracle!

Here is what I've been occupied with:
1. work (ho hum)
2. traveling an inordinate amount (this has now halted for the present)
3. cooking/baking quite a lot
4. cuddling my nephews
5. running/falling in love

More to come on all of the above! Firstly, lets celebrate the fact that the man of my affections returns today and also that my baby brother Stu returns for Thanksgiving on Saturday. How spectacular!

Let's also note what I am making for Thanksgiving:
- Layered jello (see picture below)
- Chocolate Cream Pie

I'll be sure to take pictures and post recipes!

love
kt

His Voice Had Grown Softer Each Day by Kevin Goodan

I need you to get me a ticket, he said.
For what, I asked, waking at the foot of his bed.
For the train, he said. They say I need a ticket.
Except for the small lamp the room was dark.
The air was cool and clear. The first night of september.
Do you know who they are, I asked
and he said , Oh yes. They are smiling and waving-
I havent seen them in so long.
They want me to climb onboard...I need my ticket.
I want to give you a ticket, I said.

Theme in Yellow by Carl Sandburg

I SPOT the hills
With yellow balls in autumn.
I light the prairie cornfields
Orange and tawny gold clusters
And I am called pumpkins.
On the last of October
When dusk is fallen
Children join hands
And circle round me
Singing ghost songs
And love to the harvest moon;
I am a jack-o'-lantern
With terrible teeth
And the children know
I am fooling.

a poem by Emily Dickinson

The bustle in a house
The morning after death
Is solemnest of industries
Enacted upon earth.

The sweeping up the heart
And putting love away
We shall not want to use again
Until eternity.

At the End of This Summer by John Haines

I wonder if I frightened you,
Coming as I did from behind
As you sat alone in your chair
With the low sun melting over your head.
I couldn't imagine what you were
Looking at or thinking of--
You who have always been so lively
And little given to quiet--
And the desire to bend and kiss your hair
Was almost unbearable.
You turned,
With that air of half-astonishment
You use so well, I smiled a greeting.

After that, we sat and talked for a while
And enjoyed the departing light.
Then the warmth was gone,
And we rose, I to take my leave, and you
To close the door and pull the shade,
And turn to the lighting of a lamp,
The starting of a fire in the stove.

Remember Lot's Wife

My roommate of bygone years wrote a blog post on remembering Lot's wife and not looking back. The many comments by the readers were (as usual) inspiring and some of their comments reaffirmed something that I have been thinking about lately, which is that

God is always forward looking.

I think that’s how He tries to coach our thinking, our attitudes, and transform us. Rather than fret and fester over the past, move on and do better.

We see a great example of this in the story of Cain and Abel. When Cain’s offering is not accepted (Genesis 4), Cain ‘was very wroth and his countenance fell.’ Basically he got depressed, angry, and was sulking.

And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?

Cain proceeds to give up trying to please God in spite of God's encouragement. I find that God's initial response to Cain is pretty consistent when I think about the things He says to me when I pray. It is always one of the following:
1. I love you. Thanks for praying.
2. You’re right, you shouldn’t have done that. Put it behind you.
3. Do this. (I can help you, just ask)
4. {Insert doctrine here}

He never says:
1. What took you so long. You never pray consistently.
2. I can’t believe you did that again.

I think the best record we have of conversations with God is found in Doctrine & Covenants. One of my favorite passages is a great case:

For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words— Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in every time of trouble. ..if thou art not aware thou wilt fall. But remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent … and thou art still chosen. (Doctrine & Covenants 3:7-10)

If that isn’t forward looking I don’t know what is.

#23. Run a 5k Race

Last night I ran the Palo Alto Moonlight Run 5k and it was lovely!

Firstly, the weather was perfect and we ran on the baylands. I felt pre-race giddiness.

Secondly, so many friends were there! Lots of children, an assortment of neighbors and members of the community. It was delightful to jog in place, smiling, laughing. My newly released Bishop D W came by after finishing the 5k walk with his two beaming red-headed daughters. They were pink-cheeked and smiled so sweetly.

