A Team

During Fiddler, one of my favorite memories is just remembering the camaraderie between all 6 members of the devotion team. Yes, we had been chosen by the directors as a group, but we were more than a team.

We were friends.

When we were together, God was there with us. When one of us gave devotions to the cast, the rest of us were behind that one, praying. When we had a problem or prayer request or a praise, that was the group we'd take it to.

Together, we were set-apart. 

Praying before closing night- in various stages of costuming

This year, our team is different. Janae graduated, Tanner has gone other directions, Chase is in Seussical, but Asia, Abby and I are still here. together. And we've added two guys, Andy and Jamie to our midst.

and it's incredible what God has done.

I hadn't realized just how much I depended on these people. They were the ones who I could always go to. They were always there.

But on Thursday, practice was a little different. Andy was gone, due to being sick, and Asia sprained her back and was taken away in an ambulance early in our practice.

HPA wasn't the same. Abby and I didn't know what to do- how to go about our day- without these two critical members of our group. It was as if our little family had been ripped apart.

And in those moments, Jesus reminded me to never, ever, take someone for granted. Asia showed us all how quickly someone can be perfectly healthy one moment, and gone away in a flash of red light the next.

So look around you. Find the people whom are stable. and imagine your life without them.

Then thank Jesus that that picture isn't reality.

And hug those people extra tight next time you see them.

"Without Our Traditions..."

"Our lives would be as shaky as... As a Fiddler on the Roof!" bum, bum, bum. Boom, Boom. The music still echoes through my head. And it will still. for years. but I'm okay with that. :)

Getting ready for Fruma-Sarah to come back from the grave

Being goofy :P

Elizabeth!!!!

Abby-Doodle and I

It would have been scandalous for a Russian Jewish girl to even look at a Catholic priest, much less wear his hat. But, as you can see, I am a very scandalous daughter.

My and Katherine's pre-show dance... another one of my favorite traditions

Our devotion committee praying before devotions one evening... this was one of my favorite parts of the entire day.

Crew and Libby

Brye... and a random penguin found sitting on a stool

The tv in the makeup room

Our amazing bottledancers

6 perfect shows... never dropping a bottle

My family :)

Full cast, crew and staff. If we had been missing a single person, none of this would have been possible. (And Breilen's sign reads "Peter Sinko..." Peter was really, really sick and so had to be represented in that way. :) )

Have You Been Waiting?

Have you been sitting on the edge of your seat, waiting for news about Fiddler? I know, I've been a little lax in posting about it.

I think it's because the experience was, in general, so awe-inspiring, Christ honoring and just plain amazing, that I haven't been able to put it to words. I'll definitely keep trying- because I want a written record of the beauty that was Fiddler.

And pictures! You knew I'd have some. :) These are my cast party pictures, when we were all try to stay calm and know that we really would see each other again.

Katherine and I, with a Frisbee game in the background

Montanna and I- isn't her haircut adorable?!?

Annalise

Abby-Doodle and Anna and I ... they are some of my dearest, closest friends.

Naomi was a daughter with me, and we had so much fun together.

Mrs. M.- Whitney- and I. She was one of our choreographers and she did an amazing job.

With Whitney's younger sister, Brye

Our devotion Committee, minus Asia. These people were my prayer warriors, my partners and my friends. Yeah, I miss them.

Standing in the shadows of the cross

I'll put my other pictures in order soon.

Cataloging Life

I've started carrying my camera around more. It sounds so simple- so easy. and it is. I mean, it takes a second and a half to clip my camera case to my belt loop.

and yet, that extra second and a half allows me to capture little moments that I might miss otherwise.

No, my pictures aren't perfect. Sometimes they're blurry and sometimes they turn people's faces yellow.

But they always mean something. They always carry a memory, they capture a moment in time.

Whether it's the feeling of my friends' arms around my waist, or the girls' excitement about milkshakes, every moment is worth the memory space it takes up.

I'm cataloging life.

And that is truly bliss.

A Prayer Surprise

I sank to the step, my stomach churning in the darkness of the room offstage left. I couldn't figure out why I felt so strange, and I could only ask the Lord to take away the ache and pain to let me perform this show at 100%.  People walked in and out of the room- staying quiet as to not interrupt the ongoing show. I heard steps and ignored them, but this time- they stopped.

"Hey Lindsey? Are you okay?" The masculine voice caused me to look up and I saw Andy standing there. Smiling weakly, I explained that I wasn't feeling very well, but I'd be okay. Looking at me straight in the eye, he asked "Well, is it okay if I pray with you?"

"Of course," I murmured and he took a seat beside me and placed his arm around my shoulders. His voice was sincere and strong as he called upon the Lord to heal me and keep me strong. When he closed, it was all I could do to get out a heartfelt "Thank you" as he left to make his next stage entrance.

Why did it surprise me that someone would care enough to pray with me? Truth hit me as I realized that this should not be a rare occurrence, that when something is wrong or someone is hurting, the natural response should be to pray with them.

I've prayed with people before, but it's not always my first response. Andy has inspired me to not hesitate to take someone before the Lord. Will you let him inspire you also?

Beginning the Count...

I've wanted to do this for a while... start a list of one thousand gifts that God has blessed me with. Breanne and I decided to do it together- keep each other accountable. I made us matching books and viola! We had a project! I started tonight and my list keeps on growing.

