Day 6 ~
We had storms last night, and when I looked out of my window, I could see the palm trees bending over. The wind was howling, about 2:30 in the morning. The cool breezes felt soooo good after working so hard in the daytime. I was lulled back to sleep pretty quickly, loving the feeling of the wind blowing in on my face. Here in Dominica, we sleep with sheets only, since it's so hot here. I am getting used to the sounds of the fan while trying to sleep. Actually, I believe that we are working so hard that none of us are having problems going to sleep and staying asleep! The cool breeze just feels so good.
In the evenings, it's lovely sitting on the back deck watching the moonrise, especially since it's been a full moon. The moon along with the clouds casts a cool shadow across the Atlantic Ocean. It's just so beautiful here on this island.
Today, the men worked on finishing the roof on the snack shack. It is nearly unbearable for those men, working up on top of that roof in the blazing sun. Don & Mike worked on the concrete steps going from the top level of the playground down to the lower level, where the rock climbing wall will be. I believe that they hauled up 6 or 7 wheelbarrows full of concrete, UP a very steep hill to where the form was for the steps. One of the Dominican workers, Daniel, is a professional concrete mixer. He smooths out the sand, makes a hole in it, adds the other stuff and water and mixes it all up, this whole bit done on the ground. The men on our team were impressed!
The ladies went to continue working on Pastor Ray's house, which was built by another work & witness team. We finished painting the outside of the house a buttercream yellow, and I started painting the trim work white. The other ladies started painting the white on the inside walls, with Beula & Sandra worked in Pastor Ray's bedroom and Frances & Janet worked in the other bedroom. I worked outside, on the trim work, sometimes painting while standing on an old wooden bench, and nearly dumping over into the mud! LOL We women are working very well together. Laura & Jo Ann stayed at the mission house to work on cooking, while Judy & Nancy went to town with Pastor Dan, the missionary.
Sometimes today, while painting, it would start raining, just for 5 or 10 minutes, and then it would go away and the sun would come out and boy, oh boy, would it ever get humid! I don't remember EVER sweating so much in my entire life! THe sweat would drip off of my face, or into my mouth... Yummy salt! Perhaps I'll sweat off the pounds this week, ya think???
Lunch was at the dining hall at the campground. Egg salad sandwiches, or PBJs, chips, cookies & tea. We are really enjoying spending time getting to know the local workers. Let's see, there is Daniel, who is married to Gail, the Sunday School Superintendant at the Bataca Church, and Richie, who is helping us ladies paint, Kervin, our driver, Armstrong, the plaster guy, who is also called "Stretch," Stretch's little brother, Danny, who does the mowing & weeding, and I think there's one more guy, but his name is slipping my mind right now. We are enjoying getting to know them.
***
Last night, while at the church service at Gaullette River church, when the music started, a bat flew from the top rafters and kept dive bombing us. Frances & I got to giggling, and we had to keep ducking to keep from having a bat fly into our heads while singing praises to Jesus! And the two pastors on the front row kept jumping and trying bat the bat down with their hands! It was quite hilarious!
***
Did I already write about the bats??? Probably... I'm just so tired.
***
Tomorrow, there is supposedly a storm coming in from the eastern Caribbean, so we'll see how much work we can get finished.
***
Goodnight Blog...
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Dominica 2010
Dear Blog~ I tried blogging on a Word Document, but was unable to cut & paste it here. So, I'll try to get it posted here once we're home. In the meantime, I'll blog from here on out on this site, now that I have Internet connections.
Day 4
THis was our first day of actual work. We went to the jobsite at 7 AM and had devotionals with the Dominican crew. Then we outlined what jobs we needed to accomplish and we began work. The men began work on constructing the roof on the snack shack building at the OceanView Retreat Center. The women were in 2 groups. One group stayed at the mission house to organize the food & cook, and the other group was at the retreat center and we cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the floor of the dining hall, and we cleaned the men's and women's restrooms. Bugs are EVERYWHERE... And it is HOT. Hot and MUGGY... Unbelievably hot and muggy! The heat from the sun is so intense here, being so close to the Equator.
The men were working down the hill on the snack shack, and it was below the level where you could feel the ocean breezes. So, for them, the heat & stuffiness was crazy!!!
The ladies then went to Pastor Ray's house. This is a house that was built by a former work & witness team. We needed to prime the outside of the house as well as the inside. For the past 2 days, we've been priming, and have gone thru a complete 5 gallon container. The house is about 400 square feet, and is basically 4 walls with a roof on top. Inside, there are 3 rooms and a outside shower. No kitchen. His kitchen will be in his old house, which is nothing more than a lean-to shack. That way, if the wood burning stove burns down the kitchen, the house doesn't get burned down. Pastor Ray bathes in a river which is down this steep ravine, and he uses an outhouse for his restroom, which is also down the ravine. His house that we are painting is by far and above the nicest house in this part of the village.
