Theater Kids

I'm a Theater Kid.

Theater Kids are weird.

Like, really weird. I don't even think we understand ourselves somedays.

All that being said, Theater Kids are awesome.

I recently had the honor to be in the college's production of "Things My Mother Taught Me." At the beginning of the semester I knew I wanted to be in the fall drama production, or at least try out. At the time I didn't realize what that would all entail. So, I show up at auditions--I was probably freaking out about a paper (or two) and an exam that was coming up--confident that I wanted to participate in this, although still of little hesitant. But within five minutes of waiting with the other Theater Kids I knew this was going to be great.

After auditions we waited.

And waited.

And then we waited a little longer.

Finally we got the cast list, the script, and the rights to perform.

Drama practice nights were the best nights of the week. Even though Thursday nights often meant 3 am bedtimes in order to get homework and studying accomplished and Friday night practice meant Friday night social events disappeared, they were the best nights of the week. The beginning of October seems so long ago, especially considering the final product at the beginning of November.

I'm not going to bore you with all the details of what happened during those crazy hours of drama practice, partially because I don't want to write that much, mostly because I'm not sure it's acceptable to talk about half the stuff we did. Also, I think "bore" is the wrong word to use. I'm sure Jolene can attest to the fact that half of practice was often spent trying to catch our breath after attacks of laughter.

Regardless, after several weeks of hard work in a tiny space we moved out of McGavern hall and into the most beautiful, huge, amazing set I have ever seen.

Just look at it. Counters, shelves, doors, cupboards, drawers, windows . . .SPACE TO MOVE!

Finally out of the tiny space of the classroom and on this majestic stage everything clicked. All our hard work payed off. Dress rehearsal was amazing and the two performances even better. And, as most of you heard since we were all freaking out about it, the playwright came to the show. *begin internal screaming again*

It's been a week since all of that. A crazy insane wacky week. Until last Friday night I didn't realize how much I missed drama practice. I still haven't stopped thinking in play lines, or even the inside jokes. They just pop out at the most random times. So if you hear me muttering to myself, just ignore me, it was probably in the script. (SO GOOD, SO GOOD, SO GOOD!) See what I mean? I just can't help it.

Sunday night we celebrated with a cast party. We talked about what made us proud, what made us frustrated, and what made us laugh. Basically, everything made us laugh. It was a comedy after all!

I was going to list some of the funny moments we talked about last night but as I was writing out the list I realized two things. Either they won't make sense since you weren't there, or its not an appropriate thing to say. Mostly the second reason. What can I say?

 We'reTheater Kids!

And we are crazy.

LtoR: Marissa as Maxine, Tim and Lauren as Gabe and Olivia, Me and Nick as Lydia and Wyatt, Ellen and Nathan as Karen and Carter. And Kevin center stage as directer.

Lights, group hug, action!

Of all the awesome things happening in this picture Pugsy is my favorite. 

Spoiler alert, happy ending

end scene

It Is Well With My Soul

Blessings

It's days like today that I realize once again just how much I'm blessed here at Providence. Surrounded by community, sunshine and the mountains. It's a wonderful thing, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

In the past couple of weeks I've been to the top of the LA city hall, ice skating, concerts, picnics, City Hall sardines, trips to Denny's for drama practice, Biology field trips to the mountains, Late night Fro Yo trips, a Choir performance in Chapel, Open mic night, and just so the adults won't freak out, I have been studying and doing homework. Promise. 

Life is crazy. It is wonderful and beautiful and crazy. Every day is a new adventure. Everyday is a new chance to learn something new about yourself, the people around you, the city, the world. I've done so many things that I don't think I could experience anywhere else. Yes, I could go ice skating in Sioux Center, or go out for Fro Yo with friends. But it's not the same experience. 

And in that way I'm outstandingly blessed. Something as simple as a trip to Denny's,  a tug of war game, or running around, up, down, under city hall at midnight playing sardines builds community in a unique way. 

The blessings are in the little things. Look for them. Live them. 

Sardines at Pasadena City Hall

View from the top of LA City Hall.
The beautiful city of LA!

Sea Beggar Palooza Photo Booth

Slack Lining at the Fall Picnic

Tug of War. The girls won. As always. 

One of my favorite pictures from the BIO field trip

Bio field trip. Right after we had some of the most amazing apple cider I will ever have

Ice Skating in Culver city with a Disney star.



It Is Well With My Soul

What Are You Waiting For?

Apparently nothing worth writing about has happened since March 25. Oops.

So, to catch you up, this was my summer: Work three jobs, a grocery store, the grade school, and Pizza Ranch Corporate office. Take senior photos for friends. Visit the zoo with Emma. Drive all the way to Washington state, visit family, drive all the way back plus yellowstone all in one week. That was it. That was my summer. As fun as some of those things were, I cannot believe how happy I am to be back.

I've started classes and gone to meetings and worked. I've met freshman and gone out for cheesecake, Starbucks, and Carmello's ice cream. I've done homework and played soccer and volleyball. It's nothing out of the ordinary for me, but there's just something about being back that makes me so incredibly happy.

I can't explain it. I might be swamped with homework and planning events, but still, life is good. In everything that is happening, it is easy to see the blessings of God in this world and my life. And trust me, Carmello's ice cream is definitely a blessing.

The theme verse for this year is from Psalm 27:13-14

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." 

So, what are you waiting for?

It Is Well With My Soul

Reminders

I was reminded of two amazing facts about life this afternoon.

