August 2018: A Life Made Of Moments.

AUGUST 2018

The best thing about being a teacher is that it matters.

The hardest thing about being a teacher is that it matters every day.

-Todd Whitaker

Song #1: Atlas: Six, Sleeping at Last

I had the most vivid dream...

My feet had left the ground,

I was floating to heaven

But I could only look down.

My mind was heavy,

Running ragged with worst case scenarios,

Emergency exits and the distance below.

I woke up so worried that the angels let go.

Oh God I'm so tired

of being afraid.

What would it feel like

to put this baggage down?

If I'm being honest,

I'm not sure I'd know how.

I want to take shelter but I'm ready, ready tofight

and somewhere in the middle I feel a little paralyzed-

But maybe I'm stronger than I realize

I want to believe

No, I choose to believe

that I was made to become

a sanctuary.

Fear won't go away

but I can keep it at bay

and these invisible walls

just might keep us safe.

With vigilant heart,

I'll push into the dark

but I"ll learn to breathe deep

and make peace with the stars.

Is that courage or faith

to show up everyday?

To trust that there will be light

always waiting behind

even the darkest of nights

And no matter what,

somehow we'll be okay.

Don't be afraid.

Obviously, this post is late. 

That's because my life is so chaotic right now that I have barely had time to breathe, much less sit down and write out my thoughts about anything personal.

In fact, I should probably be working on something for classes or the show or looking ahead to next semester.

 But I don't want to forget this time in my life.  This season....this moment.

And yes, it should come as no surprise to you that I'm quoting Into the Woods. My favorite Sondheim musical. 

Oh, if life were made of moments

Even now and then a bad one

But if life were only moments

Then you'd never know you had one...

Let the moment go

Don't forget it for a moment though...

I love those lyrics. Because I think that so often, I have a tendency to want my entire life to be moments that are meaningful and significant and dramatic and permanently altering.

And while that's not how it normally works...this past month has been one of the unusual times where there are so many "moments" I know are worth mentioning. 

So many moments that I know are significant. 

So many moments that I want to look back on and think, 

"Yep. That right there...that was important."

So for this month, I'm going to list the significant moments that have occurred since August 1. 

-There's nothing that can adequately describe the moment when you get a text message that says your best friend of 20 years had her baby: a beautiful little girl named Penelope Rachel Small.

...And yes, I am Auntie Lex <3 

-After four years of lengthy phone calls and Skype convos, I was able to talk and laugh in person with Kelly Findley, the Phil to my Darlene and someone who has proven his loyalty to our friendship 100 times over. 

-I spent so many hours in the Theatre office, moving furniture around, attempting to make it my own...and I definitely had a moment where I sat in the chair, looked around the office and thought, "Ok. I finally feel like I belong here." Now THAT was a weird feeling.

-Creating social media accounts for the Bryan College Theatre program (something I've wanted to do for SUCH a long time) and having the students get behind it 100%. It's so cool to see my experience with social media at Louisiana Tech (as well as my own personal obsession with it that everyone makes so much fun of) actually pay off in a legitimate way. 

-Casting my first full-scale show and loving every second of putting this production together.

(FYI, one of my new favorite things is to sit in my office after the cast list has gone up and listen to people's reactions when they see their name on it. I get so much joy out of hearing their excitement and passion for the show.) 

One of my dearest friends from Louisiana Tech, Travis Fontenot, stopped over on his way back to Ruston. I'm not sure when I'll see him again, but he's going to do incredible things as the Executive Director of the Dixie Center for the Arts, and I hope our paths do cross again in the future.

"Here's the thing about the beginning of your teaching career....you're going to mess up. You're going to make terrible mistakes and look back and say, 'I can't believe I used to do that.' It's part of the process. You need to accept the fact that you're going to be giving them a crappy education at times, and that is ok. 

Because the failures are going to make you a better teacher in the long run." 

Song #2: Worry, Andrew Osenga

Why do you worry, my dear friend

I know you're hurting with no end

I feel your anger-recognize it like my face in a pool

Worry is killing us; it robs us of today

It won't change anything or take the pain away

We hid in dizziness and hear ourselves say 

That we trust the hand of God...

-Having a night of tablework for The Matchmaker and listening to 16 students share their insanely creative and thoughtful ideas about the characters they are portraying.

-Starting my first full week of classes and literally drowning in to-do lists, class preparation and blocking the show. (Every faculty member I talked to said this is perfectly normal...not that it helps that much.) But watching students learn as a result of things that I am teaching them, to see concepts click and connections being made...there's nothing quite like it. These moments are what I knew I would love about teaching. 

-My onstage soulmate and my best friend, the one who knows me better than I know myself, and the one who honestly encapsulates so much of what Bryan College means to me...well, he came to see me. He came to two of my rehearsals, spent an entire day on campus, and for a brief moment the world felt almost right again. It was wonderful to be with him again and to see his excitement for this new step in my career. So thankful for the years of our relationship. I genuinely don't know what my life would be like if it wasn't for him and his love for me. 

-Two of the theatre majors at Bryan spent their summer as interns with Cumberland County Playhouse, and Bernie and I went to see them perform in Legally Blonde. Having Mr. B around for this year is such a wonderful support system for me. I'm beyond grateful to have his advice and encouragement on a daily basis. 

