Love

Read this today. A beautiful thought and I send it out to all the wonderful couples I know, still in love! You inspire me to hope and dream.

"Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are.
Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two."

Louis De Bernieres

A Sweet Christmas Narration...

The Temple with Beth

Just found these photos on my mobile phone this morning from 15 October 2011. In the anticipation of the day, my camera was not on the list of priorities, and I was grateful I'd at least the presence of mind to take these two.
It was my blessing to escort my beautiful daughter through the temple for her first time. What a blessing indeed to see it all new and fresh through her eyes, yet with the understanding some 30 years of attending have given me. I love the temple. I always have from my first visit, and am so blessed to share it with each of my children in their time.

From left, Steh and Will, Andrew, Beth, Grandma Maughan, Gregg, Krista and Rick.

"Autumn days... bright and gay... God gives richest gifts today..."

We've had a gorgeous Autumn this year... warm days and crisp nights... with just the right vibrant colors for creating some gorgeous family photos. Did we get one? Did I get even one photo of the mountains or canyons, or even the trees around town? No.
They're in my memory however, in all their glory, where most of such images are stored safely... at least for the time being.
I did manage to record this one of my Libby however... and now, as I type this, looking out my office window, there is snow down to the benches, and rain, and all the signs of winter. And so it goes...

Auntie Fern and Uncle Doug

Just received word that my uncle will likely pass away very soon. He has suffered from ill health for years, and my cousin wrote it is just a matter of time. He has always been a favorite of mine, and I will miss him dearly.
I know life passes, that we are here only a wee while... but facing the leaving is heartbreaking to me. When I was last in the temple for Beth's first visit, I was reminded again that heaven need be nothing more than never again saying goodbye to those we love. I know I'll have many more such goodbyes before then, and I don't know if my heart will hold out.