Visit from Marrku

Deer Stephanie

I was a little surprised to see the painting of the redhead overlooking Salt Lake Valley by Stephanie Deer.  She definitely stood out among the subdued paintings of western landscapes with their muted colors.  However, the more I have looked at her work, the more appealing the paintings have become.

Mission Reunion

I have been dreading attending the reunion for missionaries who served in France under President H.Duane and Sister Leola Anderson.  Sister Anderson's death in an automobile accident has got a lot of attention with Mitt Romney (who was driving the car) running for the president of the United States.  I had absolutely no fear that Mitt and Ann Romney were going to appear.  I have never met them so I have no vanity to protect from encountering them.  It is the people who knew me when I was a much thinner 112 pounds when I got married, that I was worried about.  People like Cecil Ash and Judy and George Keele.

Needless to say, I worried for no reason.  No one said to me, "My, you have put on a lot of weight and a few more chins since I last saw you."  

It was delightful meeting with old friends and meeting others whom I had only heard about from former Elders Fry and Fisher. 

Elaine Fry, Cecil and Linda Ash
w Linda Rane and John Fisher in the background.

Judy Keele and Judy Steenblik talking to George Keele
Rick Anderson, a grandson of Pres and Sister Anderson,
in the right background

Charles (Bill) Ryan with Mike and Barbi Flynn

Barbi Nixon Flynn and Michael Flynn with Dave and Sister Birrell

Craig Frogley and Gerrit Steenblik

Walter Rane and George Keele

Judy and George Keele with Judy Steenblik 

I have heard so much about Elder Rane's art being displayed while on his mission in France.  I enjoyed the opportunity to meet him and especially his wife Linda.  Someone mentioned that Rane's son was the model for Joseph Smith in his painting of the First Vision.  I particularly like this self-portrait.  

Minerva Teichert is a well known LDS painter among early artists in Utah.  Two of her works were on display at the Williams gallery where the reunion was held.  One was Spanish Dancers and the other was Pink Roses.  It was interesting to see works done by her that were not church related.  

Becky's Post: Five Dollar Shoes

I’ve said it before and I’ll probably say it again and again and again “Autism is hard. It’s hard on parents, it’s hard on families and it’s hard on siblings.” Do we love our Bridger more than words can ever express? Absolutely!!! But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s hard. I often wonder about the effect it has on our other kids. How do they truly, deeply feel about having a brother with autism? We don’t talk about it a ton because it’s just our life, it’s what we do. We deal. We love the kisses and the giggles and we survive the tantrums and the inconveniences. Last week I got a little glimpse into how our 12 year old, Sydney, feels about it when she went to a church activity on a regular ol’ Wednesday night.
After school Sydney’s big sister Celeste took her to Walmart to get a 5 dollar pair of plain white tennis shoes. She was taking them to her activity that night where they were planning on painting them. She was excited and I was too. I was wondering what they’d look like, if they’d turn out like she wanted, and if she’d actually wear them anywhere. I was not expecting her to return home with the most beautiful shoes I had ever laid eyes on.
The activity was to make a design on the shoes, any design, any color, anything… Well, our sweet Sydney designed her shoes with blue puzzle pieces. The puzzle piece is the symbol that represents autism. In our house it represents love and passionate support of our Bridger and other children like him. It represents our fight for better programs, insurance coverage and equal rights for a sweet little blonde boy that has stolen our hearts! And THAT, my friends, is what a 12 year old big sister painted on her shoes.
Those shoes said it all. They said “Even though autism is hard, I love you Bridger. I will always love you and accept you just the way you are. And I will fight with everything I have to help you reach your full potential and to create awareness and make others show you respect and dignity.” It was that night and every time afterward that I see her wear those shoes that this mommy is reminded that we are a family. We are united. We all feel the same way about Bridger. We stand behind him as one.
Thank you Sydney for painting your heart onto those shoes in the form of a blue puzzle piece. I’m so proud of you.
“Hold on, to me as we go. As we roll down this unfamiliar road, And although this wave is stringing us along, Just know you’re not alone, Cause I’m going to make this place your home” –Philip Phillips

Brigham City Temple Dedication

Dedication - Sunday, September 23, 2012, in three sessions. The dedicatory sessions will be broadcast to all stakes of the Church in Utah (a stake is similar to a diocese).

Hand Prints

Yesterday my daughters, Leanna and Kristi, decided to make hand prints of their small children.  The thought crossed my mind, "Why don't we try it out on a piece of paper first?"  Of course, I did not voice that idea.  

Gemma put her hand in the pink painted and curled her fingers in an effort to grab a handful.  She did a very good job of spreading her fingers and putting her hand on the canvas.  The problem was that she immediately closed her fingers and thumb tightly against each other.  The result was a blob.  

Turk and Tek were pretty much as successful as Gemma.  Finally the two mothers gave the children the paint brushes that came with the kits.  The result was lots of paint on the canvas and even more paint on the children.  I hope that the paint washed out of Gemma's shirt.   

When the children were fast asleep last night, Leanna traced their two hands onto the blue canvas.  Surprisingly Tek's hand is almost as large as Turks.  I think her art project shows lots of creativity on everyone's part.  

Hollyhocks

Outside of the house where Muriel grew up was a large hollyhock bush.  I don't think it was supposed to be a bush, but to me as a nine year old girl, it seemed tall and broad.  Hollyhock blossoms are made for little girls to dream about.  I am convinced.  I can remember picking blossoms from the plant and pretending that they were beautiful ballerinas.



Once in awhile I will see a hollyhock plant here where I live.  They always remind me of Grandpa and  Grandma Toole's home in Medicine Hat.  Happy memories of a brief moment of dreaming with a delicate dancer in my hand.

I often wonder if there are still hollyhocks growing in the garden.  The house is still there and a cousin's daughter lives there.  I hope she kept the hollyhocks.

DOLLS

When mother dear wore gingham frocks, 

Her dollies grew on hollyhocks.

Here was a lady clad in silk,

there was another, white as milk.

Dainty dolls in silken frocks

Blooming on the hollyhocks,

Bowing low at every breeze;

Nodding to the bumble-bees.

Darling dolls in dainty frocks

Blooming on the hollyhocks.