Suesssical Show Week.VERY EXTREAMLY LONG!

Ok....Where to begin. How about the beginning.lol!I'll start with HYPE since it was a big part of the week.HYPE is the "leadership program" of CYT.It stand for High school Youth Pursuing Excellence. Every CYT has one but KC North has not had a HYPE for about a year or so.KC South has a really good HYPE and KC East had one but I know they are having problems.So we decided to start it back up and see what happens.One of the first things we wanted to do was set up a prayer box to have for people to put prayer request in and have HYPE members pray for them.We talked about who would be in charge of that and how we would keep them confidential and make sure everyone knew that they would not have to worry about their request being known unless they wanted it to be.We were getting ready to move into the theatre so we decided on Sunday we would put it out there and the HYPE members would rotate days, and we needed someone in charge of the prayer list.They asked who would volunteer for that and I found myself raising my hand. I e-mailed the HYPE President,Mariah, back and forth discussing ideas for show week. I pulled the list up and told Mariah on the final show,Sunday,we should have all the HYPE members pray together and if we had time we could share testimonials about God and what we learned during show week.She liked the idea and sent out the word on the mail chain.Also we do devotions before each show and every devotion came from a line or theme in the show.( Mine was "A Persons A Person No Matter How Small". I used Psalms 139 where David talks about being fearfully and wonderfully made.I talked about how no matter what we look like God cares for us cause of who we are to him.We are His creation.)I was the very first one on the list to go.I had Thursday morning. For example Reid's came for the song,"How Lucky You Are" and Mariah just used the the theme acceptance,etc. All the devotions this week were so good! I have more HYPE stories here in a second. ANYWHO!

Sunday afternoon we had move in and we had rehearsal from 1-4 pm. It was pretty intense,but needed.I barely talked to Michael when we had down time.At first I said whatever,I don't care.But when we both had down time and I would try to talk to him, he was often busy hanging out with some other people.I wanted to spend time with him cause this was his last play. So eventually when the next break came I just sat down right where I was and didn't move.Enters Luke."Why are you down there?" I look up at him."Cause I'm too tired to move." He tells me,"But it's better up here." I laugh.He sits down next to me and we sit and talk about why I'm tired and it's due to the how long I spent working on my mom's car the day before.But I drive it so much it's kinda mine,but not really.;) lol! He also told me how much he loved my "A Girl needs to be so wrapped up in God,a guy has to seek Him to find her." shirt.Mom came over to talk to me for a few minuets and Luke went off to the corner and started doing his gymnastics routine.(What he had space for.) Mom whispered,"You know he's showing off for you." So yeah.Forewarn you.The rest of the week went that way.Not the car,but spending time with Luke instead of Michael.haha.

Monday was the leads only,so I was not needed.
Tuesday we tried to,but was not able to run through the whole show for rehearsal.Which was scary because it was a 4 hour rehearsal and the show is a 2 hour show.We even stayed a good 30 minuets late too.By the end of the night everyone was exhausted.
Wednesday rehearsal came and gone and thankfully we finished what we did not get done the night before and ran through the entire show.

Bright and early Thursday morning @ 9 am we were back at the theatre for the 10 am show. Our opening show went well and was fairly packed.Our theatre holds about 900 and all but some balcony seats were sold.It was a good crowd and we were proud of our first show. My friend Jen,my mom, and I all had plans to go out to eat when she got done with classes around 1and meet us @ 1:30.That was fine with us because we had our photo shoot after the Thursday morning show,which would take some time,give me time to change, and take a few mins to rest. There isn't too many places to eat close to the theatre so we choose Applebee's.We had just been seated when Jen showed up.We were sitting there having a nice conversation when all of the sudden I see a big flock of CYTers come bounding through the parking lot. I tell mom and Jen "I should of figured this is where they'd pick to eat.They usually go here after Thursday morning.They are probably just getting here cause of the ones that did individuals shots." I just got a group photo this time,so I was done pretty fast. Jen asked if Michael was there.I said not yet but it wouldn't be too long until he popped up.Just then as if on cue Michael and Luke came bouncing past the window and into the restaurant.When I say bounce I mean it literally.lol! It was quite a sight to see. She asked who was who. I tell her Michael is the one with the green hair(he was the Grinch and before every show they spray dyed it green.) and Luke was the one with the green hat."Alright.Now I know what Michael looks like.Wait.Are those two friends?"I tell her yeah.She hides her smile with her hand,"That's funny.They're friends.I find that so funny." We finish our lunch and head back to the hotel room to relax.Jen,mom and I all took a nap.I woke up a lil early and didn't want to disturb them so I head out into the hall way to call Annette and she what's been up since I was not able to check Internet. After chatting for a bit it was time to head back to the theatre for Round 2 of Seussical.Thursday night show went really well.Right at the end of mom and feel back stage and her arm really hard on the stage.She was going to go to the ER but it was late and it was going to be 5 hour wait.Mom said"Forget it."Her arm is still sore.I'm still not sure if didn't crack it at least.

