Christmas and a Galaxy Far, Far Away

So! Our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations were wonderful, too.

We attended a brief church block Sunday, consisting of sacrament meeting only, that featured Christmas music by the ward choir and talks by the bishop, his wife, and Pres. Gibbons of the stake presidency. After that, it was over to Mom's house for Christmas Eve with the Plowmans.

Following a hearty dinner, we participated in a brief retelling of the Christmas story together, as is our custom. My sister had the foresight a few years ago to record Dad reading the text from Chapter 2 of Luke, and that is what we listened to as the kids acted out the parts of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the three wise men, and the animals in the manger. It made Dad feel not that far away at all during our first Christmas as a family without him.

Meanwhile, Kira drew this picture of "Fatty" the reindeer:

Pass the Parcel followed for the kids. JB and I prepared the parcel and the goodies this time around, and I think they enjoyed the candy as well as the holiday swag they nabbed. We then exchanged family gifts. Yours truly and JB ended up with this gem:

Fortunately, JB's family spends Christmas Day together, which works out well for our collective plans. Over at her parents' house, we gathered for breakfast, games, football, and another gift exchange. JB gave me this:

. . . which actually contained "Weird Al" concert tickets inside!

Has Star Wars felt like a recurring theme during this post? So it goes. While we're on the subject, and for the record: We've seen Episode VIII, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, three times now, and it just keeps getting better each time.

Pay It Forward

For the second consecutive Christmas season, the Church is advertising its Light the World initiative and encouraging both Latter-day Saints and people in general to perform at least one kind deed every day in December.

Well, we went out to dinner Saturday night at one of our favorite local spots, the Nacho House, and enjoyed a good meal with JB's sister and her family; there were six of us in all. When our waiter dropped off our bill, this is what it looked like:

A couple sitting in the booth next to us, who did not say a word to us all evening, had paid for all six meals. We were floored.

I don't know if this gesture was this couple's daily Light the World act of service or it was just a nice thing they felt like doing, but either way we were grateful for it. JB and I also resolved to pay it forward soon, buying dinner for someone else anonymously at another local restaurant on our next night out for dinner.

The Tree of Life 2017

Among some of the best sights of the Christmas season is the "Tree of Life" in nearby Draper. A few years ago, the city of Draper and/or some of its wealthy citizens of that part of the Salt Lake valley, or something, dressed up a large tree in one of the city parks with a large number of lights so that it would closely resemble the Tree of Life in more than one artist's rendering of the Tree of Life in Lehi's dream, as recounted in the book of 1 Nephi in the Book of Mormon.

Are you still with me here? If you're LDS and you're reading this, chances are you know what I am talking about; if you're not, it's still worth seeing.

At any rate, for Jew and Gentile alike, it is a view not to be missed up close (at least until the ACLU finds out it's on city property and sues Draper City to have it all shut down), and JB and I enjoyed spending part of our evening there last Friday night.

Improvables: Christmas Party 2017

We celebrated Christmas this year! Perhaps you heard. Once again, with all of the comings and goings of this busy time of year, I have some catching up to do here on Paco Nation.

At any rate, one of the highlights of the season is the annual troupe Christmas party, which never disappoints in entertainment value. Our white elephant exchange, in particular, is not to be missed.

JB and I wore our (ugly) Star Wars sweaters, which we also got to wear on more than one other occasion this month.

This troupe, I think I'll keep 'em. They're goofy, amazing, talented people, and I'm lucky to be one of them.

Never Really Gone

With only 13(!) days remaining in the year 2017, I look back today at the year that was. And I'm amazed at what an incredible year it's been and just how much can change in only 365 days.

Paco hasn't blogged all that much this year, as a friend pointed out to me earlier today. Other than putting up a number of family photos (really one of the most important things I think I could do) and "postcard" posts, that is. This is true. Hopefully, a lack of original blogging this year has been at the expense of a greater good in my day-to-day life.

I have had my new job for almost a year now, one I was searching for a year ago at this time. I'm free from debt (knock on wood). I have done a lot more improv and have expanded my horizons, performing with new people in my troupe (while others have moved on), and like two snowflakes, no two performances have yet been the same. I even got out of town for a rare weekend for someone who doesn't take many vacations these days; yes, I even made it to the Idaho side of Bear Lake!

