HARMONY

HARMONY  



Harmony....is a music word.  I could never write of the eleventh word on my list without mentioning music.  "An arrangement or assortment of musical notes and tones that when put/played together blend to make a lovely sound".  There you go, my attempt at a definition of the word harmony (as far as music is concerned).  IF - I can get one of my kids to show me how, I might even connect a (favorite) song to this blog as an example of "harmony in music".

 

To me....HARMONY.....is being different, joining together as "different" and resulting in something very pleasing, with depth and purpose.  The world that we live in today could sure use a good boost in the "harmony" department.  Two of the biggies are politics, and religion.  We will never, ever, ever all think or be the "same".  Isn't that what we think we want?  Everyone to think and act and BE like us? Then stop and think of music, since when does a single "melody" or one single note, ever compare to the richness of a symphony which has many different instruments playing many different notes?

 

I don't particularly have the desire to take on the issues of world harmony....or even harmony in our own nation in this blog. 

 

Could not resist sharing Norman Rockwell art.

 I'll take the easy way out and simply say....."harmony" begins in the "family" and this is a concept I know a lot about.  I'm guessing we ALL do.  After all it seems that just about every concept relating to people and relationships and communication, can be broken down, down, down, to the family.

 

One of the great Christmas traditions that I thoroughly enjoy is the sending and receiving of Christmas cards.  I have a system that every year I save all the family photo picture cards and tape them up on the wall by my office nook at home. (This lovely display originally was on the front of the frig, but we outgrew it.)  I leave these photos up all year long and then replace them with the new cards that we receive the next year.  I really love this wall.  It makes me happy.

  

Christmas Card wall from Christmas 2012

If you could look closely at these pictures you would see smiling, beautiful, expressions on faces of families, couples, kids, grandparents, grand kids, all kinds of family combinations.  It is pretty safe to say, these pictures were taken to symbolize unity and "harmony".  Everyone knows these brief moments are captured to share love and peace and joy at Christmas time.  In REALITY life among families is not necessarily lived in "harmony" each and every day.  It is within all these little units (that we call families) where we can learn the greatest lessons of BEING DIFFERENT as individuals but still living in harmony.  Disharmony may exist as it is possible that each unique and individual family member has their own opinions or ideas and needs and wants.     

  

   

 SIBLINGS (this is the direction I'm going with this post)......BROTHERS and SISTERS are fantastic life relationships to live and learn the principle of harmony.  Birth order alone makes us different.  Like notes printed on the staff, everyone has a different spot.  Below, is my very favorite photo of me and my siblings (with our Dad) as adults.  The four of us live across the country, New York, Minnesota and Arizona, we have various levels of education, various political affiliation, and no two of us attend the same church.  Yet we enjoy being together. ( Maybe its because we avoid topics of religion and politics!!) Or maybe, that we have been raised by loving parents who loved each of us and encouraged us as individuals, and we learned this acceptance from them..   

Celebrating my birthday with (left to right) Cathy, Dad, Amy, me and Mark

Love, love LOVE, this portrait (below) of "The Rogers" kids, my husband and his siblings.  This portrait was taken in the early 60's.

Steve, Sharon, David, Gary and Mike.

These adorable siblings grew up to be....  

 

 

 

 

AMAZING FRIENDS, as well as brothers and sisters. Who, although are each one very different....they really "like" each other.  And if all else fails, they find "harmony" together, at the BEACH! The reference there to the beach was intended as a little bit of humor, when in fact, it is a great example of a much needed common denominator.  Yes, us desert dwellers find peace and coolness and harmony in an ocean breeze.  AND we also have great memories of being together as an extended family, relaxing from the demands of life and having fun!  A common ground, of some sort seems to be needed for harmony to exist.  After all, in music, for example, the notes need to be in the "same key" to blend properly for harmony.  Maybe that "key" in relationships is a love for the beach, or literature, or religion, or politics, but when that is NOT a common ground....perhaps just the sheer raw love of a parent keeps a family in tact. 