There are a lot of other moments I could probably mention....but the main point is that my life is overflowing with experiences right now. 

I'm feeling overwhelmed and out of my league on a daily basis, and constantly think I'm going to have a meltdown from exhaustion and anxiety; however, I've been told this is completely normal and that it will eventually pass. 

But here's something super cool: I'm learning so much about transparency and being open with students. It helps a lot to remember how I felt as a college student and what made me respect my professors. Most of the time, it was when they were honest about where they were at. So I decided that I needed to take the risk and be a little more vulnerable with my students. And it has made a difference in ways I couldn't have imagined.

However.........the really, really, really AWESOME thing that happened in regards to that topic has occurred in the month of September. So I'm going to wait on that until next month. 

(But make sure to check back, cause it's honestly such an amazing story.)

Song #3: dear insecurity, gnash

Dear insecurity

When you gonna take your hands off me?

When you ever gonna let me be

Proud of who I am?

Oh insecurity

When you gonna take your hands off me?

When you ever gonna let me be

Just the way I am?

Dear insecurity

I overthink everything til' my thoughts are impaired

I hate everything about me I think I need some air

Drink some water, take a breath

Take a moment to be thankful for the reasons that you're blessed

It's not about mistakes you made or failures that you had

It's all about the memories and little things you have

Your freckles and flaws to your body and bruises

Your scars to your beautiful birth marks, the truth is

We're one in the same

So play the cards that your dealt

Nobody likes you more than when you're being yourself

I am

Proud of the person who I am

Nobody's gon' tell me who I am

Or who I can be 

I am

Taking my life into my hands

They're tired of hiding who I am

I am me, so...

Just the way I am

I am proud of who I am

July 2018: Be Where You Are.

JULY 2018

Our ability to grow is directly proportional to an ability to entertain the uncomfortable.
-Twyla Tharp

***

Oh, man. What a CRAZY month. 

Crazy busy, 

crazy stressful,

crazy emotional,

crazy amazing,

crazy fulfilling,

crazy all of the above.

Here's a question. 

Is there ever going to be a month in my life that's not like this? 

I'm starting to seriously doubt the possibility. 

If I could sum up what July 2018 taught me, it would be this: 

Don't ever let anxiety about what's coming ruin the moment you're currently living through. 

In other words...Be where you are.

***

Song #1: Be Where You Are, Birdtalker

My friend, have you lost hold again
Do you feel like somebody else?
Have you got fire in your mind
That keeps you up at night?

Be where you are
Be where you are

Don't be afraid of how you feel
Don't look for life in past or future
Look right at it dead in the eye
After this moment there's a new one

Be where you are
Be where you are

Have you been using all the noise
To avoid meeting your mess
You don't have to work so hard
Just stop and take a breath

And be where you are
Be where you are

 ***

"I believe it is good for the young people to see how good people work through difficult situations."

The above quote is from a note that one of the actors gave me on the final day of our production.

It has been no secret that this summer was difficult for not only me, but for every single person involved. The cast was put through a ridiculous amount of struggles; change of director, change of vision, various actors being hospitalized and out of major rehearsals...the list goes on and on. But they never wavered and they rallied behind me in a way I'll always treasure and never forget. 

Before the house opened that last day, I was in the dressing room talking with the cast. When I finished, one of the actors stood up and said:

"You all know how important this story is to me...how much passion I have for it. This year has been a volatile one, and that has brought out a new kind of energy and emotion in us, even onstage. But I have seen this passion growing in some new people this year, which is exciting to witness. And on top of that, I have watched a young woman tackle the countless challenges thrown in her lap with grace and dignity, and through this process she has truly evolved into a real leader. I'm proud of her."

In that moment, all of the heartache and stress,

all of the late nights and tears,

all of the wondering why this had to happen to me at this particular season in my life...

it became worthwhile to me. 

Although I would have wished this opportunity to appear in ANY other way than which it did, I am so thankful that everything worked out as it has. 

The production was wonderful, the audiences responded with overwhelming positivity, and most of the cast has expressed a strong desire to return next year. 

I have an AD who has already committed to helping me rebuild this story from the ground up, and I have a million ideas racing through my brain. 

It's going to be an exciting future ahead.

However........I can't think about that anymore now. 

Because I start my job at Bryan College in exactly 12 days, and to be totally honest with you: 

I.

Am.

Completely.

And.

Utterly.

Terrified.

***

Can all of your worries add one second to your life?
-Matthew 6:27

If I can stay in the middle of the turmoil calm and unperplexed, that is the end of the purpose of God...it is the process, not the end, which is glorifying to God.
-Oswald Chambers

***

All the anxiety I have been feeling about this new job, this uncharted territory? Well, it's becoming so bad that I'm almost paralyzed by the fear. 

Of course, I'm excited too. This is my dream, after all. 

But I also am terribly afraid of not being good enough to live out my dream.

What have I possibly experienced in my life to qualify me to be the professor, director and mentor that these students need?

I feel so inadequate.

What if I fail?

What if I disappoint the people who hired me and the students who are looking to me for guidance, knowledge and direction?

It's very difficult when all of the "what ifs" begin to pour in. 

But I'm trying to trust. 

