Let us Be Elegant or Die!

This afternoon we joined friends for Louisa May Alcott's classic story come to life in Little Women, the Broadway Musical.  It's based on Alcott's novel that follows the outspoken Jo March as she navigates her life as an aspiring writer. 

The performance was at UT Dallas and was presented through special arrangements with the Music Theatre International. 

The music and singing talent in this performance was amazing.  But, one of the best parts was the lovely costumes.  The young lady who coordinates our English Country Dancing each month was one of the costume designers for today's performance.  So many of the costumes were the same ones the girls have wore to our formal dances.  The family rents out the beautiful dresses for the formal Christmas ball. 

This was the first time for UT Dallas to produce a musical, hopefully it will be well attended and there will be more to come! 

Like a lily among thorns

    is my darling among the young women.

Song of Solomon 2:2

Katrina's Quinceañera

A Hispanic girls fifteenth birthday party is called her Quinceañera, but a Filipino girls fifteenth birthday party is an extravagant tea party! Or at least that's the way Katrina's dad told the story at her party tonight.  The china and silver were set, and the guests were served many of Katrina's favorite dishes from her Philippine heritage. One of Abigail's new favorites was the rice noodles and vegetables. 

The girls enjoyed their fancy evening with a few games thrown in, and a British accent contest!  Abigail is very grateful for this sweet friendship of almost ten years! Happy 15th birthday, Katrina! 

He who loves purity of heart,

    and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

Proverbs 22:11

Striking Out on Their Own

The ninth grade girls class at church spent a little bonding time together today at Pinstack.  It is the new state of art bowling, dining, gaming, laser tag experience in Plano.  When they were deciding what to do on their outing they wanted it to be something they could do together and not just watch a movie.  I'm thinking it looks like they had a great time.  Pictured (L-R) Caroline, Abigail, Mackenzie, Lauren and Hayley.   There were a few from the group who couldn't make it, but I think this was the first of several great outings for these beautiful ladies! 

A special thank you to the ladies who teach this group each Sunday, Ms. Cynthia, Ms. Jessica and Ms. Vicki.  I understand they even bowled with the girls, with the bumpers up! 

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children Titus 2:4-5

Culture and Culinary Art

The Dallas Museum of Art offers educational programming for all ages.  Today was one of their Teen Workshops.  The classes are very limited to four to six teens ages 14-19.  It's a very hands on, one on one class. 

Today the class of all girls took at look at the collection of Egyptian art on the third floors permanent exhibit.  Afterwards they went to the studios and made their own cartouche using leather carving tools on thick linoleum tiles.  Once completed they were able to transfer the images using an acrylic based medium on to linen.  

After a morning of creativity and hard work, Abigail and I headed to Klyde Warren Park to visit the food trucks.  Today's home school lunch was brought to us by Ruthie's Rolling  Cafe and featured the best grilled cheese sandwich!  

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.

Ecclesiastes 9:7

Wickedly Wonderful

WICKED looks at what happened in the Land of Oz... but from a different angle.

Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another girl, born with emerald-green skin-smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships... until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”

So many things to love about this Broadway production!  As a huge fan of L. Frank Baum's writings, all fourteen of them, I was a little hesitant of anyone messing with the storyline.  But, just wow!  This production looks at the story from a different angle and stays true to everything you think you already know about Oz. 

The singing was unmatched!  We came home with the soundtrack and I'm pretty sure the girls and I will have all the lyrics down in a matter of days!  Abigail was pretty excited that the soundtrack features Kristin Chenoweth singing the part of Glinda on Broadway.  Kristin and I went to school together in Broken Arrow from the time we were in the 6th grade through graduation.  In fact our 30th high school reunion is this summer!  

The performance was part of the Dallas Summer Musicals at Music Hall at Fair Park. Before the show Abigail posted on her Instagram the picture in the lower left hand side (her ticket and the show curtain) and was excited when the actress played Nessa Rose (the Wicked Witch's sister), and two back up dancers from the show liked her post.  In fact the official Twitter account for Wicked re-tweeted her post captioned, 'My excitement for this show is Defying Gravity!'  Defying Gravity is one of the songs performed by Glinda and Elphaba (the Wicked Witch). 