And then! We were off! I felt the imminent danger of a human stampede, but as I moved with the crowd we suddenly reached the open air of the trail. I forgot my iPod, so I simply ran alone looking at the night, focusing on my breathing, finding my pace. The giddiness melted away and I heard snippets of conversations from my neighbors as they passed me, I passed them. It was beautiful to think of all the many hearts beating in their respective chests. Most runners had some kind of light source - a blinking red button, a headlamp, a glowing necklace or bracelet.

And when I reached the last mile, I picked up my pace praying that I wouldn't burn out. And when I reached the final 100 yards, I sprinted. I beat my previous time, I was greeted by and continued to greet arriving friends. I ate orange slices, quarters of bagel, and reveled in the satisfaction that I had officially completed #23 of my 100 Things (see right hand sidebar). I ran a 5k race (and enjoyed it)!

A Vagabond Song by Bliss Carman

THERE is something in the autumn that is native to my blood—
Touch of manner, hint of mood;
And my heart is like a rhyme,
With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time.

The scarlet of the maples can shake me like a cry
Of bugles going by.
And my lonely spirit thrills
To see the frosty asters like a smoke upon the hills.

There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir;
We must rise and follow her,
When from every hill of flame
She calls and calls each vagabond by name.

Wordy Thursdy: Felicity

"Is there any felicity in the world superior to this?" - Marianne, Sense and Sensibility (1995)

use it instead of these words: happiness, joy, contentment, pleasure.

variations: felicitous (use instead of happy), felicitate, felicitation (use plural instead of congratulations)

I felicitate you! He offered his felicitations. The felicities of summertime. There is no greater felicity than chocolate cake.

It's felicity. (Not just an American Girl, people!)

------

Update:

gchat status 9/17/2009

"leads a felicitous life"

Wordy Thursdy: Loath

I don't mean, who do you loathe more than [insert loathed object here]. I mean, what are you loath to do?
It's a state of mind, not a verb. It's sans 'e.'

Also the vowel sound is similar to 'loaf''

use it instead of these words: unwilling, reluctant, disinclined, averse.

I'm loath to do that. I am loath to do so. She is loath to come with me. He is loath to do his homework. ad nauseum.

It's loath [or loth].

------

Update:

Email 9/17/2009

"If we change this to Tuesday instead would you be able to join? We had
someone else asking, so we just wanted to check before revisiting the date
(which we are generally loath to do)."

Vocabulary Challenge

I realized last night that I have many words in my vocabulary that I rarely (if ever) use in written or spoken word. I have decided to start integrating these delightful words here and now!

So starting now, Thursdays will be Vocab day! (do I ever stick to my "day of the week themes"? Let this be the first!)

Please feel free to take on this challenge with me. What I will do is report the 2-3 words for the week and provide updates from time to time on my usage. Please share your experiences!

2009 Haiku Hustlers (AKA Winning Poets)

It is with great pleasure that I announce this year's winning poets:

The Haiku Hustlers

Winners should email me via f r a n n y k t (you can direct it to a gmail account) with his or her mailing address to receive their prize. The prizes for the winner of each category are as follows.

Best September Haiku - wins a song about September sung by KT
Most Humorous Haiku - wins a (FUN!) surprise
Best Haiku Series - wins a serial story by KT
Most Creative Haiku - wins a work of art by KT
Best Haiku about a Place - wins at least 1 postcard (maybe more!)

And now... the winning haiku poets!

Best September Haiku: "Gayle"
September brings a
fresh start at the year's waning:
a birthday and school.

Most Humorous Haiku: "Whits"
facebook, gchat, tweets:
what would I do without you?
work? non-existent.

Giants break my heart
Please start hitting the baseball
Can't let Rockies in

Best Haiku Series: "Heresiarch"
Murder is elementary

Agatha Christie
Gives you a cup of hot tea
laced with arsenic

Blimp enthusiast
Has enemies. One lit match:
Death by hydrogen

Helium-filled room
Is inert, as you are--trapped
With your squeaky screams

Swimming late at night
Sodium plus H2O
Explosive moment

Trapped in a peat swamp
Compressed for one million years
Crystalline carbon

Tungsten filament
Saboteur, exploding bulb
Placed to pierce my heart

Ununquadium
Half life 2.6 seconds
How long will yours be?

