Quotogrpahy: March

March is unpredictable... just like Alice's adventures in Wonderland are. 

One minute all can be calm and peaceful and then before you know it a wind comes up and blows things around to mess with your plans and with your head.

March ushers in the season of Spring... tulips... and tea parties and such. One of my favorite activities to do is to go to Thanksgiving Point Gardens and see the tulips with my family. 

In 2013 we had our Mother's Day Tea Party at the gardens. Adding in a Mad Hatter theme sent the day spinning with mad, crazy, fun! Everything was unpredictable... just like the month of March. 

Quotography: Balloon

"My mother praised me when I did something good, and then the next moment, she would say, "don't float". She put me in a balloon and then pricked it." -Bhumibol Adulyadej

The moral to this quote... "don't let praise go to your head!" Use it wisely.

Quotography: February

February is the month of "love". After these two kiddos ran all their energy out, they plopped themselves down on the edge of the lawn, facing the sunset over Willard Bay, and had a moment... Only a moment they knew about. But I imagined a bond... a love between brother and sister that can never be broken. Oh... if only I could have heard their conversation!

This scene conjures up remembrances of my children. Steven and Shaniel in particular at this time. Love bound them together on earth as it binds them now in heaven! 

July

Would be nice to get some cooling showers for our flowers! It's been a very hot July.

Love of Liberty

"It is the Love of Liberty which inspires my soul."

-Joseph Smith

Happy Birthday America!

Mother

In honor of Mother's Day, I picked a quote I love and found the perfect picture to go with it. I love watching my daughters tenderly love their babies. This precious baby boy is the last one to join our family.

Spring

There's nothing I like better than the first blooms that come in spring. The apricot tree is my absolute favorite!

Just as a favorite childhood song goes.... I could take an armful and make a treat. A popcorn ball that would smell so sweet!

April

April brings showers. I have always loved the rain in the Spring. 

A year after Shaniel passed away, and on her birth date, we went to the Salt Lake Temple to do her temple work. There was a gentle rain that day. The blessings, or rainbows, of heaven were gently showering down on us... as family from both sides of the veil came together and celebrated with Shaniel on receiving her saving ordinances. 

Rain cleanses the earth and makes everything fresh and new again. Now, whenever a gentle shower from heaven comes, it is a wonderful reminder of that day. Just as the earth received a gentle washing, so did Shaniel. A renewal of faith, a cleansing of soul, and the opportunity to move forward in the great plan of happiness is, indeed, a gift and blessing from heaven.

Gentle rain does bring the rainbows of heaven! What joy!

Quotography - Grandfather

A grandfather is someone who has 

silver in his hair and gold in his heart.

Grandpa Bentley was in the sunset of his life when I was old enough to remember him. His hair was a silvery gray. I knew him as a tender, kind man. He was cheerful and happy. Grandpa sang Irish songs as he bounced me on his knee.

They say as you age, you acquire knowledge and wisdom from years of living. That being the case, grandpa's challenges and trials in life helped refine him into a man who whose heart became "gold".  

Even though he had Rheumatoid Arthritis and lived out his last years in a wheelchair, he always had a smile on his face and a song in his heart. He taught me the value of being happy and positive, even in the face of pain. 







  

Quotography: cuckoo

"...a voice so thrilling ne'er was heard in spring-time from the

cuckoo-bird, breaking the silence..."   William Wadsworth

I've never hear a real cuckoo-bird, but I am reminded every single day what it sounds like when it sings. We have a cuckoo clock from the Black Forest of Germany, where the cuckoo-bird is prevalent. Every hour the cuckoo-bird comes out of it's door to sing the time. If I ever go back to Europe in the spring-time I will have to listen carefully for the song of the cuckoo-bird.

Quotography: flowers

I have always loved daisies. They were my choice of flower for my wedding bouquet. I wanted their sunshiny beauty to grace my yard. And there is nothing quite so enjoyable as seeing wild daisies growing in a meadow! 

When I came across this quote it made me smile....

Said the other, little daisy, "I am very well content. To live simply in the meadow Where the sun and rain are sent; Where the bees all gather sweetness and the dew falls on my head, And the radiance of the moon light is all around me shed. The grass and clover blossoms admire my beauty all day long, As I listen to the   music of a bird's delightful song..." Gertrude Tooley Buckingham  

Oh... to be a daisy in a meadow, with no cares in the world! To soak up the sun and feel the rain on my face, to feel the gentle breeze and hear the buzz of a bee. To show off my beauty and have birds sing to me all day long.... I think I would like that right now! sigh....

