Tuesday, September 27, 2005

September 2005

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Currently Reading
Seizing Your Divine Moment : Dare to Live a Life of Adventure
By Erwin Raphael McManus

Holly is not doing very well.  Those of you praying (thank you so much) will know a little bit about her situation...but to update you: Holly is at home now with only weekly trips to the hospital for check ups(a two hour drive). At home she deals with 24/7 naseau and other complications from an unsuccessful surgery.  She just wants to be healthy enough to go to school like her other 13 year old friends.  The doctors don't have any answers yet to the naseau problem...or any idea about how long she will have to stay out of school. Keep praying!
Currently Listening
Godspell (1993 London Studio Cast)
By Stephen Schwartz

What's going on with me?  Well, as you can see from my "listening to" feature, I am up to my eyballs in Godspell. Auditions were over a week ago and first rehearsals were last weekend.  It was amazing to wander from room to room and see/hear the spirit of the show already alive.  The cast learned the choreography to "Day By Day" and the trio that's singing "On The Willows" made me cry a little bit because they were so good.  And our Jesus is really taking the responsibility seriously.  It's not easy to play God.

I am teaching a Shakespeare survey class for this session at the children't theatre.  I just finished "Midsummers" and "Taming of the Shrew."  I think I'll teach them "Othello" this week.  There are 14 kids in this class, and they are all excited to learn.  What a huge difference from Freshman English and "Romeo and Juliet"!

I am subbing again for the year.  I am in a special services classroom today.  The kids are pretty good.  I did have to send one to the office for making fun of me when I kicked him off a computer for playing games AGAIN.  Other than that it is an easy three day stint for me.  I am still on the payroll at Starbucks too, but I only work one or two shifts each week.  Enough to cover my insurance basically.

Yesterday I finally finished unpacking.  Yeah, I know I moved into my apartment a year and a half ago...but I never got to those last few tubs full.  So yesterday with Andy gone all day at work I turned the living room into sorting central and unpacked everything.  Now my side of the garage is a tidy row of Rubbermaid tubs with labels indicating what is actually inside (instead of the labels from three moves ago which now mean nothing).  Now I can start sorting my closets for more things to get rid of...It feels so good to declutter my life!

Andy is working 10-12 hours every time he is called in or scheduled to work at the Post Office.  Last week that was 6 days.  So far this week it is three.  He complains a lot about his back, neck and hand muscles and joints aching and hurting.  It is probably going to take him some time to adjust to the work physically.  He seems to think he will like the job when he gets fast enough to finish a route in 6-8 hours.  He's only gauranteed one shift a week, but it seems like he will be working a lot more than that.  This is a really good thing considering that we need the money...and they pay him $135 or so each day he works (depending on how many hours the route he is on is supposed to take).

Church is exciting right now.  I am on a team of six that are working to plant a new church on January 1st.  We are doing a lot of dreaming and reading about how to make our community relevant to the world.  We've realized that Jesus is always relevant..but most of the programs that we've been involved in have only ministered to the people in the church.  I have had a deep longing in my heart to be involved in what Christ is doing in the community at large.  I am so excited to be involved in a church community that wants to do the same.  Check out our web site!

Marriage is my favorite thing about life.  Andy loves me so much.  It is a wonderful thing to be loved like that.  I used to have a list of all the character traits I wanted in a spouse.  Although he has some of those traits, I've learned that those things do not a perfect mate make.  He loves me.  That's all I needed.  Too mooshy for you?  Sorry.  I mean it. The past 16 months have easily been the best of my life.  Well, I think I'd best focus on the kids again.  They are getting increasingly loud.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Currently Reading
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6)
By J.K. Rowling


Spending lots of time in the Children's Hospital with my cousin Holly who is 13 and has had a rough summer.  She needs a miracle.  Her gall bladder surgery turned into...well, something else.  She is stuck at the hospital with complications instead of being at home, going to summer camp, being a normal kid.  She needs prayer.  At this point she is not even allowed to eat or drink anything and is getting all her nourishment from an IV line.  This is tough for her.  Fortunately I live close by and am able to spend some time almost every day with her and her mom.  But visits are not enough.  She is encouraged by prayers and is even keeping track of the states and countries that have residents inside praying for her.  If you are praying with us, leave me a comment or email with your location so I can add you to our list.

Saturday, July 23, 2005

Currently Listening
Multiply
By Jamie Lidell


Well, summer is going well. It feels like a vacation to only work 40 hours a week.  I have been nesting like crazy...putting up pictures, hanging paper lanterns, organizing and unpacking tubs that I haven't looked at since I was a Whittaker! 

Frappaccino season is in full swing at Starbucks...and the ludicrous names of our newest additions is mind boggling.  For example "Decaf Double Venti Carmel Affaggato with whip Carmel Frappaccino Light blended coffee." or "Venti Mocha Affagato Malt Mint Mocha Chip Frappaccino blended coffee."  I am usually a stickler about making my baristas say drinks correctly, but this new addition of crazy modifiers has made me a bit lax with them.  Of course I say them correctly every time.  It's way more fun that way.

With summer halfway over now, I am thinking really hard about the fall.  I have applied for a position as artistic director of a children's theatre in Vancouver, Washington.  Please pray with me that this job will happen for me.  I think I'd really like to quit working for Starbucks and have a grown up career.  I am planning to start working towards grad school if I don't get that job.  Andy and I are ready to move wherever I get into a good MFA directing program.  In any case, we will need to think about purchasing our own insurance starting from three months after I quit at Starbucks.  If you have any great insights on that dilemma, let us know!

Last week was the week of company.  I had such a good time with Kathy Shire (mother in law) and Ande Abramovich (best friend from New York) visiting.  The weather is finally summerlike...maybe they brought that with them?  In any case, I have housework to do...no more procrastinating.

 6:08 pm