I Finally Became My Dream

Not everyone gets to say that they've been a Princess. Not everyone has the opportunity to sing and dance to their favorite songs on stage in front of hundreds of people. And not everyone can say they've lived their dream. Not everyone... but I did.

Back in February of this year, I got a text from one of the heads in our children's ministry program at our church. She asked me a question I thought I would never hear.

"Hi Hannah! I have a question for you. We are looking at doing Tangled in Kidamazoo [Children's Ministry] for Easter this year. We think you would make a great Rapunzel. Would you be interested at all?"

Are you kidding me? YES MY DREAM ROLE. I had a Tangled themed graduation party where I made the pennants, the Snuggly Duckling sign, and the boat from the lantern scene! If that doesn't say I'm obsessed with this story, I don't know what to tell you.

Rapunzel is my favorite Disney Princess, and Tangled is arguably my favorite Disney movie. I related to her character, her sense of adventure, her artistic nature, and her curiosity and cautiousness to the outside world. She had a dream, followed her dream, and she found her dream.

Her story even lined up with mine in that season when I was graduating high school. I was 18, and I had a dream to make stories to help encourage, inspire and point people to God. Homeschooling was all I ever knew, and jumping into college seemed like such a big step for me. I was scared, but I was determined to follow that dream that God gave me.

Jumping back to February of this year, I was neck deep in animation work for The Land Below. It was crunch time, I was a stressed to the max trying to finish these shots by our deadlines. The work going into this film was a year in the making, and the finish line was so close. The launch of the film ended up overlapping with the first few rehearsals of the "Untangled" production, and soon it was all I looked forward to.

After the successful launch, Untangled seemed like a relief... An indulgence... Just a fun time. It was almost like a reward for my hard work pouring into that huge project. Every Tuesday and Thursday night, I would wait in anticipation just to get to church, practice lines, and share laughs with great friends and leaders. I was a princess, and I felt like it too.

I began thinking about  some of the events leading up to that moment. It had been such a tough year, sacrificing time, hunching over my desk grinding away at a project that had me tangled up for so long. (Pun absolutely intended)

But I knew God's hand was on this project and that He wanted me to be a part of it. I wanted to give up, but I pressed on. Thinking back to those times and then standing on stage next to my good friend Harrison (Flynn Rider) laughing it up and cracking jokes as we played dress-up... it felt so rewarding.

I truly believe God wants us to have fun. He wants to make our dreams come true. The funny part is, I fulfilled so many of my dreams since my high school graduation.

I made my first animation Overcomer that became so successful it went viral for months and touched the hearts of millions. I was able to be a light in such a dark place. I went on to make yet another animated film that became ten times bigger than I ever thought it would be! I became a college graduate, a filmmaker, and a major witness in the span of two years!

But God didn't stop there. He rewarded me with such a fun opportunity that I will never forget. He watches me, He hears my prayers and cries, and He shows His love for me in so many ways. Even when I was nervous, the cast would give me encouragement and comfort.

Even Harrison was a blessing. We've been friends for years, volunteered together for years, and had the perfect chemistry to take on these roles. I can't think of anyone else I would feel comfortable with playing as Flynn. We would encourage each other back stage in betweens scenes when we got anxious, calling each other "Freaking Rapunzel" and "Freaking Flynn Rider." Because we were, and we killed it.

I loved the singing and dancing and acting, but one of the biggest highlights was interacting with the kids. To see their eyes light up as they saw me, telling me I'm their favorite character, giving me hugs and asking for autographs... my heart completely melted at the sight of them all.

It brings me joy being able to be someone kids can look up to, even for just that moment. But to use my talents to point to God, the One who brought my dreams into a reality, is so incredibly humbling. I will remember these moments for years.

Although I miss my hair, my crown, and my role, I am still a princess. Because I truly am a daughter of the King. A good King that blesses His children, because He loves me.