Quotography: Model

Each person must live their life as a model for others. - Rosa Parks

Mom and dad and grandmother Richardson left a legacy of love for their posterity... a history of their lives. The pages come alive as they offer insights of real life living... trials, hardships, health, work, faith, joys, humor, compassion, service, enjoyments, lessons learned, etc. Through years of living, a character emerges in each of them. Their histories are models that I want to and have patterned my own life after. I am proud of my name!

They have instilled in me, a desire to write my own history. It is my hope to leave my children and grandchildren a legacy of living that they will be proud of, too. Even with mistakes, lessons can be learned and growth can take place. Faith can be strengthened and hope can be gleamed. 

When my time winds up on earth, what do I want my book to be filled with? Memories of home, children, grandchildren... time spent together, love, faith building experiences, lessons learned, and testimony. A pattern, a model that my posterity would be proud to live by.

Thoughts lead to acts, acts lead to habits, habits lead to character – and our character will determine our eternal destiny.    -Ezra T. Benson

Quotography: Valentine

After an evening Spring shower, the two youngens' ran up and down the grassy hill until all their energy was spent. The sun was just starting to set when I spotted the two plopping down at the edge of the lawn. Looking toward the sunset, over Willard Bay, were not only siblings... but best friends! A picture really is worth a thousand words.. and this quote sums it up. Love!

If you live to be a hundred, then I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.  -Winne the Pooh

Quotography: mending

Broken hearts can become whole again when we let God do the mending.

"He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds."  Psalm 147:3

This quote goes with a post entitled The Rose, on Shaniel's Story blog. Read the loving tribute that her colleagues and co-workers from CNS (Community Nursing Services) gave at her graveside, before burial.

Quotography: snow

The first fall of snow is not only an event, but it is a magical event. 

You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different. 

And if this is not enchantment, where is it to be found?

                                                                  --J.B. Priestley

Quotography: November

The first day of November brought cold temperatures, howling wind, and pounding rain. It was a good day to snuggle up in a blanket, read a good book, and drink hot chocolate! 

Our beautiful, warm Autumn days have come to an end.

Quotography: October

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came -

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand.

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band.

This is just how I feel about Autumn! Colorful leaves, the sunshine, the cool crisp crunch of dry leaves on the ground... all spread out before me, feels just like a party!

I want to run and jump in the leaves, twirl around and look heavenward at the sunshine peeking in through the trees while the colorful leaves of Autumn dance wildly around me. To make it more fun, I'll invite the grandchildren!

Oh... 'tis Autumn!

picture - Mnt. Nebo Loop, Utah

Quotography: September

September, blow soft till the fruit's in the loft. - The Old Farmer's Almanac

The first of September is always an exciting time on the Daniel's Farm. We harvest the peaches, pears, apples, blackberries and grapes. By the end of the month all is picked. The baskets are put away in the loft. The tractors are put to rest in the barn for a season. The leaves change colors. But the best thing of all, is the smell of Autumn in the orchard!

A couple of mornings ago, I was up early picking peaches for a customer and as I walked by the berry patch and grapes... oh! the fragrance that filled the cool, crisp morning air was just heavenly! There is nothing better than the smell of fully ripe grapes. Delicious purpleeee grape juice (better than Welch's) filled the air! And the vines, with their large yellow leaves, and clusters of green and purple grapes make up the perfect color combination. It's like being in a painting. On my farm... and I get to be in it every single day! I love it when the grapes stay on their vines until the first frost comes. Not only for their fragrance, but for the natural sugar it produces. It makes the best bottled grape juice and jelly. 

I stopped a few minutes to take it all in. I looked around at the beauty that surrounded me on all sides. An overwhelming feeling of peace, comfort, and thanksgiving filled me to the brim. How grateful I am to live here, among the fruits of our labor!

Quotography: Music

Perhaps nothing invites the spirit so effectively as the right music. It can inspire, heal and awaken us!

Songs of the heart

The first time I walked back into County Lanes Assisted Living Center, after my trip to Europe, I was immediately welcomed with the feeling of warmth, love, and friendship. I noticed right off that my favorite lady was no longer with us. I was relieved to find out that she moved, and had not passed away. A couple of other of my favorite sister's had succumbed to bad health, leaving them more dependent than ever on aids to assist them. But that did not diminish their spirit, because it radiated out like sunbeams. My spirit was renewed that day, in more ways than one.

