새해 복 많이 받으세요! Happy Lunar New Year!

It's 설날 (Seollal)! Happy Year of the Horse!*

The Lunar (or Korean) New Year is one of the biggest holidays in the country. It was also the first one I experienced, except I was so new I had no idea what was happening -- my experience was more like Sis. Kerry Jo's here!

There are all kinds of traditional games that they play and traditional foods that they eat. And of course it's a time to visit family -- there's also a tradition of children bowing to their parents to honor them...and to get little gifts!

Enjoy your new year. Party safely!

*Is that a good omen for Denver?

Doing double duty

Sadly, I think Groundhog Day is going to be lost in all the hype of the Super Bowl. Unless he shows up in a Budweiser commercial or something!

Cooking skills

I nearly killed myself the first time I made breakfast in my first area. Besides being the first time for me to cook in a foreign country, it was also the first time that I'd ever used a gas stove -- and it didn't have an igniter. We had to use matches to light it. I turned on the gas, got out the matches, and after a couple of tries (while the room was filling with gas), I finally got a match to light.

FOOM!

A huge explosion rocked the apartment! Things fell out of the cupboards and off the counter! The other elders ran into the kitchen to see me standing dazed and singed with a burnt out match between my fingers!

I was supposed to make pancakes that day. Frankly, I don't remember what happened next. I think my companion sent me to lie down and he made breakfast instead.

And, yes, next time it was my turn to cook what was on the menu? That's right. Cold cereal!

Did you think to pay?

How come all the stories I hear about missionaries and their cars seldom have a good ending?

Monday Sketchbook: Holidays Down Under!

Don't turn your monitor upside down! It's supposed to look this way!

Why?

Because today marks the celebration of Australia Day, the national holiday of the Land Down Under. Go have a barbecue, or go to Outback. It's a good excuse, right?

Many years ago, my uncle played on Australia's national basketball team -- while he was serving there as a missionary...from Canada! Things have changed just a bit!

The Legacy

There aren't a lot of ways for missionaries to express their individuality and their personality -- outside of neckwear. While there are guidelines, sometimes the interpretation of those guidelines can get pretty broad.

One of my sons came home from his mission with a big garbage bag full of ugly ties that he'd collected over his two years. I don't know if he wanted to keep them, or just couldn't get rid of them.

I've also heard of districts or zones that have ugly tie contests. Some of them, while still within the guidelines, were awfully awful!

Next time you meet a missionary -- the elders, that is -- check out his tie. It will tell you a lot about who he is.

That they might have joy

Equal opportunities.

No two are alike

...and in the next panel, his buddy says, "Chill, Bert. Let it go."

By their fruits

Most of my Adam and Eve gags are in the Sketchbook, 'cause in the Sketchbook, anatomy is less of an issue!

Many mansions

Office hours

I was reading through an old Peanuts collection the other day, and this popped into my head -- although in my experience, most bishops aren't as crabby as Lucy!

Monday Sketchbook: Manner

Think about it.

Each in their own tongue

Sis. Kerry Jo and her companion are currently out shopping for the Korean New Year and run into a little bit of a language barrier!

The back story on this cartoon is that I had almost this exact same conversation when I served as a missionary in Korea.  There was a guy who insisted he couldn't understand me even though we were both speaking Korean (and by that time, my language skills were good). Like Sis. Kerry Jo, I told him about my family in Canada, and asked if we could speak in Canadian. He replied that he didn't know any Canadian, so I suggested we try speaking in Korean. He agreed, and from then on we didn't have any trouble. Go figure!

The snow is always whiter...

Object lesson

This is probably why they don't have me teach Sunday school very often.

It's gonna be a gray day!

January is a longest month ever.

Bad dreams

Change can be scary.

Roll up your sleeves

There are those, however, who argue that vaccines do indeed turn you into a mutant.

Stop the snot, get a shot.

Monday Sketchbook: Clean up!

It isn't the only clean up we do, but it certainly is the fastest!

Takin' it easy...

Love those lazy Sundays!

The gift of discernment

Reaching the target audience

You've got to wonder if this whole "polar vortex" thing is just a big Disney marketing ploy...

How cold is it?

Kinda hugs at the ol' heartstrings, doesn't it?

LATE AFTERNOON UPDATE: Did you see the AP story out of Chicago? Life imitates cartoon art!

Ice, ice, baby

I'm not really happy with the caption on this. Truth is, I just wanted to draw some penguins!

Primary transitions

We just changed classes in Primary this past Sunday. There was much weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth -- and some of the kids were a little upset, too!

Monday Sketchbook: J.K. Genesis

This year's course of study in Sunday School is the Old Testament. In our class we had this comparison...and if you've read the entire Harry Potter series, that's the equivalent in number of pages to about three and a half times through the Old Testament.

Editors Note: The "begats"are comparable to the interminable camping trip in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- mind numbing, but necessary.

We are counting, daily counting

We've had a lot of turnover in our ward lately, including a new ward clerk. Just sayin'.

Inside, outside

I've had a few boys complain about this very thing...

The more things change...

Return of the job

Anyone else happy to be back at work?

2013 Top Ten, Part II

And now, the rest of the Top Ten!

No. 5
Every parent has dreams like this. Some of them even get to have the experiences!

No. 4
To tell the truth, I'm not sure what I'd do if a turkey came knocking at my door!

No. 3
Our ward went pink with a set of awesome sister missionaries. This gag features Sis. White, one of the most awesome sisters we've had!

No. 2
This was one that was way more popular than I expected it to be, but I think it's one a lot of people can relate to!

No. 1
This one got a lot of attention, here, on Meridian, on Facebook, on Pinterest. I even got a call from someone at the Family History Center asking if they could use it for a presentation!

Thank you for your continued support and readership.

Happy New Year!