Day 6: The Tower, Shopping, and "Misterman"

     Hello!

     Yesterday, I went to the Tower of London with Kerrie and Nathan. Last month, I played Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Day Queen, in a play called "For the Least of These." Naturally, after spending so much time on the role, she became very dear to me. I've seen the Tower before, and while I loved it the first time, this trip was more of a pilgrimage. I made sure I stopped to buy a rose from a very friendly flower vendor in the Leicester Square station (I wanted to buy her an entire bouquet, but it was too expensive) to place on her grave.

     Unfortunately, I'd forgotten that her grave was roped off, as it is next to the altar in the chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula. Our Yeoman Warder gave us his condensed-but-excellent tour speech in the chapel, since it was raining, then had us leave quickly before the next tour group came. His account of Lady Jane Grey's plight was more sympathetic than I had heard anyone (besides me and Gil Elvgren, the writer of the play I was in) recount before, so I knew he would understand. I asked him if he would place the rose on her grave for me.

     "Yes, of course I will, sweetheart. I saw you with it earlier, and I'll be happy to place it for you right now."

     He seemed truly touched by my request. When he was called away, briefly, he placed it aside and promised to return and place it on her grave right away. It was really special to me, because I believe he understood exactly what I was feeling. Anne Boleyn gets a bouquet of red roses every year on the anniversary of her execution from a local society. While she was innocent of the charges against her, she was certainly not an innocent woman in other ways. In my mind, Lady Jane Grey is far more deserving, but she's often overlooked, since her reign was so short.

     That being done, we went on to tour the rest of the Tower. I thought of the Tower's previous occupants and wondered what they would have thought of what the Tower's become. William the Conqueror, the king who ordered it to be built, would be irate, I'm sure. He built it to be a fortress, and a source of intimidation. The precision and symmetry with which it was built struck fear into the hearts of the townspeople, who were not used to seeing such order and knew that it could not bode well. They were right.

Can you see the archer guarding the walls? He's perched on edge the furthest tower.

     While we walked through the exhibits, we saw the Queen's Jubilee Crystal! It will be the last beacon  (out of hundreds all over England) to be lit on her Jubilee. It will be lit by the Queen herself at 10:30 PM. 

     Of course, the Crown Jewels filled me with envy. They do sparkle so... *sigh*

     The rest of the exhibits were pretty cool. I had a new appreciation for the arms and armor section, after studying it extensively during my Rapier and Dagger class this past semester. 

This shows how the different English coins form different parts of a shield! Cool, huh?

     One of the guard statues up close

 Tower Bridge

"Jane," carved into the wall of Beauchamp Tower by her husband, Lord Guildford Dudley

     As we walked through Beauchamp Tower, there was a children's field trip there as well. Is there anything more adorable than a British child? One little boy kept walking around saying, "this is SERIOUS, an ADULT DIED!" with all the severity that such a statement must have required. It was ADORABLE. And they were all in their little matching uniforms and matching rain coats--SO CUTE! Their teacher told them that they were going to take them to a place that they had been advised not to take them, but they were going to anyway because they believed that they would behave. Another little boy (or possibly the same one), said "the graveyard?!" I smothered a chuckle as the teacher asked who said that. Why can't you buy little British children in the gift shops?

     After the Tower, I parted ways with Kerrie and Nathan to get some shopping done at Covent Garden. Most of the stores I couldn't afford to do anything more than browse in, but I finished the shopping that I needed to. I also bought an incredible apple tart from Fortnum and Mason, which I am determined to replicate:

     After that, I headed to the Lyttelton at the Royal National Theatre to see "Misterman," starring Cillian Murphy! It was a funny, moving, 90-minute monologue about a sweet, loving, kind-hearted man that believes that he is a prophet sent from God to reform his small, Irish village. He lives in a warehouse (a truly incredible set with functioning water pipes, tons of lights, props, etc.) and replays the events of a day in his past that he recorded. Cillian plays the entire town! I wasn't surprised that his performance was so incredible, because that's just how he is! But this was an entirely new side of him. I usually see him as the small-yet-intimidating young villain (he looks even smaller in real life! Still taller than me though. Go figure.), but this time he was filled with a manic energy, smiling and laughing, jumping and running, and playing each character with full-out, specific choices and a boldness that put me to shame. I was encouraged, on one hand, because I had to do the same thing in that play that I mentioned above (where I played Lady Jane Grey), and I saw that we had made the same choices! But then, he was so much better than me (obviously). So he inspired me to work even harder! He was truly amazing. 

     And the message was wonderful. It was about the moral choices that people make, and how everyone needs to be aware of how they treat those around them, because everyone has something to say. It was special to me, because I talk to mentally ill people on an almost daily basis, and I feel awful for them. Their fears are real, and they are never given the care they need (which they don't think they need anyway). Most people turn them away or ignore them, but they just need someone to listen, which is why I don't hang up on them when they call. They usually just talk themselves out, then hang up themselves. I can't help them, except by listening to them and praying for them, which is what I do. So this play was incredibly touching. It was so great that I bought the script! I waited outside of the stage doors to see if I could meet him, but after waiting for about 40 minutes, the door man came out and informed the small crowd that had gathered that he very rarely uses the stage door to leave the theatre, which didn't surprise me at all. All of his interviews, and even his bows after the show, seem to indicate that he's a more quiet, introverted man that would want to avoid crowds. It's understandable. Still, I waited another half an hour, just in case. It was just me and another woman, at that point, haha. The few, the faithful. I gave up around 10:30 though, feeling certain that he wasn't going to come, and I was numb from the cold. Austin Pendleton walked right past me though, so that was kind of cool.

     What a day! 

Day 5: Church, Kensington, and Some Laughs

     Greetings!

     On Sunday I visited my friend's church, Westminster Chapel (not Westminster Abbey, which many tourists mistake it for).

     It was so special to worship with my Christian family, overseas. I love how no matter where I go, I will always have family in the Church. I will always find a haven, and people that I have common ground with. Amazing! The congregation was friendly and welcoming, and the church was thriving and diverse, with many opportunities for fellowship and outreach. The pastor was honest, caring, and preached a wonderful expository message about the sufficiency and authority of Scripture, and how we should be obedient to God's Word and bold enough to change our society. When he prayed, he prayed specifically for ailing members of the church, for the Queen and her Jubilee, for David Cameron and the Parliament, for the churches of England, for their pastors, etc. I was so inspired by his passion, care and specificity. It was wonderful! The church reminded me so much of my church back home! It was Gospel-centered, and the pastor was truly an example for his congregation, willing to challenge and quick to exhort. I loved it!

