MOUNT RUSHMORE IN MAY

MY ART BLOG

I have a new blog with just my art and prices with sizes and some information about the painting. The price will include a frame. Some of the frames were built by Mike and are special frames so I charge a little more for the paintings with these frames. Most other frames were purchased at Hobby Lobby. Some of these have been re-painted for a different affect. I am willing to switch frames if someone would like a different one or sell without the frame at a discount. Years ago an artist friend told me that her instructor advised her to paint as much as she could and sell cheap until she got famous so that is my philosophy. (You will find everything surprisingly reasonable compared to what is out there in original art.) I am pleased with my work considering that I have been painting for only 4 years. I always feel good to know that my friends have my paintings. I am also willing to take commissions with no promises and no commitment to keep it if you are not pleased. I am not a portrait painter. If you are interested in coming by to see anything in person feel free to call me or e-mail at charmandy@comcast.net I will continue to keep samples on this blog of my new work and a link to my new blog on my blog roll. Here is the link:

http://charmainespaintings.blogspot.com/

WORD OF THE DAY - DIVIDE

OK, Maybe this picture is a little old but it was the last family picture we had taken and I like it because everyone looked good and dare I say normal. The following Essay is something I did as a Word of the Day writing adventure. The word was "Divide." It gave me a chance to explore some ideas about how God divided us up into families--something that I have thought about for a long time.

HOW DID GOD DIVIDE US UP INTO FAMILIES?

Did we get to choose? I know God is big on agency. Did He call us one by one into his pre-mortal office for a discussion of our family options—like "Who will be your children when you go to earth?" I wonder; how did God divide us up into families?

Perhaps He asked Carol and Larry Fischer: "Are you willing to take a handicapped child? Your life will be stressful with him; it will take a lot of your disposable time, but he will bring a love and a sweetness to your home that you wouldn’t have in any other circumstance."

Did God ask my friend Carol Turner if she would take 9 great children who would love and support their mother through many years of being single?

I wonder if God counseled me in this way: "You are going to need to learn some things the hard way—things like patience, unconditional love and other lessons that will come from four children, I have in mind, who will question your teachings. " He may have asked, "There is no other way for you to learn these things—will you take some good, free spirited souls into your home and never give up?" I imagine he might have informed me that, "These children will all have artistic natures, can you support and inspire them in their creative endeavors?"

I say, "I see the picture God and I am trying but I am weak and selfish and I need your help."

Last week Mike left me a little note, something he is doing lately. In part it said: "...You are a great daughter. Mollie had a hard life and I think you may have been her greatest joy. Because of you, she knew she did something right. She knew you loved her and that she could count on you to the end, which she did." This note brought visions to my mind of my mother and God in heaven deciding that I would be her daughter—that I would be a joy after she made some very bad decisions in her life and then repented. It gave me comfort to hear my husband say these things. I hope I fulfilled God’s expectation of me for my mother. I did love her dearly. I never wanted to give her any pain as she had enough sadness in her life.

Years ago I heard a story by Carlfred Broderick, a nationally acclaimed family psychologist and Mormon. The experience so impressed me I bought his book with the story so I would have all the details. Brother Broderick was a Stake President at the time. A woman came to him for counsel in some difficulties she was having in her family.

"As she asked me for a blessing to sustain her in what to do with this awful situation in which she found herself, my thoughts were, ‘Didn’t you ask for this? You married a guy who really didn’t have any depth to him and raised your kids too permissively. You should have fought harder to keep them in church rather than letting them run off to racetracks.’ I had all those judgments in my head. I laid my hands on her head, and the Lord told her of his love and his tender concern for her. He acknowledged that he had given her (and she had volunteered for) a far, far harder task than he would like. (And, as he put in my mind, a harder task than I had had. I have eight good kids, the last of whom just went to the temple. All would have been good if they had been orphans.) She, however, had signed up for hard children, for children who had rebellious spirits but who were valuable; for a hard husband who had a rebellious spirit but who was valuable. The Lord alluded to events in her life that I hadn’t known about, but which she confirmed afterwards: twice Heavenly Father had given her the choice between life and death, whether to come home and be relieved of her responsibilities, which weren’t going very well, or whether to stay to see if she could work them through. Twice on death’s bed she had sent the messenger away and gone back to that hard task. She stayed with it."