 

Califia Beach, San Clemente California 2010

 

OK - this next picture may seem really random, but when I was thinking about harmony, and families, and being an individual and still getting along.  I looked through my files to find this photo that I took of the Louis Stradling family last year.  Lamar asked me to come to the cemetery and take a family photo of him and his siblings on the day they said good bye to their father.  What an amazing sight!!  The Stradling family is a lesson all in itself of "harmony" and love!  Pictured here are all the living SIBLINGS (no spouses featured here, just brothers and sisters).  One of the largest families I personally know.  I guess I can not really speak for them, but from my point of view... harmony does abide.  The amazing thing is....I think this family DOES talk of politics and religion!  Guess some families are just like that!  

 

The following photo from 1946 represents a lot of things to me.  This a a snapshot of my mother, (pictured on the left) with her sisters, Jeanne, Pauline and Peggy.  The fact of the matter is their early life, their childhood was far from "harmonious".  Hard things happen, things that children have absolutely no control over like, a great depression, the death of a parent, poverty, a single mother unable to support her children, a world at war.  Living under these conditions can hit dissonant chords.  And yet, like exemplified in this photo, with a lot of understanding, it is possible to find a way to stand side by side, put on a smile, and go forward.  The future can be brighter if we grow. 

The "Weaver" sisters  1946

We truly can create HARMONY in life, as in music, if we allow each other to be different, and still play together.  Accepting the fact that we won't all think the same, we won't all feel the same, will bring happiness.

Learn from your brothers and sisters, embrace differences,...........CELEBRATE HARMONY!! among family first...then..... take on the world!

FAB FOUR take on "Old Man's Beach" San Onofre, California 2009


 

I was going to end this post right here, and consider it safe.  However I feel there is something more I need to say.  As mentioned before in this blog, I'm a Mormon.  Don't Mormon's want everyone to believe and feel the same as we do?  After all we send out our sons and daughters to the far corners of the world to teach of our religion.  There is a reason for that.  In the document The FAMILY a Proclamation to the World, the First presidency of the church states,"Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ."  I truly believe a great work and service is being offered by our army of missionaries to teach of Jesus Christ.  Teaching how He lived, what he taught, and how he died can result in harmony in families, in communities, and even throughout the world, if these concepts are applied in how we live and act. 

 Having said that, I want to also share one of the "Thirteen Articles of Faith" which are major guideline to following the Mormon faith, number 11 states: "We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.  Yes, we who claim this need to practice what we preach.  Interesting thought here....members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, refer to each other as "Brother and Sister".  Have you ever heard that the best harmony, the best tones of voices blending is when brothers and sisters sing?

 

  Achieving HARMONY, doesn't happen as a hope or a wish... it takes great acceptance, understanding and at times, a lot of work.

 

 

 

 



"HOPE" the tenth word

Of the entire word list (on my canvas wallhanging), the word HOPE is written the smallest and appears the most obscure.  Can you even see it on the small picture in the right hand corner of my blog?  This is interesting to me, because as far as "meaning"
HOPE might be THE MOST powerful word on the list. 

Since I try not to come across too "heavy" in my posting, which I have to be conscience about because some of the words on this list can really get me going, or thinking, and I'm afraid I could get carried away.  I'll begin by giving a "shout out" to the small, but ever busy T-shirt business of mine. 

Over the years I have printed a gazillion shirts with art of many styles and designs.  I haven't really thought about it a whole lot until now, I guess T-shirts are printed and worn... to be trendy, to advertise, to make a statement, to unify or identify a group, there are many reasons people bring T-shirt orders to me.  I believe I can say, among all the shirts I have printed, there has only been ONE design with "one" word as the theme, even with a definition on the back....that word was "HOPE".  It was the vision of my dear friend Susan Duffin who was/is the camp director for the Hermosa Vista Stake girl's camp. Under Susan's leadership and inspiration over three hundred young women and leaders sported a t-shirt as they descended upon Camp LoMia 2011 stating "Hope Everlasting"!

(This is the back of the T-shirt)

 "Older" girls serving as young leaders, (FYI - they are beautiful INSIDE too)

Darling bright eyed young girls ready to take on camp! 

