Lynley J

Old School

2012-02-17T10:10:00.000-08:00

If I'm not mistaken, the Romney bumper sticker on that little vintage wagon is a classic from the late 1960's when George Romney was running for office. And with a closer look I realized the sticker on the front says "Happiness is Family Home Evening." This is just good stuff.

Busy working in my little studio today... Can't wait to share some pics!

L

Truth, Love, and Service

2012-02-15T23:23:00.000-08:00

Evidently it's time to take my sleeping pill, becuase it's midnight and I'm posting a new print here on my blog! I could make these all day! I just had to share... I love this talk by President Monson. Such simple worthy goals that will truly bring so much peace and happiness!

Perhaps tomorrow I'll photograph and share some of the over 50 scrapbooking pages I've been working on...

Okay, time to go to bed.
L

Road Trip

2012-02-15T10:54:00.000-08:00

Dear Disneyland,

I think it's time Danny and I make plans to meet you... We've heard so many lovely things about you. I could use a little of your sunshine and magic right about now! Hope to see you soon...

Love,
L

Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T10:09:00.000-08:00

Here's another little Valentines Print I designed. Sweet and simple. I think this is the one I'll print up and frame. It matches our living room quite nicely!

While at BYU I studied Marriage Family and Human Development. So many times I felt strong impressions that this major was MOST important for me and my family. While sometimes I wish I had graduated with a more marketable degree, I have never questioned the value of the education I recieved. I believe in family. I believe Satan is determined to destroy our families. I believe in hope for our families through the gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe the atonement can heal our homes and families. Here are a few of my favorite thoughts on love and marriage... I would love if you took a moment today and watched each of these little messages. They are all so beautiful and inspiring.

Lastly, for those still waiting for the opprotunity of marriage and companionship, a video from my favorite talk by Elder Holland, "Good Things to Come," as a beautiful reminder that blessings await you. (also, a very hopeful message to married couples too.)

Happy Valentines Day!

Valentines Printable

2012-02-13T17:48:00.000-08:00

Just a quick little Valentines Day printable I created for the Valentines book I've been making Danny. Everyday since the first of February the "Valentines Fairy" has come to leave a special little valentine/note for him. Tomorrow I'll put all 14 days together in a little mini album to give him. (no surprise to ruin here since he's been getting these little love notes all month long...) I'll have a couple more little printables available tomorrow too. Feel free to print it off and share it with someone special. I've also been planning on creating some prints for different holidays and replacing them in a frame I got at the thrift store.

L

Sunday Best: Self-Timer

2012-02-09T11:27:00.000-08:00

Just a few more of us in our Sunday best. This time we used the old self-timer. I've loved this red garage door behind a neighborhood store for some time--if I wasn't so creeped out by the strange people I see coming and going there, I'd use it as a backdrop more often. It's really time to print a whole bunch of photos, document them, and make room on the hard drive for new ones.

L

Sunday Best

2012-02-08T12:17:00.000-08:00

You know how I said I wanted more pictures of Danny and I together? Well... we had a sneaky idea to get more photos of us... I take pictures for the ward directory on Sundays, so I figure if we just ask someone to take one of us now and then, we'll have a little collection of photos in no time!! I think I'll make a little album out of them as we add to the collection...

L

Life From the Passenger Seat: Under Construction

2012-02-07T15:08:00.000-08:00

Sometimes life from the passenger seat looks a bit like this: ROAD CLOSED, STOP, WORK ZONE, DETOUR AHEAD; in other words: stop, wait, slow down, turn around, or take another path entirely. While a detour along the road to a determined destination may be inconvenient for a moment, the detours in life are much more painful and harrowing. It can be so painful to wait, stop, or turn around when all we really want is to move forward. These trials test our faith and challenge us to become more like our Savior, enduring moments of soul-wrenching heartache and sorrow.

Today my heart is hurting so much for a dear friend who is struggling with a heartbreaking loss. I wish there was more I could do to comfort and support my friend in her pain. I'm aware of so many wonderful friends and family members who are going through very difficult trials. Furthermore, a line in the hymn "Lord I Would Follow Thee" reminds us that often we don't even know the trials so many around us are facing. "In the quiet heart is hidden, sorrow that the eye can't see." Some trials are visible, giving others an idea of what you might be going through, but so many are tucked away within our quiet hearts. Throughout these times of trial I've been gaining such a stronger testimony of prayer, temple attendance, and scripture study. I know miracles happen everyday, and I continue to pray for them in the lives of those I love, and in my own quiet struggles.

The road is not always easy and the way is not always clearly paved before us (at least we cannot see it with our natural eyes) but I know that the Lord loves us, and has a plan of happiness for each of his children.

"Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time,

the design of your God concerning those things which shall come

hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the

day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory;

the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand."

Pressing forward with faith, praying for those I love, and continuing to hope in better and brighter days.
L

Forget Me Not

2012-02-04T19:58:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned it before, but I think President Uchtdorf's talk Forget Me Not may have been just for me. While going through photos getting ready to put them on my hard-drive, I came across this picture that I took at Girls camp. One of the Young Women had pointed out the little purple flowers and said that I needed to take a picture of them. I remember seeing the delicate blossoms and thinking how they were so small and unassuming-- I loved that about them! I was excited that one of my young women had pointed them out, knowing I'd appreciate their beauty!

This photo has spoken to me for some time, and suddenly I see why... All this time I've loved those sweet little purple flowers, without even knowing that they were the very forget-me-nots from the talk I've been reading over and over, and drawing inspiration from these last few months! It was a tender mercy, a moment of realization. A perfect depiction of the very principles taught by President Uchtdorf. Those little flowers were tucked away--almost hidden from view in the campsite--but noticed and appreciated. Again, there they were, tucked away in my photo catalog, appreciated for their beauty, but waiting for the moment I'd see them for what they really were. Not just a lovely little flower, but a sweet reminder of God's love. A tender reminder that just like those little flowers, I too have not been forgotten.

Quoting President Uchtdorf:

First, forget not to be patient with yourself.

Dear sisters, many of you are endlessly compassionate and patient with the weaknesses of others. Please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself.

In the meantime, be thankful for all the small successes in your home, your family relationships, your education and livelihood, your Church participation and personal improvement. Like the forget-me-nots, these successes may seem tiny to you and they may go unnoticed by others, but God notices them and they are not small to Him. If you consider success to be only the most perfect rose or dazzling orchid, you may miss some of life’s sweetest experiences.

Second, forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice.

How can we tell the difference for our own situation? We can ask ourselves, “Am I committing my time and energies to the things that matter most?” There are so many good things to do, but we can’t do all of them. Our Heavenly Father is most pleased when we sacrifice something good for something far greater with an eternal perspective. Sometimes, that may even mean nurturing small but beautiful forget-me-not flowers instead of a large garden of exotic blooms.

Third, forget not to be happy now.

There is nothing wrong with righteous yearnings—we hope and seek after things that are “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.”⁴ The problem comes when we put our happiness on hold as we wait for some future event—our golden ticket—to appear.

This is not to say that we should abandon hope or temper our goals. Never stop striving for the best that is within you. Never stop hoping for all of the righteous desires of your heart. But don’t close your eyes and hearts to the simple and elegant beauties of each day’s ordinary moments that make up a rich, well-lived life.

Fourth, forget not the “why” of the gospel.

Sometimes, in the routine of our lives, we unintentionally overlook a vital aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ, much as one might overlook a beautiful, delicate forget-me-not.

When we understand why our Heavenly Father has given us this pattern for living, when we remember why we committed to making it a foundational part of our lives, the gospel ceases to become a burden and, instead, becomes a joy and a delight. It becomes precious and sweet.

Fifth, forget not that the Lord loves you.

Sisters, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love.

Sisters, there is something inspiring and sublime about the little forget-me-not flower. I hope it will be a symbol of the little things that make your lives joyful and sweet. Please never forget that you must be patient and compassionate with yourselves, that some sacrifices are better than others, that you need not wait for a golden ticket to be happy. Please never forget that the “why” of the gospel of Jesus Christ will inspire and uplift you. And never forget that your Heavenly Father knows, loves, and cherishes you.

With Love,
L

I Kind of Love This...

2012-02-03T10:17:00.000-08:00

I kind of love this photo... The silhouetted father and children fishing at sunset--it just makes me so happy! I'm no fisherman (fisherwoman?) but I love the idea of the little family spending the afternoon together at the lake. I also love the composition of the three trees offset by the three fishermen. It was one of those--in the right place, at the right time, with my camera in hand moments... I love when that happens!

L

Life From the Passenger Seat: Sugar House

2012-02-02T12:59:00.000-08:00

Back in October, Danny and I had to make a quick trip up to Sugar House-- a little city with lots of character. The homes are older, but are being renovated, updated, and brought back to life. I had a bit of time to explore the artsy neighborhood while Danny was working. There were so many colorful little homes with charming details --I was especially taken with the porch decorated with bunting made from vintage scarves. I even found some writing on the bricks of an old home. (10 Points if you remember the 1990's PBS television show Ghostwriter, and think that perhaps those words were clues in solving a mystery. Okay, maybe that was just me.) I snapped a few shots of the house number 6-22 because that's my birthday, so obviously those are lucky numbers.

Two things photography has taught me:
I like to explore.
I always find something interesting, noteworthy, and beautiful when I look a little closer.

L

Black and White

2012-02-01T11:44:00.000-08:00

Just a few of my favorite black and white shots from 2011. While I love color, there's something about the contrast of black and white that really appeals to me. It's hard to choose, but I think the El Salvadoran fisherman is my favorite.

These days:

I've been doing lots of scrapbooking and even have a fun little business opportunity in the works. Can't wait to show you what I've been up to...

I've been studying up on photography and graphic design.

I've been trying to get over another round of infections, and an annoyingly numb right arm and hand. I have some new tests and appointments coming up and I'm hoping they can get to the bottom of things.

I've been learning a lot about patience, hope, and faith.

I've been dreaming of Springtime, Disneyland, and the beach.

I've been feeling so blessed and grateful for my Danny and Dolly.

L

Be Prepared

2012-01-31T18:54:00.000-08:00

Last night for Family Home Evening Danny and I purchased some essentials to help us be prepared in case of an emergency. We picked up fire extinguishers, new carbon monoxide/smoke detectors for the apartments, and some other miscellaneous items. We also have a good amount of food storage set aside from all the canning we did in the Fall. Lucky for me, my Danny is the ultimate boy scout/farmboy--and that just makes me feel so blessed. It feels so good working to be prepared and following the counsel of the Prophet. If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear...

L

Life From the Passenger Seat: El Salvador

2012-01-30T10:34:00.000-08:00

Just a few shots of the scenic views we took in as we navigated our way throughout El Salvador. The lush tropical landscape was simply stunning--I wish the pictures could do it justice. Everything was so vibrant and beautiful!

There were many people who traveled to El Salvador for the temple dedication, but missed out on really seeing the country. They stayed in the most neatly kept Americanized hotels and saw little else. We had to make some sacrifices, and it wasn't always convenient or comfortable, but I'm so glad I got to see a real glimpse of El Salvador--the land, the people, the culture. Meeting the people and seeing their country made me appreciate the temple dedication so much more.