We had our lunch break at noon, when one of the drivers came to the house and got us to take us back up to the campground. We ate with the rest of the team & the local workers. The women finished the afternoon early so we could return to the Mission House to shower and get ready for leading the women's bible study & make a craft with them. The men finished at 3:30. They came back to the mission house and got cleaned up & went out to dinner at a BBQ place.
The ladies went to the Bataca Church and I lead a Bible Study on the ability for us to be Godly women, based on Psalm 31. Then we taught them how to make padded picture frames & I took their pictures & printed them out with my Picture Mate Photo Printer. This was a hit! One of the leaders of their women's group took all of our extra supplies, including our glue guns, and will use them. We are so glad about this.
We came home from this dead dog tired! The room we were in, of course, was not air conditioned, and the sweat was just dripping off of me while we were hot gluing photo frames. That took us 2 hours! We all came back to the mission house and nearly promptly went to bed. The men didn't get home until 11 PM.
End of Day 4.
Day 5 - Tuesday
Up bright and early, after a night of howling winds. Got up, put on my painting clothes, washed my face, put my hair in a ponytail, had breakfast, and away we went. The men continued working on the snack shack and we women went to work some more with the Pastor's house. We managed to use up all of the primer paint before noon. Pastor Dan was so surprised we used all of that paint! LOL I told him that the wood was just soaking it up. THis work is hot and difficult. The weather is stiffling... I do believe we are "suffering" for Jesus, or perhaps not. The blessings are outweighing the difficulties. We just continue taking water breaks and we try to find any little bit of a breeze that we can!
Today, we met Pam, who lives in a double shack across the street. She lives there with her husband who is disabled, and her 3 children. She weaves baskets for a living. And she farms. Her shacks are right on the side of the road, and next to them is a "smoke house" kitchen. Then up a little hill is her living room, which is nothing more then benches set out under trees. This is where she weaves her baskets out of reeds. THen you climb the hill more and you get to where she hangs her laundry to dry, and then you go further up the hill to get to her garden, where she plants various vegetables to grow for her family, and to sell for $$. SHe is charming. She is a Christian, and is so excited to know the Lord.
Part of our reason for being here is to do the physical tasks that need to be done to further The Kingdom. The other reasons for us to be here are for developing relationships with the locals. That, for me, is the fun part.
Today, the women were able to partially finish priming the inside of the house, and we applied the first coat of paint on the outside. The color is a buttercream, and the trim will all be white. And, I have as much paint on ME as we put on the house! LOL
Tonight, we had dinner and then went to the Galette River Church for worship. Judy Wickham shared her testimony, and Frances, Jo Ann & I sang our song, which right now I cannot remember the name of... I'm so crazy tired.
Everyone is heading to bed... so I suppose I must too. This getting up early is for the BIRDS!!! Up before 6?? Are you kidding me??? But, I"m doing it... oy... as long as there is a pot of coffee on, I"m happy.
I'm missing my kids and grandkids pretty badly right now. We have another week to be away from home... I can't wait to get back and hug & kiss on them!
Goodnight, Blog. End of Day 5.
Day 4
THis was our first day of actual work. We went to the jobsite at 7 AM and had devotionals with the Dominican crew. Then we outlined what jobs we needed to accomplish and we began work. The men began work on constructing the roof on the snack shack building at the OceanView Retreat Center. The women were in 2 groups. One group stayed at the mission house to organize the food & cook, and the other group was at the retreat center and we cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the floor of the dining hall, and we cleaned the men's and women's restrooms. Bugs are EVERYWHERE... And it is HOT. Hot and MUGGY... Unbelievably hot and muggy! The heat from the sun is so intense here, being so close to the Equator.
The men were working down the hill on the snack shack, and it was below the level where you could feel the ocean breezes. So, for them, the heat & stuffiness was crazy!!!
The ladies then went to Pastor Ray's house. This is a house that was built by a former work & witness team. We needed to prime the outside of the house as well as the inside. For the past 2 days, we've been priming, and have gone thru a complete 5 gallon container. The house is about 400 square feet, and is basically 4 walls with a roof on top. Inside, there are 3 rooms and a outside shower. No kitchen. His kitchen will be in his old house, which is nothing more than a lean-to shack. That way, if the wood burning stove burns down the kitchen, the house doesn't get burned down. Pastor Ray bathes in a river which is down this steep ravine, and he uses an outhouse for his restroom, which is also down the ravine. His house that we are painting is by far and above the nicest house in this part of the village.
We had our lunch break at noon, when one of the drivers came to the house and got us to take us back up to the campground. We ate with the rest of the team & the local workers. The women finished the afternoon early so we could return to the Mission House to shower and get ready for leading the women's bible study & make a craft with them. The men finished at 3:30. They came back to the mission house and got cleaned up & went out to dinner at a BBQ place.
