Work & Witness Ukraine Trip

One week from today, our team will be in Kiev, Ukraine.
One week from tomorrow, we'll board a train for a 4 1/2 hour journey to Vapnyarka, Ukraine. We'll be working with AIDS orphans, a men's rehab center & a church there. We'll be running a VBS for the local children & orphans, and doing lots of construction jobs.It's gonna be fun!

But I'll miss my kids...... and Christian, and Cali & Beauty too.........

We leave KC very early next Saturday....... I hate flying. & my broken Big Toe is still bothering me........ think I"ll take a cane!

That's my life so far........

Happy Birthday to ME~~~~

Today is my 50th Birthday. Is this what 50 feels like? It really feels like 30...... But Don tells me that 50 is the new 40........
Last weekend's highlights:
Had a "surprise party" on Saturday at Meg's house...... was a smashing success. Thank you Meg & Dyan......
Lots of people came to my party. Fun was had by all.
I had Christian several times last week..... Cutie Patootie.......
Christian ate a real banana. Yum!
I got a cook book from Shelly for my birthday..... The Food Network's Favorites.... Yay!
My wonderful sister came for the weekend. Fun was had by both of us.
Friday night - BROKE MY BIG TOE. Tripped on my deck. Now I'm wearing a ugly shoe to support my toe.
Saturday - lunch at Cheesecake Factory - with my sister - totally fun. Good conversations.
Saturday morning - at the doctor's - X-Ray'd my toe. Broken.
Saturday night - party - fun times.
My cake was B E A Utiful..... had flowers, butterflies & a breast cancer ribbon. And it was very yummy.
My girls have grown up to be lovely party hostesses.
Meg's house was darling......
Today:
Going to the Nelson Atkins Art Gallery.
Dinner on the Plaza at California Pizza Kitchen with my family.
Carriage ride with the family.... on the Plaza.
Still can't believe I'm 50. Weird.
That's my life so far......

Countdown to Ukraine

17 Days and counting......

This Weekend... Fun times ahead...

It's gonna be a fun weekend!!!
My sister is coming up to KC tomorrow night.
I'm fixing a mahhhhvelous dinner - pork tenderloin, creamy orzo with peas, & a salad.
The hot tub will be in use.
Pedicures on Saturday.
The Plaza on Saturday.
The pre-teens are holding a carwash for the orphans in Vapnyarka, Ukraine.... what gems those kids are!
My "surprise" party is Saturday...... lots and lots of friends will be there. It's Meg's first BIG party at her new house. Hope she's not nervous......
Church on Sunday.... always great.
Potluck at Pastor's house Sunday, for the Work & Witness Ukraine team. Fun, food & fellowship.
More time with my sister.
Perhaps a movie???
Monday~ not the weekend anymore, but still fun.......
Turning 50. :-O
Going to the Nelson-Atkins with Don.....
Having dinner on the Plaza with Don, all 4 of my kids & my grandson.......
Carriage ride with the entire family....
I feel like 20. Well..... maybe 30.
And that's my life so far......

The Weekend

This past Weekend....
.
Worked in the garden.
Cut down wayward trees that keep wanting to grow and suffocate everything else, including my forsythias.

Pulled weeds.

Moved the birdfeeder, and now my bird friends are happy.

Filled the birdfeeders.

Don moved the birdbath, so that they are more than happy.

Pulled my muscles in my back.

Trimmed back the deadwood on the shrubs.

Pulled the suffocating weeds from my peonies, roses & hydrangeas, and also my herbs.

Was attacked by my wild rose bush.... now my pants are bloody.

Got a massive headache. Allergies, I assume.

Drank lots of lemonade. mmmmm

Ate a turkey & lettuce sandwich on the deck.

My back yard is so pretty now.

Peaceful.

Ready for dinner tonight with Scott.

Sitting in my back yard is very peaceful.

Watching the birds delighting over our little sanctuary...... very peaceful.

I sing hymns while pulling weeds & cutting deadwood. Weird? No. Quiet time with God.

Peaceful.

That's my life so far....

Finally!!!

Finally!!!!!!! A weekend where I have NO OBLIGATIONS to ANYONE!!!!!! I'm FREEEEEEEEEEEEE.......... and it do feel good!

A Smashing Success!

The musical is over, and once again, it was a smashing success. Tonight is our awards ceremony........ so choir is not quite over yet. Next Saturday is our Choir 3 BBQ at my house, and on June 2nd is our Choir 3 field trip to Worlds of Fun.... then it will be over 'til next Fall.

