What a fun and fantastic show~ even if Briana wasn’t in it! I’m going back for the 2nd time next Thursday, and I can’t wait.
Good Morning Baltimore~
Briana is in the center in the beige trench coat…Don’t you love the wig?
Briana was one of the Nicest
Kid’s in Town and a Counsel Member~which translated to she was in all
almost all of the dances and was one of 8 that had the main dance
parts.
"Nicest Kids In Town"
Nicest Kids introducing themselves~ "Tammy"
With Corny Collins
"I Can Hear the Bells"
These girls popping up, ringing those bells, and the expressions on
their faces is one of my favorite parts. Briana is 2nd from the left in
the back.
"Miss Baltimore Crabs"
"Run and Tell That"
The Sophomore Hair Hop
"The Madison"
"The Madison" ~ Feed the Monkey (Briana is on the far left.)
"It Takes Two"
"Welcome to the 60′s"
Oh, my goodness. These ladies have the most amazing voices! And, the
one on the left was a semi finalist in season 3 of American Idol.
"Welcome to the 60′s"
Briana is the tall one…different wig this scene. You can’t really tell,
but it is black and has a hot pink stripe across it. Those pink cateye
glasses crack me up.
Scatter dodgeball scene. Briana is on the right.
"Big Blonde and Beautiful"
"Big Blonde and Beautiful" ~ Mother/Daughter dance
"Timeless to Me"
"I Know Where I’ve Been"
This was an amazing song. It brought the house down opening night, and I think most performances.
"It’s Hairspray" ~ Briana is on the left between the 2 guys…new dress, new, bigger wig! : )
"Cooties"
"You Can’t Stop the Beat" ~ Briana
is toward the back in the center. There were SO many people on stage in
this song, we couldn’t get a good picture of her.
She’s in there somewhere!
Believe me, I really did restrain myself on the pictures! LOL.
Please pray for Ashley as she prepares to leave for Kenya on July 22nd!
See a glimpse of our family's
adoption story in the Summer Issue of TOS (The Old Schoolhouse)
Magazine!! It was fun to do. Thank you Gena and Heidi! Daniella says
she's famous now.
I have so much to update on!!!
This summer just keeps spinning. I will post, I will post, I WILL
post!! I 'm dying to get the Hairspray pictures on here. But, for now,
I'm off to get ready. I've been completely alone (except for the dogs
and cat) all day today, and tonight I am going out to dinner with 2
friends.
Wow. Where do I even start?
Last time I posted I was at my parents house on my birthday...June 15.
It is now June 28, and I have been back over here twice. What a
month....what a year.
I did have a very good birthday
cookout. It only rained about 5 min., and we had fun. It also gave us a
chance to spend the afternoon with Troy and him with the whole family.
Four and a half days after we got
home from that visit, we went back to my parents'/ Briana's, which is
a 2 hour drive. James took pictures of Hairspray dress rehearsals (fun
pictures coming soon!!) on Tues., and Wed. night. Opening night was
Thurs. night. It was spectacular....and not just because my daughter
was in it. : ) On Wed., while Briana was in all day rehearsals, James
and I went out and did some preleminary scouting for her an apt. Mostly
ruling some out based on location. That is a little
freaky.....finding my baby an apt. : )We were here that trip 3 nights.
My sister and 2 nieces from the other side of TN were also here visiting
my parents, so we had a FULL house. A 3 bedroom house with 11 people, 5
dogs, 2 cats, and an African Grey parrot. Wow. It was fun visiting,
though.
We went back home Friday night.
Got home about 10:00! Marissa stayed at my parents' to play with her
cousins and stay to visit with her grandparents after they leave. Well,
the next night at 9:45, I hurriedly threw some things in the car, and
unexpectedly set out once again to my parents' house, alone this time.
