Jerel Runs in SLC Marathon

Jerel, Camille's husband, came to Salt Lake last weekend and ran in the Salt Lake City Marathon in order to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.   Jerel's team was entitled Steps-4-Sisters in honor of his sister Shannon, who passed away from this disease last October 5, 2008, and another sister, Lindy, who fights this disease every day.

Here Jerel is crossing the finish line after running 26.2 miles.  Jerel and his family were able to raise over $15,000.00 in donations for this important cause.  I am proud of you, Jerel, for having the tenacity to do this! 

Here are Tanner, Jordan, and Trevor waiting for their dad to cross the finish line. They had to wake up early to go watch, and Trevor still looks a little sleepy.

Here are Chase, my oldest grandson, and my daughter, Camille, waiting for Jerel to cross the finish line. I love them all so much and I  was so happy to have them here, so I could enjoy their company even though their trip was very short.  (I am amazed at how mature Chase looks and I still love Camille's cute dimples.  My mom always said that dimples are where the angels kissed her when they brought her here to earth, so that is what I always think of when I see my beautiful daughter and her cute dimples.)  

Surprise Image

This by far is the most incredible optical illusion I have ever seen. I have done it several times and each time, I am just as amazed as the first time.

Follow these instructions: 

1.) Concentrate by focusing your eyes on the 4 small dots in the middle of the picture.  Stare steadily at the image for at least 45 seconds. 

2.) Then take a look at a wall near you ( any smooth light colored surface will do. I look at the wall behind the computer desk, which is about 3 feet away.) 

3.) You will see a circle of light developing. 

4.) Keep looking at the wall and you will see a figure emerging. . . when I do it, I see the figure appear on the wall, but then it starts traveling up the wall and onto the ceiling at a rapid rate of speed.

5.)  What do you see? Moreover, who do you see?  Let me know by leaving me your comment.

Rainbow Ribbons

Beloved Randy--Last March of 2008, while walking arm in arm with you down the hospital halls, we both marveled at a double rainbow that filled the entire eastern sky.   Both rainbows formed almost two complete arcs.   We remarked how we had never seen a more beautiful rainbow. 

                        

It was one year ago today that I last held your hand

       and told you I loved you.

Just one year ago, I heard you take your last breath. 

When you left, you took my sun with you.

Rainbows can't exist without the sun . . .

Sweet are the memories 

of lollipop flowers

Of gingerbread houses

Of sugar coated hours.

Of fairy drawn coaches

and fanciful rides

Down silvery moonbeam 

Slippery slides.

Of rainbow ribbons

Tied in my hair.

Ah, Rainbow Ribbons

That I no longer wear.

But even though rainbows

and moonbeams must fade.

They only melt into skies

Made of pink lemonade.

(Note: I wrote the words and music for the song Rainbow Ribbons one sad, rainy night while I was at BYU the fall of 1965.  It is written for a classical guitar and a flute accompaniment. Later someone on campus heard it and asked me to perform my song for a play she was directing the spring of 1966.  I wish I knew how to add my own recording to a blog playlist, so you could be listening to the song as you read this. The music expresses my emotions so much better than the words.) 

 

However, there are no skies of pink lemonade for me now.  

I need the Sun for them to exist . . . .

In 1966, I was on a BYU a cappella choir trip on a bus near St. Louis, Missouri, when the following words just came into my mind.  It was springtime.   Although I wrote this poem 43 years before I ever dated Randy, the words seem to be quite prophetic in expressing what has transpired and how I feel now:

Candlelight and lace,

A lingering embrace,

A tear upon her face

       Sighed goodbye

       To a springtime sky,

              His familiar knock,

               A lilac scented talk,

               A moonbeam tinseled walk.

Candlelight and lace

Now grace

An empty place.

       A dress with an old style look,

       Pressed rosebuds in a book,

       A weed crowned garden nook

              Remain to say

              He went away . . . .

   

Dedicated to Randy

I wrote and gave this to Randy several years ago:

                   Tapestry

One day in time

I found a new thread

Woven into my tapestry of life.

Intriguing---

Because this thread

Added a new dimension and texture

To an already most unusual design.

I love the adventure

Of seeing a new color.

Exciting---

Because once the Master Weaver

Adds a new color to the loom

I'm never quite certain

What changes will be made

In the overall design.

Sometimes I am able 

To alter the pattern of threads,

But other times the threads weave in and out

Almost as if these inanimate objects

Had a will and life of their own.

It is not always easy to weave.

Sometimes threads break

Altering my design forever.

Sometimes the spindle pricks my finger,

And sadly I find that

Beauty does not come easily.

To have it

One must often pay the price of pain,

But contrasts enhance the overall design.

Light and dark, smooth and rough, joy and pain---

All add a necessary depth and dimension.

I am most fortunate

Because no one

Has a tapestry quite like mine.

I must make it so.

Uniqueness---

An imperative life force for me.

My tapestry of life

Woven both by Gods and mortals

In a design

Which will never be complete

Nor comprehended 

Until life's final breath

Shuts down the loom. 

        ---Written by Bonnie

         * * * * *

Thanks, Randy, for being that unique thread that has only added richness and beauty to my tapestry of life.

Patterns Etched in My Heart Forever

                  Randy's hand by a rose in our yard

                         A sunset from our back yard

              Kaleidoscope

A sunrise

A rainbow

A blossom

Shimmering jewels

In a kaleidoscope of color

Beauty

Joy

How brief

How transitory

How fragile

Patterns in glass

Patterns in life

Patterns of love

Etched in my heart

Forever

Even though your stay

Was brief.

I want things

To remain

The same.

I want to stop

Time.

I cannot.

Written by,

              Bonnie