Dichotomy

I was struck this morning by a short sentence in the heading of Helaman chapter 16 (Book of Mormon). It reads: Some harden their hearts, and others see angels.
This is a profound division or dichotomy which is the classification or distinction into two parts:the rewards of those who have faith versus those who choose not to believe...and it is always a choice. But every choice comes with consequences and I love the possibility of consequences of not hardening my heart.

Weather is great, scenery is important, water quality a plus...but this is what makes a beautiful beach day.

Marriage is Evolution

So...we're grandparents now. Fully immersed and feeling fully blessed. Grandparenting has so many dimensions but one of the most interesting is seeing your spouse as a grandparent.

I've seen Tony through 28 years--first as a long-haired, rock-hard-thigh-toting football teenager--young love--young husband, college academic person, devoted father family man-great adjuster--body aging post surgery man--biker extraordinaire to save his knees-devoted and loving man of truth--devoted to Heavenly Father and his plan--man of faith--devoted and understanding, encouraging husband--patient father of daughters--the father-in-law--and now grandpa Tony. I have loved all of these stages and look forward (though it's like walking into a dark room) to the soon-to-be-old man stage. But this is not about the future-nor the past--it is about now and the tribute to his being the best grandpa in the world!!

Photo Surprise

My children know that my camera is always available for their use. With digital, they take some amazing liberties that wouldn't have been allowed with regular film.

A few days ago I went to download the latest photos and I was in for a pleasant surprise. Someone saw a beautiful sunset. They ran upstairs, grabbed the camera and clicked thirty shots of a spectacular sunset.

Unsuspecting, I was delighted to see through the camera what had delighted my child.

Labor and Fruit

Planting bulbs in the fall--waiting, imagining--the spring outcome is the best analogy for the concept of "the fruit of your labor." Faith is a concept that is hard to grasp--bulb planting puts a firm hand on faith.

Knowing that there will be fruit from labor, helps us to hope for happy, disciplined and adjusted children; it is a way to hang on to until the end of the semester; it is a way to endure illness; it is the beginning of a project; it is vision and a ladder to exploration, learning and imagination.

Fall 2007



Spring 2008

New Eyes

There is no better place than the ocean. Absent for four months, I squeezed into my wetsuit and dove into the 50 degree water. And I laughed the entire time.

The only thing better than enjoying something yourself is to see someone else enjoy it as much. Max had an intuitive inkling that somehow he was going to the beach. Enter grandma and an invitation. What a blast watching him run from the waves, ride the boogie board,( though only for a minute because of the cold). Annika was just as adorable and the pleasure continued as I saw her drawn to the sea as much as me.

Moose Tracks!

An absolutely stunning day of cross country skiing.
A few worries when I came upon these tracks. Moose are known to attack when threatened.
This is not the moose I saw, or didn't see... just a shot I found at google images--but he is a nice complement to the day and piece. http://wendy.seltzer.org/photos/moose.jpg