project 365--week 4

click to enlarge

behold the wounds

I sang this song with our ward choir today in Sacrament meeting. I have had a hard time getting through it every time but this time I actually couldn't sing the last few words. I love the simple but powerful testimony it bears. It was written by John V. Pearson and put to music by David R. Naylor. I think its just so beautiful, I couldn't help but share.


Behold the Wounds in Jesus' Hands

Behold the wounds in Jesus' hands,

The Marks upon His side.

Then ponder who He meant to save

when on the cross He died.

We cannot see the love of God

Which saves us from the fall,

Yet know that Christ from wood and nails

built mansions for us all.

Behold the outstreched hands of Christ,

Our God, who came to save,

Whose love and grace redeems our souls

And lifts us from the grave.

Though bruised and battered as we stray

His loving hands caress,

He washes and annoints with oil

Then in His arms we rest.

Behold the wounds in Jesus' hands,

Look to your Lord and live

He yearns to bless you with His love

And all your sins forgive.

Oh empty is the heart of man

When it is filled with sin.

Come open wide your broken heart

And let your Savior in!

Behold His wounded hands and feet!

Come touch and see and feel

The wounds and marks that you may know

His love for you is real.

Then as you fall to worship Him

And wash His feet in tears,

Your Savior takes you in His arms

And quiets all your fears.

Your Savior takes you in His arms

And quiets all your fears.

in the eye of the beholder

I took the kids to the BYU Museum of Art last Friday. In our history group we recently talked about Japan during its "closed-door" period. We went to see the exhibit of wood block prints from that era.


I learned a lot about the art technique--color choices, use of lines and scale, and symmetry or rather non-symmetrical placement of the main object. I thought the prints were all beautiful especially considering how they are made.

As we walked out of this exhibit, the kids wandered over to the one next door. Quite a contrast. That exhibit was all modern art. Plastic patio chairs stacked up. Garbage sacks sculpturally overflowing from a garbage can. A room filled with white packing peanuts and three industrial fans that blew them all over the place. This is art? According to the press release:

"Steinhilber’s works are intended to encourage viewers to rethink their experiences
with and their expectations of these ubiquitous mass-produced consumer items. By
utilizing a visual language familiar to most of us, Steinhilber explores the beauty and the
natural qualities of the mundane in a way that compels us to become more aware.”

I wasn't aware that I couldn't take pictures so I snagged a few of Sawyer. Oops.

I did think this one was cool. I couldn't tell until I was really close that it is made entirely of duck sauce packets attached to a board.


Because the kids thankfully behaved themselves, we went over to the Cougareat afterward for ice cream. I'm glad we took the opportunity to go to the museum. My children might not have gotten anything out of it but I did.

mom's night in

Tonight I hosted Mom's Night for my homeschooling support group. We made a Valentine's Day banner.

I started with instructions from here and here and then tweaked them. I ended up just sewing the paper to the ribbon which turned out well. I love banners. I have been wanting to make for a long time and now I can't wait to make more. I actually finished this one last night. When I came into the kitchen this morning, I found a little love note from Dave. Totally made my day.


After we finished making the banners tonight, we ate. Cupcakes, pumpkin bread, heart shaped rice krispy treats and candy.

Then we talked. And talked. And talked some more. What a fantastic group of women.

project 365--week 3

click to enlarge

sunday snapshots

Morning church is wonderful. I love having the afternoon to enjoy. Today, I took a nap. While I was napping, Dave left to go home teaching and my children did this:


It was good to wake up to a disaster that was easily remedied. We made cookies. And ate cookies. Yum!


Dave taught a Primary teacher development meeting at 4:30. I taught Emma and Slade how to play Rummikub. I think it was a little beyond Slade but Emma got it. Then they played Connect Four while I talked with my mom on the phone.


I also wish I could say the TV stayed off all day but I cannot.

Nathan had complained all last night (waking Dave and I up every hour or so) about his stomach hurting. He stayed home from church. The rest of the day he acted completely fine so we planned to go to our neighbor's for dessert. He fell asleep about 4:30 and then woke up an hour later crying. He said his stomach hurt again but I think he was just grumpy from the late nap. I took Emma, Slade and Sawyer over to the neighbor's. Dave and Nathan joined us about 45 minutes later once Nathan had calmed down. It was really nice to sit and talk with our neighbors. We should do it more often. Its always a little surprising to me how little we end up interacting with each other during the winter. So thanks, Chrissie! I really enjoyed the evening.

scripture power

A few months ago our ward called a new Primary presidency. One thing they have been trying to emphasize with the children is the scriptures. They mark a scripture (even with Jr. Primary) almost every week. At the start of the year, they also encouraged the children to read the whole Book of Mormon this year. To help with that, they give them a book mark with what verses to read each day.

While at the Primary board meeting a few weeks ago, I felt inspired to try to complement the work the Primary presidency is doing with my children at home. We have been doing SSP (scripture song prayer) with the kids each night but I didn't feel like they were getting much out of the scripture reading. They usually were jumping around on the couches or bugging each other. I knew we needed to do better.

Dave and I bought a Book of Mormon for each child. First, I wanted them to be able to take scriptures to church to mark in Primary. Second, I wanted them each to be able to open their scriptures each night at SSP. Dave and I also decided that we would paraphrase more and read only a few selected verses each night. This would allow us to explain more about what was happening and concentrate on the stories. We have the kids each read a verse or two.

What a difference this has made. Nathan was so excited to get his own Book of Mormon. He carried it around for a day or two. They are excited to find their own book in the stack each night. The boys ask us to help them find exactly where they are. They are so much calmer and seem to be understanding much more. Its only been a few weeks but I am so thrilled with the changes.I am excited to see what a difference it makes over the whole year.

project 365--week 2

I'm going to keep posting these layouts if for no other reason than I think my mom would like to see them...

click to enlarge

spt--i resolve....

I resolve to take more self-portraits with people I love.

me and Emma heading into the library on Friday

Sawyer and me snuggling on the couch before bed last night

me with my cute little boys at the sledding hill today

project 365

I've tried a couple of times before to do week or month-in-the-life photo + journaling projects. I usually end up missing a day or two of photographs so I give up. I am not sure what makes me think that trying to do a photo a day for the whole year will go any better but I'm trying anyway! So far so good except that somehow my photo (one and only) for last Friday got deleted. I think I will cheat and recreate it anyhow.

I was really excited about using Becky Higgins' kit but since it sold out in less than half an hour, I didn't get one. She since has made a portion of the kit available for download so I will be able to use that. I will make 12x12 pages just to have on the computer but the actual album will end up being 12 4x6 prints for each week in divided sheet protectors. This is week one:

click to enlarge

so belated

It appears I am never going to actually get our Christmas cards sent out. The pictures have been printed and sitting here for weeks now. I may yet manage to get my act together but I figured I'd post it here too. So Merry Christmas. I mean Happy New Year! Or maybe I should just wait and say Happy Valentine's Day! Too bad I wrote Merry Christmas on it.

Click to enlarge