Good Morning!

It is the last Friday of summer before school starts! Monday we will be waking up early. Actually, we've been practicing going to bed earlier, and waking up earlier. Daily seminary doesn't start until next Wednesday. Back to work!

Why I Stay Married

Sobering discussion today with a co-worker whose husband has been out of work for 4 years. They are splitting up. Not just because of the money tension and stress...

I almost told her about blogging a couple photo a day since John lost his full-time work, and how much it has helped me focus on US. This has helped me to NOT become indpendent, angry, or give ultimatiums. This photo/blog project has helped me think in terms of teamwork, sharing the burden, staying together on purpose. I really did not think it would last this long (almost a year...) or have the side benefits that it has.

Over the course of the day as we talked and shared our lives she said, "It is really good how your husband is so involved in your life..." I had a lunch date Monday with him, so he came into the office where I was working, kissed me in front of everyone, whisked me away for an hour. They all think it is really cute how we both work for the census (it is really winding up. Last week, for real.) They wanted to know how we met, what other kinds of dates we go on, what our kids are like. One of the ladies wants to see our wedding photo tomorrow. They sigh, and oohh and ahhh at our romantic life.

I tell them it is hard work. And how amazing he is. And that Church helps cement the similar values and goals. Praying together makes a huge difference in our relationship. Being self-less together. Working together, yes, and playing together. Doing things as a family, and taking time to do fun things as a couple.Fun things like exploring visual themes!

You Are My Hands

Sunday's lesson in relief society quoted President Dieter Uchtdorf's conference talk. The teacher is an elementary school teacher and had great visuals: two hands that form a heart when joined.

Head Shoulders Knees & Toes

The power went out for hours on a hot Sunday afternoon. The backyard is shady, and the trampoline was a perfect nap spot.

Why do a Series?

My high school art teacher, Harold Petersen, taught us that the first 10 ideas we thumbnailed would be predictable, commonplace. To stretch ourselves, he would encourage us to sketch out at least 20 ideas, before picking one to finish.

Brother Bennion, my ceramic teacher at BYU, assigned us to throw 100 mugs on the wheel, and then had us smash them. He said the 101st might be worth firing, glazing, keeping. Then we had to make 50 worth keeping.

I think there is power in series. The first tries warm you up. Then new ideas filter through. Pushing for something different, creative, and inspiring takes work, rough drafts, practice, experimenting.

I am thankful for a husband who listens to my ideas. He is brave and willing, always trying to make me happy.

I have not yet taken 100 pictures of us. It's been 4 full weeks. I hope we are employed full-time before another 70 days go by...but if not, maybe by picture #101 we will create an incredible photo?

(It would have been an interesting series experiment to stand in the same place every day and take a portrait photo. Flip through them quickly like a movie. See wrinkles emerge. Shadows under the eyes. Hair get longer or shorter.)

Someone asked me if I will keep taking photos of us as a couple after John gets a new job? It has been mostly fun. Some days it is hard. But a reason to celebrate, feel united, show our solidarity. Maybe we will keep doing it at least once a week? Watch us get greyer together?

And HANDS! This is another idea from looking at photography blogs and seeing couples holding hands. What does it say about the couple? Can you even tell which hands are mine, which ones are John's? Fascinating to me to see grey paint on his nails--usually it is me with paint smears! Our neighbor across the street is a contractor and hired John for a day job, painting a 350 year old historic basement.