As we started to sing the opening song, the spirit immediately engulfed me. My voice cracked and my lips began to quiver. The tears welled up in my eyes as we sang How Great Thou Art. It took me back to Dad's life. That was his life, through and through. It took me back to his funeral. Those sentiments came out in both song and words expressed that day. 

That day at Country Lanes I was surrounded by the sweetest group of elderly women, the spirit so strong, that I could barely get the words out. But they were loud and clear in my heart. 

1. O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds thy hands have made. I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder. Thy pow'r thru-out the universe displayed.

2. When thru the woods and forest glades I wander, And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.

3. And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, Sent him to die, I scare can take it in. That on the cross my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

4. When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration, And there proclaim, "My God, how great thou art!"

Chorus

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, How great thou art! How great thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, How great thou art! How great thou art! 

The most defining moment in the song came when the words... "And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, Sent him to die, I scare can take it in." I truly felt only love and adoration to Him that gave His life for me. I can't even begin to comprehend the magnitude of that gift, the love, the burden borne for me personally. I scarce can take it in!

I thought about being at dad's graveside when Alia, Ann, and their girls sang the song, once again. Their voices rose to the heavens and I felt the angels join in. I will never, ever forget the feeling that pervaded me that day. 

Our Relief Society meeting didn't end with the opening song. We enjoyed a wonderful prepared lesson and closed the meeting with yet, another song that has become near and dear to my heart. How Firm a Foundation. Mom's favorite song which was sung at her funeral, as well.

1. How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent word! What more can he say than to you he hath said, Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior, Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

2. In ev'ry condition- in sickness, in health, In poverty's vale or abounding in wealth, At home or a-broad, on the land or the sea- As thy days may demand, as they days may demand, As they days may demand, so they succor shall be.

3. Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid. I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous, Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

4. When through the deep water I call thee to go, The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o'erflow, For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

5. When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply. The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design, They dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

6. Ev'en down to old age, all my people shall prove, My sov'reign, eternal, unchangeable love; And then, when gray hair shall their temples adorn, Like lambs shall they still in my bosom be borne.

7. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never forsake! 

I was once again taken back to the day that Leslie and I were in mom's room at the Care Center, when I had an overwhelming urge to sing her a song... her favorite song. We went in search of a hymn book, and Leslie and I sang to her. We didn't have the most beautiful voices. Far from it, but it was beautiful to her. I could hardly sing. The spirit was so strong. We came to the end, and she asked us to sing it again. We did! It felt good. I had never sang to my mother before. But those words... "fear not, I am with thee..."  connected our spirits on a level that only the heart can understand. I loved her so much, and I knew she knew it! 

It wasn't long before we had the entire family up singing to her. A beautiful choir made up of her sons and daughters and grandchildren and spouses. Singing hymns. Harmonizing! It was like a choir from heaven. Angels joining in. Several grandchildren have exceptional voices. I remember being overcome with the spirit as Kevin and Jacob sang in their booming bass voices. Annie played the organ. Teri Beth played the violin on another occasion. She can make the most beautiful music with that instrument.

One of the aids commented to me, afterwards, that she heard singing and was drawn to where it was coming from. As she approached mom's door, she stopped, peeked inside, and lingered as she listened to the most beautiful music she said she had ever heard. Her heart was filled to the brim with the spirit and said we sounded like a heavenly choir. Our music not only comforted mother and her family that day, but it touched many residents and workers, alike.  

Mom loved music. It was so soothing to her. She sang her entire life. She sang in ward choirs, in the Singing Mother's Choir, and at home. One of my best memories was her knocking lightly on my bedroom door early in the mornings to awaken me for school. Her loving voice... "Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray..." still resonates in my heart and soul today.

Something about music

I swear in my pre-earth life I had musical talent, and I am praying it will be when I pass from this life, too. My singing voice is just ok, but I can hum anything and stay on pitch. I love to hum, and I find myself often humming hymns throughout the day. Music, that is... good inspirational music, moves me in a way that I can not even put into words. It enters my heart and finds a place to stay. One time I had hummed my day away, and Dave told me to"stop!" He couldn't take it anymore! It was only then that I realized how much music really was a part of my life, even though I was not playing any musical instrument at the time and I was not in a choir. 

