Lately: Autumn 2023 Edition

I was inspired by Olivia to do another Lately post. They are always enjoyable to write, and I am home from work with a cold right now, and feel like being distracted by pleasantries.

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Note: please overlook the fact this is an autumn edition, even though we are a few days off winter here in Australia, as I write... ;) 

WATCHING...

• Gilmore Girls Season 5 (I know, I know, I said no more, and then I found season 5 at the Bookfest for a few dollars and missed it so much I caved in.)
• Julia & Julie (because I just finished "My Life in France"... I wanted MORE - it was too short lived :'()
• The Batman trilogy (one of my friends who is crazy passionate about film hosted them all in a cinema (which he used to work at) so we could watch it all together on the big screen
• Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (I've heard of the musical and wanted to see what the movie was all about... aside from seeing Michael Caine before he had gray hair, I apparently hadn't been missing out on too much)

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READING...

• "My Life in France" by Julia Child (delicious to read, even though I've never done French cooking)
• "It Ends with Us" by Colleen Hoover (one of my work colleagues leant it to me saying I must read it... definitely not the style I usually prefer. That one paired with "A Thousand Boys Kisses"... I don't think I need any more romance for the rest of the year)
• "Ben-Hur" by Lew Wallace (wish me luck. There's a reason the list ends here.)

CONSUMING...

• Chai lattes and chai tea (one of the few teas I ENJOY)
• Coffee, always 
• Pumpkin soup (my mum makes a mean pumpkin soup, and it's quite often the highlight of my winter - that and minestrone)
• Cinnamon rolls (a lady from our home group made them for us last week and I have decided I have a new favourite food)

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SINGING...

• The Tuck Everlasting musical (because, rehearsals, and also outside of rehearsals they are just permanently engraved into my brain)
• "Mister Snow" from Carousel and "Who Needs Love" from Ever After the musical (both of which I'm prepping for an upcoming audition... also please tell me you HAVE listened to the delightful entertainment that is Ever After the musical?!)
• "I Can Do Better Than That" from The Last 5 Years because it's FUN (and yeah I did rewrite some lyrics ;))

ENJOYING...

• Learning to swing dance! I went to a 1940s costume swing dance party and it was a blast. An absolute blast, I tell you. I want to go back to that chaotic era of red lipstick and swishy skirts and energetic dancing. 
• Cuddling our pet hare, who was adopted into our family just before Christmas, last year. He is much like a cat in personality, and can often be seen in someone's lap or hiding behind our couch, snoozing.
• Leading worship for my local church. I only recently started this year, and have only been able to do it a couple times, but it's honestly been such a blessing. I'm often just backing or singing harmony, but I have lead a few times as well. Singing worship songs with a small band and leading a room full of people in praising the name of Jesus... it gives me many thrills.

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LISTENING TO...

• That Sounds Fun podcast (it never fails to brighten my day)
• Tuck Everlasting soundtrack... over and over (and now trying to avoid it as much as possible)
• Michael Buble & Frank Sinatra radio on Spotify (I choose this as our waiting room music at work because I love it and it makes me happy)
• Caity Gyorgy (I've just discovered her! I love how she makes up lyrics to otherwise instrumental jazz songs, it's so clever. I am in awe.) 

WORKING ON...

• Running our new head office at work (eeekk I feel like I'm now a combination of sales rep and manager and real estate agent and HR)
• My mix belt. Always. *sigh*
• Getting off-book with my understudy lines (it's way harder as an understudy... :/)

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DAYDREAMING OF...

• Travelling internationally... especially to Italy.
• All the different careers I could pursue, while simultaneously staying in my current job (I've always done this; I'm so indecisive - some days I'm like, "I was made to be a counsellor", or "I should definitely pursue paramedicine", or "I could be a support worker" or "maybe I should do retail?")
• The day when I get to play a lead role in a musical... someday, some day. :D

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What have you been up to, lately?

I'm In Another Musical!

 Yeehaw!

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I'm finally in another show! (I say finally. It's been, like, 6 months, haha.) But after taking a couple rejections on the chin, I was thrilled to get the opportunity to do another show! (Especially when the audition was probably the worst I'd ever done. I had prepared exactly what they said to in the audition pack, but when we arrived and they had some people away sick, they advised they'd jump straight to callbacks and proceeded to do absolutely nothing in the audition pack. I didn't even KNOW the first song that we had to sing! I suspect my eyes may have been bulging with stress.)

