Happy Valentine's Day

It seems sad to me that we need to set aside a day to exchange love notes and tokens in order for it to become a priority. I am grateful for a romantic husband who has a habit of making those expressions all through the year. Nothing cheers me up as well as a compliment or some other little kindness that says he loves me and thinks I'm beautiful and worth saying so out loud. Children relish Valentine's day--not just because of the cookies. We all need the affirmation and assurance that we are special to somebody. So I'm telling you, dear family, how much I love you. And your support is a great boon in my life. Thanks for noticing things, for remembering and celebrating each other. Happy Valentine's Day! And may the spirit of love and romance live on!

Taylor's Song

Part of Sacrament Meeting, yesterday, Taylor and Jordyn sat with us. During the closing song, Taylor sang along with gusto, picking up the words as we sang them, and so singing just a word behind time. She waved her arm with the chorister. Her enthusiasm was so delightful and robust! After the closing prayer, the organist played "I am a Child of God" as postlude. Taylor recognized the song and sang that, too. She knows all the words to that one. And I reccalled that it has always been her favorite. When she was little, it was the preferred lullaby. It comforted her when she was unhappy. It does that for all of us, actually. Taylor has always loved singing and music. She knows its value. I think we should all sing like Taylor.

Art Talk

Last night was the first meeting this year for the Utah Valley Artist Guild, of which I am an officer. People brought goodies for a pot luck supper and a painting or two to share in a Friendly Feedback session. I can't help it. I am so enthused to paint I can barely do anything else. I don't think that's all bad, but it can be a little off balance. I've started to paint from a photo taken at Tiffany's wedding of the punch bowl and cups surrounded by twinkly lights. It's not the sort of thing I think anyone in their right mind would likely put on their wall. But it is so fun to paint! Sometimes I have to do something just for fun. I don't care if it sells, wins a prize or impresses my fussy family. So there. I've admitted my frivolous side. It's probably not a sin to have a frivolous side...is it?

Thursday with Simon

I love to play with my grandkids. They are not only cute as buttons (which I think must mean small and useful and colorful, and perfect--not plastic and pierced with holes), but they are brilliant and delightful and like to play with me. Thursday I went to play with Simon while his parents attended the temple. We had a grand time. One game was called "Uh-Oh." I put Simon's toy car on the plastic bucket and Simon would knock it off. I'd say, "Uh-Oh!" and Simon laughed. Great game. I've tried twice to post the video of this here, but kept getting errors. So you'll have to enjoy the story without the visuals. Sorry.

A Question of Color

I wonder what makes us prefer certain colors over others? It isn't the influence of our mothers; I have always liked different colors than my mother's favorites. In fact, when I was finally old enough to verbalize my preferences, she was rather shaken to discover that her taste and mine didn't mesh--and I'd not been comfortable with the yellow check, the pink and yellow print and similar choices she'd painstakingly sewed into my dresses. And it's not based on what looks good on you. My husband consistently likes to wear khaki browns, warm reds etc. even though he looks better in blues and burgundy. And his favorite color isn't necessarily what he wears, anyhow. However, judging by Emily, one's favorite color is worn by one's favorite Disney princess. What if you don't have a favorite Disney princess? What if you don't like Disney? And it's not the colors you grow up with--my own home being warm with golds and olive green; though I loved the aqua kitchen much better than the bright yellow one. (Mom decorated my bedroom in bright yellow once...I wonder if that's why I had such trouble with nightmares?) Anyhow, I read somewhere that psycologically, the calmingest color is hot pink. But I don't know if that's the way you choose favorites... Any thoughts?

Wake up and Smell the, um Hoofprints...

I've been working on my manuscript "Lessons with Annie." Sometimes I don't realize I know something until I start talking or writing about it. As I've been remembering walking with Annie, I've recognized some interesting things. When Annie got her daily long walk out on the mountain, she'd stop to sniff and enjoy the details. She chased bunnies and romped with antelope. She would be content and well-behaved the rest of the day. If this walk was eliminated from her life for too many days, she got restless, mischievous and started to chew up her leg.
Even when she was old and arthritic, she forced herself to get up (painfully) and took her shorter walk around the block. Still she sniffed things and got great pleasure from it. But as she made her way, she loosened up enough that by the home stretch she was walking better, faster and easier. Sometimes she felt so much better that she'd come home and dig a hole.
The applications are pretty obvious. Something to think about...

Happiness is...

I've been thinking about things since Grandpa's stroke, and what makes us tick in this life. I've decided that the major tool for building happiness is gratitude, and the components for the project are the members of our families.

It is the support of family members that has made our challenge with Grandpa not only tolerable, but possible. Even though Christmas was different from the usual holiday fun, food and fluster, it had greater meaning in the function of people serving each other, meeting needs in kindness.
For example:
Thanks to Shannon who volunteered quickly for dog-sitting, cleaning houses and listening.
Thanks to Eric for quietly answering Grandma Phillis's calls of distress with wisdom, patience and expertise. And with Danyael, hosted a great party with ALL that requires.
Thanks to Jeff and Lyssa for identifying a need and leading out in a plan. Not to mention the sacrifice Lyssa makes to attend activities on almost no sleep.
Thanks to Jacob and Ami who shifted parties and made fun out of frustration.
Thanks to Tim and Stephanie who "keep in touch" with sympathy and attentions beyond duty.
Thanks to Carol who will come, see and solve problems with grace and finesse.
Thanks to Steven who makes romance out of misery and compensates for all my flaws and weaknesses.
And thanks to the children who make magic happen at Christmas, no matter what else is going on.
It's good.