Keep Trying

      You can see by the very vivid watermark that I am "thinking positive."  I had the opportunity to attend the Writers & Illustrators For Young Readers Conference (WIFYR) for the first time this June in Sandy, Utah.  I attended the Children's Illustrating class taught by Julie Olson.  She is a very talented illustrator and young mother of four.  It is amazing that she has been able to have a successful illustrating career and be a stay-at-home mom.  Right after graduating from BYU she took her portfolio to book editors in New York-brave girl- and it paid off. Some of her books are Dear Cinderella, Tickle, Tickle, Itch, Twitch and the The Happiest Mommy Ever.  She has also written and illustrated a darling ebook titled, Princesses,Princesses, Princesses (only 2.99).  She was very helpful and encouraging.  I also enjoyed listening to children's book editors and agents, learning about many aspects of the children's book business that I had never known before.  Fun stuff.  The best thing I learned was NEVER give up!  And I'll add...NEVER stop learning!

Julie Olson teaching her watercolor technique

 

Our group after taking Julie to lunch.

Priorities

Adde's Journal

     So, it's been awhile...the last two months have been busy ones.  I finished up teaching for the year which included last day field trips and programs, saying goodbye to those darling faces and a wonderful teaching partner, cleaning up the classroom, and bringing piles of things home.  I received a gift from my husband, telling me to quit my job.  I should have been ecstatic, but I was fearful and not sure it was the right thing to do.  I love my little students.  Yes, they are trying at times and my patience gets stretched beyond its limits and teaching is exhausting, but there is nothing like those sweet smiling faces greeting me each morning and saying goodbye to me at the end of the day.  There is something noble about teaching at Head Start and helping little kids that need it the most.  The place is filled with good, dedicated women working for practically nothing.  I love them all.  But in spite of all that, I wimped out and quit...and I haven't looked back.  I've been longing for more time to work on the projects I love.  I've got family books I want to write and illustrate, portraits to draw, and abilities to improve before I can do any of it successfully.  I needed time and now I have it. Which now brings me to this blog entry's title--Priorities.  My mind has been in a muddle.  What to do first, when to do it, and how to do it.  Clearly I need to prioritize and set goals.  I attended a workshop at a Relief Society Stake women's conference where the class leader offered help in goal setting.  In two minutes we were asked to write down five lifetime goals, two more minutes to write 5 major goals for the next year, two more minutes to write five major goals if we only had 6 months to live, and then the kicker...write down the ways we have spent time in the last week that related to any of those goals.  (The two minute time limit is important).  Try it, it is very eyeopening.  It is so easy to let the days slip away without accomplishing much.  I'm trying harder to get going and get to work.

     I was able to attend the "Quick Draw" exhibit at the Santa Clara Town Hall on May 12th.  I spent the entire morning watching two artists, Colleen Bleinberger and Julie Rogers.  They were both so kind and helpful.  I watched Julie splash beautiful colors onto a portrait of a little girl holding a flower.  I then went home and made a complete failure of my next portrait attempt with pastels.  Discouraged, I picked up my colored pencils and made the little sketch above of my granddaughter, Adde.  I felt a little better, but not much.  Adde wants to be an artist and she is well on her way.  She loves to draw and spends time doing it...and that will make all the difference.

     Thou shalt not idle away thy time, neither shalt thou bury thy talent that it may not be known. D&C 60:13

Julie Rogers painting at the "Quick Draw" 5/12/2012

I'll miss you, Teacher Patti!

Twirling

Twirling by Julie Rogers

     Julie Rogers, a Kanab,Utah artist painted this wonderful picture titled "Twirling".  I love her loose, energetic style.  I can't wait to watch Julie paint at the Santa Clara "Quick Draw" exhibit in May.  At least I'm hoping she will be there.  I've been wanting to attend one of her workshops but apparently she is busy working on an exhibit that will take place in Washington DC.  
     This picture reminds me of the movie "You've got Mail".  The main character Katherine Kelly (Meg Ryan) reminisces about "twirling" with her mother.  That part always makes me cry.  I think of my own daughter and wonder, "Did we twirl?"  My one and only daughter came to us after the birth of three wonderful sons.  I was thrilled to have a girl in the family, a little "rose bud" to dress in frilly clothes, to balance out my baseball card tradin', crawdad fishing, sweaty and love 'em, little boys.  The whole hospital heard me cry out, "IT'S A GIRL!"  (That was in the days before routine ultrasounds.) She has been a joy in my life ever since.  She had her feisty years but has now become a most kind, thoughtful and sweet young mother, daughter, and friend.  It will soon be her birthday and I just want to say ,"I love you!"  She is fortunate now to have three sisters, the spectacular girls who married my sons.  I am most grateful for these four special women who are the mothers of the my beautiful, brilliant, and sometimes challenging, grandchildren.  I know their job is difficult but hope they won't forget to "twirl".  In their honor I pulled out one of my favorite quotes from an LDS conference talk given in 2000 by Margaret Nadauld.