And I know what you're thinking. Another show, Gabby? So that means you're going to drop off the face of the earth for another 6 months? To which I reply, "the show season is only 3 months this time! :D" 

But no, I'm hoping to still keep up somewhat during this busy season. Fortunately, rehearsals are only twice a week, and slightly less demanding than Mamma Mia! was, so I think it's more do-able.

But the question that I'm sure is at the fore-front of everyone's minds...

... which show?!

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the answer.

... TUCK EVERLASTING!

Me ^^

Almost everyone I tell ^^

Potentially you ^^

So apparently, a lot of people don't know it. That's fair. We are doing the Queensland premiere of it in Australia, and the musical is fairly new. It was first a book, then a movie (starring Alexis Bledel, for any Gilmore Girl fans), and then premiered as a musical in Atlanta, Georgia in 2015, opening on Broadway in 2016 (starring Andrew Keenan-Bolger as the lead male, for any Newsies fans!). (If you're true Newsies fans, you will probably already know this musical, because you will have madly researched the entire careers of all the casts. ;P) It's pretty sad, because this is one of those stories where they developed the show over 6 years and it closed after 39 performances (still better than Bonnie & Clyde  :'(), even though it received positive reviews! (This fact also makes it difficult to source good quality photos of the production. Rude.)

Rough plot: a story of a family who drink water from a magical spring and become immortal. When they encounter a young girl who lives in their rural town, she becomes friends with one of the sons (Crutchieee) who soon offers her the secret to everlasting life. She then has to decide if she wants to join her new friends in immortality, or continue living out her normal life. The themes are of family, loss, friendship, and love.

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The show is almost like a children's story, a fairytale, so it can take a little getting used to the plot. But once you've gotten past the fountain of youth, it's quite a moving story. They cover some heavy topics, but in a gentle, beautiful way. The ending of the show is a 12 minute ballet, portraying a time lapse of the little girl's life. 

One of the things I love about the show is THE MUSIC! It's so beautiful. It has a whimsical folk-type feel to it, with a few jazzier, swing songs (mostly for the villain, hehe). It almost gives Frozen vibes, with the "day-na-na" in the background. (If you know, you know.)

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Another reason I was keen to be in it, was because three of my siblings are also in it! My older sister is playing a supporting lead role - Betsy, the mother of the little girl Winnie Foster. I play Betsy understudy, and a featured ensemble. My little sister is playing in ensemble and Toad (a vital character, and one of the biggest cast-to-audience jokes), and my little brother is also a featured ensemble. It's been a lot of fun so far, and we're only a few weeks into rehearsals! 

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So if I do get a bit quiet on here, I haven't been kidnapped by aliens. Most likely, if I'm not at work or driving, I'll be running lines, practicing choreo, or going over my harmonies and "day-na-na's" with the score. ;)

I may wrap up this post here, but I'll leave one little gem with you. If you are a Newsies fan, or a theatre fan, or just intrigued by this musical, I highly encourage you to check out the backstage at Broadway vlogs that Andrew Keenan-Bolger did when it opened on Broadway. 

Let me know if you would like to hear more about the rehearsal process! And tell me about what exciting things have been happening in your life!

The Hands and Feet of Jesus

If you were here for my recent post explaining my absence, you may remember how I mentioned an incident that took place last year. I'm here to talk a bit more about that, and some important lessons I learnt from it. 

It was early 2022, and here in Australia, we still had some major after-effects from the mess that Covid had left behind. (And I'm not referring to anything to do with illness; I'm talking government power and mandates that prohibited one from freedoms that Australians used to enjoy.) 

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To set the scene, I need to go back another year. At the end of Anne of Green Gables, in 2021, the theatre company were excited at the success of that production and were debating which show to choose next. I decided to submit a suggestion, in case they thought it was a good fit. My favourite story, only in a tie with Anne of Green Gables, is Little Women, and my sisters and I had recently discovered the musical of it. It was perfect! (Also perfect because there is a mystery in most community theatres - the lack of males interested in theatre and the over-abundance of young, female performers.) After a long wait for license approval, the theatre company announced that the next show was going to be... Little Women the Musical! (This was after they hadn't done a musical for around a decade or so.) We were thrilled! Even our beloved directors were returning just for this show! And yet, like a curse, on that same day they announced the show, the government announced restrictions for certain Australian individuals who did not choose to have a particular injection. All forms of entertainment, including theatre, was out of bounds, and those particular people were banned from all such places. That included myself and my family. This was just in the lead up to Christmas, and to my 21st birthday; I couldn't even go out to celebrate in the way I had been hoping. That was a heavy time, and I regret to say more tears than laughter took place over that holiday season. 