I've thought about that lesson many times in recent months. You can't truly enjoy the best things without work, sacrifice, and courage. Sometimes I was certain we were lost in the middle of nowhere, and I envied those back in the safety of the hotel lobby. Then, we'd round the corner and I'd see the beautiful green countryside covered in a soft blanket of mist...all concerns and fears were forgotten in those moments, and I was simply awestruck at the beauty I was privileged to behold.

I think in the midst of trials, the Lord so often wishes I would step back, be still, and see the beauty of His plan for me. Perhaps just around the corner there's a lovely sight to behold... Perhaps after all the twists and turns and moments of feeling lost in unfamiliar territory, I'll realize I'm standing right where I need to be; right where I want to be. Living life from the passenger seat can be frightening, but if we let the Lord direct our paths, the road will have moments of immeasurable beauty, prepared just for us-- so often those moments come right when we need them most. Perhaps that's why taking in these views of scenic El Salvador was so marvelous to me, because they came right when I was wishing I was somewhere more familiar, somewhere more comfortable, somewhere more like home. You have to be willing to work, sacrifice, and move forward with faith in order to see the most beautiful things.

Don't give in. Certainly don't give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. He wants everyone to be miserable like unto himself. Face your doubts. Master your fears. "Cast not away therefore your confidence." Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you. Elder Jeffrey R Holland, Cast Not Away Your Confidence

With Hope,
L

Graphic Art Prints

2012-01-27T12:50:00.000-08:00

I've been seeing cute graphic art prints all over the place in the design world for a while now. My cute sister-in-law Amy, who is an interior designer, encouraged me to start making some of my own... While we were brainstorming the endless options, she said it would be cute to do a little elephant with a chevron for her daughter's room. I started playing around and here is what I came up with. Of course the colors and patterns can all be changed with a few clicks of the mouse. (Graphic design is so nice that way!!) I'm thinking it's time to make some cute Valentines prints... Have any ideas of prints you'd like to see?

L

Quiet Comprehension

2012-01-26T10:12:00.000-08:00

I've been looking for my voice. It seems to have gone missing. No, I'm not talking about the chronic strep infections I've been fighting, but more about an inability to adequately articulate my thoughts and feelings. Do you ever lose your voice in the midst of trials? It's not that I'm unaware of the things I'm being taught, but I just can't seem to vocalize the lessons I'm learning. Elder Maxwell said it beautifully here,

"...we sense that something special is happening in our lives but are not able to sort it out with sufficient precision and clarity that we can articulate it to someone else...We know more than we can tell! Sometimes the things we know take the form of knowledge about what is happening to us in life in which we sense purpose, in which we sense divine design, but which we cannot speak about with full articulateness. There are simply moments of mute comprehension and of mute certitude. We need to pay attention when these moments come to us, because God often give us the assurances we need but not necessarily the capacity to transmit these assurances to anyone else." B ut For a Small Moment, Elder Neil A Maxwell

I'm certain I'll find my voice again. I'll have more to say because of the lessons I'm learning right now.

With Hope,
L

Yawn...

2012-01-24T14:46:00.000-08:00

I think Miss Dolly was yawning when I took this picture. It's just too cute not to share!! She loves the fashionable little black sweater Steph gave her for Christmas. She's also rather fond of the giant bone we got for her at Target on Black Friday. Some people braved the lines for TV's... not us. We were there at two in the morning for a giant bone and some dvds. Priorities.

L

Just a Pretty Picture

2012-01-23T14:10:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I just can't think of anything to say... I wait and wait, but nothing comes. I may not have any words to share, but I guess I can still share something. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. I don't know if this one says that much, but I think it's rather pretty. It has such a feeling of softness about it--the muted colors, the delicate curvature of the leaves, the blurred background... so many beautiful things to see in the world around us!

L

A Sunny Day Story

2012-01-17T08:45:00.000-08:00

It's officially winter and although we haven't had much snow, I'm pretty much ready for Spring... sigh. So, today I felt like sharing a sunny day story. (Not pictured, Miss M. taking the popsicle from her mommy in the first place.) Love the story these shots tell. Oh boy, Dolly sure was due for a haircut back then!! These are the REAL stories. Nothing posed, nothing contrived, just real life moments! Oh that sunshine and those little faces sure make me happy!!

L

MOOVING ON

2012-01-16T14:43:00.000-08:00

Just a couple more shots from our drive to Wallsburg. Those cows did not want to be photographed, especially the white one with the brown spots--he was an angry cow! (Can't you just see his attitude in that photo?) They made such a ruckus that the farmer came out to see what was going on. (Oops!) Of course I didn't see him coming because I was looking through the lens. My photographing was abruptly ended when Danny waved at the farmer (who was approaching the car) and drove away... Sometimes photography gets me in trouble, or at least makes for a bit of awkwardness.

L

Everything That Matters

2012-01-13T10:31:00.000-08:00

A few more photos from Izalco, El Salvador. I had to take a deep breath and tell myself, "I can do this," when I saw the conditions of this little village. Before entering Danny had informed me that he'd been attacked by a dog there as a missionary. As I surveyed our surroundings I quickly noticed the dog napping on top of that beat up car. Nervously, I snapped some pictures--hoping he didn't wake up, but wanting the pictures nevertheless.

Although this was one of the more humble areas we visited, I found the people to be so kind and faithful. We sat out on lawn chairs discussing the gospel and having a lovely time...all the while with chickens scurrying about, flea-bitten dogs scavenging for food, and the smell of the community outhouse filling the air.

When we arrived I noticed an elderly man sitting under the palm trees reading from a worn copy of The Miracle of Forgiveness, by President Spencer W. Kimball. He quickly went inside and returned with two cups of soda for Danny and I. You can't help but feel a sense of sincere gratitude when someone who has so very little gives so willingly. Their home was completely bare, yet like so many others, he gave us all they had. He returned to his spot under the palm trees, all the while clutching his book closely to his chest. His granddaughter introduced her infant daughter to us as Marjorie, named after the late Marjorie Hinckley, the wife of President Gordon B. Hinckley. I told her (Danny translated) that I had met Sister Hinckley when I was a younger, and that she had been a dear friend of my grandparents. What a wonderful namesake she had chosen. I thought to myself what an influence for good one righteous woman can be!

Here I sat, in such humble circumstances, knowing that Spencer W. Kimball and Gordon B. Hinckley were indeed Prophets of God, and that testimony had bonded me to these faithful saints in a remote village in western El Salvador. We had nothing and yet everything in common. I was so impressed with the faith of these good saints. Although this family had never met a prophet, or had personal experiences with the brethren, their testimonies were strong. That little village that initially seemed so sad to me, actually holds such happy memories. This is the gospel in action. They had very little, but gave so much... and really, they had everything.

With Love,
L

Five Little Ducks

2012-01-12T09:38:00.000-08:00

Five Little Ducks went out to play,

swimming in the lake at the end of the day...

Oh that sunset, and oh those little duckies! Total Lynley moment!!! I just realized today that I had the right number of duckies per photo to illustrate the Five Little Ducks song. I thought about posting the whole thing, but really I think you all know it, right?. Love it.

Us: Me and You

2012-01-10T10:07:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to take pictures of Danny and I in a photo booth forever. This is us sitting in a booth taking a self portrait because apparently the photo booth was broken. Oh well. Looks like I managed to put that camera right in front of Danny's face... oops. At least it's a picture of both of us--aside from our engagement and wedding photos, we don't really have many pictures together. I guess I need to get out from behind the lens a little more often.

So... here's a resolution for 2012 that I think I can handle: take more pictures of us this year. (Try not to put the camera right in front of husband's face.)

L

Advice to Self:

2012-01-09T15:59:00.000-08:00

Look up.

Enjoy the ride.

Sail away.

See the World.

Explore.

Wander.

Dream.
(Travel not required. Be a tourist in your own little part of the world.)

With Love,
L

Life From the Passenger Seat: Wallsburg

2012-01-06T10:10:00.000-08:00

Isn't this barn just the loveliest?! We took a little drive up to Wallsburg on Danny's day off. It was such a beautiful day! Can't wait to share some more photos of our adventure!

I've decided to make "Life From the Passenger Seat" a regular feature here from now on! Perhaps it may just become something all it's own;) It's kind of the perfect project/niche for me right now. I don't always have the energy to do photoshoots, but I just HAVE to get out and see life through the lens! Exploring is fun for both myself and Danny--he likes to drive and I like to observe. It gives me interesting things to photograph, while not overdoing it, like I'm prone to do when shooting for groups. I kind of see "Life from the Passenger Seat" as the Danny and Lynley Adventure Book, like from the movie UP. I'm rather looking forward to seeing where our little drives will lead... With Danny's sense of adventure and my eye for beauty, I think we'll have some good stories to tell, pictures to share, and pages to create.

PS: When on said drives I have an irrational fear of mountain lions jumping out of nowhere at the car. Really, I'm always on the lookout. Either that would make for some great pictures, or a rather tragic ending to our adventures.

With Love,
L

Year in Review: Danny

2012-01-05T10:33:00.000-08:00

Handsome, handy, and fun... I'm pretty extra lucky!! These are my top favorite pictures of Danny throughout 2011. (Sorry so many photos, but I did manage to narrow 65 classic photos down to 15.) My Danny is so much fun to be married to and I consider myself very blessed to have him! I love his silly side in some of these shots... he takes it in stride when I want to take pictures for every occasion. This boy is model material. I sure do love my Danny!!

With Love,
L

Centro Market

2012-01-04T13:28:00.000-08:00

Just a couple shots from the Centro Market in San Salvador. Talk about a real cultural experience! Such a contrast from the fancy malls we visited uptown. This is where the real shopping takes place! You can buy anything and everything there for a steal. I walked away with too many pairs of shoes, two sundresses, and a gorgeous apron like the native women wear.

Elsewhere, I've been following a darling new design blog called The Color Issue. Aarean of the Color Issue is so nice, and even left a comment on my last post. Her blog is gorgeous and has such a fun and fresh look! She's doing a giveaway for a free blog redesign! You should totally check it out! I've wondered all day what I'd do with this blog given the chance to start fresh... good luck to you, good luck to me!

L

Cup of Cocoa

2012-01-03T08:52:00.000-08:00

I'll have the chocolate rice milk with marshmallows please... I don't have to drink any of it to think it's a pretty picture;) Classic Park City ski resort photo.

I take so many pictures that never get seen. Think I'll post a few favorites this week before they go on the hard drive and are forgotten. I've also got lots of pages to share too...it's about time, right?!

L

Focus

2011-12-30T11:40:00.000-08:00

Looking to create softness and sparkle I took these pictures out of focus. I like them so much better than those shot in perfect focus. This is not to say that having a sharp focus isn't generally a good thing, but now and then you have to be willing to make adjustments to get the shot you want.

With the new year comes a sense of resolution to regain focus and improve our lives. For some reason I'm resisting the usual desire to make a lengthy list of goals. I guess right now I just feel like I need to focus on following God's plan for me, instead of telling him where I think I should be in the next 12 months. He knows my dreams, hopes, and desires... and he has a plan for me. I feel inspired to just be still for a while, and let him lead me. So, this New Years my focus isn't on the usual list of things to do, but in aligning my will with that of my Father in Heaven. I'm hoping the picture at the end of the year will be in good focus, but not without a bit of sparkle and charm.

