"A Day in the Moonlight"

"A Day in the Moonlight" EJHS style!

Well last week concluded for me an intense audition.... I had eleven girls auditioning for two main roles. I am pleased with the turn out for my High School Drama Club's audition, but had to face the reality that I was going to disappoint a lot of people! I had the principle do the dirty work for me and she post my cast list of 12. Tomorrow is our read through and then next week we are off with the show!

I have a bit of an advantage with this show. Last semester when I directed "Break" I had never seen it performed before. And there were no pictures of previous sets for me to get ideas from. I went in blind! It made it extra exciting, but lots of work. My advantage with "A Day in the Moonlight", well it was the first show I was cast in in college. I dug through all my old stuff and found some pictures of the set and even a photo or two of me. Above is my friend Andi and I. We called ourselves the old maids as we would sit around backstage and play cards between are sets.

I am very excited to see where this show will take us It will be premiering in New York in the fall, so we are kind of performing it for the last amateur show for awhile. Today was a snow day (yes, another one looks like we will be going to school in June!) so I spent time working on blocking. Hopefully, if we don't get anymore snow I will be headed back to school tomorrow. I had a long four day weekend... and know I am ready to go! I will keep you posted on the show!
-Melanie

Brrrrr....

...It has been a little cold here in Kentucky. This was the temperature reading when Melanie and I got up for church this morning (at 9:30).

New Year's Resolutions

Some people think that New Year's resolutions are silly, or pointless since they are usually broken and forgotten come February. I had a pastor who used to sell memberships to a large gym. New Year's was great because he received his largest commission checks then. Everyone wanted to hit the gym, drop some pounds, or build some muscle. But the were usually gone in about 2 to 3 months. Its true, I would say that 75% of resolutions are dropped withen 2 months.

But I say, why not try something new? Why not work on picking up a good habit (or dropping and bad one), learning a new hobby or skill? What's so bad about at least trying to live more fully? Nothing. For this reason, I like New Year's Resolutions. So maybe they don't stick, but what if they do!? I like that once a year I am conscious of trying something different in my life to be a better person, husband, friend, and follower of Jesus. With that in mind, I (Brian) thought it might be fun to share some of my resolutions/commitments for 2008.

1. Learn Spanish (Again) One would think that with three years in high school and 4 semesters in college, I would at least be able to order my favorite dish at the Mexican Restaurant. But I can't. I have two reasons here to re-learn Spanish. First, I would like to know another language fluently. (Greek and Hebrew are great, but not really good for conversation outside of Seminary, so they don't count). Second, there is a growing Hispanic population in the US. Not to mention that if I serve in Florida for any amount of time, I would hate to neglect a large portion of the community! Therefore...Me llamo Brian, ?Como estas?

2. Read the Bible over the course of a year Now this is not a new one. I have done this once before. However, I thought it would be interesting to try a different version. My usual version is New Revised Standard. The NRSV is great as it comes very close to mirroring the original Greek. But this year, I have picked up a copy of The Message. It's a modern paraphrase. It presents the Bible in everyday language. What happens is a very readable version that is great for those new to reading the Bible and those who have read it all their life. I am only a few days into it, but familiar passages are popping off the page like brand new! It's like having dinner with and old friend you haven't seen in years. :) For example...

Matthew 5:4
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (NRSV)
"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you." (Message)

Titus 2:13
"While we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (NRSV)
"This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ appears." (Message)


3. These guns won't load themselves! I plan to hit the Gym at least 2 times a week. Melanie and I are doing this one together. Asvury does not have a Bally's or Gold's Gym quality(or even YMCA) but its not bad. We are playing racquetball, basketball, and using the weight room. I don't think I will come out looking like Mark or Joey (Melanie's Brothers), but I could stand to be in better shape than I am now.

4. Gotta Go Fishin' I plan on eating 2 boxes of Goldfish per week. Not really, but I do plan on sitting out at some local holes. Right now they are probably frozen. I think in early March I should be able to head out. I figure this will be a good escape from the mental pressure of class, studying, and reading. I am really looking forward to this. I just need to get over the gutting the fish part. Which apparently Melanie doesn't mind, well see how that works out.

There they are. A sampler platter, if you will, of some of the resolutions I will be working on this year. I am aware that it might not work out to learn Spanish, or I loose momentum going to the gym mid summer. But something is better than nothing. And who knows. Maybe I will get bigger than Mark and Joey. I may even catch a state record fish!

