Mickey's a STAR

Today I watched two student theatre productions!

The first was Oklahoma! that my friend Mickey's drama department presented. I sang along to the songs and remembered my Delta Delta Delta / Sigma Chi's Interfraternity Sing's interpretation. We earned first place bragging rights and had a whole lot of fun getting a group of Freshman guys and gals to learn to sing and dance. "OOOOOOOOOOO-KLAHOMA! Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain...."

Mickey's destined for stardom...

Mickey is the cutie 3rd from the end.

I left Huntington Beach after having dinner at BJ's downtown and headed to the OC Performing Arts Center to see Orange County High School of Arts (OCSHA) end of the year season finale. More than 200 students, representing each of the school's 11 conservatory programs performed in an evening that spanned ballet, folklorico dance, jazz Broadway-style production numbers and much more. It was awesome. Oh to be young again... and on stage!

Happy 5th Birthday Bailey!

Little Miss Sassy Pants, Bailey Alexandra just turned FIVE! She and I have weeekly, "playdates" as I am a part time nanny for her family. From American Girl Dolls to American Idol we have so much fun! She's sweet and sassy and oh how I love this girl!

Am I the only one who's never seen Dirty Dancing?

That changed tonight! I saw Dirty Dancing live on stage at the Pantages Theatre! My parents forbid me to watch it when I was under their censorship ~ and now I know why as there are a few "mature audience" themes. I suppose if I were the adult, anything with Dirty next to Dancing in the title would probably be vetoed too.

I never had the occasion to watch it once I became a, "grown up." So seeing the classic story take the stage gave me a good excuse to see what all the fuss is about. It's like I somehow missed out on the movie that everybody has seen. Deprived for sure.

The dancing was great and the set designs were even better.

My friend Rachel, who was my healing circle leader at Comfort Zone Camp, is a season ticket holder with her daughter, Mickey. Mike (also in my healing circle) and I joined in on the fun. And now, we're hopeful to catch a couple of other shows in the lineup. I love the theatre!

Mike and I bought,"the cheap seats," but when we went to pick up the tickets from Will Call, we were upgraded to the sixth row. SWEET! I knew it wasn't worth the $100+ Orchestra seats! I love it when that happens...

Me, Mike, Mickey and Rachel at The Pantages Theatre

We ate dinner at Kung Pao Kitty Asian Eatery on Hollywood Boulevard. It was good stuff. All of it. We reminisced on how awesome our experiences were at camp. We realized how much we really didn't get to know each other on an adult level as we had 8 year olds (literally) glued to our hips for the entire weekend. We'll all be back at camp this summer and are looking forward to more awesomeness!

AND now we have shows (Fiddler on the Roof and Legally Blonde) to enjoy together.

Inspired....

Click here to read about the Johnsons journey to bring home 3 Ethiopian children. What an inspiration!

Dr. Chris Leland from the Focus on The Family Institute writes, "Do some simple math with me. We've established that there are roughly 130 million orphans in the world. According to world religion research there are an estimated two billion Christians in the world. Let's say their numbers aren't even correct; perhaps there are only one billion Christians in the world. Let's see … 130 million into one billion. Guess what? If only 1 in 6 Christians responded to this call, we'd eradicate the orphan problem altogether."

Eradicating orphans world wide? That's somehting to think about...

Renewed...

What a wonderful weekend! I've been in a bit of a funk over the past few weeks... feeling like I was a hamster on a wheel... going through the motions. This weekend was just what I needed to spring me forward to return to me!

Friday night I attended a seminar for people interested in learning more about the foster care system in Orange County. In the words of Kay Warren, I was, "seriously disturbed and gloriously ruined." I heard some pretty unbelievable things and left the meeting feeling for all of the children in, "the system." I feel led to be involved, I just don't know in what capacity yet. I'm prayerfully considering being a mentor and eventually a foster parent and perhaps an adoptive mom as well.

Saturday morning I woke up at the crack of dawn to help at the OC AIDS Walk. I was part of the volunteer ministry team for the Saddleback Church HIV/AIDS initiative. For me to get out of bed while it is still dark outside, I have to be pretty passionate about the cause! There were over 16,00o registered walker participants and many came to our booth to hear what Saddleback is doing to fight the HIV/ AIDS epidemic locally and globally. I shared our heart for helping those infected and affected with HIV /AIDS as well as an interest in helping with HIV education and testing.

Pastor Danny, our fearless leader

These are the shirts that we wore. I love them! It is only when we are disturbed by something that we start to act to do something about it. The HIV/AIDS initiative is working hard to champion with others to stop the spread of HIV / AIDS and support those living with the disease.

