Why Do I Love These People?

While doing some serious blog surfing this summer I stumbled upon a recommendation for a book by Po Bronson called Why Do I Love These People?: Honest and Amazing Stories of Real Families. I struggle spending money on books, but something about it captivated me and I had it ordered in minutes. A $4 (with shipping) Amazon buy, I might add. While I didn't know exactly what I was hoping for in this book, it was exactly what I needed. People sharing their heartbreaking stories and all of the emotions that we never seem to talk about. It was healing and inspiring, opening the door to possibilities for my own relationships.

My only critique is that Bronson sometimes wraps the message up in a pretty little bow for us, you know, like overstating. Having been chastised for doing the same thing in my writing classes, I prefer everything to be understated.

There are a few more Bronson books that I'm hoping to get my hands on:

What book do you recommend?

Must. Create.

Have you ever found a quote that put you into words? I stumbled upon this one a while ago and I was taken back that someone has been able to put me into words so perfectly:

"The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: A human creature born abnormally, inhumanely sensitive. To them... a touch is a blow, a sound is a noise, a misfortune is a tragedy, a joy is an ecstasy, a friend is a lover, a lover is a god, and failure is death. Add to this cruelly delicate organism the overpowering necessity to create, create, create -- so that without the creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something of meaning, their very breath is cut off... They must create, must pour out creation. By some strange, unknown, inward urgency they are not really alive unless they are creating."

-- Pearl S. Buck 

I always feel a pull to write (even though I don't what), create something in the kitchen (even though I have limited knowledge), or to sew (even though I never finish my projects). All of my tangible creations result in messy surroundings... and I never feel that same pull to clean up the mess (poor hubby, having to live in my messy world).

My desire to create is strengthened by a talk given by President Uchtdorf, of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He says that "The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before." He then encourages us to create. I find it interesting, and touching, that he found this subject important enough to give a talk on it. You can also see a clip from the talk here.

I hope to create fabulous Halloween costumes for my husband and myself pretty much as soon as possible. I am creating a receiving blanket for my 4th nephew arriving shortly, meals to keep in the freezer to pop in the oven when time is running short (or I am running lazy), and have a jean quilt in progress. To fulfill my need to create, I have also started this blog.

Our New Distraction

Before I officially met Zach, my roommate and I sat watching him, guessing what we thought he might drive. I mean, what else is a girl supposed to do during the Saturday session of Stake Conference? We concluded that he probably drove some kind of beater car. A flashy vehicle did not seem to be in his character. After being introduced to him a little while later and having shared that hypothesis with him, he told me that he did not drive a beater, that he drove a 2000 Chevy Cavalier that his parents gifted him. It was 2005. He did, however, acknowledge that it was a girl car.

Five years later, it is quickly becoming a beater.We have had it in the shop numerous times and just recently thought it might have been done for good. Between that and our draw toward flashy things, we have been debating a new car purchase. The first time we went to look at cars we unexpectedly fell in love with the Volkswagen Passats. It was, however, a horrible experience and easy to walk away. Our second car shopping experience, last Friday night, went extremely well. So well that we drove away in a 2010 Passat. Gray. There are so many bells and whistles that my gadget-loving husband is enamored with the iPod integrated touch-screen stereo, the air conditioned glove box as a makeshift cooler, and an assortment of other things he found while reading the 2-inch owner's manual.

We knew we would purchase a car within the next year, but I'm glad we decided to purchase one now. It has been a fun distraction for Zach between his full-time work and full-time school. Me? I'm just a little jealous.