1. The Redeeming Grace of Jesus Christ
2. Parents teaching us to trust the Lord
3. All eight of my brothers and sisters
4. The knowledge that 3 of them are safe in the arms of Jesus forever
5. A community that is so supportive of homeschooling
6.  My beloved HPA
7. The first weekend of Fiddler shows going well- To God be the Glory!
8. Twin girls sitting on my floor strumming away at the guitars and singing their little hearts out
9. The best friends in the entire world
10. Three friends praying with me at different times on Saturday- Katherine, Katie and Andy
11. Hannah calling up the stairs "Yinds! Where are you?"
12. My little yellow camera, whose lens captures memories never worth forgetting
13. Teachers who understand the craziness of show week and extend grace- and deadlines.
14. Kari Jobe's "Steady My Heart" in moments when my heart needs steadying
15. Writing gifts with my "----------- Lawncare" pen
16. A 15 minute conversation with John about his growing business
17. A {really} great score on my narrative paper returned today

 

{Will it be every Monday I share here? I don't know. I'm hoping it keeps me accountable, but I'm holding myself to a standard of grace, not perfection.}

What I've been up to...

Fiddler opened on Thursday and it's going wonderfully. :) Yesterday Mr. Dan and Mr. O decided to jump in the Russians' practice while Ella, Anna and I tied candy bags. Thankfully, I had my camera ready. These are the only pictures I'm allowed to post right now, until the show is over.

Be ready for lots more pictures once we close next weekend. :)

P.S. She came yesterday. It was wonderful. and yes, I have a picture.

Mrs. P

Yesterday was much more difficult then I would have imagined.

We all knew something was up, when the full HPA staff called our full cast to together at 10. I mean, most of them were supposed to be at Beauty and the Beast, which opened that night. and when Mr. G and Mrs. B got up there and then couldn't say anything for a moment, the tension only grew.

The short of it, our assistant director, Mrs. P along with her daughter Christina, have had to drop our show. We had a very emotional day, lots of tears from everyone, getting to hug them one last time and lots of prayers.

Mr G read us 1 Peter 5:6&7 after he told us the news and it reads

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 

We are trusting that God is going to lift us up. We need His help right now. With only two practices left until Tech week, these final days are critical. and Mr. G can't do it alone.

Please be praying for our entire Fiddler cast. There was a gaping hole yesterday, both in the practice and in our hearts. Healing takes time, and we don't have much of it.

Mrs. P and her lovely daughter, Theresa. ::photo by my Veronica-Girl::

Mrs. P- This is my public acknowledgment to say thank you for being such an influential person in my life. I have been so touched by your kindness, your brilliant smile and your sweet words. Thank you for living for Christ through everything you do. I miss you so much already. HPA won't be the same without your shining presence. I love you.

The Desires of Your Heart

See this girl?

This is Anna- one of my closest friends. Ever since our beloved HPA announced that they were doing Fiddler, we wanted to be in it together. And when she was cast as a momma and I as a daughter, we mapped out the perfect family in our heads. It might have included each other. :)

But I have learned that "awesome in your head" plans don't usually come around. In fact, it's very rare that my super ideas "come true."

I'm a dreamer. and I'm okay with that.

I was in FL when Mr. G assigned everyone their families. Families were strange this year, I think the directors tried to mix us up because there aren't many friends together. True, Anna only had two sons- and no daughters- but I was pretty sure that we wouldn't end up together. and I started preparing my heart for that. 

Two weeks went by. I jumped with two eager feet back into HPA life. All through practices and choreography Anna and I pretended to be family- but we knew it wouldn't last. Soon I would be assigned a family and our dreaming would over. I was assured at every practice that Mr. G "had a family for me, he just couldn't remember who it was right now."

Until last Thursday. He called for us to get in our family group and sent me to Mrs. P to find my family. I stood there as she searched, wondering if I should suggest, but knowing that she would probably turn it down. I was slightly anxious, but content. 

She finally found the paper and I resisted the urge to find my name. "Okay, Lindsey... let's see. You're with Chase and Anna."

I think my heart momentarily stopped. 

I lifted my head, eyes full of shock. "Really, Mrs. P? Really?" She grew confused, "Yesssss..."

I spun around, found Anna's eyes. I nodded. Stepped closer. Murmured out "For reals." (not really sure where that one came from. :P)

All of a sudden, we were jumping up and down and squealing and doing our hyper routine from the days of AGYG. I don't think I stopped smiling the whole day long.

Texting her on my way home, I thought of Psalm 37:4

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

 And as I'm sitting here, He brought to my mind Matthew 7:11 as well.

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

I feel so blessed to have received such an amazing gift. It was something I dreamed, plotted, schemed, but I didn't really think that anything would really happen. It brings to mind one more verse.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

 :)

{And on another note, it's kinda her birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMA!!! I love you so much. I have been so blessed by your sweet spirit, your caring words and your prayers. So many memories... remember the sprees? and hyper mode? and the best weekend sleepover? You are one of the most amazing friends. ever. period. I hope you have a wonderful 17th, tell Davis to make it extra special, k? And remember, your parents will be home soon. You can make it. only 5 days left. I LOVE YOU!!!!}