With the start of 2022, the auditions, casting and rehearsals took place for Little Women, as planned... without us. And then, several months later, the government decided to roll back the mandates. But the show was already cast and underway. We were faced with the decision; did we want to help out back stage for this show we had dreamed of being in, or were we too hurt from the experience to be a part of the show that we had originally suggested and been so excited for?

It didn't even take us a day to decide; we knew that once the mandates were rolled back, we would be chasing every opportunity that went our way. So one of my sisters and myself (and later two other of our siblings) volunteered our time to be part of the tech/crew for this show. My sister was taught the lighting board, and I chose the spotlight. To be honest, I mostly chose the spotlight for the symbolism is was to me. A lot of prayer went into that season of waiting, and I knew there was a lesson (or two) to learn here. I wanted God to give me the grace and humility to celebrate and champion others, even if I couldn't myself participate. And I knew there was a beauty to shining the spotlight - literally - on others, even while I was desperately aching to be a part of it.

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I remember there was one phrase that kept running over and over in my mind, during that season. And it was: "God, in this moment, how can I be like Jesus? Like His hands, like His feet?" It's a powerful question. You can't just "make" yourself have a servant heart, or will yourself into humility. It was a continual prayer for grace, for knowing what grace would look like in that moment. The image of God washing his disciples' feet kept playing in my mind. It helped my heart know where to look. So I shone the spotlight on those performers who were carrying out the story on stage in front of me; the story I had known and loved all my life. I worked with my sister to mic all the main performers, and help change the batteries and ensure they were all running smoothly. From being the lead performer in the last show, to literally buttoning up another actor's dress and helping them with their mic, I knew God was working in my heart, and teaching me a lesson. (So be careful what you pray for, friends! If you pray for more grace and humility, God is listening. ;) But He answers in such beautiful, powerful ways.)

I will also add, you may think it was an easy transition for us to help with tech, and everything worked out sweetly for us. But real life often doesn't pan out in such a linear way. We had some unpleasant experiences during that time, and there was some drama happening behind our backs that really hurt. I did cry on multiple occasions, wondering how different things could have been, and what I could have experienced if things had worked out the way I'd dreamed. But ultimately, I kept repeating that same prayer over and over, "what does it look like to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this moment?". And He graciously, patiently, showed me.

And you know what? It's actually really hard to throw a pity-party for yourself when you are celebrating your friends' successes and are genuinely happy to see them do so well! So make sure you cheer on your friends and the people who deserve the applause - it not only encourages them, it actually helps you, too. 

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On top of the lesson in humility and grace, there were several others that I learnt during that season. It was a great reminder of doing the best with whatever you are given. I told myself I would be the best spot-lighter there ever was! (No joke, I legit was so determined, haha. I had a lot of notes about the best/most artistic choices for each scene. I wanted to discover how to add more beauty and depth to the show, in ways I'd never thought of before.) I realized how much work went into the background things, so that next time I got up onstage as a performer, I could appreciate all of the tech and crew who were working so hard to let me shine onstage. 

So I challenge you. Anyone, but especially the person who is struggling with the experience of rejection and frustration (a common occurrence when you're trying to worm your way into theatre!). Don't let yourself sit in disappointment and frustration. Use that fire within you to push you forward. Challenge yourself by learning a new skill, try a fresh perspective (which I did by literally watching the show from a different perspective!), and don't let bitterness ruin your ability to appreciate beauty, and encourage others. It may not be the easiest path, but the most important lessons are never the easiest ones. We always have a choice. Choose to celebrate others. Choose to not be controlled by the bitterness or sadness that threatens, but move towards patience and hope. Choose to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

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New Year's Tag (2021)

Hi friends!

It's been a big year. And that's almost an understatement. Each year, since 2017, I have written out the New Years Tag that has made its way around the blogosphere for a long time, for my own personal enjoyment and interest. (It's so fascinating to look back from 5 years ago and compare your answers!)

taken by my little sister, at our last family holiday

Last year, I wrote it out, but almost didn't publish it, because my list felt so "unimpressive" and I was too sad about it. I'm sorry, now, to think of where I was at this time a year ago. And I'm sorry to know how much that girl would go through, and how oblivious she was to the hardships ahead, and how hopeful she was that it would be a perfectly happy year. 

