I Applied to an Open Casting Call

This table features my Grandmother's dining room chairs - the ones I grew up sitting on

My days are pretty routine in this season of life. Since this is my journal, and I am recording my life for me to refer to later - here is my daily schedule as of 10/23/26:

• 3 AM Wake up, pray & weigh in (get ready for workout)

• 4 AM Morning Peloton Bike Ride

• 4:30 AM Peloton Strength (Weight lifting - dumbells) Training class

• 5:00 AM Stretching class (app)

• 5-6:00 AM Write, edit, and post morning Journal Entry

• 7-8:00 AM Morning walk/run/bike ride

• 8-9:00 AM Meal Prep for the day

• 9-12 PM "School" for Teddy & Nessy

• 12-1PM Lunch

• 1-4 PM 15 Evergreen (Business hours)

• 4-5 PM Mid-day break

• 5-6 PM Make dinner

• 6-7 PM Family dinner

• 8 PM Set everything out for the next morning (make sure everything is charging and work-out stuff is in the bathroom for the next day)

• 8:30 PM Get Teddy & Ness ready for bed, nightly prayers and tuck in

• 9 PM Bed

Considering it is nearing winter here in Northern California and the air is getting more and more brisk, and the sun is taking its sweet time to wake up in the morning, I am doing less outdoor running and walking than usual. The other day, my bike got a flat tire on the way to Starbucks so while I am waiting to get that fixed it looks like my daily walks will consist of me and our slightly chunky Labradoodle hitting the pavement.

Speaking of hitting the pavement... I submitted an application to an open casting call yesterday for a home channel on YouTube which I am subscribed to and watch regularly. They were casting for a show about table setting and hosting. I am not really sure what they are looking for, these television applications tend to be purposefully vague. This is not the first time I have applied for something to do with regards to television, our oldest son was cast for the Food Network's Chopped competition show (10+ years ago!) when he was 18.

The questions I answered on the application form were really got me thinking about what it means to me to host, gather and "set a table". I have always enjoyed setting the table for dinner. I can remember making place cards for the family growing up, not during any particular meal, "just because" it meant I could be artistic and creative. I would go into my Grandma's garden and pick the flowers to put in her vases. I would select the linens from her linen drawer and I would pick out the china (she had tons of patterns). Regardless of if we were eating corn dogs or steak Grandma would insist on us using "real" plates and not paper plates. To her, food tasted better on real plates. Grandpa would always complain about the use of "little forks" he never saw their purpose and would always poo-poo them and set them aside.

The last question on the application form to fill out asked, "Is there anything else you would like us to know - or you would like to add to this form?" In all honesty, I wrote:

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share with you my thoughts on what it means to set a table, host, and entertain. I have been thinking about my Grandmother a lot recently and the lessons she taught me on being of service to others. Being able to articulate my feelings in such a way has encouraged me. Thank you!

"Who [with reason] despises the day of small things (beginnings)? For these seven [eyes] shall rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel." Zech. 4:10 (AMP)

Small beginnings. That's what our daily routines are, singular steps which in the end should add up to a sum of great parts. As a builder, I LOVE this scripture in Zechariah. While the "seven eyes of the Lord" part is over my head - I love how the scripture specifically compares the "little things" to a plumb line.

In building, a "plumb line" is your tool you use to determine your starting point. It is how you level out your materials from the get go, so you can in the end produce a straight and level project.

If you are cutting fabric, your initial cut with a ruler could be considered your plumb line. If you are building a fence, that perfectly level little string stretched across the yard, was set with the use of your plumb line. When you are laying tile on the floor, that taught chalk line marker which starts your tiles going in the right direct - was set with the aid of your plumb line.

The Lord and all His seven eyes REJOICES when he sees the plumb line in our hands. The plumb line represents our attention to detail, our desire to start a project, as well as our understanding of small beginnings. As W. Clement Stone once wrote: "Small hinges swing big doors."

Holy Spirit-

Thank You for encouraging me this morning with Your Word. Thank You for reminding me of all the loving care I received as a little girl. All the tables I set, the plates I have washed. There was so much I could have shared with the producers of that home channel. While I did share with them about our annual week of feasting in November for Thanksgiving, I did not get to mention our weekly Saturday morning breakfasts, our nightly dinners at 6pm or our Sunday Suppers during the summer. I guess I never realized HOW MUCH of my life centered around serving others over the dinner table. The joy I have in creating menus, going grocery shopping, trying something new in the kitchen and then setting the table. I didn't get to mention the time growing up we spent the whole summer researching Italy and each week inviting 10-15 people over for dinner where we featured a different region of Italy and would serve an appetizer, entree, and desert from that region. My favorite was when we studied the small village of Cinque Terre - because as a little girl I can remember loving the way "Cinque Terre" rolled off my tongue. Father, I don't really want to "become" anything. I don't want celebrity status or my things going 'viral', I can hardly sew fast enough as it is, and if I am honest with You, I LOVE my routine and I don't want it to change, but never-the-less let Your will be done not mine. Whatever You have for me FAR surpasses what I have for me. THANK YOU.

On my agenda today:

• Laundry OMG - Nessy has nothing to wear

• Clean the house (it looks like the color brown)

• Return the library books to the library

• Take a nap

• Take Teddy to the Community Theater for his birthday present

About the Author: Jessica Heilman is Co-Founder, Designer and Writer for 15Evergreen.com. You can learn more about her as well as her daughter Madeline, their ministry work and their company by clicking this link: ABOUT US