Emily Dyches

Same Blog. . . different last name

2009-01-22T20:01:00.000-08:00

I want to thank everyone who has loyally followed my blog, as it has become sparse lately. Now that the festivities are over and life is getting into a routine, I'll be posting more. From now on, my blog will be found here. Hope to see you there!

Why it's okay to be the Nice Guy

2008-12-11T17:14:00.000-08:00

There was once a very wise king who had to make a crucial decision. He was approached by two women who claimed to be the mother of a baby. It was one woman's word against another. His answer? Let's bring a sword out. . .
"Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other."
The real mother ached over this decision and said,
"O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it"
But the other said, "Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it." (1 Kings 3:16-28 paraphrased)

And this is how the king discovered their hearts. The real mother was willing to "lose" the dispute and sacrifice the opportunity to raise her own child. Well, she ultimately wins. Her love for her child indicates to the king she is honest, and she is given her child back.

But it is not always so in the world. We don't always have wise rulers and the nice guy often loses. Yet, from out of the despair of loss there can be a different kind of healing if we are willing to accept it. Peace is not found in winning, but in becoming. It is precisely the time when we may feel we are losing, that our hearts are becoming something deeper, richer, and stronger. It comes when we step out of the fog of selfishness and yearn for the greater good.

This man possesses the kind of qualities I'm talking about:

Inspiring

2008-11-18T17:21:00.001-08:00

thoughts

2008-11-05T13:31:00.000-08:00

"We know the truth, not only by the reason, but by the heart."
-Blaise Pascal

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final world in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant."
-Martin Luther King Jr.

"People can say what they like about the eternal verities, love and truth and so on, but nothing's as eternal as the dishes."
-Margaret Mahy

Sweet Is The Work

2008-10-09T19:50:00.001-07:00

I was commissioned to do this painting several years ago. I thought I'd share some of what I wrote about it:

"Sweet is the work, my God, my King,
To praise thy name, give thanks and sing,
To show thy love by morning light,
And talk of all thy truths at night."

I. The Shepherd
Many people have seen this painting and remarked that they thought it was another shepherd painting of Christ. That is a fitting interpretation. However, the painting has a deeper meaning in direct relation to Christ. It is a representation of his servants, the brethren who hold the priesthood, and their work for the Lord.

“’Anyone serving in any capacity in the Church in which he is responsible for the spiritual or temporal well-being of any of the Lord’s children is a shepherd to those sheep. The Lord holds his shepherds accountable for the safety [meaning the salvation] of his sheep.’ The bearers of the priesthood have this great responsibility, whether it is father, grandfather, home teacher, elders quorum president, bishop, stake president, or other Church calling.”—President James E. Faust quoting Elder Bruce R. McConkie

The man who posed as the shepherd was my Bishop at the time this painting was commissioned. Many of his ideas and suggestions were incorporated into this painting.

II. The Sheep
There are several sheep in this painting going in all directions. Some are in shadow and some in sunlight. Many are watching the shepherd, and many are focused on other things. This all has significance. Many of us may relate to a different sheep at different times in our lives or spiritual development.

It is second nature for sheep to follow. They will follow each other when there is no shepherd. How appropriate that these animals should be compared to the inconsistent nature of human beings. Here is an explanation of how sheep have been used in symbolism for centuries:
“According to ancient commentators, these animals symbolize the types of people and activities appropriate for the house of Israel, God’s covenant people.

Cud chewing was a symbol for those who meditated again and again upon the words of Christ, who continually studied and pondered the scriptures and teachings of the prophets, looking for increased understanding of the divine will. Paul’s missionary companion Barnabas wrote that cud chewing symbolized pondering and acknowledging one’s God and one’s dependence upon him.

Philo of Alexandria indicated that the cloven hoof symbolized that everything has its opposite and that there are always two paths, one leading to vice and the other to virtue. According to the Old Testament, animals with multiple toes were unclean. They symbolized people who believe that there are many roads leading back to God, none being preferential. The solid hoof, on the other hand, symbolized those who taught relativism, implying there was no bad or good, all being equal, dependant only upon personal philosophy. Anciently the parted hoof implied eternal opposition or, in other words, "living in the world and yet looking forward to the world to come.”

III. The Setting
The shepherd is looking and walking east towards the rising sun. Traditionally, this direction was associated with the presence of God or his influence. To face east was to face God. To move eastward was to move toward him. The phrase “keeping your eye single to the glory of God” is coherent with this image. To build upon this idea, he is walking uphill. The mountain is representative of the temple or house of the Lord. It also represents revelation, inspiration, separation from the world, and so on. The scriptures are full of supporting passages for these symbols.

In this painting, there is only one path and the shepherd is walking it. This is to reflect the idea that there is no other option that will lead to eternal life. Either we choose to walk his path and follow him, or become lost. There is the path of goodness and righteousness, and then there are many roads that lead to darkness and despair. There is only one way, truth and light of this world. The Tempter would not make it so obvious as to provide only one other path or alternative to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead he has provided many directions as replacements (not only west, but north and south also). Eventually our works reflect which direction we have chosen in this life.

"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."--New Testament | 1 Peter 2:21 - 25

Defining Marriage

2008-10-09T11:06:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine is in this clip. He's the second person to talk. . .somehow he's always in the middle of something cool. I think they all did a great job and it's worth spreading, so have a look if you have a couple minutes! Here's the website. And also here's some info on the subject: www.protectmarriage.com

Joy, Happiness and Love

2008-10-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

The 5 people who read my blog probably already know this, but since it's such a happy turn of events, I must include it! We took this picture just a few hours after he proposed. It was on a self-timer camera which was sitting on the hood of the car. . . so once I set the timer I had approximately 5 seconds to jump over a bunch of rocks and weeds, climb on the rock, hold on to Jared for dear life, and try to look relaxed! Click on the pic or here for more info!

Havin fun

2008-09-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

He who laughs, lasts. I was sick this last week, so I had a little free time. Here are some things that have made me smile and laugh recently. . . awesome dancin skills, and even better dancin skills by my nephews.

Last Week

2008-09-16T09:23:00.000-07:00

Click on the pic or here to see our Oregon pics!
The music is by David Nevue. More to come soon!

Portland

2008-08-31T17:41:00.000-07:00

Last week Ben took me for a drive down memory lane. . . the Historic Columbia River Highway. He grew up here, and since he was in town for some races, he helped me get my bearings in this new territory, so I could decide what to paint. Thanks, Ben!The painting competition ends tomorrow, and once again I have been humbled by the amount of talent out there. I hope my paintings will measure up at the exhibit next week.

It has been so much fun to see the life of a Mission President Couple whilst here. My folks shine with enthusiasm and love for the work and the missionaries. It is contagious.

"A loving heart is the truest wisdom." - Charles Dickens

Where I'll Be

2008-07-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

This next two months will be full of travels and painting competitions. I've had a lot of people ask me what my game plan is, so here goes:

In August/September I'll be participating in the Pacific Northwest Plein Air Painting Competition. I'll spend the following week painting the Oregon coast with the company of a dear friend, and end up in San Francisco just in time to hang out with some more friends for a few days. Then it's off to Utah again for the Spring City and Escalante Plein Air Competitions.

After that, who knows? Are you thinking what I'm thinking. . . yeah I lead a charmed life.

Stay tuned. . . .

Chillaxin

2008-07-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

Chillaxin: (verb) "Way-far laid back. Chillin' and relaxin' at the same time. An extreme state of contentedness. Good vibes."

Here's some pics from around the town. . . and Mars.

“May God give you...

For every storm a rainbow, for every tear a smile,
for every care a promise and a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share,
for every sigh a sweet song and an answer for each prayer.”
-Irish Blessing

I have been blessed.

From Monet to Picasso

2008-07-16T20:50:00.001-07:00

They wouldn't let us bring the camera in the exhibit, so these pictures will have to suffice!

"Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely." -Auguste Rodin

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." -Pablo Picasso

The exhibit ranged from Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Rodin, Degas, Picasso, to Dali and many others. Quite a show! How fitting that the gentleman who escorted me has the last name of Painter. My favorite part of the evening: while trying to make sense of a Picasso, we were warned by the security guard who thought we were too close to the painting, and I feared we would be tazered. He was watching me like a hawk. . . and I thought I was serious about art!

Ensign Peak

2008-07-07T21:54:00.000-07:00

“Nature is a revelation of God; Art is a revelation of man”

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

So I must admit, I'm a sucker for sunsets. . .After a full day of painting, it was time to put the brushes down, stretch my legs, and inhale something other than turp fumes. I chose to view the sunset from Ensign peak. There is something special about that place. I feel as if I'm on sacred ground atop that hill.

I was a little trigger happy, but I will spare you the rest of the pics! It was a perfectly serene evening, one worth noting. Thanks Cass!

Proof

2008-07-06T17:06:00.000-07:00

Two conversations. The first took place last Wednesday over the phone between my mother and me:
Mom: There's a missionary here that knows you. I guess you met her while you were in Denmark.
Me: Oh, so cool. I think I know who you're talking about. . . did she serve another mission in New Zealand?
Mom: Yes! Well, apparently she has 10 children and they are all married except the youngest son and. . .
Me: Speak no further! I don't want to hear about it.

Now let's fast-forward to Saturday night. I was at a bonfire in the canyon with a small group of people. The guy next to me starts up a convo that went something like this:
Tim: Where did you serve your mission?
Me: New Zealand.
Tim: When did you serve there?
Me: A while ago
Tim: Oh, because my mother served there but she's on another mission now. . .
Me: Let me guess. . . in Portland?
This is when Tim's jaw drops.
Me: So, you're the youngest of 10 and the only one not married, huh?
Tim: I guess I don't need to tell you anything!

Apparently he had also received a similar phone call from his mother this week. She had mentioned that maybe he might run into me, to which he replied, "How do you expect that to happen?" Ha ha! This is proof that God has a sense of humor!

Wisdom

2008-07-04T08:05:00.000-07:00

Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sandbox. These are the things I learned: Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some, and draw and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

Take a nap in the afternoon. When you go out into the world, watch for trafﬁc, hold hands and
stick together. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the plastic cup. The roots go down and the plant goes up, and nobody really knows why, but we are all like that.

Goldﬁsh and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the plastic cup—they all die. So do we.

