New Phone

Madison snapped this picture and a few others using her new iPhone, a gift from Ye-Ye and Nana.  We're not exactly ready for her to have a phone, but the grandparents were, so here we are.  We spent a little time trying to figure out the phone today, and apparently it's the latest one - I know that seems to be a big deal for some folks.  Already, Madison was showing us how to do certain things, although we knew it - she was just a little bit quicker.  She airdropped these pictures to this computer, and a few more too.  She was taking pictures of the carnations she got yesterday for Valentine's Day.  It's her favorite flower, so of course she got a bunch of those for Valentine's Day.

Daddy was out doing some errands for Ye-Ye, and while out he was shopping at the grocery store, a rather spontaneous trip, but fairly productive.  We needed milk and other vitals, but while out, I managed to pick up some sweet potato pizza, something made without wheat, but instead sweet potatoes.  It had chicken toppings, cheese and tomato sauce, and it was actually pretty good!  We got a few other things, including some calzones for tomorrow.  We're staying in the next few days.

And that's where we stayed today.  For one thing, Daddy was sick.  This is most likely because Mommy's been sick all this time.  Hopefully it won't last as long.  But it was a NyQuil night last night, and it was tonight too.  Fortunately, Daddy's been somewhat functional, doing the shopping and so forth.  But it was good to get home and take a good nap.

NyQuil brings you to these deep sleeps, almost like you're out on some sort of sedative.  The end result were pleasant dreams, and this strange idea that spring is on the way soon.  That sort of feeling.  I know that this might not be the case.  The groundhog down here said winter is still here, and there's actually a forecast of more snow possible for next week.  But still, sometimes a good dream can start your day off in such a way that it counteracts even being sick.

Tonight, we watched the movie "Million Dollar Dream."  Daddy got this for Christmas, but the reason for watching this tonight was Madison's recent study of India at school.  I made a list of India movies that I could think of, from James Bond to the Cheetah Girls.  "The Jungle Book" is in there, as was "Million Dollar Dream."  The movie "Planes" has a part in India.  But there was another movie I thought of at the last moment, one that might be fun to watch:  "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom."  Sure, it's a completely crazy part of India, with Mola Ram and the Thugees (which would be an amazing rock band name).  But it has some elements of India that are accurate.  Of course, aside from the giant vampire bats and chilled monkey brains.

Anyway, we stayed home today, and the movie was good.  It was about baseball, so that was another plus for Madison.  She enjoyed it.

She did some piano today, practicing a few things that just made this house such a more pleasant place.  The music fills the house, even with practice, and it just sounds wonderful.  It's like she's playing for Daddy.  She doesn't want to practice that often, and it takes a little bit of a push lately.  But when she gets going, it sounds really nice.

Daddy got a script done a little last minute, but it was somewhat of a challenge using only two characters in costume, and then a third which we found a temporary - and yet large - costume for.  Anyway, the idea was to have Anna and Kristoff visit the people again after she is Queen of Arendelle.  Daddy was a bit stumped on how to do a "Frozen" skit on stage without Elsa or Olaf so much, when the thought occurred to me that after the events of "Frozen 2," Elsa is off in a different place, "into the unknown."  And sure enough, it could be that Olaf is there too.  We have a ginormous Olaf costume, but it's always been a little odd to me, given the fact that it is literally three or four times the height of the actual Olaf character, at least in general proportions.  That being said, there was still a use for the costume, I thought, in this skit.  The final piece of the puzzle was the research I did, using some of Madison's books and actually getting a few more of the "Anna and Elsa" series from the library.  The other day while Madison was doing taekwondo, Daddy was reading a book for young readers, one where Anna was visiting various people in Arendelle.  The thought occurred to me that she would want to do this again, and then the thought occurred to me that these various villagers could each represent some of the messages we are preaching this series.  Next week, Mommy will be feeling better and we'll have more villagers in costume.  But for now, this ought to be a decent start to our series, something I feel can work within the overall "Frozen" universe, while being presentable on a stage.  And most importantly, getting our bottom line across.

