Classy on Sunday // A Trip to the Aranoff

Hello everyone! I can't even believe that Thanksgiving, the holiday of feasting and gratitude, is already behind us, in our minds, and spoken of in the past tense. We certainly have had a lovely one! Most of the day our family was gathered around the kitchen counters, wrapped in the aromas of great food, (all from scratch), busily working to get it on the table, then to be devoured over the next couple of days. Mmmm... Bliss. But let me take you farther back than Thanksgiving, and come with me to Cincinatti's famous Aranoff Theater, to see the story of Peter Pan danced across it's grand stage.






A few weeks ago, we three were surprised by the announcement Mom made to us regarding the opportunity of attending the Peter Pan ballet dress rehearsal with our voice teacher's young ballerina daughter. "Really? Truly, Mom? We can go?" we all cried. "Well, only two of you can go, and since Brigid is sick with a cold, I think it would be best that Charlotte and Jess go." Brigi was disheartened, but she faced the disappointment with a stiff upper lip, and said it was only right, as she was the last one who had attended a ballet. Charlotte and I thanked her ever so much, and then assured her we would tell her all the good parts.

The ballet was incredible, as only the Peter Pan story can be. Who wouldn't want to fly out the window of their safe and secure nursery, whilst their parents were out on the town? And to fly away with a strange boy and his fairy friend? Well, I know I would. I would dream of such happenings when I was little, and pretending and transporting ones self though books was the only way I could visit an enchanted Fairy World. If you could only see what I cooked up in that 8 year-old noggin of mine! Sheer magic, to say the least.



Days like this one we were to blessed to have, always puzzle me. Why? Well, for one, it was nearly perfect! We did get slightly lost in the big city, but other than that, we had a truly, perfectly, splendid day! How is it that God desires to bless us with hours of joy and peace, where no trouble can reach in and hurt us, or steal away the joy? This one thought coursed through my young-adult mind all day long, after the ballet, and all I could do was praise Him for His great blessings. That must be why! Perhaps God gives us those seamless days to allow us to stand back in awe, and worship Him with grateful hearts! It is hard to give thanks in the hard times, that they will not be lost to the past. In a way, they become a sort of strength He uses to lift us up.

Interesting though: If all we had in this world was a prison cel, and a Bible, with a little food to sustain us, would we praise Him? This question has bee on my mind for some time now, especially after reading Christian WWII veteran, Edgar Harral's story, "Out of the Depths", and "Tortured for Christ", by the renowned missionary to Russia, Rev. Wurmbrand. Though I have not finished his book, I still have been greatly impacted by what Rev. Wurmbrand, and Edgar Herral, have to say about suffering for our King. They suffered that His Kingdom might advance on Earth. Yet here I sit, comfortably typing away, only imagining what this suffering, this great separation from physical comfort, must have been to these men. How it must have carved and whittle away the "Old Man" in them, and brought a great sanctifying working in their lives. They were made so pure, because their were able to struggle long and hard to strive for Christ's work to be done. What they share in their books tells me we are able to withstand to much, much more than we might day to imagine! But this is not everyone's lot.

I know that the only means the Lord has enabled me to use to be His light to others right now, is through singing and blogging. We dress, act, and present ourselves as His children everytime we get up in front of and audience, or blog. I still had to wonder through, "Is this enough, Lord?" I can open my mouth and sing, but it is much harder to open my mouth and share what I know is the only salvation from death on the same stage. Words fail me. Yet, I can do it behind a screen using careful contemplation. It is my goal, that the more we sing, and the more comfortable we become in front of our audiences, the better we three will be able to speak Life into the lost. This is my prayer

Skirt: Thrifted // Top c/o Shop Mieux, by Tulle // Scarf c/o Shop Mieux, by Gap // 

Stockings: Target // Shoes: Thrifted // Coat: Forever 21

Earrings: Target // Dove Pin: Antique Store // Accent Ring: Charming Charlie

The Lives we are given fall into His Story (History), and there is nothing that can come into existence  that God does not plan out for us. We are His chosen people, and we are called to die to ourselves that Christ might gain all. Am I doing this? I pray that I am, and that whatever the Lord wants me to change to better represent Him, I will.

This post of mine was inspired by Psalm 90

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth,

Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,

Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

You turn man to destruction,

And say, "Return, O children of men."

For a thousand years in Your sight

Are like yesterday when it is past,

And like a watch in the night,

You carry them away like a flood;

They are like a sleep.

In the morning they are like grass which grows up:

In the morning it flourishes and grows up;

In the evening it is cut down and withers.

For we have been consumed by Your anger,

And by Your wrath we are terrified.

You have set our iniquities before You,

Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.

For all our days have passed away in Your wrath;

We finish our years like a sigh.

The day of our lives are seventy years;

And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,

Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;

For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Who knows the power of Your anger?

For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.

So teach us to number our days,

That we may gain a heart of wisdom/

Return, O LORD!

How long?

And have compassion on Your servants.

Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy.

That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!

Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us,

The years in which we have seen evil.

Let Your work appear to Your servants,

And Your glory to their children.

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us

And establish the work of our hands for us;

Yes, establish the work of our hands.

What do you think about when you read of missionaries?

Are you satisfied with what your are doing before the Lord?

Do you praise the Lord even for the hard times?

Much love to you all!

Jessica

the eldest sister & singer

CREDITS // Author: Jessica Boyer; Photography: Charlotte Boyer; Photos edited with VSCO Presets