Friday was another interesting and busy day.The morning show had topped the previous day's shows.But things in my head were starting to get jumbled up.*I've left alot out for reading sake* Michael had been really good about giving me a hug when I got there and saying hi to me inbetween scenes but he has still yet to truly sit and talk to me.I mean he wasn't like he was totally ignoring but he wasn't hanging out with me at all.I just simply got lost in the mix and pushed to the end of his list of people who wanted to hang out with him for his last show. I admit. That hurt a lil bit. I didn't expect him to spend all his time on me.I didn't want him to.It just would of been nice to have a chance to actually talk with him. Not every but alot of time when I went off by myself to clear my head for a few moments Luke would come over and plop down next to me.He always got a smile out of me in the end.

Friday night Sara and Logan came to see the show.So that was nice.After the Friday night show we always go to Cici's to eat cause the Saturday show call isn't until 1 pm.At Cic's I sat with a big group of my gal pals. Andy,Beth,Sarah C.,Hannah,Maddy, Madeline,McKenzie, and Angela.Needless to say laughs at our table, were constant. Luke didn't stay long but he did come over for a little bit to bug us girls.lol. Friday night both my parents were cranky,worn out, stressed, and tired.Not good. None of us slept well that night.

Saturday morning Sara came back to the show and this time she brought my bible study teacher Sherri,and Sherri brought her grandson.Things were still kinda tense.When I talked to Sara after show she could sense it to. We went to get something to eat and things continued to escalate.All of the family stuff going on really got to me before the night show.I called Sara,crying my eyes out.Not sure what to do.I just couldn't take it anymore. I was losing it,and I knew it. I came in from talking on the phone out in teh parking lot and a few of my friends saw my eyes were red. They asked what was wrong and I told them.They prayed with me and told me God has everything in control and everything will be alright.Well I got my face streaked free and went to go put on my make up.While I was in the make-up room I started praying,"God I need a reason to smile.I know You love me and and are there for me.But I this show is going to be hard to get through.Please I need an extra boost.Amen." A few mins later dad got my attention and told me to come here. As I walked out of the make-up room my cousin Sarah and her son Jayce were standing there.I thought none of my family was going to come to Seussical.It instantly put a smile on my face.Also,Sarah's parents,my Aunt Sandy and Uncle Steve were up there in the audience as well. Out of my dad's family(except my grandparents) they are the ones I am closest to.I said,"Thank You God!" So for every public show so far I've had some body in the audience. Thursday night,Friday night, and Saturday afternoon I've had friends come, and Saturday night I had family. Then it came time for devotions. Well that night's came from the song "Alone In the Universe." Stephanie talked about how we are are actually never alone in the universe cause we have a God who is always with us. Talk about God's perfect timing.

Well while warming up before the show Luke was standing right infront of me.I was curious who is better at back massages.(cause earliar that week he made a comment that Michael was the best when I was giving one to my friend Kelsey.)So I started rubbing Luke's back. I asked him it felt good and he says,"Yes!" After I was done he goes,"Thank you!" and give me a big hug. Well while we had some down time inbetween scenes Luke sits right next to me and I ask him "Sup?" He says not much.Then gives me a bit of the puppy pout,"You know you could rub my back again." I laugh and say alright. I end up doing it for about 10 mins. Well after a few mins Michael comes down from his scene. I am watching him at out of the corner of my eye and when he sees I'm not just standing behind Luke I am rubbing his shoulders Michael gets this look of,"She's doing that again??" So then Michael decides to be a jerk and startd flirting with one of the girls and make sures I am watching. The thing that makes me mad...The girl he's flirting horribly with....Is only 14 and he's 19. Rocking the craddle much? I am sure as you all know this but when I was 10 I had a guy who was 5 years older than me try to take advantage of me.I know Michaels not him but that age difference and knowing that Shannon (the girl) is devolping a small crush on him bugs me. She says they are just friends and he's just fun to be around but Saturday she was following him every where.He didn't care at all but I can tell that she likes him.She spends more time around him than any of the other guys that are her age. And frankly it bugs the crap outta me.Espeically since she is....How to put this delicately.....Well figured and her shirts tend to flaunt it more than they should.So I just told myself,"He wants to be that way let him." After steaming for a bit I talked to God about it.All of the sudden that crush on Michael that was coming back disapeared with out a trace. God showed me Michael was not the one for me.A friend,yes.But him and I would never be "Him and I." I know I talked and gabbed so much about him but that last post that God really laid on my heart now makes sense.He was trying rein my heart,(and my mouth) in. I'm stepping abck and throwing it all up in the air and letting God catch it.


Sunday morning brought a new day,with warm weather and a better look at things.I walked in and instantly got a hug from Luke.After getting mostly ready the HYPE teens met for Sunday morning prayer time as planed.It was incredibly awesome.It was a true God moment.All of us could feel God's presence in that prayer circle. It was a encouragement to all of us to hear a group of "Average" teens praising God for His miracles and blessing and asking for comfort for the ones with tears.Due to the play alot of us didn't make it to church that morning but I learned something that day all the same.The devotion for the very last show was Mariah's on acceptance."Something we always think about is are we accepted. But do we ever think about our lives being acceptable to God." It was a wonderful devo. The show ended with a bang. We had the strike dinner and then the strike party where they hand out the awards and the directors get to spoof the show.I didn't get any awards this show but it's ok.

ALOT MORE happened but I'm afraid the post is already reaching record length.Lets just say the weekend ended with me texting Luke my phone number and he replied,"Hey!Now I have your number!Woot!"

"When I'm in over my head I let it all go and fall.But I make sure I fall to my knees."

Always,
Megan Renee