Agradecida

It has been quite some time since I have written here, so let me catch up.

For me, school is going really well. I only have 3 weeks left of actually in class classes before I get a respite in preparation for my student teaching coming up in January. I am so grateful for this semester. It has brought me many new friends, new experiences to learn from and more opportunities to rely on the Lord. I directed my first play (cutting of a play) and it was beautiful. I know that it was by grace (strength and ability beyond my own) that I was able to do so. I am so grateful for my professors and for all they have taught me. I have strengthened so many friendships; I know that my life, my choices and the Spirit as led me to this moment, right now. The wonderful people I have been blessed to work with now would not have been a part of my life had we not decided to have Brook when we did. I know that. They will forever be a part of my life and I am so humbled that they are now and always be a part of my life and my professional network. Furthermore, I completed a goal I set one year ago: run in a Half Marathon. I ran the Provo Halloween Half--it was beautiful and fun. My sister Kellie, kindred spirit, was my angel; she ran with me, step by step, kept me hydrated and moving. It was my first, her third in 1 1/2 months, and I am grateful for her willingness to support me on the trail.

Josh is also doing well. These past two weeks marked the start of the busiest time of the school year for him. He started basketball tryouts and practices the same week he started Mock Trial. Thankfully we have the new habit of going to bed at 9 o'clock every night so that we are both getting the rest we need to do so much. He is such an amazing man; he does so much for me and for our little family. Let's face it, anyone who can put up with me and my amazingness must be a saint already, already canonized.

Brook is growing so much! She brings such joy into my life. She starts every day with smiles and giggles, talking from the moment she get

s up. So much of life to enjoy. She is very in tune as well to my feelings and what I am going through, even at her young 14 1/2 month age. She knows when I need a hug around my leg, a pat on the arm, or just a jabber that means so much to her that I wish I could speak her language.

Brook has three teeth coming in on top to accompany her two bottom teeth; this apple is proof of her gnawing desire to eat adult food.

Chatting with Grandma and Grandpa Wallace. She had to lie on the floor right in front of the screen. Her narcissism showed as she talked more to the image of herself in the bottom righthand corner than to Grandma (she does say Grandma--"maama"--and Grandpa--"grapa").

She played in this box for over 30 minutes. Like on my favorite show, Modern Family, "give a kid a toy and they'll play with the box. So the next year we gave Luke a box...and he played with the bag we wrapped it in."

Here's Brook helping Josh empty the dishwasher. It has become one of her favorite things to do. So domestic:)

God is good; He is love, peace, joy, strength and ever aware of me.

Strength Beyond My Own

These few weeks have been full of change, peace and balancing. At the beginning of this semester I set the goal to read from my scriptures daily and to find the beauty in every moment. Can the Lord make me an instrument in His hands? Yes, when I am willing and seek his guidance. Can he give me strength beyond my own? Yes, every day and in an abundant ways. I know He has always been there, guiding me and making me stronger; I am more aware of it now and I am so grateful.

I see the beauty all around me. The beauty in the mountains, in the leaves, in my daughter, in art, in acting, in my life and in so many people that surround me. As Pres. Uchtdorf recently said I am finding "...wonder and delight in even the tiniest steps in [my] journey." I love life! I love and appreciate everyone around me. He knows what speaks to my soul and guides me to it. I love the Lord for opening my eyes, my heart, my mind and my spirit to His love and the "...beauty of the glorious earthly and spiritual landscapes that surround [me] " (Pres. Uchtdorf again). I share it with you, whoever will read this or cross my path. God knows and loves you.

Peace

Nebo Half Marathon: Kellie

Here's the video of Kellie running the Nebo Half Marathon last weekend. She did awesome and beat he goal by almost 20 minutes. Wahoo!

Live Your Goals with a Sense of Direction

First, check out this new song by Taylor Swift. I love the message and feel that she expresses it better than some of her contemporaries:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De6Oj5vIe9Q

Next:

"Live Your Goals" was the theme to this years Women's World Cup competition for soccer. Now, I'm not much of a soccer fan myself, too much running and not enough scoring; but, from the beginning of the tournament I found myself home and glued to the TV watching the USA Women's Soccer team play. It was thrilling, down to the last penalty kick. So awesome to see such beautiful, STRONG women. I was impressed with their poise and agility accompanied with their physical grace as they ran up and down the field and I repeatedly thought, "I can do that." Not play soccer, per say, but run with such ease and grace. I'm on the path. I'm "Living My Goals."

Also:

I have been rereading a book about directing aptly named "A Sense of Direction" (which I always need). The author, an experienced and well respected director himself, shares his insight in ways that speak to my soul ("true self") more now than the first time I read it. Here are some of my thoughts (in italics) that derive from his thoughts:

"[a work of art] reveals Universe (God, Heavenly Father)."

