A good day

Today was a great day! I got to my photo class to find the panoramic picture that I took of a haunted swing on the wall for everyone to see!! Then, I went to my watercolor class and found that the watercolor I had just finished was hanging in the hall for everyone to see! It makes me so excited to see my work up! So I thought I would share that with you.
I'll post pictures of them soon.

My Amazing, Magnificent, Beautiful Mother

I want to dedicate this post to my mom. I think that sometimes she forgets just how amazing she really is, so I thought I would remind her...(warning, this might be a little mushy)

First of all, for any of you who don't know my mom, you are missing out! Anyone who knows her would agree that she is irreplaceable. She is always thinking of everybody else first. She is funny, witty, and very sweet. She raised 6 kids all on her own, and we weren't easy!! She has worked hard her whole life to give us (her children) what we needed. She has always been there at every event great or small in all of our lives. She'll go out of her way to make sure we are happy, She is the best example I know of living the gospel and sharing her testimony. She has taught me what life is all about. She always helps me look for the good in others, and in myself. She is always there for me and everyone else when we need her. She knows how to make you smile even when you don't feel like it, she has always believed in me.

She is always willing to try new things, she always tells us that she loves us, she makes the best food I've ever tasted, she blinks when I take a picture.. sometimes I have to take 10 before I get one with her eyes open... he he he, she is adventurous, she is gentle, she puts up with me, she's someone who I can talk to, she knows me better than I know myself, she's motivated, she doesn't give up, she enjoys the outdoors, she'll go to art things with me, even if she's not interested, she's super-grandma and all the kids love her, she's usually the first person I call everyday, she's been through a lot and, as Dori from Finding Nemo would put it, she "just keeps swimming" How did I get so lucky to have a wonderful mom who is also my best friend? I think the rest of the world got cheated, because my mom is the best of the best, and there is no comparison.

I LOVE YOU MOM, AND DON'T YOU FORGET IT!

Eternity is a wonderful thing

Saturday I had the awesome opportunity to go down to Manti to be there when my friends, Becca and Joe and their little boy Wesley, were sealed in the temple. It was so amazing to be a part of that!! It just made me so happy to see them there. Watching as they made those covenants and were sealed as an eternal family makes me so grateful for our Heavenly Father's plan for families. It made me realize how blessed we truly are to have temples and have that amazing opportunity. I'm just so grateful for the gospel!!

Congrats Becca, Joe and Wesley!

Inspired

I'm currently taking a readings class, where we read what other people throughout history have said about art.  The first week we read what prophets and apostles have said.  They said there is a need for Latter-day saint artists to use their talent to inspire and build up the kingdom of God. 

I've been thinking a lot about this.  How can I, as a photographer fulfill the needs of the church.  How can I inspire others? I've seen painters, sculptors and songwriters do it, but I didn't know how a photographer could inspire.  Last week, I was talking to some friends about this and a girl in my class mentioned the Reflections of Christ exhibit. I had never heard of it, so after I got home I looked on the website www.reflectionsofchrist.org.  I was truly touched by what Mark Mabry did! 

 He was truly inspired to do this exhibit, and I'm so thankful that he did!  Through reading his blog, I found that he would be in Salt Lake over conference weekend.  So, Sunday after the last session I went down to temple square so that I could get a close up look at his inspiring art.  I really felt the spirit and could feel the love and hard work that went into each photograph.  Afterwards I talked to Mark about his work and thanked him.  He told me that he was going to be at BYU-Idaho with his exhibit the following day! I was so excited!! Then he said that if any of my photography professors would like him to come speak, he would be more than willing. So, I talked to Bro. Atkinson and we set it up.  I gave Mark a call and he came and told us about the work he did, how he was inspired, and the changed he had to go through to be prepared to do such a sacred work. It was amazing!! I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to talk to him and see his work.  I just hope that someday I will be able to inspire others through my art, as he has.

I love to see the temple

I was out photographing today and I took this photo. I'm just so grateful for temples! I'm also so grateful for this beautiful world we have to live in. There is just so much to capture!!

My latest watercolors

Here is the last watercolor that I finished:





Here is the one I'm working on now... it's almost done, so when it is I'll replace this with the finished one.

An end in sight

Well, I met with my advisor about graduating next sememster... and the answer is (drum roll please....) YES!

I will be taking 19 credits, but it will be well worth it to be able to graduate earlier! My major is still Integrated studio art with an emphasis in Photography, but now my clusters are Spanish and Child development. I figured out the classes I will need to take next semester and they are:

Art seminar
Travel class
Early Childhood development
Book of Mormon (the 2nd half)
Medevil art
Intro to studio lighting
Business for the artist
Money management

I would have a lot less, but I'm short upper division credits, so I am taking a few classes to make up for that. I'm really excited!! There is an end in sight and it makes me happy!!! So, I 'll be home in Utah in April, I will find a temporary job until the end of July and then.... I"M OFF TO HAWAII!! I'm not sure how long I will be there for. 6 months? A year? forever? who knows! I'm really excited for all of this! It's one of those tender mercies that I needed!! HOORAY!!