FOR MY FAVORITE "PERFORMERS"

BREAK A LEG

in all your performances!

I may have given up teaching theatre, but I did NOT give up loving theatre!

I LOVE YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Sharon

Sometimes it takes a bit of a "crisis" to help me remember what's REALLY important!

I am so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends - Sharon's recent "episode" reminded me how much our 6 decades together have really meant to me.

Sharon / Shirley, Allison / Megan, Austin / Hayden, Eli / Katie --- WE all know about that special "thing" that twins share. It's a world I wish everyone could know.

1-2-3, Sharon!

SPECIAL WEEK

A rainy day starts a busy, busy week. The rain reminds me "April showers"

bring "May flowers" and God's promise.

This week reminds us to celebrate Earth Day on Wednesday and Arbor Day on Friday.

Friday also marks new beginnings as Bryan has his first "opening night" in community theatre.

His friend helped write the script and Bryan has made me really proud stepping outside of his "comfort zone" with the production.

Sharon and I also mark a milestone on Friday.

This "decade" marker comes with joy about family and friends and new babies.

Edith Easter

THE STORY OF EDITH BURNS...


Happy Easter!

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas. She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart because of Edith Burns.When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying, "My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you believe about Easter?" Beverly said, "Well, it's all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing up." Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Dr. Phillips said, " Beverly, don't call Edith into the office quite yet. I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room. After being called back in the doctor's office, Edith sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible? Are you praying?" Dr. Phillips said gently, "Edith, I'm the doctor and you're the patient." With a heavy heart he said, "Your lab report came back and it says you have cancer, and Edith, you're not going to live very long." Edith said, "Why, Will Phillips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I'm going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!" Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns is!" Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips. Christmas came and the office was closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up. Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, "Will, I'm very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me in my room who need to know about Easter." Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse. Phyllis made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a "religious nut." She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married three times; she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book. One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick. Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, "Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you." Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me, it won't work.. I'm not interested." Edith said, "Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the family." Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die because that will never happen,"and curtly walked out of the room. Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into the room and Edith would say, "God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I'm praying for you." One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith's room like a magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said, "I'm so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day." Phyllis Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, 'Doyou believe in Easter?' but you have never asked me." Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until you asked, and now you have asked." Edith Burns took her Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Edith said, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?" Phyllis Cross said, "Oh, I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life." Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels. Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Edith said, "Do you know what day it is?" Phyllis Cross said, "Why, Edith, it's Good Friday." Edith said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter. Happy Easter, Phyllis!" Two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got someEaster lilies because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give her some Easter lilies and wish her a Happy Easter. When she walked into Edith's room, Edith was in bed. That big black Bible was on her lap. Her hands were in that Bible. There was a sweet smile on her face. When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Edith's hand, she realized Edith was dead. Her left hand was on John 14: "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down her cheeks, said, "Happy Easter, Edith - Happy Easter!" Phyllis Cross left Edith's body, walked out of the room, and over to a table where two student nurses were sitting. She said, "My name is Phyllis Cross. Doyou believe in Easter?" God works in wonderful ways, and to believe in his power is to truly be free.


"Father, bless this person in whatever it is that You know he or she may be needing this day."

FOUND MY BRICK

• 

  When planning for the new Hobart High School building began three years ago, I was SOOOOO excited! (I have never even moved into a new house!) I was particularly happy that the decision was made to build a THEATRE rather than another auditorium - the smaller venue would be much better suited to perform plays and musicals with the smaller, more intimate seating. Since the old building was being remodeled for the middle school, the larger facility would still be available for larger groups.
  
  Another offer extended to the community was the chance to purchase bricks for sale to be placed in various areas on campus. I jumped right on that bandwagon and ordered one. This week, I found mine - located by the Performing Arts Center.
  
  Several people asked how to get their own brick at the new Hobart High School. The bricks are just one of the items available as part of the campus beautification program. Here's the link to the form.
  
  http://www.hobart.k12.in.us/newHHS/PDF/Brick%20donation%20flyer%20revised.pdf

Have fun ordering your own!

ONCE A BRICKIE, ALWAYS A BRICKIE!

The New THEATRE!

Hobart High School opens its first performance in its new THEATRE (not Auditorium!) I remember opening the auditorium in 1976 at the old building. It was a scary prospect as I didn't feel very comfortable with the new lighting system or audio system. The THEATRE offers state-of-the-art technical equipment. (See Post-Tribune artile below.) I am very excited for the directors, cast, crew, pit, and audience as they embark on this new voyage! BREAK A LEG!





