Beautiful Scenery, Beautiful Day

Today was such a great day. I delivered the flowers for the wedding I've been working on (see previous blog). I was accompanied by my lovely assistant (my husband) who offered to come along and help with the set up. We made a morning of it getting specialty coffees to accompany us on our 45 minute drive. The wedding was being held in the garden of this 150 year old historical house. I had never been to the "Robert Newell House" before, but it is a beautiful place for a wedding.

My husband and I made good time getting there and were the first to arrive. Since I had to wait until the caterer and cake arrived to place any flowers, and none of the wedding party had arrived, we spent time talking with the care takers of the grounds. This sweet couple is probably just a wee bit older than we are and lives on the grounds year round. We hit it off quite well as they have a background in crafts making furniture and replicas of antique dolls. They are "artsy/craftsy" types. We connected right away!

Since we were in waiting mode, we were treated to a private tour of the old house and the one room school house that also occupies the grounds. We got a mini-history lesson and had the luxury of asking lots of questions. It was so fun!

Soon, family members arrived and I went to work placing the flowers on the cake, centerpieces on the reception tables, aisle decor on the chairs and handing off the bride's bouquet and various boutonnieres and corsages. We left prior to the ceremony, but it looked like it was going to be a great celebration.

In parting, we said farewell to our hosts, the caretakers. As I thanked Mrs. Caretaker for her hospitality we hugged one another as if we had been friends for a long time. She urged us to come back and visit them again, and to send business cards to her so she could promote my wedding floral work. I reciprocated and am eager to let people know about this little jewel of a place for wedding ceremonies.

On the car ride home we vowed to go back and visit another day and felt as if we had made some new friends. It was a great morning!

I've posted a few pictures of the wedding flowers just for fun. The bride had chosen a bright mix of summer flowers, wanting it to "feel" like she picked all the flowers from her garden and put them together for her celebration. She also wanted a touch of elegance and so she chose all white lilies for her bouquet and the cake. Very pretty and fun to do! I'm terrible at remembering to take photos of my work, and as it is, I forgot to take a picture of the bride's bouquet and the groom's bout! Anyway, here's a sample. Not great photo quality. Sorry 'bout that!

White stargazer lilies with ivy cascading on cake.

Corsage and Boutonniere (Ugh! Out of focus! Sorry!)

Small flower bouquets lined

the center aisle, attached

to chairs draped with tulle.

It's a little difficult to tell from the pictures, but this gives you an idea of the centerpieces--an eclectic grouping of seasonal, bright flowers on each table.

Wedding Flowers

Just had to post something joyful.

I am preparing to do wedding flowers for a Saturday wedding! I always get a little giddy at the thought of getting to sit and put together beautiful combinations of brightly colored flowers.

This afternoon I picked up the flowers from the flower market. "My" market guy is "Justin". He's such 'a nice young man'. Very easy to work with; I just give him a call 2 weeks prior to the wedding and tell him what flowers I need, quantity, colors, etc. He makes sure the flowers are at the market the day I need to pick them up.

I returned from the flower market about 1-1/2 hours ago. The large box of lilies, ferns, gerbera daisies, mums, wax flower, asters, ivy, and so forth, were looking a little limp due to the heat. The flowers are all now newly clipped and trimmed and drinking in cool water. (You can almost hear them saying 'aahhh'!)It is amazing how quickly they start to perk up. They will need to be "conditioned" for several hours before I can do anything with them.

The bride is having a very simple ceremony; only her bouquet and a groom's boutonniere, with a few corsages & bouts for adult children. However, there are 24 reception table centerpieces to put together. They will be in vases, so I can start putting those together tonight.

Ooh, watch a movie, arrange some flowers....Yeah!....sounds like a fun evening!

I'll post a picture of the final results!

Safely Home

Two of my kids went with about 10 of their friends to the Oregon coast yesterday for a day of playing in the sun and water. An adult friend of ours went along to drive and supervise. (Thank you Chris!) We cautioned our teens about safety before they went, making it clear that the only reason they were being allowed to go is because an adult was driving them, etc.

Throughout the day yesterday I found myself praying for my son "C" and daughter "H"; for their safety and safe return home later that day. I also was praying the same for my oldest child "A" who has traveled to Lake Tahoe for the week with his girlfriend and her family. Lots of praying and petitioning for safe return of "my" children.

Last night around 9:30 my cell phone rang with a call from a number I didn't recognize. My husband picked up the phone and answered it as my hands were otherwise occupied and I couldn't easily do it myself. On the other end of the phone was my son "C", very animated, talking quickly and emotionally stressed. I could only pick up bits and pieces of the message as he talked to my husband who was not giving any kind of outward response. I heard snippets like, "pulled under", "still looking", "please pray". My heart was beating fast. Was he talking about his sister? Had something happened to her? Was it one of his friends?

