We're Vikings!

Here's Madison and Daddy with the Vikings!  We had another chapter of their saga go by this morning, and a great message about David and Ziklag.  Which is a fun word to say.  It sounds like some sort of device with pulleys or locks.  But it is in fact a town, and a low point in the life of David from the Bible.  Madison was able to tell the entire story this evening before bedtime:  What did David do when things were at their lowest?  Madison:  Seek the Lord.  She told the story to Daddy, about those being too tired to go on, and about the Egyptian who helped them find their way.  And about David sharing the bounty with everyone, not just those who fought the fight.  The lesson there was clear to Madison:  God is our victory.

She did really well this morning.  The message was strong, as was the the rest of the service.  As I've been posting the rough draft of the skit here lately on the blog, I might as well continue our story here now below:

KidPak Adventures:  Northern Lights
Saga

CUE SLIDE:  SNOWY BACKDROP

CUE TRACK:  6 Saved by Teddy

NARRATOR:  "The snow blows white on the mountain tonight – not a footprint to be seen.  Except for those belonging to the Vikings! They’re here to pillage and loot, and although they’ve certainly taken enough, there’s one treasure that’s on their minds.  Join us today as we find out what that is under the Northern Lights!”

IVAR, VLAD and TORNY enter, pushing along CRESCENDO.

VLAD:  “Unbelievable. After all we’ve done, you have to go and treat us this way?”

CRESCENDO:  “But you’ve kidnapped us!”

VLAD:  “Touché.”

TORNY:  “But you still didn’t get away.”

CRESCENDO:  “But Sister Incalzando did.  Ha!”

IVAR:  “My father will bring her back.  He’s good at tracking anything that breathes.  He’ll find her.”

CUE TRACK:  7 GOT THE GRAIL ALREADY

CRESCENDO steps forward.

CRESCENDO:  “Not a chance.  She’s got a two-day head start on you, which is more than she needs.  She’s got friends in every town and village from here to the Sudan, she speaks a dozen languages, knows every local custom.  She’ll blend in, disappear.  You’ll never see her again.  With any luck, she’s got the grail already.”

IVAR:  “What are you talking about?”

CUT TRACK

CRESCENDO: “Sorry.  Got a bit carried away.”

IVAR:  “Well I for one hope she escapes.”

VLAD: “ Come again?”

IVAR:  “I just don’t feel right anymore about all this stealing and kidnapping.”

IVAR takes a deep breath before continuing.

IVAR:  “I think we should let it go.”

VLAD: “Are you mad?  First of all, no one has ever gotten away from your father before.  Ever.  Second of all, think about what you’re saying!  What would your father say?  Torny, tell him.”

TORNY thinks a moment, and then confesses.

TORNY:  “I hope she gets away too.”

VLAD: “ What?  What’s wrong with you?”

TORNY looks off into horizon.

TORNY:  “Maybe he’s right.  Maybe there is something the matter with me.”

TORNY lifts her bag of shoes.

IVAR:  “Oh no.  Not the song again.”

TORNY:  “Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat?  Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete?  Wouldn’t you think I’m the girl – the girl who has everything?”

VLAD: “Please!  No more!  My ears are burning!”

TORNY:  “Seriously.  These monks have been telling us stories about the Bible, and about Jesus.  And what if they’re telling the truth?”

VLAD:  “And what if Gardar gets back here and hears you speak that nonsense?”

CRESCENDO:  “Do not worry about that.  We don’t have to worry about anything.  This battle belongs to God!”

VLAD:  “Battle? There will be no battle here.”

CRESCENDO:  “Vlad, seek the Lord.  If you do, He will answer.”

VLAD:  “Okay, friend.  If your God is so powerful, then why are you here as our prisoner?  Hmmm?”

CRESCENDO:  “No matter what is going on, God is our victory.  Maybe we were put here to shine His love… to you.”

VLAD is thoughtful a moment.

VLAD: “Very well.  Then here is my final word, friend:  If your God gives the victory, as you say, then your friend will escape.  The only way I’ll think about your words seriously is if your friend escapes.”

CRESCENDO:  “Good then!"

VLAD:  “But this bears repeating:  no one ever escapes Gardar.  Ever.”

PAUSE

GARDAR enters STAGE RIGHT, gasping for air.  GARDAR looks around at everyone, who stares at him in disbelief.