March 12, 2009 BY BOB KOSTANCZUK Post-Tribune staff writerHOBART -- The new $62.5 million Hobart High School comes with an impressive 650-seat theater.The Hobart High Theatre Department will break it in with "Anything Goes" — the inaugural theatrical production. The engagement starts Friday.Overhead sound boards are seen in the new Hobart High School theater during a dress rehearsal for "Anything Goes" recently in Hobart. (Scott M. Bort/Post-Tribune) If you goWhat: "Anything Goes"Where: Hobart High School Theatre, 2211 E. 10th St., Hobart.When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21; matinee performance at 3 p.m. Sunday.Tickets: $6 for students, $7 for senior citizens and $8 for adults; reserved seats available by calling 942-8521, Ext. 8193. Cathy Nelson, the school's theater director, said she and the production team chose to go with the time-tested musical by Cole Porter, a Hoosier who grew up in Peru."We wanted something pretty significant, with a little bit of name recognition," said Nelson, an English teacher who's directing Porter's 1934 show.The state-of-the-art school has a theater with pine wood accents and a brick proscenium."It's beautiful," Nelson said. "We have a great sound system — the best sound system they could have gotten us."She said that in the past, the audio aspect "was always one of our challenges."The cost of the theater is approximately $3.5 million, according to the superintendent's office.In addition to a makeup room and dressing areas, Nelson pointed to other features: "We have a scene shop. We have a full fly system."Graced with such technical elements for staging, the new theater is a fitting anchor for the high school's Performing Arts Center.Also in the mix is the Black Box Theatre, an adjacent room that has curtains and is used for small performances and also as a classroom.One of the theater's most interesting features is an orchestra pit that lies mostly beneath the stage, allowing seats to be closer to the stage.Performing in the first onstage play will be 18-year-old Nathan Allen, who will portray Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, a nobleman, in "Anything Goes."Allen has his own solo."It's probably one of the funniest plays that I've done, just because of the subtle humor in it," the Hobart High senior said. "I've been in numerous musicals, but I definitely like this one the most."Allen will get the vocal spotlight for his rendition of "The Gypsy in Me."Between 60 and 70 students are involved in the production. Approximately 40 of them are in the cast, according to Nelson.A modest-sized orchestra will play."Anything Goes" includes classic Broadway tunes such as "Friendship," "It's De-Lovely" and the title song.





From the Northwest Indiana Times:ANYTHING GOES HobartThe great Cole Porter musical will be performed at the Performing Arts Center at, Hobart High School, 2211 10th St., at 7:30 p.m. March 13, 14, 20, 21 with a matinee at 3 p.m. on the 15. Nearly 70 students and a team of 10 adults-mostly volunteers, are involved in this inaugural production. Tickets are on sale at the Performing Arts Box Office. Reserved seats are available by phone. Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $6 for students. In cooperation with the Hobart Educational Foundation, the theatre department will offer complimentary tickets to seniors at the 3 p.m. March 15 matinee. Seniors will be treated to tours of the new building and complimentary reception beginning at 2 p.m. They will also receive preferred seating at the show. To participate in this event you must call ahead to reserve your spot.FYI: (219) 942-8521, ext. 8193

February 25 - a Day of LOVE

Most of us think of Valentine's Day as a day of LOVE. For me, February 25 has taken that moniker. Last year, February was filled with hospital ICU visits by loved ones - in Hobart early in the month, Greenwood and Chicago later in the month. All of these visits remain heavy in my heart today, and yet, remind me that "when God closes a door, He opens a window."
Early in February, Bryan and I spent several frightening days waiting for Sharon to recover from E.R. trip that included some nightmare moments. After Sharon's recovery, Jackie spent most of the second half of February living the same nightmare in Indianapolis with Mom. At the same time, Cyndi was waiting for the delivery of her first grandchild (a delivery at Northwestern Hospital that was meticulously choreographed with an immediate trip to Children's Memorial Hospital.)
On February 25, God opened a window as He closed a door. In the afternoon, Bailey entered into this world and made her first trip to CMH. In the early evening, Mom left this world. (I find comfort in thinking that she asked God to let her go and spend the extra time with Bailey.) After SEVERAL months in CMH's neo-natal ICU, heart surgery, oxygen therapy, and LOTS of prayers, Bailey continues to grow, thrive, and celebrate her FIRST BIRTHDAY today!