Sacred Gifts

I had the privilege of attending the BYU Museum of Art's Exhibition: Sacred Gifts last Saturday.  It was a sacred privilege to view these most beautiful, priceless paintings.  As one of the lenders said in essence- These paintings have never been loaned before and I don't think they ever will be again.  We feel a connection with the people of Utah because they love Christ.

 The app for iphone or ipad is wonderful if you didn't get to go to the exhibit.  It is free and can be found in the itunes store. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sacred-gifts-brigham-young/id723165787?mt=8.  I recommend you download it and listen to the beautiful summaries of each painting and enjoy the exhibit.

Here are some of the famous paintings I got to view:

This one by Hoffman was probably my favorite.  It is President Monson's favorite and he has it hanging on his wall.  I have one by another painter on my wall that my sister, Patty found. Jesus' face looks very similar to this one in that painting.  Hoffman said he didn't want to sell it.  He liked it above his bed where each day he would give an accounting of his actions of the day.

This painting just IS the Sermon on the Mount.  Ever since I was young, this is the picture the teacher would hold up when teaching the sermon on the mount.  I got to see it in real life!!!  Yes, you can touch me.

This is also one I grew up seeing . . . and feeling.

This picture doesn't do it justice, but this was a powerful grouping of actually five paintings.  In the center is Jesus Christ in the red robe with a crown of thorns.  The mobs are represented on the left and right of him.  On the far left is the young virgin Mary.  On the far right, the saddened, older Mary, mother of Jesus.  I wept when I thought what she went through as I viewed her sad eyes and line-worn face.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  This one is worth at least that.  It teaches so powerfully "pride."

Another of Hoffman's- the young Jesus teaching in the temple.  Hoffman's face of Jesus is consistent.  When asked who he used for a model of the Savior, he said he closed his eyes and could just see Him and painted from that image.  

I took with me to this exhibit a young, teen-aged friend who is struggling right now.  I wanted her to feel the love of the Savior by viewing these paintings.  I don't know if it did that for her (I continue to pray for her), but it certainly did that for me.  He is my Joy, my Exampler, my Healer, my Comforter, my Leader, my Redeemer, my Savior, and my Friend. In His name, I testify that He lives.  Amen.

Let It Go!

One word:  WOW!

My Favorite Things- Pickled Beets

Sweet pickled beets have long been one of my favorite things on a salad bar.  I was excited to find these at Costco.  Now I can have them any time I want at home!   They are really yummy on salads or just as a little enhancement to any dinner.
Sweet pickled beets- one of my favorite things.

To see other of my favorite things, click here.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I just listened to this powerful book on a road trip. I first read it years ago, and couldn't remember the details- only the emotions I felt when I read it. For a girl from Idaho, it was eye-opening to first read the stink of racial prejudice. Hearing it again brought back those feelings and sadness. At the end of the book on the recorded version, Mildred Taylor speaks to the reader, explaining that the stories told in the book were true- That the Logan family was her grandparents' family. She heard all of the stories from her father- one of the children in the book. That makes it even more powerful to me. Though the book deservedly won the Newberry Award for being the most distinguished contribution to children's literature in 1977, I think it's more appropriate reading for a young adult or adult. It may be too much for a sensitive and protected child.



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Commuter Grandma

Hangin' with these folks these days

Shonna's baby girl is due May 20th, but she's already- it started at week 24- having contractions and signs that may mean that little girl is trying to come too early.  So Shonna has been put on modified bed rest.  And I've become a commuter Grandma.  I spent 10 days up in Logan helping and I'm now home for a few days to teach my voice lessons.  I will head back up on Sunday.  I'll be doing this back and forth  until the baby is born or until the doctor says Shonna can get off bed- well, really couch- rest.  The kids play around her on the floor by the couch and lots of times right up there with her and even on her.  They think it's pretty fun to have an always- attentive mom.  And I try to keep the wheels on in the house and keep them fed and I wipe a lot of little bums and read a lot of stories, too.  I miss Ken a lot, but it's fun to spend time with the Cameron family.  I am so grateful I am in a position that I can help.  Prayers that Baby Girl Cameron stays put for a good while will be much appreciated!!!!

Messenger

Messenger by Lois Lowry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a companion book with "Gathering Blue." The main character, Matty is Kira's good friend in "Gathering Blue." It also starts to tie loose ends from "The Giver." I have enjoyed reading this series and feel that my beliefs in why we are here on this earth have been strengthened by reading these four "The Giver" series of books.



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Gathering Blue

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


If you're looking for a sequel to "The Giver," you'll be disappointed in this book. I think this book is the author's imagination of another controlled society- an alternative to the one in The Giver. I'm going to display my imagination now. Here's what I think happens: I think Mrs. Lowry ponders and then writes a list of the characteristics she values in herself and in a society. Then, she writes a book, creating a society in which those values are void. In so doing, she helps us recognize how important those characteristics are. At least that's what reading her books did for me. The characteristics lacking in this society that I now value more highly: Charity, Kindness, Valuing people for who they are and not for what they look like or for what they can contribute to a society, and maybe most important- the value of education. Is that the author's thought process? I have no idea. But she seems to encourage the reader to use their imaginations, so I did. I used mine on her. To really get the conclusion to this book, you should read "Messenger".



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