Alicen and Jason's little Peanut

My friend Alicen called me on Saturday morning with an animal story...one that she said I would appreciate...and I really did! Her Dad had a baby squirrel come up to him at their house on Friday night. He thought, well this isn't quite right...so they waited around to if the Mama came and got him. She never did, and they were afraid someone would hurt him...so Alicen and Jason saved the day! The kept him overnight in Sassy's (their cat...who isn't too crazy about this little guy) pet taxi. They have been feeding him ground up fresh pecans. Her sister, Carrie, works at a vets office...and someone their has a pet squirrel also. So, little Peanut went to live with that sweet lady...but not after Luke and I came for a visit and took some cute pictures. Peanut reminded me of Ginger, my guinea pig. I know that sounds crazy, but they are both in the rodent family....the noises he made sounded like the ones she made too! I've never been that up close to a baby squirrel before...it was a lot of fun! Thanks Alicen and Jason for letting us look at your new baby...he will have a great life thanks to you guys!

Spring Cleaning and the Roofers

Today, I sit at my computer with no puppies at home. Luke and I took all 5 of the dogs to the vet this morning to spend the night. It was a trip to take them! Luke had the 2 punks....BJ and Samson...which I think both sat in the front seat. I had Snoopy, Stormy, and Madison....the more relaxed ones. Stormy and Madison will be staying together in a run and everyone else is in separate runs. I told Dr. Mike to sedate any of them if need be! I think I need to make him cookies or something!!!

The roofers arrived this morning at 9am...and the noise has begun. I think I hear Kohls and Target calling my name...the beating and stuff is on my last nerve! George and Aly don't know what to do....bless their hearts. Now there are pictures coming off the walls....I'm leaving for Kohls!

I have also been in the mood to spring clean the house. We are working on our yard tomorrow...it looks nasty with the crab grass...but when neither neighbors treat their yards, we have trouble for sure! I got a cute pic of George and Alyeska yesterday. I was cleaning the carpets and had their condo on the love seat....enjoy the picture!

Crazy George and Sweet MadisonMurphy

I actually took some time yesterday to scrapbook. I can't remember the last time I actually scrapbooked! I did the laundry and everything first, then I sat at my desk and started working on a page. I was right in the middle of scrapping Paula Deen when I noticed that George had actually climbed up in my desk and was sitting there looking at me. When I started talking to him, MadisonMurphy got all jealous. She started growling at him wanting to play. Needless to say, they went running in the hallway. I couldn't help but take a few pics!

It is finished....

Well almost, tonight we are still working. Mom and I are going to try and load up all the props by scenes and get them put away. They are still working on taking down the stage and re-aiming lights. I'm kinda sad it's all over but it was so worth it. We found out today that 46 accepted Christ and 123 recommitted their lives over the past 3 nights. Isn't that wonderful?? It makes all the work well worth it!

The last night of the Kingdom was AWESOME! The sanctuary was PACKED! The performance went off without a hitch...the fog was even great! I got some wonderful pictures that you can check out in the picture folder on the Kingdom Website: http://thekingdom.gsfbc.org/The%20Kingdom%202008/Forms/AllItems.aspx that should take you to the picture folder!

Some memories to remember:
1. Mr. ATM Brent is known as Assistant Tomb Man...he was great. He actually had to listen to Dad and Mom at the same time in the same ear!
2. Walter talking about his eye glued open with blood last night...while going up the ramp he was licking his finger and rubbing his eyes to get it loose!
3. Russ and his change of feathers....from a quail feather to several peacock feathers.
4. Watching Herschel have so much fun with the cart.
5. Me dreading putting out candles at all the doors every night.
6. Casey Craft and the whip. Wet or not wet that is the question.
7. Where's Satan??? Is he lost???
8. Walter talking before ascending. We had a blast. Sherry Fikes was wonderful helping us get his "tourniquet" (however you spell that) on.
9. Dad telling everyone to be quiet on com.
10. Jim and Tom being a big help at the end. JC and the angels band!!!
11. Tom Forner and Reed working so hard on getting the TV's up and running. Thanks guys!
12. We actually had wireless Coms this year....that ROCKS!!! No more hanging on the cords!
13. Reuben the Jewish Pimp....who has a life change and becomes a disciple...Russ Rhodes. He is wonderful and a joy to be around!
14. Sharon and Ronnie Barker....or known as the Prophet Ronnie Barker. They took on the stage construction and did a marvelous job.
15. Being able to work with Mom and Dad and Luke....love you!

Check out the pics on the website...there's even a special one of Bruce and Russ!

A heart that's on fire...

Or is it my stomach??? Last night's Kingdom performance went MUCH better. We had no problems with cues....well we did have one problem...Satan didn't exit when he was supposed too. We kept saying "He's lost!".....one guy by Mom said....yeah. It was funny. Afterwards we went to eat at El Chico....at 10 at night....not a good thing when you have acid refrux. My stomach has killed me all day. My cousins Kyle and Alyceson would understand....even water makes me hurt! So before tonight's performance I'm on my way to Sonic to try a Strawberry Limeaid....those usually help. Although you would think the lime would kill me. My aciphex hasn't worked at all today!!!

