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")

What I Blogged about in 2009

This is my year in blogging.
book.
read.
like?
Do I use that word the most? I must because the bigger the word the more often it appeared in the blog.
I must expand my vocabulary.
You can do this too! Make a word cloud out of any written passage in just seconds at
http://www.wordle.net/
Happy New Year Beloved Reader(s)!

Christmas Thoughts

This message touched me when I heard it in Sunday School yesterday, and redirected some of my thoughts as Christmas rapidly approaches. It was originally given in December 1994 by President Howard W. Hunter at the First Presidency Christmas Devotional.

Enjoy!

This Christmas,

mend a quarrel.

Seek out a forgotten friend.

Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust.

Wrtite a letter.

Give a soft answer.

Encourage youth.

Manifest your loyalty in word and deed.

Keep a promise.

Forgo a grudge.

Forgive an enemy.

Apologize.

Try to understand.

Examine your demands on others.

Think first of someone else.

Be kind.

Be gentle.

Laugh a little more.

Express your gratitude.

Welcome a stranger.

Gladden the heart of a child.

Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.

Speak your love and then speak it again....

Christmas is a celebration and there is no celebration that compares with the realization of the true meaning of Christmas--with a sudden stirring of the heart that has extended itself unselfishly in the things that matter most.

-President Howard W. Hunter

Merry Christmas!

(photo by maaco on flickr)