recovering

   I crawled back in bed this morning and slept so deeply, I felt drugged when I awoke and fell asleep again with my head leaning on the edge of the schoolroom chair. It happens frequently these days and I dread the way it leaves me feeling.  I miss my quiet mornings.  I have been like this a couple weeks, especially after the final push to finish the drama. Staring listlessly at piles of work waiting. Not even sewing and barely making supper.  Yep, Fatigue. Fatigue--my wicked old nemesis--has arrived.
     I no longer bow and quake at his control. Yet, it's as if I'm playing a dangerous game pretending that he doesn't exist, that I don't know that he is hovering on the edge of my life waiting for me to do something crazy--like direct a play with 21 teens. How far can I stretch? A few steps out of my ordinary routine, and there he comes, demanding me to pay up and charging interest!  Oh, I like to pretend that I can outwit him. But afterward I'm always shocked at his price.
     This bout seemed worse. Almost like the kind of fatigue with a diagnosis attached; two sets of words that I like to forget.  Hero muttered things like worried and blood work. I assured him I just needed to finish the drama and I would get better. But those last few weeks I thought, I really thought, I wasn't going to make it. Then a sweet friend, after listening to my complaints on the phone, asked permission to call some home school moms and ask them to pray for me. That very afternoon I felt as if a heaviness lifted. The oppressive weight of Fatigue's attack became tolerable weariness. What an incredible blessing!  When the curtains closed and the stage was empty, I sat down and bawled. Tired yes, very very tired. But it was worth it.
     So, for now I let myself sleep, and read books, and poke about redding up. Planting pansies is nice and sitting on the swing and patting the dog. Time is my friend and won't let Fatigue visit much longer.  And in the meantime, the sun is shining and new ideas are stirring. Careful girl! Don't start the game all over again!
     til later,  Zinnia Girl!

Once upon The Princess and The Pauper...

          Obviously, that critter from dress rehearsal has a cousin. He danced a jig all over stage the night of our performance. The director (um, that would be me,) stood behind those makeshift wings and trembled in her shoes. But, like the fabulous kids I knew they would be, they covered for him.  They dodged him and spanked him and stepped over him and, apart from the giggling fit in the middle of one scene, very few people knew he was there!
         The audience loved it!  The laughter and enthusiasm from a full house was totally rewarding.
         

What you see is what you get! Folks, this is left wing.
Props, actors and changing room included.

Our amazing cast. I am so proud of these teens! 
They were a delight to work with.
Can you pick out the perfect pair for switching places? (Sisters, far left.)

I love this picture of my White House staff!
That's Blaze, looking amazing in teal suit and up-do. She was
the "nervous wreck" Press Secretary.
All pictures by Sarah Yoder






Blessed but exhausted,  Zinnia Girl!

PS  ....when all else fails, pull the curtain!

Dress Rehearsal!

     Dress Rehearsal is actually an animal. A little animal all of it's own classification.  Have you ever run into it?  Much too hairy for my liking.  Sometimes it is terribly silent and the next minute it rushes ahead of everyone else's lines. It makes the director loose her place, sits on the props the stagehands are looking for and it wears 4 pairs of high heels on a wooden floor. It causes total chaos in the crowded wings, spills makeup, forgets to change costumes, and is know to break crystal vases (I never did like that one!)

And, ya know what?! The actors are a little dubious, but fact is, we tamed that little bugger!

NEXT UP! Production night!

Lovya!   Zinnia Girl