Halloween Is Not For The Faint of Craftiness

So a couple of months ago, my sister in law suggested that Sam should be a leprechaun for Halloween. He has red hair and big blue eyes, so I agreed that it would be pretty amusing to take advantage of those features and make him a leprechaun.

When I was little, my mom NEVER bought my Halloween costumes....Strawberry Shortcake, Cinderella, a witch...she sewed them all and they were GOOD. I don't think I ever had a store bought costume until the autumn where all at once my grandma got really sick, my sister was born, and I insisted I wanted to wear cheap crap like my friends.

But, I was pretty hard pressed on keeping up with tradition and making Sam's Halloween costume. His first Halloween, he was so tiny, we had to purchase a pumpkin costume from the Build a Bear Factory.



Last year, he was a scarecrow. I had no time, and no motivation, and so I got this second-hand scarecrow costume at a children's consignment store. He LOVED it.



But this year - yes, this year dang it - I was going to make his costume and be as crafty as my mom if it killed all of us. And it almost did.

First of all, it is very very VERY difficult to find St. Patrick's themed ANYTHING in the fall....not even a plastic leprechaun hat could be found ONLINE for under $25, which was my budget for the entire costume. So....I had to get even more crafty than I assumed I would have to.

Then, low and behold, I found tuxedo pajamas at H&M the DAY BEFORE I had to have his costume finished. It was a lifesaver! Add that to lots of glitter foam adhesive, green fabric, and some careless stitching, and we had a costume!....
....which fell apart about 5 minutes after he put it on. So we whipped out the safety pins and packaging tape, and sent him on his trick or treating way.


Now that I think about it....maybe it was my grandma who actually made my Halloween costumes. Perhaps I will wait until I am a grandmother to try this again.....

Apple Hill

I am so behind on pictures and updates. We went to Apple Hill a few Saturdays back with Connie, Elisa, and miscellaneous children and husbands :) I was so looking forward to this trip, but I was nauseous all day and was pretty darn miserable! That was a bummer, but what was fun was seeing how Sam has really changed since we went last year, and he had a great time. I had some fun moments too :)

Their Love is Fierce

I've written time and again about how this summer was so filled with uncertainty. But through it all - happiness, anticipation, anger, sadness, grief - I made a commitment to myself and to my Jesus that, no matter what, I would take a jump (no matter how scary), and trust Him 100% to know what is best for my life. And to do my very best to ACT like Him whenever possible, and even when all things raining down tempted me to do otherwise. I was THROUGH steering the car.

The results? Autumn has brought me what feels like a shiny, brand new life. It's been incredible. Almost everything is a new adventure.

I don't want to bore you by going on and on about it every time I blog, but I just want to jot down some praise for just how amazing Royal Stage is. This has been a dream of mine forever - I have thought about it for years - and now that God has formed it in His timing, which was WAY faster than I expected, I feel like I am on this crazy, exhilarating ride, and it's been incredible.

We have passionate dancers and actors. It's actually sort of insane how fierce their love is. Love for God, love for each other, love for learning. Some have asked for private lessons to catch up to their peers, some are constantly asking for ministry opportunities, some are learning choreography TWO DAYS BEFORE A TOURING PERFORMANCE so they can throw themselves into God's art. It's been such a blessing.

It reminds me of my college days - where everyone in dance ministry was so crazy dedicated and desired God so fully - it's that experience all over again, but with a way more diverse group. So fun!

We have two shows this year - we had to split it into two groups to accommodate everyone who wanted to join - one is in Feb, and one is in May. We're going to offer "season tickets" in a couple of months - I really hope you can attend. The choreographers are remarkable, and our Jesus is center stage.

And remember, if you become a financial supporter of the ministry (only $10 a month), your tickets are always free. :)

Here are some really crappy photos of the awesomeness. One of our dancers, the fabulous Nicole Waldschmidt, is going to do a genuine photoshoot early next year - but until then, this will suffice :) Click to make them bigger.

Beginning hip hop - need to get a pic of the advanced ones!

Lyrical A pow wow

Some of the Creative Kingdom kids

Sam dancing with Katie :)

Endless Summer

I am daydreaming today. I have so much to do, so many things to check off my to do list, and instead, all I think about is....not the stuff I have to do!

We've hit a heat wave here in California, and I am sitting in Starbucks when I should be writing, instead having my beloved autumn dreams. Apple Hill, Thanksgiving, oh I love you! Do I not blog and facebook incessantly about all the ways I love you? Come to me quickly!

But, an endless summer isn't all bad. I finally waved my white flag and we filled up Sam's pool for one final week of swimming.

When the cold water came out, he got this expression and told me the freezing water was "hot". We may not make it to Ivy League, but we're cute!

This is for all the skeptics (Myriah!) who think I deprive him and don't give him pool toys. Note the toy boats. BEING IGNORED for the spatula. He's an artist ;)

"Mommy! I see youuuu and I splash you!"

Filling up the pool at the end of September is serious business, and is to be cherished.

