Sketch a Smile on your Face

I recorded this 'car song' for my friends and family by way of appreciation for all their love and support. They're amazing! It's just a silly sketch, meant to put a smile on your face and make you laugh :)

I hope you have a wonderful week everybody!

To Love Individually

I believe that God loves us individually. Why? That is the only way to love, as far as I am concerned. To really love, and to find fulfillment in loving. Of course I speak from my own perspective and experience, but, really it is such a beautiful thing.

And I am glad to have experienced and lived solipsism as well as its opposite, genuine appreciation for the life, love, and gifts of my family, friends, and even (fr)enemies--though I still have work to do to appreciate them.

It is hard to believe all the friendships, and even possible friendships, that were thrown away in the days of my ignorance because of changing interests, values, and direction as a youth. It is sad, really, and I've felt bad for my previous apathy for what and/or who I've left behind on my road to ... success? I guess you choose what you do with your time, right, and who you take with you? I am grateful to better understand the value of friendship, however, and the complementarity of different personalities with different ambitions, preferences, and interests, and to come to the realization that there are always things to be celebrated and shared among the different personalities. We have so much more going for us than against us!

As a model of wisdom in making friends with his own opposites, President Lincoln filled his cabinet with people who outspokenly disliked and perhaps even hated him. As a result of his humble wisdom, his days in office are considered by some as the most productive we have seen. What a marvelous example! Thanks to the inspired and devoted saints I worship with, I learned of President Lincoln's strategy for growth and improvement in sacrament meeting just last week--perfect timing for President's Holiday tomorrow. We have so many inspired people to guide us in wisdom and light.

May we focus on the individuals in our lives, and make a deliberate attempt to create individual relationships if they are lacking, and appreciate our diversity as well as our shared values. May we live life to the fullest! Have a glorious week!

<3

Valentines Day is coming up!

Mary's Ointment: Celebrating Friendship
John 12: 3-8

I've been fairly creative in the ways I've celebrated my friendships on Valentines' Day, often working off of a very tight student budget. However, if you have a little spending money and are planning something with your friends in SLC I recommend the Copper Onion for a gourmet burger or sandwich. My friend and I tried it out last weekend and wow! They did not disappoint! We sat at the bar to get a better look at the chef's work. It's amazing how the chefs kept the place bustling--just a few people behind the counter serving dozens of customers--really impressive! The staff is all very nice too. The lady working across from us engaged us in conversation toward the latter part of our visit, a moment or so after I thought about asking her how she likes the place. She said it was an honor (I think) to work there, and she's been with them seven months now. It opened about five years ago and if you haven't yet experienced its culinary pleasures, I highly recommend you do--maybe even as a Valentines treat to yourself and your friends :)

Have a great week everyone! Make the best of it! Don't forget to make plans to celebrate the upcoming holiday with the ones you love and/or care about <3 Even if it's just with notes (Valentines) as I've often done.

Pics from the Copper Onion visit:

the bar

nice decor--some good ol' American pride :)

Place of Happiness

Main Street

We are all just looking for a place of happiness, and these birds seems to have it :) Have a great week! Best of luck <3

Driving in the Clouds

What a blustery night. The wind's bitter flurries swarmed around the car and across the road, giving the feeling of driving in the clouds. It was an awesome experience and unsettling at the same time when a gust would suddenly rise, covering the guiding lights and lines surrounding us. What a blessing it is to live in this magical place. I just hope that the sickness besetting so many of the little ones at this time will pass so that peace can be restored to the hearts and homes (and hospitals) where the virus is attacking and making victim its little hosts. Hold on and be strong! I hope that the medicines and medical care will adequately supplement the prayers raised up in behalf of the little ones most susceptible to the virus' attacks. <3

Can you find the beavers?

Hint: There are two. 

I am too tired to write anything else up, or to share one of my pretty pics, so this is it for the day. Have a great week everyone!

There can be miracles, if you BELIEVE

Recap of the week (copied & pasted from my letter to my brother):

I know that in order to have hope for achieving something you must do something about your goal and be determined in reaching it. Faith without works is dead. However, without the atonement such hope would yet be futile for we are yet inadequate. All of us. With faith in Jesus Christ, in His atonement, then there is actually substance to our hope, for that which under no conceivable circumstances would be possible or achievable becomes so through Him. He is our only hope, if you will. Any other focus than the atonement of Jesus Christ will take us away from the beauty of His love and grace, and ultimately destroy our hope, turning us into bitter and unhappy persons, though you may find a certain measure of contentment for settling, if you will, for something which may require less of you--less time, less stress, less thought, less expectations--thinking that perhaps less is actually better, when you really have just given up ... hope ... that in spite of you, the Lord will pull through, if you will just believe and continue in faith.

Today's picture is of a turtle. Can you see it?