Thank You, Jim Henson

Mr. Henson, thank you for dreaming up these wonderful friends. You were a brilliantly creative man who changed the world using little more than fabric and string. They thoroughly entertained me as a child and even still, as an adult, there is no way that I can look at them and feel sad.

Kermit is one of my all-time favorites (especially when Jim Henson did the voice). Kermit is so sincere and likeable. Whenever I see him singing "Rainbow Connection" in the swamp whilst plunking away on his little banjo, I get teary eyed. And don't get me started on Cookie Monster; those bizarre googly eyes, the incurable cookie craving, the matted blue fur. What a cutie. Dear reader, who is your favorite Muppet/Sesame Street character? And why?

(john)Bytheway, I'm just getting started with these random and inconsequential pop culture commentaries.

Thank You, Mike Meyers

 

Yesterday I was thinking about how much this guy has made me laugh. Here are some pictures of him in some of my favorite roles. All I have to say is, Thank you, Mr. Meyers.

Viva La Vida

Upon first hearing it, I was really struck by this song and intrigued by it's meaning. On the internet I was able to find many different theories from many different people, but none from the artist, Coldplay. Although I can't speak for the band's personal beliefs, I am determined that this song is their interpretation of Jesus Christ's experience on earth. Their interpretation of what it was like for him to "live the life" as a human being. A very interesting one, at that. Here is the man we believe to be the true king and yet, when He came to rule, He was born in a stable, lived His life virtually homeless and was eventually betrayed, tortured, and crucified.

For example, the song says "I know Saint Peter won't call my name." In one night alone, Peter denied Christ 3 times, and pretended not to know Him. The video starts with an image of a red rose blooming and dying. Many religions believe the rose to be a symbol of Christ and His divinity. The lyrics stating that, "People couldn't believe what I'd become." I think they are talking about when the Savior was filled with fury and cleansed the temple. Jesus Christ's popularity was such that even John the Baptist, the man who prepared the people for Christ to come, ended up with his head on a silver plate. In the end of the video the artists all fade away like their turning to dust, which seems an appropriate way to end, the artists themselves are simply presenting their views but really, all they are is dust. . . in the wind :) These are just some of my thoughts and although it's not Gospel Doctrine, the song has given me some things to contemplate. . . at 5 a.m. this morning.

With that in mind, pause the Josh Groban music below, read the lyrics below and then watch the video. What do you think?

Viva La Vida lyrics
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

(Repeat Chorus)

The Night They Found My Toe Socks. . .

Legend tells of a legendary pile of laundry that was the stuff of legend. . . er, about a week ago I was almost finished with a ginormous stash of laundry. Stacks of folded clothes looked like skyscrapers and our piles of socks, mountains. I left the room for just a moment and the next thing I knew, I was running for the camera. I guess I'm not the only one in the house that likes toe socks.

Our Dynomite New Year's Eve Party

It started with 2 hours of extreme snow tubing at Soldier Hollow in Midway. Everyone had a screaming good time. At least once in your life, you MUST go! Afterwards, we went to my house for Park City Stew, Chili and more food than is legal to consume in one night. All night long, party poppers and party crackers were bursting left and right. Everyone did what they wanted, shot hoops, watched the Fifth Element, played the Wii, ran around the house, took a nap, or danced like there's no tomorrow. The highlight of the evening was fabulous face painting provided by Dana Martin. She transformed us all into the object of our dreams (or nightmares). Her information is listed below.
Needless to say, we had a ball. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Imagination Gone Wild - Face Painting by Dana Martin (435)671-2799 igwfacepainting@yahoo.com

Resowhatzit?

As far as setting a New Years Resolution this year, I'm totally lost. Hmmmm, what goal can I set for myself by the 1st of January to accomplish, quickly be forgotten or inspire 12 months of guilt should I fail miserably? I suppose I could actually be serious and set that goal that I've been putting off for 10 years, but why couldn't I do that last month? Why don't I experience that surge of motivation that comes from starting a new goal for the new year? I guess I need to "shift my paradigm" or call Tony Robbins or Mr. Covey or something. Am I the only one that stinks at setting goals? Anyway, my question for you is. . . what's your Near Yews Resolution? and. . . Are you going to do it?

Superfudge

We made fudge tonight and boy oh boy, it was tasty. My favorite part was licking the spoon after all was said and done. Alfonso and Ben had a great time counting marshmallows,breaking walnuts, and trying to get the marshmallow cream out of the jar (and onto each other's faces). Finished product? Ben had marshmallow cream on his eyebrow, Alfonso had it on his eyelashes, I had the priviledge of watching the whole thing. The Flores Family's Favorite Fudge Recipe. . .

