Five months in a Flash

brad at ranch kailen at homecoming
spencer at prom

Dear Blog, I forgetteth you not.
I know you cried out to me several times in the last five months- feed me! update me!
I know I ingorethed those cries.
(wow. ignorethed. such. a. cool. word.)

The problem is blog- you cried out at the wrong times. Kind of like a baby who wakes up from a "nap" 20 minutes after you put them down.

You begged for updating when I was filled to the bursting point with pride about my children. I couldn't post then. It would look too braggingful.

You pleaded for updating when I sent my two oldest off to college far away, in the west. I couldn't post then. There was too much weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Friends would have called the nearest hotline for despondent 2 out of 3 empty nesting mothers.

You beseeched me for an update when I was hot under the collar about one issue or another (occasionally political- more often just life drama, and not exciting drama at that!) and I couldn't post then because I would rant and rave and lose at least one of my faithful readers. I think. I think I have one faithful reader.....and I can't offend that reader!

You entreated me for an update of our family outings this summer. I am still drying off after the 95 degree, one million percent humidity during trek but hopefully will update someday about that life changing experience. And confess to the world that I actually stayed in a hotel the first night of trek. But it was all about the camera, and not about me at all. Well, it was kind of about me. And I was a much better, kinder, more humane photographer on day two for having stayed in said hotel!

And now blog, I will commit to a new season in bloggingdom. A season of frequent updating! More bragging! More opinionated! More details about family outings!

Or not.
I'll have to think about it!
for now- a couple of pictures of the past few months.
in living color.
yep. I've had diet coke this morning. 2 in fact.

Who Said This?

Update..we have a winner! Read the comments to be impressed by the vast knowledge of my friend Lawanna!

"We need heaven's help to raise heaven's children."

Twice now I have been quoted in sacrament meeting talks and lessons as having made this somewhat impressive statement. Apparently several years ago I gave a talk and used this quote. A talk which I have now forgotten. The quote? I don't remember it at all....so I asked the teacher of the lesson if she remembered who I attributed the quote to all those years ago. She thought it was a profound colettism.

I wonder if Ralph Waldo Emerson knew he was being profound when he made all his impressive quotes? Did people repeat his words in their own speeches until the words became famous? Will I be included in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations- the 1,000th edition? When you google Heaven's Children in 50 years will you see my name?

I did attempt to find any other possible profound quotesters by googling the quote and variations. (It's looking more and more impressive to me the more I think that maybe, just maybe I actually coined the phrase!) There were no hits...I take that back- there were millions of hits about heaven, children, and the children in heaven and the children who came from heaven and the children who came from other places too.

No exact matches appeared in the first 1,000,000 hits.

I have to admit to being totally flushed with pride (not the good kind...if there is a good kind) while being quoted from the pulpit. I must look for better ways to achieve self-worth! But until I find them, I will enjoy the quote fame while it lasts.

However, before I become too overcome with pride....perhaps you recall who said this first? A prize to the winner. Not necessarily a good prize...or a prize that costs money, but a prize nonetheless!

Game on!

I have a Reader!!!

Besides my dear sister-in-law and her equally dear sisters.
Who, prior to this day were my only "known" readers.

Well, that's not entirely true, but they are my most frequent commenters.

My immediate family, when reminded of my blog, asks (over and over again)...what was the address again?

And as much as I like reading and re-reading and laughing at my posts....
there is something exciting, even empowering to know that someone else is reading, maybe laughing...and maybe... just maybe....

re-reading?
no...that would be too much to ask.
But thank you reader (you know who you are!) and any other phantom readers I may have.

I think that my return to the blogworld is impending....
(is that a complete sentence?)

The best day of January 2010

Other things may change us- but we start and end with family.
-Anthony Brandt

Senior Pictures-----

I get to practice my photography hobby on a few lucky (or unlucky. I have found that some people would rather go to the dentist than to a photo shoot) seniors each year. These are a few I took this year. Actually these ARE the few I took this year. And one is related to me. Maybe I'm not paying the seniors enough?

First off was T. One look at her photo and you know a monkey could take a great shot of her!

E came next. She's remarkably photogenic for a girl who HATES having her picture taken.

I also took Spencer's pictures. It reminds me that I have yet another child getting ready to fly the coop. That's 2 out of 3 "on their own". I think that's a good reason to have big families.

And finally, Spencer's favorite picture. He got this hat at a thrift store on a date- it's a long story but he loves it. He really loves it (the hat, not the thrift store.) And...I......don't..... BUT!.... I love him so I took a picture of him in it and even printed it (the true sign of love is the printing...with digital, just shooting the picture is free...but don't tell him that!)

The Missionary

Just received the last e-mail of the mission.

The missionary comes home in a week.

Sending my eldest on a mission was the very hardest and yet one of the very best things I've done in my life.

So far.

This picture was taken during our Christmas day phone call with him. He has the knack of closing, squinting, winking or doing other awkward things with his eyes in almost every picture we've ever taken of him. But here? Smiling big, eyes wide....and a cell phone attached to his ear.

**edited to add- when I looked at the larger version of this picture, I noticed that yes, he still has a bit of his signature squint. That's ok- it still counts as eyes wide in "bradford picture history!"

lol.

I don't see the cell phone (too much) though. I see my son, totally happy and enjoying the wonderful family who graciously celebrated their Christmas day with him.

I see someone new too- a man who has served his Heavenly Father faithfully for two years. A man who has found true joy in missionary work.

I'm so excited to be at the airport next week awaiting his return.

I'm excited to see the son I sent off- to hug him, enjoy him, and probably get some goofy pictures.

I'm also excited...actually very excited to see the man he has become.

The First Act of Simplification

image by jag@lwh via flickr

As soon as I published the last post I went online shopping to order 2010's word necklace.

I picked one out, customized it to say simplify, and was on the verge of entering my credit card information and pushing "send order".

The word simplify seemed to glow at me on the screen.

Well, it didn't actually seem to glow, but wouldn't that have been cool?

Actually, the phone rang. I have learned my lesson about pushing the final "buy" button in a hurry when I received two cameras for Christmas.

That short break gave me a moment to think about my new word. Simplify. I have enough necklaces to accessorize a small nation. Do I really need another? Is that really simplifying?

Simplify means to "make simple or easier"

Simple means "having few parts, not complex or complicated or involved"

It is painful, because I really like word necklaces.

I really like jewelery in general.

I really like ALOT of things.

But I don't really use ALOT of the things I already have. Like that second camera.

(just joking, I returned it about 10 minutes it arrived!)

Simplify

2008's word was "faith" and was a big success. I loved it and loved thinking about it and trying to understand the word throughout the year.

2009's word "embrace" was a big FAIL.
I didn't embrace many changes, and didn't embrace the status quo.
The necklace with the word "embrace" on it was cute...I'll still wear that!

I embark upon year three with a word that I need to ponder, think about, and hopefully love.
SIMPLIFY.

Now off to find my necklace for the year!
(The best part of a "word of the year")