🎄🎅ITS CHRISTMAS TIME!

Merry Christmas, Hannaka, Quanza, etc...

Im so happy for Christmas time. We don't have a tradition list that MUST be completed because... WHY?? We don't want to have my season scheduled, I just want to enjoy it. We don't do presents anymore. We go to church, but we do that every week. We watch christmas Movies but we do that all year. I spent a month in the hospital and had 6 surgeries and my Mom says all I wanted to watch was "Elf"... everyday.

But I do have reasons I like it.
1. Extra fun church services
2. NO SCHOOL
3. family time
and..
4. Sadly... Santa Clause.

Yes, Im 24 and I like Santa. I love the characters, like at Disneyland. I know they are just an actor in a costume, but as soon as I see them it feels magical. I want to get in line and tell Santa my wish list. When I was little, I thought my grandpa was santa. He had a white beard and mustache and white hair. I think I was convinced he was Grandpa 364 days of the year and Santa on Christmas. He never wore red but still lol.

I know this blog is short but it happens. For all of you who celebrate Christmas or any of the holidays, what are your favorite traditions? Do you have any traditions? Leave a comment below, what you love about Christmas. Have a great day. Love you all, God Bless.

Theater saved my life 😞🎭😊

I have been around theater and music my whole life. I thought it was fun to watch my friends and family on stage and just a fun hobby I might look into later in life. I didnt know how much it would really impact me.
I went through a lot of medical issues, it became the norm, but then came the bullying. It all started in preschool, and it never stopped. I tried to be a positive person, thinking maybe its just that im in pain a lot, maybe I show my pain too much. I tried to make friends and show my disability isnt who I am. At 7yrs. old, on my way home from school, I started thinking about how worthless I felt. I looked at the river we lived by, and wondered if it would matter if I wheeled myself off the dock and just let myself drown. I was done with all the hurtful comments, fluids and meds being flushed in my veins, all the surgeries I went through and would go through. I thought, if im in heaven, I wont feel pain anymore. I became suicidal, but was too afraid to even go through with it. I couldnt tell my family, friends, church. I didnt know what to do. My family is amazing and they have never let me down, they have supported me through everything, there wasnt a good reason I couldnt tell them, I just couldnt though.

My grandpa was in quite a few operas at the time. I remember sitting in the audience during rehearsals and live shows, weirdly enough I looked for mistakes, it seemed natural. I found that my pain went away when I was in the theater. After my grandpa stopped theater to travel and take care of my grandma, I didnt spend much time there. I focused more on my music career and getting through life. We would go to the local theater every once in a while to see family friends, it was comforting.

I tried taking a theater class in middle school but wasnt cast in any shows. I would help with props and the sets. I fell more in love with it all, I also found it easy to memorize whole scripts, even if I wasnt supposed to. In school, I was still being bullied. I still felt helpless, no matter what I said or did, I was a target. I still had the plan to drown myself but I just couldnt. God had plans for me, even when I didnt see any future.

I didnt get to do any theater in highschool. I couldnt get onstage and I also needed to focus on getting my diploma and choosing what career I really wanted. In one of my classes, we took a career test, the first job it recommended was acting. After I graduated highschool I decided to try auditioning again. I went through several auditions, never getting cast. In 2011, I auditioned for "Pirates of the Chemotherapy" at ACT. I wasnt cast in the show, but later that night was offered a job backstage. I was so excited, but when i was offered the offstage voice in the show, I just cried. I was so happy, someone finally didnt judge me for my disability, I felt like everyone else for once. I will never ever forget the feeling I had of being part of a cast.

I have been volunteering at the same theater for the last 5 years and I have never regretted one second. My theater family looks at me like I'm just family. I feel like I can be myself, we all can. I have opened up a lot, I finally was able to tell my family about my suicidal thoughts and they helped me get the help I needed. After my last stay in portland, thinking it was all over, it was nice to know I could tell them everything. I got counciling and I didnt stop doing theater. The more work I did, i had less pain and depression. I feel like I owe everything to the theater and the family I have there. I will do anything I can for them. I thank God every day for theater and my love of acting. Without theater I dont think I would feel like I have a future.

I hope this all makes since, thanks for reading! Let me know if there is anything about me you want to know, I am an open book. Please comment anything or ask me any questions.
God Bless, love you all so much!!

A Place I know all to well

Have you ever spent a night in a hospital? I have stayed in quite a few. I should have enough points to have a weekend stay for no charge. I mostly stay in the Doernbecker Children’s Hospital in Portland. Now, I know its called children’s hospital, but if someone has Spina Bifida at any age, we get to stay in their geriatric suite. Each room has a view of Portland. Visitors can enjoy the view in the hallways. From my vantage point in bed,
I just admire what they have done with the ceilings..