Marissa was running a high fever, had a sore throat, and was throwing
up. She needed her mama. That was last night. It was about 11:00
their time (midnight mine.....I changed time zones coming here) when I
got here, and she was back up and had just thrown up again. It was
pretty long night, especially up until about 3:00 this morning. She
finally stopped throwing up then, but sleep was still fretful, since I
was sleeping curled up in a living room chair. Thankfully, I was able
to take a nap today. Marissa is doing better today, although still
running a low grade temp. I hope to be able to go home tomorrow
afternoon (which will actually be today, I guess by the time I get this
posted). I guess she will still be staying here, which means James will
still be making a trip to come back over here to pick her back up.
I am currently still up because I am chapheroning Briana and Troy while they watch a movie. : ) Everyone else is in bed.
I am hoping to make it home
tomorrow because tomorrow....the 29th....James and I celebrate our 24th
wedding anniversary. I love him!!! Our marriage gets so much better
the further we go, and I am more in love with him than ever!
When I get back, guess what! I
will have 11 whole days to be at home before I come back. Long story,
but it's just a season. I will be coming back alone again, and be here 9
days. I think this season will slow down after Briana is in an apt.
Okay. I realized I didn't throw
in the joys! Spending time with Briana, spending time with Troy,
spending time with my nieces, a *wonderful* opening night for Briana
(we laughed and had a ball), sitting beside the quiet lake in prayer and
thought, seeing Briana so happy and doing what she loves, cleansing
tears, good conversations and strengthening friendship with Ashley,
enjoying seeing Ashley prepare for all the exciting things coming up in
her life and seeing her be blessed by people donating for her Kenya
trip, a sweet time with Daniella before I had to leave last night,
dancing to oldies in the car coming over here last night, and, yes, even
holding Marissa's hair back and wiping her face down when she was sick
last night. The situation wasn't really a joy, but I felt so much love
and pain for her. I'm sure there are many others. God has blessed me.
I also realized I didn't mention the greatest of the trying days, but that will have to wait for another post.
I sure am hoping this movie is over soon! : ) I'm not really chaperoning. Just up with them.
We are visiting our daughter
Briana this week. We came over on Friday, and Friday night James and I
had dinner with her and Troy. It was a really nice time. On Sat.
afternoon, I went alone to see them in Shenandoah.....which
is where they met. On Sunday,.....I went again (sheepish grin) with
Ashley. Sunday was their final of 36 shows since it opened mid-March.
She was getting pretty tired of it these last few weeks, but was still,
in some ways, sad it was over. Of course, she is in full swing of
Hairspray rehearsals. She's 10 to 10 tomorrow, with an hour and a half
break for lunch, and one for supper. It's like that most of this week.
Troy and Briana in their Shenandoah costumes.
Thankfully, she is off today.
She's off most Mondays unless it's tech week (next week). Today is my
birthday, so we're planning to go for a cookout this afternoon.
Unfortunately, there is a 50% chance of scattered storms this
afternoon. : ( I hope we don't get rained out!
Ashley is still plugging away
at her college history course, and she and I have been enjoying some fun
times together. It's funny how you can miss one so much, and yet be
thankful for the opportunities it's giving you with another one.
Confusing emotions. : )
Speaking of which, this letting
go thing is just not easy.......learning to share them with others
(especially a man! : ) ), and that they are spreading their wings in
new, higher, different places, and learning from God what your new place
in that is......... I'm getting there....I think.....
I had hoped to go home Tues.,
which became Wed., which I find out now, is Thurs. I enjoy visiting
with Briana, but we're going to be seeing very little of her
Tues.-Thurs. with her rehearsals. And, we will be coming back 5 days
later for James to take pictures at Hairspray dress rehearsals 2 nights,
then the 3rd night we will go to the opening.
Ashley is getting very excited
about her Kenya trip. If you are on Facebook, look up "Ashley's Going
to Kenya!", and join her group to join us in prayer for the trip and
team.
