No Seer of Faces

Earlier this year I become fascinated with Venetian masks. They are used in the annual carnival in Venice Italy. They are an important feature in the fall time carnival. 

      

They are beautiful and elaborately decorated in so many different colors and themes. I just fell in love with them. I used them as inspiration for a couple drawing projects last spring. 

   

Self Portrait

Final Project: assemblage from a violin, mandolin

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Right now I have the song Masquerade from the soundtrack of The Phantom of the Opera going through my head. 

Masquerade!

Paper faces on parade . . .
Masquerade!
Hide your face,
so the world will
never find you!
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade . . .
Masquerade!
Look around -
there's another
mask behind you!

Masquerade!
Burning glances,
turning heads . . .
Masquerade!
Stop and stare
at the sea of smiles
around you!
Masquerade!
Grinning yellows,
spinning reds . . .
Masquerade!
Take your fill -
let the spectacle
astound you.

In Acts 10 Peter says that "God is no respecter of persons". In Greek this verse translates to 'no seer of faces' referring to the masks that are used in the dramas of that time, or like these Venetian masks that I enjoy.  Peters statement means that God looks beyond the masks that we wear and sees us for who we are. He is an impartial God and asks that we look beyond the masks as well. He asks that we do not judge on appearances on culture, on race, or social status.  It has taught me more about looking for the good in others and trying to see a person the way God sees them.  What a great super power that would be.  To see another person as they are. More and more I see how much God loves His children.  He wants us to succeed!  We can still enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the masks as a work of art, but we don't need to wear them. Its his opinion that matters and he sees through them anyway.

Monroe Mountain Scout Camp

Dennis went with the boys to a scout camp in Monroe mountain the end of June.  They left on Wednesday night around 5pm. They had a good time and were able to work on some fun merit badges. They did some fishing, Isaac was was the king there with his 14 total fish. They went canoeing, built a monkey bridge, did fabulous with shotgun and rifle shooting in which Dennis apparently "schooled everyone".  They also saw some large elk and ate good food. It was a beautiful area!

Embark in a Journey to Forever

Last week was girls camp.  I was gone from June 15- June 19 up at the Heber Valley Camp. It was AMAZING! I admit that was a little unmotivated to go because it was a long time to be away from my family, but I'm so glad I went. It was so good to be with the girls and such a refill. The camp was beautiful and so green and pretty. 

Our theme for camp was Embarking on a journey to forever. D&C 4:2 says "Oh ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might mind and strength that ye  may stand blameless before God at the last day." The activities for our week came from this scripture. 

The Challenge Course

Checking all the gear and harnesses

Up the pole

across the cable past the "temptation" ropes

and down the zipline 

I was asked to help the girls put a FHE together on Monday.  They did a great job teaching and we had a lot of fun playing cherades.  We also had cookies for out treat.

Wednesday I was able to participate in talking to the girls about the Holy Ghost on the faith walk.
I was asked to talk about the Temple day we had at camp. 

Girl Week

Since the boys were gone the girls and I went to Fayette.  We drove up the mountain with mom and dad on Thursday and had fun playing with the some extended Sorensen cousins. Uncle Rolland's family was camping for

the week and they brought up some fun toys to play with.  We rode around on 4-wheelers and a side-by-side all afternoon. Afton loved that there were some Sorensen girls her age to play with!  She made some new friends and had a good time.  Bonnie was trying to find out how these people were her "cousin"s since they looked more like aunts and uncles.It was a good way to get out of the triple digit temperatures back home.

Rolland and Louise with mom and dad.

Girl like to play with toys also.

Khora watching the deer feed on the other side of the mountain.

Afton taking grandma and Khora for a little ride

Bonnie looking good in goggles.

Reds and the Braves

Boys are involved in baseball season this summer.  Jacob is in a Payson City league this year and Isaac is in the Santaquin Pony league.  I love watching my boys play baseball. They are both wonderful athletes! It makes me happy!

Isaac is on the Santaquin Braves.  He usually plays shortstop and pitch. He's had some great hits this season.  Some to really get excited about. Its fun to watch him play.  Full of action.

