Natural Beauty

As I put my make-up on this morning I feel grateful. Not because Mac Cosmetics has blessed me with an endless array of colorful palettes with which to paint myself. No, I feel grateful for the amazing colors that swirl at my ankles and intoxicate my evenings.
I do not always feel naturally beautiful. Sometimes I feel very unattractive. Once in a while I think to myself, "Hey babe, you are looking good today. Now go find somewhere to show it off.". Most of the time I don't stop to consider the beauty God has created in me. When I consider and internalize the beauty around me I can not help but feel beautiful by association.
Here's what I am talking about, all from my own yard and deck, no less.

Now go feel beautiful.

36 years of marital bliss...

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!
You guys have had some sweet times and some sweet hair dos.
Thanks for being awesome, loving parents. Here's to you, BBQ's, big dogs and dead (missed) cats, card board cars and homes, mountain biking injuries, skin cancer and moles, diverticulitis, shanky noodle, wild salmon, popcorn and cheese, slide shows, the blue van and Old Mission.
I love you!

By Jury of My Peers

I've been judged. Really, I already knew the verdict. My grammar isn't perfect, neither is my spelling. In fact I was just notified by spell check that 'grammar' was spelled wrong. Spelling and grammar have never been my forte. I get my coarse and courses mixed up, as well as my then and thans. I'm not even going to mention my lies and lays. Sometimes I forget a comma or a colon and how do I use a semi-colon again?
In school I was too busy drawing to pay attention to such trivial things, you should see the covers of my notebooks. In college there was always a teacher or a friend or Dad to edit my papers. Now by blogging, my crimes have been exposed and I must make restitution.
My husband and my brother Andy (both attorneys, I am lucky to have two attorneys in my family to critique even the smallest detail. Have you ever sat down to dinner and been cross-examined? It's awesome) often point out my blogging errors. Yes, I need an editor. Who knew that blogging would be my downfall?
So I am sorry if I have offended any with my coarseness. My parents really did raise me better then this. Next time you see an error please overlook my imperfection or call me and I will give you my pass word and you can edit. Besides Andy and Brad, only Dad and Nate read my blog, and there is no competing, grammatically speaking, with a BYU librarian and a Columbia University MFA play write candidate. I decided to just let it all hang out.
I will aim higher, for better grammar and more readers. Stay tuned and peace out juris doctorates.

Norah, Norah, Norah!

You know those people who are always 'on'? I know them. I had a mission companion that was always 'on'. She was my trainer. While with her I thought "there is no way I can be her". Luckily I didn't have to be.
I've always admired people who can be 'on' at all times, they are fun, up for anything, and exhausting. I prefer to be on a little and by myself a little.
Well, those days are over. My oldest daughter is one of those 'on' people. I know some would say that all small children are 'on', but Norah is on with a capital O N.She never stops moving, she literally bounces off of walls. She is electric and constantly needs entertainment, from me. While her sister is awake she seeks entertainment from her. There usually is a lot of laughter and running and sometimes there is crying involved. Lulu and Abram's naps signal go time instead of relaxing quiet time. I find myself becoming irritated and short with Norah because she demands so much from me. Sometimes there is crying involved.
I don't want to stifle Norah, she is a beautiful 'on' person. I try to find ways to keep up with her. I want her to know she is perfect the way she is.
She likes to pose for photographs, here are some practice shots together. I was practicing loving her. These pictures are to remind her that her mom wasn't always irritated. I love you Norah.
Any suggestions on how to make it through the afternoon with her?

Happy Americans

The night of July 3rd brought tossing, turning and tears. Abram is a notoriously bad sleeper but this night he provided tales to rival Greek Tragedies, well, not quite, but it seems that way at 4am. At 5 am, after I had had very little sleep, I imagined myself sitting in a corner crying all day on the 4th. I was thankfully wrong. My husband took the children downstairs when they woke and I was able to sleep until 8:30, thanks Brad.
Independence Day started at the Wright house.
We lunched, laughed, chatted and teased. It would not be a 'Wright family get-together' if there were no teasing.My brother Tim, is looking for a wife at the ripe age of 21. He has decided that in order to obtain a wife he must improve himself. He is hoping to improve by becoming less awkward with intimacy, you know, making contact with other people. Every time I see him he gives me a big hug. This is his way of 'working on it'. I love you Tim, you will be a good husband.
Daddy taught Norah how to ride her bike in "flat" Orem.Lulu and Norah found refuge from the heat with the hose.Andy and I talked lawyer talk. I'm not a lawyer, but lawyer talk is more interesting then diaper talk.Bobby, of course, has big plans to conquer the world... as usual.The evening was spent at Brad's sister's home. She has a trampoline and a water slide- kid heaven.Abram and I are obviously back on good terms.
This was our last 4th of July to host the fireworks party. Next year we will be in our new home. Thanks Mom and Dad, for teaching me how to be a grateful and happy American.

Yellow

What does Yellow feel like? Is it palpable?
I've clothed my world in shades of gold. My home is bathed with the hue. The terracotta and soil of my yard is bursting with canary, moonlight, and school bus yellow.

I wouldn't say that yellow is my favorite color. I am drawn toward white or red. I love the polarization of the two, they are vivid and graphic. Inside me are shades of crimson and purity swirling in a pool of conflicting desires.
As life progresses, I understand that I need yellow. I need it's warmth and it's joy.
I need it's cheer and it's brightness.

I need it's hope and light.
I need it's clarity and confidence.
Yellow is bold and gentle all at once.
Yellow is weightless and persuasive.
The golden rays of the sun lift and warm. At times my soul becomes saturated in brilliant glowing yellow.

I wish I could hold yellow, wear it like a hat or a coat. If it were tangible I would make it my own.
I know that I need to posses it's peaceful halo of brilliant light.
Is it possible to be yellow?

I want my children to see and feel yellow.

Oh Canada!

Happy Canada Day!
Too many years ago today I was serving on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. My companion was Sister Jodie Thiel. She was fun. Our triplex, fourplex, I don't what we lived in, was on the Atlantic Ocean in a rural area known as Dominion.We understood Canada Day to be similar to Independence Day here in the States. Someone told us there would be a fireworks show taking place close to our apartment over the ocean. Being the good missionaries we were, we were home by 9:30. We dressed in our pajamas and got ready for bed. Around 10pm we started hearing the explosive celebration. We sheepishly exited the apartment and ran down the driveway. No tv, no movies, no music, no dating, no high heels...fireworks over the Atlantic ocean sounded magical.



You know what? They were.

I miss you Nova Scotia, all your beauty, intimacy, strange dialects, strange citizens and sincere kindness. Oh you are a kind, generous Provence. Thank you.