I am really looking forward to my traditional fall luncheon...I'm taking recipes from some of my favorite countries I've visited, a recipe from my grandmother circa 1958, and am tying it all up with some comfort foods and autumn cupcakes.

My favorite trees off of 65 have changed into their brilliant orange and yellow.....I need to take a picture this year.

I love this time of year :)

A Terrible, Awful, No Good, Very Bad Day!

So yesterday, between teaching at my Royal Stage day ministry group and my Royal Stage evening group, I came home to see my husband and eat Wheat Thins.

(Yes, ladies and gentlemen, my life really is THAT exciting.)

I left my dance bag on the passenger's seat of my car, and 20 minutes later, went back out to find my car doors open. I didn't lock my car, thinking it was only a few minutes.

That.
Was.
Stupid.

In broad daylight, someone had ransacked my car and took my iPod, my cell phone, and a really significant amount of cash that had just been donated to Royal Stage, that I hadn't had a chance to take out of my wallet and turn in yet.

I went to teach my evening class without any music and cell phone-less. The girls were great about it all, but unfortunately losing the donations was a big set back. We really need a couple of things, and if you could either pray for them or provide for them, it would be MUCH appreciated.

The goal of my blog is not to continually ask for help. But it IS to continually ask for prayer as God continues to bless this awesome group. Our Roseville program is completely filled up, we have a group of kids/teens in Rocklin, we have another children's program starting next month, and we are expanding to Folsom in January.

But....in these economic times, we have A LOT of participants on scholarship, and I would have no idea how to choose who could stay and who could not if we couldn't afford to accept everyone any longer.

So.....

1) We really need a volunteer ballet teacher for Roseville, and a volunteer lyrical and/or hip hop teacher for Folsom. If you know of anyone, please let me know ASAP!

2) We need to get a truckload of $10 per month supporters for Royal Stage. It's only 10 bucks and you can do it completely online. Would you please consider being a sponsor? You could, of course, also make a one-time donation.

http://www.theroyalstage.com/?page_id=16

I hate bad days. But I love my Jesus. And know that God uses His people to come together and help support a great cause dedicated to Him!

Preach it, Charles Spurgeon!

This was the devotional I read today, and I wanted to reprint it here. Charles Spurgeon, though outdated and very deceased, is so wise. He has the same style as Oswald Chambers, whom I adore. Anyway...

It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. (Lamentations 3:27)

This is as good as a promise. It has been good, it is good, and it will be good for me to bear the yoke.

Early in life I had to feel the weight of conviction, and ever since it has proved a soul-enriching burden. Should I have loved the gospel so well had I not learned by deep experience the need of salvation by grace? Jabez was more honorable than his brethren because his mother bare him with sorrow, and those who suffer much in being born unto God make strong believers in sovereign grace.

The yoke of censure is an irksome one, but it prepares a man for future honor. He is not fit to be a leader who has not run the gauntlet of contempt. Praise intoxicates if it be not preceded by abuse. Men who rise to eminence without struggle usually fall into dishonor.

The yoke of affliction, disappointment, and excessive labor is by no means to be sought for; but when the Lord lays it on us in our youth, it frequently develops a character which glorifies God and blesses the church.

Come, my soul, bow thy neck; take up they cross. It was good for thee when young; it will not harm thee now. For Jesus' sake, shoulder it carefully.

Amen <3

Anxiously Awaiting My Favorite Season

I love autumn. Hurry up and get here, autumn! I am attempting to wrap up my summer in a blog post, but all I can think about is how much I love autumn and can't wait for drizzy rain and fun traditions like going to Apple Hill and my ladies brunch. I have magazine pages bookmarked for when the mood strikes to make corn husk votives and leaf & apple stamps with Sam. HURRY. UP. FALL.


But, back to summer...everything has turned out to be beyond alright :) First we had Sam's birthday. After his massive first birthday party in the park, we decided to have a low-key get together this year with only family. Go Diego Go took over our house for the party theme, and it ended up being a really nice and simple afternoon. Don't feel bad for him - the kid was in Hawaii for his actual birthday.


Checking out his loot.


Stealing the camera...


Wearing his Diego shirt while eating his Diego cupcake on its Diego plate. Obsessed.

Fast forward a month, and I had the best time in Capitola with all my best friends to celebrate my birthday. It was the big 3-0, and the girls came out for a fantastic weekend of hot tubbing, boardgames, sushi eating, and lots of laughing :) On the way home, I got to take the Sac girls to Santana Row - it was so fun having my worlds collide - I can safely say I love both Sacramento and the bay area now. I don't feel like I have to choose, or long for the one I am not currently at. It's all good, God preserves and restores friendships, family, etc - and I am so spoiled by Him. I have two fun worlds instead of just one!







Then, at the end of the month, we had Royal Stage auditions. I was blown away - we had 48 people come to auditions, and we are still adding a couple into the two shows we have planned for the premier season. God has really restored my ministry life - I was so scared to walk away from what I had, even though He was calling me so clearly. I need to learn to step out in faith more - because so far it's been an incredible journey!

Pictures soon.

My God is so good. He loves me outrageously. I feel so blessed. <3