More fun with Photoshop

Here is another sampling of my projects. I am having soooo much fun!

for everything there is a season...

I went to St. George this weekend for yet another single’s dance. I was reminded (as I am when I go to single’s activities) how much I like my life as it is now, and that being single isn’t so bad. As much as I would like to be married and have the life that I dream of, I have realized lately that this is my season to be a mom and I am lucky that I have the opportunity to spend time with Taylor as she is growing up, and to develop a strong relationship with her.

If I were married, I would have someone else to share my time with and I wouldn’t have the opportunities I have now to focus just on her. Of course there are days that I would gladly sell her on eBay...but for the most part she’s the greatest blessing in my life, and I thank my Heavenly Father for her every day.

When my season comes to be married, I hope that I can enjoy it as much as I enjoy being a mom. I know when I get married, there will be days that I will want to sell my husband on eBay, too. But there will also be days that I will be so glad to have someone to share life’s ups and down’s with, that I will forget about the eBay days.

I just need to remember to live in the now and enjoy what I have, instead of wishing for what I don’t have, and to remember that its about the Lord’s timing. I can try to convince him to change his timing, and he might say “OK, you asked for it,” but it might just bring me sorrow instead of the happiness I so desire.

There is a story that I just love that reminds me to live in the now. It is called “The Precious Present”, by Spencer Johnson, M.D. It is about a conversation between a young boy and an old man that occurs over many years. The old man tells the young boy about “The Precious Present.”

The boy hopes he gets this present for Christmas. The man tells him that it is a gift, but not one that you would get for Christmas or your birthday.

The boy wonders if it is a magic ring that would give him everything he might wish for. The man tells him that it has nothing to do with wishing.

As the boy grew older, he began to wonder, “Is the precious present a flying carpet that I could get on and go any place that I liked?” The man told him, “No. When you have the precious present, you will be perfectly content to be where you are.”

A few years pass, and the boy returns to the old man and asks if the precious present is a treasure. The man replied, “No young man, it is not.” “richness is rare indeed, but the wealth of the present comes only from oneself.”

The old man then tells him “You already know what The Precious Present is. You already know where to find it. And you already know it can make you happy. You knew it best when you were a small child. You have simply forgotten.”

The story continues on (and this is just a brief synopsis). The young man, returning to inquire of the old man, until he finally figures it out. He would always be who he was, where he was. “The present is what it is. it is valuable. Even if I do not know why. It is already just the way it is supposed to be. When I see the present, accept the present, experience the present, I am well, I am happy.”

“Pain is simply the difference between what is and what I want it to be. When I feel guilty over my imperfect past, or I am anxious about my unknown future, I do not live in the present. My past was the present. And my future will be the present. The present moment is the only reality I ever experience. As long as I continue to stay in the present, I am happy forever; because forever is always the present. The present is simply who I am just the way I am...right now. And it is precious.

I hope we can all learn to live in the present. It is hard. Life has its challenges. But if we remember to live in the present “we can be happy forever.”

(whew, how’s that for philosophical?)