Orange krypton light
Illuminates Lex Luthor as
Superman is killed

Twenty-one ponies
Die, selenium overdosed
Foul play is involved

Cancer struck quickly
Must be the plutonium
You slipped in my drink

Silicon circuit
Tampered with in robot's brain
Inventor's life ends

"Sweetness shows presence
Of beryllium," he says.
He omits "It's toxic."

My pet is smiling
(My chromium manticore)
As he leaps at you

Zeus hated Al's golf
Sent bolt to strike head of Al's
Titanium club

Most Creative Haiku: "LRH"
One more souvenir
A collection most esteemed
My fake credit cards

Best Haiku about a Place: "Alli"
Let's go to the moon
There is no gravity there
Good for dance parties

Return of the Haiku Hustle

Dear Reader,

After a 3 year hiatus, it is with great pleasure that we welcome back the Haiku Hustle: A Haiku Invitational and Challenge.

An Invitation
Please (using the Comments section) submit a haiku (a series of haiku, multiple entries, are welcome). Please review the guidelines at the end of this post.

A Challenge
I will award prizes to the best haiku (best = the ones I select for any reason I choose) in the following categories:
(1) Best September Haiku
(2) Most Humorous Haiku
(3) Best Haiku Series (containing at least 3 haiku)
(4) Most Creative Haiku
(5) Best Haiku about a place
- You are welcome to include an introduction or a note along with your haiku to assist in the judging.

Guidelines
1. Entries must be posted as a comment in order to be considered. Multiple comments, posts, submissions may be made.
2. Poems must be in haiku format. They must have 3 lines in 5/7/5 syllabic form. They do not generally rhyme (no extra points for rhyming. In fact, I may dock you points).
3. Poems do not have to be traditional Haiku, but there are awards in that category. Please note that traditional Haiku are minimalist and nature-themed.
4. You do NOT have to know me to make a submission! :)
5. Rated G please.
6. Deadline = Friday, September 11th. Awards will be issued on Monday, September 14th.

I WILL NOT BE POSTING AGAIN UNTIL THE CHALLENGE IS COMPLETE! Good luck!!!

My sister the magnificent!

My sister Laura just turned 30 on Wednesday and is, impressively, a neuropsychologist, mother, and authoress. Seriously. She writes murder mystery parties, and now, apparently murder mystery novels!

In fact, you can read one of her mystery novels on textnovel.com - which is currently in a contest to win something-or-other. In hopes that you'll go read her novel and help her win, I now introduce you to:

Seller of Soles by Laura Lyle...

Clickitty Clack is the most fashionable shoe shop in San Francisco and November Cole, the owner, enjoys every minute of her success. But when one of her wealthiest clients is murdered for a pair of blood red sandals, November begins to wonder about the mysterious designer who made them. When a second client is killed for a pair of red high heels, the police get involved and November becomes the prime suspect. Who is after the heels and why are they worth killing for?

Mmm, shoes and murder in San Francisco... delightful!

The House by Richard Wilbur

Sometimes, on waking, she would close her eyes
For a last look at that white house she knew
In sleep alone, and held no title to,
And had not entered yet, for all her sighs.
What did she tell me of that house of hers?
White gatepost; terrace; fanlight of the door;
A widow’s walk above the bouldered shore;
Salt winds that ruffle the surrounding firs.
Is she now there, wherever there may be?
Only a foolish man would hope to find
That haven fashioned by her dreaming mind.
Night after night, my love, I put to sea.

Stake Mission Rules

My friend Jennifer gave me these rules that her Stake Mission has outlined. I think they pretty much cover all the bases:

• Get up early; go to bed at a reasonable hour
• Offer regular, frequent and fervent prayer
• Engage in daily scripture study
• Write in your journal
• Exercise
• Look the part
• Keep the commandments
• Freely give service
• Go to the temple
• Don't waste time
• Share the gospel

I am toying with the notion of doing a blog post on my attempts to do each of these with consistency. But we all know how that went with the stress busters..

Isaiah 63:7-9

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

For he said, Surely they are my people: so he was their Saviour.

In all their affliction he was afflicted, in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.