Christian Youth Theatre ~ Around the World in 80 Days

In spite of the fact that I still can't upload pictures, I do feel the need to stop by and say hello every *ahem* several months or so. Ok, I probably won't win the blogger of the year award. It really is a shame, because I've had so much to tell you about... but most of it involves pictures. Computers have many benefits, but when they cease to work, they cause an abundance of frustration. Anyhow, I had promised pictures from the play, but by the time the computer is actually working right I will have moved on, and will very likely never go back to January. One of the dads is a professional photographer, and he took pictures before, during, and after the play. Here are links to a couple. (Yes, I'm pretty desperate.)

This is me with Karyn, the other stage director. I really couldn't have done it without her!

Here is Zach, my brother, as Passepartout.

Here I am with Kaylee and Andrew, who played Phileas Fogg and Aouda

The play was really wonderful. It was definitely one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life, but it was completely worth it. I loved spending time with the kids, and God really taught me so much! I'm so thankful for each and every person who was a part. I'm so very proud of all of them.

Crazy Week

Alas, I am still unable to post pictures. It's almost like not being able to breathe. Oh well. I'll have to get that taken care of soon, because we're in the middle of another CYT play! This has actually been kind of a crazy week. My mom has been out of town taking care of my grandparents since Tuesday. My grandmother has been having heart problems (she spent a few days in the hospital) and their hot water has been leaking for goodness knows how long, leaving their house a moldy disaster that was making them sick. Mom should be coming home tomorrow, but there has been a lot for her to do. Meanwhile, I've been taking care of lunch and dinner, keeping up with my schoolwork, and going to play rehearsals nearly every night! Needless to say, it's been sort of a crazy week. Zach's CYT class will be performing Around the World in 80 Days next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and (like the last two years) I'll be stage directing. This year the other stage director is my friend Karyn. I really don't know what I would do without her! This is by far the most involved play I have helped with, between costume changes, entrances, exits, and so many other things! It's hard to think about anything else. We have so many wonderful people who help; it's such a great example of the body of Christ in action. Thinking about what must happen over the next week is kind of intimidating, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has called me here, and He always gives us strength for what He calls us to do! It will be an adventure.

Daniel: An Uncompromising Life

Now, you may be thinking, weren't you in Daniel last summer? (Actually, you probably weren't thinking that, because I highly doubt that anyone remembers what I posted on my blog last summer.) Anyway, I was, but we did it again. We started meeting the first week the first Monday in June, and this weekend was the performance, so things have been pretty crazy. It's so hard to believe it's over. You're with everyone nearly every day for two weeks, and suddenly life is back to normal. Kind of sad. I wish you could have been there for the play. But GUESS WHAT?!?!?! You can see one of the songs online! This is the song the 4 boys sing before Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzer's dream with the statue. It was taken during a sound check before dress rehearsal, and they were being a little more dramatic than usual, but not much. You really should watch it! :) God answered all of our prayers and took it above and beyond last year's in so many amazing ways! Most of the main characters were the same, but we added several new songs. It was a wonderful experience! It was a hard 6 weeks in many ways, but I'm so thankful to have been a part. You can't be around CYT and say God doesn't work in miraculous ways anymore. On Saturday one girl was REALLY sick, (Possibly swine flu..... not good) but she was able to be onstage for the one dance where we needed her most. There are so many stories like that. God is so faithful. Anyway, here are some pictures.

P.S. I had 6 costumes. It was crazy.

Kendra, Renee, Stephanie and me.


Me and Parri. We were the hatrack! :)


The stage right flappers.

Me, Jamey, and Dad.

Me, Jacob, and David.

Me, Emma, Rebekah, and Laura. :)

Me and Delise

MAKEUP!!!!!!

The 4 guys. Nathan as Shadrach, David E. as Daniel, Jamey as Meshach. and David D. as Abednego. They're pretty much awesome.

Me, Rebekah, Emma, Joey, and David. Haha.

One last thing, don't forget to check out the blog for the 2010 knitting calendar! They just posted a picture of my second design.

CYT ~ The Reformation of Katherine

We just finished another CYT play; The Reformation of Katherine. This one was about Martin Luther's wife, Katherine Von Bora. This was the Monday 13 and Up class, who did Hunchback last year. CYT plays are some of the highlights of my life, and this year was amazing, although it was very different than I originally thought it would be. The play itself was absolutely incredible! God took it above and beyond anything I ever pictured. I learned so much from being a part of it. I was a nun/townsperson/part of the German family in the finale. Here are just a few of the many pictures I took. :)

Praise and worship beforehand

Elise, Joelle, me, and Rebekah

The white nuns, minus our wimples. Alexandria, me, Ellee, and Maggie

Me and Hope

The amazing Emma, and her amazing hair skills!