The ladies went to the Bataca Church and I lead a Bible Study on the ability for us to be Godly women, based on Psalm 31. Then we taught them how to make padded picture frames & I took their pictures & printed them out with my Picture Mate Photo Printer. This was a hit! One of the leaders of their women's group took all of our extra supplies, including our glue guns, and will use them. We are so glad about this.
We came home from this dead dog tired! The room we were in, of course, was not air conditioned, and the sweat was just dripping off of me while we were hot gluing photo frames. That took us 2 hours! We all came back to the mission house and nearly promptly went to bed. The men didn't get home until 11 PM.
End of Day 4.
Day 5 - Tuesday
Up bright and early, after a night of howling winds. Got up, put on my painting clothes, washed my face, put my hair in a ponytail, had breakfast, and away we went. The men continued working on the snack shack and we women went to work some more with the Pastor's house. We managed to use up all of the primer paint before noon. Pastor Dan was so surprised we used all of that paint! LOL I told him that the wood was just soaking it up. THis work is hot and difficult. The weather is stiffling... I do believe we are "suffering" for Jesus, or perhaps not. The blessings are outweighing the difficulties. We just continue taking water breaks and we try to find any little bit of a breeze that we can!
Today, we met Pam, who lives in a double shack across the street. She lives there with her husband who is disabled, and her 3 children. She weaves baskets for a living. And she farms. Her shacks are right on the side of the road, and next to them is a "smoke house" kitchen. Then up a little hill is her living room, which is nothing more then benches set out under trees. This is where she weaves her baskets out of reeds. THen you climb the hill more and you get to where she hangs her laundry to dry, and then you go further up the hill to get to her garden, where she plants various vegetables to grow for her family, and to sell for $$. SHe is charming. She is a Christian, and is so excited to know the Lord.
Part of our reason for being here is to do the physical tasks that need to be done to further The Kingdom. The other reasons for us to be here are for developing relationships with the locals. That, for me, is the fun part.
Today, the women were able to partially finish priming the inside of the house, and we applied the first coat of paint on the outside. The color is a buttercream, and the trim will all be white. And, I have as much paint on ME as we put on the house! LOL
Tonight, we had dinner and then went to the Galette River Church for worship. Judy Wickham shared her testimony, and Frances, Jo Ann & I sang our song, which right now I cannot remember the name of... I'm so crazy tired.
Everyone is heading to bed... so I suppose I must too. This getting up early is for the BIRDS!!! Up before 6?? Are you kidding me??? But, I"m doing it... oy... as long as there is a pot of coffee on, I"m happy.
I'm missing my kids and grandkids pretty badly right now. We have another week to be away from home... I can't wait to get back and hug & kiss on them!
Goodnight, Blog. End of Day 5.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Catchup!
Time for a "catchup" blog....
***
***
It's Wednesday morning, May 12th... and I'm just sittin' here, relaxing and enjoying my morning coffee. It's nice not to have choir tonight. I tell ya, it's like I work so hard and am so obsessed with this ministry from September to May, that it's nice to have a break for the summer. Today, I shall work on laundry, finish up some Work & Witness trip stuff, and go thru mail and pay bills. Should also balance the checkbook. A day at home. Nice.
***
April 27th, Meg turned 25 years old. We celebrated by going to the Zoo. The zoo is our FAVORITE place to go. It was a perfect day at the zoo. The weather was perfect. The animals were out playing, and we all had a delightful time. Fun was had by all on Meg's 25th birthday.
***Our children's musical, "Acorns to Oaks" was performed on May 1st & 2nd. The kids did a marvelous job. I loved this musical. The music was beautiful, the lesson to be learned with wonderful, the actors & soloists were superb, and we collected donations to give to the Midwest Fostercare & Adoption Agency. The church really received this musical well. I am proud of my kids. A few pics? Alright...
***Mother's Day was nice. Since we had our Choir 3 BBQ & Hot Tub Party on the day before, Don helped me get the garden all cleaned up & replanted, as well as the deck. It's nice getting everything all nice again. The spring flowers are in the deck pots. The tomatoes & cucumbers are planted. Was going to plant watermelon, but the dang bunnies ate them already. I planted lots of herbs, oregano, basil (several kinds), lavendar (several varieties), as well as some more hydrangeas, lilacs & 3 more peonies. I love my garden. I need to post pics sometime. Gotta take some first. Also, Don finally brought my bench back to the garden so I can now sit in it and really enjoy it. The birdfeeders are all filled and being consumed... My backyard is a place of peace, and lots of wildlife activity. I love it.
And then the family came over for on Mother's Day for wonderful ribs, topping off a very nice weekend.
***
And that's my life so far...
Thursday, April 29, 2010
AAAhhhhh, Rehearsals!