While we were at El Chico, a couple sat down behind us. When we got up to leave, they asked us what the Kingdom was. We told them about the program and that we were all on the Technical Staff. As it turned out...the woman said, "Well my husband used to pastor at Geyer Springs about 100 years ago...." Mom said, "Well I've been there a long time...what's your name." He turned around and it was Cliff Springer. He actually married Mom and Dad 26 years ago! Isn't that weird and cool all at the same time???

I am kinda sad to see our last performance. But after that, we start the destruction....and that's a fun part too! I'll post pics later!

Friday night Kingdom Performance

Mom with Cindy Davis...she's a sweet sweet lady

My lighting Man

Jared, Sharon, and Ronnie Barker....they are fun!

The tech team debrief

Trevor and Lori

Mom with Mary Sue Brashear....she's a nice lady

Luke, Jim, and Mr. ATM (Assistant Tomb Man)

Reed, Jim, and Tom

Charelle, Chris, and Mom

Jason and Alicen Bennett

Bill Rogers getting a beard....they look SO good!

Sara Holloway...she did the choir headpieces...which were awesome!

Mom with the Prophet Ronnie Barker

Mom and Russ, the Fabric Merchant, gotta love that feather!

John James growing his wings....LOL!!!

Last nights performance was packed. It was so wonderful to see the sanctuary full on the first night. My brother, Chris, and his fiance Charelle even came. Margaret and her Mom were also there! I work the Baptistery doors....so I get a work-out for sure going up and down those stairs. Mom works the "blue" door which is on Pilates side, Michelle Cheatham works the "blue" door...the Jerusalem side, and Sharon Barker works the back aisle doors.

Our poor ATM (Assistant Tomb Man) had to listen to everyone last night in the coms. It was his first time to do that and I'm sure it was overwhelming. Especially during the ascension when I'm trying to get ahold of Dad and Mom at the same time...in the same ear!

Last night, Walter rolled the stone away (It's pretty sad Jesus has to roll his own stone away!) and knocked the stone over! He came out of the tomb with gum in his mouth....one of the poor angels threw away his ABC gum. He is a joy to work with!

After the performance, we had our usual debrief session. We discussed everything from pulleys to makeup. Then, Mom, Dad, Chris, Charelle, Me, Luke and Reed headed for IHOP. Reed got the nastiest looking chicken flourentine crepes....he ate them all though! We headed home around 12:30....so it was a long night! It's neat to talk to someone who has never seen a performance before. Chris and Charelle even missed the water into wine.....so it's not just Me and Mom that miss that!!! Oh well.

I lost my lens cap for my camera last night too, so if anyone sees a Nikon lense cap, it's probably mine! Tonight should be another wonderful performance. I'm going up to the church around 3pm to get all the props back in order and the candles at all the doors. See ya'll tonight, enjoy the pics!

TK 08 Dress Rehearsal

The Cast at Dress Rehearsal

Reed, Royce, Nick, Luke...Royce and Nick helped take pictures of our dress rehearsal, I can't wait to see them.

Michelle and Mom...Michelle is running the Green Door this year

Jim Erwin....AKA Tomb Man

The Techinal Staff.....it's an inside joke...I didn't mispell it!

Ellen and Jordan...I taught Jordan at the daycare, he got to see Mr. Walter...that was a BIG deal

Tina and her baby

Walter gets lost coming out of the tomb b/c it's so dark in there...so we fixed it for him!

Russ Rhodes...the fabric Merchant....gotta love it!

Sherry Fikes and Brad....Sherry sewed this amazing costume!!! Brad plays the part of Satan

John James and his wings!

Dad still wants to play Jesus...he's ascending!

Walter...he plays Jesus....and Mom

Main cast getting makeup....Melissa Cole does a wonderful job!

Mrs. Jeanie doing headwraps for the main cast...they look awesome!

The Dress Rehearsal went great. As usual, I had Mom and Dad in the same ear on my headset....it's always nuts at first. Mom talking....and talking....and Dad talking...and talking...then they talk together and together and AHHH!!! LOL! John James this year or otherwise known as Gabriel has wings....BIG wings. It's a trip literally to get him out of the baptistery doors each night. His wife Nina was there to help me last night, and that was a real blessing. They are both so much fun to work with.

We had a few problems....but nothing we can't work out tonight. I kinda consider Friday night performance to be the final dress rehearsal. At our debrief after the performance, we were able to work out all the problems we experienced...or at least we hope! The poor lighting guys...Dad and Luke...had the computer crash on them and lost all their cues. They are up at church right now working on it as I type this!!

Dennis and Michelle brought their new lamb and his mom, Tina. Tina was the lamb we used 2 years ago...and this year we are using them both...which is too sweet. It really adds a lot to the performance I think.

The Waffle House:

After our meeting, we rushed out of the church because the alarm goes of at 11pm....and headed to our usual spot...Waffle House. We also ran into the James' and the Neilsons too! The storms were really getting heavy outside and we watched it hail! Luke and I didn't go to bed til 1am this morning. I can't wait for tonight!