The younger girls are doing
good. They are looking forward to coming back over next week again
because 2 of their cousins will be here that week. It's kind of a low
key week for them this week. Not much of their stuff here, their
grandparents are out of town this week, we haven't been able to get
swimming passes to the pool yet (hopefully today), and I've been gone a
lot of the time we've been here. They played Wii quite a while
yesterday with their Daddy. They're watching Animal Planet right now.
We watch very little t.v., but I do let them watch some of the shows on
there sometimes. I tell you.....that little Daniella can remember every
single detail about animals that she hears on that show. Even when she
has trouble comprehending and remembering other things, she can tell
you word for word details about animals on a show she saw months ago.
Off to get pull everything
together for our cookout. Troy is joining us, and I'm looking forward
to some fun family time.....please don't storm!
Edit~ I am copying all of these old posts over from another blog site. This is quite entertaining. And, interesting to see where God has taken us since then......
Wow! Where has the time gone?
The last couple of weeks have been full of changes, possible changes,
discussions of changes, wondering about changes...... you get the
picture. Sending adult children off into the world is exciting,
difficult, and full of all kinds of emotions.
Let's see.....I will start with
Ashley, our 22 year old. She is living at home still (YAY!!), and
taking her courses in "Religion" online through Liberty Univ. She's
really struggling, and not having any peace about college right now.
She's praying for the Lord to fill her heart with HIS desires, and to
show her whether it is good for her to continue, whether she should
continue part time, or keep going like she is now. She's not struggling
with her classes. So far, she's blown all of those away. It's a
struggle of whether this, at this time, is the right course for her
life.
Her mental plate (and, therefore,
mine!) is full right now. This week she is teaching music at our VBS,
and loving it. I don't know if I've said this here before, but she has
been blessed this summer to fulfill a 11 or 12 year dream to go to
Kenya. The Lord really brought this whole trip together. She had been
doing a lot of internet searching on what type of extended trip she
wanted to do this summer, and nothing would ever come together or
click. Then, just like God, at the exact right moment, came this
opportunity, and we knew it was time. She will be going to Orbit, Kenya
(20 or 30 min from Nairobi) for 3 weeks beginning July 28ish, with a
missionary whom we have supported for about 11 years. If you all
remember the story I posted recently about her sponsor child there, who
had been raped, had a baby girl whom she named Ashley, and then the baby
recently died at one year old.......she will get to finally meet Mokoi
this summer! She is so very excited. I think 1/2 the village is
excited, too. Because our family was the 2nd ones to ever sponsor a
child in the village, the missionary, Cyndy, says that Ashley is
literally a celebrity in the village. ; ) So,
this week, Ashley has been busy sending out fundraising letters, in
between studying a monster U.S. History course (tons and tons and tons
of reading) and VBS.
Also, in the midst of this, the
Lord has led us to check out some camp internships all across the U.S.
Ashley has a very strong desire to be a Christian Camp director, with
the dream of one day owning her own camp, centered around horses. We
have dreamed together of lots of things it could include and expand
upon, including church retreats, praise dance camps, hayrides, etc. It
has been fun to dream with her. Somehow she stumbled upon an internship
program in CA. It is not the right one for her, but got us to
thinking, praying, and researching. I have a feeling that if not this
winter, then definitely by next, she will be in one of these internships
somewhere in the country. The ones we have found are anywhere from 6
weeks to one or 2 years. Six weeks is not near long enough, but she's
not sure she's ready to move across country for a year, either. So,
we're just looking and praying for the one that is right for her. I
think it will be a tremendous opportunity for her, and very good for
her.
