the daily delights

theory – visions of our savior’s atonement

July 12, 2009 by delightsgal

I’ve been embarking on a journey of change and healing. Today, I looked at the road thus traveled, felt fulfillment, gratitude, and a sense of accomplishment.

Yet, as I looked towards future treatments, I worried when the greater suffering will end…if our flex spending has enough to cover the treatments still needed…hoping it will make a difference in my ability to enjoy life as I so desire.

For now, I’m not going to give details of the treatment, what/who has inspired this journey, or why I have undertaken such an untraveled path. Rather, I want to focus on the learning and perspective that has come…specifically in regards to our Savior’s Atonement.

* * *

As I sought to release pain, and emotions during my first treatment, I had time to ponder and reflect. Alone, I laid, concentrating.

Searching.

and

Praying.

And then it happened. A vision entered my mind.

I felt myself willingly giving the pain, grief, guilt, hurt, that I have been hoarding within my soul and the body that encompasses it. I saw Christ. Patiently waiting for me to make this choice. Debt already paid, long ago.

As I made this choice and gave him my burdens, he graciously took them. Lifting them from me, and then, lifting them even higher…

…higher, beyond the Heavens…beyond the Universe. As he released the pain, sorrow, hurt, sin, and grief, I saw his shoulders lose a bit of intensity. He stood taller.

The burden had not only been lifted from my small frame, but also from His.

The price had been paid so long ago, but without my willingness, he continues to carry this burden. As I give up my sins, my pain caused by others, the overwhelming weight upon the Savior is lighter.

I wanted to give up the sins and the pain. Not just because it was hurting me.

But because it is hurting Him. And that is reason enough for me to Let Go.

Does it make it easier. Yes. Still difficult? Yes. But easier.

I love Him too much to cause him to suffer any more on my account.

The Atonement. Still learning, still trying to understand. Still wanting to let go.

Posted in thoughts & theories | Tagged desire, gifts, lds, spirituality | Leave a Comment »

kiddo daily delight – a child’s garden of verses by robert louis stevenson

July 11, 2009 by delightsgal

I’ll admit it: blogging can be so overwhelming at times. Though, I feel driven to record in order to progress. So I try and make changes to my focus…how we do things…

The result (perhaps you’ve noticed), I’m trying to post only once a day, and sometimes (like the 4th, I just give up). kiddo daily delights are too important to us to miss a day, though, I just cannot find time to do everything and blog about it as well.

So the latest is to post two kiddo daily delight posts a week:

of our kiddo daily delight with friends – that we do on Tuesday morning…yes, you are always welcome. Leave me a comment if you have questions/need directions.
to choose 1 book a week – and do activities all week long around the book and themes discovered within.

And there you have it. This week, we’ve been drinking in much of Robert Louis Stevenson’s poetry found within A Child’s Garden of Verses, illustrated by Joanna Isles. If I were to choose some overall themes within the poetry chosen, I’d say…

adventure
travel
outdoors
imagination

It fits right along with much of the kiddos’ burning desires of late. One lovely afternoon this week, just the builder and I read together (the others were napping). We nearly read the entire collection. Some of our favorite poems within the lovely book:

Pirate Story
Looking Glass River
Good Play
Where Go the Boats
My Bed is Like a Boat
The Swing

Here are some of our latest outdoor adventures:

landscaping with dad…or at least exploring grandma’s solar lights

park adventures with friends

exploring our adjacent field – full of bugs, deer, and growing things of all kinds.

gardening - oh how they love to help me water with the strainer (idea from our neighbor Janet…no, we don’t have a traditional watering can). The best is their excitement as they count our growing tomatoes or peppers.

forging new paths – or sledding through the tall grass with Preston

What exciting outdoor adventures have been occupying your time this Summer?

Posted in kiddo daily delight | Tagged children's lit based activity, literary, organization, outdoors | 1 Comment »

reflections – our tiny uninvited house guest

July 10, 2009 by delightsgal

We have a beautiful serving dish that my Aunt Diane gave the designer and I at my bridal shower…it is used everyday…holding fresh veggies and fruit. Wednesday morning, I came upstairs to find a banana bitten right through the peel. I thought we hadn’t been careful when choosing produce the other day.

Then yesterday morning, three apples and another banana had been similarly snacked during the night. Our garbage in the garage had been attacked as well. Surely, I thought, it must be one of the neighborhood cats.