With Love,
L

A New Normal

2011-12-29T10:06:00.000-08:00

When you're little, everything about Christmas is magical. Then you start to grow up and things change, (grandparents pass away, family members move/marry, etc.) but you find a "new normal," and learn to love it too. A few years pass and it's time to change again. I guess I'm just in that stage of adjusting to a "new normal." The holidays weren't bad, just different. It's interesting to realize that when I was little and Christmas was magical to me, it may have still be evolving into a "new normal" for my parents. I realized this year that Christmas is always going to be changing a bit. We can hold on to our memories, but not every tradition can stay the same. Families grow, life carries on, and things change. Hallmark said it best this year, "Traditions are not for keeping, they are for keeping us together." Danny and I are creating some of our own traditions now, and doing our best to combine those that we grew up with into a way that works best for us.

Growing up and adjusting to new traditions isn't always easy. Even still, we had a truly wonderful Christmas. Maybe a little of the childhood magic was missing, but the grown up Spirit of Christmas was purer than ever before. My heart was turned to the Savior, and in the end, that's what Christmas is really about.

With Love,
L

Life From the Passenger Seat

2011-12-28T08:29:00.000-08:00

Just another shot from the passenger seat. When sitting in the passenger seat I'm often lost in my thoughts. I just look out the window and think. (Poor Danny, I'm not the most exciting traveling companion.) Something about seeing the world rapidly passing by makes me contemplate life's happenings. I've been a bit lost in my thoughts lately. I guess I'm always more sentimental around the holidays. It's a thoughtful time of year, a thoughtful time of life.

L

Festive

2011-12-22T09:38:00.000-08:00

Just a pretty Christmas picture today. Can't wait to be able to share some of the things I've been working on soon. Things are turning out really cute... will I be done on time?! We shall see.

L

Faux Fireplace

2011-12-20T15:50:00.000-08:00

My dad got us this darling little fireplace grate. He was worried Santa wouldn't find us if we didn't have somewhere to hang our stockings;) I've always wished we had a fireplace, so this called for a little decorating magic. We laid out a few extra tiles left over from the remodel and put some firewood and Christmas lights in a rod iron dish drainer. The garland and stockings were just the finishing touches to make our faux fireplace complete!

I'm still busy wrapping up last minute Christmas projects and presents. (Wrapping up= finishing, not actually ready to wrap the presents yet...) The countdown to Christmas is rapidly winding down.

L

Life Right Now

2011-12-19T11:29:00.000-08:00

Obviously my last few posts have been a bit down. While part of me is so embarrassed for putting my feelings out there like that, this is my life right now. While I'm striving to keep a positive outlook, pretending that I feel well doesn't help matters. I'm trying to find a balance between accepting things as they are and continuing to find joy, even in hard times.

My doctor suspects that I have Lupus, but no firm diagnosis has been made. I've been referred to my mom's rheumatologist and am hoping he can help provide some answers.

This week I have lots of Christmas projects that I hope to complete. I'm feeling much stronger than last week, but I know how one busy day can set me back. I so hope to feel well and fully enjoy time with family this week of Christmas! Yesterday at church I was reminded of my theme for 2011: "There is HOPE smiling brightly before us." I am so grateful for my Savior who offers me hope and peace even in these challenging times.

With Hope,
L

From the Passenger Seat

2011-12-17T15:21:00.000-08:00

One photo, edited four ways. Took this out the window while Danny was driving. I like shots from the passenger seat... you never quite know what you are going to get. I especially like the wispy field in the foreground. I like the second one best, I think.

By the way, my test results weren't very helpful. Not much else I feel like saying about that right now.

L

Becky

2011-12-16T09:27:00.000-08:00

Just a few quick photos I took last week of my gorgeous cousin Becky. She's more like a sister than a cousin though, it isn't a complete family get-together if she isn't there! Mauri and Lincoln just adore her too! If Mauri "accidentally" calls anyone on a cellphone... it is always Becky. I think she does it on purpose because Becky is just so fun:) I love these pictures!! Doesn't she look beautiful?! Becky is one of the greatest people I know! I look up to her so so much. There is really nothing she can't do! Remember the darling owl pillow she whipped up for Mauri's birthday...and the dresses and capes she made for the little girls at Steph's wedding?! Incredible. She is so talented, fun, creative, and kind. She has such a giving heart and always looks for opportunities to help others. Simply put, Becky is AMAZING! She looked just stunning and I loved the outfit she chose to coordinate with the location. How darling is that teal pom pom scarf?! I love it!! Way to work it Becky!

L

Lights at Temple Square

2011-12-15T14:04:00.000-08:00

I finally felt up to editing the photos I took last weekend. Seeing the lights at Temple Square in Salt Lake City is a MUST every year. Such a beautiful and lovely display! Perhaps I'll muster up the energy to print them and put them in my December album. Falling further and further behind. Such is life.

I can't believe it was almost two years ago that Danny proposed to me right there in the North Visitors Center at Temple Square. I remember walking into the ladies room and happily telling a complete stranger that I had just gotten engaged. She didn't care. Not a bit. Oh well. I did! So grateful for my Danny! Still trying to come up with the perfect gift for him... running out of time and homebound till I get over this illness. Can we rewind a couple of weeks?

PS: No word yet from my doctor. Still waiting.

With Love,
L

Thank You...

2011-12-14T18:32:00.000-08:00

Just a pretty picture and a sincere thank you to all of you dear friends and family for your words of encouragement and love. They truly uplift me and make me feel so loved. Still waiting. Still praying. Still hoping for some answers here.

With Hope,
L

Waiting for Answers

2011-12-13T15:07:00.000-08:00

Many years ago during a difficult trial I found myself scribbling out my thoughts in a spiral notebook. The words came, "afraid of getting answers that I don't want to hear, so I stand still." My heart already knew the answer to my specific pleading was, "No. Not this time. Not yet." When I was finally ready to accept the answer, I recieved a gentle, "No, Lynley. Not yet." I look back on that answer with so much gratitude, though at the time it was a heartwrenching struggle.

While I would love to post a Daily December page and pretend that life is simply full of crafts and holiday cheer, I don't have the energy to do that today. I'm just not feeling too well. Despite my best efforts to do it all, my body just doesn't keep up. Waiting once again for more test results. Hoping that for once they will lead to answers. I feel like I am getting closer to an answer, but if not... I can accept that too. I'm really trying to have faith and hope here.

With Hope,
L

Christmas Card

2011-12-08T17:28:00.000-08:00

Today I designed a little Christmas card to send to friends and family. We bought cute little winter hats to take pictures in, but time is getting scarce, and if we waited till we got pictures taken, we probably wouldn't end up having time to send out cards...so I decided to use an old engagement photo. Better an old photo than no card at all, right? Right. Now to track down addresses... Wish me luck in actually getting these babies printed and in the mail!

Hello Dolly

2011-12-07T08:44:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I indulged in some puppy love photos. Oh I just love that little face so much!! Miss Dolly is quite interested in helping us decorate for Christmas and insists on wearing her holiday sweater, though it's a bit snug. She especially likes to stand on top of the couch, lean as far as she can reach towards the bookshelf, and peek in the her stocking to see if Santa's left her anything yet...

Today I'm busy working on too many projects-- Sewing, crafting, photographing, editing, and scrapbooking our December. More December Daily pages and some Christmas creations to share soon!!

With Love,
L

December Daily: And the Countdown Begins

2011-12-05T15:51:00.000-08:00

Once upon a December 2010, I started a December Daily album. I made all of the base pages and only managed to scrapbook about 3 days. Life kinda had some unexpected shifts at the time. It's been a sad little incomplete album on my shelf, taunting me all year long. Well, I decided to try again. With last years base pages in hand, I'm ready to document our December 2011.

I've already made a few tweaks to the the cover, although I still think it needs a little work... I'll post pictures soon;) Funny how much my style has changed over the last year! I'm scrapbooking more and more like myself again--(not so stuck in the old CTMH style anymore... which makes me happy! I feel more free and creative as an artist and ready to get back into the hobby that love so much.) Anyhow, I'm adding in more pink, teal, and silver to the album pages that were formerly a traditional red and green color scheme--much more fun and prettier to look at right?! Right.

Looking forward to documenting the little happy bits of our December! Hope you'll enjoy a glimpse!

L

Gardner Village

2011-12-01T12:58:00.000-08:00

My first job was at a quaint little boutique called Thru the Grapevine. I loved getting to help set up the holiday displays at such a fancy shop. Though I am rarely willing to pay boutique prices, I can ALWAYS afford to WINDOW SHOP and get inspiration! One of my favorite places to visit is Gardner Village in West Valley, Utah. It has so many charming little shops full of beautiful home decor items. Danny had never been before, so we went and wandered around the other evening. I loved seeing the holiday displays and soaking in all of the inspiration! It's a very Lynley, very happy place!

Now I'm really getting excited to dress up our home for the holidays! Can't wait to share some of the cute projects I've been up to soon!

With Love,
L

Temple Blessings in El Salvador

2011-11-30T12:31:00.000-08:00

I was just about to post some pictures when my brother Brett sent me this link. I feel so blessed that Danny and I were able to attend the temple dedication in El Salvador. It was truly the highlight of our year. I'm still unable to really put into words what that trip did for me. It touched my heart in so many ways. El Salvador has been part of Danny since I met him. Now it is part of me, and part of us. Hope you enjoy this little video as much as I did.

With Love,
L

Festival of Trees

2011-11-29T12:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we set up our display for the Festival of Trees. I think it turned out to be quite lovely. There were so many fun trees being set up! I was very impressed with the creativity and work that went into every display. So many of the trees were created by families who have lost children to cancer and other ailments. I love knowing that the money earned will go directly towards Primary Children's Hospital. It's nice to see the community come together for such a great cause! Today the trees are being bid on and they will be on display tomorrow through Saturday. I hope our little display goes to someone who really enjoys it!

With Love,
L

Laundry Day

2011-11-28T10:42:00.000-08:00

Last week our washing machine wasn't working. Laundry was piling up and clothing was getting scarce. Lucky for me, I have a very handy husband who fixed it for less than ten dollars. It would have been a couple hundred had we hired someone... I'm so grateful he knows how to do things like that!!

Admittedly, I'm not awesome at keeping up with the laundry, but I am determined to do better. I really have no excuse not to.

While traveling in El Salvador, I saw some women doing their washing in the river. The people there don't have much, but they are always neat and clean. Doing the laundry is an all day process, and its hard work... no throwing a load in a machine and walking away.

I think perhaps I will frame a copy of these pictures to hang in my laundry room. What a great reminder of how truly blessed we are. We have so many luxuries at our convenience.

With Love,
L

Gobble Gobble

2011-11-26T18:11:00.000-08:00

Hope your holiday was lovely! Ours was wonderful, with a few Gluten Free successes and some great Black Friday sales! I didn't get to taste these darling little turkeys, but they sure were cute!! My Sister-in-law Amy made them for everyone... She is one talented girl!! Just had to share the cuteness!