But even though it wasn't easy, 2021 taught me to find beauty in the brokenness, and that is something I will be carrying with me into tomorrow and beyond. So, in the hopes that it may encourage anyone out there who has had a hard year also, and to give you a peep behind the curtains of my life, I will share with you the answers for this year, 2021. (For privacy reasons, I have edited out some names etc.) I have used photos that I took this year, to make it a bit more personal, but also be prepared for a complete photo dump of play photos. ;)

2021 Recap in Questions

What did you do in 2021 that you've never done before?

The obvious answer is be part of community theatre! That was a huge first, as was auditioning, and experiencing a two-show day. I also had my first gig (with my siblings!), sang in front of a paying audience, got a job "promotion", and took myself on a date and went to a friend's wedding by myself. (Hush, this was a big deal for me, guys.) Oh, and I went wake-boarding/tow-surfing!

from our wakeboarding trip

Did you keep your New Years Resolution and will you make a new one?

My resolution for 2021 was very vague, along the lines of "be more intentional with my time; set boundaries and make time for rest", so to some extent, yes? I certainly tried, especially the latter two, but it wasn't some shock transformation. Just baby steps.

My resolution for 2022 is to believe it to be and make it a good year, no matter what it looks like; to think of it as good even if it's not what I dreamed or planned. (If I had to pick a word for the year, it would be resilience.) Essentially, I want to take my joy and hope back that was stolen from me, and strive to be grateful and adaptive, fully trusting God's plan with my life.

I get to wear a cool headset at my job

Did anyone close to you give birth?

Depends on the definition of close, but my cousin had a baby, a close family friend, and two of my work colleagues had babies. And I found out my brother and sister-in-law are going to have a baby and I will be an aunty!!!!

Did anyone close to you die?

Yes, and though it was not my first taste of grief, it rocked me to the core. My dear friend, you will be sorely missed. I hope you know that. I'm sorry you were in so much pain. I'm so glad you are now at peace, with Jesus.

sometimes you have to pull over to take a photo of the sunset

What countries/states did you visit?

Thanks to C*vid, we were not able to venture outside of Queensland, although thankfully it is by no means a small state.

What would you like in 2022 that you lacked in 2021?

Less heartache and division. Peace of mind, freedom from restrictions and discriminations around a certain injection. A role in a musical. The ability to travel.

we each got little trophies with our name
and the role that we played

What date will remain etched upon your memory?

16.02.21 - the day I learned of my friend's suicide, and the day my dream of theatre came true and I got the lead role of Anne. 

11.06.21 - Opening night of Anne of Green Gables!

Our play in action! Was so happy I never fell on my face
on that darn staircase (came way too close)

Did you move house?

Hahaha. Haha. Ha. Ahem. Nope.

Which was the best month?

Perhaps January, because there was the least amount of pain. Otherwise June, when we got to perform our show and it was all just like a dream.

the stage is set

What was your biggest achievement?

Playing the lead role of Anne Shirley and not forgetting one of my 520 lines in any of the six performances! Also just not having a complete mental breakdown was an achievement, to be honest. (I came close at one point.)

What was your biggest failure?

Not being honest with people, and carrying my burdens alone. I made it a lot harder for myself than I could have. Also, selfishness. 

I recreated a photo shoot of my sister and 
her goat from several years ago

Did you experience any illness or injury?

Nothing more than a few colds, although I lost/nearly lost my voice several times. 

What was the best thing you bought?

All the tickets to see shows! I am so glad I did, especially as I am not allowed to for the forseeable future. Also, my "warm-me-up" singing app haha - definitely got my money's worth! And my "Be the Light" yellow hoodie that I bought online which turned up to be extremely bright, and also my favourite.

a mic check for our play, ft. my yellow hoodie

Whose behaviour merited celebration?

*insert sarcastic remarks about Certain Politicians* I guess I'd say Luke and Tammy, our directors forthe play, for all their hard work, thoughtfulness and kindness. They're top-rate folks.

some of my favourite people

Whose behaviour made you appalled and distressed?

Basically any politician ever, but specifically a particularly powerful one from our state.

a photo I took of my older sister

Where did most of your money go?

Car stuff, tires, etc. Also tickets for shows, dance classes, singing lessons and hydro classes.

What did you get really, really excited about?!