And then remember the book about Dick and Jane and the ﬁrst word you learned, the biggest word of all: look. Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The golden rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and sane living.

Think of what a better world it would be if we all had cookies and milk about three o’clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets for a nap. Or if we had a basic policy in our nation and other nations always to put things back where we found them and cleaned up our own messes. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together. [Robert Fulghum, “We Learned It All in Kindergarten,” Reader’s Digest,October 1987, p. 115]

Reunited

2008-06-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

. . . and it FEELS so GOOD! This week has been one of joyous and surprising reunions, involving 7 dear friends from my time in Italy. Four of us recently returned to Utah last week.

On Tuesday, Katrina and I caught up over lunch at Cosi (an Italian cafe for old times sake) and explored the Art Institute of Chicago. It was good for my soul to see ya, sis!

I just happened to run into Ryan and Courtney at the Plein Air Competition in Midway. Mark and I ate gelato and later perused a car show in Heber. I like the fact that our reflections are in the brake light, and I believe the license plate says it all!

I found Niki, Tiffany, and the beloved Katie at the Lavender Festival and snuck a seat while Tiffany was teaching a class on Lavender plants. When she saw me, her eyes opened wide as she got all choked up. I think they were tears of joy. . . ;) Sorry to interrupt, but pleased it was a surprise! Happiness.

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." -Bernard Meltzer

Food for thought

2008-06-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well." -Virginia Woolf The location: The Chef's Table
The occasion: A celebration of good food
My favorite dish: It was all fabulous! mmmmm...
My company: the talented Mr. Stahmann

I'm glad to announce that chivalry is alive and well. Furthermore, excellent food can be found in Utah Valley. I was the recipient of both luxuries this weekend. After hours of painting in the hills, I was treated to a first-class meal and wonderful company. That makes for another perfect day. Thanks Mark!

Renascent

2008-06-22T22:34:00.000-07:00

\rih-NAS-uhnt\, adjective:
Springing or rising again into being; showing renewed vigor.

The stunning renascence occurred
When her soul often undeterred
Found wearied blindness for a day
And stopped her step along the way.
She contemplated back and forth
Walking East and South, West and North.
For all those steps she stalled to stand
Right where she quizzically began.
She dropped her pack and shed the weight
Kept the map to diff'rentiate
The excess from necessity
And choose what items to carry.
Some pleasant things cast to the ground
Her favorite this and that were found
A waste of time and effort for
The next path would require more
Tenacity and purpose clear
A place for light to reappear
And guide her feet to peaks unseen
By those who bear their old routine.

-Emily Dyches

Identity

2008-06-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

"The value of identity of course is that so often with it comes purpose." -Richard Grant
Yesterday I traveled with my father to Monroe Mountain. On the way we stopped at an old cemetery to visit the graves of my ancestors. This is the gravestone of Frederick Wasden (my great-great-grandfather) who was a pioneer, a private in the Indian Wars, and also in the Pony Express (he got shot at more times as a Pony Express rider).

Monroe Mountain stands as a monument in and of itself to my family. It is a physical reminder of many rich stories in my family's history. My great-grandfather (Milo T. Dyches) was the forest ranger for Monroe Mountain, and my grandfather was a sheepherder there in his youth. Yes, there is one generation between me and the sheepherder. Pretty darn cool.

Many idyllic childhood memories were created during our summers at Monroe Mountain. Sitting by the fire, shooting at things, collecting deer bones, herding cows with the motorcycles (I don't think we were supposed to do that), and exploring the forest with my brothers. We used to play in this truck, so I painted it yesterday."Know from whence you came. If you know whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go." -James Arthur Baldwin

Lead, Kindly Light

2008-06-14T22:50:00.000-07:00

"Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th'encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me."
-John H. Newman

As a young priest, John Newman became sick while in Italy and was unable to travel for almost three weeks. In his own words:

Before starting from my inn, I sat down on my bed and began to sob bitterly. My servant, who had acted as my nurse, asked what ailed me. I could only answer, "I have a work to do in England." I was aching to get home, yet for want of a vessel I was kept at Palermo for three weeks. At last I got off in an orange boat, bound for Marseilles. We were becalmed for whole week in the Straits of Bonifacio, and it was there that I wrote the lines, Lead, Kindly Light, which have since become so well known.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's. . .

2008-06-12T21:12:00.000-07:00

a meteor?

I saw a bright light in the sky late last night and I'm trying to determine what it was. It started in the NE, and it traveled N and lasted for a good 3 or 4 seconds from the time it caught my eye, disappearing near the horizon. It was very large and blue, with an orange-ish trail. It's really a travesty that I am using orange-ish to describe what I saw. My color theory teacher would be so disappointed.

This picture was the closest thing I could find to what I saw.

Did anyone else see it? I looked online to see if there were any meteor showers scheduled and I found nothing.

Just a few hours away

2008-06-09T20:27:00.001-07:00

"If you're alive, you can't be bored in San Francisco. If you're not alive, San Francisco will bring you to life." -William Saroyan
After three days, I give this city two thumbs up. When I go to new and beautiful places, the curious child in me locks my intellectual side in the closet. I revert to babbling 'oohs' and 'ahhs,' pointing at things and saying over and over again, "Wow, that's pretty. I want to paint that _____(tree, hill, street, dog playing the guitar, etc)."

Luckily my host was gracious and willing to not only persevere through the somewhat incoherent ramblings, but also provide many rich opportunities for more ramblings.

Pleasant surprises:
-eel sushi
-the ferry to Sausalito during sunset (the sailboats catch the sunlight)
-marzipan ice-cream with rhubarb-strawberry sauce
-Pohutikawa trees (native of New Zealand)
-connections with new friends.

I can see why Tony Bennett left his heart here. . .

Free Spirit Needs HELP

2008-06-09T10:07:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, while visiting friends and seeking gallery options, I met a man who lives on a sailboat. He has traveled around the world, literally. He is a "free spirit."

I can relate. The fact that I can be an artist just about anywhere (except a sailboat, although that might produce some interesting work. . . ) makes the world my oyster. This is my trail of 2008 so far. As anyone might deduce from perusing my blog, I have been adrift. My love of exploring new places and meeting new people makes for an interesting conundrum. I'm not sure which direction to set my sails. I've explored options from Denmark to D.C. and India to Hawaii. . . and still I have not come close to a decision. So I am consulting my friends and family. I'm looking for a place that has some, if not all, of these attributes:

1. an 'art scene.' (galleries, shows, fairs, galas, that sort of thing usually means a larger city)
2. many outdoor activities.
3. somewhat near my family (Western States)
4. lots of sunshine

Comments, please!

Surprised again

2008-06-01T14:54:00.000-07:00

"Memory: a child walking along the seashore. You can never tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things." -Pierce Harris

It was only a few weeks ago when my dear friend Mauri invited me to share a weekend with her (and hundreds of singles) in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I had no idea what I was getting into. These pictures will probably only mean something to a few people, but to me they bring back a certain mix of blissful feelings. Relaxation. Laughter. Awe. Gratitude.

Here's the result: a lot of inside jokes are involved here. . . .

Blue Rose of Triumph

2008-06-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

I had just checked out of the Econo Lodge in Norfolk. It was not a high class establishment, as I had to share my room with a cockroach the night before. However, the people were charming. I was waiting for my ride to Duck Beach when an older gentleman approached me. I remember smiling at him when we passed in the hall earlier that morning.

"You are sweet, beautiful, and magnificent!" he said, as he handed me a fabric blue rose with a mini-bear attached to it. Then he left.

Wow. And that was only the beginning. . .

Art Could Save You. . .

2008-05-09T13:39:00.001-07:00

. . . or it could just help you identify pollution levels. Either way, there are some realism principles that are actually useful when it comes to survival. Yesterday, I was nestled in a little ravine, painting a clump of ponderosa pines next to a babbling brook. As I compared the sky color of the horizon, to the sky above me, I noticed the peculiarity of it. Usually, the sky at the horizon is much lighter in value than the sky directly above you.

"Hmm. . . that's strange. It all seems to be hazy. Oh well."

I kept painting. That is, until the helicopter hauling a very large container of water passed overhead.

Quakes

2008-04-25T11:51:00.001-07:00

Want an adrenaline rush? Move to west Reno. I'm not talking about the thrill of losing your paycheck to the gaming industry or the rocking night life downtown. I'm talking about what my parents so aptly portrayed in an impromptu song and dance for me the other day . . . "I feel the earth move under my feet." Yes, they did.

Things are really shaking here. Even if it's in the middle of the night, I feel completely alive and aware the instant I hear the rumbling agitated earth. You know, it is truly amazing to consider the amount of power associated with a quake, and the breadth of its effects. We've had an increasing amount of quakes in the area, with two quakes recorded over 4.0 and 15 more temblors in the range between 2.0 - 4.0 since yesterday.

This map shows how close they are to Reno. What does all of this mean? It may mean nothing, or there could be something bigger coming this way. I'll take it as a reminder that I am alive . . . . and so is the earth.

What to Do When the Shaking Begins:

Drop, cover, and hold on! Take cover under a piece of furniture or against an inside wall. Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you're sure it's safe to exit. Stay away from windows.
If you are in bed, hold on and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow.
If you are outdoors, find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, and power lines. Drop to the ground.

After the Shaking Stops:

Be prepared for after shocks which can occur in the first hours, days, weeks, or even months after the quake.
Help injured or trapped persons.
Check your home or building for damage. Leave the area if you smell gas or chemical fumes.

Blame My Parents

2008-04-17T09:44:00.000-07:00

They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. In my case, the tree has spent many sleepless nights wondering if that apple had somehow rolled down the hill. Or perhaps the tree wonders if the apple will still just be an apple when it rolls over the hill. . . .

I can blame the tree for a lot of things this little apple has done. But what I really want to blame the tree for, is the great view it gave the apple on or off the branch.

This morning I woke up, walked into the kitchen and found this:

My Dad left the last bowl of cereal for me, with a note. This is not the first time he has done something totally out of the blue. He has been known to act this strange for quite some time, writing me a thank you note for being his daughter (for Father's Day) and even writing my friends (to thank them for being my friends). I guess he felt they deserved some sort of remuneration. Thanks, Dad!