"Art...awaken(s) the Spirit (light of Christ, Holy Spirit/Ghost/our own spirit)...A light (light!!) goes on within [the spectator] (because it's always been there) and the self is illuminated, awakened, enlightened, elevated, and changed." (Amen)

Art shows the "Beauty of Humankind".

"Consciousness"=I AM=THE BEGINNING... He writes about how our consciousness is tapped in a performance as we watch it and as the actor performs.

"The actor's power is limitless" OUR power is limitless.

I am still pondering these principles and seeing how they apply to my directing, school and life. I'll keep you posted as I study them further.

I would LOVE to hear your thoughts or ideas and impressions you had, if any, as you read the above quotes.

Peace

Alaska Dancing Remix

Kellie decided we were going to dance everywhere we went on our trip. Here is a short montage, a remix if you will, of the moves we rocked to.

Refocused and Cartography

I returned recently from a week and a half trip to Alaska. It was amazing. The entire trip served as a refocusing adventure that was unexpected and surrounded by endless, indescribable beauty. Now I am home in Utah it feels hot, like the sun is beating down on me from directly above and the air is dry. Though the Rocky Mountains are gorgeous in their own way, I have seen little that compares to the majestic nature of the Chugac Mountain range. I am grateful for the beauty, the experiences and the people I met for the first time and those I reconnected with.

I will be making a few entries that relate to experiences I had there soon, but for now I will share with you some of the amazing pictures we saw. I took far more mental pictures than actual pictures that are more amazing than these.

This was the last picture I took on our boat tour around Prince William Sound with a fishing boat heading out to sea. Around these peaks is one of the glaciers we saw on our tour.
This is a humpback whale fluke. So amazing to see these animals in their habitat.

The harbor of the Port of Valdez.
This is a pod of Dall's Porpoise hunting. They surrounded the fish at incredible speeds and swam in a circle. They came over to the boat and swam off the bough where we were and it was amazing! They are often mistaken for Orcas because they have the same black and white coloring. It was thrilling to share their ocean with them.
Me with my windblown hair and the amazing mountains of Prince William Sound. The green does not show up as well and I could hardly take my eyes off the landscape.
My cousin Ray caught an Arctic grayling. Just wanted to prove I did fish (or rather watch someone fish) while I was in Alaska.
On our drive to Valdez (which is now one of my favorite place on earth...next to being with Josh and Brook) we turned a corner and this was our view. Between the towering peaks Worthington Glacier makes its home.
Eklutna Lake and Kellie. This gorgeous glacial lake is amazingly long and encompassed by mountains.
Kellie had me stand in the glacial river entering the lake. It was very, very cold.
The view opposite the lake....and Kellie.
The Hafen's (Kary, Ray, McKinley and Stephen) at mile 9 of the marathon Kary and Ray ran. It was so cool to be there to cheer them on.
This was the sunrise at 1:30 a.m. only a short time after the sunset.
Flowers growing on a rock in Hatcher Pass outside of Wasilla. This reminded me of Grandma Mabel, or rather I sensed her there.

The sun came out in the middle of our hike on the tundra of Hatcher Pass. I look surprised and Kel looks a little scared. It was so gorgeous!!
Kel on a rock (Hatcher Pass).
This is Ray's truck he let us borrow to do some exploring; we lovingly named it "Truck" because we are that creative:). I am grateful Josh taught me to drive a clutch so I could navigate the roads. It didn't have a radio but Kel and I took turns choosing songs we sang at the top of our lungs. Sweet!
Talkeetna, the Hippie Town.
Sunset. 'Nuff said.
Kary in her peace-full yoga pose.
Portage glacier. I'm such a brat!
Strong at Portage.
Kel ordered a salad and a side of these amazing corn fritters at a restaurant we went to. They gave us an extra order of fritter by accident so we got more for free!
Seriously...the best corn fritters ever.
We met this family (The Westenbroek's) on our tour of Denali National Park. A few hours after the tour we saw them at a Mt. McKinley viewpoint and they invited us to a hot breakfast the next morning. So great to meet such a family.
You can see Denali's (Mt. McKinley...one and the same) peak between the clouds in the middle of the photo.
At the Imaginarium in the Anchorage Museum. It was us and a bunch of kids trying this lift out.


Caribou (Raindeer) antlers. Much heavier than you would think.

At peace with Denali.

Begin Brooklyn Summer Fun!!

We spent the night last night at my parents house for our monthly F.H.E. While there, we had a lot of fun playing in the back yard and Brook was experiencing some new outdoor activities I wanted to share.

Brook swinging next to Nick (13 y/o cousin).

Head banging on a rockin' dog.