New Art

I was wandering about a local store the other day when a piece of art caught my eye.  I looked at it, walked away from it, then came back and looked at it again.  I picked it up and kept browsing through the store; stopping every few minutes to place the picture down on the floor, step back and study it, and ponder whether I thought it would work in the family room.

I finally decided I would get it, rationalizing that I could always return it if it didn't work.  However, when I got it home and took it into the family room it worked even better than I hoped.  The colors in the picture work perfectly with the colors in that room, and I have decided, even more than when it first caught my eye, that I love my new art.

 

What I love about it, and what drew me to it in the first place, is how it makes me think of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

 

First, I love the light that seem to be streaming from the left side of the tree.  That makes me think of the First Vision.  In the spring of 1820, as a young teen, Joseph Smith went into a grove of trees to pray to know which church was true.  In answer to that prayer Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared and told him to join none of the churches that existed at that time, as the priesthood authority and Church as Jesus Christ had organized it when He was on the earth had been lost over the centuries. Joseph, in describing his vision said, "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me...When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"  Can you just see that pillar of light coming down through the tree in this art?

 

The second way that this art makes me think of the gospel is in the way the tree is painted.  The way the artist made the tree leaves gives them a rounded shape, and it is easy for me to start picturing fruits with those rounded shapes.  My eye was drawn to the white "fruits", which made me think of the tree in Lehi's vision in the Book of Mormon.  From 1 Nephi 8:10-11, "And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.  And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen."

 

So there it is, my new art for the family room.  It makes my heart happy!

 

(I don't know who the artist is that painted the picture.  It's not signed at all.  Chances are, given that I bought it at Ross Dress For Less the art is mass produced in China. But, I still love it, and that's all that matters, right?  Well, that and I bought it for $35.  I love a bargain too!)

Hawaiian Cruise

Recently Craig and I celebrated a quarter of a century of marriage.  Sounds like a long time, doesn't it?  It hasn't felt that long, I don't think!  To celebrate that milestone we decided to go on a Hawaiian Island Cruise.

We spent a week in Hawaii, cruising to the following islands: Oahu, The Big Island, Maui, and Kauai.  We sightsaw (sightseed? saw the sights?), shopped, kayaked, snorkeled, biked, hiked, and enjoyed a luau.  It was very relaxing, and very warm.  It was NOT very sunny, however.  Surprisingly that wasn't depressing to me (about this time of year I usually get really antsy to see the sun.) 

It was really nice to spend a week away with my sweetie.  One evening I sat out on our balcony on the ship and pondered just how lucky I am to have such a great husband.  He is loving and kind, and takes great care of me and our family.  He is righteous, and a worthy priesthood holder.  He helps me be more adventurous.  He's patient with my weaknesses.  I am thankful not only for 25 years with him, but the chance for an eternity more through our temple marriage.

Since they say a picture is worth a thousand words, I think that I'll just use pictures to tell the rest of the story of our cruise:

Lush and green

A little bit of sun

Toes in the sand!

Cruising around Oahu

Our cabin

Maui jungle area

Iao Valley Needle

Heading out for snorkeling.  We saw sea turtles,
lots of colorful fish, and whales.  We were supposed
to go to the Molokini Crater, but didn't get
there because of the weather.  We just
snorkeled just off the coast of Maui. 

Mountain biking at the Kilauea volcano. 
I was on board the ship sick all that day, so I
didn't get a chance to go, but Craig said it was really cool.
 I was just thankful that Iwas only sick one day!

More views from the mountain biking trip

Kona Temple--It was great to get to take in
a session at this sweet little temple.

Our ship, docked at Kona.  We had to tender in on
shuttle boats this day instead of just
pulling up to the pier.

Kauai, if I remember correctly...

At the luau

Yummy dinner.  Although the food
was all good, our favorite of the night
was the dessert: cheesecake and a
kabocha squash and macadamia nut tart
that tasted like pecan pie. 

Fire dancers at the luau show

After our kayaking trip, a hike through
 a jungle-like nature preserve area.

60 foot waterfall on our hike

A little lighthouse, but I don't for sure remember
where.  Kauai maybe?

A Pineapple plant--Dole Plantation, Oahu

Diamond Head Crater

Another view from Diamond Head

Craig's size compared to a Polynesian. 
Just kidding...this is the Hilo Hattie Store's
giant Aloha Shirt.  It's in the
Guinness Book of World Records!