This christmas album makes me happy. It's the perfect blend of silliness, simplicity, and spirit. If you don't have it, you should add it to your collection. Sufjan Stevens is great.

that's all I have to say about that.

The Most Wonderful Time of Year?

I have a confession to make. These days Christmas seems more like a chore than a celebration. It started awhile ago - the first Christmas I was on staff at church, I realized that the holidays are not just a time for family and friends - they are also a very busy and stressful time for people involved in church work. That is probably not the case everywhere, but being a large church in a college town, we have our own set of craziness - schedules that depend on college and school breaks, fitting events into every nook and cranny - the usual stuff.


For some reason, though, this year I am dreading it more than usual. I am not sure why exactly, except for a little fear that recent changes here, as well as some staff burnout, will end up with Tim and I here more than we're not for the next month or so. Several years ago a phrase was coined to describe the women left behind when church work gets busy - "worship widows." Last year it didn't seem to bother me too much. This year, I am already feeling the resentment growing. I'm sure part of it self-fulfilling prophesy, so I am trying to be positive, but still...

I do know it would be so much harder if we didn't enjoy our jobs and enjoy the people we work with so much. Sometimes it just seems kind of ironic to me - we spend most of December every year telling people to slow down and enjoy time with their family and friends, but then we through about a million and a half events and projects at them. Doesn't really make sense to me!

Anyway, I think part of this is mourning for me - this Christmas will be totally different for me - the first one I haven't spent with my mom, the first time I haven't woken up at my parent's house on Christmas morning. I know things change and times change. I know it's a good thing, too, but I don't know that I can find the right words for how hard it is going to be for me. My mom is my best friend, and knowing that I won't be there for the first time is hard. Really hard. So, i think that's why I'm dreading the Christmas season a little more this year. All the work, all the stuff, all the events - they are all reminders that this year is going to be different.

I need to snap out of it, though. There is no good that can come of dreading it, so I'll put on some Christmas music, decorate this weekend, and decide that it's going to be all okay in the end!

Born to Play

I've been thinking a lot about theatre lately. I've been missing the stage in a very real way - missing the rehearsals and the excitement of opening night. I've missed hours spent memorizing and days spent blocking, creating sets, and having fun. For everything Bloomington has, it surprises me that the community theatre world isn't bigger - that there aren't more opportunities for people to participate. Like everything else in a small-ish town, people that do community theatre have always done community theatre - I just long to break back into that world. While I'm critical of a lot of things about myself, theatre is something I know I'm good at - something I know I was gifted for - and it, quite frankly, stinks that I haven't been on stage in a really long time.

In honor of my longing, here are some of the roles I feel I was "born" to play...some I have tackled, some I have only dreamed of playing...

The Stage Manager - Our Town
I know the role traditionally goes to a man, but it is still one of my favorites. I tackled this role the first time in high school - since then I have longed to do it again. Part omnipresent narrator, part audience, part participant, the Stage Manager is one of the most unique roles ever penned for an actor. Monologues that ask the hard questions, keep the story moving, and reveal the humanity behind the story, the Stage Manager is a quiet yet commanding presence in the story.

Beatrice - Much Ado about Nothing
Much Ado is my favorite of Shakespeare's comedies. The first time I read Beatrice and her sparkling wit, I knew this was the one role in Shakespeare tailored for me. I have many Shakespearean favorites - all strong female characters with a little sass, but Beatrice is my favorite. Again, this is a role I was lucky enough to play in high school, but would love the opportunity to do again!

Lina Lamont - Singin' in the Rain
Anyone who knows me well knows that singing is not my forte. Because of that realization, I have steered firmly away from most musical theatre productions. However, Lina has an interesting role - being able to be a part of one of my favorite musicals AND not have to sing. I also think Lina steals the show in so many ways, and I would love to ham it up as Lina for a long time to come!

Helen Keller or Annie Sullivan - The Miracle Worker
I have seen the Miracle Worker several times. Both Helen and Annie are amazing roles. I tried for a long time to pick one I would rather play, but it's so hard to choose - the stubborn and hard-headed Helen, or the stubborn and hard-headed Annie? Teacher or student, these are roles I want to sink my teeth into!

Actor - Let Go/Open Up
This is the exception to the rule. As a general rule, i enjoy church drama, but find them a little cheesy and superficial most of the time. This killer script from Willow Creek in Chicago is the exception to the rule. One of the few roles I have been willing to fight for since starting church drama, this was a dream come true for me. A chance to ask God tough questions, be raw and honest, and leave myself at His feet.

This isn't all of them, of course, but some of my favorites. Have I mentioned I miss the stage oh so much?

Because I can't think right now...

This was on Nicole's blog and I don't have too much to say right now, so i thought, why not :)

Questions:

I give you money and send you into the grocery store to pick up 5 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments.. what is it?
1. Produce: Raspberries
2. Bakery: Fresh bagels
3. Meat: Bacon-wrapped filets
4. Frozen: Pizza
5. Dry goods: Mac & Cheese

Let's say we're heading out for a weekend getaway. You're only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what's in your bag?
1. WICKED hoodie
2. comfy jeans
3. undies...can't handle dirty underwear.

If I was to listen in on one of your conversations throughout the day, what 5 phrases or words would I be most likely to hear?
1. "Yikes"
2. "GRRR"
3. "Because..."
4. "(cough) ugh"
5. "Right now I'm reading..."

So, what 3 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn't get to do, you probably wouldn't be in the best mood?
1. Email
2. Shut my door if I need to
3.Cuddle with Tim.