Or condo is without air-conditioning (at least the kind we are used to in our modern world). We crack the windows at night, close the house up in the morning, draw the velvet drapes on the west side as the afternoon approaches, and when things begin to cool, we turn on the fan and open the north windows, front door, and garage, for the prevailing wind is blowing north/south. We’ve embraced our new cooling regime without thought of other creatures enjoying our abode as much as us.

Yesterday we decided we have a mouse guest. Last night the designer bought some traps, set out some different foods: almond butter, apple, cheese, etc. and we waited. Sure enough, we heard our house guest making himself at home. (Our hard-wood floors are particularly good at sending the sound below to our bedroom). So we laid together listening to the tiny intruder. The designer would run up and check whenever a loud sound was made (hoping it would be one of his traps).

Then we heard the mouse making his way downstairs and soon he was rummaging behind our dresser with our chords. The designer wanted to catch him in something. I just wanted him to go back out to the field from where I was sure he had arrived. The patio door was cracked and I lay sideways on the bed, head propped, hoping to see him make a run for it.

I couldn’t keep my eyes open, and when the designer returned from looking for a flashlight, I gave up and fell asleep (it was nearly 1 am).

The designer continued to try and outwit the mouse till half-past 1. He saw the mouse a couple times (a large one), and even threw a couple things at him…though the mouse is rather quick. The kiddos and I slept through all this, however.

When I woke to feed the explorer (around 5:30 this morning), our bedroom door was shut, as well as the kiddo’s room. The mouse had come into our room again after I’d fell asleep, prompting the designer’s protective actions.

Well, we still have a house guest. The smart fellow ate everything the designer trapped and must be very clever. But the designer has a few more tricks up his sleeve that he will be trying out tonight. Till then, I try to ignore the occasional rustling I hear from behind the oven or fridge…

Have you had an unwanted house guest this season? Better yet, any advice for these novice bed&break-fast-ers?

Posted in delightful reflections | Tagged guest, nature | 2 Comments »

development – plein air paradise ‘09 results

July 9, 2009 by delightsgal

I just want to thank everyone who voted for me…I won the People’s Choice Award! Seriously, so honored and surprised! We still haven’t figured out who voted, but thank you one and all! What a wonderful gift and memory.

As for my paintings…the T-Barn sold to the lovely Cynthia from Toledo, Ohio! Seriously honored that a gal from the “barn mecca” of the country would enjoy my lil’ T-Barn.

Last night, we brought my remaining plein air pieces to the Porter’s house. Veralynn had told me at church Sunday that she wanted me to bring them all over and that she’d buy the one that looked best in her home. Oh how I love Veralynn! For starters, she has a bold and beautiful avocado/lime green front door. Artful metal pieces adorn her walls and shelving. It was so much fun, holding each piece up for her and thinking about the best piece for the spot she’d chosen. She and Slone decided on Jonny’s Place.

I hope Cynthia and the Porters will enjoy the paintings as much as we have! Thanks again everyone…your support and encouragement have truly been my inspiration!

Posted in artful moments | Tagged art, outdoors, painting, traditions | 4 Comments »

development – plein air paradise ‘09: jonny’s place

July 8, 2009 by delightsgal

The fourth and final plein air painting in the main event. Nance and I painted this charming home together in the morning. JuLee (my amazing MIL) came to my rescue in the afternoon as I finished the piece. Afterwards, I chatted with Liz who lives in one of the designer and I’s favorite pot-rock homes in the valley… just across the street. Her husband has done some incredible work on their home. That night, I fell asleep at 7 pm…too much excitement!

As for Jonny’s Place: I believe it is the designer’s favorite Midway home. It is incredible. A second home, and yet there were visiting family staying there these past few days. As we were driving to Grandma’s Sunday afternoon, we stopped and chatted with Linda and Penny. They enjoyed the painting and offered us a tour of the beautiful home. Back in ‘02, it was even featured in Martha’s Living Magazine as the holiday home.

So it’s original construction is of pot-rock, then eventually some siding over that (pale pink I think). Finally, the current owner added a turret, a beautiful shade of grey stucco, and a tree-carved statue of Jonny Appleseed. It is simply lovely!

Posted in artful moments | Tagged art, family, friends, painting, plein air, traditions | Leave a Comment »

kiddo daily delight – eric carle’s from head to toe

July 7, 2009 by delightsgal

Ever since the dancer and I attended Maile’s ballet recital, she is infatuated with asking me to “go dance with Maile?” I’ve been turning on music for her, dancing with her, and helping her dress up for the occasion, but it hasn’t been enough.

