Here Comes the Boom!

By Jennifer Debenham

It's so infrequent that I attend a movie and leave with a 100% satisfied feeling in my heart. I'm definitely a movie lover, but usually I find one or two things in the film that I wish had been done differently. Maybe it's the writer in me. Definitely it's the mom in me. It's pretty hard to find a movie that doesn't have a scene or two that makes me cringe and wish it had never been included.

Here Comes the Boom, however, is entertaining from start to finish. Kevin James is delightful as a biology teacher, Mr. Voss, who reclaims his passion for influencing students for the good when the music program at his school is threatened to be cut due to lack of funding. Because of his admiration for the music instructor, portrayed by Henry Winkler (and you will love him in this), Voss determines to do what he can to save the program. It turns out what he can do is fight--mixed-martial arts fighting, that is.

What ensues is a sometimes funny, sometimes tear-jerking, and ultimately heartwarming story that completely hits the mark. I do not recommend it for families with little children as the fighting is sometimes quite violent, but families with older children will find it fun, entertaining, and bearing many positive messages.

Things to watch for after your first draft

By Bonnie Harris

It's amazing how quickly time and my mind goes. I thought I had this post figured out, but as I sit down to write it I'm drawing a blank. Oh well. This weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Northwest Writer's Retreat in Washington. Aside from being in a beautiful location with much cooler weather than I'm used to, great company, and great classes, I've been able to do some solid writing of my own. It's been wonderful!

One of the subjects talked about by our resident writer Heather B Moore was "Life After the First Draft." It's always nice to be reminded of what we need to watch out for. This was especially useful for me right now as I'm going through yet another edit. Here are some of the things to watch out for:

• Watch out for Dialog Tags. Make sure you have them when needed and substitute an action when you can.
• Avoid repetition of all kinds, i.e. words, name calling, etc
• Punctuation. Beward of too many !!!!!, know basic comma rules
• Verbs. Check your "ly" verbs, use more accurate verbs, watch was/were
• Pacing. Make sure your book is always moving forward, watch info dumps, are you skimming your own words?
• Sense of Setting. Keep each chapter to make sure you know where you are within the first few paragraphs
• Point of View. Make sure you stay consistent. No head hopping.
• General. Have your facts straight, use spell checker, are your actions physically possible?

All of these things are great to keep in mind while writing a first draft, but that doesn't mean you should get hung up on them. Just write the story, then go through looking for these things. Keep up all the wonderful writing and Happy Editing! (If that's the stage you're in.)

Most Gracious

Several years ago, a dear friend of mine passed away.  Here name was Holly and she was just 30 years old.

Holly was a beautiful as the day is long.  She was a natural Snow White, with beautiful peach skin, natural red lips and black hair down her waist.  She always had a smile on her face.  Any chance she had, Holly would sing.  She had a beautiful singing voice and her eyes would twinkle with the spirit.  Everyone felt special when they were around Holly.

I think of Holly almost every day.  A few weeks ago, I had a dream.  I was in a large ball room gathered with hundreds of people, many of which I recognized as family.  We were hugging and welcoming one another when in walked a queen.  It was Holly.  Everyone was surprised.  The crowd hushed and we all bowed.  She was dressed in a red gown and looked like royalty.  I was overcome with emotion.

A large lined formed as those in the room wished to speak to Holly.  Many took photos with her and hugged, others were crying with joy; unable to speak.  Finally, when it was my turn and I was speechless for a moment.  After hugging Holly, I told her she was so beautiful.  Then I said “I can’t believe you are really here.  I think of you every day.  How are you?”

She took my hand in hers and looked into my eyes.  In a beautiful voice she said “Most gracious.”

I held her stare for a moment, wondering what she meant, then was moved along as others in line were waiting to see her.  I watched intently as this queen-like woman loved and held dear all those in the room. 

Then, I woke up.

“Most gracious,” she had said.

Gracious.

That word ran through my mind.  It was a bit haunting.  I don’t think I’ve ever heard the word gracious used in that frame of reference.

I quickly ran to my bible dictionary.  The word gracious was defined as the following:  

Gracious

see also Kind; Mercy.

·                                 I will hear; for I am gracious, Ex. 22:27

·                                 will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, Ex. 33:19

·                                 face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee, Num. 6:25

·                                 Lord is gracious, and full of compassion, Ps. 145:8

·                                 gracious woman retaineth honour, Prov. 11:16

·                                 words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, Eccl. 10:12

·                                 turn unto the Lord … he is gracious, Joel 2:13

·                                 God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant, Amos 5:15

·                                 bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words, Luke 4:22

·                                 tasted that the Lord is gracious, 1 Pet. 2:3

·                                 gracious unto those who fear me, D&C 76:5

a obsolete : godlyb archaic : pleasing, acceptable

2

a : marked by kindness and courtesy <a gracious host>b : gracefulc : marked by tact and delicacy : urbaned : characterized by charm, good taste, generosity of spirit, and the tasteful leisure of wealth and good breeding<gracious living>

3: merciful, compassionate —used conventionally of royalty and high nobility

Gracious -what a perfect word to express her sweet life, her love of the Lord and her vision of heaven.  I think of Holly in my dream; her queen-like mannerisms and her royal red dress.  How beautifully she loved all those waiting to see her and was most gracious in her expressions.  I’m grateful for a Father in Heaven for creating beautiful words that allow us to express ourselves, even in dreams.  Each word is uniquely beautiful.  My friend Holly told me she was “most gracious.”  What a beautiful way to think of her, for truly she is.

