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I was given the opportunity to paint a back drop for Howard Street Middle School for their production of Singin’ in the Rain.

I went over to their school and picked up 8-10 flats.  I primed the flats to cover the multiple layers of other paint from past shows.

I drew out a basic design…

… and my beautiful daughter and I got to work painting the drop.  Hannah worked on scrumbling a mixture of shades of blue for the basic background.  I transferred the drawings from the small design to the large backdrop.  I would scrumble, but the job looks better if one person scrumbles so that the technique stays consistent.

We taped around the letters so that Hannah could scrumble right past them without needing to worry about going around them.

Yesterday the dear prophet and president of my church passed from this life.  For 50 year of my life, nearly all of it, this wise man has taught me much.  As I looked through a collection of quotes from him this morning, I realized that many of my “quests,” my mission in life, have been inspired by his wise counsel and his shining example.

Christmas and New Year have come and gone and I feel like I weathered the holiday eating very well!  I didn’t binge on sugars and fats.  I tried to be mindful of the food I ate and tried to choose foods that were high in nutrition.

The food I made for Christmas Eve and for Christmas lasted me nearly the whole week.  It was Friday before I ran out of leftovers and needed to make more food for myself.  🙂

I made Pumpkin Soup for Christmas Eve.  Click here for the recipe.

For Christmas dinner I made traditional foods for the family… a pork roast, mashed potatoes, rolls, and pie.  I made more veggie based foods for myself.

I made a lovely green salad…

… and steamed asparagus.

I made Mushroom, Pecan, Cranberry Tart.  Click here for the recipe.

I made my second Mushroom Wellington.  Click here for the recipe.

Today I gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting today.  Here it is in all it’s glory…

To introduce my subject I decided to write a parable… the Parable of the Pen… and Shane the Sheep (no relation to Shawn the Sheep).

As inspiration for this parable I look to John chapter 10 where Jesus makes it clear that He is The Good Shepherd.  Jesus refers to people as sheep.  He teaches how sheep should act and describes some of the dangers to the flock that lurk in the spacious field.  He labels us as His sheep in His fold.

Admittedly, I do not know much about sheep first hand.  I do have experience with goat.  I worked with goats as a youth.  Goats stink!  They are gross.  I see sheep in the fields around my house.  They look fairly dirty and I imagine that they are just as dirty and…

SPOILER ALERT!

I’ve seen some hate floating around the release of the latest  Star Wars film.  I don’t get it.  I LOVED the latest in the Star Wars saga!

I loved old characters that made their return.  I loved the new characters that were introduced.  I loved the visuals and cinematography.  I loved the plot twists… surprised me a couple of times.  I loved the little funny moments.  I found these moments of levity and humor refreshing!  I loved how the film paid respects to the classic films.  It is full of little nods to the original that I loved seeing.  Yet, it clearly was blazing it’s own path.

I guess I follow the Resistance… we win “not by fighting what we hate, but by saving what we love.”

I have raised a whole generation of kids who also love all things Star Wars.

What a great week!  John returned from visiting his parents.  His mom gave him this beautiful tea cup owned by his Great Grandma Lillian Brockbank.  He had a good visit with his family.  The last lunch he ate with his dad was a memorable lunch.  As he was entering the lunch room, he witnessed a young lady getting ready to play the Grinch.  During the meal the Grinch came in and would “steal” the residents presents.  People were also asked if the wanted to have a picture with Santa or the Grinch. Grandpa Boyack said he didn’t care for a picture, but they didn’t hear him and posed with him anyway.  When the picture was done, he whispered to John, “Tell the Grinch she has nice legs.”  LOL.  That is so funny!