This is The Week. Our children's musical performances are this weekend. Yay! I'm so glad it's finally here! Last night, we had a really long, difficult rehearsal, piecing everything together. I had lots of little directors helping me out last night. I'm kinda like Jekyl (sp?) and Hyde with this. Sometimes I want the help, sometimes I don't. But, all in all, it was a good rehearsal last night. The kids were real troopers, and seemed to be having fun, for the most part. I truly want this to be a positive experience for them, and I want them to take the words to this music to heart, and remember them forever.
Now, if we could just get the BAND to step up. We had quite a few rough spots last night. For one thing, because we were stopping so much, making adjustments to blocking or cues, the band wasn't paying much attention to me, and when I'm giving them the tempo, or opening measure, they weren't ready to play, or half of them would be, and the other half was playing "catch up." Oy..... We have a pianist who is very good, but hasn't practiced much. And we have a drummer who is very good, but doesn't read music. They are indeed using their gifts, but it's rough sometimes, getting there. Tonight, we'll improve on this, I hope. We have a Technical Rehearsal from 7 - 9, which involves the band, the sound tech, the light tech & the caller. The caller calls the cues for the sound & light people. i.e. cue solo mic, stage left; cue wireless #2; cue blue lights; cue thunder; cue broken machine.... etc. etc. etc. So, they will work on knowing their cues, while I smooth out the music with the band. The most difficult part for me is all the crazy meter changes! Oy.... And they are usually only for 1 measure, i.e. the whole song is in 4/4 and for one measure, it switches to 2/4, then back to 4/4. Also, there are huge tempo changes and several songs that merge from one tempo to another, with 4 measures of drums in between songs. That one is fun, I tell ya! All in all, though, this only makes me a better musician. And for this, I'm grateful. I love learning and improving my skills as a musician / director. Some of the most fun I have is directing the children along with the band. I love that.
Friday night is our "Dress Rehearsal." Call time: 6:00. We will rehearse until 8:30. The kids need to wear their costumes, and we will run the musical twice, hopefully, with a big break in between for snacks. The main cast needs to arrive early to get their mics taped on, and their pack secured. Then we'll take attendance, do vocal warmups, review a few things that need to be talked about, and off we go!
We have 2 performances this weekend: one is Saturday at 3:00 - a matinee, and the other one is Sunday evening at 6, followed by an all-church reception for the Kaleidoscope Children's Choir. Fun times. Then the parents, led by Dyan, will strike the set. I'll just have fun with my kids during that time. We have a tradition of signing the shirts. I'll bring my sharpie, and everyone will sign the back of everyone's musical shirt. Fun times will be had by all.
***
Kenzie sure is sleeping a long time today! I put her down at 9:30, and it's 12:30 and I haven't heard a thing from her! Wow...
***
Meg is starting a new spa business in her home. I'm happy for her. I gave her $$$ for her birthday to go towards the purchase of a pedicure thingy.... Hmmmm, wonder who will use it??? ME!
***
I need to get my bicycle out and start riding it. There is a restaurant in town called Spin Pizza, and they sponsor bike rides of varying lengths. I wonder if I could handle a 20 mile ride??
***
And that's my life so far...
Now, if we could just get the BAND to step up. We had quite a few rough spots last night. For one thing, because we were stopping so much, making adjustments to blocking or cues, the band wasn't paying much attention to me, and when I'm giving them the tempo, or opening measure, they weren't ready to play, or half of them would be, and the other half was playing "catch up." Oy..... We have a pianist who is very good, but hasn't practiced much. And we have a drummer who is very good, but doesn't read music. They are indeed using their gifts, but it's rough sometimes, getting there. Tonight, we'll improve on this, I hope. We have a Technical Rehearsal from 7 - 9, which involves the band, the sound tech, the light tech & the caller. The caller calls the cues for the sound & light people. i.e. cue solo mic, stage left; cue wireless #2; cue blue lights; cue thunder; cue broken machine.... etc. etc. etc. So, they will work on knowing their cues, while I smooth out the music with the band. The most difficult part for me is all the crazy meter changes! Oy.... And they are usually only for 1 measure, i.e. the whole song is in 4/4 and for one measure, it switches to 2/4, then back to 4/4. Also, there are huge tempo changes and several songs that merge from one tempo to another, with 4 measures of drums in between songs. That one is fun, I tell ya! All in all, though, this only makes me a better musician. And for this, I'm grateful. I love learning and improving my skills as a musician / director. Some of the most fun I have is directing the children along with the band. I love that.
Friday night is our "Dress Rehearsal." Call time: 6:00. We will rehearse until 8:30. The kids need to wear their costumes, and we will run the musical twice, hopefully, with a big break in between for snacks. The main cast needs to arrive early to get their mics taped on, and their pack secured. Then we'll take attendance, do vocal warmups, review a few things that need to be talked about, and off we go!
We have 2 performances this weekend: one is Saturday at 3:00 - a matinee, and the other one is Sunday evening at 6, followed by an all-church reception for the Kaleidoscope Children's Choir. Fun times. Then the parents, led by Dyan, will strike the set. I'll just have fun with my kids during that time. We have a tradition of signing the shirts. I'll bring my sharpie, and everyone will sign the back of everyone's musical shirt. Fun times will be had by all.
