Drops of Awesome

Stake Conference today. A mother of five children, ages fourteen to two, spoke about how her family is doing Come, Follow Me. She began by saying that after President Middleton asked her, she panicked that she only had ten days to figure out how to do it all right. Then he said, "Keep it real." She did. She shared that their Come, Follow Me scripture study isn't spiritually deep. But some good things are happening. She described them as "drops of awesome." 

I love that description. A drop is a small amount, an insignificant measure of anything. But as drops accumulate, they grow and can become something of great significance. She said she is trying to find those drops of awesome each day as they do their little bit. I need to be better at recognizing the drops of awesome that happen in my life. Here are a couple just from today.

• Brandt and I attended the youth session of stake conference. April North, Isabella's friend, said the opening prayer and prayed that those who were not in attendance would be touched by the Spirit. I'm glad she is Isabella's friend.
• We sat next to Maureen and Ben Ogles. Maureen is my friend, and we were able to visit for a bit before the meeting started.
• Isabella helped me make spiral potatoes for dinner. They didn't turn out like we had hoped, but I liked talking to her while we worked.
• I participated in young women home evening, a gathering of my young women at Lauren Ficker's home. Each girl shared their favorite scripture and explained why it was their favorite. In essence, they each bore their testimony. I was touched by the Spirit and appreciated their willingness to share.
• The YWHE treat was chocolate cupcakes with Oreo frosting. My tastebuds were touched by the sweetness.

I need more drops of awesome in my life. I think they are there; I just need to look for and recognize them more.

This picture was not taken tonight, but on Wednesday when our activity was to decorate the cover of Books of Mormon.

Several of the girls brought their book tonight.

Back: Riley Perotti, Sophie LeCheminant, Kate Seamons, Madeleine Lewis, Bailey Blad, Rebekah Stovall, Hazel Tayler, Hazel Davis

Front: Piper Perotti, Ada Bushman, Lauren Ficker

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

So many plays and performances; so little time. In addition to the two movies we have seen this month and an upcoming performance on March 30, we have attended six things in March. Two movies, two plays, a musical performance, and dance. Aren't we just cultured?!

Today's performance was at the Hale Center Theater in Orem, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. It was a musical set in a large company wherein the main character rises rapidly towards the top. It was funny and I was glad to be with Brandt and Kent. I wish Isabella had come.

House of Desires

Kent, Brandt, Mom, and I attended a play at BYU today, House of Desires. It is a play that was written in the 17th Century by a Spanish nun, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. It is a romantic comedy involving complicated relationships that required a graph in order to identify who was who. It was very funny. Servants both catered to and undermined their employers, some of whom were faithful and successful in love, and some of whom were not. It was a bit racy, especially when one considers it was written by a nun, but very, very funny. My mother only lasted through the first half and left at intermission because the chairs were so uncomfortable. I discovered a friend from elementary school who was in school with me all through high school, Sheryl Hale Pryor, sat down next to us. Small world. She took the picture of us.

Dona Leonor, Dona Ana, Don Carlos, Don Pedro

Dona Leonor and Don Carlos are in love with each other.

Dona Ana thinks she loves Don Carlos and Don Pedro loves Dona Leonor.

Dona Ana and Don Pedro are brother and sister, so they can't get together.

In the end, all works out for everyone except Don Pedro.

Don Carlos and Dona Leonor get married.

Dona Ana marries Don Juan who loves her (and really, she loves him).

Celia and Castano, servants, get married.

Only Don Pedro is left unmatched.

Family Pie Night, NOT on March 14

 

Thursday was Pi Day and while we all thought getting together to eat pie would be wonderful, it wasn't a great day for several of us, me included. Mom suggested we gather on Saturday instead, eat pie and play games. 

Turns out, it was wonderful. Pie was delicious, game playing was fun, and the company was terrific. We had a great time. Pie flavors included key lime, Shaker lemon, apple, chocolate raspberry, and peach raspberry. Mom also made a cheesecake. The Shaker lemon had good flavor, but it was made with the whole lemon, rind and all, and it had a weird texture. 