I'll get back to the spiritual "hope" that the T-shirts were representing later in the blog.  I like the definition on the shirt that includes the idea of "expectation of good". 
 I looked through the photos I have taken over the last few months wondering if any of them could illustrate "HOPE" (for me)? 
I came up with this one.........

Cannon's FIRST Birthday

And this one.......
A mother and grandmother finds HOPE in the faces of her family.

And this one....



Is it just me or can you associate HOPE with this photo?......(Emily rocks!)

 

                        HOPE - is in the eyes, hope is light.....

This next picture perhaps illustrates the opposite of hope......
        despair after the crucifixion of Jesus on Calvary.

But the tomb was EMPTY......and "HOPE" through Jesus Christ was extended to all mankind.

Til we meet again....Gary with Jacque Fryer, wife of cousin Larry Fryer

                     "Hope" is tangible to the believer......

Painting by Carl Bloch, Denmark 1873, I saw his art in a traveling exhibit at BYU - AMAZING!

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of HOPE, and a love of God and of all men."   (As taught in the Book of Mormon) 2 Nephi 31:20

"And what is it that ye shall have "HOPE" for?  Behold I say unto you that ye shall have HOPE through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise." Moroni 7:41

                         Hope is.......Hope IN Jesus Christ.

WISH

WISH

 

This small word carries a powerful punch through a couple of fantastic times of the year....the "Christmas Season" and Birthdays!

"We WISH You a Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year" 

and 

Blow out your candles and make a Birthday WISH!

 

Come along with me on a little stroll down memory lane as I use pictures from Christmases and birthdays throughout the years to express my feelings of word #9 on my list.....

 

One of the Christmas family traditions passed from my parents to me is the sending of Christmas cards.  I love to send and receive these heartfelt greetings at Christmas time.  My style is to include a family picture.  I kinda go with the theory that "a picture is worth a thousand words".  The challenge then becomes to change things up a little....and show a bit of personality???

 

EXAMPLE:       

 

 

Here we are in 1997, the inside of the card read:
 During the rush of the season, let's all take time to laugh
 and enjoy life.
You're part of our happy memories 

 

I LOVE the years when there is a major event in the family
....like a wedding, 2007,

 

  1999.... was the year we traveled to Washington DC, New York and Pennsylvania

 as a family.  It was the "trip of a lifetime" so I chose a family photo taken in New York

 to be featured on our Christmas card.  We never imagined back then,

 what this picture would eventually mean to us.

Interestingly the inside of the card read: "May the timeless message of Christmas

 fill your heart with joy today and always"

At the time we had no idea that within a few short years the city skyline behind us,

 as well as our innocent sense of security and freedom would be changed forever.

We had a double whammy in the WISH
department being that Gary's
"Grandpa Kesterson's" birthday was ON
Christmas Day!!  Our Christmas Eve
celebration always included a birthday cake
with everyone singing Happy Birthday 
and Grandpa making a WISH!!

As for my own WISHES:

 

 

I WISH that everyone tried to be as
 humble and kind

as Raleigh Russell Kesterson. 

 

I adore Jonathan's expression as he watches his Great-Grandpa -   1984  (cousin Holly too) 

 

 I WISH that everyone put their God and their FAMILY first 

like Gary Lee Rogers. 



1997 celebrating Gary's 40th birthday at the cabin!!

 

I discovered something as I looked through a few photo albums to choose Birthday candle blowing out pictures to use in this post, and it was noticing the faces of those who were watching or looking on!  To me, these are tender expressions of love among the family, sharing the moment!!

 



I WISH that everyone would take the time to REALLY get to

know others and appreciate them and value them 

like Jonathan Lee Rogers.

 

Jonathan and my Mom would always share a birthday cake as their birthdays were 3 days apart.
Here they are on Halloween night (Mom's birthday) 1993

 

I WISH everyone was as good natured and shared their happy heart

as Megan Ann Rogers Webster.

 

1997 - of course we were squeezing in birthday cake after dance class!