I'm gonna try and upload a few pics......

"Page Turner"
"Ty Kwando"
"Hildy Vine" and the team in the Egyptian Palace
"Frank Incense" and the team in the Hebrew home.

The Cast
Choir 3 & my staff
The choir.

"Holy Moses!"

Random Thoughts...

Tech rehearsal last night was fabulous! That is probably the most fun of all rehearsals leading up to the actual performances. I love getting to direct a 12 piece orchestra, while giving directions & cues to the sound / light techs..... and seeing it all come together. Very exciting! The only glitch was that @#$% fog machine! I'm going on #4 today.... I think that the guy sold me the wrong type of liquid to put in it, because it STILL didn't work last night. So, before tech rehearsal, I called up that guy and said, "Listen to this!", and after he heard that gawd awful sound, he said, "Well, that's not right!"... Ya think??? So, with all of today's tasks, I have added another trip to the Guitar Store to once again, exchange a fog machine. Hope it works this time.

Today, I"m going to get my nails filled for the last time. Next appointment, they're coming off! I'm tired of them, and besides, when I go to Ukraine & Alaska this summer, I don't want to mess with any long fingernails......... I've already cut off my hair, since there will be no hair dryers.... I'll just wash & fluff it...... should I use mousse? Probably not...... and I hate those other hair products that leave your hair feeling a bit greasy... can't stand those.

I love reading Carly's blog....... girls? If you haven't read her updates, you really should. She is a fascinating writer.... a career that she should definitely check out. She's still in India.... spent a week on a beach reading & sleeping, and seeing no tourists!

I gotta go buy something decent to wear for the musical..... I really need a new denim skirt..... Guess I'll go do that after I get my last fill on my nails.

Dress rehearsal is tonight! I'll probably get there around 5 to make sure all of the props are set perfectly. Kids will arrive at 6. Gotta get the head mics taped on & Meg is doing their stage makeup. Rehearsal begins promptly at 6:30. Cast photos are tonight. I'll post some when I get 'em....

Random thought~ Dyan & Jory found a house yesterday! Hope they get it! Sounds wonderful...... I'm so proud of both of my girls.... they both are doing very well in life... They have great husbands, a wonderful son (Christian), and they both will be living in wonderful houses in great neighborhoods. Meg & Drew have already settled in, and soon, so will Dyan & Jory. Wonderful...... I'm one proud mama.

Time to shower and get a move on.........

That's my life so far...

It's almost over.......

Okay, the musical is quickly approaching...... Today's task, to finish the t-shirt labels for 66 shirts & get it organized for passing out to parents tomorrow night.... and to meet some choir dads at the church at 4 today to increase the size of our stage. Hope they remember to bring some cordless drills..... hmmm, should I send an email reminder?

Tomorrow, I need to go buy some tall grasses for the "basket case" scene & a new fog machine. The one we had worked once, and then stopped. When Barth, a choir dad, took it apart to try and fix it... he said it was shooting out flames. Soooo, we'll buy a new one!

Tomorrow's rehearsal is with all kids, sound, lights & powerpoint. Hope we can at least get thru the musical once.... wouldn't that be nice?

Thursday night is our tech rehearsal from 7 - 9 PM.... me, the orchestra, the sound people, lights people & powerpoint. I'll be calling out cues so that they can make notes in their books.

Friday night - dress rehearsal........ Saturday, matinee performance @ 3...... and we're singing in worship services on Sunday morning, and then we're having a performance Sunday night @ 6, after which will be a big reception for the kids.

You think choir is over after that??? Nope....... Monday, I get to start stringing the new honor beads on the choristers crosses that the kids have earned throughout the choir year. Wednesday is our "Ministry on the Road" where we go to a senior citizens home and sing for them, and then it's back to the church for our awards ceremony & reception.

Still not over........ Saturday, May 12th is our annual choir 3 BBQ at my house...... 24 kids will be coming over for 3 hours of hot dogs, ice cream sundaes, hot tub & watching the video of the musical.

THEN it's over........ just in time for Mother's Day. Yay.

Something really gross happened today........ I was NOT feeling well this morning, light headed, dizzy, sweaty, clammy..... and I thought, "Hogwash"..... I need to get my shower and see if I feel better..... Well... this is so gross....... I vomited in the shower!!!!!! I told Don about it, and he said "Ewwww" and was concerned about the shower, and I assured him that yes, I'd cleaned it!!!!!!!! Do you know how strange it is to throw up while standing up in the shower????? Bizarre.......