Song #2: Every Little Thing, Hillsong Young & Free

Your favor waits within the future
My dreams are small compared to Yours
Why should I worry bout tomorrow when I know
All I gotta do is trust You, Lord

Behind the scenes and in the details
You plan the perfect way for me
Why would I dwell upon the road's uncertainties
When all I gotta do is look to You

Every little thing is gonna be alright
Every little thing is gonna be just fine
Whether I can see it now
I know you will work it out for good
Every little thing, everything will be alright

***

This blog post is particularly short. Not because there's a lack of things to talk about; rather, because I'm already late in posting and I have a million other things to do. 

Let's just hope I actually get to write on for August.

Crazy to think where my life could be in just 30 days. 

Absolutely CRAZY.

***

Song #3: Rise of the Sun, Willow City

I know you know we want to exchange
Everything in life giving us pain
But what will be will be
The reality: 
I need you every moment of my life

So stay with me through the dark of the night
You have a tendency to light up the sky
Cause it's your love that's keeping me strong
We'll weather the storm, yeah it won't be long 
Before the moon sets, the stars fade, the clouds start to run
And we'll see, we'll see the rise of the sun

You know I know we can't see up the road ahead
We'll keep walking this highway, this life they just won't understand
But when your smile shines through the night
You light up my world, forever I 
Will hold you and love you knowing that you're mine 

So stay with me through the dark of the night
You have a tendency to light up the sky
Cause it's your love that's keeping me strong
We'll weather the storm, yeah it won't be long 
Before the moon sets, the stars fade, the clouds start to run
And we'll see, we'll see the rise of the sun

June 2018: Part of the Cure.

JUNE 2018

There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen.

-Vladimir Lenin

***

I feel like I say this every month, but I truly mean it this time.

June has been one of those times where I look back and think, "There's no way to adequately describe all that I've experienced."

So, to prove the point, I reached out to people who have been around me in some way for the past 4 weeks. I asked them to describe my month in one word. The results were...well, varied.

Tumultuous.

Shifting.

Transitional.

Unsettling.

Turbulent.

Hell.

Spasmodic.

Challenging.

Vomit. (He said he was joking, but it still applies.)

Refining.

Fulfilling.

Regardless of whether the word's focus was on the negative events or positive outcomes, it's safe to say that June 2018 was something I would never wish on anyone.

After living in Appomattox, VA for 8 months, I moved to Dayton, TN at the beginning of June. I was beginning my summer gig as a Production Stage Manager for a show about the historic Scopes Trial. It would be my third year in this position with this production, and I knew from the start that it was going to be a much bigger challenge than ever before.

I'm not going to go into specifics because, quite honestly, they're not important. But from my first day on the job, I was thrown into a very stressful, toxic and unhealthy theatrical environment that sapped all of my joy and confidence with every rehearsal.
The relationship I had with the director was unstable and highly damaging to my self-esteem. I dreaded every phone call, every email and every interaction with that person.
The show itself was struggling.
The cast was struggling.
My team of interns were struggling.
I was so empty, and it had only been a week. I remember coming home and laying on the floor in front of my roommate's couch in despair. She said, "What happened this time?" And I just sighed deeply before replying, "We still have 7 weeks to go. I'm never going to make it."

You would think that after 2 previous summers with this particular team, I would be more aware of what to expect.
You would think that I'd be better prepared for how to deal with difficult and unpredictable artists.

You would think.

Anyway, it quickly became apparent that this summer was going to be a far cry from what I had hoped.

And gosh.........was I right.

Song #1: When I'm Weary, Dave Matthews Band

When I'm weary

When I'm tired

You remind me

To keep on trying 

There'll be dark, dark days

More are coming

Just as sure as this

Sweet earth beneath my feet

It don't matter

Come tomorrow

Together we must face

What lies ahead

When you're weary

When you're tired

Please remember 

To keep on going 

***

So I sat speechless, a ringside observer at my own trial, until the end of the circus.

-John T. Scopes, Center of the Storm

I'm pretty sure that everyone who is reading this (or almost, anyway) has heard of the Scopes Trial, but knows basically nothing about it. I'm ashamed to say that after 2 years of working on this production, I still knew very little about the story and the characters themselves.

Due to one of my interns reading John Scopes' autobiography entitled Center of the Storm, I have been able to awaken a riveting passion for this story that I've never had before. It has given me a desire to tell this story in a new and creative way; to help other people realize why this trial was such an important part of history.
So, despite the ridiculously discouraging days and completely awful rehearsals, I could at least get together with people who were just as passionate about the story and brainstorm ways of making it better. We could focus on the future, since the present moment was incredibly hopeless and artistically debilitating.
Someday.
Someday.
Someday.

Why is it that when we focus on what lies ahead of us, something ALWAYS happens to yank us back into the present? I've firmly held the opinion that dreaming was a good thing. But it seems like every time I dream, I'm smacked in the face with the reality of what's directly in front of me.

This month was no exception in that regard. I was about to get blindsided by reality, and I was in no way prepared. (What else is new.)

Song #2: Bird Set Free, Keala Settle

Clipped wings, I was a broken thing

Had a voice, had a voice but I could not sing

You would wind me down

I struggled on the ground

So lost, the line had been crossed

Had a voice, had a voice but I could not talk

You held me down

I struggled to fly now 

But there's a scream inside that we all try to hide

We hold on so tight, we cannot deny

Eats us alive...