 I WISH everyone had the passion for life and was as loyal to those they love like Emily Joy Rogers.

 

1994 - this is how I decorated birthday cakes....simply frost it and then stick some kind of do-dadl on top along with the candles.......I know - lame! 

I WISH everyone loved in the unconditional way my Mom did

Doris Mae Weaver Schlessman

and

 How I WISH she could have lived to meet her Great-Grandkids!

 

2000 - Halloween Birthday girl - LOVED birthdays!

 

I'll include this final picture as my very favorite Christmas Card. 

Why is it my favorite?

Because it is "our" family together...I love EVERY SINGLE person in this photo dearly, I more than WISH them to

know this....

 

Christmas 2011 - Cannon's FIRST CHRISTMAS

 One more thing.... I really, really, WISH I had backed up my computer.  Especially when I had those distinct strong feelings that I needed to back up all my photos.  My computer crashed several months ago, well, it didn't just crash, it died, and it appears that I lost the past four years of my digital photography.  This really makes me sad, and explains why there has been a huge delay in my blog posting.  This is a lesson learned in a very hard way. 

 

I do NOT WISH that misfortune on anyone.

 

IMAGINE

Imagine:  a "White Christmas" in Mesa, Arizona!

Imagine being married to a man who would borrow a dump truck from one of his buddies, drive north on December 24th and bring back a load of snow! 

Imagine that when the extended family gathered for the annual Christmas Eve Party (which you only get to host every four years)

they were greeted with a yard full of snow!

I thought this would be a great story to use for the word IMAGINE....

"Imagine: no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man"

As a little girl in the 60's how can I possibly think of the word "IMAGINE" and not mention
 John Lennon and the BEATLES??? 

My siblings and I would lip-synch along to BEATLES records before "lip-synching" was even invented?  We were playing....or I guess the four of us just IMGINED we were 

John, Paul, George and Ringo!!

Siblings celebrating LOVE - BEATLES style in Vegas

I am actually considering using this idea for one of the other words on my list.... beware, this 

FAB-FOUR may appear again in a future post.

After serious consideration: this post on the word IMAGINE

is dedicated to a very special person in my life.

TYLER LEE

Tyler, is our first born Grandchild.  He is also the first grandchild in his Mom's family....and both of his parents are the "firsts" in their families.  Therefore, and rightfully so, Tyler shows all the signs of a "type A - firstborn" child.  Here's an example...imagine "reading" the dictionary at age three!!! This is actually an alphabet book, (it reads like a dictionary). 

Tyler has ALWAYS loved books

This next photo is an example of his budding ENGINEERING skills and kind of captures this intense moment of concentration and balancing! (What this photo doesn't show is the room full of adults watching his every move and cheering on this great feat!) You can only "imagine" - right?

just TRY and duplicate this tower

IMAGINE how determined this "three year old" is to catch a fish in the stream with his very own fishing pole....and imagine how badly we all wanted him to catch one!

FATHER and SON  Fishing for Trout in the White Mountains of Arizona

IMAGINE how discouraged he felt when he didn't get so much as a nibble.

I shared the above examples to establish the "type A" - serious disciplined qualities of a firstborn child.....what I want to share, now, is the side of Tyler that amazes me, entertains me, and reminds me to celebrate childhood:
I'm referring to his fantastic
IMAGINATION

When the fish don't bite....what little boy wants to stand still and wait...when this pole can also serve as a wonderful sword for a "fighting ninja"??

Tyler has entertained us with his IMAGINATION ever since he could talk and play.  Barely two years old and he was the coolest "Buzz" ever!

Creative in all that he does....take swimming for example....he doesn't just jump....he blasts off like a ROCKET!  And why not?  Because ever since I can remember he shows great interest in ANYTHING that moves, flies, has a motor, an engine....or can TAKE OFF with great speed!!

A MAN AFTER GRANDPA'S HEART

IF THERE ARE BUTTONS OR GADGETS HE'LL FIND THEM

HE DOESN'T MISS A THING

What feeds this IMAGINATION?  I guess its everything he experiences, reads, hears, sees....basically the world around him. 