That's my life so far.....

The list is getting shorter!

Well, my "To Do" list is dwindling down...... I've been working on choir stuff ALL freakin' day........ and now it's 7:15 and I'm posting on this stupid blog..... lol. Today, I ordered 9 new choristers guild crosses - I have 14 kids who've earned their cross this year; I ordered the 6 choir people of the year plaques for our awards ceremony on May 9th; I ordered the extra "Holy Moses!" t-shirts for the 5 remaining orchestra members who were late in ordering; I formatted & typed out the program, and figured out the cover page ~ AND, it looks good!!!! ~ I paid a credit card bill over the phone ~ I blew up a picture of a calf, which the Donmeister has turned into a golden calf..... what a guy! ~ I looked up the prices for my flights to Alaska - FIRST CLASS!!! WOO HOO....... ~ I sent out reminders to the cast for the Saturday rehearsal goals, which include having all principals attend, also the dancers, soloists & commercial actors, and they need to be in costume on Saturday. And I sent out a reminder about our afternoon orchestra rehearsal - 3 - 5 PM. The kids will be there from 9 - noon. Oh sheesh, it's really thunderstorming right now! I love good ole Midwestern T-storms!!! Anywhoooo, I sent out cast / choir name lists to the parents to double check my spelling of their names..... with a gazillion kids, I probably got a few spelled wrong...... ohhhhhh THUNDER!!! RUMBLING THUNDER!!!! Oh, and another thing I did today was order shades for our new office building. This one chick wanted almost $3000 for window tinting and verticals. No way, Jose! So, we went with the $1000 shades that have heat resistant / diverting fabric on them. Those are west facing windows, and they get very hot.

Alrighty...... I know that this has been a very random blog...... what can I say. I'm tired....... been working all freakin' day.

American Idol is on tonight....... woo hoo.

Meg's 22nd birthday is Friday........ hmmmm, what shall I get her? Nothing for her new house....... gotta think of something personal, just for HER!!! For those of you who don't know, Meg & Drew are closing on their 1st house tomorrow afternoon!!! Woot Woot! She's taking 3 days off from work to move. And I'm making her a birthday cake for the party they're having on Saturday. Gift ideas? Anyone??

Carly, love reading your blog. I about spit out coffee when I pulled it up today!!!!! LOVED IT...... You are such a talented writer, it's almost as if I'm there with you! Who is that guy with you? Is that Seet's boyfriend? Just curious. Is he making the whole "round the world" trip with you two? Hope so....

Time to go figure out something for dinner. Not really hungry....

Ciao~

Idol Chatter

Oh, and thank GOODNESS that Sanjaya was FINALLY voted off! Woo hooooooo.........

Let's hear it for Lakiesha, Melinda & Jordan! Who thinks Jordan will win? I'm still rooting for Lakiesha.......

The end, part deux.

Untitled Update

Hey Jenny........ I'm updating!!!

But, I have nothing to say. I'm boring, what else is new?

Oh, I do have a brick house to go make before tomorrow's rehearsal..... and The Donmeister needs to build me a golden calf, and he needs to build a roof for my brick house, and he needs to construct a movable tent that the kids can walk behind for costume changes....... Is this random enough for everyone???

It's late....... past 10 PM, and I"m tired, and still need to feed the animals & make a brick house.......

Then it's up early for a 9 - noon rehearsal & a 2 - 4 PM rehearsal, kids then orchestra, respectively.

The end.

What's up with Sanjaya???

What's up with Sanjaya on American Idol??? Doesn't he realize that the ONLY reason he has votes is because Howard Stern & his groupies and the nuts who go to the website "Vote for the Worst" and vote for him are only LAUGHING AT HIM?????? The kid cannot perform well.........and the whole freakin' country is making a laughingstock of him! Where is his sense of self? Where is his pride??? Honestly, STEPHANIE was voted off before him....... and that girl could SING!!! Chris Sligh was voted off, and HE can sing! What is up with America keeping that teeny bopper boy in the mix? I swear........ No wonder I've never watched American Idol before now. It's makin' me CRAZZZZYYYYYYYY......

Oh, and another thing......... it's about freakin' time that Haley got voted off!!!!!!! She's just there to sell sex, hoping to get a deal with a porno magazine, I'm sure....