***
Kenzie sure is sleeping a long time today! I put her down at 9:30, and it's 12:30 and I haven't heard a thing from her! Wow...
***
Meg is starting a new spa business in her home. I'm happy for her. I gave her $$$ for her birthday to go towards the purchase of a pedicure thingy.... Hmmmm, wonder who will use it??? ME!
***
I need to get my bicycle out and start riding it. There is a restaurant in town called Spin Pizza, and they sponsor bike rides of varying lengths. I wonder if I could handle a 20 mile ride??
***
And that's my life so far...
Thursday, April 22, 2010
My Daughters, My Heroes
My daughters are my heroes. Today, when having a bit of a pity party because my pedi / mani girl couldn't fit me in tomorrow, and quite honestly, I'm tired, overworked & underpaid, and was feeling so sorry for myself. It feels like I'm constantly giving, giving, giving, and never getting, getting, getting. Which is really ridiculous. I receive blessings all the time. I get stuff from Don every day. And my girls too. But, today, I dunno, I must have been hormonal or something, because when I tried to get an appt. for tomorrow, to have my Friday Mani / Pedi, she, my gal, couldn't fit me in. So, Dyan & Meg got together and now they're my heroes. Dyan has a pedi bath thingy, and Meg has her estheticians license, and can do manicures, pedicures & massages... so, they got together and got it all planned out. Tomorrow, I will be going to Meg's house for my pedicure & manicure, followed by a massage. All while there will be 2 babies there. Meg is watching Lily while Dyan & Christian go to an indoor water park. So..... yup, my girls. They're my heroes.
***
The musical.... oy. We had a pretty disastrous rehearsal on Wednesday. The kids know the choruses to the songs, but the verses, they totally bomb at. It will really help when we get the powerpoint words on the back wall, and when we get the main kids all wireless mic'd. That will really help.
I finally finished dressing the stage. It looks pretty good. I need to take pics of it. Probably will on Saturday. We have a 3 hour rehearsal Sat. morning, with the main cast, the soloists, the Emcee & opening prayer person, and the band, oh, and the dancers. Big rehearsal. Fine tuning the blocking and their parts. Anyway, the stage, it's 24' x 32', I think.... and has 2 large choir risers each tilting towards the center. The choir risers have picket fencing nailed to the back of them, and white lattice work nailed to the front & sides. Then we have hay bales for steps up to the risers, and more hay bales on each corner of the front of the stage. We have a few old farmstyle chairs, sunflowers, copper watering cans, a small garden flag with a picture of a barn on it, and lots of flowers. Simple, but nice. The back of the stage, and both side areas have the black curtain system in place. Makes it all look polished. I've had several parents tell me how nice it looks. On Saturday, I need to show Dyan where everything goes back to once the musical is finished. We will have parents strike the set on Sunday evening and put the props & materials all away. I will be schmoozing with the parents & audience, as well as the kids.
We have a tradition of signing our t-shirts after the last performance. I will bring a sharpie for this task. The kids love this, and so do I.
***
Don's medical tests were not so great this time. His numbers were down quite a bit. We think that stress is the culprit. Also, he hadn't been taking his multivitamins / minerals the past few weeks either, and so that may be part of the reason. We are hopeful for the next appointment, which will be in July. We don't want Don having to go on any medications unnecessarily.
***
My purple music stand came today! It's beautiful! I'm so excited about it. And I also ordered stand lights, led, and they are so bright that both sides of my music will have NO problem being seen! Yay!
***
Meg's birthday is Tuesday. We plan on going to the zoo for the day. Dyan is making us all picnic lunches. I can't wait. The zoo is one of my FAVORITE places in the world to go to. Fun times will be had. I could watch the meerkats for hours on end! Lots of walking = great exercise = being able to eat birthday cake that evening! Yay!
***
And that's my life so far...
***
The musical.... oy. We had a pretty disastrous rehearsal on Wednesday. The kids know the choruses to the songs, but the verses, they totally bomb at. It will really help when we get the powerpoint words on the back wall, and when we get the main kids all wireless mic'd. That will really help.
I finally finished dressing the stage. It looks pretty good. I need to take pics of it. Probably will on Saturday. We have a 3 hour rehearsal Sat. morning, with the main cast, the soloists, the Emcee & opening prayer person, and the band, oh, and the dancers. Big rehearsal. Fine tuning the blocking and their parts. Anyway, the stage, it's 24' x 32', I think.... and has 2 large choir risers each tilting towards the center. The choir risers have picket fencing nailed to the back of them, and white lattice work nailed to the front & sides. Then we have hay bales for steps up to the risers, and more hay bales on each corner of the front of the stage. We have a few old farmstyle chairs, sunflowers, copper watering cans, a small garden flag with a picture of a barn on it, and lots of flowers. Simple, but nice. The back of the stage, and both side areas have the black curtain system in place. Makes it all look polished. I've had several parents tell me how nice it looks. On Saturday, I need to show Dyan where everything goes back to once the musical is finished. We will have parents strike the set on Sunday evening and put the props & materials all away. I will be schmoozing with the parents & audience, as well as the kids.
