More than Words

This month for DRS I decided to take the ladies to the Carl Bloch exhibit down at the BYU Museum of Art. I have had a love for art since I was 13 and even minored in Art History at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. My favorite period is the Renaissance and every time I look at a piece of work whether it's Baroque, Romanticism, or Impressionistic, I find myself staring, life standing still, and becoming a part of the art like in Ferris Beuler's Day Off where he gets deeper and deeper into the work of Seurat, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, which is one of my favorites.

Carl Bloch is no exception. Some of us are very familiar with his work from the foyers in the churches and articles in the Ensign. His use of color is beautiful and so submissive to the symbolism he portrays with the life of Christ. I highly recommend going down to the BYU MOA before it ends early next month.

I am always amazed at the beauty that art gives. Not only by what is seen but by what is felt. To me, Art feeds the soul and speaks without words to the part of you that no one can see.
Yesterday as I was driving down town, I saw a blind man attempting to cross the street. I wanted to jump out of my car and help him. How does he do that everyday? Then I started thinking about all the things I would miss if I was blind. Art, beautiful art, inspired art, the colors all around, green grass, blue skies, flowers, people. I immediately thanked my Heavenly Father for my sight. That I am able to see all the beauty around me and on this earth. And I got sad at the thought of not being able to see all these things, along with his hand in my life. The good in others, the good people have to offer.
Sometimes, it's not so much what you hear, but what you see.

So for today, show someone you care. Make someone's day a little brighter. Be the living art in someone's life and show them that there IS beauty- all around.

11 in 2011

Has anyone ever seen The Buried Life?  It's on MTV. No? Well let me just tell you a little bit about it.  4 friends from Canada have made a list of 100 things to do before they die. The drive all over the country checking things off the list. Here are some examples:

• Ask out the girl of your dreams
• Tell a joke on a late night talk show
• Start a dance in a public place
• Make a toast at a strangers wedding

You get the idea, and I think the idea is brilliant!  When I was 20 I made a list of things to do before I die and have actually accomplished half of them. Sadly, I hadn't looked at the list in a while, nor had I thought of modifying the list to this time in my life, my new goals and asperations, my new initerestest and dreams....until Shanna Taggart came along. 
I wouldn't go so far as to say she is obsessed with the show, but she's pretty darn close, and with her energy and excitement with this new view on life, she happily hosted DRS for the month of January.
What a perfect segway into the new year. Instead of focusing on resolutions, why not look at the positive, the exciting world, and make a list of things you have always wanted to do, thought would be fun, things to improve on, and even things that scare you?  What was even better to the lists, is us girls found that we had several things on our lists that were the same. So instead of writing it down and tucking it away in your journal, we can now help each other accomplish some of those items.
Sneak into a private party - DONE
Send someone a love letter - In the works
Go Skydiving - This summer with the ladies!

Thank you Shanna for opening our minds, lighting a fire within to get out and do more things, be adventurous, take chances, and be "yes" girls.  Life is too short to live in a world of "no's" or "i can't".  Take everyday and pretend realize, the world is yours!