And then there's this other half of the tree that doesn't seem to leave me alone. She leaves smiley-faces on my paintings:

She interviews any potential apple suitors, and she's always making food. She wants the very best in life for her apple. You would think this tree has nothing better to do but shade and protect the little apple, but the truth is, this tree has so many other demands, and yet somehow the tree keeps on nourishing the little apple.

If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy about this apple, blame the tree. "By their fruits, ye shall know them. . ." right?

Pretty soon, the tree will have nearly 200 apples under its care in Oregon and part of Washington (how do you like them apples?!).

Just in case my metaphor doesn't really hold together, my parents have been called as the Mission President couple for the Portland, Oregon mission in my church. This means they are responsible for the guidance, well-being, and success of missionaries (most of them between the ages of 19-24). I have no doubt they will continue to bless those they have association with. They are truly unique in the depth of their compassion and concern over the well-being of others, and their devotion to God. I have no doubt they will shine in Oregon (and somehow find ways to still interview potential suitors).

Hidden Genius

2008-04-01T11:53:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine recently sent me this quote, "If you hold a cat by the tail you learn things you cannot learn any other way." -Mark Twain

I would like to add that trying to catch chickens is also an education in itself. You might think that having a dog herd them into a corner is a good idea, but this could also result in heart attacks for the chickens. They are just being chickens, after all. Yes, I am speaking from experience (or failure!).

On damage-control-duty more often than you expected? Mr. Twain seems to think there is value in the fray. I agree. Maybe you knew

you shouldn't have picked up that cat, or maybe you were just minding your own business when it jumped into your arms, claws flailing. That doesn't matter now. The cat is in your hands and you have to figure out how to dispose of it without receiving or inflicting mortal wounds.

That is where genius comes in.

Now, if you're calling someone who has a cat by the tail a "genius," it would be taken as sarcasm, and an angry cat would most likely be flung in your direction. But, Mr. Twain also said, "Thousands of geniuses live and die undiscovered, either by themselves or by others." In the case of this tail (ha ha, nice pun I know), we discover the genius solution in Sammy, the Super-Squirrel because I get a kick out of this picture and had to come up with a good reason to post it.

"Brain researchers estimate that your unconscious data base outweighs the conscious on an order exceeding 10 million to one. This data base is the source of your hidden, natural genius. In other words, a part of you is much smarter than you are." -Michael J Gelb

"As a rule, adversity reveals genius and prosperity hides it." -Horace

May we all uncover our hidden genius and sick him on our most hated cats! (Sorry all you cat-lovers).

Constant Change

2008-03-10T10:58:00.000-07:00

Life connotes movement. Even when we are sleeping, we are breathing and our hearts are beating. Our digestive systems are breaking down dinner and that last glass of water is renewing the cells in our body. Our brains are still functioning, entertaining our minds in restful, or not so restful dreams. Maybe our immune systems are waging a war against infections and the skin that covers us replenishes scrapes or bruises. In the morning, we grab a bite to eat and immediately the elements of the meal scatter to the most useful areas of our bodies (we hope!).

We are constantly changing and in the middle of constant motion. Seasons pass, sunlight fades, and the face of this world slowly evolves. In our human condition, we are growing, discovering, acquiring and losing things.

Nature is teaching us a lesson. It is much easier to destroy than to rebuild. We can make big changes, but they must happen gradually, by small choices. "Get rich quick" schemes and "magic rapid weight loss pills" don't actually work in the long run.

We have to pay the price.

We have to make the effort.

We develop slowly.

If you find yourself looking at the formidable mountain peak in the distance, wondering how you will ever make it to the top, do not be discouraged. It takes one step in front of another, with a clear focus. You will rise, eventually. You have that promise from Someone who does not change. He will always be there to steady you, if you are willing to accept his assistance.

"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confund the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls." -Alma 37: 6-7

Noble Essence

2008-02-27T23:13:00.000-08:00

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." 1 John 3:18

In this simple prelude, "my little children," God is linking us to our divine potential, as staggering as it may seem. Foggy memories of the past may reveal a time when we thought it was just as impossible to ride a bicycle or run a mile. We are children of a master, not a vagrant. Our essence is noble; our capacity, immense. Is this appellation he bestows on us as "little children" humbling or empowering? Is it condemnation or invitation?

Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. -Psalms 82:6

God knows this about us: a portion of our souls will remain unsatisfied without him. Why is he so sure we cannot fill that void with some other remedy?

In his infinite understanding, he patiently waits for us to discover for ourselves, the difference between eternal and ephemeral nourishment. His love is neither mortal nor temporary. It does not flicker with the setting of the sun, rather it abounds even when we sit in darkness. It is forever. And when he is speaking of our grand potential, he is speaking of our capacity to serve and love as he does.

Great

2008-02-16T22:26:00.000-08:00

"We cannot do great things on this earth. We can only do small things with great love." -Mother Teresa

Spinning V Day

2008-02-14T13:31:00.000-08:00

As an artist, I've made a habit of taking existing elements and creating something new. Today the subject is Valentines Day. Historically, this day is for lovers. It is for romance and roses, saying sweet nothings and eating sweet somethings. This year I'm expanding my perspective to celebrate love in all of it's faces and places.

My grandfather sent me this poem while I was on my mission:

"There's a destiny that makes us brothers.

None goes his way alone.

All that we send into the lives of others

Comes back into our own."

-Edward Markham

The timing of that poem was impeccable. I was struggling with a person who was putting a lot of effort into making my life miserable. Looking back 6 years later I see a different story. Among many other blessings, she gave me opportunities to practice patience and forgiveness.

In our efforts to discover our "greater purpose" in life, we undoubtedly find this endeavor involves others.

"We are born helpless. As soon as we are fully conscious we discover loneliness. We need others physically, emotionally, intellectually. We need them if we are to know anything, even ourselves." -C.S. Lewis

Relationships, even the rocky ones, grant us opportunities to improve. You see, there's a grittiness involved in real love. It can be painful. It requires putting on spectacles of charity to see beyond our frustrations. When we sacrifice our pride we let the abundant healing powers of God deepen our bonds. The very situations that can separate two people, can bind them together if they apply the principles of a loving God in their relationship. Charity (Christ-like love) is something we can pray for.

Indeed, what we give to others does come back into our own lives. We decide if it will be bitterness or happiness.

"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:" -1 Peter 1:22

Gavin (my nephew) and Dad at Disneyland last week

Tribute

2008-01-27T21:05:00.000-08:00

Ode to President Hinckley

He spoke.
We listened.
He voiced with care –
“Prepare for the day when I won’t be here.”

A Prophet’s Voice.
A Warning Cry.
“Look to the Savior, and you shall not die.”

A rushing wind.
A silence, loud.
The fire by night.
The pillar of cloud.
The Priesthood displayed.
The glory of God.

Our Rock,
Our example,
Our Iron Rod.

He spoke.
We listened.
He voiced with care.

…Heads Bowed.
…Hearts touched.

We Hear.
We Hear.

Written by Jill Dyches (my mother!) 2007

Gordon B. Hinckley

2008-01-27T19:39:00.000-08:00

Gordon B. Hinckley

June 23, 1910 – January 27, 2008

“Religion offers no shield for wickedness, for evil, for those kinds of things. The God in whom I believe does not foster this kind of action. He is a God of mercy. He is a God of love. He is a God of peace and reassurance, and I look to Him in times such as this as a comfort and a source of strength.

May the Spirit of our Lord accompany us and remain with us. We know not what lies ahead of us. We know not what the coming days will bring. We live in a world of uncertainty. For some, there will be great accomplishment. For others, disappointment. For some, much of rejoicing and gladness, good health, and gracious living. For others, perhaps sickness and a measure of sorrow. We do not know. But one thing we do know. Like the polar star in the heavens, regardless of what the future holds, there stands the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God, certain and sure as the anchor of our immortal lives. He is the rock of our salvation, our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith.

In sunshine and in shadow we look to Him, and He is there to assure and smile upon us. He is the central focus of our worship. He is the Son of the living God, the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten in the flesh, who left the royal courts on high to be born as a mortal in the most humble of circumstances. Of the loneliness of His living He said, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” He “went about doing good”.

He was a man of miracles. He reached out to those in distress. He healed the sick and raised the dead. Yet for all of the love He brought into the world, He was “despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: … he was despised,” and was esteemed not.
We look upon His matchless life and say with the prophet Isaiah:
“He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. …
“… He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” . .
-President Gordon B. Hinckley

Bear

2008-01-21T09:24:00.000-08:00

I purchased a new alarm clock. It begins with a quiet whine. This lasts for about 3 minutes. Then it turns into a soft bark interspersed with a loud bark every now and then. There is no snooze button, and the only way to turn it off is to take it outside. I call it Bear. Bear is by far my most effective alarm clock.
I'm not about to complain because I know all you parents out there have all the bragging rights when it comes to being awakened from restful slumber. I guess one thing we do have in common is this: The time to get concerned is when it gets quiet.

Simplicity

2008-01-21T08:48:00.000-08:00

"Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind. With respect to luxuries and comforts, the wisest have even lived a more simple and meagre life than the poor." -Henry David Thoreau

"And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.

Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will." -Doctrine and Covenants 88:67-68

The District and Mauri

2008-01-12T21:25:00.000-08:00

I spent the week in Washington, D.C. working on a new commission. I hit some brick walls that summon the skillful words of Charles Dickens. . . "Skewered through and through with office-pens, and bound hand and foot with red tape."

I've decided that in order for a light bulb to be changed here, there needs to be a committee assigned. This committee must be approved by a larger committee of committees. Then they must be careful to review the kind of light bulb, it's wattage and price. Forms must be filled out and submitted. After the light bulb is installed, a new committe must be formed for the unveiling of the light bulb. . .etc.

The week had some highs and some lows, but all in all, some progress was made.

I've been staying with a friend who continues to amaze me. Last January, Mauri and I were roommates on a trip that took us to the Caribbean. This year she welcomed me into her own home in Arlington, VA. She is delightful and inspiring, which is why they pay her the big bucks.

Ann Landers once said, "The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good."

hmmmm..... thought provoking, isn't it?

I am probably in that category for Mauri and yet, somehow, by her good graces, I was the "Special Honored Guest" at her Bunko party this weekend. What more can a friend ask for?

Good Point

2008-01-12T21:01:00.000-08:00

If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?