After more questions and prompting we were relieved to know that everyone in their group was fine, however, they were on the beach and witnessing a tragedy unfold before their eyes.

Evidently our kids' group had just walked down to the waters edge and were readying themselves to watch the sunset when there was a sudden onslaught of emergency vehicles invading the beach. Spotting two people kneeling face down in the sand, soaking wet and sobbing, my son and his friend "D" were trying to piece things together. "C" wondered if there was something they could do. "D" suggested they all go ask the people if they could help in anyway.

Approaching the two, they discovered 2 teens, a boy and girl, soaking wet, crying and laying on the wet sand. "C" and "D" asked what, if anything, they could do. They soon discovered that the friend of these two teens, "Elliot", aged 16, had been caught by a wave and pulled under. As they spoke, helicopters continued to circle overhead looking for any sign of the young man. The two distraught teenagers were blaming themselves for having lost grip of their friend's hand when he was swept under by a wave. Soon a woman approached the two teens, encircled by our group of teenagers. It soon became apparent this was Elliot's mother. She bent down, attempting to console the two friends, letting them know it wasn't their fault. She embraced them in her arms and asked our group of teens to pray. She told everyone present that this is all anyone could do now...just pray; it was up to the Lord and what His will was. She made mention that if He wanted Elliot home with Him, then that is okay and He would get them all through this painful ordeal. She had released her son into the hands of the Lord.

I felt so moved by the compassion of our group of teens as they relayed the story of how they all prayed together for the mom and two friends,and for Elliot's rescue. They offered their coats for warmth as both kids were soaking wet. They walked with the pair to the waiting ambulances where they could be attended to and cared for. They stood with the mother, waiting, as emergency responders searched.

When my two teens arrived home safely last night, they talked for quite awhile about seeing and being a part of the events that had happened just hours before. They were both shaken and still understandably emotionally upset. Both were struck with the realization that this missing young man had set out for a day at the beach to play and enjoy the day with friends just like they had. They had new appreciation and understanding that one never knows what each day may hold and the importance of making each day matter.

As we all prayed for Elliot's family and friends last night, I also gave thanks that our kids were safely home with us after their day at the beach. Today, I find my thoughts and prayers being focused on this family and friends that have experienced such horrific loss. I think about the mother whose hope and trust was and is in the Lord, knowing that there was nothing she could do, except release her child back into the Lord's hands for safe keeping. My hope is that this "lost" teenager also had placed his trust in the Lord and is safely home too--with Jesus.
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This posting was revised some after getting a little more information from my son about the events that transpired, and after the name of the lost teen was released this morning.

**News report link**

Saying Good-bye to Lucy

"You're a good man, Charlie Brown", Lucy says to her round headed pal as she extends her hand in friendship. These are the last words spoken in the musical of the same name.

As (I) "Lucy" uttered this final line yesterday, I fought tears (and lost the battle) at the realization that I was bidding farewell to Charlie Brown, Lucy and the rest of the gang. Months of preparation and rehearsing were over, choreography learned would no longer be performed, musical numbers with silly lyrics would be resigned to being sung around the house and not on a stage. Even now as I write this, I get a bit misty.

I've been trying to put words to these emotions. I know it is usual to have some degree of melancholy when finishing a show. It is common to experience a let down following months of intense prep, learning and creating in "overdrive" mode and then suddenly shifting to a complete stop. It's bittersweet really. I am looking forward to the change in pace; my body is tired (although in better shape and several pounds lighter!), my house is a mess, and any kind of routine has gone to the wayside. So a calmer pace will be welcomed. But at the same time I'll be missing new friends, the challenges and joys that go along with being part of an ensemble piece like this, and the fun of pretending.

This after-show sadness is different this time. I think it comes from the realization that "play" time is over, and I'm going to miss Lucy. I haven't really missed being a character when I've done previous productions, but yesterday as I packed up my black and white saddle shoes, and placed my little blue "Lucy" dress on the hanger for the last time, I felt like I was saying good-bye to a friend.

I have been so spoiled these last months. Not everyone has the opportunity to be fully immersed in a make-believe world where being a queen is not out of the realm of possibility; where taking a survey will help one to "know thyself"; where even if one knows nothing, they can be an expert on everything; where no matter the quality of voice, you can be the best singer that ever lived--even if you're the only one that thinks so.

There's a side to Lucy that I think everyone longs to be able to let out of the closet once in a while, but it is not really socially acceptable to do so. I'm talking about her brash, bossy, know-it-all, abrasive way of being that in some odd way has endeared so many of us to her. She can steamroll through a room, leaving carnage in her wake, yet turn on a dime and be empathetic, considerate and even show her softer side. (Okay, maybe she has a split personality!) But in reality, I think most of us do. We have learned to harness a lot of these inappropriate impulses (hopefully--or at least we're working on it), but honestly, aren't there times when you just wish you could just come right out and say exactly what you're thinking and not care?? And in the end things still turn out okay?

