beauty in simplicity

I took this picture on August 11. I don't really remember exactly what I was doing that day, but I do remember the picture.

I looked out my sliding doors in my bedroom, and I just thought that what I saw was beautiful. This doesn't completely capture it, but it's the best I could do. It may not be much of a view (unless you really like looking at trailers and other apartments) but it's my view. And I've grown to love it. Me and my little ghetto country view. Pretty normal for me to see.

The beautiful and amazing thing about this particular day is that it had been rainy and overcast all day. Then, suddenly, there was a burst of sunshine, that made all the colors look even more vibrant than they really are. If you look in the picture, you can still see the overcast sky in the top.

Isn't it amazing that we serve a God who created such a gorgeous earth, and thought of things like sunshine and rain, clouds and grass, and even people (who in their non-infinite wisdom created trailers)? I just love these little moments that serve as reminders of how amazing He is. What reminders have you had recently? Can't think of one? Well, take a look around you today and see what God can show you through the normalcy all around you. You may just be surprised what you see.

oh the ballet

So in the past few months I have been really missing dancing. That may seem weird, seeing as I lead the kidSTUFF dancers. But what I really miss is the discipline, the workout, the mental challenge, the....ballet. Yeah, I never thought that would be me.

Nope, I was a strictly tap girl when I started. Then I only added ballet and jazz because I thought it'd be cool and my sister was registered in some classes she wouldn't be finishing out. So the teacher let me join them in her place. (wow was she brave) I was even doing a basic pointe barre after only 6 months of ballet training. Insane!

I always thought I was better at tap and jazz. And I may have been right. I was never at a very high level in any of them. But I loved it. to the point that at one time of my life I was dancing about 15 hours a week.

When i moved to Morgantown, I lost that. I didn't have anywhere to go and take a class. Not to mention, ballet is expensive. No more free classes because of being a teacher and gym coach. Nope, I'd have to pay for them on my own.

Well, I may not be on pointe any more, and may be ridiculously out of shape, but I am joining a ballet class this semester. It is a little weird to me because it is "Adult beginning/intermediate". the adult part is the weird thing. Sometimes I forget I fit in that category.

But can I just say, I am really excited about this. I have to miss the first 2 weeks of the semester because of some prior commitments, but after that I will be doing my 1.25 hours of ballet on Saturday mornings. Hooray! Now I just need to make sure that I can find my shoes....

seriously?

wow. It has been about 3 weeks since my last blog. That is far too long.

Things got really busy really quickly here in good ole M-town.

you know, it is kind of funny that I thought my summer would be so laid back. Everything seemed to end that I was doing in the Spring. But then summer turned out to be busy.

I really didn't prepare myself that fall was coming though, and that would mean the beginning of many things again. And, pretty much that my life would get CRAZY all the sudden.

But things are good, and God is always faithful through everything. I will say that I have really learned more and more how important it is to rely on His strength rather than my own the past few weeks.

I'll be posting a bunch (hopefully) in the next couple days to re-synchronize my world with blog world. So much cool stuff has happened....

Driver's License Woes...

Did you know that in WV if you have an expired out of state driver's license you have to retake all the driver's exams and have a certified driving record from your previous registered state, and have about 5 forms of ID? Yeah, even though you may have been legally on the road for 10 years, they will still make you take the written and driving exam again. And if you want to do them in the same day, you have to be accompanied by a licensed driver over the age of 21. In a vehicle with valid registration and insurance.

I just learned all this because my license expired on my birthday, and I realized it about 2 weeks later. Oops. I figured, well, its about time to get a WV license anyway, so what better time than now? And then I found out all the requirements.

This may not be a big deal to most, but if you knew my driving past you may realize my dilemma. The first time I had to do the driving test I failed. Twice. Studying may have helped that, but since I never really studied for anything I didn't find the need to start then. Who knows if I could pass it now.

And then the issue of the driving test itself. You see, in Wilson County, TN, you don't have to do things like parallel park or a three point turn. So I never learned. Yeah, no parallel parking for me unless I can just pull in. Maybe I should learn that...

So I had my freak out time, and spent about an hour on the phone with my dad trying to figure out what to do. See, just getting the certified driving record via mail would take about a month. I was seriously considering going home this weekend just to take care of it. Yeah, 1000+ miles just for a new license. Blah.

Then a ray of hope: online renewal. Apparently in TN if you have a license that has expired in the last 5 years (yes, years) you can just fill out a form online, pay your $20 and get a new one in the mail. Of course it goes to your TN residence. Thank goodness for parents who are willing to overnight a package to me! And, you get a nifty page to print off that says you have an extension on your license so it isn't technically expired.

So I am once again a legal driver.

Then at some point in the next 5 years before it expires again, I will take all my many forms of ID to the WV DMV and get a WV driver's license. And maybe even learn to parallel park. The possibilities are endless.