7 Quick Takes (Volume 213)

1) It's been a busy week, getting everything done for our church's musical. We opened last night to phenomenal, spectacular, glowing, decent reviews. It's not too late to catch a performance. Come see us!


2) A local television station ran a piece about the musical on Wednesday and Thursday. Check it out.


3) Sensing my declining mood after a long morning, my husband appealed to my delicate side.

Kevin: What would you like for lunch, my love?

Princess Dawdle: Aw! That's so sweet. You called her "my love."

Kevin: What else should I call her?

Princess Dawdle: I don't know. You could just call her woman.

Apparently she's spent too much time around middle school boys.

4) It's easy for me to get depressed this time of year. We are SO BUSY getting everything done for the musical and going to dress rehearsals every night on top of our normal responsibilities. There's no time for Christmas shopping or decorating. Seems like everybody else has their Christmas tree up, some even have all their gifts bought and I'm happy if the dishes got in the dishwasher.

And then after months of hard work, actors get sick, threatening their ability to perform to their best. Technical difficulties frustrate. We're scrambling to get the set done. Bizarre accidents happen--this year Kevin fell into the orchestra pit! (Thank the good Lord he landed like a cat in the only open area and wasn't hurt.) Sleep is hard to come by as you wake thinking of another little detail.

There are days I wonder if it's worth it.

But then the show opens and we see little miracles every night. God's Spirit swoops in and I am mesmerized at how He works. And we, a bunch of ordinary people, are smack dab in the middle of it! It's such a privilege to be involved and associated with these faithful people. God reminds me the best work takes time, involving sacrifice and perseverance. If He's willing to do it, shouldn't I give it my all? Why wouldn't I want to be a part of it?

5) Every December, our high school show choirs and jazz band do a little elementary tour, visiting all the elementary schools in town. Ladies Man got to go along for the first time this year. One of his jobs? To be the tree in "a partridge in a pear tree," holding up his friend the partridge.


He thought this would be great fun until he had to do it half a dozen times for 12 stanzas of the song! This guy is SORE.

Oh, the price of art.

6) We were just sick when we found out the Cornhusker Marching Band Highlights Concert is tonight, on one our musical's performances. Usually it's the week following the musical and our whole family loves going. Attending has become a tradition of sorts. This will be Drummer Boy's final concert with the marching band and Drama Queen's first. It was TOUGH deciding how to handle it. We didn't want to miss either thing! With Kevin directing, Princess Dawdle in the chorus and me and Ladies Man playing in the pit at church, we had a huge dilemma.

We decided to split it up. Kevin and Princess Dawdle will do their thing at the musical while Ladies Man and I duck out of the orchestra to attend the concert. (Big thanks to Greg for subbing for me!) It'll work, I guess, but Kevin will be wishing he could be in Lincoln and I'll be wondering what's happening on stage in Beatrice. Sigh.

7) After watching the efforts of nearly 50 people at our opening night I must end this post by saying God is good. I am captured at the way He works, mysteriously, often in ways we don't understand or even like, yet He works. And when our eyes are open to His hand, when we let Him do what He wants, we will be amazed with a glimpse of His beauty. I don't understand it. I can't explain it. But I know it. And am in awe.

I pray you see His beauty this weekend too, friends, in whatever comes your way. Catch more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.