I thought we needed to do some movement with our friends for our kiddo daily delight this week. We read Eric Carle’s From Head To Toe together, and the kiddos moved along with the book. Soon we were moving like other animals and creatures across the grass:

hopping like a bunny
crawling like a crocodile
shaking like a wet dog
twirling like a dancer
kicking like a bug on it’s back
skipping like a fairy…

We moved in a circle, made shapes with our bodies,

As well as letters of the alphabet.

Thanks for another wonderful morning everyone…we soo look forward to our Tuesday morning!

What are your favorite Eric Carle books? Or better yet, what are your favorite movement inspiring books?

Posted in kiddo daily delight | Tagged children's lit based activity, dance, friends, kiddos, outdoors | Leave a Comment »

development – midway paint out ‘09: kohler’s pot-rock home

July 6, 2009 by delightsgal

The final event of the Plein Air Event…the Midway Paint out lasts 5 hours. Check in is from 7-8 am. By noon, the paintings must be framed and hung. It’s always a whirlwind. The first year, I didn’t even finish my painting. : ) Thank goodness I’ve gotten faster since then!

I plopped down in front of Dale & Joyce Kohler’s charming pot-rock home early Saturday morning. The shadow was crawling across the roof top as I sketched it in…didn’t want to miss that.

Paint Outs tend to invite so many conversations. I visited with walkers, strollers, a couple cyclists, Julie from Sidetrack Cafe, Sally Hauter…and other curious lookers-on. One wife of a painter even offered me a chair as I neared the end of the painting. So thoughtful.

The bugs and sun were kind…so were the clouds. The rain fell for a bit, paint smearing enough that I began to set up in the back of the Stratus trunk. It stopped, and started once more, but I managed to finish in time. phew! Quite possibly my favorite from the entire week.

Posted in artful moments | Tagged art, holiday, painting, plein air, traditions | 3 Comments »

delight – elder holland’s comments today

July 5, 2009 by delightsgal

I just wanted to record and share the things (mostly for the designer, who was in the hall, but also for anyone else interested) that I remembered from Elder Jefferey R. Holland’s talk this morning.

The builder and dancer and I were returning from a potty break, so we missed his opening statements (please add comments if you were there).

He talked about blessings of the sacrament…remember I missed some of this…

the sacrament hymn – (i think that was the first)
focusing on the sacrament- the chapel was filled, people were seated all the way to the back of the gym, on the stage, and within the choir seats on the stand. The Sacrament Ordinance took till 20 minutes to the hour and the Aaronic Priesthood blessed the water three times. Elder Holland thanked them for their service and praised the opportunity to have a long passing of the sacrament…time to reflect, and felt that more meetings should focus as much on the Sacrament.
the importance of partaking the sacrament – our kiddos were having a sort-of hangover from the candy overdose and excitement from the 4th, so it was not our easiest reverent day. I was feeling a bit guilty for our distraction to those around us, but was so grateful when Elder Holland gave everyone in the congregation “an “A” for the day” for partaking of the sacrament this weekend. He spoke of the many wonderful things we can do and how we celebrate together, but that the important thing is that we were with our families, partaking of the Sacrament, together.

Then he went on to talk about our Liberties within the United States and celebrating the 4th. He reminded us that there is sacred land wherever members of Christ’s church reside. That this land has been blessed to allow the restoration, and that we do enjoy liberties that he is grateful. He asked us to pray for people everywhere…for their liberty, for their opportunities to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He specifically asked us to pray for the people he is over, where there is turmoil and danger daily and where temples and members are in danger. He reminded us that the war is real and that is continues to rage as it did in Heaven…that it has not stopped and that our Heavenly Father needs each of us to do our part. That there is much for us to do.

I wish I could remember everything…it was a special thing to point him out to the kiddos and explain his special friendship and relationship with Jesus Christ. He concluded with a a beautiful blessing to us all…and to each of you.

Thank you, Elder Holland for your love, your testimony (he mentioned that he could not believe more than he does…that he has a perfect knowledge of the Savior), your mission, and your example.

Posted in delightful reflections | Tagged family, holiday, lds, traditions | 3 Comments »

development – spelt pecan brownies

July 3, 2009 by delightsgal

The kiddos and I had just spent a wonderfully warm afternoon swimming with friends (and yes, I forgot the swim bag on the entry bench…again, though we were a mere half mile from the condo, so we swam more modestly this time!) Thanks again Camille for inviting us…we all had a blast.

