MormonDaddyBlogs

In Every Way That Matters

July 8, 2012 by Dennis

I first met Corbin Allred in 2003 when a World War II movie he was in, “Saints and Soldiers,” was making the film festival rounds. He played the lead role of Deacon, a decent man trying to escape against all odds back to Allied lines.

He continues to act (that’s him with the spiffy ‘do in the follow-up, Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed, coming soon to a theater near you), but now he has the added responsibilities of being a husband and father.

Recently, Corbin and his wife, McKenzie, learned that the baby they were expecting had spina bifida, a developmental congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the spine.

Their blog, Meet Me in the Apricot Tree, follows their experience from diagnosis. It’s a riveting account. Here’s an excerpt from “Our Lives Are Split in Two.”

The doctor walked in…shook my hand firmly…and sat down. He let out a big sigh and spoke words that I will foerever wish he could take back. “Well, I’m really worried about your baby girl.”

The world stopped turning. In that moment, there was nothing else in the world that mattered. The triviality of current challenges caused them to fade from existence and suddenly…everything we ever knew…changed. It was like this doctor took a sword and split the timeline of our lives in two. When it comes to the words he spoke…there will forever be…before we heard them…and after.

Lily was born a few days ago. As you can imagine, it was an ordeal for all involved, involving surgery almost immediately after birth. Through it all, I was moved to read Corbin’s account of his daughter’s arrival in Lily Norine Allred is Here:

Lily joined the world at 4:33pm on 6/29/12. She was so tiny and beautiful. 4lbs 11oz and 18.5in. Sadly…they took Lily for assessment before Kenz even got to see her. Kenz had to go to recovery and wait almost 3 hours before even getting to touch her. Let me just say…Lily is perfect in every way that matters!!! Seriously…just perfect and gorgeous and everything we could ever want in a little girl and more. I got to spend a lot of time alone with her during the first few hours of her life as she was already so strong…never needed oxygen…just calm…and content…and sweet as can be. Lily told me that I was her favorite and that she’ll always be a daddy’s girl…but Kenz doesn’t believe me.

Follow Corbin and his family in their blog, Meet Me in the Apricot Tree.

As might be expected, there are many expenses involved in raising a child with spina bifida. A fund has been set up through Give Forward. You can find out more about The Little Allred Girl Spina Bifida Fund here.

Filed Under: Actors, Featured, Parenting Tagged With: corbin allred, meet me in the apricot tree, spina bifida, the little allred girl spina bifida fund

Without a Safety Net

May 20, 2012 by Dennis

Photo by Thomas Gibbard. Creative Commons license. Some rights reserved.

I never took a class in playwriting or theatre history at BYU from Eric Samuelson, but I was still sad to hear that he recently had to take early medical retirement because of an illness, an incurable muscular degenerative disease called polymyositis. While I don’t know him well, I know he has inspired a generation of writers to do their best work.

If there is a plus side to this bad news, it’s that Eric has found time for blogging, and his posts are as insightful as they are entertaining. You’d think his posts would be weighty matters, and some of them are. But pop culture frequently makes an appearance. He even recently blogged about this season of American Idol, a show he loves, which surprises me, but in a good way. (Sample: “My wife and I think Steven Tyler, in that rock star regalia, looks like the scariest old woman in the nursing home.”)

He tackles theological matters with equal alacrity. Here’s his recent take on baptisms for the dead, a concept peculiar to our faith and one that has attracted a lot of negative attention lately. Eric thinks we should do a better job at defending the practice. (He calls it “the most remarkable theological innovation of any Christian church of the 19th century,” and makes a compelling case.)

He is a frequent participant in SLAM, a 24-hour festival. Here’s how he describes it:

What happens is, we show up at the theater at 8 on a Friday night, are given headshots and resumes for three actors (sometimes up to five, but this year, three), are shown a set, and, most of the time, are also given a title. We then have to write a ten minute play using those actors, that set, and that title, a hard copy for which we deliver the next morning at 9. The actors rehearse all day, and perform, off-book, that night, at 8.

