finding direction

"Once the feet are put right, all the rest of him will follow" - Aslan
from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis

Aslan speaks this to Lucy and Susan after he had breathed upon only the feet of a stone giant in order to enliven it and they wondered if that would be enough.

Purple Ice Cream

By Royal Order of HRH {d}, 
the Purple Lady did taketh this photograph 

Expose Me, Please!

It takes me a couple years (or longer sometimes) to discover truly great music from when it first comes out. If I actually KNOW the name of a brand new singer/group, it is because my niece or my girls from Spanish class have hooked me up. There are new artists all the time and with kids, school, and just plain life happening I really just can't keep up even though I love finding new, good music from almost any genre.

So, if you please, post your favorite song/artist and a link for playlist or youtube or mtv or whatever would be absolutely FABULOUS!

OR GO TO PLAYLIST.COM and add songs to this playlist:
All Things Purple's Community Playlist

Validation Through Creative Expression

This song is a little bit on the not-so-new side, but I had not heard it until the other day.

It astounds me every time I am made so keenly aware of the fact that, while I might believe my life, issues, thoughts and emotions are so unique and original, people are all so very much alike. The life experiences each of us goes through most certainly have different details and we are each very much separate and distinct persons with freedom to act for ourselves. Yet, we can hear a song, see a photograph, read a poem or a story and in an instant feel a connection or validation through the creative expressions of others. It is a beautiful thing.

Thank you to every writer of songs, poetry, movies, stories, or books, every singer, speaker, actor, and artist of any kind that makes the effort to reach out to the world through their creativity in order to touch our hearts and minds.

I love being a part of God's family.

Washington, Utah - PTGS #1

Phone a Friend - Washington City, Utah

If you are feeling out of the loop on this, go to: 
all things purple: Personhood of the Traveling Grape Soda

My Sweetie Girl

My 14-year old autistic daughter went to a Girls Camp for a half-day trip and came home over-the-top happy. Girls her age go to this type of camp for five days, sleeping there and she went for half a day, yet still comes home with all the buzz of a week long camp excursion.

my hope for eternity

photograph by C. N.

My Hope For Eternity

You left on an adventure without me

So I'm always looking to find you

Around every corner

Life continues on

Children, friends, and neighbors

You have never met

I'm wishing I could introduce you

But you are away on your adventure

One of these days, I will come to find you

Without knowing  how far I must go

Or when the time will be

Around the corner

Mother, father, and others

I would like to meet

You will be there to introduce us

When I join you just around the corner

--For Jared, who inspired me to write this by sharing his grief so openly. I love you--

The Couch!!!

photograph by J. Wadman

If you are not in the loop already on this one, go to: 

all things purple: Good Times with Jules

Personhood of the Traveling Grape Soda

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares is the inspiration for the fun we are to embark upon this day. I had to read the series for a Adolescent Literature course I took last year and I openly admit I enjoyed them. They are a little cheesy at times, have a touch of controversial subjects in them, but on the whole, they explore the teenage female psyche in such a way that I could see myself in each of the characters, at times. And the story is creative as well. I recommend the books for ages 15+ boy or girl, including adults.

For those of you who have never heard of these books, there is this group of friends that has a semi-magical pair of pants that they share between them over the summer/years to help them feel like they are part of each others' lives even though life is pulling them in every direction. The pants travel all over the world and this is where I get to our bit of silliness...

Double Rainbows: What do they mean?

I just got done going on a roadie with my BFF, her little sister, her daughter and one of her sons and we had a hysterically fun time.  One of the things that makes it so memorable and hilarious comes from when we saw some double rainbows while driving through Utah.