     After catching up with my friend, I left to meet Nathan and Kerrie, friends from my home church. We spent the afternoon at Kensington Palace! I went there last year, but it was being renovated. They had made it into a magical, princess-themed palace, filled with interactive exhibits and decor that seemed almost straight out of Alice-in-Wonderland (except less trippy and scary). This year, the palace has a new look to it. I didn't take pictures of most of the inside, because it was too dark and we weren't allowed to use our flash. But it was still magical!

     Besides the awe I felt at standing in the room where Queen Victoria was born, or where she held her first Privy Council meeting, where Albert died, or where she first heard that she was queen, the castle continued to be interactive. I was looking at a piece of music that Albert had written for Victoria, and suddenly, out of nowhere, it began to play. I looked over at my friends, who had just read the instructions to press the button to hear the music, but did not press it. Someone else must have. It was a beautiful song! Victoria was a lucky girl! Which she was thoroughly aware of, of course.

Kensington Palace!

They really did! It was slightly creepy, but AWESOME! 

This, in a way, sums up Kensington. It's whimsical, magical, and beautiful. I love it!

My favorite couple! They'll be moving into the royal apartments at Kensington (which we saw the outside of!) next summer. 

     The palace also had a section for William and Mary; George I; James II and his wife, Mary of Modena; and Diana. Diana's section had photographs and some of her beautiful dresses, but it felt very strange to me. I know it's because she's the one I can remember; I remember the 90's and the styles that she made famous, I remember what she did, what she stood for, and when she died. I remember how the world wept at her sudden and untimely death. She was no saint, but it was still sad. So that room was interesting, but poignant. The section for George I was fun, as moving through the rooms involved a card game! You would collect cards as you walked through the rooms (if you could find them), then find out what they spell at the end to discover what your position would have been at the court. You could also play one of the "courtiers" to win a more elusive card. As it turned out, I would have been the Court Physician, which is ironic, as I would never touch a leech, nor am I able to watch surgery shows. But the game was fun. :)

      After that, we were starving, so we made our way to the Prince of Wales pub, where we shared a LOVELY supper of bacon and cheese jacket potatoes, a roasted chicken and bacon sandwich with chips (french fries), a hamburger (with an egg--odd, but good according to Nathan) and cider that tasted like candy! 

     From there, we made our way to another pub, where there was a comedy show going on, hosted by a friend of Kerrie's (and a fellow cupcake maker!). It was hilarious! There were five acts, and all of them were fantastic. The comedians had very quick wits and fantastic material. Once the MC found out that we were Americans, and that Nathan was in the Navy, he quickly and enthusiastically made Nathan the center of his acts (in a good-natured way). It was an absolutely fantastic evening. After the show ended, we spent time with Kerrie's friend and some of the comedians over a drink. Have I mentioned I love the pubs here? They're nothing like the pubs at home! Everyone is there for fellowship; it's a really friendly, welcoming place, not at all like the rowdy crowd I usually stay away from in pubs in the U.S.. It was a really fun night!  

Day 4: Gislingham

     Hello again!

     I LOVE this little village. Gislingham is a village so small that it can be crossed in five minutes. Each cottage has a name, and some still have thatched roofs! There is a pub, a town hall, a store, a primary school, a church, a football pitch, a playground, a mobile library, a mobile post office (which comes to their village for two hours each day), and a mobile fish and chips van (which comes on Wednesday nights). Doesn't that sound darling?! I couldn't believe how quiet it was last night.

     This morning, Mary and Mark took me to the town hall, where an art show was going on. That village is so talented! There were several paintings and sketches that I would eagerly have bought, if I'd had enough money. Everyone there seemed very kind and friendly. They all knew each other, of course. I don't know what the population is, but I'm sure it's only a few hundred, if that.

     After the art show, they took me to see St. Mary's Church, whose tower I'd seen poking out from behind some trees.

     The iron gate was rickety, and the tombstones were slanted and moss-covered. I LOVED it. As much as I was taken with it from the outside, the inside made my heart leap. It dates back to the Medieval times, and it still has some of the same, patterned tiles. The solid, English oak that was used to build parts of the church (including the ornate, intricately carved rafters and decorations) is still standing strong. Amazing! Mary told me that many of the churches in the area date back to the Norman times! I love it. I would have taken pictures of the inside, but they generally frown on that here.

     On the way back to their cottage, they took me around the back of the village to show me these views that the camera could not do justice to:

     After lunch, we drove a few villages over to a town called Diss, in the county of Norfolk. Since Gislingham is in Suffolk, I couldn't help but compare the two rivaling dukes whose titles came from these neighboring counties during the reign of Henry VIII. I know, I know, me and my obsessions. But...being in their former dukedoms and placing physical places with titles was really exciting for me! 

     The Duke of Norfolk (Thomas Howard) was the conniving, ambitious man who was behind the marriages of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard to Henry (the two wives that were beheaded). Not a great track record, which was why he was sent to the Tower. He wasn't executed, however. After Henry's death, he was released, and later aided Bloody Mary on her way to the throne, earning back the titles he had lost when he fell from Henry's favor. Sounds like a pretty bad guy, right? There's more, but I'll leave you to do that research. 

The Duke of Norfolk

     The Duke of Suffolk (Charles Brandon) was conniving and far from a saint himself, but his story is far more endearing. His father was killed by Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth during Henry VII's fight for the throne. Left as an orphan, Henry VII had him brought to court and raised there. This was not uncommon for the orphans of men who had performed a great service for the king, but Charles distinguished himself in other ways. He and Henry VII's son, the future Henry VIII, became the best of friends. He was actually closer in age to Henry's older brother, Arthur, but Charles had much more in common with Henry. They were both athletic, handsome (I know, I know, but for THEIR day they were handsome. Henry VIII wasn't always obese and insane!), extremely competitive, charming, and ladies' men. This was all well and good, until Charles and Henry's sister, Mary, fell in love. When Henry decided to marry his sister off to the aging King Louis XII of France, she agreed to marry him on the one condition that she would be allowed to choose her own husband once the king died. Henry, wanting her cooperation, agreed. 