Looking forward to decorating for Christmas, listening to a little Josh Groban, and enjoying a cup of "hot chocolate" (chocolate rice milk... it's not that bad) tonight with my hubby!

With Love,
L

Grateful

2011-11-23T09:56:00.000-08:00

One of the things I love most about photography and scrapbooking is that it makes me stop and think about the little blessings in life. Noticing the little details is what brings me the most joy. When I was just a toddler, one day I saw the sunlight shining through the lace curtains in the kitchen, creating dancing shadows on the wall. I happily exclaimed that it was the "festival of lights" and invited everyone to come and see. Through a child's eyes I could see lovely dancing animals on a carousel of light. All these years later, I still find myself searching for "festival of light" moments. Of course I could never write a complete list that fully encompasses all the things that I am grateful for, but here are just a few...

Thankful for the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and a testimony of its truth.
Thankful for my dear Danny. He has my heart completely.
Thankful for my wonderful family. They are truly the best.
Thankful for my puppy Doll Doll. She's my baby.
Thankful for my beautiful and inspiring friends.
Thankful for my home, a place of safety and peace.
Thankful for my creativity. I wouldn't be me without it.
Thankful for my piano, and a heart that knows what notes to play.
Thankful for my camera, and the ability to capture moments in time.
Thankful for my own little studio. A place where I can just be me.
Thankful for my trials (sometimes). They push me, teach me, and strengthen me.

Life is about noticing and appreciating the "festival of lights" all around us. If gratitude is the memory of the heart, my heart has had many happy moments.

With Gratitude,
L

A Little Bit of Sunshine

2011-11-22T11:16:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I saw a little bit of sunshine....

I wore a little bit of sunshine... (love my yellow tights!)

and I held a little bit of sunshine! (love my niece!)

A little bit of sunshine is always nice on a cloudy day.

With Love,

Festival of Trees

2011-11-21T09:45:00.000-08:00

I've been a busy little elf working with Danny's mom and sisters on putting together a display for the Festival of Trees. While brainstorming about our tree I came up with the design for a "Burlap and Lace Christmas." I found lots of great inspiration ideas online, and we put our own spin on each of them. I think at first everyone was a little unsure about putting burlap on a tree, but they kindly went along with the idea;) I knew burlap and lace were a big trend in interior design and thought it would translate nicely into a Christmas display. Sure enough, it seems to be the trend of the season. We've even seen burlap used on the main tree displays at several home decor shops. Everyone has been busy doing their part--sewing, crafting, painting, etc. I sure have a talented family!! I think it's really coming together nicely!

Danny's mom made a beautiful burlap and lace ruffled tree skirt (she altered the instructions a bit, but the originals are found here). She used vintage lace from old table clothes and curtains. It's absolutely stunning!! I'm hoping to find time to make one for our tree too! Jill made three beautiful burlap stockings and I helped her embellish them with my handmade flowers (instructions found here). Jenee wrapped the gift boxes in beautiful brown paper and we embellished them with my handmade flowers, doilies, and others little bits left over from the tree. Leisel made the lovely glittered ornaments with vintage sheet music and the darling lace ornaments trimmed with holly berries. We've all worked together to dress up the tree and it's nearly complete! Danny's mom purchased the entry table at Hobby Lobby and Danny and I refinished some thrifted doors to match. The doors will be a backdrop dressed up with a custom garland and Jill's stockings. They aren't quite done, but you get the idea... I think everything is coming together beautifully! If you live in Utah, you should check out the Festival of Trees and see it all put together in person! Our tree will be auctioned off and the money earned will go to Primary Children's Hospital. Once it's all put together I'll get a complete picture, but I thought it would be fun to post a few of the details along the way!

Enjoy!
L

La Libertad, El Salvador

2011-11-18T11:56:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite moments in El Salvador was visting a little fishing/surfing town called La Libertad. Granted, it smelled like fish, and wasn't a sandy beach like the one we were searching for, but it sure was beautiful, and had a charm all its own. The local fishmongers sell their goods and park their boats all along the dock. Because the coastline is so rocky, they use a crane (run by a bus motor... just like the carousel in Izalco) that raises and lowers the boats into the water. We got to see the last boat of the evening being raised up onto the dock. It was pretty cool, though I question the safety of it all.

This was my one of my happiest picture-taking moments of the trip. Oh how I wished I had my nicer camera! So many lovely details to capture along the dock. I adore the photos of the aged El Salvadoran fisherman (images 8 and 9). He was in the boat that we watched being raised onto the dock. There were a few people I just couldn't resist snapping a photo of on our adventure...He was one of them. His wrinkles tell the story of a hard-working life. Something about him made me want to know his story. Had he spent his whole life out on that dock, like the young children I saw working too? I imagine he must have known the hardships of war and poverty. He exuded wisdom and fortitude... for some reason, he just stood out to me. Taking pictures of perfectly posed fashionable people is fine, but I like a picture with a story so much more!! Behind every one of us is story to be told... telling that story is what makes me happy behind the lens.

With Love,
L

Miss M Turns Three

2011-11-17T13:33:00.000-08:00

Little Miss M turned three years old on Monday. She is such a sweet little soul! Life became so much brighter the day she was born. Three sweet sunny years!

She wanted to have a Curious George party to celebrate the big day. Her mommy Jeni made her the most adorable monkey cake! I painted her a picture to match her owl bedding from Target. Becky made her the darling little owl pillow!! The birthday girl got lots of clothes and coloring books, but I think she was most excited with the tissue paper and gift bags.

It was a very happy birthday!

L

Hope Shines Through

2011-11-15T16:40:00.000-08:00

Hope is never out of reach.

Hope shines through the darkness.

Hope shines through the tears.

Hope shines through the pain.

Hope shines through the fear.

Hope shines through, despite the odds.

Hope will see us through.

With Hope,

Cows, Goats, and Johnny Lingo

2011-11-14T12:17:00.000-08:00

The cows in El Salvador were kinda sad hungry little babies... animals don't fare too well there. Sad. We saw a whole herd of goats wandering about some ruins. I squealed, realized my camera batteries were dead, then got angry at the teenage boys who scared them away before I could get a picture with them. It was such a Lynley Moment.

Over the weekend Danny and I had a conversation that went like this:

Danny: "Babe, you're like a 38 cow wife, with a whole field full of goats."

Me: "Well, that's just because I can't resist taking in strays..."

I must be a pretty good wife to recieve such a high compliment. Mahana only got 10. I'm just saying...

Enjoy!
L

PS: Somebody pretty special turned three years old today! She's my little ray of sunshine! Can't wait to share details about her Happy Day-Day soon:)

11 on 11/11

2011-11-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I tried to do the ten on ten challenge, but the day just didn't really allow for a lot of picture taking moments. Today I thought about doing something clever to celebrate 11/11, but that didn't exactly come to fruition either. No big deal. In honor of one of my favorite times of the day/days of the year, here's a look at 11 real life moments in the last 24 hours.

1. Playing in the leaves with Miss M and Dolly
2. She's a trendy little tot with her colored jeans
3. I was about to get attacked by a big handful of leaves...
4. In the drive-through for a Wendy's potato
5. Two trips to target in one day. (purchased and returned one puppy santa-suit and puppy puffy vest... Sadly, both were too small)
6. Taking pictures of neighbors rustic home when someone walked out the door. Awkward.
7. Setting sun: AMAZING
8. Dolly's favorite ball. She even chooses it above the ones that still bounce. (it's well loved)
9. Miss Doll Doll Doll with her Ball Ball Ball. Yes, I say that all the time.
10. Doll Bear with her ball in and the amazing sunset
11. At exactly 11:11 today I indented to take a self-portrait... but somebody needed to go potty. And that pretty much takes precedence over all else.

Happy 11/11!
L

Ride Through Life With You...

2011-11-10T13:54:00.000-08:00

I think a bicycle-built-for-two may just be a must-have for every marriage.

I highly recommend it.

It's a hit around our neighborhood! Lots of couples have asked to borrow it for date-night.

People can't help but smile at you when you ride by on a happy yellow tandem like ours.

We got it for a steal on KSL.com (from a local celebrity no-less)

I'm not as active as Danny, but it's something we can do together, at an easy pace.

We have to work together, and the bike can only go as fast as the slowest peddler (that would be me)

I'm rather sad about the onset of such chilly weather. No more bicycle rides until Spring.

There's no-one I'd rather ride through life with than my Danny.

With Love,

What's in a Year?

2011-11-07T09:45:00.000-08:00

Through the car window...

Saturday marked the one year anniversary of leaving CTMH. When I walked out of those doors a year ago, my sights were set on lofty goals. I was going to make a name for myself in the scrapbooking industry. I was going to be healed from all of the physical ailments that took over my life a few years ago. I was going to do big things. Well, my scrapbooking hasn't merited much, I still fight to feel healthy, and I spend most of my days doing the little things...

Life doesn't always go the way we plan, but I am certain the Lord has not forgotten me. At times I fight it, but I think I'm right where I should be. It's easy to think, "I'd be happy if..." or "I'll be happy when..." but like President Uchtdorf said, we can't sit and wait for a "golden ticket" to come along and make everything okay. We must choose to be happy now. Sometimes that isn't easy and I'm impatient, but I am trying. I'm looking for tender mercies and finding them. Perhaps a year has passed by and I don't have any BIG successes to speak of, but it's the little things that actually matter.

With Hope,
L

One, Two, Three, Four...

2011-11-03T14:18:00.000-07:00

I'm always trying to narrow down the photos I post here. I figure you'd all be a bit bored if I posted everything I shot... Sometimes that means a lot of my favorite photos go unseen. Thought I'd share a handful of the same series today. These are all untouched, yet the ever-changing fall light can make for lots of different and interesting effects. Every now and than I just can't pick my favorite. I like the crispness of the first photo and the way the lighting created a soft vintage wash on the second and third shots. I rather like that the final photo has a vintage feel, while still keeping the subject in focus. Just curious... which one is your favorite?

PS: I know many of my readers are quite literary minded... so here's one more question: What are your top three (or so) favorite books? I'm planning a visit to the library and need some recommendations:)

L

A New Day

2011-11-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share some cute pics from a recent photoshoot with my friend Lana's darling baby boy! He was just so sweet, and the fall colors couldn't have been more lovely!!

Sorry for my sad little post yesterday. The sun came out this morning and things are looking much brighter:) It's better to look up.

With Love,
L

Rainy Day Blues

2011-11-01T12:41:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it's the rain. Perhaps it's the cold. Today is just one of those dumb days. One of those days where you can't quite put your finger on it, but life just seems especially hard. Hoping the sun comes out soon.

With Hope,
L

Can't Help Falling...

2011-10-28T16:03:00.000-07:00

Goodness!! I just really can't get enough of this lovely season. I know, I know... I wasn't ready to let go of summer, but I guess fall came and swept me off my feet again! Even though it is turning colder, and I really don't love the cold, I can't help but love this time of year! Such loveliness everywhere!

With Love,
L

Shades of Fall

2011-10-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

Downtown Heber

Park City

My new boots!! Got them for a STEAL at the Park City Outlets!!