BEING IN A PLAY! Let alone playing the title role! And all the incredible people who came to see it (they made me so happy). And the fact that we were sold-out for our second last show. Also, my brother and sister-in-law having a baby!! :)

some of the cast at our after-party from the play
(can you feel the energy in the room?!)

What was the best concert you went to?

Why, the gig my siblings and I did, of course! ;D Hehe. But in regards to shows, Pirates of Penzance at IMTC, West Side Story at QPAC, White Sheep of the Family with LRPA, and the 24 hr musical (which turned out to be Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)! Just all the shows!! And obviously, Anne of Green Gables. ;)

What is a song/album that reminds you of 2021?

The Anne of Green Gables soundtrack and the hymns my sister played on piano for the actual play - specifically a beautiful rendition she did of "How Firm a Foundation". It was played during the closing scene and had this glorious crescendo as I walked off and the lights dimmed. *happy sigh*

deep in rehearsal thought. Peep the cute dog

Are you happier or sadder? (Compared to last year)

Sadder, but learning to find the beauty from the brokenness.

Are you thinner or fatter?

My goodness, how presumptuous of you to ask. :P Neither more, nor less.

Are you richer or poorer?

Richer, but I care even less about money that I ever did.

when we went to Outback Spectacular!

What do you wish you had done more of?

Taken more photos, especially ones of me with the people I love. (I have this terrible hesitation in taking any kind of selfie/groupie, and then regret not taking any photos.) 

I wish I'd had more open, honest conversations, and I wish I had prayed more.

What do you wish you'd done less of?

Social media + screen time, pretending everything was OK when it wasn't, and trying to MAKE things happen.

cute lil' instruments

What was your greatest musical discovery?

Josh Garrels, Carrie Underwood's album of hymns ("My Saviour"), Mamma Mia musical soundtracks... I listened to a lot of Michael Buble, Sleeping at Last and Ben Platt this past year... all the soothing voices...

my poor little boots; they served me well

How did you spend your Christmas?

Well, I was sick, so all our guests decided not to come over. We had our family of seven open presents at home, eat lots of good food, and play games together. Small, intimate, sweet.

How did you spend New Years?

Obviously, it's not yet New Years, but I'm planning on spending it at a friend's house, playing games and eating pizza with a whole bunch of other people. However, I'm still trying to shake a cold, so if it's not gone by then, I guess I'll be spending it on the couch watching a movie, and ringing in the new year with a half-hearted 'hooray!' to myself. ;)

SUCH an epic photo that a friend took.
Can you guess which one is me?

Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?

You know what's ridiculous? I was going to say "I hardly called anyone!" and then I remembered what I do for a day job. *face palm* I would have called hundreds of patients, and let me tell you, it is most fascinating (and often amusing) speaking to so many people from the general public over the phone, and getting snippets of their life. I've also heard the world's strangest voicebank messages.

What was the best book you read?

"Godspace" by Doug Pollock, "Cold Tangerines" by Shauna Niequist, and "4.50 from Paddington" by Agatha Christie, not counting some fabulous re-reads.

my happy place

Did you fall in love?

No... but affection did grow for someone, and a lot of prayers were said regarding that person. ;)

a part of rehearsals you don't know about ;)

What was your favourite TV show?

Didn't watch many, but can I just say we finished "White Collar" after spending 2-3 years trying to find nights when both my sisters AND I didn't have to go to bed early so we could watch an episode?! We did it! We finished it! And I was almost sad. :P Otherwise, "Cranford" (a mini-series?), "Lego Masters", "The Voice Australia" and "The Chosen" (though I have not watched much of the latter).

why would you watch a screen when you can watch this?!

What did you want and get?

The opportunity to be part of a theatre production (other than my own)! Real-life friends who like theatre! (To all my blogging friends who do too, I love you! 😘) A church that feels like it could be home. And to see lots of shows/musicals live!

our well-loved stage <3

What did you want and not get?

To travel. Also, to be in a musical. Flexibility. To see "In the Heights" in cinemas. A flawless mix and belt. (Hahaha, like that was gonna happen.)

our second wig fit. It was so itchy! :P

What was your favourite film? 

"Dune", "Dear Evan Hansen" (I BAWLED MY EYES OUT GUYS), "Hacksaw Ridge", "I Still Believe" and "Knives Out". 

What did you do for your birthday and how old were you?