Ward Talent Show and Pie Night

Our ward had a talent show and pie (pi) night this evening. It was terrific! The talents were both serious (piano pieces, cello and violin pieces) and funny (dancing, juggling, joke telling, yoyoing) and all were entertaining. People brought pie, both homemade and store bought, so there were lots of choices of sweet deliciousness. It was all well-organized and Brandt helped a bit with the sound. It was a super evening.

I made two pies: lemon fluff berry and blackberry key lime

Both were YUMMY!

My young women class performed a dance to Despicable Me. 

Kate Seamons and Riley Perotti did the choreography and taught the girls.

They seemed to have a fun time.

These were the Greeken Deacons.

They took sips of water from the cups they are holding 

and would then spit it at each other. 

At the end, they spat water onto the bishopric.

Bravo! for Ímar

This evening, Kent and I attended a Bravo! production at BYU. The Glasgow-based band Imar came to play and provided a fantastic evening of Irish, Manx, and Scottish folk music. The music was rousing and sweet, the group was funny, and the evening was really a pure delight. They played the fiddle, bouzouki (like a guitar), concertina (like a small accordian), bodhran (drum) and flute, whistle, and uilleann pipe (like a bagpipe). Several times I wanted to get up and dance. They told a funny and sad tale of their complicated trip from Glasgow to Toronto via Dallas, and shamelessly plugged their merch. We bought a CD and a t-shirt to contribute to their return trip. It was a super evening.

The band themselves were hawking their wares.

Getting ready to come back onstage during intermission.

You can see from this picture we had great seats.

Their promotional photo

Kung Fu Panda 4

Yesterday Mikayla told me she was taking all of her kids to see Kung Fu Panda 4. Isabella overheard me say, "I would see Kung Fu Panda 4" and immediately piped up, "Kung Fu Panda 4?" She and Brandt were both interested in going, so Mikayla bought us tickets and we went with the Johnsens to see the movie. It was very silly, but as Mikayla said, I'm willing to pay for a movie without any woke ideology so that someone will keep making them. To that I say, "Skadoosh!"

Isabella would not join us for this silliness.

The serious movie picture.

 

Birthday Lunch with Kal

 

Mr. Kal, our Dreamy Boyfriend, is seven today. Time passes too quickly. Just like last week he was a tiny baby we were all snuggling. Now he's a big boy who will still snuggle, but he's bigger. I got to have a birthday lunch date with him, and we went his favorite spot, McDonalds. Oh boy! He helped order his lunch, he played on the indoor equipment with a younger boy who was there, and he got free ice cream because it was his special day. A special day for a special boy. I love Kal and was happy I could celebrate with him.

Dune 2

As part of a reading challenge, I read/listened to Dune by Frank Herbert. The first of a three-part movie series came out in 2021, and Brandt and Kent went to see it with Mikayla and Guy. I didn't go, not thinking I would like it. Then I listened to the book and decided I definitely needed to see it. The second part was coming out so I watched it with Mikayla and Guy at their house some weeks ago.

This afternoon, Brandt, Kent, and I went with Guy, Gary, Blake, and Brick to see Dune 2. I had seen several trailers including the scene where the actor playing Paul, Timothée Chalamet rides a sandworm for the first time. The whole thing looked very exciting and we eagerly anticipated the opening. 

The movie did not disappoint. We saw it in IMAX, so it was huge. Visually, it was stunning, the story was well told, and I liked the characters. I was glad I had listened to the book as I had a clear idea of where the story was going, and I liked the visual realization of the printed word. It was fun to be there with family, too.

Blake Turns Six

Today was Blake's actual birthday. He's a leapling, so he only gets one once every four years. I sent a message to all the bank managers in the region and suggested they send him some birthday love. They did. This evening, we gathered with most of the DeMartinis to celebrate at Brick Oven. We had a raucous time. Blake is such a great guy! I teased him that it would be good if he was married by his next birthday, and he heartily agreed. Perhaps we all need to help him find that special someone.