As anyone who reads this blog regularly knows I have a special love for the band Travis. In the booklet for their album
The Invisible Band under special thanks it says, "And to you for getting this record. These songs belong to you now." They understand that when you create something that the reaction of that creation is going to be different for each person. Each of us have had different experiences in our lives to make us react differently to art.
When I was a senior in high school I took an art class, a painting class to be exact. Which I loved, of course I was never really good but it was something I enjoyed doing. After high school I continued to paint in my room and stick the paintings in my closet. One day while looking for hangers my mom found my paintings and looked at them. When I came home my mom told me she found my paintings and how much she loved one in particular. It was of a field of grass with a barbwire fence and a blue sky. Sometime later when we were remodeling my moms kitchen we were talking about colors and what she wanted to paint. She brought out my painting and said she wanted me to paint it on her wall. Although I was flattered that my mom had wanted me to do that I refused. It was scary to think about having to see people react to my painting. I think we argued about it for about a month and I don't really remember what persuaded me to change my mind probably a combination of my mother & sister.
Soon after I painted the mural in our dining room we had a bridal shower for my friend Lindsey. I was very uncomfortable as there were going to be a lot of people coming and I would have to watch all of their reactions to the painting. But I kept thinking about my mom and how happy it made her and my nephew Bryant who loved it. He would run along the wall and rub his hand along it like he was feeling the grass. That was enough for me to be happy that I painted it, but I still would always watch to see how others responded.
It is hard to create things and even harder to share those creations. But how glad I am for those who are brave enough to pour their hearts and soul into something and than share it.
In
this video Fran Healy from Travis talks about how to write a song. He says "Good songs come from the space between thoughts....it should just come out of darkness and it is light" If you crack open Stephenie Meyer's book New Moon and turn to the acknowledgements you will see "Thank you to the talented musicians who inspire me, particularly the band Muse-there are emotions, scenes, and plot threads in this novel that were born form Muse songs...also...Travis... have been instrumental in staving off the writer's block." When I then think about the many people (particularly women) who have been inspired by Stephenie, it would seem to me that inspiration is like fire, it spreads. Alright when I wrote that I was not thinking about the scriptures in Matthew (chapter 5: 14 - 16) 14 Ye are the a light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your a light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
But it is kind of perfect and when you think about it as a candle it works the same if someone lights their candle (or receives inspiration from your creation) it does not take away your light it spreads & creates more light.
Last year a member of the Presidency of my church President Dieter F. Uchtdorf was addressing the women of the church at a conference for us. In his talk entitled
Happiness, Your Heritage He talked about "The work of creation" and said...
Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty.
You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.
The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come. Sisters, trust and rely on the Spirit. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you.
I believe truth is universal and those who seek truth can find it everywhere, a song, a poem, a book, a leader, a teacher or a friend. I wanted to thank all those who are brave enough to create and share their creations. You inspire me and make we want to be brave as well.
I am happy I got this picture of Jackson smiling and it has Melissa in it! We don't know what the other boy (Ben) was pointing at.
I am not sure what is going on in this picture but I love how interested he looks in what Melissa is saying. 
This is the first attempt to take the picture of them signing Yellow submarine
But they just held the pose for the second picture. They are cute boys huh.
In case you didn't realize the words in blue were the lyrics to Christmas Time by Smashing Pumpkins. Here we (me and the kids) doing the Nativity. William was Joseph, Marie was Mary and I was the donkey. I heard Gracie start crying when Marie got on my back but I didn't think much about why.
Here is Gracie as a shepherd chasing after us crying because she wants to ride too.
