Words of wisdom from Mosiah

As I lay in bed tonight, reading scriptures to my exhausted Bugga who just couldn't make it to family scripture study, I came across these verses from my randomly-selected chapter in Mosiah.  They made me emotional as I thought about how applicable they are to our own day, our own political and moral struggles.

Mosiah Chapter 29, Verses 25-27

"25 Therefore, choose you by the voice of this people, judges, that ye may be judged according to the laws which have been given you by our fathers, which are correct, and which were given them by the hand of the Lord.

26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law - to do your business by the voice of the people.

27 And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land."

25 - The Constitution was given to us by "our fathers" and was given to them "by the hand of the Lord."
26 - California is the only state in the country that has legalized same-sex marriage through judicial fiat only to have that "business" turned around "by the voice of the people" when given the opportunity to vote on this issue.  All eyes will be on Maine come November 3rd when they have the chance to do exactly what California did.  I feel confident "the voice of the people" will overrule the activist legislators and "lesser part of the people" there as well.  I pray it is so.
27 - Fair warning of what will happen when "the [majority] voice of the people doth choose iniquity."

Miramar Air Show - Oct 3rd

On Saturday, October 3rd, just after the first session of General Conference, we hopped in the car and headed to the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar for the air show. We thought we left with enough time to catch the tail end of the afternoon show, but it was not meant to be. Instead, we witnessed an accident, sat in traffic, inched our way to a parking spot, then stood in line for a bus ride to the grandstand. The Blue Angels performed while we were in line for the bus. We were pretty sad to have missed them, but at least we could see them flying by while we waited. Once we got to the grandstand, we found out that the afternoon show was over and they weren't letting people in to sit down until the evening show started. We plopped down on the dirty ground in what tiny bit of shade we could steal from the information booth, and broke out our snacks and sandwiches. We were not alone there. Once seated in the grandstands, we enjoyed a bit of the evening show, getting a big kick out of the jet-propelled semi truck, the Patriots jet team, and the prop plane stunt man (little red plane pictured below). We tried to make it to the Wall of Fire, but the boys were freezing in their t-shirts and shorts. We were definitely not prepared to be there as long as we were because we had hoped to see more in the afternoon and less in the evening. Luckily, a nice lady behind us tapped The Chief on the shoulder and shoved a blanket into his lap for the boys. In the end, we left right after the last flight of Fat Albert, a jet-propelled prop plane that is part of the Blue Angels. I'm happy we could witness that considering it's the last time "he'll" fly.

Moral: Go earlier next year. Way earlier.

Homeowners

It's official! We signed papers, escrow closed, and our loan funded. We are now the proud owners of one charming San Diego home. But not just any home - OUR home! That's right, we don't have to move! We convinced our landlord/real estate agent to sell the home to us and the price was right and we've narrowly escaped the sellers market that is consuming our area now. We are so happy, relieved, excited, etc. We have so many plans for this house and it has so much potential to offer us. We love San Diego, we love our ward family, our friends. We're just ecstatic. The boys are thrilled to be able to call the house ours instead of V's. :D I hope we see her around, though. She's the coolest. Every time I would see her, she would hand over a huge pile of kids' toys, books, and games for the boys. She is so generous and just plain wonderful!

So, without further adieu, I give you . . . The Bagel Factory. Ta da!!



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Bugga's Prayers

"We thank Thee for you (pointing at The Chief), me, Buddha, Mom, and Megan . . . and Scott."

"We thank Thee for this, and this, and that, and Daddy, and Mommy, and Buddha, and me, and Scott and Megan."

Apparently you've made a good impression on my little Bugga, Scott and Megan. You guys are officially FAMILY! :D

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God

Everywhere I look there is evidence of a masterful, brilliant, artistic God. I love this shot below that I caught as we were awaiting the arrival of a client for a beach photo session. The layers of light rays exploding from the full-bellied heavens and the alternately shimmering and shadowy ocean are just stunning. The stark contrast between darkness and light is so poetic and appropriate. Wherever light is, darkness cannot be. And wherever darkness is, it is not by its own merits but due, rather, to the absence of light. Essentially, the light in each of our lives is there because we consciously seek it out and nurture it. Darkness advances only because we allow it to through the abandonment of light.

Not profound, I know, but captivating nonetheless.




This is another source of brilliance and creativity the Lord has provided. People. Humans. Us. My father has always been an avid researcher of the profundities of the human body. I suppose that interest rubbed off a bit on me. I don't research the way he does, but I am fascinated by bits of random and phenomenal information all the same. Really, though, I am deeply grateful that the Lord created us in His image - man, with body and flesh. I am grateful to know that I have a Father in Heaven, all-powerful and all-knowing, who loves me as my potentially-perfect-though-perpetually-imperfect self. I am grateful He has blessed me with the opportunity to be a mom and bring His spirit children here to earth to receive their own bodies and fulfill their own missions here on earth. I am grateful He has provided me with an outlet for the love He instilled in me.

I really love this quote from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's General Conference talk last week:

"God the Eternal Father did not give that first great commandment because He needs us to love Him. His power and glory are not diminished should we disregard, deny, or even defile His name. His influence and dominion extend through time and space independent of our acceptance, approval, or admiration.

No, God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God!

For what we love determines what we seek.

What we seek determines what we think and do.

What we think and do determines who we are—and who we will become.

We are created in the image of our heavenly parents; we are God’s spirit children. Therefore, we have a vast capacity for love—it is part of our spiritual heritage. What and how we love not only defines us as individuals; it also defines us as a church. Love is the defining characteristic of a disciple of Christ.

Since the beginning of time, love has been the source of both the highest bliss and the heaviest burdens. At the heart of misery from the days of Adam until today, you will find the love of wrong things. And at the heart of joy, you will find the love of good things.

And the greatest of all good things is God."

I know this is true. I know it. With all my heart and soul, I know it. This blog will have to suffice as my virtual "rooftop" as I shout this knowledge to the world. I know this is true!

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My Precious

Um, think "mommy voice," not Gollum. :D

Bugga is my precious little guy. This picture shows him zonked out with a great big "Search and Find" book spread across his little chest. After we said prayers and I gave him kisses, he propped up this huge book on himself and set about "reading" with this matter-of-fact announcement: "These are my scriptures." I love him.



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Beehives

No, not the kind you run away from screaming and clutching your EpiPen. Unless, of course, you're "mom" to this type of beehive and it [she] happens to be hormonal. Then you might be running away at top speeds, frantically herding the rest of your family to safety in front of you. :D

I was asked by the Beehive class at Church to come and do a photography presentation. I was honored, but quite at a loss. I've never been formally trained. What do I know about teaching photography? So my friend, Kim, came over and pretended to be a Beehive and asked me all sorts of photography-related questions which got my juices flowing.

It didn't matter. I cringe to remember that evening. I sped too quickly through all my topics, stumbling my way through technical explanations I'm not qualified to coherently explain, and found myself staring awkwardly and expectantly into the beautiful, thoughtful, but unresponsive faces in front of me. I begged them to ask me questions. A couple complied. Short, sweet questions. And that was that. Too much time left! So, I asked if they had remembered to bring their cameras. They had. And that's when I turned them loose on the Church building and unsuspecting Boy Scouts meeting in the outside pavilion. They came back with an eclectic collection of images, only a few of which were composed properly as per my poorly-taught "rules of composition." In the end, I sighed and washed my hands of the whole affair, resigning myself to an acknowledgment of my inadequate teaching skills, grabbing my camera, and soothing my woes by clicking away happily with the girls.

In the end.

Which basically means that I stressed out way too much and ended up having a great time after my pathetic presentation was over. Gee, why does that sound familiar? :D

Here are some pictures taken with my camera by one cute Beehive named Melissa:





And here are a couple shots I got of the last three girls waiting for their rides to come. We had fun trying to get the jumping pictures just right.







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Tyler and Julie

See more here.

