Dance for all Seasons

So many amazing things about living in Crosby, football, softball, parades, summer programs at the libraty, Art with Alex, Christmas at the community Center...

But truly BY FAR THE BEST--

Carol's Dance and Gymanstics

How does she do it?

She teaches little girls to dance and to love to dance 

She teaches them to be kind and friendly

She teaches them that there are wonderful people out there.

Mrs. Carol is a rockstar, she can't go anywhere in Crosby without a gaggle of girls hugging her.

I wish I had a picture of her! WHY DON"T I????

Anyhoo, tonight was her 2013 Dance Recital.

Alice was in tap and ballet this year, so she had two dances,

In all the excitement, I didn't get a picture of her in her tap costume, 

They danced to "Love will keep us together"

The costume was beautiful.

Her Ballet dance was to "colors of the wind" from Pocohantas. I hate to brag, but she was beautiful. The costume was sooo her, very earthy and resembled a butterfly.  Her class was magical.

She started taking dance when she was 4 and she's loved it. She took a year off to pursue her art. 

Most likely she will go back to art next year, and this was probably her last dance recital with Carol, so I'm glad it was so much fun for her.  

She's ten and half now, I can't believe how she's growing up.

Joely earned star student and with it comes this coveted crown and the  wise words from Mrs. Carol 

"to never lose her sparkle"

I'm not sure the tiara will ever come off, a true princess can sleep in hers. 

And here she is in her costume for "Little Saint Nick"

She is in the gymnastics class and worked hard to master her 

FLIP FLOP !!

I was so proud of her accomplishment to do her back bend kick overs and her back flip.

She has a great teacher and loves to practice at home too!!

This is her third of many years with Mrs. Carol!

I can't wait to see what she comes up with for next year.

Homerun Season

 So here is our little Wildcat!  This is Joely's third and final season in Tball.  This year she was drafted with the Wildcats and has done so well.  Her first season was last spring, as a Diamond Diva.  Last year she learned the game, but was very timid.  This season, after playing on a co-ed Tball  fall team, she became

A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E

 She covered third base every game like she was born to play

She had tons of fans come watch her .  This is Katie Crocker, her personal coach for the off season.

In fact, Katie is so awesome, she was able to get Joely in the Press Box at her High School Game.  She had the best view, right behind home plate, with a birds eye view to Third base where Katie plays

Even The brothers helped out in the dug out.  Of course my camera was only with me a little bit, so the only evidence is David.

And Hey Now, She's an All Star

It was fun, and the fun continues with the all Star tournament in Louisianna's Hidden Gem of
Lake Charles.

I'll keep you posted.

For the Love of Dogs....

Last night our dogs escaped out the front door, 

Lulu, the middle one, who looks possessed was left behind by the two dogs on the ends.

I recovered her immediately, but the other two were gone for hours.

Desperate I prayed they were safe and kept hoping they would come home.

Quentin got on his bike and searched the walking trails.

Alice and her friend Tori went on foot.

Joely and I hosted a Daisy scout meeting.

David came home from Art Club and joined me in the search in the van

We drove the whole neighborhood and then left to search other neighborhoods.

David prayed that he would know where they were.

He was certain they were at the park, with the splash pad. 

When we got there (because of traffic it had been about 30 minutes) they weren't there.

We went back home, but he was certain they were at the park.

He heard barking, Quentin thought he saw Truffles (it was another black dog, but not truffles)

Alice and I got back in the van to go to the park.

And there they were, happy, smelly and ready to get in the van to ride home.

What a happy ending.

But it doesn't end there, it's an eternal testament that God answers prayers.  He heard our prayers and kept them safe, we are very grateful , but as a mother I am more grateful that my 14 year old son knew how to pray specifically for an answer.

Jesus concludes His Sermon on the Mount with an admonition in Matthew chapter 7,

"Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you"

David asked, we sought and kept knocking and they were found.

In  St Luke 12:24-28, He says

"24 Consider the ^aravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27 Consider the ^alilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; ^ahow much more will he clotheyou, O ye of little faith?"

He knows how much we love our dogs, He knew that we prayed in faith.  I'll be forever grateful for last night,not just for the safe return, but because of the eternal truth my children learned,

 "GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS"

I'm reminded of my own testimony of prayer and when it began.  I was five and my brother was 8.  For some reason I had to stay after in Kindergarten and Brian didn't know what to do because he had to walk me home but he couldn't be late either.  So he knelt down under a tree and prayed to Heavenly Father to send out mom to school.  She testified that the Spirit told her in loud voice, "Go to the school, your children need you."  She went and Brian was confidently waiting for her, he said, "I prayed you would come"

Since that day I have not doubted.

So many times prayers are answered without such dramatic results.  Bless the food, He does, it "nourishes and strengthens us" .  He brings all home safely each day, just like we ask.  My children do well in school and are happy.  Our parents are in His watchful care, "blessing our loved ones both near and far"

  And He also takes care of our pets at the same time He nourishes our spirits.

For this am eternally  grateful and humbled.