Colombian Brewed: Shuffle, Hop, Step

Psalm 150:3-5
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

This past weekend three of our children participated in Dance to the Music, this year's annual recital for Dancin' Feet Dance School where they danced weekly. For several reasons we choose not to be involved in many activities or sports; however, we chose to participate in dance these past two years because it taught several concepts the big kids were needing to work on (spacial awareness, self-control, balance, femininity, poise) in a non-clinical setting (e.g. not an OT, PT, or speech therapy office setting). We also chose dance because our youngest daughter has always been naturally filled with a joyfully dancing spirit and we wanted to allow her to continue her love of dancing.

It took great discernment to choose a dance studio for our children. Dancing, while great exercise, is a sport that can be highly immodest and entirely too provocative to be considered wholesome. We had enough un-teaching to do in these areas that we wanted to be certain to choose a dance studio that would support our family values and come alongside us in our goals for teaching our children about honoring God with their bodies, even through dance. In that quest we drive past two other dance studios each week on our way to Dancin' Feet just because I know that I can trust the environment, quality, and content of the instruction there.

This was the one weekend of the year that was crazy-busy with recital events. We have three children participating in dance this year, though not the same three who chose dance last year. One of our daughters decided not to dance after last year because it was so challenging for her to put the physical/verbal directions together due to auditory processing disorders and sensory-motor spacial challenges. Since the third class/dancer is free, our son asked if he could dance. He was the only boy in his class of 14 preschoolers, but he didn't mind. His teacher was wonderful with him, even though each arabesque looks like he's trying to catch a pop-fly. The children did so well to have calm hearts and joyful attitudes during the recital. They enjoyed dancing with their friends and for their grandparents and cousins who came to watch. We also added in a birthday celebration meal after one recital, in addition to packing up our town home. Oh, and Mother's Day! I felt like we were taking the weekend one dance step at a time.

Shuffle. Hop. Step.

On top of all that, Nic's car had some major malfunctions that put it in the shop all week...and then we learned that it would cost as much to fix it as to replace it. So, we are down to one vehicle while we figure out the next step.

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle, step.

And there was the home inspection and the final Wednesday Night Connection of the year at church, and a friend at church that Nic had arranged to help a few nights last week. And an important get together to catch up with some friends we hadn't gotten together with in too long.

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle, hop.

We have children who thrive on consistency, routine, structure, and calmness. In an effort to give them what they needed last week in spite of the unusual fast-stepping we were doing, Nic and I had to work extra hard - and pray even more that our hearts would be tender and quiet, not wrapped up in events or emotions, but focused on Christ and available to attend to the needs of our children.

Curtain closes...

The big week is done now. It went well and was joyful. We are thankful to God for His perfect provision in every detail, trial, and joy.