Let There Be Music!

My grand-niece Livia and her Daddy

This week has been a bit trying, so I'm posting a little musical interlude while I catch up on things.  Insert a happy little tune here <....>

Hope you're having a good one!

Admin Luncheon

Sisters Veronica and Barbara waiting in the lobby

Our company does lots of nice things for employees.  Recently, the president of our company and our company's CFO took the marketing and admin ladies out to lunch.

Our company President, Jimmy

That was a lot of fun!

Our CFO, Juan

It's always nice to be taken to lunch, and it's even more fun because our gang always has a good time together.  We went to Marie Callenders' where I had a lovely slice of quiche and two salads.

My lunch!  Yum.

Sabrina ordered a pot pie.  I love that she always poses for me when I bring out the camera.

Sabrina with her lunch

There were seven of us who went.

We even got pie.

Chocolate Silk pie

We are lucky ducks, don't you think?

Moving Forward the Lord's Work

Elder Worthen (Left) and Elder Anders (right) were thrilled to baptize these two young men (center)

Word from Harker Heights, Texas, is that the Lord's work is progressing nicely.  Imagine my surprise this morning to get not just an email, but a great photo from our Elder Anders, my missionary nephew.

Elder Anders writes he is being transferred to Grapevine, Texas this coming week.  I'm sure he'll do some great things there, too.

Which brings to mind the song lyrics from Janice Kapp Perry:

And if it so be that ye should labor all your days, and 

bring but one soul unto me; how great shall be your joy 

in the kingdom of my Father

Have a great week, wherever you are!

Play With Me!

Won't you play with me?

Come on and Play With Me!

Tap, Tap Tap

Please?

Because I'm super adorable...

Really.

Have a good weekend my friends!

Administrative Professionals Day

Yesterday, Wednesday, April 22nd, was Administrative Professionals Day here in the USA.  Some of us are lucky enough to have kind employers who do nice things for us on that day.

The back side

This year all the marketing and admin people received edible fruit arrangements.  I love these!  Instead of being in a ceramic coffee mug, this year they were in delightful Hello Kitty vases!

They can do that with impunity because we're all women and like that sort of thing.

I've already snarfed all the chocolate covered strawberries.  Well, they go bad quickly so I had to. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Yummy.

Stake Roadshows, part 3

From colorful traditional folk dancing,

to some pretty gnarly dudes...

The 2015 Stake Roadshow Festival was a very colorful and entertaining evening.

Lest you think the Pickering Ward was the only ward performing, here is a small taste of the other shows in the line-up.  There were lots of great moments from all the wards in the Stake.

For a minute there, it looked like Kirby Heyborne was reprising his role from "Best Two Years"...

Roadshows are filled with dancing and singing...

And lots of silly stuff...

Sometimes corny in the extreme, they are short, lighthearted, morality plays..

That showcase known talents and develop new ones..

...from singing, dancing and acting, to running lights, designing sets and costumes, 

sewing, painting and directing...

 ...roadshows are just a whole lot of fun!

They get everyone involved...

Young and old...

...and in between...

...moms and dads and kids...

...teens and singles...

Even Kermit and Miss Piggy got into the act

 ...and even a frog or two...

A little paint and cardboard and makeup go a long way.

There is no limit to the imagination involved in a Roadshow!

Roadshows operate on the principle that occasionally everyone 

loves a chance to get onstage and shine.

And shine they did!

Congratulations to everyone who performed.  Good show!

The Dreamer

When you watch this fun little (15 minute) show, wou will have to admit we have a great deal of talent in our little ward!

Here is The Dreamer, Part One:

... And The Dreamer, Part Deux:

James (the narrator/main character in the suit) really knocked this one out of the park, but it was a terrific ensemble effort as well.

Roadshows are a LOT of work, but always rewarding in the love and camaraderie that they generate.  Everyone who participated came away saying how much FUN they had.

I think that is probably the best measure of success.

Stake Roadshows!

The Pickering Ward Roadshow Cast

Saturday night we had a special event: the Whittier Stake Roadshows!

This has to be the first Ward roadshow in 50 years that I didn't either write or perform in.  That has to be some sort of record.  I was sorry not to be a part of it, but watching it was a lot of fun, too!

The adorable script, based on the importance of doing Family History was conjured up by a remarkably talented team of Ward members.

Assistant Director Andy and Director Adria share a moment backstage

In the capable hands of Director Adria, the show took shape with help from Amy, Andy and Jessica.

Ferocious Pirates!

There was a lot of music from Queen, with a few changes, like the lyrics to Bohemian Rhapsody, which became:

IT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER TO ME. TO ME.

 

GREAT-GRANDMA.

I’M A BUSY MAN

GOT THE TV ON INSTEAD

I’M REAL SORRY YOU’RE ALL DEAD.

GREAT-GRANDMA

MY LIFE’S GOING ON

I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT ME TO SAY 

The Peery family got into the spirit of the thing

Jonas loved being a Lamanite

These beautiful pilgrims could be sisters

More ferocious pirates!

 And then there was a plaintive rendition of I Want To Break Free:

Heather the pirate takes center stage!

 I’M A PIRATE NAMED SMEE

AND I WANT TO BREAK FREE

I WANT TO BREAK FREE FROM ME LIES, WAS SO SELF-SATISFIED

I DIDN’T NEED YER,

BUT I DO TO BE FREE.

Beautiful ladies!  I love that Sister Anderson has her missionary name tag on top of her costume!

This group of Lamanites was seen hanging out in the Stake Center courtyard

 We are the Lamanites

We're in your family tree!

Have I mentioned recently how much I love all these people?

One of the Gangstas!

 The Gangsters number, sung to the tune of Another One Bites the Dust:

PUTTIN’ FAMILY FIRST WAS OUR CREED.

TILL MOE HERE LET THE BULLETS RIP

AND PUT US ALL TO SLEEP.

AND ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST.

These gangsters brought down the house!

 HEY HE GOT ME TOO!

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST.

Here's the Gangster Big Finish!

All the time travelers together onstage

Huzzah!

Our beautiful Pilgrims perform

ELIJAH SAID YOU’VE GOT TO TURN YOUR HEART TOWARD ME, 

TOWARD ME, TOWARD ME!!

Our Pilgrim sisters looking very much like the Three Little Maids from Gilbert and Sullivan fame in this shot

Practically Perfect Pilgrims (In Every Way)

My friend Evangeline wows the audience!

Evangeline was wonderful onstage

 SO YOU THINK YOU CAN GO ON WITH YOUR LIFE?

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN IGNORE US BECAUSE WE’VE ALL DIED?

OH BABY. CAN’T DO THIS TO US BABY.

JUST GOT TO GET OUT. JUST GOT TO GET RIGHT OUTTA HERE.

Mark and Queen Meredith

Julius, a very handsome Roman Soldier, greets James, the very handsome narrator

I didn't know Romans wore shorts and Nikes with their armor.  Cool.

I think the costuming was superb

Singing pirates!

I want that dress.  And a crown.  And maybe the Roman too.

Rocking to the music of Queen
It just doesn't get any better!

We Are The Champions!

Sing it, Sisters!

FAMILIES GO ON AND ON AND ON

We are the Champions, My Friends!

DON'T STOP ME NOW!

I’M LOGGING INTO MY FAMILY SEARCH

LIKE A GRANDMA FINDING NAMES IS MY SPECIALTY

I’M A SEARCH ENGINE READY TO RELOAD

LIKE A PILGRIM YEAH

I’M GONNA GO GO GO

THERE’S NO STOPPING ME!

APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE!