Glass Magic - Dale Chihuly at the de Young

A night at the museum, member's night at the de Young museum in Golden Gate Park. My friend Liesel and I sipped the free Calistoga (there was free wine as well), nibbled on the popcorn, nuts, and trail mix. Like everything San Francisco does, this exhibit is over the top and exquisitely done. To my amazement they allowed photography, without a flash, of course. Enjoy a sampling.

The healing powers of the Monterey Peninsula

My Saviors, Ali and Shelley. And me.

Windblown Cypress

Shelley and Ali

New Friends

Monterey Harbor

View from the hotel, the Monterey Bay complete with Sailboat

The Dessert: Warm Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream and Berries, yum yum

The Monterey Plaza and Spa

Harbor Seal Pups, sunning themselves (17 mile drive)

Trip to Nick's Track meet. Photos of Cami, Jim, Kim and Lisa.

Sabine and Lisa

This is Sabine and Lisa making a crown one day and cookies another.

Fun with Sabine and Sol - my adopted niece and newphew

Occasionally, Sabine comes to my house to do crafts and bake. This particular Sunday afternoon, Sol asked to come as well. They came over to my house after church where we all made waffles with fruit and syrup, eggs and orange juice for lunch. We then made some frosting like dough and played with it. [Recipe is an image, hope you can read it]. Then we popped popcorn and watched "The Incredibles." We saved more crafts and more movies for later. They are a real joy in my life and I'm so glad they came over to spend time with me. We then went to their home for Home Teachers and cake that their dad made. Whew, what a Sunday afternoon.

Gil's 80th Birthday Bash

Gil Jones is Joy's husband, Joy is Kim McCall's mom. Gill has seven sons, each one gave some sort of presentation to their father, Joy lead us in a few line dances and of course we had food and cake.

Jim, Kim's nephew, is the juggler, Cami is on the rock under her sweatshirt. They are Kim's sister's, Laurie's 2 younger kids. The rest of the people are Gi'ls family.

Something to think about

A line from Mahler's symphony No. 3, translated from German into English.

"Joy, deeper still than heartbreak!"

This should be a question. Joy, is it deeper than heartbreak? I'm not sure that can be true. Not that I haven't felt joy, but does it last as long or as intense as heartbreak. I believe in joy, I have it at times felt great joy, though not as "deep" and as long as heartbreak.

My mid year resolution is to experience more joy, however I can.

I found something similar in Alma 36:20 and 21 (Though this is referring realizing the error of your ways and forgiving yourself). "Oh, what joy...my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain." "There could be nothing so exquisite as so bitter as were my pains...on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy."