The Holt Herald: December 2013

For about a month, I have had the company of a pharmacy school student who was here on a rotation. She was so sweet and it was so nice to have someone to come home to and to cook for once in a while! Her rotation ended yesterday, so she's gone now and I'm "home alone." Growing up in a family of six, I have always cherished the time that I could be home alone, but now that I have seven more months of it…it doesn't seem so exciting! I am looking forward to going back home for Christmas (and our trip to Florida!) and then all the visitors in from Janurary 10th-Fenruary 2nd for Les Miserables. I have a feeling that March will come around before I know it and I will be skiing with my mom and youngest brother. And once April hits, it will be the home stretch before my handsome husband comes home.

Yesterday, there was a school shooting in Centennial. I pass by this town every time I drive to Denver. Please say a prayer for all those affected by it.

Adrea and I before she left yesterday.

I have some exciting news! I had an audition today for a lead in a feature film. The director reiterated over and over again that he was very impressed and I walked away feeling like I actually nailed the audition! Usually, I walk away from auditions critiquing myself, so I'm not sure what exactly it means that I feel so confident about this one. It might be because they were so eager to compliment me--who knows, they could have done so for everyone. I guess we will see! Callbacks are in February, but hopefully they will notify me before then.

Tomorrow night, I am going to the battalion Christmas party. I still haven't met any wives from Jack's new company, so I am hoping to tomorrow. I convinced my friend whose husband is in Jack's battalion but in a different company to come with me. We shall see how it goes!

And now for the most exciting news of all…

I am *THIS* close to finishing thank you notes. I have done all I can right now as I'm waiting for people to update me with addresses. All I need to do is scribble the addresses on about 10 envelopes and I'm done. I'm so close that this calls for a glass of wine.

I haven't disappeared. And although Jack's in a nameless location doing a nameless task, neither has he. It has just been busy as ever!

First off, I can hardly even talk to my husband. We are able to text a little bit each day, but the last time we talked I couldn't hear a word he said and it lasted about 60 seconds. Before that, I can't even remember the last time we were able to talk! Probably Thanksgiving? Before we were married, I might have been really upset about the lack of communication. But somehow (must be all of these marriage graces), I feel quite stable. I might be a little sad here and there, but not enough to have a full blown pity party. We're just counting our blessings. And the #1 blessing is that he is safe and sound.

Overall, Jack is doing really well. He is much happier where he is and with what he is doing. Another blessing. If he were unhappy, I would probably be unhappy too, and vice versa. Jack actually went to a deployment fair before he left and brought home the books, "A Praying Husband" and "A Praying Wife." I have been using mine as a devotional and it has been so helpful and enlightening. The author takes the reader through 30 different aspects of a man's life and offers insight about what and how to pray for him. I have found it so helpful not only for learning to pray for my husband but also for understanding him. I will probably reread it regularly.

"What have you been busy with?" some might ask. "After all, you don't have a job!" Ouch! ;) Actually, I have been keeping fairly busy with acting. For example, I go to rehearsal for Les Miserables on Mondays and Wednesdays. I leave at 4:30 and get home around 11. It's like a full work day, only in the evenings! Before Thanksgiving, I had a student film that took all day on Saturday and Sunday, and I had an audition Sunday night. Then I had rehearsal the next Monday and drove home for Thanksgiving on Tuesday. I drove back to Colorado on Sunday and then I had rehearsal again on Monday. On Tuesday, I had a different student film that lasted all day. On Wednesday, rehearsal again. Thursday, free day. I took this day to write thank you notes and I finally finished my application for my Colorado teaching license. I also practiced for Les Mis and some auditions I have coming up, and I memorized lines for the film I am working on. Then today (Friday), I had to go back to Denver for the film. Tonight I will go to a church event, and then tomorrow (Saturday) it is back to Denver to finish the student film. Phew! Sounds busy, right? Add to that cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the animals and it's a full schedule! I'm not complaining- to be clear, I LOVE what I am doing right now and I am just so blessed to be able to live out my dreams. I'm just letting all the naysayers know that I actually don't sit around all day watching reality TV. Actually, that's impossible; we don't even have cable!

I am excited about an audition I have next Saturday for an indie feature film. I think I might have a shot! It's a movie with themes of faith in it, and I really like the character they want me to audition for and the premise of the movie. It is a quirky comedy about four high school students, and the teenager that I am auditioning for is a clever, popular girl who ends up leaving her shallow friends for deeper, less popular friendships. The scene they sent me is well-written and genuine. I researched the media company, and they just produced a film about a teenager who fights to hold a prom for girls who are victims of sex trafficking. I would love to be a part of this film and the production, so please say some prayers for me if you have a chance to.

I don't have much else to update you with! I guess I forgot to mention that I was cast as Cosette in Les Miserables. I have always dreamed about being in musicals, but I had honestly pretty much given up on the idea. Throughout grade school, I was never picked for solos or any singing parts, and I always assumed I wasn't talented enough. However, my favorite musical of all time is Les Miserables, and when I saw the audition notice I decided to give it a try. I had taken a semester of voice lessons in college, and I have always loved singing and practicing in the safety of my room (with no one home!). Well, I couldn't really believe it when I was cast as Cosette. It's been a little overwhelming but I feel certain that I can do this. I'm motivated to be the best Cosette I can be. I have to admit that my competitive spirit wants to be the best Cosette that Denver has ever seen. But I shouldn't get ahead of myself here as this is my first real role in a musical. :)

Right now, I'm sitting in our living room on our comfy little couch and with our Christmas tree all sparkling. It is so peaceful and comforting here, especially with Molly sleeping in my lap. The only thing I'm missing is my husband! Jack and I can't wait to spend our first holidays together next year.

Picture time!

They're getting to like each other.

Little onesies I made for my cousin's baby shower- she's having twin girls.

Jessie visited me! We were hiking here, which explains our funny facial expressions.

FaceTiming over Thanksgiving. This is *right* before I got him to make a kissy face. He's too embarrassed to do it because he has so many roommates! hehehe.

Some doodling.

On the set of the first film I did. This is a flying camera, a "helicopter camera." It was pretty cool.

Home for Thanksgiving! My mom has this picture in the dining room. It reminds me that I still haven't ordered any pictures. It's on my to do list- right after I finish all the thank you notes!

Our pretty Thanksgiving set up.

She looked so cute I had to send a picture to Jack.

Molly and my brother.

Christmas decorations! I moved the side table in the middle and used ornaments as a centerpiece. The table might be a tad small for the space but love how much cozier it feels with it in the middle.