     Charles was appointed to escort Mary to her marriage and to ensure that everything went according to plan. He also participated in the jousts celebrating their marriage. Soon, King Louis died, and Charles was sent back to France to collect Mary and--more importantly--the gold plate and jewels that were supposed to be given to Henry, as well as the reimbursement of the wedding costs, since she was now a widow. Since he was Henry's closest friend and well-titled, Henry seemed to be well-disposed to the idea of Charles marrying his sister. However, Charles had made many enemies in his high position, and Henry decided to use the gold plate and jewels as leverage: Mary, in return for the treasure. Charles was made to promise that he wouldn't propose to Mary, but his trip brought an unexpected surprise.

     Mary was being held under surveillance at the Hotel ("town house") de Cluny in Paris, just to make sure she was not carrying the heir of the French throne. 

     When Charles arrived, Mary met him in the chapel:

     She told him that if they were ever going to be together, they had to marry there, right then, before Henry could interfere. Charles agreed (I like to think it was because he loved her, but he was also known to be an opportunist. But...he was committing treason by marrying her, and he DID love her...so I'm going with the romantic version) and they were married secretly on March 3, 1515. When Henry found out, he was FURIOUS. His privy council urged him to have Charles executed, and they may very well have succeeded, had Cardinal Wolsey not intervened for them. After Charles agreed to pay an exorbitant fine, return Mary's dowry, and give Henry the precious golden plate and jewels, he was once again in the king's good graces and the two were officially married at Greenwich Palace on May 13, 1515. Charles, in spite of his daring move of marrying Henry's sister without his permission, was the only close friend of Henry's to die of natural causes, instead of Henry's anger. Pretty cool, huh?

     As it turns out, Mary is buried in the abbey at Bury-St-Edmunds, in Suffolk--just a village over from Gislingham. I KNEW I'd heard of that village before! You can imagine how upset I am that I missed that, because Mary and Mark would gladly have taken me to see her. *sigh* Next time...

     I hope you enjoyed that rather lengthy tidbit of history as much as I do. I really want to write a novel about it someday. Apparently, their tenants really loved them both, and their romantic story. They were kind landlords, and very much in love. OH! And another interesting tidbit? One of their grandchildren was Lady Jane Grey, the nine day queen, who I portrayed in a play last month. 

     It is now very late (or early, I should say), and I'm back in my hotel, noshing on a Cadbury chocolate bar that Mark and Mary were kind enough to buy for me (8 of them, actually. We'll see if any of them make it back to the States...) before they took me to the station, complete with a packed dinner. Aren't they the best?

Stowmarket Station. Look how old it is! 

     Until tomorrow!

Bluebells!

Yum!

Day 3: Into the Countryside

     Hey there!

     Yesterday morning, I left London to visit friends in East Anglia. I took the train, so I was able to see a good bit of the countryside. It was breathtaking! The grape seed is in bloom, so there were patches of bright yellow here and there in the green landscape. There were trees scattered here and there, wildflowers, and some sort of cereal that is growing that gives an even richer green tone to the landscape. My friends picked me up in a village called Stowmarket, then, after lunch, drove me to their new home in a village about twenty minutes away called Gislingham. 

     These are the friends I stayed with last year, when they lived in Greater London. They are some of the kindest people you could ever hope to meet, and they unfailingly treat me like their grandchild every time I see them. Precious!

     They showed me around their new home, then Mary (not her real name, since I'm overly cautious...) showed me how to make Victoria Sandwich Cake! The recipe is posted at the end of this entry.

Bread pudding (made by Mary's husband, "Mark") in the background, and Victoria Sandwich Cake!

     We enjoyed a lovely supper, lots of tea, and great time spent catching up. You know those friends who you don't see in a while, but it feels like no time has passed at all when you meet again? These are those friends. I always feel so comfortable and at home with them. Their hospitality is unparalleled. Mary's Mother, Samantha (different name), was also there. She is a darling woman, and it was lovely to spend time with her again. She's approaching ninety now, but she's still as sharp as a tack! Mary got out her memorabilia from Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, so I spent hours pouring over it. I still didn't finish looking at everything! I was also really interested in the advertisements they'd listed:

   From a magazine called "Picture Post," published June 13, 1953

From "Illustrated" magazine, an ad from France for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation

     Fun, yes? It was such a different time! There were all sorts of ads especially for housewives and white collar workers. 

     And now, the recipe for Victoria Sandwich Cake!

     Victoria Sponge Cake

     8 oz. Caster Sugar

     8 oz. Soft Butter (salted works well, because there is no other salt in this recipe)

     4 eggs

     8 oz. Self-Rising Flour

     1 teaspoon Baking Powder

     2 Tablespoons Milk

     Butter Cream

     4 oz. Soft Butter (again, salted works well)

     5 oz. Powdered Sugar

     Vanilla Extract (optional)

     You will also need jam (raspberry is traditional, but any kind will do)

     Divide the batter into 2  7 1/2 inch or 8 inch pans and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Once the cake cools, spread your butter cream mixture on the bottom of one half, and spread the jam on the top of the other half. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top. From what I saw, it seems traditional to eat a slice of this cake with your hands, not with a utensil. I prefer a utensil, but do what you will! Whatever you do, enjoy!

     Cheers!

Day 2: RADA Audition

     Hey friends!

     It seems that, even given a great excuse, I cannot seem to blog faithfully! I apologize. Here's what happened on Thursday, and thank you for your prayers! I needed them. You'll see why...

     I arrived early for my audition (RADA stands for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, for those of you wondering what that acronym stands for), which was perfect. I was taken next door and upstairs with the rest of my group (made up of nine people, myself included) into a room that was easily 100-150 years old, if not older (yes, OF COURSE I took note of that during this big audition!). The administrative coordinator turned to us and asked if we had brought any water, because of the intense physical exertion that this audition would require. Most of us had not, and there was no water fountain. Fortunately, she later brought us a few cups and a pitcher of water, so none of us passed out!

     The audition started out normally; all of us warmed up, then stood in front of each other to deliver our monologues. We were all cut off during our second monologue so that we could continue it later on during the audition. At that point, the instructor in charge of physical performance took over. He had us remove our shoes and socks to make sure we didn't step on each other, then, with a sharp clap from him and the command to "RUN," we all took off running around the room (which was rather small, and there were nine of us).

     "Let's say you are running at level five, speed up to level SIX *clap!*...SEVEN *clap!*...EIGHT *clap!*" etc.