Next....Briana. whew. : )
If you remember I said about 3 or
4 weeks ago, that she and a guy friend of hers were going out as
friends and seeing if there was anything stronger there. Yep. They are
now officially a couple. The Lord has given James and me great peace
about their relationship, and we really like what we know about him so
far. Because they live 2 hours away, we had not been able to meet him,
even though my parents had. Yes, I've been dying to get back over
there!!! But, he has shown himself to be a friend and wonderful
gentleman. He's very artsy, which makes us smile. Most of his life has
been spent in Seattle, and he has lived in NYC for a while. He is an
actor, playwright, wonderful artist, singer, musician, comic...but, most
of all a Christian, wants to serve God with his life, knows how to have
serious and deep conversations, and did I mention, gentleman. : )
Yesterday he (Troy) and Briana came over for the day to go to
Dollywood...I had been able to get them free passes. They had to come
by the house to pick the tickets up. Bless his heart! I bet is was
awfully overwhelming to be surrounded by the 6 of us!! We only got to
see them about 5 min., which was more than a little frustrating for me!
However, last night everyone was gone to VBS except me (the resident
heathen. LOL) , and Troy and Briana, spur of the moment, came back over
for supper before they headed back home. It was so neat. It was just
the 3 of us, and they were here for almost 2 hours. I loved getting to
spend that quiet time with them. So.....we shall see what the Lord has
planned.
We are going over to see Briana
this Friday. Shenandoah is in it's last week (36 shows total!), and
Ashley and I are going to see the closing. James and I are going out to
dinner with Troy and Briana this weekend.
Are you still with me???
A couple of weeks ago, we found
out that Briana made Hairspay for the summer. YAY!!! It's going to be
fun, although, she's so tired right now. If you've seen the show, she
was cast as one of the 8 Counsel Members. They are the main dancers on
the Corny Collins show on the movie. They dance up front and have extra
parts, etc. Today she told me that she is one of 5 of them who get to
help out in the store during "Welcome to the 60's" when Tracy and
Edna(?...the mom) are being all dressed up in their pink sparkly
dresses. I *cannot* wait to go see it. Opening is June 25th, and
we'll be there!!
Are you still with me????
Briana has also made the decision
(with our blessing) that she is not coming back home after Hairspray
ends Aug. 30, as originally planned. She is going to be looking for a
roommate/apt., possibly auditioning for the fall musical, depending on
what it is, driving 45 min. to college and going part or full time
(depending on the musical) with a major in voice, and hopefully still
taking one or 2 dance classes at the Playhouse.
And, yes. This has all happened
in the last 3 weeks. Would you like to pray for me??!! LOL. One last
thing, is that I am so incredibly thankful for my husband. With all
that has been going on, he has been such a blessing. He has done most
of anything that has been done with the younger girls the last couple of
weeks. My plate has been so full, and I am still struggling with not
sleeping. My body has become weary, and if he had not been here to pick
up the slack, I'm not sure how I would have handled it.
Hello???? is anyone still there?
Our daughter met with her friend
for 2 1/2 hours yesterday morning. I think it was a pretty intense
study. Although, so far, nothing has changed, she felt confident about
the meeting. Although the friend argued their case, they really seemed
to listen to her, wrote down the scripture references our daughter
shared, and said they were going to study them. They seemed to
genuinely be considering her words and the scriptures she shared.
Please continue to pray. (If you haven't read the request, it's in the
previous entry.)
Probably the best thing, so far,
to come out of this was my daughter's experience. She went with a
little trepidation. She knew we were fasting and praying, and she knew
she had some scripture prepared to share, but she said she knew she was
going in feeling like she had to change their mind, even though in her
head she knows it's God that has to do that. She had also struggled
the day before of wondering if she knew why she believes what she does.
There comes a point in the life of a young adult when they have to own
their beliefs. They have been believing what their parents have taught
them. Even though she had no doubts about what she believed and has
read the scriptures many times, I guess being able to express those
beliefs and why is something else that has to be grown into. As she
told me about the morning, she came to a point where she just had the
most peaceful tone of voice. She told me that as she was sharing
scripture about salvation/baptism/works, that she knew it was not her
that was speaking. She said that she was not a debater, she knew she
didn't have all of those things to say, and that she is not generally
that outspoken and bold. She could feel the Spirit and Him speaking
through her. And, she said that as she spoke she was just filled with
the sense that, "this is truth. I know that. And, no matter what
happens, it really doesn't matter, because this is truth, and I have
spoken truth." Of course, she knows that what happens with the friend
matters. It was just that she was filled with the Spirit, and He
comforted her, guided her, and assured her that she had obeyed and done
what he asked. It was very much a maturing in her faith and a growing
experience for her.