All of the "named nuns" (aka nuns with lines)

Mother/daughter picture!

My brothers and me.

Jamey and I were in this class, and the rest of my family actually came in as a German family in the finale.

Elise, Kelsey, and me.

My grandparents came!

Last, but not least, you gotta do what you gotta do. Dad did it with flair.

DANIEL: AN UNCOMPROMISING LIFE ~ CYT

These last two weeks have been a crazy marathon, but they have also been among the most wonderful weeks of my life! God did so many amazing things in my life, and in the lives of my friends. I have the greatest friends ever. The play was absolutely incredible! We were all so blessed. The costumes were awesome. In the ending "Older Daniel" said something about praying for future generations, and after the lights went down we all came out as ourselves and sang a reprise of the song "We Resolve"! It was a perfect ending, but sadly that meant that in all the pictures after the play we were wearing white and khaki. We had 2 performances yesterday! It was the 1st time I had done that. It was exhausting, but so much fun! I could go on and on about the whole thing, but the pictures say it better than I could!

Eating dinner before dress rehearsal.

All the animals in King Nebuchadnezzer's second dream. (minus one who didn't have his costume on) I was a peacock. I didn't have my mask on yet. It goes down in history as my favorite costume ever!

All the flappers/Babylon girls! We had an amazing time together!

The 4 guys! From left to right, David D. as Abednego, Jamey (my brother!) as Meshach, David E. as Daniel, and Nathan as Shadrach. They were wonderful!

The 4 boys and the flames.

Backstage in our court costumes. This is a great picture, except my hair is funny looking! They hadn't fixed it that night.

In the hall before the performance.

Jamey and Kelsey both had to get their hair cut for the play.

My best friends, Kelsey and Elise!

Me, Jamey, and Brandon

Carrie was the assistant director. I love her!

Me and Eliza

My grandparents came to see it!

Yet another play, yet another DW...

I'm in the middle of yet another CYT play. This time it's Daniel: An Uncompromising Life. (As in the Daniel from the Bible) We're in the middle of the last 2 weeks of rehearsals, and it's been so much fun! All of the music is amazing, and I love everyone in it. It's definitely kept me busy this summer, but it's been wonderful to regularly see all my friends when I wouldn't be able to otherwise. Pray for us if you think about it, we are going to need it! Everything is going really well so far. There is more music than usual in this play, and it's all based on different styles, which makes the whole thing a lot of fun. I am a Babylon girl/flapper, (you'd have to see it to understand!) a peacock, (for the Nebuchadnezzar's second dream) and a member of the court. My brother is playing Meshach. My dad is in it too, and he helped write one of the songs! Here is a picture of me and my best friends Kelsey and Elise in our court costumes. (No, I will NOT be wearing the pink shirt underneath mine!) :) It's the only picture I have so far, but there will be more, trust me!

Even with the play going on, I have managed to squeeze in some knitting. Here's a picture of my latest DW cloth.

Also, be sure and check out the dishcloth calendar site. I'm already excited about it, and I had the chance to design several patterns for it this year! From what I've seen and heard so far, it's going to be wonderful!

Hunchback pictures

My Camera ~ Backstage

Here's me. Joelle took this one.

Me and Elise

The Statues in all their glory.

Me, Kelsey, Rebekah, and Elise. (and Nathan)

Jo, (Ruby) David, (Phoebus) and Ginny. (Esmeralda)

Me and David. (Quasimodo) And Flat Stanley.

Me, Jo, and Ginny

Kelsey and Caroline. (Both statues)

Our backstage TV. You can kind of see the sets on it.

Mom's Camera ~ After the play

Jamey, me, and Mom

Me and Caroline

Me and Joelle

Kelley, Parri, and me

Me and Jo again

Hope, me, and Delise

Me and Kendra. She was the Assistant Stage Director.

Me with my grandparents

My Camera ~ Out to eat afterwards

Don't we look great in our makeup? The people in the resturant must have thought we were nuts. David's hair is still grey.

Having fun!

That's all. Hope you enjoyed it. Hope you weren't bored. I won't be around much next week, because I'll be taking Driver's Ed. *sigh*