touch of tenderness

When I sat down on the couch in my new fuzzy Easter socks, clouds filled the sky. I opened the windows to fill the living room with warm breeze and mentally crossed my fingers for a little thunder and lightning.

Now, the sky is blue and filled with sunlight. Go figure. At least it will make my drive to the theater a little easier. Despite knowing everything is fine, I can’t help but be a bit cautious on that 91 freeway in the rain. The memories of February’s accident are still pretty clear in those conditions.

Back to my now-sunny couch time. The dogs are playing with new toys from my PastorBoss. She so kindly and generously blessed me with an Easter basket this morning! I was so surprised! And she included some puppy toys for Yoshi (who, of course, was nice enough to share with Tootsie- in exchange for avoiding a smackdown, I’m sure).

There’s a little over an hour before I have to leave, and I suppose a nap would be a wise preparation for a late evening of performance. Part of me feels like I should do something special, since it’s a holiday and all, but my options are pretty limited. Due to the scheduling of WorkChurch and the show, this time is probably best spent chilling with these oh-so-patient dogs before they are confined to my room for the rest of the night while we’re gone.

If I am honest, I can’t pretend that I didn’t think about the fact that I’m spending a lot of Easter Sunday alone. It felt like Christmas day all over again. The textbook “right” answer is that we’re never alone because God is always with us…. and while that’s true, for some reason, it doesn’t always feel comforting. It hasn’t been so bad though, today. Love from church families is fantastic, and I’ll be spending the evening with my theater family. So it’s not a bad way to spend Resurrection Sunday. :)

There’s a lot going on in my life right now that I won’t share in a public space. You that have known me for awhile are somewhat familiar with the ups and downs of my chemically-imbalanced brain. This season of vulnerability was met with a thoughtful gift this morning, sweet kindness that drew out a few tears before a morning filled with smiles, kids, and hidden Easter eggs. And this is just one example of God’s grace delivered by the hands of caring friends. Small acts of love make a big difference- that’s been the theme of my April-of-Insanity. I have friends who impact my life more than they are aware. These are gifts that are never forgotten.

cheers

Greetings, from the April of Insanity!

Today has been a welcome rest after seventeen days of constant activity. Sleeping, homework, and sitcoms from the 80’s have recharged my batteries for the next two weeks. At least, that’s the plan.

My goodness, it’s been so long since I’ve written. I’ll try to break this up with pictures to make it an easier read. Shall we begin with a cute puppy?

Yoshi continues to grow and be adorable. We’re still working on that whole housebreaking thing. Remarkably, she can hold it all night when we sleep, and for seven or eight hours during these recent long tech rehearsals and performances of “Risen”. Yet, on days when we’re home and going out every two hours, she can’t resist the urge to baptize the floor. Go figure. In other news, Tootsie is still her hero.

Also, we have recently discovered a dog beach. Yoshi isn’t yet convinced that she digs the ocean, but she sure digs the sand (see what i did there?). She also loves meeting other dogs, no matter if they are a zillion times her size! I fully intend on working on her love of the sea as we continue to make this one of our hang-outs.

  

 

WorkChurch is moving along and right in the midst of Easter happenings. Yesterday, we had a special Palm Sunday service that really involved the kids. We walked through Holy Week from the triumphal entry through Jesus’ arrest, using drama, special readings, and hands-on experience with the Passover meal. Sometimes, it’s refreshing to depart from a traditional service in favor of creative family worship! We have an egg-hunt next Sunday, then an awards ceremony the following week. It’s festive when children’s ministry is humming along at full speed! Of course, my favorite thing is that, now that i’ve been at this church for almost a year, the kids and I have gotten to know each other more. Last night, one church family even came to see “Risen”. Seeing that three-year-old boy get excited about the show was quite heart-warming. :)

This was from a recent trip to the local aquarium:
 

School is school… nothing horribly interesting to report. Classes are increasingly fun the more hands-on stuff we get to do with the camera. I got a bit more editing experience with this last project, a short documentary about the school’s cosmetology program. Also, I was selected to be the “field correspondent” for the on-camera demonstration. Look at my hair! (ok, i know, you’re really looking at the puppy. ;) )

 

“Risen” is, of course, a big event this month. We just completed opening weekend, and performances have been fantastic. However, approximately half the cast has been pretty sick at least at some point this weekend. Yet, God always steps in. It’s crazy- one minute they’ll be miserable and barely able to utter a note, then when it’s time to take the stage, they sing beautifully and move as if they have abundant energy. The audience has also seemed to be quite blessed as well. It’s such an honor and privilege to be part of such an incredible project. If you’re in the area, I enthusiastically invite you to come see the show this weekend or next! And all of you should check out photos of the show here.

    I love that one of Kelly!  And if you’re wanting to know a bit more about the show, you can always read my theater blog.

 

Alright, did I miss anything? Yes, there are many other details that fill in the cracks of this insane schedule, but I think I’ve left you with quite enough for one evening. There’s only a few hours left in the evening before I’m off and running again in the morning. Midterms are this week, after all. And Easter. And more show. And…….