-Abraham Lincoln

Rescue Riders

2008-01-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

When this painting was sold last year, the buyers asked for some of my thoughts about the process. I thought I would share. Here are a couple links related to the project. Sweetwater Rescue Documentary, Willie and Martin Handcart Exhibit. The voice speaking in the second part is Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, in the devotional speech to BYU students, "Times of Trouble."

The Tip

2008-01-01T10:02:00.000-08:00

Here's some pictures and video from the last 6 months but it is really just the tip of the iceberg. Most of the time, the pictures just couldn't do justice to the beauty. I have been so blessed.

Fog and Thoughts

2007-12-07T12:49:00.000-08:00

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

- Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931)

Thomas Edison devoted ten years and all of his money to developing the nickel-alkaline storage battery at a time when he was almost penniless. Through that period of time, his record and film production was supporting the storage battery effort. Then one night the terrifying cry of fire echoed through the film plant. Spontaneous combustion had ignited some chemicals. Within moments all of the packing compounds, celluloids for records, film, and other flammable goods had gone up with a roar. Fire companies from eight towns arrived, but the fire and heat were so intense and the water pressure so low that the fire hoses had no effect. Edison was sixty-seven years old--no age to begin anew. His daughter was frantic, wondering if he were safe, if his spirits were broken, how he would handle a crisis such as this at his age. She saw him running toward her. He spoke first.

He said, "Where's your mother? Go get her. Tell her to get her friends. They'll never see another fire like this as long as they live."

At 5:30 the next morning, with the fire barely under control, he called his employees together and announced, "We're rebuilding." One man was told to lease all the machine shops in the area, another to obtain a wrecking crane from the Erie Railroad Company. Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "Oh, by the way. Anybody know where we can get some money?"

Virtually everything you now recognize as a Thomas Edison contribution to your life came after that disaster. Remember, "Trouble has no necessary connection with discouragement-- discouragement has a germ of its own." -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "For Times of Trouble."

Fresh off the easel

2007-11-20T12:43:00.001-08:00

What I've been working on when I'm not in class, or painting outside, or distracted by the beauty of Florence.

Yes, it's a goat. I'm not sure why I painted it, but there it is. Little Israel (1 year old) sometimes crawls up my spiral staircase to my studio. When this occurs, one needs not second guess where he is headed. He goes straight for the goat, sits himself before his furry friend and begins to converse in baby babble. Luckily, Tiffany is usually there to stop him before he caresses the goat.

Pisa

2007-11-20T11:58:00.001-08:00

Niki, Tiffany, Israel, Katie, Kamau and I went to Pisa last Saturday. Katie and I were able to whip out a painting in the frigid cold while onlookers tried to distract us. It seems that young guys from Bangledesh and old Italians really like Katie.

Plein air painting is fun because of the interest people show as they peer over your shoulder, but I start to feel like part of the tourist attraction when tourists pose with me while their friends take pictures of us. I'm thinking, do I look like Minnie Mouse and does this look like Disneyland? Don't answer that.

Artsy weekend

2007-11-20T11:50:00.001-08:00

Miss Charity Sunshine Tilleman-Dick stayed with me for a weekend. She is a talented and accomplished opera singer now studying in Budapest, Hungary. It was an enjoyable and memorable time, filled with laughter and great food!

Plein Air in Livorno

2007-11-20T11:28:00.000-08:00

Just making it to the train was quite the operation. We had two flat tires and cold blustery weather. It was a balancing act to keep our easels and other bags + one baby all on our bikes, but we made it and we were still in good spirits. A new friend of mine, Willy, picked us up at the station and drove us to the coast of Livorno. It was so wonderfully kind of him to take us around and show us the best spots on the coast. We had not planned for the wind, though.

The most entertaining part of the day was after Niki had finished his painting. It was a nice one, worthy of some documentation. As he set his painting up on his easel and stood back to take a picture, a large gust of wind tossed it into his palette. I had a good laugh. Fortunately, the painting landed "butter-side up" if you know what I mean. No harm done to the painting, but a mild heart attack for Niki I'm sure!

Love Thy Neighbor

2007-11-20T11:12:00.001-08:00

I met Niki, Tiffany and their baby Israel just before classes started at the Florence Academy. Niki and I both started the Drawing program at the same time. We were all looking for housing, and happened to find two places just next door to each other.

They are heaven-sent. I have the best of both worlds as I have my own place to live in, but also this wonderful family living next door. I am profoundly grateful for their friendship and example of humility and kindness. We often have dinners together and it seems they are always serving me in one way or another. I could go on and on, but for now I will summarize with this: they have become dear friends who have changed me for the better and I will always be grateful for their love.
For Halloween, we celebrated by carving pumpkins. As usual artists, we had to create something unusual. Niki was about to carve the pelvis bone out of his pumpkin, but we convinced him a skull would be more Halloween-like. I carved the Ponte Vecchio on my pumpkin which we lovingly named, Pumpkivecchio.

Hazards of City Transportation

2007-11-20T10:45:00.000-08:00

Certain lessons about getting around in the city are learned by trial and error. Luckily I have been able to learn some of these lessons by other people's errors. . . for example:
The importance of observing the flow of traffic before locking your bike to a street corner.

Look up when choosing a parking spot.

Check out this nice ride. I was envious, I admit.

I learned a lesson about buses and narrow streets the other day. It appears that there are some streets that are just not big enough for the both of us (cyclists and buses). I was riding home after class when I passed two fellow students talking near the road. Giuseppe, my bike, and I were in a bit of a pickle as his bell jingled and the tires slipped clumsily over the cobblestone at a record pace. I slowed down just long enough to warn my classmates but all I could muster was "BUS!" They could see in my eyes that I meant more than that. I meant to say, "Save yourselves! Don't worry about me!"
I found out later the laughter ensued as they then observed how close the large bus was trailing me, matching my speed. The road was not large enough for the both of us, so the bus was inches behind me. I could not slow down or I would have been crunched. I am not talented enough to jump my bike over the 8 inch curb to land on the elevated sidewalk. So I was left to peddling my heart out, and with an amused look and an hightened heart rate, I warned the unassuming pedestrians nearby.
I have unwittingly been the source of amusement for these classmates in several similar circumstances. (i.e. Merging onto a freeway with Italian drivers while riding a bike in a dress is a unique experience. One I hope not to repeat!)

Santa Croce

2007-11-08T07:22:00.000-08:00

Our brains were fried from intense concentration, so Katie and I took a break. We stepped outside the studio into the brisk fall air and three blocks later found ourselves standing outside a large cathedral named Santa Croce. As we stepped inside we found the tombs of Galileo, Dante, and Michelangelo. Elaborate sculptures faithfully guard the remnants of these greatly influential men. As Katie and I continued to wander the surrounding streets, my mind wandered about the condition of mortality.

The exteriors of those tombs are impressive, but the remains contained therein are composed of elements similar to every person who has died. They are turning to dust, being void of form or intelligence. Although his contributions to the world will continue to live on, Michelangelo’s last breaths were exhaled ages ago. But what about his spirit? Did that vanish into thin air? One has only to consider the Egyptian pyramids to understand how this subject has been a grand concern throughout the ages. Dante’s “Divine Comedy,” arguably his greatest literary work, dealt with this very subject.

In the midst of intense trials Job proclaimed, “But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?”[1]

The world has provided many answers to that question. There are theories, legends, scriptures, and traditions, but how can anyone really know? What if a man literally died and then returned to life and claimed to know the truth of what lies down that mysterious path? How could we believe his words?

During his mortal ministry, Christ asked his disciples who “men” thought he was. They had various answers including John the Baptist or a prophet. Then he asked them a more personal question:

“But whom say ye that I am?”

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”[2]

Therein lies the answer to how we can really know the truth about Christ and all of his teachings. We do not have to rely on anybody else for this knowledge. Men have their explanations, scientific, philosophical and ethereal, which aim to elucidate our religious understanding, but there is no orator as compelling as that of the still small voice of the Spirit of God. No mortal of mere flesh and blood has the convincing capacity of our eternal Father in heaven, for he has the power to speak to our souls. Job proclaimed, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:”[3]

We can learn from men what men have learned, but if we want to know in our minds and hearts what God knows, we need to learn it from him. Man’s knowledge can pass away as quickly as he does, but God’s knowledge is eternal in nature.

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”[4]

God has promised that if we knock, he will answer.[5] And his answers are more comforting and composed than any earthly information, especially concerning the ultimate destination of our souls.

“. . .begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.”[6]

Christ said, “But whom say ye that I am?”

I wonder if he will ask me this question one day. My answer will be just as Peter’s. Not only did he die and then live again, but he made it so we would all be given that same privilege. He continues to pour his light and truth upon those who seek him. But you don’t have to take my word for it.
[1] Job 14:10
[2] Matthew 16:13 - 18
[3] Job 19:25 - 26
[4] James 1:5 - 6
[5] Matthew 7:8
[6] Alma 33:21 - 22

Can't Help But Believe

2007-11-02T01:15:00.000-07:00

“Across the centuries no experience has been more universal and helpful than a sense of someone caring for us, near enough to be called upon, responsive enough to understand. He is real and he is personal; and should be idealized but also realized. We must not only possess the idea of God, but we should be possessed by it. Men do not believe in God because they have proved Him, rather they try endlessly to prove Him because they can’t help believing in him.” Hugh B. Brown, ‘God is the Gardener’

Our First Fight

2007-10-27T02:50:00.000-07:00

It was a dark and stormy Sunday night. . . and I was gleefully riding my bike home. It had been a good day and Giuseppe had been treating me so well. Giuseppe and I met a week earlier and for only 50 Euros, he was mine. He had a new shiny sky blue paint job, a light that worked when you pedaled, and a bell. He might have been a ghetto one-speed, which had probably been stolen from the previous owner, but once I took him for a spin, I knew he was meant for me. Suddenly it took half the time to get to places. Going over cobblestone would cause the bell to ring lightly. Most of the time, people would hear us coming and make room for us to pass.

It was precisely the moment I was humming a tune and passing a couple that Sunday night when I realized how much I appreciated Giuseppe and the speed to which he could bring me home. My thoughts were something like this, “That poor couple in the cold wind. . . .I’m so glad I have Giuseppe. . . la la la la. . . tra la la la.”

Then things suddenly went very wrong.