Shades of Fall

Just a little glimpse into all this beautiful fall weather! I love shooting in the soft fall lighting!! I've actually been really busy with lots of photoshoots lately. I've been thinking I might have to start a separate photography blog. We shall see. We shall see. I'm off to another photoshoot this morning! Wishing it was about twenty degrees higher, but happy the sun is still shining!

With Love,
L

Laguna Verde, El Salvador

2011-10-24T13:12:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's taken me a bit to return to our adventures in El Salvador photographs. I must say, the photos I'm sharing today are some of my favorite. Not necessarily because they are the best quality, but because the memories they hold are so special. This was one of the best days we had there, and I think it will be etched in my mind forever.

The beautiful cobblestone paved town at the bottom of the mountain was so charming and colorful. It was a lovely scene, and I was sad to see that cobblestone go as we began winding up the dirt road higher and higher on the mountainside. I started to wonder if the car was going to make it. More accurately, if we were going to make it. I could just see it... Danny and Lynley stranded on the mountainside in El Salvador with no choice but to find a little piece of tin and build ourselves a home... "Good thing Danny can build things," I thought!

The little rental car moaned and groaned as we climbed higher and higher in search of Laguna Verde, a crater lake in the mountains of Western El Salvador. We must have stopped and asked directions from a dozen villagers along the way. They all just pointed up... so up, up, and up we went, despite the car's resistance. Soon, we were literally driving through the clouds! It was so incredible! I wish a photo could do justice to the lush mountain scenery of that drive. The problem is, all you can see in a photograph is the thick greenery and clouds directly in front of you... you can't capture the jungle of vegetation and all the villages just beyond those trees, believe me I tried!

Finally we arrived at the beautiful green lagoon. Neither words not photographs adequately express the beauty of this place. There at the top of a mountain in El Salvador, inside the center of a volcano, we stood in the clouds and looked out on this lovely scene. Breathtaking. A local villager was catching fish in a jar with his young son. A herd of cows were meandering up the hillside. We were standing in the middle of another world, unlike anything I'd ever seen before.

The clouds brushed over us and it began to rain. A good tropical rainstorm--warm and fierce. Our umbrella flipped inside out and was utterly useless. I remembered something my brother Rob had said prior to the trip, "Why are we always in such a hurry to run through the rain. It's just water! Why not get a little wet?" So we stood there in the rain, got very wet, and took in the beauty around us.

I kept saying, I hope these photos do this justice! They don't... but I don't think even the best camera could, and actually, I like it that way. While I'm always on a quest to capture moments through the lens, perhaps in some instances, you have to see things just as they are to truly appreciate their beauty. As we headed back down the mountainside, I was overcome with awe and appreciation for what we had just beheld. The thought came powerfully, "You see Lynley, the most beautiful things in life don't come easily, but they are worth every bit of work and sacrifice it takes to get there." It was a spiritual awakening, a reminder of hope however long and hard the road may be. Referencing one of my favorite talks by Elder Jeffery R. Holland, it was my moment on the cliffs of Dover. It was a manifestation of the beauty and blessings that come after tribulation.

I think I will always look back on that day with profound gratitude and appreciation for the Lord. He reserves unspeakable beauty and blessings for each of us as we travel life's difficult roads. Those blessings are well worth every bit of struggle and sacrifice.

With Love,
L

Senior Portraits

2011-10-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

I've been dying over these photos of my cute cousin Ali! She is such an amazingly talented and beautiful girl! I always have so much fun taking her pictures! She can totally pull off the serious look, and is so natural in front of the camera... there were so many stunning photos, I had a hard time picking just a few to share! I hope she likes them as much as I do!

Enjoy!
L

Live the Language: Paris

2011-10-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

Been a bit under the weather... Blah. I've got some lovely photos and pages to share soon, but today I just had to show this charming video! Oh how I love Paris! Enjoy!

Be back soon,
L

Falling in Love With Fall

2011-10-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to pop over to Rebekah's blog and see Miss M's cute little face on her "10 on 10 favorites" post today! When I took that shot, Miss M was swinging and saying, "I LOVE FALL!" Then she looked up in the sky, smiled, and sighed... It was one of the moments that makes me realize why I love photography so much!

Thanks Rebekah for such an inspiring challenge! I loved looking at the other contributor's photos and seeing so many beautiful moments captured.

Yesterday my cousin's daughter Ali and I had a great photoshoot. She is such a beautiful and sweet girl!! The fall leaves and lighting were incredible against her stunning red hair! Can't wait to show you a peek at some of my favorite shots soon!!

With Love,
L

Ten on 10/10

2011-10-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was snap-happy! I took so many fun fall photos for the ten on ten challenge. Last week it snowed (sigh) and I thought I wasn't going to get those harvest photos that I love so much... thank goodness the sun came back, even if it's just for a little while!!

Ten on Ten is a great way to SEE THE BEAUTY IN THE EVERYDAY!!

1. Husband's breakfast... so NOT gluten or dairy free
2. Just a few more tomatoes hanging in there
3. Through the fence...
4. Never a shortage of dishes to be done
5. Scrapbooking in my studio
6. Grape juice for Danny
7. Swinging is the BEST!
8. A different perspective
9. Sister-in-law's pumpkins for sale at the farm
10. Tomatoes to can can can...

Enjoy!
L

Ten on Ten Today

2011-10-10T08:13:00.000-07:00

Just a quick reminder... Ten on Ten is today, so get your camera ready and snap away! Can't wait to see what October 10th holds for me and my little Canon....

L

I Camped Layout

2011-10-07T09:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's page share was a bit... I'll say it, busy. I liked it though. Today I went for a nice clean design featuring Amy Tangerine's new American Crafts line. I just love her products! They are so on trend and easy to work with. Seriously, the vintage cameras--too cute! I threw in a few bits from Studio Calico to finish it all off. I LOVE how this page turned out! This photo from Girls camp is my absolute favorite-- Completely untouched but thanks to the smoke and mist in the air it has a nice vintage blur. Love it!

Who said those Dowdle's never did camp?! (Inside family jokes...Those Dowdle's never did camp or marry--debunked, thank you very much.)

Enjoy!
L

Princess Camp Page

2011-10-06T15:31:00.000-07:00

Sketch Via Shimelle Laine

One of my new favorite scrapbookers, Shimelle Laine, hosts a sketch of the week on her cute blog. I've been wanting to do one of her sketches for a while, but just kept running out of time... I thought this one was super cute and simple so I decided to give it a go. I rotated the sketch and moved the title a bit so that my teal letters would stand out. It's bright and bold, with a touch of vintage whimsy. I quite like how it turned out.

Patterned Paper: Crate Paper, Pink Paislee, and My Minds Eye
Cardstock: Close to My Heart
Crown Stamp: My Minds Eye
Embellishments: Crate Paper and Pink Paislee
Thickers and Washi tape: American Crafts
Pearls: Close to My Heart

Enjoy!
L

Goats are my Favorite!

2011-10-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

Lynley Moment!!! Picking raspberries with my new friend Kevin the goat is my favorite! This poor baby was lost on a very busy road. Danny's sister took him in and is caring for him until she can return him to his rightful owner. I named him Kevin because he kind of reminded me of the lost bird in the movie UP. His real name is probably something like, um... Gertrude.

Kevin let me take his picture and we talked while I picked berries. He's a pretty good listener, although he had quite a lot to say himself. I'm certain he was trying to tell me that he needed help finding his way home and he missed his family. He grew a bit impatient with my inability to understand goat-ese, but I tried to reassure him by saying things like, "It's okay baby" (animals love that sort of thing). I hope he returns to his own little pasture soon, but in the meantime, I'm pretty happy to have him around! Did you know I love goats?! I do.

L

Day at the Beach, Sort of...

2011-10-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

The whole time in El Salvador I was dying to set foot on the beach! I love the ocean, it's my happy place! We found out there was a new resort on the coast and decided to see if we could arrange to stay there our last night... no such luck. We stopped to look at several public beach's along the coast, but none of them seemed to create that carefree, blissful quality a day at the beach usually holds. Safety and sanitation were not strong-points; nevertheless, nothing can compare with the beauty of those strong and steady ocean waves.

I must admit, I was disappointed with the beaches in El Salvador, but looking back I've realized something interesting. On the surface the beachfront was not neatly manicured like those at a fine resort, but the waves and water were still the same. Life isn't always a day at a five-star resort, but the view can still be beautiful depending on what we choose to see.

With Love,
L

Goodbye Summer...

2011-09-29T16:04:00.000-07:00

I'm not ready to let Summer go just yet...
I wish I could hold on to these sunny days a little longer.

Alas, change is in the air...
Goodbye Summer, see ya next year.

L

Flying Cows and Golden Tickets

2011-09-27T15:56:00.000-07:00

Mauri wasn't too interested in looking at the camera. Can you blame her? There were ducks and geese roaming about the lake shore! She wanted to catch a fish and splash in the water too! Oh, and Uncle Danny may have told her there were flying cows in the sky to try and get her to look up for a picture. She never did see them, though... Poor little thing just wanted to play! She's always good at reminding me to be a little more carefree and silly! She helps me remember to be happy now, she's a little golden ticket.

Oh I sure do love that little girl!

With Love,
L

Picture Perfect

2011-09-26T15:49:00.000-07:00

Last night I took a little photo shoot for Jeni and Jason's cute little family. My old "frenemy" MR. PERFECTIONISM came for a visit too. I tried to send him away, but he's a stinker you know, once he shows up, he's hard to get rid of. Group photos always come with a handful of challenges...

Someone won't smile.
Someone's a blinker.
Someone cries.
Someone spits up.
Someone's done with it all before you get "that PERFECT shot"

I left feeling rather discouraged and disappointed in myself. I was sure that if I was a better photographer I could have controlled all of these things with ease. If I was more like this or less like that I would have left with loads of beautiful photos for them to ooh and aah over... The truth is, I get really stressed out trying to worry about the lighting, exposure, posing, and making everyone smile all at the same time. I've felt rather unsuccessful, artistically and otherwise, lately.

I think President Uchtdorf's talk, Five Things to Forget Not, at General Relief Society Conference was just for me. The Lord wants me to be much more gentle with myself. It's not all about the picture perfect end result... the beauty really is in the moments along the way. In the midst of all those artistic challenges I saw a beautiful family. I saw a little girl who has so much enthusiasm for life--why stand still when there are so many amazing things to see?! I saw a mother and father who love their children dearly. Even if they are slightly blurry, these are the pictures worth taking...

Did I get that perfect shot in the end? The one with perfect lighting, flawless composition, and everyone smiling directly at the camera, probably not... but I think I got a few of the shots that actually matter.

With Love,
L

PS: Today my dear friends Whitney and Spencer are asking for a little help spreading the word about their journey to adopt. Please take a moment and look at their sweet adoption profile and blog. Let them know you are keeping them in your prayers! These two are going to make the greatest parents, and I just can't wait to see their miracle unfold. Let's all spread the word and help them find their baby!

Here is the link to Spencer and Whitney's adoption profile:https://itsaboutlove.org/ial/profiles/26506714/ourMessage.jsf

And here is the link to their adoption blog:http://spencerandwhitneyadoption.blogspot.com/

Not all Days are Perfect...

