Monday, December 16, 2013, Nashville, TN., 10:30 a.m., C.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Louisiana here.  Am at work; but just got on break for an hour (lunch), so I have a little time to wind down and write in here, my journal.

Yesterday was our church's annual Christmas Cantata.  After months of practice, preparation, and hard work, it all came together yesterday; I am very pleased to report that our Cantata went without a hitch.

This year, our Cantata was entitled "Closed For Christmas", which was set inside a toy store during a very bad ice storm.  The owner of the toy store was very stressed out because sales weren't going that well, and he was having serious problems with an employee.  The people that were there shopping were forced to stay at the stores because the weather was getting worse, and naturally, tempers flared, and things were about to get really ugly.

There was quite a bit of humor mixed in with the more dramatic parts (the Vikings and the Grinch were two examples), but the dramatic scenes were hard hitting and powerful.  Well, it ends up that one of the employees (not the one causing problems) leads the store owner to Christ, and even though things weren't still going well with the store, the owner had peace in his heart and a different outlook on life.

I was in the adult choir (as was my husband, Bill, and quite a few of our older children); the younger children were featured as part of the children's choir.  My daughter, Gemini, was the opera diva during scene two.  A lot of people commented on the fact that they had never heard "Jingle Bells" done opera style and that Gemini did a fantastic job.  My daughter, Ronee', sang "O, Holy Night" during scene two; that was the finale of the second scene prior to the upcoming scene (scene three).  She did a fantastic job of singing.

My son, Johnathon, was present during the entire Cantata: he did the interpretation for the deaf members of the congregation.  He did a great job of making the play come to life for those who couldn't hear or talk, so they could follow along.

Our senior pastor, Bruce Bilkey, who is one of the sweetest, kindest people you would ever want to meet, was cast as the Grinch.  He was hilarious; he had the audience in stitches.

Well, quite a few people came; the church was near full to bursting.; over 20 people came up during the altar call and asked Christ to come into their hearts.  So the message of Christmas definitely made its way into people's hearts; the message truly hit home.

We get to do the Cantata all over again on Saturday and Sunday of this coming weekend and on Tuesday (next week) and on Christmas Day.  So our job is not over, not by a long shot, which means more practice and rehearsals for us who are a part of the presentation.

Miracle of miracles, I am off on Christmas Day; I was so sure I would have to work because I was off on Thanksgiving, but I was scheduled off.  That is fine; they understood that I had to take part in a Cantata and there was no way out of it.  I'm just glad that I am able to do it and to spend Christmas Day with my family.  After all, isn't that what Christmas is about? Being with family or friends?

Well, I hate to run, but it's time for me to get back to work.  I am being paged over the loudspeaker to the Emergency Room.  *Sigh* I knew it was too good to last .... I will write in here again soon; until then, this is Louisiana saying so long and may God richly bless you during this Christmas season and always!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Louisiana May.  :)