Spring Dance Recital

 

Introduction

 

 

 

Ballet

Tap

Wish

I wish we lived closer to this sweetie! He was kind enough to play tea party with Gracie, even when she chided him for not doing it right. :)

Love my cousin!

Travel

On our way home to Midland for the holidays!

Santa

A few weeks ago, we took Gracie to a breakfast with Santa party! As soon as we walked into the house and she saw him, she exclaimed, "Santa!" She wasn't quite brave enough to walk up to him without holding onto my mom's pinky, but she did go up to him and say hello. A little later, she even sat on his lap to tell him she wanted a kitchen. Whew! Good request, Gracie!

The party was complete with an amazing brunch buffet, face painting by Miz Elto and a reindeer treat bar. Grace picked a candy cane for her face. Thankfully it was a quick painting exercise, but she did surprisingly well for her first time! And she loved seeing the candy cane painted on her face throughout the day.

After making her reindeer food, she wanted to hold it for the rest of the afternoon, and she can't wait to toss some outside our house and save the rest for Nana and PopPop's house in Midland.

Family

As I listened to President Obama’s speech at the prayer vigil in Conneticut on Sunday night, I was overwhelmed with emotion. And when he began to read, slowly, the names of the 20 young children who lost their lives in a supposedly safe place, I could hardly stand to listen. But I listened to each of those beautiful names in honor of their memory and for their families. As he spoke the names, I prayed that there would be no little girl named Grace. But there was. Someone else’s sweet baby Grace. But it could have been my Gracie. And that is terrifying.

As I went to bed, I prayed that the Lord give the families of these 20 children peace and comfort. That He would remind them that their children are no longer in pain and are not scared, because they sit on the lap of our Lord. As I prayed, I broke down in sobs. Because that knowledge did nothing for my pain, and they weren't even my children. And so I asked the Lord to allow my grief to alleviate one small ounce of Grace’s parents’ mourning. Let me take on the pain for a family I know nothing of to give them peace and rest, so they might have the strength to go on for one more day.

I cannot fathom the shock, anger and sorrow 20 sets of parents are going through this week.  I hardly understand my own. I can only continue to pray for the healing peace only God can provide in times such as these.

Bow

As in, take a bow, not a ribbon. Gracie had her very first dance recital today at daycare. She's been taking a ballet and tap dance class at her daycare for the last few months, and they decided to have an informal recital for the holidays. We weren't sure what to expect, but Gracie did a great job, complete with a graceful bow and kiss at the end of both dances.



 

 

 

Treats

This Saturday we hosted a small Christmas party at our house, complete with holiday desserts and drinks! Our treats included:

-Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer cookies
-peppermint Oreos
-ornament cupcakes
-Santa hat brownies
-Poinsettia cocktails
-Hot cocoa with peppermints and gingerbread or snowmen marshmallow toppings
-Eggnog with brandy

I was very pleased with how my treats turned out, but I made way too many! I guess my coworkers will be merrily surprised tomorrow when I show up with extra treats!