Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Me and my friend are writing a book. We have completed the rough draft and are half way through the second draft. This is the first chapter in the book which still has a bunch of things wrong with it... advice is welcome. Here it is:


Chapter One:

Scroll

Robin Scroll stared absentmindedly at the parchment before him trying to think of what to write next. He tapped his pen on the desk hundreds of times at the beat of the grandfather clock’s ticking as was his habit when thinking.

Suddenly the grandfather clock boomed twelve times, graciously informing him that it was tea-time.

Out of habit, Robin looked up through the huge, domed window in front of him to see if his best friend, Javaa, was there yet. As usual, she was late.

Sighing, Robin cast the old pen onto his polished desk, ruffled his messy white-blond hair, and started down the spiral staircase wondering if Javaa would be there by the time he stepped off of the last, speckles step.

After a couple minutes he stepped off of that step, entered the kitchen, and, adjusting his awkward glasses, looked around. To his surprise, Javaa was seated at the kitchen table, a steaming cup of tea held in her cupped hands. Javaa smirked at Robin and set the tea down on the table and, all to eagerly, retrieved a stopwatch from her pocket and clicked the stop button.

“You,” she said, “are approximately three minutes, two seconds late – give or take. Really Robin, I expected more from you.”

“You’re the one who’s usually half an hour late,” said Robin. “Besides, I was so absorbed in my writing –

“Cheesy writing…”

“That I didn’t notice the time,” finished Robin, ignoring Javaa’s snide comment.

“Mm-hmm, I’m sure you were,” said Javaa sarcastically. “a=Are we having pastries like you promised.”

“No – I changed my mind.”

“What? Why can’t we just have pastries? We always have cake.”

“No we don’t – besides I don’t remember promising pastries to Your Royal Highness.”

Javaa sniffed. “Maybe I should just go to the bakery to get some pastries for myself!”

“Maybe you should. I’d get to eat in peace for once.”

“Fine! I will!” Javaa got up from the table to go moving slower than usual.

Suddenly, Robin grinned. “He Hugo,” he called to the cook, “Miss Sliverstream does not want your cake so bring both pieces to me!”

Javaa stopped in her tracks.

“Well?” Robin asked, “weren’t you off to get some pastries or something?”

“I’ve changed my mind,” said Javaa menacingly giving Robin the “death glare”.

“Never mind Hugo,” called Robin grinning from ear to ear, “Miss Sliverstream has changed her mind!”

Hugo walked in and winked at Robin. “Straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel, are we?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Javaa asked irritably.

Robin, seeing a chance to nail his victory in even farther, smirked. “I believe,” he said, “that it means, at least in this case, that we’re nit-picking over tiny things and completely ignoring the better things we could be doing or arguing about. Am I right, Hugo?”

“That you are, young master,” said the chubby cook plopping the cake down in front of them, “that you are.”

Javaa scowled. “I knew that.”

“Of course you did,” said Robin patting her on the shoulder, “you always are. Right?”

Javaa put her hands up. “Okay, okay,” she growled, “you win.”

“As usual,” said Robin.

Javaa suddenly focused on her cake. “That’s weird,” she said.

“What is?” asked Robin.

“My cake is frozen.

“No it’s not,” said Robin, “that isn’t possible unless…”

“…Unless I’m a wizard.”

Robin reached over and touched the cake. Sure enough, the cake was frozen and there was no doubt: Javaa was a wizard.

================

Robin huddled over the piece of parchment he had abandoned earlier that day trying to think of what he had planned on writing before teatime but he was much too distracted by that days turn of events.

Javaa, a wizard? No way!

It had to be some sort of trick on Javaa’s part; she was always playing jokes on people.

Robin suddenly had an uncontrollable surge of jealousy and frustration. Why couldn’t he be a wizard? Why?

He jumped up and ripped the empty piece of parchment to bits and threw them on the floor. Suddenly he felt very foolish. Angry at himself, Robin hunched over and retrieved the pieces of parchment, threw them into his waste bin, and stalked off to bed.

In bed he began to feel angry and jealous again but as he grew more and more groggy he began to be more confused and disoriented than jealous or angry…

Suddenly a strange idea popped into his head and he scrambled out of bed and skid across the wooden floor to his desk. Quivering with anticipation, Robin pulled out a piece of parchment and put a big blotch of ink on it and turned around. Will the ink disappear like I want it to? he wondered, or am I not actually a wizard like I hope?

