Luminary #1 Lumiere Brothers

lu·mi·nar·y

ˈlo͞oməˌnerē/

noun

noun: luminary; plural noun: luminaries

1. 1.

   a person who inspires or influences others, especially one prominent in a particular sphere.

   "one of the luminaries of child psychiatry"

   synonyms:

   leading light, guiding light, inspiration, role model, hero, heroine,leader, expert, master;

I thought it would be fun to focus on a few of my own personal luminary's. I think the discovery of them is the best part.  Its like finding treasure!

This semester at school I am taking a History of Photography class. It has been so enlightening.  (hehe). What more fitting place to find those who inspire or influences others than those within the realm of capturing light.  

#1  Lumiere Brothers

Can you imagine a better name to have in the photography business than Lumiere!  Its fabulous. Louis Lumière and his brother, Auguste Lumière, invented the Cinematograph motion picture camera as well as Autochrome color photography.  Autochrome is fascinating!

Wonderland

I took the girls to BYU to see the ballet Alice in Wonderland. Bonnie has been looking forward to it all week. It's been the subject to the "How many days until . . ." question. It did not disappoint. It was so good. The costumes were amazing!  My favorite was the Caterpillar and the Cheshire cat!  It has to be good when all three girls sat through the whole thing. Bonnie - who ultimately sat on my lap through most of it- told me that she wanted to be in ballet and be the queen of hearts. Guess I better get her going on that.

16 Birthday Wishes

Can't believe this kid is 16! He is an amazingly talented, athletic, smart, cute kid. He's a great friend and good example to those around him. So glad he's a part of our family. Man I just love that kid! He didn't get his drivers licence on his birthday (He technically can't get it until February because he has to have his learners for at least 6 months and he still has to take drivers ed. which he is planning to do next month. ) I hoped that it would still be a great day for him.  We ordered his favorite pizza, pepperoni with olives and had cake and ice cream.

Friday Dennis took Jacob and a bunch of his friends to Get Out Games in Provo. This facility has what they call "live escape rooms". Jacob picked the room called Intensity on a Chain.

Intensity on a Chain is a fun and thrilling experience unlike anything you've ever done before. You need to solve the fun puzzles, find the key and escape, but there's a catch: chained to the wall in the room is a ravenous zombie...and he wants to eat you! Did we mention that his chain extends a little longer every 5 minutes?!!  Don't worry, our zombie is not the gory blood and guts kind. This is also not a "spooky" experience and the room is fully lit. Admittedly, our zombie does have anger management issues, but he is not the brightest light on the Christmas tree, and you may just find yourself chuckling at his antics.

He worked for 3 hours on Saturday which he was pretty excited about.  Love to get that paycheck. Sunday he was ordained a priest. It was a good day for him.  Both grandpa's and grandma's came and stayed for dinner, including Grandma Rundell.  He is looking forward to getting his drivers licence and . . dating.  He also will get to bless the sacrament on Sunday.

Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue

Ponderism: 1 Ne 13:12 While Nephi was "carried away in the spirit", he saw the future of his people and the seed of his brethren.

"And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that is came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren who were in the promised land."

Many people think the only reason Columbus 'sailed the ocean blue' was to find a trade route India, but it was much more than that.  He was driven to explore the ocean westward by the spirit. Dennis shared this quote with me from one of Christopher Columbus' journals.

"It was the Lord who put it into my mind, (I could feel His hand upon me), the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies. All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me. There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because He comforted me with rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures.......I am a most noteworthy sinner, but I have cried out to the Lord for grace and mercy, and they have covered me completely. I have found the sweetest consolation since I made it my whole purpose to enjoy His marvelous Presence.For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps.It is simply the fulfillment of what Isaiah* had prophesied......No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Savior, if it is just and if the intention is purely for His holy service. The working out of all things has been assigned to each person by our Lord, but it all happens according to His sovereign will, even though He gives advice. Oh, what a gracious Lord, who desires that people should perform for Him those things for which He holds Himself responsible! Day and night, moment by moment, everyone should express their most devoted gratitude to Him."

On the Court

Isaac started practice for his basketball team back in December.  He was recruited by a coach from Salem to come over there and play for his team.  There are two other Santaquin kids playing on this team.  Dennis is going to be assistant coach. They are both looking forward to this basketball season.

Games started at the beginning of January. Isaac's number is 23 which he was sure to remind me is Michael Jordan's number. His team, named the Longhorns, won their first game 42-12. Because Isaac loves his stats and was so close to getting a double/double (I had to ask . .  its double digits in two categories) here they are for you: 16 pts, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and one amazing block! He only played until the middle of the 3rd period. His dad decided to pull him out and give some other boys more court time. 

Isaac and Dennis were able to go with the team to a BYU game. Isaac's coach has some sort of connections to the team through his time playing with the University of Hawaii so after the game they hung out to meet some of the players. They got autographs from the "player of the game" Zack Seljaas,  Kyles Davis, Kyle Fischer, Nick Emery, and Nate Austin. They also shook hands with Coach Dave Rose. Very fun night! 

Isaac's second game stats: 26 pts  4 blocks,  3 rebounds, 2 assists. He was a little more possessive of the ball this game.  Their whole team was.  They won 39/26.

To Act

To prove them herewith if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them. The very purpose of our existence, the reason why we are here on earth is to fill the measure of our creation. To be tested.

Of course we have been given the tools to pass this test.  Specifically moral agency. We have received moral agency to choose the right, to do good, and to become whatever God intends for us to become. The fundamental purposes for the gift of agency are to love one another and to choose God. Commandments are not restrictions. They are a chance to exercise our moral agency. To choose what is right.
J.K. Rowling demonstrated this concept in her books Harry Potter.  In book 6 it is explained in this way.

“It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew - and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents - that there was all the difference in the world.”

Utah Storm

Santaquin got around 6-7 inches of snow from a very big storm. Santaquin always seems to have its own weather than its neighbors. There was no snow at all north of Payson. We had to shovel snow from the driveway twice that night. I got a little sore from the little bit that I did, Jacob and Afton did a lot also, but Friday morning things were just beautiful!