Star Searchin 85201 style

In the Mormon church there are a lot of traditions.  Things that have been around since like the dawn of time.  The 24th of July will ALWAYS be celebrated as Pioneer Day.  You can always count on the first Sunday of every month being testimony meeting, every fall at some point the Primary children will put on a program of music and spoken parts, ward parties will almost ALWAYS have ham and funeral potatos on the menu.  There will always be jokes about green jello and carrots, families will be large, the use of terms flippin, fetchin and scriddly dee will bring giggles...and EVERY Christmas there will be the "famous" ward party.  There will be food of varying caliber, decorations of some sort and generally a program that is cringeworthy. I mean, lets just be honest here...MOST Christmas parties are rather lame.  It hardly seems worth the effort to go, so you can hear bad singing, or no singing but bad food, just to hang with people that you see every Sunday anyway.  Sad, but true. 

But here in the 85201, more specifically in my magical ward there is one amazing woman whose brain is far superior to all others.  She just GETS it.  She creates a real program, something that is both fun, entertaining AND spiritual at the same time.  You KNOW that it will be beautifully decorated, that you will laugh and that ultimatley you will leave remembering the true meaning of this season, you will be reminded to focus on Christ.

This year was no exception...

The theme was Star Search with a retro vibe.  The attire was "christmas sweater" and the food was old school (but YUMMMMMY).  She put together five "acts" that were so silly and perfect.

First, you walked the "red carpet" into the auditorium.

Welcome to Star search wonderland

I love the people of this ward....they're just cool!

Ladies workin behind the scenes to get the dinner ready.

Adam and Sarah, we love them.

His sweater was first of all, a womans, and secondly so classically awesome and awful!!

Russ and Todd

Brothers in equally fabulous Christmas hideousness

Russ' actually lit up.

Meet Jennnn, the genius behind it all

and the only woman I know brave enough to wear

a bearded hot mess of Santa on her sweater dress.

His beard lit up too.

Act I

Joe and the Loose Screws

The lead singer sang Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

the "band" played tools.  Sorry, it was hysterical!

Act II

The Wiseguys

This is our Bishopbric (the ecclisiastical leaders of our ward)

They did a vaudeville comedy routine.  Jere wrote it, it was funny, IF you know Mormon vernacular.

Act III

Mary Christmas

This is her and the Host Chachi (no words here)

She sang and tap danced and was over the top cheesy.

And sheer perfection.

Act IV

The Candy Canes

Jere is missing from this pic

They were a Barbershop Quartet

Here is a shot of them in action, with their wierd leprechauny hats

Act V

The ROCKETTES

Oh yes, there WAS a kickline, don't worry.

Here we are in all our "scandelous" glory.

I just love more than anything that there are people WILLING to do this stuff.

We had so much fun.

Somewhere there is video of this.  I will TRY to procure it so you can enjoy the "amazing" that is ME ever trying to dance.  People, a dancer I am NOT!

But, our dance did sort of ROCK!

The illustrious judges

Mrs. Clause, Elf on a shelf and the Snow Queen

Each act was "judged" and commented on.

Oops!  This picture got out of order.

I don't know what is happening with my face, other than it looks like some kind of Christmas mugshot.

I just love our little costumes, they're so adorable, and fun.

Anyway.....when all the acts were through, Chachi gathered the "results".  The curtains were closed.  He then announced that the winner was.....

The curtains opened and we were all there as a living nativity.

Everyone correlated to their part.

Joe was Joseph

The Wise guys were the Wisemen

The candy canes were The Shephards

Mary was...well, Mary

And the Rockettes became the Angels.

It was so cool to hear the collective gasp of surprise when the audience saw us and realized what was happening.

We sang "Star of Bethlehem"

It was beautiful and I won't lie, I may have cried a little bit.

The search for the "Star" was complete

HE is the true reason for this Season.

I'm so thankful to be able to be a part of such a fun and meaningful night.  I'm even more grateful for amazing people, FUN people in our lives that love us and laugh with us.

Hope your "star search" is meaningful this Holiday Season.