He recounts the full experience in a recent post, Playwriting Without a Safety Net.

It is with pleasure that we welcome Eric, a father of four who makes his home in the Utah County area, to MDB, and look forward to following his blog, Mormon Iconoclast.

Filed Under: Actors, Film/TV, Media, New to MDB, Teachers Tagged With: Eric Samuelson

One in a Million

May 5, 2012 by Dennis

Some guys just seem like they were made to be dads. Not that all of us guys can’t get there eventually, but some, like maybe one in a million, seem like they come ready made to be great dads.

Josh Tenney is one of those.

I’ve had the opportunity to know Josh through some key milestones in his life, from finally finding The One (took awhile, but she was worth the wait), to his marriage to her, to giddily expecting his first child, to her birth.

Anna Liberty Tenney. A little sweet-pea, if ever there was one.

I also saw Josh go through the pain of seeing his treasured Anna stricken with sunburns so severe, even with limited exposure to the sun and the protection of copious amounts of sunscreen, her eyes would blister shut.

Several trips to the doctor’s office later, as well as traveling cross country to the specialists at the National Institutes of Health in D.C., the diagnosis was confirmed. Anna has XP, an extremely rare condition that has changed how the whole family’s lives.

Some characterize XP as being allergic to the sun, but Josh points out it is much more than that.

“Each day, Anna’s skin is covered with sunblock and lotions,” writes Josh on his blog. “She must remain indoors to be completely safe. Before going outdoors on occasion, Anna must wear shoes, long pants, long sleeved shirts, gloves, sunglasses, and a custom made hat with a specialty UV-blocking plastic face shield.”

Josh has created a blog about his daughter’s life with XP. It’s called Anna Liberty: A Girl Who’s One in a Million, including this post here, which explains how the family is approaching the coming summer, with its longer days, but with the treasured warm, post-sunset hours, when Anna becomes a night owl.

Math for me seldom makes sense. But sometimes, when the one-in-a-million kid scores the one-in-a-million dad, it clicks.

Filed Under: Actors, Featured, New to MDB, Parenting Tagged With: Anna Liberty, Josh Tenney, Xeroderma Pigmentosum, XP

Broadway Squeeze Play

June 16, 2011 by Dennis

Sure, we’re noted for being “nice,” but it doesn’t mean we Mormons can’t at least share how we feel about how our faith is being portrayed on Broadway, where The Book of Mormon (the musical, not the book) has just won 9 Tony awards, including Best Musical.

“Dealing with parody and satire is always a tricky thing for churches,” wrote Michael Otterson, head of public affairs for the Church in the Washington Post. “We can easily appear thin-skinned or defensive, and churches sometimes are.”

But he goes on to share exactly how he feels about the show.

“Specifically, I’m not willing to spend $200 for a ticket to be sold the idea that religion moves along oblivious to real-world problems in a kind of blissful naiveté.” Read Michael’s full article, Why I Won’t Be Seeing the Book of Mormon Musical.

►Braden Bell, who has three degrees and a job in theatre, notably musical theater, blogged about what a musical theater guy is supposed to make of this show that everyone loves and has officially taken Broadway by storm.

“I don’t think it’s productive to get upset or boycott or things like that, either. The Church’s official statement is a one sentence thing that basicaly amounts to: ‘Meh.’ Personally, I think we all just need to grow a thicker skin and stop being offended at everything. Freedom of Speech is an incomparable gift and the cost is that we might hear things that offend us.

“I just wish this were practiced more equitably. Why is it ok to mock Mormon beliefs and things we hold sacred, but jokes about other more favored minorities are immediately off-limits?”

Read Braden’s full post, A Musical Theatre Mormon’s Thoughts on The Book of Mormon Musical.

