Dancing Queen

The long-awaited day has come and gone. Ashlyn, my 3-year-old, began her ballet/tap combo class last Wednesday! Ever since she was a tiny baby she has watched big sister dance with so much anticipation that when she was 2 she actually forced an "audition" on one of the dance instructors to prove her capabilities. At the same time, I was so nervous that she would throw a huge fit and do nothing but stand screaming, huddled by the door just like she did with the dancenastics class at Airborne last summer, and she did hesitate for a split second when we approached the door to the studio. But I gave her a little nudge into the room, and from there she couldn't contain her excitement to be there. She cautiously lined up alongside the 3 other little girls in the class and proceeded to dance her little heart out, with only one incident where she decided to sit it out (when I asked her later why she didn't do that part, she simply said, "Because I don't know how to be a mice ow a wabbit." Apparently they were supposed to jump around like mice and rabbits?) Anyway, she did her best with the biggest, most adorable smile on her face, and all day she showed me what she had learned and asked when she could go back. The long-awaited day has come and gone, and Ashlyn is now officially a dancer, and a truly passionate and gifted one at that. Mission accomplished. ;)

florida.

So we just got back from a resort in Florida on Wednesday, and, although it was extremely fun, I must say that I'm glad to be getting back to somewhat of a normal schedule. The kids started school on Thursday, which leaves me with a little bit of extra time to get stuff done. Looking forward to the fall and cooler days ahead.

As promised [Hailey :)], here are some pics from the Florida trip. Pretty much all we did was hang out at the beach and the pool, and had dinners with Mike's entire family from New York who we took this trip with.

View from the room

Hot tub

Me and Mik poolside

Josh and Jaden Megan, Katie, and Isabella
Baby Ashes

Birthday girl! [middle]

At the end of the party
Boogie boarding!


Getting ready for the pool/beach
On the balcony
Me and my sis-in-law Karen
Silly boys
The baby boy cousin

So there you have it.

Exit summer; Enter schoolyear.

:)

Wait

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

~Romans 8:25

I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry.

~Psalm 40:1

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

~Romans 5:3-5

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

~Philippians 4:11

I am in my basement, staring out of the underground window into the illuminating sun above me, beckoning me, and I am waiting. I'm waiting for the work to start coming into the inbox on the computer screen, yes. But there is something else I'm waiting for, and I'm not quite sure what it is. I complain about the fact that I just transitioned into a longer workday, but the moment I did that the work began to lack and I find myself staring at the computer screen longer each day, and just waiting. So now I ask, what am I waiting for? Will God not provide for me? Doesn't he know the situation I'm in? HE DOES!

And I'm certain He wants me out of it.

Hence the long workdays, the endless distractions, the lack of work, and the stress all of that contributes.

He wants me just uncomfortable enough so that I don't settle. For this.

So I could go looking for another mediocre job, another excuse to be idle, another way to boost my income, another unwanted weight on my shoulders. As if I haven't done enough for my own benefit and that of my family. But I wait, because I know there's more than this for me.

And eventually, in my semi-productive waiting, I know that if I just listen and obey, whatever it is will come to pass.

California Trip

We had lots of fun in California last week. Short version:

Day 1: When we arrived in San Diego we went to Mission Bay Beach. It was the kids' very first time in the ocean! We spent a couple hours there and then headed to up to Anaheim.


Day 2: Disneyland from morning til night. It was fun, but Disney World is better in my opinion. Maybe it was just because it was soooo hot and crowded in August, and we usually go to Disney World in December when it's cooler and there are no lines...






Day 3: We met up for breakfast with an old friend of ours who we haven't heard from in 10 years who just happened to get in touch with me 2 days before and who just happened to live on the way to where we were going...bizarre. It was great to see him. Then we started our drive North to our final destination in Los Gatos where my friends' wedding would take place. We drove through Hollywood, stopped at the beach and Santa Monica Pier, and then made our way up through Malibu and stopped for the night after driving for 3 hours.









Day 4: Drove the rest of the way to Los Gatos and rested up in the hotel room and by the pool until the rehearsal dinner that night.







Day 5: Amy and Dimiter's wedding! They both looked amazing, the venue was amazing, and the wedding was amazing. I miss them so much but I am so glad they got married in California or else I may never have had an excuse to go there! ; ) Even after the reception, the party resumed at the hotel. It was so fun to see everyone!









Day 6: Hung out with Amy and Dimiter at their house until it was time to go to the airport to make our way home.



We had a great time, and next Saturday we leave for Florida for some more fun before school starts and life gets back to normal.