Once Upon a December

"Blue Skies" outfits - my mom made these!!!

Wow, this last week has been a blur.  After spending every day but Sunday out at the Old Barn, White Christmas has finally opened!!! We have practically sold out every night! Saturday evening we had to bring extra chairs in because so many people came.  As people are leaving they tell us that they genuinely loved the show! :) Warm and fuzzies!! I'm glad that we still have several shows ahead and that school is winding down.

Me, Kallie (Judy Hanyes) and Devery

Debbi, Devery, me and Amber - Happy Holidays

Penny and Kallie (Haynes Sisters) Mother and Daughter
My mom also made these dresses

Along with that, I don't deal with change very well.  Particularly when it comes to saying good bye and things come to and end.  I'm starting to freak out that I will be done with classes on Friday and officially done with school on December 15 (that's the day of my last final). White Christmas will be over on December 17.  Seriously? I cannot handle everything ending at once.  Thankfully staying in touch with friends is fairly easy. It is hard for something to end when it's been a part of your life for 3 1/2 years (college) and the past 3 months (the show).  I am so grateful that my boss promised to let me continue to work during January, so I won't be completely ostracized after I graduate.  I probably should not focus on all of the "lasts" that will be happening in the future, but think about how many "firsts" opportunities I will have.

On Sunday December 4, I had the opportunities to go down to Salt Lake City and attend the First Presidency Christmas Devotional.  A huge shout out to Katlin Eyre for being willing to drive down with me to this very last minute decision. A friend offered me the tickets at 2 pm that day.  Haha, it was great. I LOVE the Christmas season! I love how this devotional always sets the right Christmas spirit, but focusing on the true spirit of Christmas - Christ.  I am so grateful that although I am facing many changes in my future that one thing will stay the same - the gospel of Jesus Christ and to know that my Heavenly Father loves me.

The Conference Center

3 days

Okay people, it's that time again.  We are getting down to the wire with White Christmas rehearsals! We have three more run throughs before we perform in front of an audience! Thankfully, things are going great! I'm mostly worried about the dancing...but it will come together.  Just keep smiling and act confident and like you know what's going on. :) I'm thrilled for people to come see the show.  It really is a wonderful production.  I love the new songs that have been added along with the good old classics.  There are so many witty lines in the show - if you come, I guarantee you will laugh at something.  I'm also very grateful that my BFF Devery and I were cast as the two air-headed, flirty, chorus girls.  She makes me laugh so hard every night.  Which is great, except for when I'm trying to stay in character.

Now looking back at Thanksgiving.  Nothing extraordinary happened, but that's how my family rolls.  We like to just sit back, relax and enjoy each others company.  We actually had family come up to our house this year.  My mother's parents, her sister, Betty and her daughter, Cassidy, and my cousin from Maryland who is going to BYU, Amy.  It was just super nice.

Then Saturday came along.  Such an amazing day.  My incredible friend, Lucy, got married.  I was asked to watch her nieces and nephew during the sealing.  Everything was going great, until 20 month old Sophie had a melt down.  This child has lungs and is super talented.  She can keep a pacifier in her mouth and scream at the same time.  40 minutes later...Sophie's mother came and she stopped crying.  The other two children were angels.  Sophie and her sister, Avery had the cuties little princess dresses, flower tiaras and white fur coats.  A-dor-able! I love going to weddings and seeing how happy the couples are when they come out of the temple! So special.  Saturday was also incredible because I was able to go through the temple and get my endowments out.  Amazing.  I was so peaceful and calm.  I'm so grateful that both of my grandparents (both sides) live in Smithfield.  It was nice to have them there to share that special moment with me.  My grandpa Warner wasn't able to come due to his health, but I know he wanted to be there.

Fabulous weekend.  So nice to be HOME and able to relax and spend time with my family.  Two more weeks of classes, two finals after that and then...Christmas and getting ready to go to Canada!

White Christmas

General Waverly and Susan

Betty and Judy Hanes "Sisters"

Warning, the next several post will probably be dedicated to White Christmas........because it is consuming my life right now.  But it is consuming in a good way.  I am in the musical White Christmas which is the stage version of the classic movie, but even a little bit better! There have been songs added to the show, all of which are by Irving Berlin.  Most of the new songs are big TAP DANCE numbers! That's right, I am attempting to learn how to tap dance. 

Phil Davis and Bob Wallace

This has been one of the best productions I have been in! The cast is small and amazing!  There has been no major drama, we all get along very well, and all of our rehearsals are super productive.  I don't think there has been one rehearsal that I have not laughed my head off.  It's been such a great experience.  Here are a few photos previewing the show. I shall add more!

A Loverly Halloween Weekend

I love musicals.  Last Saturday my friend and I went down to the Hale Centre Theatre to see My Fair Lady.  I have seen the movie before, but I don't remember that much about it.  What I recall is it was very long and I liked most of the songs from it.  I don't know why, but I usually prefer the stage version of the musical over the movie version.  There is just some so unique, so magical about a live performance.  The show was amazing, like every show the Hale puts on.  I love the guy who played Freddy! He has an incredible voice! We got to talk to him afterwards and he told us that they cut 45 minutes out of the show! It was already almost a three hour production. Wow, no wonder I loved this stage version! It was short and sweet and to the point!

I didn't do much for Halloween.  I did dress up as a Gondolier! Thank you Devery for letting me borrow the hat! It put the final touch to the costume.  It was fun handing out candy to the fewchildren who came to our house.

The Mission Call

It's that moment that young men and women who want to serve missions anticipate.  The big white envelope.  The letter that will send you, literally, anywhere in the world.  It's very exciting and frightening to be holding that envelop in your hands.  I began reading and a wave of relief washed over me when I say the words "You have been called to serve in the Canada Calgary Mission."  That's right, Canada!! I report to the MTC February 15, 2012 and will spend the next 18 months the preaching the gospel.  It has been a rollar coster up to this point and I know it's just going to continue.  I'm so grateful for all of the support I have had thus far.  Thank you!!! Seriously, thank you.  I truly appreciate it and need it.  You are the best.  I'm looking forward to joining the mission field with some of my best friends - Michelle Chatterton: Rochester, New York - Jasmine Hull: Manchester, England - Amy Henderson: Boston, Massachusetts, Spanish Speaking and leaving in few months - Ana Hernandez: Santa Rosa, California.  Thank you for being wonderful examples for me and helping me when I wanted to give up.