Saturday, November 22, 2008
Air Force Academy Chapel
The following is images of the Buddhist, Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant chapels at the Air Force Academy.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Santa's Secret
When touring with BYU companies, usually we go through two different coach lines. I have traveled on both Le Bus and Lake Shore Motor Coach Lines and find that we usually have the same bus drivers. With Le Bus we have LeGrande as the driver, and with Lake Shore we have Phil as the driver. I have always appreciated the drivers we've had. They are simply wonderful people! With Theatre Ballet, we were with Lake Shore so I was able to tour with Phil again. He is great! Before we reached Provo, he told us of the book he wrote about several special experiences he's had while being a Santa during the holiday season. Here's a review I found of the book.
Title: Santa's Secret, A Christmas Novel
Author: Christy Hardman with Phil Porter
Reviewed by Jaymie Reynolds
Phil Porter doesn't just pretend to be Santa at Christmas time. He doesn't just wear the suit to supplement his Christmas budget. When Phil puts on that suit, he becomes Santa. He seeks for solutions to problems in a way that he thinks Santa would do. He has a simple faith in the miracles of the Christmas season. Phil expects things to work out and so they do.
Santa's Secret, A Christmas Novel, by Christy Hardman begins with a wonderful poem called Santa's Secret Wish by Betty Worth Westrope. This poem sets the tone for the entire book. It captures the attention of the reader and tugs firmly at their heartstrings. It embodies the spirit of Christmas and the reason that we celebrate it. In this poem Santa sums it up well saying,
"It's a very hard task, my smart little brother,
to give toys to some and to give prayers to others.
"But the prayers are the best gifts, the best gifts indeed,
For God has a way of meeting each need."
When Phil Porter serves as Santa Claus for those who are grieving, lonely or destitute, he finds help through prayer and many Christmas miracles. To Phil, being Santa is important because it is how he finds the Savior at Christmas time. The opportunities that he finds in his service help him to draw near to Jesus Christ, to see others as Jesus would see them, and to become more like the Savior.
Santa's Secret is a lesson in perspective. It demonstrates how, to the person who has everything and more, often nothing will ever be enough. The Spirit of Christmas is lost in greed, anger and disappointment. The joy that is sought from sharing this holiday is lost in the need to acquire. On the other hand, to the child who sleeps in the corner on a rag pile because there just isn't money for a bed, a bed and bedding are a better Christmas present than the most costly toy. For the little girl whose mommy hits her, words of comfort and love are a kindness more priceless than anything else she has known.
Those who truly read Santa's Secret will come away with a greater appreciation for the gifts in their own lives. It is a thought provoking book that brings to the forefront the true meaning of Christmas. Hardman does a wonderful job of tying Santa and his trappings together with a meaningful worship of the Savior. This book is geared toward those who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but anyone seeking to draw nearer to the Savior can enjoy it as well. The one thing that might be done better in this book is to make it more clear that Phil Porter is a fictional character as many people are likely to overlook the title page.
The Spirit of Christmas permeates the pages of this book and reaches out to draw the reader in. This would be a great book to read together as a family as long as the children are old enough to know where Santa really lives. Little children can still be taught from the poem at the beginning of the book. For those who are seeking to build up their collection of holiday literature and traditions, this book is a great place to start.
Title: Santa's Secret, A Christmas NovelAuthor: Christy Hardman with Phil Porter
Reviewed by Jaymie Reynolds
Phil Porter doesn't just pretend to be Santa at Christmas time. He doesn't just wear the suit to supplement his Christmas budget. When Phil puts on that suit, he becomes Santa. He seeks for solutions to problems in a way that he thinks Santa would do. He has a simple faith in the miracles of the Christmas season. Phil expects things to work out and so they do.
Santa's Secret, A Christmas Novel, by Christy Hardman begins with a wonderful poem called Santa's Secret Wish by Betty Worth Westrope. This poem sets the tone for the entire book. It captures the attention of the reader and tugs firmly at their heartstrings. It embodies the spirit of Christmas and the reason that we celebrate it. In this poem Santa sums it up well saying,
"It's a very hard task, my smart little brother,
to give toys to some and to give prayers to others.
"But the prayers are the best gifts, the best gifts indeed,
For God has a way of meeting each need."
When Phil Porter serves as Santa Claus for those who are grieving, lonely or destitute, he finds help through prayer and many Christmas miracles. To Phil, being Santa is important because it is how he finds the Savior at Christmas time. The opportunities that he finds in his service help him to draw near to Jesus Christ, to see others as Jesus would see them, and to become more like the Savior.
Santa's Secret is a lesson in perspective. It demonstrates how, to the person who has everything and more, often nothing will ever be enough. The Spirit of Christmas is lost in greed, anger and disappointment. The joy that is sought from sharing this holiday is lost in the need to acquire. On the other hand, to the child who sleeps in the corner on a rag pile because there just isn't money for a bed, a bed and bedding are a better Christmas present than the most costly toy. For the little girl whose mommy hits her, words of comfort and love are a kindness more priceless than anything else she has known.