When your eyes light on it, it is gone,

for suddenly it sprouts wings,

flying like an eagle toward heaven.

Proverbs 23:5

That's My Boy

Every once in a while I get a text from the boy with pics from a student senate event or a pic from an event sponsored by the Honor's Department.  Sometimes I see him tagged in pictures from his club Kyodai, and it makes me happy to see him enjoying college life! 

Yes, to the grandmothers, his grades are wonderful.  With that said, he still finds time to work five days a week in Dr. Patty's office.  He also participates in the Honor's program and Ambassador's program and Student Senate and Kyodai.  In fact he was installed this week as the Kyodai club Secretary for the 2016-2017 school year.  

He's enjoyed camp outs, retreats, and formals with his club.  So many great memories I know he will treasure.  And  I loved getting glimpses into his new grown up world. I'm so grateful to God for all He has done in Caleb's life!  

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”  Matthew 3:17

A Time of Innocence

My baby is the youngest grand baby on both sides of our family.  She has successfully avoided cleaning spit-up and changing diapers. 

Don't get me wrong, she's taught in the four year old class and mentors to the elementary age kids at church but the babies, oh that's not her thing.  She is amazing with older people and has a huge soft spot for the elderly; but again, not the babies!

As her mom, I feel compelled to push her past those limits.  So every now and then I sign us up for the nursery at church.  I get to play with the sweet babies and Abigail gets to push past her comfort zones.  

I'm grateful that Abigail and her closest friends aren't the boy-crazy, fixated on dating, weddings and babies; after all they're only 15! Ugh!  There will be time enough for that in the future.  In fact the sweet boy she's holding is her friend Lauren's younger brother.  But just every once in a while it's good to remind her of what adulthood will bring.  And then our time is up and she can go back to enjoying her youth! 

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. I Timothy 4:12

My Hero

Today my softball girl got to channel her alter ego.  You see, on her CHANT softball team there are three Abigails.  One is Abby and one goes by Abigail, so when our Abigail joined the team she needed a different name.

The coach began calling her 'Kirk' shortening our last name and then one of the seniors dubbed her 'Captain Kirk.'  But don't be confused, that would be the Chris Pine Captain Kirk not William Shatner.  

So tonight when one of her team mates had a birthday party with a cosplay theme Abigail went as Captain Kirk.  I'm pretty sure the mustard yellow isn't her color but I still think she makes a smashing Captain!  These pictures are so fun to see the softball girls out of uniform and goofing off! 

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25

The Perfect Date

Another rain out allowed Abigail and Gracie to have a sleepover!  They went out with some of Gracie's friends from church for dinner and a movie. 

One of Abigail's favorite movies is Miss Congeniality which features the lead character who is an FBI agent who goes under cover as a beauty contestant, "Gracie Lou."  Abigail felt it her duty to make sure that Gracie saw the cute movie.  Plus, today was so close to the perfect date, "April 25th. Because it's not too hot, not too cold, all you need is a light jacket." 

This morning the girls headed to Snug on the Square for Snicker doodle Hot Cocoa and kolaches.  Friendship served with a side of chocolate is just the best!! 

Walk with the wise and become wise,

 for a companion of fools suffers harm.

Proverbs 13:20

And the Runner Up Is . . .

The high school team, CHANT, is finishing up their season, including a three game tournament today.  We were out at the ball fields in Allen, TX warming up at seven in the morning. 

In addition to being a tournament it was also Senior Appreciation for the girls.  The CHANT team has three graduating seniors who team mates showered with gifts, flowers and cupcakes at today's tournament. 

The team finished up in second place for the 2016 Texas Association of Independent Athletic Organizations High School Softball State Finals.  THESA took the first place trophy and were incredibly excited.  It was a good day for their seniors who had take 2nd place to CHANT for the past three years. The girls were gracious and everyone seemed to have a good time.  Abigail was excited that her friend Gracie came out to cheer her on!  

I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.

Ecclesiastes 9:11