(fairly) recent adventures

fun times with maxwell -

babysitting is always a crazy fun adventure

with this little monkey.

this was hard to take - he's a squirmer that one.

hey! new glasses

went with michelle to help her try on wedding dresses

also tried on party dresses, just for kicks.

... my dresses are going to have to be custom made.

my boobs are so freaking ridiculous.

yum! a taco feast super delicious

the guacamole was incredible

new project

have you ever imagined something or someone that just suddenly became? out of nowhere. just a blank page and then, before your eyes, a person grew up out of the emptiness in front of you.

yesterday, I spent 4 hours at the inquiry conference. president eyring spoke and I really enjoyed it. that was for extra credit. then I spent 5 hours at the church history symposium. that was required for a class. I was looking forward to it, but it turned out to be quite dull. I got all brain dead and fidgety where you feel like your muscles are going to start twitching involuntarily if you don't get up and do something now. the topics were interesting, but treated so dryly. I continue to be appalled at the world's apparent complete lack of presentation skills. you can't just stand up and read a paper. a speech or lecture is entirely different than the written word. or should be.

so while I was sitting in the 3rd hour of this symposium deal, I took out my new sketchbook and decided I would try a face, since carolyn gave me some basic composition tips over the break. so I drew a face and added hair and added shoulders and suddenly, I had this incredibly awesome girl that has a name and friends and a place she belongs and a passion for things and a book that's being written about her:

so, me and oceane spent about 3 hours last night developing characters and determining plot and motives et tout ca. I am so excited about it. you may get a few scenes and conversations on here in the near future. I hope you like it as much as we do!!

and now, meet wren:


yeah yeah I know it's not that great, but I'm freaking excited, okay?

skills

skills I would like to have someday:

guitar
photography
calligraphy
poetry
sketching
sign language
rock climbing
killing spiders
keeping plants alive other than cacti
folding paper cranes and turning them into mobiles
lying to keep a surprise a secret
listening to a political debate without saying anything
hang-gliding
bird-watching
kissing
...
yeah I guess I really did just write that.

treehouse homes

someone may want to shoot me now
before I get too many crazy ideas
and when I say that
you should know what that means
...
you are too late

d&c blog # what are we on now?

sometimes I get discouraged, just like everyone else. I'm not sure why I'm feeling it more than usual right now, but when others tell me to snap out of it, I can't help but say ... well, no. there must be a reason I feel this way and I intend to find out. how else am I supposed to learn about myself and the world and grow for the future? sometimes it's okay to acknowledge that you really are doing things wrong. self-improvement doesn't come by turning a blind eye.

I don't have much else to say about it right now, other than to share these thoughts given to Joseph Smith when he had much more to be discouraged about than I do. reading these words gives me some peace.

My (daughter), peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? Therefore, hold on thy way ... fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever. Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

(d&c 121:7-9, 122:8-9, 123:17 emphases obvious)

I learn and feel and become through music, so:

step one--be still, drink in the peace that God speaks to your soul

Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

step two--go and do without fear

Va, ne crains pas: Le Seigneur te protège.
Qu'il soit toujours un guide pour tes pas
Tous tes fardeaux patiemment il allège.
Passent les ans, le même il restera.
Va, ne crains pas car, divin privilège,
Un ami sûr toujours te conduira.

step three--keep singing

momma o-o-o-o

things I got today:

a phone call
my passport
a letter from erik
second season of arrested development
a much-needed break

it was a good day, even though my passport picture looks weird under all those squiggly lines. typical. me and oceane already finished the first 6 episodes of arrested development and I get the feeling that we're going to be watching more tonight. man, I love that show. I've been singing the avett brothers all day, surprise. I get so obsessed with new music. it probably annoys everyone around me. I feel bad for not writing erik, he's a good friend, but how how do you be a good friend back while making it clear that the only thing you want is friendship? truly a woman's dilemma. I also cleaned my room, something that's been weighing on my mind every night, cause that's the only time I'm in my room is right before bed. I'm gonna go call my momma.

truth

yes, I am.
yes, I will.