Ministry In a Fog

I feel like I've just been engulfed in a fog the past few months. Not the nice, pretty morning fog that I miss about living in the bay area so much, but rather the scary, sight-imparing fog that I hate driving in at night.

Royal Stage is well into its 2nd season now, and gosh, have we ever been through the meat grinder. Maybe it was because I shot off my stupid mouth telling people how EASY it was to run a non-profit. We had such a carefree first year - and then this year things changed....because we grew, more people found out about us, and money and resources did not fare well with demand. It feels like there are dancers, actors and musicians EVERYWHERE I look....very funny, God! This was my 10-year plan.

But at the same time, thank you. Thank you so much because this is my dream, and I think I would just wither away without it.

So in a nutshell, here is everything that has happened during our 2nd season:

- Auditions go great - run 2 hours late - too many people!

- Have to re-cast a few roles for spring production due to transportation issues

- We start offering classes to abused young ladies living in group homes in Sacramento - we've had as many as 20 come out for these, and there have been great reports

- Have to re-cast a few more roles due to a family issue

- Have to re-cast MORE roles due to not having the right fit or the right scheduling

- I am so desperate to not re-cast anymore, that I step in and agree to SING to avoid it!

- We have an amazing showcase, receive generous donations, and most importantly, the presence of God is truly felt.

- Still had to re-cast one more person

- Rehearsal space is lost

- Rehearsal space is re-obtained, plus a new spare one provided!

- Theatre booking falls through

- We book new theatre

- New theatre decides they want to do the same show we are doing, so they cancel us

- New theatre changes mind after my weepy and persuasive email

- orchestra member has regular rants and tantrums, which isn't relevant but really hurts my feelings.

- group of cast members begin campaign against me to change next year's show. ;) I am not even THINKING about next year's show!!!! So stop asking me, you crazy people!

- I realize how deeply in debt all of the changes have made us.

- I realize how much my family sacrifices so I can do this

- I realize how much I hate marketing writing, and how much I miss writing for God, be it the scripts again, or working on my book.

So, I've come to the conclusion that unless something drastic changes, I won't be able to do this again next year. It's my heart - it's my dream, and outside of my kids, it is what I live for. I am so proud of everyone involved in it and just love everyone so much. But finances are not keeping up with needs, and sanity is not keeping up to the demands such a program requires.

So if Royal Stage has EVER touched your life in any way, or really if I've made a difference in your life in any way, would you please consider saving the dream? Royal Stage is fine - we will be fine and survive, continuing to grow under God's covering.

However I know God puts people in our lives for a reason, and without you, things begin to crumble financially and logistically. We don't want to just "get by." And I will, most definitely, need to resign if I cannot raise support. I don't get paid anything, and I am fine with that. But I have to figure out how to be a good mom and wife if I am going to do all of this for free, plus work. I put in about 30 hours a week on Royal Stage stuff. And while I know God has undoubtedly called me to it, I also know that He wants me to be faithful to other areas of my life as well.

Please consider helping.

And if there is anything I, or we as a ministry, can ever do to help YOU - please let me know. Even if you don't help us. Because our heart to give does not change based upon what we get.

Please just pledge $10/month so I can spend my time writing about all of the GOOD things that are happening in my world, rather than the stressful and ugly ones <3 I don't like being this transparent on my blog - that is why I haven't written much lately. But I DO know that we can't make any progress unless we make it together!

Support Royal Stage here - it takes 2 minutes tops.

Love you guys! <3

10 Months Old

Mommy, we are DONE with the blocks. Spelling is for babies!

Here are our 10-month shots....with the blocks apparently never in the right order :) Ah well!