Writing and learning in the Fall

"and thy time shall be given to writing, and to learning much." (D&C 25:8) Learning I can identify with...but writing is a struggle. At least when it comes to writing on our blog. Yet, I do identify with Emma Smith a lot when I realize ALL the learning that must be "learnt". Mostly our learning comes from the scriptures and conference talks (hours and hours of study). However, there are a few days, I need to get a recipe or two for our weekly lunches on a website, and I have discovered a host of people, clubs, restaurants, and famous chefs just waiting (well, maybe not waiting) and eager (did I say, eager?) to bail me out with yet another yummy recipe we can serve to 45 (yep, the numbers are increasing this semester over last). And the learning continues....
Last weekend we had 4 extra hours in Oklahoma City, so we decided to visit the art museum and botanical gardens there (remember kids, how we would drag you to yet another gallery or museum on our vacations?). We experienced God's creations at the gardens as we walked through a large tube-like indoor tropical garden (more than a city block long and about half as wide) with thousands of exotic plants from all over the world. The man-made 30 foot waterfall made me a little lonesome for home, especially when we spotted the gold fish in the pond below. We experienced man's creations as we walked and admired the art sculptures of glass blowing genius, Chihuly. The museum is home to the most comprehensive collection of Chihuly glass in the world which includes a 55 foot tall glass tower in the atrium (similar to the sculpture at Symphony Hall in Salt Lake). We were surprised that there were so few people enjoying these marvels. The exhibit has a limited time period, so we were grateful for the time we spent there.
The leaves in Arkansas in the Fall are spectacular!! I always loved looking out from the kitchen window in Salt Lake at the Wasatch Range at the leaves changing, yet, these leaves here are even more VIBRANT and intense. Perhaps, the trees are different or it's the enormous amount of water Arkansas receives. We're not sure, but we feel very blessed to enjoy these beautiful leaf changes as we leave the apartment each morning. If I were adept, I could post some of our pictures. See, it always comes back to MORE learning...and we LOVE it! Just like we love you!
Sharon and Peter