Do You Know Will?

Last week, I finished reading Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson. I love Bill Bryson. I've read many of his travel books that take me to the Appalachian Trail, across the USA in a car, and travelling through England. Even though several were read many years ago, I still remember details like him leaving his walking stick against a tree, his description of the Cliffs of Dover, and the multitude of neon signs across America. I always laugh out loud and am entertained throughout the book.

His book about Shakespeare is a biography, part of a series on eminent lives written by noteworthy authors. It's brief at 196 pages and full of humor and descriptions and great analysis. He takes a lot of information about what people have said and written about Shakespeare over the years and tells you what can be backed up by evidence and what is speculation. Mostly everything is speculation since there are few know/surviving facts about Shakespeare and his life. 

Bryson does a fantastic job of setting you in the context of Shakespeare's life: who his parents and family were; what Stratford-Upon-Avon and London looked like when he lived there; what the economic, political, and religious issues were; what people ate, how they lived, what laws and taxes citizens had to pay; and what the cultural scene was, especially that of the theater. I felt like I knew more about Shakespeare just by understanding a little bit more about these things.

The last chapter is called "Claimants" and Bryson takes all the conspiracy theories, speculations, and other claims of who authored Shakespeare's work (because how could one man possibly written all these fantastic works by himself) and carefully shows why none of them can be proved and why they are unlikely. The following was one of my favorite paragraphs in the whole book:

"So it needs to be said that nearly all of the anti-Shakespeare sentiment - actually all of it, every bit - involves manipulative scholarship or sweeping misstatements of fact. Shakespeare "never owned a book," a writer for the New York Times gravely informed readers in one doubting article in 2002. The statement cannot actually be refuted, for we know nothing about his incidental possessions. But the writer might just as well have suggested that Shakespeare never owned a pair of shoes or pants. For all the evidence tells us, he spent his life naked from the waist down, as well as bookless, but it is probable that what is lacking is the evidence, not the apparel or the books."

Bryson also points out that no one questioned Shakespeare’s authorship during the first 200 years after his death, even as his plays remained popular during that time.

This book is worth the read; entertaining and educational. It didn’t take long to get through it.

Next up: I’ve started The Hunger Games. I’m only about 3 chapters in, but I was hooked by the beginning of chapter 2. (And seeing the trailer didn’t hurt either.)

Christmas Time!

I know it’s not quite Thanksgiving and I usually have a rule about Christmas decorations not going up until the day after. This year, for the first time ever, I have to work the day after Thanksgiving. I’ve been listening to this CD in my car and just wanted the decorations to come out. So after talking to my sweet husband, we put the decorations out. I was so giddy!

This time of year is one of my favorites. The lights and the decorations and the music and the outpouring of kindness that seems to happen. All this for the birth a little baby that would change the world!

There are many things that contribute to my excitement this year: my sweet husband who is so kind to me, Christmas/holiday plans with LOTS of family (yay!), just enjoying life. 

Here is a sampling of our decorations. I LOVE Christmas trees.

And I’ve been going a little nuts with Snowflakes (I am a Flake, ya know.)
I found the pillow in the picture above and the glasses below at Target.

Gratitude and 27

I’m grateful to all those who prayed for my brother-in-law’s family. His wife and youngest daughter returned to the States a few weeks ago. My brother-in-law and Taylee will be home tomorrow! I’m so grateful to the Lord and for this wonderful miracle.

I’ve been working on several projects lately. I’m finishing up a Blurb book project about the 27 things I did when I was 27. I wasn’t sure what to do with the cover. A while back I found this blog post on how to make printables and have been wanting to try it. I’m really pleased with the way it turned out and I’m excited to do more.

Prayers and Faith

I’ve been thinking all day about my brother-in-law and his wife. They went to Taiwan just over a year ago to adopt a little Taiwanese baby. They were blessed with this adorable little girl they named Taylee. Taiwan has given them custody of her, they are just waiting on a US visa to bring her to the states.

They’ve run into some delays with the visa process that has lead to some frustration. We’re really hoping that they will be home for Christmas so that we all can be together.
While praying this afternoon, I felt like I should share their story here and ask you all to offer prayers for Redge and Marissa, little Taylee and her new sister Kailin (who was born in September to Marissa), that the visa will be approved, and that they will be able to come home before Christmas.

Ambitions

In a conversation with my husband this weekend about ambitions, I realized there are many things that I would like to do, but don't do because there is always someone that does it better. But how can I expect to be good at anything if I don't try just because someone already does something really well.

This has always been a sort of subconscious reaction to things in my life. It partly come from a fear (there I said it, it's a fear) of having to work harder than before, of failing, of not being good at something, maybe even the best at something. I want to be perfect at things and when that can't be reached, I'm discouraged. But honestly, who reaches perfection in everything? Only the Savior.

