Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Till we meet again dear friend








 Early this morning my dear sister in-law passed away.






She had Beast Cancer. When they discovered it she was already in the final stages of the disease. She fought as hard as she could for her daughter Sedona. My sister April helped her unselfishly to the end.

Diana is an amazing person. She loved my children as her own family. She is family. She always encouraged every one to be the best at what ever it was you do. She took care of us with red beans and rice or trying to make Steve's back pain go away. She took us in when we needed it. She was always excited to hear the latest news. She gave and gave and gave..

The things that will always bring Diana to mind are bright colors, dreadlocks, IZ, "Oh Man" followed by the best laugh ever, red beans and rice, plantains, wall murals, Fox Street, Burning Sage, Raiki, painted rocks, Sedona the city and the beautiful little girl and so much more.

She leaves behind a life lived to the best of her ability. She always did what she thought was right. We love her and will miss her. I know we will see her in the next life. I know she is with Heavenly Father and that he is taking care of her now. We love you Diana!!!!!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Success


To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people
    and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
    and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better,
    whether by a healthy child,
    a garden patch
    or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier
    because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded. 


Ralph Waldo Emerson

Monday, July 19, 2010

AWESOME MOVIE.....

I love a good movie. You know the movie that you walk away from feeling so good and inspired by. We watched Invictus tonight. It was so so so good.



The poem that is quoted in the movie is pretty amazing too.
I love the last part "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my destiny"

Invictus
 
OUT of the night that covers me, 
  Black as the Pit from pole to pole, 
I thank whatever gods may be 
  For my unconquerable soul. 
  
In the fell clutch of circumstance    
  I have not winced nor cried aloud. 
Under the bludgeonings of chance 
  My head is bloody, but unbowed. 
  
Beyond this place of wrath and tears 
  Looms but the Horror of the shade, 
And yet the menace of the years 
  Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. 
  
It matters not how strait the gate, 
  How charged with punishments the scroll, 
I am the master of my fate: 
  I am the captain of my soul.


I found an interpretation of this poem on Yahoo Answers;

Darkness is a metaphor for evil, and perhaps depression, "The Pit" is Hell. The writer, in thanking the Gods for his "unconquerable soul" is meaning that whatever bodily adversity he faces, his soul will remain unconquered.

The second verse repeats the theme, the body may be broken, but not the spirit (Fell = bad or evil)

The third verse talks about the "Place of wrath and tears" meaning the physical worls (Cf the Burial Service from the book of common prayer, refering to life as "this vale of tears" (Wrath = anger) and also the "Horror of the Shade" which is a poetic expression for Death (Shade = a ghost or spirit) and even faced with both of these the writer is unafraid.

"Strait the gate" is a biblical reference (Strait = narrow)
the last two lines repeat the main theme, that a person is responsible for their self, whatever happens in life.

The Author of the poem is 

William Ernest Henley. 1849–1903
At the age of 12, Henley fell victim to tuberculosis of the bone. A few years later, the disease progressed to his foot, and physicians announced that the only way to save his life was to amputate directly below the knee. It was amputated when he was 25. In 1867, he successfully passed the Oxford local examination as a senior student. In 1875, he wrote the "Invictus" poem from a hospital bed. Despite his disability, he survived with one foot intact and led an active life until his death at the age of 53.


I am always amazed at the way we as individuals are capable of so much and yet we hold our selves down by the choices we make. I have always said "I choose happiness" I also choose to be "the master of my fate and the captain of my soul". I think Heavenly Father intended this for us. We have the power to choose. Choose the right or the wrong. Choose to be happy or choose to be miserable. Let the negative bring me down or over come it. In my patriarchal blessing I was told that "my destiny is in my hands". It truly is.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Nothing....

My blog creativity has disappeared lately. I just can think of anything to blog about. A lot of stuff has happened but I just got nothing......... SIGH.......