Tale As Old As Time

Yes.

Just a short little three-letter word. One I've said many times before. Little did I know that saying this tiny word in May would have such an impact on my life.

When I auditioned to be in the FACT (Fairfield Area Community Theatre) production of Beauty and the Beast, I figured I'd join the chorus, enjoy singing, have an alright experience, and move on. I almost didn't go because neither of my sisters were going to be able to do it with me, and I wasn't sure about going alone. But, I didn't want to disappoint G (my former music teacher/mentor/extra dad-type), so I said yes.

Auditions were interesting; definitely a step out of my comfort zone. But fun. That first night, I left having no idea if I would even continue. Not a single person was there that I knew except Blair (G's son who had no clue who I was, but had been told about me), the assistant director disliked me (or so I thought), and there were wAAAAAy too many kids. 

BUT. I said yes. And I spent the next two and a half months doing something I loved and spending time with some incredible people! 

During the first month of rehearsals, I was really struggling with some things in my personal life, and rehearsals were such an oasis for me! For a few hours several nights a week, everything else faded from view. I was able to get lost in a perfect little world of music and forget the frustrations of life. It was EXACTLY what I needed!

Then we moved into choreography. YIKES! Anyone who knows me knows that I am NOT a good dancer. And the choreographer was so cool. And hip. And I just KNEW she was going to find me ridiculously awkward. So when she asked me to help out on some extra stuff, I was shocked. But again, I said YES. I had no idea that saying "yes" to that request would gain me a new best friend! From that moment on, Rachel and I were connected at the hip! I basically ended up being her second in command, which I LOVED! Turns out, I'm not half bad at the dancin' thing! When all was said and done, I was told under no uncertain terms that I was her new permanent assistant for these shows. Which I love!

As we got closer and closer to the production, the FACT family spent more and more time together. Hours of rehearsals every single day, lots of hard work, and tons of togetherness. These people really became my Summer family (in fact, I spent more time with them than with my ACTUAL family during the months of June/July). As it turns out, the assistant director DIDN'T dislike me (she secretly loved me), and I had such a wonderful time being one of her go-to people backstage.

The three performances went {practically} flawlessly {to the public eye}, and Sunday night after the final curtain closed, everyone gave a sigh of relief. Everyone except me. I cried. Not in a big all-out tears streaming down my face kind of way, but in that single tear slips down the cheek kind of way. I hate when things end. After spending every single spare moment with this crew for the past 10 weeks, saying goodbye- even just temporarily- was going to break my heart.

After the final clean up was completed (of which I stuck around literally as long as I possibly could because I just couldn't bring myself to leave), and dinner with my crew was finished (you know who you are), I reluctantly got in my car and drove home. I may or may not have cried the entire drive.

I'm so thankful for this experience, and for the people I was able to meet, and the permanent friendships I was able to form. I had no idea I'd end up being sucked into the FACT family, but I'm SO GLAD I WAS! So many of you touched my heart in ways that you'll never even know.

Oh... and G? Thanks. Just... Thanks!

'Till Next Year...

Diana (the assistant director), Rachel (choreographer), & Me

Me & My Crew: Rachel, Me, Drew, Blair, & G

Me & My BFF Dancin' Rachel

Happy Thanksgiving!

Last year, we had family Thanksgiving on Saturday because it worked out better for the majority of the family.  So on Thanksgiving day, we put up our Christmas tree, ate pizza, and watched Christmas movies.

This year, we ended up doing the same thing.  Instead of stuffing ourselves with turkey and pie, we put up our tree, ate pizza, and watched Christmas movies.

Martin Family Photos ~ Fall 2014

Last night was the PERFECT time for a little family photo session!  The last hour and a half of sunlight was absolutely beautiful! I'm so grateful for every opportunity I have to practice my skills behind the lens, and last night had some real winners!

I just love this little family!  So much personality and love!

I Feel Pretty

There's a Facebook nomination thing going around for people to "Share five pictures you feel beautiful in," and while I haven't been nominated, I thought I would take a minute to share a few photos in which I feel beautiful.

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  It's easy in our culture to be very self-loathing, to see ourselves as not up to par.  We're taught by the media that in order to be beautiful, you need to be stick thin, blemish free, and always perfectly made up. It's easy to look in the mirror or through a photo album and only see the flaws.

But I'm not just flaws.  I am the daughter of the King.  I am fearfully and wonderfully made!  I am just the way God intended me to be.  I'm not saying I don't have a responsibility to take care of myself, nor am I saying that I am the most beautiful person on the planet.  I just need to remind myself sometimes that God made me in His image, and I look just like He choose. God doesn't make mistakes.

And I am beautiful.

For those of you who receive this via e-mail, this is largely a PHOTO post, so you'll have to actually go to my blog to see them...

Right Now I'm...

Listening: Stevie Wonder has been on my ipod lately, along with a handful of other things.  Gotta get my Wonder on sometimes!

Watching: Christmas Movies!  It IS July, after all, and that's what Hallmark plays (even though I don't have the Hallmark channel).

Reading: Karen Kingsbury's "Fifteen Minutes."  It's GREAT! 

Eating: The other night, my cousin Steeeve was here, and we had root beer floats.  My, were they tasty!  One of my favorite summer treats is a frosty cold root beer float!

Wishing: That car tires would last forever.  I need to get new tires for my vehicle, and it's gonna cost me a pretty penny.  And maybe an arm or a leg... or both. LAME!

Needing: Haha... um... see "wishing."

