Rain and Shine

Last night I walked with my dad down to the lake-which, embarassingly enough, I had never realized was quite THAT close to us. It rained all day yesterday prior to our walk, and the earth was just beaming . . . everything was glowing and I couldn't get enough of it. When we got to the lake, this is what I found.

Each day is a gift, and one of my favorite parts of each day is when I get to witness God's hand painting the sky. To me, this is a true testimony of his majesty . . . and it takes my breath away every time.

The Power of Words

  
  I"ve been thinking a bit lately about the power of words. I love words. I love how I can play with them, letting them slip off my tongue and paint a picture in the world. I love how they can weave in and out of a thought, splashing onto a page a myriad of images which, when put altogether, make up what what mankind has deemed to call poetry. I love how the beauty in words refuses to be contained, extending beyond language or time or intellect.
     I believe that everyone has words inside them, and it's part of our struggle through life to find those words, and then share them with the world. Because you see . . . words are only a beginning. The true power in words is discovered when they cease to be just words; when they leave the paper behind and leap into your heart and soul. Words can change the world. They convince, persuade, give hope, bring comfort, and inspire. One person at a time, we are changing the world around us with the words we use.
     But words are not everything. They are useless, dead, when left to sit on a shelf, beautiful but abandoned. Or worse yet, words can be used to cut down, belittle, dishonor, and destroy. Their true power is not in their nature of being words-but rather in the moment when they cease to be words . . . and become an act, a choice. Words become powerful when they get deep inside of us, and disturb our comfort zone. . . when they change who we are.
These are some words that have changed who I am:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deppest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our lgiht, not our darkness tht most frightens us. We ask ourselves: who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't help the world. There's nothing enlightening about shrinking down so someone won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in veryone and as we let our own lgiht shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

~Nelson Mandela

Emma Paige Kitchen

Emma is here!

I couldn't help thinking-what better way to start a blog about loving the little things, the tender mercies in life, than with the birth of my darling new niece?

Born 8 pounds exactly, this little munchkin entered into our family and into my heart on the morning of January 22nd, only four days after the day I had been rooting for, and three days after here actual due date.

Emma was put in the level two nursery, as she had swallowed some meconium, and had to have her breathing monitored. She was able to come home a few days later, and is doing fabulously!

Proud parents Ryan and Michelle

As I was unable to see the sweet babe through anything closer than a glass window that first day, I found it quite necessary to go see and hold her after she came home. The poor thing had just exhausted herself with her first at-home bath, and was out the whole time we were there.

A smile from even the smallest of us is wonderfully uplifting, no? It's amazing how much, how often, and how easily babies give love. I can't help but wonder if the reason they love so easily is because they have just left the presence of One who loves us unconditionally, at all times, in ways we cannot even begin to comprehend.

"Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."

~Luke 18:16

"Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved."

~3 Nephi 9:22