2011-09-23T13:24:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite scrapbook artists, Shimelle Laine hosted a little challenge over at Two Peas (an online gallery where I post my work). Basically, she gave this title prompt for a page:

{Not all are .}

Here's what I came up with... Not all days are perfect... but this one came close! Live in the moment everyday!

I love this picture becuase it reminds me of a near-perfect day, April 22, 2010: Danny's 27th birthday, and our daytrip to El Quelite, Mexico. We rode a cute little yellow scooter out to the most quaint little town. I remember being a bit uneasy on the scooter at first, but thinking to myself... "This is so fun, and beautiful! I feel perfectly carefree and in love! I better stop worrying and live in this moment!" I knew that on some less than perfect future day, I would think back and remember that blissful carefree feeling... I was so right! You know what though, I'm learning to recognize these moments in real life too, I don't have to go somewhere else to find them. They come in small and simple ways, and I have to look for them or else they'll come and go unseen...

As far as scrapbooking goes, I've been dying to mix some stripes and florals on a page... It may be a fleeting trend, but I'm gonna enjoy it for the moment;) I really do love the mixed pattern vibe right now, it kinda makes me feel dressing myself as a kid again... Does this match? No, but I'm gonna do it anyway because it makes me happy;)

With Love,
L

These Two...

2011-09-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

Lynley: "Mauri, will you please smile so I can take your picture?"

Mauri: "Um... Oh, look at that butterfly over there!"

Lynley: "How pretty!! Okay, can I take your picture now?"

Mauri: "Lynley, you sure can't get Mauri to work right today!"

Lincoln, on the other hand, isn't big enough to run away yet...

These two sure make their auntie happy!

With Love,

Lynley

San Salvador, El Salvador Temple Dedication

2011-09-21T11:12:00.000-07:00

THIS is why we went to El Salvador. I've been to many beautiful places, but there is simply nothing that compares to the loveliness of the temple. When I go to the temple, I'm filled with greater peace, hope, and gratitude. I see things more clearly.

Living in Utah, it SHOULD be easy to attend the temple as often as we would like, and yet for some reason it's often a challenge to "find" the time. While visiting the members in El Salvador, I saw their faith and dedication to temple work. I was humbled and inspired to do better. They can "find" the time to work in the temple every single morning before a day's labor. It is no small sacrifice to pay the bus fare or walk the many miles to attend the temple, and yet they are more than willing to do so, happy even. President Eyring, who dedicated the San Salvador temple said it so beautifully here.... the temple is a witness of our faith.

“It is my prayer that the temple, when it is finished, will bring increased faith and dedication to those that will be blessed to enter there. I pray that families will be inspired to live together in peace and with respect for each other. As they do, I promise you harmony and peace will spread across this community and this area as the Spirit of the Lord is invited into our hearts, our lives, and our homes.”

Attending the San Salvador, El Salvador Temple Dedication was a deeply spiritual experience, and my heart was touched for the better. We went to the local stake center to view the broadcast with the saints. I felt their faith and commitment, and it strengthened mine. After viewing the broadcast we went to the temple grounds and spent the afternoon there while two more sessions of the dedication were taking place. I truly felt that we were standing on holy ground. It was a beautiful day.

I was blessed to feel a strong connection to my dear Nana and Papa Haycock every time I set foot on the El Salvador temple grounds. Papa attended many temple dedications with the brethren and I knew that he was there. The tropical climate of El Salvador reminded me so much of Hawaii, the land my dear grandparents served in and loved so deeply... Feeling their presence there, after experiencing a week of of culture-shock and homesickness, was a true tender mercy.

We were privileged to be able to attend the temple a few days after the dedication. It was so beautiful and peaceful. Our time there was precious and my heart was deeply touched. I know the temple is the house of the Lord. I believe temple work is the answer to our problems, the key to our happiness in family life, and the surest way back to our father in Heaven. As I sat in the temple in San Salvador, El Salvador I came to a realization... THIS is why we are here.

With Love,
L

Daydream

2011-09-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

Perhaps the local city carnival ferris wheel wasn't quite as charming as the one I visited in Paris, but you know what, it still made me feel rather happy! What is about a ferris wheel that makes all of your problems simply float away in the clouds? Somehow time stands still with every turn of the wheel, and in that moment I am perfectly content to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Sometimes I get my head stuck in the clouds dreaming about another place and time, but the people and life I love so much here and now always bring me back. There's nothing quite like daydreaming about the lovely streets of Paris, but life here in my own little part of the world is just as wonderful!

With Love,
L

Self-Timer Challenge

2011-09-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

The adorable Elizabeth Kartchner is hosting a little self-timer shot challenge over on her blog! I thought it would be fun to play along! Our carport seemed like an interesting backdrop, so I pulled the garbage can over, set my camera on top, and hoped for the best;)

Let's be honest, the awkward photos kinda outnumbered the awesome ones... but hey, I still got a photo or two that I liked in the end!

So... I was thinking, it might be fun to challenge those who played along with the self-timer challenge to scrapbook their photos this week! Anybody want to play along?!

I think I'll include some of my silly shots too, just to tell the REAL story;) Leave a comment with a link to your page if you decide to join me!!

With Love,
L

Tamale Making 101

2011-09-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite moments in El Salvador was learning to make Tamales! We got caught in a huge rainstorm while visiting some members in the afternoon and decided to hang around a bit while the rain slowed down. They were preparing to sell tamales that night, and we got to enjoy a rare glimpse into the process! I was having a great time sitting back and observing/photographing the art of tamale making, when they asked if I wanted to try. I was so excited to give it a go! I gotta say, it was much harder than it looked, but perhaps that's because I couldn't understand what they were telling me to do;) In the end we all had a good laugh at my lopsided tamale:) Moments like this really made our adventure in El Salvador special! Take a look...

Weigh the corn

Boiling corn for tamales and pupusas

Banana leaves ready for tamales

Spoon boiled corn mixture into middle of banana leaf

Add sauce, chicken, and diced potato

Fold it up (this part looks easier than it really is)

And here's mine! A bit lopsided if you can't tell;)

PS: I've got videos but can't seem to get them to upload... so perhaps I can get them posted soon!)

El Salvador Photos: Part 2

2011-09-15T10:56:00.000-07:00

A glimpse into a day in the life in Izalco, a small village in western El Salvador.

Izalco, you opened my eyes to a completely different world. You broke my heart until I realized that you were actually changing it for the better. You reminded me of the things that matter most... home and family. Your people are generous, humble, and sincere. They are happy with what they have, and do not seek after extravagances. They celebrate one another's successes and maintain a true sense of community. Izalco, you showed me that there is truly so much beauty and joy, even in hardship. You may not have been easy to see, but you were worth every so-called inconvenience.

Confession: I have a secret dream of being a National Geographic contributing photographer. I love seeing a glimpse into someone else's world, capturing their beauty, and telling their story through photographs. Perhaps that might not ever become a reality, but I'll keep telling my stories here and through scrapbooking to share with each of you.

With Love,
L

Vintage Country

2011-09-14T07:58:00.000-07:00

I loved this 10 on 10 photo! The charming country scenery, the idea of people stopping by the roadside to purchase fresh produce, the feeling of fall in the air... such a lovely story it tells! I decided this shot needed to be a bit more vintage though, to really stand out. I don't used purchased actions, I prefer to edit photos on my own. I quite like how this one turned out! Soft and pretty! Kinda makes me want to have a picnic in a meadow... red gingham sheet and all;)

I LOVE harvest time down on Danny's family farm! It's so beautiful and the fresh veggies are unbelievably delicious! Now if I can keep my allergies from ruining the charm!

With Love,
L

Ten on Ten (ish)

2011-09-13T13:55:00.000-07:00

Every month on the 10th, Rebekah from the darling blog A bit of Sunshine hosts a cute little photo challenge. Basically, you take a photo every hour for ten hours to show a little glimpse into a day in your life. I thought it would be fun to play along, but clearly I'm a few days behind in posting my photos. I'll do better next time... maybe;) So here are my ten on ten, on the thirteenth.

Judge not my dirty window. How cute is that little face?!

The truck wouldn't start. Handy Dandy managed to fix it though!

Cute little button! She was so proud of her braided hair and rainbow necklace!

She's such a little beggar.

Worked in the garden! Some seriously creepy spiders out there.

My Danny down on the farm

Love the farming community! So charming!

Pretty...

Earings from El Salvador make really cute necklaces! Cute idea sister-in-law!!

Finally heading home!

El Salvador Photos: Part 1

2011-09-12T12:07:00.000-07:00

We finally managed to upload all of our El Salvador photos to my computer! I'm a bit sad that they are lower quality than I'd prefer, but we decided it was much safer to leave my nice camera home. In the end, it's about the memories, not perfect photographs. Now I'm ready to start scrapbooking all of these adventures!!

So here are a few favorite memories from our first two days... Enjoy!!

On our way... how CUTE is the traveling bag with the oversized rose? Danny's mom made it for me!!

My first real look at El Salvador... Tin homes just outside our hotel window

A trip to the local market for some fresh tropical fruit! SO DELICIOUS!

Danny and I at the temple!

The San Salvador, El Salvador Temple--SO Beautiful!

One of Danny's converts making us some delicious pupusas!

Pupusas on the grill.

Pupusas and rasberry soda. Yummy!

Glamour Shots

2011-09-09T08:33:00.000-07:00

My little Dolly (aka: Doll Doll, Doll Bear, Baby Doll, Baby Bear, Bitty Bear...) is just so sweet! I missed her so much while we are in El Salvador! All those sad little stray dogs did not help! Broke my heart!

Judging by the pictures, she is due for another haircut! Taking her to the groomer can be a bit traumatic... Did I ever tell you about that time that we tried to give her a haircut ourselves?! Oh what a disaster!! Five hours later and we were covered in scratches while she looked like an El Salvador stray. The following Monday I had to take her to groomer to fix what we had done! (They had a good laugh.) Poor baby!

Oh I love my Dolly Bear!!

With Love,
L

Who Wore it Better?

2011-09-07T11:16:00.000-07:00

Because Burt Reynolds is our hero...

Thought I'd play a little game of "Who Wore It Better?" (You know, like they do in Fashion Magazines...) Leave a comment with your vote! I think I look like that guy from Mario Brothers... Creepy, no?!

With Love,
L

Joy

2011-09-06T16:35:00.000-07:00

Good for you if you've made it through my last several "wordy" posts! That was as much as we managed to write while we were in El Salvador. We need to record everything soon, before the memories become fuzzy! We also need to download all our pictures! I'm dying to see them! Until than, just a quick happy card to share! I love the idea of a pretty little butterfly flitting about spreading joy!

Things that bring me joy right now:

Dolly taking a nap and snoring

Coldplay radio on Pandora

Lime-aids at Sonic and Iceberg

Seeing a post all about Miss Whitney here

Recent Hobby Lobby Purchases

Playing Piano and singing with Mauri

Fresh garden veggies

Falling asleep in Danny's lap every night this week

Decorating our camp trailor--Grey, teal, and orange (photos to come)

Finding that one line that I know was just for me in this great talk

Hope your day is full of joy too!