Yes, I'm going to miss Lucy. I'm so thankful for the chance to "play" and be a little girl again. In many ways I feel rejuvenated and re-energized as I continue on in my adult life.

Thank you Lucy. You'll always be dear to my heart.

Bio Note

Okay, so it may seem like a little thing, but it's not.

I was reading through the program for "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown". It's a great looking program and very fun to read all the biography bits about the directors and the actors. But that's when I realized, that I'm the only one of all the "church" people that didn't thank God in my little biography section. (This whole "bio" thing is new to me...I had to ask what sort of things to say, what to include, etc.,--total "dweeb-ness" on my part!) Anyway, it may seem like a little thing to some, but really it's not. I know there is no way I could have even begun to think about doing this production except for the power and sovereignty of Christ in my life.

So, since I have a blog, this will be my public announcement of thanks to my Lord and Savior for dropping this wonderful surprise into my lap. All along in my blog I **think** I have made it known that the opportunity to be Lucy is a total gift from the Lord. It has been a joy in my life at a time when I have felt restless. But it goes beyond that. This process has been about connecting on a deeper level with who the Lord created me to be.

The only thing I can liken this to is childbirth. I remember when I was pregnant I had the sense that as a woman, I was totally, 100%, being used for the purpose I was created for. Every body part working towards growing a human being. There was such a sense of "fulfillment" (I was going to say "fullness"--but that was a little cheeky!)

Having the opportunity to be Lucy is somewhat like that--100% of me is being used for what I was created for. This is who God created me to be. Sure it is exhausting, but the joy and fulfillment, the fun of "playing", the work of dancing and singing at the same time, the task of whipping a 47-year-old body into enough shape to run and yell continuously are all hard work, but so great at the same time.

There is no way in a mortal, human sense I could do this in my own strength. Well, I certainly could try, but the results would be lack luster. No, the only way this is possible is because of God's grace and goodness. He has been my partner throughout this process; every rehearsal, every day as I memorized lines, every dance movement, He has been the one holding my hand, whispering the words of affirmation, correction and encouragement into my ears and heart. On those many days when I faced real doubt and was discouraged, or when I would begin to self-sabotage and compare my lack of experience in theater to the mountain of collective experience with the rest of the cast, He, my dear Lord, has always been right there, telling me to look only into His face and walk by His Truth. He is the one who called me to this part, He is the one that created me with the abilities I have, He is the one who gives me the strength and ability to do this. He is the one who gets the glory.

So, although this isn't the official program, lest anyone should wonder, first and foremost, I want to thank my Savior, who makes everything have purpose and joy. Thank you, Lord, for creating me like you did, for allowing me to have this chance to "play" and for stretching me in so many new ways. Thank you for teaching me, daily, to trust you deeper, know you more intimately and depend on you more fully. Thank you for this great group of people that I have the opportunity to work with. Each has been such a delight! I pray that You will shine through as the brightest star of this production.

Amen.

Or, as Chad would say, "rock on" !

It's Show Time!

It's here--The dress rehearsal week and then--ta dah--opening weekend of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown!
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Here's what people on the street are saying about the show:


"Do you think that little red-headed girl will be there?"
-- Charlie Brown

"I bet the show will be better than my dumb ol' jump rope--and that's my new philosophy!"
-- Sally Brown

"The music in the show is classic--and at times--classical! Musical art at it's finest! Count me in. But one request, can you please seat me far away from Lucy Van Pelt?"
-- Schroeder

"Life's too short. I'm going to see it for sure. I hear that this is a great production--almost as great as my supper time!"
-- Snoopy

"Musicals like this have real social relevance. Experts say it is important to connect with community, to support the creative endeavors of others, that in so doing, the very social fabric of .....can I bring my blanket?"
-- Linus Van Pelt

"Well, I'm not a blockhead! Of course I'll be seeing the show! ...and I highly suggest you do to....or else..."
-- Lucy Van Pelt


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Here are a few pictures of the cast, sans costumes to give you a hint of the show. Charlie Brown is the Charlie Brown-iest, Sally is adorable and sassy, Linus totally loves his blanket, Schroeder is the ultimate Beethoven fan, and Snoopy is determined to get that ol' Red Baron! Oh, and Lucy...well, what can I say...we've bonded!


If you're in the area and would like to see the show, or have friends that would like to come as well, please pass on the information. Really, unbiasedly, it is going to be a lot of fun!

For show times and reservations, go here.