Diary of Anne Frank

New London Theatre

I’ve been sorely behind on posting on the blog, mostly because of the rehearsal schedule for my show.  We are into Hell Week (or “Hoot Week”, and one of the cast members called it), and it’s been pretty rough.  I think anytime you have a drama onstage, it’s harder in the last week, because any funny slip is out of character (unlike a comedy, where most characters can laugh or at least smile onstage).

Couple that with the fact that we are portraying REAL people, and I think we are all under a lot of stress to get it right.  The cast is amazing, though, truly amazing.

For those readers who live close by, I would love for you to come and see the show.  The cast will knock your socks off (I still get tears in my eyes, even though I’ve heard the same monologues 10-15 times).  I promise you an evening of theatre that you will never forget.

Tickets can be purchased through me or purchased through the New London Theatre Online Store.

Much Love,

Mummy Butterfly  )i(  (AKA: Edith Frank)

March Musical Monday – Week 4

Songs that remind me of my Husband – that’s today’s March Musical Monday post.

First, Carrie Underwood’s “So Small” was the song we danced to at our wedding reception.

Hubby and I had a rough road getting to our wedding – but we wouldn’t change it for the world – nor could I imagine spending my life with anyone else.

Yeah, Yeah

What you got if you ain’t got love
the kind that you just want to give away
It’s okay to open up
go ahead and let the light shine through
I know it’s hard on a rainy day
you want to shut the world out and just be left alone
But don’t run out on your faith

‘Cause sometimes that mountain you’ve been climbing is just a grain of sand
What you’ve been up there searching for
forever is in your hands
When you figure out love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
seem so small

It’s so easy to get lost inside
a problem that seems so big at the time
it’s like a river thats so wide
it swallows you whole
While you sit around thinking about what you can’t change
and worrying about all the wrong things
time’s flying by
moving so fast
you better make it count ’cause you can’t get it back

Sometimes that mountain you’ve been climbing is just a grain of sand
What you’ve been up there searching for
forever is in your hands
When you figure out love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Seem so small

Sometimes that mountain you’ve been climbing is just a grain of sand
What you’ve been up there searching for
forever is in your hands
When you figure out love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Oh it sure makes everything else
Seem so small

Yeah, Yeah

My other “favorite” song when I think of Hubby is Darius Rucker’s “This”.

How often have I tried to make plans that failed – because I relied on my own ideas, instead of knowing that GOD has His hand in everything.  His plan led me to the wonderful life I have.  I adore this song.

Got a baby girl sleeping in my bedroom
And her mama laughing in my arms
There’s the sound of rain on the rooftop
And the game’s about to start

I don’t really know how I got here
But I’m sure glad that I did
And it’s crazy to think that one little thing
Could’ve changed all of it.

Maybe it didn’t turn out like I planned
Maybe that’s why I’m such, such a lucky man.

For every stoplight I didn’t make
Every chance I did or I didn’t take
All the nights I went too far
All the girls that broke my heart
All the doors that I had to close
All the things I knew but I didn’t know
Thank God for all I missed
Cause it led me here to
This

Like the girl that I loved in high school
Who said she could do better
Or that college I wanted to go to
‘Til I got that letter

All the fights and the tears and the heartache
I thought I’d never get through
And the moment I almost gave up
All lead me here to you

I didn’t understand it way back when
But sitting here right now it all makes perfect sense

For every stoplight I didn’t make
Every chance I did or I didn’t take
All the nights I went too far
All the girls that broke my heart
All the doors that I had to close
All the things I knew but I didn’t know
Thank God for all I missed
Cause it led me here to
This

How I cried when my mama passed away
But now I’ve got an angel looking out for me today
So nothing’s a mistake

For every stoplight I didn’t make
Every chance I did or I didn’t take
All the nights I went too far
All the girls that broke my heart
All the doors that I had to close
All the things I knew but I didn’t know
Thank God for all I missed
Cause it led me here to
This

It led me here to
This

You know the drill by now – post on your blog (or in the comments) your songs.  I would rather you tell me about songs that remind you of YOUR husband (or wife, or significant other) – but not MY Husband.  That would be awkward.  😉

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

SandGnats – GO #4!