I had been wearing a very long flowing skirt. It was perfect for this kind of weather. Yes, a beautiful long skirt that a roommate of mine had given to me. The very skirt that caused Giuseppe and I to get into our first (and hopefully last) fight. I stopped abruptly as it got caught up in the gears, but it was already too late. Half of the skirt had already been devoured. “But there’s still hope.” I thought to myself. The next 5 minutes became a tug-o-war between Giuseppe and I. I do not have any pictures of this event, but there was a large tour bus stopped at the light, full of eager Japanese tourists. Give it a couple of days, and you’ll likely find footage of me stuck to a bike in half a skirt on YouTube.
I am happy to report that after a long walk home and a trip to the bike shop, Giuseppe and I have resolved our differences and once again enjoy a beautiful relationship. The news is not so positive for my skirt.

Bargue!

2007-10-22T03:14:00.000-07:00

Today's Quiz:
Can you spot at least 20 mistakes in the drawing on the right? My teachers can!

They teach us to be critical. We copy drawings from the Master Charles Bargue. They have to be exactly the same. Millimeter is a word used until it gets to a point when a touch darker, slightly wider, a hair thinner, and nuance become the adjectives and phrases used to describe how we can improve our drawing.

Each drawing holds within it many lessons for the eager student and acute observer.

This is a huge advantage to the artist. As one learns to catch one’s own mistakes, one improves. It’s all good clean fun until one goes home and looks in the mirror and says to herself, “I think my smile is a millimeter off on the right side,” or, “my waist is looking a millimeter wider today!” There are certain things that just shouldn’t be translated directly into our everyday lives.

But, this kind of self-critique is important in art and perhaps in many matters in life. Sometimes I think my drawing looks good, until my teacher comes along and points out mistakes I didn't have the ability to recognize myself. I am learning how to train my eye to see those inaccuracies. I find this process similar to repentance. As we repent, we are learning how to train our spiritual eyes. Sometimes we need the help of a more experienced, wiser source of knowledge to see where we need to change. This is a positive experience. It adds to our spiritual sensitivity and helps us to define what is right and wrong. It helps us to catch ourselves from making the same mistakes again.

"If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." Hebrews 12: 6, 7, 9 - 11

Bang

2007-10-22T03:02:00.000-07:00

Too Hard for the Lord?

2007-10-16T07:22:00.000-07:00

A long time ago an old couple believed in a great promise. They would have a son. Not only that, but they would be the father and mother of many nations[1].

But they had to wait for those blessings. “It is human to sorrow with the sorrower, but greater to have faith and more blessed to behold the believer. From Abraham we have no song of sorrow. As time went by he did not mournfully count the days, he did not cast suspicious glances at Sarah, fearing she was growing old. . . Abraham became old and Sarah was mocked in the land, and still he was God’s chosen and heir to the promise that in his seed all nations of the earth would be blessed.”[2]

In due time, part of the promise was fulfilled, and they had a son whom they named Isaac. But their test of faith had only begun. Many years later, Abraham was asked, “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering. . .“[3]

How it must have wrenched his soul to receive such a command! Abraham loved Isaac dearly. How could a loving God ask him to put his son on the altar? It just doesn’t make sense. But Abraham was willing to go forward anyway. He believed the Lord would prepare a way for all promises to be fulfilled even still. “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”[4]

God did not reveal to him an angel would stop him from taking his son’s life. No, he had to travel with his only son by his side all the way up the mountain. He had to set up the altar, and gather all preparations for a burnt offering. He had to put his son on the altar and raise his arm before an angel stopped him and a ram was found in the thicket.

We learn something about God when we sacrifice. It seems that God let Abraham, in a very real experience, understand the sacrifice He made by allowing His Son to be sacrificed. Now that makes sense. Abraham already understood he was carrying out God’s plan, not Abraham’s plan. He proved he would do whatever it took, no matter how long it took, to fulfill God’s will. That is real faith.

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.[5]

In comparison to Abraham and Sarah, our trials may seem insignificant. Even still, many of us have soul-wrenching struggles as we desire certain promised blessings which have yet to be fulfilled. At times the things we want the most seem to slip further and further away. In the hopes that our circumstances will soon change, we are worriedly looking for the “ram in the thicket” before putting everything on the altar.

When I mention ‘everything’ I’m talking about whatever it is we struggle to believe we will receive. Do we really believe God when he makes a promise to us? Can our faith be strengthened in certain areas?

Maybe the promises we worry about the most are the ones we have the least faith in.

What does it mean to believe in the same God as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? It means we can be a part of the same promises they were given. It means that when we believe, it will be accounted unto us for righteousness. It means that even when we cannot see immediate answers to our problems, the solutions will be given by God, in his time.

But behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.[6]

It takes faith to loosen our grasp on blessings we so eagerly wish to obtain, or in other words, to put them on the altar. But it is also liberating. It is the acknowledgement that we are focusing on His plan which includes His timing. In turn, our spiritual myopia is traded for an eternal perspective as we see and appreciate the flood of existing blessings. In due time, all promises will be fulfilled. Our task is to believe that although we know what we want, the Lord knows what we need.

In our hearts we have to decide, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?”[7]
When we realize that no promise is beyond his capacity to fulfill, we finally find peace. Things may not change for us immediately, but we will be happy. Why? Not because we have given up on God’s promises, on the contrary, we finally believe they will happen. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.[8]
[1] Genesis 17:4, Genesis 17:16
[2] Soren Kierkegaard, “Fear and Trembling,” pg.51, Penguin Books, England
[3] Genesis 22:2
[4] Genesis 15:4 - 6
[5] Romans 4:16 - 25
[6] Mormon 9:11
[7] Genesis 18:14
[8] Hebrews 6:15

Adding Up

2007-10-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

The sunrise today

"Knowledge is a process of piling up facts; wisdom lies in their simplification." Dr. Martin Henry Fischer

I missed my 10 year High School reunion this summer. In retrospect, I added up a few things that have happened since High School:

50+ = roommates
30+ = stitches
24 = places lived in (on average, I move every 5 months)
19 = roommates who got married (one to my brother)
17 = countries traveled to
8 = nieces and nephews
3 = years without gluten (wheat, oats, rye, barley)
1 = marathon
500+ = journal pages written

Certain things can be measured, but perhaps it’s the things that cannot be quantified that I appreciate the most. Consistently I have had the love of family, the support of dear friends, and daily blessings (sometimes in disguise) from an all-powerful and ever-loving Heavenly Father.

"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.": - Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Good Timing and Deer Dating Rituals

2007-10-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

I have the ability to be consistently 15 minutes late. It is really a talent. No matter how hard I plan in advance, I always find a way to show up late. That was until last Thursday... I was walking through Dyrehaven, the sun was setting and I laid eyes on... drumroll please.....

a group of photographers from Holland. Han, Shane, and Rick.

And then my perceptive abilities kicked in and I looked in the direction they were all looking. Rick was kind enough to fill me in on the events we were watching.

A male red deer was chasing another one, with aggressive moves and a loud deer-roar (it's called rutting). What was the cause of all this commotion? Why, it was the women. They were competing for an entire group of female deer. Apparently, this only occurs during a certain time of the year. I was lucky enough to stumble upon it.

The hero of this story was not the deer we were observing. He gave up after a few tries and wandered off alone. What is it with men these days? I could almost hear a whimper as he hung his head. Maybe next year, buddy.

Home Sweet Home

2007-10-03T12:48:00.000-07:00

We love places because of the way they make us feel.

New Zealand, Lake Tahoe, Florence, Copenhagen, Dyrehaven. These are a few of the places I call “home.”

I’ve begun to realize that this feeling which makes me feel at home is actually the companionship of the Spirit. There are certain settings in which I can feel that peace easier than others. When I am surrounded by the beauty of nature, I am reminded of the Creator. Often in the scriptures, we read of prophets going to the mountains to be with God. I understand that concept. I get the same feeling every time I go to Dyrehaven. Since you couldn't be there with me, I'm going to take you on a walk through the park to see what I saw. The cool air was gilding the tops of the trees. The ground was soft, and the after-rain smell of earth, leaves, and atmosphere was mixing into a fresh Autumn potpurri.

Copenhagen

2007-10-03T11:58:00.000-07:00

I don't know what kind of dodgy character he might have been in his youth, but Christian lived up to his name this last weekend. From finding a place for me to stay, to taking my luggage so I could explore Dyrehaven without extra stuff, he made this weekend wonderful. I stayed at Ellah's place. Ellah, who hails from the Philipines, was more than an accomodating host. One evening we stayed up talking til nearly 5am.

I had the opportunity to go back to the Copenhagen Temple with Cecilia. The last time I was there (2004) I was also with her. She and I (and her wonderful family, Joseph and Samuel) bonded while I lived here working as an apprentice to Joseph Brickey, painting the murals in the temple.

What an amazing experience to be within those walls again, surrounded by blissful memories. I found myself wishing I had allotted more time to be there. I guess that means I'll have to go back soon!

Here's a little pictoral flashback to the time I spent in Copenhagen years ago.

Choice

2007-09-26T04:55:00.000-07:00

"Recent information seems to confirm that the ultimate spiritual healing comes in the forgetting of self. A review of the accounts indicates that those who survived best in prison and hostage camps were those who were concerned for their fellow prisoners and were willing to give away their own food and substance to help sustain the others. Dr. Viktor Frankl stated: 'We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms-to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.' The Savior of the world said it very simply: 'And whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.'" James E. Faust, Ensign, Jul 2005, 2-7

A Work in Progress

2007-09-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

"A work of art is the trace of a magnificent struggle." Robert Henri

I happened upon this sculptor's workshop while wondering through the streets of Florence the other day. Cool, huh?

I Was Distrac. . . . What?

2007-09-24T12:36:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about the concept of distractions while I was riding the bus today. A man standing on the sidewalk made eye contact with me as my bus drove past him. I began to think about what an odd thing it is to stare into a stranger’s eyes. Then it occurred to me that I had just distracted myself from my own thought process (which was concerning the idea of distractions). Yes, if there’s anybody qualified to converse on this topic it is me. Now what was it that I wanted to say?

It is important to clarify what a distraction is. What may be the very object of focus for one person could be a mere distraction to another. It is when we define what it is we are focused on, that we discover what our real distractions are. If we do not know what our focus or purpose is, then we are much like Alice when she asked the Cheshire Cat which road to take.