Well I don't care if I sing off key

I found myself in my melodies

I sing for love, I sing for me

I shout it out like a bird set free

***

Let me say something about ethics in the theater...The better the play, the more we need an ensemble venture. We must recognize that we need each other's strengths, and the more we need each other's professional comradeship, the better the chance we have of making theater. We must serve the play by serving each other.

-Uta Hagen

I've been spending a lot of time over the past month searching for quotes on collaboration and the idea of theatrical teamwork. As a director, I know it's easy to become dictatorial and wanting your own way on everything. A lot of people would say that the director has that right. And maybe that's true. But I have always valued having others around me to confirm my instincts or offer another option I hadn't even considered.

Theatre is pointless if you're alone at the finish line.

A little over a week ago (gosh, I can't believe it's only been a week), the director of Front Page News was asked to step down from the production. I received a phone call from the producer and he said, "If I told you that you were taking over the show tomorrow, would you be ready?"
And I just sat there in silence, holding the phone and feeling about 4302284920 emotions all at once.

Directing for theatre is my greatest passion & truest love. I'm never happier than when I'm directing.
It's also been a goal of mine to eventually direct for this festival.
But...I didn't imagine it happening this way. I felt sick. Despite my turbulent relationship with the director, I had no wish to "kick them out" and take over their show.
Not like this.

However, due to unfortunate circumstances, it had to happen. And everything literally exploded in the worst possible chain of events.
If you're curious, ask me about it sometime.
(It's way more entertaining to watch me run around a room and re-enact everything myself, I promise.)

Nevertheless, I have taken up this little show and the not-so-little cast, and we have determined to pull this production together in the 3 weeks we have left.
They have been nothing but supportive, understanding and patient.
I have had an incredible team of interns to take responsibilities off of me and allow me to focus on the artistic side of the show.
They go out of their way to ease my burden and have been so encouraging to me at every turn.
I have an Assistant Director who jumped on board from day one, offers amazing insight, and even runs around an empty courtroom to help me visualize how to stage 40 people in an artistic manner. Together, we laugh at the humorous moments, admire the beauty of the genuine moments, and despair in the stressful moments.

We are a team, plain and simple:
The cast, crew, designers, and an excited, overwhelmed, nervous, and totally in-her-element-at-last director.

 It's been a heck of an adventure.

Song #3: Don't Worry, Frank Turner

Don't worry if you don't know what to do

I've spent a little time in worried shoes

I wore them out through walking 

It wasn't any use

Don't worry if you don't know what to do

Don't give up if you just can't get your way

Don't listen to the bitter things they say

Put those thoughts behind you

Tomorrow's a new day

Don't give up if you just can't get your way

Life hurts

And love will burn

Don't we wish it weren't that way

And if it falls to bits

You should fix it

Don't throw it away 

***

If you make art at all, you're a part of the cure.

At the beginning of the month, I was watching the Tony Awards, and in the opening number they sang the above line.

Isn't it so beautiful?

I just want to put that on a huge plaque and display it at every theatre I walk into.
Because, in reality, that's why we do theatre at all, right?
We tell stories to create change.
We tell stories to provoke emotional responses.
We tell stories to reveal truth.
We tell stories to remember the past, and impact the future for the better.

In the show, there is a song entitled "Mirror for Tomorrow." It was a brand-new addition to the script this year, and the verse is honestly my favorite in the entire production. With everything that has occurred over the past few weeks, it seems even more appropriate to post...and to reflect upon.

If there is a mirror for life, a mirror to show tomorrow

It must be yesterday, yesterday...in hope and sorrow

If we can't remember the past, our children will relive it

But if they learn from our mistakes, the future shines

I never thought I would say such a thing about this particular show and experience...

But I'm honestly so glad I get to be a part of the cure.

By telling this story, and by learning from my mistakes of years past, I can help create a future that shines brighter than before. 

And some people say a life in the theatre is a pointless endeavor. 

Oh, how wrong they are. 

May 2018: Seasons. (And a LOT of Morgan Harper Nichols' Poetry)

MAY 2018

More than you see
the way things haven't worked out,
more than you see
the unwritten page of the chapter
you are anxious to complete,
see all around you the change that is happening.
See the way the leaves color and burn
and the many things in this season
you are going to learn,
because just as there are
a hundred unread books on the shelf
there are one hundred things
you do not yet know about yourself.
And that is okay.
In fact, it is supposed to be that way.
This is change.
And it is a beautiful thing.
You are still growing,
into who you are meant to be.

-Morgan Harper Nichols

Song #1: Seasons, Hillsong Worship

Like the frost on a rose

Winter comes for us all

How nature acquaints us

With the nature of patience

Like a seed in the snow

I've been buried to grow

For His promise is loyal

From seed to sequoia 

And I know

Though the winter is long, even richer

the harvest it brings

Though my waiting prolongs, even greater

His promise for me, like a seed

I believe in my season to come

I can see the promise

I can see the future

You're the God of seasons

I'm just in the winter

If all I know of harvest

Is that it's worth my patience

Then if you're not done working

God, I'm not done waiting

***

May 2018 has had many wonderful moments:

-I turned 27.

-I traveled to Ruston, LA and got to see my grad school professors, my best friends and catch up with people I hadn't seen in far too long.

-I was able to help my person pack up her entire life and watch her move to New York to start an amazing career.