Those who truly read Santa's Secret will come away with a greater appreciation for the gifts in their own lives. It is a thought provoking book that brings to the forefront the true meaning of Christmas. Hardman does a wonderful job of tying Santa and his trappings together with a meaningful worship of the Savior. This book is geared toward those who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but anyone seeking to draw nearer to the Savior can enjoy it as well. The one thing that might be done better in this book is to make it more clear that Phil Porter is a fictional character as many people are likely to overlook the title page.
The Spirit of Christmas permeates the pages of this book and reaches out to draw the reader in. This would be a great book to read together as a family as long as the children are old enough to know where Santa really lives. Little children can still be taught from the poem at the beginning of the book. For those who are seeking to build up their collection of holiday literature and traditions, this book is a great place to start.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
It ends ...
Well, the eight day tour with Theatre Ballet has finally come to an end. This is my last mid-semester tour at BYU with the dance department. How sad!! All I have left is my summer tour with Dancers' Company then my touring experience at BYU will come to an end. But when one door closes, another opens! I now must find that newly opened door and continue on.
Day Seven: Colorado Springs
Our last day, last performance, the end of tour ... how sad!! This has been a new experience for me, for every company organizes their tours differently, and I'd have to say there were some things I was not use to on this tour. Most of the evenings, the dancers chose who they would room with, we watched movies constantly on the bus, we did only one day of sight-seeing, and we reported to the venues later then I'm use to.
Today was the only day we went sight-seeing. I don't know if that's because Colorado has nothing to see, or it wasn't organized for sight-seeing. We went to visit the Air Force Academy and it was amazing... and quite funny. Everyone had some small fact to add of the strictness of the institution. Apparently, because BYU beat AFA, the cadets were not allowed to leave campus. If the team wins, they get the weekend to finally leave campus - for apparently that is normally not allowed. I don't know if what the dancers said was true, but it was entertaining to listen to the different things listed. There is little room for individuality on that campus, I don't know if I could last there. Their rooms aren't even allowed to have decorations ... and no civilian items are allowed for the first semester there! Anyways, it was amazing because we went to the chapel and had a tour of the Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and Buddhist chapel. BEAUTIFUL!!! When people think of the AFA, they see the triangular building, architectural design, but how many people know that is a chapel!?!? I surely didn't know! Inside, there is stain glass everywhere. If I had remembered my camera cable, I'd post pictures. I'll do that tomorrow night! In the Catholic chapel, there is sculptures made from the same marble quarry that Michaelangelo used and there was wooden crosses marking those sculptures that were carved from wood from the Mount of Olives. In the Jewish chapel, there was a stone floor that was brought from the Holy Land and a Torah on display that had survived the Holocaust. The Protestant chapel is the most amazing because it is the main room with the greatest effect of the stain glass and an amazing metal cross that was given the name "Souring Souls Cross." What an amazing experience. I could go on and on of the things there. But the best thing is to go there yourself. Who know the Air Force Academy would have such a work of art. Oh, another thing ... right outside the Catholic chapel there is a project done where a group of students over twenty years ago took a picture of the shroud of Christ and put hours into constructing a mold of what the body must have looked liked that the shroud was laid on. It shows detail of the face and the mold of the body. Truly quite impressive.
We did see the recruits go to lunch and watched them walk in their straight lines and the patterns they follow. Then we heard a bugle call that must have been lunch. This trip was the only thing I took pictures of while on tour ...
So ... the performance went well and we are excited to head home. We were able to move the departure time in the morning to 7am because everyone wants to get home earlier for needed school work and such. I'm looking forward to sleep ... lots and lots of well needed sleep. Speaking of ... it's time for me to sleep for it's not going to be very restful on the bus. Good night!
Today was the only day we went sight-seeing. I don't know if that's because Colorado has nothing to see, or it wasn't organized for sight-seeing. We went to visit the Air Force Academy and it was amazing... and quite funny. Everyone had some small fact to add of the strictness of the institution. Apparently, because BYU beat AFA, the cadets were not allowed to leave campus. If the team wins, they get the weekend to finally leave campus - for apparently that is normally not allowed. I don't know if what the dancers said was true, but it was entertaining to listen to the different things listed. There is little room for individuality on that campus, I don't know if I could last there. Their rooms aren't even allowed to have decorations ... and no civilian items are allowed for the first semester there! Anyways, it was amazing because we went to the chapel and had a tour of the Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and Buddhist chapel. BEAUTIFUL!!! When people think of the AFA, they see the triangular building, architectural design, but how many people know that is a chapel!?!? I surely didn't know! Inside, there is stain glass everywhere. If I had remembered my camera cable, I'd post pictures. I'll do that tomorrow night! In the Catholic chapel, there is sculptures made from the same marble quarry that Michaelangelo used and there was wooden crosses marking those sculptures that were carved from wood from the Mount of Olives. In the Jewish chapel, there was a stone floor that was brought from the Holy Land and a Torah on display that had survived the Holocaust. The Protestant chapel is the most amazing because it is the main room with the greatest effect of the stain glass and an amazing metal cross that was given the name "Souring Souls Cross." What an amazing experience. I could go on and on of the things there. But the best thing is to go there yourself. Who know the Air Force Academy would have such a work of art. Oh, another thing ... right outside the Catholic chapel there is a project done where a group of students over twenty years ago took a picture of the shroud of Christ and put hours into constructing a mold of what the body must have looked liked that the shroud was laid on. It shows detail of the face and the mold of the body. Truly quite impressive.
