The Devil is a Scrooge!

My sister and I are the Christmas Play directors. Since God has really blessed us with a growing church, we have three separate Christmas plays. Normally we have the Adult Play on Saturday, and then the following Sunday evening we have the youth & children’s plays. But this year, Nancy and I have opted for something a little different that our church has never done before. Our youth will be hosting "A Walk Through Bethlehem." It is the same concept as a live nativity, however, there will be a guided tour of Bethlehem where you actually walk from scene to scene. This will be taking place on December 8th & 9th. Nancy is the main director for this play, I will be helping when I can.

On December 16th, we will have the Adult Christmas play. The title of the play is "A Second Chance Christmas." We have been working very hard on the play, and I know that the Lord will bless. I am the main director for this play, Nancy will be helping when she can.

On Sunday, December 17th, will be the Children’s Christmas play. It is titled, "Christmas Around the World." Each child will be representing a different country and will speak of the traditions unique to that country/culture. They will be forming a manger scene in the end. Nancy and I are both directing this play. Nancy is doing more of the actual play stuff, I am working more on the costumes, props and anything else that needs to be done. We also have others who are helping us get this play under way.

Nancy and I together are directing the children’s choir and the youth choir. These songs will be presented on the night of the 17th as well.

I have never seen the likes of the devil as I have this past weekend. I have come to realize that the devil is the biggest Scrooge of them all. Naturally, I don’t expect the devil to be excited about anything that takes place in a church in the name of God. He really does know how to wear you down, though.

Saturday morning as I am getting ready to start the adult play practice, I find out that one of the cast members is not going to be able to be in the play. I also had an idea that another cast member (main character) wouldn’t be able to be in the play either. I was so stressed. However, I had a couple of people in mind for the parts. I spoke to them Sunday morning, but with their jobs, both travel quite a bit, and December is no exception. So here I was, less than a month away from show time, and I didn’t have a main character, nor did I have a husband for the nosy neighbor. I was stressed and I really just wanted to cry and throw up my hands.

Then, over lunch, Nancy informed me that she was having just as much trouble with the youth Bethlehem Walk, as I was with the adult. She had youth telling her that they didn’t want to be in it, they had to be outside in the cold, they didn’t want people standing around staring at them, etc. By the time we left the restaurant, Nancy and I were so disheartened and really felt like all we were trying to accomplish was going down the drain, and no one was going to get a blessing from it. The devil had us by our feet and was ready to pull them out from under us.

The past two years, I have directed the youth play. I know how they are, and Nancy and I thought that this year we had a fool proof game plan. The youth do not like to act, they do not like to speak, they do not want to memorize lines, they really don’t want to do much other than be seen. So that is one reason we decided to do the Walk. Because they wouldn’t have to do anything other than put on a costume and stand/sit, whatever, in a scene during the Walk. They wouldn’t have to practice very much at all (maybe like once the week before), they wouldn’t have to do a thing other than stand. Well the devil reminded us really quick he doesn’t like anything to do with God, and our fool-proof plan was not devil-proof.

Anyways, by the time church was over last night, I had my two recently empty positions filled and Nancy had volunteers for the youth play (hopefully more than enough) and it was obvious WHO was in charge. We even had like 4 costumes for the Christmas Around the World taken care of as well! WHEW....what a blessing!

Today, life as a Christmas play director feels a little less stressful. So Bah, humbug, Satan!

Well, it’s time for another play practice tonight, hopefully everyone will show up!

I miss that old feeling...

