Moments That Matter Most

I swear I saw my daughter in slow motion after I watched this: 

Moments that Matter Most
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l70e1TfN34w

 

"... [W]e would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most. ...

"Strength comes not from frantic activity but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light. It comes from placing our attention and efforts on the basics of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It comes from paying attention to the divine things that matter most."
-Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf


(And I must say, the Church's cinematography has come a long way from the days of Cipher in the Snow, The Mailbox, and Uncle Ben. )

Mickey Who?

While at Disney World a few years ago, I found myself negotiating with my son about the souvenir with which he wanted to remember his magical day- a Darth Vader helmet. My goal was to help him forget the prize he was holding and consider a character that he had actually SEEN at Disney. For some strange reason, Star Wars and Spiderman were a healthy presence in the souvenir stores. Personally, I thought characters who were not conceived by Disney nor had any presence in Disney World (no special ride, not even a spot on the Main Street parade) should not be allowed inside Disney gates. I had half a mind to call security about these intruders. 

I have noticed Mickey's shrinking presence, and I had a suspicion as to why, but today I learned the answer. According to this Motley Fool article, "Why Disney Buys All The Premium Character Collections It Can Afford", it is because the Mickey Mouse copyright is expiring in 2018 and will become public domain. Knock-offs will abound and Mickey's value will be diluted. 

"...Disney is diversifying into a number of clearly defined niches. Each one comes with a central cast of characters that can carry Disney's branding flag when Mickey steps aside. In-house princesses from Snow White to Merida cater to a mostly young, female audience. Marvel's superheroes and villains do the heavy lifting for older boys, with Darth Vader and Yoda coming up behind them. The Pixar stable has something for everyone." -Anders Bylund

It's kind of sad to see behind the curtain of what makes "the happiest place on earth" tick. So, Disney is evolving and I am pretty sure I don't like it.  First they get rid of "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride", next they tailor the Pirate of the Caribbean ride to include Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow, and now Mickey Mouse is being edged out by Darth Vader and Spiderman. Not to mention all of the immoral, misguided, girls that are being groomed and held up as role models for our daughters... but that's a topic for another day.

Scientific Method

Recently, I was on a morning walk with my daughter and passed a group of middle school kids waiting for their bus. A group of 6 boys were in a circle watching swarming fire ants on the ground, and I was reminded of the first step of the scientific method for boys observing anything unusual: Spit On It. 

I'm not sure what this step teaches them, but it seems to be a universal instinct observable from a very young age. I would hypothesize that there are probably other unspoken steps I am not familiar with, but that is an experiment in which I have no interest in learning a conclusion.

Battling Feelings of Inadequacy

"When in situations of stress we wonder if there is any more in us to give, we can be comforted to know that God, who knows our capacity perfectly, placed us here to succeed. No one was foreordained to fail or to be wicked. When we have been weighed and found wanting, let us remember that we were measured before and we were found equal to our tasks; and, therefore, let us continue, but with a more determined discipleship. When we feel overwhelmed, let us recall the assurance that God will not overprogram us; he will not press upon us more than we can bear (D&C 50:40)."

-Neal A. Maxwell, "Meeting the Challenges of Today", Oct. 10, 1978 BYU Devotional

Meet the Flintstones

Friend (new in town): Want to get together this week?
Me: That'd be great. I know I put your number somewhere (searching my smartphone)
Friend: I have your number, why don't I just text you mine?
Me: Sure.... (searching my smartphone) Oh, you know what? I think I wrote your number down somewhere. Go ahead and text me. What number did I give you?
Friend: (shows me number in her contact list)
Me: Oh, that's our home phone. Let me give you my cell.
Friend: Wow, you still use a land line?

Yes, we do. Because life without a land line seems strange and scary.

And I still use a pencil and paper too.