"I repented, I realized I was in the presence of one of the Lord’s great noble spirits, who had chosen not a safe place behind the lines pushing out the ordnance to the people in the front lines as I was doing, but somebody who chose to live out in the trenches where the Lord’s work was being done, where there was risk, where you could be hurt, where you could lose, where you could be destroyed by your love. That’s the way she had chosen to labor." (My Parents Married on a Dare, Carlfred Broderick, p. 125-126)

Larry Barkdull in his new book , Rescuing Wayward Children, said the following:
Elder Neal A. Maxwell called family placement "divine appointment," (Institute for Religious Scholarship) or we might say divine positioning. This organizational method often calls for weak children to be placed with strong parents, strong children to be placed with weak parents, or strong individuals to marry into weak families. Why? To do the work of redemption. BYU professor, Catherine Thomas, said, "God may place spiritually challenging children in homes of spiritual and conscientious parents for their mutual benefit." (Alma the Younger pt. 1)

Possibly countless ages of divine premortal observation and planning determined our children’s mortal placement. Beyond every other consideration our children’s familial placement was meant to rescue them and to magnify their opportunity to advance toward exaltation. Even the difficulties they would experience could serve to save and exalt them. Heavenly Father’s house is a house of order! http://www.larrybarkdull.com/344/rescuing-wayward-children-2

Yes, I think we all met with God and signed up for a few things, some good some difficult. I had a friend once who said she thought God showed us highlight videos—that we didn’t really see the gritty stuff beforehand. But, maybe we did. Maybe he showed us who we were going to be after we "endured well"—after we were valiant in what we agreed to do in our pre-mortal visit. I like this picture of us and God dividing up the children knowing that we were going into some difficult situations—knowing that maybe we ourselves would be part of the problem at times, but that we could and would repent and make a difference—like Alma in the Book of Mormon, hopefully like me. I like this picture.

BEAUTIFUL MAREN

This is my beautiful, creative daughter Maren and a mobile she fashioned for a friends wedding (with no budget).

SOME WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Ps. 27: 14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:
Ps. 40: 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Isa. 40: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
D&C 98: 2 Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.
Rom. 8: 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
D&C 90: 24 Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another.
D&C 98: 3 Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.
D&C 100: 15 Therefore, let your hearts be comforted; for all things shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly, and to the sanctification of the church.
D&C 105: 40 And make proposals for peace unto those who have smitten you, according to the voice of the Spirit which is in you, and all things shall work together for your good.

MOTHERS DAY AND THE REFINERS FIRE

This is adapted from a talk I gave as a farewell address when we moved from the Somerset Ward 2 years ago. I think it is an important concept in our perfectionast idealistic world, especially in Mormondom. (The pictures are of me and my mother)

Mother’s Day and The Refiner’s FireMother’s Day is often a very painful day for many of us who feel we should have or could have done a better job of mothering. Going to church and hearing all the super-mom stories is often difficult on that day.

I have come to understand that motherhood is the ultimate "Refiners Fire." Hell is not really where the fire will be ultimately, but in heaven: Isaiah 33:14, Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? The answer: v. 15: He that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly...

The D&C says: 130:6 - The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth; But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire....

D&C 137:2-3 I saw the transcendent beauty of the gate through which the heirs of the kingdom will enter, which was like unto circling flames of fire; Also the blazing throne of God whereon was seated the Father and the Son.

Malachi 3:2-3 said it best:
But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap; And he shall sit as a refiner of silver: and he shall purify the sons (and daughters) of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

There is a story about a woman watching a silversmith refining silver in very intense heat. She asked him: "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" His answer: "Oh, that’s easy—when I see my image in it."

Alma 5:14 Have ye received His image in your countenances?"

