Snapshot #308: Draper Temple

May 20, 2011.  Draper, Utah.  The Temple, one of my most favorite places on earth. 

Snapshot #307: Love Notes

May 19, 2011.  Orem, Utah.  My darling Dave left thoughtful little love notes for me to discover around the house in his absence.  Thus far I have uncovered 5 of 10 notes.  My favorite was the one in the honey jar.  "Hi Honey!  I love you!"  ahhhhh.....

Snapshot #306: Cakebites

May 18, 2011.  South Jordan, Utah.  This post is for Lindsey.  Tonight I introduced her to Cakebites from The Sweet Tooth Fairy.  so sorry Lindsey...life will never be the same...

Snapshot #305: Travel to Jordan

May 17, 2011.  Sandy, Utah.  Like a ton of bricks it hit me today that I am going to Jordan in just one week!  I panicked, went out during my lunch break to the nearest Barnes & Noble and bought a couple books on Jordan and Jerusalem.  Dave says we will be going to Jerusalem the day after I arrive and will be spending several days there.  I feel inadequately prepared for such an incredible opportunity. 

Snapshot #304: Scandivanian Cradle

May 16, 2011.  Orem, Utah.  So, my dad's a carpenter.  What do you think of this cradle design Dad?  Would it be impractical in cedar?  It will also need four little feet/stoppers.  I will work on the comfy bedding/bumpers.  The box size should be at least 20" wide x 32" long x 12" deep, I think.  Any experienced mothers out there with further suggestions?  I wonder if there is a way to make it collapsible so that I may transport it in the car. 

Snapshot #303: Happy Birthday Dave

May 15, 2011.  Orem, Utah & Amman, Jordan.  Hopefully this is the only birthday we will have to spend apart.

Snapshot #302: Inception

May 14, 2011.  Orem, Utah.  Tonight after work I curled up with a blanket and my kitty and watched "Inception."  What a lovely idea, Pure Creation.  This movie brings to memory the scripture in Isaiah that says "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?"

Snapshot #301: Roman Ruins in Amman

May 13, 2011.  Draper, Utah.  I finally connected with Dave for another live chat from Amman.  He sent these photos.  He's such a handsome dude!  He's headed south for a weekend excursion.  Tomorrow he will be floating in the Dead Sea.  We also talked about the possibility of visiting Israel while I'm there.  That would be amazing.

Snapshot #300: Blue Lemon

May 12, 2011.  Salt Lake City, Utah.  I spent a wonderful day with Lela.  We lunched at the Blue Lemon--only one of the best restaurants in Salt Lake City.  If you go...be sure to try the Squash Soup; it's heaven.

Snapshto #299: Kitchen Design

May 11, 2011.  Draper, Utah.  This is my latest kitchen design for a local client...we met today and continued to refine the details.  My next challenge--find a way to disguise the pantry as a built-in cabinet.

Snapshot #298: No Place to Call Home

May 10, 2011.  Orem, Utah.  Talked with Landlady from San Jose on the phone today, and she's backing out of the deal for this house.  Someone local has convinced her they would be a better fit.  I'm heart broken.  This means we'll be adopting a baby, moving to another state, and starting a new career all withing 2 weeks of eachother come August.  Sigh.

Snapshot #297: Approvals for Zaytoon in Amman

May 9, 2011.  Amman, Jordan.  (It's a tiny picture of Dave in Jordan...but it's all I've got!)  This morning Dave sent an email announcing approvals from the Jordanian Ministry of Social Development for the roll-out and implementation of Zaytoon's plan for the training of the unemployed.  This was a tremendous milestone for Zaytoon!  Dave wrote:


"...this morning we met with His Excellency Secretary General Mohammed Khasawneh and the meeting could not have gone any better. To quote His Excellency following our presentation, "Let's do it". He was animated, engaged, and offered every support of the Ministry. He was genuinely touched and at one point it seemed almost to the point of tears, especially when he held his hand to his heart and said "you've touched my soul with this program".


Drum Roll Please....let the games begin! 

Snapshot #296: Mother's Day 2011

May 8, 2011.  Wendell, Idaho.  We drove home from church today to find two horses pasturing in my parent's front lawn.  That's one I've never seen before (I do have vague memories from when that part of the lawn WAS a pasture, enclosed by a red-painted fence...years ago when grandma and grandpa still lived in the home).