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don't much care where –" said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.

Does it matter what we choose if we don’t care where we are going?

If we are learning how to act out our lives as if we are living on purpose, then we see how much power we have at our fingertips.

"I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon." 2 Nephi 2:14

This is an age of information-overload. We are ‘acted upon’ daily by the influences that surround us. We have to be savvy about prioritizing what we let into our lives. If Satan can’t blatantly grab our attention, at least he can pull our focus off God, and divide it into a myriad of trivial matters. Maybe he can’t get me to dress immodestly, but that won’t stop him from influencing me to think negatively about my body. Maybe he can’t get me to gossip, but he can have me thinking about myself so much that I forget to see the needs of those around me. Maybe he can’t get me to look at porn, but he can give me so many enticing TV shows to watch that I no longer have time to read my scriptures. You get the idea. It behooves us to recognize the use of distractions as one of his tactics.

God, in his supreme foreknowledge, has prepared many ways to remind us how we can maintain our focus on him. When we live worthy of his direction, he helps us un-clutter our minds and hearts. That guidance is given in whispers from a “still, small voice.” It is gentle and hard to hear if we allow too many voices to compete for ‘air time.’ May we choose to be in control of that ‘air time’ so that he will lead us to him.

"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon. . . And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;" 2 Nephi 2:25 - 28

Beyond Success

2007-09-19T10:25:00.000-07:00

Trials can be beautiful because they often tear down our façades of pride, exposing a softer heart inside. Depending on the severity of our troubles, we are brought to kneel before our Maker, acknowledge His power, and plead for the strength to overcome. We begin again, to build a reservoir of inner strength as we rely on ‘living waters.’

Success can be ugly for similarly opposite reasons. It causes us to create self-inflicted accolades. We quickly forget the ever-steady arm that has been stretched out in our support. Our calm inner confidence is pushed aside by congratulatory pats of the arm of flesh. Worst of all, we may fool ourselves into thinking He really can’t help us like we can help ourselves, and eventually reach a false sense of independence from the most powerful being in existence.

Our degree of pride is revealed in many ways. How we approach prayer and scripture will reflect our reliance on God, or lack thereof. Our level of gratitude and the focus of our thoughts are other indicators. We can begin now to reverse the current of pride by taking the focus off ourselves. We can pray for others. We can show God our love by not only thanking Him, but obeying His will. It does not matter who else we humble ourselves before if it is not God.

DO we begin again to commend ourselves? . .
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 2 Corinthians 3:1 - 5

We can easily lose our humility if we do not have the substance of the Gospel in our lives. Worldly influences tempt us to impress others, receive high honors, or amass riches. No matter how successful we are, the world will entice us to seek for more. There are many souls who keep searching, seeking greater solidarity long after they have shaken the hands of success. Bewildered, sensing the deficiency of ‘life’ and ‘light’ in their own eyes, they’ve failed to perceive that all that hot air has left an empty space which only the Spirit can rightly fill. Any other solution is fleeting and unreliable.

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single[1], thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! . . .
Wherefore, seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness. Matt.6:22-23, JST
Matt.6:38

The Spirit that comes into a life centered on Christ has the power to make one happy and satisfied, no matter the socio-economic station, social status, age or education of the person. Simply keeping our eyes focused on the glory of God will help us to attribute the praise where it is deserved.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. 5:16
[1] Healthy, sincere, without guile

No Sensible Fellow

2007-09-18T02:41:00.000-07:00

"Art is like religion in that it is one of those things 'no sensible fellow talks about.'

One can talk about points of view, as one talks about creeds, because the sensible realise that the sacred gist of the matter is safe from harm in such discussions.

Art at its best lifts the veil that obscures reality in things seen, and gives us a glimpse of things more harmonious and permanent than the fleeting images that pass upon our retina. More permanent because they satisfy the deeper and more permanent elements of our being, in much the same way that the deep correspondence set up by religious ecstasy does."

Harold Speed

Hilary and Nicoletta

2007-09-18T02:29:00.000-07:00

Last night we celebrated Hilary's 30th birthday. I met Hilary in July, while landscape painting with a mutual friend of ours. She mentioned there was an open spot in her apartment for a few months. Serendipitous? Certainly! We became fast friends and I have thoroughly enjoyed living with her and Nicoletta.

Sadly, our contracts have come to an end at the place we live in. I will look for a new place to live. These were blissful times with ideal roomies. I especially enjoyed catching up with each other over breakfast. Thanks for your friendship, the language tips (which I really needed), and fashion tips (which I desperately needed)!

Growth

2007-09-13T07:03:00.000-07:00

“Men, discouraged by their failure to accomplish exactly what they desire, often speak of their lives as purposeless, but it is idle talk, for, in fact, no intelligent life which concerns itself vigorously with the things about it, can be said to be purposeless.

Such a life adheres, automatically, to the law of progression, and is therefore moving on to the great destiny of supreme power and accompanying joys. The only purposeless life is the one that does not use its faculties. It matters little what tasks men do in life, if only they do them well and with all their strength. In an infinite universe, one cannot possibly learn all or do all, at once. A beginning must be made somewhere, and corner by corner, department by department, space by space, all will be known and conquered.

In the end, all must be explored, and whether one begin in the east or the west cannot matter much. The big concern is to what extent a man offer himself, mind and body, to his work. Upon that will growth depend.” -John A Widstoe

Charity

2007-09-13T06:16:00.000-07:00

"Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."

1 Corinthians 13:8

Charity never faileth. What does that mean?

We spend our entire lives dealing with the principle of love, whether we realize it or not. Life is a training ground to help us to learn how to love and what to love. Each day we reveal what we love by our thoughts, actions, desires and even our fears. We will love people who will not love us back, but charity isn't concerned about getting something back.

I'm still trying to understand what was meant by those three words, "Charity never faileth." What I know is when my actions are motivated by pure love I become a better person, no matter the outcome of the situation.

When I take a moment to look at my life I see how it is blessed by my associations with others. I appreciate them. I am learning from them. It is important to recognize the context in which we have been placed and the unique gifts and talents we each have. It maybe something so simple as a smile that will make somebody's day more full. We have today to learn how we can best excel in the art of love.

Sunset over Florence

2007-09-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

We live in deeds, not years: In thoughts not breaths; In feelings, not in figures on a dial. We should count time by heart throbs. He most lives who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best. -Aristotle

Senza Glutine

2007-09-08T07:54:00.000-07:00

I am allergic to gluten (the protein in wheat, oats, rye, and barley). This poses a bit of a problem in a country where not only do they include that ingredient in their most desired foods, but they join in flour-wars in the streets. I risked my life for that photo! Someone might have thought I was walking through tear gas the way I was holding my breath! For those fellow gluten-free friends of mine. . . there is hope. Senza glutine will be your two favorite words in Italian. Fortunately many stores carry products which are made with corn-flour and rice-flour. There are also many fresh fruits and vegetables available. Most of the restaurants serve delicious salads. I was served gluten-free linguini on our bike tour last week. With a little research and self-control you will find your waist-line is not stretching as much as your fellow travelers, your stomach will be pain-free, and your taste buds will not feel entirely abandoned.

Hope

2007-09-08T05:45:00.000-07:00

“Real hope keeps us ‘anxiously engaged’ in good causes even when they appear to be losing causes on the mortal scoreboard. Likewise, real hope is much more than wishful musing. It stiffens, not slackens, the spiritual spine. Hope is serene, not giddy, eager without being naive, and pleasantly steady without being smug. Hope is realistic anticipation which takes the form of a determination- not only to survive adversity, but moreover, to ‘endure well’ to the end . .
Genuine, ultimate hope helps us to be more loving even while the love many waxes cold. We are to be more holy, even as the world ripens in iniquity, more courteous and patient in a coarsening and curt world, and to be of strong hearts even when the hearts of others fail them.”
-Neal Maxwell, Oct. 1998

Firenze By Bike

2007-09-02T11:44:00.001-07:00

My roommate Hilary led us on a bike tour through the Chianti region on Friday. What a blast! The other bikers were Debbie and Phillip from South Africa, and Dave from San Diego. It was a well-traveled bunch and our lunch break proved to be especially entertaining. In spite of the fact that I had the advantage of youth in comparison to the other clients, I was the slowest biker. My competitive nature dissipated as my quads screamed for air climbing up some of those hills. Although I'm still sore, I'm glad I had the chance to see the landscape from this perspective. I have a renewed respect for cyclists!

Phillip (Hugh Grant's cousin), Debbie and Dave.

The Greatest

2007-09-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” When Jesus was asked this question, he called out to a little child and “set him in the midst of them” and proclaimed, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

It is a beautiful concept, that those who were once humbled, will eventually be exalted; that weak things will be made strong, and that the poor in heart will find riches. That those who are not applauding themselves, who are meekly making their path towards humility will come closer to true greatness than those seeking self-aggrandizement. A little child is our example of what we should progress toward.

But the idea of becoming something we have already been may sound odd.

Nicodemus could not wrap his mind around a similar concept, the idea of being born a second time. He was a ruler in his little sphere among the Jews, yet one night he came to be taught by Jesus. Addressing him with respect, Nicodemus posed this question, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?”

“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God,” was the answer he received. Jesus went on to explain, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. . . And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. . .For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

I wonder if the light bulb went off in his head about that time. Ahhh. . . so we aren‘t saying we will literally be born again. We are speaking of a spiritual re-birth which is accompanied by water and the Spirit. As a person is “buried” in the waters of baptism, and then lifted up out of that water, he is beginning a “new life.” It is our spirit that will continue to grow and change as we recognize that although we are still little children spiritually, we are children of God. When we accept him, he opens our eyes to our personal limitless potential for good if we continue in humility.

That evening, Jesus taught Nicodemus about many things, including his own death and resurrection. Later, it was this very same Nicodemus, who came to the disciples of Jesus after his crucifixion, with a “mixture of myrrh and aloes” to put on his body as they wrapped him in linen clothes and spices for burial.

It has taken me a long time to learn some simple things. Although it is more easily apparent when we begin to neglect our physical bodies of nourishment and exercise, our spirits require just as much vigilance. We thirst for water and hunger for food each day. We also have a spiritual hunger. We need to allow room for growth in our hearts and minds. In order to "grow up" spiritually, we have to put effort there just as we would an exercise routine. When we put that effort forth, it shows. It shows in the way we hold ourselves. It shows in the way we treat others. It shows in the lives of those we influence.