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Except Bugga

Buddha was making our apple juice last week when I spied him sampling the sweet nectar off the wooden stirring spoon out of the corner of my eye. I chastised him, giving him a short lecture about germs. "I don't have germs," he claimed. I gently educated him that we ALL have germs. Then Bugga plowed into me and stated very matter-of-factly, "I don't have germs." So we started going back and forth, "Yes you do," "No I don't," "Yes you do," "No I don't." Until he broke our increasingly hilarious cycle with this declaration, "No, I DON'T! I decided I don't. Grandma told me that!"

*Thanks a lot, Grandma* :D

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Buddha the Soccer Super Star!

The following shots are from Buddha's first soccer game just a few weeks ago. I think it was a roaring success. Buddha even scored a goal! These kids are hilarious to watch, I tell ya. They are as varied in their soccer skills as they are in their appearance, height, and age. Some shuffle about the field, here and there, following the ball half-heartedly. Others charge into every melee, making themselves the center of the swarm-that-is-called-soccer. Still others dance down the field, completely oblivious to the drama being played out around them and to their parents' shouted pleas to "pay attention!" Buddha, much to his father's chagrin, is one who tends to be easily distracted. :D I rather like to think of him as frequently inspired. You shall see what I mean . . . .


They are the Cheetahs. Or as Buddha emphatically insists, the "Orange Cheetahs."



This rabble-rousing pre-game cheer is Buddha's favorite part of this whole soccer experience. Can you tell?



I LOVE this shot. Boy on left: "Hey, what's up?!" Buddha: "Who are you? *glare* *glare* *glare*" Can you feel the team love? :D



Buddha is learning, even at this early date in his soccer career, how invaluable a talent it is to fake an injury during play. Seriously though, don't you just love the expression on his face?!



Here he goes! He's breaking away, folks!



And he shoots! And scores! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!! (Cross my fingers and hope to die, I actually did catch this right as he was about to kick the blessed goal). Wish I would have caught his expression afterward!



On the sidelines again. Substitutions, you know. He's entertaining himself by plucking up grass.



And they're off in the opposite direction after a restful four-minute half-time! :D



Again with the faces. This one says, "Ewwwww! There's something icky on your cheek! I'm not coming one step closer to that ball!"



Ah, and here he is mastering the art of grass-plucking . . . and blowing . . . during his soccer game. *Big sigh from The Chief*



Check out that form!



Time to wrap things up.



Good sportsmanship is always an important lesson. Reeeach just a little farther, Buddha buddy.



Cheering on the opposing team at the end of the game. A gesture I love that my son is learning.



Yeah Orange Cheetahs! The end.


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Buddha the Bathtub Bruegel

Pieter Bruegel, that is. I found this wonderfully helpful site called ArtCyclopedia that allows you to browse artists in alphabetical order. They also have a "Top 30" link from which I selected Bruegel's name to be featured alongside my artistic son's. :D

Other than the fortuitous "B"eginning of his last name, I know nothing about the man. I'm just slightly obsessed with alliteration.

Anyway, because I'm no art buff. I decided to take the opportunity to learn a bit about this Pieter Bruegel who seems to be a relatively famous artiste. Here's what I learned:

1. He was a "Netherlandish Renaissance painter." And the Netherlands is close to Scandinavia . . . so . . . well . . . Buddha has Scandinavian roots. Close enough?

2. He was known mostly for his landscapes (unlike Buddha) and peasant paintings (totally Buddha - we've got plenty of peasantry around these parts. HA!).

3. He dropped the "h" from his name (formerly Brueghel), which I can totally relate to since I seem to have an affinity for adding a letter to mine.

4. He liked to dress up like a peasant so that he could mingle with "lower" society during social events like weddings and other celebrations and gain inspiration for his art. Translate: he was a 16th century party crasher.

5. He kind of reminds me of James Christensen in that he favored combining multiple illustrations/messages in one work. Like in the case of his piece Netherlandish Proverbs in which he depicts over 100 peasant-life proverbs in one painting:



Faery Tales by James Christensen:



And now you'll see just how similar Bruegel and Buddha really are.

Bathtub Tales by Buddha Bagel:







P.S. Now I really want to know what all those 100 Netherland proverbs are! I think homeschooling and I are going to get along swimmingly.

P.P.S. I found them! I found the 100 proverbs/idioms! If you need me, you know where to find me. :D

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