Tonight we went to see Brother Sheep at his second Baseball Game.  He did WONDERFUL and it was pretty adorable.

For his age each team bats entirely through the batting order, then they trade and move to the field.  They do that twice (so two “innings”, but no “outs”) then the game is over.

Brother Sheep did AWESOME!  Cookie, CW, GO and I were there, and Queen & Princess enjoyed coming with us.  I can’t wait for Hubby and B10 to get to see a game, too.

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~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

Toy Story 3 – Jessie Hair!

GO watched Toy Story 3, for the first time being old enough to “understand” it and wanted “Jessie Hair”!

Jessie's Braided Pigtails

I think she looks ADORABLE (when she sits still long enough for me to braid it).

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

March Musical Monday – Week 3

Today’s Musical Monday is a two-for-one deal on my favorite Hymns.  It’s funny, because our family attends a church that rarely sings hymns, and I enjoy the music.  However, I’m a huge fan of the old Hymns (one of my favorite Christmas presents ever was the Andy Griffith CD of Hymns that Queen found for me).

My two favorite hymns are Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Henry van Dyke/Beethoven) and El Shaddai (Michael Card & John Thompson).

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of Glory, Lord of Love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.

Thou are giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother –
All who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus
Which the morning starts began;
Father love is reigning o’er us,
Brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.

I sung this in church from the time I was a little girl – but it was when Sister Act 2 came out in 1993, I heard this song in a completely different way.  (YouTube Video Here)  It was the first time I remember feeling free to worship God without the constraints that society puts on people (especially “church society”).  I still sing this song on a weekly basis – and sometimes I’ll sing the Sister Act Version (to myself, not for others!), I just love it so much.  If I’m feeling upset or angry – this is the best thing for me to hear, my heart cannot help but worship when singing these lyrics.  (For another great Sister Act 2 song – see Oh Happy Day.)

My second favorite Hymn is El Shaddai (Hebrew for G-d Almighty).

El Shaddai

El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
El Elyon na Adonai;
Age to age You’re still the same
By the power of the name.

El Shaddai, El Shaddai,
Erkahmka na Adonai;
We will praise and lift You high,
El Shaddai.

It’s a simple song, but that is what touches me.  It is almost more of a prayer – I can sit alone and sing it over and over.  It helps put my mind and heart in a place to LISTEN to God.  I love praising God and music that helps me do that, but I really enjoy being in a state of worship that envelopes my thoughts.

What songs help you find peace?

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

To All The Concerned Citizens Staring at Me Today –

Yes, that was me standing in the Grocery Store.

And yes, that was my 2 year old daughter laying on the floor screaming, because I would not buy her a piece of candy.

And YES – I ignored her and allowed her to scream after I tried to comfort her twice, and that didn’t work.

I appreciate your stares and your whispers, but I’ll be fine, thank you.  And so will she.  In fact, she’s happily sitting in her swing now.  She was not scared for life.  She even – GASP – knows her Mummy loves her.

And I’m pretty sure that when she’s 16 and doesn’t expect her parents to give her everything she asks for, you’ll thank me for not having a Self-Centered Brat for a teenager.

Being a parent is hard work, people.  I can do without the snide comments, but they aren’t going to make me change my mind or act differently.  So – you can do whatever you need to do to not be embarrassed by your child in the grocery store, I’ll go ahead and raise a productive member of society.

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

What I Learned –

It’s hard to sum up what I really learned last weekend, I perhaps simply came away with a better understanding of myself.  Which, is a good thing I think.  There were many questions I was working through – and still am, but what I’ll remember for a long time is this:

When B10 was born, and we held his Beth Hadid, many people questioned what it was, but were very supportive.  When it came time for CW’s Beth Hadid, the family/friends seemed excited at the ceremony.