“There are very few human beings who receive the truth, complete and staggering, by instant illumination. Most of them acquire it fragment by fragment, on a small scale, by successive developments, cellularly, like a laborious mosaic.” Anais Nin

Deep Thoughts. . .

2007-08-28T02:17:00.000-07:00

"I thought you had to give up a lot for art, and you did. It required complete concentration. It also required that whatever money you had be put into art materials." -Alice Neel

"The scholar specialized in any field will find that the more he knows, the more he will have to learn." –Alberto Giacometti

"The public wants to understand and learn in a single day, in a single minute, what the artist has spent years learning."

-Paul Gauguin

I'm going to stay here and study at the Florence Academy of Art for the Fall Trimester! It is difficult to get in so late in the year since they usually have a waiting list. Fortunately, one the students who had been accepted, recently declined and relinquished his spot. I was given first dibbs!

Citta della Pieve and Smallest street

2007-08-23T11:41:00.001-07:00

“No one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another. I testify that He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not against each other. I know that if we will be faithful, there is a perfectly tailored robe of righteousness ready and waiting for everyone. May we encourage each other in our effort to win that prize is my earnest prayer.” –Jeffrey R. Holland

Il Palio

2007-08-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

Twice a year in Siena, Italians gather together packing themselves like sardines inside the piazza to watch 11 bareback horse riders (who each represent a different locality near or in the city) race on a track around them.

Before the festivities begin, an extravagant parade files throught the narrow streets bringing the crowd to the area of the event. Although the race only lasts 90 seconds, it is worth it!

Other small towns like Citta della Pieve also have their own Palio with incredible costumes and talented performers. It takes you back in time.

Piggyback rides

2007-08-23T11:09:00.000-07:00

It seems that Dad is the preferred form of transportation for many kids here, with Mom and Grandpa coming in at a close second and third place.

"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million." -Walt Streightiff

In the Doghouse

2007-08-23T10:54:00.000-07:00

People say the population of Italians is decreasing because couples are having less children. I’m not sure about the exact statistics but I know the average Italian family has less than 2 children. Perhaps these statisticians are forgetting something about Italians. . .

There are many paintings which include the family dog in the museums here. The gravestones in a Florentine doggy graveyard attest to the prominent place dogs had in their owner’s home:

Our beloved Tiddly Poo: A king who possessed all the qualities of an incomparable and unforgettable companion
Alonso: One of four enchanting Dachshund brothers who died untimely
Dimitri Ivanovitch: A good dog. Loyal, devoted, courageous, intelligent. May his spirit rise.

One tombstone even referred to the dog as a compassionate “person.” Hmmm. . .

When Dad and I were in Pompeii we found something interesting. It is a “Beware of Dog” mosaic in the entry way of a home. The evidence is stacking up here, that even if Italians die off . . . their dogs will continue to thrive! In honor of that, I have included a Rin Tin Tin look-alike in this re-enactment of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Thanks, Dad, for cooperating!

The Hills Are Alive. . .

2007-08-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

There had been a mix-up in communication, due to my phone which had decided to no longer cooperate. I had been waiting at the "in case we lose you" spot for 45 minutes and had exhausted my limited knowledge of Italian on any of the locals in search of a payphone to no avail. It was the last night of "Palio" in Citta Della Pieve. There were hundreds of party-goers, dressed in Renaissance best, beating drums and cheering in some sort of Italian frenzy.

Then I saw them coming down the street, arm-in-arm, searching for me. They greeted me with enthusiastic smiles. Corban, Liberty, Charity, Mercina, Gloriana, and Zenith are siblings belonging to the Tillemann-Dick family, but if you think Von Trapp, you will not be far off.

It seems that any minute, someone is going to say, "Cut, take two!" And the kids will start squabbling, the set will be taken down, and the director will be discussing the next scene. . . .

Although its just as beautiful as "The Sound of Music" and the kids are eerily just as cheerful, this is not an act, but daily life for the Tillemann-Dick family, at least for now.I was glad they found me, and so grateful for the opportunity to spend 3 days associating with them in their country home as Charity performs in the latest attraction. Charity Sunshine is an incredibly talented young opera singer among many other things. Through a series of fortunate events, she finds herself singing as the lead character in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," with half of her family here in support.

Yes, the 6 that greeted me in the city were only half (there are 11 children in the family). I find myself thoroughly impressed with this bunch. Annette home-taught her children, who seem to have soaked it in (attending Yale at 15 yrs old). Zenith, the youngest at 10 yrs. old, gave us a lesson on Greek mythology. Here is a picture of Annette, who let me sit with her in our box seats as we watched Charity perform on opening night. Charity's opening performance was amazingly beautiful. Again I feel as if I have "found" old friends here. I'm grateful for the interactions I am given, and the kindness I receive from these associations.

Inspired by the Struggle

2007-08-13T09:30:00.001-07:00

“For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.”
Job 14:7

Most of us have more faith than we realize. If we take ‘faith’ and define it as “things which are hoped for and not seen,” we see that all of us exercise some measure of faith each day.

Whenever we begin something we are exercising faith that our project will prove to be of worth. For me, I exercise faith when I begin a painting, for an architect it is a building he hopes to bring into existence. Every time a gardener plants a seedling, he or she has faith it will grow into something fruitful. We go to school because we believe all that effort will bring us knowledge, skills, and understanding about the world. We don’t have proof all that studying will pay off for us, but we hope it will. That is faith. We have faith that the night will turn into day and that winter will turn into spring. We begin relationships with faith, hoping they will develop. When we say a silent prayer, we are hoping someone is listening.

And sometimes we can’t tell if someone is listening. Sometimes the seed we planted does not grow. Did we not exercise faith in hoping it would grow and in watering the ground? Yes, but now we are given an opportunity to build a deeper level of faith. Perhaps it means we begin again and plant a new seed. It takes a lot of character to keep going when you don’t get what you hope for.

I see people doing this everyday. We are all caught in the human struggle between what we are and what we want to be. Each time I see someone battling his or her own demons, and putting forth the effort even though it is hard to see the end from the beginning, I am inspired. It encourages me in my efforts to become more than what I am now. I have respect for these people. I begin to see things working for them in ways they could not have planned. They just keep trying and in every effort they grow, almost imperceptibly, in small and simple ways. I see greatness in these people. It is easy to see the power that comes to those who believe in a good cause. It starts with a small seed.

"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world. . . which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." Book of Mormon, Ether 12:4

Pathway to Happiness

2007-08-13T09:20:00.000-07:00

"May I suggest a further requisite in the continuing quest to live happily every hour, every day, every month, and every year of our lives. The golden pathway to happiness is the selfless giving of love-the kind of love that has concern and interest and some measure of charity for every living soul. Love is the direct route to the happiness that would enrich and bless our lives and the lives of others."

James E. Faust July 31, 1920 - August 10, 2007

Just In Time

2007-08-09T00:54:00.000-07:00

Dad left just in time. After his plane departed, I went for a jog near my new place and a torrential downpour arrived. The rain was coming down in sheets and then hail. It knocked over dumpsters and washed them into a flood down our street. The sewage drains got plugged up and it became a sight to see! I’m glad we live on the top floor. The power was out and we were restricted to our apartment building (unless we wanted to swim to the bus stop). We had the policeman sloshing around in rubber wading boots trying to direct traffic.
My roomie, Hilary, has lived here several years and never seen this kind of weather. On my way to the store this morning, I passed several large fallen sycamores. Here's a few pics to give you an idea. The one to the left is from our apartment building entrance. This poor little old lady was vigilantly guarding her apartment from intruding floodwaters.

Traveling with Papi

2007-08-08T01:44:00.000-07:00

What was originally planned as Dad's trip to pick me up turned out to be more of a visit. We spent the last 9 days touring Italy. It was fantastic! The most remarkable part was the fact that nothing went wrong. We made all of our connections and had many pleasant surprises along the way. I've gathered several hundred pictures which I will refer to as I paint. I will include some of them in the coming posts.

Since I was taking pictures like it was going out of style, I'm grateful for a patient traveling companion! Dad kept up with me in all of my excited scurrying around! What a blessing to spend this time with him! Mum stayed home to babysit my niece and nephews, so she says now she wants to go on a luxury vacation with me while Dad babysits! Sounds good to me!

Now you can see who I got my smile from. . . good thing I got my mom's skin!

Light

2007-08-07T17:37:00.000-07:00

"Some murmur when the sky is clear
And wholly bright to view,
If one small speck of dark appear
In their great heaven of blue.

And some with thankful love are filled,
If but one streak of light
One ray of God's mercy, gild
The darkness of their night."
-Richard Chenevix Trench

To Mark

2007-08-07T17:00:00.000-07:00

I have written a limerick for my friend Mark:

We went to Venice
We went to Rome
Then you went home.

But I'm still here
In Italy
Don't you wish you were me??

Heh heh. Thanks for being my guide here in Florence. You really overdid it by moving here two years before me just so you could show me the ropes when I came. Honestly, I'm excited to see what sort of masterpieces will soon result from your studies here. You can leave Italy but I'm not sure Italy will ever leave you!

To My Roomies

2007-08-07T16:35:00.000-07:00

I am dedicating this post to my roomies of Florence Academy. Sally, Steph, Nicole, Tara, and Sarah. Who knew such skinny girls could consume vast amounts of nutella in so short a space of time?

I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to live with you sweet women, who are thoroughly beautiful and bursting with potential. Even when I wasn't in the same room with you, just hearing your laughter down the hall brightened my days here. Thank you for all that you have taught me. Here's to the Florence Reunion someday in the future! I wish you the best in your artistic pursuits. PS. Could one of you send me a pic of Sally? Thanks!

Learning to See

2007-07-28T07:15:00.000-07:00

“What is hardest of all?

That which seems most simple: to see with your eyes what is before your eyes.”

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Sometimes I take a break and walk around to look at the paintings the other artists are working on. It amazes me how different and unique each painting is, even though we are all looking at the same scene.

As art students, we are taught how to see what is before us. We are noticing how the color temperature changes as the planes of a form do. We are noticing the intensity of hue, and the shapes of shadows. We are relating the brightness of the highlights to the mid tones of the flesh colors. We are noticing the uniqueness in the curve a tree trunk or the profile of a face. I have been told to look closer at a scene even after I've become tired of inspecting it for hours!