We did see the recruits go to lunch and watched them walk in their straight lines and the patterns they follow. Then we heard a bugle call that must have been lunch. This trip was the only thing I took pictures of while on tour ...
So ... the performance went well and we are excited to head home. We were able to move the departure time in the morning to 7am because everyone wants to get home earlier for needed school work and such. I'm looking forward to sleep ... lots and lots of well needed sleep. Speaking of ... it's time for me to sleep for it's not going to be very restful on the bus. Good night!
Day Five & Six: Sterling & Greeley
Sterling was a great audience!! The house held 560 people and it was packed full. They were so glad to have us there. We were in the paper for the lec dems we did for the kids. Those were also fun to do because the kids always love being able to see the dancers perform while at school.
Journal-Advocate: Ballerinas Take Stage
Journal-Advocate: Brigham Young University Theatre Ballet Performing in Sterling
Our venue at Greeley was a very nice Civic Center. It housed over 1500 people and everything was already set up for us. I had work to do with projection and audio, but the dancers didn't have to touch Marley or lights. Our audience count ended up to be 593 people, and out of three levels, they all fit on the first level. With such an easy show, my tech girls were able to watch the first half from the balcony w/ me (where I was set up for the show). On headset, we had the guys from the theatre, so Mark and them talked of new technology coming out, which was quite interesting! While searching online, I find that we were also in a paper to promote the performance attendance.
Greeley Tribune: Brigham Young University Theatre Ballet Provides Some Fantasy at UCCC
Journal-Advocate: Ballerinas Take Stage
Journal-Advocate: Brigham Young University Theatre Ballet Performing in Sterling
Our venue at Greeley was a very nice Civic Center. It housed over 1500 people and everything was already set up for us. I had work to do with projection and audio, but the dancers didn't have to touch Marley or lights. Our audience count ended up to be 593 people, and out of three levels, they all fit on the first level. With such an easy show, my tech girls were able to watch the first half from the balcony w/ me (where I was set up for the show). On headset, we had the guys from the theatre, so Mark and them talked of new technology coming out, which was quite interesting! While searching online, I find that we were also in a paper to promote the performance attendance.
Greeley Tribune: Brigham Young University Theatre Ballet Provides Some Fantasy at UCCC
Monday, November 17, 2008
Day Four: Sterling
Well, all we had today was travel and a lec dem. It was a nice stage for a middle school so there was nothing I had to do but push play. We spent two hours at the library right next to our venue for tomorrow. It's at the college in Sterling. At 5pm, we meet with our host family and will spend two nights with them. It was a day of relaxation, so there is not much to say. We are all well, eating good, building memories, and watching several movies on the bus.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Day Two & Three: Delta
Well ... more traveling again! When we got to the venue, I helped set up front of house then got on the genie lift to re-hang and focus the lighting. It was a bit hard at first because I had to take down cyc lights which are long and heavy. I'd rather not drop lighting instruments. It's no fun!!! It went well and I spent half the time up in the genie lift. Then the run of the show was fun. Dancers felt more confident and I got all my cues. We had to start late as we waited for dancers to finish their pre-show devotional.
My host family was amazing!! I loved them all! I actually stayed up until 1:30am talking with the 14 and 12 year old girls. It was fun!
We attended church with the host family, then began traveling again right afterwards. Because we are to arrive in Sterling on Monday, we drove halfway and are now staying in a hotel for the evening. A huge group of us gathered together to play games and listen to music for the night. It was quite fun!!
Tomorrow we only have a lecture demonstration to do at an elementary school. We drive through the morning, then do the lec dem around 1pm. After that ... it's a surprise to me.
My host family was amazing!! I loved them all! I actually stayed up until 1:30am talking with the 14 and 12 year old girls. It was fun!
We attended church with the host family, then began traveling again right afterwards. Because we are to arrive in Sterling on Monday, we drove halfway and are now staying in a hotel for the evening. A huge group of us gathered together to play games and listen to music for the night. It was quite fun!!
Tomorrow we only have a lecture demonstration to do at an elementary school. We drive through the morning, then do the lec dem around 1pm. After that ... it's a surprise to me.
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