         The nurses are very friendly and try to make your stay as comfortable as possible; they bring your hot meals to your rooms. The menu is long, I highly recommend the jello. The nurses would try to make the most of an embarrassing situation. There were some sanitation hazards that each nurse lovingly blamed on each other. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hang out with someone that has movie star good looks? Well I got to, and he helped me use the restroom. Yes, some of the nurses were cute, but unfortunately they were all married.

         There was an activity room with movies and game consoles to check out. After 5 brain surgeries, only one movie was needed, Elf. I played Minecraft for the first time and my neurosurgeon came in and hung out with me; he laughed when I laughed, so I guess it was with me. Since they gave us the geriatric suite, my parents were allowed to stay in the room. Sometimes they would walk down the hill and have dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory. They would bring me back a doggy bag. I didn’t feel like a doggy, but I used the bag.

         Now if it seems like that isn’t enough details to describe the actual hospital, well its because I don’t really see much. I get rolled in and out of my room for surgery or tests on my professional grade air mattress; which was only inflated when I was plugged into a room wall socket. In the rooms, or at least mine, there were some green stars and a half moon painted above me. They look and sound simple, but at night they glowed in the dark. I was there so long that the cards and pictures from family and friends became Get-Well wallpaper.

         The thing I really enjoyed was being a medical student subject. Why not make getting an IV, a learning experience. On certain days I was able to get visits from therapy animals. I didn’t need the therapy, I just wanted to see the animals. There was a cat named Huck Finn that came once or twice a week. He was a really fluffy brown and black cat that was driven around on a rolling cart because he didn’t want to walk. He was very calm and when I pet him he would fall asleep. His owner said I was the first person to put him to sleep in 3 years. I took that as a compliment.

         All jokes aside, it’s hard to get surgeries and feel sick most days, but Doernbecker does a great job trying to make it easy. I now don’t have much of a personal bubble; you really can’t when you’re in a hospital. It’s a nice place to stay, but not so nice I want to go back.

GOD BLESS AMERICA !!! 

I have seen and heard so many things about the elections, and I don't know exactly how to feel about any of it. I hope no one is offended by this but here is my opinion. I remember when Obama ran the first time. SO MANY people said things and doubted him or his ability to be president, because of his race among other things. He was discriminated against. In my opinion, things started out... crazy, but things got better. Then he was elected again, things got even better, people got more jobs, insurance became more available and he ended the war and brought our troops home to their families. Marriage equality happened, in my opinion it needed to happen. Not every decision that was made maybe ended the way it could of, but that is bound to happen. There is always a plus and minus in everything.There are always issues with money, and other things. That's not the presidents fault or anyones fault, IT HAPPENS! I have my own opinion of who I'm voting for, unless one of my readers wants to start a discussion, which I'm open to, I don't feel its the right place. What I want to say after all of this is LET GOD TAKE CARE OF IT!! 

Now I know everyone has a different idea of a higher power, and who they believe and follow. I personally was raised in a christian home. God created the heavens and the earth, he created you and me, and he knows the future and has a plan in place for every ones lives.

ANYWAYS!!

We may be voting by looking at a ballot then checking some boxes, but God has the ultimate say and has a plan for his people. I grew up as I'm sure many kids did, saying the pledge of allegiance every morning in elementary school and I went to a public school, I never went to a private or christian school. They felt it was important to say the whole pledge.

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

In 1954, Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add "Under God" in.

In Martin Luther Kings "I Have a Dream" speech, he says:

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

AND

"...And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Our historical leaders all seem to agree in one way or another that God is an important part of the Idea of freedom and our countries existence. Instead of arguing, insulting, judging each other and our Candidates, because its not our place. I feel we should encourage them and show support to the candidates and each other. We should really listen to them just consider each decision with an open mind. God knows who will win these elections and why, who are we to question his plan? 

Stop protesting and leaving hate comments online, and start supporting each other as a whole, because whatever is coming wont be easy whoever wins. We will all need to stick together and get through the hard times as one Nation.

I hope this all makes sense, I felt that I needed to post this. It made sense in my head. Its been on my mind for quite some time and took a few days to write this. This was not a school assignment, I just wanted to put it out there. I truly believe if we leave America's future in Gods hands, we can truly have freedom. God put Trump and Clinton in this election for some reason, I have no idea why, but he did. Lets trust in him and thank him for every good thing that has happened in America.

The elections are coming quick, its not to late.
Whoever or whatever you believe in, don't leave them out of the process.

Please feel free to comment on anything, Im open to opinions always. I would love to hear your thoughts.
I love you guys! God Bless!!

How did I get so lucky??

