i thought this was appropriate for halloween and for this time in our lives;)

"LAMPS"

I met a stranger in the night

Whose lamp had ceased to shine.

I paused and let him light

His lamp from mine.

A tempest sprang up later on

And shook the world about.

And when the wind was gone

My lamp was out!

But back to me the stranger came—

His lamp was glowing fine!

He held the precious flame

And lighted mine!⁸

-Lon Woodrum

i loved this little poem that President Monson quoted in his recent conference talk. Isn't it so true in life, sometimes our flame is burning brightly and we are able to help light another's and other times ours is weak and we are blessed by the light of others that we once helped rekindle.

"There is no spot of ground, however arid, bare or ugly, that cannot be tamed into such a state as may give an impression of beauty and delight." -Gertrude Jekyll

this quote reminded me of our visit to the Butchart Gardens in Canada.  The gardens were originally the remains of a cement quarry where Mr Butchart worked. His wife used the Barren remains of the dugout limestone and began to bring in tons of topsoil to use to plant flowers, bushes, trees....it is now an amazing world renown garden! 

"The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also."                               -Harriet Ann Jacobs

i should probably wait and post this in the spring but knowing we are about to head into a cold idaho winter, it is comforting to know that underneath the barren and the cold, a colorful spring is awaiting to grow! We are actually enjoying a heavenly fall right now though. There is a beauty and a sense of awe and wonder in every season of the year!