Snapshot #295: Scarves for Jordan

May 7, 2011.  Wendell, Idaho.  Last night I drove to Wendell to spend the weekend with my mother.  We spent a good portion of the day shopping in Twin Falls...I found some beautiful scarves to bring with me to Jordan (also hoping to find a few to buy within Amman).  It will not be required of me to wear a burka, or veil; nevertheless scarves are a modest accessory for the neckline.  

Snapshot #294: The Mantle of Women

May 6, 2011.  Orem, Utah.  I am compelled to share a discourse from Glenn L. Pace titled, "The Divine Nature and Destiny of Women."  My cousin, Zack, shared the discourse with me.  It was given originally as a BYU devotional on Tuesday, March 9, 2010.  If you read anything from my blog...read this discourse.  It is paradigm-shifting in its bestowal of perspective on the mantle of women since before the beginning of time.  It gave me the gifts of empowerment and faith in my divine attributes.  Here's a sneak peak:


"I’d like to share a perspective from John Milton’s Paradise Lost that fully resonates with my soul.

Much like President Clark, Milton describes the beauty of the Garden and the variety of animals. However, he goes into more detail on his perception of Adam’s frustration and loneliness. In his account, Adam watches the interplay between the animals and communicates with them as best he can. However, Adam concludes something is drastically amiss. Milton wrote:

They rejoice
Each with their kind, lion with lioness;
So fitly them in pairs thou hast combin’d;
Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl
So well converse, nor with the ox the ape;
Worse then can man with beast, and least of all.³

In other words, Adam is saying, “What’s wrong with this picture?”

Milton goes on to suggest that God delayed the introduction of Eve until Adam could fully appreciate her. Seeing that Adam is now ready for the introduction of Eve, God describes what is going to happen next. I love Milton’s description of what Eve would mean to Adam:

What next I bring shall please thee, be assur’d,
Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,
Thy wish exactly to thy heart’s desire.⁴

“Thy fit help”? No, this doesn’t mean she would be in good shape. It means she would be a match, a complement, a counterpart, even his “other self.”

Finally, Eve stood before him, and she exceeded his highest expectations. He had never seen anything like her in the garden. Milton continues:

Under his forming hands a creature grew,
Manlike, but different sex, so lovely fair,
That what seem’d fair in all the world, seem’d now
Mean, or in her summ’d up, in her contain’d,
And in her looks, which from that time infus’d
Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before.⁵

Snapshot #293: Fireplace Mantle Design

May 5, 2011.  Draper, Utah.  A few more adjustments here and there, and it will be ready for construction.  In several weeks I'll post a picture of the finished product.  

Snapshot #292: Good Design

May 4, 2010.  Salt Lake City, Utah.  Good design in it's varying forms makes me happy.  I went downtown today and met Dave's parents for lunch at Blue Lemon (quickly becoming a favorite for notable lunches...the butternut squash soup is like liquid pumpkin pie!)  Just outside the restaurant was this first-rate set of outdoor furniture...I couldn't resist snapping a shot.  Oh...and see the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in the background?  That's where Dave and I had our wedding breakfast with the family, over five years ago.  You can see the window from where we were served in the topmost, leftmost corner of the building.

Snapshot #291: Lela's Sitting Room

May 4, 2011.  This post is for Lela, who over the past 10 months has become a friend of immeasurable spirit.  I am thankful for my Lela. 

Snapshot #290: Carl Bloch

May 3, 2011.  Provo, Utah.  Last night after work I met up with my in-laws at the BYU Museum of Art for the Carl Bloch exhibit.  My favorite work of art was "The Daughter of Jarius."  The perspective was surreal.  The lamp glowing from behind the curtain drew me in until I couldn't pull away.  The height of emotion, the use of color, texture, and light.  What a gift!  

Snapshot #289: Charmed for Sure

May 2, 2011.  Orem, Utah.  It only took two weeks, two hours a day, and nearly 200 emails to find the perfect home in San Jose!  I can't even begin to describe the feeling of elation that has come over me.  We're signing lease documents today (even though we don't technically move until August...it's complicated.)  If something falls through I think I'm going to cry.  I love this home.   

Snapshot #288: First Video Chat from Amman

May 1, 2011.  Orem, Utah.  It's not the best photo, you can't really see Dave due to the reflection of the window...but it sure was good to see his face half a world away, safe and sound.