Selfish

Dear God,

Try as I might, I can't connect with You.  What is my problem?  I pray about my concerns, I bring You everything!  I tell You about what I have done and all of my fears.  Nothing is helping!  I don't feel any better than when I started.

Still searching.....

Love,
        Selfish

~+~

Dear Selfish,

Stop looking at yourself.  I have been waiting for you to come to me, and you have "come", but all you do is focus on yourself.  If you want to connect with me, you must look at the cross.  Abandon your hopes and dreams to me.  Your confidence in me will not be wasted.

I am with you.  I have always been with you.  Give me your burdens - stop taking them back.  I promise to set you free.

I am with you always.

With more love than you could ever imagine,
                                                   
                                             Your Father in Heaven

Sweat......

Sweat trickles down my face. I clench my teeth as I finish my 32nd entrechat. I sigh in relief as the music stops. I can rest! Somehow, though, I'm not satisfied with my dancing. It feels like however hard I work, I don't look as splendid as I want to. Now, of course I'm not going to look like an astounding prima ballerina, but I'm never satisfied. Something is always wrong with what I do.

How many times do I feel like this? Is it always, or just once in a while? I will never be quite as good as I want to be, but setting a high caliber for myself will help me get better...right?


Work, work, work!  Try to be the best you can be, pray to Christ to make you the best and give you the strength to do this well.  BUT -- try harder to follow Him.  Use what you do to pointe (:D) to Christ.  In everything you do, let it reflect Him.  


The readings at Mass are calling us to act.  What better time than the post Easter season?  Now is the time to get up and shout.  Hear the call.  Work, work!  Get out there and work on who you are, what you are to other people, and how you stand with God.


Then, it's back to your entrechats.  It is great to work on what your passion is, but never forget the one who experienced The Passion for you.

For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.  -Hebrews 10:36  

-Mandy

In His Arms

Imagine that you are dancing up on stage--the perfect dancer, doing everything right, with a supreme smile on your face--and as you leap off stage, the mask of happiness and joy falls off, and you are just you, just nothing.  You gasp for breath, and suddenly, God scoops you up in His arms, and you are strong again- but this time, His strength carries you.  He carries you onto the stage and you dance through Him.

He is carrying you today. Look around. He has a plan and knows what will happen, so don't be afraid.

He is holding you!

Praise

Photo courtesy of Capturing Love Photography 

The Plan

YAY!

I have been a bit exited recently.  Just this past week, I performed in my school's dance showcase.  I love performing for people and thrusting my entire self into the dancing.  Also, there is that wonderful camaraderie of sitting in the wings with your dancing chums and mentally dancing the steps being performed.

Oh--it's not perfect, by all means.  I just went to my friend's dance performance, and to the audience's dismay, a piece of the archway which she passed through fell onto her head!  She stood dazed for a moment, bravely (but a bit dizzily) danced through the rest of the dance (a short one, thank heavens!) and ran from the stage.

As you may have guessed, quite a few fervent Hail Marys were thrown heaven-wards during those few moments--and praise be to God--my friend was fine.

So... what next?  Life is un-predictable, at least, we humans don't know what is going to happen tomorrow, but God does.  He has a plan, and not just any plan, it is THE plan.  Only for you, not re-used, not one just tossed out there.  Your plan is a plan that is for no one else.  God made your plan for you, it's for no body else.  Go and live your life the way He wants you to, because His plan is the best.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." 

Jeremiah 29: 11

He has a plan, watch it unfold.

-Mandy

Hope

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

-Romans 15: 13

Photos courtesy of Capturing Love Photography

A Great Ballet Dictionary

This ballet video dictionary is a fabulous source of information for those of you who would like to know how various steps are executed.  The dancers are gorgeous!  This website also holds written info on steps, and other cool and informative stuff.

Look at grand battments on there--the dancer's extension and flexibility is stunning! 

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

~Mandy

Rotating the Upper Leg

Here is another (not quite as conspicuous) turn out exercise.  This is great to work the upper thigh, and should be repeated as much as possible!  A great way to practice this is while watching TV or a movie, reading a book, or anytime you find your self sitting on the floor!  It is also fun to challenge your friends to try this.  It takes a surprising amount of endurance!   

Step One

Step one: Sit on the floor with your feet stretched out before you.  Sit up with a straight back, and make sure that you are aligned correctly (e.g: head over shoulders, shoulders over ribs, ribs over hips, etc).  Turn your feet out into first position.  Make sure that you can feel your entire leg working to turn out.

Step Two:  Lift one leg up off the ground about seven to nine inches off of the ground.  Lower to the ground and repeat on each leg.

It is really up to you as to now many you would like to do, but I suggest doing ten on each leg, and repeating at least once so you do twenty on each side.  

Practice, Practice!

For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.  

-Hebrews 10:36

Dancing Through The Mall- Turnout Exercises For Every Day

My lovely dance teacher has given my class some exciting new exercises to try.....at the grocery store.  Many dancers are known for their rambunctious attitudes, so this wouldn't be a problem for them.  If you are not quite as rambunctious as these dancers, just slip on your socks and do these exercises on your kitchen floor.

This is how they work: While shopping at the grocery store, or mall (any where that has a cart), turn out your legs and scoot forward with small "steps", making sure that you are turning out correctly and not shifting your weight from leg to leg.  Another variation of this is to shase through first position while pushing the cart.  Both are acceptable.

A video is below:

If you muster up enough courage to try this, perhaps you should wait until you are in an isle vacant of other humans.  :)

More is coming soon!

The joy of the Lord is my strength! 

 -Mandy

Another Note: Do your best not to sickle your feet as I did.  Make sure to feel your arches!