Kay Warren and I. Her vision is for churches everywhere to: Care for and comfort the sick, Handle testing and counseling, Unleash a task force of volunteers, Remove the stigma, Champion healthy behavior and Help with nutrition and Medication.

GO ANGELS!

Our resource table

The walking group! Well, okay, I didn't walk... but held down the fort while the others did!

Danny, the chosen spokesperson for the media.

After the walk I went on a thrift store shopping frenzy. I hit 6 on the way to my friend Carolyn's house!!!! I took a big fat nap on Carolyn's church before she woke me up to eat Mexican food at a local hole-in-the-wall joint. YUMMY! We spent the night catching up with each other and chuckled that we were in our jammies and ready for bed by 10! We laughed about being in agreement that it was just too much work to get dolled up for a night on the town!

Sunday morning Carolyn's cutenesses appeared and we had a bargain Farmer Boys breakfast and hit garage sales and more thrift stores! We were on a mission to find a few specific things and found them!

Sunday afternoon and evening I took a class on spiritual growth which I have been wanting and needing to take. I enjoyed reconnecting with some friends at FUEL service and headed home. During my relaxing long shower I slipped, fell and hit my head HARD during a 5.0 EARTHQUAKE! I was trying to leap out of the shower to run for the doorway when the shaking started. I now have a substantial knot on my noggin' and an indentation from where my head met the faucet. Just call me Grace!

I'm grateful for my attitude readjustment and for the excitement of knowing that there are many meaningful ways for me to serve... and looking forward to just getting out there. Welcome back, me!

Deja Vu ~ Chapman University's Spring Dance Concert

Back in my Christine's Dance Studio Days, our annual dance recital was at Chapman. I thought I was pretty hot stuff doing my I Feel Pretty and Love Shack numbers on a real stage in front of a real (even if just family) audience.

I've been intentionally seeking out local opportunities to see the arts. I did a google search last week for shows in Orange County and was pleasantly surprised to not be too late to catch Chapman's end of the year Spring Dance Concert.

I recruited my friend Z. to meet me there. I talked it up by saying, "I know it's going to be phenomenal. You know you want to go. I'll go alone if I have to... but..."

Neither of us were disappointed. Such talent! The program was all choreographed by (I hear) Seniors in the Dance program and danced by Dance majors. It was very impressive. I signed up to hear about future shows. I want to take advantage of seeing their music shows too. Ten bucks? Way better (and hard to believe cheaper) than catching a movie.

Chapman's campus is beautiful. These fountains have a column which reads, "Intellectual. On the highway of life make the flame of wisdom your guiding lamp. The comfort of confidence, your constant companion." Deep stuff...

Meet (Cinco de) Mayo

Ok, so I know this makes two dog centered posts in a row... but I just had to...

My older sister, Janice, who never seemed to be a, "dog lover," decided that her quiet days of working from a home office were lonely. She searched for a four legged companion and found, "Mayo."

Mayo (named after Cinco de Mayo) is a Cocker Spaniel / Poodle mix. AKA as a "cockapoo".

She is having a bit of separation anxiety (which I secretly think that my sister likes a little bit...) and can't be anywhere out of Janice's site. She wanted some company, and now she has it!

I called dibs on being Mayo's dog sitter. I would have a dog of my own if I didn't have to travel as much as I do. I want a Mastiff or Saint Bernard! Go big, right?

Welcome, Mayo! And may you never have the misfortune of being scolded by your daddy if you chew up anything that doesn't belong to you!

An afternoon with Jake...

I had to make a trip to Brawley, California to stand before the judge for a, "traffic violation." I was ready to plea my case and hope that I would be blessed with a warning, when Mr. (not so courteous) CHP officer did not show up to court and the judge graciously dismissed my ticket. I was relieved to have dodged a hefty fee and / or a traffic school experience.

I stopped at my parents house in Borrego Springs to have some family time. Family time equals time outside playing with Jake. Jake, like his papa, would go 100 miles an hour all the time if he only had the chance.

I was burning cd's when I felt his paw constantly tapping my knee. I looked down and he had a cd in mouth, ready to play catch.

I had to confiscate his new toy as I feared that he would shatter it and cut his mouth. And that would mean a sure hiatus from his daily fetch fests.

I have to show y'all Jake's (seven second) debut of showing off his mid air form while catching a ball....

...And then diving to the bottom of the pool to retrieve his toy. Take note of his balletic pointed toes.

