...cooling off on a hot day...

...unexpected gifts...

Yesterday, a family friend generously gave me a gift.  He had been at some sort of sale on Saturday and saw this book, thought of me and bought it.  How sweet.  How touching.  I appreciated it so much.  This friend is an (I hope he doesn't mind this) elderly gentleman that attends church with me, and I use the term "gentleman" appropriately.  What he probably doesn't realize is that this is just the sort of gift that I love.  An old book.  Forgotten on someone's shelf, dusty, yellow pages, the work and words of someone long ago; imagine the wonderful possibilities.  

"The Education of a Music Lover"

by Edward Dickinson

Published in 1911, I've only had a chance to read the preface so far.  I love the language.  One hundred years and you are in a different world.  This was especially reinforced when I read this passage:

"In the course of the past few years an ingenious invention has brought the teaching of musical appreciation within the reach of instructors who have sufficient theoretical knowledge. It has made all departments of musical composition in a certain degree accessible even to those who are not expert pianists.  I refer to the mechanical piano players, which were at first looked upon with suspicion and often with abhorrence by professional musicians, but which are proving themselves an agency of immense usefulness in diffusing good music among the people."

Player pianos, that ingenious invention! I had to giggle aloud when I read that one.  One hundred years later, I find this article this morning that puts even more perspective on the last century of music appreciation.  The ingenious inventions just keep on coming.

I'm looking forward to reading Professor Dickinson's book and am so thankful to generous friends.

Romans 12:10

...downtime in the backyard...

Some comfortably cool "June gloom" mornings have resulted in some pleasantly warm June afternoons.  Time well spent in the "work in progress" backyard.

Now, doesn't that look inviting?  Look, a seat saved just for you!

Of course, you may run into this fuzzy friend in the backyard.  Go ahead, throw a ball.  Fun for both of you!

The "hula girl" is blooming as big as plates and covering the whole bush in sunny yellow.  As the evening approaches, the smell of jasmine adds just the right amount of sweetness to the gentle ocean breezes blowing in the next morning's cloud cover.  

Late spring in the backyard...enjoy!

Isaiah 45:18

...animals and people who care for them...

Visited a small zoo that exists because a group of people wanted to help animals in need. I've always been an animal lover and am so proud of and impressed by those who spend their extra hours caring for them. I can't manage to keep my bird's cage clean, let alone find funding and a home for grizzly bears! I know there is some sort of animal sanctuary or zoo near you. Go find one and visit as soon as you can.

Deuteronomy 22:4,6-7

...blossoms...

1 Nephi 11:8

...puppy love...

Is being joyful genetic?  or is it a learned?  Nature vs. Nurture...the old debate.  

Well, recently I welcomed a brand new "bundle of joy".  I like that old expression that we give to babies; it sure describes my new baby.   My bundle of joy is named Olive and watching her play and romp is guaranteed to make you laugh.  Her joy in being alive and experiencing new things is so neat to see.

Don't all little ones come already full of joy?  I think they do.  They have a natural ease with being joyful and expressing it.  They don't begin to lose that joy until they experience disappointment. This is where the effects of nurture come in.  I think that disappointment and discouragement is the learned trait.  

That means that somewhere inside us all we have the little bundle of joy we came with.  Find it.  If you're having trouble finding it...play with a puppy!

Doctrine and Covenants 136:28-29

...a time to mourn...

I am so thankful for the gift of faith.  That once it was the size of a mustard seed; but with care, it has grown.  

Life is full of all kinds of experiences; some we welcome, others we don't.  And when life brings sorrow or grief there is a choice to make.  You can either take the path of grief where fog and darkness shades your destination, or you can keep heading down the path of light.  

There is a time to mourn, so that there may be a time to laugh.  We cannot see all things as God sees, but we can look down the path we walk; and if it be the path of light that we are on, we can clearly see the end...and that's what keeps us walking.

Eccesiastes 3:11-13