Dallas Bound

Every year I take my dance team on a trip. We alternate between in state and out of state (district policy). Many of my director friends think I'm absolutely crazy to travel with my girls every year, but I wouldn't change a thing. We always have the best time. Not to mention it's an opportunity for them to see the world (okay...Texas and some surrounding states) at a discounted price. This year was our in state year. My fellow director, Amy decided to go along for the ride and so after much thought we decided to take our two girls. I've never taken Lyla on a bus or in a hotel, so this was going to be fun. At the last minute one of my chaperones had to cancel going so we added our cheer coach Lindsey and her 3 girls! That's right... I had 39 dancers, 7 chaperones, 3 directors and 5 girls 6 years-11 months. Yes, we are that crazy!!!!!

It was the best trip. I highly recommend traveling with 39 babysitters. The team did such a fantastic job entertaining our girls on the 5 hour bus ride. Then we stopped at Grapevine Mills Mall for lunch and shopping. There was a huge carousel in the food court, so of course our girls had to ride. After that it was shopping, shopping and more shopping! Including a new pair of Toms for mommy and Lyla's first pair. I love buying shoes that also help others in need. :) For dinner we went to Medieval Times. It was a late night, but I think the girls still had fun. Lyla liked seeing the horses. She figured out that there were windows to the horse's stalls on the way to the bathroom, so we went 3 times.




Saturday was competition day! It was long day and the girls did have a few meltdowns, but all it all they did great. And my team won! First place for all of the team and officer routines = GRAND CHAMPIONS!!! After months of hard work, they were so excited to have a successful contest season. A noisy dinner at Joe's Crab Shack was a great reward!

Sunday we spent the day at Six Flags Over Texas. I was so worried all weekend that it was going to get rained out. The forecast showed rain through most of the morning and afternoon. We decided to sleep in and not leave the hotel until 11:00AM. About an hour into our day at the park the sun broke through and it turned into a gorgeous day!!! Our girls had such a great time riding all the little kid rides. We ended the day with a dance party and then headed back to the hotel to get cleaned up for dinner at Rain Forest Cafe! Volcanoes all around for the grand champs!!!







Monday was shopping day 2. We headed to the Galleria for a few hours before the long trip home. by then our little girls had about had it!! There were more meltdowns, and lots of yawns, but all in all, they did great. Nothing like some ice cream to perk them back up. Several of my "big girls" purchased prom dresses so I think it was a success for all.

After a long nap on the bus the girls were back to playing. Lyla was so sad when the trip ended and she had to say goodbye to her friends, big and small. I think she'll enjoy dance team trips for years to come!

Tithing

To say that Andy and I have not been good at tithing would be an understatement. It is just one of those things that we've known we should be doing, but have somehow always talked ourselves out of. We had great intentions when we first got married. While we were engaged we prepared our budget and included that 10% into the plans. We even spoke to our pastor who did our pre-marital counseling about tithing. At the time we were looking for a new church home and so we asked if we should hold off on tithing until we found one. He response was, "if you want to hold out on the blessings." He encouraged us to find a Christian ministry to give our tithe to in the meantime. Well, needless to say that never happened. We've always given something, but nothing substantial.

The past 6-9 months God has really started laying it heavy on my heart to tithe. It started when some friends of our talked about the blessings they have received since they started tithing. Then this year in BSF we've been studying Acts and the letters of Paul. He speaks a lot to the churches about giving. In fact a whole chapter in 2 Corinthians is dedicated to giving.

Back in the fall I spoke to Andy about what I had been feeling. How I really felt that God was putting it on my heart to tithe, but how the numbers just don't work out. We don't have that much extra in our budget. We decided to give more, but not the full 10%. Well, as you know, God does not accept second best. I still felt a lump in my stomach each week at church. I still felt God telling me to trust. What it had come down to was not a financial issue, but a trust issue. By not giving 10%, I wasn't trusting that God could make my finances work. He made it very clear that if I can trust Him in the small things, then I need to trust Him in the big things. I handle our money/budget in the house. I manage paying bills, paying the babysitter, budgeting, etc. This was between me and God, and I had to learn to let go and trust. So driving home one day I said it.....Okay God, I've done the numbers and they just don't work out, but I'm going to trust you. You're just going to have to make it work. And sure enough, for the past 2 months he has been making it work. Each pay check I give 10% and each month there has been enough...more than enough. It's very clear that if God can feed 5,000 with a few fish and a loaf of bread, he can manage my budget.

So my pastor was right. I held out on my tithe for so long and thus I have missed out on a lot of blessings. But no more of that! From here on out we are trusting God and allowing Him to be in control of the finances in this house!

Sticks and Stones....

We've all heard or said, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!" as a child. It's funny because nothing about that statement is true. Well, okay...maybe that sticks and stones can break bones, but words do hurt! Physical wounds heal. Bruises go away and scars fade. Even the memory of pain can't be recalled. I mean, you remember the pain, but you can actually feel it again unless you get hit again. But words...words have a way of crawling into a dark place where you think they've been forgotten and then all of the sudden the pop back up and you are once again reminded of the pain from them. The memory of the situation where ugly words were said, or the thoughts and doubts that those words caused resurface and once again you are living the pain all over again.

Last Monday I was attacked personally in a very public way. In my job I am very use to the fact that I will not be liked by all. As an educator, I have a daunting task of being given the responsibility to "step in place" of the parent for several hours a day. This can be a challenging role. Especially when the parent does not agree with your teaching style, or decision making. I have pretty tough skin and it's grown even tougher over the years. I've learned to accept that I will not win over every parent and student I come in contact with. I take every hard situation with a grain of salt. For every tough kid/mad parent, there are 10 that are wonderful, kind and compassionate. I am surrounded by wonderful people who build me up and parents/students who support my endeavors. Usually when something hurtful is said, it is said directly to me. It might be to me or over the phone, but it is to me. Now, that person may go on to talk about me to others, but at least I can live in blissful ignorance about it. This situation, however, was not addressed to me, but to a very public audience. What bothers me most is that there are people who don't know me, but now may have a harsh opinion of me, and there is nothing I can ever do to change that.

A week later and while I for the most part of gotten over what was said, and have moved on, I still find myself thinking back to the hurtful words. They have found themselves a home in a dark place where doubt creeps in. Maybe what was said is true? What if others feel the same? What is this person is right? It's a scary place to allow myself to go. So, today I pulled out my "positives" folder. Since I started teaching I have a folder in my filing cabinet with every nice note, e-mail and card that has ever been given to me. I keep them there for times like today. When I need a reminder that this thing that was said about me is not the majority. It's not validation that I needed. I know my worth and where it comes from. I know (and have been reminded in my BSF study this past week) that I am a child of God and it is his grace that sustains and his redemption that makes me whole. But every once in a while, it's nice to go back and read sweet words from sweet people. To be reminded of great memories. It's funny as I read letters from former students of how I've helped shape their lives, I couldn't help but think of how each one of those young ladies helped to shape mine. A few moments spent pouring over thank you cards and senior goodbye letters, reminded me that the good really does outweigh the bad. And that while ugly words can hurt, kind words can build, encourage and provide support.

So today I am thankful for my positives folder that reminds me that while ugly words were said in a moment of frustration, kind words were said after years spent walking through the highs and lows together.