We have a tradition of signing our t-shirts after the last performance. I will bring a sharpie for this task. The kids love this, and so do I.
***
Don's medical tests were not so great this time. His numbers were down quite a bit. We think that stress is the culprit. Also, he hadn't been taking his multivitamins / minerals the past few weeks either, and so that may be part of the reason. We are hopeful for the next appointment, which will be in July. We don't want Don having to go on any medications unnecessarily.
***
My purple music stand came today! It's beautiful! I'm so excited about it. And I also ordered stand lights, led, and they are so bright that both sides of my music will have NO problem being seen! Yay!
***
Meg's birthday is Tuesday. We plan on going to the zoo for the day. Dyan is making us all picnic lunches. I can't wait. The zoo is one of my FAVORITE places in the world to go to. Fun times will be had. I could watch the meerkats for hours on end! Lots of walking = great exercise = being able to eat birthday cake that evening! Yay!
***
And that's my life so far...
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Musical Production = Busy Life
Our spring musical, "Acorns to Oaks" is under full production right now. We will be performing it in 2 weeks. So....... my life is not my own right now.
My ToDo List:
1~type out the program, not forgetting anyone or anything
2~go to Home Depot to find a container to make the Turbo-Harvester prop. I THINK I know what I need, but I'm sorta making it up as I go. I bought some garden things, a sunflower made out of some sort of metal, and some grassy looking plants. I think if I get some sort of container, a new rake, some S hooks, I'll be able to put it together. The S hooks will be to hang around the top of the container and hang baskets from it. The sunflower, rake & grass will go inside it. And I'll make a sign for the front. All today. Tuesday.
3~gotta make the "rain" hooplas for the ballerina who will be dancing liturgically to the song, "Rain", and the hooplas will symbolize rain from the Holy Spirit. I bought 2 embroidery hoops and a whole buncha ribbons and will fashion the hooplas from them. Gotta get them done today.
4~gotta type & print the riser standing order, as well as the lineup order for entering the stage.
5~gotta finish entering all of the attendance records for this semester.
6~gotta make a decision on the Choir People of the Year, and order the plaques.
7~gotta pick up the t-shirts next Tuesday, on Meg's birthday.
8~gotta make labels for the t-shirts, so that they can be handed out next Wednesday.
9~gotta have some coffee.
10~gotta email info on rehearsals to the choir parents.
11~gotta make sure everything is in place for the 2 receptions.
12~gotta figure out what I'm gonna wear. Does my denim skirt fit me again? Hope so.... I've lost 14 lbs so far....
13~gotta send out evites for the Choir 3 BBQ & Hot Tub Party.
14~Need more coffee.
15~Need to order more cymbalta. Pronto.
16~Need to continue to pray.
Lots to do. I ought to print out this list. I am a list person. Truly. I've always been a list person. Somehow, when checking off items from my many lists over the years, I feel like I'm accomplishing something. Seriously, I have lists saved on my computer. I have lots of menu lists, with corresponding grocery lists. I have ToDo Lists for what to do prior to any holidays, for what needs to be done prior to the first rehearsal of the year, for what to do prior to any musical, for preparing for vacations, for camping trips. Seriously. I am a list person. I'm always afraid I'll forget something. I love my lists.
***
I need to have time to work outside in the garden. I think perhaps this Saturday, after my 3 hour morning rehearsal, I'll work in the garden. Need to get the burner out and burn the weeds that are cropping up. I need to transplant the seedlings that we started in the basement. I'm really hoping that the bunnies don't eat them. I also need to clean out my deck pots and plant them with annuals. Perhaps this year I'll go back to using impatiens. (sp?) I've used potato vines the last several years, and I grow tired of them. I want color back. So, impatiens & perhaps some salvia.
I have seedlings to place in the big garden. I planted sweet peas, okra, salvia, cosmos, black eyed susans, wildflowers, tomatoes, watermelon, pumpkins. Gotta get them transplanted. I thinned them yesterday and watered them again. They're ready to go.
***
Tuesday is Meg's 25th birthday. We plan on spending the day at the zoo. The zoo is one of my very favorite places in Kansas City. I love the zoo. And I especially love going to the zoo with my grandchildren. Of course, Lily & Kenzie won't really care about it, but Christian.... oh my. We are really looking forward to the experience of looking at these cool animals! Especially the lions and meerkats. I love the meerkats. I could watch them all day. Such interesting little babies.... And I hope the chimpanzees are out playing. They are so fun to watch too. Dyan is packing us a picnic lunch and we're all gonna have so much fun for Meg's birthday. I'm pretty sure we'll be going back to Meg's house for dinner & birthday cake. Fun times ahead.... This all makes me so happy that my girls are stay at home moms. I love this...