►Davison Cheney is a “poor Idaho boy living in Utah,” who has not seen The Book of Mormon musical. But the former BYU musical theater major has followed the rise of the show with interest.

“What bugs me is not that this stereotype is poorly researched or shallow or incomplete. On the contrary. Nor is the problem that others will look at the stereotype and go no further in their pursuit to understand Mormons and Mormon beliefs. I know that, having been trivialized, there will be many who won’t be able to get past the caricature of rose-colored-glasses-wearing, naive and unsophisticated Latter-day Saint trying to save the world. That kind-a describes me.

“Mormons are not the first group of people to be lampooned. But Mormons are the ones who won’t fight viciously in retaliation. There will be no picket lines. And other than folks like me commenting, the response will be decent and faith affirming (http://newsroom.lds.org/). Mormons will weather that storm with a smile — not unlike the stereotype.”

Read Davison’s post, About Mormons and Broadway.

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Filed Under: Actors, Featured, Stage Tagged With: actors, Braden Bell, Davison Cheney, Michael Otterson, stage

Kirby and Lincoln in Therapy

May 11, 2011 by Dennis

Kirby and Lincoln continue their comic kerBLINK capades with their latest video, Therapy Wagon.

Kirby (the “kerB”) Heyborne and Lincoln (the “LINK”) Hoppe are working to create a place where families can come view good, funny, clean videos and other creative content. They hope to become a site that features other people’s content as well, offering a more family-friendly version of sites like funnyordie.com.

Watch and see if you don’t agree that Kirby seems like he’d be a good therapist. And Lincoln seems like he’d be a good patient.

Enjoy Therapy Wagon.

Filed Under: Actors, Featured, Film/TV Tagged With: kerBLINK, kirby heyborne, lincoln hoppe

The Friday Five • Episode 3

April 22, 2011 by Dennis

So much good stuff – not enough days. Hence, The Friday Five:

An Abundance of Pudding. A husband’s offer to volunteer 30 minutes turns into a 9-hour ordeal and an experience never-to-be forgotten. In a good way.

Jeff Lindsay’s post in Mormanity shows that were more than just about the Jello at LDS functions. Sometimes, we’re about the pudding. Read An Abundance of Pudding.

The Easter Egg Miracle. Funny guys Kirby Heyborne and Lincoln Hoppe are at it again, just in time for Easter.

Kirby is the “kerB” in kerBLINK, Lincoln is the “LINK”. While the duo specializes in funny business, their aim is for something a little more serious. They are trying to create a place where families can come view good, funny, clean videos and other creative content. They hope to soon be site that features other people’s content as well, offering a more family-friendly version of sites like funnyordie.com.

We wish them all the best. For now, let them entertain you with An Easter Treat. Bring a tissue.

Smiling Guy Revealed! His winning smile will be an indelible memory from April’s General Conference. But who is he? What were his intentions? And is he single?

These questions raged throughout the LDS blogosphere, but leave it to a newcomer to MDB to land the Oprah-sized interview. Paul Wilson, co-owner of LDSFriends.com, tracked down the smiling guy in Australia and lined up a webcam interview. Paul and his wife have two daughters. He serves in the bishopric of his ward in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Welcome Paul and his blog to MDB by watching Interviewing Smiling Guy, who turns out to be Dan Smith, a self-employed carpenter from Melbourne. (And yes, ladies, he’s single.)

No Peace in the Restroom. With seven children under age 14, it’s been years since Ken Craig has been able to use the restroom in peace.

“Dad, look! I’m waving at you! (Little fingers sticking out from under the door.)”

Read Ken’s fun post, Reader’s Indigestion.

Pennies from Heaven. Another newcomer to MDB is from a blogger known only as Middle-aged Mormon Man.

MDB has learned that MMM is the father of 5, happily married, active in church service, and a former Bishop.

“Am quite ‘orthodox,’ in my beliefs,” writes MMM, “but feel we can joke and have fun within our unique culture.”

