Goodbye Summer...

I'm not ready to let Summer go just yet...
I wish I could hold on to these sunny days a little longer.

Alas, change is in the air...
Goodbye Summer, see ya next year.

L

Flying Cows and Golden Tickets

Mauri wasn't too interested in looking at the camera. Can you blame her? There were ducks and geese roaming about the lake shore! She wanted to catch a fish and splash in the water too! Oh, and Uncle Danny may have told her there were flying cows in the sky to try and get her to look up for a picture. She never did see them, though... Poor little thing just wanted to play! She's always good at reminding me to be a little more carefree and silly! She helps me remember to be happy now, she's a little golden ticket.

Oh I sure do love that little girl!

With Love,
L

Picture Perfect

Last night I took a little photo shoot for Jeni and Jason's cute little family. My old "frenemy" MR. PERFECTIONISM came for a visit too. I tried to send him away, but he's a stinker you know, once he shows up, he's hard to get rid of. Group photos always come with a handful of challenges...

Someone won't smile.
Someone's a blinker.
Someone cries.
Someone spits up.
Someone's done with it all before you get "that PERFECT shot"

I left feeling rather discouraged and disappointed in myself. I was sure that if I was a better photographer I could have controlled all of these things with ease. If I was more like this or less like that I would have left with loads of beautiful photos for them to ooh and aah over... The truth is, I get really stressed out trying to worry about the lighting, exposure, posing, and making everyone smile all at the same time. I've felt rather unsuccessful, artistically and otherwise, lately.

 I think President Uchtdorf's talk, Five Things to Forget Not, at General Relief Society Conference was just for me. The Lord wants me to be much more gentle with myself. It's not all about the picture perfect end result... the beauty really is in the moments along the way. In the midst of all those artistic challenges I saw a beautiful family. I saw a little girl who has so much enthusiasm for life--why stand still when there are so many amazing things to see?! I saw a mother and father who love their children dearly. Even if they are slightly blurry, these are the pictures worth taking...

Did I get that perfect shot in the end? The one with perfect lighting, flawless composition, and everyone smiling directly at the camera, probably not... but I think I got a few of the shots that actually matter.

With Love,
L

PS: Today my dear friends Whitney and Spencer are asking for a little help spreading the word about their journey to adopt. Please take a moment and look at their sweet adoption profile and blog. Let them know you are keeping them in your prayers! These two are going to make the greatest parents, and I just can't wait to see their miracle unfold. Let's all spread the word and help them find their baby!

Here is the link to Spencer and Whitney's adoption profile:https://itsaboutlove.org/ial/profiles/26506714/ourMessage.jsf

And here is the link to their adoption blog:http://spencerandwhitneyadoption.blogspot.com/

Not all Days are Perfect...

One of my favorite scrapbook artists, Shimelle Laine hosted a little challenge over at Two Peas (an online gallery where I post my work). Basically, she gave this title prompt for a page:

{Not all             are           .} 

Here's what I came up with... Not all days are perfect... but this one came close! Live in the moment everyday!

I love this picture becuase it reminds me of a near-perfect day, April 22, 2010: Danny's 27th birthday, and our daytrip to El Quelite, Mexico.  We rode a cute little yellow scooter out to the most quaint little town. I remember being a bit uneasy on the scooter at first, but thinking to myself... "This is so fun, and beautiful! I feel perfectly carefree and in love! I better stop worrying and live in this moment!"  I knew that on some less than perfect future day, I would think back and remember that blissful carefree feeling... I was so right! You know what though, I'm learning to recognize these moments in real life too, I don't have to go somewhere else to find them. They come in small and simple ways, and I have to look for them or else they'll come and go unseen...

As far as scrapbooking goes, I've been dying to mix some stripes and florals on a page... It may be a fleeting trend, but I'm gonna enjoy it for the moment;) I really do love the mixed pattern vibe right now, it kinda makes me feel dressing myself as a kid again... Does this match? No, but I'm gonna do it anyway because it makes me happy;)

With Love,
L

These Two...

Lynley: "Mauri, will you please smile so I can take your picture?"

Mauri: "Um... Oh, look at that butterfly over there!"

Lynley: "How pretty!! Okay, can I take your picture now?" 

Mauri: "Lynley, you sure can't get Mauri to work right today!" 

Lincoln, on the other hand, isn't big enough to run away yet... 

These two sure make their auntie happy!

With Love,

Lynley

San Salvador, El Salvador Temple Dedication

THIS is why we went to El Salvador. I've been to many beautiful places, but there is simply nothing that compares to the loveliness of the temple. When I go to the temple, I'm filled with greater peace, hope, and gratitude. I see things more clearly.