***
And that's my life so far.
My ToDo List:
1~type out the program, not forgetting anyone or anything
2~go to Home Depot to find a container to make the Turbo-Harvester prop. I THINK I know what I need, but I'm sorta making it up as I go. I bought some garden things, a sunflower made out of some sort of metal, and some grassy looking plants. I think if I get some sort of container, a new rake, some S hooks, I'll be able to put it together. The S hooks will be to hang around the top of the container and hang baskets from it. The sunflower, rake & grass will go inside it. And I'll make a sign for the front. All today. Tuesday.
3~gotta make the "rain" hooplas for the ballerina who will be dancing liturgically to the song, "Rain", and the hooplas will symbolize rain from the Holy Spirit. I bought 2 embroidery hoops and a whole buncha ribbons and will fashion the hooplas from them. Gotta get them done today.
4~gotta type & print the riser standing order, as well as the lineup order for entering the stage.
5~gotta finish entering all of the attendance records for this semester.
6~gotta make a decision on the Choir People of the Year, and order the plaques.
7~gotta pick up the t-shirts next Tuesday, on Meg's birthday.
8~gotta make labels for the t-shirts, so that they can be handed out next Wednesday.
9~gotta have some coffee.
10~gotta email info on rehearsals to the choir parents.
11~gotta make sure everything is in place for the 2 receptions.
12~gotta figure out what I'm gonna wear. Does my denim skirt fit me again? Hope so.... I've lost 14 lbs so far....
13~gotta send out evites for the Choir 3 BBQ & Hot Tub Party.
14~Need more coffee.
15~Need to order more cymbalta. Pronto.
16~Need to continue to pray.
Lots to do. I ought to print out this list. I am a list person. Truly. I've always been a list person. Somehow, when checking off items from my many lists over the years, I feel like I'm accomplishing something. Seriously, I have lists saved on my computer. I have lots of menu lists, with corresponding grocery lists. I have ToDo Lists for what to do prior to any holidays, for what needs to be done prior to the first rehearsal of the year, for what to do prior to any musical, for preparing for vacations, for camping trips. Seriously. I am a list person. I'm always afraid I'll forget something. I love my lists.
***
I need to have time to work outside in the garden. I think perhaps this Saturday, after my 3 hour morning rehearsal, I'll work in the garden. Need to get the burner out and burn the weeds that are cropping up. I need to transplant the seedlings that we started in the basement. I'm really hoping that the bunnies don't eat them. I also need to clean out my deck pots and plant them with annuals. Perhaps this year I'll go back to using impatiens. (sp?) I've used potato vines the last several years, and I grow tired of them. I want color back. So, impatiens & perhaps some salvia.
I have seedlings to place in the big garden. I planted sweet peas, okra, salvia, cosmos, black eyed susans, wildflowers, tomatoes, watermelon, pumpkins. Gotta get them transplanted. I thinned them yesterday and watered them again. They're ready to go.
***
Tuesday is Meg's 25th birthday. We plan on spending the day at the zoo. The zoo is one of my very favorite places in Kansas City. I love the zoo. And I especially love going to the zoo with my grandchildren. Of course, Lily & Kenzie won't really care about it, but Christian.... oh my. We are really looking forward to the experience of looking at these cool animals! Especially the lions and meerkats. I love the meerkats. I could watch them all day. Such interesting little babies.... And I hope the chimpanzees are out playing. They are so fun to watch too. Dyan is packing us a picnic lunch and we're all gonna have so much fun for Meg's birthday. I'm pretty sure we'll be going back to Meg's house for dinner & birthday cake. Fun times ahead.... This all makes me so happy that my girls are stay at home moms. I love this...
***
And that's my life so far.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Yeah, Life.
Yeah, life. It's moving on. And I'm trying to cope with it better. This past week was very stressful. In fact, when I went to the doctor on Friday, to check my weight and get more shakes, my blood pressure was 145 / 80. Not good. Stress. Oy..... The doctor told me to eat a few more carbs. Well, when I say "eat," I mean drink. He told me to drink the higher carb shake every once in a while. Especially when I feel stressed or light headed. So, on the way to my mani / pedi appt. after the doctor, I stopped by Sonic and had a jr. hamburger and a small order of tots, along with a large diet cherry limeade. I immediately felt better! LOL
***
So, now I'm taking over our income tax filing. Don's done it for 30 years... now it's my turn. At least it will get done on time, and hopefully correctly. My way of doing it will be to take it somewhere. LOL But I'll gather all the goodies, receipts, forms, etc. etc. etc. and make sure the taxes get filed. This year, we're filing an extension, at least until the other tax matters get resolved. Per suggestion of our attorney. Wow, who'da thought we'd have so many attorneys in our lives??? Oy....