When we returned home, it seemed a shame to let the fun end…so we pulled out our cookbooks and mixer. We decided on some brownies in Nigella Lawson’s How to Be a Domestic Goddess. Nigella was right: we need to make brownies more often…they really are “so easy and so wonderful!” So make a batch, sit back, and enjoy this special treat.

(Of course we changed it a bit):

1 c butter
2/3 c coconut oil
1 3/4 c semi sweet chocolate
6 large eggs
1 tbs vanilla
1/2 c honey
1/4 c raw sugar
1 1/2 c spelt flour
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 c pecans, chopped

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Line or grease a 9×13″ baking pan.
Melt butter, coconut oil, and chocolate in a medium size pan on medium heat. Stir often to make sure chocolate isn’t burning on the bottom.
In a mixer, beat eggs, sugar, honey, and vanilla until smooth.
After the chocolate is melted, remove it from heat and allow to cool slightly. Add to the mixer and combine.
Add the nuts, flour and salt.
Beat all ingredients until smooth and scrape into baking pan.
Bake for 25 minutes, remove from heat and allow to cool in pan. (It will still be gooey when you take it out, but continue to cook in the pan.

makes about 4 dozen wonderfully tasty brownies

Posted in delectable dishes | Tagged cooking, kiddos, recipe of the week | Leave a Comment »

development – plein air paradise 09: 425 s center st

July 2, 2009 by delightsgal

Painting #3: another Midway charmer. I have missed Midway…making up for it by painting 4 of my 5 plein air paintings in this lovely town. This old beauty took me a few days…I know, too long, but well worth the wait & effort. Wonderful time spent!

Posted in artful moments | Tagged art, outdoors, painting | 5 Comments »

kiddo daily delight – the jolley postman by janet & allan ahlberg

July 1, 2009 by delightsgal

For the builder’s 1st birthday, we had a book-themed party: read favorite children’s books, made books of our own, ate a book worm birthday cake, and party attendees brought a favorite book for the birthday boy. Our cousins, Jacob & Jesse brought the builder, The Jolly Postman…or Other People’s Letters by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. The kiddos and I have had such a wonderful time reading this book again, and again.

There are so many fun activities that can be done:

act out the fairy tales mentioned in the book
write another chapter to a favorite tale
set up a post office and have the kiddos take turns being the postman, delivering letters and packages around your house
write letters to your neighbors and deliver them as the postman does
write letter to a loved one far away and mail it
go meet your neighborhood postman
visit the post office and take a tour
make your own mini story (like Cinderella’s) from one of the mentioned tales
design a magazine or newspaper (start small)
make your own postcard with images of some things you’ve done lately
start a stamp collection
make your own stationary

Well, I’m sure you can think of many more. We chose to write letters to someone special. After writing and drawing pictures, we sealed them in old envelopes, put stickers for stamps and return address stickers on our envelopes:

A perfect morning: story, activity, playing with friends outside, snail hunt, snack, swings, slide, bikes…oh, how we will miss our vacationing friends when they go home!

p.s. For a fabulous blog that focuses on small children writing…try the write start!

Posted in kiddo daily delight | Tagged children's lit based activity, friends, literary, outdoors | Leave a Comment »

delight – monday monday…so good to me…

June 30, 2009 by delightsgal

Fun-filled, crazy day…a trip with the kiddos and friends to the Children’s Discovery Garden at Thanksgiving Point, some curry chicken with sweet peppers and carrots, strawberry salad with a homemade vinaigrette, and brown rice…and a night of painting with Nance. A wonderful day!

The disappearing shoes…just part of our wild morning. Everything was packed, ready to go. Swim suits, towels, diaper, wipes, extra clothes, an extra suit for the dancer, the explorer’s shoes…but they never madeit into the car. I was havinga difficult time getting the cooler past the car an bikes, so I began slowly backing up the van, out of the garage. Beingsure to miss the truck droppingoff the moving”Pod,” but somehow found I was hitting something.

After getting out several times and looking around the car, our sweet neighbor, Janet, told me there was something under the car…the stroller. Thank goodness it still works! In all the excitement, I never did get our bag in the van. Though thankfully we had our juice, water, and lunch. The rest worked itself out…or off I should say!