     "Women of God can never be like women of the world.  The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender.  There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind.  There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined.  We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith.  We have enough greed; we need more goodness.  We have enough vanity; we need more virtue.  We have enough popularity; we need more purity."
     

Red Buds

     After what seems a long dormant winter, tiny magenta blossoms cover the trunks and branches of our five Red Bud trees.  They have brought me joy for nineteen years, but they are no longer in their prime.  They only have a life expectancy of twenty years ( a fact I didn't know when we planted them).  One has already succumbed but has sent up a new little tree to take its place.  New life, new hope...Love Spring!
     Easter seemed a little strange this year.  Half of our grandchildren were not with us.  The annual Easter picture on our backyard steps didn't get taken. I really have no room for complaints, we've been fortunate to have our children around us for this long.  Now two have flown the coop and taken up residency in the northern part of the state.  They have new opportunities and experiences ahead.

The Thinker

    
      My third grandson just turned five years old.  So far he hasn't been too interested in sports.  He likes to think...
about Mario Brothers.  He has learned to ride his bike without training wheels and hopeful parents have signed him up for karate lessons and t-ball.  He is starting to read and likes his Super Kids preschool in his new neighborhood.  He originally began the school year as one of my preschool students where he announced to the class that I wasn't really a teacher, just grandma.  What a great kid!  He paid me the best compliment ever when he told his cousins that he was going to marry me.  I couldn't ask for better than that!  I hope I have done justice to his handsome little face.
     I've heard a lot lately about how our thoughts influence what we are and what we will become.  It takes many, many positive thoughts to undo one negative thought.  My grandson is entitled to childish thoughts--he is a child.  But I am no longer a child and I'm still struggling to be a grown-up.  I think we have truly mastered ourselves when we can control our thoughts.  To have a mind filled with uplifting, pure and positive thoughts--  that would be a great accomplishment.  Since I'm not in that category yet I'm starting to add that to my daily prayers- to think positive is to be positive.




25 hours

"The One"

         This beautiful pastel of the St.George temple was done by the talented son of dear friends of mine.  I love his view of the temple.  He is inviting us once again to look up!  I thank him for allowing me to post it.


     In the middle of each hectic week I am privileged to serve for a few evening hours at the St.George Temple. I have no doubt this building is a sacred place.  Many experiences have assured me of my Heavenly Father's love for me and for all of his children.  It is amazing the many times that events fall into place, little "coincidents" that have a great affect on one person or a small group.  A friend and fellow ordinance worker recently shared an experience.  She had made an error that would cause a problem for several people.  She was devastated and embarrassed. Her first thought was to leave the temple and go home before she could make any more mistakes.  A distinct impression told her she should stay.  As she continued to serve that evening she was overcome with a feeling of comfort.  She began to see, understand, and feel Heavenly Father's love and words with an amazing clarity that she had never experienced before.  It was a night she will never forget.
     When I am serving at the temple I am able to refocus, forget about the world, and remember what is important in the eternal scheme of things.  I feel peace in knowing He loves "the one."

Inspired

Young mother sewing Mary Cassatt

     "When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies?  The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods?  Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses?"                Neil A. Maxwell


     This beautiful portrait of a mother and child was painted by Mary Cassatt.  I've been a fan of hers since college days when I wrote a paper about her for a class called "Women in the Visual Arts".  Mary was born in 1844 in Pennsylvania.  She had unconventional desires for a woman of her day.  It was not unusual for a man to study art abroad, but a young woman of good breeding did not display competitive, professional ambitions.  After much resistance from her parents she left for Paris in 1866.  She studied and copied the masters for years, finally being accepted into the very conventional and juried Paris Salon.  In 1877 she was invited by Edgar Degas to forsake the salon and exhibit with the avante garde impressionists: Manet, Monet, Renoir and Degas.  Though their exhibitions were ridiculed at first, Mary accepted "with joy"  She said, "I took leave of conventional art.  I began to live."  Degas became her mentor and friend.  Her parents and sister eventually came to live with her in Paris.  She never married or had children. When I finally saw one of her paintings in person I actually got tears in my eyes, it was so gorgeous.  Most of her paintings are of women and children.  They are beautiful and inspiring to me.

After the bath by Mary Cassett

     My sister, Ilona, also inspires me.  She has worked long and hard at becoming an artist.  She has been much more dedicated than me.  Her beautiful works of art can be seen on her website:  www.ilonaterry.com