Aida 2014

      Last night, BJU had its last performance of Aida. It. was. incredible. I am beyond blessed that I was able to be in such a production. The blood, sweat, and tears that was poured into this opera was truly worth it! I've made many new friends, and my memories of all the rehearsals will be in my memory forever! And to top it off, a ton of my family and friends came out to support me and watch me in my Priestess role! That meant the world to me! Here are a "few" pictures that will give you a glimpse of all the fun I had. :)

                                           (Above) Picture of the stage from a catwalk

                                           First cast meeting!

                                            Us priestess had no idea what was going on underneath!

                                               Amy and I with our priestess lamps!

                                            Andy (Radames) top left, Joel and I top right, Wes, Joel and I bottom left,                                                    and Judson, Joel and I bottom right!

                                               First costume night! Rebekah and I!

                                                             Ben, Rebekah and I!

                                         Yeah, I sat in between these two a lot! Joel and Wes.

                                                                 My dear friend Olivia!

                                                             My friend Bethany! She played in the orchestra!

                                                     One of my favorite altos, Sarah!

                                                 OH MY GOSH IT IS THE GUEST ARTIST!

                Ok, Wes and I were trying to get a good picture, but Joel kept creeping!

                                                   Last night of Aida!!!! :(

                                      This is our, "Aida is finally over I have a life now!" face!

                                                                       It's the Peppa!!!! <3

                                                             I love those two so much <3

                               We will be unstoppable next year! Hannah, me, Lauren, Lydia

                                                              Cousins, Ben and Hannah

                                                   My friends came to see me! Rebecca and I!

                                                                 Sarah Jane and I!

                                                               Molly and I!

                                                                    The bestie and I! Megan!

                                                                  Marc and I!

                                                                       Amy and I!

God IS Faithful

     This post is mostly dealing with a lot that has happened to me over the past few weeks. Mostly it centers around the opera Aida. It is going to be a fantastic opera. However, with that, comes sacrifices.

     Being in this opera has taught me so much. No one can do everything, and I have found that out fast. I have made tons of new friends, worked with different people, gotten so many bruises from the Rodeheaver seats, and stayed up till the wee hours of the morning. However, this week I hit rock bottom. There was nothing left. I was done. But God IS faithful. Last night I was thinking back over my stressful, long exhausting week and I realized how much God had carried me through.

• During opera picture night I got to talk with a friend about many things. He probably has no idea how spiritually refreshing that long conversation was. He shared songs with me, and he has no idea how much they have encouraged me these past few days.
• Isaiah 40:28-31 has been layed on my heart so many times this week. God has placed people in my life who have mentioned that verse, sent me that verse in my PO box, and put it on Facebook. 
• Again, back to opera. During rehearsals, God has given me so many friends who have meaningful, spirit filled conversations with me.
• Friends have blessed me without realizing how much it actually means to me.

     Dr. Ormeston here at BJU is part of the Bible faculty, and he spoke in chapel today. I had no idea how much I would need that message till later that day. Here are some of my notes that I took.

Making Your Life Count: Matthew 14:13-21

• Jesus understands your limitations...so must you, 
• Jesus desires to work in and through you...don't waste your life. Lose it!
• YOU ARE NOT ALONE
• Embrace your limitations
• Surrender what you have
• Experience satisfaction

     When I hit rock bottom today, there was only one thing left to do. Surrender it to Jesus. I can't do it on my own. There is just no absolute way. But the LORD IS FAITHFUL. Whatever happens, it WILL be in the Lord's will. I just need to faithful and trust Him completely. God has proven SO MUCH that He IS faithful!!! Are you willing to believe that?

Have you not known?

Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, The Lord,

The Creator of the ends of the earth,

Neither faints nor is weary.

His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might

He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on The Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings

Like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

~Isaiah 40:28-31