-I finished out my stint as a 6th grade teacher at Cornerstone Christian Academy.

-I traveled to NYC with my parents and was able to experience 3 incredible Broadway productions.

However, this post is going to be focused on one thing in particular: Seasons.

You see...I've known since May 1 what the title of this blog post was going to be. 

That's because on May 1, I stumbled across a song (see above) that pretty much defined how I've tried to look at this entire month.

No, I take that back.

This song basically sums up how the last 6 months of my life have gone. 

***

When you look at the whole story
and where you've been,
be grateful
for slow and steady growth.
Be grateful
for those moments in the morning
to sit and think
and sink into thoughts
in that very moment:
rest,
reflect,
remember
just how far
you've come,
and how your story
is not over.

-Morgan Harper Nichols

Song #2: The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change, Nina Nesbitt

I'm twenty-two years old

Crazy that I stood here just five years ago

With the heat on my skin

And a lover who is now someone I don't know

Crazy how much my life has changed in just a year

There's people I've met, people I've left

And some that didn't make it here

You don't see it, when it's happening, happens over time

First you're laughing, then you're crying

Then you can't decide

My life's uncertain and sometimes strange

But one thing I've learned is it won't stay the same

Even in the darkness I'll be okay

The sun will come up, the seasons will change

***

Every single human life is made up of seasons. 

Good seasons. 

Bad seasons. 

Seasons of joy. 

Seasons of uncertainty. 

Seasons of contentment.

Seasons of suffering. 

Seasons of anticipation.

Seasons of loneliness. 

Seasons of being surrounded by love and laughter.

Seasons of deep, deep hurt.

We experience them all at one point or another...without fail. 

This is a tricky concept for someone who hates change to understand, much less accept. 

(FYI, that's me. In case you didn't figure that out yet. I HATE change.)

So naturally, I've been starting to struggle with this particular season of my life coming to an end.

Which is ridiculous. Because this season has been one of the most difficult of my life. I don't say that to sound dramatic. It really has.

And May was a particularly challenging time.

***

It's time to let it go,

float high above the hills

where you can finally breathe

and you finally heal.

Let this be your farewell,

a story you can tell

of just how far you've come

and how much more there is to go.

So let it go,

where you can finally breathe

and you finally heal.

-Morgan Harper Nichols

***

Song #3: Sound of Walking Away, Illenium & Kerli

I've been drowning inside you

While my love it just pours out

I've been running behind you

But enough is enough

Now don't come find me
I won't be here waiting
I so can do it alone
You're not worth staying

Weren't listening but now there's no way you won't hear
There's a voice emerging in the night so loud and clear
I'll turn it up like you turn me down, I'm not afraid
Hit play, hit play
It's the sound of walking away

***

I don't want to go into unnecessary detail, but I will say this:

The new position I have at Bryan College has been my dream for years now, and I still can't believe I'm going to be there in the fall.
But in order to give me what my heart desired most, I think the Lord had to make sure I was going to be the person He needs me to be there.
As a result, God has slowly but surely been purging my life of elements that were distracting me, holding me back, or leading me in the wrong direction.
Over the past month I have had to walk away from several things (including people) that were keeping me from moving forward into this new season.
It has been a month of ridiculously hard goodbyes. Goodbyes I didn't know I would have to say, and goodbyes that I begged Him to prevent.
But He didn't.
And I know it will be quite some time before I'm truly at peace with the decisions I've had to make.

***

Things will look different now

for your soul's been changed for good,

and you will not fall apart

even though you thought you would.

For even though

you do not feel

as strong as you used to be

you are finding hope,

for this new season

is exactly what you need.

-Morgan Harper Nichols

***

It's difficult. And I struggle. A lot.
I struggle because ultimately, I believe in a God who specializes in restoring broken hearts, repairing broken people, and redeeming broken relationships.
So I can't help but wonder why in my life, it seems like the opposite is happening everywhere I look.
But I have to rest in what I know to be true about God.
The reconciliation or restoration may not be done in the way I want, or in the time I think is appropriate.
And to be honest, just because it has taken place in the other person's life doesn't mean I will ever know about it personally. But I have no doubt that it is possible.
So, even through painful goodbyes and hurtful endings, I'm taking heart in my confidence that the Lord can redeem what's been broken, as He sees fit.
One day.

***

Beware of the tendency of asking the way when you know it perfectly well. 
Take the initiative, stop hesitating, and take the first step. 
Be resolute when God speaks, act in faith immediately on what He says, 
and never revise your decisions. 
If you hesitate when God tells you to do a thing, you endanger your standing in grace. 
Take the initiative, take it yourself, 
take the step with your will now, 
make it impossible to go back. 
Burn your bridges behind you...
Make the thing inevitable.

-Oswald Chambers

***

Song #4: Anywhere But Here, Sick Puppies

I held onto you for as long as I could

But today, you fell away

Now what I hold are the memories we barely made

What I believed to be true 

It was only a dream that lived in me...

I self medicated my way

Through this mess that we made

So I could stay, there was nothing but I waited, I waited

This was my mistake

Broken are plans we made

So I will be traveling any place

Cause anywhere's better than

Here we rest in peace

Rubble beneath my feet

I shouldn't have followed you anywhere

Cause anywhere's better than here

***

It's strange to think that the past 6 months--all of the uncertainty, the loneliness, the constant wondering why I was here--has led up to this moment. This season of my life has definitely been one of waiting. I have been waiting on God to open up the door to my future, and......boy, has He.