With Love,

The Adventures of Danny and Lynley Days 4-7

2011-09-05T20:28:00.000-07:00

Obviously we haven't had too much time on our hands to keep more up-to-date here, sorry for the wait for all two of you who may be faithfully checking in to see if we are still alive here in El Salvador;)

Day 4: After several tiring days we needed a slow day to rest and recover. We visited the local rich people malls and realized that we were severely under-dressed and unwilling to pay $75.00 for the same thing we could buy on the streets for under ten. We walked around, ate some tacos, and went back to our casa to take a nap before we went to buy some pupusas for dinner and fell asleep at 8:00 PM. (sleeping and eating: a very adventurous day indeed!) (Oh and we saw our first two iguanas in the hotel garden.)

Day 5: We woke up early, enjoyed a nice breakfast at our hotel and saw 5 iguanas in the garden! We knew it was going to be a good day! We headed west to San Lorenzo, a town in the mountains above Attiquizaya on the border of Guatemala and El Salvador. We saw the missionaries and lots more stray dogs. We even saw some happy little goats along the roadside eating grass in the ditch. We met with some members and I (Lynley writing here) got more opportunities to practice understanding Spanish spoken by people who speak way to fast. (I've understood quite a bit and have learned lots of random words)

We visited a sweet sister who immediately recognized Danny. She invited us inside their home and had a picture of Danny and his parents and Liesel on their wall (from their 2006 visit). The church members built them a home because they were living in a small tin shack. We than visited an older couple who live way up high in the mountains. They were the nicest and most devoted members. They were so kind and gracious. They had the most beautiful garden with lemons, papayas, yuca, corn, and lots of beautiful flowers and palm trees.

We than took a little excursion to celebrate the land of our good friend Ruth (Lynley's old roommate) and Lynley's brother Bob's mission. I was terrified that either the El Salvadoran or Guatemalan soldiers would shoot us down for crossing the border, as the only identification we carried were our driver's licenses and temple recommends. We walked across the rickety bridge while soldiers had their very large guns aimed directly at us. Danny insisted we pick up some rocks in Guatemala to commemorate our visit. I was more worried about returning back to El Salvador before getting shot and dumped in the dirty river. As it turned out the soldiers had put their guns at ease and were enjoying some tortas by the border to celebrate our return. We lived to see another day and many more stray dogs on the El Salvador side of the border. (I still think their were soldiers hiding in the bushes in Guatemala who weren't too pleased that we had entered their country on nothing more than a drivers license and temple recommend, and that we had stolen their precious river rocks) Thank you Guatemala for your hospitality and rocks. May the river wash 4 extra rocks to your side of the border;)

Then the rain fell, and fell, and fell. (as it has every day we've been here... Thank you again Guatemala for your tropical storm and the rain it has showered upon us) We drove through the mountains and clouds back to Izalco. Along with the amazing views of the mountainside, we also saw the same car pass us twice only to see it moments later pulled over along the roadside for various passengers to relieve themselves. To my great dismay, restrooms are few and far between here.(That's a subject for another day)

Anyhow when we finally reached Izalco we stopped to visit a sister Danny had baptized on his mission. Her son had passed away a year ago and we had a framed picture of he and Danny to give to her. His name was Andrew and he always loved Danny because Danny's middle name is Andrew. She told us about his passing and offered us some delicious pupusas while we visited. She and her family showed us all their photos and enjoyed the pictures we brought to share with them. (Every family we've visited has photos of Danny in their album) A few times here but especially during this visit I felt an increased capacity to understand the language and to share in the experience. My heart really went out to this sister and her family. It has been amazing and I have been very grateful for this blessing.

We visited another family and Danny challenged them to read the Book of Mormon every day. We are returning to visit them this Wednesday. Despite the rain and late hour we stopped again by the Menendez family who we had already visited. They shared some tickets with us to the Cultural Event celebration. The drive home was long, dark, and rainy. Danny does a great job navigating through the jungle here! This was a LONG but great day!

Day 6: We were again ready for a slower day. We went to another mall and yet again, realized it was out of our price range. We enjoyed a very tough piece of beef, stale tortillas, beans and rice. I decided to brave the milk in chocolate for the oh so elusive memory of chocolate covered bananas that I had enjoyed in my youth while visiting Hawaii. We ordered two choco-bananos and I realized that instead of a banana they had simply covered banana ice-cream in chocolate sauce. Danny enjoyed two choco-bananos (without the banana) and I enjoyed the blessing of avoiding an unnecessary tummy-ache.

We than went on the hunt for a real choco-banano, or some more members Danny knew in the area, whichever came first. We found a member Danny taught, who has since gone inactive. She sells food in front of the Catholic church but sent us to talk with her daughter Wendy. We had a great visit with Wendy and felt the spirit prompt us to ask if we could return with the Elders to visit her again. (We saw a little gecko in her window, not that has anything to do with this but it made me happy. We will be going back with the Elders on Thursday) Again, I felt a great capacity to understand the language and felt that I was being blessed with increased understanding. It was amazing.

We finished the day with more pupusas and another early night.

Day 7: Today we saw a beautiful native bird and more iguanas in the hotel garden. We enjoyed visiting the central market in San Salvador. Finally, something we could afford! We purchased some great things like $2.00 flip flops and shorts. We got some amazing sunburns on our necks too...those were free;) We purchased some delicious Anona fruit (there's really no way to describe the taste, texture, or amazing goodness. They have a soft shell and the inside fruit is either white or bright pink. The texture of the fruit is similar to a ripe banana and the flavor it somewhere between a papaya, lime, coconut, and banana. They are quite unique and oddly tasty. We'll have to sneek some through customs, or just take a picture;)

We enjoyed a nap and than headed to Santa Tecla for the Mission Reunion which went from 1:00 to 8:00. We arrived at 6:00 and apparently hadn't missed anything, although the other return missionaries had spent their whole day sitting there. (We preferred actually seeing the country not just the other few gringos who we can visit anytime in Utah) Danny chatted with a few other Elders and we spoke to his mission President and his Wife (the Youngs) We waited for the rain to stop and purchased some more pupusas for dinner again (like we have every other night here except for Sunday).

Stay tuned for our rambling recollections of the last few days. The cultural event and dedication were amazing!

Love, Danny and Lynley

The Adventures of Lynley and Danny: Days 2-3

2011-09-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

Day 2:

We got settled into our amazing hotel and began the hunt for our long lost rental car.
We called all of the rental companies and soon realized that they all had the same
phone number. I guess there is only one company here and it operates under any
name you would like to use. They quoted us a rental price of over $800 before tax
and insurance. Luckily I had made a reservation in January for only $187. We
were finally able to convince the rental guy that he needed to honor our reservation
so he came and picked us up at the hotel and took us back to his office. On the
way he asked what we were doing in El Salvador and we told him about the temple.
He said he had gone to the open house and took us on a small detour and showed
us the temple.

That evening we stopped by the temple to walk around the grounds. It just so
happened that there was a large group of members at the temple having a training
on how to direct traffic and people during the dedication. We were able to talk with
some members there and one even arranged for us to meet back at the temple the
next morning at 8 to pick up some tickets to the cultural event that is scheduled
for Saturday! I then took Lynley on a short tour of my area in Ciudad Merliot and
stopped to visit with a family I baptized. They were so excited to see us and
welcomed us into their home and made us some of the most amazing pupusas
I have ever had. Lynley seemed to really enjoy them and has asked for pupusas
every day since then.

Day 3:

Today we woke up early so that we could get on the road before it was too late.
We met another couple that had come here for the dedication as well. They are
obviously morning people because we haven't seen them since. After eating a
great meal of papaya, fried bananas, cream, and beans we ran over to the temple
to pick up our tickets to the cultural event. We even arrived early! The gate keeper
would not let us into the temple lot, even after showing him our recommends. So we
sat on the curb like little homeless iguanas (garobos) and looked longingly toward the
temple like Dolly does when begging for ham. Finally after 15 minutes the guard
decided to give us his own interview. He asked if we were both mormon, if we knew
the temple president's name, if we knew the name of the president of operations for
the temple construction, and if we knew the name of the person we had come to see.
We could only answer the first one correctly. We just guessed that the names of the
other three were Juan Garcia, Pedro Sanches Guadalupe de la Cruz, and Enrique Iglesias.
I guess we got them right because he let us in.

We then waited in the foyer of the the chapel that is on the temple grounds for a half hour.
Finally we lost patience (you all know how we hate putting up with people that arrive late!)
We used the last flushing toilet we would see that day and headed for Izalco (My 3rd and
favorite area where I spent 9 months.) Lynley then also began her first official count of
stray dogs. Here is a list of notable facts for the day.

84 Stray dogs (that we actually saw)

72 Living stray dogs

2 Dolly look alikes (1 healthy and 1 not so much)

4 drunks passed out on the sidewalk

3 men who couldn't wait any longer to find a bathroom (Any wall will do)

Countless pupusarias

6 missionaries

15 members visited

23 ladies with baskets or water jugs on their head

4 knock-off Crocs salesmen

1 new pair of fake Crocs for Lynley

1 Carnival

1 Catholic Procession with marching band and traveling saintly statue of Virgin
Mary going by another name.

1 Tour of Cathedral

1 walk around local cemetery

1 really greasy order of fries

1 amazing head ache for Lynley and a refreshing drink of bagged water and
unknown pill form local member to get rid of said head ache.

1 bowl of bean soup with beef and vegetable that doesn't exist in the USA.

3 trips to non-flushing ladies room

1 1/2 sheets from old dictionary to use in said Ladies Rooms (you have to keep
up on your grammar!)

Countless squirts of anti-bacterial gel

2 tired travelers.

With Love, Danny and Lynley

The Adventures of Lynley and Danny: Day 1 The Journey Begins

2011-09-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

So as not to advertise so widely that our little home was empty, I didn't post our adventures in El Salvador here on my blog. We posted them on Danny's family blog and quite frankly, they're just to good for you to miss out on! So, despite the fact that this is two weeks past tense, I hope you'll enjoy the first installment of our El Salvador Adventures. I'll be posting real pictures soon;)

PS: Danny wrote this one, and I gotta say... be prepared to laugh out loud! He's going to have to do a regular feature here because I just can't compare with his hilarious commentary. See for yourself!

After having a 2 hour delay in SLC we finally arrived in Denver. We ran for at least 5 miles to get to the other end of the airport to catch our Houston connection. We got to the gate just in time to wave goodbye to our plane as the Pilot looked out the windshield and thumbed his nose and laughed a maniacal laugh at us.

We were booked on the next flight which landed in Houston 3 minutes before our flight to San Salvador departed. Again we donned our running flip flops, grabbed our luggage, and raced through yet another airport. Lynley could not keep up with my amazing pace (though she did quite well at it for the first 2 miles, so I left her behind and ran ahead to stall the plane. They were about to pull out so I stuffed a rag in the planes air-conditioning intake which took ground crews several minutes to retrieve, because their arms were shorter than mine so I could push it back further than they could reach. This gave Lynley time to recover from her asthma in front of the Cinnabon and drag herself to our gate. We were the last ones to board the plane!!! We then made a rather uneventful flight to El Salvador and after a 2 hour final descent that took us over, around, and through a lightening storm we landed quite bumpily on the ground safe and relatively sound.

