The Joys of Dance

Wow, I could say so much right now. But instead. here's a list of the top ten things I love (okay, loathe!) about being a dance mom!!!


10. Moms who are living vicariously through their daughter's dance. Ugh - get a life!
9. Trying to put a lycra dance costume on a sunburned seven-year-old.
8. Dance rehearsals on Saturdays - that last three to four hours
7. WHITE dance costumes - long pants and long-sleeved leotard - for seven-year-olds. Who thought of that?
6. Ballet buns on tender-headed children.
5. Along the same lines but a little MORE frustrating - having to do the aforementioned ballet buns on other people's tenderheaded or dirty-haired children!
4. Dress rehearsals, part 1 - Dress rehearsals that do not start on time.
3. Dress rehearsals, part 2 - Dress rehearsals that half the performers do not attend.
2 Dress rehearsals, part 3 - Dress rehearsals that last FOUR times longer than the actual performance.
1. Dealing with the other dance moms who are seriously overestimating how cute, talented, and precious their children are - especially compared to my prodigy!!

So, that's the scoop! Oh yeah...Casiday's recitals are on Friday night & Saturday afternoon. And, then - summer begins!!!!!

School's OUT!!!

It's officially summer!! Yea... we are so excited around here. Lots of summer activities, of course; but, not many early morning activities.

And, I've decided to start a new blog. Well, actually, it's not going to be MY blog. I'm going to put all of Casiday's writings on a blog - and her drawings too. Maybe even a book list also...hmmm... I think she will enjoy it and I'm hoping our family and friends will as well.

Women in Ministry - A Small Rant (or Hissy Fit!)

I'm on this message board for pastors' wives and there has been so much discussion lately about women in ministry. I have to confess that I haven't posted too much because I am not sure how much of my belief I'm willing to put out there. :) I really struggle with the idea that women are somehow less able or less called to ANY ministry than men are. I just don't believe that God gifts ALL of us and then says to SOME of us - "Okay, you have this gift, this ability, and this calling; but, since you are a woman you can't use it fully." To me, that's what we are saying when we say there are ministries or positions a woman cannot hold.

I know the reasoning - "Husband of one wife" - blah, blah, blah... by that standard, only a married man can serve in those positions and even the most conservative of theologians do not espouse that mindset. And, let's not even touch all the other "requirements" listed in that passage - you know, like having your family in order. Geez, if we actually applied that stipulation then any time a pastor's child was not obedient, etc., that MAN would have to give up his position. It's absolutely ridiculous to me that we choose to hold that ONE small part of the passage higher than any other. Basically, the church (especially the evangelical church) has chosen to interpret HUSBAND as MAN and, for the most part, ignore the rest of the guidelines.

I guess this is one of those "Hot Topics" for me. I have a daughter who is bright, intelligent, and articulate (for a seven-year-old). And, when I tell her that God can use her and wants to use her - I don't give any stipulations because I don't believe that there are any. If God calls her to pastor a church or to preach - I want her to fulfill that calling - regardless of what the mindset in our church or any other is. Following God's direction is the most important thing - and I don't ever want her to feel that she is less able or less useful because she is a "girl." I've been there - it's the worst feeling ever. That God has gifted you in an area and for no reason except your gender, the authority over you says, "Nope, you can't do that." It's appalling to me that it is done in the name of Christ - who was by far the most empowering leader for women in all of history.

HEROES

Okay, so tonight is the season finale. I am addicted to this show. Honestly, if I had known it was a "comic book" type show - I would never have watched it to start with. But, I haven't missed a single episode and I am so anxious to see what happens tonight.

Cool trivia - My RA from college is first cousins with the actor who plays Peter Petrelli.

Spiderman 3

Saw it yesteday afternoon and LOVED it! I highly recommend it. We did not take Casiday; but, she could watch it on DVD when it comes out. Not a lot of language - mostly just a great story of reconciliation and forgiveness.

Whew...

The tea party is over. Yea. It was fun but it was a lot of work. We had planned to go see "Spiderman 3" tonight - but we're both exhausted. The price of getting old, I suppose. :) We may go tomorrow afternoon or - more likely - one night next week.

Casiday gets out of school next Friday! I am so excited - so is she. Her dance recitals are June 1 & 2. She'll be dancing one number in the Friday night recital which is the older girls' recital. And then she'll do one number on Saturday as well. That's about it for us.

We are all ready for summer - we like the lack of schedule - at least the lack of bedtime and getting up time. :)

Tea parties and stress . . .

So we've got this tea party at the church tomorrow. I've known about it for MONTHS and yet, here I sit, the day before, with NOTHING ready. I didn't even decide on decorations until yesterday - still figuring out the food for my table. This is crazy. A real sign I need to get it together!!

I guess today will be filled with preparations for tomorrow. What I really want to do is curl up in my bed and sleep for a couple of hours. I am so tired! I feel like a bum. Guess I'll get up and get moving!

I think I'm switching to Blogger . . .

Much to my husband's dismay. He doesn't like change. I love change - well, easy change, that is. Anyway, for now I'll post duplicates on Xanga and here. But I really like this site better. So . . . I think my time at Xanga is rapidly coming to an end!