1. God is in control. No, really. Everything. That being said, why worry? Why are we stressed out about school, relationships, and money? Stop worrying! God has you where you are for a reason, He is putting you in those stressful situations for a reason. Maybe He's trying to show you something, shape you, bless you, change you, tell you something. Relax, God knows what He's doing in your life!

Whenever I'm stressed out and asking myself "what on earth am I doing here?" I have to remember to step back and remind myself that this is part of God's plan. I may not understand why I am going through something at a certain time, but there is a reason for it.

However, I'm not saying that I won't ever get stressed out again. I'll forget and be a mess for days before it hits me again "God is in control."

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
 Jeremiah 29:11

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:34

In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind
Job 12:10

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
Revelation 4:11

2. God answers prayer. Again, this is something I have always known, but have more fully realized in the past year at Providence. Time and time again I am blown away by this realization. Sometimes its in the little things, like a BTS exam or HIS paper, other times its about relationships, health, or church.

I could name several examples about the many times just this semester that I'll pray about something, forget about it, and then remember a week later only to realize that God answered my prayer. Granted, it hasn't always been the answer I wanted, but knowing that God is in control, it must have been the answer I needed.

Go to God in prayer. What a comfort it is to know that you can ask God everything. Bring to God your questions, concerns, thanksgiving and praises. Our God is so good!

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.
Matthew 21:22


Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 



Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Thessalonians 5:16-18

It Is Well With My Soul

Patience

Patience.

 I've been told several times now that I am a very patient person. Maybe that's so, but I sure don't feel patient.

I loose my temper.
I get frustrated easily.
I am often stressed.
I hate waiting.
I am hasty.
I give up.
I am focused on the now.
I am easily annoyed.
I complain.


I am not a patient person.

Not at all. My whole life I have been reminded that "Patience is a virtue" because of the numerous times I haven't been patient.

What exactly is patience? According to the dictionary: The quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.”

Bearing annoying, misfortunate, painful, provoking incidents with out complaining, becoming irritated, or loosing your temper?? Yikes. Sounds pretty impossible to me. 

The biggest problem with Patience is that people want things now. After going for a run once, you want to step on that scale and see that you lost all that weight. You order that package and you want it to be shipped to your door now, not in a week. You buy a airplane ticket for May, but you wish it was taking off tomorrow. You put a pizza in the oven and you wish it was done right away. You send someone a text and you want the answer now. I can think of a million more examples but I think you get the idea. 

But it's more then that. It's being understanding of people, being considerate towards others, helping people even if it might be an inconvenience to you.  Patience reveals our faith in God’s timing, omnipotence, and love.

Patience isn't something you just put on in the morning. Which, when you think about it, is really to bad. Think about how much nicer people would be to each other, how understanding, helpful, or kind we'd be to our neighbor.

Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  James 5:7-8

Pray for patience. 

Blessed

I am so incredibly blessed. It is nearly impossible to fathom how greatly God has blessed me these two short semesters at Providence. Every day I am completely blown away by His great blessings.

I do not have room or time to list all the blessings, and I don't think I ever will. God is constantly doing things in my life that I never would have imagined. I've always known that I was going to go to Providence, that it was going to be my college. But I don't think I would ever have guessed or imagined how it would shape my life.

I still can't put into words how blessed I am. I have amazing, supporting friends, I'm surrounded by God's beautiful and diverse creation, I have learned so much in all of my classes, and have been greatly humbled through them. The list would go on and on. Everyday I discover another reason to praise God for what He's doing in my life.

Even through mid-terms, homesickness, and stress, there is no other place I want to be right now more then Providence. My senior year of high school I knew that this was were God wanted me. I can see that even more clearly now. I belong here. God has greatly blessed me through this college, praise the Lord!

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new mevery morning;

great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Surrounded by His Beauty

 

On the wall in our dorm room there is a large bulletin board that contains close to 100 photos of everything that happened during the first semester here. A daily reminder of everything that has happened in such a short amount of time.

The Bread Winners

Welcome back to sunny California. It might be sunny but sadly its not warm. 38 degrees anyone? brrrrrr.

I was on a run this morning and came across a sidewalk covered in ice, it was rather entertaining. (What surprises you more, the "run this morning" or the ice in California?) Yeah, I got up at 7:30AM to go for a run. It was cold. By the time I made it to choir at 9am I was actually wide awake and was having a great start to the day. I'm not saying I'm getting up that early every morning, but it wasn't a bad way to start the day.

I've been thrown headfirst back into classes, and I'm loving every moment of it. Except for personal finance . . . math is not my thing. Aside from that I am super excited about my classes.

I recently read an article in one of my history books about women as bread winners. Written in 1887 by Edward O'Donnell and entitled "Women as Bread Winners--The Error of the Age." Normally when I read my textbooks I go through and underline important things to remember, key points, and then move on. This article was different, it stuck with me. I was about through the second paragraph before I realized that I was basically underlining the entire article. It was an extremely interesting article about the women in the factories and what it was doing to family, society, and the men who where looking for jobs as well.

The role of women in the factory was at one point described as "an insidious assault upon the home; it is the knife of the assassin, aimed at the family circle." It is strange to see how much societies view point has changed. Women working is not shocking as it was during 1887 or World War II. Throughout the article the author seemed to dislike the idea of women taking over the men's job saying things like "employment of women in the various handicrafts must gradually unsex them, as it most assuredly is demoralizing them." and "The employer in the magnanimity of his generosity will give employment to the daughter, while her two brothers are weary because of their daily tramp in quest of work."

However, women needed the jobs, they needed to help support their families. The author ends with asking the question "Would you have women pursue lives of shame rather than work?" The introduction of women to the work force changed people's attitudes and views towards women, and I feel like that it changed for the better.