have miracles ceased?

Annie and Kate,

I wanted to remember our short scripture study tonight (by the way they are always short! My mantra is small and simple things, never perfection, and give thanks; trust His process. In frequent daily experiences the Savior consecrates every tiny effort for our gain):

Quería recordar nuestro breve estudio de las Escrituras esta noche (¡de hecho, siempre son breves! Ahora mi mantra es: cosas pequeñas y simples, nunca perfección y dar gracias; confíe en Su proceso. En experiencias diarias lo veo al Señor consagrar cada pequeño esfuerzo por mi beneficio):

In the evening you will not sleep until we “wead Book of Moh-muhn” (even though we are actually reading the New Testament and Come, Follow Me.)

Tonight I felt the spirit when we talked about things that are hard: Because He chose to do hard things, our Savior was given power to help you and me do hard things.

En la noche, no se duermen hasta que "leemos el Libro de Moh-muhn" (a pesar de que en realidad estamos leyendo el Nuevo Testamento y Ven, Sígueme).

Esta noche sentí el espíritu cuando hablamos de las cosas que son difíciles: debido a que Cristo eligió hacer cosas difíciles, a Él le fue dado el poder para ayudarte a ti y a mí hacer cosas difíciles.

In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus felt and overcame every person’s pain who would ever live (physical, spiritual and emotional).

He endured the hardest hard.

Al ir al jardín de Getsemaní, para sentir y superar el dolor de cada persona que viviría (físico, espiritual y emocional),

Jesucristo soportó lo más grave.

The pressure and difficulty of the task was so surprising that even He, the son of God, asked, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

Even a God asked not to drink from that harrowing cup. But he chose to say, “Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” In other words, “Even though it’s hard, I will move forward anyway.”

La presión y dificultad de la tarea fue tan sorprendente que incluso Él, el hijo de Dios, preguntó, "Oh, Padre mío, si es posible, deja que pase esta copa de mí; sin embargo, no como yo quiero, sino como tú quieras".

Incluso un Dios no quería beber de esa copa desgarradora. Pero él eligió decir: "No obstante, no como yo lo haré, sino como tú lo harás". En otras palabras, "aunque sea difícil, seguiré adelante.”

And because He did, He now can give power to you as me to do the same - conquer hard things I don’t want to do, or don’t think I can succeed in.

At times we feel extra strong and committed like when Peter said to Christ, “I am ready to go with thee, both into prison and to death.” And some days we beg for the cup to pass, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:” but if you and I can eek out an, “nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” His power and miracles will envelop us. I have watched it happen to your dad and I again and again! I feel power, light, revelation, and my heart expands 500 times its size. I have learned that what Moroni said at the end of the Book of Mormon is true, “...have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men...showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind…”

This is real to me because I experience it daily.

Porque el lo hizo, se le dio poder para ayudarte a ti hacer lo mismo: conquistar las cosas difíciles que a lo mejor no quieres soportar, o las cosas en las que no te crees tendras éxito.

A veces nos sentimos extra fuertes y comprometidos, así como le dijo Pedro a Cristo: "Estoy listo para ir contigo, tanto a la cárcel como a la muerte". Y a veces rogamos que se nos pase la copa, "Padre mío, si es posible, deje que esta copa pase de mi” pero si usted y yo podemos llorar, “sin embargo, no como yo quiera, sino como usted "Su poder y milagros nos envolverán. Lo he visto pasar a tu papá y a mí una y otra vez. Siento poder, luz, revelación, y mi corazón se expande 500 veces su tamaño. Aprendí que lo que Moroni dijo al final del Libro de Mormón es cierto: "... ¿han cesado los milagros? He aquí, te digo: No; ni tampoco los ángeles han dejado de ministrar a los hijos de los hombres ... mostrándose a ellos con una fe firme y una mente firme ...”

Sé que esto es real porque lo vivo a diario.

A favorite thought comes from Elder Jeffrey Holland, “If those miracles do not come soon or fully or seemingly at all, remember the Savior’s own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead.”