Perhaps I could learn at lot more if I took the chance to look closer at certain details in daily life. What would I appreciate about my surroundings if I took the effort to truly see them? Did I notice my roommate wasn't feeling well? I would have if I had looked her in the eye. I wonder what I would be surprised by, if I chose to seek out the beauty in the lives of my family members and friends. . . . and enemies.

Domino Effect

2007-07-26T09:15:00.000-07:00

It started when I found a cute dress. I'm not a "shopper" but I couldn't resist going out to see what was on sale. There are two times a year when everything is on sale in Italy. This week is fortunately one of those times! I brought the dress home and did something I haven't done in a long time. I modeled it for my roomies. There was a wave of excitement in the house until I realized I had no occasion to wear the dress.

Sarah and I found the answer, the Opera of course! We proceeded to go shopping to find a dress for her. Now we needed to get shoes to match the dresses and purses to match it all. I began to realize that all of the efforts my poor mom made throughout the years, efforts to draw me away from my tom-boyish tendencies and encourage the feminine look, had not been in vain. She would have been proud. I didn't actually get shoes and a purse to match. Dad would have been proud!

Last night we got all dolled up and went to the opera. Tosca was performed in an outdoor amphitheatre in Boboli Gardens. The music was composed by Puccini, who captured the emotions well in his compositions. The night was a success!

A Familiar Face

2007-07-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

I was painting a pathway in Boboli Gardens today, when an old man walked up behind me and told me my painting was beautiful. I turned around to see a face I recognized. It was Tony Bennett. He hung out with our landscape painting class and painted a watercolor. I knew he was an incredible performer, but I learned that Tony is also a skilled arteest. He was very easy to talk to. I admit I felt my head get a bit bigger when he found Leo (my instructor) and told him I was good! Thanks, Tony!

Three Times

2007-07-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

"This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. . . Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly."Matthew 26:71 - 75; emphasis added

Peter denied his association with Jesus three times. I've thought about the regret he must have felt when he realized what he had done. In the midst of Judas' betrayal and Jesus' agonizing suffering, Peter forgot Truth for a moment. That association with his name was so important. Jesus had warned his disciples that they would be hated of all men for his name's sake.

But he extended his arm of mercy to Peter as it is extended to all of us if we are willing to associate ourselves with his name and all that it stands for. "To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out."John 10:3

A short time after this denial, Peter was faced with his Savior who had died and now appeared before him in the flesh. He had a question and a continuing mission for Peter. He asked him three times,

"Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."

Here it comes full circle. Peter had denied him three times. He is now given an opportunity to proclaim his devotion and love for the Savior three times. And a sacred mission is entrusted to him, in spite of his human follies. It is a boon to me, to see how the Lord will not only wipe away our foolish past if we come to him, but he will give us a greater purpose and greater power to accomplish it as we continue in that path. When we are willing to be associated with his name, it is by and through his name that he blesses us. We can call upon the very powers of heaven through that very name, our Savior Jesus Christ.

"If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:13 - 15

A Blissful Evening

2007-07-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

Today Mark, Paulo, and I took a walk through an ancient forest with Michael John Angel and his Yellow Labrador Rocho. We followed a roman road past the cliff where Leonardo Da Vinci's assistant fell to his death experimenting with a "flying machine."

Our walk concluded at Maestro Angel's house (built in 1380). We were then given appetizers in the backyard with Megan. A local band was playing music down the road. After enjoying the fine cheese from the Tuscany region, cantaloupe, fresh olives, pistachios, fresh tomatoes, soda, and sliced meats we made our way to Le Lance. This restaurant sits on the outskirts of Fiesole. We sat outside in a spot that overlooked the city of Florence as the sun set. Rocho cuddled up to our feet under the table as we enjoyed two more courses and dessert (Mr. Angel's treat). The conversation was lively and the company was excellent. "Does it get any better than this?" I asked Paulo. With a grin of contentedness, he just shook his head and let me taste his coconut/white chocolate ice cream concoction.

Going With The Flow

2007-07-20T04:08:00.000-07:00

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you; And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. --Doctrine and Covenants 78:17 - 18

I used to have a pretty good idea of what my life was going to be like when I grew up. What I planned for hasn't happened. My mind did not have the capacity to conjure up the kinds of experiences that would come my way. The path I have taken has had unexpected twists and turns.

I have decided to stay here in Italy. My situation has progressed better than I could have planned if I tried. I've got a place to live and for the next two months I'll be painting my little heart out. I have no idea what else the future holds, but isn't that the exciting thing about it?

Stopping to think

2007-07-17T15:51:00.000-07:00

“Our lives become extremely busy. We run from one thing to another. We wear ourselves out in thoughtless pursuit of goals which are largely ephemeral. We are entitled to spend some time with ourselves in introspection, in development, in thinking, meditating, pondering things.”
---President Gordon B. Hinckley

Good Times

2007-07-15T14:03:00.000-07:00

I like to call this "Palette Tan." The lighting was perfect for this one. Notice the pigeon flying in the right corner. I like how his wings are illuminated.How to cause a traffic jam: eat gelato on a roundabout.

Rome in a day

2007-07-15T13:28:00.000-07:00

Murphy's Law still applies in foreign countries. Mark compares traveling in Italy to gambling. I haven't worked out a proper equation yet, but yesterday was good proof that for every person you add to a group, the chances for something to go awry increase exponentially.

At 10:35pm last night we realized we were at the wrong train station. Our train was leaving at 10:50pm. We found it humorous that the cute little Italian "Information" man couldn't read our ticket his eyesight was so bad. That slowed us down a bit. But there was a metro and a slim chance we could still get there before it left. The next 10 minutes could have been an exciting conclusion to an episode of The Amazing Race. We did make it to our train and safely arrived in Florence just in time to stagger home in exhaustion at 3am. What a day!

A couple lessons learned:
1. Don't buy a metro ticket from a random stranger even if he looks like a sweet old man. Just use the ticket machine.
2. Sometimes the machines will swindle you too.

This lower picture was taken near the Colosseum before the free outdoor Genesis concert. Phil Collin's Italian is better than mine, which isn't saying much. It was a nice little musical treat to wrap up a full day of site-seeing.

Getting Our Money's Worth

2007-07-15T10:03:00.000-07:00

This ancient predecessor to our modern sports arena is a sight to behold. And for only 11 euros you can walk inside and inspect the ruins. I highly doubt they charged that kind of money in the year 96. And those people got some sort of entertainment included in their package. Perhaps they enjoyed a contest between a lion and a warrior. I would have even settled for a hippo fight.
We saw the new Harry Potter movie the night before this excursion. My, how entertainment for the masses has changed! Now-a-days we pay our money and walk into a theatre to watch a competition, battle, or spectacle of sorts. Hmmmm. . . . I guess some things haven't changed much. Except we have air-conditioning and instant replay.

Connections

2007-07-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

I met Sasha on the second day of class. We soon discovered we had some mutual friends. Her boyfriend, Mason, is Sarah's cousin. Sarah is an old friend of mine who has accompanied me on many trips and adventures. This picture was taken of us last week at a party. Mason is also studying at the Florence Academy. A few nights ago I had dinner at Ryan's house. Ryan and I were in the Illustration program at BYU. Daniel was also there (I met him randomly in Copenhagen). Mark and Greg were also present. Greg was the only one I hadn't already met at some point in my travels. I guess it's a small world after all!

Confidence

2007-07-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

Today a new friend and I made a connection between having confidence and happiness. The kind of attribute we were discussing was the ability to appreciate what life has given you and to find peace even when the constant barrage of influences in life pull you in a myriad of directions.
That kind of confidence is a spiritual gift. It is confidence in God. Trust that he has the power to keep his promises and to guide us in all things. We grow in confidence when we are consistently reaching toward that source of light.

Constancy does not mean complacency. It does not mean staying in a rut because it is comfortable. As a person lacks desire and effort to move he will discover that he is not sitting still. If he is not moving forward, he is moving backward. He takes the greatest risk in doing nothing.

We are here to change. Inevitably all of us will fluctuate in our devotions to one thing or another. If we can learn to be constant in this one thing; our love of God, then he will mold us in a way that will change our weaknesses and inconsistencies into pillars of strength.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28 - 30)

Due Strade

2007-07-09T14:08:00.000-07:00

This was my view today. We spend a week in each location, but I'm working on a new painting every day. I really enjoy this quick work. This type of painting is called plein air. The light changes quickly and so do the clouds, so it forces you to take a mental picture, focusing on as much as you possibly can while outside. Even cameras can't truly capture the colors the human eye will see.

"We must recognize that excellence and quality are a reflection of how we feel about ourselves and about life and about God. If we don’t care much about these basic things, then such not caring carries over into the work we do, and our work becomes shabby and shoddy.” --Spencer W. Kimball

Ponte Vecchio

2007-07-09T13:13:00.000-07:00

We were moving at a fast pace but the shadows were getting longer and there was little time to dilly dally. Jeremy looked at me and said, "Should we run?" I gave him the nod and we were off. Dodging in and out of traffic, flip-flops flopping, and out of breathe we turned the corner just in time.

This is what we saw.

Jeremy published a children's book called Margaret. Its about enjoying the moments that nature gives you. We had just been talking about it when I looked outside. Naturally, we seized the sunset!

"...There is a spiritual meaning in all human acts and earthly events. . It is the business of man to find the spiritual meaning of earthly things. . No man is quite so happy . as he who backs all his labors by such a spiritual interpretation and understanding of the acts of his life." John A. Widtsoe,Conference Report, Apr. 1922, 96-97

Awesome

2007-07-04T15:28:00.000-07:00

I am surrounded by history here. It seems to bare its marks around every turn. The shuffles of hundreds of years of footsteps have polished the cobblestones under my feet. The ornate details of a large lion door-knocker beg for inspection by the casual passers-by.
I guess we get used to our surroundings wherever we live, but at this point I don’t know how I could be anything but amazed by this multi-dimensional history book called Florence, Italy. I must look like a child to the locals. I frequently stop jaws agape, inspecting the scene as each direction I turn is filled with a visual feast. The people have been kind and helpful, even though my Italian is about as good as my Chinese, and they probably can’t tell the difference.