Crawling or Standing -- It's Still Finishing.

By Kari Diane Pike

I'm not sure why I let my daughter talk me into participating in a 10K. I hadn't run a race since junior high! (Trust me...that was a long time ago.) Maybe because my life is soooo mundane and lacking in challenges (insert sarcasm here), I felt the need to set the bar higher. Once the decision was made though, I found that I really wanted to see it through -- even if I had to crawl across the finish line.

Seeing my determination to make healthy lifestyle changes, my daughter-in-law Aprilynne offered to help out. She used a cool app on her phone that analyzed my eating habits and mapped out a nutrition plan for me to follow. Then she offered to be my personal chef. She had a theory she wanted to try and wondered if I would mind being her guinea pig. I don't know about you, but as much as I love to cook, this was just too good to turn down. I accepted the challenge, and the service, and got to work.

We eliminated sugar, gluten, legumes and anything "fake" -- no preservatives or hormones. Just real, whole foods. Except for bacon. Did you know that bacon makes everything better? Next to chocolate, bacon has become one of my favorite comfort foods. I know it has other "stuff," but for the most part, eaten in moderation, bacon supplies some yummy, healthy fats my body needs to insulate those neurological connections. (and yes, I even get a little chocolate -- the pure, unadulterated stuff. Mmmmmm!)

I set up a training calendar and mapped out daily jog/walks. One of the perks turned out to be time to think -- to meditate, to pray, to listen to myself and to be open to inspiration. When the excitement of setting the goal wore off and reality set in, I thought about quitting. I experienced sugar "withdrawals" and thought about how much easier it would be to just slip back in to old habits. I pondered on my reasons for trying to improve my physical health. A scripture came to my mind about how everything physical was first created spiritually. I exercise my spirit as I study the scriptures, pray, worship, keep the commandments and serve others. I do physical exercises to keep my body in shape. Both physical and spiritual fitness take thought and planning -- and intentional action. The results I experience depend on the diligence and amount of effort I put in. When I take harmful substances into my body, or neglect to eat nutritional foods, I lose physical strength. When I participate in unwholesome activities, I lose spiritual strength and my ability to hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit. I also recognized that as I grew in physical health, it became easier to pay attention to my spiritual needs, and vice versa.
 
At 8:30am, Saturday, October 27, I began my first 10K. I was okay when everyone blew past me in the first 100 yards. I was slower, but I knew I had staying power. I kept smiling when the first group of runners passed me again before I even got to the first turn around. No worries. I could see the water station up ahead and I figured I had gone at least 1.5 miles. When the water person handed a cup as I jogged by, she said "Congratulations on finishing your first mile!" I almost tripped. I wanted to cry. I was sure I had gone further. But I made the turn and kept  jogging.

Discouragement set in really hard right about the end of the second mile. Two miles should not have been that hard! I did more than two miles almost every day. The temptation to tuck tail and hide swirled around me. That's when I heard the most amazing sound. The enthusiastic voices of five of my little grandchildren drifted across the park. "Go Grandma, Go! Go Grandma, go!"

 Of course I had to keep going. I couldn't disappoint my grans! I put on my happy face and started jogging through the park and did my best to keep my head up as I ran past the kids. Their cheering echoed in my head for at least another mile. This was a chance for me to show them that it doesn't matter how long it takes to run the race. What matters is trying your best and not giving up. I noticed how all the other runners smiled and shouted encouraging words to each other. I thought about how even when I may not see others around me, they are there in the background cheering me on.

I found a rhythmic pace that was kind of a walk 12 steps, jog 12 steps. It helped me keep focused. But the sun blazed above the trees that before had offered shade and the breezes that earlier had been keeping me cool, died down. Sweat trickled into my eyes and blurred my vision. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ....1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ...My legs felt like they had sandbags tied around them. My hips felt the way my 90 year old Grandma looks when she tries to go up stairs. I tried to moisten my tongue with spit, but I didn't have anything left.

I came around a corner and heard a familiar whistle. I looked ahead and saw my husband walking toward me. When I met him, he turned and quickened his pace and jogged alongside me for a bit. I would slow to a walk and he would catch up and then encourage me to pick my pace up. Now it was tears that blurred my vision. I wondered if the love and euphoria I felt at that moment was anything like what we will feel when we reunite with our loved ones on the other side of the veil. Oh, what joy! When I had to turn off to go through the pedestrian tunnel that lead back to the park, Doug told me he was taking a short cut, and challenged me to beat him there.

I tried jogging again and felt a new surge of energy. I wasn't going to cross that finish line crawling. I was going to finish strong and on my feet. I know my pace was slow, but I felt like I was flying. When I got to the park, my family waved bright pink posters that read "Go Grandma!" One by one, they joined me in jogging to the finish. As we crossed the line, we shouted and waved our arms and did a happy dance. Oh...and I got lots and lots of hugs.

"You did it, Grandma! And you didn't even come in last! Look!" I looked down the path and saw a couple of other participants struggle toward the end. I grabbed Wesly's hand and we cheered them in.

I think I have a much better understanding of the importance of trials in my life. Trials take me out of my comfort zone and provide opportunities not only for growth, but to strengthen the very foundation of my testimony of Jesus Christ. Trials build my testimony, increase my knowledge, and help me gain greater insight and wisdom. Trials offer new perspectives if I will but ask for, and allow the Spirit to enlighten my mind along the way.

I finished something Saturday and it opened the door to many new beginnings!

What do you want to finish?

hugs~