Are You Sinking?

This was stored in the trusty computer at home. It cracks me up. I watch it over and over again. And over one more time. Enjoy.

Transportation

This morning, from a distance, I could see four kids (3 fifth graders, 1 first grader) bobbing up and down. The bobbing, upon closer examination, was actually skipping (skipping is one of my favorites, see HERE). I think they skipped just as high up as they did in comparison with the distance of one stride. They reminded me of the carousel horses that Mary Poppins and company rode on the race track. Every once and a while they would switch to running, then back to skipping. The total distance they covered was about 1/4 of a mile.

As they approached the crosswalk I was, of course, laughing. The only comment one of the boys made was "fastest transportation". They skipped across the crosswalk on their merry way to school. They were so cheery and I couldn't help but feel the bright sunshinyness for the rest of the morning.

I guess the lesson learned today was: If in a hurry to get somewhere, skip. Arrival time is inevitably quicker and cheerier. After all, it's the "fastest transportation".

Side note: I know I probably shouldn't admit this but a couple of weeks ago Boo (19 year-old sis) and I tried skipping around the house for the day. The next day we did galloping. It was pretty hilarious and added some welcomed pep to the regularity of routines. Try it. You just might get a kick out of it. I bet you'd giggle at least once when you do it yourself, then even more so when you see someone else galavanting around the house.

Friday Freebie on a Tuesday

So, Valentine's Day is coming up. So, HERE's a free printable ruffledblog has to share.

1 Rather Than 2

They cut desire into short lengths


And fed it to the hungry fires of courage.


Long after—when the flames had died—


Molten Gold gleamed in the ashes.

They gathered it into bruised palms


And handed it to their children


And their children's children. Forever.

-Vilate Raile*

This poem has been a favorite of mine for a while now. I love the imagery and that it is so poignant with limited wordiness. In fact, this quote comes to mind...

“The most valuable of talents is never using two words when one will do.”

-Thomas Jefferson

A couple of weeks ago, sitting in church, Las pointed out to me that the text of the hymn Upon the Cross of Calvary is written by Vilate Raile. I’m quite fond of that hymn. Knowing a part of her from the above poem now sheds a little light on the hymn from a different angle. Whereas previously the hymn was more personal, between my thoughts/feelings and the Lord, I must say that I now feel a bit of the warmth from her first poem added into those pondering thoughts/feelings. To hear her hymn and see the text, click HERE (notice how this message too is expressed with such brief wording and yet invites the reader to such depth).

*Vilate Raile, in Asahel D. Woodruff, Parent and Youth (Salt Lake City: Deseret Sunday School Union Board, 1952), 124; also in Selected Writings of Gerald N. Lund, Gospel Scholars Series (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1999), 402-3.

Some Days...

I found this clip saved in our iTunes video files. I don't know where it came from but I'd sure love to share it with you. Watch it, then read the comments that follow after...

Some days I definitely feel like passenger number 2, but I was drawn to passenger number 1. Oh man. What a doof. I think he's my long lost twin brother. Which passenger do you feel like today?