There, Dad..... I vented!!!

April update....

Thought I'd take a few minutes and submit an update. My niece, Carly, is leaving London today for a year long adventure, traveling around the world! I'm so excited for her. She & her friend are on their way to India today...... What fun for them!

Let's see, what's been going on lately in my life? Well, a few weeks ago, my brother in law passed away after a long illness with cancer. My sister is doing okay, adjusting to life alone again. Don & I are taking her with us to Cabo next year, which will be totally fun. Meg & Drew are coming too, and they'll be staying in Dan & Val's condo, since they won't be coming out next year. That will be fun for Meg & Drew, although I'll really miss seeing Dan & Val. I miss them so much.......

Christian is adorable! He's almost 7 months old...... and just so much fun! I love, love love him. Tomorrow, I get to BABYSIT! Hey Meg, are you JEALOUS??? Too bad you have to WORK! LOL

My children's choir is in the middle of rehearsals for our spring musical, "Holy Moses!". Performance dates & times are Saturday, May 5 @ 3 PM - matinee, and Sunday, May 6 @ 6 PM, followed by a reception. We are currently rehearsing twice a week, and it's going very well. I just need some more choir parents to step up to the plate and help out with assembling the sets, props, and getting it all put together. Thank goodness I have such a competitant & talented staff! Tonight, we begin our extended rehearsals - 5:30 - 7, and we're going to attempt to learn the rest of the choreography. It's like zip zip zip and we're done!

Meghan & Drew are buying a house! Exciting times! They are going to probably close on it by the 25th of April, just in time for Meg's birthday! Woot woot! Hey...... an idea! How about Meghan & Drew hosting my 50th birthday party at their home???????? Let's do it on the Sunday before, and then have another party on my actual birthday with just family??? Just a thought, girls.

Our new offices are just about finished........ The Donmeister painted the ceilings & put a primer coat on all of the walls. I picked out the wall color and need to go make 10 gallons of it today, so he can get it painted. Carpeting is coming in tomorrow! Furniture was ordered yesterday for the reception area. And my ficus tree is in the warehouse ready to be cleaned again & put up front. Exciting times!

I'm getting excited about my mission trip to The Ukraine in June. It's coming up quickly, and I've been surfing the web alot to find materials written in Ukraine. Fun times await........

Oh, and I'm officially 1 year cancer free!!!!!!! My next followup with Dr. Jew is on the 23rd....... and then I won't have to see her for another 6 months! Double woot!

Oh, Beauty the Cat, decided she'd bring me a present in the middle of the night...... we have mousetraps down in the garage, and we caught one, and she thought she'd bring it upstairs to her daddy & me at 4 in the morning and play with it........ Sheesh....... all I could do was tell her "Good kitty...... you caught a mouse!"..... sheesh.....

Alrighty...... gotta get busy with my day. It's "choir" day, so it's always a busy one.

Ta Ta for now~ from The One and Only Choirlady~

Whoa!

Whoa....... I thought my pictures all disappeared! But, alas, they miraculously re-appeared!

Carly...... wish I could come along with you! How lucky you are......

It's late, and this old lady needs to get some beauty sleep...... whatever good THAT will do!!! (deep sigh)

(((hugs)))

Dyan's Birthday Party Pics

We had a great time Monday night at Dyan's birthday party. We went to Garozzo's in Overland Park with lots of friends and family. Here are a few pics for your enjoyment.......

Meg & Grandma, Scott, Susan & Lana

Jenny, Jeremy, Chase & friends

The birthday girl!

Ahhhh, Baby Christian with Great Grandma!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DYAN!!!!

Wow!! I cannot believe that you're 24 years old today!!!!!!! You cannot be that old, because I'M NOT THAT OLD.......

Can't wait to go to dinner tonight! Garozzo's!!!!! Yum.... What a crowd we'll have there!

XXOO ~Mom~

Life is Busy....

Life is busy.... Today we begin our first actual rehearsal for the musical. I think we'll begin on the last big number, which has 3 choral parts. We'll start there, and then go to some of the other more "wordy" pieces. Also, prior to working on the musical, we need to combine choirs and work on the spiritual that we're singing in 2 weeks - "Climbin' Up the Mountain" - a totally fun song to sing. Gotta polish it up, and also gotta work on the Palm Sunday song & Choir 3's anthem for Good Friday - "A Lenten Love Song" - written by Helen Kemp, the grandmother of all children's choir directors.

