A New Musical - Part 1 - A New Seed of Inspiration!

 In 2022, I had written my first musical, Five Children and It, and blogged about it in a series titled "A Musical is Born!" The blog posts cover much of the production of the show, but very little of the writing process before that.

Since then, I've written a second musical and started two more. With high hopes of getting these musicals on stage, I decided to start sharing more about my writing process, before the musical is fully finished. A nerve-wrecking task, being the perfectionist that I am, but I'm pushing myself to do this. And to make me even more nervous, I'll be incorporating video, which is also a very new thing for me. (I'm a writer, not a videographer.) But with help from my adult children, I am now on Instagram and will be able to share songs through that medium (and also post the videos here!)

So, watch the video below to hear about what I'm working on right now!

 

The Unexpected Blessings of Being Stay-at-home with Older Children

I always knew that I wanted to stay home with my children. Then, when they were older, I'd go find a job somewhere. That was the plan.

And for the most part, I've stuck to that plan. On this blog I've written about the unexpected blessings of being home with my children. It's not just that I have more time with them and that I can homeschool. It's that they eat better (and more cheaply) and that we have flexibility in our day, instead of rushing out the door every morning.

Then, as my children grew, I began to get the itch to work outside of the home. I was already teaching piano part-time in our living room, but I wanted to be more influential in the community. The problem was that, at that point, I had older children, AND younger children. I started teaching music classes and working on shows, but I still limited my hours and stayed home in the daytime as much as possible. This was frustrating at times: I felt that I couldn't do as much as my friends with only older children, and at the same time I didn't have the more carefree days of being at home with only younger children. The feeling that I was just "spinning my wheels" hovered over me. I had to push that feeling aside and tell myself that being available for my family was better for my children, both young and old.

But I didn't realize ALL the benefits until this summer!

Being home means that I can be more hospitable. I have the energy to have guests over for dinner almost any day of the week. I have flexibility to cook someone a meal and deliver it. And the big plus–we have other kids over. This summer, we've had soooo many of my children's friends over. And for many of these kids, because they are older, their parents are working full-time and the kids are home all day, sometimes by themselves. They eagerly say 'yes' when we invite them to our house! I bake some cookies and pop some popcorn, and they all have a grand ol' time!

Another plus is that I've had more time with my adult children. My oldest daughter graduated from college and was home in between jobs. My second oldest daughter had summer school, but came home during breaks. My oldest son needed a ride to the airport to fly to visit his cousins, and I was able to take him in the middle of the day. These "babies" of mine still need guidance and support, and I'm able to be there for them.

Stay-at-home moms, I know sometimes you feel like you aren't doing enough (or that you're doing a lot, but it's the same, mundane routine day in and day out!), but you may be doing more than you know! Keep looking for ways you can bless others by being stay-at-home!

On Speaking Up

As a child, I was taught to "honor my parents." Which, in Sunday school terms, was translated to "obey your parents." And my parents definitely stressed the "obey." Obey without questions. Obey without giving your side of the story. Obey obey obey. By the time I was a college student, I had learned to follow the rules, keep my opinions to myself, and to doubt my own judgement.

I started my classes at UC Berkeley as the quiet "A" student who never said a word in class discussions. One day at the end of my education class, the teacher took me aside. 

"Rita, you should speak up. You have great thoughts to share!" she said.

Those words got me thinking. 

Flash forward thirty years.

I'm now a pastor's wife, and I'm content to be working "behind the scenes." But I have also pushed myself to speak up – to express myself and share my ideas and to point out wrong – when I need to. In my roles as wife and mother, this is crucial. Even my husband needs correction sometimes (don't we all?), and I cannot stand by silently in those situations.

Why am I writing this? Rita, get to the point! you're thinking.

Here's the point, and this may make some of you uncomfortable: Don't blindly follow and obey just because someone is in a position of authority. 

I'm talking to wives who are told to obey their husbands no matter what.

I'm talking to employees who see their bosses doing immoral things and are afraid to lose their jobs so they go along with it.