The funny thing is always the research.  You have to do a lot of research for these series, and sometimes that includes reading a series of children's books on your own.  But therein was the inspiration.  I'm by no means saying that this below is a masterpiece, but at one point early on I was super desperate, and I know I felt a nudge from God to read some of these books for ideas.  And in fact, that's where the spark I so desperately craved came from this time.  I'm still not entirely sure where this series is going or will go, but it's interesting to look back sometimes and see how it all began.  Usually when writing the messages, there is a lot of research about the topic - in this case, Norway in general.  We did a lot of studying about Norway, Iceland, Vikings, and of course the movies tied to "Frozen," "How to Train Your Dragon," and "Thor."  From all that research, we got ourselves about eight very solid messages, including the one we have for tomorrow.  But the skits and on stage games are something that we don't just throw together without thought.  Daddy was spending a lot of time fretting about this one in particular, as it uses characters the kids are familiar with.  And my position is to keep the magic alive for these kids.  The actors' faces may not necessarily look like the main ones from the movie, but the kids suspend all that disbelief in favor of a trip to Arendelle right in front of them.  And so with that thinking, it is my responsibility to keep the characters acting in a way that they would from the movies.  This happens a lot with the other series that we've done that involve licensed characters.  Our recent "Toy Story" series was a good example of that.

Anyway, it's always an interesting process, writing just a short three or four-page skit.  I was not "released" in my mind to just do something quick and easy, as far as the writing goes.  Instead, only when I found what I was looking for could I begin.  In this case, it took a lot of looking inside children's books.  But I found it, and here it is below:

KidPak Adventures:  Northern Lights“The Hammer of God”

CUE TRACK:  1 SKYDOME FROZEN

LIGHTS ON

NARRATOR: “There is a new queen in the town of Arendelle, and her name is Anna.  There are many new responsibilities, but the very first thing she’s decided to do is a good one.  Join us now and let’s find out what that is, at KidPak Adventures:  Northern Lights!”

KRISTOFF and ANNA enter STAGE RIGHT

KRISTOFF:  “Okay, so why are we out here again?”

ANNA:  “If I’m now the queen of Arendelle, I need to get to know the people even better.”

KRISTOFF:  “You’ve already met farmers, Rona the fishmonger, oh, and Oaken of course.”

ANNA:  “Now it’s time to talk to Chef Florian.  He owns the bakery.”

KRISTOFF:  “It’s more than a bakery.  It’s a dessert lover’s dream.  (suddenly looking at her with suspicion) I think you may have ulterior motives.”

ANNA: (mock outrage) “Kristoff!  Are you accusing me of wanting to sample more of his delicious, scrumptious, wonderful pastries?”

KRISTOFF stares at her a half-beat, knowing full well that’s one reason she’s here.

ANNA:  “Guilty as charged!”

KRISTOFF laughs it off, as he wouldn’t mind a delicious treat himself.

KRISTOFF:  “Okay, but where is he?”

GIANT OLAF COSTUME approaches from BACK OF STAGE (CENTER STAGE).  KRISTOFF and ANNA do not notice it and continue looking towards the front, despite the pleas from audience.  

GIANT OLAF COSTUME taps KRISTOFF and ANNA on their shoulders, and they scream and run to opposite sides of the stage.  GIANT OLAF COSTUME looks as if he’s been laughing.

KRISTOFF:  (after recovering, slightly shocked) “What happened to Olaf?”

GIANT OLAF COSTUME carefully removes head – it’s CHEF FLORIAN, who is laughing still.

FLORIAN:  “I’m so sorry your highness.  That was too good to pass up!  Like my famous flangendorfers!”

KRISTOFF:  “Chef Florian!  (to ANNA) Florian’s Famous Flangendorfers are legendary!  This man is a genius.”

FLORIAN:  “You are too kind.  But I think Queen Anna gave the kindest compliment of all after eating one last time.”

ANNA:  “What was that?  I don’t remember?”

FLORIAN:  (hands raised, as if he is about to say some big speech): “BUUUUUUURP!”

FLORIAN, ANNA and KRISTOFF laugh.

ANNA:  “Oh, I remember now.  Oh my.”

