Good-bye, Grandma.

This is one of the most precious memories I have of my Grandma. Sadly, she left us this last Wednesday on April 29th, 2009.

This photograph was taken on my sixth birthday when I spent the night with my grandparents in Glendora, California. There was nothing I loved more than sitting with my Grandma, nestling against her as she rocked slowly and talked quietly to me in her wonderful, loving voice.

This picture sums up everything my Grandmother represented to me. I've never felt more loved, content, and at peace then when my Grandma held me and rocked with me. Time seemed to slow, and all other thoughts or troubles disappeared as her love and soothing voice washed over me, and we rocked and rocked, enjoying each other's quiet, happy company.

Her passing leaves a aching, empty place in my heart--and I'm sure with everyone else who knew her well. I loved her so much, and I always, always will!

This particular verse has been on my mind since her death:

And should we die before our journey's through,

Happy day! All is well!

We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;

With the just we shall dwell!

-"Come, Come, Ye Saints" William Clayton, 1846

Grandma's journey on earth has been fulfilled, and she has been called home by her Heavenly Father. I know she can once again be happy, at peace, and feel loved as she once gave me (and always has) in a certain reclining rocking chair years ago.


Also, during this difficult time, we need to remember to:

"...not pity the dead...[but to] [p]ity the living..."

-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, p. 722

Contemplating these words, I'm so grateful for my family/relatives/friends and the strength and comfort each gives me. I can't imagine trying to get through this without any of them.

For any of those people reading this, I love each of you so much! I hope you know I'm here for each of you--no matter what.

The Many Sides of Charlie

I know this post is fairly odd and random. This is really for an assignment for my Methods in Teaching Literature class.

High Angle

This angle is used to make the subject look more vulnerable, submissive, and insignificant.

Low Angle

This shot is used to portray the subject as powerful and more in control.

Eye Level

This shot carries no significance. It's a neutral shot that keeps characters on the same page.

Dutch Angle

This shot is used to create danger, tension, and/or a character's evil side.

A Rather 'Office'tial Valentine's

From the "Valentine's Day episode:

Pam Beesly:
Okay, well, sometimes the gift is really about the gesture, you know, like, what it means instead of what it is.
Dwight Schrute:
You mean... like a ham?
Pam Beesly:
[pause] No, not like a ham. It's about doing something so that the person knows that you really care about her. That you remember her--
Dwight Schrute:
Okay shut up. I know exactly what to do.


Hope everybody had a wonderful Valentine's Day devoid of any ham...or beets.


(Apologies if the sketch is hard to see. Hopefully you can sort of tell who they're supposed to be.)

My two favorite ships on The Office:

My Kind of "Colorful Language"

Long time no see. Been incredibly busy and incredibly-er scatter-brained. Life's good(ish), but blog-posting-at-all-preventing. Here's some poetry and "art" (hah) I've been working on and submitted to my college's literary magazine, The Southern Quill.

fantasyland

i miss my childhood.

everything was simple,

magical

exploring mountainous terrain with my brother james:
the mastadon and triceratops
and me:
the brontosaurus and saber tooth

streaking by on a white horse that looked like
my pink bike with white wheels

racing clothespin boats in a street gutter
with rancho cucamonga neighbor kids

hunting the call of crickets
for hungry green and brown anoles:
liz and rex

hiding amongst a soap forest in my grandma’s
queenly, humungous bathtub

sitting here now and

thinking
wondering
wishing

seeing what was real

remembering wanting

magic

"Caretaker of the Grasslands", MS Paint

"Spirit of a Woman", pencil

Marshall Your Mind and Instill Humanity

Marshall your mind and pen in union
And conduct your paper in jubilant solo symphony
Reach out to the highest peak of understanding seen or unseen
Yearn to seek and find each fathomless meaning

Answer the unasked, the unspoken
Nurture wilting voices and awaken dormant emotions
Negate the pleasing pretty popular perfect positive poem
Evaluate, explore, invite, and instill humanity

"Float", pencil, pastels

sous chef

i’d love to be

simmering in poetry inviting

juices and spices entrancing

students to whittle their own tasting

a part

from the world tasting

the soul

"Empty", MS Paint

That's all for now.

Stay tuned for the next year for my next update.

"Oh Come Let Us Adore Him"

These are different renditions of the nativity scene. I hope you take a couple minutes to looks at these:

http://lufusa.deviantart.com/art/No-hay-posada-72552479

This is amazing. I can't believe the detail in this.

http://samantharobinson.deviantart.com/art/Oh-Holy-Night-44586008

I absolutely love this. The love and warmth is almost tangible in Mary and Joseph's countenances.

http://roxmad.deviantart.com/art/Away-in-a-Manger-107017821

I absolutely love Nativity scenes. This one caught my eye because of Mary. She looks so willowy and graceful, elven almost.

http://chaoticambition.deviantart.com/art/ATM-Nativity-87609147

This blew my mind. See what you want, but I think this formation can be seen as a miracle.

http://young-invincible.deviantart.com/art/Belen-45094125

This is so different. I always get a kick out of non-traditional (in America) Nativity scenes. Just shows how universal the real reason for Christmas still is and continues to be.


In closing, why Christmas brings everyone so much laughter, joy, love, happiness, peace, hope, and miracles:

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Let's all invite Chirst into our "inns."