This evening I went to ISU Theater's production of The Miracle Worker. It was fabulous, like seriously awesome. The stage was amazing. It was the Keller's house (two floors) plus trees. These trees were painted on canvas and framed the stage like a curtain, they were very detailed and softened the hard lines of the house.

One of my friends from St. Thomas Aquinas is in the show as Kate Keller. She seriously rocked the Southern accent. The gal playing Anne Sullivan did a great job too, adding an Irish touch to everything she said.

The best part of the performance is the 10 minute scene with no dialogue. Anne is trying to teach Helen some manners at the breakfast table. Anne locks herself and Helen alone in the dining room and begins the slow process of teaching Helen to obey the rules, not just follow her whimsy. Helen generally just ate off the plates of the people around her, but Anne made her eat off her own plate with a spoon and a napkin in her lap. Anne wrestles Helen back into her chair when she lays on the floor throwing her legs and arms in a tantrum. Helen runs around the room trying to get away from Anne. Anne makes Helen pick up the spoon off the floor every time she throws it against the wall in exasperation. Anne's persistence is just incredible. She knows that somewhere inside Helen there is an intelligent person ready to bloom, Anne never gives up on Helen.

I can make a Bible reference out of anything, but I think The Miracle Work parallels faith really obviously. God pursues us and his love sets us free. We are a new creation in him (2 Corinthians 5:17) we are unblinded, and given new ears, to see the work of God and hear his voice. I am so thankful to have a God who gave everything for me while I was still undeserving (Romans 5:8). He's the real Miracle Worker.

On Saturday I went to The King's Speech with Grandma, Mom, and John. It was a fabulous movie of triumph, friendship, and history. My grandma lived during the time King George VI reigned so after the movie she was talking about how none of the actors looked like the real people, it was pretty hilarious.

Saturday was also the St. Thomas Aquinas auction and benefit for spring break immersion and mission trips. My roommate is leading a trip to Kansas City, so I went to support her. It was pretty fun and the food was great. I bought a painting in the silent auction, it is a winter scene of birch trees.

Sunday was the Bethesda Chili Cook-off. Groups signed up to make chili and decorate a themed table. The congregation voted for their favorite by putting money in a basket on each table. There were also judges who picked the best flavored chili. The money raised when to the Pastor's Discretionary fund which helps people in need pay for their rent, groceries, or a bus/train ticket.

The adult choir had a duet of chilis: my white bean and chicken chili and Mark's Hawaiian chili ( it was normal chili with chunks of fresh pineapple in it) We decorated our table with Christmas themed items because our anthem for the day was called Noel We Sing. One member of the choir wrote lyrics to the tune of O Christmas Tree and called it Oh Chili Fair. The choir sang it as a postlude at the 10:45 service to get people psyched up for chili.

The choir's chilis won 3rd prize for flavor from the judges. Mark and I each got a bag of meatballs donated from Burke. The Chili Cook-Off raised over $3000 to help needy people in Ames!!