It's a HOEDOWN...Not a HOOT'n'ANNIE

Our ward had an amazingly fun opening social this weekend. No, it wasn't the usual Ice Cream-walk around awkwardly-meet everyone thing....it was a Hoedown and Chili Cook-off. The evening started off with a southern, cowboy bang (stupid jokes and 'rootin tootin' debating)...and then the Chili.
There were about 20 or so different kinds of Chili and numerous batches of cornbread. With a plate and a bowl on hand, you ransacked the smorgasbord of re chili, white chili, sweet chili, etc etc etc. Then, you'd take a slip of paper and vote for your top 3 favourites. One of the winning dishes was concocted with the help of 4 cans of "Homestyle Chili". As quoted by the master chef "Hey, you've gotta use your resources to your advantage".
There were a couple of little competitions throughout the night. While we ate, "spies" were prowling the borders checking out our costumes. There were cowboys, cowgirls, cowhands, hicks, and a random Mario. The BEST DRESSED girl went to my roommate Skidamarink. Keribear was also one of the top prize winners.

Then, there was a barn animal noise contest. Each table sent one representative to the front who would draw an animal out of a hat and make the noise for that animal. I was chosen and I got the pig. Luckily, my childhood instincts kicked in to save me from potential embarrassment....not really. When I was a baby, one of the noises I would make was a grunting sound from my throat. It's always been something that only my family really knows about...not anymore. SO, in front of the whole ward, bishopric, and the high councilman I had to let the beast loose. Oh how humiliating!!! With numerous cheers, whistles, and yee-haws, I won.
After these bigger competitions, the tables came down and the fun just continued. There was "Sheep herding" (balloons in an obstacle course with a fly swatter), a "Shooting gallery" (rubberbands at tin cans), wheelbarrow races (blindfold the wheelbarrow one diraction, then three-legged race the other), and country dancing.

Overall, everyone seemed to have a Rootin' Tootin' good time!!!

Did You Know?!?!

In Pearl of Great Price yesterday, Ruthie Baby and I learned some really cool stuff about the Joseph Smith statue in the JSB and the First Vision.

The statue was created by Avard T. Fairbanks and unveiled in the JSB in Oct 1997. The sculpture had been playing with small replicas of the finished product for months trying to get the perfect recreation of the First Vision. He would take the models with him when giving firesides and other presentations and mold until he was satisfied with the end result. After being not quite happy with how it was turning out, Fairbanks put two fingers under the chin and tilted it up. PERFECT!

When the statue was unveiled in the courtyard, Elder Eyring (commissioner), Deans, and other VIPs came to the ceremony. Many people were worried that such a prominent statue would give reason for ridicule that Latter-Day Saints worship Joseph Smith and wanted a statue of Jesus Christ the Teacher to be erected. President Eyring was approached and asked for his opinion. In the dedicatory speech he said:

"One of the marks of great art is not what it portrays but what it suggests. There are other figures not sculpted here which I would like you to imagine with an eye of faith. God the Eternal Father and his Beloved Son Jesus Christ appeared to open this dispensation...though the statue portrays him, this piece of art represents that moment when Joseph Smith learned there was a way for the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to be unlocked fully. Because of what Joseph saw at this moment, the Savior was able, through this great and valiant servant and through others He sent, to restore power and privilege. That power and privilege allow us, and all who will live, to have the benefit of Jesus Christ's Atonement work in our lives. Joseph Smith is looking up at the figures not shown."

Wow! If you go on the second floor and look down to where Joseph is looking right back at you, you can really see "God's view" of the First Vision. It's such a witness that Heavenly Father loves his children and knows what each and every one of us needs and desires.

Dream #1 of 3 Soon to be Realized...Bring on the Culture

Yes, it's true! I'm finally going to be able to live out one of my lifelong dreams. I'M GOING TO LONDON. My dream is actually to see a Shakespeare play in the Globe theater and today I found out that I was accepted into the London Theater Study Abroad Program for Spring term 2009. I am super excited. The program begins on April 29th and goes till June 12th. We will be living in flats in downtown London and taking classes as well as visiting the sights. We'll get a free weekend to travel wherever we want (within reason, of course). As part of the program we will get to see A Winter's Tale and As You Like It by the Royal Shakespeare Co. in Stratford-upon-Avon and Waiting for Godot featuring Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen in London. The program coordinators are researching other theater opportunities, including performances of Chekov's The Cherry Orchard, a musical, and two Shakespeare plays at the Globe. Not only will my dream be realized, but we'll get to see TWO plays at the Globe. For those who didn't get to see my reaction upon hearing of my acceptance, picture lots of jumping, screaming, and jaw-dropping....and then there was my excitement. Overall, I CAN'T WAIT!!