The first time I knew music would be a part of my life was when I took piano lessons. I was young, but old enough to feel the thrill of making music. I pictured myself as a concert pianist as I moved my young crocked, double jointed fingers up and down the keyboard. When I turned 14 years old, everything changed. I became interested in a particular boy, and my world, as I knew it, would never be the same. I abandoned my piano lessons and school band. I lost interest in the very thing I once loved. I don't know how that was possible, but I did.

I married the boy that took my interest elsewhere, and several years later we were living in Colorado with a young family. I secretly wanted a piano and was always on the lookout. One day I found a turn of the century baby grand piano. I was so excited! We bought it for $900 and had it restored. It was beautiful! It was my dream to pick up playing the piano again and have my children learn to play. I was even called to be the pianist in my ward Relief Society. I was so scared. It had been so long. I felt so intimidated. I didn't know how I would ever be able to do it. It was only a matter of a few weeks that we moved from our Steamboat Springs branch to Craig. You could say I was saved by the move! The R.S. president had told me she was inspired to have me called to that position. Makes me wonder all these years later had we stayed and I accepted the call and challenge.....

Years later, still. I was on my second marriage. We were selling fruit at the Farmer's Market in SLC, when a lady stopped at our booth. As she picked out some fruit we struck up a conversation with each other. We were drawn to each other... like we knew each other from somewhere before. Her name -- Sue Jarvis. She said she knew me. I told her I knew her. We tried to make the connection, from previous places where we might have lived and knew each other. Her name was even familiar to me. School, perhaps? And then she asked me if I sang. Surely that was where she knew me from! She was involved in the music department and choir at BYU. We never did figure it out... but we were kindred spirits and we knew it. She departed and I went about my business. And, I have never forgotten her. Even though our encounter was for a brief moment, I felt like I have always known her. I hope I bump into my friend again, someday. And... we sing together!

When Audrey and I made our trips from Brigham City to Price, we sang songs all the way through Spanish Fork and Price Canyon. These memories with Audrey are so dear to my heart. We belted out Patriotic songs, Especially for Youth songs, church hymns, primary songs. Now, that Audrey is grown, I love to sit by her in church and listen to her beautiful Alto voice. And then... just like that she can switch to Soprano. I don't know where she acquired such a beautiful voice, but it is heavenly to me. She is, indeed, sunshine to my soul. For more reasons than one!

I remember right after dad passed away, I really changed. I experienced a mighty change. I thought of Alma the younger and what he experienced. That he had no more disposition to do evil. I felt that way. And I only wanted to listen to good, inspirational music. To this very day, that is what I listen to. It is healing, comforting, and inspirational. As I made the many trips through the canyon on Hwy. 6 from Brigham City to Price and back, to visit family. I would put in the Especially for Youth CD's and sing to the songs. How Great Thou Art, Come Thou Font of Every Blessing, and so many more. 

A year or so before mom passed away, mom gave me the piano I grew up on. Oh.. it's not good enough to play on. It's out of tune and there is no hope of fixing that problem. But, every now and again, I get out the piano books of my youth and play the songs that were so familiar to me. It takes me back to the time I imagined myself as a concert pianist. No, I never will be. At least not in this life. But I get so much satisfaction from playing the old ivory keys of my youth and dream of the time I will be! 

Good music is a heavenly treasure. It resonates truth, joy, and enlightenment. It inspires me to reach higher. It is in my soul and always will be.

Quotography: Still

Be still, my soul

Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;

With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend

Thur thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be, still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake,

To guide the future as he has the past,

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

Sorrow forget, loves purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Text: Katharina von Schlegel, b 1697

trans. by Jane Barhwick, 1813-1897

Music: Jean Sibelius, 1865-1957

And all they who have mourned shall be comforted. 

Doctrine and Covenants 101:14

This beautiful hymn was sung at Shaniel's funeral by her brother-in-law Robby Donaldson. The lyrics, combined with the music, express my feelings to the very depths of my soul. I am calmed and comforted every time I hear the words... be still my soul: the Lord is on thy side... with patience bear thy cross of grief or pain... thur thorny ways leads to a joyful end... be still, my soul: when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Not only will we have rest in the Lord at our appointed time, we will also rejoice in the renewed friendship of our loved ones. I miss my angel daughter, Shaniel, so very much and look forward with great anticipation when I can see her again. I yearn to be near her, hug her, tell her I love her, and never ever let her go. Patience bear... until we meet again.