Fathers

Throughout my life, there have been important men in my life--teaching me, helping me, protecting me, and encouraging me to be my best self. Thank you and I love you for all you have given me. Happy Father's Day

Obscure Movie Possibility

 I don't know about you, but it is hard to find a movie that operates on a spiritual level that also operates on a quality level--not that we need to get a spiritual boost from everything we watch. I just think it would be nice to go to the movies and not get so assaulted with things opposite to spirituality all the time. I try to live a Christ-centered life and it gets hard sometimes to keep a positive and kind attitude after viewing so much killing, adultery, swearing, etc. when supposedly being entertained. Just a thought.

The Brighter Side of Things

Over the past several days, I have been pondering on the many cute, funny, and interesting things that come with Autism. You always hear about the problems, the less than desirable behaviors, the issues. Plus, there is that all encompassing label that must be placed upon the individual in order to get them the interventions, therapy, and other services needed to get functioning at top performance (for her/him anyway).

The Beginning of the Beginning

Since this photograph is buried at the very bottom of the pile and has been sorely overlooked, I thought I would pull it out of its obscurity for everyone to enjoy. One of my friend cousins was over at my house in the Fall a few years back and recognized a photo-op supreme.

all things purple: the first purple thing...

Good Times with Jules

A couple days ago, my site developer (aka the girlfriend that helps me fix stuff I mess up on here and knows how to do cute headers and stuff like that) and I went out into the hills near my home and did a photo shoot for my blog and The Purple Lady Facebook page.

Monday and the Mobile Device

If you have been reading this blog for anytime at all, you might have figured out that I am NOT tech-savvy. I get a little nervous when websites come up with some new and improved thing I don't know how to use and ask me to start using it.

Family: Amazingly Complicated

The other day, I had the opportunity of communicating via Facebook and email with one of my BFF's sister-in-laws and while pondering on why I was so glad she and I were doing said communicating, I came up with a term: friend-in-law.

Women are Amazing

I haven't been really big on following the latest music videos for quite a few years now, but when I spent a little time pondering on what the song "Just the Way You Are" was trying to tell us I knew I needed to watch the video to gain more perspective on this song with all the right words.

Uniquely Amazing

I'm thinking I must be like one of those rare flavors you see in specialty shops - like spicy ice cream or pickled strawberries...most people just don't get it.    

- R. Thompson Dundore

Amazing Adventures

My son embarked on a huge adventure yesterday...he is learning to play tuba!  This is an exciting time for him and it was amazing to witness his pure excitement when he walked through the front door asking (almost demanding) if I would like to hear him play his instrument. He unzipped the hugeamongous case with care, plugged in the clear blue plastic mouthpiece I got him, and made some noise.  He felt cool and his energy forced me into a smile that I haven't got rid of yet.

This scenario reminded me of two things: The Music Man and The Barstow Posse.

Amazingly Funny

I have been entertaining a whole lot of negativity over the past month or so and when my niece sent me some clips of  Jim Gaffigan's comedy I had to stop and laugh my heart out. Laughter is seriously good medicine for the sorrowful heart and it lifted me.

stress and my world audience

I had such a strange Saturday. I have been extremely tired all day, even though I took a three hour nap and just don't feel like myself at all. I think it is the stress in my life, but there is only so much I can do about it. When I get stressed, I have been taking time to do some deep breathing, exercise, read scriptures, and writing helps sometimes too. But, my usual stuff isn't really helping me to de-stress as much.

I could really use some simple tips for relaxation. Any body out there in the world have something that works for them? Please share it!

What's In a Name?

"That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." -Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet

Ok. So I totally should have done a search prior to choosing my profile name and the title to my blog...Holy cow! I don't know how anyone finds me!  My little upstart blog over here is lost in a sea of all things purple. I promise you that I truly thought I was being smart. (probably should stop that thinking stuff )

non-Whimsical Wednesday

today marks the beginning of a huge overhaul in my life. i do not know how to deal with all the change and sadness. the one thing that comes to mind when i ponder on what could console me is butterscotch pudding.  strange, i know. obviously there is a story behind it and the story might tip you off to the source of my need for an overhaul, but here it is anyway: