Bliss In The Coral Dust!!

Already bloodshot and itching from fine
clouds of red dust that hung over the
entire train day after day, the travelers'
eyes blurred in the dazzling glare of
color. All were prompted to hesitate
and admire the stamina of one green
juniper. It flourished in a rocky
crevice with nary a teaspoon of sand
or soil in sight.
from: Jumping Off Places
by: Laura Stratton Friel

There is no better way to spend a Friday in Nov, than hiking in Zion National Park. And to make it all the better, try hiking a trail that is brand new, and undiscovered by two of us, and guided by an expert!! It just doesnt get better than that!!! I cant tell you how many times I thought about my loved ones that I wished were with us to share the experience!! We saw things that MANY visitors of the Park dont ever see!! And we didnt see a soul...the whole day. It was quiet beyond imagination, sunny enough to be completely pleasant, and long enough to burn some serious calories!! What happens every time I visit the Park???...it ends too soon, and I wish I didnt have to leave!!!
Still missing from my Zion experience...CONDORS!!
But it'll happen, someday!!!
You'll hear about it when it does!!
To be sure.

Facts of Life:

1. At least 5 people in this world love you so much that they’d die for you.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
3. Every night, someone thinks about you before they go to sleep.
4. You mean the world to someone.
5. Someone that you don’t even know exists; likes you.
6. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone even if they don’t like you.

The most valuable thoughts which I
entertain are anything but what I
thought. Nature abhors a vacuum,
and if I can only walk with
sufficient carelessness I am sure
to be filled.
Thoreau

(look at me!! im rock'in AND I've used youtube!!!) What a day!!!

(can you see the whale!!?)

In a world of six billion people,
it only takes one to change your life.

Netflix did it again!
They led me to another gem!!
I admit to viewing several ho-hum movies between the gems, but its worth it when one turns out as lovely as this one!!
Here we have a story that is quiet, and unassuming and full of detail not to be expected in a lesser known film. The people in this film are beautiful to behold..inside and out.
The acting is superb!
I wont be changing my opinion on illegal immigration, but I will be looking more closely at solutions with more humane treatment in mind.
Expect this movie to instigate a lot of talk when you're done viewing it!! There is a LOT to talk about!!!

Zainab will win your heart within the first 30 minute of the movie.
You'll be expecting the movie to move along, going exactly where you think it will go, but you still will find yourself surprised and enchanted by its people and the situations.
Please enjoy!!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron
feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
by: Wendell Berry

Do you happen to be looking for a great Christmas gift for the kiddies?
Do you want your dollar to go further this Christmas season??
Here's a GREAT idea for you!!

Why not buy the little ones in your life, this darling plush toy...and reap a double benefit in the process! When you decide to purchase this sweet little big horn sheep-thats good for a soft cuddle- you will also be helping out the actual big-horn sheep in Zion Park!! The majority of the monies-the vast majority of the monies goes right to this program, and to other programs for the Park.


Its easy to do.
Just go here and see what I mean.
You'll receive a lovable stuffed animal plus the privilege of naming your sheep and an official adoption certificate will arrive with it too!!
Its a win, win, win for everyone!!!
Happy shopping!!

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

In the kitchen, the table creaked

with all his favorite food- salty,
spicy, sugary, and sharp, hot and
cold and fizzy.
from: The Boy and the Cloth of Dreams
by: Jenny Karalek

My idea of tasting Heaven on earth!!!

Oprah is kind of on my "out" list...Ellen is "in" for me now.

Yep...the one good thing about winter??.....

Gotta love missionaries...we have one here thats waiting for his call!! 9 days and we should know something!!!

Favorite gift idea...a big horned sheep,from Zion National Park (learn more soon)

I cant put this one down!!!

However irreverent it may be, my Builder and I LOVE this show!! Monday night is the only night I can get my man to snuggle up on the couch to watch something on the idiot box!! Viewers beware...not for the faint-hearted!!