In a recent address to the women of the church, President Uchtdorf reminded women of 5 things we shouldn't forget. (It's a beautiful talk...read it if you haven't already.) The first thing he tells us is to be patient with ourselves. This includes not comparing our weaknesses to other's strengths, being grateful for the successes you do have, and knowing that the process of perfection is long but is done one step at a time.

Sure there are always going to be better writers, better crafters, better runners, better whatevers; it doesn't have to be about being the best, simply about being and becoming. Sure there will be some stumbles and some discouragement, but that can be part of the process. It will take some changes to priorities and some better time management, but one step at a time, I can do it. So here is to trying new things and being a little more diligent about current ambitions. (I may even have a new list of things to do soon.)

Did you remember your inner tube?

What do you do when all evening activities are unexpectedly cancelled due to heavy rain storms and you’re home alone?

1. Video Chat with your sister who is only 5 miles away and look at all the roads that are closed due to flooding.

2. Catch up on blogs and think of new craft projects…like this one and this one and this one and oh, maybe this one. (There isn’t enough time in the day!)

3. Watch several episodes of Psych and laugh.

4. Take advantage of the flowing waters:

Spring!

These pictures are from my tiny little yard. We have about 2 square feet of earth in front of our house. This year we have a cardinal nest in our evergreen tree. I found it as I was hacking at it so that my new geraniums could be seen on our porch. I quickly stopped. They hatched in the last couple days.

iPhone Love

After much thought and deliberation, I bought an iPhone! I must admit my friend offered a little inspiration. I have to say I was instantly in love with it. After getting the phone basics and some music basics loaded, I explored the apps store. After getting some basics (read free apps) like LDS Tools and The Weather Channel, I decided to buy Hipstamatic. I loved it so much that I bought one of their add on packs. Here is a sample of my favorite shots so far…

Rocks, Pebbles, Sand

I recently heard a story about a professor that stood in front of his class with a jar. He filled the jar with small rocks until they reached the top. He asked if the jar was full. The class said yes. He then took out a container of pebbles and poured them into the jar. The tiny pebbles filled in spaces between the rocks. He asked the class if the jar was full. They hesitantly said maybe. The professor pulled out a container of sand and poured them into the jar. The sand filled in the rest of the spaces. The professor declared the jar full.

This can be taken as a lesson on priorities. But it came to me as a lesson on giving. Often I'm afraid of giving too much. (This seems like a silly thing to be afraid off as I write it.) But I worry about running out of energy, patience, time, or imagining some sense of hurt if the service is not well received.

I realized, while listening to the story and it's application, that I shouldn't be worried about these things, especially the last one as the Savior will cover all of them. As I give, relying on the Savior, these things will never run out and it doesn't matter how it is received. He will replenish these resources and allow me to give more. He will always bless us as we strive to serve the people around us.

This Easter Day, I am grateful for the Savior and the choice He made to lay down His life so that we can repent and return to live with Heavenly Father some day.

Discovering the Book of Mormon (Again)

Last month, Elder Bednar came to speak to the Young Single Adults in the region. He did a Q&A session that was amazing. In response to one question about ways to come to know the Savior, he said to get a new copy of the Book of Mormon and to highlight all references to the Savior.

I have attempted this in the past using various colors for different things about the Savior (characteristics, attributes, names, quotes), but I always got bogged down in remembering what color to use or some other detail that was distracting from actually comprehending what I was reading. But I wanted to try again.

I pulled an unmarked copy off my shelf (you can get one here) and pulled out my nifty multi-color marking pencil and started reading. This also somewhat coincided with my desire to get out of bed 20 minutes earlier each morning to do my scripture study before work. At first it was slow as I wondered "should I be highlighting this?" As I pressed forward, the highlighting became second nature.

I am amazed at how often the Savior is referred to. I always knew it was a lot (3925 references in 531 pages), but to actually highlight it and visualize it has had a huge impact. I have also discovered that reading with a purpose changes the way you see and understand the book. Verses that have always been there are read as if for the first time. It changes the way I understand and digest what I'm reading. This exercise has also renewed my passion to read the Book of Mormon. I'm excited to get up in the morning, getting ready as quickly as possible and even reading past the normal time I leave for work, just so I can read as long as possible.

The Book of Mormon has changed my life many times as I learn more about the Savior, his teachings, and the plan that can lead us back to our Father in Heaven. I can see it changing me now as I feel more constant assurance of His love and peace. I look forward to the changes that will come in the future as I continue to read with purpose and heed the teachings of the prophets in the Book of Mormon and the living prophet today.