The door has been flung wide open, with no question of where He wants me to go from here. 

This season has had so many valleys, and so many challenges, but I can look back and see all of the growth that has taken place.
And I suppose that's really why life comes and goes this way...
So we can trace His hand through each season and live in constant gratitude for His protection, provision and guidance.

I'm sad to see aspects of my life here come to an end, but I am beyond excited to jump into the amazing future that's unfolding before me. A brand-new season, full of potential and untold stories waiting to be lived out.

*deep breath*

Ok. Here we go.

Hear the wind as it howls around you

over the ridges and into the valley

where you stand in the drying weeds,

with a sense of new days coming.

See the setting sun

turning barren lands

into rows of endless yellow

that now has you thinking,

maybe a change of a season

is more than sorrow,

but a leap, a promise

for hope

tomorrow.

-Morgan Harper Nichols

April 2018: Trust God and Do Good.

APRIL 2018

Song #1: Miracle, CHVRCHES

Ask me no questions, I will tell you no lies

Careful what you wish for 

We're looking for angels in the darkest of skies

Saying that we wanted more

I feel like I'm falling, but I'm trying to fly

Where does all the good go?

We're looking for answers in the highest of highs

But will we ever, ever know?

And I need you to know

I'm not asking for a miracle

But if love is enough, could you let it show?

If you feel it, could you let me know?

***

The journey of this life is a mixture of clarity and dimness of God's presence.

-Rusty Small

***

If I had to sum up this past month in one sentence, it would probably go something like this:

Life doesn't ever come to a screeching halt, even when you wake up everyday wishing it would. 

Isn't it funny when you realize that no matter what you may face in your personal life, the next morning still arrives and the world still expects you to get out of bed and continue on as if nothing had happened? No tragedy is too big to keep the sun from rising and the workday beginning and your responsibilities waiting. 

It's exhausting. 

April was a month where there seemed to be one thing after another after another after another. Some were good, and some were not. But regardless, the days kept rolling on until I noticed the calendar said April 28. The month was almost done, and I had barely come up for air. 

Easter Sunday was a blur of church responsibilities, dressing up and taking pictures with family--just like always. It was also accompanied by the excitement of having an ENTIRE WEEK off for Spring Break. I hadn't realized how badly I needed the time to just relax, let my brain unwind and enjoy spending time with people. It was so wonderful to not have to worry about anything for a short while.

During this time our community theatre was also hard at work preparing for our performances of The Importance of Being Earnest. Although it was incredibly stressful to have so many rehearsals in the evenings after long days of school, I am SO thankful that I was able to have the experience. Besides convincing one of my best friends to audition and participate with me, I got to know some really great people and feel the joy of being onstage once again. 

Song #2: Sing My Way Back, Steffany Gretzinger

When we were young the road was easy

But time moves on and people change

If we're not falling, we're not flying

You can't have love without the pain

And when I lose direction

When I can't see the stars

If we get disconnected

I'll sing my way back to Your heart

I'll sing my way back to Your arms 

***

Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.

-J.K. Rowling

***

you cannot be destroyed

by your imperfections

when you know you are saved

by perfect grace

-Morgan Harper Nichols

***

April was also a period of being flattened by some difficult realizations; realizations about myself and the type of person I wanted to be on a day-to-day basis. Everyone can be wishy-washy or two faced about certain things, whatever, we've all been there. But I was finally forced to admit some harsh truths about who I had become...and to decide what I was going to do about it. My mentor and one of my best friends has been there every step of the way, always ready to pour wisdom into my overwhelmed heart and guide me in the right direction when I try to make a break for it once again.

Here's the thing.

When you look in the mirror and see someone you don't recognize staring back at you, there are two options: you can avoid acknowledging how far you've fallen....or you can run like hell back to the only One who will love you in the regret, hold you through the pain and carry you to a place of forgiveness and renewal. 

It has not been a pleasant journey for me by any means, and I'm in NO way saying I'm anywhere close to where I want to be. 

It's going to continue to suck for a long time (I have a hunch, anyway). 

It's going to be ridiculously hard. 

But it's a start.

And I can already feel my old self coming back bit by bit...which brings a smile in the midst of the ache. 

Song #3: My Soul I, Anna Leone 

My soul I am broken by you

One morning I'll wake up renewed

Don't go love

I need you to stay

My soul I am broken today

And I will work out what it meant

And I will mend you in the end

Cause I'll do anything to love you

Love you

It may not be easy to see

But I'm ready, I need to believe 

***

Sometimes change is just one girl with her fists clenched, no longer willing to be trodden on.

-Elisabeth Hewer

***

detach from what destroys you

-r.h. Sin

***

As I have been dealing with these challenges, I noticed that one of my favorite things--social media--was only bringing me further down into depression. We have this tendency to constantly compare our lives to others around us. 

Why do we do that? 

What does it accomplish except to drain our joy and feed our anxiety? 

It was literally causing me to have panic attacks. 

So I decided to take a week-long social media "fast." I deleted every app off of my phone and promised myself not to go on ANYTHING for at least 5 days. 

