Sketchbook: Doing the work!

I can't be the only one who thinks this, right? The kitchen/dining table is the nerve center of the home. Ergo...

Or is it the wireless router?

Then wake up and do something more!

Are you ready? It's not just pulling up a couch and turning on the TV any more!

Can you paint with all the colors of the pew?

I recently visited the La Grande 1st Ward in eastern Oregon. A young boy in the pew in front of me was doing his best to be reverent, but it was tough. After the sacrament, his dad gave him a page to color. He got down on the floor and proceeded to color...the bottom of the bench.

The talks that day were on preparing for General Conference. One great way to prepare for General Conference is with the Ward Cartoonist's General Conference Activity Packet. It's perfect for home, Primary, Sunday school or seminary classes! Download your copy today — and prepare yourself for General Conference!

Wardrobe update

This one's a throwback, but it seems appropriate. Our missionaries have modified their uniforms!

Taking it to the streets

One of the hazards of dating a recently-returned missionary.

Between the lines

Today we turn back the hands of time to take a look at this ad I made for Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics. The woman I worked with, a good friend and mentor, passed on last week. Her memorial service was yesterday.

One of the greatest gifts she gave me was that she believed in me, which made it much easier to believe in myself. Everyone needs someone like that.

Thank you. 

Sketchbook: They've got a killer choir

In the OLD hymnbook there was a song, "Though In the Outward Church Below" that had an even better line: "For soon the reaping time is come." But this will do.

Yea, even hidden treasures

This was a sketchbook from a while back. The feedback I got was that it shouldn't be left in the sketchbook, but rather taken to the next level.

Enjoy!

Take me out

If you're in town, come down to the concession stand and buy a hot dog or two. We're working concessions this week to raise funds for academics.

It doesn't take long

Half the time they're outdated by the time you get them unwrapped!

Something to aspire to

In my mission, the Powers That Be warned us not to ask for a shave at the barbershop. We could never figure out why — until one day, one of the elders asked for a shave.

It was a great experience, he said. They wrapped his face with hot towels, lathered him up, and carefully shaved him with an old fashioned razor blade. His face was smoooooth.

Until about two days later, when his entire face broke out into a rash, with acne popping up all over. His young face was too tender, and was super irritated by the closeness of the shave.

It was a little disappointing that the deep, dark mystery surrounding the forbidden shave was for no other purpose than to protect our little baby faces!

Sounds like a second date to me!

Even with My Plan helping to ease the transition back from missionary life, the first few dates are almost always awkward. 

Sketchbook: It's a tie!

Missionaries often go to great lengths to protect their neckwear when dining. We've had several in our home who tuck the tie into their shirt, some who wear napkins like a bib, and one who slides his tie around to the back of his shirt. And upon more than one occasion, we've had to remind him to move it around to the front before he left our home.

Tuppence a gag

There's always that one companion.

Counting your blessings

And Sis. Kerry Jo has good reason to count her blessings — Vol. 2 of her mission blog is now in print! Vol. 1 ended with her arrival in the mission field; Vol. 2 follows her adventures as she adjusts to life as a missionary! The First Transfer is the Hardest is available for purchase on Amazon!

It's a good time for publishing by Latter-day Saint cartoonists: Ward Cartoonist Arie Van De Graaff has a new book out, too: Scripture Power Activity Book. It's perfect for church, home or the back seat of the car. Check it out!

The season is upon us

I wonder if this means we have Eve to blame/credit for all things pumpkin spice?

A time to remember

It seems like it's time to roll this one out again.

Every creature

I'm convinced that practically every missionary has a cat story. My experience was a lot like this one — I was so covered in cat leftovers that I had to go home and shower and change after our lesson.

Sketchbook: It's a calling

Sometimes yes, it is.

And the winner is...

You never know what you're going to get when you open up a caption contest. There were some great answers — and a couple that were a bit on the scary side! Here's a sampling of some of my favorites — I combined a couple of ideas that worked well together.

• OK, Elder — I'm convinced. We're going grocery shopping this next P-day!
• I can't believe mom wants us to eat this box full of dead fleas!
• It must be fast Sunday. Mom's hiding the food again!
• First it was fast Sunday, and now it's fast Monday too?!
• Please! I don't want to eat baby carrots for breakfast!
• That moment you realize that you forgot to go shopping but you can't go now because it's Sunday.
• This means that either the Gadiantons are back in town or my brother is back home from college!

Runner-up No. 2: What the heck — Frosted Fleas?! That's what I get for ordering my cereal off the internet!

Runner-up No. 1: Where's my CTR decoder ring?

And now, the winner — from the mind of Brian H.

For his winning entry, Brian will receive a copy of That's One Small Step for a Mom, One Giant Leap for Missionarykind.

Thank you to everyone who entered!

The tempest is raging

I was watching a weather forecast from North Carolina about Dorian's potential impacts to the Carolina coast.

"The winds have dropped to 105 miles per hour," she said. "But to tell you the truth, there's not an appreciable difference between 105 and 110 mph!"

Schooled by the prophet

Being the prophet must be easier than being a junior in high school, I guess...


NOTE: I've had a couple of people tell me that they're having trouble posting ideas for the caption contest! If that's you, click on the email link on my bio, and I'll see if I can figure out the posting problem. Thanks! Keep those suggestions coming!

All in the family

I keep waiting for some hidden family secrets to be revealed whenever someone pulls out the "find my relative" option on the Family Tree app.

Our instructor had us try it last week in Elders Quorum. When he asked if anyone found any relatives, I raised my hand and said, "I have a son!" My son, who was sitting next to me, was not amused.

Hey! It's another caption contest!

I had this all sketched out quite nicely, and I'd scribbled some words next to it for a caption idea — but it was mostly indecipherable! I thought for sure the idea (or another) would come back to me as I inked and colored it. But, alas!

Please help me out! Give me your best idea for a caption for this. You can comment below, email me, DM, or answer on social media. Heck, you can even tell me in person!

The winner will receive his or her own copy of my cartoon collection, That's one small step for a mom, one giant leap for missionarykind. Truly a valuable prize!

The winner will be announced on Saturday, so please enter early and often!

Sketchbook: Dark days are ahead

Sometimes we try just a little too hard to get a joke to work. Time to pull the plug on this one!