Una cita preferida viene de Elder Jeffrey Holland: "Si esos milagros no se producen pronto, en forma total o aparente, recuerde el angustioso ejemplo del Salvador: si la copa amarga no pasa, bébala y sea fuerte, confiando en los días más felices por delante."

I love you forever. He loves you always.

Te amo por eternidades. Él te ama siempre.

Momma

More notes to follow including summer travel dates.

Mas sigue abajo incluso las fechas de viaje de verano.

I believe my faith in Jesus Christ produces countless miracles in my family's life, thus my blog has transformed into a faith-based blog. Subscribe by clicking here to receive travel dates and photos, subscriber codes, and the sacred lessons I learn by grace, directly in your inbox. I hope you find hope, love, light and faith here — that you are led to see the miracles God gives to each of His daughters and His sons that He loves so perfectly. If someone comes to mind while you read this email please feel free to forward it to them.

SUMMER Travel Dates:

UTAH: June 22 (I can take one more photoshoot)

SAN FRANCISCO/PALO ALTO: JUNE 28 (I can take one photoshoot)

SEATTLE: Middle of July (Exact date to be determined and I can take 4 photoshoots)

SANTA BARBARA/MORRO BAY: Jul 28 - 29 (I can take one more photoshoot)

YOSEMITE: Aug 31 - Sept 2 (I can take two photoshoots)

SANTA CRUZ: Sept 29 - Oct 4 (I can take two more photoshoots)

It’s a hang out. I get a little bossy and press a shutter while forgetting to breathe and also sweat a ton and get all caught up loving you through my lens and then you get a collage back of everything we all love about YOU. If you would like a payment option contact me; together we can make anything happen!

love to all,
Christina

a memorial of her

1. A partir de ahora, mis blogs estarán escritos en inglés y español. La versión en español sigue abajo. Siento que mi traducción no es muy buena - espero mejorarla con tiempo. Para ser rápido esta noche, utilicé el traductor de google con mas de los párrafos, pero en el futuro lo haré por mi misma.

   2. UTAH - I can still squeeze in one more shoot! I come prepared with images planned so our entire focus is on having fun! You don’t have to think, or parent, or anything but snuggle up. I’ll do the heavy lifting. I know photos are stressful, we went through it last weekend. Even I forget how everyone is screaming at each other beforehand and you’re late and you know you’re going to forget something and you sell your soul to your children like Jim Gaffigan talks about in this clip! But then you get the dreamiest images back and you hardly remember traffic, missing exits, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge multiple times, paying extra tolls, showing up barely on time, how you’ve never been more mad at your family… Not like that happened to us, we never get mad at each other. Anyway, click here when you are ready to book!

My orange babies of the sun,

We have been caring for Mema the past two weeks while Pa and Gramma have been out of town. As she lives in the late stages of Alzheimers we, alongside family and Hospice and a host of other helpers who have come to the rescue, have tended to her every need. Caring for the elderly is an invitation to sacred ground, and I had a moment with her yesterday I wanted to remember.

To give some background to my thoughts I’ll start with a story I read last night in the bible:

Just before Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane - to feel every pain and hurt and sadness and mistake anyone could ever experience - He was at dinner with his disciples (in the home of a leper). A woman came “with very precious ointment, and poured it on his head.”

Jesus said to those around him, “she did it to prepare me for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.”

In other words: wherever anyone is teaching about Christ, His life and death, the story will also be told of the woman who came to her Savior to anoint His head with costly oil in preparation for what was to come. And by this simple act she will be remembered throughout history.

This is the power that is in you: your seemingly insignificant acts span eternity.