SUNDAY MUSINGS

We are composite creatures, made up of soul and body,
mind and spirit. When men's attention is fixed upon
one to the disregard of the others, human beings results
who are only partially developed, their eyes blinded to
half of what life offers and the great world holds.
from: The Greek Way
by: Edith Hamilton

A mother laughs our laughter,
Sheds our tears,
Returns our love,
Fears our fears.
She lives our joys,
Cares our cares,
And all our hopes and dreams she shares.
- Julia Summers

Its a beautiful woman's birthday today!!
Its a celebration!!! (go BYU!!)
We are all so blessed to have her as part of the family!!
May she know how loved she is, and how admired and grateful we are to call her family- and how blessed we are that she is helping to raise an adorable boy, who happens to also be our grandson!!
We Love you Natalie!!!
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

God plants us each in the right garden,
I think, a place that presents just
enough sun and rain for us to take root
and grow, creating families, bringing
together the right people to teach
and to learn the right lessons.
from: Consider the Butterfly
by: Carol Lynn Pearson

One can spend hours and hours discussing the pros and cons of FaceBook. I know...'cause I've been there.
But the miracle of FB has become apparent for me once again this week. FB brought 2 extra blessings into my life.
Because of this amazing networking tool, this week I enjoyed the marvelous experience of reconnecting with a couple of high school buddies. I estimate it may have been at least 20 yrs since I've seen these dear ladies.
There were five of us, plus my daughter who became witness and spectator and patient observer- who gathered in BF Judy's cozy front room for a few hours in an attempt to 'catch-up' on each of our lives.
We talked of the high school years...a little.
We talked about our education and the education of our kids...a little.
But we spent the greatest portion of the visit talking about our greatest joys and struggles...that would be our kids of course!!!
Isnt that just so typical of women...
who are mothers...
of boys...
and of girls....
to share experiences, and to share our greatest treasures that we have gleaned by raising children?
In those few short hours, we were fed, nourished, and boosted by the things we could share with one another. I know I came away feeling uplifted, and certainly grateful that these women are a part of my life.
What I didnt get to say though, was of even greater importance to me...they need to know how grateful I am for their influence in my adolescent life- it changed everything. EVERYTHING!! Of course it did. They introduced me to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and lived His teaching as they loved me into His church!!! How do you thank someone for this!!!???

linda, judy, cathy, jannett, myself

FaceBook and blogging also facilitated in connecting me up with a long lost cousin!! What great joy it is to discover this cousin of mine!! Its strange how I cant really explain how I ever 'lost' dear Kim. I toss it off as a "Sharp" thing- that we werent close growing up. I say that we lost contact, but in truth, I really cant be sure that there ever was real contact in the first place?
But here we are years and years later,
developing what I feel is a very precious friendship, mitigated by the convenience, power and fun of the internet!!! How cool is this!!!!
To spend a few hours with Kim and my lovely brother this week was a treat beyond measure. We enjoyed a yummy bowl full of noodles and visited like there was no tomorrow!! (drat, I forgot to take a picture!!!) Isnt that what my brothers advise was when we asked him about the FT. Hood tragedy?? Joe said something like, "I take away from that incident that one had better take every opportunity to go out to lunch with the ones you love."
I love that advice!!!
Oh did we have fun!!!

And if my bond with my cousin wasnt becoming secure enough...we hooked back up late one evening and went with the girls to see MJ on the big screen!! (dont worry mom and Trisha...I'll see it again in a heartbeat!!!) We were held spell bound for an hour or so, watching the genius of Michael on stage as he prepared for his world tour!!
The movie left me awestruck and melancholy.
MJ had such great gifts and talents. And he surround himself with people of great talent and abilities as well. I was/am struck with great sadness for all those young people that were so excited and thrilled to have the opportunity to dance and sing and perform with Michael...and to have if fall so short so close to it materializing!!! Its breaks ones heart!!!

So goodbye yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plough

Back to the howling old owl in the woods
Hunting the horny back toad
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road

Was it really 1973??!!
It couldnt be!!!???

I needed music for my drive north this week.
Bri-dog went down to the dark recesses of the basement and brought out a long forgotten case containing the Elton John, YELLOWBRICK ROAD CD.
I was grateful that Bri-dog remembered it and brought it to me.