     When he finally allowed us to stop, he had us STOP mid-run (on a clap), then run in an extremely exaggerated form of slow motion, to force us to control ourselves. Then we ran again, until he had us do the slow motion run again. We were all dying at this point, but the point was to show control over our bodies. Fortunately, we had a bit of a break after this as he had us use what we were feeling the most at the moment (pain, panic, fear, exhaustion) and adopt a stance that exhibited this. Then he had us move around the room and go on a slow journey, motivated by that stance we had taken. So really, it was a great exercise! It was just extremely difficult. I love the way that particular school focuses on how one's body can dictate or motivate the way you deliver a line. He later had us go back to running, then stopping mid-run, then choosing a pose to hold until he clapped again, at which point we had one second to choose another, challenging stance. He clapped a lot, so we had to quickly shift positions, a lot. He also had us start running again, only this time he wanted us to jump and roll on the floor as well, without losing speed. He eventually had us all hold whatever position we were in, then singled us out to individually change our pose on his clap, refocus, then deliver a line of our monologue as motivated by our bodies. Again, it was hard, but it's a practice I would love to continue to work on and learn more about.

     At one point, they did have us do an exercise that was extremely personal and uncomfortable, but we all agreed afterwards that--though it was the most insane request we had ever had in an audition--it freed us up a bit and brought us closer as a team. At the end of the audition we had a true team-building exercise when we were given a list of things to include in a presentation that we were to create in groups within fifteen minutes. Both of our teams did well, but it required a lot of improv, teamwork, stress, and confidence to complete our task. The task, which the instructor agreed was Mission Impossible, was really to showcase how we dealt with those things, so it was ultimately successful.

     Needless to say, we were all thrown for a loop. It was the Hunger Games of auditions, hahaha. There was blood (not mine, but we all ended up with blisters), sweat (TONS), and tears (in context). Not to mention the copious amounts of running, challenging physical poses, sudden changes in our circumstances, a requirement in our final exercise to show our talents, etc. None of us had ever been to an audition like that before (it lasted three hours), but it was great! Extremely difficult, but it was a learning experience that we would all love to continue at that school.

     After the audition, we all decided to go to a pub across the street. Most of us had non-alcoholic beverages, since we all had to go back to the school for our interviews later that afternoon. We all got along really well, and one of the girls (who works for a talent agency) wanted to offer me representation, but couldn't because they had JUST hired a young woman with my type. Ah well. It was fun to spend time with all of them before we parted ways for our interviews. I took the train back to the hotel and had twenty minutes to freshen up and order a taxi to take me back to the school. And here is where my anxiety began (I wasn't really nervous about the audition, believe it or not).

     My driver had the address of the school typed into his GPS. This particular location of RADA was on Chenies Street, which people of Middle Eastern/Indian background pronounce "Chinese Street." But, since he had the address right in front of him and he began to use a similar route to the cab driver that I had before, I didn't question him.

     --Until he took me to China Town and asked me which building I needed.

      My interview was scheduled for 4:00. It was 4:00, and my driver was lost. He then asked ME to get out of the taxi and ask for directions! I told him to call his agency and get directions. I tried to help him by telling him that the school was located behind the British Museum, a major landmark.

     "I don't know..."

     "The British Museum. THE British Museum."

     "I don't know..."

     "YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THE BRITISH MUSEUM IS?!"

     "No, I don't--I know where that--I don't know..."

     "Please call someone."

     "Okay..."

     He eventually got me there. I had left for my interview 30 minutes early. It should only have taken 10 minutes, tops, to get there. It had taken 45. I rushed in, apologizing profusely. The woman in charge of the interview came forward, in shock:

     "MEECAH, where have you BEEN?!"

     I tried to explain about the taxi situation.

     "But what about the rest of you? There were seven others that were with you and none of them have shown up!"

     "...NONE of them?"

     At this point the receptionist came forward and showed me that I was on the schedule for 3:45, not 4:00.

     "I was told to be here at 4:00, and then my driver--"

     "Who told you to be here at four?"

     I gave her the name.

     "What about the others, none have showed up?"

     "They were scheduled for 4:30, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00..."

     Realization dawned. The woman who had made the interview schedule had scheduled us in half hour blocks, when the schedule that was provided for my program normally had us in fifteen minute blocks.

     At that point, all was resolved.

     "Don't apologize, don't apologize, no, don't apologize! It's not your fault! Not your fault at all! It's quite all right!"

     They were very kind and understanding, and completely sympathetic to my cabbie woes. The man who interviewed me said that that was outrageous, since cab drivers in London are supposed to know how to get absolutely everywhere. My interview went very smoothly from there, and the others were called to come in early so that their interviews could be conducted after mine.

     So! It was quite a day. It was very intense, but great. God really paved my way, and even if I don't get into that school, it was a learning experience that I will take with me. Thanks again for your prayers!

Day 1: London Calling!

         Greetings from London!

          I found the right plug converter, so I am now back online and able to blog. Huzzah!

          My journey here went really well. Much better than last year, haha! Last night, I stayed in my hotel, instead of rushing off to the emergency room! It's such a blessing! 

          I feel like I've come home. On the plane, I kept watching the window so that I could see the very first glimpse of the city. The clouds turned from a fluffy white to a flat, grey/brown color, until it was only a veil that thinly covered the rainy city. This year, I knew what I would be seeing: townhouses made of brownstone in a rather uniform style, with driveways and cars in their neat little cul-de-sacs. Masses of green made of a richer color because of all the rain here. Patches of city made of gray, industrial-looking buildings. It doesn't sound special, but it is. 

     London is not a typically beautiful city, but that's part of its charm! It's a city where the old and new live side by side. It's familiar, but entirely different, because of its European background. I can walk down a modern street and see a shop next to a building over three hundred years old! The old buildings are maintained and still in use, of course, so everything melds together with a really unique, European look. And the newer buildings were built out of necessity, since London was blown to bits during the Blitzkrieg of WWII. To me, it's a sign of resilience. London is a city that has survived since the Roman times; it's seen war, plague, persecutions, terror, plots, changing royal families and countries that have held sway in the government, exploration, inventions, epic victories, and so much more. It has been one of the greatest influences of the Western world, and all of its experience can be seen in its capital city.      Today I passed a park surrounded by iron gates. It's one of many public parks, but if you know its history, you know that beneath its green, welcoming surface is a burial pit holding thousands of plague victims from one of the Black Plague outbreaks. It sounds gory, I know, but I find it fascinating! It's also not uncommon to see blue plaques on the brick walls of buildings describing a famous painter or writer that lived there in their time. And, of course, there are the famous buildings that everyone knows, like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral, etc. 