Sweet, you just scored a whole afternoon to yourself. We're talking a 3 hour block with nobody around. What 5 activities might we find you doing?
1. Read.
2. Nap.
3. Read.
4. Nap.
5. Nap.

We're going to the zoo. But, it looks like it could start storming, so it'll have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?
1. Penguins
2. Lions
3. Monkeys

You just scored tickets to the taping of any show that comes on t.v. of your choice. You can pick between 4, so what are you deciding between?
1. Friends
2. CSI
3. HOUSE
4. BONES

You're hungry for ice cream. I'll give you a triple dipper ice cream cone. What 3 flavors can I pile on for ya?
1. Dublin Mudslide
2. Vanilla
3. Choc. Chip Cookie Dough

Somebody stole your purse/wallet…in order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what's in there?
1. An empty mint container
2. silver earrings with pink stones
3. A Blue Flair
4. At least two hair ties
5. Purel

You are at a job fair, and asked what areas you are interested in pursuing a career in. Let's pretend you have every talent and ability to be whatever you wanted, so what 4 careers would be fun for you?
1. Creative Writing Prof at IU
2. touring as Lina Lamont in Singing in the Rain
3. Author of a Newbery Award winning young adult series
4. Professional Writer of devotions

If you could go back and talk to the old you, when you were in high school, and inform yourself of 4 things, what would you say?
1. Don't worry, it's only temporary.
2. College is going to be one of the best experiences of your life, even though it sucks to leave home.
3. Don't be afraid to travel more.
4. You are the only thing standing in the way of your dreams!

A Dilemma

Okay, so I'm in a bit of a dilemma right now. And, it's all because of a book, a movie, and my belief that you can't judge something until you're familiar with it.

In case you haven't heard, there's this movie coming out. The Golden Compass. The movie is based on the first book in a series written by a man who is a professed atheist. Here is what it says on snopes.com

"The Golden Compass, a fantasy film starring Nicole Kidman that is scheduled to be released into theaters on 7 December 2007, has been drawing fire from concerned Christians. The film is based on Northern Lights (released in the U.S. as The Golden Compass), the first offering in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy of children's books, a series that follows the adventures of a streetwise girl who travels through multiple worlds populated by witches, armor-plated bears, and sinister ecclesiastical assassins to defeat the oppressive forces of a senile God.

Books of the trilogy have sold more than 15 million copies around the world, with Northern Lights winning the Carnegie Medal for Children's Literature in 1995 and in 2007 being awarded the 'Carnegie of Carnegies' for the best children's book of the past 70 years. The Amber Spyglass , the final book of the series, won The Whitbread Prize in 2001, making it the first children's book to do so.

The series' author, Philip Pullman, is an avowed atheist who has averred that "I don't profess any religion; I don't think it's possible that there is a God; I have the greatest difficulty in understanding what is meant by the words 'spiritual' or 'spirituality.'" Critics of Pullman's books point to the strong anti-religion and anti-God themes they incorporate, and although literary works are subject to a variety of interpretations, Pullman left little doubt about his intentions when he said in a 2003 interview that "My books are about killing God." (Conservative British columnist Peter Hitchens labeled Pullman "The Most Dangerous Author in Britain" and described him as the writer "the atheists would have been praying for, if atheists prayed.")

Bill Donohue, president of The Catholic League, has condemned The Golden Compass as a "pernicious" effort to indoctrinate children into anti-Christian beliefs and has produced a 23-page pamphlet titled The Golden Compass: Unmasked in which he maintains that Pullman "sells atheism for kids." Donohoe told interviewer John Gibson on 9 October 2007 why he believes Christians should stay away from the film:

Look, the movie is based on the least offensive of the three books. And they have dumbed down the worst elements in the movie because they don't want to make Christians angry and they want to make money. Our concern is this, unsuspecting Christian parents may want to take their kid to the movie, it opens up December 7th and say, this wasn't troubling, then we'll buy the books. So the movie is the bait for the books which are profoundly anti-Catholic and at the same time selling atheism.

Other critics, however, have described Pullman's works as being more generally anti-religion rather than specifically anti-Christian or anti-Catholic:

In "His Dark Materials," Pullman's criticisms of organized religion come across as anti-authoritarian and anti-ascetic rather than anti-doctrinal. (Jesus isn't mentioned in any of the books, although Pullman has hinted that He might figure in a forthcoming sequel, "The Book of Dust.") His fundamental objection is to ideological tyranny and the rejection of this world in favor of an idealized afterlife, regardless of creed. As one of the novel's pagan characters puts it, "Every church is the same: control, destroy, obliterate every good feeling."

So, there's a lot to be said against this movie. And anything that depicts children as killing God I have serious issues with. What is my dilemma, then, you may ask? I also have serious issues with being completely against something you've never read or studied. For instance, many Christians view the Harry Potter books as equally evil, vile, and wrong. While they may not be "killing God," many Christians hate the books. The annoying part is that the most vocal of these Christians have never picked up a Harry Potter book, much less read the first 100 pages of one. I have, and I've blogged before about my opinions about Harry.

So, my question is this...if I condemn this book and series without reading it, am I any different from the people I've gotten into fights with about Harry Potter and how it doesn't make me evil to have read the series - and enjoyed it?

Our First Pumpkin

Tim and I carved our first pumpkin ever this year - on our FIFTH Halloween together! It was fun. Here he is...

We took him to Korry & Tessa's for their Halloween party last night. He didn't win the pumpkin carving contest, but it was still a lot of fun!