Wacky Day

 For Dr Seuss' birthday the Kindergartners all got to dress 'wacky'.  Princess M was THRILLED with her look LOL. She thought everyone was going to laugh at her.  But when she got home she was really excited that the principal came into her class specifically to see her hair. I don't know how she didn't go crazy with 2 different shoes all day long.

Behind the Scenes

 Like I mentioned in my last post, I was very involved in the Cultural Celebration that went along with the Atlanta Temple re dedication.  I not only made the flowers for the opening number but I was able to help back stage with all of the props for the evening.  It was an incredible experience and I feel very privileged to have been a part of it.

 It was also broadcast live streaming online and to all of the church buildings since seating was so limited.

 I worked with a great group of women from our stake, and I also saw many familiar faces from our ward.

It was a long couple of days with all of the practices and tech rehearsals, but it was worth it.

This picture is of some dragonflies my sister helped me to make when she was here.  The dancers HATED carrying them around because they were so heavy and were hard to dance with.  But they looked really good on stage.

The best part of the night was being able to see the Prophet.  His green room was right in the hallway where we had the props.  Before he arrived his secret service guys scoped out the place all day.  Preparing where he would come in, where he would go, etc.  When he was almost there they blocked off the whole stage area.  I had been putting some props on the side where they were going to bring the cars in (they brought them all the way in onto the stage and shut the doors before they let him and Elder Ballard out).  I tried to get back to the hallway but they wouldn't let me go anywhere.  So I sat on a chair that was right by where he got out.  I was the first person he saw when he got out of his car.  The secret service people told all of us not to move or take any pictures when he got there.  NO sudden movements.  I smiled as he rolled down his window and asked if he could get out yet.  It was pretty funny.  They took him and those with him right to his green room.  I was kind of disappointed that he didn't shake any hands, as I wanted to see if I felt the same spirit when I shook his hand as when I shook President Hinckleys years ago.  But I know he was on a tight schedule.  It definitely was a well tuned machine.

Having him in the building and being in his vicinity was really neat.  There were many stories of incredible events that took place that weekend.  King J was in a meeting and heard a story first hand from someone who was in charge of feeding all the stage crew that weekend. They had planned on using some chicken for one of the meals.  It spoiled and they had to take it back to Costco.  While she was there getting new meat she felt impressed that she should get some roast beef.  She had no idea why since she wasn't planning on serving anything with roast beef.  But she purchased it anyway.  Well the night of the performance those who were in charge of feeding the prophet were racing around in a panic. The only thing he had asked for was a roast beef sandwich for his dinner and they couldn't find it anywhere.  This sweet sister then knew why she had been prompted earlier in the day to purchase it.  Even in the small things God is aware of us.


I am SO grateful for the blessing it was to be involved.  Heavenly Father truly was looking out for me those few months that I was working on the flowers.  He is mindful of all of us and our needs.

Baptism

 

Where did the time go?  She was beautiful and the spirit was so strong.  Thank you to everyone who helped to make her day so special.  She was glowing.

Talents

In conjunction with the Atlanta LDS temple being rededicated this May, all of the youth (ages 12-18) will be involved with a cultural celebration.  They have been working hard learning dances like the Charleston and a few others to be performed that night.  The prophet Thomas S. Monson will be there, and it is just a once in a lifetime opportunity.  I was asked a few months ago to help make some of the props. A few giant artificial flowers as the props were going to be all things that represented Georgia.  They asked me to make up a few mock ups and then they would get the budget approved and we would get started.  Well they were so impressed with what I came up that they increased the initial 10 to a total of 35. 

I sure had my work cut out for me.  In fact at one point I started to panic that I wasn't going to get finished with what I had committed to do.  But after praying for the strength and desire to finish what I had started the answer that came to my mind was "ask for help dummy."  :)  Of course, silly me.  Ask others to be involved in this great project.  So with the help of many friends we accomplished our goal well ahead of schedule. 

They turned out beautiful and I can't wait to see them in the show. 

(I get to be part of the back stage crew as well)  

 All the tissue paper hydrangeas and gerbera daisy's lined up in a pretty row. 

When I went out to take this picture there was a giant yellow butterfly sitting on one of the pink hydrangeas.  

But I wasn't quick enough to take the picture.  It was perfect though.

 Close up

 Paper mache magnolia's