     Needless to say, there's never a shortage of things to do and see, so I try to spend as much time out of my hotel room as possible. Unfortunately, I was so exhausted yesterday that I caved in and took a nap once I finally got to my hotel. On my way there, I got a fascinating history lesson from my friendly cab driver. My hotel wasn't too far from Paddington station, but it took a while to get there because the roads were blocked for the Queen's speech at the Opening of Parliament. English security used to only block off the block surrounding Parliament, but it's extended quite a bit due to their frequent problems with Al-Qaida. 

     I'm used to small rooms in Europe; I'm a small person, so I get used to it quickly. There's enough room for me! Since I don't spend much time in my hotel room, it's even easier to get used to. However, this hotel has redefined the meaning of "small." Below are a few pictures:

It makes me think of Harry Potter's closet.

Yes, that is indeed a small shower next to my door.

And that is the rest of the bathroom...in the opposite corner of the room. 

     It's also extremely loud. Again, you find this in most centrally-located hotels, but this is pretty bad. I'm on the second floor (which is the third floor, in US terms), and I can still hear the footsteps on the street below. I've been able to sleep though, so that's nice. I know it sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm laughing, really. What else can you do? It's so different, and in the end, it's a place to stay with a story to tell, so I'm grateful. 

     Anyway, I dragged myself up from my nap later in the afternoon and decided to take the tube down to Harrod's. 

     I've come to the conclusion that, no matter how much I want to, I will never be able to afford anything in this store. There are amazing gowns, jewels, watches, etc. that I've only ever seen in magazines, or worn by people with millions of dollars. It's all so beautiful! I mean, the fabrics they use alone point out that I am on the bottom rung of their totem pole. Most of the fashion-forward-looking workers there don't bother talking to me--they know I'm not going to buy anything, hahaha. Also, that store is enormous! I've been there twice and I still haven't been able to find my way through the whole thing! I was trying last night when I came across the millinery section. I heard the camera above me twitching and refocusing every few SECONDS as I looked at all of the fascinators and refrained from touching them. I was sure that guards would come and interrogate me if I did! So I forced myself to move on to another section of the store. After that, a lovely Canadian employee found me and told me that the store had closed (I hadn't even heard that announcement! Maybe that's too "common."). She was very friendly and we had a nice conversation on our way out of the store, as she heard that we had accents in common. 

     I was starving by this point, so I stopped at an adorable little bakery for a chocolate croissant, then at my favorite food chain, Pret-A-Manger, for a take-home dinner. It's affordable, it's tasty, and they use fresh, natural ingredients for food that's made that day and disposed of that day. Yum!

     Well, that's all for day one! I hope you enjoyed it. More to come!

     Cheers!

Travel Blog - Part 1: Prep and Flights

Hey there!

      As I prepare to embark on a journey to London, I thought I'd try my hand at this travel-blogging thing. If this post is repetitive to some, I apologize. It has taken a couple of different trips for me to figure out what works and what doesn't, so I hope this helps at least some of you! This particular entry will discuss prep and that dreaded (or exciting) portion of the journey: the flight.

      But first, prep!

      Pack as light as possible. My first journey overseas was extremely difficult to pack for, because I hate having to wear the same clothes over and over again in front of my fellow travelers. My remedy? Accessories! You can mix and match different items of your outfits in order to create a different look with the same clothes. That being said, try not to bring any pieces of jewelry that are too valuable. Again, that might sound obvious, but I've heard one too many stories of people who brought irreplaceable items with them and lost them. Remember to pack your jewelry in organized, separate boxes or bags to keep them from getting tangled or lost!

      One of the best tricks I've learned is to take a collapsible duffel bag and pack it in your suitcase. Place your souvenirs into it for the return journey and use it as your carry-on!

      I also recommend packing plenty of bandaids/blister patches/neosporin/whatever works to use on your trip. Keep some with you during the day, just in case. Your shoes should be well broken-in, but even if they are, you may still get blisters. It never hurts to be prepared! I've always had to apply and reapply blister protection, unfortunately.

      Also remember to pack any electrical outlet converters you may need. I got mine from Target for a great price ($20 for a set of four, I believe). The outside of the box should list the countries that that particular box of plugs will work in.

      Any important items like medications, makeup (yes, I am that attached), etc. should come with you in your carry-on, just in case your luggage gets lost. I believe that information is also on the TSA website, but there you go.

      Remember to contact your bank and credit card companies to let them know where you'll be and how long you'll be there, just to make sure your account doesn't get blocked by them when you try to use your cards in another country. As for phones, you can either use yours and get a temporary international plan (which is what I do, because I need access to my emails and the internet), or you can buy a pay-as-you-go phone from a drugstore once you arrive at your destination. And currency? Don't bother getting it from the airport as it's time-consuming and expensive. I always find an ATM once I get there and withdraw what I'll need for the time. Use your actual cards as little as possible as there's a charge on each transaction from your bank.

      And, this may be a bit paranoid, but I always register with the State Department before I leave, just in case something happens in the country I'm in. It's just a precautionary safety measure.

      The flight:

      This is my least favorite part of the journey. Maybe some of you enjoy flying, and that's great, but those trans-atlantic flights bore me to death! There's nothing to see, and hardly any room to move! I'm not one of those lucky people who can sleep on planes, so I'm usually stuck trying to find some way to amuse myself and make myself comfortable for 7 hours or so. *sigh* And then, of course, the whole journey usually takes 9-14 hours, so I'm completely exhausted and worn out once I finally arrive...and then I have to stay awake until a decent hour to get on their time. But it's a small price to pay, yes?

      I won't waste your time going over TSA regulations. We all know they're paranoid, just pack anything controversial in your checked luggage and you'll be fine. Remember to put liquids in ziplocs!

      Now, as far as attire goes...dress in comfortable layers. I'm all for traveling in style, but remember to do so with comfort and function in mind. I made a huge mistake when traveling on my first "big girl" trip to St. Louis with my best friend, Cait. We had decided to dress up like women used to when flying about fifty years ago. Classy, right? Well...yes and no. I chose to wear a LBD with gorgeous red stilettos:

     Beautiful, right? They also turned out to be so painful that they brought tears to my eyes. And my classiness was destroyed after I tottered/stumbled down the ramp when I boarded the plane. As if that wasn't embarrassing enough, a fellow passenger took it upon himself to inform me of my unwise choice in footwear. On the return journey I made another bad choice when I chose to wear adorable gladiator sandals...that laced up. Needless to say, I held up the security line.

      My advice? Wear a pair of cute, comfortable flats. If any article of clothing takes more than 2 seconds to remove, rethink it. Make sure everything is easily accessible (including boarding passes and passports, of course!).