HIS EYES SAY IT ALL!

Now for examples: this playground (above) became a "ship" he was searching for "pirates".  This all had something to do with the little girl, wearing a pink tutu, chasing him around and yelling "ARGUE" (really wish I would have taken a picture of her).

While at our house....he is not "jumping on the tramp"  rather he is on the "ship" which is protecting him from the ferocious, vicious animals.....(the dogs) 

He doesn't JUMP, he blasts off like a ROCKET

With Macee

and Max

(The above pictures are included to show there actually was a time when Tyler "liked" the dogs)

Back to the topic of Tyler and examples of his IMAGINATION....  the photo below features a household item that may look like a regular ole shower squeegee..... but, Oh -NO...this is the "Squeegee Plane"  On many occasions Tyler would run into our house, run past a closet full of toys, (including toy airplanes) and run to the shower to get the "Squeegee Plane".  Then he would run through the house, holding this "plane" high in the air making sound effects like a flying jet.  I kinda feel bad that I never got a picture of him....can you picture it? Use your imagination.

BEST TOY EVER

Besides the tramp....our bathtub becomes a favorite "ship" to hide in, or use as his central base to fight the "bad guys".  IMAGINE "Grandma" crouching in this tub along with him helping to defend the fort?  Recently we were "hiding out" in our sauna/shower and I said something about "looking out for the Decepticons", all proud of myself because I knew who the bad guys are.  He looked at me with the most serious look and said "No Grandma, we are hiding from the ANCIENT SECRET BAD GUYS!!  (sheezzz - I never quite get it right)

Tyler's imagination has taken him through a TRANSFORMERS stage where EVERYTHING he talked about, played and (wanted) to view for entertainment was something related to Transformers.  He was either Bumblebee (see photo) or THE Optimus Prime. How I wish I could post a recording of him talking like Optimus...he's good!!


Tyler will "transform" right before your eyes....on the family room floor, holding stainless steel pots and pan lids or ladles or large wooden spoons or anything that he sees fit to evolve from some kind of vehicle to a powerful robot.  His motions along with original sound effects are epic!  

CHRISTMAS 2011

WARNING....do you have ANY IDEA how difficult these toys can be to TRANSFORM ?

Take note that the new TOY is still in the BOX....the toy of the day is an old golf club that he found lying around.  

His creativity doesn't end with squeegees or kitchen gadgets.  One day Emily called and told me she had just been talking to Tyler on the phone, evidently he told her he was busy playing with his 

"FUSION CANNON GUN"

I decided to do some research, his Mom told me that depending on the day, this 

"weapon of choice" may be called a

spinning gun, laser gun or protecting shield. 

it is NOT EASY to get a photo of him "in action" he's in a "don't take my picture phase"
photo courtesy of Kristin - THANKS

Here is a story to illustrate that every product of his imagination is not about weapons or battles or super powers.  One day Tyler and I were sitting together and out of the blue he said to me: "Grandma, is that when you were a PRINCESS??"

I thought.... what?  And looking around I realized he was looking at this bridal picture of Megan!

I LOVE his IMAGINATION!

A new phase has entered Tyler's world.  Transformers are fading out a little and he is currently becoming enthralled with SUPER HEROES!!

He loves them all, he knows them all, (their skills and powers) and on any given day will pretend to be any one of them.  From looking at the photos below (compliments of Jonathan) can you guess what SUPER HERO he emerged from his bedroom this particular morning as??

Use your IMAGINATION!

"HAWKEYE" of COURSE!!

I'll wrap this up by saying how richly my life is blessed by having Tyler as my Grandson.  He brings me great happiness!  His IMAGINATION is extremely creative and a source of joy for all those that know him.  He is one fantastic kid.... I'll close with this picture of him running along side of his Dad while Jonathan was finishing a half marathon.  I need to state here, that, Tyler wasn't just running, he was running like "Dash".  And in my eyes, these two guys are simply INCREDIBLE  and I'm NOT just imagining that!