    I was blessed to have worked/volunteerd in two shows this season at the Albany Civic Theater. I have met and gained more theater family and learned even more than before. Now that Shrek the Musical and Senior of the Sahara are done, I get to see what's next in theater. I already know of some shows I get to work in next season.
    I have also gotten to join some committees, one of them I am so excited to be on again this year. The Big night committee. Big night is possibly our most exciting events of the entire year. Its our theaters version of the Tony's. Lots of volunteers get awards and recognition for their commitment. Our past season shows directors present some awards. Some of the shows also get to perform songs from past or future shows. Last years theme was our version on Guy Noir. We had a murder mystery game and everyone dressed for the occasion. Im not sure this years theme but its always so fun.
    
    Outside of theater its been crazy. My Mom has been playing in quite a few concerts. My favorite concert, so far, was the Newport Symphony's "A Broadway Romance". It featured Broadways own Elena Shaddow and John Cudia. This was a real treat, living in Oregon. I have only seen "Wicked" and "Promises, Promises" in New York. We also saw "Porgy and Bess" on tour, a very good friend of ours was in the cast, which made it was even more special that it was my first time seeing a broadway tour.
    Ok so, Phantom of the Opera has to be one of my all time favorite soundtracks, Its up there with Bonnie and Clyde and Newsies. BUT I have never seen it live, I have only seen the 25th anniversary when it was on Netflix. I had also never met one of broadways own phantoms... until I got to meet John Cudia. I know he has done other shows like "Les Miserables" and West Side Story, which are amazing, but Phantom is my personal favorite of all of his work. I love John's voice and I am a big fan. Sitting in the front row and hearing "Music of the Night" live was... unreal...magical. I never really knew what it would be like until I experienced it. I guess thats what I love most about "Live" performances. You never know whats going to happen until you sit in the audience. Elena Shaddow, who has been in Les Miserables, Fiddler and much more, was equally amazing. Her smile is infectious, and her voice is so gorgeous. She is also such a sweet person. Neither of them were too busy to talk to anyone, even unimportant little me.


Now, as Im writing this, my mom is playing with an orchestra in Lincoln City. Today is the third and final concert of their festival. All three concerts are have been different. Today is the fourth of July. HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!! They are also filming interviews for a video. I got to help by holding the boom mic. I didn't know they were so heavy, but wow what an experience. I have always loved watching how videos and movies are filmed, but they make it look easier than it actually is.

The past few months have been amazing and I hope to keep these memories forever. I hope to keep my new friendships for life, and I plan too. I hope you all have had a great day and I really am going to try to post more, but life happens. 

Feel free to like and comment about your amazing experiences and favorite memories. I want to get to know my readers and new friends. Thanks for taking time out to read this and please feel free to ask me questions or tell me how I can improve.

God Bless!!

I havent been on blogger for a while, its been a busy and kind of rough few months. After Christmas we went to LA to visit family. My mom unfortunatly had a mouth surgery before we left which wasnt the best timing. We had a great visit though. We always have a good time, but it just happen to also be when it rained HARD in LA. It rained all three days in Disneyland, but we got a free upgrade, because of no roll in shower in one hotel. We stayed in the Grand Californian, which is an amazing hotel.
My favorite part of my Disneyland experience was meeting... The DAILY BUMPS!! They are a daily vlogging family, and they are so amazing. They have 2 amazing boys and a great family that love them. If you havent seen it I highly recommend their youtube channel.
I didnt get many pictures, but I did get a BB8 cup, which Im so excited to use. I also got to see Aladdin, before it closed. Im personally not happy they are replacing it with Frozen. I loved the movie, but Frozen is EVERYWHERE! There are already shows, sing alongs and costumes all over the parks. Before seeing Aladdin at DCA I never saw the movie, or knew the story line. I only knew the voices behind the characters. If they HAVE to place a show PLEASE open Pocahontas. That is my favorite Disney movie that doesn't have a show, or ride featuring it. Except a 2 minute scene in Walt Disney worlds Fantasmic in Florida, which I absolutely loved.
After that trip, I took American Government and Politics, which I thankfully passed. I made the mistake of taking it this year lol. I don't find elections interesting or exciting. It did help me decide how to vote this year but other than learning the Constitution and some of the Amendments, it was just a bunch of discussions of people trying to convince everyone to vote for their favorite candidate.
I'm now taking a few terms off because we have some family vacations planned. Since January, have been at Albany Civic Theater, which is my favorite place in the world, working shows. We just closed "Shrek, The Musical" with almost a sold out show the whole time. I now am starting a new journey. I usually get to be a Production Assistant, which I am for this new show, but I get to be trained to be an Assistant Director now. The new show is "Seniors of the Sahara". It's an awesome and hilarious show. Here is a fun hint, it involves a geriatric genie.

I really want to do more Blogs, I will try very hard to do better. I'm just so happy you all are reading these blogs. I didn't know I was so interesting. I hope I can get more creative, so I don't absolutely bore you.
I hope everyone has a wonderful day, I love you all. God Bless!!