I was sick (BOO) so for my 21st birthday I stayed home. I opened presents, played games with my family, watched the new "Rebecca" movie (my verdict? Read the book) and old videos of me as a baby/toddler. I postponed a picnic beside a dam (which sounds dreadful but imagine a really pretty lake) with friends and family, which will now hopefully take place in January.

why do I look like I'm checking my pulse? :P

Describe your personal fashion concept?

Comfortable, clean and cute. (Lame, I know. Well, it's a lame question. So there.)

What kept you sane?

Oh, but am I?? 

God, first and foremost. 

Journaling. 

Music. 

Prayer. 

The belief that my life is not about me.

backstage, between shows

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Ehh, not head over heels about anyone. But if I must... Timothee Chalamet is someone I could look at for a long time. :P Also Tom Holland. He's cute.

Which political issue stirred you the most?

The laws barring, shunning and discriminating against those who choose not to get injected, and legalizing euthanasia. There have been so many laws and bills passed that made me want to become a politician and fight tooth and nail.

waiting for rehearsals to start
(told you I liked that hoodie)

Who did you miss?

My friend who I lost. So much. Also my cousins who moved to Sydney last year after they were married, and have not been allowed to return. *hugs*

Who was the best person you met?

Goodness! Lots of theatre people, and work colleagues, and random people I met at dance or hydro classes etc. I genuinely think you can learn something from everyone though, and I value each person who crosses paths with me. 

rehearsing the school scene!

What was a valuable life lesson you learnt in 2021?

Yikes. How long do you want to sit here for? Well, to keep it short, let's say I learnt that every day, you make a lot of small decisions that build up over time; so be careful of what you let into your heart, even if it slowly creeps in. And if you want God to be first in your life, then LIVE like He is first in your life. I learnt you can never please everyone, so don't even try, and don't apologize for something that was never your fault or responsibility to begin with. And I also learnt (and am still learning), that mental health is just as important as your physical health. (All of you needs care and support. <3)

Quote a song lyrics that sums up your year?

"God knows what He's doing

Even when you've lost all focus

He's not done proving that you were made with purpose

He's got something up His sleeve

Beyond your wildest dreams

God knows what He's doing

In you."

(From "God Knows" by Cody Johns. Probably my most played song of the year.)

another new thing - I got highlights in my hair!

What were 5 personally significant events of 2021?

1. Losing my friend to depression. That rocked my world and made me re-think so much about my life.
2. Auditioning + getting the role of Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables! No one will ever know just how much that meant to me. It was a dream come true, the most precious prayer made reality, and everything I'd ever hoped for. It was confidence itself.
3. Performing each and every show - each one was a treasure. The rush of applause, the after-party cast hugs behind the curtain, the accolades from family, friends and strangers alike. The little girls that gazed at me in AWE and the few whose mothers asked for a photo with me and them, and who clung to my skirt, holding their breath and sucking their hands. Tammy (my director), whispering in an embrace, "You will always be my Anne." 
4. Getting a "promotion" at work (my receptionist job). My boss sitting me down, saying he felt as though they were 'holding me back' and giving me some tasks with marketing and editing. Choosing to go part-time with this new role and responsibility, and quitting my first job at the café. 
5. Our first family gig! We got to do a two hour set at the Mama Creek Drought Relief concert as the sole entertainment, to a paying audience! It was quite a small audience, but some of our friends and family came out, some driving a long way, and it was so special. <3

our gig night! Ft. our fantastic friend on the double bass

What are 5 things you want to do in 2022?

If C*vid wasn't a thing, this list could be so different...

1. Be part of a musical
2. Write my own musical - or at least make progress on it
3. Learn jazz dance, modern jive and continue with my tap. Also, gain more control with my belting technique
4. Work up to doing the splits (scissors, specifically)
5. Buy a DSLR camera and learn how to use it well

(And if our freedoms were restored, there would certainly be some travel popped on that list as well. But if I can truly wake up each day and tell you why I am on this planet, then that's enough for me.)

my other older sis, looking particularly cool

Who are some people that you'd like to know better in 2022?

Obviously, this is quite a personal question. I'd like to know the man that will someday be my husband, if he is out there. (And no, I do not know who.) I would like to better know certain people that I met through theatre, and some of my work colleagues.

And I want to fall in love with my heavenly Father even more, more than I ever have before.

We have reached the end, my friends. :) Did any of this surprise you? I'd love to see your answers. If anything, tell me, what is one thing you're taking away from 2021, and moving forward with into 2022?

My love to you all, and may we continue forth in hope and courage, trusting He Who holds the future.