Rejoicing: Every summer for as long as I can remember, the southeast Iowa Pastor's fellowship for the GARBC has put on a junior camp at Lake Darling.  This year, they switched venues and used Living Waters Farm for their camp.  I LOVED this switch because we were able to go over every night for chapel because it was just like two miles away!

Indulging: Root beer floats.  And coffee.  Always coffee.

Loathing: That I lost my motivation to exercise.  My friend and co-worker got me excited to do a 30-day ab challenge.  However, just a week into it, I hurt my neck and shoulder.  Really badly.  So there goes that.  I'll just stick with the 30 minute/2.5 miles of jogging instead for now.  Less dangerous.

Saying: The same friend/co-worker that got me excited about the 30-day ab challenge also pulled a muscle (yes... clearly we should NOT be left unsupervised while exercising). So we've been calling each other "old lady" names.  Ethel, Bertha, Francine. You get the idea.  We're just a couple of old ladies trapped in 20 something year old bodies.

Meditating: We sang several songs at camp this week, including "Change My Heart, O God." I love this song because true, lasting change 1) happens on the inside and 2) can't happen without God. 

Picturing: Did I mention that we spent a lot of time at camp this week?  I loved it!

Ten Random Things

1. I love glazed doughnuts. Just plain old glazed rings of deliciousness.
2. My favorite color is yellow.  But I like just about any color as long as it's bold and bright.
3. I'm a coffee drinker, but lately I've been drinking TONS of tea, hot and with honey.
4. My favorite "chore" is vacuuming. My least favorite is dusting.
5. I like to learn/know things.  If I don't know what a word means, I look it up, learn its meaning, and use it frequently.
6. I'm very particular about the way my laundry is folded. Unless you absolutely know 100% how to fold to my specifications, don't bother folding my clothes.
7. I'm not a morning person.  At all.  In fact, I'm not so pleasant in the morning.  However, my favorite part of the day is sunrise.  I love the reminder that I've been given another day to grow, learn, and serve Jesus!
8. I super enjoy going to museums of natural history.  I haven't been to one in years, but I like history!
9. Growing up, my favorite day of the week was Tuesday.  I have no idea why, but I still enjoy Tuesdays.  
10. Never in my life have I driven through a car wash. I always loved going through the car wash with my parents when I was little, and I certainly have no aversion to driving my own car through the car wash; I just never have.

Wedding Wonderland

On Friday morning, the 13th of December, my sister Lindsey got married, and a new family was established. We enjoyed a ceremony at 8am, and a brunch reception after.  Not many words are needed, but I thought I'd share some photos of the festivities for your enjoyment.  As always, if you receive this via e-mail, you'll have to actually visit my blog to see the photos.  Enjoy!

Helen Turns 21

And in a surprising turn of events, Leah and I chose at the (almost) last minute to go visit Helen in Ohio for her 21st birthday!  We had WAY too much fun, and I'm sure Ohio will never be the same after experiencing the Vance girls.

We started our weekend by arriving in Cedarville at 2:30am on Friday morning.

Then we got up at 8 in order to go to breakfast at the bakery before heading over to the chapel for the Inauguration of the new President of Cedarville.  Pretty cool, actually, as we got to hear Dr. David Jeremiah preach.  If you don't know who that is, then I'll pray for you.

After over two hours of sitting, we then were able to meet up with our "Aunt" Linda for a little "family" reunion lunch.  She was there celebrating her... something year... class reunion.  Also pretty cool that Helen is going to graduate from the same college as "Aunt" Linda!

We concluded the birthday eve with a movie on the lawn: Ratatouille.  So fun to laugh with my sisters while watching one of my favorite animated films... outdoors... on a huge screen!

Saturday, the birthday day, we met the Yellow House family at the local diner for a little birthday/family brunch.  And by brunch, I mean we were there from 10 am- 12 pm. Delicious food, great atmosphere, and Caleb & Helen now have a great place off campus to go for a little food and fellowship! The owner of the diner, who took a liking to us, was kind enough to snap this photo:

After brunch, we ventured off on our own to see the sights!  We snapped a few pictures in Clifton Mills, were we saw what we believe to be the farm house from the Wizzard of Oz:

And a few pictures in Yellow Springs, where Helen was sung to several times and had the steel drums played for her once.... and received a free bracelet from a street vendor (wearing a birthday sash and crown in Yellow Springs is a REALLY good idea!):

The microphone is an inside joke, but she's never had an actual mic. 

So I bought her one for her birthday.

 And a few pictures and a few pumpkins at the Orchard Farm Market:

And a few pictures at Young's Dairy, where we ate the most delicious homemade ice-cream in crunchy chocolate-dipped sprinkle cones:

And finally, a few pictures at the Indian Mounds (I think?), where we explored NATURE... which definitely got all over me (bahaha!):

After our adventurous day, we headed back to campus, where we ate supper in the dining hall, watched Helen open her gifts, and skyped with Mom & Dad.  Oh, and watched a movie together before bed:

We accompanied Helen to her Ohio church on Sunday, which was a huge blessing in and of itself, where we enjoyed Sunday School, worship, Doxology (a traveling singing group from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary), and a great sermon!  Oh, and also hugs from my favorite brother!  We finished our visit by lunch-ing in the dining hall.  

And that's it.  Our little adventure to see Helen.

Reminder to those of you that receive this via e-mail: you may want to visit my blog on the actual interwebs because I've posted extravagant picture footage of this fabtastic weekend!