tinfoil kite.

lately i've been a little crafty obsessive...about anything from blanket forts to kites.

i really, REALLY am dreaming of making a kite that's absolutely perfect and flying it.

alas, there is no wind...and have not had the chance to make one as of yet.

so there's only one thing to do...make a fake one from tinfoil at freebirds.

it's kind of magnificent.

(i made the bows!!)

and according to a reliable source...it is still hanging there.

pretty sure if our real kite turns out as amazing as our tinfoil kite...we'll have the best kite in the whole entire universe.

of blanket forts and pies.

have you ever seen anything quite as magical as this beautiful blanket fort??

no?

i thought not.

some tea sipping, blanket fort building, list making, barbie game playing, apple pie baking, and all of the usual frivolities and whimsical fancies that are to be expected at a slumber party.

i think it was possibly the most beautiful thing i've ever seen/been a part of.

final thoughts.

now that i've shared some of my stories pictures of the joplin trip, here's a short video i made using my 8mm camera app.

i'm totally in love with the way it looks!

after radio interviews, television interviews, and even newspaper interviews...i'm pretty used to answering any questions about joplin pretty quickly.
however, this hasn't changed my attitude for joplin and the stained glass theatre!
i've still got such a heart for this place and these people.
i had NO idea this summer would bring so many new friends...in a completely new state!
what a blessing.
being able to do something i love (theatre) to help other people do something *they* love (theatre) is very exciting!
God has already set in motion things from this benefit...not only for JOY, but the stained glass theatre now has a temporary building!
through this benefit/trip i've also grown so much closer to my fellow actors/actresses.
i've seen all of their beautiful hearts in this project...and i'm proud to know each and every one of them.
this project has brought *me* closer to God, and i've become a stronger prayer warrior.
so many prayers...so many answered prayers.
it's a wonder to see God work so clearly right in front of my eyes.
i can't wait to see what God has in store next!!

xo,
rebecca jane

of yellow doors, movie projectors, and old trucks.

one of the nights we were in joplin, we were invited to an old barn to watch cartoons on an old movie projector.

on the ride over there i saw many of my dream homes.

check out the yellow door.

is that not magical?!

even more magical was the amazing movie projector.

one day i WILL have one!

it was soooooo amazingly fun.

and watching cartoons has never been quite so funny or entertaining.

how could the night get even better?

seeing this DREAMY turquoise antique truck!!

can you say dream car??

maddy and i "ooo-ed and ahhh-ed" until we were literally shoo-ed out of the barn by my mom.

it was a magical night.

wall of hope.

in joplin there's a BEAUTIFUL graffiti wall called "the wall of hope."

isn't that a beautiful name?

volunteers from all over america have signed with wall.

and our group is NO exception.

Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT) "If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me."

isn't God cool?

finding verses like that that would usually mean one thing...but can also be totally relevant to something else.

when putting on "the importance of being earnest" our goal was to perform to an audience of one:

God.

bowling night

while in joplin, we went to $2 bowling night...it was a BLAST!

i hadn't gone bowling in ages...so i got a little lesson.

check out what happened my first try!!

i'd like to say that was only the beginning of my many victorious strikes...

but it wasn't.

i'm a miserable failure at bowling.

i will say, however, that i get strikes at VERY opportune moments.

and i got another one later...

right after being told i couldn't.

it was a lovely moment.

however...it was SUCH a blast.

i nearly went hoarse that night from screaming.

and i did the splits after every "bowl." 

(splits as it slide until i can slide no farther and then struggle back to the upright position)

ahem.

and guess who's headed to go bowling again...in just a few minutes...

yes.

that's right.

me.

*wishing for more amazingly victorious strikes*

do you have any tips for me??

the orange leaf.

the first night we arrived in joplin, we headed over to the "orange leaf" to meet some members of the stained glass theatre. 

in case you don't know...that's the theatre in joplin that was destroyed that *my* theatre group has been raising money for.

it was so great to finally meet some of them...and we hit it off real fast!

this place had a lot of my favorite things:

frozen yogurt

nutty bar toppings

orange spoons

and bright and colorful walls

YES PLEASE!

in which we cleaned and organized...and were glad to do it.

we're back from joplin, mo!

i have so many memories carried with me from this trip.

and all of the amazing friends i spent this time with.

it was a lovely week.

going to joplin wasn't just to perform "earnest" (though that was our main objective). 

the church we were staying at had been housing thousands of volunteers all summer long, and were sorely in need of some help cleaning up.

there was much sweeping, cleaning of windows, etc.

the church also housed a very large distribution center, where LOTS of donations were constantly being left to give to the tornado victims.

thus, there was much organizing of donations as well. 

morgan and i tackled the diapers...and, with assistance from others, created a very lovely display...organized by size and everything.

we were very proud of the orderliness of it all. :)

this is how we spent tuesday and wednesday.

and we were SO glad to be able to help this church.

however...this was only the beginning of our many adventures.

stay tuned for more!

the importance of being earnest.

after radio interviews, newspaper articles, and many rehearsals in the middle of summer in an old theatre that has a terrible air conditioning system...the importance of being earnest opens tonight!! 

this cast has been such fun to work with...i don't think i've ever laughed so hard with any other cast!

the fact we're doing this show for such a wonderful cause gives such a worthwhile meaning to all our work. 

and the fact that we get to perform the show in joplin for members of the theatre we're raising money for....is SO EXCITING!!

i cannot wait to meet them all...and be able to give all of the money raised these past few weeks.

what a lovely summer this has been.