Living in Utah, it SHOULD be easy to attend the temple as often as we would like, and yet for some reason it's often a challenge to "find" the time. While visiting the members in El Salvador, I saw their faith and dedication to temple work. I was humbled and inspired to do better. They can "find" the time to work in the temple every single morning before a day's labor. It is no small sacrifice to pay the bus fare or walk the many miles to attend the temple, and yet they are more than willing to do so, happy even. President Eyring, who dedicated the San Salvador temple said it so beautifully here.... the temple is a witness of our faith.

“It is my prayer that the temple, when it is finished, will bring increased faith and dedication to those that will be blessed to enter there. I pray that families will be inspired to live together in peace and with respect for each other. As they do, I promise you harmony and peace will spread across this community and this area as the Spirit of the Lord is invited into our hearts, our lives, and our homes.”

Attending the San Salvador, El Salvador Temple Dedication was a deeply spiritual experience, and my heart was touched for the better. We went to the local stake center to view the broadcast with the saints. I felt their faith and commitment, and it strengthened mine. After viewing the broadcast we went to the temple grounds and spent the afternoon there while two more sessions of the dedication were taking place. I truly felt that we were standing on holy ground. It was a beautiful day.

I was blessed to feel a strong connection to my dear Nana and Papa Haycock every time I set foot on the El Salvador temple grounds. Papa attended many temple dedications with the brethren and I knew that he was there. The tropical climate of El Salvador reminded me so much of Hawaii, the land my dear grandparents served in and loved so deeply... Feeling their presence there, after experiencing a week of of culture-shock and homesickness, was a true tender mercy.

We were privileged to be able to attend the temple a few days after the dedication. It was so beautiful and peaceful. Our time there was precious and my heart was deeply touched. I know the temple is the house of the Lord. I believe temple work is the answer to our problems, the key to our happiness in family life, and the surest way back to our father in Heaven. As I sat in the temple in San Salvador, El Salvador I came to a realization... THIS is why we are here.

With Love,
L

Daydream

Perhaps the local city carnival ferris wheel wasn't quite as charming as the one I visited in Paris, but you know what, it still made me feel rather happy! What is about a ferris wheel that makes all of your problems simply float away in the clouds? Somehow time stands still with every turn of the wheel, and in that moment I am perfectly content to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Sometimes I get my head stuck in the clouds dreaming about another place and time, but the people and life I love so much here and now always bring me back. There's nothing quite like daydreaming about the lovely streets of Paris, but life here in my own little part of the world is just as wonderful!

With Love,
L

Self-Timer Challenge

The adorable Elizabeth Kartchner is hosting a little self-timer shot challenge over on her blog! I thought it would be fun to play along! Our carport seemed like an interesting backdrop, so I pulled the garbage can over, set my camera on top, and hoped for the best;)

Let's be honest, the awkward photos kinda outnumbered the awesome ones... but hey, I still got a photo or two that I liked in the end!

So... I was thinking, it might be fun to challenge those who played along with the self-timer challenge to scrapbook their photos this week! Anybody want to play along?!

I think I'll include some of my silly shots too, just to tell the REAL story;) Leave a comment with a link to your page if you decide to join me!!

With Love,
L

Tamale Making 101

One of my favorite moments in El Salvador was learning to make Tamales! We got caught in a huge rainstorm while visiting some members in the afternoon and decided to hang around a bit while the rain slowed down. They were preparing to sell tamales that night, and we got to enjoy a rare glimpse into the process! I was having a great time sitting back and observing/photographing the art of tamale making, when they asked if I wanted to try. I was so excited to give it a go! I gotta say, it was much harder than it looked, but perhaps that's because I couldn't understand what they were telling me to do;) In the end we all had a good laugh at my lopsided tamale:) Moments like this really made our adventure in El Salvador special! Take a look... 

Weigh the corn

Boiling corn for tamales and pupusas

Banana leaves ready for tamales 

Spoon boiled corn mixture into middle of banana leaf

Add sauce, chicken, and diced potato

Fold it up (this part looks easier than it really is)

And here's mine! A bit lopsided if you can't tell;)

PS: I've got videos but can't seem to get them to upload... so perhaps I can get them posted soon!)

El Salvador Photos: Part 2

A glimpse into a day in the life in Izalco, a small village in western El Salvador.

Izalco, you opened my eyes to a completely different world. You broke my heart until I realized that you were actually changing it for the better. You reminded me of the things that matter most... home and family. Your people are generous, humble, and sincere. They are happy with what they have, and do not seek after extravagances. They celebrate one another's successes and maintain a true sense of community. Izalco, you showed me that there is truly so much beauty and joy, even in hardship. You may not have been easy to see, but you were worth every so-called inconvenience.

Confession: I have a secret dream of being a National Geographic contributing photographer. I love seeing a glimpse into someone else's world, capturing their beauty, and telling their story through photographs. Perhaps that might not ever become a reality, but I'll keep telling my stories here and through scrapbooking to share with each of you.

With Love,
L