FLORIAN:  “Think nothing of it!  That recipe came from my great-great-great-great-great uncle Klaus. Some say he got it from the trolls!”

ANNA:  “Okay, can I just ask you something?”

FLORIAN:  “Of course!”

ANNA:  “Why are you dressed as a giant snowman?”

FLORIAN’S mood changes to slight embarrassment, and perhaps a bit of sadness.

FLORIAN:  “The bakery, she is not as full as she used to be.  People seem to be too busy these days.  They have forgotten about my pastries!”

KRISTOFF:  “So you dressed up like a giant snowman to draw in business?”

FLORIAN:  “Yes. It has come to that.  Things do not look good for the bakery.”

FLORIAN’S words sting, as everyone looks glum a moment.  

ANNA:  “I’ve got it! Kristoff, go get the hammer.”

KRISTOFF:  “The hammer?”

ANNA:  “The hammer! You know, the hammer?”

KRISTOFF:  “The hammer… oh, the hammer!”

ANNA:  “Yes, the hammer!”

KRISTOFF:  “I just thought you meant…”

ANNA:  “Just go!”

KRISTOFF:  “Okay, okay!”

KRISTOFF runs off STAGE RIGHT

FLORIAN:  “Small question.”

ANNA:  “Yes?”

FLORIAN:  “A hammer?”

ANNA:  “Yes, a hammer.”

FLORIAN:  (after a small thoughtful pause)  “A hammer.”

ANNA:  “Yep, your very own hammer.”

KRISTOFF runs on STAGE RIGHT with MJOLNIR!

KRISTOFF:  (handing it to FLORIAN)  “Here you go!”

FLORIAN:  (awkwardly thanking them for a gift he doesn’t understand)  “Thank you so much!  A hammer.  Wow. That’s just… great?”

KRISTOFF:  “Just what a master chef like you needs!”

FLORIAN:  “And why would I need this… exactly?  Do I use it to pound the dough?”

FLORIAN swings hammer as if pounding something.

KRISTOFF and ANNA:  “No, no!”

FLORIAN:  “Do I use it to… pound customers?”

FLORIAN swings hammer as if pounding something.

KRISTOFF and ANNA:  “No, no!”

FLORIAN:  “Do I use it to pound the competition?”

FLORIAN swings hammer as if pounding something.

KRISTOFF grabs hammer a moment.

KRISTOFF and ANNA:  “No, no!”

ANNA:  (pulling out a BIBLE)  “You use it as a reminder!”

KRISTOFF:  (holding hammer up high)  “The Bible tells us that God’s Word is like a hammer.  It breaks the rocks into pieces.”

ANNA:  “It’ll break your fears into pieces too!  Listen to this scripture. (READING)  ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

FLORIAN:  “I like the sound of that!  God’s Word is like a hammer!”

KRISTOFF:  (handing hammer back to FLORIAN) “This Bible is filled with powerful words that can crush your fears to pieces.”

ANNA:  “And this hammer can remind you of that when you’re feeling down!”

KRISTOFF:  “Plus, if you keep it in your bakery, people might want to come and see the gift from the Queen.”

FLORIAN:  (excited) “More customers!  (looking to ANNA and KRISTOFF)  Friends, I am greatly encouraged!  Thank you for this!  There is only one way I can express my gratitude!”

KRISTOFF and ANNA are seen excitedly crossing their fingers, hoping for what he’s about to say.

FLORIAN:  “Free samples for you!”

KRISTOFF and ANNA:  (celebrating loudly) “Yes!”

FLORIAN:  “Come, friends!”

FLORIAN leads ANNA and KRISTOFF off STAGE RIGHT.

ANNA:  (going OFF STAGE RIGHT) “I don’t know if I’m elated or gassy, but I’m somewhere in that zone!”

KRISTOFF:  “Too much, Anna.  Too much!”

ANNA: “Oh, sorry!”

FADE LIGHTS

NARRATOR: “KidPak, God’s Word has so much power, and all you have to do is open it up to use it.  Read your Bibles, pray, and definitely plan on joining us this time, next time, as we see what happens next in Arendelle, at KidPak Adventures: Northern Lights!”