ode to saint valentine

- love is a paradox perplexing mankind-what will surely cause tears and sorrow will ultimately bring true, eternal happiness. -

love is a common theme. we find in love a topic of conversation, a genre for books and poetry, a reason for song, the cause of tears, the motive for joy. we celebrate love with anniversaries and valentine's day. love leads the sweethearts to wed, the couples to kiss, the boys to bring flowers, the girls to blush. we love to love. it is innate.
when the one we love returns affection, an invincible spirit evolves within. with a perpetual smile painted on our face, we find humor in just about everything. the jokes they tell seem funnier, the clothes they wear more stylish, those things they do oh, so romantic. close friends call us crazy, but we don't seem to mind, or even notice. truly love engulfs its members in a whole new world.
if misfortune raises its ugly head, the love might begin to fade. the kind words they once spoke become biting, their conversations seem boring, time shared is time wasted. friend's comments were never so insensitive, and everyone talks behind our back. love's rosy world quickly escapes us, and we are left isolated in cold, dark misery.
then, from behind the winter grey, emerges a promising spring. with trees full of blossom, birds busy chirping, and bees busy buzzing, nature reminds us of another sphere. the world comes to life, and hope is revived. we begin to smile, and speak with strangers again. we are aware of what goes on around us, and are constantly watching, waiting and hoping to love and be loved once more.
i extend this ode to saint valentine and his day of love. thank you for a reason to send boxes of chocolates, bouquets of flowers, and metallic helium balloons. let us love, and love a lot; for saint valentine's day comes but once a year.

ode to the utah

so before i did say utah was ugly. but before i was naive. this is from a spring hike last year. beautiful, eh.

ode to nature

so, the other day i was on my way to school, and happened by a little bit of nature's creativity. i don't know about you, but i think it's pretty cool.

ode to the not-so-fortune cookie

so, i don't know what you are thinking, but i am fed up. i went with some friends to eat at chinatown restaurant in provo. its a great restaurant. don't misunderstand me. the food is great, well priced, they give you plenty to eat, and in fact, i recommend it to any of you. i am fed up with fortune cookies in general. let me ask you a question. when was the last time you got a real fortune cookie? and i mean a real fortune in the cookie. not the junk i am about to show you. if you have recently, great. but i will continue anyway. so let's assess the situation. what is an example of a good fortune? i don't know; maybe, "in two weeks you will meet the love of your life." or "you will find five hundred thousand dollars in the near future." something that tells you about the future. it's not an advice cookie, it's not a compliment cookie, it's a fortune cookie. but most importantly, it shouldn't make you feel bad.

this is what my fortune cookie said. i felt bad afterwards.



what the junk is this? your mind is instantly flooded with all the poor decisions you made in the past week. (funny story: so my friend got this actual fortune right after breaking up with his girlfriend.)


i don't even know what this is supposed to mean...



wow. someone really got gypped with this one.



oh yeah?

ode to oregon

sunset

road

llamas

llamas

tractor

post

foggy sunset



abbey & lion



it was a lie. i didn't want it to be. but somewhere deep inside i knew it wasn't true. "to oregon?" mrs. cole asked. "yep, this summer. it's for sure." the lie was perpetuated year after year. every summer, after coming home from our oregon vacation, my hopeful childhood dream of moving to oregon was again renewed. do you blame me? even after the parents bought the seven acres? i even remember my mother making preliminary sketches of our house. my room was going to overlook the creek. and you must understand, a childhood dream- living in the country, blackberry vines abound full of nature's delicious treats, a creek to swim and fish in, the sweet aroma of a freshly cut hay field, and living down the lane from grandma's house that's full of tasty delights. was it a lie? i like to think that perhaps it was an earnest supplication, a hope of things to come.
now i am in my twenty-fourth year. my parents are finally going to move to oregon. well, my childhood is over. it has dissolved into young adulthood, but my boyhood dreams of one day living in oregon are yet alive. still, upon returning to oregon, those dreams become that much more real to me.
over christmas break i visited the beautiful oregon. i took these pictures to share some of it with you. isn't it beautiful? enchanting.

ode to the claus

so what can be better than meeting santa claus in person? how 'bout meeting three santa clauss all at the same time? actually, the one on the left is technically father christmas. poor ashley had to be stuck next to father christmas. he has a potty mouth and wreaks of strong liquor. thank you santas, for bringing christmas cheer in the best way...

ode to beauty

who art thou, beauty?
thou art a babe's first smile. the loving embrace of a mother and her child. a bedtime story, song, and "i love you" before sleep.
thy voice is the silence of freshly fallen snow. the peaceful, rhythmic breathing of a toddler fallen asleep. wind through a sea of grass. waves lapping against a rocky shore.
where art thou, beauty?
thou art in the excitement of a young one learning to read. the awkward hesitance of a first kiss. the joy in one's heart as he kneels across the altar, eyes fixed, lost in those of his true love. thou art in anticipation and confidence. in determination and triumph. loss and sorrow. love and forgiveness.
what art thou, beauty?
thou art the face of one who, though moves slowly, weighed down by the wisdom she carries, her face wrinkled by a life of smiles and frowns, laughter and tears, is yet quick and spry, full of faith, goodwill and cheer.
who art thou, beauty?
thou art life itself. thou art he, thou art she. yes, even art thou in me.



i often wonder what makes certain things in life beautiful. we could analyze this for days, years, or even all eternity. but i have limited my thoughts to only a few lines. the painting is one that i think is truly beautiful. it is located in the wilk and was once featured on the cover of the byu magazine. the other weekend i was privileged to attend the mormon tabernacle choir christmas concert with four very beautiful young ladies. even though i had to sit next to eric, it was a very enjoyable night. the choir sang with the king singers, and the music was splendid.
that sunday, our ward, along with several others, had their christmas programs. something remarkable happened that day. as i was trying hard to listen to a talk, something pierced my sole to the core. an angelic voice sounded from the sacrament meeting next door singing "oh, holy night." i was transfixed. i could no longer listen to the talk. i sat as the music filled me. i thought at that moment, that perhaps there are a myriad ways to describe beauty, but i knew that what i heard was true beauty. so, to that girl who sang, your voice is inspiring and refreshing. thank you.