So don't be ashamed to make some resolutions. Its not too late. And if you want, why not share some here! Just click the white "comment" link below and leave your comments. You can even leave them anonymously! We just want to hear what's happening with you.

I feel as though I should end with a catchy rhyming phrase, so here we go....

Dont WAIT! Do Something GREAT in 2000 and EIGHT!

Freakishly Warm Weather!

Ok, so we have had some freakishly warm weather since last I blogged, which was last week. After our mini snow storm and a couple of barely bearable days... warm! Yesterday was a record high of 73! Today it was high 60's all day, and Friday there is a chance of snow. Yep, you heard me right, from snow to warmth to snow!?! Welcome to KY.

Brian started his J-term today and is finally free of his world of boredom. Will see how he feels after a week of heavy homework. I have enjoyed my work this week, so far my little kids have been pretty good. And I have certainly enjoying my relaxed afternoons of getting off at 3:30pm and coming home to hang out with Brian. We have picked up our racquet's once again. Though racquetball racquet's rather than tennis racquet's... still a little windy for outdoor games. Yesterday we even took a bike ride, the first one since like early October. Only problem was I forgot my bike lock code and it took Brian like 20 minutes to saw through the heavy duty chain. Ooops! Good thing he got those tools for Christmas!

This afternoon a new couple moved in to our apartment complex, same Penske truck we had, say car tow dolly. Hard to believe it was only a year ago (give or take a few weeks) and we were the new couple. Only we pulled up our Penske in a few inches of snow! I don't love transitions, but I do like taking those new steps in life! Only two more years to go!

Hope you all are having a wonderful week too. Enjoy the blessings and transitions in your life. I think change keeps us on our toes. You just never know where or what God may have you doing next... we just got to keep waiting and listening to Him. Love you all,
Melanie

Happy New Year!! And here we go Spring semester....

Happy New year everyone! Brian and I have returned from Christmas vacation with the Johnson family in VA Beach and are now geared up and ready to begin another semester of work/school. In fact, today was suppose to be the first day back to school, but last night we had a mini snow storm and all the schools closed for the day.

Now normally schools closing would be a good thing. But I was ready to get back to work, guess I was getting a little bored around the house. When it is frigid ice cold outside (with the wind factor today we are at -5 degrees) you don't want to go anywhere. Plus we have gotten in a really bad habit over break of staying up late and sleeping until 10 or 11am, that is going to hurt when I have to set my alarm for 6:15am. The real world, geez!

Brian will begin J-term next week, taking a class about the Book of Acts. It should be pretty interesting. After four intense weeks of it, he will begin his Spring semester, which looks like it may be tough. He is taking a very heavy load. I will let him tell you more about that later.

I will be holding auditions in a few weeks for my spring show. I am doing another audition workshop and they will be auditioning for two shows. I have picked out "Exit the Body" and "A Day in the Moonlight" one has a small cast and the other a large one. I will only direct one, but I can leave my options open until after the auditions to see what kind of talent turns out.

Just before Christmas break my drama club and I hosted a Variety Show. It actually turned out really well. We brought in a good deal of money and I have a nice little cushion to put towards the spring production. I also directed a Christmas show with Wilmore Parks and Recreation Dept. We had a sold out audience! It was a kids show and they were terrific. After only a month of rehearsal I was very pleased to see the continued talent here in Wilmore and the interest of the city in Theatre. We used the huge Asbury College theatre for the performance. Brian and I of course put in several late nights to paint and build the set. We have posted some pictures on our website, but unfortunately we didn't take any during the performance. I was the narrator so I couldn't take any and Brian ended up being my sound and light guy. Brian has been so great! Knowing nothing about theatre only a few years ago, he gets roped into everything. And says he has begun to enjoy it!

More exciting news my older sister Lucinda announced her engagement to Chip Mulaney. They are planning an October 2009 wedding in Savannah, GA. It will be very exciting as another sibling is getting married! She and Chip are currently living in Seattle, WA.

Brian and I will be headed down south for spring break, the first week of April. We are trying to plan a mini-vacation/business trip. As he has to start making some connections in the Orlando area. There is a good chance that is the direction we will be headed once we leave here. I can't wait for the warm sunny weather again!

We pray and hope you all, had a blessed Christmas. And that your New Year is headed off to a good start! Check out all of our new pictures! We miss and love you all!
-Melanie