Lift up your voice

One thing that has impressed me during the "church at home" time is the creative ways that people have fulfilled their callings.

I've heard of Primary classes that organized singing and sharing time for their kids. I've seen virtual firesides. Our stake president sends out video messages.

I just read about a Young Mens group that were scheduled to go camping last week. That was canceled, so they held a virtual campfire instead.

Let's keep up the good work!

Sketchbook: A little political sidenote

It's been all over the news: Black Lives Matter. It stirs up a lot of emotions and uncomfortable conversations.

One metaphor that I liked was this one: a lifeguard's job is to make sure everyone at the swimming pool is safe. If someone is in trouble, that's where the attention goes.

Right now, a lot of blacks feel like not only are they in trouble in the pool, the lifeguard is helping to hold them under water.

This ought not to be.

For me, one of my goals is that people can see themselves in my cartoons. I make a conscious effort to include different ethnicities, different hair colors and different skin tones in my characters (like Sunday included black, white and green!). I promise to do a better job of that. It's not a huge thing, but it's something I can do. Another thing that we can all do is listen — and act on what we hear.

There are lots of experiences I could share that have brought home the importance of this to me. And yes, everyone matters. But right now we have a group of our spiritual siblings who are asking for help. We can't ignore them.

My bottom line: I believe that we're all children of our Heavenly Father, and we'd all be better off if we treated each other like it!

And now, a word of thanks.

Cartoonist Rick Kirkman of Baby Blues fame came up with an idea to have cartoonists say thank you to the front line workers today. Cartoonists were asked to include six symbols to represent the people who have been on the front lines: a mask for medical professionals, a fork for food service workers, a shopping cart for grocers, an apple for teachers, a steering wheel for those in the transportation industry, and a microscope for the scientists and researchers trying to find a cure..

At the same time I got that news, I was studying in Come, Follow Me — about Alma and the mighty change of heart. Which evolved into this. It may be more of a Halloween-themed cartoon...but its heart is in the right place!

Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven

We got word this week that plans are in place that we can begin to return to church for our sacrament meetings...soon. Maybe this month, maybe next. Or who knows?

At the same time, we also received the news that General Conference will be a virtual experience again in October. What an interesting world!

What's cooking in your kitchen?

Our cooking experiments while we were in lock down went pretty well for the most part. We found a great alfredo recipe, and we made some good breads and some good soups.

Don't ask about the deconstructed cabbage rolls. At least the bread was good!

Classy sounds

I have a friend whose kids are doing dance class via Zoom. I'm glad we're just doing French.

Follow the prophet. Really.

If y'all know Sis. Kerry Jo, you know she couldn't just sit quietly and let this pass. Everyone deserves respect — some people just don't know it yet!