When it came time for GO’s Beth Hadid, we had many new faces around, and there were a lot of people who not only questioned, but actively mocked and said rude things about the Beth Hadid.  I don’t think it was intentional, simply that it was a new “ritual” and they didn’t understand the significance.

I remember my feelings were so hurt, I just wanted people to realize how important this was to our children and to us (Hubby, Myself – even my ex-husband).  The time of communal prayer for both the child and the child’s future.

This weekend, and the discussion of rituals and Scripture, really helped me see that it is my responsibility to instill in my children rituals.

One of the things that touched me mostly, was when I had been hesitating to even tell the ladies at my table about the idea of a Beth Hadid.  I thought they would react in the same way I had seen before, with scorn and “odd” looks (which always seem to harbor thoughts of “oddness” about me).  Instead, they were touched.  They – as Grandmothers and Mothers – wish THEY had celebrated the birth and dedication/baptism of their children with a ceremony like that.

They saw the importance of praying for B10, CW & GO’s future spouses.  A couple of the ladies even had tears in their eyes.  I had no idea that the ritual I was feeling ashamed of (for no good reason) would be a well received as it was.

I felt both empowered by their questions and excitement, as well as validated in my internal feelings.  I KNEW I was praising God and celebrating an important event.  I think God knew I needed that outside validation this time, and provided it for me.

I was truly blessed last weekend.

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

Mummy’s Got a Silly Hat –

da da da da da da da – Mummy’s got a silly hat!  (Did anyone else sing that Blue’s Clues Song in their head?  No one?  Okay, then…)

I brought my blue hat home from Women’s Retreat – and everyone had to try it on!  😀

CW liked the "Pigtails"

I love my little Caterpillars (GO refused to wear the hat long enough for me to take a picture).

B10 strikes a pose!

And my Hubby, too!

Hubby's Silly Face

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

Candy Tasting

One of the main treats I brought back from my Women’s Retreat was a bundle of General Store Candy.  It was one of those stores that had barrels and barrels of candy.  For $6.99 a pound I could bring home any number of odd treats for the family to share.

The Stash

One of our “family things” is to try new food like “samples”.  It’s fun for everyone try the same thing at the same time and then “rate” their response.

Neater piles of the Stash

We explore a lot of new things, plus we learn a lot about each other.

The Gummy Alligator

YUMMY NUMMY ALLIGATOR!

This time I cut up the candy into bits and then anyone who liked it was able to keep a second (or third) piece for later.

Even GO got into the tasting.

Sour Candy! (Plus the water to help "cleanse the palate".)

I don't think CW enjoyed this one!

We had a giggling BLAST!

The taffy was a bit of a challenge for the littlest Caterpillar!

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

March Musical Monday – Week 2

Today I’m talking about my most played songs on iTunes.

I was a little surprised when I opened up iTunes and told it to sort by “Plays” (a total number of times I’ve played the song through the iTunes program).  Apparently – I’m a huge Billy Joel fan and had no idea.  Perhaps I should investigate more of his music…

My top songs (all tied for number of plays):

1) Uptown Girl (Billy Joel)

2) Lose Control (Ciara)

3) Don’t Stop Believin’ (Glee Cast)

4) It’s My Life (Bon Jovi)

5) The Longest Time (Billy Joel)

Piano Man (Billy Joel) was one of the songs that came in second in number of plays!  Weird! Looking at the list, I can only say that the three Billy Joel songs remind me of my childhood, and listening to them when I was younger.  The Bon Jovi song is one of my favorites – it’s one of those songs I sing with the hairbrush in front of the mirror (don’t laugh – you know you do it, too)!

I remember downloading the Glee Song as soon as I could find it after the first episode of Glee.  I don’t think I was overly familiar with the Journey version, and I will always be grateful to Glee for introducing me to music I might not have listened to before.  I’ve since drifted away from the show (seriously – you cannot compete with The Biggest Loser and NCIS), but I will think of it fondly for that reason.

All five songs are more upbeat songs, with a rhythm I can move to, which makes sense, because I like to dance with my kids.

What’s on your “most played” list?  Are you surprised by what you find?

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(