We had our Chorister's Guild Children's Choir Festival last Saturday.... it was FABULOUS.... 130 kids from the KC Metro area all singing absolutely wonderful children's anthems together, with beautiful tone, wonderful diction, just plain ole beautifully sung. I even got to play english handbells on 2 of the songs... totally fun for me. On one of them, I got to 4 in hand the bells. I miss playing bells weekly....... Wish we'd start back up again.

My sister's husband is critically ill..... he's been battling multiple myeloma for over 10 years, and it looks like he's getting to the end of the fight. Dyan, Christian & I, and hopefully Meghan will be driving down there on Friday to spend some time with her, and to try and lift her spirits. I wish that there was more I could do for her. This is a difficult time for my sister and for her family. I love her and want to be there for her.

Oh sheesh.... I forgot that I'm supposed to make a cake today before choir, for the Ladie's Tea that's at church on Friday night..... and I'm out of butter. This recipe takes THREE sticks of butter! It's a Texas Sheetcake, and it totally yummy..... and right now, it's noon and I'm still sitting here in my jammies.... clothes are in the washer, not the dryer, and I guess I'd better get my rear in gear! Just thought I'd write my thoughts down here.....

Oh, and Saturday is our first drama rehearsal - 10 - noon. My Saturdays are all taken up from here to eternity, it seems.... LOL.... really, just from here to the 2nd weekend of May... Busy times... Life is Busy...

Have a blessed day~

Comments?

I think I fixed the comment problem, Carly...... I hope so. I changed one of the things under "comments" and it applies to new blogs now. So, hopefully that fixed it. And yes, good looks DO run in the family!

Love you~

What cuties!

My grandson is on the right, and his cousin, who is 11 days older is on the left.......... What cutie patooties!!!! XXXXXOOOOO

Oh, what a day!

Well, today is our kickoff rehearsal for the spring musical, "Holy Moses". Tonight, we'll watch a video of my friend, Lynn's choir in California performing it last year. Last Sunday we had auditions, and we have a perfect cast selected. I think that this musical will be quite fun. Let's just hope I can get it choreographed! Girls? Help???

Two of our choir girls' grandmother passed away last weekend. So, last night I went to the viewing, and today, Meg & I went to the funeral. The little girls were very glad to see us. Also, our music minister & his wife was there, and also the children's pastor, and our senior pastor officiated. It was a lovely service. Afterwards, we were all waiting in the foyer to greet the kids, and I noticed that Caitlyn had gone into the ladies room.... and about 10 minutes later, she still hadn't come out. So I went in to see if she was okay, and she was in there all alone and crying. My heart ached for her. So, I shared with her an idea that I thought might help her and her sister. It's something that Meg did when my mom died. I suggested that she get a big posterboard, put the word "Grandma" at the top, and a picture of her grandma, and then skim thru magazines and find pictures & words that symbolizes what her grandmother meant to her, and make a huge collage, and then frame it and hang it in her room. She loved that idea. I hope it helps.

And Dyan is sick today...... poor kid. Thought she had pneumonia. Just a bad cold. I told her to stay home from choir tonight. And after rehearsal, I'll stop by her apartment and take care of Bubba since Jory will be working 'til 10 tonight. That way Dyan can rest. Had to twist my arm on that one... lol. J/K

One of these days, I'm gonna get my office all cleaned up & organized! It's right now, just plain ole organized chaos. I know where everything is.... but it's everywhere. I need Meg's old closet to be emptied out once and for all, MEG.... and then I can put the Christmas wrapping box & all the extra stuff for the holidays in there, and FINALLY have room in my office. This is truly driving me crazy....

Ciao~

a middle aged new blogger!

Alrighty.... a new blogger is here! How do I let people know where my blogspot is? How do I post? How do I add pictures? Well, I'm very new at this so my friends will all have to be patient with me as I learn.

About me? I am a mother of 2, mother-in-law to 2, and grandmother to 1. Love that boy...... I am a full time homemaker, the president of the company that my husband & I own, and I direct a 45 voice children's choir. We are kicking off rehearsals for our spring musical, "Holy Moses". Auditions were last Sunday, and the judging panel came up with a great cast! I'm very excited about this.....

Alrighty...... that's enough for today. I gotta figure out how to let my kids know that this is here....... hmmmm....

Ciao~