Jungle Book

The MyMy performed in the school's annual play.  The play this year was Jungle Book.  The MyMy was exuberant, charming, and happy all throughout the play.  Until next year........Look for the Bare Necessities of Life!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Back in May, the LuLu announced one day that she was going to run for Sophomore Class Representative for her high school.  The parents were shocked at this news and even questioned her desire.

Conversations, such as this, were ongoing throughout the process.

Parent:"You realize that you are going to have to attend all school activities."

LuLu: "I know."

Parent: "But, you didn't want to attend  any of the activities this year."

LuLu: "I know."

Parents: "Do you realize that you are going to need to plan, organize, and decorate for these activities?"

LuLu: "Yes."

Parents: "But you have never volunteered or even helped when we have had stuff like this prior."

LuLu: "I know, but it is because I don't like doing that kind of stuff."

Parents: "Then, why are you running?"

LuLu:  "Because if my friend gets elected also, then it will guarantee us having a class together for next year."

This of course makes perfect sense to a teenager and not so much to an old and outdated parent.

Anyway, the process began.  The LuLu filled out the applications, wrote her essay, and got her letters of recommendation.  She took her Constitution test and passed.  She had her interview and passed.  She was ready for the campaign.

We asked her if she needed campaign posters and some sort of slogan.  The response was no.  Then a couple of days later, the LuLu came home stating that she needed posters and some sort of a slogan and they needed to be hung the following day.

The parents and the LuLu had a very late night and a very early morning coming up with slogans and posters.  It was decided by all that we would play on a few ideas.  Since the LuLu is so tiny and petite one idea was "great ideas come in small packages".  Another idea was to add a spin to The Hunger Game series by stating that the "odds will always be in your favor."  We even threw in a CTR reference (Choose the Representative), although only a few would get the connection.

The posters went up the next day with some help from her friends.  The competition was getting fierce and the LuLu was worried about her odds.  We asked her if she needed to prepare a skit or speech to perform in front of the school.  The response was once again no, she only needed to speak in front of the teacher.

A couple of days later, the LuLu was in a frantic state.  Yes, she needed a skit, speech, something and it would be performed in front of the freshman class.  Both Derrick and myself had other commitments and could not help at this point, although we suggested using a scene from the Hunger Games.  Text messages begged for wigs and white face paint to be purchased, and then were hastily bought and delivered to early morning seminary.

The big day finally arrived, and we were all excited and anxious about the election results.  LuLu performed her skit and gave her speech.  She said that it went well.  We were all hoping for the best, but also preparing for the worst.  The competition was fierce, or so we thought.  It turns out that LuLu had this  election in the bag from the very beginning.  No one ran against her.  Somehow that little fact was never  mentioned.  Her friend made it too and so they will have at least one shared class next year.  Whew!

Congratulations on your slam-dunk win LuLu.  We know that you will be an amazing class rep. and will do an excellent job!

Peace

It lately has been difficult to gain a sense of peace. Life has been too chaotic and busy for my taste, and it has left me feeling disjointed and detached. I have longed for a sense of calm and renewal. I have longed for a feeling of relief and of peace.

The temple always seems to bring me that. In fact, those feelings manifested themselves so strongly on my last visit I didn't want to leave. I knew that the world around me would once again be busy, chaotic and the rumblings and murmurs of life would fill my mind again. The peaceful, calm feelings within lasted for a day or two, but as life evolved, the feelings soon dissapated and I was left feeling disjointed and undone.

Last Wednesday those feelings changed. I crept out of bed and slipped outside early to work in my backyard. I mowed, trimmed, weeded, planted, fertilized, mulched, hauled, cleared, raked and hoed. My body ached from head to toe, and I was covered in sweat, dirt, scrapes and scratches, yet, I felt so good. My mind was clear, and I was at peace. I couldn't get over at how alive the desert really was. Birds, of all kinds, were singing their songs of delight in the trees. Quail and roadrunners were visiting; tempting closeness as I worked. Lizards scurried along as I uncovered their homes. Hummingbirds flitted from tree to tree. Ants crawled, bees swarmed, and even a ground squirrel poked his head out of its hole. Butterflies, with bright yellow colors dropped in frequently too. I still didn't uncover any earthworms, but my garden soil is beginning to smell like dirt and the color is getting darker too.

I don't know if it was the smell of the citrus trees, or the songs from the birds, but I felt very close to my Heavenly Father. Nature has a tendency to do that for me. I guess it is because I have always marveled at His creations and feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude to Him for making such a beautiful world; even in a dry, hot and brown desert. I guess I needed that slight little nudge; to be reminded of Him,and that I need Him in my life, always, to be at peace.

Thanks for the tender mercy, or loving reprimand. I needed it.