Playing 3rd Base

Jacob is on the Payson Reds. He usually plays shortstop and right field. He is usually a pretty consistent hitter and usually gets on base. He is really a great athlete. He enjoys playing and is a great part of the team.  He's had a good year.

Turns into a tag out on third

The girls like to come and hand out at the ball park.  They find something to keep them busy.

Dedicated to the Lord

 It has finally arrived. . . a dedicated temple 10 minutes away!  I can hardly believe it. The waiting and anticipation has come to an end and we are ready to work and enjoy serving in the House of the Lord.

President Eyring presided at all three dedication services. The boys attended the 1pm session at our stake center.  Jacob and Isaac stayed home with Bonnie as Dennis, Afton, Khora and I attended a session inside the temple in one of the sealing rooms. What a privileged it was to be there!

At the dedication a message of the temple as an individual experience, as a Holy Place, as a House of the Lord stuck with me. President Eyring spoke about his first experience in the temple. He said was like 'coming home'. He felt like he had been there before, that is was familiar.  Everyone has a different experience in the temple and the Lord speaks to us in different ways there. His point was that we can all know that this is the House of the Lord, personally.  

not my pic used from Payson Temple Facebook page

I know that the temple is Gods house!  A place where He can be here on earth. It is a source of comfort and strength to me. A light house in a sometimes dark world.
As we were watching it Afton leaned over and asked me if the people on the screen were somewhere like Salt Lake.  I told her they were in the same building we were in just in a different room. They were in the Celestial room.  When we were done we walked out to the front and watched President Eyring say goodbye as he was leaving the temple.  Proof that they were indeed in the temple with us.

not my pic used from Payson Temple Facebook page

I was once again reminded that the dedication of a temple is in part a dedication of the people.  In participating we dedicate ourselves to the Lord. House of the Lord. Holiness to the Lord.

What a wonderful day of joy and gladness!!

Fill the World With Love

The Cultural Celebration Event for the Payson Utah temple was Saturday June 6, 2015 at Lavel Edwards Stadium at BYU. The boys left for the final dress rehearsal for the event on Saturday morning.  Dennis took them up and stayed with them all afternoon. Dennis even got a little sunburned!! It was a very long day for them that started around 8am. It was after 10:30pm by the time we all finally made it back home that night. 

Come rain or shine they said. . . . and we got the rain.

Threatening dark clouds over head

Waiting for the show to begin

We got pretty wet sitting up in the stands. Luckily we brought blankets, (they wouldn't allow umbrellas). When it really opened up and started to pour the youth all let out it a huge cheer! I thought it was because they were getting wet, but Jacob told me that it was from excitement.  It had been a pretty hot day and they liked the rain. We left our cooler at our seats and ended up sitting in our car until it let up.  The performance was delayed because of lightening though.

President Eyring and Elder Nelson on the Jumbo-Tron

Our boys part of representing Santaquin North Stake 

Everyone was so excited when they finally got the thumbs up to start. President Eyring was there and the youth got so excited when he showed up! He's quite the celebrity!! (Elder Nelsen and Elder Oaks were also in attendance as well as members of the Primary and Young Women presidency's.) In the moment of excitement Bonnie said, "I like our prophets." The excitement in the stadium was so thick! There is a reason why the youth put on this production!  They are pretty amazing!  I was so impressed.  It was definitely a time of celebration!

Santaquin 18th Ward Boys

Jacob performed a patriotic number as part of the Santaquin North Stake called "March of 1941". He was about on the south 30 yard line.

Isaac with the tech crew

Isaac was a part of the tech crew and was involved in bringing on and taking off props on the field. He sat on one of the May Poles from our stake number "Come to My Garden". He also helped set up and disassemble the temple prop at the end. He said that he had a great experience and loved participating. He felt responsible and that it made him feel good. They also showed him on the big Jumbo tron (the big screen).  This will be something they will remember for a long time!

After the rain comes the rainbow!.

Jacob was in the group of blue next to the dark green, who were the girls from our stake

Quick recap of the event.

and then a little more. . . an hour and a half in a little more than 6 minutes.