Jake and my parents head back up to Oregon next week. Since it was 116 degrees in the desert this week, I guess it's time for them to return to the beauty and moderate temperatures of Central Oregon. When the plants are dying and my dad can't play 17 holes of gold, it their cue to head back up North! Who would have thought that my parents would ever be snow birds?

Kathi's Climb Against The Odds ~ The Breast Cancer Fund

Kathi is the cute one in the green jacket in the center!

Please click here to help my friend Kathi in her quest to meet her fundraising goal for Climb Against the Odds 2009. It's a mountaineering expedition to support and raise awareness of the Breast Cancer Fund’s work to eliminate the environmental and other preventable causes of breast cancer.

In June, a team of 40 women and men will climb the 14,162-foot Mt. Shasta in Northern California in both a collective effort to prevent breast cancer and a personal challenge to overcome the devastating experience of the disease.

Envisioned in the early 1990s by breast cancer survivors Laura Evans and Breast Cancer Fund founder Andrea Ravinett Martin, Climb Against the Odds would be the first time women with breast cancer would face incredible physical challenges to raise awareness and funds for their cause.

We climb to demonstrate our commitment, to ourselves and to others, that we stand for a world in which cancer is a thing of the past. We apply our courage and faith that anything is possible, if taken one step at a time. And we do it all as part of a team, climbers and supporters, knowing that there is more that we can achieve together than apart. Success lies in the journey, not on the summit.” - Andrea Ravinett Martin (1946-2003)

Kathi will be climbing in honor and memory of all of those who have fought the breast cancer battle, including my mom Judy, breast cancer survivor.

Give as you are able!

The Big Easy ~ New Orleans, Louisiana

Nawlins!

The Schexnayders and Momo Monkey were kind enough to take me New Orleans. I never made the trip when I lived in Memphis, and since we were so close (in Baton Rouge) we took a day trip to experience the city.

Sonic and all of the pellet ice goodness for breakfast! Why we only have one in Southern California I'll never understand....

The Superdome. It's something to think that it served as shelter to thousands of Hurricane Katrina victims.

So much to do, so little time...

A weekend of snapping pics, and I finally get one of little man crackin' a smile!

This is Miss Hannah with Mason Jude. They are cousins and Hannah is so sweet and patient with Mason.

They had fun running everywhere and showing us their tricks in the performance pavilion. I showed off a few time steps, flap-ball-change, shuffle-step and a wing or two. I didn't realize I still had it in me! All of those tap lessons are still ingrained in my brain!

This is the way to see the sites!

Shopping galore inside the French Market. I found a must have St. Jude medallion and a New Orleans fleur-de-lis charm.

Who needs a double stroller? There's plenty of room in there!

I just had to try beignets! When I told people that I was New Orleans bound everyone told me to head to Cafe du Monde!

"Donuts without the hole..." lavishly covered in powdered sugar and oh so yummy!

These painted trolley cars are all over the city. At first glance I thought that they looked like coffins and found it a bit odd... Does anybody else see the resemblance?

The St. Louis Cathedral was amazing! It was built in 1720 and overlooks Jackson Square. It is the oldest Catholic Cathedral, "in constant use," in the United States.

Momo Monkey lit a candle for Angel Zoie and Mason was very interested in the explanation. I love the way he will grow up knowing what an amazing big sister he has.

A family serenading us with violins ~ with a donation box for Summer Camp.

It may seem like an awkward transition, but from the Cathedral we headed to Bourbon Street. For a Photo opp only! :O)

Bourbon Street reminds me a lot of Memphis' Beale Street. I don't think I'll be making any Mardi Gras reservations anytime soon!

How funny is this granny? She really was jammin' on the keyboard!

A trolley along the Mighty Muddy Mississippi River.

Our last stop before heading back to Lafayette was to The International Shrine of St. Jude at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. This statue of St. Jude is the world's largest. My interest in St. Jude began as I learned of the significance it had to Danny Thomas and his founding St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

We spent time in The Lourdes Grotto. Very serene and spiritual.

The chapel was completed in 1827 and was, "born of hope in the face of desperation." At the time New Orleans was stricken with hundreds of cases of Yellow Fever. It was the place where many veterans of the Confederate Army and survivors of the American Civil war gathered to worship and, "nourish their souls."

Good-bye New Orleans!

We headed back to Lafayette and dodged a massive thunderstorm.

Tomorrow, I head back home. I had such a fun filled extended weekend with my favorite crazy Louisiana family. Many thanks to The Schexnayders and Momo Monkey for all of your hospitality and for making my trip a memorable one! In the words of precious princess Angel Zoie, I LOVE YOU BIG LIKE HEAVEN!!!!