Kung Fu Kid!

I have the best nieces and nephews in the world. I love to see them - be with them - and chase them around in circles... just ask them! = ) One of my nephews earned his Yellow Sash in Kung Fu. Congratulations buddy, I love you!

Peace, be still.

Recently, my home has felt like a place of refuge from the storms of the world ~ where peace can be found. Many people have come and found solace from their daily trials. I have been "pondernig in my heart" (as Mary did in the New Testament when she was told she would be the mother of the Savior) all the things I have been experiencing. I believe the Lord gives us the opportunity to make of our lives what we will. We are given trials, and depending on how we react to them, we have either peace in our lives; or turmoil. If given a choice, I believe most of us would choose to have peace on a daily basis. The difficult thing for many people to understand is that yes, we have our agency to make choices... but we do not have the agency to choose what the consequences will be of a particular action. If I want peace, I make the choice whose consequence is what I am seeking after ~ but that requires effort and thought on my part. I am so grateful to have the opportunity have the lessons I am having in this life time. I love my Heavenly Father, and am grateful He gave me the opportunity to learn and share the truths of the gospel that I can share with others.

Starfish...

An old man walked along the beach throwing starfish that had been stranded by the outgoing tide back in to the ocean. There were hundreds of them to return to the water and obviously he couldn't begin to accomplish the task completely. A cynical young person came along and asked in a most arrogant manner, "What possible difference do you think you can make for all those starfish?" The old man stooped down, picked up another one, ans as he tossed it in to the water, her replied in a quiet, confident tone, "For this one, it makes all the difference in the world."

Fall is beautiful!

This evening my sister, a friend and I took a short drive to Cascade Falls near our home. I was reminded, again, of the beauty that Heavenly Father has placed on this earth for us to enjoy. No matter the stress we may feel, or the pressures we have in our lives, it is up to us to stop and take a break, and enjoy all we have been so graciously given.

The Nutcracker

After just one year of ballet lessons, my cute niece audutioned for Ballet West's Nutcracker. She made it! I am excited to see the Nutcracker for the first time ever - watching for my favorite dancing bon-bon. Love ya T! I am happy for you!

I love beautiful things!

Fall is really a great time to reflect on the year, and all the beautiful things that have happened. As I have been spending time harvesting the garden and getting ready for winter, it has made me really pause and reflect on the miracles I have seen in my life every day. I am so grateful for all the many blessings in my life. Friends and family bless my life in many ways every day. I know Heavenly Father has blessed me with the friends I have for a very specific reason. Each friend, each family member, have helped me along my journey. I am grateful to be blessed with nieces and nephews... and the children of friends. Since I have none of my own, I am overwhelmed at the opportunity the Lord has given me to love others. Children are such a joy! They see things in a light of wonderment, always learning, always growing. I love spending time with all the young people in my life!

Home Teaching at it's finest!

Now this is how you know if you have some of the greatest home teachers in the world. We are so grateful to have some of the most incredible men watching over and loving our family!

Balloon Festival

Today, we made a trip to Antelope Island (about an hour and a half away) to attend a hot air balloon festival. I was so excited - to see the balloons take off at sunset! It would be a great opportunity for picture taking! Unfortunately there was a high wind, and the balloon launch was cancelled for the night. In the morning the festival will continue- but I just can't imagine driving that far again - so it looks like I will miss the festival this year. We did have the opportunity to see a small demomstration on fiilling up a balloon - and that was really neat. I will have to find another festival soon!

No matter the disappointment, I did have the opportunity to try my hand at the rock climbing wall. I was really nervous, but stepped up anyway. I didn't make it to the top, but I did make it at least 3/4 of the way! I was pleased!

