Ice Cream Sculpting...

This week the Laurel class (16-18 yr girls youth group) did an ice cream sculpting activity.

We talked about famous artists like Michelangelo who spent years of his life in quarries choosing marble stone that he would carve. He said that he could "see" what he was to carve IN the raw stone.

Marble carving is dangerous and the artist should wear protective gear as they chip away the parts that are not needed and remove them with their chiseling tools. If the artists made a wrong stroke or slipped using these tools, they could be seriously injured and cut themselves, or break a bone. If we slip, it could make it hard to get back onto the right path.

But just as Michelangelo could "see" the potential in the raw marble, Heavenly Father "sees" in us our great potential. He has given us tools in our lives (scriptures, parents, a prophet, etc.) to help us become who we are intended to become and has provided a Savior so that if we do slip, we can get back on the right path, and be healed from our sins.

We have to use those tools to help us "chip" and take away things in our own lives in order to become that beautiful masterpiece. We have to take away things like R-rated movies, profanity and immodesty etc.

It takes Faith to know that God can release us from sin, and sculpt us into His work of art.

But as we follow Him, and listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and act upon them; and when we use the marvelous tools He has given us, we too can sculpt our lives to bring out our very best potential, and be who He intends us to become in His Celestial Kingdom.

Still got it...

My boys still love any kind of ball... but especially baseball.

One of the guys at work needed to fill up a men's softball team, so it didn't take too much arm twisting to get them to say yes.

My Strong Silent Mysterious Man still knows his way around.

He has a mean spin to his pitch.

And I saw him stop a few fast and hard ground balls nailed to him.

The missionaries swing looks more like golf these days, but he can still connect with the ball.

But he looks totally awkward and tall behind the plate, I'm not gonna lie.

I hate to be the one to tell him, but his catching days are probably over. I don't think there will be much softball in Paraguay anyway... so it's a good thing. Maybe he needs to get on a summer soccer league.

They lost the game but are both BIG winners in my heart!

I love my boys!!

Saturday family time...

Saturday after the boys got home from working... we headed out as a family to first shop a sale for shoes for the missionary. It was an interesting experience, but somewhat successful, you can click the link on my side bar to go read about his journey under "Elder Jacob Dayley".

Next, my Strong Silent Mysterious Man had a gift card from his birthday, so we went to Cabela's. We walk in and the boys pretty much go into what I call "the zone". It involves allot of drooling along with a certain lack of patience to explain things to "girls" and not much tolerance for making fun of anything camo, or ignorance for sharp or bullet shaped things.

Then he took us to dinner... I have really been wanting to go to the new Cafe Rio here, but he was making fun of it and me, because I had never been. And we have a history of flops for trying new things. So this is him, making fun of me as we headed in... it's all he would give me for a self portrait.

So funny guy ends up eating his words!

The missionary and I did the Cafe Rio salad, and the strong silent mysterious man did the enchiladas... so yummy! A must have when we are in the city now!

Later, he had to go back to work and check on something in "the ovens".

He never sleeps well when things are cooking... just like at home, we can never leave anything running when we leave. It's probably a good thing.

But a definite role reversal, usually I am the worry wort... but in this area I could walk away with a dryer, dishwasher or oven running... and against his wishes, do leave a crockpot cooking sometimes... but it does make him crazy.

So Taylor demands to go with us. She only does this when she thinks she has a chance, mostly on the weekends. But it's a barking, howling, head flipping, bumping against your leg act she puts on and somehow it tugs at his heart.

Morgan is left at home over fur shedding discrimination.

Not fair, breaks my heart.

So we get to work and he shows me the shop pet... a scorpion. Really?? So gross.

The outside bake out ovens. I could feed lots of missionaries with ovens this big :)

Taylor LOVES to go to work with Dad.

She is really well behaved and stays right near him... inside the dark shop, she is a little jumpy, so she never ventures too far.

This is a 4500 hp motor... not sure what it does, but I did get the explanation that ended with a tone that made me feel like I should be super impressed if I knew what it meant.

And the rotor (I think that's what it's called) that turns that big motor.

Maybe if I saw a normal sized one, it would be more impressive.

He kept saying "see how busy we are" looking around at the floor???

Yeah, means nothing to me... I was thinking what is Jacob doing all day? This place is a mess??

Not outloud of course, just in my mind.

The missionaries tool box (he bought all by himself) and work space.

Dad was bragging about what a good deal he got on it. Apparently he wheels and deals well in the tool world so far, and how clean and neat it is inside!

His work space area, always spiffy too. I was proud and peeved all at the same time.

Really? Clean and picked up, without me being here to get after him?? hmmmm. Interesting information, you gotta love it.