Every day, I wake up, get out of bed, and accomplish daily tasks, while working on monthly and yearly goals. I am reminded of the great blessing inherent in this simple fact. Goodreads just reminded me that I have read 27 books in 2017 (which will be 28 by week's end), or approximately one book every two weeks. One of those books was the Book of Mormon, which I have now read . . . I don't know how many times. I began this latest read-through in February and completed it in October.

I was involved in two car accidents in July and September, neither one my fault: rear-ended both times. I am incredibly grateful I was not injured any worse than I was (whiplash only). My car, however, required nearly $3,000 in repairs.

Like the citizens in Whoville who cry out to Horton: "I am here!" I'm still breathing. I am still ticking. In spite of the challenges I face and those I have overcome, as well as those yet to be overcome, I am grateful to be here.

Oh, and the most significant happenings of the year have occurred family wise. First and foremost, I have a fiancée(!) with whom I'd gone out on two dates a year ago today. How did I get here? How did I ever get to be so richly blessed? I may not learn the answers for a while yet. Still, it's yet another reason my heart is full of gratitude at this holiday season and my cup runneth over.

In the past three months, I've been blessed with two new nephews. The nibling count is up to 14! They are the most amazing kids an uncle could ask for.

Last but not certainly not least, one of the most important happenings of the year 2017: We lost Dad in April after a lengthy battle with dementia. Earlier today, I drove past the place where I last saw him in this mortal sphere. On that day, I had the chance to spend some time with him, embrace him, and tell him once again, "I love you." Within a few, short hours, he was gone. I will be forever grateful for the prompting to go and see him that day, to not put it off until another time.

The jogging of that memory saddened me once again for a brief moment today. We recently had our first Thanksgiving in which his chair was empty. Just a couple of weeks ago, his namesake, Tanner Brent, was given his name and blessing. And now we are in the midst of our first Christmas season without Dad. For me, the wound is a bit fresh still.

Also today, I found myself reflecting on a scene in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which I saw for a second time (there will definitely be a few more in the coming weeks; go figure!) last night.

STOP READING HERE IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE YET AND DON'T WANT TO READ WHAT MAY BE A MINOR SPOILER.

When Luke visits Leia, and he hands her a trinket of Han's that hung in the Millennium Falcon, he reminds her that those we love who depart our mortal existence are "ever really gone."

THIS IS THE POINT AT WHICH THE POTENTIAL SPOILER ENDS AND YOU MAY KEEP READING IF YOU WISH.

When I returned home from completing various tasks today, there was this incredibly beautiful poem on the doorstep, gifted by one of our neighbors down the street:

The girl who delivered this, I am told, lost her own mother when just three months old, after which, just a couple of years ago, she also lost her stepmother to cancer. I believe this girl is wise beyond her years. I'm speechless at this incredible gesture.

Without trying to sound too much like Linus in "A Charlie Brown Christmas," that's really what this Christmas season is all about; that those we lose, because of the holy child born in Bethlehem, are never really gone. And that is basically the greatest gift we could ever receive from an all-wise, all-loving Father in Heaven. With the birth of this baby is the gentle reminder that death, too, is part of the plan.

One day, we, too, will each spend our first Christmas with the Lord. In the meantime, I'm grateful to spend this one with all of you, to "have . . . a merry little Christmas now."

"And so, as Tiny Tim observed: God bless us, every one!"

Tanner's Blessing

On the morning of Sunday, December 3, my brother Steve gave Tanner Brent his name and blessing at the NSL Plowman's ward in Woods Cross. Yours truly got to stand in the circle for this important priesthood ordinance in the LDS faith, and I was joined by my other brothers, Summer's dad and brothers, and the bishopric of the ward.

Afterward, family and friends gathered at the Foxboro clubhouse for a brunch, during which I took these pics of my two-month-old nephew ([1] me holding him and [2] JB holding him):

Good times were had by all!

Christmas Party on the Island of Misfit Toys 2017: "A Medieval Christmas Eve"

Our ward's annual Christmas dinner and party Saturday night featured a presentation titled "A Medieval Christmas Eve," for which I was asked to play the role of a Christian Crusader. I rarely get scripted roles these days, and I was more than happy to agree to take part.

We had a blast! Here's the assembled cast along with Kyle (far left), who wrote and produced the play, after we concluded our performance:

The food, catered by Red Flame, was delectable, to boot. It was a wonderful night.