He was brought to reality when, with an undignified thunk, his candle toppled over and went out. In disappointment, jealousy coursing trough his veins, the dejected Robin skulked off to bed and fell into a troubled sleep.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Stage Report

OK ... so I've always thought that performers are "different." Well, "different" is too mild! I was pretty stunned on the first night of rehearsals. We started with the director making us do a bunch of stretches and breathing exercises. I thought, "did I end up in a yoga class?" Then he starts talking to us about some of the basics of the production. The entire time, the guy sitting next to me is singing his parts. I'm annoyed. The director doesn't even seem to notice. I look around me and start to see that everything that the director says is reflected in some type of movement, facial expression, or song by everyone in the room except Miles and me. We're like zombies. I'm on an alien planet surrounded by the natives and I've gone into shock!

Later, me and some of the other apostles and disciples are singing a song. It's definitely a churchy type of song but out of the corner of my eye, I spot some type of movement that seems incongruent with what I'm hearing and feeling. I glance over to my right, and there, a large woman who plays an angel is really getting into the song with a moon-walking-break-dancing routine; she is cheered on by other angels. Suddenly, the herald angel thing takes on a very different meaning.

I return home to a sleepless night as I'm haunted by anxiety over what I've gotten myself into. I desperately try to think of a way out but I can't. Thoughts of opening my mouth to sing my solo line with sounds like frogs or the death screams of rabbits escaping fill my mind. I'm convinced I will ruin the entire production. People will lose their testimonies and leave the church. Less actives who come with missionary-minded friends will ask to have their names removed from the rolls of the church! What am I to do?

It's the next day and it is bad. It's also our 22nd anniversary but I don't really feel like celebrating. I've had 3 ... maybe 4 hours of sleep. I invite Tina to eat lunch with me -- that's the only break that I'll have today. I hope by then I'll be in a good mood. I'm not. By the time we meet for lunch I've worked myself up to a frenzy. I'm ready to jettison anything and everything that causes me stress. Number one on my list is the play, especially the singing part. I've written an email to Randy explaining that I can't sing or act and I understand if he wants to get someone else. I've talked to the chair of my department about not being involved in teaching the science foundations class that's supposed to start this fall. I unload all of this on Tina during lunch. And then I start to remember why I married this woman.

Tina is a good listener. She doesn't say much but I can see what she is feeling in her eyes. There is understanding and tenderness; sympathy and love. OK ... this is getting mushy. Let's just say I felt understood and loved. I also felt strength. I didn't want to let her down; I knew she believed that I could do this. I decided to try. I talked to Randy and learned that I could back out of the singing if I really wanted to but he assured me that I could do it and I should at least try. He told me he was inspired to ask me for some reason. He helped me to understand this production is about bearing testimony and that since I have a testimony, I could share it. He admonished me to go to the Lord for help. I did and I found peace. Rehearsal that night wasn't so frightening -- it was even a bit fun. I slept that night.

It has been a roller coaster. The next day was difficult too. That singing thing was coming up soon. I had another sleepless night but I maintained my resolve. I got 10 minutes of instruction from Randy on how to sing. A few minutes of practice and another 20 minutes of pep talk and visiting.

The first part of practice that night didn't involve me singing. It was the scene where Miles has his dialog. I had been very anxious to see him in action. It was great; he was fun and he added a dimension to the scene that I hadn't imagined. We've practiced that scene without him and it wasn't nearly as good. The director decided to incorporate him into a scene that he wasn't written into.

The roller coaster ride has continued but it is getting better. I find that I enjoy the practices. I've actually sung my solo line enough now that it doesn't make me nervous. No one has laughed at me ... not even the break-dancing angel.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Bryce's Last Email

My last words to everyone (until I see you again):

Well everyone, family and friends, I just want to sum up, to the best of my ability, my mission in a few words. I hope I can be guided to know what to say, because I'm not sure how to express something as momentous as my mission experience in just a few words.

To say the least, the mission was a roller coaster. I learned a lot from the positive experiences as well as the negative. I think most importantly, I learned that the gospel is the most important thing in our lives no matter what; I learned that we don't have the gospel just so that we can be happy ourselves; I know now that God gives it to us so that we can pass it along. The happiness that comes from the gospel multiplies itself when we're sharing it and allowing it to not only change our own lives, but the lives of those around us. I've never had a better experience than sharing what I have. I don't want it to end. Everyday I think of how I will take the opportunities to share the gospel after my mission. I don't want to make the mistake that so many members of the church make by thinking that when the mission is over, sharing the gospel is over, too.

