Halloween 2013

It absolutely kills me that my apartment doesn't have better natural lighting. The light over my kitchen table tints the most decorated part of the house (this sofa table) a gold-ish yellow. That's one certain thing about sharing a big building with other folks - only one side of your dwelling has windows. I apologize to your eyes now.

This year's Halloween theme was "heads". I always try to create a different look with the things I already have plus a few new treasures. It's not as gruesome as a head-inspired theme might suggest but decorating with a more apothecary/thriller theme scares the crap out of my kids. So we can call this "Happy Halloween Heads" and feel safe as we walk past this to go down the darkened hallway to the toilet.

Here we have a collection of faces, masks, busts, pumpkin heads and silly bobbley heads hanging from a tree. Some fall favorites, a parachuting faerie, and the Black Pumpkin herself in the center of the kitchen table. Happy Halloween!

Healing Waters

Palm Springs 2011

I was reminded today that Palm Springs, CA has over 22 different spa resorts which tap into its natural mineral springs known for their healing properties. I also discovered that one possible origin of palm in the place name comes from early Spanish explorers who referred to the area as La Palma de la Mano de Dios or "The Palm of God's hand." And a third discovery I came across today is this blog post about the metaphysical properties of intention and how human thoughts, actions and emotions can physically change a water molecule for better or worse. (Really, you can't miss the post - please go check it out. Fascinating truth.)

Healing waters. I love little droplets of information that come together and make a memory of light and water and energy that much more meaningful. The discoveries above combined to take me back to this picture of my little family captured in Palm Springs a year after my divorce. It wouldn't be appropriate to go into the details of it here, but I can say that it was the best decision for my family. It was the only way we could get out of a situation that wasn't right or healthy, then heal, and move forward with our lives in a manner that was best for all. 

This image is art rich with symbols for me and my life. I love to gaze at it and see the light in our faces, the joy, the hope. My heart smiles big to see my son with his arms thrown up to the sky in such a free and child-like way. He has had walked a harder path of healing than his sisters and he is now thriving like a champ. We all are. 

Two years later, we are even more healed today than we were in this picture. Kaiya is loving colorguard and performing with the brightest smile on her face. Trooper is learning to play the trumpet and passing the sacrament in church. Arie just donated her long hair to Locks of Love, becoming more involved in school activities (like Superhero Day!) and saying "apparently" a lot.

The last three years have been a testament to me of the healing power of the Atonement of Christ. His light and energy harnessed and focused in a loving, good way has the power to heal all things in the universe and make them glorious and bright again. 

-Britten