My days now are very interesting. They go from manic housework for 2 days/week to almost nothing to do except for the show.  I'm really feeling blessed-this solitude in Rosebud is something my soul needs.  I'm really relishing each walk; each conversation; each moment of quiet.   Our life has changed so much in the last year and it continues to change almost in spite of our weariness.  But God has been faithful in so many ways.  Our questions and prayers are slowly being answered. It's strange that Myron would now be ordained as a full-fledged priest and I'm playing a prostitute all summer! 

I'm blown away at how many parallels there are in La Mancha to the gospel.  There is the "defense" of Cervantes basically giving his whole life into the hands of the Inquisition.  Judgement is imminent. Everyone is guilty. Then there are the characters in the story of his defense.  Sancho: the squire-his faithful friend and servant. Kind of like John the Baptist or Peter.  Aldonza: the bar-maid/wench/prostitute/trollop who has a hard outer shell, but really wants love and acceptance for who she really is.  (this is my character)  Don Quixote calls her Dulcinea for some odd reason and she struggles with this for the entire show until the very end when she finally accepts the name after his death.  Ring a bell for any Mary Magdalenes out there? I'm personally moved every show by this.  It's true for everyone who accepts God's call on their life.  Regardless of behaviour, class, education, God wants to name us as His children. He sees past our sin and sees the purity, beauty and the person we were meant to be.

This rambles and I fear it's not very coherant at the late hour I'm writing, but I want to encourage whoever may stumble across this to keep up the fight. Dream the Impossible Dream. Live the Impossible Life. Because life after all, is not a dress rehearsal.  We only get one chance to run where the brave dare not go....

This was a long week!  I started rehearsals in Rosebud 9-6 Tuesday-Saturday.  We blocked the whole show, had time to run thru everything Sat afternoon (I forgot a few things we had done a few days ago!) and drove home afterwards!  I'm so happy to be home in time for church tomorrow and Mother's Day!  I'm trying not to be worried about logistics-but I need to trust God and trust Myron that the kids will be taken care of while I'm away.  That's the hardest part for me.  Most people think-how glamorous to be getting paid for being in a professional theatre show! Well folks, it's actually really hard work!  I was so challenged this week. Not so much from the show itself, but from the separation from Myron and the kids, the long hours, the lonely (quiet) nights. (I can remember quiet nights that used to happen regularly before I got married and especially before I had kids)  I knew it was going to be hard when I agreed to it, so these feelings are not a surprise, but it doesn't make it any easier. My motto for the next 4 months: Buckle your seatbelts, keep your arms and legs inside the moving car, and enjoy the ride!