I Can Hear the Ocean

This weekend I made a day trip to the beach with my friend, Amy. We drove through Wilmington and then went out to Kure Beach for the day. Every time I go to the beach I’m amazed by its’ beauty. I am very
fortunate to live in a two hour driving range of the beach. The beach is something that a lot of people never get to experience in their lifetime. Even if they do it is not very often. I am also fortunate to
live within two hours of North Carolina beaches – what I think could be some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Yes, North Carolina has their “tourist trap” beaches, but they also have beaches
that are deserted and not people-polluted. I always feel inspired when I go to the beach and feel mentally, emotionally and spiritually rejuvenated from the experience. I get lost in the constant steady rhythm of the waves. How they never stop rolling in and they are constantly moving. I start thinking about  how
many grains of sand could possibly be held in just the palm of my hand. How on the surface the sand burns your feet, but if you just dig your feet a little deeper your feet are cooled off. I’m amazed by how
the tide changes and one minute you are sitting next to the water and what seems like a few minutes later you are miles away from the water’s edge. I love how you can look out from your beach chair and you can
only see water for as far as the eye can see. I believe the beach is a humbling experience. It truly makes you realize how small you are in comparison to the world. It also reminds me of how large our God is.
He designed this mechanism of the ocean, the sand, the breeze, the tide and the fact that it all works together to create a masterpiece is spectacular.

Snapshot Sunday!

 I can't believe it has been a year. Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of when I took this picture. On June 25, 2011 I flew for 8 hours from London to Nairobi, Kenya. This picture was taken of the Greek Islands. It reminds me of how small we really are in comparison to the World.

Jumping into Summer

Since recital is over and teaching dance is over for the school year, I can officially say that I am on Summer Break! I still go to work during the day for my "day job" but my nights are free! I dove into summer this week with a lot of fun activities that I was able to enjoy.

Tuesday night after work I went with my friend Amy to the Raleigh Ampitheatre in Downtown Raleigh. We were able to go to the Andy Grammer/Colbie Calliat/Gavin Degraw concert. It was a great concert on a perfect summer night! I have always been a Gavin Degraw fan and was ecstatic to see him in concert. Colbie Calliat was great live and I will now say that I am a fan of newcomer to the music scene, Andy Grammer. What a great show!

On Wednesday night I went with 15 of my co-workers to Wine & Design. We were all from different departments in the company but that didn't stop us from having a good time! We had a great time with a lot of laughs and fun memories. We all walked away after the two hour class with the same painting!

Check out my masterpiece!

Thursday night was an especially memorable night of the week. As our 1 year anniversary of our trip to Kenya approaches we had a team dinner. TheKenyan missionaries we stayed with on our trip and Jessie's parents are living in Cary for a few weeks on a homestay. It was a great opportunity to get us all together and re-live our memories and the ten days we shared together on the other side of the world. Our Kenya team is very special and the only ones who truly know what life was like June 25 - July 5, 2011.

Happy Feet

Last weekend I attended the North Carolina Rhythm Tap Festival in Chapel Hill, NC. I can't believe it but this year was the 12th year I have attended this world acclaimed festival. The festival is a whole weekend of non-stop tap classes by some of the world's originators and most famous tap dancers. It is an honor to be able to take classes from these tappers or as they are known "hoofers." The faculty change every year which allows for you to take classes and learn from a lot of the great masters of tap dance. This year I had the opportunity to take class with Michelle Dorrance, Josh Hilberman, Derick Grant, Nicholas Young and Dianne Walker. It's so much fun to be able to go to large festivals like this one and seeing people you know. It makes for a fun class when you walk in and you are standing next to dancers that you formerly danced with in college or from other studios and competitions. It just proves how small the dance world really is. Everyone is truly connected somehow! It was a lot of dancing but so worth it! Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

ECU Alumni with Derick Grant

ECU Alumni with Nicholas Young (lead in Stomp!)

ECU Alumni with "Lady Di" Dianne Walker

Recital 2012

 What a crazy last few weeks! I know that I haven't posted in awhile. It's because it has been the busiest few weeks of the year - Dance Recital time! Recital time of the year includes making sure costumes have come in the mail, that the costumes fit all of the dancers, hair accessories have been made or purchased, props have been painted and prepared, songs have been cut to be the right length and speed, Picture and Dress Rehearsal Schedules have been arranged as well as the show order. Not to mention all 69 dances need to be choreographed and taught, volunteers have been organized and that all 275 dancers are in the appropriate location. A dance recital takes a lot of work and wonderful teamwork to come together, but this year was once again a success. Through all the late nights and never-ending rehearsals a lot of fun memories are created and laughter is always shared. These dancers that you spend numerous hours with become your family that you can't live without.

My Senior Company Tap Dancers.

My tap dancing boys did a great job with their tap dance "Are You Ready for Some Football?" (Complete with their own jerseys and footballs)

How could you not love being a dance teacher when you get to be around these cute kids??

We had 18 girls graduate this year. Most of them I have taught since they were little. I will miss these girls so much!

A wonderful group of dance teachers that I can call my family.