Random Acts

Savannah called me on her way back to her dorm on Friday because she "just had the weirdest experience of [her] entire life!"

She stopped to help a guy who was crying on a bench because his long-time girlfriend had just broken up with him. She asked if there was anything she could do and he just needed a listening ear so she listened.

Turns out the whole thing was a set-up and now she's going to be on t.v.

I know. How does she get into these situations?  :)

The video below is what I found out about the show which is supposed to air in November on BYUtv. We'll definitely be watching!

{As you can see, it won't let me embed it on my blog, but click to watch. It looks like it'll be fun!}
**Well rats, now the link to the actual video doesn't work. And there's nothing there when I do a google search. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if the show ever makes it on the air! I'll be sure to update if it does.

**Update 3/18/16: Click Here for an updated trailer and slightly different spin on the show. :)


Random Acts - Casting Call from Cosmic Entertainment on Vimeo.

A Few Favorites from Studio C

It's no secret we love BYU's sketch comedy show, Studio C! Season six started a few weeks ago and Monday's episode was SO FUNNY!! Seriously, one of the best.

Unfortunately, some of my favorite sketches aren't up on YouTube, at least not yet. But you can click the link below and go to our favorites.

Click here   ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
Studio C Season 6, Episode 3.

• 0:00 - Drive Thru. This opening sketch is great. Start here.
• 3:38 - Bop-It. This is seriously one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. We were dying! If you only have time to watch one, make it this one! 
• 6:39 - Plastic Baby. How do they come up with this stuff? So good!
• 17:28 - Absent-Minded Robber. This one hits a little too close to home. It happens to me all the time! 

The sketch right after Plastic Baby (it starts at 8:39) isn't necessarily funny, but still so good. Really clever. 

With 20 episodes in this season, we're looking forward to a whole lot more Studio C! 

Are the Mountains on Your Right?

Savannah is doing well at BYU. She's finding her way and settling in. I don't hear from her quite as often now that her schedule is full with classes, studying, working, socializing and any number of other college activities.

But the first couple weeks of school, she called me most days as she headed across campus toward her dorm once her classes were through. She'd fill me in on classes, roommates, upcoming events, or work as she walked. Inevitably, at some point in our conversation, Savannah would say,

"Um, mom? I don't think I know where I am right now." 

She was so involved in our conversation that at some point she realized she wasn't sure where her dorm was or how to get there.

My response was always the same:

 "Are the mountains on your right?" 

You see, Savannah's dorm is on the far northeast corner of campus. When heading in that direction, she is flanked by a huge mountain range on the east. Those mountains can be seen from anywhere on campus. As long as she walks with the mountains on her right, she'll make it home.

BYU campus. The arrow points to the dorms. Anchor yourself to those mountains and you'll make it home!

The mountains became an anchor or something that will always be there to help her get her bearings and make sure she is heading in the right direction.

I've come to the conclusion that we all need to have these anchors in our lives. Sure, anchors can help us with physical matters like finding your dorm, but even more so, we need to be anchored to spiritual things. We need to hold onto meaningful experiences that remind us of certain truths we know so that when the storms come, we don't lose our faith. I love this quote by Jeffrey R. Holland:

"In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited.... When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.... The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue—it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know."

Anchor yourself to your spiritual mountains and you'll always be able to find your way home. 

Elder Richard G. Scott

Elder Richard G. Scott passed away this afternoon from causes incident to age.

I will miss his penetrating talks in General Conference where it felt like he knew me and was looking straight into my heart. He often spoke of repentance and the gift of Christ's Atonement. He loved the scriptures and encouraged us to make time to study them regularly. Elder Scott was incredibly knowledgeable yet so very compassionate.

He often spoke of his wife who passed away many years ago. I'm sure there is a grand reunion in heaven tonight!

Elder Scott is the third of the Twelve Apostles to pass away since May. Like President Packer and Elder Perry, Elder Scott will be missed.

Living the Dream: Happy Birthday, Savannah!

Savannah and Erin at the game - Erin is from here and is like a big sister to Savannah

Savannah is celebrating her eighteenth birthday today, far far away in Cougar country. I think it's pretty safe to say that she jumped in with both feet and is making a big splash in her new little corner of the world. She is living her long-time dream of attending BYU and she's making the most of it!

She's got a job at the Cougareat, a full schedule, and a good head on her shoulders. She's had ups and downs but she's already shown that she can face whatever comes head on and work things out.

When our phone rang at 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning, it was Savannah screaming into the phone about BYU's big win over Boise State. She said it was the best night of her life! For her first ever home-opener football game, it was a pretty good one! She was so excited when everyone stormed the field after we pulled out a big win.

Needless to say, she is having the time of her life!

As much as we miss Savannah, we are in touch all the time. Texts, skype, e-mails... this sure beats communication with a missionary! I'm so glad she's including us in her BYU experience.

Happy Birthday, Savannah! I hope eighteen is your best year so far. :)
Love,
Mom

Laundry Hazard

This was in the dryer the other day. I saw this 2-inch black thing by the door so I reached in to see what it was and it freaked me out!!! I totally threw it across the room. 

It's not even real. It's made of rubber. Yeah, I felt pretty silly when I realized that. None of my kids owned up to putting it in the laundry. Everyone acted like they didn't even know it existed, but they were sure quick to think up funny things they could do with it once they saw it. Great. Something tells me it might sneak up on me again...

Dancing in the Rain

We finally got a good drenching rainstorm this afternoon. It's about time. Everything is so dry and it's been HOT!

Sadie and Soren went out on the porch to watch the rain fall. The next thing I knew, they were soaked to the skin!! But they were laughing their little faces off and having such a good time together that it made me laugh, too. 

Here they are, right before they came in the house to dry off. The rain was still pouring down, but this is about the time the thunder started so they decided pretty quickly that they were ready to come in! 

Savannah had a sign that hung in her room that said, "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain." These two have it down. :)

I Can't Help Falling In Love

Our one-man-band is at it again! Sterling has directed, produced, and starred in another winner. You just never know what he'll come up with when he disappears with the video camera. This one is a keeper. :) 

Rise and Shout THE COUGARS ARE OUT!

If only the above score told the whole story.
Let me sum it up for you...

Backup Quarterback, Tanner Mangum. (A true freshman.)
Down by one point with ONE SECOND LEFT IN THE GAME!
On the 42-yard line, out of field goal range.
A super awesome Hail Mary.
Caught just outside the end zone by Mitch Matthews who was surrounded by Nebraska players and then he FELL INTO THE END ZONE! (Forward video to 1:12 to see the play.


There was much rejoicing on the field, off the field, in our house. Did I mention we broke the longest home-opener winning streak (29 games)?

Ah, BYU Football. We've missed you!

Go Cougs!

(For your listening enjoyment - Radio announcer on last play. Love it!)