I just want to testify that I know the Book of Mormon is true. Joseph Smith was a prophet, and I have no doubts about that in my mind, despite the fact that I've heard every crazy thing about him that there is out there as a missionary, I've felt the spirit so much as I've testified of his prophethood and the resoration that was brought to pass through him. Most of all, I know that Jesus is the Christ; no one could change anybody's life the way that he's changed mine and those I've been blessed to teach but Him. His atonement is real; it repairs broken lives when we look to Him. I know that he directs the work that members and missionaries alike are engaged in. As the world worsens, the church becomes better! I haven't seen that in any other church out here. The Lord strengthens us in our trials, and I've experienced that many times out here. I'm sad to leave, but I'm also excited to return to the poeple I love...that would be all of you. I'll see you soon!

Love, Elder Lowry

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

I can't believe I said "yes!"

So ... can you picture me and Miles on stage in front of hundreds of people performing a play? No? Neither can I. But that is what is going to happen. We're going to be in the university's Savior of the World production! Miles will be playing Aaron the son of John. I will be playing John the Beloved. I even have to sing in this thing. Fortunately, I think there is only one line that I have to sing by myself. In the other places I'll be singing with at least one other apostle and usually with the other 10. I can't believe I said "yes!"

I got a phone call this evening from Randy Kempton who is a friend of mine and just happens to be a choir director on campus and in charge of the vocal aspects of the production. He started the conversation off in a way that let me know he was going to ask a big favor. As he explained what he wanted, I couldn't bring myself to say no immediately. I was stunned when I felt that I should do this. I figured this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to be in a play with Miles. I felt that this could be a very special experience for us. Randy, for those who don't know him, is one of our backpacking buddies. He has heard me "sing" before so he knows the risk he is taking. I sure hope he doesn't regret asking us. (Perhaps there's a scriptural reference that I've missed that indicates John was tone deaf.)

We will start practices on Monday and will be practicing most every night until the play starts on July 1st. We will be performing on the 1st and 2nd and then again on the 7th through the 12th. We will do a matinée and an evening performance on the 12th.

If you're stunned by all of this, so am I!

Monday, June 2, 2008

Next to last email from Bryce

Here's a video that a member in the ward that Bryce is serving in sent yesterday after Bryce and his companion had dinner with them.



(Below is the latest email from Bryce. Original spelling retained.)

Dear Dad,

Thanks for the email. SOrry about last week. Didn't have much to say.

Right now I'm covering two wards, Raymond and Acacia Park. They're really slow. THis whole stake is slow. President Harmsen even shut down one of the wards in the stake. I've never seen taht happen before. Our ward mission leaders won't even have correlation with us. And President Harmsen is disappointed in this district (the way it was last transfer). I don't know if you knew that I've been a district leader for the past few months...they usually send a letter to the families of the missionary that gets the call. I've taken it upon myself to help the district get to work. I'm already seeing good results. I'm happy, and I think that may be my mission here in this area before I go home (no, I'm not counting the days, I wanna stay!).

We had a district fast on Sunday to help the work pick up and so that we can leave our areas better than we found them, and that President Watrous (new president next transfer) won't be disappointed in the Fullerton South distric the way president Harmsen was. So that's how things are going. No progressing investigators yet, though tracting has shown to be unusually productive over the past week. I'm happy here, despite the situations.

I love you all so much! Next week is probably my last to email. Missionaries get to go to Disnely Land their second to last week in the field, so in two weeks that's where I'll be. Fun! Though I'd rather be allowed to hang out with members and recent converts before I go home.

anyway, take care. I'm out of time.

-Bryce

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Kelli's Recipe


Have you ever wondered how to make something as awesome as a Kelli? Fortunately, we have a recipe. A classmate in her interpersonal communications class, made the following recipe to fulfill an assignment for getting to know a classmate. So, here's Kylie's recipe for Kelli.

If Kelli Were a Recipe

In one bowl add and mix well:

2 cups of family
1 scoop of violin
3 tablespoons of cats and bears
2 ounces of books
2 teaspoons of movie watching
1/4 cup of wanting everything clean
A sprinkle of seriousness
A dash of her favorite colors blue and purple
1 pound of the outdoors
2/3 cups of her sister being her best friend
6 ounces of silly friends

Once everything is mixed well in the bowl, slowly pour into a 13X9 in. pan. Preheat the oven for 375 degrees and cook slowly for 19 years.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Bryce's Mission News

Dear Mom, Dad, and everyone else,

thanks for your emails! It was good to hear from you, and it was great to talk to you all on the phone. Happy Birthday, everyone that I forgot to send cards to...

Well, things to a spin for the unexpected this weekend. Everyone was 110% positive this wouldn't happen. I'm getting transferred to a new area for the last five weeks of my mission. I haven't been quite sure how to take it in, with all the things that are happening in Anaheim 6th ward and the fact that I have so little time left. It's especially disappointing with RJ's baptism coming up and with teaching Haley and Angie and visiting Brother Gubler. But President Harmsen is called of God and is an inspired man, and I know this is happening for a reason, though I did have to look up scriptures on doing whatever your asked to do, and I reread the lyrics to "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go." Mostly just to comfort myself. But I'm also kind of excited. My new area is the Raymond Ward in the city of Fullerton. Maybe it was founded by our ancestors, eh? My new companion will be Elder Puga from Mexico (don't know which part yet), who has been a friend of mine for the whole mission. Elder Puga goes home six weeks after I do.

RJ's baptism is scheduled for the 29th of May, and I'll be able to come back for it. Hopefully Haley's baptism will be shortly after. On Sunday we were excited because RJ and Haley's mother came to church! Hope she keeps going.

(Miles asked Bryce about people he had worked with on his mission)

Here's the list:
Diem and Will Lewis (Irvine)
Dustin Gunderson (Irvine)
Rick Nguyen (irvine)
Rocio Rodriguez (A4)
Melissa Stringham (A4)
Tina Ohai (taught in A4, baptized in Hawai'i)
Jenny Mitchell (A4)
Dolly Germinehart (A4)
Niki Unga (A4)
Shawn Jones (Yorba Linda)
Tyler Sirrat (Placentia)
Gunner Vanderlaan (Placentia)
Libby Hout (A6)

Don't know if you remember all of those people, but those are the people who have made my life amazing for the past 2 years. Along with all kinds of great active members, less active members, and eternal investigators who were super loving kind to me and my companions, of which there are too many to list.

Also, I started compiling a list of scriptures that have come to mean a lot to me during my mission and I wanted to give you some of the references. Maybe you'll enjoy them;

Ezekiel 33:1-7
3 Nephi 27: 14
1 Corinthians 2:9
Mosiah 4:9-10, 12
Moroni 10:18

Well, I love you all. Take care, and thanks for all you love and prayers and support. I'll let you know how things are going next week. Later!

-Bryce

Saturday, May 17, 2008

We've Entered the 21st Century!

I've finally decided to bring myself , and my family along with me, into the 21st century! For several years now, my students have been bombarding me with invitations to Facebook and sending me links to their blog pages. I finally realized that a blog page would be an easy way to share news and photos with friends and family. Perhaps other members of the family or our friends would also like to start blog pages to keep us updated with what is happening in their lives.

The biggest news in our lives is that Bryce is coming home on June 24th! We're so excited to have him come home. He has matured so much on his mission and we're anxious to be blessed by the wonderful spirit he has with him. Those who know Bryce know that he is very quiet. Perhaps when he gets home we can get more of those mission stories that we've hoped to hear out of him. He will be speaking on June 29th in our ward. Our sacrament meeting starts at 1:30. We hope to see some family and friends there.

We've also been excited to see Kelli start college. She was very nervous about it the first week. She has done very well in the introductory psychology class she is taking from me. Whew! I'm very relieved too. It's hard enough to deal with students griping about their grades but the possibility of that student living in my own house added a new dimension to the grading process. Kelli actually tied for the second highest score on the last exam. Perhaps we are witnessing the beginning of another psychologist's career. I suppose time will tell.

Anika is still working on getting enough supervised driving hours to take the driving test. We haven't provided her with many driving opportunities -- we don't go that many places. She gets to drive back and forth to seminary but that will end this week. Hopefully she'll get some good driving hours in this summer as we travel to see family in Utah. She drove me down to Tremonton, Utah last weekend. She is a very good driver and I had to work hard to not simply fall asleep.

Hyrum just celebrated his 4th birthday today! It's a good thing that he got to add another year to his lifespan since he is fond of using the expression, "years ago, I ...." That expression is just slightly more plausible now. He's a cute little boy who finds lots to be excited about. It's hard not to catch some of his enthusiasm. It was a big weekend for him with his 4th birthday and his first camp out last night.

I, Chris, was a bit less excited to celebrate my 44th birthday on Friday. The years are flying by and there is still so much I want to learn and experience. More than anything, I want to have many more years with my wonderful family! All the Lowrys were very happy that the Brian Fuller family could come spend some time at our camping site. Family is everything!

Anyway, welcome to the Lowry Clan News site. We hope that you enjoy it.