In graduate school, we talked a lot about life cycle changes, like births, deaths, divorce, marriage, kids leaving the nest, etc. and how to help individuals and families navigate them. During one discussion, the idea was brought up that people transition more smoothly when there is a celebration connected with the change and I think that is true. I am a big fan of celebrations in general and so the idea of turning such pivotal changes into a party is right up my alley.
Today marks a pretty pivotal moment in my life. A life cycle change that once was a rarity is now a growing phenomenon in my religious culture.
I am "aging out" of the singles ward.
A Tribute to Mothers
My ward today gave a tribute to mothers that was nearly as moving as primary kids singing I often go walking in meadows of clover and there were very few mothers in the congregation. There is something about being away from home that inspires the tenderness of feeling.
I love my mom's expression in this photo. How hard she worked as a young mother (younger than me and with three kids) to make Christmas a wonderful day. She made every gift she could by hand, and I am sure, scrimped and saved to come up with the ones that she couldn't--like the Book of Mormon scripture picture book and the plastic high chair and of course the Baby Beans. How much I regret my ingratitude as a youth.
I am blessed with an angel mother. I know she mourns the model she gave for marriage, but I hope she rejoices in the model she gave for motherhood.
I love my mom's expression in this photo. How hard she worked as a young mother (younger than me and with three kids) to make Christmas a wonderful day. She made every gift she could by hand, and I am sure, scrimped and saved to come up with the ones that she couldn't--like the Book of Mormon scripture picture book and the plastic high chair and of course the Baby Beans. How much I regret my ingratitude as a youth.
I am blessed with an angel mother. I know she mourns the model she gave for marriage, but I hope she rejoices in the model she gave for motherhood.
Furniture for Sale
It's been a long time coming...this getting rid of the furniture that I've used for the last seven to ten years. It has stayed in my mom's basement, hopeful of a time when I would retrieve it. But alas, the time has come for me to relieve my denial. It is not worth the effort nor cash it would take to get it to DC, so I have finally this stuff posted on craigslist and ksl...I would much rather see this go to the homes of loved ones or friends of friends.
Why is it so hard for me to get rid of stuff? Every piece holds memories of the deal that I got when I bought it, or the trouble of painting/sanding/repainting/putting it together, or the contents it housed for so many years.
Why is it so hard for me to get rid of stuff? Every piece holds memories of the deal that I got when I bought it, or the trouble of painting/sanding/repainting/putting it together, or the contents it housed for so many years.
Eco Tents and Carribbean Seas
I don't know what my problem is, but I have not been in the mood to blog. I haven't even had random strokes of blogging genius type ideas pop in my head. Maybe my creative juices are being wasted on trying to make class B commercial real estate buildings look like class A.
Regardless, I am forcing myself to blog tonight.
St. John. Maybe this will get me in the mood. (note: it did for a few minutes and then I got distracted...now I'm finishing this a week later.) The photos are not in any order. Sorry, my mood is not going to extend that far :).
on the hike
The kitchen in our Eco Tent. Matt found our lodgings on the other side of the island (if I new directions I would say north or south, but I have no idea...). It was quite a journey of hitch hiking, taxi-buses, and public transit to get to and from, but it was quite our own little paradise. And I felt so green using a solar-powered electrical system, solar-heated shower, and the ocean breeze for AC. We are making pancakes and eggs (this is Matt).
Cinnamon Bay (we camped here the first night)
Rams Head. on our "hike"
The day it rained. We got so lucky with the weather. It was supposed to rain on us the entire weekend, but it only lasted the first day.
The view from our Eco Tent balcony
It was a great trip! I love that travel is big on Tim's priority list and that he was a good sport to "rough it" in our eco tent. The hippy in me absolutely loved it! It is a really good test to see if you can travel well together and I think we both passed :).
Regardless, I am forcing myself to blog tonight.
St. John. Maybe this will get me in the mood. (note: it did for a few minutes and then I got distracted...now I'm finishing this a week later.) The photos are not in any order. Sorry, my mood is not going to extend that far :).
This was fun, we (the boys) chartered a sail boat to take us out to another little island to snorkel around. It was an amazing little cove with a reef covered with beautiful coral--so many kinds I lost count.
Tim
After hiking over from one bay (salt pond) to another (ram's head--I think?) we decided to take a "short cut' which turned into trail blazing through cactus and yucca. We ended up coming to our eco resort from the opposite direction and got to climb these bad boys...
After hiking over from one bay (salt pond) to another (ram's head--I think?) we decided to take a "short cut' which turned into trail blazing through cactus and yucca. We ended up coming to our eco resort from the opposite direction and got to climb these bad boys...
on the hike
The kitchen in our Eco Tent. Matt found our lodgings on the other side of the island (if I new directions I would say north or south, but I have no idea...). It was quite a journey of hitch hiking, taxi-buses, and public transit to get to and from, but it was quite our own little paradise. And I felt so green using a solar-powered electrical system, solar-heated shower, and the ocean breeze for AC. We are making pancakes and eggs (this is Matt).
Our Eco Tent from afar...we were the third from the left (those little guys in the background)
Cinnamon Bay (we camped here the first night)
Rams Head. on our "hike"
The day it rained. We got so lucky with the weather. It was supposed to rain on us the entire weekend, but it only lasted the first day.
The view from our Eco Tent balcony
It was a great trip! I love that travel is big on Tim's priority list and that he was a good sport to "rough it" in our eco tent. The hippy in me absolutely loved it! It is a really good test to see if you can travel well together and I think we both passed :).
Whoever said...
...that Balboa Island would be the perfect place to fall in love obviously has never been to our nation's capital in the spring. Pretty sure this is perfection or pretty close to it.
We ran down to the Cherry Blossom Festival yesterday before General Conference started. I'm kind of liking the time difference from here to Salt Lake and having the full morning to get stuff done and then really enjoy the Good Word.
We were surprised to come upon this scene as we were walking back to the metro. Under the shadow of the Washington Monument was a see of Yogis. Hosted by Lulu Lemon, the goal was to have 1,000 people practicing yoga on the lawn of the mall. Oh how I wished I had gotten this memo or at least been wearing something other than jeans so I could join them. It was Tim's first real exposure to yoga after hearing me talk about it all the time. Yoga on the Mall.
We ran down to the Cherry Blossom Festival yesterday before General Conference started. I'm kind of liking the time difference from here to Salt Lake and having the full morning to get stuff done and then really enjoy the Good Word.
We were surprised to come upon this scene as we were walking back to the metro. Under the shadow of the Washington Monument was a see of Yogis. Hosted by Lulu Lemon, the goal was to have 1,000 people practicing yoga on the lawn of the mall. Oh how I wished I had gotten this memo or at least been wearing something other than jeans so I could join them. It was Tim's first real exposure to yoga after hearing me talk about it all the time. Yoga on the Mall.
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