I took baby cousin Ella into Mema’s room last night. Mema was having hard day (she has always been fiery and up and doing and helping and loving and caring for someone, apart from Alzheimers, being bedridden seems to take its own toll on her mind.) I laid baby Ella on her back on top of Mema so their cheeks were touching. I whispered, “This is your baby Elouise, like Nancy Louise. This is your youngest great-grandbaby.” Mema, always keenly aware of a tiny one within reach, had wide eyes and I could feel she was a little surprised. I felt she was trying to soak in all of her baby. I would say softly, “Can you smell her? She’s looking at you.” Mema kept trying to put the blanket over Ella’s tiny squirming legs and continued cooing at her while kissing her cheek, “Oh, sweet baby…”

I held Ella there for what seemed a long while; time always seems to slow in sacred moments. Ella was calm, wiggly, content, turning to Mema, toward me, back to Mema — the setting sun showering the room in its grandeur.

And then that night I read those lines, “that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.” The holy spirit whispered to me, “Ella will not know this powerful woman whose granddaughters admire her for who she is, all that she did: have her own babies, go back to school, get a masters, become a school counselor, help struggling children for decades with a brilliant sense of humor, all in a time unpopular to do so. She did not do any of this for accolades, she did these things because she felt them in her! She had power. No one could have diverted her course — she wouldn’t have allowed it. Small step by small step, one seemingly insignificant day after another, she used her love and determination to magnify her gifts. In so doing she will leave a legacy that already spans her children’s lives, their children’s lives, their children’s lives, and on forever. When she is ready to graduate mortality, she will have left a legacy in us, and she will be passed on to every generation, every daughter, every child, that comes after her. 

This was my lesson from the woman who sought her Savior: we have so much power in us that will effect every generation after us, but only we can activate it. No one else can take the steps for us. So when your days feel monotonous and insignificant I hope you hear the Savior say to you, “there shall also this, that [Annie and Kate] hath done, be told for a memorial of her.” 

I love you, my beautiful girls.

love, mama

Scriptures come from Matthew 25:6-13 Bible KJV

Utah! Todavía tengo espacio para una sesión más, 18/19 de Mayo.

Mis niñas q’ me vienen del sol,

Hemos estado cuidando a la Mema por las dos semanas pasadas, mientras Pa y Gramma han estado afuera. Como tiene el Alzheimers, nosotros (con bastantes ayudantes) somos los que le han ayudado en cada cosita. El cuidar los mayores ha sido una invitacion para mi a tierra sagrada, y me gustaria compartir una experiencia q’ me pasó ayer.

Anoche leí en la Biblia en Matteo. Antes q’ Cristo fue al jardín a sufrir toda enfermedad y pecado, él se cenó con sus dicipulos a casa de un leproso. Una mujer se enfrentó con él y empesó a ungirlo con aceite de gran precio.

Jesús dijó a los demás, “De cierto os digo que dondequiera que se predique este evangelio, en todo el mundo, también se contará lo que esta ha hecho, para memoria de ella.”

En otras palabras, por ese acto muy simple que hizo esta mujer, será recordada a lo largo de la historia.

Este es el poder en tí, y en mi! Tus actos, sean simples, serán recordadas por toda la eternidad.

Anoche llevé a la prima bebé Ella a la habitación de Mema. Mema estaba teniendo un día difícil (ella siempre ha sido ardiente y despierta, ayudando y amando y cuidando a todos. Aparte de la enfermedad de Alzheimer, estar postrado en cama parece tener su propio precio en su mente). Acosté la bebé con Mema por lo que sus mejillas se estaban tocando. Le susurré: "Esta es tu bebé Elouise, como Nancy Louise. Esta es tu bisabuela más chiquita.” Mema, siempre muy consciente de una pequeña a su alcance, tenía los ojos muy abiertos y yo podía sentir que estaba un poco sorprendida. Sentí que ella estaba tratando de absorber a todo su bebé. Diría suavemente: "¿Puedes olerla? Te está mirando.” Mema siguió tratando de poner la manta sobre las pequeñas y retorcidas piernas de Ella y continuó arrullándola mientras la besaba en la mejilla, “Oh, dulce bebé ... " segía…

Mantuve a Ella allí por lo que pareció un largo rato; el tiempo siempre parece ralentizarse en los momentos sagrados. Ella estaba tranquila y contenta, y se volvió hacia Mema, hacia mí, de vuelta a Mema, la puesta de sol inundando la habitación con su grandeza.