We then made our way through customs and found out that our rental car had been rented out prior to us arriving and all the other rental car companies had gone home for the night. So we grabbed a taxi to take us the 20 minutes to San Salvador. During this drive I realized I had not warned Lynley that there was a rather high population of stray dogs and other assorted animals that may or may not be smashed on the road. She promptly brought this to my attention by squeezing my arm and crying as her face was buried in my chest as we felt the bump of our taxi hitting a middle aged muscrat. (Low Point)

Our taxi then took us on the midnight tour of the "finer" parts of San Salvadorian ghettos as he had forgotten which hotel he was taking us to. We finally arrived and I helped Lynley get out from under the taxi seats where she was hiding and we checked into our hotel where they did not believe we had actually paid for our stay via Orbitz (We will take care of that tomorrow.)

Love, Danny and Lynley

He Who Knows Each Sparrow...

2011-08-31T09:48:00.000-07:00

We made it home from our big adventure! I can't wait to share pictures and stories soon. To put it simply, our trip to El Salvador was life changing... so much so that words have to yet come that could adequately express my feelings. I'm just now beginning to truly soak it all in and grasp the depth of our experiences.

I suppose in order to truly paint the picture, I have to go back a bit... even a week or so before the trip began. The weeks leading up to Girls Camp and El Salvador were rather stressful. I found myself lost in projects, meetings, to-do lists, and occasional break-downs (both physical and emotional). I couldn't begin to think about our trip until Girls Camp was complete. By the week of camp I was really starting to feel run-down. With the wonderful help of ward members, family, and my dear husband Danny, everything was completed in time, and all I had left to do was see the girls off and join them a few days later.

The girls were heading off to camp and for the moment out of my hands. The morning I saw them off an unexpected need arose. Outside was a sweet little bird who had fallen from his nest and in danger of becoming the next meal for a hungry cat. Danny and I managed to rescue the poor baby, careful not to touch him in hopes his mother would return to care for him. She did in fact come back to his aid for several hours, and I was confident that he was going to survive. Unfortunately, by the end of the day she was no longer attending to him, and things weren't looking good for the sweet little bird. We gave him water and tried to get him to eat, but the poor baby didn't make it in the end. I'd done all I could for him, but it simply wasn't enough. I had a very hard time with this, but at least felt glad that I had tried to help.

Perhaps I was so deeply saddened because I was feeling the exact same way about my calling. I'd spent countless hours preparing for camp and yet my health didn't permit me to be there the whole time and truly feel that I was giving the girls my best. All too often throughout the last year I've felt that my best efforts have been dismally unsuccessful. At the same time I was trying to get my scrapbooking class up and going (thus far, a flop), applying for the American Crafts Design Team (yet another rejection), and now preparing to join the girls for the last two days of camp, return home, and leave the following week for El Salvador.

I managed to make it up to camp and had a wonderful experience, as noted in my previous post. The story continues. The day after returning from camp I was extremely run-down and ill. By now I was wondering if El Salvador was really going to happen, and if I was going to be completely miserable there. With a heavy dose of antibiotics and an even heavier dose of faith, we began packing and preparing to leave the country.

By Thursday, things were looking up and I was starting to feel better. I was cleaning the house and finishing some last minute preparations to leave with my counselors for Young Women. Multi-tasking has never been my strong-suit, but I was feeling quite accomplished. The last thing to tackle were the dishes. Scrub, scrub, scrub and several minutes later they were finally complete! I reached over to run the disposal and that's when yet another unexpected turn of events arose. No plate on the switch and wet hands... Yes, I managed to electrocute myself... in a BIG way. Next thing I know, I'm on the other side of the room, almost incoherent and unsure about what had just happened. I managed to call my mom, and bless her heart, though she couldn't understand me, she knew something was wrong, and rushed to my aid within minutes. She found me laying on the ground with Dolly on top of me, licking me to keep me conscious. (SUPER-DOG!) A trip to the ER didn't really fit in the plans I had made, but sometimes that's just the way life goes. It was an extremely scary experience, but I know the Lord blessed me with specific tender mercies and strength. Thank heavens for tender mercies; for loved ones, (seen and un-seen, people and pets) who rush to our aid when we are in need.

So what does all of this have to do with that baby bird? He who knows even the sparrows, knows and loves me, Lynley Jill. Throughout the last few weeks the Lord has been teaching me a lot about grace, humility, and submitting to His will. I've had to rely heavily on Him and recognize my own limitations. I've learned that I can't do it on my own, and I'm not a failure when my efforts seem to fall short. I am learning to let go of my own worldly desires and embrace God's plan for me. While at times the answers I seek seem to be slow in coming, I know He hasn't forgotten or forsaken me. The love and compassion I felt for that little bird was a reminder of His love for me. Maybe I'm just small and simple, but he cares enough to rescue ME, to come to my aid, and to succor ME in my afflictions. He's sent ministering angels to my side more times than I know throughout these troubling times.

Needless to say, there was great opposition leading up to our trip, but somehow this gave me confidence that it was going to be an extraordinary experience, and indeed it was. I think perhaps all of the struggles leading up to El Salvador where humbling me, and preparing me for great things. I'll fill you in on those adventures soon.

With Love,
L

Honeymoon Page

2011-08-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

Better late than never, right? So we've been married for almost a year and a half and I'm still scrapbooking our honeymoon pics, no big deal. I'm really not worried about keeping up with my photos chronologically. I like to find the photos that speak to me at the moment. I find it makes the creative process so much more enjoyable!

This little page came together rather quickly. It's clean and simple, yet bold and colorful. I've had this Sassafras paper in my stash for ages. It's so cheerful and whimsical. The clouds, owls, bright colors, and mixed patterns... I love it all!

Supplies:
Paper: Sassafras
Washi Tape, upholstered brad, Thickers: American Crafts
Glitter brads, clear button: Close to my Heart
Floral accent: Pink Paislee
Word strip stickers and button: The Girls Paperie

Taking it easy and trying to get better FAST for our big adventure!
L

Oh the Adventures!

2011-08-09T14:04:00.000-07:00

Just days before our big adventure and I have strep throat and a nasty little kidney infection. Lovely. On antibiotics and saying lots of prayers! Wish me luck!

Like this page? I gave myself a little challenge to use one wallet sized photo on an entire layout. I really like how it turned out! Try it yourself and see what you think! I'd love to see how your page turns out so leave a comment with a link!

Supplies:
Paper: My Minds Eye
Buttons, paper yo yo, and pen: American Crafts
Vintage Flash Card: Pink Paisley
Washi tape: 7 gypsies
Ricrac and glitter brad: Close to my Heart

With Love,

PS: The gorgeous photo of us was taken by the lovely Whitney. Danny and I were dating at the time and he said it felt a lot like we were taking engagement photos... we told him it was a "Celebration of Fall" photo, whatever that is;)

Girls Camp

2011-08-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

I had a nice time at Girls Camp. It was short and sweet for me, but I'm grateful I was able to go be with my girls even just for a short time. Preparing for Camp as a leader gave me a great appreciation and understanding for the purpose of Girls Camp. For some girls it's their only opportunity to hear the gospel and feel the spirit. It allows them the chance to be surrounded by righteous leaders who have strong testimonies and are examples of virtue and light. It takes them out of the world and allows them to be in a still and quiet place; a holy and sacred place like unto the temple. It opens their hearts and blesses their lives in powerful ways. Perhaps not every girl needs to learn how to tie knots or start fires without matches, but we all need a chance to feel God's love.

Returning to Camp Shalom was good for me. Even humbling. I wasn't a camper growing up and camp was rather difficult for me. We had a small ward and I never really felt that I fit in. The other girls all loved camping and were there with sisters and mothers. I didn't have any experience outdoors and felt uncomfortable and homesick. I haven't really recalled camp with much fondness. Upon returning to those familiar sites again, I remembered the things I had enjoyed there as a youth. Happy memories came flooding back and I recalled positive experiences I had obviously chosen to forget. I remembered those who sought to befriend me and thoughtful gifts from leaders. (Only now do I know how much time, effort, and love must have been put into them) I remembered how much I loved the little animals and the beauty of Shalom. I remember taking countless pictures of the trees, lake, and little animals. I may have been teased about it back than, but I owned this time;) I can now look back at girls camp and see the immense good in it.

The Lord loves his daughters... this I know.

With Love,
L

A Campin' I Will Go...

2011-08-04T23:11:00.000-07:00

Off to join the girls at camp tomororw! I realize now just how much work my young women leaders put into their callings when I was growing up. Can we say EXHAUSTING?! Thank you notes and a word of appreciation is totally in order! I hope the girls have been having a wonderful time! I can't wait to see how they are doing and take part in the experience.

Now I gotta get some rest;)

With Love,
L

Let the Sun Shine: Mini Album

2011-08-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

American Crafts paper and embellishments
Custom album created by me;)

I had an idea. Why spend almost ten dollars buying one pre-made chipboard album when I can make dozens of them for the same price?! A trip to the "man-store" (Lowes) was in order. Danny was there to translate my idea into "man-speak." We simply bought one very large sheet of thin paneling and had the nice worker-man trim it down to size. He acted like he didn't want to at first, but I think he secretly loved using that giant saw...

Along with all the girls' camp books, yet to be photographed, I made a happy little album to keep our summer snapshots in. I love it! My plan is to add in a few more base pages and take some simple embellishments to El Salvador so that I can document some of my favorite moments while we are there. Scrapbooker Amy Tan is known for creating albums on site, and it seems really fun, so I'm gonna give it a try too! Can't wait to share with you!!

In other news, after months of anticipation and preparation, the girls are off to camp! I'll be joining them in a couple of days! Perhaps I can finally get some rest now;)

With Love,
L

Adventure Time

2011-07-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to say hi and thanks to all of you for your support as I start my new adventure teaching scrapbooking classes at Roberts! I hope it will be a fun and exciting new endevor. Speaking of adventures... about those 17 books I'm making for girls camp... turns out I still have a "bit" to get finished in the next 3 days! Girls camp and El Salvador here I come! Can't wait to take lots of pictures and share it all with you!

With Love,
L

Introducing: Simply Lynley Scrapbooking

2011-07-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

Guess what?! I've been busily working on a little project that I'm excited to share with you! I'll be teaching scrapbooking classes over at the Orem Roberts Crafts Store. I've set up a blog just for my scrapbooking classes here. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Wish I had time to say a bit more, but I have a girls camp to finish preparing for... making 17 handmade albums and custom stationary. Perhaps I took on a bit much?

With Love,
L

On the Bright Side...

2011-07-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

Top ten reasons to look on the bright side when I am sick:

1. I realize how blessed I am to have such a wonderful husband, family, and friends
2. Dolly becomes rather sweet and docile, doing her best to attend to me
3. It makes me grateful for the times when I feel healthy and strong
4. It forces me to step back and simplify
5. It humbles me and reminds me that it's okay to ask for help
6. It reminds me to care for others in need; so many others have such harder challenges.
7. It makes me grateful for simple, clean, healthy food
8. It saves money because there's no better way to remember I should never ever eat out
9. It reminds me how grateful I am that I can be working from home
10. It gives me time to read, write, create, or just take a nap if that's the best I can do

With Hope,
L