My mentor also challenged me to use the time to do at least one random act of kindness every day, and to journal about what I did. She said that when we are struggling with something and instead choose to look outside of ourselves for people to encourage and support, we often find peace and healing through it. 

She said, "During this time you just need to trust God and do good."

So that was the theme of my week: 

Trust God and Do Good. 

And I followed her advice. 

Every day I did something totally random for someone who had a meaningful role in my life lately; sent cards to a couple of teachers from my school, bought doughnuts for my students during their end-of-the-year testing, etc. And you know what? 

It was probably the best week of the entire month. 

I was so relieved to not be constantly scrolling past posts/analyzing what they meant, or trying to keep up with everyone's lives that I wasn't a part of anymore. 

I could just focus on what was in front of me. 

It was so incredibly refreshing. 

Of course, it wasn't going to last forever. It's just not that realistic to go off the grid permanently like that in our culture, especially when I'm about to launch new social media accounts for my upcoming job in TN...but it was nice to know I could do it, and that it can really help me detox from unhealthy behaviors if needed. 

Song #4: One Of These Days, Vance Joy

You think you're ready

But you've got too much on your mind

Too much left to prove

No easy answers

 You've got to work it out yourself

You won't hear anyone but you

The moment you stop looking

Wherever you go, you'll be in the right place

You'll never know the difference it makes

When you let go and give up the chase

I'll come find you one of these days 

***

The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.

-William James

***

In the midst of all of that, there was a particularly bright moment. My lifelong best friend and her husband had a gender reveal party for the child they're expecting.....IT'S A GIRL!!!! 

It meant so much to be a part of the family gathering and to share in her excitement at the news. She's going to be an amazing mother and I can't wait to see how this little girl grows up in such a strong and loving home. 

Man, it's just crazy how quickly life happens. One day you're both in 8th grade with braces and middle parts...the next you're shopping for baby girl clothes and wondering where the time went. 

I could not be happier for her, though. Oh my gosh I'm so excited. 

So that's pretty much the jist of April 2018. I'm sure there's a lot of little things I've forgotten to mention, but I don't really care. 

I'm wrapping up the next 2 weeks of school...

Going to Ruston, LA to see my person direct her first show at Louisiana Tech... 

Taking a 3 day trip to NYC with my parents to see BROADWAY SHOWS (more on that later)..

And then figure out just how I'm going to leave Appomattox and start my brand-new life in Tennessee.

May's blog post is gonna be a good one, I can feel it.

Song #5: You're Gonna Be Ok, Bright Ones (feat. Tea Johnson)

I know you're trying hard to just be strong

And it's a fight just to keep it together, together

I know you think that you are too far gone

But hope is never lost, hope is never lost

Hold on, don't let go

Just take one step closer

Put one foot in front of the other

You'll get through this

Just follow the light in the darkness

You're gonna be OK

I know your heart is heavy from those nights

 But just remember that you are a fighter

You never know just what tomorrow holds

And you're stronger than you know, stronger than you know

When the night is closing in

Don't give up and don't give in

This won't last, it's not the end

You're gonna be OK

March 2018: P E A C E.

MARCH 2018

It's all messy:

the hair.

the bed.

the words.

the heart.

Life.

-William Leal

Oh man. 

What a mess life can be at times. 

When I look back over the past month, I definitely see snapshots of me, a total mess. 

I've been a physical mess due to utter exhaustion. 

I've been an emotional mess due to unforeseen chaos. 

I've been a spiritual mess as I have asked God to make sense of all the things happening at once. 

Yeah. Life is messy. 

But life is also insanely wonderful. 

And that brings me to the first major event that struck in the month of March:

I FOUND OUT THAT I GOT MY DREAM JOB.

There aren't enough words to adequately express how excited I am to be working at Bryan College in the fall. For the past 5 years, I've been entertaining the thought of returning to my alma mater and taking the place of my mentor, Bernie Belisle, after his retirement. It's been something I've had in my mind as my "impossible dream," one I wanted so badly that I was afraid to fully admit it to people. Only a few trusted souls knew how desperately I hoped for this dream to be fulfilled. And once the search process actually began, I was even more afraid...because now, it was real. Now, instead of just a hypothetical, it was a legitimate chance of being rejected and realizing I had to find another dream to take its place.

But God is so good. That's really all I can say. 

He listened to me quietly whispering my fears and worries and flooded my heart with peace. Throughout the entire on-campus interview (which, by the way, was one of the most draining things I've ever experienced), I was honestly calm and confident. Sure, I had normal amounts of nerves...but compared to how I NORMALLY react to stressful experiences like that, I know without a doubt that He was walking beside me every step of the way. 

As someone who grew up in church, you hear the phrase "If what you want is in line with God's will for you, He will always grant the desires of your heart." It's such a humbling moment when you realize that something you wanted so much was what God wanted for you too. What a wonderful feeling.

Song #1: Don't Give Up On Me, Illenium

***This song doesn't actually have any deep meaning to me getting my dream job...but when I heard it I had a beyond AWESOME idea for how to use it in my concept for Hamlet (which is one of my dream shows I want to direct), so I guess in a roundabout way it does have significance :)***

If you can teach 6th grade for 9 weeks and survive, you can teach college for life.

-Meg Puckett

The other major life event that occurred during March 2018 was me, teaching 6th grade.