***
The musical is 3 weeks away. We are down to the brass tacks now. The stage is built. Now I just need to dress it. The rest of our rehearsals will take place on the stage. Today's rehearsal was on the stage, and it was great. Our cast is so good, and we are having a ton of fun. For instance, today, after our restroom break, I came back to my directors chair and was ready to put on my little reader glasses, and couldn't find them! I looked everywhere. I even had one of the girls go to the restroom to see if for some reason I took them there. Then everyone was laughing and I look up at the stage to see our lead actress wearing them. Silly....
We finished the blocking today. All 6 scenes are blocked, along with the songs. It's all good. Next Saturday will be a 3 hour rehearsal in the morning. We will completely review scenes 1 - 6 & the songs that have blocking in them, along with the crows and weeds, since they also have dialogue. Then after that rehearsal in the morning, I follow up with a 2 hour band rehearsal. Fun, but exhausting times. I need to remember to bring my camera and snap some shots of our rehearsals.
Now I just need 8 bales of straw, a couple of farm chairs, lanterns, picket fences nailed, lattice nailed, and perhaps a tree or two... Oh, and I need to figure out these dang "inventions".... Oy.... lots to do.
***
I candled my ears today. You wouldn't believe how much pollen and wax was inside of them.
***
Tomorrow, late afternoon, we have another Work & Witness meeting. Gonna plan our menus, and other food things. Gonna get their medical forms notarized. Don is a notary. And Don is gonna share some personal info with our team. I think. He keeps asking me if he should, and I think he probably will. His call. We are about 2 months out from our trip. I'm really looking forward to going to Dominica. It's lush & beautiful, and I'm really looking forward to interacting with the women on this island. I'd love to do something with the children too. We will discuss the possibilities at our meeting tomorrow. We have a great team put together. Sixteen people total. Nice.
***
I pray that the Lord guides us out of these latest troubles and helps get things resolved in a timely manner, so that we can once again give to the church and concentrate on our ministries. I pray that God walks through this with us and guides us, and that the Holy Spirit will give us the strength to make it through. And, if He chooses to not delay his return for His church, I wouldn't be upset about that! Come, Lord Jesus, come! I'm ready!
***
And that's my life so far...
***
So, now I'm taking over our income tax filing. Don's done it for 30 years... now it's my turn. At least it will get done on time, and hopefully correctly. My way of doing it will be to take it somewhere. LOL But I'll gather all the goodies, receipts, forms, etc. etc. etc. and make sure the taxes get filed. This year, we're filing an extension, at least until the other tax matters get resolved. Per suggestion of our attorney. Wow, who'da thought we'd have so many attorneys in our lives??? Oy....
***
The musical is 3 weeks away. We are down to the brass tacks now. The stage is built. Now I just need to dress it. The rest of our rehearsals will take place on the stage. Today's rehearsal was on the stage, and it was great. Our cast is so good, and we are having a ton of fun. For instance, today, after our restroom break, I came back to my directors chair and was ready to put on my little reader glasses, and couldn't find them! I looked everywhere. I even had one of the girls go to the restroom to see if for some reason I took them there. Then everyone was laughing and I look up at the stage to see our lead actress wearing them. Silly....
We finished the blocking today. All 6 scenes are blocked, along with the songs. It's all good. Next Saturday will be a 3 hour rehearsal in the morning. We will completely review scenes 1 - 6 & the songs that have blocking in them, along with the crows and weeds, since they also have dialogue. Then after that rehearsal in the morning, I follow up with a 2 hour band rehearsal. Fun, but exhausting times. I need to remember to bring my camera and snap some shots of our rehearsals.
Now I just need 8 bales of straw, a couple of farm chairs, lanterns, picket fences nailed, lattice nailed, and perhaps a tree or two... Oh, and I need to figure out these dang "inventions".... Oy.... lots to do.
***
I candled my ears today. You wouldn't believe how much pollen and wax was inside of them.
***
Tomorrow, late afternoon, we have another Work & Witness meeting. Gonna plan our menus, and other food things. Gonna get their medical forms notarized. Don is a notary. And Don is gonna share some personal info with our team. I think. He keeps asking me if he should, and I think he probably will. His call. We are about 2 months out from our trip. I'm really looking forward to going to Dominica. It's lush & beautiful, and I'm really looking forward to interacting with the women on this island. I'd love to do something with the children too. We will discuss the possibilities at our meeting tomorrow. We have a great team put together. Sixteen people total. Nice.
***
I pray that the Lord guides us out of these latest troubles and helps get things resolved in a timely manner, so that we can once again give to the church and concentrate on our ministries. I pray that God walks through this with us and guides us, and that the Holy Spirit will give us the strength to make it through. And, if He chooses to not delay his return for His church, I wouldn't be upset about that! Come, Lord Jesus, come! I'm ready!
***
And that's my life so far...
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