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

Twenty Nine Things

Twenty Nine Lessons I've Learned From My 20s....

1) As cliche as it sounds, never pass up an opportunity to let someone know how much they mean to you. It's important.

2) Travel as much as you can - I went to 10 different countries in the past decade, and I am so glad. I love having friends in Europe, Africa and Asia - and I had experiences in those places I never want to forget.

3) Don't waste time being concerned what other people think about you. Stay on the straight and narrow, and know the rest is out of your control.

4) Spend lots of time being concerned with what God wants from you. He is totally in control.

5) Be nice to your parents.

6) Savor every moment your baby is a baby. It goes by very fast and before you know it, he's a non-stop, cuddle-resistant toddler. Take advantage of every opportunity to keep up with your toddler. Climb the jungle gym, read stories, sing songs - a day has never been more well spent.

7) Be passionate in your marriage. Go on dates, flirt, and act like crazy people once in awhile. And laugh a lot.

8) Go to college. I am so glad I got that stupid piece of paper - it opens doors and the four (er, five...) years go by quickly.

9) Dance. Your. Guts. Out.

10) Know who your true friends are.

11) Don't let anyone intimidate you. Respectfully show them you are very smart and brave.

12) Keep your mouth shut.

13) Find a few people in your life that will never expect you to keep your mouth shut, and are completely okay with that.

14) When your thoughts keep you awake, thank God for everything you have until you fall asleep.

15) Don't feel guilty about getting in your pajamas and curling up in bed with a book or your journal in the afternoon....especially if it's raining.

16) Love as unconditionally as you can. Then further reduce your conditions and love again.

17) Spend time pouring into the lives of those younger than you. You'll be surprised at how much you'll desire holding yourself accountable and the way they'll indirectly guide you.

18) Disneyland is never a waste of money.

19) Find three places in the world you feel totally free and at peace (mine = sitting on an ocean-view balcony in Kauai, cloud watching in Santa Clara, driving through the city with my favorite music playing).

20) Stick close to someone you admire. But never lose sight of who you are.

21) Realize when to let go, and forgive yourself for doing so.

22) Accept you are 100%, perfectly loved by God. He adores you, He cherishes you...soak that in.

23) If you haven't used it in a year or more, then give it away or throw it away.

24) Pursue your dreams. You CAN achieve them (unless you want to be America's Next Top Model or something...that prob won't happen)...

25) Don't ever outwardly assume someone's political stance.

26) If you are writing an email in regards to a friendship, relationship, confrontation, complaint, or anything else that involves someone's heart - save it to your drafts and wait 24 hours to send it.

27) Don't send the email. Meet for coffee. It may be uncool, but face-to-face is always best.

28) But don't actually drink coffee. Ew. And if you must, don't go to Starbucks - support local business.

29) Never turn down dessert.

30.....Well, the old people had it right. Life goes by insanely fast. Live every second to its fullest, until your entire life is just completely worn out for God. Then you'll never have to look back <3

Dream and Jump

So I'm not a fan of my birthday. Most people know this, and so with it coming up this week, I wished for the weekend before to be a simple, quiet weekend with a lot of pink. I don't think I really shared this with anyone, and the weekend was far from quiet. But look what Becky did during the 24 hrs we were both in the bay area!

Man do I love pink on my bday (or er, 4 days before....)




Me and sissy :) ......

My mom even made a PINK cake - devil's food with coffee frosting - my fave :)
I was actually quite thrilled with the cake - it was the numbers on it I did not
want to endorse, hence the dirty look. ....


So my pink wish was answered. Thanks God :)

I show you these photos to illustrate that God really does care about the little things - and now I am counting on Him caring about the big things....well, probably not big at all in the grand scheme of things, but big to ME.

Royal Stage auditions are TO-MORR-OW. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, my 5-year plan for a creative arts non-profit has warped into 5 months, and now suddenly sha-bam we have 50 people signed up to dance/act for us and be cast in our first two outreach productions.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! (excited!)

I know we won't actually get 50, it will be more like 30....but I am still beyond excited that even over 50 showed interest, and I can't wait to see what God does. I am trying to overcome my human failings of nerves, worries and intimidations and just jump into tomorrow night worshipping and having fun.

I had coffee with a dear friend/mentor I have known since high school, and he gave me some really tough and encouraging words about straightening up, focusing on God, and being above and beyond what people expect of me. He loved Cinderella and said that this new organization is going to be a big deal. HE is a big deal in the professional world, so that meant a lot to me. And made me want to work hard on making my Jesus a big deal.

So, please pray for us! And stay tuned for tomorrow.....I might have a dance vid or something :)

Please bless the Royal Stage God, please, please, please, PLEASE. Even if I never own another pink thing again. That's how important this is.

Thank you :)

Cleaning House and Moving On

God taught me something today. Now take caution when reading this, because I am actually going to pay myself a compliment - which rarely happens.

I went to see Artbeat 2010 tonight. It is a summer variety show put on by the church we attended FOR-EV-ER. I founded it in 2005 and tonight was their first time doing it without us. Which is cool. I fully trusted the people who took it over.

It was weird going back there after almost 3 months away, and it was pretty much exactly as I expected. Everyone was super nice to us - lots of hugs, great words of encouragement, a total church family that we love and cherish. And the pastor felt forced to come over and hug us, which I wish he had just not done....and his wife fully snubbed us (but talked to Sam. Ha!)

But here's what happened that was weird....I didn't feel any pain. I just felt a confident, perfect love for everyone in the room, including the two people there who positively can't stand me.

I told Frank that I think God has given me a gift of being able to forgive people fully. Seriously, I cannot think of a single person in my life I've known (except convicted felons), who I wouldn't let back into my life and be their friend. And really, that's a downfall a lot of the time. But...it can also be a chance to really see people as God sees them....and then be able to love them and pray for them. I am glad that I am good at forgiving. It isn't all a bad thing.

But...getting used to the fact people will drop you from their life with no explanation whatsoever and never forgive you sometimes....that lesson is a little harder to master.

Ah well. Life goes on.