Yeah, you heard me correctly. Almost everyone I've told has immediately raised their eyebrows and said, "You.....teaching kids? Shouldn't you know better?"

And in reality, I would agree with you. Kids are not my strong suit; they never have been. But in a whirlwind of events which I won't go into here, I found myself agreeing to become a 6th grade teacher for the last 9 weeks of the school year. It's a very small private school in my hometown...I only have 7 students. And they are all wonderfully unique and have their individual challenges. But every single day has been a total adventure and we're learning together. It's definitely not the job I would have EVER chosen for myself, but it gives me a purpose while I'm at home and keeps me extremely busy, which is a good thing. Plus I have some amazing stories from it...and you know me, I'm a sucker for a funny story about my life. 

Song #2: Bridges Burn, NEEDTOBREATHE

It's time for moving on

There's some things you can't forget

It's sinking us like a stone

I just wanna bury it

I wanna watch all my bridges burn

Stand in the rain til the page is turned

Dance in the light of a lesson learned, lesson learned

I wanna leave everything that hurts

Never go back to the way we were

Set it on fire baby, watch it burn, watch it burn

Burn it all, set me free

And let the smoke blow on out to the sea

I need to find somewhere I can believe

I need to know there's a chance we can be

We must not be passive and allow joy to dissipate by looking backward at our sins and failures or forward at what might happen to us...In doing this, we place our hopes in the wrong thing, namely ourselves. It is our option to look to the greatness and goodness of God and what He will do in our lives.

-Dallas Willard

The reminder of March was filled with much more mundane, but no less meaningful, moments in my life. 

We celebrated my mom's 62nd birthday. 

We had unexpected snow days--three of them in fact--which provided a wonderful reprieve when we thought winter was over. 

I've been moving forward with rehearsals for The Importance of Being Earnest, which opens in 2 weeks. 

My family has been very busy with Easter services preparation at church, and this past week saw the fruits of that labor. I'm thankful that I was able to participate in them after so many years of being gone for the holiday.

But something that's stuck out has been random reconnections with people I've grown apart from. One such example: I went out with my 3 best friends from high school since we were all in town at the same time. Ever since I graduated in 2009, we've made a point to get together when we can, even though 2 are married and one lives out of town. It's a tradition I look forward to and appreciate that somehow we've managed to keep our bond intact over the years. However, we almost always go out to dinner and then a movie. But this time we randomly said "Why don't we go bowling?" And it was the most fun we've ever had. I hadn't laughed that much in a long time. Such a sweet memory for me for sure.

It's easy to find yourself, in those moments, saying "I wonder what life would have been like if I had stayed in touch better with this person, or if I had made a different choice in this particular situation." Everyone has those thoughts. I definitely have had them quite a lot over the past month. In these reconnections, I often ask myself what other life stories I could have instead of the one I'm living right now. But those questions usually only bring about anxiety and an overwhelming sense of despair, because you can't change the past and nothing you do now will affect it in any way. So I've been trying to let go of those thought patterns and instead, focus on the joy of the present and excitedly anticipate the future that's waiting for me in just a few short months. I have SO much to be joyful about. There's absolutely no reason to stay drudged in the past "what ifs" and "could have beens." It's taken me some time to get to that point--in all honesty, within the last week--but I'm finally looking at my life with a clarity I've been lacking. I'm so ready for what's next...whatever that looks like. I'm ready.

Song #3: Cold as Stone, Kaskade (ft. Charlotte Lawrence)

I see it in your eyes

You're seconds from destroying me...

Can't take another lie

Stop telling me who I should be

So I'm cold as stone

The only way I know

To keep my soul

And never let it show

So let me, let me out

I can't love you anymore

Let me, let me ou

I don't love you like before 

Faith is what makes life bearable, with all its tragedies and ambiguities and sudden, startling joys.

-Madeleine L'Engle 

And that pretty much wraps up the month of March. It's crazy to think that I've been living at home for almost 5 months now, and how much has happened in my life in that amount of time. 

So much good. 

So much crazy. 

So much ridiculous. 

So much anxiety.

The last thing I'm going to say is this:

I've stumbled across a song that literally calms my heart and removes my anxiety every time I listen to it. 

I want to urge you to take the time to actually click on this link and listen to this song. 

If you struggle with wondering what your future holds, if you have ever felt your thoughts spinning out of control and have been burdened with crippling anxiety, this song is for you. 

Trust me. 

It will speak to your soul, as it has to mine.

Song #4: P E A C E, Hillsong Young & Free

You will stay true

Even when the lies come

Your Word remains truth

Even when my thoughts don't line up

I will stand tall

On each promise You made

Let the rest fade away

There's a peace far beyond all understanding 

May it ever set my heart at ease

Dare anxiety come, I'll remember

That peace is a promise You keep

You will stay true

Even in the chaos

Your Word remains truth

Even when my mind wreaks havoc

You are PEACE to a restless soul

PEACE when my thoughts wage war

PEACE to the anxious heart

That's who You are

You are PEACE when my fear takes hold

PEACE when I feel enclosed

PEACE when I lose control

That's who You are

I've found peace far beyond all understanding

Let it flow when my mind's under siege

All anxiety bows in the presence 

of Jesus, the Keeper of Peace

and peace is a promise He keeps