      One of my favorite fashion gurus, Victoria Beckham, advises dressing in the classy style that I described above regarding my first trip. Classy is always fabulous, I agree. However, she advises changing into a comfy sweatsuit on the plane and applying as much moisturizer as possible to keep your skin hydrated (we all know how awful airplane air-conditioning is for our skin, right?). In my case, I disagree with her advice. She travels far more often than I do, but she also travels first class or private, which makes a big difference in the amount of comfort one can aspire to.

     My solution is to keep a small, TSA-friendly bottle of rosewater spray in your carry-on. Spritz your face and hair at your convenience (remember to keep in mind others around you who may protest) and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Drinking lots of water will also help with jet-lag. Avoid caffeine, if possible.

      And ladies, regarding makeup...apply lightly. Moisturize well, then apply what's necessary to look nice, but somewhat natural. When you're tired, sleeping on-and-off, and traveling for 14 hours or so, your makeup tends to smudge, fade, and altogether melt off your face. I usually apply primer, foundation, enough eye makeup (waterproof, if possible) to make my eyes show up behind my glasses (I travel in glasses because traveling in contacts for so long, being so tired, and in that airplane air-conditioning tends to get uncomfortable), blush, and a tinted lip balm to add some color and, again, keep moisturized. I like the tinted lip balm by a line called Fresh:

http://www.sephora.com/sugar-lip-treatment-spf-15-P57002

      It usually costs about $22, but it lasts a long time and it works really well! It's one of those "desert island" beauty picks, for me.

      And there you have it! I know that was a bit of a long one. My posts should get less mundane once I get there!

      Until then, cheers!

Peach Breakfast Bake

Hi there!

I know it's been a while, but I'm back! My best friend (Cait) and I made this recipe for breakfast the other day and it was so good that it brought me out of my long-though-unintended break from blogging! It's like peach cobbler for breakfast!

Picture taken from the "Chocolate-Covered Katie" blog (http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/06/26/peach-breakfast-bake/)

This recipe came from a blog called "Chocolate-Covered Katie: The Healthy Dessert Blog." Cait and I made a few alterations:

Serves 2

2 1/2 cups sliced peaches
1/2 T lemon juice
1/2 T arrowroot (or cornstarch, but we used flour)
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 cup of oatmeal
2 T brown sugar
1 T melted margarine or oil (or butter, which we used!)
1 T applesauce (For a more buttery taste, replace this with an extra T of the margarine)
1/4 tsp salt (use only 1/8 tsp if using margarine)
A splash of coffee creamer (we used caramel macchiato flavor!)

The oatmeal can be prepared however you prefer. Cait and I made ours on the stove. For the filling, mix the peaches, lemon, arrowroot, cinnamon, 1/2 the salt, and 1/2 the sweetener in a bowl. Let sit for ten minutes. Meanwhile, stir the remaining sweetener, remaining salt, melted margarine or oil, and applesauce in a bowl until well-blended. Serve an equal portion of the peach mixture and the oatmeal into bowls and add your creamer, should you so desire.

Enjoy!

England

Greetings, friends!

I have returned. England was absolutely amazing, in every way. I had a rocky start (as many of you know), spending the flight from NYC to London with intense abdominal pain, then my first night there in the ER. But God provided in amazing ways, giving the doctors wisdom to give me the right medication and keep me relatively pain-free for the rest of the trip! Because of all the medication, I was able to eat almost normally! Yay!!! I did try some traditional English dishes (Alas, not Fish and Chips), including a Trifle, which I was then taught how to make! I stayed with some dear friends (from London originally, but they've relocated to America) and their family, who live in London. They were more than happy to take me around and show me as much as they could from my (rather long) list of sites to see. I saw many things, including:
Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Windsor Palace, Hampton Court Palace, Framlingham Castle, Leeds Castle, Highclere Castle, the Tower, The Royal Observatory, the Prime Meridian, the 2012 Olympic Stadium (and several other Olympic sites), the National Gallery, "Much Ado About Nothing" (starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate), "War Horse," "Flare Path" (starring James Purefoy, Sienna Miller, Sheridan Smith, and directed by Trevor Nunn), the London Eye, the British Library, the British Museum, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, the Charles Dickens Museum, the Globe Theatre, St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Paul's Church, St. Bartholomew's Church, Southwark Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Scotland Yard, the Royal Albert Hall, the Albert Memorial, the Greenwich Naval College, and more!
Sorry, I know that's a lot, but people have been asking me what I saw while I was there, so those are the main points. :D
God perfectly orchestrated my time there so that I could A) feel relatively normal, B) spend some quality time with my friends and their family (and experience England with the locals!), and C) witness His kindness and care in every single detail, from the sites I saw to when I saw them to exactly what I saw there. I'm so overwhelmed by His kindness and His grace. As my dear friend (whose family I stayed with in London) pointed out, I did not need this trip. I wanted it, badly. This long-awaited trip was the kindness of my Father to His daughter. I'm SO grateful that God cares about what we care about! That's what I learned about the most on this trip. I saw things I've dreamt of seeing for most of my life, and they were absolutely incredible! And the fact that that mattered to God was even more amazing. I knew that before, but I experienced it in a major way on this trip. He's amazing!

Here are a few pictures! Until next time, cheerio!

Below:

Highclere Castle, The Globe Theatre, Buckingham Palace/Victoria Memorial, Kensington Palace, and Leeds Castle

A Royal Wedding!

Okay, I know everyone's posting about today's royal wedding, but...it was breathtaking. I wasn't going to watch it because the way I saw it, they've already been living together for years, and the royal family isn't exactly known for their long marriages. So what was all the excitement about? But then I changed my mind. I started reading tidbits of their wedding preparations, getting excited... And I woke up before 6:00 today to watch the ceremony with my Mom. Then I left around 7:30 to join some of my American and English friends in a tea party to watch the pre-wedding excitement, the ceremony (again), and the post-wedding excitement. I was thrilled by the fairytale feel of the day, the beautiful (EXPENSIVE!) clothes, the breathtaking music, the gorgeous, smiling bride and her strong, dutiful groom...it was lovely. SO romantic!

I suppose, on one level, it was no different than anyone else's marriage. On a broader note, they had the usual inconveniences: their wishes were altered by an imposing family, they had an exhausting day, the wedding planning stress... And then on a personal note, it was simply a man and a woman pledging to spend their lives in love and support of one another. That's a big job for anyone!