For his 99th post, he created a video to demonstrate how family budgets work using a table full of pennies. Welcome MMM to MDB by watching Family Finances – Penny Wise.

Filed Under: Actors, Featured, Film/TV, General Tagged With: Jeff Lindsay, Ken Craig, kerBLINK, kirby heyborne, LDSFriends, lincoln hoppe, Middle-aged Mormon Man, Modern Mormon Men, Mormanity, Paul Wilson

Sorry, it’s Taken

April 14, 2011 by Dennis

Quite possibly inspired by what may be a churchwide phenomenon of arriving an hour before the start of Stake Conference, only to discover that the dozen or so people spread throughout the chapel have collectively staked a claim on every inch of every pew (oh, the things we’ll do for a soft seat), funny men Kirby Heyborne and Lincoln Hoppe have just released a new video.

Called Taken, the online 2-minute sketch is the latest in the Southern California pair’s kerBLINK series of funny, clean videos.

Take a look at Taken.

Filed Under: Actors, Featured, Film/TV, Media Tagged With: actors, film, kirby heyborne, lincoln hoppe, mormon daddy blogs

Devastating News (But Only For Now) (Maybe)

March 29, 2011 by Dennis

At first, the news was devastating. Mormon Daddy Blogs has just learned that best daddy ever honors go to Kirby Heyborne, making the rest of us, it would seem, second-best dads ever at best.

However, I looked it up, and “ever” is not the same as “forever.” “Ever” only appears to pertain to everything up to this point (“Have you ever been to France?” doesn’t necessarily mean that you couldn’t still go to France next year, for example).

So, yes, Kirby Heyborne may be the best dad ever, but who’s to say that one of the rest of us won’t win the prize next year? Who besides Kirby, that is?

Filed Under: Actors, Featured, Film Tagged With: actors, kirby heyborne

From Fast Food Worker to Writer in 13 Easy Steps

March 28, 2011 by Dennis

I first saw Brett Merritt on stage as a member of the improv comedy group, The Thrillionaires. He was the glue the held all the zany parts together, kept the show moving, managed to cleverly rein in the story whenever it started drifting off course or in a less-than-PG direction, and he did it all so skillfully, you couldn’t even see the wires.

By day, Brett is a writer. I didn’t know that. But for a long time, neither did Brett.

Turns out Brett is a late bloomer. He admits it took him 32 years to figure out that writing and acting were what he was meant to do. Rather than bemoan the years (and various jobs) it took him to come to that realization, Brett decided to find the positive in his delayed realization. The jobs he had along the way weren’t wasted time; they were the building blocks toward becoming what he was meant to be.

Learn how such diverse work as grocery bagger and fast food worker helped make Brett a writer in Why Do I Write?

P.S. The picture above isn’t really from Brett’s fast food days. It’s from his acting demo reel. But I’m sure those days at Dairy Queen provided at least some inspiration for this role.

Filed Under: Actors, Featured, New to MDB, Writers Tagged With: actors, Brett Merritt, writers

Kirby “Le Nez” Heyborne

March 15, 2011 by Dennis

It’s almost unfair, the number of talents Kirby Heyborne has.

Perhaps most well-known is his talent for acting. He’s starred in roughly 97.3% of the Mormon movies and can be seen in no less than half of the commercials currently airing on television (he’s been falling down that cliff for a credit card company for several months now — poor fellow).

What’s more, he’s gifted in the challenging art of improv comedy. (MormonDaddyBlogs featured his acting and comedy talents in this video, featuring the relatively unknown sport of Extreme Hand Slapping.)

Only slightly less well-known is his musical talent. Kirby has several albums to his credit, including the recently released Elm Tree.

As if those aren’t enough gifts for one man, Kirby is also blessed with extra olafactory perception (EOP). His latest blog post will leave you realizing how most of us go through life skimming the surface of what this planet has to offer.

Dive deep with Kirby’s sense of smell here.