This week has really taken me back to my senior year of college. I guess the reason why it because during my senior year I lived alone. I had a very cute, comfortable apartment that I had turned into my little haven of bliss. I found my refuge in my living room. I had a big fluffy couch, shaggy rug, lots of pillows, and candles that I burned constantly. I would sit in my living room floor and work on whatever "new" crafty project I had come up with. Whether it be making picture frames from old windows, re-upholstering a chair, coloring in a coloring book, making pillows and curtains, or re-doing and entire dining room set, whatever it was, I enjoyed doing it while watching my favorite tv shows. (CSI, Law and Order, Sex and the City, or watching a movie.) That is exactly how I spent the majority of my weekends and some evenings (when I wasn't working on some massive research paper, or working in general.) I loved being able to do that. I miss it to be honest. Since I am now at home w/ my sisters and a one year old nephew, finding time to do these things is pretty much slim to none, plus considering that I can't leave my unfinished project in the floor where I was working on it. But this week has been different. I've been dog/house sitting for my sister-in-law while she is out visiting my parents in Mississippi. The past couple of nights, I have been working on a Christmas Tree Skirt. I've been able to sprawl out on the floor to measure the fabric, to trace and cut out my patterns. I have throughly enjoyed every minute of it and I have come to realize how much I really hate not being able to keep up with my crazy ideas and trying to make things that I have no idea how to make. I get such a satisfaction when my "projects" turn out better than I expected, and I like seeing when they don't come out as planned, and where I need to change something. It's all trial and error. Last night, after I finished cutting out my all my pieces of the skirt, I decided that was enough for one night. So I made a quick pot of coffee and I enjoyed a Pumpkin Pie Spice coffee while I watched the Polar Express. I had never seen the movie, but I had heard it was great. I watched it while curled up on the couch, with Gizmo laying in my lap. It was a great evening. I can't wait til tonight, when I can finish up my Christmas tree skirt and watch The Lake House, while drinking another cup of good ol' Joe.

Answered Prayers & Movie Dates

The Lord really eased all of our worries yesterday. My niece, McKenzie, was sent to NC Baptist Hospital to have some tests ran on a bump that is on the back of her head. We arrived at the hospital about 45 minutes early and they took McKenzie in after only waiting 10 minutes. Then within another 10 minutes, we were ready to leave! The doctor felt of McK’s head and surrounding areas and didn’t seem to think there was any reason for alarm. McK has a little bit of extra bone in her head which is what is causing the knot. He said that as she grows the bone will be absorbed/fused into the rest of the surrounding bone and it won’t be a problem. However, he wants to see her in three months. But all in all the trip was a great one!

The Santa Claus 3: The Escape Claus. I am rather excited. I’ve actually wanted to see this movie. But anyways, Kellie Grace & Nichole will be joining us for popcorn and a movie tomorrow afternoon. However, there is a catch....Matt actually has to call Nichole and ask her if she would like to go to the movies. Nichole has made it very clear to Matt that "the boy calls the girl, then the boy buys her dinner and takes her to the movie." It is hilarious for her to tell it. Anyways, I have been in the background actually making sure that the girls’ parents don’t have any plans for tomorrow and told them I would confirm tonight. However, to make Nichole feel a little more special, Matt will be calling her in the morning to see if she and Kellie Grace would like to join us for a movie. Those little girls are precious, and they truly crack me up.

I was able to spend a lot of quality time with my sister-in-law as we rode in the back seat with McK sitting between us. I have always loved my sister-in-law, but she and McK have really taken over my heart’s strings lately. I am so blessed to have such an awesome family! This weekend, Matt and I are going on a little date ourselves. We are taking a couple of the little girls from church (one in kindergarten and one in 3rd grade) to the movies. We are going to see

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I’ve missed my Matt Matt the past week, he’s been working so hard. So we are just gonna chill with the two of us for a while this weekend. Possibly a Christmas picture or two as well. But we shall see!!!

Anyways, I’m off to a weekend full of resting and relaxation. Ciao

Prince Edward Island

I have decided, that I am going to be traveling to Prince Edward Island in 2008. Yes, that may be a long ways off, but I have a reason for going in 2008. I will be attending the 100 Years of Anne. That's right. Prince Edward Island is the setting for the famous books by L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea. I cannot wait to be able to go. I am already very much excited about it as well. More than likely my friend, Joy, will be tagging along for this Canadian adventure, Kellye may possibly go! Speaking of Kellye, her and I may be spending New Years together in the BIG APPLE! We've been discussing this for the past little bit and I am very much excited about it! So we both currently have both fingers crossed hoping that our plans pan out for us. Kellye and Joy are probably two of my dearest friends ever. I have several other dear friends and we keep close tabs on each other quite often. However, unfortunately, I do not live close to any of them. So our time on the phone or via email has become "cherished" times. We do try to get together a couple/three times a year and just catch up and have a great time. Not seeing my dearest friends is probably the thing that I miss the most about being in college. We all lived so close to each other then.....ah well....so are the times of growing up.

Anyways, I hope that everyone is having a fantastic day. I hope to have some Fall Pictures up soon!