Carlfred Broderick, a renowned family therapist, told the following in his book "My Parents Married on a Dare." (Desseret Book) He was the Stake President and had just attended a program on Temple marriage put on by the Young Women. When it was over he was asked if there was anything he would like to add. He said:

"Yes, there is," and I don’t think the woman has ever forgiven me. What I said was this, "Girls, this has been a beautiful program. I commend the gospel with all of its auxiliaries and the temple to you, but I do not want you to believe for one minute that if you keep all the commandments and live as close to the Lord as you can and do everything right and fight off the entire priests quorum one by one and wait chastely for your missionary to return and pay your tithing and attend your meetings, accept calls from the bishop, and have a temple marriage, I do not want you to believe that bad things will not happen to you. And when that happens, I do not want you to say that God was not true. Or, to say, ‘They promised me in Primary, they promised me when I was a Mia Maid, they promised me from the pulpit that if I were very, very good, I would be blessed. But the boy I want doesn’t know I exist, or the missionary I’ve waited for and kept chaste so we both could go to the temple turned out to be a flake,’ or far worse things than any of the above. Sad things—children who are sick or developmentally handicapped, husbands who are not faithful, illnesses that can cripple, or violence, betrayals, hurts, deaths, losses—when those things happen, do not say God is not keeping His promises to me. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not insurance against pain. It is resource in event of pain, and when that pain comes (and it will come because we came here on earth to have pain among other things), when it comes, rejoice that you have resource to deal with your pain."

"Now, I do not want to suggest for a moment, nor do I believe, that God visits us with all that pain. I think that may occur in individual cases, but I think we fought a war in heaven for the privilege of coming to a place that was unjust. That was the idea of coming to earth—that it was unjust, that there would be sorrow. As Eve so eloquently said, it is better that we should suffer….I am persuaded that she had rare insight, more than her husband, into the necessity of pain, although none of us welcome it. " (p. 122-123)

My own mother made some bad choices in her younger days that put her in a very painful refiner’s fire. Some fires do come from our choices; some come as part of life in a fallen world, but we can be refined by both. When I was about 11 years old I saw my mother prayerfully quit smoking so she could go back to church. At this time she was married to an abusive alcoholic. I saw her develop many amazing humble qualities as she attempted to create a home for her children in a very chaotic atmosphere, with the help of the Lord. I saw the Gospel begin to purify her in the fire of her adversity. I wanted to be a part of this gospel that brought some hope and peace to our home life. Her fire was my salvation. She had to go into hiding, in fear for her life, when she finally left my dad after the children were gone. When she was 64 years old she died of a brain tumor that had caused her to suffer incredible pain for several years. This refined her even more. Carlfred Brodrerick told about the lingering suffering of his dad when he was dying. It made me think of my mother. He said:

"…I know he was refined by his pain, by his adversity. He needed to go through that suffering. He could have been embittered; he could have been destroyed. His faith could have soured and left him, but he chose to learn from his pain. I do not want you to think that is was the pain that was good. It was the man that was good and that made the pain work for him, as indeed our Savior did." (Ibid. P. 138)

This was true of my mother. She was good and the pain worked for her, and her mistakes worked for her as the refining process brought Christ’s image to her countenance as it will to all women as we go forward in faith even when we didn’t do everything perfect. "Though he were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which he suffered." (Hebrews 5:8) Motherhood is about learning from the things which we suffer. Christ is our example.

STRAWBERRY CAKE FOR MOTHER'S DAY

Last week I helped Maren with a shower and since it is spring I wanted something strawberry. She was having a tea so I looked for something I could make bite size and quick. I found this Strawberry Cake recipe on "All Recipes" (My Blogg Favorites) I decided to make mini cupcakes and these turned out to be the hit of the shower. I didn't use paper cups just mini muffin tins sprayed well, but layers or a sheet cake would work fine. I changed the recipe to use fresh strawberries (the jello mix gave the cake a beautiful pink color) If I make it again I might try using 1/2 Cup of oil instead of 2/3 (mostly for guilt reasons). The frosting was also delicious. I put a little strawberry slice on the top of each little cupcake to serve. Maren took photos but accidentally deleted them off her camera so here is one from the web.

CAKE

1 package of white cake mix

1 small package dry strawberry jello mix

3 Tablespoons flour

1/2 Cup Water

2/3 Cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

1 Cup finely chopped strawberries (I chopped them in a food processor but not until they were pureed)

Mix everything together and beat for 2 minutes. Pour into desired containers sprayed with Pam and bake until done at 350 degrees.

FROSTING: 1 cube real butter beat together with 4 oz. Cream Cheese until fluffy. Add 1/2 C pureed strawberries and enough powdered sugar until spreadable.

Lost Generation

Make sure you read as well as listen. This is a video that was submitted in a contest by a 20 year old.

The contest was titled "U @ 50", by the AARP This video won second place. When they showed it, everyone in the room was awe-struck and broke into spontaneous applause.