I didnt pop it into the player until an hour or so into the drive. And then...the Magic of MUsic began!!!
I'd wager that its been at least 9 years since I had listened to this music!!
9 YEARS!!
Can I just say...
ITS BRILLANT!!!

Sir Elton JOhn - in his prime- was BRILLANT!!!

The piano playing is BRILLANT!!!

And every song feels timeless.

And even though I wasnt living a brilliant life in 1973...
I can confess that Im not associating, in the least, any one song to my sorted past. THe past doesnt seem to matter when listening here. It feels fresh and new and wonderous all over agian. JUst like the very first time I listened, when what I owned was the black vinal record album which was played by running a little needle in a groove, around and around and around????

But does anyone know-has anyone ever known what the song- GREY SEAL is all about?

Why's it never light on my lawn

Why does it rain and never say good-day

to the new-bornOn the big screen they

showed us a sunBut not as bright in life

as the real one

It's never quite the same as the real one
or....

Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet

But they're so spaced out, Bennie and the Jets

Oh but they're weird and they're wonderful

Oh Bennie she's really keen

She's got electric boots a mohair suit

You know I read it in a magazine

Bennie and the Jets

Was Bernie Taupin on acid when he wrote these lyrics to these classic songs?
Weren't the 70's just groovy!!??

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

from whimsicalwhisper

SMILES FOR MONDAY

The tumult of her mind, was now painfully great.
She knew not how to support herself, and from
actual weakness sat down and cried for
half-an-hour. Her astonishment, as she reflected
on what had passed, was increased by every
review of it. That she should receive an offer of
marriage from Mr. Darcy! That he should have been
in love with her for so many months! So much in
love as to wish to marry her in spite of all the
objections which had made him prevent his
friend's marrying her sister, and which must
appear at least with equal force in his own case—
was almost incredible! It was gratifying to have
inspired unconsciously so strong an affection.
But his pride, his abominable pride— his
shameless avowal of what he had done with respect
to Jane— his unpardonable assurance in
acknowledging, though he could not justify it,
and the unfeeling manner in which he had
mentioned Mr. Wickham, his cruelty towards whom
he had not attempted to deny, soon overcame the
pity which the consideration of his attachment
had for a moment excited.
from: Pride and Prejudice
by: Jane Austen

SOAKING AND HOPING

“Who are we to tell Him what to do

and when to do it? Only yesterday you

told mother that the more astronomers

ponder and measure the stars, the larger

they become. You said that many of them

are larger than the sun. So how can

insignificant creatures like us, with our

tiny brains, understand what He is doing?”

from: Shosha

by: Isaac Bashens Singer

We had our first night in the hot tub (SIGH...winter has arrived)

And while basking in the warming water, I happened to spot a graceful, slow moving, arcing falling star over my Builder's left shoulder. (its been a long time since I've seen one of these!!)

My Builder and I were discussing matters of great importance at the time.

With a lump in my throat, I whispered....

“I wish...”

“I wish...”

“I wish...”

But wait!!!

I have no right to make demands or to try to call down favors from the Powers that be!!

My life is a charmed one.

It seems it always has been.

Its a life full of great blessings.

Blessing too innumberable to list.

I can NOT complain!!

So I want that star to know,

“I've changed my mind!”

I would like that star and it's Deliverer to understand...

I have great faith.

Faith in my Builder and in our future.

I have gratitude.

I even have a sense of wonder and awe and anticipation, wondering what might happen next!!

To me, a falling star can be more than an impetious for a wish.

I see them as a method of communication from a loving Father in Heaven.

A star can be yet another tender mercy, or a simple pleasure for me to acknowledge the watchful care I am given day in and day out.

Stars represent adventures and unfathomable possibilities.

Sometimes they might make us feel small and insignificant, but when Im feeling hopeful, I see them as witnesses that Heaven knows that I know we are in God's hands.

I find comfort in the stars-almost in the same way that I find such soothing comfort in the 102 degree waters of our hot tub!!

Ahhhhh...sweet blessing abound!!!