4 c. Sugar
1 large can evaporated milk
1 sq. butter
2 (9 3/4 oz.) Hershey's bars
12 oz. chocolate chips
1 pt. marshmallow cream
20 to 25 large marshmallows (cut in half)
1/2 lb. nuts (opt.)
2 tsp. vanilla

Combine butter, milk, and sugar; bring to a boil and boil for 10 minutes. Pour hot mixture over the chocolate and marshmallows. When marshmallow have melted, add vanilla and nuts. Pour into a buttered cookie sheet and cool. (My mom usually fills half the pan with fudge, adds the broken walnuts to the remaining half and then pours nutty fudge into empty half of pan, this keeps nut-lovers and nut-haters happy.) Store covered in the fridge.
- Recipe from Jolean Terry (Mom)

Kith, Kin, and Katsudon?

My talented brother-in-law, Rob, made some delicious Japanese Cuisine for us to celebrate my not-so-little-brother Nick's Birthday. The main dish was Katsudon, basically a tasty breaded pork served over rice. It was DELICIOUS. Do you like how we all sat on the floor? O Tannenbaum? Oh Christmas Tree? Oh Festivus Tree? Oh Hannakuh bush? Whatever it is, there's nothing like sitting around and watching it glow. We got to sit on Santa's lap at our wonderful 6th Ward Christmas breakfast. Who doesn't love this guy? One Sunday, when I came home from an especially long choir practice, I walked in to see the boys totally engulfed while Alfonso read Christmas stories. I swear, it really is the little things that mean the most. I love you, Alfonso! Here we are making a seasonal favorite, Gingerbread Men!!! It seems we got confused on where to put the frosting. It tasted good anyway. To our dismay, our tasty new friends didn't stick around for long. We'll just have to make new friends. . . preferably made of gingerbread.

Christmas Means Christ

Several years ago my good friend and former visiting teacher, Sheilagh Jakins shared this article with me. I have managed to keep a copy with me. Unfortunately, I don't know the name of the author or source. But I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

CHRISTMAS MEANS CHRIST

There could be no Christmas without the Savior.

It is true that ancient rites including the Yule log, the decorated tree, and the candles have come down through the centuries and are now a part of our celebration. But they do not really mean Christmas. They were pagan for the most part. Christ had nothing to do with them. They now almost crowd Christ out of our observance. Christmas cannot be Christmas without the Savior

When the angels sang on the first Christmas night, they sang Him and Him alone. The birth of the little Babe of Bethlehem was so significant that all the hosts of heaven rejoiced. They sang because they understood the mission of the Lord, what His redemption meant, what eternal life is, and the deep reason behind the Atonement and the Resurrection.

WE DO NOT celebrate Christmas in reality unless we have the same conception held by the angels -- that Christ is THE Son of God, that we are all the children of God, and that Jesus came into the world to lead us back into His presence.

In spite of all the worldliness and commercialism of Christmas, it is most noteworthy that the Spirit of Christ -- the real Christ -- literally comes through the air and touches every heart.

It is a recurring and constant miracle year after year. There is a different spirit in the atmosphere, in the feelings of mankind toward each other, and in the depth of our worship at Christmas time, It is God's way of sending a testimony into the world that Jesus of Nazareth is His Son, that the Atonement was accomplished and that it is indeed something to note with world-wide gladness.

IT IS MIRACULOUS, too the way in which Christmas carols express the true meaning of Christmas. Different as many of them are from the creeds of men, for most part, they teach the true doctrine of the Lord. He is the Son of God. He is the Savior. He came to give us life.

Modern compositions tend to bring other philosophies into some of the Christmas songs, but they can never crowd out the old carols which testify of Jesus as the Christ, the Redeemer, and Savior of all mankind.

As God each year projects His spirit into the world at Christmas time, we ourselves should seek to increase our appreciation of what this celebration means.

It is a sacred thing, this holy day, but it certainly is something to be celebrated also. The dictionary defines "celebrate" as "to extol, to glorify, to commemorate." We can do all of these things in our Christmas observance.

WE MUST SURELY extol the work of Christ, and the great fact that God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son into the world to save it; and certainly we can glorify both the names of Christ and His Father.

And by all means we should commemorate the birth of the Babe of Bethlehem on that first Christmas night. Because we have the Lord we do all these things. We do extol Him and glorify Him and commemorate His birth and works.

BUT, HOW CAN we do these things unless we truly have the Spirit of Christ within us? And how can we have His Spirit unless we keep His commandments?

If we keep His commandments can we do other than love our neighbors as ourselves, do to others as we would be done by, eliminate hatreds and conflicts, forgive those who have offended us, visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, and keep ourselves unspotted from the world?

Every family -- and every individual -- this Christmas time -- should remember that part of our observance should include a humble prayer of thanks and devotion -- and of rededication to all that Jesus stands for.

Giving Thanks

The food was out of this world! Alfonso's family is so kind to me. It was interesting as I was the only person (kids included) who couldn't speak spanish. There were quite a few times that I had no idea what anyone was talking about. Everyone was really sweet to clue me in from time to time though. Just more incentive to learn the language right? We had a really fun day. Abuelita Alfa and her four children (left to right) Walkyria, Alfonso, Alfa (and little Ammon), and Deyanira. We broke a pinata for Ammon's first birthday. I really love my new family.