The tradition that was woven throughout the day was absolutely beautiful, but I also love the personal stamp that the bride and groom had placed on it. They were responsibly complying with the wishes of their subjects by having a public procession, wedding, and kiss, and then they had a more personal, private ceremony and reception. I love that! I hope and pray that that sort of attention to the importance of privacy serves them well. A royal wedding is fantastically romantic, but it's probably much more unromantic to those taking part in it. I'm glad that this couple has taken pains to make it their day, and not just England's day.

I'm very happy and excited for this new couple, and this important chapter in English history. It was the first royal wedding that I've witnessed, and I'm so glad to have seen it. I'm also glad that I was able to get excited about it! The excitement continues as I watch the post-wedding coverage on the DVR with my Mom, since she had to go to work and miss it when it was live. I can't wait to read all about what the bride was wearing over the next few days! I LOVE her dress (designed by Sarah Burton, of Alexander McQueen!), and she did her own makeup! That's inspiring! Maybe I'll do my own makeup on my wedding day too! If Princess Catherine of England can do her own makeup on her special day, I suppose I can do the same. But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. ;)

God Save the Queen!

Remember Me?

Hello everyone!

Remember me? Sorry, I know it's been a while. The last time I spoke with you I was days away from beginning my first semester at Regent University, and now I'm days away from finishing it. I have been enormously blessed during my time there. I've made many wonderful friendships, learned four different accents (and the IPA system to learn more!), honed my Improv skills, Tap basics, and learned the technicalities of Text Analysis. It's been a productive semester, to say the least! I had a blast, and I'm actually sorry to see this semester end. I'll start my summer classes in June, so I won't be away for too long! Again, I've been so blessed this semester. I've learned so much, and God has shown His love and purpose for me in amazing ways over the past few months.

My best friend got married in February, and it was beautiful. The wedding and the couple were (and are!) inspiring and fairytale-like. Just before that, rehearsals for "The Play" began, culminating in our best run of performances yet, which ended just this past week! Hundreds of people were brought to Christ, and our audiences left excited and encouraged by our performances. Thanks be to God! His strength carried me through this intensive week, and I'm so grateful!

Now, with only a few more classes to finish up, I'm looking ahead to a dream vacation that I'm going on in just a few weeks! Some close friends of mine are from England, and they're going to visit their family in the south of London for 3 weeks. I'll be heading out a few days ahead of them to meet up with the group from Virginia Wesleyan that I went with to Paris and Rome last year. I'll spend 5 days in London with that group, then meet up with my other friends for the remaining 2 weeks. I'll be there from May 15-June 5! This was a complete gift from God, and I'm so excited! I really wanted to travel with my friends and stay with them and their family (we've talked about it for years), I wanted to travel this summer, and I've ALWAYS wanted to visit London. Now, all three will happen. All of the details got worked out, no matter how dicey they seemed at times. From nearly-impossible-to-get tickets to see David Tennant and Catherine Tate in "Much Ado About Nothing" to convenient travel schedules, God has gift-wrapped this trip for me, and I'm so excited! He is so kind!

The saga with my stomach continues. I am currently in the beginning stages of a detox diet. In a few weeks, I should be able to incorporate fresh fruits and veggies back into my diet, along with other foods (so long as I'm not allergic to them). I'm so excited! My doctor says that I should be able to eat semi-normally by the time I go to England! Yet again, evidence of God's love and kindness at work.

My last post mentioned fears and apprehensions about this year. I hope I've been able to give you encouragement in this recap; God is ALWAYS good, kind, loving, and sovereign. He has comforted me and made me content (even EXCITED) about where I am now, and where He'll have me in the future. God is faithful, and I am so grateful for how He's tenderly held me close and walked me through each and every moment of my life, showing me His love and care with unimaginable patience. I love Him so much, and He has made me rejoice in Him. I'm looking forward to posting (hopefully more frequent) updates about what's going on in my life, and how He's continued to be faithful.

Until next time...

~Micah

Happy New Year!

Well friends, here we are in 2011. It seems like 2010 just began! This year is going to be a full one, I know. Personally, I'm apprehensive, but I'm praying that it's a year of harvest. Last year was a year of sowing, and God brought me through many things that I never thought I could get through at the beginning of the year. Even in the last days of December, God was taking me into situations that I begged Him to never put me through. This year, I'm afraid of many things. Last year was so difficult, and I'm so afraid this year will be more of the same. But...I grew so much this past year. As hard as it was, as much as I don't want to go through it again, I'm grateful for it and I don't regret it. God showed me His faithfulness every step of the way, and He allowed me to encourage others as I was learning those lessons. God provided many blessings, and I know He'll be faithful to fulfill each and every one of His promises. It won't always be this hard, and when it is, He'll be right there with me, making every moment worth it. So I guess the question and challenge I'm faced with this year is this: Knowing how much God has done for me, knowing His faithfulness and promises and blessings...am I willing to face the worst, if it comes? Are the prospects I'm facing too big to handle for Him, the Creator of the Universe and the Author of my life?

Of course they're not. So yes, I'm willing to go through what I'm afraid of. Today as I was thinking of the year ahead, God reminded me that I'm not to worry about tomorrow. He has it all taken care of, and worrying about it won't come to anything. Especially if it never happens!

And I have a lot of blessings to look forward to this year as well! I start my Masters in Theatre at Regent University (my dream field of study at my dream school) on Tuesday, and I absolutely can't wait! I have reason to hope...in fact, I have more reason to hope than to fear! Fear may look bigger and more powerful, but in the end I know I have victory in Christ. This year will be full of blessings in many forms, I just know it.

Have a blessed New Year!

Christmas

Hello, all.

Sorry about the extended silence! I was buried under papers and exams for a few weeks there, but I've been free for about a week now and I'm LOVING it! One more week until grad school!