There is still much for them to
discuss. I don't know yet when they will meet again. Thank you for
your prayers, and I will probably be asking again. Please now, pray for
this friend's heart to be opened to the truth as they seek the Word.
And, pray they will seek the Word and God, instead of going to someone
else in their church.
I know I have been absent much
lately. That is because much has been on my mind and heavy on my
heart. A couple of people have asked if I am sleeping better. No. I
did sleep almost 6 hours last night. There have been only 4 nights out
of the last 12 that I have slept more than 3 or 4 hours. On those 4
nights, it has not been longer than 6 hours. I know the reason is
probably stress, although, I don't feel stressed when I wake up after
only 2 or 3 hours of sleep. Another possibility is the Lord is waking
me up to pray. I have prayed a tremendous amount during these long
nights, and the Lord has shown me things concerning that which is
stressing.
I am asking you, as my friends in
Christ, to please stand and pray with me. You see, I don't need prayer
for sleep, or for anything for myself. We need prayer for a spiritual
battle that the enemy is fighting. This is a battle involving one of my
daughters. NO! it is not a battle for her, but a battle for a friend
of hers. God has called our daughter to be a light and a witness. This
friend is in a very legalistic church, and we KNOW, with no doubts,
that God has put this friend in her life, and that satan wants to keep
that friend in this legalism. In one respect, it is about our daughter,
too, in that she needs to be covered in the full armor, so that she is
not swayed in any way by this friend's words. I can't go into many
details, but this an urgent prayer. The outcome has many important
consequences.
She will be meeting with her
friend for a Bible study for the first time tomorrow morning at 10:00 am
central time. She is not sure she feels prepared. As I prayed for her
last night, and asked God to help her, I was struggling with feeling
like this was too big for my little girl. Immediately, God gave me the
picture of David and Goliath. He was a young boy (much younger than my
daughter, I'm sure) facing a huge enemy. But, David knew that he did
not need to fear, because God was with him, God was fighting this
battle, and all David had to do was show up and obey. Next, Gideon came
to my mind. God continually reduced his army until it looked
impossible. Again, God fought the battle using willing, obedient, and
trusting hearts. God wanted the glory for Himself, not the army.
God has been preparing us for
this.....James, our daughter, and me. We have watched him AMAZINGLY
answer prayer after prayer and answer question after question in this so
far. He has made it clear for over a week now, in several different
ways, that He is in this, and that He has a plan. Then on Monday,
THREE times throughout the day, God brought the same verse before my
eyes from 3 very different and random places....."For God has not given
you a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and
self-discipline". When a verse comes at you 3 times in that short of a
period, God wants you to take notice. Also, this friend told her
Monday, that they had been in a dry place spiritually, but that over the
last week or so they had realized some things that were not right, and
had made some big changes. They told her that she was the reason for
this....that it was nothing in particular that she had done, but just
who she was, and watching her walk with Christ. God is working.
So, our daughter just found out
about this Thurs. morning Bible study late last night. That does not
give her much time to prepare to learn something about what this friend
believes, and to be able to pray and search for answers. Only a few
hours today. Therefore, we need the LORD to go before her, to continue
to pave the way, to open this friend's heart to the truth, to give our
daughter a spirit of power, love, and gentle boldness, to be able to
continue to just be the person she is, who has already made an impact,
and to be able to hear the spirit whisper to her what to say. We fully
believe this friend is a Christian, but is in bondage to some legalistic
beliefs.
I know without the details, that
it is hard to understand why we feel so strongly that this is a
spiritual battle, and, perhaps it is just my mother's heart over
reacting, but would you please pray?
