Los Angeles

I don't have many pictures of our trip (I know, not a big surprise), but Jared was able to get a few good shots of one of our favorite parts. Since this trip was not completely filled at Disneyland, we had the opportunity to go and do some things I have never done before. One of those activities was the Forest Lawn Memorial Park. I wish I could come up with a good description or explanation of this experience. This place is a cemetary, but one unlike anything I have ever seen before. The designers and architects wanted to create a cemetary that celebrated the joyous assencion into heaven, and the happy life that awaited us once we returned to our Father. Instead of the usual headstones and barren land, there were trees, rolling hills, replicas of famous churches and THOUSANDS of statues. Many of the statues were also exact replicas of some of the most famous works of art. It was a beautiful experience to walk into a cemetary and see the beauty and joy that should accompany the pain of death.

Inside this church was housed a replica of The Last Supper in stained glass. It was incredible. I was able to view, for the first time really, the magnitude of this beautiful work, in a way I had never experienced it before. One of the best parts, with stained glass, was the way the artist was able to highlight the Lord. In the demonstration, they showed how the glass changed as the background sunlight went out. As the sun disappeared (thanks to shutters installed behind the glass) the glass slowly got darker at the perimeter until the only remaining face was that of Jesus Christ. It was beautiful.

I had absolutely no idea that David was so...HUGE. This is an exact replica of Michelangelo's David, and the stone was actually drawn from the same quarry as the original.

This is the plaza that houses "The Mystery of Life". I told Jared this is what I want my backyard to look like!

The interpretation of the piece through poetry.

This was a very thought-provoking piece. Each person or group represents how people view Life. There is a scientist, aethiest, and family. A newborn, and a grandmother. Those viewing birth, and those suffering death. Every person has a different idea of why we are here and what our purpose is.

In the next courtyard, this question is answered. This Christus, in The Garden of Faith was wonderful. Here answers The Mystery of Life. It is said that the only way to really appreciate this sculpture is on your knees, at His feet, and I was really touched by that. I am grateful to know WHY I am here and where I am going. I know there is life after death, and I hope that I can look at death the way the founders of Forest Lawn did: with hope and joy through faith in the Lord.