The harvest

Today was a "fruitful" day if I have ever had one. In my back yard are 2 peach trees - who this year produced miraculous amounts of beautiful fruit. I shared boxes and bags full of peaches with neighbors and friends. The line of a hymn kept running through my mind... "because I have been given much I too must give..." as I thought of friends with whom to share the bountiful harvest. And then yesterday, something touched my heart. It is great to share with others when we have plenty - and it is wonderful to want to share the many blessings I have been given. But how often do we give, and give, and give... until there is nothing left? Heavenly Father helped me realize that the blessings of the harvest this year were given speciffically for me - and I should not give it all to others. So today, my mom came and helped me put up the peaches from my trees - which we will enjoy in the future, and for which I am extremely grateful.

I am grateful for the harvest, and for the beautiful experience I had in learning of my Father's love.

State fair is done...

Well, friends, today is the day I return to the state fair grounds to reterieve my photo entries. I had a really great experience. Of course, as everone who enters the fair does, I was hoping to go see a ribbon displayed next to one of my photos... and was slightly disappointed in the fact that the ribbons hanging near my photos belonged to other photographers displayed near my work. When there are over 1,500 entries, there are only so many ribbons to go around!

I did, however, take the opportunity to stand by "All Around Beauty" and listen to the comments that were made by complete strangers about my photography. I had always felt that my pictures were a part of who I am - and if someone didn't like the picture, they didn't necessarily like me, either. Standing and observing helped me learn that is not true. A picture is a picture. It's a piece of art I have created... and not everyone appreciated the same style of art as I do. I alway knew art was subjective, but now I more fully understand. It was a wonderful experience, and I plan to re-enter next year!

An awesome opportunity!

If you know me well, you are aware that I never go anywhere without my camera. Recently, I have been offered 2 fabulous opportunities with my photography! My chiropractor wants to hang some of my work in his office... allowing me to put my name and number along with the pictures so others can call and purchase my work. I have also recently met an international art gallery owner - who was really impressed with one of my photos. We are currently in the process of (hopefully) having her represent my photography in her gallery. We'll see where all of this goes!

On the way home...

On the way home from Washington, Zane and I made a short trip to the Redwoods National Park. There is nothing that can compare to the sacred feeling of standing in the midst of those giant trees - centuries of years old. There is truly an awe - inspirig spirit that brings peace to the soul as you stand among the great giants of the past. Time may have flown by, yet they stand true. There are few places I have been where I have felt such an overwhelming peace penetrating the very center of my soul.

Grandpa's funeral

Russel Barkus, Zane's grandfather passed away recently. This past week, we traveled to Washington State to attend his funeral. Grandpa was drafted in to the Army during WWII, and honorably served his country in a time of great need. The funeral was touching. The VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) was in attendance to present military honors. They asked Zane to do the honor of presenting the flag that had draped his granfather's coffin to his mother and aunt. It was extremely touching. Zane's unlce was also in attendance at the funeral - a former Navy Seal who also honorably served his country.

It was a difficult time for our family, but also a great time to reflect on our heritage... not only as a military family, but as a family in general - who we are, what we stand for, where we come from... and where we are going from here.

The Grand Hike

Monday I learned a great lesson. Some friends went hiking Mount Timpanogos with my husband and I. It was a great time! I pushed myself harder that I thought was humanly possible... and made it all the way to the cave! As we were walking throught the cave, I realized I had just been part of a miracle in my own life. Two years ago, I would not have been able to complete that hike! I also would not have physically been able to fit through some of the narrower areas of the cave. I realize what an amazing transformation has happened in my life - and I am able to "live free" and enjoy things I would have never been capable of before!

Monday Evening, two hours after the hike, came the grandest lesson of all. After eating dinner, my heart felt funny, I got really dizzy... and collapsed. Of course, you can imagine that I spent the next five hours in the emergency room. Every test possible was run - all to find out that I am in "picture perfect health" according to the doctor.

What happened then? I hadn't taken care of myself properly - I didn't eat enough during the day, pushed hard on the trail and caused a lot of stress on my body... and I was told "enough is enough already!" I have always heard people say "If you don't take care of yourself first, you can't help anyone else" but never fully understood. Now I do. If I don't have the strength to do the things I need to on a daily basis, how can I help someone? Just like you cannot draw water from a dry well, you cannot give from an empty heart.

From now on, I come first for me!!