I'm talking to congregants who disagree with their church leaders, but push those itches aside because they figure "this person is a man of God."

I'm talking to citizens of this country who are saddened by what they see in our government right now.

A few years ago, I had to confront a church leader about things he was doing that I felt were hurting our church family. This was by far the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. But now I'm so glad I said something. This leader, instead of choosing to dialogue about the situation, accused me of sinning against him, which, in my opinion, only reveals a proud "I'm-always-right" spirit that is not what I want to see in a leader. He then resigned and left on his own accord.

No person is above God. It's as simple as that. So speak up.

New Children's Books!

I'm so excited to announce the publication of TWO new children's books! These have been a loooong time coming.

The new titles are Sand Socks and More Tales from the Bug Lost and Found. 

Sand Socks was a birthday present for my mother-in-law, who loved going to the beach with us. The story is simple and straightforward, just like a relaxing day at the beach. My sister painted beautiful watercolors to accompany the text; the waves and the animals just jump off the page! I had a draft of this book finished in 2019, but then our computer crashed and I had to start over. (I also got busy with other projects...) Now, seven years later, it's done!

The Bug Lost and Found started out as a silly story I told to my kids one day. Then I added a story, then another story, then another story! For Christmas that year, I made a little book of the four stories, with four illustrations by my husband. That was the year my husband was without work, so we were getting extra creative with Christmas presents. A few years later, I added a fifth story and my sister added her cute illustrations. The book was published in 2018, and just in time too! My daughter was born in March of 2018, and I started writing the sequel while I rested at the hospital! Now my daughter is 8, and the sequel, More Tales from the Bug Lost and Found, is finally ready to meet the world!

It's been a fun journey of publishing children's books. I have a non-fiction book coming later this year, but most of my time now is focused on writing plays and musicals. But if I'm ever inspired, maybe I'll write another children's book!

All three titles can be purchased on Amazon.com!

Sand Socks

Bug Lost and Found

More Tales from the Bug Lost and Found

Where “Yes" May Lead You

Twenty-seven years ago, God asked me to work with teenagers, and I said "yes."

There's a story that leads up to that moment (which I won't share with you today), but what was most surprising was:

1) I was twenty, so barely out of the teens myself,

2) I never had the desire to work with teens. In fact, I was a little afraid of them, having had not-the-best junior high and high school experience,

3) I had my doubts. I had no "training." I had no clear direction.

Nevertheless, I said "yes," without knowing where that "yes" would lead me.

Soon after, I started a leading a small youth group at my church.

After graduating from college, I was hired as a French teacher at a private junior/senior high school.

Then I got married, became a mom, and spent about the next twelve years or so NOT around teens. I was hanging out with other toddler moms, chatting it up about nap schedules and cloth diapers.

And I forgot about my "yes," until I got involved in my teenagers' youth theater company (how this happened is another great story).

What a shock! I never would have imagined that I would be teaching music to teens and directing them in shows. And the best part is that I love it! I love working with teenagers and being a supportive adult in their lives.

But along with the highs come the lows.

Two years ago, a lovely, spunky eleven-year-old came to audition for Moana Jr. She then went on to be in The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music, making many friends along the way. Shortly after her third show, she was diagnosed with brain cancer, and two weeks ago, she lost that battle. This was heart-breaking news for everyone in our company.

Twenty-seven years ago, I wouldn't have pictured myself in a bedroom, strumming a guitar through tears, leading a small group of girls in singing Christmas carols, witnessing the final moments of their friend's time on earth. I couldn't have imagined our time afterwards in the foyer, crying and holding each other for comfort. And I never would have known that in working with this young girl, I would be asked to sing songs with her friends at her memorial service.

Her service is tomorrow. I feel nervous and anxious. I put my two-year-old to bed, then lay next to her for a few extra moments just to pray. I ask God for peace. And I hear this song in my head.

This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine...

And that's all God is asking from me when I say "yes."