I was incredibly blessed by those who came to celebrate my graduation with me last Saturday. I was extremely humbled and grateful for those who came, and for their generosity! I felt so loved! Thank you all for showing me how God cares for even the smallest details in my life, and for reminding me of the many blessings He's given me in you all. :)

Well, friends, as you all know...tonight is Christmas Eve. I love Christmas, it's my favorite time of year. It's always over too quickly though. I wish we still celebrated it over twelve days, like they used to. In any case, it will be nice to spend some time with my family. My grandparents (from both sides) are here, so that's really nice. We plan on eating (Mom made me special sugar cookies that I can have!), going to church, then opening presents tonight. It's unusual, but we're usually all alone out here, and there was never a reason to wait until Christmas morning to open presents. I guess a lot of people do that because they go to their grandparents house for Christmas Day, but that would be a 6 hour flight for us! Some people might find that lonely, but we've always enjoyed ourselves. It's nice having quiet, family Christmases. But it'll be nice having our grandparents with us too. We have Spanish/Puerto Rican food from Mom's side of the family, and Italian food from my Dad's side, made by Papa, who came over on the boat from Italy in 1921 (so it's the good stuff!). It's not food I can have, but it's nice that everyone else can enjoy it! On Christmas Day we usually open our stockings, have breakfast, and go see a movie. This year we'll do something along those lines, but we're also Skyping our cousin Rosanna in Verona, Italy. She doesn't speak English, so Papa will have to translate. We'll see how it goes...it's nice being connected to our family over there. :)

So those are our plans. I feel an extra sharp sense of what God's done for me this Christmas. I've felt His strength throughout this year while encountering several trials and I've come to realize how He really IS present with us, always. So "Emmanuel" has a special meaning for me now. "God With Us"...do you realize how rare, how AMAZING that is? The God of the universe sent His only Son to become a man and live on this earth, amidst trials, pain, suffering, evil...everything He hates. And He died to save us, unworthy traitors, from dying in our sins. It would have been more than enough if He only died to save us, but He also made us heirs with Him! And He sent his Spirit to be with us, always. God is so amazing!

Thank you, Lord, for what Christmas means. Thank you for sending your Son to die in my place. Thank you for being with us.

Merry Christmas!

A Smattering of Things...

It's been a busy few days, so this one post will cover several things.

First of all, I went to see "The Lion King" with the Honors and Scholars group from my school on Thursday.

WOW....

I was stunned. By the end of the first song I was shaking with excitement, shock, and joy. I had no idea they could do shows like that on stage! It was completely magical. The actors moved so at one with their puppets that it was easy to believe that they were simply the soul of the animals they portrayed, so full of life and grace. The singing and dancing were magnificent, and the music was fantastic. They handled the scene changes with the finesse only found in professionals, and the lighting was absolutely gorgeous, completing the world created by the designers. I've never seen a show so magical, and I hope I get to see it again someday. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

Tonight we set up our fake tree and decorated it while watching "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe." I'm so glad our tree is set up now, and the movie was even better than I remembered. It's been a long time since I watched that one. And that fact that it snowed tonight as we decorated made it a beautiful picture.

Today I finished one of my term papers, which is a huge weight off of my shoulders. Just one more, then my story (in place of a regular paper for another class), then exams. 8 days until graduation, and then 3 exams to take. It's going to be fine... The paper I finished today was on Christianity in Ancient Rome, just after Christ's ascension through Constantine. I decided to start my paper with some background on who Christ was and why He would have been meaningless to the Roman Empire were it not for the mob demanding His death to Pilate. The charge they finally assigned to him was "King of the Jews," after Jesus finally assented to the title. What struck me while I was researching and writing was the sovereignty of God. Everything was so planned, so exact. Pilate's decision was based on the only thing that sounded like it could POSSIBLY be credible, Jesus' trial was filled with fake witnesses... and everything went according to plan. Everything, right down to exactly the way His body would fail Him so that He would die of a broken heart upon the cross, not asphyxiation like most victims. None of His bones were broken. Prophecy was fulfilled to the letter.

Why? Why would the Son of God leave heaven to come and die for me? For you? As I read the details of His sufferings I was struck afresh with my own utter and complete wickedness and the kindness and love of God. I'm overwhelmed, completely in awe. All I could do was cry and apologize to Him, again, over and over. But every time that happens, no matter how aware I am of my sin, I'm MORE aware of His love and forgiveness.

How kind is God???

No other religion is driven by this love. God calls us to love Him, as HE first loved US. That's incredible! We follow Jesus because we love Him, and He demonstrates His love for us daily, in ways that we may never see until we're with Him in heaven. He really HAS given us abundantly more than we could ask for or imagine. His love is unfathomable, but it's the most real thing in the universe. He loved us before time began, and nothing can take us out of His hand.

I pray that you're given a fresh view of how much God loves you. It's getting close to Christmas, when we celebrate God sending His son down to begin the lowly life that would lead Him to a criminal's death and the wrath of His Father. All to reconcile us to Him and bring glory to His Father. We're so blessed...

Happy Sunday.

To Dad

I went to bed around 3:00 AM, and my Dad was still at work. He's always had to work long hours, because that's show business. It's not unusual for him to work 70-80 hour weeks. When there's a show (or several shows!) coming up, I'm usually the only one who really gets to see him because I'm the only one still awake by the time he gets home. Last night, he was doing freelance work, which means that it wasn't part of his regular job, he was earning extra money.

My Dad inspires me.

He's always worked this hard. He could have made lots of money if he'd chosen to light films in Hollywood. Instead, he followed God's leading into the ministry, where he makes less money and still works twice the amount of hours in a normal work week. He doesn't complain, he just does what needs to be done because "the show must go on."

I so appreciate that.

Show business runs in my family. My great-grandfather, on my Dad's side, was in the very first barbershop quartet, performing on radio shows and having celebrities like Eddie Cantor over for dinner. Dad got into the technical side of things, lighting films and shows with what is clearly a God-given talent. I've learned about lighting, and what precious little I know was very difficult for me to understand. It's second nature to Dad. He loves it. So it makes sense that he always understood my desire to act, and he was my biggest supporter. He and Mom made sure I understood how unreliable and difficult it would be to get into the business, but they always supported me. Now, God's leading me to pursue acting (my dream), opening a door that I thought He had closed. I don't remember when I caught the acting bug, but I've had it ever since I can remember. My first role was Baby Jesus, and then I was in a commercial for CBN at age 3. I do remember that instance, and I remember wanting to have a career in acting even at that young age. My parents always encouraged me.

I'm so grateful that they wanted me to have a career doing something I love, and sacrificed in order to help me pursue that dream. Mom and Dad fully support my being an actress, as well as encourage me to be a published author and history teacher (what a busy life that would be!). All three of those were my areas of study, and none of them are definite money-makers. Most parents don't encourage the acting thing, or anything else that isn't a known, reliable way to make money. That's never been the case in my family. Dad's always cultured me with movies of all kinds and shared his wealth of movie knowledge, and Mom participates/cheerleads. She didn't come from a movie-family, but she loves ours, even if she doesn't always understand us, hahaha.

I love you, Mom and Dad. Thanks for your love and support. I'm so grateful for you.