MY HILLS IN PICTURES

HILLS

This is something that I wrote as part of Cori Conners "Word of the Day" exercises inspired from the "Random Word Generator" http://watchout4snakes.com/creativitytools/RandomWord/RandomWordPlus.aspx I don't think I would have written this without the inspiration the word gave me but it turned out to be an important story to me.

WORD OF THE DAY – HILLS -- March 2009


The Farmington hills called to me from the beginning. I was a strong energetic 31-year-old in 1978 when we moved into Somerset. I had three small children and a husband who taught me that exercise is important. Now 31 years later, leaving from a different house, I am still walking the same hills—not with the same energy and strength but with a continuing love for all the paths and parts we have explored over the years.


I have loved those hills with a heaven’s view of the Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island. As the seasons change, the breathtaking view is always new with different cloud patterns and colors as the dappled morning light illuminates the valley. I once had a calendar with a Cezanne painting of rooftops from a hillside. I often think of that painting when I look down on the houses from my hillside vantagepoint. I understand why Cezanne painted rooftops.


In the Spring when I begin a new season of walking I enjoy the Ocur Mountains, fresh with morning sunlight and winter snow; looking like a giant white dragon laying across the horizon. The Great Salt Lake always reflects the mood of the day (when it has water). These are mostly desert hills with sagebrush, and a few scrub oak but in the spring the purple lupine and yellow Wode weed bloom in abundance. Wode is not natural to the area but was carried here by pioneer settlers who wanted its yellow flowers to use for fabric dyes. Now it is a prolific curse to farmers. There is even a bounty on it for those who would like to work on eradicating it. The waves of yellow are so beautiful across the hills that it is hard for me to dislike it when it blooms. I’m always thrilled when I find a little clump of sego lilies along the trail. Unfortunately, the new mega-houses have taken over the hills and most of the lilies. All the hillside building has been hard for me to accept. Growth is inevitable (and I suppose I am part of it) but as long as I can still find a trail I will adjust.


Late summer is always my favorite time because the sunflowers cover the hills and line the path with their cheery bright faces encouraging me on. Every day of early fall is a new feast of color as the hillside foliage burns with ever changing hues. Then, there is a second round of glory as fall moves to the valley and weaves around the houses in jaunty reds and yellows.


These hills have come to be my wilderness temple. I would never go "plugged in" during my walking time because then God could not talk to me and He has, many times, but mostly I talk to Him. I know why Jesus went to the hills to walk and pray. When I leave the house in the morning I feel like I have opened the door into an alternate dimension. A dimension where God can reach me, where ideas flow and memories flood, and I am free of worldly distractions.


Your mind will go to wonderful places if you let it while walking. Oh, I have cried plenty in those hills—a very soul wrenching cathartic cry at times, at others just a sad whimper. At some point the spirit comforts me and hope is restored. On occasion I have printed out words to songs or scriptures I want to memorize and poked them in my pocket for reference. Now if my spirit needs direction I can belt out the words of my entire musical or scripture repitore...every verse out loud. You can’t do that walking the city streets. Some of my songs are: Where Can I Turn For Peace, The Light Divine, I Stand All Amazed, Where Love Is There God is Also, I Know My Savior Lives and others. My most treasured memorized scripture is Isaiah 53. Every verse of that chapter is stamped in my heart and I try to say it over every day sometime, if not on the walk then at night as I am going to sleep.

Parts I love:
"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows..."
"...the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
"...and who shall declare his generation."
"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth..."
"...when thou shalt make his soul and offering for sin, he shall see his seed..."
"...by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many;..."


I know Christ better because I know Isaiah 53.


Mike has walked with me when he can for the past several years. In the beginning he was a runner and we rarely went together but as the infirmities of age have slowed us down we now hobble along as best we can. Conversing together in this dimension is different than talking at home. We are freer; more honest; less distracted and funnier. I miss Mike now when he doesn’t go and Sammy, the dog that walked with me for 15 years.


On days when I walk alone now I always thank God over and over that I can still come to my Temple in the hills because there are mornings when my feet hurt or my knees are flared and I can’t go or at least not far. The day will come and it may not be far hence, when I will never walk those hills again. It will be a sad day, but until then I will continue to go when I can. I will worship and seek the spirit till the end and fill my soul with the goodness of my hills for the time when I will only see them from a window or heaven.