Y luego, esa noche, leí esas líneas, "se contará lo que esta ha hecho, para memoria de ella." El espíritu santo me susurró: "Ella no conocerá a esta mujer poderosa cuyas nietas la admiran por lo que es, todo lo que ella hizo: tener sus propios bebés, volver a la escuela, obtener una maestría, convertirse en consejera escolar, ayudar a los niños con dificultades por décadas con un brillante sentido del humor, todo en un momento impopular para hacerlo. Ella no hizo nada de esto por elogios, ¡hizo estas cosas porque las sintió en si! Ella tenía poder. Nadie podría haber desviado su curso, ella no lo habría permitido. Paso a paso, un día tras otro, aparentemente insignificante, usó su amor y determinación para magnificar sus dones. Al hacerlo, dejará un legado que ya abarca las vidas de sus propios hijos, hijos de ellos, e hijos de ellos para siempre. Cuando esté lista para graduarse de la mortalidad, dejará un legado en nosotros que pasará a cada generación, a cada hija, a cada niño, que venga después de ella.

Esta fue mi lección de la mujer que buscó a su Salvador: tenemos tanto poder en nosotros que afectará a todas las generaciones después de nosotros, pero solo nosotros podemos activarla. Nadie más puede dar los pasos por nosotros. Así que cuando sus días se sientan monótonos e insignificantes, espero que escuche al Salvador decirle: "también habrá esto, que [Annie y Kate] han hecho, que se les diga un memorial de ella".

Las amo, mis niñas hermosas,

con amor, mama

when am i enough?

One recent Sunday morning, I darted out of bed, tightened my running shoes and headed for the hill — the monstrous one out the front door. My out-of-shape lungs screamed in the 40-degree weather but sunshine embraced me at the top! Bright, bold orange seemed to cleanse me from my previous self and invited me in to a sacred moment. I stretched towards the sky to receive the light and unexpectedly began to cry.

Thoughts raced and I did what came naturally: opened my mouth to free the caged thoughts fluttering furiously inside, “It’s hard! So many things are hard for so many people! It’s so hard!”

I couldn’t stop moving, talking aloud at the top of a hill devoid of humanity yet lacking no life — hallowed ground on which to pray.

A piercing response came from Him: “Grace is not bound by your checkboxes.”

I paced and cried and gave space to my mind.

I thought of my own checkboxes — my list! All the things even I - one who strictly preaches grace ‘til the end of time! - get caught up believing I “have” or “need” to do. My own list, and its accompanying weight, surprised me!

Through searing breaths and free-falling tears I exhaled rounds of,

“Let themmmm ggooo!”

“Let…..themmm…alll….gooooo….”

A physical manifestation of my heart’s plea, a simple offering, and He carried them away with the wind.

Jesus knows NO checkboxes — he does not want my barrage of self-help plans or parades.

So when have I done enough? When am I enough?

There is no such thing.

We are always enough because we are His, “I have graven you on the palms of my hands.” So its all up from here!

Liberating me — even from myself — is His mission. The Savior holds healing in infinite doses. His is “boundless charity.”

“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest…”

Goosie’s prayer the other night encompasses my feelings, “Thank you we can be who we can be...”

I hope today you find yourself filled up, thankful to “be who you can be,” and that you relinquish every checkbox (especially those of shame, self-doubt, and of never feeling “enough”) forever!

all my love to you,

Christina

P.S. One day I handed my cameras and light meter to my sister in law, Jessie. She took some perfect pictures of us in all our beachy glory one bright afternoon in Newport.

P.P.S. You never need permission to share these posts - if someone comes to your mind as you read, share away.

xoxo

SEATTLE! I have room for another shoot SATURDAY, MARCH 9TH (NEXT WEEKEND!!) Click this sentence to BOOK!