Perhaps it is because we don’t wear shoes in the house, but the kiddos love to take them off. We lost 3 pair of shoes at the gardens today. The only reason we didn’t lose the explorer’s shoes was because they never left the bag that got left home!!

I also lost the builder for a while. He was too busy enjoying the lily pads, koi fish, and caterpillar with Alison and Noah (Thanks Ali!). We had an amazing turn-out at the gardens…I think our group represented half of the morning visitors! So fun to see everyone, make new friends and meet friends for the first time! The explorer loved playing with his new friend, Asher, in the water.

Back at home, the kiddos and I cooked while the explorer got his afternoon nap. As I prepared dinner, the kiddos were doing some cooking of their own. By the time Nance arrived, they were helping with the salad preparation by de-top-ing the strawberries. They loved chatting with Miss Nance, sharing their strawberries with her, and asking about baby Bear. It was a fun afternoon/evening.

I attribute much of my courage to paint from being friends with Fancy Nancy. She loves to paint outdoors and would invite me to paint lovely HeberValley whenever she would come visit. We’ve painted in the blistering sun, snow, rain, and wind. Mostly we paint a bit geurilla style, out of our cars or on a beach towell. Tonight she had a bird poop right in the middle of her stroke…”Oh well,” she said, “now its a part of the painting.” I was a bit slow, so hopefully I’ll finish the green home tomorrow night. Thanks again to the designer for giving me time to paint!

Posted in artful moments, delightful reflections | Tagged art, friends, kiddos, landscape, outdoors, painting | 2 Comments »

development – plein air paradise ‘09: 138 west 100 south

June 29, 2009 by delightsgal

Day two on the plein air trail. More like usual, the sun came out, and with a vengeance. I wasn’t prepared…for the sunburn on my right arm, right leg (ending mid-calf, where my leggings stopped), and the back of my neck. The sun’s just making up for it’s absence this month!

Plein Air is never dull. If you look closely, there are three bugs dead and dried on the painting…one in the sky and a couple others in the bottom of the painting. There may be more, perhaps hiding within the dark paint. I’ll try to get them off after the paint dries another day or two.

So there are the bugs, lots of sun, this particular spot had a tractor or large machine drive by every half hour, a tandem bike with two boys, and then coming back only one, kids running by, roosters crowing in the background, and the highlight, or more appropriately, the wildest thing that happened: I felt a shadow over head, and then felt something land in my lap…bird turd!

Yes, painting is not always glamorous…but so worth it when the canvas is happily drying on the wall and the designer is having an inner struggle, whether or not it is his favorite painting I’ve ever done. (He thinks his favorite requires some sort of emotional connection, thus the guilt).

Fortunately, I’d plopped myself down in the garden of some beautiful, fast friends. Thanks to the designer for watching the kiddos all day! I think we’ll try another nightly painting session with a few rain clouds and some wind. Looking forward to a couple paint sessions with Fancy Nancy this week!

Posted in artful moments | Tagged art, outdoors, painting | 2 Comments »

development – plein air paradise ‘09: “T-barn”

June 28, 2009 by delightsgal

In the past, plein air paradise has been a dehydrating, sunburning experience. But true to this entire month of June, I chased the dark clouds after dinner, across the valley, in search of the perfect barn to paint. There is one near the designer’s childhood home in Old Town Heber…I had it all picked out. But when I pulled up, the dark clouds made it look so unexciting somehow. So I drove on main (hwy 40) towards Park City.

There is a beautiful red barn close to UVU, but it’s been painted a lot, and it’s red. (Red is the hardest color for me to paint). Just before the Kubota shop, there is another barn on the hillside. Smaller, and charming, with a large bottle capped “T” proudly displayed. Perched in the back of the Sienna, the rain fell as I sketched the scene. There was just enough light to make the colors come alive. It was a beautiful night to paint.

Posted in artful moments | Tagged art, outdoors, painting | 1 Comment »

kiddo daily delight – smash crash by jon scieszka

June 27, 2009 by delightsgal

This past week and a half, the kiddos have been absolutely obsessed with Jon Scieska’s Smash Crash, illustrated by David Shannon, Loren Long, and David Gordon (some of my favorites). Miss Sally (from the Library’s Story Time) had suggested the book, and was she ever brilliant!

We read all about the characters of Truck Town, especially the adventures of Dump Truck Dan and Jack Truck. These two mischief machines create all kinds of things smashing and crashing.