GARDAR:  “She’s escaped.”

VLAD looks over towards CRESCENDO, astonished. 

VLAD: “What?  But that’s impossible.  She was just a small girl!”

GARDAR:  “I was tracking her footprints in the snow.  And it shouldn’t have taken so long – in fact, I felt like I was catching up to her.  And yet suddenly, her footprints just stopped right there in the snow.  It was as if a sudden flurry of snow just covered them all up!”

TORNY:  “What?  That makes no sense whatsoever.”

GARDAR:  “And yet perhaps it does.  Perhaps it has to do with the real treasure that we are seeking.”

IVAR:  “Father, listen!  You can’t go down this path!”

GARDAR:  “What mutiny is this?  You are a Viking, not one of them!”

IVAR:  “But we can be both!”

GARDAR: “Enough!  Do I have to spell it out for you?  This queen is the treasure, and we will capture her, and use her power.”

TORNY: “ But you read the scroll.  It said it was dangerous!”

GARDAR:  “Yes.  You are right!  We will be dangerous!  Isn’t that right, Vlad?”

GARDAR looks over to VLAD, who appears hesitant.  GARDAR is oblivious though, as he is consumed with his vision.

CRESCENDO:  “You will not succeed.”

GARDAR: “Cease your complaining, or your part in this story will be suddenly cut short.”

GARDAR steps forward to CENTER STAGE

GARDAR:  “Our names will be written amongst the greatest of Viking sagas, and nothing on earth will stop us!  Nothing can!”

CUE SOUND EFFECT:  MIGHTY RUSHING WIND

TORNY points off to horizon.

TORNY: “What's this?  It’s an approaching storm!

VLAD:  “Strange weather!  It’s no ordinary storm – it’s a blizzard!”

CUE SOUND EFFECT:  LOUDER

GARDAR:  “Victory will have to wait.  But I will not be denied.  Quick!  Retreat to the church building where we can ride out this beast of a storm!”

GARDAR leads IVAR, TORNY, VLAD and CRESCENDO back to STAGE LEFT as LIGHTS FADE.

NARRATOR:  “What kind of strange weather is this – a dramatic snow storm out of nowhere?  Will the Vikings kidnap the queen?  Do not fear, because these questions and more will be surely answered next time as we return to KidPak Adventures:  Northern Lights!”

This morning went remarkably well.  The actors had quite a bit of passion behind their voices too, which was surprising.  Despite the crazy costumes, they were really acting well!  Madison enjoyed the service - two times, of course.  And then we were on our way home after a meeting or two.  Daddy was meeting with a guy who can possibly help us with building and sets, so we'll see how all that goes.

But we had to hurry home, because it was time to head off to the Post Road Library in Forsyth once more.  This time, we went there for a special event:

The Chinese New Year is coming up soon, and this afternoon we celebrated a little early with an event at a Forsyth County Library over on the west side of the county.  This library is quite a drive for us, and actually the first visit for Mommy and Madison - who have now officially been to all four branches.  It's a nice library, and the event was really entertaining.  Dancers performed various regional dances, at times using ribbons or umbrellas or other props.  In between, there was a bit of education about China.  Of course, we knew a good deal of this, but it was still good for Madison - and everyone else - to hear.

After the performances, we did a few crafts elsewhere in the library.  We made Chinese musical instruments, ones we could decorate.  We colored in sheep - this is the Year of the Sheep coming up.  We also decorated our own red envelopes as well.  All in all, it was great fun.  And... it was free.  That's always a plus.  It made the drive worth it!

We went home after this, and Madison finished her piano homework for the week.  As is our custom, she gets a small reward for this task - it motivates her to finish up.  This week's reward was a movie that Daddy got from Disney Movie Rewards a few weeks ago:  "The Muppets."  We never got that as a part of our collection, so now we have it - and tonight we got the popcorn ready, and sat down to watch it before bed.  It's a great movie - both the new Muppet movies are, actually.  Mommy and Daddy love them as much as Madison does.  Rowlf's bit about the montage in this movie is absolutely perfect.  Best scene in the whole movie, to me!  But remember, I'm a big Rowlf fan...

Anyway, now it's time for bed.  We're heading in after another pretty full day.  The weather has been just gorgeous - in the high 60's all day.  Sunny too!  Couldn't ask for a better day than this one!