Well, here it is, the end of another month. When I look back to the beginning of this calendar month, I think to myself, Girl, you’ve been busy! It doesn’t seem possible to have done so many things: four speaking engagements, two dinner engagements, one art performance, one Home & Garden show, and five family birthdays.
It’s the beginning of Spring. With the mild temperatures throughout the winter months, my budding trees have already lost their beautiful flowers to the wind and some of my soft flowering bulbs have lost their luster. It’s still too soon to plant the flower beds, as we still may get some late snow. With Mother Nature being confused as to which season we’ve been in, it very well could happen. Like they say, don’t plant your babies before Mother’s Day. That’s good advice and I take it to heart.
Some of you may have seen our Facebook post from the Read Across America event at St. Olaf Catholic School in Bountiful, Utah. We had fun with those kids, and they asked the most interesting questions. For instance, one girl wanted to know if we were Catholic. Not that that’s funny, just not a question I expected as the event was about reading, writing, and illustrating children’s books. But yes, we are Catholic. Lol
The next speaking engagements were at our very own Stansbury Elementary School right here in our neighborhood. This was fun also as a lot of the kids knew us and some of them already have our books. We had a great time interacting with them during our presentations. They asked good questions, too. One in particular that stood out was when a girl asked me how to make a good “hook” for a book she is writing. That blew me away! I don’t think anyone else even knew what that meant. I was so proud of her for wanting to be a writer at this very young age and knowing exactly what a “hook” is! Kids really do surprise you.
We went to the Home & Garden Show at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, Utah. Our objective was to get ideas for a back deck, storage shed, and a bathroom remodel. We came home with tickets to an art performance.
The performing arts event called SHEN YUN at the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, Utah was an amazing show. I had been wanting to see this for years and finally got the chance to experience it. The following is my review of the show.
This is the story of classical Chinese dance passed down for thousands of years, dynasty after dynasty. “People sought harmony among Heaven, Earth, and humankind, revered the divine, and followed the course of nature.” The Chinese Communist Party came into power in1949 and rejected the spiritual beliefs and heritage of ancient China wanting to abolish the traditions and culture, all while persecuting their own people. Some of the performers tell the story of their own family’s torture and escape to other countries.
In 2006, a group of Chinese artists came together united by a mission to revive authenic Chinese culture and are reclaiming their lost heritage. Everthing in this presentation is beautifully choreographed, from the narrators telling the stories, (both in English and Chinese) to the conductor and live orchestra, the traditional colorful costumes, the dancers, solo singers and musicians, the stagecraft and 3D projections, choreography, and everyone behind the scenes. The list goes on. There were nineteen different captivating stage shows. I laughed. I cried. My soul was deeply touched. You will be mesmerized and awe stuck throughout the whole performance just as we were. All-in-all, such a beautiful artistic performance with new stories and choreography each season. If you get the chance to experience SHEN YUN, you won’t be disappointed. It’s worth every penny and I can’t wait to see it again.
It’s now Holy Week and we are preparing for our Easter celebrations. To all of you, may you find the true meaning of this Spring season and find peace in the presence of God.
Til next time, God bless.
Skip’s mom, Cb
Spring Daffodils.
My flowering Plum tree that only lasted for one week.
St. Olaf’s advertisement of us.
In the auditorium.
Looking at Trex Decking at the Home & Garden Show.
At the Shen Yun performance.
Amazing dancers.
From one of the stories.
What one woman made with Palms from Palm Sunday.