The Beauty of Good Thoughts

 For the very beginning of my birthday week Kayli gave me the gift of her two tickets to the Lantern Festival.  Derek and I went early, taking our chairs and blankets and a few things to keep us busy if we needed them.  We agreed to spend the time talking about non-stressful things and just trying to enjoy the moment.  After setting up our spot among a bunch of other attendees, we picked up our prayer flags and lanterns and sat down to write the thoughts we wanted to "send to the Universe".  

We then hung our flags up where they could be seen, and where they will be carried on to all of the other Lantern Festivals until they, like many still hanging, are no longer legible.

We talked, played UNO, and bought dinner from one of the food trucks.  When it was dark enough, it was time for everyone (and there were a LOT of people) to light their lanterns and let them go up into the sky.  We were very inexperienced lantern lighters and when I was getting frustrated at mine Derek said, "Look up!"  I am glad that I did.  

I like this picture.  A lot of the lanterns look like hearts, or bright glowing butterflies.  It was very beautiful.  We finally did let my lantern go, where it proceeded to float too low and run into people.  I assume someone eventually got it to launch (as that happened with several lanterns).  Derek's finally took off like it was supposed to and flew up into the sky.

I think that is Derek's lantern in the middle of the picture.

Someone kindly took our picture.

It was a beautiful event and the lanterns, also decorated with good thoughts, were beautiful.  

Indivisible

Photo by chris robert on Unsplash

Maybe, like me, when you hear the word indivisible you automatically think of The Pledge of Allegiance.  In the Pledge, indivisible is used to describe the Republic, The United States of America.  It means that we, as a Nation, cannot be divided.  This is the land of "liberty and justice for all".  It is the "land of the free and the home of the brave."  It is the land that I love; the country that I am loyal to.  The problem is, our country does not feel indivisible.  It feels very divided.

You don't have to go far to hear, see, and feel division.  There are Republicans who hate Democrats, and Democrats who hate Republicans.  There are whites who hate blacks, and blacks who hate whites.  There are divisions among and between the religious, the spiritual, and the non-believers.  There are divisions centered around women's rights and what that means.  If someone believes something, there is bound to be someone who is against it.  But differences aren't really the problem.  The problem is in how we handle differences.  We can ALL be different and still not be divided.

It is not true that if everyone is special that means nobody is.  Everyone IS special -- but they are uniquely special.  We are all children of God with different gifts and talents.  We are all unique, and that means we will have differences.  The key to being indivisible is to love.  To find a way to listen and try to understand each other.  It doesn't count if we expect everyone to listen to us because we are "right" but we won't listen to anyone else.  Most people think they are right, and most people won't have their mind changed by a lecture, or by being yelled at, or by being shunned.  Two people can believe they are right on opposite ends of an issue and still get along.  

In the Bible it says "Charity never faileth".  It does not say that "being right never faileth".  Charity, or love, is the only way that our families, neighborhoods, cities, states, and country will truly be indivisible.

Poor Unfortunate Souls

Photo by Aubrey Odom on Unsplash
BYU:  Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve.

**Written on Aug. 29 -- I just forgot to publish it!

Today I was watching Brigham while Tia went to the doctor.  I enjoyed watching him SO much and it brought back a memory from long ago.  I was around 17 and working at a real estate office in Colorado.  I had been accepted to BYU and was going there in February and a couple of the agents were making it clear that they felt it was foolish of me to go there.  I would just end up getting married and having children and they did not feel like that was a very worthwhile thing to do.  One woman even mentioned that she had had a hysterectomy so she wouldn't have to deal with having children.  I was not swayed by their opinions and felt sorry for them even as they felt sorry for me.

There are so many people who want children and struggle to have them and I hope they will get their chance. As time goes on it seems that there are more and more that choose not to have children.  I am so sad for all that they miss.  Having children is difficult.  That is absolutely true.  They are little humans who need a LOT of care when they are born and have a lot to learn, but it is so fun to watch them learn!  I love it when children take my finger and want me to go with them somewhere.  I love that when they are little they have such an enthusiasm for helping, even if their help doesn't really make anything faster.  Little things that we take for granted are fascinating to children and help us remember to find joy in little things.  They love to laugh and cheer and their joy is contagious.  I love little arms giving me a hug, and I love watching a child looking so peaceful in sleep when they have been so very busy getting into things all day long.

Everyone gets to make their own choices, and maybe it is better for people who don't want children to not have them, but I can't help thinking that one day they will regret it.  I still wish I could remember every little sweet, funny, wonderful thing my children did or said when they were little.  I am glad I wrote some down because no matter how much I want to remember, memories still fade.  I am also glad I have gotten to watch them grow and learn until they are grown up, smart, intelligent, sweet, fun, and sometimes still funny humans.  

I did get a degree at BYU, but I also did as the people at the real estate office predicted and got married and had children and I have absolutely no regrets about that!