An Ordinary Mormon Family: Lights, Camera, Action

About us:

We are a pretty normal Christian family. We believe we do have some characteristics that make us unique. We genuinely like each other and enjoy spending time together. We especially like to talk about the purposes of life. We actually challenge each other to read articles or books that we find inspiring and then we discuss them. We prayerfully seek to know truth and have sought to be familiar with the Old and New Testaments. We want to apply the truths we are learning in everyday living. We have found that in the process of sharing and seeking inspiration, we have begun to see patterns that seem consistent throughout the scriptures such as the need for adversity and testing to become Zion material. There simply wasn't a Zion society that didn't go through a wilderness experience beforehand. We have found that as we share, our ability to understand these principles seems enhanced. We have considered the value of sharing simple gospel truths on this blog. It is a mental exercise that we consider of great value to attempt to put thoughts into words and words onto paper. There have been times when we feel that we have been taught and tutored by the Lord. At those times we tend to experience some feelings of warmth and spirit, but it is in the process of sharing with others of like faith what we think we are learning that those feelings seem the most tangible and enhanced. It seems to bear witness to us that gospel truths were meant to be shared. We think this is the meaning of the scriptures found in Malachi 3: 16-18: "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord; and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not."

The thoughts we have personally shared do not necessarily reflect the beliefs and thoughts of our spouses, our children or the church with which we affiliate. But, it has been in the process of sharing with each other that we have learned these things. Nor has believing and studying these things prevented us from making lots of mistakes in life. But we have found as we begin each day with prayer seeking repentance, guidance in the affairs of that day and asking to be taught and tutored by Him, who is mighty to save, we have partaken of His grace and His mercy and found life to be tremendously exciting, a privilege of inestimable worth and we are grateful for one more day to prepare to meet our Savior.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Lights, Camera, Action

We have never been a very musical, performing family, though some of us can sing on key and country dance with the best of them. Thank goodness for the musical talent of our sons and daughters in law. But we are admitted hams. The minute the children got their hands on a video camera, they began filming themselves. This has led to wonderful family tradition called the Robinson Family Film Festival. Even the young children write, cast and direct short films. One of our first was called, A Horse Named Jasper.

We thought the children might actually be good enough to do this professionally. We experienced some beginner's luck with that. Corinne's first gig was a Ford commercial. She was compensated about $1400 for 20 minutes of work getting in and out of a Ford SUV. Instead of the cast being powdered between takes, the car was polished. We actually did land roles for feature films, commercials and industrials.

One of our very first as a couple was an Intellibed commercial:

Though we don't sing and dance we have been in two great music videos. Ace Ender's, When I Hit the Ground video involved Bryan, Vicki, Briana and Alyse: