*"He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter; so far we are equal" (Ch. 56)

It’s true he held no social rank, no wealth or fame. He was not landed gentry. Held no power either, except that which influences the heart. But he fit the rest of the definition: considerate or kindly in disposition; amiable and tender. Of good family; wellborn. A child of gentle birth.

A truly strong and gentle man. The kind of man and father whom having known and loved made it easy to view Heavenly Father as being the same way. Some are not as lucky, I know. I can’t imagine a punitive, harsh and cruel God because the father I knew and lived with was anything but.

I had a great Dad.

*Pride and Prejudice, natch.

Another Saturday Sharesie

Yes, I have meals to fix, lists to make, a lesson to prepare and some cardboard to paint and yet here I sit, delighted by my good fortune. I just discovered TED, people. And I just watched an awesome organ performance and a talk by Mike Rowe where he talks about the importance and value of dirty, hard work. Specifically, castrating lambs.

I am loving this site. But you have to click around, it’s a huge archive. At the top click on themes, speakers, talks, translations. Over to the left click some more.

Here’s the link:
http://www.ted.com

Dad would have loved this one:
http://www.ted.com/talks/mike_rowe_celebrates_dirty_jobs.html

my wednesday share

She's amazing. Articulate, concise, clear. You probably are already familiar, I'm late discovering it. An intelligent lds young woman who talks about matters of faith in a very credible way. I made my girls watch/listen to the whole segment followed by a discussion contrasting this wonderful young woman with the airhead-beauty queen-seriously-so-blessed gals. Living proof that a woman of substance is infinitely more influential. Go see, if you haven't already.

http://hillel.harvard.edu/media/videos/550

http://www.mormontimes.com/people_news/people_church/?id=6515

Every little girl deserves a daddy like this.

I love this picture. It is authentically Dad. Stretched out on the floor. Hot, sweaty, and tired from work.

Note the bedroom walls and closet door: Not many men would be secure enough to let their ambitiously creative wife paint their bedroom girly pink.

What this picture doesn’t show but reminds me of is the many times I have seen my dad exactly in this same pose but opening his arms for me to come and snuggle. I remember his smell, his warmth, how he would pat my head.

I was always glad when he came home. He loved me. There was never a time when I didn't know that.

Happy Birthday, Dad. Many thanks.

hope you both know how much you're loved

Due to computer technical difficulties I was not able to post a birthday shout out to lovely Megs and awesome Kody yesterday.

Happy Birthday, kiddos. You two are pretty great together yet still endearingly individualistic. Kody, we miss your foreign accents, wit and cool man calmness. Megs, we love your work ethic, your need to create and your tender little heart. So much to love and admire about you both. Thanks for being born, you two.

suavo

Yesterday afternoon Megs and I are sitting in the front room reading from our laptops.

I hear ld from the bedroom yell, Candy, get on your gmail.

I ignore as I am busy reading about the World’s Most Dangerous Countries.

A while later I mosey on over to my gmail. Big mistake. Little box in the lower right hand corner pops up. It’s ringing. I click on the icon Answer. I am now on live video chat. I see myself. Ugh. I try to scrunch down in my seat so only the top of my head is showing. My husband, the one down the hall and in the bedroom, proceeds to blow kisses and wink at me on screen. I tell him, STOP IT. You are creeping me out.

Megs adds her opinion as well, Seriously, Dad, that’s just pervy.

ld is highly amused.